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

"Aunt Wang is here!"

Chen Wei had just figured out the system's functions today, and was in a rare good mood, so he greeted the female worker warmly.

This Aunt Wang is a kitchen helper in the canteen, responsible for steaming buns, cooking porridge, and other tasks.

Unlike Chen Wei, an apprentice with no status, Wang Xiuli was a veteran who had worked in the factory canteen for ten years, and her salary was much higher than Chen Wei's.

There's nothing you can do about it; these days, you're lucky if you don't have to pay out of your own pocket to do apprenticeships.

"Let me see what good stuff you've made, Xiao Chen!"

Wang Xiuli tied her apron and walked over with a smile, her eyes already drawn to the aroma emanating from Chen Wei.

She left work early last night to go home and cook, so naturally she didn't see Chen Wei's "highlight moment".

They assumed that Chen Wei had secretly learned how to cook these dishes behind Wang Defa's back, and they didn't have high hopes for them.

But as soon as I walked over, I smelled a tangy and spicy aroma that wafted into my nose.

"What does it smell like? It smells so good!"

Wang Xiuli's eyes widened as she pointed to a small bowl of hot and sour shredded vegetables on the stove and asked with surprise and uncertainty.

"Xiao Chen, did you... do these?"

The hot and sour shredded vegetables on the counter are a local home-style dish in Jinshi, but Wang Xiuli has never seen anyone cook them so beautifully.

The oily sauce coats the yellow, red, and green vegetable shreds together, each shred is exactly the same thickness, and the whole dish has a glossy sheen.

"Gurgle—"

Wang Xiuli's stomach growled, and she couldn't hold it in any longer.

The craving for oil and fat that people in this era had made her stare intently at the plate of food in front of her, unable to look away.

Chen Wei smiled and handed over a pair of chopsticks at the right moment.

"Aunt Wang, please try it for me! It's my first day cooking, I'm not sure how it goes."

"Okay! Alright!"

Wang Xiuli took the chopsticks from Chen Wei almost without thinking. Her mind was completely drawn to the dish in front of her, and she had no time to think about what "the first day of cooking" meant!

As soon as Wang Xiuli picked up a piece of food with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, her expression changed instantly.

Chen Wei stared at Wang Xiuli's expression, feeling a little nervous.

Then the other person's eyes widened, and a look of surprise and joy flashed in their eyes, indicating that they liked it.

But Chen Wei didn't get any feedback from Wang Xiuli. Instead, he saw her reach out with her chopsticks and stuff a large mouthful of food into her mouth without any politeness, as if she hadn't eaten for days.

With the second bite, the look of shock on Wang Xiuli's face instantly turned into an indescribable satisfaction.

She looked so comfortable, as if she were enjoying herself more than if she had a different man.

Then came the third and fourth bites. Wang Xiuli stuffed several more bites into her mouth, as if she wasn't satisfied. She simply pulled up a stool and sat down, dragging the large bowl in front of her.

……

Seeing that the twenty servings he had prepared had quickly turned into nineteen servings, Chen Wei couldn't help but feel a little impatient.

"cough--"

He couldn't help himself any longer, so he coughed lightly and asked.

"Aunt Wang, the dishes I made..."

"Ah? Ah—dish! Yes! Dish!" Wang Xiuli put down her chopsticks with lingering enjoyment, her eyes still fixed on the large bowl in front of her. She savored the aroma that had just refreshed her understanding of food, as if she were reminiscing about something precious, before finally speaking.

"Xiao Chen, your cooking is absolutely amazing! It's just a simple home-style hot and sour shredded vegetables dish, how do you manage to make it taste so good!"

Wang Xiuli wasn't a very educated person, but the way she stared at the large basin in front of Chen Wei already revealed her opinion.

The dish is done!

"Xiao Chen, did you secretly learn this dish from Chef Wang?" Wang Xiuli asked mysteriously.

Then her eyes lit up, and she suddenly realized what Chen Wei had said at the beginning. Her voice instantly rose several octaves.

"Wait a minute! Xiao Chen, what did you just say? You're... going to cook today?!"

Chen Wei smiled and said, "Yes, that's why I came early, thinking I'd let you try it first."

Wang Xiuli, an ordinary kitchen helper, has never received such preferential treatment before anyone else.

He burst into laughter, his eyes disappearing, and quickly waved his hand.

"How could I possibly taste anything? But... Xiao Chen, your cooking skills are truly amazing!"

Wang Xiuli picked out a thumbs-up and thought to herself, "This craftsmanship really doesn't look like Wang Defa's."

Everyone in the factory knows that Wang Defa is best at cooking Huaiyang cuisine.

I've never seen Wang Defa make anything with such a strong flavor, something light and refreshing, like soup or broth.

And Wang Defa, that man...

Wang Xiuli worked in the kitchen and had worked with Wang Defa for over ten years. How could she not know that he was a petty and narrow-minded old man?

He constantly talks about his tough experiences as an apprentice in Yangzhou in his early years, but only that silly boy Lin Jun in the entire kitchen is willing to listen.

Over the years, countless apprentices have run away from Wang Defa's work. Anyone who worked under him would have been skinned alive.

Thinking of Chef Wang's arrogant and harsh treatment of his apprentices, Wang Xiuli couldn't help but shake her head.

He raised his hand and patted Chen Wei on the shoulder.

"Xiao Chen, your skills are great! The workers will definitely love it when they arrive! Don't be nervous since your master isn't here today; your auntie will back you up!"

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Chen Wei smiled sheepishly.

But deep down, he had a different plan.

Tianjin No. 1 Steel Plant has a total of 500 employees, but most people are still told that the head chef is bedridden and the canteen is out of food. So most people will bring their own lunch, and if that's the case, it would be good if 100 people came at noon.

So he made a hundred servings at noon.

While Chen Wei was secretly plotting his next move, Wang Xiuli had already efficiently laid out steamed buns, twisted rolls, cornbread, and other treats.

It was broad daylight outside, and people were gradually arriving at work.

As soon as the plastic curtain in the canteen moved, Wu Xiaochun pulled two fellow villagers from the equipment department into the canteen.

He earnestly advised as he walked.

"I already told you, Chen Wei's cooking is definitely no problem! I'm treating you guys to breakfast today, what's wrong with you guys giving me a try!"

Those two guys were from the same hometown as Wu Xiaochun, and all three of them had the same short, flat haircut.

Wu Danian and Wu Ernian looked embarrassed: "Section Chief Chen from the Administrative Section has already notified everyone to bring their own lunch today, but we...we just..."

"Don't tell me you brought your own food! The three of us live in the same dorm, where are you two going to get food from?!"

Wu Xiaochun interrupted the two brothers without saying a word.

He just couldn't stand Lin Jun's scheming ways. Whenever he saw the kitchen apprentices, he would act like a fighting cock, relentlessly bullying them.

Chen Wei is quiet and unassuming, but he's already cooking after only three days. I have to support him!

It's just a meal. At worst, it might not taste good. It's not like it'll kill them with its awfulness!