Chapter Thirty-Nine: Silly Zhu Changes Jobs

The moment he realized he had been treating a thief as his own father, Shazhu felt utterly wretched. He heaved a long sigh, and his spirits sank even lower.

“Shazhu? Shazhu? What the hell are you thinking about? I’ve been calling you for ages!” The canteen director had been plotting revenge ever since Shazhu tricked him, but alas! Shazhu was a man of skill; he wanted desperately to get back at him but was powerless to do so. He still had to coax Shazhu to work!

Placing the dishes on the stove, he said, “Shazhu, these are the dishes Director Li wants for tonight’s reception. Get them ready quickly!”

Interrupted from his gloomy thoughts, Shazhu reacted like a powder keg—ready to explode at the slightest spark, caring little for who stood before him. He shot back immediately, “Eat, eat, eat—that’s all you ever think about! I’m done! Whoever wants to work can do it; just stop bothering me!”

He ripped off his sleeves and stormed off without a backward glance, leaving the canteen director dumbfounded. He’d only been plotting revenge in his mind, never actually said a word!

“Hey, hey! Shazhu, wait! What’s got into you now?” The canteen director hurried after him.

Just then, when Chen Liang arrived at the Red Star Steel Mill, he saw Shazhu walking out with his hands behind his back.

“Hey! Shazhu, over here!” Chen Liang waved him over.

“Chen Liang, what brings you here? You need something?” Shazhu turned at the sound of his name.

“Obviously! Why else would I call you?” Chen Liang handed him a cigarette, lit it, and asked, “Shazhu, about what I said last night—have you thought it over?”

Shazhu just bowed his head and smoked in silence.

“Say something! You’re no scholar, so stop pretending to be deep!” Chen Liang teased.

“So what if I fall out with Yi Zhonghai? We still have to live in the same courtyard, see each other every day. What good would it do?” In the end, Shazhu chose to compromise with reality.

“That’s not the Shazhu I know! You’re content to be a stand-in for the Jia family’s unlucky ghost? Where’s your spirit?” It was a rare sight—Ironhead Shazhu, backing down!

“Are you stupid or what? If you’re unhappy living in the same courtyard as Yi Zhonghai, just move out!” Chen Liang was exasperated.

“Move? Where would I go? Take my sister and live under a bridge?” In those days, housing was distributed by the government and private sales were forbidden. Shazhu had considered it for a long time before deciding to let things be. “Let it be. I’ll just keep my distance from them from now on.”

“You really are thick-headed. Sure, houses can’t be bought or sold, but no one said you can’t swap with a neighbor! Like Old Wang in our yard—if you offered him two rooms in exchange, he’d probably treat you to a drink out of gratitude!”

Shazhu knew Old Wang—three generations and more than a dozen people squeezed into one room. If anyone so much as farted, the whole family would smell it.

Chen Liang’s words opened Shazhu’s eyes. “I really am a fool! Why didn’t I think of that? Chen Liang, you’re a genius!” He snapped out of his gloom, turned on his heel, and said, “Thank you! If this works out, I’ll treat you to a drink!”

“Wait, Shazhu, quit your job first—I found you a new one!” Chen Liang called quickly as Shazhu was about to leave.

“I’m doing just fine here. Why should I quit? No way!” Shazhu protested. He was perfectly comfortable at Red Star Steel Mill and had no intention of giving up his job.

“If you’re going to make a break, make it clean. Stay here and Yi Zhonghai and Widow Qin will never leave you alone. If that’s the case, why bother changing houses at all?”

“And Shazhu, aren’t you curious what job I found for you?” Chen Liang’s words piqued Shazhu’s interest.

Shazhu looked at him, curious. “Fine, tell me where first, then I’ll decide if I want to change jobs.”

“Come on, would I find you something bad? No need to keep you in suspense—it's the City Library. They need a good cook. Are you in or not?”

For most people, landing a job at a place like the library or the cultural center was a dream—respectable, easy work, the kind people would fight tooth and nail for.

“I’m in! Only a fool would turn down such a good job! Wait here—I’ll go resign right now!” Shazhu was overjoyed; it was like a pie falling from the sky.

“Oh, Chen Liang, can I bring an apprentice? That Ma Hua, the one I mentioned before. He’s handy.”

Chen Liang thought it over. He hadn’t discussed it with Old Lu, but figured it shouldn’t be a problem. They were firing people anyway—what difference would one more make?

“All right! Go resign first. Have Ma Hua wait a bit—once you’re in, we can bring him over too. Better be safe than sorry; if Old Lu only approves one position, Ma Hua could be left in the lurch.”

“Don’t go anywhere—wait for me. I’ll be right back!” Shazhu hurried off to the personnel office.

The resignation process was swift, especially for someone as notorious as Shazhu; a few words, a stamp, and it was done.

In no time, news of Shazhu quitting the third canteen spread throughout Red Star Steel Mill. When Yi Zhonghai and Widow Qin heard, they felt as if something vital was slipping away from them.

While the two of them were anxiously searching for Shazhu, he was already on his way to the library with Ma Hua and Chen Liang.

Upon arrival, Chen Liang led Old Lu and the three deputy directors to the kitchen to watch Shazhu’s test cooking.

They say a master’s skill is evident at a glance. With leftover ingredients from the staff canteen, Shazhu and Ma Hua effortlessly whipped up three dishes and a soup.

There was no need to taste—the knife skills displayed by Ma Hua, and Shazhu’s deft handling of the wok, were proof enough. When the dishes, bursting with color, aroma, and flavor, were set out, Old Lu hadn’t even tasted them but was already convinced they’d be superb.

He immediately made the decision. After sampling Shazhu’s cooking, he ordered the fat cook to leave at once—just the sight of him was annoying.

Learning that Shazhu was actually a Level 5 chef, Old Lu promoted him on the spot, raising his monthly salary to forty yuan and fifty cents. As for Ma Hua, his situation improved even more—he was immediately made a permanent employee.

The deputy director in charge of logistics, though related to the fat cook, didn’t dare utter a word of protest. With a chef this skilled, if he tried to interfere, he wouldn’t need Old Lu to deal with him—the other two deputy directors would see to it themselves!

With a real chef in the kitchen, who would want to eat the snot-like slop they’d been served before? It was practically a health hazard!