Silly Zhu's Moving: The Old Neighbor's Nightmare

He Daqing led Sha Zhu to the personnel department to complete the various filing documents.

After receiving their work permits and picking up their uniforms from the logistics warehouse, they took Shazhu to the cafeteria kitchen.

He introduced Sha Zhu to everyone. This would be Sha Zhu's workplace from now on.

So, to avoid trouble, Sha Zhu acted very politely.

Sha Zhu had worked in the kitchen before with He Daqing, and several of the older female cooks knew him.

Besides He Daqing, there were two other cooks who prepared meals for the workers: Chef Yang and Chef Zhao.

The remaining ten or so people were all temporary workers and apprentices. After all, it had been two years since he last came here, and Sha Zhu had never seen these temporary workers and apprentices before.

Under He Daqing's arrangement, Sha Zhu mainly cooked large pots of vegetables for lunch.

Seeing that there was nothing to do, Sha Zhu took the initiative to go to the cutting board, picked up a cleaver, and helped chop vegetables.

Because it was almost lunchtime for the workers, everyone was working busily and at a tense pace.

There was no sound of conversation. Sha Zhu saw that the vegetables beside him were almost finished being chopped.

He walked over to the stove that He Daqing had arranged and started cooking a big pot of rice.

While chopping vegetables, Sha Zhu mentally observed the two chefs' methods and steps for preparing large-pot dishes, and found it somewhat amusing.

The way they cook makes it seem like anyone could do it.

It's simply a matter of adding some base ingredients and stir-frying it, then adding various vegetables, seasonings, and plenty of water. Just cook it until it's thoroughly cooked, being careful not to burn it.

Sha Zhu didn't try to be different; he simply followed the methods of the two master chefs and easily made several large pots of stew.

I just paid attention to the heat while stir-frying the vegetables and turned them over a few more times. That made the dish a little bit more fragrant.

Sha Zhu could certainly make the stew taste better; it's just a matter of controlling the heat, the ratio of seasonings, and the timing of adding them.

But if it's made too delicious, the two head chefs will lose face.

When the workers eat in the canteen, they might feel ashamed compared to the pig slop they used to eat.

If I add more workload to myself later, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?

So whatever the two master chefs did, Sha Zhu did too.

"Zhu Zi, you're back from your apprenticeship! The big pot of food you make tastes better than mine."

After finishing cooking in the communal pot, Master Yang scooped out two spoonfuls of the dish that Sha Zhu had made, tasted it, and said to Sha Zhu.

"Yes, Zhu Zi, your cooking skills are so good. I heard from your dad that you've been learning to cook at Fengzeyuan. How's it going? Have you graduated yet?" Chef Zhao, who was also eating nearby, asked.

Sha Zhu watched as the two chefs finished cooking the large pot of dishes and then ate lunch, without even bothering to go to the front to serve food to the workers.

He followed suit and sat down with the two chefs to have lunch.

"I haven't finished my apprenticeship yet. I followed the master at Fengzeyuan for over two years, starting from doing odd jobs."

Inside Fengzeyuan, I washed and chopped vegetables, served as a waiter and helped in the kitchen, and when I had time, I also helped with purchasing vegetables and meat.

My mentor has been teaching me carefully for the past two months, and I already had some basic knowledge.

My chef assigned me to the third stove at Fengzeyuan, where I cooked simple stir-fries. I wasn't given any experience with more substantial meat dishes.

Sha Zhu answered the two chefs' questions while eating.

"That's a bit of a pity. Your master had just begun to teach you cooking skills in detail."

Your dad took you to the steel mill. Didn't that mean you missed a great opportunity to learn to cook?

Master Yang was eating and talking at the same time. Suddenly, he changed the subject...

He whispered, "Zhu Zi, I heard from others that a colleague at the factory introduced your dad to a young widow."

Your father often goes to see the young widow, and he's planning to go to another city with her, isn't that right?

Before Sha Zhu could answer, he continued, "It's because your dad went to another place with someone else."

There's absolutely no need to introduce you to the steel rolling mill. I think you're perfectly fine staying at Fengzeyuan. It has a much better future than working at the steel rolling mill."

There are no secrets in this kitchen, Sha Zhu thought to himself.

“Fengzeyuan closes too late, so my dad arranged for me to come here mainly to pick up and drop off Yushui from school. My younger sister just started first grade at the elementary school next door.”

"Idiot Zhu said helplessly."

"Oh, right, you also have a younger sister. Your sister often comes to the kitchen with your dad."

"Your dad is such a scoundrel. He just abandoned you two and left you both behind," Master Yang said angrily.

"Hehe, Master Yang, don't be angry. Look, even I, as your son, am not angry."

"Let him run away, no one's stopping me now, I'm free. Come on, gentlemen, let's go out for a smoke."

Sha Zhu pulled a pack of Peony cigarettes out of his pocket.

The two master chefs stared wide-eyed. "Holy crap! Zhu Zi, you've got some skills! This is Peony brand cigarettes!"

"Only high-ranking officials smoke Peony and Zhonghua cigarettes. Our canteen manager smokes Hademen every day. I've never even tried Peony cigarettes before," said Chef Zhao.

"Hehe, let's go to the kitchen door for a smoke. I borrowed these cigarettes from my master at Fengzeyuan."

My mentor often cooks for the leaders, and there are always good cigarettes in his office drawer.

"Zhonghua, Mudan, Xiangshan, and even 555 brands—they also have foreign cigarettes, but the taste isn't good. My master's been coughing from smoking lately, so all the good cigarettes are going to me."

Sha Zhu said as he walked out.

Upon hearing Sha Zhu's words, the two master chefs were filled with envy. "Why don't I have a master like that? How unfair is heaven! I wish he were my master!"

If Sha Zhu knew what those two were thinking, he'd definitely spit in their faces. What a load of rubbish!

If you really had a master like that, you'd serve him the best cigarettes and alcohol every day.

After finishing his cigarette, Sha Zhu checked the time and told the two mentors that he would officially start work tomorrow.

I found He Daqing in the kitchen, greeted him, and showed him my work ID and the uniform that had been given to me.

He left the kitchen, took out his bicycle from the bicycle shed, and left the steel rolling mill, heading towards the Military Control Commission near Nanluoguxiang.

After picking up Brother Li at the military control office, Sha Zhu went to the street corner and met the moving crew he had arranged to meet.

Pushing his bicycle, he led the way, heading towards No. 95 Nanluoguxiang.

The courtyard was quiet; all the men, young and old, had gone out to work and hadn't returned.

I guess the older women and daughters-in-law in each household are either still asleep or haven't come out of their rooms.

As Sha Zhu led the people into the courtyard, the women from each household came out to check the situation.

"Shazhu, what's going on?" Liugen's wife came out of the house and saw Shazhu leading several strangers in, and asked.

At this moment, Sha Zhu led his people to the front of his own house in the Central Court.

Looking at the aunties and grandmas from each household who came out,

He said to them, "My dad found a stepmother for me and Yushui."

Our house wasn't big enough, so we gave up the house in our yard.

"Our family has moved to the vicinity of the Military Control Commission, and we've come here to move our belongings out."

The aunties and grandmas in the courtyard immediately erupted in excitement, each saying their own opinion.

"He Daqing is a real scoundrel!"

"Exactly, if they find a stepmother, the two kids will suffer."

"So what if you found a stepmother? Why is the house not big enough?"

"Sha Zhu is so old, and he's still finding a stepmother for his child. He Daqing is truly shameless."

"How can you be so shameless? You think He Daqing didn't contact you, right?"

"That means his house is now empty."

"The rain is getting heavier. Am I going to share a single room with Sha Zhu?"

"That's not quite right. Their big house could easily be partitioned off,"

"It's enough room for a few more people."

Instantly, Sha Zhu felt a quacking sound in his ears, the sounds of hundreds of ducks like a symphony.