Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

Back home, Yan Bugui didn't rest. He spent money to get a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of Moutai from Da Hu.

After dinner, he took Yan Jie to Li Jiuzhou's house across the street.

Li Jiuzhou's lips twitched slightly as he looked at the familiar cigarettes and Moutai on the table.

Isn't this something I made?

The packaging was slightly damaged, which he must have done by accident. How did it end up back?

However, Li Jiuzhou still had to feign surprise:

"Uncle Yan, it's a bit much for you to send me these things when it's not a holiday or festival."

"Okay, you tell me what you need first, and if I can't do it, you can take the item."

Yan Bugui naturally did not hide anything from Li Jiuzhou and told him about his experience that day.

"I see. It is indeed difficult. After all, the leaders take things like family background very seriously."

"Moreover, if the ingredients are not good, it's even difficult to become a factory worker."

Li Jiuzhou was not surprised; in fact, he found it somewhat laughable.

You, Yan Jiecheng, want to be a leader?

It's like trying to fly before it's even fully grown; it's truly ignorant of its own limitations.

Yan Bugui then said somewhat embarrassedly:

"Jiuzhou, I know, and we don't want to think about it anymore. Now, let's talk about whether you can take him on as a disciple and train him!"

Li Jiuzhou's face revealed a cold glint:

"Hehe, that's impossible. Your background is not good. If I take you as my apprentice, it will affect my career."

"And the price your family can't afford for me to take on apprentices."

Faced with Li Jiuzhou's sudden outburst of power, the Yan family father and son felt their breathing become somewhat rapid.

Yan Bugui hadn't considered that possibility.

Yan Jiecheng, on the other hand, believed that Li Jiuzhou was making excuses; the father and son each had their own thoughts.

Yan Bugui's expression was somewhat somber:

"Jiuzhou, I'm sorry to have bothered you today. Jiecheng, let's head back now."

After saying that, he got up to leave.

"Uncle Yan, I can't handle this. Take the things back with you," Li Jiuzhou reminded him.

Yan Bugui did not turn around immediately after hearing this, but considered it for a moment, and then showed a look of heartache on his face.

But as soon as he turned around, he immediately resumed his nonchalant smile:

"Jiuzhou, there's no reason to take back something once it's been given away. Keep it for yourself; I have more at home."

Li Jiuzhou laughed when he heard this. He wanted to see Yan Bugui pretend to be something he wasn't capable of. It was really interesting.

"Oh dear, this won't do. There's an old saying that you can't accept a reward without merit. No way, I can't take it!" Li Jiuzhou pretended to pull at him.

Yan Jiecheng couldn't hold back any longer; he wanted to get it back—that was money, 56 yuan!

Why should Li Jiuzhou accept his gift if the matter wasn't resolved?

For such a small amount of money, he caught countless frogs, committing a great sin!

Hearing Li Jiuzhou decline, he wished he could take it immediately, but he dared not do so without his father's permission.

"Since you've got Jiuzhou, just accept it. We're going back now." After saying that, Yan Bugui grabbed his son and left without looking back, afraid that he might not be able to resist taking it back.

He could have done it before, but he really couldn't do it with Li Jiuzhou.

Wouldn't that be a joke?

What will the neighbors think of him in the future?

If we take it back, we'll really offend Li Jiuzhou, no doubt about it!

Li Jiuzhou didn't care about these things; whether Yan Bugui took them or left them, it wouldn't cause him any ripples.

These two things are precious to others, but they are nothing to him.

Once home, Yan Jiecheng couldn't hold back any longer; he was bursting with grievances he needed to vent.

"Dad, if Li Jiuzhou isn't going to help us, why is he leaving these things behind? These Zhonghua cigarettes and Moutai liquor are so expensive!"

Yan Bugui gave him a cold look:

"Shut up! You're young and don't know any better, but does that mean your dad doesn't know any better either?"

There's a reason why things are left behind; besides, there's no reason to take back what's given away.

"When we went to Li Jiuzhou's house, quite a few neighbors saw us carrying things inside."

"What will the neighbors think if you bring it back? Will you even be able to show your face in the yard anymore?"

"It's only worth a few dozen yuan, so it's gone. It's not like we're giving it away to someone else. Giving it to Li Jiuzhou wouldn't be a loss for us."

"Jiecheng, you need to know that there are too many people who want to give gifts to Li Jiuzhou, and some of them don't even have the right to come to his door."

"He is the highest-ranking leader in our compound. He will never stand idly by if anything serious happens to any of us neighbors."

"If you get your things back today, don't expect him to help us anymore, do you understand?"

"I got this position as the head of the teaching department thanks to his guidance; he's really capable."

"You're still too young!"

Yan Jiecheng also fell silent at this moment. He was just worried about the money and didn't think as deeply as his father.

"Dad, what should we do? Can I still work as a factory worker?"

"Li Jiuzhou also said that our family has a bad class background. Let alone getting a job as a clerk in a factory, it's even difficult to get a job as a worker now."

Yan Bugui waved his hand:

"There's nothing difficult about it. You're guaranteed to become a worker; it's just that the price is a bit high."

"I'm thinking it will cost more than a regular workstation."

Yan Jiecheng clicked his tongue: "How much money would it cost to get that done?"

Yan Jiecheng no longer wanted to be a leader; he was just grateful to be able to work in the factory as a laborer.

"I'm going to talk to Lao Yi. You can stay home and relax." After saying that, Yan Bugui went to find Yi Zhonghai.

When Yan Bugui explained the matter, Yi Zhonghai did not immediately agree, saying he would have to ask.

Yi Zhonghai was an honest man. Once he agreed, he would definitely ask questions, and the result was that his background was not good and he did not recommend recruiting him into the factory.

Of course, Yi Zhonghai also asked the leaders what price was required for Yan Bugui.

Simple, 1000 yuan!

When honest man Yi Zhonghai returned home in the evening, he told Yan Bugui, "It's very simple, 1800 yuan!"

After hearing this, Yan Bugui turned around and went to Liu Haizhong's house to ask for his help.

Liu Haizhong is also a fairly honest person. Like Yi Zhonghai, he will definitely do what he promises.

The manager replied that it was simple and could be done for 1200.

Back home, Liu Haizhong also gave Yan Bugui a piece of advice:

"Easy, it can be done for 2000 yuan!"

Yan Bugui was so angry he almost vomited blood. He thought Liu Haizhong was treating him like a pig to be slaughtered. After hearing Liu Haizhong's words, he turned around and left.

Liu Haizhong sighed inwardly, "Why are you leaving? We can talk about the price if it's not right."

That bastard Lao Yi, if he wants to earn 800 from others, then it's not unreasonable for me to earn 800 too!

They were fully aware of Yan Bugui's series of actions; they were betting that he had no connections, so they wanted to take advantage of him.

But this old guy isn't taking the bait. However, since your family's political background isn't good, the neighborhood committee won't even give your son a second glance.

If you weren't a teacher, you wouldn't even be qualified to be a liaison officer.

In desperation, Yan Bugui turned to Xu Damao again and asked him to handle the matter.

Xu Damao wouldn't dare get involved, not even if offered money.

If the Yan family had a good social standing, Xu Damao would have taken a little money and done it; it wasn't a big deal.

But people with bad class backgrounds are quite troublesome; if something goes wrong, Xu Damao will be responsible.

For several days in a row, Yan Bugui repeatedly ran into obstacles, and he really had no other choice but to become somewhat withdrawn.