siheyuan: I transmigrated into love in courtyard

I continued with my usual tasks, chopping vegetables with precision, my mind focused but observant. I had already mastered this repetitive work over the last three years, and now, with Master-Level Cooking Skills, I could do it effortlessly.

One hour passed.

Then, Shazhu finally walked in—late as usual.

No one said anything. Not even the canteen director.

The director's face twitched with frustration, but he remained silent. Why? Because Shazhu was the only "good chef" in the factory. No matter how unreliable he was, no one dared to challenge him because there was no one to replace him.

Until today.

Important Guests and Shazhu's Arrogance

The canteen director cleared his throat and spoke up. "Shazhu, we have important leaders coming today. You need to prepare special dishes for them. No mistakes are allowed."

Shazhu waved his hand dismissively. "Got it, got it. Just leave it to me." His tone was arrogant, as if this was nothing worth his time.

Then, instead of getting to work, he sat on a chair and poured himself a cup of tea.

"Lin Feng, Ma Hua, you two keep cutting and cleaning. Liu Lan, make sure the place is tidy. I'll start cooking in a bit."

I watched silently.

This was how he always worked—letting others do the hard labor while he sat back and relaxed until the real cooking started.

But today, something unexpected happened.

Qin Huairu's Green Tea Tears

Just before Shazhu could finally start cooking, Qin Huairu walked into the kitchen.

The moment I saw her, I was stunned.

Even though I had known she was beautiful, seeing her up close was something else entirely.

Her face was flawless—a perfect 10. Her skin was smooth, her eyes naturally filled with a soft, pitiful charm.

Her body… also a perfect 10.

She didn't look like a mother of three.

She looked like a delicate young woman who had been wronged by the world.

A rare beauty. A dangerous beauty.

A part of me wanted to taste her.

But I quickly suppressed my desire. I wasn't going to be like Shazhu—chasing after a woman who only saw men as tools.

The Manipulation Begins

Qin Huairu sighed deeply, wiping her nonexistent tears as she approached Shazhu.

"Shazhu… I don't know what to do… Bangeng got into trouble at school again… They said if we don't handle this properly, it might affect his future…"

Shazhu immediately tensed up. His lazy expression was instantly replaced with concern.

"What?! What happened?!" He jumped up as if hearing his own son was in danger.

Qin Huairu shook her head, biting her lip. "I don't want to trouble you… But I don't know what to do… If only Dongxu were still here…"

Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't even have to say it directly—her expression alone begged for help.

And just like that, Shazhu fell for it.

"Let's go. I'll go with you!" He abandoned his chair, completely forgetting about his responsibilities.

The entire kitchen froze.

We all stared in disbelief.

Shazhu was supposed to be cooking for high-ranking leaders. Yet, with just a few fake tears, he had thrown it all aside.

The moment he left with Qin Huairu, a heavy silence filled the room.

Liu Lan scoffed. "Unbelievable. The leaders are coming in an hour, and he just walks away?"

Ma Hua, of course, still tried to defend his master. "Shazhu has a kind heart. Besides, he's fast. He can probably still finish everything in time when he gets back."**

I said nothing.

Because, at that moment, I felt it—a golden opportunity.

The Canteen Director's Panic

Fifteen minutes later, the canteen director stormed into the kitchen.

"What's the status?! The leaders are coming in less than an hour!"

Liu Lan glanced at me before sighing. "Shazhu… left. Qin Huairu came and took him away."

The canteen director's face turned pale.

"What?! Are you kidding me?! The leaders are expecting a special meal! If something goes wrong, I'll be the one responsible!"

His breathing quickened. It was obvious—he was in a full panic.

I watched him carefully.

This was the moment.

I took a slow breath, then stepped forward.

"Director, I can cook."

The moment those words left my mouth, the entire kitchen went silent.

Liu Lan and Ma Hua turned to look at me, stunned.

The canteen director blinked in disbelief.

"You? An apprentice?!" He looked me up and down, frowning. "You're saying you can replace Shazhu? Do you even know how to cook properly?"

I met his gaze calmly.

"Give me a chance, Director. If I fail, you can punish me however you see fit."

I could see hesitation in his eyes.

He wanted to refuse. I was just an apprentice.

But he was desperate. Shazhu wasn't coming back anytime soon.

Finally, after a long pause, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Fine. Show me what you've got."

I exhaled slowly, then stepped forward.

This was it.

My first real chance to show my skills.