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

"Brother Dayong, I think you don't need to rush! Anyway, our uncle is a leader in the factory, he wouldn't mistreat you!"

Sun Ergou peeked in from the side, grinning obsequiously.

This guy is such a fickle opportunist; he'd love to be a bootlicker for the factory leaders.

However, apart from Ma Dayong, no one else thought much of this kid—he was always lazy and shirked his duties when working, and he loved to take advantage of others, so nobody liked him.

It's only because Ma Dayong hasn't been here long and hasn't yet witnessed how ruthless this guy is at stabbing people in the back that I've become so close to him.

Seeing that Ma Dayong was extremely annoyed, Sun Ergou naturally seized the opportunity to go up and curry favor with him.

"See, you only complained a couple of times, and your uncle transferred you to the equipment department. It's all technicians there, the work is easy!"

In Sun Ergou's eyes, people with connections like Ma Dayong were his main targets for currying favor.

After all, Ma Dayong only stayed in the steel rolling workshop for a week before Ma Qianjin transferred him to the equipment department. Wasn't that because he was afraid his nephew would suffer?

So from Sun Ergou's perspective, Ma Dayong will soon be transferred to the cafeteria.

If I manage to build a good relationship with him, then all the benefits I get will be a piece of cake!

It would be even better if we could get rid of that nasty stale smell in the cafeteria!

"Hmph!" Ma Dayong snorted coldly upon hearing this, crossed his arms, and a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes.

He muttered, "It's just that my uncle is too rigid. He's always afraid that Chen Jianguo will cause him trouble. If you ask me, what's there for a dignified head of the production department to be afraid of!"

"Hey! Section Chief Ma is just being cautious. The blame lies with that Chen Wei kid who's been hogging the job! If you ask me, Brother Ma, your skills are way better than his!"

Sun Ergou's flattery hit Ma Dayong right where it hurts.

He was usually quite confident in his skills, and when Sun Ergou said something that struck a chord with him, he immediately patted his chest and made a promise.

"Of course! Don't we have another chef in our cafeteria? The late-night snacks they sent over the other day were quite good!"

At this point, Ma Dayong began to inquire.

Sun Ergou was stunned. The head chef in the cafeteria? Wang Defa! Who else could it be but him?

But didn't that old guy say he had already retired due to illness?

But Sun Ergou didn't say it aloud. He was afraid that Ma Dayong would be unhappy, so he quickly flattered him.

"That's right! There was a chef in the cafeteria who said he'd been doing this for decades, his name was Wang Defa!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Dayong immediately slapped his thigh.

"I knew that dish couldn't possibly have been made by that kid surnamed Chen! Turns out it was Chef Wang! Hahahaha!"

He laughed heartily, feeling great.

Now he was confident about the cooking competition. This was just a young kid who had only been cooking for a short time. How could he, who had been cooking for more than two years, possibly lose to this kid!

Thinking this, a sinister glint suddenly flashed in Ma Dayong's eyes.

Sun Ergou quietly caught his gaze, then quickly peeked out and whispered inquiring.

"Brother Dayong, do you have some good ideas? Tell us about them!"

"Saying it won't work anymore!"

Ma Dayong deliberately spoke in riddles, chuckling as he spoke.

"I'll tell you secretly after I tell my uncle."

"Alright! Don't forget me if anything good happens!"

"Of course!"

The two men exchanged a smile, a lewd look flashing in their eyes.

-

In the office of the head of the production department.

Ma Qianjin sat at his desk, his fingers tapping lightly on the surface, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"You mean you're specifically notifying us that everyone will work overtime on the day of the match?"

"Yes!" Ma Dayong nodded, his face full of sinister smiles. He knew that Ma Qianjin in front of him probably wouldn't refuse him, but he still found a plausible reason for himself.

"Didn't you say a while ago that our factory's production schedule had fallen behind due to the hot weather? Now is the perfect opportunity to catch up!"

"Tch!" Ma Qianjin sneered, taking his foolish nephew's words as nonsense.

Should we catch up on the progress now?

Does he even know what kind of weather this hottest period of summer is?

Staying in the steel rolling workshop every day, even working overtime during the hottest days of summer, could be fatal.

However... this kid's idea isn't entirely unfeasible.

At least it can give Chen Jianguo a warning and tell him that Tianjin No. 1 Steel Plant is not yet under his Chen family's control.

Ma Qianjin thought for a moment and then nodded, casually signing his name on the document next to him.

"Okay, I'll keep the documents here! I'll give you a heads-up next week. Just ask for a sick day in advance!"

Since the decision to work overtime was made, it was naturally to increase the workload in the cafeteria.

This was to prevent Chen Wei from participating in the cooking competition. As for Ma Dayong, who was also going to participate in the competition... he could just take a sick leave a day in advance.

"Thank you, Uncle!" Ma Dayong chuckled and gave a thumbs-up, knowing when to be shrewd.

Ma Qianjin waved his hand and looked towards the cafeteria outside the window.

At lunchtime, a long queue had already formed. Chen Jianguo stood in the queue with a big smile on his face, greeting his colleagues with a beaming smile.

A shadow crossed his eyes, but it vanished in an instant, and he returned to normal.

-

When the notice for working overtime reached the kitchen, Chen Wei was preparing tonight's midnight snack.

The next day was a rest day, and also the day the cooking competition officially began.

Chen Wei had already informed Chen Jianguo in advance that he would prepare a late-night snack and then go to stay at Chen Jianguo's place.

They can make it to the cooking competition early tomorrow morning—Chen Jian's home is relatively close to the competition venue, and the uncle and nephew can go to the supply and marketing cooperative in advance to buy some fresh pork.

So Chen Wei prepared dinner extra early today.

While she was busy cooking with the spatula, she suddenly saw Wu Xiaochun rush in from outside, looking flustered.

"The production department just issued a notice that the entire factory needs to work overtime!"

Chen Wei's face immediately darkened.

"When?"

"Tomorrow! He specifically told our cafeteria to cook extra food!" Wu Xiaochun said, his face turning pale.

I don't know why, but usually the overtime notice would have been posted a few days in advance. But this time, it just so happens that Chen Wei is going to participate in a cooking competition, and the overtime notice came so late.

"Working overtime during the hottest days of summer...that's unreasonable..." Wu Xiaochun muttered.

Lin Jun, on the other side, sneered, "The production department's notice for overtime work must have been orchestrated by that Ma family! They're deliberately targeting us so Chen Wei can't participate in the cooking competition!"