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

Around 2 p.m., Sha Zhu appeared at the gate of the Third Steel Rolling Mill on time.

He made a special trip home, changed into the dark blue cotton-padded jacket he usually couldn't bear to wear, and carefully wrapped the set of kitchen knives he had used for many years in a cloth before getting into the jeep that Director Yang was riding in.

As the car headed west, the number of trees on both sides of the road increased.

Sha Zhu sat upright in the back seat, his eyes constantly glancing out the window, his mind racing with unspoken thoughts.

Where are we going?

It doesn't look like a residential area for family members at all!

He glanced furtively at Director Yang sitting to the side; his expression was serious, and he showed no intention of speaking, so he didn't dare to ask any questions.

In the passenger seat of the jeep sat the projectionist, who was on his way to show the movie.

If it were before, the person sitting there now would probably be Xu Damao, but unfortunately, that grandson of Xu Damao doesn't have that kind of luck!

She's probably still holed up at home, isn't she?

After driving for about half an hour, the car turned onto a quiet path lined with tall poplar trees on both sides, and finally stopped at the entrance of a large courtyard.

Armed guards stood on both sides. After the driver handed over his various documents for inspection and registered his name, he was allowed to pass.

As the car entered the courtyard, Sha Zhu finally saw that there were several two-story buildings nestled among the trees, a far cry from the cramped courtyard houses in the alleyways where they lived!

"Get out of the car and come with me."

The car stopped in front of one of the small buildings. Not only were there two red five-pointed stars on either side of the main entrance, but there was also a large five-pointed star above the entrance.

Factory Director Yang opened the car door and straightened his collar.

Sha Zhu quickly grabbed his bundle and followed, his heart pounding, his eyes darting around nervously.

"You two remember this: when you get to the leader's house, don't talk too much, just do your jobs well."

"You, put on your movie. He Yuzhu, while the leader is watching the movie, prepare the food!"

Seeing Sha Zhu nod, Director Yang was silent for a few seconds, then leaned closer to him and whispered, "Don't rush to talk about your matter. Make a good impression on the leader today."

Sha Zhu didn't say anything, he just kept nodding.

As they were talking, a secretary dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit and wearing glasses came up to them with a gentle smile: "Director Yang has arrived?"

"Oh, Secretary Chen. Let me introduce you. These are today's chef and projectionist. You can make the arrangements."

Director Yang spoke very politely, with a gentle smile on his face.

"Okay, Director Yang, please go inside first. This comrade can go to the kitchen first, and the projectionist can take the projector down; we'll show it in the reception room later."

While the projectionist worked outside, Sha Zhu followed Secretary Chen into the small building and into the kitchen.

The kitchen is on the first floor. It is spacious and bright, with complete cooking utensils, and some fresh ingredients are already laid out on the cutting board.

I must say, the preparations here are really comprehensive.

Pork, live fish, chicken, and various vegetables—entering this place, Sha Zhu's tension lessened considerably.

He might be intimidated in other places, but here, it's his home turf!

"Comrade He Yuzhu, the leader is from Sichuan and prefers spicy food. All the ingredients are here; please prepare them accordingly. As for the time..." The secretary glanced at his watch, "Dinner will be served in about an hour and a half. Is that alright?"

"Okay, okay! No problem!"

Sha Zhu patted his chest and assured her that after the secretary and Director Yang left, he would tie on his apron, open his bundle, take out his knife, and begin to study the recipe.

He silently recited the process in his mind, while his subordinates worked non-stop, washing, chopping, and preparing vegetables, busy but not chaotic.

Although the leaders won't be eating for another hour and a half, the food still needs to be prepared in advance.

Having been a chef for so many years, Sha Zhu's timing is still very precise.

Just as the food was ready, we heard footsteps and laughter coming from outside.

"Okay, the movie was good, thank you for your hard work." A strong, resonant voice with a Sichuan accent came through the phone.

"You're too kind, sir. It's nothing, it's nothing."

Sha Zhu peeked out through the crack in the kitchen door and saw several people coming down from upstairs. The one in the lead was an elderly man with gray hair but a vigorous spirit, wearing a dark gray Zhongshan suit and a gentle smile in his eyes.

Director Yang and his secretary were with him, along with two other people he didn't recognize, who were probably the people he had just watched the movie with.

The group entered the restaurant and took their seats.

The secretary walked to the kitchen door and nodded to Sha Zhu: "Chef He, the dishes can be served now."

Sha Zhu took a deep breath, picked up the tray, and walked out.

He placed each dish on the table, briefly introducing each one: "This is Mapo Tofu, made with homemade Sichuan peppercorn powder, it's spicy, numbing, and fragrant; this is Yu Xiang Rou Si (shredded pork with garlic sauce), it's all about the balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy, with prominent scallion, ginger, and garlic flavors; this is Dry-fried Fish, made by rendering the fat from diced pork belly before braising, the fish is tender, and the sauce is rich and flavorful..."

The top leader sat in the main seat, listening to Sha Zhu's introduction without stopping his chopsticks.

With each dish he tasted, his eyes lit up a little more, and by the end, a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He put down his chopsticks and looked at Sha Zhu: "This chef's skills are excellent, authentic Sichuan cuisine, no worse than what I used to eat back home! Especially this Mapo Tofu, so flavorful, smooth and tender, and the Sichuan peppercorn powder is used with care. Xiao Yang, do you have such talent in your factory?"

Factory Director Yang quickly smiled and said, "You flatter me, sir. This Comrade He Yuzhu's father is our factory's old cook. He grew up in the kitchen, so his skills are truly exceptional. It's just that... he's been running into some minor troubles lately, which has temporarily affected his work. I thought it would be a waste to have such a talented person like him, so I took the liberty of bringing him over to cook a meal for you, sir, and also to give him a chance to showcase his abilities."

"Oh?" The high-ranking leader looked at Sha Zhu, his gaze gentle yet scrutinizing. "What trouble have you run into? Tell me about it?"

Sha Zhu's heart tightened. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he scratched his head and smiled sheepishly, "Boss, it's really nothing serious. It's just that I'm clumsy with words and offended someone, got set up, and was locked up for a few days. I just got out, and my old position has already been filled. It's my honor to be able to cook a meal for you today, Boss. I wouldn't dare ask for anything. As long as you're happy with the meal, I'll be content!"

The senior leader listened, nodded, and didn't press further. Instead, he called to everyone, "Come on, everyone, start eating, don't let it get cold. Chef He, why don't you sit down and eat with us?"

Sha Zhu quickly waved his hand: "No, no, no, you're too kind, boss. I'm still cleaning up in the kitchen, so I won't bother you any longer."

With that, he tactfully left the restaurant and returned to the kitchen, his heart pounding.

When the senior leader asked him a question, he almost couldn't help but beg, but he swallowed the words back.

Asking someone for a favor on the first meeting seems like you're trying to climb the social ladder.

Besides, I just came from that kind of place, and my past isn't clean yet. If I speak up now, it might backfire if the leaders investigate.

He was clearing the dishes in the kitchen, pondering something.

With the Chinese New Year just around the corner, if I could take this opportunity to visit again and get acquainted with the boss, it would be much easier to ask for help later.

The meal didn't end until almost 5 p.m.

When Director Yang came out, he had a smile on his face and patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder: "Well done, Zhu. The boss praised you, saying your skills are authentic and you're an honest person. Come on, let's go back."

Sha Zhu was secretly pleased, but he still couldn't help asking, "Director Yang, about...that matter..."

"Don't rush things, haste makes waste," Director Yang said in a low voice. "The leaders haven't made a statement yet, but silence is the best statement. Just make sure you prepare the New Year's Eve dinner well, and things will fall into place naturally. Practice your cooking at home these next few days, don't slack off."

"Hey! Thank you, Director Yang! Thank you, Director Yang!" Sha Zhu nodded repeatedly.

The jeep drove all the way back to the city and dropped Sha Zhu off at the entrance of Nanluoguxiang alley.

The sky was already dark, and the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow.

Sha Zhu hummed a little tune as he walked briskly into the yard, his back straighter than usual.

Today's trip was totally worth it! Absolutely worth it!

As soon as I entered the front yard, I ran into Zhou Feng, who was taking out the trash.

Sha Zhu paused subconsciously, and the smug smile on his face froze for a moment.

His instinct was to move aside, but the thought of the leader's kind smile and words of praise made him stiffen up.

What's there to be afraid of? He Yuzhu is someone who's cooked for big leaders now!

If he catches the eye of a leader in the future, he might be even more powerful than Zhou Feng!

No matter how powerful Zhou Feng is, isn't he still living in their courtyard?

That high-ranking leader lives in a large compound, guarded by soldiers, and it's a detached villa!

He stiffened his neck, wanting to give Zhou Feng a defiant look, but the moment his eyes met Zhou Feng's ambiguous smile, the courage he had just mustered vanished instantly.

Somewhat embarrassed, she withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, and quickened her pace to walk inside.

Even when she brushed past Zhou Feng, she didn't dare to greet him and just kept her head down.

Zhou Feng smiled at his guilty yet feigned innocence, and said nothing. As long as there was some emotional value after they met, that was enough.

Sha Zhu had just returned to the Intermediate People's Court when he looked up and almost bumped into someone. Looking up, he saw that it was Xu Damao.

If Sha Zhu's efforts during this period were somewhat effective, and Yi Zhonghai was able to return to the workshop thanks to his skills, then Xu Damao was truly the most miserable.

In the Special Operations Unit's cell, he was the first to be arrested and the first to break down.

After he was released, he was the one who suffered the most.

I lost my job, my wife left me, and I just stayed at home feeling utterly hopeless.

I was feeling really stifled today, so I came out for some fresh air, only to bump right into Sha Zhu.

"No, Xu Damao, where are you going?"

Sha Zhu didn't really intend to mock him. After all, they had been imprisoned together in the Special Operations Division before, and they had reached a consensus at the general meeting of the entire institute, so it wasn't as tense as before.

But at this moment, Shazhu's condition was clearly not right.

He had just come from the high-ranking leader's place, full of pride and self-satisfaction, while Xu Damao looked emaciated and was in terrible condition.

Looking at his radiant appearance, he instinctively felt that Shazhu was mocking him.

"What's it to you? Get out of my way!"

Xu Damao's tone was very unpleasant, with a hint of impatience, which immediately ignited Sha Zhu's anger.

He had always been the one suppressing Xu Damao, and now that he had finally given him a friendly look and shown him some concern, he was unexpectedly rebuffed by this guy.

"Xu Damao, are you trying to piss me off? Let me tell you, I'll be back in the canteen in a few days! You'd better just stay put and go work in the workshop!"

When it comes to fighting Xu Damao, whether it's verbal skills or physical strength, Sha Zhu has never lost. The way he raises his chin and looks at Xu Damao sideways instantly breaks Xu Damao's defenses.

He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, hesitated for a few seconds, then sighed and walked past Sha Zhu.

With his current physique, if he dared to provoke Sha Zhu, he'd probably be knocked down with a single punch.

"Hey Sha Zhu, let me tell you, we've fallen this time, but we'll get back up sooner or later. You guys are just looking down on us; you'll regret it eventually!"

Xu Damao glared at Shazhu with hatred. He hated not only Shazhu, but also Lou Xiao'e's family, who had severed ties with him as soon as he got into trouble!

"Regretful now? My biggest regret is not beating you up enough before!"

Shazhu glanced at his back with annoyance.

Xu Damao is just asking for a beating. He doesn't appreciate being treated well. He's a complete ungrateful bastard!

The smug-looking Sha Zhu continued walking inside.

He's incredibly excited right now and wants to talk to someone about it.

It would seem a bit pretentious for him to say it to anyone else, but the deaf old lady in the backyard is the most suitable person to do it!

The deaf old lady treated him like her own grandson, so going to talk to her now would be a good opportunity to ask for her opinion on the matter.

As the saying goes, "Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure."

Sha Zhu knew he wasn't the type to handle things; he needed to consult the elders for certain things to be more confident.

I knocked on the door, and a deaf old woman's voice came from inside: "Who is it?"

"Grandma, it's me, Zhu Zi!"

The door opened, and the deaf old lady looked at him with a smile: "Oh, Zhu Zi is here? Come in quickly, it's cold outside."

Of all the people in the courtyard, her favorite was Sha Zhu.

Although this kid was stubborn and insisted on causing trouble for Zhou Feng, he ended up getting thoroughly humiliated.

But the only ones who were truly kind to this old lady were Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai!

Yi Zhonghai is a man of his own mind; it will be very difficult for her to control him.

But Sha Zhu is different; he's a simpleton who only knows how to act recklessly and can be easily guided.

Sha Zhu went inside. The house was warm and cozy with a stove burning inside.

He helped the old lady sit down, then moved a small stool over and sat down beside her, rubbing his hands together, his smile impossible to hide.

The old woman glanced at him, a shrewd glint in her cloudy eyes: "Zhu Zi, have you found a gold ingot? Why are you grinning like that?"

"Hehe, old lady, it's even better than finding a gold ingot!" Sha Zhu leaned closer, lowering his voice, but his tone was full of smugness. "Let me tell you, today I went to the home of a really, really important leader and cooked a meal for him!"