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

The group of people were all wearing the same style of dark blue work clothes, clearly workers from the steelmaking and rolling workshops.

Before Chen Wei could speak, a dozen or so workers suddenly appeared behind the young masters.

They kept squeezing into the cafeteria.

The small cafeteria instantly became lively.

Fortunately, the group was quite law-abiding and formed a long queue on their own.

The first young man at the front of the line couldn't wait to peek his head through the food window and repeat what he had just said with a grin.

"Chef Chen, can we get our food now? I've been smelling the delicious aroma coming from the cafeteria for ages, it's making my stomach rumble."

Chen Wei paused for a moment, then quickly nodded.

"We can fight now."

"Aunt Wang, Xiaochun, you two take all the dishes we've prepared over there."

Turning his head, he gave an order, and Chen Wei quickly picked up a large basin and walked to the window.

A large, glistening, reddish-brown bowl of Mapo Tofu was placed by the window, and the young people closest to the window immediately exclaimed in amazement.

"Wow—this dish looks delicious! Chef Chen, please get me a serving quickly!"

"You only want one serving? Then I'll have to buy two!"

"Go away, just say you're new here! Chef Chen's dishes are limited; one serving per person, no more!"

"Huh? Why is it limited edition?"

It was obvious that the young man who spoke later was eating Chen Wei's cooking in the cafeteria for the first time.

Chen Wei had no choice but to patiently point to the small blackboard outside.

"Sorry, our cafeteria is short-staffed, so we can only serve one serving per person. If any chef is still hungry, there are also cold dishes over there, free of charge! As much as you want!"

The young man turned his head and looked at the large basin outside the cafeteria window, a whole basin full of cold shredded cabbage.

He closed his eyes in disgust. The thing looked white and dry, but there was nothing inside except salt and cabbage. It would be a miracle if it tasted good!

Turning his head to look again at the Mapo Tofu drizzled with chili oil at the cafeteria window, he couldn't help but swallow again.

Reluctantly nodding, he said, "Fine! One serving it is fine! It's better than nothing. I was the first one to rush out of the workshop today; I can't waste that first place. Master Chen, give me one!"

"Okay!"

Chen Wei agreed, and steadily scooped a large spoonful of bright red and tender Mapo Tofu from the big basin, flipping the spoon over and placing it directly into the person's aluminum lunchbox.

Seeing the generous portion of Mapo Tofu, which was perfectly generous in weight, the young man's mouth watered.

Afraid of losing face in front of everyone, she quickly swallowed her saliva, turned around and went to Aunt Wang and Wu Xiaochun's window to buy mung bean soup and multigrain steamed buns, which she then slowly enjoyed to the side.

Several people in the queue immediately craned their necks to look over.

As the first spoonful of spicy Mapo Tofu slid down the person's throat, their expression immediately turned one of pure enjoyment, their already small eyes narrowing into slits from the aroma.

The workers lined up next to him looked on, their mouths watering even more.

I couldn't help but ask, "Is it really that delicious?"

But after being asked three times, the boy eating didn't even have time to lift his head. He just mumbled two "uh-huhs" in his throat before quickly reaching for the next spoonful.

The combined effect of the aroma and the live demonstration made the workers in line feel even hungrier.

I can't wait to eat the legendary Mapo Tofu!

A long, dark line suddenly formed at the canteen entrance, even more so than yesterday when they were selling hot and sour shredded vegetables. Today, the line stretched all the way from inside the canteen to the factory gate.

The security department had to deploy several guards to maintain order in the group, ensuring that no one pushed or shoved each other, or that anyone standing in the sun for too long on an empty stomach would get sunburned.

The young people from the purchasing department arrived late, each of them sweating profusely and panting heavily.

But when they saw the long, dark line of people waiting at the cafeteria entrance, they immediately lost their nerve.

Tian Airong let out a soft cry, her red lips immediately pouting as she pointed at Li Changfu with a look of full resentment.

"I told you all to hurry up! But you all dawdle. It's just buying some work safety supplies, and look how late you're back! With such a long line, how are we supposed to eat?! The section chief promised me I could leave five minutes early!"

Li Changfu scratched his head, looking aggrieved.

It's because they didn't bring the receipts for the labor protection supplies they bought; otherwise, they wouldn't have been delayed for so long on the way back and forth.

But looking at the endless, dark queue in front of me, I knew I'd miss out on food if I joined the end of the line now.

Li Changfu racked his brains for a long time before finally remembering the "connection" he had established with the cafeteria kitchen staff that morning. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he pulled a few people toward the back door of the cafeteria.

"Come on, let's go ask in the back! I just got on good terms with the cafeteria staff this morning, and now it'll come in handy!"

"You still have connections with the comrades in the cafeteria?" Tian Airong clearly didn't believe it.

But she couldn't resist Li Changfu pulling her towards the kitchen.

Just as I reached the back kitchen, I bumped into Lin Jun, who was coming out of the back door with a dark face, carrying a bucket full of kitchen waste from this morning.

Ever since Chen Wei took over the kitchen, this kid has been completely ostracized by the entire kitchen staff.

Now I can only do cleaning work.

Seeing Li Changfu and Tian Airong about to storm into the kitchen, Lin Jun finally found an outlet for his pent-up anger.

He glared at them and said sternly, "What are you two doing! Don't you know the kitchen is a restricted area? No one is allowed to go in like that!"

But Lin Jun forgot that the two people in front of him were purchasing department staff who could do whatever they wanted in the factory. They were not people that an ordinary kitchen apprentice like him could act arrogantly.

When had Tian Airong and Li Changfu ever suffered such injustice? Their eyes widened simultaneously.

"We're just from the purchasing department checking the food consumption in the cafeteria kitchen. How can you call on unauthorized personnel? Comrade Lin, aren't you being a bit unreasonable? If you're not satisfied, let's go to Section Chief Chen and discuss it!"

Tian Airong's almond-shaped eyes were wide open, clearly indicating that she was not someone to be trifled with.

But Lin Jun had just been overshadowed by Chen Wei these past few days and was seething with anger. When he heard that someone was using Chen Jianguo's name to suppress him, he immediately flew into a rage.

"What's wrong with Section Chief Chen now! Even Section Chief Chen needs to be reasonable!"

Just as she finished speaking, the curtain to the kitchen was suddenly lifted, and Wang Xiuli peeked out from inside, frowning.

"What's all the noise about! Lin Jun, why are you still standing there? Can't you see everyone up ahead is working themselves to the bone?"

Lin Jun was about to argue a bit more, but Wang Xiuli's words left him speechless.

Then, Wang Xiuli smiled and handed two lunch boxes containing the food to Tian Airong from the purchasing department.

"Comrade Xiaotian, Chen Wei asked me to save this for you!"

Tian Airong's eyes lit up and she immediately put on a smiling face.

"Master Chen is such a kind man! He knew our purchasing department had put in a lot of effort to get this tofu, and he even saved some food for us separately! Unlike some people! They eat the tofu our purchasing department got, and then they act all high and mighty! They make a big deal out of nothing!"

Tian Airong's words were sarcastic and clearly directed at Lin Jun.

Lin Jun's already dark complexion turned even darker with anger.

When did he start eating Mapo Tofu?!

I've been doing odd jobs since I arrived this morning, and I've only smelled the aromas; I haven't even tasted a single bite!

Seeing this, Wang Xiuli quickly tried to smooth things over with a laugh: "We mustn't forget those who dug the well when we drink the water! Since the whole factory is able to enjoy this, we certainly can't forget our colleagues in the purchasing department."