Siheyuan, my new life

When the bell for the end of get off work at the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill rang, Jia Dongxu followed his master Yi Zhonghai out of the workshop closely. After a day of sweet talk and persuasion, Yi Zhonghai finally agreed to have dinner at his home tonight. Jia Dongxu breathed a sigh of relief after hearing that. He believed that as long as he kept working hard, he would be able to get away with this matter.

In fact, Yi Zhonghai's mind was full of the scene of seeing He Daqing and his son get off Lin Yu's jeep in the morning. He just couldn't figure out when He Daqing got in touch with the powerful Lin Yu? Seeing their conversation from a distance, it was obvious that both parties knew each other.

If He Daqing, as the deputy director and chef of the steel rolling mill canteen, could know Lin Yu, Yi Zhonghai had no doubt about it. After all, He Daqing's cooking skills were well-known in Dongcheng District. It was possible that Lin Yu had met each other when they were eating in the small canteen.

But it was a little unusual that Lin Yu let He Daqing and his son ride in his jeep to work together based on just a single encounter. Although He Daqing was the deputy director of the steel mill canteen, there was a world of difference between his status and Lin Yu's. One was the undisputed uncrowned king of the Red Star Steel Mill, while the other was just a small character who barely squeezed into the cadre team.

Yi Zhonghai's heart suddenly trembled, and he then remembered He Daqing's cooking skills. If Lin Yu valued He Daqing's cooking skills and asked him to cook for him to entertain guests, then He Daqing would definitely become a celebrity in the eyes of Lin Yu, a big leader. He had heard He Daqing showing off before, and some leading cadres often invited him to their homes to cook for guests. A big leader like Lin Yu would probably have guests who needed to be entertained at home, and in this case, He Daqing's cooking skills would come in handy.

If Lin Yu favored him, who would have to follow He Daqing's lead in the No. 95 courtyard? By that time, wouldn't he, the manager, be completely a mere decoration?

Thinking of this, Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but get anxious. It seemed that he had to hurry up and get He Daqing out of Courtyard No. 95 and out of the capital. This required urging the White Widow to speed up.

Yi Zhonghai, who thought he had figured everything out, suddenly felt a lot more relaxed. He subconsciously took out an economical cigarette from his pocket. Just as he was about to take out a match to light the cigarette, Jia Dongxu, who had been following him, had already quickly struck a match and came over.

Yi Zhonghai did not refuse Jia Dongxu's offer to light his cigarette. He knew that now was not the time to deal with this traitor, so he had to save face. He said, "Dongxu, don't be so sneaky all the time. When you have time, work on your skills and don't let the workshop director and quality inspectors find out a lot of problems. It doesn't matter if it happens once or twice, but it happens every time. I can't even speak up for you."

When Jia Dongxu heard that Yi Zhonghai finally started to lecture him again, he felt relieved. He was not afraid of Yi Zhonghai scolding him, but what he was most worried about was that Yi Zhonghai would ignore him. If Yi Zhonghai continued to ignore him, it would mean that he really gave up on him. Thinking about the money Yi Zhonghai had accumulated over the years, and his previous plans, how could Jia Dongxu give up easily?

After Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, Jia Dongxu pretended to be embarrassed and said, "I'm sorry, Master. It's all my fault that I embarrassed you. Don't worry, I will definitely study the locksmithing skills well in the future."

Yi Zhonghai smiled a little: "Well, Dongxu, I'm glad you understand what I mean. Okay, finish this cigarette and go back to the workshop to work hard."

Jia Dongxu hurriedly whispered: "Master, in order to thank you for taking care of our Jia family and me as your apprentice for so many years, my mother specially asked Huairu to go to Chaoyang Vegetable Market early this morning to buy meat and vegetables. I would like to invite you and Master's wife to have a meal at home in the evening."

How could Yi Zhonghai not know that Jia Dongxu was talking nonsense? After all these years, he still didn't know what kind of person Jia Zhang was? If he wanted her to buy meat and treat him, he would have to wait for the sun to rise. That was not right. Since he had known Jia Zhang for so many years, he had actually eaten at Jia's house twice.

The first time was after Lao Jia died of a work-related accident. His relatives from his hometown came to the house wanting to take advantage of the family fortune. Jia Zhang, who was still slender and charming at the time, invited him to her house for a drink. Then he made the mistake that all men would make. He came into close contact with Jia's sister-in-law, and truly experienced the saying, "Nothing tastes better than dumplings, and nothing is more fun than my sister-in-law." No, it should be that nothing is more fun than making dumplings.

Since he had made dumplings with Jia's sister-in-law before, how could he watch her being eaten up? So Yi Zhonghai, together with He Daqing, Xu Fugui and other good brothers of Jia's family, drove away the Jia's relatives who came from the countryside. Although Yi Zhonghai occasionally made dumplings with Jia's sister-in-law, it was not his sister-in-law who treated him. Instead, he made dumplings with his sister-in-law in the vegetable cellar in the middle of the night with rice, flour and small coins.

The second time Jia Zhang invited him to dinner was on the eve of Jia Dongxu's succession to the steel mill. At that time, Jia Zhang was already a fat woman with a height of 1.5 meters and a weight of over 150 grams. Ever since Jia's sister-in-law ate and drank so much that she became a fat ball, Yi Zhonghai no longer had the heart to make dumplings with her sister-in-law. Even if she invited him many times, Yi Zhonghai refused for various reasons.

The purpose of Jia Zhang's invitation this time was to ask Yi Zhonghai to accept Jia Dongxu as his apprentice, so that her only precious son would have someone to rely on in the steel mill.

It was difficult for Yi Zhonghai to refuse Jia Zhang's request. For one thing, Old Jia had taken good care of him in the past. Not only did he teach him locksmith skills, but he also protected him everywhere in the Lou's Steel Rolling Mill at that time. Now that Old Jia had passed away, if he could not take good care of his children, it would seriously affect his reputation. Of course, due to the friendship he had with his sister-in-law over the many times they made dumplings together, he could not turn Jia Dongxu away. So Yi Zhonghai accepted this apprentice without hesitation.

When Yi Zhonghai heard Jia Dongxu say that his mother was going to treat him today, he looked at him meaningfully: "Dongxu, based on my understanding of your mother over the years, will she treat us to a meal? You are my apprentice, you must not lie to your master."

Jia Dongxu scratched his head in embarrassment and said, "Master, to be honest, I want to invite you and your wife to my house for a meal. For so many years, you and your wife have always taken care of our family. Not only do you take care of me in the factory, but you also often worry about our family in the courtyard. This morning I specially asked Huairu to buy some things, and tonight our two families will have a meal together."