Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

"Old Yi, what do you say?" Jia Zhangshi asked.

Yi Zhonghai pondered for a moment before speaking:

"Since the old sage has predicted it accurately, let's do as he says. You should take some time to visit Baiyun Temple again. Be sure to be sincere; it really can save lives."

"We'll do whatever the old sage says!"

Then he looked at Jia Dongxu:

"Dongxu, don't be afraid. What's a little hardship? As long as you're still alive, everything will be alright."

"This time, let's ask the old sage for advice. Hopefully, nothing else will go wrong. We'll ask him to draw a peace charm or something."

Jia Dongxu nodded after hearing this. He had already accepted his fate. The old sage had predicted it and it had come true. What was there for him not to accept?

He then instructed his wife, Tong Jie:

"Honey, let's cook together with Mom tomorrow, make lots of Sachima (a type of Chinese pastry), and bring extra money with us. I've noticed the immortals at Baiyun Temple are living rather frugally, so let's do our part!"

Tong Jie nodded in agreement:

"Okay, Dongxu, I'll start making it with Mom tomorrow."

After listening to his apprentice's words, Yi Zhonghai nodded in satisfaction and took out one hundred yuan from his pocket and handed it to Jia Dongxu.

"Dongxu, here you go. Your master will also help you with some of the food."

Jia Dongxu quickly waved his hand in refusal:

"Master, you've already helped me enough, I can't possibly take your money back. Please take it back."

Yi Zhonghai's eyes widened, and his tone became a bit harsher:

"Just take it, listen to me!"

"This..." Jia Dongxu hesitated.

It was Aunt Yi who spoke up:

"Dongxu, we're all family, why be so formal? In Lao Yi's and my hearts, you're our son. What's wrong with giving you money to help with household expenses!"

"Listen to me, put the money away safely."

Jia Dongxu was so moved that tears streamed down his face, and he choked out:

"Master... Mistress... I, Jia Dongxu, am so fortunate to have met elders like you. I don't know how much good karma I accumulated in my past life, sob sob sob..."

Yi Zhonghai smiled; he knew exactly when to make his move.

"Hey, child, why are you saying all this? If there's nothing else, your master's wife and I will go back to our room to sleep. Let's prepare more these next few days."

"Um……"

After the couple left, Jia Zhangshi couldn't wait to start sighing, her tone tinged with envy and a hint of jealousy:

"Old Yi is fucking rich. He can pull out a hundred dollars without batting an eye."

"I reckon his savings are close to ten thousand!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu and his wife felt a strange stirring within them, a mixture of surprise and envy...

However, Jia Dongxu felt he still needed to remind his mother:

"Mom, please be more polite and respectful to my master in the future. He has been truly devoted to us."

"Without my mentor's help, we don't know what our family would be like."

Upon hearing this, Jia Zhangshi gave her son a disdainful smile:

"Heh, who are you to remind me?"

"I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice, and you're lecturing me like this."

"Mom, I didn't, I..." Jia Dongxu was interrupted by Jia Zhangshi before he could finish speaking.

"Alright, alright, I get what you mean, but I didn't expect Lao Yi to be this awesome now, sigh..."

After hearing this, Jia Dongxu and Tong Jie both felt that their mother's words had a hidden meaning.

"Mom, what do you mean?" Tong Jie asked humbly.

When her daughter-in-law asked, Jia Zhangshi's face showed a look of recollection:

"Back then, Lao Yi and Lao Jia entered the steel rolling mill together. They got in through connections from the old lady in the backyard, and they were apprenticed to the same master."

"Both of them are quite talented. If Lao Jia were still here, they would probably have a good chance of being promoted to level seven fitter now."

"But ultimately, he can't compare to Lao Yi. Look at him, he's an eighth-level fitter now!"

"The entire steel rolling mill has fewer than 10 people. That's incredibly impressive, and now he's even a manager."

"If Lao Yi's career goes smoothly, he might even become a high-ranking leader before retiring at 60!"

Jia Zhangshi's words were astonishing, leaving Tong Jie and Jia Dongxu speechless.

This also filled the two of them with endless reverie...

It's good that Yi Zhonghai has become a high-ranking leader, especially for the Jia family, since the couple has no descendants!

Once this person leaves, everything belongs to the Jia family, but there's one condition: Jia Dongxu absolutely must not die before Yi Zhonghai, otherwise everything could change.

For a better future and for their son to succeed, Tong Jie earnestly said to her husband:

"Dongxu, for the sake of this family and the children, you absolutely cannot have anything happen to you again."

"Your legs will definitely be broken in three years. You can lie in bed for a year if you want; Mom and I will take care of you then!"

After listening to his wife's words, and for the sake of his family, Jia Dongxu gritted his teeth:

"Fine, if you want to interrupt, then interrupt, Mom. You can do it yourself then!"

Madam Jia was stunned for a moment, then said with a bitter face:

"Why do you make me do it again? How can I bear to do it, Dongxu? Let Lao Yi do it. He's strong enough. It'll save you from suffering more if Mom doesn't finish it the first time."

Jia Dongxu also thought it made sense:

"Alright, we'll talk about it later."

The whole family went to sleep after the meeting.

The next day, the Jia family started making Sachima again. When the neighbors asked, they gave the same excuse: they didn't want to act anymore.

On the morning of their day off, they left their two children in the care of Yi Zhonghai and his wife, and the three of them, carrying large and small bags, rode two bicycles to Baiyun Temple.

At the same time, just as Baiyun Temple opened, the three arrived and were naturally warmly welcomed once again.

When Tong Jie gave them 100 jin of Sachima and put 200 yuan into the donation box, the Taoist priests were all excited.

In the same courtyard, the old protector answered the three's questions:

"Hehehe, how was it? Was my prediction accurate?"

"That's incredibly accurate, old sage..." Jia Dongxu excitedly recounted his ordeal.

Then he cried out to the old immortal to save his life and to spare him from so much suffering.

The old protector nodded upon hearing this:

"No problem, doing as the old Taoist priest says will surely save your life."

"You won't encounter any major disasters in the next three years." Seemingly sensing Jia Dongxu's innermost thoughts, the old protector continued:

"If you're worried, Brother Dongxu, then this old Taoist priest will draw some peace talismans for you and your family to ensure your safety!"

"That's wonderful, thank you so much, old sage!" Jia Dongxu quickly expressed his gratitude, then looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Does Brother Dongxu have something else to discuss?" the old protector asked.

Jia Dongxu gave an awkward laugh, took out a cigarette, lit it for him, and started smoking himself.

Seeing this, Jia Zhangshi also started ordering; they were used to it.

"Old Immortal, to be honest, I do have some ideas," Jia Dongxu said somewhat embarrassedly.

The old immortal smiled slightly upon seeing this:

"It's alright, as long as it's not anything serious, I'll take care of everything for you."

Upon hearing this, Jia Dongxu was overjoyed and immediately recounted the rumors that their courtyard was a place of auspicious feng shui, as well as the fact that all the neighbors had become cadres.

"Don't laugh at me, old sage, but I freaking... I freaking desperately want to improve!"

Upon hearing this, the old protector burst into hearty laughter:

"Hahahaha..."

"I can't do this for you!"

"Uh..." Jia Dongxu was embarrassed, as were Tong Jie and Jia Zhangshi.

The old sage's words shattered their hopes.

The old protector cursed inwardly:

"You guys are insatiable! You should be grateful you're alive. Now you want to be leaders? I want to be the president! Who am I supposed to talk to? Damn it!"

"It can be done, the old Taoist priest can definitely do it, but why can't he do anything?"

However, since he had already received so much money as offerings, he felt he could offer some advice, so he spoke up:

"Brother Dongxu, I can resolve any troubles you may have; that's my livelihood. But if you want to improve, I think you've chosen the wrong path."

"Of course, I, an old Taoist priest, can't help you, but someone can. That person is right beside you, and very close to you."

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Figure it out yourselves!"

The three members of the Jia family understood what the old protector was saying. That person was none other than Yi Zhonghai. They weren't stupid!

Madam Jia bowed deeply to the old protector with great sincerity:

"Thank you, old sage! From now on, this old woman will come to the temple every month to offer incense and pray for blessings!"

The old protector stroked his beard and nodded in satisfaction, uttering a few words:

"Very good!"