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

At the small window of the cafeteria, Chen Wei's hand was constantly waving the ladle to serve the food.

Wang Xiuli and her group formed small teams of three, with each person guarding one window, gathering all the workers into four small columns, which slowly moved forward.

"Chef Chen, give me five servings! I need to take them home for my wife and kids to try!"

The middle-aged man outside the window grinned, showing his yellow teeth, and pushed his lunchbox forward with a broad smile.

"I'm so sorry, Chef Li!" Chen Wei scooped up a large ladleful and poured it directly into Li Fugui's lunchbox, his words full of apology. "Our canteen has a limit, one serving per person. If you buy more, the people behind you won't get any! Chef Li, please be considerate!"

"Huh?" Old Li was taken aback. "Even money or tickets won't work?"

When has the factory canteen ever had a rationing system? This is a completely new term; today is the first time I've heard it.

Chen Wei shook his head and pointed to the small blackboard hanging outside.

The words "Limited supply today, one per person" are clearly written on it in white chalk.

Old Li rubbed his eyes, barely managing to make out the small print on the blackboard, and looked quite dissatisfied.

Chen Wei's decision wasn't sudden; he had already calculated it in his mind.

The newly introduced reputation value feature has been implemented; for every additional diner who is satisfied with Chen Wei's dishes, the reputation value will increase by one point.

But Chen Wei isn't a superhuman; he only managed to cook enough food for 100 people that morning.

There are only so many dishes available. If he wants to gain more reputation points, of course he has to limit the quantity!

Reputation points are calculated per person, not per share.

Eating five servings by one person only earns one point of reputation.

"This..." Old Li wanted to say something more, but the people behind him were already getting impatient.

He peeked out and said, "Old Li, are you done yet? Chef Chen said there's a limit to today's portions. Show some consideration and save yours for your wife! Everyone knows you're afraid of your wife!"

"Get lost! You're the one who's afraid of your wife!"

Old Li swallowed hard as he looked at the greasy food in the lunchbox, but reluctantly stuffed his one-cent food ticket into the box inside the window.

Holding his lunchbox, he turned around, went to the cafeteria, found an empty seat, and started eating in silence.

"Next!"

"My turn! Chef Chen, give me one serving. I don't need much, just enough to eat!"

When the young man saw that it was his turn in line, his eyes narrowed with a smile. He handed over his meal ticket and held out his enamel basin to the window.

Chen Wei immediately scooped up a large spoonful and steadily poured the dish into the other person's enamel basin.

The system notifications in my mind had been ringing for a while now.

[Ding—, Reputation Points +1]

Reputation points +1, +1, +1...

Accompanied by a series of system notification sounds, Chen Wei could almost clearly hear the sounds coming from the cafeteria outside.

"This is so delicious! It smells amazing!"

"Exactly! It's so refreshing! Even though it's hot, it makes me feel completely clean and refreshed from head to toe!"

"I'm completely sweating!"

"That was awesome! That was so awesome!"

"Delicious! Delicious!"

Chen Wei's hands moved even faster, mechanically repeating the actions of dressing the tray and collecting money, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

He didn't have time to pay attention to the beads of sweat on his forehead, but he took a quick glance at the system panel.

I noticed that my reputation points have reached 78, and it looks like I'm about to reach the maximum.

I wonder what reward the system will give me after I reach the maximum of 100 reputation points!

Just then, Wang Xiuli, who was standing next to Chen Wei, nudged his arm and whispered something.

"Xiao Chen, I see we don't have much left over. There are still so many people outside, should I tell them to go home?"

Chen Wei looked up and glanced out the window. He saw a long line of people queuing up on the winding brick path outside the cafeteria.

There are only 50 left.

Without even counting, I know that the 10 or so dishes I have left are simply not enough to go around.

"Alright!" Chen Wei nodded. "Aunt Wang, go out and tell them to let the workers go home. We definitely don't have enough food here, so we'll come back tomorrow!"

"become!"

Wang Xiuli took off her arm sleeves and went out the door.

He lifted the curtain and called out, "We're sold out of food for today! Everyone, please go home! Come again tomorrow!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a chorus of wails erupted outside.

"That's it? I've been waiting in line for half an hour!"

"Chef Chen, please cook another batch!"

Wang Xiuli shouted at the top of her lungs, "That's all! The cafeteria has run out of ingredients for today. Everyone come early tomorrow. Chef Chen will be cooking again tomorrow, so don't worry about not getting any! If you come early, everyone will definitely get their share."

There was nothing they could do but sigh and turn away.

Only a few lucky people at the front of the line remained inside the room, squeezing in front of Chen Wei with delighted eyes, marveling at their good fortune and how lucky they were to have arrived early.

Just then, the curtain of the cafeteria was suddenly lifted, and two almost identical Dacron shirts with big bellies squeezed in from outside the curtain.

Chen Jianguo was sweating profusely and panting heavily.

His brows furrowed, and the moment he saw Chen Wei, he immediately asked, "What happened? You blew up our factory's kitchen!"

Seeing the suspicious look in his uncle's eyes, Chen Wei helplessly pursed his lips.

"Uncle, can't you wish me well for once? These people are all here to eat!"

"So many!"

Chen Jianguo was clearly taken aback.

He couldn't believe that the long line outside was for a meal cooked by his taciturn nephew.

I just heard the workers complaining. It turns out they really regret not being able to get in line today and not being able to eat the food their nephew cooked!

In fact, Chen Jianguo and Ma Qianjin had been watching outside for a while, but Chen Wei's previous impression of him was obviously not that of someone who could have this skill.

"Old Chen, I think Chen Wei is a pretty good kid! It's his first day on the stove, and look how much the whole factory is buzzing. That shows his skills are excellent! As leaders, we should praise and promote capable young people, and be fair in our rewards and punishments, don't you think?"

Ma Qianjin suddenly interjected.

Chen Jianguo's face flushed slightly, but he nodded to himself inwardly. This brat now knows how to keep things to himself; he really didn't embarrass himself on his first time cooking.

He peered into the large basin in front of Chen Wei, where only a thin layer of leftover food remained.

It's just a very common home-style dish: stir-fried shredded vegetables with hot and sour sauce, but it smells quite delicious.

"cough--"

He coughed heavily and said.

"How many dishes are left?"

"Two portions!" Chen Wei answered loudly.

"Put it on both of us!" Chen Jianguo ordered.

"Okay!" Chen Wei replied, quickly putting all the remaining hot and sour shredded vegetables on the plate into a white plate, and then personally carried it to the small private room.

He then smiled apologetically at the last two workers in line.

"Sorry, gentlemen, we're sold out for today. Please come back tomorrow!"

The two workers weren't the kind of people who lacked common sense; naturally, they wouldn't try to steal food from their supervisor.

He smiled at Chen Wei, then turned and left.

Chen Wei then turned around and took a few more steamed buns from the steamed bun basket, put them on the same white plate, and filled two large bowls with mung bean soup from the canteen's large bucket, and delivered them to Chen Jianguo and the others.