A courtyard house, equipped with a fishing system, living in an era.

The change of Lou's Steel Rolling Mill has been approved at the meeting.

However, an announcement certainly cannot be made by simply shouting it over the loudspeaker; it requires a more formal occasion.

I reckon we'll have to hold a factory workers' meeting... or at least a factory workers' representatives' meeting, right?

……

Although Li Huaide had already hinted that the small kitchen would soon be shut down, Xu Pingan could still slack off for as long as the official document hadn't been issued.

"Ahem!"

"Hey, Manager Wang! What are your orders?"

Xu Pingan was sitting on a stool he had bought himself, drinking tea.

A cough came from behind him. Xu Pingan turned around and saw it was Fatty Wang.

He quickly got up and greeted the other person.

Wang Zongchang got a little annoyed when he saw the other party's expression, as if nothing had happened.

Damn it, you've been working for me since you joined the factory, how can you not stand on my side?

"No, you've already gotten on the good side of the work team, how could I dare to give you orders?"

"Oh dear, my supervisor, aren't you slapping me in the face? I've been your loyal cronies ever since I joined the factory."

"Hmph..."

Do you think I believe it or not?

On the steps outside the small kitchen, Xu Ping'an finally managed to trick Fatty Wang into becoming crippled after a great deal of effort.

"Here, have another one!"

Fatty Wang waved his hand, blocking the cigarette Xu Pingan offered him.

"Stop it, I've already smoked four or five cigarettes in such a short time, if I keep going I'll ruin my voice..."

After a moment of silence, Fatty Wang sighed softly.

"The small kitchen is going to be shut down; it'll probably happen sometime today or tomorrow."

"That's normal, it was bound to happen sooner or later!"

"You're quite open-minded. With the small kitchen being shut down, you'll be cooking in the big pot too!"

"As long as we don't cut wages, we can't worry about anything else!"

"Hmph..."

Xu Pingan noticed that Fatty Wang had come in a bad mood today; he had already grunted several times in just a short while.

Xu Ping'an understood that although they said they were cutting back on the small kitchen, they would rebuild it under another name in the future, but it would be hidden in the shadow of the large kitchen.

Even if Xu Ping'an didn't know the plot, he knew the general trend of historical development.

After fighting for so many years and suffering so much, can't we enjoy ourselves a little?

Of course, there are also great people who can resist this kind of temptation.

But how many great people throughout history have been like the teacher, who were "not elated by external gains nor saddened by personal losses"?

Xu Ping'an is not a great person; he can only go with the flow.

At most, I can hold onto my bottom line a little bit more!

This level of restraint is only because the temptation isn't strong enough.

Xu Pingan actually had a clear understanding of himself; if the temptation was too great, he simply couldn't resist it.

Of course, if his cheat system becomes more powerful in the future, he certainly wouldn't mind doing more for the country, provided he can protect himself...

But he will definitely act within his means; after all, when you're poor, you should at least take care of yourself...

But there's no need to say these things to Fatty Wang; he wouldn't understand anyway.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, I'm cooking a feast for lunch, Boss Lou is treating everyone."

Xu Pingan looked up at Fatty Wang in surprise. At this point, why was Boss Lou still inviting guests?

I heard the joint venture is happening this week...

Before my thoughts could even settle, news of personnel changes at the steel rolling mill came over the loudspeaker.

Wang Pangzi and Xu Pingan looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Are you suggesting we invite Secretary Han and Factory Director Yang?"

Fatty Wang nodded.

Xu Pingan sighed inwardly. After all this time, had Lou Bancheng still not seen the current situation and predicament?

Lou Bancheng was definitely a smart man; he managed to protect his family property intact during that war-torn era.

It even earned the reputation of being the only city in the area affected by war...

It can only be said that either his ego has become inflated, or his enormous wealth has blinded him, making him only see the immediate benefits and not the unknown dangers.

There's nothing new under the sun; the same story repeats itself again and again on this ancient land.

But every time a new actor is cast, they always feel that they are the special one!

……

After Fatty Wang brought over the ingredients needed for lunch, the small kitchen got busy.

Less than half an hour later, Li Huaide strolled in leisurely.

"Are these the ingredients that Deputy Factory Director Lou is preparing for his lunch party?"

"Oh, Director Li is here!"

The way we address people should also keep up with the times. In the past, we were called Clerk Li or Staff Member Li, but from now on we should call him Director Li.

"Heh, what Director Li? No matter what position you hold, you're all serving the people!"

Xu Pingan sensed something was off about the other person's tone and tacitly changed the subject.

"Supervisor Wang just came over and said that Deputy Factory Director Lou is treating everyone to lunch..."

Li Huaide nodded.

"Since Deputy Factory Director Lou has given the instructions, we should serve him well... Ping An, please have a hard lunch break."

"It's my job!"

Xu Ping'an had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on. It seemed that Lou Bancheng had become the deputy factory director while he hadn't, and he was feeling a bit resentful.

Xu Pingan could probably understand the other party's mindset.

Li Huaide has always prided himself on his impeccable revolutionary background...

His father-in-law is a bigwig in the metallurgical system.

As a result, the private factory owner has become the executive deputy factory director, while he himself couldn't even get a regular deputy factory director position in charge of logistics...

Li Huaide's emotions came and went quickly.

If someone lacks even this basic ability to control their emotions, they will never be able to rise to a high position in the future, let alone remain standing after causing trouble and successfully extricate themselves from the storm.

Within two minutes, the other party found a topic and started chatting and laughing with Xu Pingan.

To be honest, Xu Pingan really didn't want to talk when he was cooking.

After all, if he went to a restaurant and saw the chef not wearing a mask and talking to the pot, he would lose his appetite and might never go to that restaurant again.

Judging from his own experience, he now pays more attention to hygiene when he works as a chef.

But he couldn't ignore Li Huaide when he spoke...

dilemma!

"The higher-ups have officially given the order to shut down the small kitchen. This area will be reorganized and a large canteen will be built. The current staff canteen will be renamed the First Canteen, and this place will become our Second Staff Canteen after the renovation."

Second canteen?

It seems my little cafeteria is finally going to be a reality...

"I will resolutely obey the organization's arrangements!"

Li Huaide was amused by Xu Pingan's sudden words and patted Xu Pingan on the shoulder.

"You'll spend a few days in the first canteen; other arrangements will be made after the rankings are finalized..."

I don't know what they ate for lunch, but Xu Pingan certainly enjoyed it.

As a chef, isn't it only natural that he tastes each dish?

After each dish was prepared, I would serve myself a little bit first, and eat it with a steamed bun. I was very full!

……

Around three or four o'clock in the afternoon, near the end of the workday, the factory notified the key technical personnel and worker representatives to stay for a meeting!

Even Xu Ping'an, the head chef of the small kitchen, was kept on.

At the meeting, Xu Pingan also saw Yi Zhonghai and Liu Haizhong.

These meetings are always boring; nonsense literature is an age-old tradition.

You could even say that this is a job skill!

Before they became leaders, they would complain that their superiors were too talkative when they were sitting below them, and they would boast that when they reached a high position, they would do this and that...

But once they were in that position, they talked even more nonsense than their predecessors!

They can massacre a city... so why can't we?

"The factory said they're implementing an eight-level worker system nationwide... Senior workers can apply for the exam with priority from Wednesday to Saturday this week..."

This regulation is definitely a good thing, since salaries will be paid entirely based on job grade from now on, which to a certain extent ensures fairness, impartiality, and transparency!

Moreover, this first-time worker level assessment has another advantage: you can take the exam up to the level you are qualified for!

If you miss this opportunity, you'll only be allowed to advance one level per year at most...

Xu Ping'an's interface was rather rudimentary, and he didn't know what level he could be assigned.

But according to his plan, this time he should try to get as high a score as possible...

Not everyone was happy to receive this news, such as Yi Zhonghai, whose arm injury from a few days ago had not yet fully healed!