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

"Director Li, you must be tired from your journey. How about we go to the cafeteria and try this young comrade's cooking?"

As Chen Jianguo said this, he glanced cautiously at Li Yannian.

This Director Li is the newly appointed director of the Heavy Industry Bureau. As the saying goes, a new broom sweeps clean, and one of Li Yannian's three initiatives targeted Tianjin No. 1 Steel Plant.

Chen Jianguo naturally dared not be negligent.

The Heavy Industry Bureau was a department specifically responsible for the overall management of local industries, and steel mills, as key enterprises under its management, were naturally the enterprises with the closest ties to the Heavy Industry Bureau.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Director Li in front of us is the steel plant's direct superior.

Fortunately, Director Li also came from a poor background and was a demobilized soldier. He and Chen Jianguo got along quite well.

Upon hearing Chen Jianguo's words, he immediately pushed up his glasses with interest.

"Oh? Since Section Chief Chen puts it that way, then I'll have to give it a try! I just wonder if this young comrade's skills are as high as his character, capable of surprising people! Hahaha..."

The leaders exchanged smiles and politely deferred as they entered the cafeteria.

The people in the canteen were on high alert, but Chen Wei was still standing by the stove, holding the same big double-handled pot.

He had just finished preparing the last dish and hadn't even had a chance to catch his breath.

Fortunately, because of a leadership inspection today, the group of bandit-like workers haven't arrived yet, which gave Chen Wei a slight sense of relief.

Before he could even exhale, he saw his uncle, who was standing outside the window, point in his direction and introduce the place with a face full of eagerness.

"Director Li! These are our canteen staff members. The one still busy inside is Comrade Chen, whom I told you about."

Li Yannian's gaze immediately swept over Chen Wei, as well as the three large enamel basins placed in front of him.

Inside, several dishes were laid out, a vibrant mix of red and green, meat and vegetables, which looked quite appetizing.

Especially that pot of oily, reddish-brown vegetables—I don't know what it is, but you can smell its delicious aroma from a long distance.

Li Yannian's heart stirred slightly, and he couldn't help but glance at the enamel basins in front of Chen Wei.

"Is lunch ready?"

"It's ready!" Chen Jianguo quickly smiled apologetically and immediately turned around to call the cafeteria staff to serve the dishes.

Of course, this was a special meal prepared for the leaders; they certainly couldn't eat with the workers from outside.

Inside the small private room of the cafeteria, white tablecloths had already been laid out, along with several kinds of tableware, as well as staple foods such as steamed buns and white rice.

That was specially prepared for the leaders.

"Director Li, please! Please!" Chen Jianguo pushed open the door and gave up the seat of honor, eagerly inviting Li Yannian to sit down.

Li Yannian didn't seem to care much about such formalities, simply waving his hand and saying, "It's break time now, everyone doesn't need to be so polite! Please make yourselves at home!"

He took the seat of honor first, and only then did the remaining guests dare to sit down.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Chen Wei carried a plate of food in from outside, completely unaware of the people inside the house.

He simply placed the dishes down properly, turned around, and left.

But the dish he placed on the table immediately drew Li Yannian's attention.

Unlike the glance Li Yannian had made through the window earlier, this plate of Mapo Tofu, which was served first, had tender white tofu coated with a thick layer of red oil, making the entire enamel basin a vibrant red.

As soon as it's placed on the table, a strong aroma of Sichuan peppercorns mixed with numbing peppercorns wafts out.

Li Yannian was not from Sichuan or Chongqing, and this was the first time he had ever seen this dish.

Unable to resist, he pointed and asked, "What's this dish called? It smells pretty good!"

"This is Mapo Tofu, a dish created by our colleague, Comrade Chen." Chen Jianguo quickly handed over a pair of chopsticks, explaining as he gestured for Li Yannian to reach for the food.

With several section chiefs of various ranks sitting in front of him as guests, Li Yannian naturally felt embarrassed to start eating first.

He barely suppressed the urge to eat and said, "No rush, no rush! This young comrade has kindly prepared several dishes for me; I should at least meet him before I start eating!"

After he finished speaking, everyone quickly followed Li Yannian's gaze and looked towards the door.

Just then, Chen Wei arrived carrying the next two dishes.

The two large enamel basins in his hands immediately attracted everyone's attention. Even Li Yannian, who had just spoken of thanking Chen Wei, did not look at Chen Wei's face at all.

All attention was drawn to the two large enamel basins in Chen Wei's hands.

In one of the two enamel basins, there was a mixture of bright green bell pepper strips and shredded meat, evenly coated with a glistening sauce.

The other bowl contained a common local dish in Jinshi: hot and sour shredded vegetables.

But the hot and sour shredded vegetables that Chen Wei was holding had a perfectly harmonious color combination, with red, white and green interspersed, and the aroma of sour and spicy flavors made it even more appetizing.

"Gentlemen, our dishes are all ready!" Chen Wei put down the two enamel basins he was holding and said with a smile.

Only after he said that did Li Yannian realize what was going on.

Only then did Li Yannian look at the young man's face, and upon seeing it, he couldn't help but be slightly surprised.

This young man is quite old; he is indeed a junior colleague, just as Section Chief Chen said.

This young man had a calm demeanor, a tall and upright posture, and a resolute air about him. He was quite handsome.

This is why, in a steel mill, most of the colleagues are men, which makes such a good-looking person go to waste.

If such a young man were placed in a textile factory, he would probably have become the object of pursuit by the female workers long ago.

Not to mention that this young comrade has such great abilities. It's true that the younger generation is surpassing the older generation. These old fogies will be replaced by the younger generation sooner or later!

"Director Li, Comrade Chen, we've met. Let's all relax and start eating!"

Seeing that his nephew had already made an appearance in front of Li Yannian, Chen Jianguo felt relieved and quickly presented his nephew's three culinary skills to Li Yannian.

He refused to believe that Li Yannian could taste his nephew's cooking and still look perfectly normal!

In just the past few days, Chen Jianguo has not seen anyone who has eaten Chenwei's dishes not give them a thumbs up!

"Alright, alright, everyone, start eating! Don't be shy!"

Li Yannian was startled by Chen Jianguo's words, quickly picked up his chopsticks, and nodded to everyone with a smile.

The people at the table also picked up their chopsticks and began to eat.

Looking at the dishes in the center of the table, Li Yannian first reached for the hot and sour shredded vegetables, which he was most familiar with.

Having heard that this young man named Chen Wei was an exceptional cook, Li Yannian was eager to try Chen Wei's cooking.

Li Yannian gently picked up a piece of spicy and sour shredded vegetables with his chopsticks and carefully put it into his mouth.

The moment the food touches your mouth!

Time seemed to stand still!

Li Yannian's expression changed drastically!