Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

The Jia family stayed at Baiyun Temple for the entire day. It wasn't that they didn't want to leave, but the Taoist priests wouldn't let them.

Such a kind and generous believer is so rare; we must do a good job of maintaining good relationships with them.

Even the old Dharma protector said that if fate allows, Xiaobanggeng should come to the temple to learn the Tao.

When Jia Zhangshi heard this, her face turned pale with fright. This won't do!

They visited Baiyun Temple twice and learned about the temple's situation and history.

Baiyun Temple belongs to the Quanzhen School, and the Taoist priests here are all monks who abstain from meat and fish and do not get married.

If their family's scion came here to learn Taoism, wouldn't their lineage die out?

This was the case, at least since Jia Dongxu and his wife had no other sons.

They unanimously decided that they could no longer bring sticks with them, in case one of them suddenly decided to learn Taoism, and then they would have nowhere to turn to cry.

That evening, the Jia family prepared a sumptuous dinner.

Jia Dongxu kept offering cups of wine to his master, Master Yi, saying nice things and thanking him.

Even Tong Jie and Jia Zhangshi frequently toasted Yi Zhonghai and his wife.

Yi Zhonghai was quite drunk, his eyes were a little blurry. The wine his apprentice offered was delicious, and his words were particularly pleasing to the ear. He was very satisfied!

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, Jia Dongxu took the opportunity to offer some of his own thoughts:

"Master, to be honest, I have something I'd like to ask of you."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai waved his hand with great enthusiasm:

"Hahaha, Dongxu, what's this talk about asking for anything between us, master and disciple? As long as your master can do it, it's no problem. Just tell me."

The three members of the Jia family smiled broadly after hearing Yi Zhonghai's words.

When they were at Baiyun Temple, the old immortal said that he couldn't help Jia Dongxu much if he wanted to improve, but there was someone who could.

They are right beside me, and very close to me.

After hearing the old sage's words, the three members of the Jia family knew without a doubt that the person beside them was Yi Zhonghai; there was no one else.

They also wanted Jia Dongxu to be promoted to a leadership position.

Li Jiuzhou, Sha Zhu, and Xu Damao are all young and leaders, and they are envious, even jealous.

After all, we live in the same compound and see each other all the time. We are a working-class family, but you are a leader.

The key issue is that if you had always been a leader, it would be fine, but you rose to prominence so suddenly that it's hard for them to accept it all at once!

Li Jiuzhou and Sha Zhu are one thing, but since they have strong connections, they'll just accept it.

But what gives you, Xu Damao, the right?

Without a powerful father, how could Xu Fugui possibly survive as a projectionist for so long?

The fact that such an idiot like him could become a leader made the Jia family feel that their Jia Dongxu wasn't so bad after all.

Living in the same courtyard, it's really uncomfortable to be overshadowed by your neighbor...

Seeing his master's generosity, Jia Dongxu was immediately thrilled, but he didn't show it directly. Instead, he wore a bitter expression and sounded somewhat dejected.

"Master, you are one of the liaisons in our institute, and you are highly respected. You are also the liaison for the factory. I am completely willing and have the utmost respect for you as a leader or cadre!"

"But what are Liu Haizhong and Yan Bugui? They wanted to challenge you, Master. I don't know what underhanded methods they used to become cadres."

"I just won't accept it!"

"Hey... Dongxu, what are you saying? Don't say things that are detrimental to unity."

"Master, I was able to become a cadre because of the factory leaders' promotion." Yi Zhonghai's words seemed reproachful, but the smile on his face did not diminish.

"Uh... okay, Master." Jia Dongxu continued:

"But later, I respected Jiuzhou as a leader, after all, besides his second uncle being Director Li, he also made contributions himself."

"I'm not entirely convinced by Sha Zhu; there was definitely an element of luck involved."

"But what about Xu Damao? Look at that smug look on his face. What makes him a leader, especially a deputy section chief?"

"The deputy section chief, Master, is a higher-ranking official than you. He was showing off in front of us last time."

"This can't go on."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai casually remarked:

"So, Dongxu, what exactly are you trying to say after all that?"

After hearing this, Jia Dongxu downed a glass of wine and said to Yi Zhonghai with a serious expression:

"Master, today I asked the old immortal for help to improve my skills, but he said he couldn't help me."

"But he gave me an idea, saying that you could help me."

"Master, please help me, I freaking... I freaking want to improve."

Hearing his apprentice say this, Yi Zhonghai sobered up considerably and looked at Jia Zhangshi and Tong Jie with a questioning gaze, as if seeking confirmation.

The two nodded in unison as they met Yi Zhonghai's gaze, and Jia Zhangshi spoke first:

"Old Yi, Dongxu didn't lie to you. Tong Jie and I were there when he prayed to the old immortal."

Tong Jie then spoke up:

"That's right, Master. We admit that Dongxu's demands are excessive, but we don't want to be overshadowed by Xu Damao and the others."

"If you can lend a hand, please help Dongxu. If he gets better, we'll all be better off."

Yi Zhonghai fell silent. He didn't know what to say. Should he say that Brother Jia was daydreaming and indulging in fantasies?

Given the apprentice's current condition, how can he improve?

Yi Zhonghai had considered having his apprentices also take a work-study program, but how could he do it?

The apprentice's qualifications were clear: while not outstanding, he had gained considerable notoriety at the steel rolling mill, but all in negative news.

If apprentices could all be hired as workers, then even the pigs in steel mills and pig farms could become leaders.

Yi Zhonghai racked his brains but couldn't think of any reason or method to help his apprentice improve.

It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he was powerless to do so.

The steel rolling mill has more than 15,000 employees, including several hundred clerks and staff members. They are the real prospects of the factory and the future leaders.

How dare you, Jia Dongxu, an ordinary fitter, become a cadre!

Unless they make significant contributions like Xu Damao and are promoted by the factory through special procedures.

But it's not that easy. At this time, making a contribution means that opportunities and risks coexist.

If things go wrong, the merits you've achieved will be claimed by your family, while you'll be heading to your coffin.

Yi Zhonghai himself understood even more how difficult it was to become a cadre.

I myself have also put in more than ten or twenty years of effort.

Of course, Yang Ligong's efforts to win them over were also indispensable.

His level eight fitter skill is already quite remarkable; the additional position of deputy workshop director (acting as a substitute for a worker) is merely icing on the cake.

Why are the apprentice's family so eager to improve?

It's all because of jealousy. Of course, having ambition is a good thing, and Yi Zhonghai should not only not discourage him, but should also support him.

Seeing the expectant look in his apprentice's eyes, he spoke:

"Dongxu, I can try to make some connections, but the chances are slim. You'd better not have too high hopes."

"Working hard is the right path. When you become an eighth-level fitter like your master, he'll help you get a cadre position without you even having to ask."

"Even if you were two levels lower, I would still be confident, but you're just a mere level three fitter. I can't help you even if I wanted to."

"You have to be strong yourself to succeed, Dongxu, do you understand?"

Upon hearing Yi Zhonghai's words, the Jia family felt a chill run down their spines, and their faces darkened.

They understand the reasoning, but they just don't want to believe the facts.

They had ambitions that were higher than the sky, but their lives were as fragile as paper!