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

Looking for Wang Defa?

Chen Wei was taken aback, then quickly turned around and called out, "Chef Wang, there are two experienced chefs outside looking for you."

Chen Wei didn't harbor much hostility towards Wang Defa. Although he was going to compete with Wang Defa later, Chen Wei felt that as a cheat, he already had a natural advantage and had nothing to be afraid of.

Besides, at his age, even if he loses, it won't be a big deal. He can just go to Chen Jianguo and act cute!

Having someone to rely on makes life so wonderful!

Wang Defa, who was still standing by the stove pretending to work, turned his head and immediately showed a hint of joy when he saw the people outside the window.

His lips unconsciously relaxed, and a hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

He maintained a nonchalant expression, cleared his throat, and said, "Hey, Lao Yang! Yes, I'm back. The factory leaders insisted I come back to work. Look at this huge factory, so many people waiting to eat; the kitchen can't function without me!"

The dark-faced old man outside immediately showed a respectful expression and picked up the conversation.

"Really! To be honest, we brothers have been missing your cooking terribly while you were gone!"

It turns out these people were Wang Defa's loyal fans.

Chen Wei secretly glanced at the four people outside the window and noticed that their average age was over 50.

They're probably going to retire in a couple of years, and several of them have developed a lisp when they speak.

Is your teeth bad...?

It's entirely possible that they like Wang Defa's cooking!

Wang Defa's cooking skills were already quite good, and since he was making Huaiyang cuisine, which has a light flavor, it was suitable for the elderly.

If I were that age, I'd probably like it too.

Wang Defa was naturally unaware of what Chen Wei was thinking. He simply waved his hand magnanimously and deliberately pointed at Chen Wei.

"With Xiao Chen around these past few days, I don't think this old codger can hold on for many more years! These rising stars are truly formidable!"

These people in front of him were usually his biggest supporters, especially Old Yang, who loved his food.

They'd even voluntarily work overtime on weekends just to eat the food they cooked themselves in the cafeteria.

Wang Defa was secretly pleased with himself. Given Lao Yang's temper, he would definitely object to Wang Defa's praise of Chen Wei.

But then, the dark-faced old man just smiled.

Slightly embarrassed, he scratched his head and agreed, "Yes, yes, Chef Chen's cooking is really good. We old guys all think Chef Wang has a good eye for talent, training such a promising apprentice who will definitely amount to something! Hahaha, it's just that we old guys really miss Chef Wang's cooking if we don't eat it for a few days!"

"..."

Wang Defa paused in his busy work, speechless.

He never expected that his original few loyal fans would now all turn to Chen Wei, genuinely believing that the kid's cooking skills were quite good.

His face immediately darkened, and he looked somewhat displeased.

With so many people eating there, Wang Defa, as a senior colleague, couldn't show it, lest he become a laughingstock.

So he could only snort coldly, turn his head away, and not intend to pay any more attention to the crowd.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the back door of the kitchen.

With the curtain lifted, Li Changfu staggered into the kitchen carrying several large bags.

It turned out that the purchasing department had delivered fresh goods that they had just brought from the market.

Li Changfu was carrying too many things and lost his balance. As soon as he entered the kitchen, he slipped and fell with a thud.

He plopped down on the ground.

"Ouch—my butt—"

Li Changfu called out and subconsciously lifted several bags of ingredients in his hands, afraid of breaking them, but he didn't notice that a bag of eggs in his hand suddenly bumped into the corner of the table.

"Snap—"

Several eggs shattered instantly upon impact.

Chen Wei quickly went over to help, and together they pulled Li Changfu up.

"Are you alright?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing! Oh my, my back! I don't know what I stepped on as soon as I came in, my foot slipped! This awful weather outside is so hot, it's making me dizzy. What a waste, I've ruined several eggs," Li Changfu complained.

But Wang Defa's face darkened even more, and he shot a glare at her, shouting sharply.

"If you can't even handle this simple matter, your purchasing department might as well just disband!"

The people in the kitchen were taken aback, and their previously casual voices instantly fell silent.

The people present looked at each other, feeling extremely embarrassed.

Li Changfu's face flushed red instantly.

Despite the sweltering heat of over 30 degrees Celsius, he went to the supply and marketing cooperative early in the morning to place an order.

Wang Defa reported that he purchased ingredients too late yesterday, and the supply and marketing cooperative did not notify him in advance. Where can he find any ingredients at this time?

He had no choice but to go with his acquaintances from the supply and marketing cooperative to the food factory to pick up goods, and it was only with great difficulty that he managed to get a sufficient amount of fresh dried tofu.

He was hot and tired from the trip, and even tripped and fell as soon as he entered the door. It was one thing for Wang Defa not to be grateful, but to start beating him up as soon as he walked in was just ridiculous!

"You..." Li Changfu opened his mouth to retort, but Chen Wei quickly stopped him.

"Comrade Li, forget it! Don't be angry!" Chen Wei laughed and tried to brush it off, quickly taking out a mung bean popsicle from the thermos he had brought from his administrative project that morning and slipping it into Li Changfu's hand.

"Come on, have some popsicles! Look how hot it is, everyone's having a tough time, just treat this to cool off, don't rush."

"Hmph!" Li Changfu snorted coldly before reluctantly giving up.

The atmosphere in the cafeteria kitchen suddenly shifted from a cheerful and friendly atmosphere to an eerie silence.

Chen Wei helped Li Changfu tidy up most of the scattered ingredients, then turned around and went out to help him unload several boards of tofu from the cart.

Li Changfu then glared coldly into the kitchen and mysteriously pulled Chen Wei aside.

"The tofu I bought today is a little overcooked. If it doesn't work well, just tell me and I'll figure something out."

"It's okay! It works fine this way."

Chen Wei smiled and said that the dish he was going to make today was Mapo Tofu. This dish doesn't have the same strict requirements for tofu as Pingqiao Tofu. In this hot weather, he didn't want Li Changfu to make another trip to the food factory because of his small request.

"You're so easy to talk to!" Li Changfu chuckled, patting Chen Wei on the shoulder in front of everyone, and deliberately spoke loudly, "Do your best in the competition later, I'm rooting for you! So that some people don't think they're some kind of local tyrant, looking down on everyone!"

The sound traveled straight to the kitchen, making sure everyone in the small kitchen heard it clearly.

Wang Defa's already unpleasant complexion instantly turned even darker, as if he had been slapped in public; his face looked extremely ugly.

He opened his mouth, wanting to reprimand him, but seeing the look of disgust on the faces of everyone in the kitchen, he ultimately said nothing.

I'll show you the skills of a chef with decades of experience in a moment!

Wang Defa thought to himself.