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

"Want to wear a dress? No problem, you'll start learning martial arts with your Uncle Li tomorrow."

As long as you study hard and persevere, whatever you want, I'll buy it for you.

What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you. Today it's braised pork.

"You can eat it every day, until you get tired of it." Sha Zhu looked at the smile on Yu Shui's face.

He retorted, "That's a prerequisite for mastering martial arts. If you don't master it..."

He works sporadically, either because he's afraid of hardship or fatigue, haha.

Your brother eats rice and braised pork with your Uncle Li every day.

You eat cornbread, cornmeal porridge, and pickled vegetables every day.

"I'll let you watch us eat well every day. It'll make you so envious!"

Raindrop's smile gradually faded. "Stinky brother, I miss my dad."

I'm going to tell Dad that you bullied me, and he'll teach you a lesson.

"Don't even think about it. Dad's probably off gallivanting somewhere again. Didn't you want to practice martial arts?"

Once you practice well, you'll be able to eat meat every day and wear new clothes every day. Okay, come with me to wash your feet and go to bed.

Sha Zhu said goodnight to Master Li and went to wash up in the rain.

The next day, Sha Zhu went to the street to buy breakfast, and after the three of them ate breakfast,

Sha Zhu rode his bicycle to deliver the rainwater to the school, but he didn't run into Liu Guangtian and the other children.

He rode his bicycle alone to work at the steel rolling mill.

Today, Sha Zhu also changed into the steel rolling mill's work clothes and wore his work ID. Without the guards stopping him, he was free to come and go.

Sha Zhu arrived at the kitchen; most of the temporary workers and apprentices had already arrived.

Everyone was busy with their own things; the two head chefs were nowhere to be seen, so they probably hadn't arrived yet.

Sha Zhu saw purchasing staff delivering vegetables, rice, and noodles to the kitchen.

I hurried over and helped a few temporary workers move things onto the shelves in the back kitchen.

Just after we finished moving all the grain and vegetables, the canteen manager and two head chefs arrived.

Once everyone was present, the cafeteria manager held a brief morning meeting.

I introduced Sha Zhu to everyone and arranged for him to cook large meals for the workers.

Chef Zhao, who has the longest tenure in the cafeteria, will replace He Daqing in the future.

I served as the class monitor and was responsible for preparing meals for the leaders.

The meeting had just ended, and Director Gong had just left the kitchen.

Then they heard that an apprentice named Zhang, who was about the same age as Sha Zhu, had found Sha Zhu.

"Master He, there's a factory worker surnamed Yi looking for you in the cafeteria lobby."

You should go check on him right away. He seems quite anxious.

"That guy surnamed Yi is in a pretty hurry," Sha Zhu muttered to himself.

There are a few people with the surname Yi in the whole steel rolling mill. He came to me on my first day of work.

Sha Zhu left the kitchen and went to where the workers ate, where he saw Yi Zhonghai waiting at the entrance of the hall.

When Yi Zhonghai saw Sha Zhu come out, he quickly went up to him and pulled him to a corner of the hall.

"Zhu Zi, you moved out yesterday without saying goodbye. Where's your dad?"

What a damn pretentious act. He's here to play riddles on me.

"Uncle Yi, I was thinking of asking you for help with the move yesterday, but all the uncles, grandpas, and young men in the yard have gone to work."

"As for my dad, I don't know either. He probably went to find a construction team to build a house."

My dad found a dilapidated courtyard near the military control commission and wanted to build several rooms there.

They arranged for my sister and me to stay at my master's house temporarily. Uncle Yi, you've heard about it, haven't you?

My dad found a stepmother, and I disagreed with moving out. My dad has beaten me several times since then.

My dad assigned me to the kitchen and then disappeared. I don't know where to look for him.

"It seems this silly boy knows nothing," Yi Zhonghai thought to himself.

Yesterday your family moved out, and when I got home from get off work I went to inquire about it. The White Widow's place has been empty for a long time.

It seems that He Daqing also followed the widow Bai to another place.

He Daqing, you can run away if you want, but you even disposed of the house in the courtyard!

I was even thinking of training Shazhu, but Jia's wife got into a huge fight with everyone in the yard over a broken bed and cabinet.

She even made me clean up her mess. Yi Zhonghai was deep in thought when Sha Zhu stepped forward and interrupted, "Uncle Yi, Uncle Yi, what's wrong? What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, Zhu Zi, I'm fine. Your dad has arranged for you to work in the kitchen."

"Just work hard, and after two years, Uncle Yi will use his connections to get you promoted to a permanent employee ahead of schedule," Yi Zhonghai comforted Sha Zhu.

Damn it, I'm a full-time employee now, eating the same food every day. You'll find out sooner or later.

I'd better let you know sooner rather than later, so you don't have any complaints later. I was even thinking of using my connections to get you a permanent position.

You've already got a full-time job, and you didn't even tell me. For your sake, kid...

I've been trying to find solutions for you every day, but you don't even try to be considerate of your Uncle Yi.

"Uncle Yi, my dad has made me a permanent employee. Look at the permanent employee badge I'm wearing around my neck."

I'm currently in the kitchen cooking large batches of food for the workers. Thank you for your concern, Uncle Yi, but there's no need to trouble you.

Yi Zhonghai was somewhat dazed. "Damn He Daqing, you can leave if you want, but you ruined my plans."

Even this silly boy doesn't live in the yard anymore, how am I supposed to train him? I'm thinking of giving him some small favors...

You, He Daqing, ruined it all. I was so angry I almost spat out blood. No, this can't go on.

"Zhu Zi, you should go back to work in the kitchen first. If you need anything, go to the workshop and find Uncle Yi. I still have some influence in the factory."

After the two parted ways, Sha Zhu returned to the kitchen. Yi Zhonghai grew increasingly angry.

They stopped walking towards the workshop, turned a corner, and headed towards the two-story building next to the kitchen.

Sha Zhu returned to the kitchen and was observing Yi Zhonghai with his mind.

Look at this old Bi Deng, he suddenly turned around and didn't go back to the workshop, but went to the office on the second floor again.

The two-story building happened to be not far from the kitchen, and was within Sha Zhu's mental range.

Inside the office of Director Gong, the canteen manager, on the second floor.

"Master Yi, you're here to see He Daqing, right? Aren't you two from the same compound? I think you two usually get along quite well."

When Director Gong of the canteen saw Yi Zhonghai come in, he made a joke at Yi Zhonghai.

"Yes, we're from the same department, we've known each other for a long time."

Wasn't this He Daqing going to another place with a young widow to raise someone else's child?

I tried to persuade him, but he wouldn't listen. He left his two children at home and asked me to help take care of them.

The two children are too young, neither of them is an adult yet, the younger one is only six or seven years old.

I heard that his eldest son is now cooking in the kitchen, directly handling large batches of vegetables. Is that true?

Yi Zhonghai pretended not to know the situation and asked Director Gong.

"Yes, He Daqing said his son is working at Fengzeyuan Restaurant."

I originally wanted his son to take over his job as the kitchen foreman.

I saw that his son was too young, so I politely declined and told his son to go and cook for the workers first. "What's wrong, Master Yi?" Director Gong asked, puzzled.

"Why would I cook on the stove? I've been neighbors with He Daqing for a long time, I know the situation perfectly well."

His son also worked odd jobs at Fengzeyuan, and he learned some basic skills from He Daqing from a young age.

It's too early to start cooking; having his son cook for the workers would only harm Zhu Zi.

This kid, just like his dad, grew up to be a reckless and eccentric person.

We need to work on his character; after all, jade needs to be carved to become a useful object.

As he spoke, Yi Zhonghai pulled a handful of banknotes from his pocket.

"Director Gong, here's 100 yuan. Please take it. Thank you for your help."

Zhu Zi still needs some work; let him start as an apprentice.

Don't let this child develop an arrogant attitude; it could lead to serious problems.

"There will be the same thanks after it's done." Yi Zhonghai looked like he was asking for a favor.

"This, this isn't right, Master Yi. Yesterday, out of respect for He Daqing..."

They were directly hired as permanent employees in the factory, but now they've been changed to apprentices. This is a difficult situation.

"There's no way to say that," Director Gong said with difficulty.

"That's easy. The kitchen can be managed with just a word from you. Anyway, He Daqing isn't coming back."

You can point out any minor faults his son has, or ask this guy to cook you a dish.

Just tell him he doesn't meet your standards, and send him back to apprenticeship to start over.

"Anyway, this pillar just arrived; today is his first day on the job." Yi Zhonghai offered his advice casually.