Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 311

Li Yikuan hesitated for a moment: "I'm already so old, how can I still learn to read?"

"Look at what you're saying! You're in your prime, not old at all. This is a rare treat! In the past, you had to pay to learn this knowledge at school, but now you're getting tea for free. Isn't that wonderful?"

"Um... will there be any punishment if I can't learn it?"

"Of course not, don't worry. As long as you study hard, everyone can learn to read books and newspapers."

"Okay, thank you, Mr. He. I'll call a few people to go with us later."

"Alright, I'll treat you to drinks tonight."

Along the way, He Yuzhu would chat with everyone he knew, inviting them to attend a literacy class at a breakfast stall that afternoon.

Most people agreed out of respect for He Yuzhu.

Then He Yuzhu went to the general store and bought some chalk, pencils, erasers, notebooks and other supplies.

It was only then that He Yuzhu realized there was no pinyin book. When he asked the delivery clerk, the clerk didn't even know there was pinyin. He then realized that at that time, there was no pinyin book.

He quickly paid the money and, under the suspicious gaze of the sales clerk, walked out of the grocery store somewhat embarrassed.

Before 4 p.m., Cai Quanwu carried a large, upright blackboard into the room next to the tavern.

At this moment, Zhao Yali came out from behind the counter, saw Cai Quanwu put the large blackboard on the ground, and frowned as she asked:

"Cai Quanwu, what are you doing? Who gave you permission to bring this big blackboard in?"

Cai Quanwu was surprised and said, "Didn't Boss He tell you?"

"What did you say?" Zhao Yali asked, looking completely bewildered.

“We’re going to hold literacy classes here!” Cai Quanwu replied.

"What class? I don't know anything about it."

Zhao Yali was very puzzled, but secretly delighted and wanted to burst into laughter immediately.

He Yuzhu, you've got something on me now.

Instead of opening a perfectly good breakfast stall, they're thinking of running a literacy class. Isn't that just playing the fool?

If Zhao Yali had kept quiet and let He Yuzhu cause trouble before, she would have let it go. However, she was misled by Fan Jinyou and was determined to find something to embarrass He Yuzhu.

This way, he could gain real power over the tavern.

To become a true public manager, no longer someone whom He Yuzhu can summon and dismiss at will.

Zhao Yali looked disgusted: "Move this out of here right now! This is a small cafeteria, not a school. Isn't this just ridiculous?"

Chapter 229 Complaint

Having made up his mind, he was determined to resolutely oppose He Yuzhu's plan to start a literacy class.

If we thwart his plans, he will lose credibility. Then I can go to the neighborhood committee to report his misconduct, and that way I can regain control of the administration.

Cai Quanwu said, "This is a task assigned by Boss He. If you sabotage it, how will you explain it when the students arrive for class?"

"What do you care how I explain it? He Yuzhu is the private company's manager, and I, Zhao Yali, am no less. As the supplier's manager, my words carry the same weight. Without my approval, he can't get this done."

Then he pointed at Cai Quanwu and said, "Cai Quanwu, you're just a lowly porter carrying heavy loads. What are you doing acting so tough with me? Be careful, I can make sure the grain store doesn't want you anymore. Move out, move out! I'll make you move out, you hear me?"

"Why should I? This was ordered by Boss He. Do you think this tavern belongs to you, Zhao Yali? If you anger Boss He, you won't be able to continue as the general manager."

"Oh ho, you're trying to intimidate me with He Yuzhu? Let me tell you, I'm not buying it. No one can do anything about it today. What's the point of having a literacy class? I'm here today, and I'll make sure this literacy class can't go on."

Cai Quanwu said, "Zhao Yali, don't you ever think about how you became a manager? If He Yuzhu hadn't pushed Fan Jinyou down, would you have become a manager?"

The argument between the two also attracted the attention of several other employees, including Kong Yuqin, He Yumei, Ma Liansheng, and Fan Jinyou, who were all watching the commotion.

Fan Jinyou was displeased upon hearing this and shouted, "Cai Quanwu, I haven't offended you, why are you bringing me into this?"

Fan Jinyou would never have had this attitude before, but now he's just an ordinary employee and has to work as Ma Liansheng's assistant.

"You..." Zhao Yali started to get angry. She couldn't stand it when people said that her job as manager was easy and that she was just benefiting from He Yuzhu's success.

"What do you mean, 'you'? Am I wrong?"

Cai Quanwu moved a stool to the front of the blackboard and said, "Zhao Yali, I'm going to challenge you today. If you dare touch this blackboard, I'll fight you to the death."

Zhao Yali was furious. In front of everyone, Cai Quanwu dared to disrespect her. How could she possibly win over the crowd in the future?

At this moment, He Yuzhu came in carrying notebooks, chalk, and other supplies. Seeing Zhao Yali's angry expression, he realized that it was exactly as he had guessed.

He smiled as if he hadn't seen anything and said, "The blackboard has been brought here. Now that's great, the literacy class can start today."

Zhao Yali was furious when she saw He Yuzhu. Cai Quanwu was just a small fry, and there was no point in arguing with him.

He directly questioned, "He Yuzhu, did you ask them to move this blackboard here?"

"Yes what's the matter?"

"What do you mean, 'what's wrong?' Why did you put a blackboard in the cafeteria?" Zhao Yali was furious and spoke without any politeness.

"You mean this? Well, many people in our alley don't know how to read, so I was thinking of starting a literacy class this afternoon so that all the neighbors can learn to read."

"You didn't even discuss such a big thing with me?"

He Yuzhu spread his hands: "Do I need to discuss this with you?"

This rhetorical question completely ignited Zhao Yali's anger; as expected, she, as the company manager, had absolutely no say.

“He Yuzhu, I am the official manager of the tavern. You have to consult with me before you do anything. How can you make such a big decision without my consent?”

He Yuzhu said, "I don't think you would object to something so good."

Zhao Yali retorted angrily, "There are plenty of good things to do! The monument is dirty, why don't you go and clean it? There's so much litter in the square, why don't you go and sweep it up?"

Then he said, "This is a cafeteria, a joint venture between the company and other businesses, not a school. Make sure you understand this before you do it."

"hehe."

He Yuzhu laughed and said, "Zhao Yali, you need to understand that this house is still mine, and this place is mine. The street hasn't given me a single penny of ransom yet. Whatever I want to do, you can only listen to me."

“This public-private partnership wasn’t your doing. If I hadn’t taken over, you guys would have been starving long ago.”

“I represent the government,” Zhao Yali said with some pride.

“You represent the government, but you are not the government. If you don’t let me run the literacy class, go to the neighborhood committee and write a letter stating that running the literacy class does not meet the requirements of the higher-level leaders. I will shut it down immediately without saying a word.”

"You dare challenge me?"

"I'm going to challenge you today."

"Pinch, keep pinching!" Fan Jinyou shouted from the side.

Kong Yumei glared at him: "Fan Jinyou, are you trying to cause trouble?"

“That’s right,” He Yumei said.

Fan Jinyou smiled, unconcerned by their accusations, and said, "Keep going, don't stop."

Zhao Yali felt more confident now. With Fan Jinyou's support, she felt that what she was doing was the right thing to do.

“He Yuzhu, I’m telling you right now, this literacy class of yours can’t continue. I’m going to ruin this whole thing.”

"Who do you think you are? Trying to ruin everything for me?"

"Don't think I'm Fan Jinyou, so easy to bully. Unless you pour me tea and apologize, I won't come to this tavern again."

Zhao Yali thought that He Yuzhu's decision to run this literacy class was definitely a mistake and would not receive the support of the street office and neighborhood committee.

If He Yuzhu goes to the neighborhood committee and makes a scene, he will be the one who gets criticized.

At that point, the leader will only criticize He Yuzhu and then make him pour tea and apologize. This way, He Yuzhu's arrogance can be suppressed, and the leader can become the real public manager.

"Listen up, everyone! Zhao Yali has declared here that as long as the literacy class continues smoothly, she will not come to this tavern again."

"Everyone heard that, and I'm making it clear today: I'm determined to keep this literacy class going."

"Fine, you wait, I'll ruin your literacy class today."

Zhao Yali left those words behind and strode out.

"Please take your time, I'm afraid you'll never have the face to come back in after you leave this door."

Zhao Yali paused for a moment, then walked out without looking back.

After Zhao Yali left, Cai Quanwu said, "She'll never come back now."

Fan Jinyou, who was standing next to him, nudged him and said, "Do you even have the right to speak here?"

Yet a sense of sadness lingered in her heart, and a bad premonition suddenly arose, for He Yuzhu had never done anything wrong.

Is it really possible for him to turn the tables on He Yuzhu by going against him in this literacy class matter?

Cai Quanwu chuckled and said to him, "You're so short-sighted. Let me tell you, this literacy campaign is bigger than running a canteen. Unless the leaders in the neighborhood are like Accountant Zhao, who only care about small gains and not big ones."

Despite losing the argument, Fan Jinyou retorted, "So you, Cai Quanwu, are the only ones who can see this clearly?"

"You know what, I see things better than you do. Zhao Yali's skills are not even as good as yours, Fan Jinyou. Instead of working diligently, she wants to go against Boss He. What benefits do you think she can gain?"

Fan Jinyou took this to heart and thought to himself, "Is this the same thing? Will I be unable to bring down He Yuzhu this time?"

Kong Yuqin nudged He Yumei with her elbow and asked, "You're saying Zhao Yali really isn't coming back?"

He Yumei said, "Cai Quanwu's words really woke me up."