Siheyuan: Revenge of the Stupid Pillar

Lu Dahai watched He Yuzhu's operation and nodded frequently, with a gratified smile on his face.

He Yuzhu finished making the braised pork and continued to make the twice-cooked pork.

After about ten minutes, the twice-cooked pork was ready.

After the two meat dishes were ready, He Yuzhu fried some vegetables and then started eating.

"Master, please try it and give me your evaluation!"

Lu Dahai didn't hesitate to pick up the chopsticks and picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth.

He Yuzhu couldn't wait to ask: "Master, how does it taste?"

"It smells delicious and melts in your mouth. It's fat but not greasy, lean but not dry. Perfect."

Hearing the master's comments, He Yuzhu smiled widely and continued, "Master, try the twice-cooked pork again."

Lu Dahai nodded slightly, then picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork and put it into his mouth.

"The meat is tender, spicy and flavorful, fat but not greasy, and leaves a lingering fragrance. 100 points."

"Zhu Zi, your cooking skills are better than mine."

He Yuzhu said modestly, "Master, you are too kind. I still have a lot to learn."

Lu Dahai said with admiration: "You are not arrogant even though you won. Zhuzi, you have really matured."

Mei Xiu'e picked the dishes for He Yuzhu with a loving face and said softly, "Zhuzi, stop chatting and eat quickly. It's so late, you must be hungry too."

Seeing this, He Yuzhu hurriedly picked up some food for Mei Xiu'e, "Master's Wife, you eat too."

Lu Dahai said cheerfully: "Zhu Zi, Master is very happy to see that you have made progress. Let's have a few drinks."

He Yuzhu was also very happy and said cheerfully: "Listen to the master and have a few drinks."

Everyone at the table was toasting each other, chatting and laughing, and having a great time.

"Master, are you still working at Hongbinlou?"

"Yes! But now that I'm old, I seldom cook. I mainly help my apprentices in the kitchen."

"Master, you should have many apprentices now, right?"

"You have exactly ten disciples!"

At this point, Lu Dahai's expression suddenly became a little awkward, as if there was something he was unable to say.

Seeing this, He Yuzhu asked hurriedly: "Master, what happened?"

"Zhu Zi, I want to trouble you with something!"

"It's no trouble, Master, just tell me what you want!"

Lu Dahai sighed and said, "Zhu Zi, the thing is, because I have too many apprentices, Hongbinlou simply cannot use so many chefs, which is why two of your apprentices still have no jobs."

"Aren't you the deputy director of the canteen at the steel mill now? Can you think of a way to arrange for your two junior brothers to work in the canteen at the steel mill?"

"Of course, if it's difficult, forget it!"

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "I thought it was something else. I'll take care of the work for the two junior brothers. It just so happens that our factory is expanding and we're in need of chefs."

Lu Dahai said seriously, "Zhu Zi, you can't say this on purpose just to make me happy. You should do everything within your ability."

He Yuzhu said with a relaxed look on his face: "Master, don't worry! Our factory is really short of chefs. As long as I tell the director of the logistics department, I can arrange for the two junior brothers to work in the factory."

Lu Dahai didn't quite believe what He Yuzhu said. Although he had never worked in a factory, he knew that the number of regular workers in a factory was very limited. The market price of a regular worker was as high as 300 yuan, and there was no price for it.

All factories in this era were state-owned enterprises, and as long as you had a formal workstation in the factory, it was like having a stable job.

Moreover, the work in this era can be passed down. When the father retires, he can pass it on to his son, and when the son retires, he can pass it on to his grandson.

Lu Dahai asked: "Zhu Zi, are you on good terms with Director Li?"

He Yuzhu said without hesitation: "I am considered a member of his faction, and he is about to be promoted to deputy factory director. Just tell him about this little thing."

Hearing this, Lu Dahai felt relieved and chuckled, "Zhu Zi, I'll have to trouble you to take care of the work of your two junior brothers."

He Yuzhu waved his hand and said, "Master, you are too polite. They are all my brothers. Helping them is helping myself."

"Master, please tell the two junior brothers that their work will be finalized tomorrow."

Hearing this, Lu Dahai smiled and said, "Zhu Zi, you have helped them a lot. Your two junior brothers' families are not well off. With jobs, their lives are guaranteed."

"Come to my house again tomorrow night, and I will introduce your two junior brothers to you..."

"Okay!" He Yuzhu agreed readily.

After finishing talking about work with the master, the master's wife started chatting with him about family matters.

"Zhu Zi, why didn't you bring your wife and children here today?"

He Yuzhu stammered, "Master's wife, I'm not married yet!"

"What the hell? You're not married yet? You're 25 years old this year, right? Why aren't you married yet?" Lu Dahai's face was full of shock.

He Yuzhu said with a stiff upper lip: "The reason why I haven't gotten married yet is also because of Yi Zhonghai's calculations."

"A few years ago, there was a widow named Qin in our hospital whose husband had died. Yi Zhonghai often talked to me about how difficult it was for the widow and asked me to help her."

"I didn't know what was wrong with me at the time, but I believed his lies. As time went by, rumors spread that I had an affair with the widow."

"Plus, the widow Qin is ungrateful and doesn't want to lose me, her lover, so she always comes to ruin my blind dates, which is why I haven't been able to get married yet."

"Zhuzi! Zhuzi! I really don't know what to say to you..." Lu Dahai looked heartbroken.

Mei Xiu'e also said angrily, "Yi Zhonghai and Widow Qin are such bastards. Don't they know that they would rather destroy ten temples than ruin a marriage?"

He Yuzhu hurriedly persuaded: "Master, Master's wife, don't be angry, I have come to my senses now and will not be fooled again, and I already have a girlfriend."

Mei Xiu'e's face lit up, "You have a girlfriend? That's good news. How long have you been dating? Where does your girlfriend work?"

He Yuzhu said shyly, "We have been dating for a month. The other party is an elementary school teacher."

Lu Dahai raised his eyes slightly, "Primary school teacher, that's not bad, hurry up and get married, then we can feel at ease."

"By the way, have you met their parents?"

"Not yet!" He Yuzhu went on to explain, "Her family is all intellectuals. Her father is a university professor and her mother works in a newspaper. I want to get my junior high school diploma before I go to meet her parents."

"Junior high school diploma?" Lu Dahai looked puzzled.

He Yuzhu continued to explain: "I am attending night school now, and I will take the exam in June. By then, I will be able to get my junior high school diploma?"

Lu Dahai frowned and said, "Do their families think you are not well educated?"

"Not really. It's mainly because I'm a little insecure and worried that I'm not worthy of her." He Yuzhu's face was full of embarrassment.