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

Chen Jianguo stared at his nephew for a long time.

You know, just last night this kid looked so unambitious, he even had to beg and plead with his master to give him a gift. And now, in just one day, the workers in the factory are still talking about that lunch in the canteen.

Everyone's saying that a new head chef has arrived at the cafeteria, but it turns out he's just an apprentice who's only worked there for four days.

Everyone boasted about their good fortune, but Chen Jianguo knew perfectly well what Chen Wei was like when he was at home.

"Chen Wei!" He lowered his voice and leaned closer, asking seriously, "Tell me the truth, where did you learn to cook that dish for lunch?"

Chen Wei was naturally prepared for Chen Jianguo's questioning.

Without batting an eye, he chuckled and said, "Uncle, to be honest, my father used to travel all over the country by ship. A while ago, when I was home, I found a little booklet, a cookbook he used to keep. I don't know where he found it, but I just flipped through it and learned from it. The dish I made today was from that booklet, and it turned out to be a lucky coincidence; everyone really liked it."

That brat had no intention of telling me the truth at all!

Chen Jianguo pursed his lips but didn't press the matter further.

It's a good thing that my nephew is ambitious, but it wouldn't be good if he, as an elder, interfered too much.

Especially when he thought about the taste of the hot and sour shredded vegetables he had just eaten, Chen Jianguo's mouth was still watering just thinking about it. The taste seemed to have seeped into his heart, and he couldn't forget it at all.

If I had known this brat had this skill, why would I have helped him curry favor with that old bastard Wang Defa?

"Okay!" Chen Jianguo thought for a moment and immediately made the decision. "Tofu, right? I'll give you the approval! When are you planning to serve this new dish?"

"Tomorrow, I'll make a few samples tonight to try them out," Chen Wei said after a moment's thought.

"OK!"

As he said this, Chen Jianguo picked up a pen, quickly wrote a note, signed his name, and stamped it with the administrative department's seal before handing it to Chen Wei.

"Give this note to Old Zhou in the purchasing department, they'll take care of it for you this afternoon. Didn't you want to try the dishes? Old Zhou and his team are going out to buy things this afternoon, I'll ask them to bring you back a block of tofu. As for tomorrow's... we'll buy it as we eat!"

"OK!"

Chen Wei beamed with joy as soon as he received the note.

He was originally worried about how to store the tofu. The weather was too hot. The tofu would start to smell after two hours, let alone if it was left overnight in the hot cafeteria! It would turn into stinky tofu!

Now that Chen Jianguo had said that, he felt relieved.

Chen Wei was happily walking out with the note in his hand when he was suddenly stopped at the door.

"Wait a minute!" Chen Jianguo's voice came from behind, tinged with a hint of probing, "Your cooking skills... you really haven't been hiding anything from me?"

Chen Wei turned around, grinning sheepishly, "Really not! Uncle, you've watched me grow up, how could I lie to you!"

Chen Jianguo glanced at him before patting the lunchbox on the table.

"Your auntie made you stewed pig's trotters and shredded pork with garlic sprouts, both of which are your favorites. Take them and get them ready!"

"Thank you, Uncle! Thank you, Aunt!"

Chen Wei grinned, showing his big teeth, took the green net bag, and quickly slipped away.

-

The purchasing department is located downstairs from the administration department; it's the first room on the first floor around the corner.

A white sign with black lettering hangs at the entrance, clearly stating "Purchasing Department".

The department door was half-open, and the room was filled with smoke and bustling with activity.

Ma Qianjin sat casually on the recliner facing the door, the large bottle of liquor he was holding in his hand was a gift from Zhou Jianjun, the deputy head of the purchasing department.

Old Zhou had sent all the purchasing staff out to run errands, leaving only Ma Qianjin and Zhou Jianjun in the room.

Ma Qianjin pushed the note he had just approved toward Lao Zhou before taking a deep breath of the Daqianmen cigarette in his hand.

"These are electric fans ordered for Chen Wei in the cafeteria. Your purchasing department should stamp them, and I'll take him to the warehouse to pick them up later."

Zhou Jianjun's eyes darted around, and he quickly took out the official seal from the drawer, stamping it as he asked questions.

"Chen Wei! You must be the nephew of Section Chief Chen from our Administrative Section. This kid is quite capable. I heard that the first time he cooked at noon, the dishes he made were something that Xiao Li, the only one in our section who managed to get a good meal, showed off for a long time! Young people these days are becoming more and more accomplished, so it's only right to reward him with an electric fan."

That's what they said, but Zhou Jianjun actually understood.

The reward for Chen Wei was just a pretext. Ma Qianjin's personal visit to the Procurement Department today was to convey two messages to him.

One was that Ma Qianjin had reached his limit of tolerance for Wang Defa, the head chef of the cafeteria. This electric fan wasn't a reward for Chen Wei at all; it was clearly meant for Wang Defa to see.

The canteen won't be empty without Wang Defa. Let's see what that old guy has left to be so arrogant about.

Another reason was to give face to Chen Jianguo, the head of the administrative department, by telling Chen Jianguo that his nephew Ma Qianjin was under his protection.

Since Chen Jianguo held all the positions for recruiting new employees at Tianjin No. 1 Steel Plant, no one in the room dared to disrespect him.

Old Zhou's mind worked quickly. He secretly memorized Chen Wei's name and hurriedly handed over the stamped note.

"Section Chief Ma, you're quite busy. How about I take Chen Wei to the warehouse to move some electric fans later?"

"Oh, well... that works too!" Ma Qianjin hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Then you can leave this note here! I need to check online; some kid almost had his finger cut off this morning. Look at me, this happened online after I was only absent for a day. It's tough being a manager!"

Ma Qianjin gave a perfunctory sigh, then got up and left.

"They're all young and inexperienced; they definitely need your guidance!"

Old Zhou quickly agreed and helped Ma Qianjin open the door.

Once outside, Ma Qianjin's expression softened slightly.

The purchasing department is always the type to climb the social ladder and bully the weak. If he hadn't come over beforehand to give Chen Wei a heads-up about the electric fan, who knows what kind of trouble would have arisen when Chen Wei came to collect the goods.

His nephew was going to start working at the factory next month, and he didn't want to cause any trouble with Chen Jianguo at this crucial moment.

Thinking this, Ma Qianjin turned the corner on the first floor.

Just as he turned the corner, a figure came tumbling down the stairs, heading straight for the purchasing department.

"Knock knock knock—Deputy Section Chief Zhou, are you there?" Chen Wei knocked on the door with a note in his hand.

"Enter!"

When Lao Zhou heard that someone had arrived, he quickly stuffed the note Ma Qianjin had given him into the drawer. When he looked up, he saw Chen Wei already standing at the door, baring his teeth at him.

This was the second time Chen Wei and Lao Zhou had met. He only had a vague impression of the young man before, and apart from being taciturn, he didn't really have much of an impression of him.

But upon seeing him today, Old Zhou was surprised to find that the young man in front of him was quite handsome.

He quickly stood up and greeted, "Hey! Chen Wei's here! Speak of the devil, and he appears! Come on in!"