Siheyuan: Being a fisherman in 1962

"Shazhu, ah Shazhu, you have to think of a solution." Qin Huairu muttered to herself.

She knew that although Sha Zhu's name contained the word "silly", he was actually a kind-hearted man. He was generous to his neighbors, especially to her family, and took good care of her.

But now, this sudden change has forced her to re-examine the current situation.

Not long after, Sha Zhu returned with heavy steps, his face full of fatigue and confusion.

Qin Huairu saw this and hurried forward, anxiously asking, "Is that true? Will the salary really be cut in half?"

Sha Zhu nodded and said in a low voice: "The factory director's assistant said it himself, there's no doubt about it."

After saying that, he seemed to remember something and added, "He also mentioned Chen Fei and said that this matter had something to do with him."

Qin Huairu's heart tightened when she heard this, and she immediately asked, "Fade Chen? What happened to him? Is it because of the theft?"

Sha Zhu sighed and slowly explained the whole story: "I originally thought that he had caused trouble again, but the assistant director said that Chen Fei was not punished for stealing. The lunch boxes he brought home every day were actually bought with his own money, not stolen from the cafeteria at all."

Qin Huairu was stunned. She could never have imagined that Chen Fei, who seemed honest and simple on weekdays, could be so cunning and deceive everyone with such means.

What she didn't expect was that her plan - to take advantage of Sha Zhu's kindness and control over the cafeteria to indirectly obtain food from the cafeteria to subsidize the family - was so easily seen through and counterattacked by Chen Fei.

"We...we were all fooled by him!" Qin Huairu's voice trembled slightly. She realized that this was not just a simple deception, but also a violation of their intelligence and dignity.

Sha Zhu clenched his fists tightly, veins popped out, and anger surged in his chest: "This Chen Fei is really good at tricks! I actually still treated him as a brother!"

The two were relatively speechless.

Qin Huairu knew very well that at this moment they had suffered heavy losses. Not only had they lost the "food source" they had relied on, but they had also lost face among their neighbors.

She spoke slowly, with a hint of helplessness and self-mockery in her voice: "It seems that I underestimated Chen Fei's scheming."

Just then, there was a noise coming from the courtyard, and it seemed that someone was walking towards this side.

Qin Huairu and Sha Zhu looked at each other and saw the same determination in each other's eyes - no matter what, they had to regain their lost dignity and make Chen Fei pay the price for his actions.

"Let's go find Chen Fei and ask him face to face!" Sha Zhu took the first step, followed closely by Qin Huairu. The figures of the two stretched out in the morning light, as if foreshadowing the coming storm.

Chen Fei stood in a corner of the cafeteria, looking out the window with deep eyes, as if he could penetrate the layers of iron bars and see the wider sky.

Not far away, Sha Zhu - He Yuzhu, the chef who once prided himself on his cooking skills but now faced difficulties due to a momentary impulse, was clenching his fists, with unwillingness and determination flashing in his eyes.

"If it weren't for the difference in strength, I would make him know that the cafeteria of this steel mill is not something that anyone can easily shake!" Sha Zhu's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to burst out from the deepest part of his heart, with unquestionable determination.

The "he" he was referring to was naturally Chen Fei, the young man who had emerged in the recent cafeteria reform and challenged his authority with his novel ideas.

Qin Huairu stood beside him, her brows furrowed and her eyes full of worry.

"Yuzhui, if your salary is cut in half, how are we going to survive?" Her voice contained some helplessness and sadness, but also revealed a firmness that would not back down.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu gently patted the back of her hand.

"Don't worry, Sister Qin, there is always a way out. The factory director hasn't fired me yet, which means I still have a chance to turn things around." His words were full of confidence, as if he had already seen the dawn of victory in the future.

He took a deep breath and began to analyze the current situation.

"The reason why the factory director didn't fire me directly is probably because he took into account my importance in the cafeteria and the factory's need for stable food quality. My cooking skills, He Yuzhu, cannot be replaced by just anyone." There was a hint of arrogance in Sha Zhu's words, but more of it was an affirmation of his self-worth.

"You're right, Yuzhu. Without you in the kitchen, the quality of the food will definitely be greatly reduced. How can the employees be satisfied?" There was a bit more determination in her voice, as if she was also infected by Shazhu's optimism.

"I predict that it won't be long before the quality of the food in the cafeteria will drop significantly and the dissatisfaction of the employees will grow. By then, the factory director will naturally realize my importance and ask me to come back to take charge of the situation."

At this point, the two smiled at each other.

They seemed to have seen the moment of turning the tide and regaining their strength.

However, reality is always more cruel than imagined.

Under the leadership of Chen Fei, the reform of the canteen is in full swing. New management concepts and food innovations are constantly impacting the cognition of old employees.

Although Sha Zhu was temporarily marginalized, he did not give up. Instead, he observed quietly, looking for an opportunity to fight back.

On this day, there was a sudden commotion in the cafeteria. It turned out that the newly introduced dishes had a strange taste and were strongly protested by the employees.

The factory manager rushed over upon hearing the news, brows furrowed, obviously very dissatisfied with the situation.

At this moment, Sha Zhu stepped forward and volunteered to take over the cooking again, using his signature cooking skills to save the canteen's reputation.

His appearance was like a stream of fresh air, instantly calming the turmoil in the cafeteria.

Looking at Sha Zhu busying around in the kitchen and the enticing aroma that gradually spread, Fade Chen couldn't help but curl up his lips into a meaningful smile.

In workshop No. 1, the air is filled with the unique smell of engine oil and rust.

Sha Zhu stood in a corner of the workshop, but there was no sign of confusion about the new environment in his eyes. Instead, there was an inexplicable light flashing in his eyes.

Yesterday, he was a chef praised by everyone in the factory. His superb cooking skills made every corner of the kitchen exude tempting aromas. But now, a transfer order has demoted him from the familiar kitchen to this place which is strange and challenging to him.

"Hmph, it's just a matter of changing the place where I can display my talents." Sha Zhu thought to himself, with a confident smile on his face.

In his opinion, cooking is not just about cooking food, but also a reflection of his life value.

It not only improved the taste of factory workers, but also planted a yearning for a better life in their hearts.

"Just wait, my brothers and sisters who always praise my cooking skills, you will soon know how great a loss it is to lose me." Sha Zhu looked out the window, thinking about the "verification moment" that lunch time would bring.

He predicted that when the new employees were faced with those inedible meals, they would miss every dish he had carefully prepared, and the ultimate care for their taste buds would become an indelible memory in their hearts.