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

Night fell heavily over the entire Tianjin No. 1 Steel Plant, and the daytime roar of machinery and the hustle and bustle of people gradually faded into silence.

Only the distant steel rolling mill still echoed with bursts of roaring sounds.

The canteen kitchen, which should have been dark long ago, still had a faint light flickering in the darkness, standing out starkly against the night.

"Chirp, chirp..."

The cicadas' chirping in the trees gradually grew hotter, and although it was the dead of night, there was no coolness in the air.

"Knock knock knock knock—"

Accompanied by the chirping of cicadas in the sycamore trees outside the window, the rhythmic sound of knives striking the cutting board echoing in the canteen kitchen, and the occasional complaints from Wu Xiaochun.

"Brother Chen, I'm exhausted! My arms are about to break! Can we cut 100 jin (50 catties) today? It's almost midnight, and we have to go to work first thing tomorrow morning!"

Unfortunately, Chen Wei didn't intend to pay any attention to him. He simply pointed to Lin Jun, who was silently mixing shredded radish by the stove.

Beside Lin Jun was a series of small enamel basins, each containing a portion of shredded radish. Although each portion looked almost identical, Lin Jun's hands continued to move without stopping.

In two hours, he mixed more than 150 portions of shredded radish with shredded vegetables, but not a single one could get Chen Wei to actually nod in approval.

He refused to believe that he couldn't make a simple cold dish!

"Look at Lin Jun, he's nothing like you, always talking so much! You're asked to do some work, and you keep dawdling! 'No pain, no gain,' and you don't even want to endure this little bit of hardship? Have you forgotten about Ma Dayong again…?"

Seeing that Chen Wei was about to bring up Ma Dayong again, Wu Xiaochun quickly raised his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright, my ancestors! I'll do it, I'll do it, okay?!"

With a long sigh, Wu Xiaochun could only resign himself to his fate, lower his head, and continue chopping vegetables, waving his arm that was about to fall off.

Chen Wei glanced at the pile of cucumbers in straw raincoats next to Wu Xiaochun's cutting board, and a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Although this kid can't compare to Lin Jun's nuclear-powered donkey, he's not completely useless!

Apprentice worker Wu Xiaochun achieved a 47% conversion rate in food preparation.

Seeing that Wu Xiaochun's conversion rate had doubled, Chen Wei was in a great mood.

He continued reciting his toxic chicken soup rhetoric passionately in the kitchen.

The three of them worked until late at night before closing up, locking the cafeteria door, and returning to their dormitory.

Wu Xiaochun was exhausted and kept complaining along the way, and even Lin Jun, who usually didn't show his strength, couldn't help but let his arms hang down, almost unable to lift them.

After returning to the dormitory, the two boys fell asleep immediately, and soon after, thunderous snoring came from the two dorm rooms next door.

Chen Wei, though exhausted, still opened his system panel to check things out.

With the help of two apprentices to improve their skills, today's harvest was quite fruitful.

On the system panel, several columns of proficiency levels showed varying degrees of increase.

Knife skills (beginner): 156/500

[Seasoning (Beginner): 389/500]

[Temperature control (proficient): 467/500]

With his skills in seasoning and heat control about to be upgraded, Chenwei was in high spirits.

Perhaps in another two days, I'll be able to upgrade and unlock new equipment slots!

Thinking this, Chen Wei felt the fatigue of the day wash over him like a tide. He simply put away the system panel, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep.

-

"Knock knock knock—"

The next morning, Chen Wei was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

He jolted awake and sat bolt upright in bed, his head still spinning, only to find that it was already bright daylight outside the window, so bright it hurt his eyes.

"Chen Wei! Why aren't you up yet!"

Chen Jianguo's voice came through clearly from outside.

Oh no! I overslept!

Chen Wei jolted awake and became fully conscious.

He quickly put on his clothes, slipped on his shoes, and went to open the door for Chen Jianguo.

As soon as the door opened, Chen Jianguo was seen standing outside with a furrowed brow and an unhappy expression.

"Did you write the self-criticism I asked you to write yesterday? That kid Ma Dayong already had it ready and just handed it to me!"

Seeing Chen Wei like this, Chen Jianguo couldn't help but shake his head.

I have no idea what those guys were doing last night, because they all overslept this morning.

Even the breakfast in the cafeteria was prepared by Wang Xiuli herself; she made do with whatever was convenient and perfunctory she could.

Wu Xiaochun, who lived next door, rubbed his messy, bird's-nest-like hair and peeked out from under the door. He jumped when he saw Chen Jianguo's face.

He quickly called out, "Section Chief Chen, good morning! Have you eaten yet?"

"You didn't eat it, so what if you have some?" Chen Jianguo rolled his eyes without any hesitation and gave Chen Wei a look.

Chen Wei couldn't help but click his tongue, secretly thinking that something was wrong.

He had completely forgotten about the self-criticism letter and hadn't thought about it at all.

With his uncle blocking the doorway, Chen Wei could only resort to a cheeky grin and say something like that.

"Um... Uncle... how about... how about I go cook for everyone first, and then go to the publicity department to apologize this afternoon?"

"Alright! Stop making things up! If you didn't write it, you didn't write it!" Chen Jianguo interrupted Chen Wei impatiently, casually taking a neatly folded piece of paper from his shirt pocket and stuffing it into Chen Wei's hand.

Chen Wei took it, opened it, and couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

Chen Jianguo had actually written my self-criticism for me long ago!

"Thank you, Uncle!"

He didn't dare say anything more and quickly accepted the situation, though the kind words came quickly.

But Chen Jianguo waved his hand impatiently, interrupting him.

"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and wash up, and be at the propaganda department at 8 o'clock sharp to read your self-criticisms! All three of you, not one of you can be missing, do you hear me!"

"become!"

Chen Wei readily agreed, but Wu Xiaochun beside him looked bitter.

"Section Chief Chen, um... actually, I haven't written it yet! Do you have any extras? Could you send me a copy too...?"

Clearly, he was overthinking it. Chen Jianguo glared at him and said angrily.

"If you haven't written it yet, get the hell out there and write it! If I don't see you in the publicity department later, I'll teach you a lesson!"

These words startled Wu Xiaochun, who let out a strange cry and quickly turned back into the house to write a self-criticism, his voice trembling with embarrassment.

Chen Wei, on the other hand, calmly opened the dormitory door, intending to change into clean work clothes before going to the publicity department.

Chen Jianguo followed him in, carrying a large palm-leaf fan, and sat on Chen Wei's bed in the dormitory, fanning himself as he waited for him.

He spoke casually.

"What do you think about Ma Dayong's situation? Have you considered what to do if he causes you trouble again in the future?"

In fact, Chen Jianguo understood the situation the moment he kicked those guys out of his office yesterday.

Ma Qianjin wasn't really disciplining his nephew; he was deliberately protecting Ma Dayong.

Otherwise, if we continue down the line of what Chen Wei said yesterday, Ma Dayong might face some kind of punishment.

As a result, what was originally a matter where Ma Dayong and his group were in the wrong has now turned into a situation where Chen Wei and his group are also going to be punished.

A few self-criticisms are a minor matter; the key is how Ma Dayong will handle it.