Courtyard House: He Yuzhu started in 1948

That being said, the school has funding, but it can't provide meals for free. Students who want to eat at the school have to pay.

In junior high, it cost three coins; in senior high, it cost five coins.

At the end of the month, the most I could earn was two yuan.

Don't think it's expensive. You can eat your fill three times a day. At home, this amount of money wouldn't be enough to buy a meal.

Compared to other middle schools ranked ahead of No. 5 Middle School, the minimum monthly food expenses are six yuan.

Moreover, He Yuzhu is generous with the ingredients; the food is made with high-quality ingredients and includes meat at every meal, making the price very reasonable.

The students looked at the glistening stew, two large pieces of meat, and unlimited steamed buns... What more could they ask for? Even if they spent less money at home, they wouldn't have this much oil and fat.

Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangtian were also among the crowd who had come to watch the spectacle. When they were queuing up for food, they were stunned to see He Yuzhu directing five elderly women to serve the dishes.

What's going on?

Is he a chef?

Huh?

Is Jia Zhangshi also here?

If we have acquaintances here, then my brother and I are really in luck.

"Auntie, it's me, Guangtian!"

Liu Guangtian handed the rice bowl to Jia Zhangshi and said obsequiously, "Help me prepare more rice; we're all from the same courtyard."

"Get lost!"

Madam Jia spoke with unwavering firmness, her eyes wide as she rebuked, "Don't think that just because you two are brats, you're the same as everyone else, even if Dongxu came!"

Finally, Madam Jia proudly declared, "That's Steward He's rule!"

What?

Who is in charge?

He Yuzhu has become an official?

He's only thirteen years old, what makes him so special?

Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangtian exchanged glances, still hoping to use their neighborly relationship to get some preferential treatment from Jia Zhangshi: "Auntie, we're neighbors in the same courtyard. We've played with Shazhu since we were little..."

Before she could finish speaking, Jia Zhangshi interrupted her: "You call him 'Silly Zhu'? He's our Steward He!"

Even the principal has to address him as "Manager He," so who do you think you are?

Don't think I don't know, you two bullied our Dongxu, and you've been playing with Zhuzi since you were little... It was Zhuzi who beat you up!

"What are you doing up ahead?"

He Yuzhu's voice rang out, his tone stern: "Hurry up, everyone! There are students lining up behind you!"

Seeing an opportunity, Jia Zhangshi raised her spoon and shouted, "Manager He, someone is asking for special treatment!"

Just then, He Yuzhu appeared behind them, saw the Liu brothers, Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangtian, and glared at them: "Hurry up and get your food, or get out!"

This shout startled the two brothers, Liu Guangqi and Liu Guangtian, so much that they trembled.

The fear of being dominated by He Yuzhu returned.

After getting their food, the two slunk away.

Because of the rain, none of the old women serving vegetables dared to tremble; they did what they were supposed to do. Zhang Jingtao and the other school leaders, seeing the smiles on the students' faces, suddenly felt that everything was worthwhile.

Zhang Jingtao, in particular, had tears in his eyes.

He swallowed his pride and went around begging for donations, only to see the students smile... It was all worth it!

After the students finished getting their food, Zhang Jingtao took off his glasses and wiped his eyes: "Let's go, let's try Manager He's cooking."

The students enjoyed the meal, and the leaders were satisfied.

The students washed their own dishes, and five elderly women tidied up the tables, turning the stools upside down on the chairs. Zhang Jingtao finished eating, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and prepared to leave with the school leaders and teachers.

He Yuzhu saw him off.

Zhang Jingtao said to He Yuzhu, "Manager He, this meal is filling and warming, and it's very juicy. This is exactly the kind of food the students need. We don't have enough funds, so we can only ask Chef He to put in the effort."

He Yuzhu humbly accepted, then said apologetically, "Principal, you can just call me Zhuzi. Just now in the cafeteria, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep the older ladies in line, so I had no choice but to say that. Leave the kitchen work to me. When I get home, I'll have my dad make some menus for me to ensure that our students have plenty of oil and grow up healthy."

"it is good."

Zhang Jingtao nodded, then made the final decision: "Director Zhang and Teacher Lü told me that you will be in charge of the cafeteria's procurement from now on. You will receive fifty silver dollars upfront, and you will reconcile accounts with Director Zhang for subsequent purchases."

The promises made by Zhang Tianyong and Lü Qinghuan to He Yuzhu didn't count; it was Zhang Jingtao's words that truly settled the matter.

"Yes, Principal."

Fifty silver dollars is enough.

This was the first time He Yuzhu had ever received so much money.

After seeing Zhang Jingtao off, Zhang Tianyong stayed behind. He looked at He Yuzhu, pointed at him, and said with a smile, "You're really bold, you dare to say anything."

He Yuzhu shrugged: "What's there to be afraid of? Just be honest and do things practically, isn't that enough?"

Seeking truth from facts?

Serious and pragmatic?

Zhang Tianyong's eyes lit up.

This kid has a good idea!

Zhang Tianyong told He Yuzhu to go to the library to read or find a classroom to attend a class. He Yuzhu took the opportunity to tell Zhang Tianyong about Jia Zhangshi and others carrying water home, and he readily agreed.

It's just some well water, no problem.

He had long been fed up with those local tyrants in the city.

Tap water won't do; it's public property, and we have to pay for it.

A tap costs thirty yuan, and the water fee is two yuan per cubic meter. The school is almost unable to pay the water bill.

……

With nothing to do in the afternoon, He Yuzhu cooked, cleaned, and checked for missing supplies. By the time he finished, it was 7:15. With fifty silver dollars in his pocket, he carefully went home.

Jia Zhangshi returned home relatively early. As soon as she entered the compound, she started chattering non-stop, saying that He Yuzhu had become an official and that even the principal at school called him "Manager He".

The aunts and uncles in the courtyard also wore fake smiles to appease Jia Zhangshi, while cursing Jia Zhangshi's ancestors in their hearts.

That old hag even went to work at the school!

They're so lucky to have such a good family as He Yuzhu as their neighbors.

Even if your ancestral graves were emitting smoke, you might not have this kind of luck.

I'll have to get along well with He Yuzhu from now on; this kid is no ordinary person.

Ignoring the expressions of the old women and young girls in the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi spread the word about He Yuzhu becoming an official at the school in both the front and back yards.

She felt honored that He Yuzhu had become an official.

As Liu Haizhong was leaving get off work, he reached the door and heard Jia Zhangshi waving her arms exaggeratedly, talking about how powerful He Yuzhu was at No. 5 Middle School, whether true or not.

Liu Haizhong was taken aback when he heard this.

What?

He Yuzhu has become an official?

Didn't he go to the school to work as a free laborer?

Liu Haizhong couldn't believe it and leaned forward to ask, "He Yuzhu is in charge of the school cafeteria? Isn't he only thirteen years old?"

"So what if he's thirteen? Gan Luo became prime minister at eight, and if he could do it, why can't Zhu Zi?"

When Jia Zhangshi saw Liu Haizhong, she snorted coldly and reprimanded him righteously, "Liu Haizhong, go home and take care of your children. You expect me to look after them at school? How am I supposed to take care of them? Zhu Zi already said that serving food must be fair and impartial. Even if it were my own son, I wouldn't give him an extra piece of meat!"

At this moment, Madam Jia Zhang, acting as a champion of fairness, launched into a sarcastic remark at Liu Haizhong: "Your two children are something else! You expect me to take care of them the moment we meet? How am I supposed to take care of them? If I take care of your children, it means I have to take a piece of meat from the other children's bowls. Look at how you raised your children—their upbringing is crooked and their children are crooked too!"

"..."

Jia Zhangshi's words were like slaps to the face, turning Liu Haizhong's face a purplish-red.

Liu Haizhong was furious. "I sent you two brats to school to learn skills, not to just eat and do nothing."

You're just embarrassing me!

You two bastards have ruined the feng shui of my name!