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

"Damn it! I knew Ma Dayong had been holding it in for days, and he definitely wasn't going to say anything good!" Wu Xiaochun's eyes widened, and he slammed his fist on the table, cursing angrily.

"I should have reported him to Section Chief Chen sooner! That would have saved him from stabbing Brother Chen in the back!"

Wu Xiaochun and Lin Jun were both furious, and only Chen Wei remained relatively calm.

"What are you going to report him for? He's been transferred to the equipment department now, which isn't under my uncle's jurisdiction anymore!"

"I..." Wu Xiaochun opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

But he couldn't swallow his anger, and finally frowned and asked.

"So what do we do now?"

There's only one head chef in the cafeteria right now, Chen Wei. Who will cook if Chen Wei leaves?

Moreover, with Ma Qianjin pressing from above, how could I possibly get permission to take leave?

Just then, the kitchen curtain was lifted, and Chen Jianguo walked in with a dark expression.

He frowned as soon as he entered the room.

"You've all seen the new notice posted in the production department, right? If you ask me, those of you who need to take leave tomorrow should do so! I'll take responsibility for any consequences. I don't believe Ma Qianjin would actually dare to report this little thing to the factory manager!"

Chen Jianguo said this with resentment in his heart.

He truly never expected that his friendship with Ma Qianjin, which had lasted for so many years, would be ruined because of something involving two young people.

I never expected that Ma Qianjin, who used to seem like a very upright person, would actually learn to trip people up in secret.

Chen Wei disagreed: "Whether I go to the cooking competition or not is not important, but if I leave, how will all these mouths in the factory feed themselves?"

Actually, Chen Wei felt that whether or not there was a cooking competition wasn't that important.

The important thing is that the factory canteen really helped him gain a lot of experience. Originally, his plan was just to relax and work at the factory.

But clearly, the people around him didn't think that way.

"What nonsense are you talking about! Are you suggesting you're canceling your cooking competition just because no one cooks lunch?" Chen Jianguo was the first to disagree, his face stern. "If you ask me, just pretend you didn't see it! At worst, let Ma Qian come and make a scene! Let's see who dares to punish you!"

"Section Chief Chen, it's better not to be so radical! It'll look bad if you two leaders start arguing!" This time, Wu Xiaochun actually said something sensible.

An eerie silence fell over the kitchen.

After a long silence, Lin Jun suddenly stepped forward from behind and said with a solemn expression.

"Chen Wei, if you trust me, could you leave tomorrow's lunch to me?"

Chen Wei was taken aback, then raised an eyebrow.

Lin Jun's cooking skills have indeed improved a lot recently, especially the dishes he knows how to make, which he has almost completely mastered.

Actually, Lin Jun and I have been cooking together for the past few days. If we leave it entirely to Lin Jun tomorrow... that's not impossible.

"I know I haven't been cooking for very long, but I can manage to cook one or two meals. I think I can do it! If you teach me tomorrow, I'll make two of the simplest dishes. I've already mastered the hot and sour shredded vegetables and the shredded radish salad you taught us at the beginning!"

When Lin Jun said this, his eyes were full of expectation.

When she looked at Chen Wei, her eyes seemed to hold the gaze of some small animal, making her all the more endearing.

Chen Jianguo frowned and looked over. He remembered that Lin Jun had been at odds with Chen Wei not long ago.

If I hand over the entire kitchen to Lin Jun tomorrow... will he steal my place?

Just then, Wu Xiaochun on the other end spoke up.

"Yeah, Brother Chen! Why don't you leave it to Jun'er? I'll help Jun'er with the chopping; we'll definitely live up to your expectations!"

Little did Chen Jianguo know that after nearly half a month of Chen Wei's toxic motivational speeches, these two were now filled with positive and uplifting ideas, full of enthusiasm and eager to prove their abilities to Chen Wei as soon as possible.

Chen Wei never expected that the toxic inspirational quotes he usually stole from Douyin in the future would actually be used in this way!

but……

Tomorrow I'll hand over the cooking duties to these two people. That way I can participate in the competition without missing out on leveling up my skills. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

"OK!"

To everyone's surprise, Chen Wei nodded without saying a word.

Chen Jianguo originally wanted to subtly remind Chen Wei that it would be best to hand over the kitchen to Wu Xiaochun, rather than to Lin Jun.

But in the blink of an eye, he saw that Lin Jun's eyes were filled with tears and his eyes were red, as if he had received great recognition.

Lin Jun nodded solemnly: "Chen Wei, trust me! I won't let you down!"

Seeing Lin Jun's sincere words, Chen Jianguo hesitated to say the words he was about to utter, "How about I tell everyone to bring lunch tomorrow?"

Chen Jianguo could only click his tongue and swallow his words back down.

However... he felt that Lin Jun and Chen Wei's relationship seemed unusual lately!

Chen Jianguo was naturally unaware of the effects of the poisonous chicken soup that was usually kept in the kitchen; otherwise, he would never have doubted Lin Jun's loyalty.

That's how people are; they develop loyalty through abuse.

Having resolved the immediate problem, Chen Wei was in high spirits.

He simply waved his hand dismissively: "Let's go! Let's get some popsicles at the convenience store!"

-

It was the height of summer, and the sun was scorching hot early in the morning.

It was like a pot of scorching hot coals hanging overhead, relentlessly baking the entire city.

Looking up at the sky, it was cloudless and seemed as if not a breath of wind would come. Chen Jianguo nervously gripped the green net bag in his hand.

Inside were ingredients wrapped in oil paper.

The pork belly, scallions, ginger, and seasonings were just bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, and there was even that old-fashioned ebony cutting board.

After stopping the old bicycle, Chen Jianguo handed the green net bag to Chen Wei. Watching the other man jump off the bicycle, he couldn't help but say something.

"Don't be nervous during the competition! Just perform to the best of your ability. It's okay if you don't place; participation is the most important thing!"

Chen Wei felt a sudden warmth in his heart when he saw the fine beads of sweat on his uncle's forehead and his concerned eyes.

He nodded: "Don't worry! I'm going!"

Go!

Chen Jianguo said no more and watched as Chen Wei gathered in the large crowd of people wearing blue overalls and walked towards the red banner with white characters.

"Welcome everyone to the Jinshi Municipal Staff Cooking Skills Competition! Please enter in order from the left!"

On the platform erected in the center of the middle school playground, Lin Xiaoyan, wearing a light red dress, was repeating the competition rules in fluent Mandarin with a beaming smile.

Finally, another colleague came up and replaced Lin Xiaoyan. She quickly ran towards that familiar figure.

From afar, they shouted, "Chen Wei! Chen Wei!"

Ever since I asked this girl to register me, she has been very familiar with me and keeps going to Tianjin No.1 Steel Plant.

As they ate together more and more, the two gradually became familiar with each other.

Chen Wei was busy preparing his tools and ingredients, handing them over to the staff for inspection one by one. He only looked up when he heard Lin Xiaoyan's shout.

"Hello, Comrade Lin!"