All the heavens begin with the love in the courtyard.

"From this day forward, you are not allowed to set foot here. Now, pack your things and leave. I don't want to see you!"

Xu Damao was completely dumbfounded!

Chapter 11: The Boss's Invitation

Xu Damao never expected to be kicked out. How embarrassing!

Fortunately, his kindred spirit, an old woman, quickly stepped forward and angrily pointed at the big boss.

"What are you doing? I think Xiao Xu is a good person. He's honest and speaks with reason and evidence!"

The big boss snorted and reprimanded.

"Have you ever met an honest person who speaks ill of others behind their backs? This is a basic principle of being a decent human being, yet they lack even the most basic morality. I don't want to see such a person again!"

Xu Damao felt awkward, but he knew very well that explaining wouldn't do much good at this point. He couldn't get on this good side anymore, and he figured even the factory manager behind the big boss would have a problem with him.

Xu Damao didn't explain further. He packed his things and, accompanied by the guards, left the courtyard.

Before leaving, he glanced back at the courtyard, his expression conveying an air of "If you don't keep me today, you'll be begging for my attention tomorrow," before turning and departing.

I, Xu Damao, will remember what happened today. It was all because of Sha Zhu that I lost my chance to rise to prominence and climb the social ladder. I will remember this grudge!

He Yuzhu was naturally unaware of this. If he had known, he would have been overjoyed. That troublemaker had been talking badly about him behind his back, and today he had finally met someone he couldn't afford to offend.

Soon his secretary came and told him to hurry up and cook. The boss wasn't going to the movies today. Also, the boss was from Sichuan and wanted to eat his hometown food. He asked He Yuzhu to cook a table of authentic Sichuan dishes!

"Got it!"

He Yuzhu actually enjoys cooking. Perhaps it's the feeling of being able to showcase his culinary skills and gain recognition from others that he rarely experiences in real life.

In reality, he is just an ordinary person, so ordinary that he only met a divorced woman through a blind date when he was middle-aged. Perhaps the hardships he experienced can resonate with Sha Zhu to some extent.

However, the He Yuzhu in this world lives a more carefree and comfortable life than he does in reality, and has more opportunities in life choices.

Therefore, he prefers He Yuzhu's life.

"Fish-fragrant shredded pork, Mapo tofu, Kung Pao chicken, boiled sliced ​​pork, sliced ​​beef and tripe in chili sauce, shredded chicken with spicy sauce, twice-cooked pork, Dongpo pork knuckle,..."

Under He Yuzhu's hands, dishes were quickly transformed from raw ingredients into delicious delicacies. He Yuzhu believed that no one could find fault with his knife skills and cooking time. The boss's house had all the ingredients. After working for more than an hour, the cooking session was finally completed perfectly.

After He Yuzhu finished preparing the last dish, Dongpo pork knuckle, and had it brought up, he finally relaxed completely. He untied his apron, picked up a porcelain bowl, poured himself a cup of hot water (without tea leaves), and drank it slowly and deliberately.

He Yuzhu has mastered the art of cooking. His memories tell him that he loved to eat when he was a child and learned a family cooking skill from his father. Later, he learned from two master chefs and was scolded a lot. He has inherited this tradition, so his apprentices in Ma Hua have been scolded by him a lot!

Just as he was lost in thought, the kitchen door was pushed open again, and the old woman from before walked in with a smile, saying to He Yuzhu.

"Master He, I'm so sorry, I misunderstood you. The dishes you make are really delicious. I haven't seen my old man enjoy his food so much in a long time. My old man wants you to come over!"

"Alright, Auntie, it's good that the misunderstanding has been cleared up. I'm just a straightforward person and not very good at speaking, so please be understanding. Okay, I'll go take a look right now!"

He Yuzhu wiped the grease off his hands before following the old woman to the front dining room. The big boss sat in the main seat, while a group of other leaders sat below. The atmosphere was fairly harmonious.

When the big boss saw He Yuzhu come in, he quickly smiled and said.

"Young master, may I ask your name?"

"You're too kind, sir. I'm just a cook. My surname is He, and my name is He Yuzhu. You can call me Xiao He or Zhuzi if you like!"

"Haha, okay, then I'll call you Zhuzi! I just heard your factory manager say that you also have a nickname, 'Silly Zhu,' what's that about?"

"Well, boss, I'm a straightforward person and I like to argue, so I've offended a lot of leaders. Everyone thinks I'm stupid, why do I argue for no reason! So everyone has started calling me Silly Zhu. I don't care, let them call me that. Silly Zhu is Silly Zhu, it even sounds more friendly!"

"Hahaha, okay, I like to take things seriously. Well, then our personalities are similar. If you're a silly Zhu, then I'm a big silly Zhu too, hahaha!"

He Yuzhu smiled but did not answer.

"Come, come, I must toast you today. I've been in Yanjing for almost twenty years, and it's been a long time since I've had such authentic hometown food. Today, I'm finally satisfied!"

He Yuzhu quickly bowed his head, smiled, stepped forward, picked up the wine glass on the table, lowered his body to a slightly lower position than the leader's glass, clinked glasses, and drank it all in one gulp.

Fine wine, clearly a premium Moutai!

"It's my honor that you like my cooking, sir. I'm not very skilled, just a little bit of cooking. If you think highly of me, just let me know what you want to eat in the future, and I'll be there anytime!"

"Haha, look, who said Zhu Zi is a fool? I think he's very smart. Okay, okay, then we'll have to trouble Zhu Zi often from now on. I think you should eat with us since you haven't eaten yet. Come on, Xiao Liu, go get another bowl and chopsticks!"

He Yuzhu quickly declined, politely refusing the big boss's invitation to join them for dinner.

Seeing that He Yuzhu was quite sensible, the boss told He Yuzhu to go to the kitchen and pack up the remaining fish, meat, chicken, and duck to take home himself, and not to be shy!

He Yuzhu readily agreed, nodded, and left the front hall.

There are, of course, reasons why they refused to sit at the table for dinner.

Most people might think that since the big shot values ​​you so much, if you sit at the table for a meal, you'll immediately rise to great heights!

These days, let alone a chef, even someone who shovels manure might rise to prominence if they catch the eye of a big shot like this.

but…

One thought can lead to heaven, another to hell—and this was the 60s… wow!

The big shot who was just chatting and laughing will be back in his hometown to recuperate for a few years in a few years. Many of the people who ate with him will be living in cattle sheds in a few years.

As a chef, you don't need to climb high; you just need to conquer the stomach of the big shots, and they will never forget you.

Besides, He Yuzhu doesn't have that much ambition. Isn't it better to just live a peaceful and quiet life?

He Yuzhu has made a lasting impression on the big boss, while Xu Damao has slunk away.

But that's just his personality. He acts like a grandson in front of his superiors, but in front of outsiders, he looks at everyone with the eyes of someone who is his grandson.

Xu Damao lived in the innermost courtyard of the compound. To get home, he had to pass through every courtyard. He had just pushed his bicycle to the middle courtyard when...

He suddenly glanced at Qin Huairu's house. He had been eyeing the widow Qin for a long time, and he had put his arm around her shoulder more than once or twice. But when it came to the real thing, he had been tricked by Qin Huairu countless times and had been cheated out of countless steamed buns.

He was willing to be deceived, since he was attracted to Widow Qin's ability to bear children.

Not having children is his lifelong pain. If he had the chance to get together with Widow Qin and have a child with her, he would divorce her without hesitation.

His casual glance was followed by a sudden realization: through the half-open door, he could vaguely see something.

At Qin Huairu's house, everyone was having a happy dinner when a pretty, silly girl appeared in front of him at the table.

He noticed that girl when they were showing a movie yesterday, but his wife interrupted him, so he gave up the idea. He already knew that the girl was Qin Jingru, Qin Huairu's cousin.

Upon seeing that silly girl, Xu Damao felt an irresistible itch in his heart. She looked six or seven parts like Qin Huairu, with a curvaceous figure that completely inherited Qin Huairu's. Moreover, she was a virgin, not the mother of Qin Huairu's three children!

Moreover, seeing the silly girl's timid and submissive appearance, Xu Damao felt a certain part of his body getting hotter.

Chapter 12: A Big Mouth

He had already heard that Qin Jingru's visit was to introduce her to Sha Zhu.

As mortal enemies, and also out of male pride, no matter the reason, this matter cannot be allowed to go through.

Xu Damao, that cunning old fox, quickly came up with an idea. Seeing the silly girl's dazed look, an idea had already formed in his mind.

This silly girl, I have to steal her away!

Thinking it over, Xu Damao quietly put down his bicycle, took a small bag from the back seat, and put two pounds of eggs in the bag. He had bought them from a rural aunt at the black market when he went home, originally intending to take them back to nourish his wife.

For many years, the couple had not had children, and he always felt that it was his wife's problem, so he tried all sorts of folk remedies. Of course, in addition to folk remedies, he also tried formal methods.

Some of the older women at the factory suggested that he might be malnourished, which was why he couldn't have children. So, he brought a lot of things home for his family during this time.

Even when he went to the countryside, he would try every means to get two old hens to lay eggs. But a few days ago, one of them was stolen, and the matter was eventually dropped. The remaining hen hasn't laid any eggs for several days.

That's why he bought two pounds of eggs at a high price from the black market today, intending to nourish his wife's body.

However, he now has a new idea. Since that wretched woman can't have children, why not find a new target? There's one right in front of him right now.

Carrying the eggs, Xu Damao straightened his clothes. When he arrived at Qin Huairu's door, he immediately straightened his back, coughed twice to signal the people in the room to pay attention to him, and then pushed open the half-closed door.

"Are you all eating?"

When Qin Huairu saw that it was Xu Damao, she didn't give him a friendly look. One was a cunning old man, and the other was a scheming bitch. They both knew their own limitations. However, they were neighbors, so she couldn't say anything in front of the child.

"Xu Damao, why aren't you home having dinner with Lou Xiao'e at this hour? What are you doing at my house? You know what my family's situation is like; this isn't for you!"

Xu Damao gave an awkward laugh, narrowed his small eyes, raised the egg in his hand, and said with an expression that said, "Who cares about your three or four dates?"

"Qin Huairu, look at you being so stingy. Don't you know who I, Xu Damao, am? When I went to the countryside to show movies, the commune gave me two catties of eggs. I glanced out the window and saw that your family was eating them. As your neighbor, do you think I don't know your situation? I'm just using them to supplement the children's nutrition!"

When Qin Huairu saw the eggs in Xu Damao's hand, her eyes lit up. These days, eggs were as expensive as meat, so they were a real treat. She knew exactly who Xu Damao was, but was it in Qin Huairu's nature not to take advantage of the situation?

"Oh, thank you so much! I never thought you, Xu Damao, would do a good deed one day!"

"Hey, Qin Huairu, I don't like hearing that. I, Xu Damao, am a man of clear likes and dislikes. Look at the dishes on your table, didn't Sha Zhu bring them back for you? Do you really think that Sha Zhu is so selfless and dedicated every day, doing good deeds like Lei Feng? Isn't he just after something?"

Qin Jingru, who was standing to the side, became interested when she heard that Sha Zhu was mentioned. Her silly little face was full of curiosity. Her cousin had always told her about Sha Zhu in a good way. This was the first time she had heard someone say something bad about Sha Zhu. She became interested and started to shout.

What is that fool Zhu's purpose?

Seeing that the silly girl had taken the bait, Xu Damao immediately smiled and narrowed his eyes. Just as he was about to complain, Qin Huairu snatched the egg from his hand and pushed him toward the door while shouting.

"Xu Damao, you never say a nice thing. Nobody knows you have a grudge against Shazhu. There's always trouble at my doorstep. You'd better go back now, or Lou Xiao'e will come to my house with a kitchen knife!"

Qin Jingru asked, still clueless.

"Sis, just let him talk, I want to know more about Sha Zhu!"

"Go eat some steamed buns!"

"Oh!"

Xu Damao was pushed and shoved towards the door by Qin Huairu. He didn't dare to shout loudly, afraid of disturbing the other neighbors, otherwise those nagging old guys would keep nagging.

Pushed out the door, Qin Huairu slammed the door shut, leaving Xu Damao looking completely bewildered.

"You, Qin Huairu, ate my eggs and now you want to turn your back on me? I'll remember this! Humph, you think I can't do anything about it? I'm definitely sleeping with that silly girl!"

Xu Damao snorted and pushed his bicycle home. He hadn't come away empty-handed; at least he was certain of his thoughts once again. Qin Jingru, that silly girl, was genuinely silly, and that naivety couldn't be faked.

Humming a little tune, Xu Damao arrived at his doorstep, put down his bicycle, and pushed open the door. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Lou Xiao'e sewing shoes, but her needlework was obviously crooked and messy.

"You're back! Hurry up and cook dinner. It's so late, I'm getting hungry. Why are you back so late today?"

Upon hearing this complaint, Xu Damao felt even more annoyed. He had long disliked Lou Xiao'e. She was a useless thing who couldn't lay eggs, couldn't cook, and couldn't do any handicrafts or needlework. She was just a decoration. How could he have married such a thing in the first place!

"Eat, eat, all you know is eating. If you're hungry, can't you cook for yourself? Lou Xiao'e, I married you to live a practical life. Do you really think you're some rich heiress?"

Lou Xiao'e was immediately displeased upon hearing this. She picked up her shoe and threw it at Xu Damao's face. The slap landed squarely on his face, and Xu Damao covered his face, pointing at Lou Xiao'e in utter fury.