Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

Even if he could swallow his pride and go to No. 95 Nanluoguxiang to find Zhou Feng, even if he chased him to his home, what could he say?

Putting aside Zhou Feng's background, he donated so many supplies. As long as he doesn't make any major mistakes, in the eyes of the higher-ups, he might not even be as important as Zhou Feng, the factory director!

Factory Director Yang took a deep drag on his cigarette and slowly exhaled the smoke.

He really wished he could be as calm and collected as he usually appeared, so that at least he wouldn't feel so bad inside right now.

Unfortunately, he hadn't reached the point where he regarded power as dirt.

In the original story, he took Xu Damao to show movies to the big boss and took Shazhu to cook for the big boss. Weren't these all ways of cultivating connections and currying favor with superiors?

But who would have thought that a powerful figure, even more influential than the top leader, was in that small purchasing department of the factory?

One moment of carelessness and Li Huaide got there first!

Li Huaide's lips curled up slightly, feeling extremely pleased, but his tone remained respectful.

"Factory manager, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to my office. After all, Comrade Zhou Feng asked me to help out, and I still need to write a debriefing summary."

These words were indeed polite, but to Director Yang, they sounded like blatant boasting and mockery!

Clenching his fists tightly, Director Yang took a deep breath, forcing himself to maintain a calm expression, and his voice became indifferent: "Go...go ahead, don't delay things."

Li Huaide bowed slightly and left the office.

He almost burst out laughing as soon as the door closed.

After looking around to make sure no one was there, he straightened his expression, put his hands behind his back, and leisurely walked back to his office.

He even took the initiative to greet the comrades he encountered along the way, his tone much lighter than usual.

Having worked at the Third Steel Rolling Mill for so many years, this was the first time I had ever made Director Yang suffer a setback.

I wonder what my brother is missing?

In terms of supplies, since they can provide so many chickens, they must have plenty. Let's find something special!

With this in mind, Li Huaide began to have some ideas.

Men, all they want is wealth, power, and women.

As for wealth, his own brothers certainly don't lack it.

that power…

He himself was only a deputy factory director; what power did he have?

Only one item remains.

When I was drinking with Zhou Feng before, he seemed to have revealed some of his preferences, which I need to think about carefully.

After all, having illicit relationships is a serious offense, and I can't let it drag my brothers down with me.

When Li Huaide returned to his office, Director Yang's room was already filled with smoke.

He sat in a chair, the ashtray in front of him already overflowing with cigarette butts.

The secretary hesitated for a long time before knocking and coming in.

The person who came to see Director Yang was He Yuzhu, the former head chef. It wasn't the first time; he just wanted to return to the kitchen.

But even if we disregard the fact that logistics is under the jurisdiction of Deputy Director Li, or even if it were under Director Yang, he has been absent from his post for so long, and other colleagues have already joined the company. Therefore, the head chef's opinion should be respected.

Besides... given Director Yang's current mood, it's best not to bother him with He Yuzhu's affairs.

Just as the secretary was still figuring out how to get rid of He Yuzhu, the latter shoved him and rushed to the door of Director Yang's office, knocking twice.

"Director Yang! Director Yang! It's me, He Yuzhu! I know you're inside! Please let me in just once, just once! I beg you!"

Sha Zhu's voice was urgent and sharp, sounding extremely jarring in the office building corridor.

People in the surrounding offices peeked out and looked in their direction, many of them whispering among themselves.

The secretary's face turned green. He hadn't expected that before he could even say anything, this guy would start acting crazy at the factory manager's office door!

He quickly reached out and pulled Sha Zhu aside, lowering his voice, "Comrade He Yuzhu! Please don't shout! The factory manager is busy right now. Can you come another day?"

"Another day? Another day? If I wait any longer, I'll be starving!"

Sha Zhu stuck his neck out, and the secretary couldn't budge him at all. His eyes were fixed on the office door.

Inside the Special Operations Unit's cell, he became wary of Zhou Feng, but towards others, his personality remained unchanged.

He dared to act recklessly even in front of the factory director, let alone a mere secretary!

"Director Yang, please open the door and let me say a few words! My father was a cook at our steel rolling mill. My father and I have both worked as cooks at the factory for generations. We've worked hard, even if we haven't done anything particularly meritorious, right? You can't just stand by and watch me die!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the office door was opened from the inside.

Director Yang stood at the door, a cigarette between his fingers, his face calm and expressionless, though his brows were slightly furrowed.

He glanced at his secretary and said calmly, "It's alright, let him in."

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up, and he quickly squeezed in, repeatedly saying, "Thank you, Director Yang! Thank you, Director Yang!"

The secretary sighed helplessly and closed the door for them.

The room was filled with smoke, and Sha Zhu coughed twice from the smoke, but he didn't care. He walked a few steps to Director Yang's desk, his expression very complicated.

There was resentment, dissatisfaction, and mostly anxiety.

"Director Yang, you have to do me a favor!"

Sha Zhu's voice trembled as he gripped Factory Director Yang's hand tightly: "My family has been working in this factory since my father's generation, and we've never had any problems! This time, I just had a minor accident, but look, I'm out here unharmed! That proves I'm okay, right?"

"Since I'm fine, could you please reinstate my original job title?"

As he spoke, his eyes began to redden: "Factory manager, you know, I'm a grown man, still unmarried, with a younger sister who depends on my salary to make a living. You know my skills; if I were to work in the workshop, it would be a waste of our factory's resources, wouldn't it?"

Factory Director Yang returned to his chair, stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, and gestured for Sha Zhu to sit down as well.

After organizing his thoughts, he sighed and said calmly, "Comrade He Yuzhu, I know a little about your situation."

"It is indeed a bit complicated. After you were taken away, the factory couldn't just leave that position empty waiting for you, could it? Production couldn't stop, and the canteen needed to feed hundreds of people, so they reassigned someone. According to the rules, there's nothing wrong with this."

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu's face turned even paler: "Director Yang, so... so I've been replaced like this? I'll come back with nothing?"

"Don't be in such a hurry," Factory Director Yang waved his hand. "That new head chef is quite skilled and reliable. He's already on the job and hasn't made any mistakes. The factory can't just dismiss him and put him back on the job for no reason. That's not appropriate, and it's against the rules."

Sha Zhu's lips trembled as he tried to say something, but he found himself unable to utter a word.

He understood the道理 (principles/reasons), but when it came to his own situation, the feeling was unbearable.

As Director Yang looked at him, a subtle glint of shrewdness flashed deep in his eyes.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: "However... Comrade He Yuzhu, you've worked in the kitchen for so many years, I know you. You're skilled, and this time you've suffered an undeserved misfortune. I can't bear to just let you do an intern like this."

Sha Zhu suddenly raised his head, a glimmer of hope rekindling in his eyes: "Director Yang! Do you have a solution?"

Factory Director Yang didn't answer directly, but slowly said, "As for solutions... it's not entirely impossible. But whether it works depends on your own abilities."

Sha Zhu quickly stood up and took a few steps closer: "Please tell me! As long as there's a glimmer of hope, I, He Yuzhu, will go through fire and water!"

"Why go through fire and water? This is a steel rolling mill, not some dangerous place."

Director Yang patted him on the shoulder with amusement: "I'm going to take you to cook at a leader's house. He's a very high-ranking official, much higher than me. Show off all your culinary skills. As long as this leader is satisfied, this little thing is nothing to him; it's just a matter of a word from him!"

"Go...go cook for the boss?"

Sha Zhu was stunned and didn't react for a moment.

"Yes, think about it. Your current position at our factory is already taken, so it's definitely not going to be moved anytime soon. But if your cooking satisfies that leader, and he thinks you're a good cook and a good person, then he could easily arrange for you to work at another factory or in another company's canteen with just a word. Isn't that much easier than you begging and pleading like this?"

Sha Zhu's eyes lit up instantly.

Director Yang is right!

Just because he can't solve it doesn't mean other leaders can't!

As long as you can please the higher-ups and say a word for him, whether it's having two head chefs at the steel mill or being assigned to another factory, it's all the same place!

But a lingering doubt remained in his mind, and he hesitated, saying, "Director Yang, is this... is this appropriate? I'm just a cook; what if something goes wrong while I'm cooking at a leader's house..."

"What ifs?"

Factory Director Yang interrupted him directly, saying, "Even if you fail, the worst that can happen is you come back to be a worker, right? You're afraid of everything else, but you're hesitant even to cook! If you're not brave enough, then forget I said anything!"

"Yes, yes, yes! I definitely dare!" Sha Zhu quickly responded, afraid that Factory Director Yang would change his mind. "Factory Director Yang, I'll go! I'll definitely do a good job and won't let you down!"

Factory Director Yang nodded in satisfaction, walked back to the table, picked up the phone, shook it, and dialed a number.

After waiting a while, the call connected, and his face immediately put on a respectful smile: "Hey? Boss, it's me, Old Yang!"

"Yes, yes, I'll be visiting you this afternoon! It's like this, I have a colleague here who's quite skilled in cooking, and I was thinking... Oh! Yes, yes, this afternoon is a good time for him to come over and show off his skills! Yes, yes, I know you're busy, this way he can prepare the meal in advance, and it won't interfere with our business conversation... Okay, okay, I understand! Goodbye, sir!"

After hanging up the phone, Factory Director Yang looked at Sha Zhu, who was staring at him expectantly, and said, "Get ready, you must cook all your signature dishes this afternoon!"

Sha Zhu nodded repeatedly, rubbing his hands together, his face showing both nervousness and anticipation.

He suddenly remembered something and tentatively asked, "Director Yang, what kind of food does that leader like? Are there any dietary restrictions? I'd like to prepare accordingly."

Factory Director Yang sat down again, lit a cigarette, and said slowly, "Well... I do know, the leader is from Sichuan. Just prepare Sichuan cuisine, keep it simple, don't go for anything fancy. The key is, it has to be clean, orderly, and polite. Don't look around or say anything when you come in, and leave as soon as you're done cooking, understand?"

"Understood, understood!" Silly Zhu nodded like a chick pecking at rice, already planning what dishes to cook.

Director Yang looked at him like this, exhaled a puff of smoke, and behind the smoke, his eyes were somewhat complicated.

Li Huaide got in touch with Zhou Feng and things are going very well; even the city government issued a letter of commendation for him.

As the factory manager, I was stuck in this predicament, caught between a rock and a hard place, which was very uncomfortable for me.

Since they couldn't rely on Zhou Feng's powerful connections, they could only cling even tighter to the one in front of them.

He Yuzhu, that silly boy, is just the perfect stepping stone.

If he cooks at the leader's house and does a good job, the leader will be happy, and I, as the introducer, will also have done a good job; if he doesn't do a good job... that's He Yuzhu's own business, it has nothing to do with me, so I won't lose either way.

"Alright, you can go back now." Factory Director Yang waved his hand. "Come to the factory gate early this afternoon and we'll take you there."

"This is between you and me, don't go spreading it around!"

Factory Director Yang's expression turned serious. If Li Huaide found out about his thoughts, who knows what kind of sabotage he would cause!

Sha Zhu quickly assured him, "Director Yang, don't worry, I'm a tight-lipped person! I wouldn't tell a thing, even if you killed me!"

As Sha Zhu stepped out of the factory manager's office, he felt that the sky had brightened a bit.

Although I still don't have a job, at least there's hope!

Cooking at a high-ranking leader's house is an opportunity that many people would kill for!

If you can really catch the leader's eye, you'll definitely be living a life of luxury from now on!

Although he can't compare to Zhou Feng, the others in the courtyard can only be envious!

I walked briskly towards the factory gate, and as I passed the canteen, I ran into a few former colleagues.

Ma Hua still remembered his kindness and greeted him. The others looked at him differently, clearly not with good intentions.

When he was the head chef, he would scoop up all the leftover rice from the wok every day and take it home. Unlike the current head chef, who is still able to share some with them!

"Tch—you're all so snobbish! Wait until I rise again, then we'll see if I still give you the time of day. We'll see who can still keep their attitude then!"

Sha Zhu muttered to himself, then turned back and glared at me before quickly leaving the cafeteria entrance.

He did want to boast about being able to cook for the boss that afternoon, but remembering Director Yang's warning, he gave up the idea.

Once he stepped out of the factory gate, a gust of cold wind cooled his brain.

Only then did I realize that I still had to keep a low profile. If Zhou Feng found out, who knew if he had any relationship with that leader? I didn't want to ruin things with just one sentence!