In the 1970s, it started with contracting out communal dining.

"Hiring apprentices?" Chen Jianguo raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you short-staffed?"

"Yes!" Chen Wei answered directly, "Recently, the production line has been running day and night. The number of people eating in the canteen during the day is twice what it used to be, and there are also more people eating late-night snacks than before. We only have four people in the canteen, and Aunt Wang, who used to be a skilled cook, has left. We're short-staffed!"

"Hmm...that's true!" Chen Jianguo nodded, frowned, and thought for a moment before saying, "Hiring isn't in the plan. If you really want to hire, just submit an application, and I'll help you get the factory manager's approval!"

Chen Wei knew Chen Jianguo would definitely help him, so he immediately nodded.

"become!"

However, Chen Jianguo then offered some advice.

"When you submitted your application, only mention hiring, don't specify that you must hire apprentices! As for how to arrange things after they arrive, the cafeteria is now in your control!"

Chen Wei's eyes darted around, and he immediately understood.

Since the last cooking competition incident, Chen Jianguo and Ma Qianjin's relationship has not been good.

In addition, Ma Dayong's reputation was ruined, and he could no longer stay in the factory. He was constantly bullied by the guys in the equipment department, and soon he resigned and left the factory.

Ma Qianjin's resentment deepened, as he felt that the uncle and nephew from the Chen family had squeezed out his own nephew.

He also felt that the old stories about his nephew were spread by the uncle and nephew from the Chen family, so he naturally harbored resentment in his heart.

From then on, no matter what Chen Jianguo did, Ma Qianjin would always find fault with him.

That's why Chen Jianguo specifically reminded Chen Wei not to mention recruiting apprentices, lest Ma Qianjin nitpick and find something to use against him.

Having promised Chen Jianguo, Chen Wei told the kitchen staff the good news the very next day.

They've been working themselves to the bone these past few days, putting on overtime every day, but when they heard the news, their eyes immediately lit up again.

"Really! We're hiring? Doesn't that mean we can finally take a break?" Wu Xiaochun asked excitedly.

"You can't just take a break whenever you want, but with the new people coming in, your workload will definitely be lighter!" Chen Wei raised an eyebrow and smiled, still reminding him, "However, you still need to practice your basic skills like knife work and cooking. No slacking off!"

"knew……"

Wu Xiaochun's initially excited eyes immediately dimmed, and he sighed and agreed.

Lin Jun, on the other hand, seemed more composed.

When do you plan to recruit? How many will you recruit?

"No rush, the hiring application hasn't been approved yet. Let's see what the factory manager says!"

Of course, when Chen Wei announced this news, he never expected that such a simple matter as recruiting a few apprentices would become so troublesome.

-

When Chen Jianguo took the application to the factory director's office, he bumped right into Ma Qianjin.

When Ma Qianjin saw that the person who came was Chen Jianguo, his face immediately darkened.

He chuckled sarcastically, "Oh, Section Chief Chen is here to talk to the factory manager too? What a coincidence!"

"I need to submit an application form, could you please move aside?"

Chen Jianguo spoke coldly, bypassing Ma Qianjin as he prepared to knock on the door.

But Ma Qianjin blocked his way with a single step.

Peeking at the application in Chen Jianguo's hand, Ma Qianjin immediately smiled sarcastically.

"What? Are you trying to find a few more underlings for your nephew? This cafeteria is already quite full; are you hiring apprentices?"

These words were a bit too much. Chen Jianguo originally didn't intend to pay any attention to Ma Qianjin, but seeing the other party's aggressive attitude, Chen Jianguo couldn't help but speak up.

"Section Chief Ma, what does this mean! I don't know when it started, but now we have to consult Section Chief Ma about things in the kitchen? I remember this wasn't even in Section Chief Ma's job description!"

"Of course, that's none of my business!" Ma Qianjin chuckled, a hint of confidence in his smile, and continued, "I'm just reminding Section Chief Chen that your recruitment plan is definitely not going to work out!"

After saying this, he released his grip on the doorknob, smiled sinisterly, and turned to leave.

Chen Jianguo frowned, sensing that Ma Qianjin's words had a hidden meaning.

But after thinking back on all the big and small things that had happened in the factory recently, I still couldn't figure out what was preventing the canteen from hiring people.

After all, although they said they would report this matter to the factory manager, it was actually a very minor thing.

Unable to come up with a solution, Chen Jianguo had no choice but to give up and, with a heavy heart, knocked on the office door of factory director Zhao Hongfei.

"Please come in!"

Zhao Hongfei's steady voice came from inside.

Chen Jianguo quickly put on a smiling face and pushed open the door to go inside.

At a glance, you can see Zhao Hongfei behind the long desk, holding a document in his hand, his brows furrowed tightly.

Upon seeing that it was Chen Jianguo, he casually pointed to the stool in front of him.

"Old Chen, have a seat!"

Chen Jianguo looked up at Zhao Hongfei's face and his heart sank.

Has something happened at the factory? It seems like Ma Qianjin already knew all along. Could what he just said be related to the document Zhao Hongfei has?

Although he was a little nervous, Chen Jianguo still sat down.

He hesitated before speaking: "Director Zhao, there's been a lot of overtime work at the factory lately, and the kitchen staff told me they'd like to apply to hire two more kitchen helpers."

……

His only response was a faint silence in the air and Zhao Hongfei's thinning scalp.

The factory manager didn't even look up; he just gave a faint hum.

Clearly, their attention wasn't on that at all.

Chen Jianguo was even more uneasy, but things had already come to this point, and even if something had really happened at the factory, he had to find out the truth.

After much hesitation, Chen Jianguo finally asked.

"Factory manager, what happened?"

"Uh-huh?"

Zhao Hongfei was distracted for a moment before he came to his senses and looked up at Chen Jianguo.

"What? You've already heard? Oh right, I forgot you're on good terms with Old Ma, he must have just told you!"

Zhao Hongfei's expression was somewhat heavy. He sighed and shook his head, shaking the documents in his hand.

"This is the termination notice from our upstream supplier. They say the last batch of steel we delivered had too high a defect rate, and after consulting with their superiors, they decided to terminate our cooperation! And another document..."

As he said this, Zhao Hongfei took out another official document from the drawer, shook his head with a wry smile.

"This is a directive from the higher-ups criticizing us, Old Chen! Looks like it won't be long before I'm replaced as factory manager! Oh, by the way, what did you just say? Who's hiring?"

Upon hearing this, cold sweat instantly poured down Chen Jianguo's forehead.