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

Ma Dayong lowered his head, his face full of resentment, his eyes were still red, and his voice was clearly aggrieved.

"It's clearly that stale taste! If it weren't for those two, uncle and nephew, controlling the kitchen, I wouldn't have spoken up for them..."

"It's one thing for you to say these things in front of outsiders, but if you keep saying the same thing in front of me, then I'm not going to take care of you anymore." Before he could finish speaking, Ma Qianjin interrupted him directly, saying coldly.

"No, no... Uncle! I was wrong!" Fortunately, Ma Dayong realized that without his uncle, he was nothing, and hurriedly begged for forgiveness.

Then he recounted everything that had happened, including the reason for his fight with Lin Jun, to Ma Qianjin.

But in the end, Ma Dayong still asked, feeling wronged, "Uncle! I didn't do anything wrong. Besides, your rank isn't lower than Chen Jianguo's. Why did you hit me in his office?!"

"Hmph!" Ma Qianjin raised an eyebrow, laughing in anger.

He felt that his nephew had been bringing trouble upon himself ever since he started working at the factory.

It's one thing to be stupid from one end to the other, but to have a pig's brain and still love to gossip.

Chen Wei got promoted, what does that have to do with him! He's not even in the same department as Chen Wei!

"You have the nerve to ask! You think that old fox Chen Jianguo can't see through your little scheme? You've really offended those two today. It was Chen Jianguo who pulled a fast one on you behind the scenes to get you in, humph! And you, you're biting the hand that feeds you, ungrateful for his kindness!"

"With that big accusation just now, if I hadn't gone up and slapped you twice across the face, you'd be locked up in the security office's dark room right now!"

"But that Chen Wei is talking nonsense! When I entered, I was clearly already..."

Ma Dayong was eager to retort, but Ma Qianjin glared at him and shut him down.

"Whether you pass the vetting or not is entirely up to those uncle and nephew! You really think Chen Jianguo isn't going to hold it against you? If I hadn't shown up in time, you'd be in jail already!"

Too lazy to waste any more words on this stupid nephew, Ma Qianjin snorted and made his conclusion directly.

"You are forbidden from having any contact with Chen Wei from now on!"

Ma Dayong lowered his head helplessly, not daring to refute, and could only purse his lips.

But after thinking about it for a long time, he still couldn't swallow his anger.

So he continued, "Then...Uncle...when can I transfer to work in the cafeteria?"

When this topic was brought up, Ma Qianjin's gloomy expression softened slightly.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke.

"Dayong, to be honest, I don't recommend you take the cafeteria job! Isn't the job in the steel rolling mill better? The pay is twice as high as in the cafeteria!"

A hint of disappointment flashed across Ma Dayong's eyes; he knew that was the case.

If he could get into the cafeteria, he would have gone in already.

How could it be that he was "temporarily reassigned to the steel rolling workshop"?

"But Uncle, no matter how high or low the salary is, I was originally a cook..." Ma Dayong was very unwilling. Of course, he would not say that he thought the work in the steel rolling workshop was too tiring, but only emphasized his original skills.

Ma Qianjin thought about it and felt quite helpless.

It wasn't that Ma Qianjin couldn't arrange for his nephew to work in the kitchen; it was simply that Ma Dayong's personality clashed with Chen Wei's.

If Chen Wei were still an ordinary apprentice like before, that would be fine.

After Ma Dayong goes in, he can work as a kitchen helper or start as an apprentice. Even though he's a bit impulsive, he does have some skills, so it's still acceptable.

But what is the current situation?

Chen Wei is about to be promoted to head chef, with a bright future ahead of him. At this critical juncture, the kitchen is practically the domain of the Chen family uncle and nephew.

If Ma Dayong were an honest man, it would be fine, but he has a fiery temper. If he were to go to jail now, who knows what kind of trouble he might cause.

Ma Qianjin felt somewhat guilty towards his nephew, since his sister had clearly stated when she entrusted him with the task that she wanted him to help arrange a job in the kitchen.

"Dayong! Just listen to your uncle's advice. Working in the kitchen won't do you any good. If you think the work in the steel rolling workshop is too tiring, I'll think of a way to get you into the equipment department. Even if you're an apprentice, the salary won't be lower than in the kitchen. We come here to work to earn money, right?"

Having said that, Ma Dayong realized that he couldn't persuade his uncle anymore.

He lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before finally whispering a sentence.

"All those nice words are just because the Chen family uncle and nephew are in the kitchen! Do you think Pang Tang, a production manager, is afraid of someone from the administration department...?"

Although he spoke softly, every word he uttered was piercing, reaching Ma Qianjin's ears without missing a single one.

Ma Qianjin's finger suddenly stopped, and his face darkened.

"You can only say that to my face. If I hear any more rumors about you outside, you're fired! My little town can't support someone as important as you!"

"uncle!!!!"

After saying that, Ma Qianjin simply flung his sleeves and kicked the man out of the office.

Ma Dayong stood at the door for a long time, unwilling to give up, but in the end he could only turn around and leave helplessly.

Once the footsteps outside the office corridor had quietly faded away, the air was eerily quiet.

Ma Qianjin then rubbed his fingers together, his expression shifting between light and dark. He recalled the events that had unfolded in Chen Jianguo's office earlier that day, and the more he thought about it, the heavier his heart became.

Chen Jianguo's seemingly impartial and selfless demeanor, and Chen Wei's usual honest and unassuming attitude in public, are probably just a facade put on by this uncle and nephew.

If this uncle and nephew were truly as honest and simple as they claimed to be, Chen Wei probably wouldn't have been chosen as the head chef so early on.

"Chen Jianguo..."

Ma Qianjin murmured the name, his fingers unconsciously tracing the old scratches on the table.

He felt a slight tightness in his chest and a strange, inexplicable stuffiness.

-

"Knock knock knock knock—"

The sound of knives being chopped could be heard constantly in the kitchen.

After a day and a night of training, Lin Jun had mastered Chen Wei's skill of peeling the entire radish with a slight twist of his wrist.

Although he has several cuts on his hands from practicing this skill, Lin Jun still looks energetic and spirited.

He held a kitchen knife, and with a flick of his wrist, the radish peel came off as easily as taking off clothes.

The movements were much smoother than yesterday. Although they were still not as fluid as Chen Wei's movements, at least they were already done.

"Not bad, not bad!"

A series of applause rang out from the side, and Chen Wei smiled, genuinely praising him.