Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 288 Ji Bei and Yu Qiu (Monthly Tickets+)

Yu Qiu asked from the side, "Isn't this a government-owned company? Why is there a boss here?"

Shan Hongmei nodded and said, "It's a government-owned enterprise, affiliated with the Labor Bureau, but it's been privately contracted out. The whole area is contracted out, including restaurants, food factories, billiard halls, dance halls, karaoke bars, cake shops, and so on. They're all owned by the bosses. The bosses are really nice. The teachers were all found through the bosses' personal connections. The chef's class teacher is an apprentice of Lu Mingchun and Liu Jingxian, and the pastry teacher is also from there. The pastry teacher is an apprentice of Master Li. Master Li is the best in the country in this field; he's won some national awards."

Yu Qiu paused for a moment, scratched his head, and said, "I thought it was a government operation. Private operations happen all the time in Jibei, and everywhere in Fengtian. Besides, can you really be sure? They can't just take the money and then... you know what, can they?"

Shan Hongmei said, "Those classes outside are all just a money pit; you don't learn anything. Ours is different. Besides, there aren't any other pastry classes anywhere else. Our boss drives a car worth six or seven hundred thousand yuan; why would he be after your few thousand yuan?"

An Lihua said, "The restaurant where I did my culinary internship in Longcheng is a three-story building that serves about ten tables a day. There's also a large one in Fengtian, which is over 1,500 square meters. The investment alone was several hundred thousand yuan, not even counting the cost of the building."

Yu Qiu smiled and asked, "How about we get food? I don't see any restaurants around here; we'd have to walk quite a distance."

An Lihua said, "There is a canteen in the hospital. Breakfast costs two yuan, and lunch and dinner cost ten yuan. It's all-you-can-eat."

Yu Qiu said, "Twenty-two a day? That many?"

An Lihua said, "It costs twelve yuan a day, and ten yuan for lunch and dinner combined. Our boss isn't that greedy; he never intended to make money on food. The dishes are very good, and there's plenty of meat."

Yu Qiu asked, "How did you know? Classes haven't even started yet."

Shan Hongmei said, "The cafeteria is open. Don't we eat here? The boss's family all eat the same food here. If you can eat, go ahead and get some, but don't waste food. If you leave any leftovers, you'll be fined."

Yu Qiu nodded, lowered her head to fill out the form, and after writing a few strokes, looked up and asked, "Four hundred for accommodation?"

Shan Hongmei stuffed the last small piece of cake into her mouth, took a sip of water, and said, "You're staying for three months, and you think a hundred a month is expensive? I feel like I'm charging too little."

Yu Qiu said, "Four hundred, or one hundred?"

Shan Hongmei said, "Luggage? Does luggage come free? We've brought in new cotton quilts and blankets, they're really thick. Besides, heating doesn't cost money, does it?"

Yu Qiu stopped talking, filled out the two forms, and after thinking for a while with her water glass in hand, asked Shan Hongmei, "Can I go and take a look at the courtyard you mentioned?"

Shan Hongmei said, "Sure, let's go check it out." She checked the time and said, "It's almost time to get food, see how the cafeteria is."

Zuo Hong was on the phone, taking notes as she said, "Wait a few more minutes, don't let Aunt Zhang think we're starving ghosts."

An Lihua went to get some water and said, "Hongmei, are you feeling unwell? You just finished eating cake."

Shan Hongmei turned to Liu Shangyue, who was stamping a receipt, and said, "Shangyue, let's go, let's ignore them."

Liu Shangyue said quietly, "No, it's embarrassing." An Lihua and Zuo Hong both laughed.

After making a fuss for a while, Liu Shangyue finished her work and tidied up. The four maids took their lunchboxes and went out to the courtyard to get food. Yu Qiu followed behind. As soon as they went out the back door, they saw Old Guan walking towards the dining hall with his hands behind his back.

Yu Qiu went out the back door, looked around, and said, "This courtyard is really big. Is your boss's house here? Where? This row of houses?" He turned his head and looked at the row of houses.

Shan Hongmei said, "Yes, that's it. The cars over there belong to the boss, and there are more in that building. That building is the food factory and the training workshop."

Looking over, Yu Qiu saw an Audi 100, a Hiace, and a van whose name she didn't recognize parked at the garage entrance.

Yu Qiu asked, "Are there other cars inside? Which one belongs to your boss?" He looked at the 100, which was the only car that military leaders owned, worth over 400,000 yuan.

Shan Hongmei said, "There's another big one inside, which we'll use to pick up students from the station the day after tomorrow. There's also another one, something like 2000, also a big bread truck. The boss's car isn't here; he went out." The group caught up with Lao Guantou and headed towards the canteen together.

Shang Jie and the others came out of the old building across the street, all carrying lunchboxes and ready to get their food. From afar, Shang Jie said, "You little brats are still eating? Aren't those cakes enough? Four little pigs." Everyone at the food factory laughed.

As soon as they reached the kitchen door, they smelled the aroma of meat. Old Guan went straight into the dining room, while the rest of the group went into the kitchen.

A row of aluminum basins sat on the stainless steel counter. Everyone went over and started getting their food themselves. Xiao Wei's mother asked, "Who is this young man?"

Shan Hongmei skipped over and took Xiaowei's mother's arm, saying, "She's here to sign up for the course, from Jibei. She's our first student! Yu Qiu, this is Aunt Zhang, the boss's mother. You can call her Aunt Zhang too. See if I'm trying to flatter you? See how good the food is?"

Yu Qiu had already stood to the side and looked around. She nodded and said, "It really is good. To be honest, it's even better than what I eat at home. Twelve yuan is definitely cheap. Um, Aunt Zhang, I haven't officially registered yet. Can I eat here?"

Xiao Wei's mother smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay, it's just one meal. Do you have a lunchbox? If not, just wait a moment and eat with us in a bit, that's all."

Shan Hongmei said, "The canteen is next door, with tables, chairs, bowls and chopsticks."

Yu Qiu nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll trouble Aunt Zhang. I'll give you the money." Reaching into her pocket, Xiao Wei's mother said, "Let's skip this meal. We'll pay when you officially start. I can't afford to support you from beginning to end. One or two meals a day is fine."

Xiao Wei opened the door and came in, looked around and said, "Just got your food? What's for today?" He went over to look.

Shan Hongmei quietly pointed at Xiaowei and whispered to Yu Qiu, "Our boss." Yu Qiu looked at Xiaowei. Just then, Xiaowei reached into the basin, grabbed a piece of meat, and popped it into his mouth. Xiaowei's mother slapped his arm twice, saying, "You're always so irresponsible. Are you starving or craving something?"

The girls giggled, and Xiao Wei said, "What are you laughing at? I'll dock your pay." He turned his head and saw Yu Qiu standing to the side. He nodded and asked, "Who are you?" He then turned to look at Shan Hongmei.

Yu Qiu said, "I came here to register. I came from northern Jilin."

Xiao Wei said, "North Jilin? That's so far, how far is it? Is it cold?"

Yu Qiu said, "It's alright, the train has heating, it's just that the journey takes a bit long."

After the food factory workers finished getting their meals, Xiaowei's mother and three helpers started cleaning up, scooping the dishes back into the serving area and carrying them towards the dining room. Xiaowei said to Qiu, "Let's go eat in that room."

Several people came out of the kitchen and walked towards the dining room next door. Shan Hongmei pointed to the garage and said to Qiu, "Look, look, that purple one is the boss's car, isn't it beautiful?"

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(End of this chapter)