Courtyard House: The Chef's Intelligence System

During their conversation, Li Jiuzhou learned that Fan Bingbing was an employee of a textile factory, and that her parents were still alive and she had two younger brothers.

As for academic qualifications?

It's obvious she has no talent for studying, much like Bingbing in her previous life.

Li Jiuzhou pushed the cart while she walked alongside him.

Li Jiuzhou kept glancing at her sideways. She wore a floral dress, had fair skin, and large eyes. Li Jiuzhou couldn't help but swallow hard again...

Fan Bingbing seemed to notice Li Jiuzhou's actions, her face flushed, and she wanted to scold the hooligan as usual, but she couldn't say the words.

She seemed a little reluctant to scold Li Jiuzhou.

Seeing the conflicted look on her face, Li Jiuzhou immediately realized what was going on:

"Comrade Bingbing, a girl as beautiful as you, your doorstep must be worn down by matchmakers, right?"

Fan Bingbing was secretly delighted. She had heard compliments about her beauty since she was a child and was already immune to them.

But since the speaker was Li Jiuzhou, she was quite happy to hear it.

Fan Bingbing nodded slightly without refuting it; the matchmaker had indeed worn out their doorstep.

I really can't bring myself to be humble...

Seeing her nod, Li Jiuzhou's heart tightened:

"Did your family agree to it, or did they arrange any kind of betrothal for you when you were young?"

Fan Bingbing looked at Li Jiuzhou with a puzzled expression:

Why are you asking this?

"Of course I hope you don't have a boyfriend, otherwise what am I supposed to do?" Li Jiuzhou joked.

"Pfft..." Fan Bingbing was amused by his words.

"What do you mean, 'what are you going to do'? Do you think I can control you?"

"What if I had a boyfriend/girlfriend? Tell me, what would you do?"

Li Jiuzhou stopped in his tracks:

"Of course I'll pick up a hoe and dig hard! Nothing is impossible for a willing heart."

"No wall is too high to break down if you swing your hoe well enough!"

"You...you're spouting nonsense..." Fan Bingbing was speechless, unsure how to refute him.

Li Jiuzhou smiled:

"Haha, then tell me quickly, do you have a boyfriend or not?"

Fan Bingbing turned to look at Li Jiuzhou, and seeing his piercing gaze and smiling face, she suddenly felt a tremor in her heart, her cheeks and ears burning, and blurted out:

"I don't have a boyfriend, are you satisfied now!"

After she finished speaking, she walked quickly forward, seemingly shy.

Li Jiuzhou was satisfied and didn't want to ask any more questions.

People in this era are relatively conservative, and it's not appropriate for young men and women to talk too much, unless they are officially dating.

Li Jiuzhou quickly caught up with him and then chatted casually.

As they walked, the two unknowingly arrived near Fengzeyuan.

Fan Bingbing looked at the plaque of Fengzeyuan and bit her lip, saying:

"Let me treat you to dinner at Fengzeyuan Restaurant," Fan Bingbing suddenly said.

Li Jiuzhou was stunned:

"Comrade Bingbing, Fengzeyuan isn't cheap. How about we go somewhere else?"

"Oh, I do have some money, you...you can order whatever you like..."

Fan Bingbing originally wanted to say that she had some money, and that as long as you ordered the food carefully, there would be no problem.

But she still didn't say the rest. The other person saved her, and treating them to a meal was a way of expressing her gratitude. If she were to restrict them, what would that be?

Li Jiuzhou thought about it and decided he couldn't refuse her, so he agreed.

"Alright then, thank you in advance, Comrade Bingbing."

As soon as we arrived at the entrance of Fengzeyuan, a waiter came forward to greet us.

Upon seeing that it was Li Jiuzhou with a beautiful female comrade, he smiled and was about to greet her warmly when Li Jiuzhou winked at him.

The waiter's eyes darted around and he instantly understood:

"Would you two like to have dinner? Please come in..."

"Would you like a private room?"

Li Jiuzhou was about to suggest a private room when Fan Bingbing spoke first.

"Let's sit in the lobby, please give us a good spot."

"Alright..."

The two sat down one after the other, and the waiter served them tea, the finest West Lake Longjing.

It's only around 4 pm, not yet lunchtime.

At this moment, a group of people were hiding behind the hall, secretly watching.

I just heard from the waiter that their Mr. Fish brought a beautiful girl to dinner.

Mr. Yu seemed unwilling to reveal his identity, and this drama immediately piqued the interest of all the employees at Fengzeyuan.

Sha Zhu, relying on his strength, secured the best viewing angle. Upon seeing Fan Bingbing opposite his senior brother, he immediately exclaimed in surprise:

"Holy crap, this woman is so beautiful!"

"My senior brother is really awesome..."

When Li Tielong heard that his apprentice had brought a female comrade to dinner, he came over to take a look.

Li Tielong smiled at just one glance and said loudly:

"Zhu Zi, help your master. Your senior brother finally got to invite a lady to dinner, so we can't let him down. Your master will personally cook a couple of dishes for him."

Sha Zhu grinned:

"Alright, Master!"

Fan Bingbing generously ordered food from Li Jiuzhou.

Li Jiuzhou did not refuse and, after inquiring about Fan Bingbing's dietary restrictions, ordered several dishes.

These are all signature dishes of Fengzeyuan.

葱烧海参

九转大肠

Pickled fish

Cuttlefish Egg Soup

Three dishes and one soup.

Once all the dishes were served, the two started showing off.

Fan Bingbing ate while calculating her money, and once she felt she had enough, she happily continued eating.

A short while later, the waiter brought up three more dishes.

Braised prawns, stir-fried pork kidneys, and Kongfu-style hot pot.

Fan Bingbing was stunned, and said to Li Jiuzhou:

"I don't recall you ordering these dishes?"

Before Li Jiuzhou could speak, the waiter spoke for him:

"Yes, you two didn't order it; it was a gift from Fengzeyuan."

"Please enjoy your meal..."

"This..." Fan Bingbing's brain went blank again. What's going on?

Li Jiuzhou waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't worry, since they sent it, let's eat it. Eat with peace of mind, don't worry, I'm here..."

"Oh..." After hearing Li Jiuzhou's words, Fan Bingbing felt a strange sense of security, so she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

Just by looking at the dishes on the table, Li Jiuzhou knew they were made by his master, and he smiled with gratitude.

Fan Bingbing was secretly watching Li Jiuzhou when she saw him smile and asked:

"Comrade Li Jiuzhou, what are you laughing at?"

"Oh, right, I haven't asked you what you do for a living yet."

Li Jiuzhou put down his chopsticks:

"I wasn't laughing at anything. I'm just a chef, a chef who cooks!"

"Um?"

Fan Bingbing wasn't stupid. She recalled that after entering Fengzeyuan, some staff members had been intentionally or unintentionally loitering around their table and even bringing them dishes.

Li Jiuzhou then said he was a chef, and even if Fan Bingbing was naive, she would have guessed it:

"Do you work at Fengzeyuan?"

"Yes, that's why I told you to eat without worry, to treat yourself like you're at home."

"Are you Mr. Fish?" Fan Bingbing asked in surprise, her eyes wide.

Li Jiuzhou waved his hand, feigning humility, and said:

"It's all thanks to the brothers in the underworld for praising me. You flatter me, you flatter me, hahaha..."

Fan Bingbing first rolled her eyes at Li Jiuzhou, then smiled.

She had certainly heard of Mr. Yu from Fengzeyuan Restaurant, and it wasn't like she hadn't eaten there before; her family could afford it.