Courtyard House: In times of famine, my hamster became a spirit.

The north wind was like a knife, tearing the red flag in front of the steel mill gate as if it were about to be ripped to shreds, making it flutter loudly.

Deputy Factory Director Li stood in the wind, his neck almost tucked into his clothes, his nose red from the cold, but he dared not let his smile falter even when it was frozen stiff.

The factory leaders behind him shrank back like quails, stamping their feet incessantly, but no one dared to utter a sound.

"They're here!" someone shouted.

In the distance, two gleaming black Hongqi sedans crushed the snow and drove into the factory area with an imposing presence.

The sound of the wheels rolling over the ground felt to Deputy Factory Director Li like each step was pounding on his heart.

The car door opened, and the guard moved swiftly.

Immediately afterwards, an elderly man wearing a faded old military overcoat and a pair of round-toed cloth shoes landed steadily on the ground.

There was no airs of being surrounded by a retinue, but the old man's presence, the aura that seemed to have rolled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood, made Deputy Factory Director Li's prepared opening remarks stuck in his throat, unable to utter a single word.

"Commander! Welcome to Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill for guidance!" Deputy Director Li jogged a few steps, bent over at a ninety-degree angle, and his outstretched hands trembled slightly in the air.

The senior leader didn't shake hands. His hawk-like eyes swept over everyone, finally settling on Deputy Factory Director Li's forehead, which was covered in sweat. He gave a slight nod and said, "In a place where production is done, such pomp and circumstance are not appropriate. Come inside, it's windy."

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Deputy Factory Director Li felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being stared at by a ferocious beast.

A group of people escorted the senior leader toward the administration building.

On the way, to ease the awkwardness, Deputy Factory Director Li began to talk incessantly: "Sir, knowing you were coming, we specially prepared... Tan Family Cuisine. That's a dish from the old palace; we wanted to show our respect for the ministry..."

"Tan Family Cuisine?" The high-ranking leader suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He turned his head, his brow furrowed slightly: "Little Li, this is a factory, the stronghold of the working class. Are you trying to soften my bones by feeding me those mushy things that officials ate in the old society?"

This question, though seemingly light, carries immense weight.

Deputy Factory Director Li's mind went blank for a moment, and cold sweat poured down his temples: "No, no, no... Boss, that's not what I meant..."

"Alright." The leader waved his hand, his gaze fixed on the hazy sky, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "It's been a while since I've had spicy food. Back when we were suppressing bandits in the southwest, even just a bowl of mixed grain noodles sprinkled with chili peppers would make me feel warm all over after eating it. That was real enjoyment."

He withdrew his gaze, fixing it on Deputy Factory Director Li: "No frills today. Sichuan cuisine! It has to be strong, spicy, and taste like it did back in the day. Can you do that?"

Is it possible?

These four words are practically a death warrant.

Deputy Factory Director Li was in turmoil.

Who doesn't know that Sha Zhu is a descendant of the Tan family cuisine?

Tan Family Cuisine emphasizes shark fin, slow cooking, and a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors; it's a dish for the wealthy!

It's completely different from Sichuan cuisine, which is characterized by its bold, heavy oil and spiciness!

But looking into the eyes of the big boss, even if Deputy Factory Director Li had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare say "no".

"Yes! Of course!" Deputy Factory Director Li gritted his teeth so hard they almost broke, forcing a confident smile. "Our factory's head chef comes from a family with a deep-rooted culinary tradition; he's a jack-of-all-trades! Don't worry, he can even make a Manchu Han Imperial Feast taste like Sichuan cuisine! Rest assured, it'll be absolutely delicious!"

The high-ranking leader finally smiled slightly: "Alright. Then I'll be waiting for this."

As soon as the senior leader was escorted into the lounge, the smile on Deputy Factory Director Li's face vanished.

"Officer Wu!" he growled. "Go to the kitchen! Tell He Yuzhu to change the entire menu! Stop serving Tan family cuisine, switch to Sichuan cuisine! If he messes it up, he'll have to pay with his head!"

……

The kitchen was sweltering.

He Yuzhu was humming a little tune, holding a purple clay teapot in his hand, taking sips every now and then, looking like he was giving orders.

On the cutting board, the soaked shark fins and abalone were neatly arranged.

"Pillar! Something terrible has happened!"

Disregarding all decorum, Officer Wu practically burst through the kitchen door, sweating profusely and his eyes wide with terror: "Stop making that seafood! The big boss specifically requested Sichuan cuisine! Now! Immediately! Change the dishes right now!"

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, almost dropping the purple clay teapot: "What the hell? Sichuan cuisine? Factory manager, are you kidding me? We prepared ingredients for Tan Family Cuisine..."

"I don't care what you've prepared!" Officer Wu spat in his face. "The big boss wants Sichuan food! It has to be really strong! If you can't make it, don't wait until tomorrow, tonight you'll be cleaning toilets for the rest of your life!"

This is a critical juncture.

He Yuzhu was startled by this aura, but then his reckless spirit returned.

His eyes darted around, recalling Yi Zhonghai's desperate gaze, the heavy gold bars, and the boasts he had made.

We can't back down.

If I back down now, how will I ever get along at the factory again?

"Hey! It's no big deal!" He Yuzhu shoved Officer Wu aside, wiped his face, and said, "Don't worry about it! It's just Sichuan cuisine, right? It's just spicy, right? What's so technically demanding about that stuff?"

He grabbed a large iron ladle, twirled it in the air, and said with disdain, "Sichuan cuisine, you know, is all about one dish, one style, a hundred dishes, a hundred flavors. To put it bluntly, it's about being generous with seasonings! Just throw in as many chilies and Sichuan peppercorns as you can, heat the oil up high, and when it hits the pan, it sizzles, and the flavor comes out, right? I, He Yuzhu, could make it with my eyes closed!"

Seeing his inexplicably confident demeanor, Officer Wu felt a slight sense of relief, but the unease still lingered like ants crawling in his heart: "Are you... are you sure? This is no joke."

"You're all right now!" He Yuzhu turned and yelled at his apprentices, "Ma Hua! Take all those shark fins away! Get me some chili peppers! Dried chili peppers, bird's eye chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, bring as many as you can! Today I'll show you what real success looks like!"

Seeing the kitchen in chaos again, Officer Wu wiped away a cold sweat and turned to leave.

Just then, an untimely sound of footsteps came from the direction of the cafeteria hall.

Today, the cafeteria hall was cleared out long ago in preparation for the reception; not even a fly could get in.

Who would dare to provoke such a misfortune at this time?

Officer Wu frowned and looked out through the food delivery window.

Why is he here?