Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Since Yi Zhonghai took Jia Dongxu as his apprentice, life seems to be getting better and better.

Jia Dongxu's performance was particularly outstanding.

After finishing work and returning home, Jia Dongxu would have a cup of tea, and then go to his master's house to fill the water tank.

Everywhere Jia Dongxu looked, there was life; goodness, he was incredibly diligent!

The neighbors in the courtyard couldn't help but give him a thumbs up when they saw him.

Yi Zhonghai and his wife saw this and were very happy.

Madam Jia didn't mind at all; on the contrary, she smiled and asked her son to help the couple with whatever he could.

Do you know why she did that?

First, she has her own plans.

Secondly, Yi Zhonghai is too generous; every few days, the two families would have a nice meal together.

Why not take advantage of these benefits?

It was his son, not Jia Zhangshi, who did the work.

My son is young and strong; he won't die from doing some work.

Besides, if she didn't take advantage of the situation, she wouldn't be called Jia Zhangshi.

Time flies by, and we are about to welcome the first New Year since the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Both the government and the people attach great importance to this first New Year.

With their new identities, ordinary people also feel a sense of belonging, so naturally they should celebrate properly.

The closer it gets to the end of the year, the more often I have to go out and restock items.

Because Li Jiuzhou's family had a heated brick bed (kang), they had to buy firewood every winter.

He also bought coal, because he got a coal stove, which would be more convenient to use when he had time.

Jia Dongxu is now almost inseparable from Yi Zhonghai.

They were always at the forefront when it came to hauling coal and storing vegetables for winter; they were incredibly diligent.

Given his appearance, Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but treat him well.

Meanwhile, there was a sense of unease within Fengzeyuan, as labor disputes had resurfaced.

But this has nothing to do with the master and his apprentices; they are just paid salaries and don't own any shares.

The atmosphere was just so oppressive.

On the 29th of the lunar year, all industries begin to close for 7 days, which is the only time there are so many days of holiday.

Li Jiuzhou received his salary and Spring Festival benefits at the accounting office.

One pork knuckle, half a mutton, and 50 jin of high-quality flour.

There were also some peach shortbread and dried peanuts.

This is a perk exclusively for chefs at Fengzeyuan.

Sha Zhu received five catties of top-quality pork belly and 20 catties of flour.

The two happily returned to Compound No. 95.

When I arrived at the gate of the compound, I ran into Yan Bugui again.

Upon seeing the two carrying large and small bags, Yan Bugui's eyes lit up again.

"Hey, Kyushu, Zhuzi, are you guys buying New Year's goods?"

"Uncle Yan, I haven't bought any yet. You must have connections at Fengzeyuan, and it'll be cheaper. Why don't you buy some for Uncle Yan too?"

Sha Zhu sneered upon hearing this:

"Hehe, Yan Bugui, what are you thinking? The benefits we brothers are holding are from Fengzeyuan."

"Didn't the school give you any New Year's benefits?"

"No way? You're not even as good as me, the cook?"

"Then why don't you just quit teaching and learn a trade from me?"

Sha Zhu's mouth is as sharp as ever; everyone calls Yan Bugui by name, and he keeps saying things like, "You're nothing!"

"Hehehe..."

Li Jiuzhou didn't want to laugh, but he couldn't help it because of Sha Zhu's tone.

Yan Bugui was furious:

"You idiot Zhu...you're an insult to civility!"

He was genuinely furious. How could a mere teenager, a chef's apprentice, dare to address him by his full name?

They have no respect for themselves at all.

"Hehe, what's wrong with you guys, making such a fuss?"

Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu happened to come in from outside the gate and couldn't help but ask Yan Bugui, who was furious.

Yan Bugui seemed to have seen a savior and stepped forward with an innocent look on his face, saying:

"Old Yi, I just asked Sha Zhu where he got the thing he has."

"He called me by my full name and even told me to quit teaching and learn cooking from him."

"I am his elder, how can he call me by my full name? It's an insult to his manners."

"Outsiders would think that the people in our compound are impolite."

Yan Bugui's words greatly displeased the two fellow disciples.

Sha Zhu was about to rush up and punch him.

"Yan Bugui, what nonsense are you spouting? You think you can be my elder?"

"Should we ask my dad if he agrees?"

"I usually don't bother with you, but you just keep going on and on."

Yan Bugui spread his hands:

"Old Yi, look at Sha Zhu like that..."

Yi Zhonghai still wore a kind smile on his face:

"Old Yan, Zhuzi is still young, why bother arguing with him about these things?"

"I watched Zhu Zi grow up, I know him like the back of my hand, you must have said something that Zhu Zi doesn't like to hear."

"You'll understand in time."

Sha Zhu laughed and echoed:

"My Uncle Yi is always fair in his dealings."

"Your family, Yan Bugui, has only been in this courtyard for a few days, and you already think you can lecture me?"

"I'm telling you, not a chance!"

Li Jiuzhou was very satisfied with Yi Zhonghai's words.

That's just how things are. Our families have lived in No. 95 Courtyard for so many years. You, Yan Bugui, have only been here a short time and you already want to boss us around?

Yi Zhonghai's words just now conveyed the same meaning, indicating a degree of xenophobia.

Yan Bugui's face was very ugly. They're all trying to argue with me, aren't they?

The group looked at him with mocking expressions, wanting to raise their fists and fight, but then they realized they were too weak to win.

Enraged, Yan Bugui could only wave his sleeves:

"Fine, I won't argue with you. It would be beneath our dignity..."

He was still furious when he got home.

His wife, seeing this, asked:

"What's wrong, honey?"

Yan Bugui sighed and recounted what had just happened.

"Isn't this just bullying us? Just because we're new here?"

Sure enough, Yan Bugui's wife was just like him.

"Hmph, they'll learn my lesson sooner or later!"

"A bunch of peasants, how can they compare to me? We are a family of scholars."

"Yes, yes, they're just a bunch of peasants..."

The couple was very arrogant, and Yang Meihua often boasted in the courtyard that their family was a prominent and wealthy household.

He may appear kind on the surface, but his arrogance is something he can't fake.

The neighbors in the courtyard aren't stupid either; your family's disdain is practically overflowing.

If you're so awesome, why are you living in a crowded tenement?

They want to live in a detached house, yet they keep claiming to be from a scholarly family, but the things they do are the opposite.

If someone is nice, they'll just grab someone at the door and ask them.

Seeing something in your hand and still wanting to touch it, is that something a teacher should do?

Therefore, Yan Bugui and his wife are not popular with their neighbors.

So what if you're a teacher?

I'll still mess with you even if I don't like you!

Yan Bugui also wanted to do something to make the peasants in the courtyard realize the importance of him as a cultured person.

He quickly came up with a solution.

In the afternoon, he prepared some things, laid them out in the front yard, and said he would write Spring Festival couplets for the neighbors for free.

Upon hearing about this good news, the neighbors in the courtyard hurriedly went to get the cut-out red paper and came to the front yard.

Yan Bugui's moment to show off had arrived, and he actually wrote couplets for his neighbors for free.

Of course, some neighbors are quite particular and don't appreciate money; they give peanuts and dried fruit as a reward.

Once someone starts something, others follow suit, none of them wanting to get something for nothing from Yan Bugui.

This made Yan Bugui extremely happy. See, it's true that intellectuals like us can get by!

Li Jiuzhou had already prepared for the Spring Festival and didn't need Yan Bugui's help to write it.

Yi Zhonghai and the Jia family had already prepared the Spring Festival couplets, so they didn't need to trouble Yan Bugui.

This disappointed Yan Bugui somewhat; he had hoped to show off in front of the wealthy families in the courtyard, but unfortunately, he hadn't succeeded...