Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

However, middle-aged elderly couples like Yi Zhonghai in the courtyard don't have as much energy.

I usually only come to till the land every few days, after all, I'm getting old, and I'm far behind the young men.

Even if they were unwilling in their hearts, their bodies wouldn't allow it. They had all reached their peak, so turning back to play fancy tricks was out of the question.

Unlike Yang Ligong, who possessed some extraordinary physical gifts and was still at his peak in his forties, even more vigorous than some young people.

In mid-October, the neighborhood office organized another scrap metal donation drive, which was announced as voluntary.

The neighbors responded enthusiastically, not taking it too seriously, and since they still had some scrap iron at home, they donated some of it.

Li Jiuzhou wasn't surprised at all and donated honestly; he had even made preparations for next year's donation.

He had no intention of donating his family's iron pot in the future. What would he cook with if he donated it? That would be a joke, as it was a matter of livelihood.

Everything should be done in moderation; just don't go overboard.

At the same time, a new round of internal anti-corruption campaigns has begun, with the higher authorities showing zero tolerance for corrupt officials.

The leaders of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill remained calm and collected, because they believed they had no problems.

At least that's what Secretary Nie, Yang Ligong, and Li Huaide thought.

Since I neither embezzled nor accepted bribes, I won't be implicated.

Yang Ligong was a little guilty because he had problems with his lifestyle, including having illicit relationships with women.

But it's alright, this time the higher-ups are cracking down on corruption, so it won't affect him, because he really didn't take anything.

Welfare benefits are basically transparent to those in power, so they won't bring it up.

The top three leaders were very calm, but the others were different, because if they had really taken the money and embezzled it, they would be finished if they were found out.

This is not the first time; several leading cadres were transferred from other places to the steel rolling mill.

Even if they are not corrupt now, what about before?

It's not impossible that they might be implicated by someone else.

Therefore, people like them suffer the most during every anti-corruption campaign.

Moreover, the investigation team was not dispatched by the factory, but came from above.

Do you know who the first leading cadre to be investigated was?

It's Li Jiuzhou, he's the first one to be investigated!

Li Jiuzhou was extremely frustrated, but at the same time he also wanted to laugh. "Damn it, the first one they investigated was me. Do I not have any powerful connections?"

When did the old man become so weak? Was he attacked?

Actually, that's not the case. It was the old man who gave the order to deliberately start the investigation with Li Jiuzhou first.

It has a wicked sense of humor, but also a deeper level of criticism.

How could the old man not know whether Li Jiuzhou had any problems? He even knew exactly where his ancestors for eighteen generations were buried.

Li Jiuzhou is definitely fine. Investigating him first is also to warn him not to make mistakes so that he can go further in life.

If Li Jiuzhou has a problem, pulling out the radish will bring up the mud, and Li Huaide will also be implicated, then the old man will naturally be in deep trouble too.

How can this be allowed!

Although the old man admired Li Jiuzhou, he also had to think about his own future.

Only if he remains stable can Li Huaide and Li Jiuzhou's political future go further.

So it's necessary to discipline those two brats when necessary.

Although Li Jiuzhou was cursing and swearing, he had some suspicions in his heart. After talking with his second uncle, he felt relieved.

I understand the old man's actions; he would have done the same if he were in his shoes.

The investigators were even quite relaxed; Li Jiuzhou accompanied them on a tour of the five canteens and the breeding farm.

He didn't say a harsh word and was very polite throughout. The head of the investigation team even threw Li Jiuzhou a pack of cigarettes.

Li Jiuzhou joked:

"Boss, can I take these cigarettes? They're not cheap..."

Team leader Liu Jinshan pointed at Li Jiuzhou, shook his head, and chuckled:

"Me, a division-level cadre, bribing you, a deputy division-level cadre, with a pack of cigarettes?"

"Aren't you afraid people will laugh their heads off if they tell others?"

"If you're going to judge this, you might as well not be an official at all."

"Hahahaha..." The others laughed.

Team Leader Liu helplessly shrugged:

"What's there to investigate about your cafeteria? You, as the director, haven't even handled a single penny. How am I supposed to investigate, and what would I even be investigating?"

"This is putting me in a difficult position..."

"Hahahaha..." The atmosphere became even more wonderful, everyone was laughing uncontrollably, even Li Jiuzhou himself was grinning from ear to ear, finally managing to utter a sentence:

"Team Leader Liu, your words are very insightful!"

Team Leader Liu still had a smile on his face:

"Alright, it's just a formality. We'll have lunch here today. I've heard that the steel mill's special kitchen is very good. Even the higher-ups said it was good. I wonder if we'll have a chance to have a bite."

Li Jiuzhou waved his hand:

"What are you saying? My cafeteria may not have much else, but getting a meal is no problem. Don't worry, I'll arrange lunch."

Team Leader Liu hesitated after hearing this:

"Jiuzhou, we're here to do business, not to enjoy ourselves. We need to be mindful of the protocol, after all... well, you know..."

Li Jiuzhou immediately understood, waved his hand, and laughed:

"Don't worry, it's just everyday food, and it won't cause you or your comrades any trouble."

Team Leader Liu finally smiled with satisfaction, and the others were also very pleased.

Being able to eat at the steel mill's special kitchen is already quite good. The normal home-cooked meals are prepared with skills that other factory kitchens don't have. What more could you ask for?

Both sides were satisfied with the inspection, while the factory leaders were observing from the sidelines without much worry. They were well aware that there would be no problems with Li Jiuzhou.

It's necessary to entertain the investigation team. After all, although they're here to investigate corruption, they're also here to conduct official business. On the first day, they're guests, so it's up to Li Jiuzhou to make the arrangements.

The investigation team consisted of seven people, and Sha Zhu personally cooked twelve dishes, including fish and meat, which the seven of them thoroughly enjoyed.

This is already a very low-key setup, costing less than 10 yuan in total, because the investigation team couldn't drink alcohol, so a lot was saved.

Team Leader Liu said that they would eat like this for today, and starting tomorrow they could eat in the cafeteria.

This is normal. You can't eat at this scale every day, or the higher-ups will complain and send you to the steel mill for anti-corruption work, not here to enjoy yourself.

The steel mill can give it to you, but you absolutely cannot accept it. Otherwise, the anti-corruption campaign won't be targeting them; they'll be after you instead.

Team Leader Liu was well aware of this; they were a sharp knife in the fight against corruption, and he knew exactly who they were targeting.

There are many rules. You need evidence before you can chop anyone up, and you can't just chop randomly, otherwise things will get serious.

The investigation of the steel mill canteen lasted a day. Although it was called an investigation of the canteen, most of the time was actually spent collecting information from others in order to avoid alerting the target.

After the day ended, Li Jiuzhou felt that this was fine, since he wouldn't be involved in anything else afterward.

There was really nothing to check about his canteen and farm.

All food supplies used in the cafeteria must be approved by the logistics department. You can't see a single penny of money in the process, so how can anyone embezzle?

As for the fact that the cook was dishonest and withheld ingredients, the investigation team had absolutely no interest in it.

What business is it of theirs...?

Li Jiuzhou would handle this kind of thing. There's definitely something he can take in the process, probably ingredients, but it's definitely not money.

For Li Jiuzhou, it would be too easy for him to just grab some ingredients; he certainly wouldn't bother with that.

He always pays when he takes something from the warehouse, so he won't leave any evidence against him.

The reason Li Jiuzhou took things from the warehouse was because he didn't want to go to the market to queue up to buy meat.

In short:

You can take it, but there's no need; we're not that poor.