Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Qin Huaifeng's onboarding was completed quickly, and Sha Zhu led the Qin father and son back to No. 95 courtyard for lunch.

On the way back, Qin Huaifeng was a little sullen. Sha Zhu was a bit confused. Wasn't his brother-in-law just excited about becoming a worker? Why did he suddenly become so dejected?

So I couldn't help but ask, "Second brother, what's wrong?"

Qin Huaifeng nodded but didn't say anything.

But Qin Dashan couldn't stand his appearance and slapped him on the back of the head.

"Damn it, your brother-in-law is asking you a question, are you mute?!"

Qin Huaifeng explained the reason to the two men who were puzzled:

"Brother-in-law, didn't they say we'd get a month's salary upfront after starting work? What's going on here?"

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu chuckled, realizing it was because of this.

Qin Dashan frowned, clearly having heard about the situation, but remained silent, wanting to hear what his son-in-law had to say.

Sha Zhu explained to the two of them:

"There used to be a system where you could receive a month's or half a month's salary upfront when you started working at the factory, but that's no longer the case."

"The current system is: start work first → calculate at the end of the month → receive salary the following month."

"In special circumstances or if you have family difficulties, you can apply to the factory for an advance on your wages."

Qin Huaifeng was no longer discouraged after hearing this: "Alright, I thought I could get a month's salary first."

When they got home, Qin Huairu had already prepared lunch, and the group ate a simple meal.

Qin Huairu began to set rules for her younger brother:

"Second brother, after you get your apprentice wages, I'll save 10 yuan for you every month."

"You can spend the remaining 8.5 however you like."

"Why, sis?" Qin Huaifeng was definitely not willing. Why should he? That was his salary.

Qin Huairu raised an eyebrow at his expression:

"Why should I? It's because your brother-in-law got you this job. I don't want this 10 yuan. I'm saving it for my third and fourth children to use when they find jobs in the future."

"We can't expect our two little ones to rely on your brother-in-law for the future. Mom and Dad may be willing, you may be willing, but I'm not!"

Qin Huairu's words were a wake-up call, and Qin Dashan looked at his daughter in disbelief.

Sha Zhu was also stunned, thinking, "Oh no, isn't what my wife said hurting our feelings?" He was extremely anxious and wanted to interrupt, but his wife glared at him and shut him up.

Qin Huairu looked at her father, whose face was full of complex emotions, and softened her tone: "Dad, don't blame me for speaking harshly, I'm doing this for the sake of the other two in the family."

"If the second child spends his salary recklessly, will we, as husband and wife, have to help him with anything his family needs in the future?"

Qin Dashan shook his head. Of course, he couldn't rely on his daughter and son-in-law. If they really depended on them, what would that be like? They'd lose all sense of shame.

Qin Dashan was surprised that the young lady had actually brought this up so frankly, which made things a little awkward.

Even if Qin Huaifeng was unhappy, there was nothing he could do; he was nobody now.

Not long after, Qin Dashan drove his horse-drawn carriage back to his hometown. Before leaving, he left his son five yuan and some grain and oil coupons.

Five yuan isn't much, but it's definitely enough for Qin Huaifeng to live on for a month. He got a job at a steel rolling mill. Although he was an apprentice, his connections had been transferred to the city, and he was receiving a food supply.

The advantage was that Qin Huaifeng received a full month's ration, which was more than enough to survive in the city.

Besides, he works in a cafeteria, and I've never heard of anyone who works in a cafeteria going hungry.

If all else fails, there's still the daughter and son-in-law; the son won't starve.

Give him some money and food so he can protect himself.

The next day, Qin Huaifeng became an apprentice in the first canteen.

Sha Zhu instructed You Fulai to give the dirtiest and most tiring work to this kid.

You Fulai immediately understood: he would go after Qin Huaifeng to the bitter end, since they might become fellow disciples in the future.

If you don't get it fixed now, you won't have much of a chance later.

Inside the office, Li Jiuzhou, holding a cup of hot tea, looked at Sha Zhu, who was also drinking tea in a chair, and smiled:

"Hey Zhuzi, that's your brother-in-law, is this really appropriate?"

"And does your wife know?"

Sha Zhu gave an awkward laugh:

"Hehe, senior brother, jade must be carved to become a gem. This is my test. Becoming my disciple is not that easy."

"If this kid doesn't pass, I'll get him a job anyway, so don't blame me."

"If my wife has any objections, I'll slap her twice. Why should she meddle in men's affairs?"

Li Jiuzhou agreed with Sha Zhu's first two sentences, but disagreed with the latter, giving him a disdainful look.

Sha Zhu is indeed violent, but that's towards outsiders. He's actually quite good-tempered with his own people and enjoys being disciplined.

People with this kind of personality need someone to keep them close by.

Qin Huairu is precisely that kind of person, and she even makes outrageous remarks.

"I'm calling your wife over. You'll repeat what you just said in front of her."

"Senior brother, can you not spoil the fun? I'm having a great time." Sha Zhu looked at him speechlessly.

Every time I try to show off, my senior brother stops me. It's much more comfortable to show off in front of Da Mao.

Yesterday, Da Mao told me that Su Mei had been slapped more than a dozen times by him.

If it weren't for Xu Damao's swollen eyes, Lao Gao Shazhu would almost have believed it.

Finding chatting with his senior brother boring, Sha Zhu went to talk to his junior brother You Fu, as chatting with him was more interesting.

After spending a lot of time with him, Sha Zhu realized that You Fulai was a talented person, had a nice way of speaking, and he actually started to like him.

Qin Huaifeng was assigned by You Fulai to do tasks such as emptying swill, mopping the floor, and washing vegetables, which were among the most tiring jobs in the canteen.

Qin Huaifeng didn't complain at all. Was this even considered work?

That's because you fucking don't know what kind of life I lived in the countryside.

Qin Huaifeng had little experience, but he knew that people were eager to do the job of a night soil collector in the city.

What's so difficult about the work he does? He's already very content to be able to work in a factory.

As for what happens next, that depends on how my brother-in-law arranges it.

Qin Huaifeng wasn't stupid. His sister's words seemed heartless at the time, but she was still the one who cared about him the most.

After all these years of siblings living together, how could Qin Huaifeng not know what kind of person his sister was?

She just had to say it in front of her brother-in-law because no one else was around, and she would still have to help him when the time came.

Therefore, Qin Huaifeng is now extremely calm, even though he knows that You Fulai is deliberately messing with him, he pretends not to know.

He finally managed to get a job as a worker in the city, but all he could do was shout:

"Come on, kill me!"

For several days in a row, Qin Huaifeng didn't utter a single complaint, which pleased Sha Zhu, who was secretly observing him. You Fulai felt a little embarrassed, thinking to himself that this future junior brother was not cunning and was an honest person.

In Li Jiuzhou's opinion, people who can endure hardship are rare and precious in the 21st century.

But in today's society, that's nothing. Everyone can endure hardship these days. If you don't do it, there are plenty of others who will, and their drive is terrifying.

Unless he is sick, his mental state is exceptionally good.

Especially in a capital city like Beiping, even if one's family is dirt poor, one's heart is red and burning with passion.

They all understood that as long as they worked hard, better days would come one day.