Courtyard House: She got anxious when He Yushui wasn't licked.

Chapter 141 The Factory's Annual Meeting

Where there are sorrows, there are also joys.

Long queues formed at the first and second canteens as people discussed how many kilograms of meat they would receive this time.

When the person at the front of the line walked out carrying a bag of meat and grinning, the people behind him started asking questions.

"Old Chen, how many kilograms of meat did you get?"

"Judging by how big the pocket is, it must weigh at least five pounds of meat, right?"

"Old Chen, stop grinning like an idiot! Tell us what happened."

The factory worker, Old Chen, said mysteriously, "You'll know when you get to the front of the line."

"Hey, Old Chen, that chatterbox, actually kept it a secret."

"Judging from Old Chen's smile, this time the meat will be at least five pounds, and I think it could even be six or seven pounds."

"Six or seven pounds is great! There will be meat in the New Year's Eve dinner and the dumplings on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and the children can have a good New Year."

Everyone began to feel immense anticipation.

Old Chen, carrying the bag, said to his colleague, "I'll take the meat back first. See you at our factory's annual party tonight."

In the afternoon, factory workers lined up to receive meat, and the annual meeting was held at 7 p.m.

After a year of hard work, the Third Steel Rolling Mill has finally seen some improvement this year, so we must make sure the factory workers have a good meal.

All the factory workers who received the meat were all smiles and happy. When the people behind them asked how many kilograms the meat was, each person who received the meat would mysteriously reply, "You'll find out soon enough."

After receiving their meat, the factory workers rushed home, as they needed to return to attend the company's annual meeting that evening.

The harvests have been poor in recent years, and the factory hasn't held an annual meeting for several years. This year, thanks to Wang Lin, the deputy purchasing director, everyone not only got to share meat, but also got to have a good meal in the evening.

The annual meeting notice was posted early this morning. Although family members are not allowed to bring their children to the annual meeting this year, and takeout is not allowed, there will be plenty of meat.

Many factory workers skipped lunch so they could save money for dinner and eat more meat.

After the meat-distribution process, which lasted for more than two hours, was completed, the two canteens took a short break and then began preparing dinner.

The setup for the annual meeting was done by the factory's security department in cooperation with the publicity department and the arts troupe.

During the site setup, Wang Lin demonstrated his aesthetic sense, leading the group to carefully arrange the venue and providing valuable advice on how to build the stage and other aspects.

Zhang Jiao watched with shining eyes as Wang Lin led his men in a vigorous and enthusiastic work.

Wang Lin seemed to know everything, and he was especially handsome when he was serious, which made all the girls in the art troupe green with envy. If none of them could compare to Zhang Jiao, they would all jump out and compete for her.

At 6 p.m., the stage was set up, the lights were tested, and the tasks assigned to the security department were explained.

Next, we just waited for the factory workers to arrive and take their seats one after another at seven o'clock.

The spacious courtyard was filled with tables for a banquet. Many tables were borrowed from the neighboring steel factory, according to the number of people. Of course, there was a price to pay: some pork was distributed to the neighboring factory so they could have a better New Year.

Around 6:30, Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong finished working with the two engineers. Exhausted from the day's work, they washed their faces and prepared to attend the annual meeting.

I didn't get any meat, but I absolutely have to have the company dinner tonight.

As Yi Zhonghai walked along the factory road, he saw Qin Huairu looking lost and dejected. He called out, "Little Qin."

Qin Huairu turned around upon hearing the voice and saw Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong. She called out as the two approached, "Uncle Yi, Uncle Er."

Yi Zhonghai noticed that Qin Huairu seemed unhappy and asked, "What's wrong?"

Qin Huairu replied sadly, "The workshop director revoked my meat distribution rights because of my high defect rate. I went to Factory Director Yang to reason with him, but I didn't expect that he would find out about it. I didn't get any meat this time."

"It's just a few pounds of meat, no problem. I'll buy a few pounds when I get paid." Yi Zhonghai didn't think much of it when he heard this. He knew Qin Huairu's skill level well; she was far from being a level two worker. It was only because he secretly manipulated things that Qin Huairu received such a high salary. He understood that Qin Huairu was being held accountable by the workshop director, since he had been transferred out of the workshop and could no longer help Qin Huairu.

"But the salary won't be paid until after the New Year," Qin Huairu said sadly again.

Qin Huairu's main idea is to have a New Year without spending a single penny, so that she can save her salary.

Yi Zhonghai didn't respond, after all, he was in dire straits himself.

The three of them walked to the counter together. As they watched the busy kitchen helpers, Liu Haizhong suddenly noticed that He Yuzhu was not among them and asked in surprise, "By the way, have you seen Sha Zhu?"

Sha Zhu wasn't among these busy figures.

Qin Huairu thought, "Given Sha Zhu's personality, he's probably sitting in the cafeteria kitchen drinking tea and chatting right now."

Laziness is Sha Zhu's signature behavior.

Yi Zhonghai had a vague feeling that things weren't so simple, so he went up to the busy Ma Hua and asked, "Ma Hua, where is your master?"

When Ma Hua saw that it was Yi Zhonghai, followed by Liu Haizhong and Qin Huairu, he replied, "My master has been transferred to the first canteen."

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai continued to ask the kitchen helper in the first canteen, "Excuse me, where is He Yuzhu?"

When Yi Zhonghai asked He Yuzhu, the kitchen helper in the first canteen replied with some doubt, "Wasn't He Yuzhu fired by Director Yang?"

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's mind went blank for a moment. Had He Yuzhu been fired by Director Yang again?

What's happening here?

Liu Haizhong was also a little confused. Didn't He Yuzhu say that he cooked for the big boss and made the big boss happy, and that Director Yang promised him to go back to the factory? How come he was fired again after only one day?

Qin Huairu, still not believing it, asked two more kitchen helpers at the first canteen, and both times He Yuzhu had already been fired by Director Yang.

After serving the dishes, Ma Hua came over and asked, "How's it going? Have you found my master yet?"

Yi Zhonghai looked at Ma Hua with a strange expression and said, "Ma Hua, you really are your master's good disciple."

"If Shazhu knew you were so close to the new head chef, he shouldn't expect to continue learning cooking from him."

Qin Huairu also looked at him with disdain, believing that Ma Hua must have been bribed. After all, the new chef had been chatting and laughing with him, clearly indicating that Ma Hua had betrayed them. He didn't even know that his own master had been fired.

"What's wrong?" Ma Hua looked at the three people in front of him, completely puzzled. He felt that there was something hidden in their words, and it wasn't anything nice.

After asking around, the three of them learned that He Yuzhu not only didn't know how to keep a low profile when he went to the first canteen, but he also acted like a big shot and tried to take a position from the head chef of the first canteen. As a result, he got into a fight and was fired by Director Yang.

When Ma Hua learned of this, he understood why Yi Zhonghai and the other two had been mocking him.

It's somewhat reprehensible that the apprentice only found out about his master's dismissal at the very end.

Chapter 142 Beasts Gather at a Feast

After everyone was seated, the factory leaders were seated at one table, including Wang Lin. However, since he was with Zhang Jiao, no factory leader dared to say no.

Xu Damao, who showed the movie, not only didn't get any meat, but was also scolded by the director. Feeling depressed, he thought he could make a good impression on the factory leaders today, but it turned out that the factory didn't show movies, and didn't need him as a drinking companion.

At the factory leaders' table, Wang Lin was flirting with Zhang Jiao, holding her hand. Xu Damao was filled with envy, jealousy and resentment. Why could Wang Lin sit at the same table with the factory leaders with his girlfriend?

Jealousy can ruin a person's reputation. Now, Xu Damao's reputation in the factory is terrible, and young women and widows avoid him.

The rumor that Xu Damao was having an affair and divorcing his wife has spread like wildfire in the factory, and now almost everyone knows it. They also know that Xu Damao is infertile, making him a frequent topic of discussion.

"Who's spreading this in the factory?! When I catch you, I'll make sure you're dead!"

Xu Damao sat in the chair with a somewhat ferocious expression. He had been investigating all day but could not find out exactly who was spreading these things in the factory, which made him very angry.

"Xu Damao?"

Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Qin Huairu were all stunned to find that Xu Damao was the only person at the table.

Xu Damao looked up and saw Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong, and Qin Huairu. He stood up, glared at the three of them, and questioned, "Were you the ones who spread rumors about me in the factory?"

Yi Zhonghai, with his upright character and impeccable self-confidence, sat down next to Xu Damao and said, "Anyway, I didn't."

Xu Damao thought it was unlikely that Yi Zhonghai would do so, after all, he cared about his reputation and wouldn't gossip in the factory.

Xu Damao's eyes were somewhat frightening, and Liu Haizhong hurriedly said, "I didn't mention it either. It seems that some thugs outside the factory told the security department, and then the security department told the factory workers."

"Second Uncle, you're such a coward, it definitely couldn't be you." Xu Damao also knew that Liu Haizhong was a coward and wouldn't dare to do such a thing.

"Hehe." Liu Haizhong sat awkwardly next to Yi Zhonghai.

"Xu Damao! Don't look at me!" Qin Huairu retorted domineeringly to Xu Damao.

"Sister Qin, we'll be in-laws from now on. I would never doubt you!" Xu Damao immediately put on a smiling face.

"When do you plan to get a divorce certificate with Lou Xiao'e?" Qin Huairu asked as she sat down.

"Soon, after the New Year. I'll think of a way to make Lou Xiao'e leave with nothing." Xu Damao smiled sinisterly.

Ask him to give Lou Xiao'e money? Impossible! A verbal agreement is just a delaying tactic.

Qin Huairu knew Xu Damao had ill intentions, but once he and Qin Jingru got their marriage certificate, would Xu Damao still be able to escape? With her methods, Xu Damao would become her bloodsucker.

The four-person table seemed to be cursed; everyone would rather squeeze in than sit at the same table with them.

After waiting for a while, all the surrounding tables were full of people, except for a few temporary workers from the factory who, unaware of their own limitations, came over and sat down.

These temporary workers were cleaning staff at the factory, so their bodies naturally had a slightly pleasant fragrance.

The moment the dishes were served, especially the meat dishes, before Yi Zhonghai and the others had even touched their chopsticks, the four temporary workers devoured them in just a few bites.

Liu Haizhong's hand trembled slightly as he poured the wine. These people must be reincarnated starving ghosts!

Not only did everyone eat one pork knuckle, but they also took some with them. Couldn't you leave some for others?

Having not seen meat for eight hundred years, it looked somewhat ferocious.

Xu Damao raised an eyebrow and said to the four temporary workers, "What are you doing? Are you starving ghosts reincarnated?"

"You're the one who's a reincarnation of a starving ghost."

"Exactly, does she even know how to speak properly?"

"We earned this meat through our own abilities, so what right do you have to criticize us?"

The four temporary workers were also sticking together; they had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. As for Xu Damao, could you take on four people by yourself?

Xu Damao was furious! He looked at Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong with an expression that seemed to say, "What are you looking at? Can't you even stand up for me?"

"Forget it."

Yi Zhonghai had no intention of confronting these four temporary workers head-on. They were just temporary workers; it didn't matter to them whether they lost their jobs or not. But if you clashed with them and upset the boss, then you could expect the boss to make things difficult for you.

"It's just a braised pork knuckle, there are other meat dishes too." Liu Haizhong was unusually generous, after all, he saw that there were several meat dishes on the surrounding tables.

Braised pork knuckle is just one of the dishes; there's also braised pork belly, spare ribs, and stir-fried shredded pork.

These are all hearty dishes.