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

Everyone was startled and turned to look in that direction.

At a glance, you could see Deputy Factory Director Qian standing angrily at the door, his face ashen, followed by Lin Jun, who had just gone to ask for help.

Every single word of Ma Qianjin's vicious roar had reached Deputy Factory Director Qian's ears.

So that stale smell was what tricked him into saying that! This kid tricked me!

Ma Qianjin gritted his teeth and glared angrily at Chen Wei.

But then he heard Deputy Factory Director Qian's gloomy voice.

"I bought the carp. It seems Section Chief Ma was right; the carp I bought and my daughter's wedding banquet both turned out quite well! Why don't we all speak frankly and discuss any opinions we have? Why keep things to ourselves!"

Deputy Factory Director Qian is not usually one to meddle in things at the factory, so today he was unusually angry.

Ma Qianjin ran right into the line of fire, and was momentarily speechless. After stammering for a while, he finally managed to explain.

"Deputy Factory Director Qian, you've misunderstood! That's not what I meant! I really didn't know this carp was yours..."

"What? That's not what I meant! What did I mean? Are you saying that I'm old and my eyesight is failing, and I didn't hear what you said at the door? Even if I'm confused, I'm not that confused!"

Qian Degui pointed to the carp behind him that had already been blown up and taken shape, and continued in a cold voice.

"I bought all these carp. As for the receipts and booklets, I didn't bring them with me. Section Chief Ma, would you like to check them?"

Are you kidding me? This is the deputy factory director!

Even though he hadn't been involved in business for a long time, Qian Degui was still a deputy factory director in name and in fact!

Ma Qianjin, how dare he investigate him!

He immediately realized that his words had struck a nerve with Qian Degui, and he broke out in a cold sweat, hurriedly waving his hands.

"No need to investigate! It's all a misunderstanding! I shouldn't have gotten involved! I was just worried that the young people would make mistakes, so I blurted it out."

"Just to mention it?"

Unexpectedly, Qian Degui was not buying it at all and immediately snorted coldly.

"Let me tell you, Ma Qianjin! I personally had Chen Wei and the others get this fish! It's for my daughter's wedding! This is a wedding banquet, do you understand? It's a main dish at my daughter's wedding banquet, and you just casually label it as illegally caught? What are you up to!"

"Who gave you the right to act so arrogantly and spout such nonsense at my daughter's wedding banquet!"

Qian Degui slammed his fist on the table in front of him, making a loud bang. With each slam, Ma Qianjin's face turned paler.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and for a moment he couldn't think of a way to deal with it, so he could only stammer and remain speechless.

No one expected that the fish was for Qian Degui's daughter's wedding banquet. It's all because of those few brats who didn't explain clearly!

Ma Qianjin suddenly turned around and remembered that the girl named Lin Xiaoyan was about to say something, but he was in a fit of anger at the time and stopped her with a single sentence.

Damn it! Ma Qianjin cursed under his breath, filled with regret.

This is going to be a difficult situation to resolve. Although Deputy Factory Director Qian is just a figurehead who has been rehired, he still holds considerable prestige. If he really offends Director Qian, he'll be in big trouble.

Thinking of this, Ma Qianjin quickly cupped his hands and put on a smiling face.

With a forced smile, he said, "I didn't know Deputy Factory Director Qian's daughter was getting married. Congratulations!"

"Hmph!" Qian Degui merely snorted coldly, saying without any mercy, "Section Chief Ma's congratulations are something our family can't accept! Look at yourself, you've scared my daughter to tears!"

As he said this, he casually pointed to the girl hiding behind Lin Xiaoyan.

Ma Qianjin was startled and quickly turned around. Sure enough, he saw a quiet girl behind Lin Xiaoyan secretly wiping away tears.

This is terrible!

He had a bad feeling in his heart. Who knew that Deputy Factory Director Qian's daughter could be hanging around with a nobody like Chen Wei!

Besides his handsome face, what else does this guy have that makes all these girls flock around him? Damn it, he shouldn't have been in such a hurry!

Ma Qianjin knew it was too late to say anything now, so he quickly pulled Deputy Factory Director Qian out, apologizing as they walked.

Judging from the two figures in the distance, Qian Degui probably wouldn't fall for his act at all.

Lin Jun watched the two walk away before rushing over and asking anxiously.

"That old man didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"Of course not! Our Brother Chen is so clever, he kept that old man waiting until you arrived!"

Wu Xiaochun was naturally beaming with pride, as if he himself had just won a battle; his face was practically tilted to the sky.

Chen Weize took a clean towel from under the stove and handed it to Lin Xiaoyan and the other two women.

"I'm so sorry I caused you all this trouble today!"

Lin Xiaoyan wiped her face haphazardly before laughing.

"You're too kind. We're all old acquaintances, no need to be so formal! Is that Section Chief Ma targeting you?"

Lin Xiaoyan was a smart girl, and she immediately saw through the grudge between Ma Qianjin and Chen Weize.

Chen Wei nodded with a wry smile, neither denying it nor denying it, but simply said:

"Let's not talk about that anymore, it's getting late, you should all go back! On the day of the wedding banquet, everyone will come over for dinner. Seeing that the bride likes this dish, I'll be at ease. At the banquet, I'll make sure it's served perfectly!"

Qian Rumei thanked Chen Wei in a soft voice, and then was pulled away by Lin Xiaoyan and another girl. The group walked and stopped, whispering to each other from time to time.

It was clear that Qian Rumei was not in a particularly good mood.

Chen Wei watched the women see them off at the factory gate before turning back.

At this hour, it's time to hurry up and prepare a late-night snack.

As for Ma Qianjin, I imagine Deputy Factory Director Qian won't let him off the hook.

-

Sure enough, the next day, a big news story broke out in the factory.

It's said that Ma Qianjin, the head of the production department, has offended some powerful figure and has been suspended from his duties for self-reflection. He hasn't come to work, and the rumors have been circulating wildly in the factory for some time now. The versions of the rumors have changed several times, and they've become more and more outlandish.

Only a few people in the kitchen knew that Ma Qianjin had offended Deputy Factory Director Qian and was therefore fired. Now, it was uncertain whether he would be able to return unscathed before his retirement.

Chen Wei simply ignored the rumors and smiled calmly.

Ma Qianjin's departure was a great relief to him.

This allowed him to better showcase his talents in the cafeteria.

Just then, Lao Qian came to Chen Wei to discuss the menu. Chen Wei handed over a long list of his signature dishes and asked Deputy Factory Director Qian to choose them himself.

As for the sweet and sour carp, it was naturally ordered by the bride herself and placed first.

Deputy Factory Director Qian smiled and, without even glancing at it, ticked the name of the sweet and sour carp.