Courtyard House: The Fisherman Never Goes Sick

As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't even glance at Yang Yourong before turning and leaving.

Yang Yourong, who was always all smiles, was now completely humiliated. In Beijing, she was always the one giving others attitude; she had never suffered such humiliation before.

Taking the initiative to beg for help, only to be treated like a plague, is a blatant slap in the face.

"Hmph, what's with the arrogance!" She glared at the retreating figure, gritting her teeth and stomping her foot. "I don't need to beg you! We'll see. You better not fall into my hands, or I'll make you pay a hundredfold for today's humiliation!"

Seeing this, Sun Jiufu shook his head helplessly, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

If the task wasn't truly impossible to complete, would this young master have repeatedly run into obstacles? Besides, he had met Yang Yourong's superior before; that person was a man of great vision and foresight. Since that person spoke so highly of Yang Wei, this kid must have real talent.

"Xiao Rong, those who aspire to great things must be patient in small matters, lest they ruin their grand plans." Sun Jiufu put down his teacup and spoke earnestly, "I won't elaborate on this principle; you've been by that person's side for many years, so you should understand it better than I do. Since Xiao Yang has received such high praise, it's no exaggeration. I've had quite a bit of contact with him these past few days, and this young man possesses a composure beyond his years."

Seeing Yang Yourong still glaring angrily, Sun Jiufu smiled and continued to nag, "If you really want to complete the task by the end of the year and still stand on the podium in glory next year, I advise you to put away your arrogance and be more sincere and patient. In ancient times, Liu Bei visited Zhuge Liang three times. Although you are a woman, you are no less capable than a man. Show your sincerity, and I don't believe he is a stone."

After saying that, the old man slowly got up, leaning on his cane: "Alright, I'm full. I need to go back and rest. I have a lot to do this afternoon."

Looking at the old man's hunched yet sturdy back, the anger in Yang Yourong's eyes slowly subsided, replaced by a defiant spirit.

"Thank you, Mr. Sun, I understand!" she shouted after his retreating figure.

Sun Jiufu waved to her with his back turned, a relieved smile playing on his lips.

After the old man had walked away, Yang Yourong took a deep breath and rallied herself: "Yang Wei, you can't escape my grasp! Hmph, just you wait, I refuse to believe I can't take you down!"

……

That afternoon, in the kitchen, a crucial area.

Yang Wei, Sun Jiufu, and eight others officially moved in and began the final push on the state banquet menu.

Although the menu only lists ten main dishes, there are as many as twenty optional and side dishes, including many elaborate dishes that require preparation several days in advance. This means that the battle for state banquet status will officially begin tomorrow.

Xu Guoqing also made a trip in the afternoon and brought back the final notification from above: the head chef position remains unchanged. This is the rule, and it cannot be broken.

Ultimately, Yang Wei was appointed as the head chef, and Sun Jiufu as his deputy, to assist in coordinating all matters in the kitchen.

"Mr. Sun, everything from now on depends on you." Yang Wei was humble and had no airs of a leader. "I'm young and inexperienced. Please feel free to point out any mistakes I make."

After spending a few days together, Sun Jiufu grew to like Yang Wei more and more. This kid was capable but not arrogant, knew how to conceal his talents and was steady. If He Daqing hadn't gotten there first, he would have been willing to reveal all his hidden skills. These days, it's too difficult to find a good prospect.

"Don't worry, I will never shirk my duty."

"Alright, with your words, I feel more at ease."

With the kitchen team finalized, Xu Guoqing finally felt relieved. This was a political task for him; if things went wrong, Yang Wei and the others would be punished, and he himself would likely lose his job.

"My lords, I entrust the next few days to you all." Xu Guoqing said solemnly, clasping his hands in a fist salute. "You must accomplish this in one fell swoop, without a single mistake. The face of the nation rests entirely in your hands."

Everyone nodded, their expressions solemn.

The kitchen was bustling with activity for the rest of the afternoon. Sample dishes were brought to the counter, and everyone gathered around to discuss and refine every detail, from color and flavor to plating and innovation.

This was a clash of top-tier culinary skills. Yang Wei felt a chord in his mind being struck hard, and his professional skill experience, which hadn't increased for a long time, skyrocketed in just a few hours. This exchange of skills among renowned masters broadened his horizons and benefited him immensely.

"If I hadn't come this time, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life."

Yang Wei sighed inwardly, then composed himself and threw himself back into the heated discussion.

The entire state banquet menu was not finalized until 8 p.m.

"Okay, it's settled then." Yang Wei closed the menu, looked around at everyone, and said, "Start preparing the ingredients tomorrow morning, and proceed according to plan."

"Finally, I'd like to say that everyone here is a senior figure. I was just lucky to get first place this time. To be honest, I'm still a bit inexperienced and don't deserve the title of 'head chef.' So, I'll have to rely on you all for your understanding over the next two days. This isn't just for me, Yang Wei, but for the sake of our country's reputation. Please, everyone, show us your best skills and prepare a perfect state banquet. Thank you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Wei didn't hesitate and bowed slightly to everyone. The tactic of showing respect to subordinates has always been effective. Yang Wei knew perfectly well that dealing with the big boss was easier than dealing with his underlings. If these veterans were unhappy, even if they didn't cause any major trouble, they could still sabotage things in the slightest, and in the end, he'd be the one with the headaches. Therefore, adopting a humble attitude wouldn't hurt.

Seeing that the new official wasn't putting on airs, and that everyone was satisfied with the situation, they all expressed their willingness to cooperate fully in the next couple of days.

"Okay, let's go eat first. After you finish eating, go home and rest early."

The group left the kitchen and headed straight for the restaurant. After settling in, Yang Wei ate a couple of bites of his work lunch, but something felt off about the atmosphere. He looked around and then realized what was wrong—that annoying vixen hadn't shown up all afternoon.

"Could it be that this woman gave up?" Yang Wei thought to himself with amusement. "That's good news!"

Just as he thought this, before he could even suppress the smile on his face, Sun Jiufu, sitting opposite him, caught him. That old fox had such sharp eyes that he saw right through him.

"Put that smile down first. Don't worry, Xiao Rong isn't one to give up easily." Old Sun put down his chopsticks and said slowly, "She knows what's important and isn't causing trouble now. Let's see if she comes looking for you after the state banquet."

Upon hearing this, Yang Wei's initial good mood vanished instantly.

"Grandpa Sun, can't you just let me eat in peace? I haven't had a single quiet meal in days!"

"Young man, it's good to keep a low profile, but being too modest is pointless." Old Sun shook his head and began to lecture earnestly, "A young man who isn't a little arrogant isn't truly young. You should have some pride and wildness at this age. What's the point of living if you don't even dare to show a little bit of your temper?"

Yang Wei chuckled upon hearing this. The old man wasn't trying to persuade him to be arrogant at all; he was clearly trying to subtly get him to agree to help Yang Yourong.

"Old Sun, in this life, some people seek wealth and status, while others seek stability. Different paths lead to different ways of living." Yang Wei put down his chopsticks and didn't mince words with him. "So, please don't try to speak well of her, and I won't change my mind."

After saying that, he quickly shoveled down two mouthfuls of rice, stood up to say goodbye, and said, "Please continue eating, I'm going back to my room now."

Back in his room, Yang Wei took out his room card, swiped it, and pushed the door open with a click. The moment the lights came on, he paused, feeling utterly helpless.

Beside the bed sat a beautiful and alluring fox spirit.

"Is this what people of status and position do?" Yang Wei looked at Yang Yourong's smiling face, his voice icy cold. "You just barged in like this without the master's permission?"

He had initially considered helping out of respect for Sun Jiufu, but seeing this "act first, ask questions later" attitude, he could only say: Dream on!

"Yang Wei, I know you're capable, and I understand your temperament." Yang Yourong stood up, her posture humbled, completely devoid of her previous arrogance. "It was indeed my fault for entering without permission, but if I hadn't done it, we wouldn't have had a chance to speak face-to-face. To complete the mission, I had no choice but to resort to this tactic. I'm sorry."

At this moment, she looked rather pitiful, like a little woman, her eyes glistening with tears. This move would be a sure kill for an ordinary man, but unfortunately, she misjudged him. Yang Wei had seen it all; this little trick couldn't fool him.

"I can't accept that. Please leave immediately. I need to sleep; I have important business to attend to tomorrow." Yang Wei directly dismissed him.

"Yang Wei, I really need your help! Please, I'll do anything you ask if you're willing to help me!" Yang Yourong's eyes reddened even more, and her appearance was truly heartbreaking.

But Yang Wei remained expressionless: "I don't need anything, just for you to disappear immediately."

Seeing that her gentle approach wasn't working, Yang Yourong grew impatient and raised her voice several decibels: "How can you be like this? I'm a widow, I don't care about my reputation or face, I've come to you asking for your help, is that so difficult? Are you really so cold-hearted, just going to stand by and watch me die?"

Faced with this barrage of questions, Yang Wei suddenly laughed.

Who the hell are you to me? Why should I save you?

He glanced at her dismissively: "With your mindset, I'm not surprised at all that you can't complete the foreign exchange quota. Wolves travel a thousand miles to eat meat, dogs travel ten thousand miles to eat shit. Whether you eat meat or shit isn't determined by your buttocks, it's determined by your brain."

After saying that, he made a move to unbutton his shirt: "Get out of here, or I'm going to take off my clothes and take a shower..."

Yang Yourong left in a huff.

Although she usually puts on a cold and aloof demeanor, adhering to the principle of "men and women should not touch," she is, after all, a woman who has remained a widow for so many years, and not a single word of gossip has ever circulated about her in Beijing. If she truly didn't care, why would she waste her time with Yang Wei?

"Fine, you just wait!" "Yang Wei, I've got it!"

Before leaving, Yang Yourong didn't forget to utter a few harsh words, her high heels stomping loudly on the floor.

Yang Wei acted as if he hadn't heard, secretly relieved. He was gambling that someone of Yang Yourong's status would never risk her reputation for something so trivial. If she was truly determined not to leave, he couldn't very well pull down his pants and act like a scoundrel in front of her; that would be a real mess.

Watching the beautiful figure disappear through the door, Yang Wei finally breathed a sigh of relief and shook his head: "What a nuisance. I must never mess with this kind of woman again. Getting involved with her will only leave me with a bad reputation, like a piece of chewing gum."

Despite his reflections, he didn't dwell on it. After a quick wash, he went to bed. Tomorrow, the next two days would be the highlight of the state banquet, requiring him to be on high alert and allowing no room for error. He needed to be well-rested.

……

Yang Yourong stormed back to her room at the state guesthouse, not even bothering to drink a sip of water, and grabbed the secure phone on the table to dial a number.

A moment later, a deep, aged voice came through the receiver.

"Dad! I just met that kid, and he's like a stinking rock in a latrine! Stinky and hard!" Yang Yourong was furious and had nowhere to vent her anger, so she started complaining into the phone.

"Heh, to make my precious daughter this angry, this kid's got some interesting qualities." The old man on the other end of the phone spoke casually, even with a hint of amusement. "I'd really like to meet him sometime. Tell me, how did it go today? What did he say?"

"That guy has a really sharp tongue, but I always felt there was something more to what he said today," Yang Yourong recalled after catching her breath. "He said that with my way of thinking, it's understandable that I wouldn't be able to complete the foreign exchange quota. He also said something about 'wolves travel a thousand miles to eat meat, dogs travel ten thousand miles to eat shit'..."

"He added, 'Whether you eat meat or shit isn't determined by your butt, but by your brain.'" Yang Yourong frowned her pretty eyebrows and asked doubtfully, "Dad, do you think he was deliberately trying to teach me a lesson, or was he just being sarcastic?"

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

After a long silence, the old man slowly spoke, his tone becoming serious: "Old Xu's praise of him seems to have been entirely accurate. This lad is a sensible man."

"Dad, you haven't been fooled by him, have you? I think he's just talking nonsense. He's not as amazing as you say." Yang Yourong said dismissively.

"No, he did it on purpose. He wanted to use you to relay a message to us." The old man's voice held a hint of admiration. "This lad is no ordinary person."

Yang Yourong was stunned: "What exactly is he trying to say?"

"The activity level of the market economy determines the prosperity of the national economy. Only when the market is active will ordinary people have money in their pockets," the old man patiently explained. "Currently, some of our enterprises are forming monopolies and prices are rigid. This is what he meant by 'your position determines what you eat.' If you want to make a living, you have to break this rigid circle, let market players compete, and let your minds decide the direction. This is what he meant by free competition."

After this explanation, Yang Yourong was completely bewildered. She had been involved in foreign affairs for many years and naturally understood the principles involved, but these words coming from a cook who had never been abroad or attended university sounded incredibly mysterious.

"Dad, are you sure he could think of that? According to the investigation, he has no experience studying abroad, nor has he received higher education. He just likes to spend his time in the library reading. How could someone who is content to be a cook have this kind of insight?"

"Xiao Rong, remember this: never underestimate anyone. If someone pretends to be stupid, that's just shrewdness. But if you truly believe someone is a fool, then you're the fool." The old man's tone turned serious. "From now on, you'll keep a close eye on this kid. I'll assign someone else to handle the remaining foreign exchange quotas for this year. Your only task is to keep an eye on him and extract as much useful information as possible from him."

Upon hearing that she wouldn't have to shoulder the burden of foreign exchange quotas, Yang Yourong was initially delighted. However, upon further reflection, the thought of having to deal with that bastard Yang Wei again caused her face to fall instantly.

"Okay..." she mumbled a reply and hung up the phone.

……

Yang Wei was already fast asleep, completely unaware that his file had been placed on the desk of some important figure.

If he knew that his few witty remarks had attracted "special attention" from above, he'd probably slap himself twice. For someone who desperately wanted to take advantage of the chaos to develop his career in Hong Kong, this was certainly not good news. The greater the fame, the harder it was to leave.

The next morning, Yang Wei didn't see Yang Yourong, and he was secretly pleased. He then dragged Sun Jiufu straight to the restaurant for breakfast.

He then plunged into the kitchen to prepare the ingredients and seasonings needed for tomorrow's state banquet.

A busy drama has begun once again.

The menu for this state banquet prominently featured a dish of boiled cabbage in clear broth.

As one of the ten classic Sichuan dishes, Yang Wei is naturally the one in charge of cooking it. This dish emphasizes the "skill beyond the poem," meaning the soup base must be prepared in advance.

This dish was introduced to Beijing in 1954 by Sichuan cuisine master Luo Guorong, and it quickly gained a foothold at state banquets. However, its true origins can be traced back to Huang Jinglin, a renowned Sichuan chef in the Qing Dynasty imperial kitchen. This gentleman was angered by the criticism that Sichuan cuisine was "only spicy and numbing, crude and unsophisticated," so he painstakingly researched and painstakingly crafted a bowl of "boiled water," thus dispelling a century-old stigma against Sichuan cuisine.

The so-called "boiled water" is actually pure chicken soup.

This soup is made with great care. The main ingredients—old hen, old duck, ham hock, pork ribs, and dried scallops—must first be cleaned of impurities and blanched, then simmered with cooking wine, scallions, and garlic for a full four hours. But that's not all; the chicken breast must be minced, mixed with fresh broth to form a paste, and then added to the pot to absorb any remaining impurities. This process is repeated two or three times until the originally cloudy chicken broth becomes as clear and pure as boiled water. Only then is it considered ready. It smells rich and mellow, looks light and refreshing, and tastes delicious without being cloying.

The cabbage must be carefully selected, taking only the tender yellow heart of the large cabbage that is almost fully ripe. It is briefly blanched and then cooled to remove any fishy smell, before being scalded with this special "boiling water". The water used to blanch the cabbage heart is waste water and must be discarded and replaced with fresh broth for the dish to be considered complete.

At first glance, the finished dish appears to be just clear broth with no oil at all, but once you take a bite, the freshness will hit you right in the head. It is delicate, fresh and delicious, surpassing all other delicacies.

In the kitchen, Yang Wei didn't dare to be careless. There were hundreds of guests tomorrow, and there simply wasn't enough time to make it fresh. He could only prepare the soup base tonight and keep it warm over a low flame, so that it could be used as needed when the banquet started.

"Head Chef, this boiled cabbage in clear broth depends entirely on your skill." Everyone stared at the menu, their tone filled with awe. "This is a dish that requires considerable skill; we're afraid we can't help you with that."

"Don't worry." Yang Wei tied on his apron, looking confident. "I wouldn't dare boast about other cuisines, but when it comes to Sichuan cuisine, I've never been inferior to anyone."

Sichuan cuisine is his specialty, and he's also quite knowledgeable about all eight major cuisines, but he prefers to specialize in one and doesn't want to steal the spotlight from others. If it really came down to it, apart from Sun Jiufu, who could hold his own against him, the others in the kitchen were no match for him.

After a flurry of activity, the preparation work for the day proceeded smoothly. They worked until 8 PM before finally finishing.

"Gentlemen, tomorrow is the big day, the battle is imminent, so everyone needs to be on high alert!" Yang Wei clapped his hands, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "This is our time to show our skills. Fight to the death, as long as we don't die!"

Even without his permission, who would dare to slack off? Three or four hundred guests, over six thousand dishes, eight head chefs, and nearly a hundred kitchen helpers—this wasn't just about food; it was about the nation's reputation. If this were messed up, no one could afford the consequences.

That evening, Yang Yourong didn't cause any trouble. Knowing that tomorrow was a state banquet, she was aware of the priorities.

Silent all night.

At six o'clock the next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Yang Wei was already standing in front of the stove. Lifting the lid, he saw that the soup base he had simmered the night before was golden and clear, perfectly flawless. He nodded in satisfaction, went back to his room to wash up, and casually dragged Sun Jiufu out of bed to eat breakfast as well.

Once the mealtime was over, everyone took their places.

Xu Guoqing arrived early in the morning, gave a few instructions, and his face was visibly tense. This was understandable; in this kind of situation, there was no room for error.

In the front of the restaurant, staff had already begun setting the tables, with strict rules governing tableware and seating. In the kitchen, Yang Wei gave an order, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Sun Jiufu even threw away his crutches today. Although he still walked with a limp, his energy and spirit were surprisingly high. His complexion was rosy, and he was in a state of high excitement. This was the old chef's obsession with glory; even if it cost him his life, he had to cook this meal well.

The chefs worked silently, and the kitchen was so quiet that only the clattering of pots and pans could be heard—a tense atmosphere before a major battle.

The clock struck 11 a.m. when Yang Wei suddenly looked up and broke the silence with a roar:

"Attention everyone! We're starting with the cold dishes, the seven-color cold platter!"

"Hurry up and get moving!"