Courtyard House: The Fisherman Never Goes Sick

Xue Hongmei worked quickly and efficiently, and soon the dishes were on the table.

Yang Wei, quick as a flash, opened the bottle and poured wine, first filling a glass for the old man, then pouring one for himself, and said with a grin, "Master, would you like to try some? See if this cooking meets your standards?"

Before even taking a bite, Yang Wei already had a good idea of ​​what to expect. Although Xue Hongmei wasn't quite at the level of a professional chef in a high-end restaurant, her home-style dishes were quite presentable, with glossy colors, neat knife skills, and a pleasant, homely aroma.

Yang Wei picked up a piece with his chopsticks and tasted it. He nodded slightly and thought to himself: Not bad, it's interesting.

To everyone's surprise, the old man picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and his face instantly turned black. He then spat it out onto the ground with a "pfft".

"Pah! What kind of crap is this?! Is it for feeding pigs?"

The old man was furious. He slammed his chopsticks on the table, pointed to the door, and yelled, "Get out of here! You think you can serve me with this? Are you trying to make my life difficult?!"

Xue Hongmei's face turned pale instantly. This was the first time in all these years that she had been so openly humiliated. She had kindly cooked a meal, only to be called pig swill—who could bear such an injustice? Her eyes reddened, and she turned to leave.

"Hey, Sister Xue, don't go, don't go!"

Yang Wei reacted quickly, grabbing Xue Hongmei and lowering his voice apologetically, "Please don't take it to heart. The old man is just being stubborn and doesn't want to be served. It's not that your cooking is bad. I've tasted it all, and it's really authentic. Please wait a moment, I'll go and talk to him."

Seeing Yang Wei's sincere plea to stay, and considering the twenty yuan salary, Xue Hongmei bit her lip and stopped.

Yang Wei turned around and approached the old man, smiling ingratiatingly, "Master..."

"Don't call me master! You are my master!" The old man said coldly, not even lifting his eyelids. "What? I don't need anyone to serve me, but you insist on forcing one on me. Are you challenging me?"

"How could I! I wouldn't dare challenge you even if you gave me the guts!" Yang Wei quickly explained, "Master, do you know what Sister Xue does? She's a proper professional, a pillar of the commune's cultural troupe, specializing in playing Sister Aqing! Don't you usually enjoy listening to opera? I'll have her sing a few lines for you, you can listen?"

"The commune's cultural troupe?" The old man glanced at him sideways. "Who are you trying to fool? What cultural troupe did the commune have?"

Yang Wei didn't waste any words. Anyone recommended by Director Wang must be quite capable. He turned to Xue Hongmei and winked, "Sister Xue, why don't you say a few words and let the old man see what you're made of!"

Although Xue Hongmei was still unhappy, she cleared her throat and started singing for the sake of her work.

"Clang... Clang—"

"Build a seven-star stove, boil water from the three rivers in a copper kettle. Set up an eight-immortal table, entertain guests from all directions. All who come are guests, all depends on a good mouth..."

The moment that shout rang out, the old man, who had been keeping a stern face, immediately relaxed.

The sounds of Beijing dialect filled the room instantly. The old man's eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers tapping gently on his knees in rhythm, his face showing pure enjoyment.

Upon seeing this, Yang Wei's smile immediately stretched to his ears. This is what you call catering to someone's tastes! The old man's three greatest loves in life are wine, antiques, and Peking Opera, and Yang Wei has truly figured them out.

After he finished singing, Yang Wei leaned over and asked in a cheeky tone, "Master, how was it? Was it good?"

"Yes, that's the taste." The old man nodded without even lifting his eyelids.

"So...the person stayed behind?"

"So that's how it is!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Wei felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.

After Xue Hongmei finished singing, Yang Wei told the old man to drink slowly and then pulled Xue Hongmei to a side room next door.

"Sister Xue, you've seen Grandpa's temper, he's all bark and no bite." Yang Wei took out ten yuan and a handful of grain coupons and handed them over. "From now on, you'll do more and talk less. Cook for Grandpa on time, wash his clothes, and tidy up the yard. If he wants to hear some music, sing him a couple of lines. I'll pay your salary at the beginning of each month, this is an advance on living expenses, the money for buying vegetables and rice will come from here, if it's not enough, just tell me."

Looking at the money and food coupons in her hand, Xue Hongmei nodded with emotion: "Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of the old man and will never take your money for nothing."

This is the honesty of country folk, Yang Wei thought to himself.

That evening, Yang Wei accompanied the old man as they drank until the moon rose high in the sky.

As Yang Wei was putting on his coat, he said, "Master, I probably won't be able to come over for the next few days. A leader has recommended me to be the head chef at a state banquet for the National Day holiday, so I need to go back and prepare. Please bear with me, and once I'm done with this, I'll come and have a drink with you every day."

"A state banquet? You?" The old man was stunned for a moment, and the wine glass in his hand stopped in mid-air.

"What? Afraid your apprentice will embarrass you?" Yang Wei rolled his eyes.

"Your skills are nothing special," the old man snorted, pointing to the old cabinet in the room. "There's a book in the second drawer over there. Take a look yourself, but don't embarrass yourself."

Yang Wei's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly went over and opened the cabinet door. Inside lay a yellowed ancient book.

When Yang Wei picked it up and took a look, his eyes widened instantly.

"This is……"

"Do you know who wrote 'The Secrets of Food and Diet'?" the old man asked casually.

"Oh my god! It was written by Zhu Yizun! This is a treasure! I've been looking for this book for so long, I never expected you to have such a rare copy!" Yang Wei was so excited that his hands were trembling.

"Good to know. Take it and get lost. If you embarrass me at the state banquet, I'll break your legs when you get back."

"Alright! Just you wait and see, I won't let you down!"

After saying that, Yang Wei stuffed the book into his coat pocket and slipped away as fast as he could, afraid that the old man would change his mind and take the book back if he was too late.

This "Shi Xian Hong Mi" is a comprehensive compilation of Qing Dynasty culinary culture, containing more than 360 kinds of dishes and pastries. If you master it, not only will your knife skills reach the highest level, but your seasoning will also reach the pinnacle.

With this secret manual, the task of being a chef at state banquets is a sure thing!

As night deepened, the courtyard house became quiet.

Back inside, Yang Wei carefully put away the book "The Secrets of Food" with a look of treasuring. This was a genuine Qing Dynasty culinary classic, practically a rare and precious book in those days.

The old lady had already gone to bed, so to avoid waking her, Yang Wei didn't go to the outer room but simply washed up in the kitchen. After tidying himself up, he quietly slipped into the bedroom.

As soon as I entered the room, I saw Lou Xiao'e leaning against the headboard, holding a history book that he often read, engrossed in it.

"Oh my, is my wife going to become a female scholar? That's a good sign!" Yang Wei joked with a smile, taking off his shoes and getting into bed.

"Get lost, who wants to be a female scholar?" Lou Xiao'e said, putting her book aside as he came in and giving him a disdainful look. "I just don't understand, don't you get bored reading this dry and tedious stuff every day?"

"That's what they call 'one man's meat, another man's poison.'" Yang Wei leaned closer to her, his tone softening. "Some people like smoking and drinking, some like watching movies, but I love delving into these old books. Looking at those historical stories and records of antiques, I feel incredibly small. The smaller I feel, the more I want to explore them. That feeling of discovering a treasure in a book and then matching it with reality is truly wonderful."

"Were you like this before you met me?" Lou Xiao'e asked, turning her head curiously.

"I've been like this since I was little. I want to look at any piece of paper with writing on it. I would look for the real objects in real life based on what was written in the books. It was like solving a case, and it was quite interesting," Yang Wei recalled with a smile.

The two chatted casually, reminiscing about the past, and their hearts drew closer together.

"Oh, by the way, honey, yesterday at the big boss's house, I saw something really rare—a gramophone. I even heard a rendition of 'Symphony No. 5,' and the sound was absolutely amazing! I'd only ever read about it in books before; this was truly an eye-opener." Yang Wei said excitedly, as if he'd just remembered something. "Once I've gotten to know the big boss better in a few days, I'll try to borrow it for you. You've been wanting to hear about that gramophone in Dad's study, haven't you?"

"Really?" Lou Xiao'e's eyes lit up, then she became worried. "But those are valuable items. Would a high-ranking leader just lend them to us like that?"

"Don't worry, a living person won't die from holding their pee, right? At worst, I'll cook a few more meals for the big boss. With my skills, borrowing a gramophone is a piece of cake. Just wait and see," Yang Wei assured him, patting his chest.

"Hehe, my husband is the best, he loves me the most!" Lou Xiao'e felt a sweet warmth in her heart and giggled as she threw herself into Yang Wei's arms. Calling someone "husband" in private was a rare thing these days; most people would call them "that person" or address them by their first name. Only Yang Wei did it.

"Knowing I'm good to you, then today, shall we..." Yang Wei chuckled, his hands beginning to wander restlessly over Lou Xiao'e's waist.

"Ugh, you're so annoying! All you ever think about is this!" Lou Xiao'e blushed, and although she scolded him, her body went limp, and she half-heartedly gave in to him.

One night of passion, and ten thousand words are omitted here...

……

The next morning, the sky was clear and the air was crisp.

Yang Wei got out of bed feeling refreshed, humming a little tune as he went to prepare breakfast. Everything was on track; his cash was increasing, and his experience points and skill points were steadily improving. Life was getting better and better.

In the factory canteen, Qin Huairu and Han Rui were full of energy, especially after hearing that Yang Wei was going to choose an apprentice to pass on his real skills, the two put in even more effort to perform.

Time flies like an arrow; three days have passed in the blink of an eye.

After three days of observation, Yang Wei had already made up his mind. To his surprise, the one with the highest culinary talent was actually Han Rui, the seemingly simple-minded, chubby girl.

Don't let her plump figure fool you; she's incredibly efficient and skilled at her job. Her culinary talent far surpasses everyone else's. Even seasoned veterans like Liu Lan, who's watched Yang Wei and Sha Zhu cook in the cafeteria for years, can't compare to her.

When Yang Wei cooks a dish, most people who watch him make it can only stammer and give a half-baked answer when asked. Only Han Rui can explain the whole process, the cooking time, and the seasoning in a very clear and accurate way, and she gets almost everything right.

This discovery caught Yang Wei's attention, and he made sure Han Rui stood at the front to observe. Those around them noticed and understood that Yang Wei probably already had someone in mind, but no one gave up and they continued to learn diligently.

Yang Wei also made significant progress in these three days, finally achieving a breakthrough in his skills—his knife skills officially reached the top level.

[Host: Yang Wei]

Occupation 1: Chef

【技能：火候顶级（150\/100000）；刀工顶级（10\/10000）；调味高级（820\/10000）】

【Career Two: Treasure Appraiser】

[Skill: Eye of Truth (Unique), sees through all disguises and reveals the only truth; Intermediate Knowledge (550/1000); Intermediate Vision (323/1000)]

System space: 10 cubic meters

Skill Points: 4234

With just over four thousand skill points remaining and four days until the state banquet, Yang Wei was confident he could elevate his seasoning to the highest level before the banquet.

"Thanks to my master for sending me this book, 'The Secrets of Culinary Arts,' otherwise it would have been impossible to improve so quickly." Yang Wei's gratitude towards the old man deepened even further. This wasn't just about a few recipes; it gave him enough confidence to step onto the threshold of becoming a state banquet chef.

Don't underestimate the difference between "advanced" and "top-level" – it's a chasm where quantitative changes lead to qualitative changes.

"Han Rui, you have a good talent." Yang Wei looked at Han Rui and saw that she had completely mastered the process of making large-pot dishes. He finally made a decision: "Starting tomorrow, you will try to make large-pot dishes yourself, and I will guide you from the side."

These words were like a windfall for Han Rui. She was so excited that her face turned bright red, and she didn't know what to do with her hands. It took her a while to react before she bowed respectfully to Yang Wei, her voice trembling, "Thank you... thank you, Master Yang!" After saying that, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"Alright, stop crying. From now on, get back to work properly, understand?" Yang Wei patted her shoulder with a smile.

"Yes! I will definitely do my best, don't worry!" Han Rui wiped away her tears and nodded vigorously to assure him.

"Okay, let's tidy up and get ready to eat!"

After lunch, in the afternoon.

Yang Wei strolled towards the factory director's office, and on the way he ran into Sha Zhu.

After chatting for a bit, they saw Sha Zhu leading two people, busily running towards the production workshop.

Something must have happened again.

Since taking office, Sha Zhu has been dealing with a constant stream of tasks every day.

Looking at Sha Zhu busy with his work.

Yang Wei couldn't help but feel a surge of relief.

"Luckily, I didn't agree to the factory manager's offer, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to stand being busy every day!"

Thinking about it, he shook his head and continued walking towards the factory manager's office.

Upon arriving outside the office, Yang Wei knocked twice on the door.

I heard the factory manager's voice coming from inside.

"Come in!"

"Squeak!"

Pushing open the door and walking in, Yang Wei greeted with a smile, "Good afternoon, Factory Manager!"

Upon hearing the voice, Director Wang looked up and saw that it was Yang Wei, and immediately smiled.

"Oh, Xiao Yang's here! You're a rare guest!"

"Come quick, come quick!"

Factory Director Wang put down his work, stood up with a smile, led Yang Wei to sit on the sofa, and poured him a glass of water.

Then he looked at Yang Wei and asked softly, "You wouldn't come here without a reason, so tell me, what do you want to see me about?"

"Factory manager, you've made me almost embarrassed to say anything!"

"It's as if I'm some kind of materialistic person!"

Yang Wei said jokingly.

Since his last conversation with the top leader, Yang Wei understood why Director Wang had asked him in public that day if he was willing to become the head of the security department.

Later, when Yang Wei was unwilling, he recommended Sha Zhu, and Sha Zhu readily agreed.

It turns out it was because he was assigned by the higher-ups.

Therefore, Yang Wei no longer needs to be too careful when facing Director Wang, and he speaks and acts more casually.

"I didn't say that. It's just that you're too lazy and always like to stay in the cafeteria."

"Otherwise, if you take over as head of the security department now, in a few years, after I retire, the position of factory director of this steel rolling mill might very well be yours!" "What a waste of the leader's good intentions, thinking of entrusting you with such an important task." "You..."

In the end, Director Wang looked helpless.

"Hehe, the factory manager really knows me. That's right, I'm just that lazy. If you make me busy all day, I really can't handle it." "In the end, not only will I be unhappy with my work, but I won't even be able to do my normal tasks well. Wouldn't that mean all your and the big boss's hard work would be for nothing!"

"It's best to keep things as they are. Look, I'm a great cook, even if it's not a huge help. But as long as you have guests to entertain, I guarantee they'll be satisfied!" Yang Wei said with a smile.

"Alright, enough nonsense, just tell me, what brings you here this time?" Factory Director Wang didn't want to continue this topic with Yang Wei, so he took the initiative to ask.

"It's like this, a few days ago I went to cook for a big leader, and he recommended me to be a chef for state banquets..." Yang Wei began to recount the story.

Finally, Yang Wei continued, "Isn't the time approaching? I might need to take the exam in a couple of days to prepare, so I'd like to ask for two days off."

"Oh, the commander actually recommended you to be a state banquet chef! That's great! It's good for you personally, and it's good for our factory too. If you really go, our factory will have a state banquet chef in charge of the canteen." "That's wonderful! You must go, and you must succeed. This is a task our factory has given you; you must complete it and return victorious!"

"I'll give you two more days off, so you can start preparing in advance. You don't need to worry about the kitchen. If it's not working out, I'll have He Yuzhu go back and cover for you for two days." Upon hearing this, Director Wang, being such a smart person, instantly understood the implications.

If Yang Wei can really become a chef for state banquets.

So from then on, when the steel mill did business, all the clients who came would know that there was a chef who had served at state banquets.

If you could take a bite of this, wouldn't that be incredibly prestigious?

There are many benefits for steel rolling mills.

"Hehe, thank you very much, Factory Director. Don't worry, I guarantee I will complete the task assigned to me by the organization and will definitely not bring shame to you or the steel mill." Yang Wei patted his chest and promised with a smile.

"Good lad, I love your confidence. Go back now. Starting tomorrow, you don't need to come to work anymore. Focus all your efforts on preparing for the state banquet. I'll be waiting for your good news at the factory." Finally, Yang Wei thanked Factory Director Wang again before leaving his office with a smile.

Starting tomorrow, I can read all day long.

With three days left until the National Day banquet, Yang Wei needs to upgrade his last skill to the highest level within two days.

The last day was precisely the day to participate in the state banquet test.

According to the higher-ups, there were more than twenty people who went to take the test, but in the end only eight were left.

Not everyone who is recommended to participate in the test is required to stay.

Only eight people can stay.

Each person is responsible for a different cuisine, and Yang Wei's responsibility is Sichuan cuisine.

Among these twenty-odd people, there are at least two people competing for each cuisine, thus ensuring survival of the fittest.

Starting the next day, Yang Wei stopped going to work.

Sha Zhu received a notice from the factory office to go to the canteen and temporarily take over Yang Wei's work.

Everyone in the factory was wondering why Yang Wei had disappeared.

Without receiving any notification, Yang Wei was dismissed.

They did not remove Sha Zhu from his position as head of the security department; they simply temporarily put him in charge of the cafeteria.

This bizarre maneuver is baffling to everyone.

Unless the person involved comes forward, no one will know that Yang Wei is currently at home making the most of every moment to read through the book "The Secrets of Food", frantically grinding skill points and experience points.

Two days have passed in the blink of an eye.

As evening approached, Yang Wei finally finished reading.

He also saw that the system's skill points had finally exceeded ten thousand.

Upon seeing this, Yang Wei smiled happily.

"System, upgrade your seasoning skill level."

"Ding! Skill upgrade successful, reaching the highest level."

"Ding! Congratulations, host, you have achieved the highest level in all skills of a profession. Now you can unlock the higher level, God-level. This is also the highest level of all profession skills."

"Ding! Congratulations to Yang Wei for unlocking the God-level. He is hereby awarded 5,000 yuan in cash, 10,000 skill points, and one chance to draw a prize."

Three consecutive beeping sounds.

This immediately brought a happy look to Yang Wei's face.

This guy is amazing!!

The highest level is God-level.

Unlocked successfully, and there was such a generous reward! Although it was only once, it was still an unexpected surprise for Yang Wei.

Five thousand yuan in cash, what a huge reward!

Attending a state banquet only rewards two thousand yuan. "System, draw a prize!"

Upon seeing the reward of a chance to win a prize, Yang Wei used it without hesitation.

"With this huge surge in popularity and my luck soaring, if I don't draw now, when will I ever get another chance?" *Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained a God-level item...*

"Ding—Congratulations, host, you have obtained a divine kitchen knife (used by Peng Zu). The reward has been stored in the system space and can be retrieved at your own discretion."

As soon as the system notification sound ended, Yang Wei froze.

To do a good job, one must first have the right tools. For a chef, nothing is more desirable than a good kitchen knife. Don't underestimate the humble kitchen knife; a good knife can enhance the color, aroma, and flavor of a dish by more than 30%, or even more.

The profession of chef also has its own traditions. Looking back over five thousand years, there are only five people who can be called "inheritors"—Peng Zu, Yi Yin, Yi Ya, Emperor Xuan of Han, and King Zhan.

Legend has it that during the reign of Emperor Yao, a great flood ravaged the land. Overworked and exhausted from flood control efforts, Yao fell ill and went without food for days, his life hanging by a thread. In this critical moment, Peng Zu, following the principles of health preservation, brewed a bowl of pheasant soup. Before the aroma even reached the emperor, Yao leaped up and drank it all in one gulp. The next day, he was radiant with health. From then on, Yao drank this soup daily, and despite his busy schedule, he remained free from illness. Yao then granted him the fief of Pengcheng, and he became known as Peng Zu. Peng Zu's "Way of Pheasant Soup" evolved into the "Way of Cooking," and pheasant soup is the earliest recorded famous dish in Chinese classics, hailed as "the best soup under heaven." Chinese culinary history considers Peng Zu "my country's first famous professional chef" and "the longest-lived chef," and he is still revered as the patriarch of the culinary world. Finally, there is Zhan Wang, who is considered the patriarch of Sichuan cuisine. Even today, the Zhan Wang Festival is held in the Sichuan region on the third day of the eighth lunar month.

Yang Wei strode into the kitchen and took out the Peng Zu's personal kitchen knife from the system space—a light blade with a thick back, neither entirely black nor entirely white, its surface gleaming with a warm light. Holding it in his hand felt like a knight-errant obtaining a divine weapon; a mysterious spiritual connection suddenly surged within him: any ingredient in his hands could be shaped into the desired form at will.

Even more remarkably, he could "sense" the emotions of the ingredients. He had clearly touched upon the realm of idealism—a state that so many people yearn for but cannot attain.

"Wow, this feels amazing!" He gently stroked the knife, like petting his own child, his eyes filled with joy. "With this, my position as the head chef for state banquets is secure!"

That evening, Yang Wei used the knife to cook a table full of dishes. The old lady, with her weak teeth, couldn't taste much of the variety, only finding the flavors pleasant; Lou Xiao'e, however, had grown up eating her parents' food, and immediately sensed something was off after the first bite—perhaps it was her imagination, but after a few more bites, she looked up in surprise: "Your cooking skills have improved again?"

"Well done, wife, you've got a discerning palate," Yang Wei laughed.

"Really! It's only been a short time!" Lou Xiao'e exclaimed. "From now on, you'll have to cook breakfast and dinner. Compared to yours, what I cook is like pig slop!"

Yang Wei was overjoyed—cooking was a pleasure, and cooking for his wife and grandmother was even more enjoyable. What "a gentleman keeps away from the kitchen"? Nonsense! Historically, most famous chefs were men. No profession is inherently superior or inferior; just enjoy what you like.

"Okay, no problem!" he readily agreed. Lou Xiao'e immediately devoured the food, eating even more than when they first met. Yang Wei also made sure to prepare soft and tender dishes for the old lady, easy to chew and digest.

The two were in a good mood that night and naturally didn't stay idle. They fell asleep in each other's arms two hours later and slept soundly until dawn.

The day of the state banquet test arrived quickly. Yang Weichen got up early and headed straight for the state guesthouse, riding his bicycle at breakneck speed all the way, finally arriving on time. After handing over his invitation and going through security, a staff member led him into the kitchen—where more than a dozen chefs over thirty years old were changing clothes. One of them had graying temples and was clearly a veteran chef who had worked his whole life; getting this opportunity was no easy feat.

If every profession has a highest honor, then cooking a meal for a leader is definitely the ultimate honor for a chef—at least in this era.

"Master Yang, please wait a moment while I get my uniform." The staff member was very polite, and was shocked when they first saw Yang Wei: So young to be participating in the state banquet chef test? They had never seen him since he started working here. The other chefs also cast surprised glances at him, whispering and inquiring, only to find that no one knew Yang Wei and were even more curious about his background.

Half an hour later, a man who looked like a leader walked in: "Everyone here is highly skilled. Without further ado, each person prepares one dish within thirty minutes. After they're done, they'll be judged, and one person from each cuisine will be selected to participate in the preparation of the state banquet in three days. Now, start the timer!"

Everyone immediately rushed to the stove to get busy, and Yang Wei also calmly began to prepare.