Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

Yi Zhonghai kept it a secret on Saturday, but he was woken up early Sunday morning by a huge commotion at home.

"Knock knock knock!"

The knocking was urgent and loud.

The door was opened by the master's wife, and Jia Dongxu stood outside, his face full of anxiety: "Master's wife, has my master gotten up yet?"

"Dongxu's here? Get up, come in."

Inside, Yi Zhonghai was sitting at the octagonal table eating a cornbread. When he saw him come in, he raised his hand and greeted him, "Have you eaten? If not, sit down and have some with me."

A bowl of cornmeal porridge sat steaming on the table. Jia Dongxu swallowed hard.

He usually doesn't eat breakfast when he's off work, saving every bite.

But he was really hungry, yet he still insisted, "I've eaten, Master, I've already eaten at home."

"Alright, do you think I don't know your little schemes?" Yi Zhonghai sneered. "Steamed cornbread with pickled vegetables, are you trying to fool me? Here, have something to eat."

These words sounded cold, but they actually carried a hint of satisfaction.

He knew that Jia Dongxu was saving his food rations to support Jia Zhangshi, and that was the kind of "reliable elder caregiver" he saw.

Unlike that silly Zhu, who can only cook two dishes, what else can he do?

Relying on Sha Zhu to support you in your old age? When he gets old, his rice bowl might be overturned!

Jia Dongxu stopped refusing, plopped down, grabbed a cornbread and started eating it. After a few big bites, he even finished the porridge that the aunt had served him.

Finally, he wiped his mouth and voluntarily helped clear the dishes.

After finishing his work, he finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a low voice, "Master... have you found out anything about the recruitment?"

Yi Zhonghai frowned and sighed, "Dongxu, this is a difficult matter."

In short, it was like a bucket of cold water being poured over my head.

"Even the workshop director couldn't say anything."

This recruitment is for apprentices, and the regulations clearly state that applicants must have at least an elementary school education, or at the very least, a primary school diploma.

Elementary school? There's still some hope then.

With his status as a level seven fitter, and by using his personal connections, he could ask the director for a recommendation, and Qin Huairu might still be able to squeeze in.

The problem is—she didn't even finish elementary school!

If she actually manages to slip it in, she won't recognize a single word during training and will be exposed on the spot. Not only will she be unlucky, but he and Jia Dongxu will also be implicated.

This expansion of the steel rolling mill is a major project under the supervision of higher authorities, and even the workshop director dares not tamper with it.

If they try to do something underhanded, the consequences will be unimaginable once it's discovered.

Undeterred, Jia Dongxu's voice trembled slightly: "Master... do all positions require an elementary school diploma?"

"The logistics department might not require exams; sweeping the floor or managing the warehouse might be easy jobs with low entry requirements, but who do we know?"

Yi Zhonghai was speaking when he suddenly slapped his forehead—"Hey, isn't Sha Zhu working in logistics? He's the deputy director of the canteen, at least he's a leader."

Jia Dongxu also realized what was happening, but when he thought about the extremely strained relationship between his family and He Yuzhu, he immediately wilted: "Master, our family and Sha Zhu are incompatible. Can he help us? I'm afraid he'll kick us out before he even gets a chance to speak."

"If it's just your family going, you're probably doomed." Yi Zhonghai narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. "But if you bring the whole hospital along, things will be different."

Even if Sha Zhu is arrogant, can he really shut everyone in the entire courtyard out?

The moment the thought crossed his mind, it was like lighting a fire.

Nowadays, he is strategic in his actions. If he were to visit the Jia family alone, he would be inviting trouble and being scolded.

But if the entire compound unites under the banner of finding a way out for those in need, it will be perfectly legitimate and powerful. Let's see how Sha Zhu can shirk his responsibilities!

Although no one in the Liu family could fill in, this kind of "small effort, big reward" job is the best way to earn a good reputation.

If you let him, the second uncle, take the lead in fighting for everyone's welfare, wouldn't he be eager to do it?

As for Lao Yan, he pretends to be on good terms with Sha Zhu, but his eldest son, Yan Jiecheng, is unemployed after graduating from high school and spends his days doing odd jobs to make ends meet.

If a secure job were right in front of him, wouldn't he be tempted? For his son's future, he'd beg on his knees, let alone ask!

"Dongxu, don't make this public yet," Yi Zhonghai said in a deep voice. "You quietly go find Lao Liu, and I'll go meet with Lao Yan. Let's get our sides aligned first."

"Understood, Master!" Jia Dongxu nodded, his eyes changing, knowing that this was serious. He then turned and went back into the house.

Once everyone left, only Yi Zhonghai remained in the room.

He sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), his fingers unconsciously tapping his knees, but the image of He Yuzhu pointing his finger at him and scolding him mercilessly that day flashed through his mind—every word piercing his heart.

That pent-up frustration resurfaced, making his chest feel tight.

"You idiot Zhu, let's see how arrogant you are this time!"

He sneered, stood up, dusted off his clothes, pushed open the door, and headed straight for Liu Haizhong's house.

The easiest one to manipulate is this Lao Liu. A few kind words and he'll immediately get all fired up.

As long as he can convince Liu Haizhong, and the two of them join forces to attack Yan Bugui, the Third Uncle, who always values ​​face and loyalty, will find it hard to resist this "popular expectation".

……

"Then it's settled!" Li Yuanguo stubbed out his cigarette, his expression suddenly changing. He pointed sharply at He Yuzhu, "Put that tea down! It's my last bit of treasure!"

"Oh, my dear master, you're still short of tea leaves?" He Yuzhu grinned, deftly grabbing the tea leaves and stuffing them into his pocket. "My master's wife gave them to me personally; you can't possibly take them from your disciple, can you?"

After saying that, he slipped away and ran.

Li Yuanguo was so angry that he jumped up and down. He wanted to chase after the man before he even put on his shoes properly. By the time he finally managed to slip on his cloth shoes and rush out the door, the man had already disappeared.

He Yuzhu pondered for a long time before finally deciding not to sell the two slots at the steel rolling mill.

Firstly, there simply weren't any suitable suitors, and secondly... it's better to keep the benefits within the family than to let outsiders profit from it.

He himself did not take on any apprentices, but his senior apprentice Zhang Deliang had trained several junior cooks at Fengzeyuan over the years. Their skills were quite good, and they were more than qualified to be graded as cooks at level seven or eight.

The problem is, the staffing system is rigid; no matter how well you perform, you're still just a temporary worker. Becoming a permanent employee? Forget about it!

Now the opportunity has come—once these two spots are secured, we'll directly place two of my junior apprentices in them.

Once they get to the factory, they'll see each other all the time. How could they dare disobey their "senior uncle"?

It's very easy to use!

After leaving his master's house, He Yuzhu didn't stop and rushed to the supply and marketing cooperative outside the city.

With a flick of the sleeve, soil and seeds were revealed, a complete range of varieties, with high-quality wheat seeds being the main focus.

In the past two days, he has figured out the tricks of the Living Space - not only can it keep plants alive, but it can also keep them healthy!

Especially the flower in front of Uncle San's house, since it was moved in, it has become a bright green and has grown more than twice as strong as before.

Every day when I pass by, I take a second look. Compared to them, the potted plants on my own windowsill look like malnourished, sickly plants.

His heart warmed: What if we could conduct breeding experiments in space?

First, they are accelerated to mature and cultivate inside, and once they grow into fruit, they are moved to a greenhouse for public display.

Just make up some excuse—"a new variety discovered by chance" or "the result of long-term agricultural research"—who would believe it?

Anyway, his reputation in logistics had already spread: he spent all his time engrossed in agricultural books and tinkering with strange and unusual ideas whenever he had free time.

Calling him a local expert wouldn't be an exaggeration.

As for the specific planning of the greenhouse, he has a preliminary idea, but the paperwork still needs to be polished.

He wasn't cut out for writing reports in his past life, so it seems he'll have to find someone knowledgeable to consult.

Li Huaide and Bai Danyu are both suitable candidates.

The key point is that he doesn't care who gets the credit—as long as things get done, that's enough.

What I fear most now is someone jumping out to disagree.

At this moment, he was unaware that undercurrents were already surging within the courtyard.

The lights were still on in the main room of the Yan family home, where a family meeting involving only three people was quietly taking place.

Yan Bugui sat in the main seat, while his third aunt sat beside him spinning yarn. His son, Yan Jiecheng, squatted on the threshold, his brows furrowed, rubbing a dry blade of grass back and forth in his hand.

The air was so heavy it felt like you could wring water out of it.

The other three children are still young; Yan Jiefang is only in elementary school. Even if he knew about this, he couldn't get involved.

Yan Jiecheng, however, could no longer sit still.

The days of doing odd jobs were too hard. Not only did he not earn many coins, but his father, that old fox, would also skin him alive. If he could save two yuan a month, he was considered to have worked hard enough.

Therefore, he was the one who most supported Uncle Yi's idea, and he eagerly urged Yan Bugui, "Dad, agree to Uncle Yi's request! If Shazhu really has this ability, wouldn't it be good to get some benefits for the people in the courtyard? Besides, you are Uncle San, and you get along well with him. If you ask, do you think he won't give you face?"

"You don't know anything!" Yan Bugui glared at him, his tone turning serious. "If I open my mouth, our relationship will be over."

Even if he reluctantly agrees, he'll already hold a grudge. Will things ever be the same again?

Yan Jiecheng sneered, completely ignoring him.

Anyway, he hadn't touched a single bite of Sha Zhu's food, and he was already dissatisfied.

If you can't eat, you can't eat. What good are a few meals? Nothing compares to a real job.

"Dad, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If I get a job at the steel mill, the family will have another secure job, and you'll enjoy the benefits too!" He raised his voice, his eyes gleaming. "You only get three meals a month at most. How much are three meals worth? If I become a permanent employee, I'll earn over thirty yuan a month, plus food coupons, cloth coupons, meat coupons... Which do you think is more worthwhile? Don't you always say, 'You won't go poor from eating or dressing, but you will if you don't plan ahead'? Now you've been short-sighted!"

"If you're not cut out for this, and you're stopping me from getting into the factory—" he gritted his teeth, "have you even calculated how much less money our family will make?"

These words struck a chord with Yan Bugui.

He was taken aback, and his mind raced: Yes, if there was a permanent employee in the family, life would be completely different.

Yan Jiecheng now does odd jobs. On good days, he earns a little over ten yuan a month, but on bad days, he can't even scrape together the six yuan he has to hand over, and sometimes he even has to pay out of pocket.

On the other hand, what about He Yushui? The snacks and candies that other people eat are things his son couldn't afford even after saving up for a month.

Not to mention that he witnessed He Yushui casually tossing a bottle of soda away several times—while his family could only afford to drink boiled water.

Heart moved.