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

Looking into the big leader's eyes, there was no official air about them, but a sharpness that seemed to have been forged through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, which pressed down on Zhou Jianguo's face.

This isn't about looking at a junior; it's about scrutinizing and weighing them.

If I don't answer well with that look, all the goodwill I gained from that plate of Mapo Tofu will be wiped out.

"Reporting to the leader."

Zhou Jianguo stood ramrod straight, his eyes unwavering: "I'm not a cook. I'm a first-class fitter at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, and my master... is myself."

"What?!"

Li Huaide couldn't suppress his shout and was so startled that he almost bit his tongue, so he quickly covered his mouth.

Oh, our ancestors!

Are you trying to die?!

At this point, would you admit that you're someone who repairs lumps of iron?

Doesn't this confirm that our factory is poorly managed, with people who wield sledgehammers being put in charge of flipping ladles?

To everyone's surprise, the coldness in the leader's eyes didn't deepen; instead, it gleamed with interest: "Interesting. A machine repairman's hand is used for cooking? Don't give me that talent nonsense; I don't believe in that."

"Sir, machining requires tolerances, fit, and heat treatment. Cooking is the same principle."

He raised his slender finger and drew a line in the air: "Slicing meat is about materials mechanics. Breaking along the grain makes it tender; cooking time is about heat treatment. A degree too high in oil temperature is quenching, a degree too low is tempering; as for seasoning, that's a precisely proportioned chemical reaction."

At this point, Zhou Jianguo looked directly at the top leader and said in a clear and articulate voice, "In my eyes, this pot is the rotary kiln, and this spoon is the cutting tool. By controlling every step within zero tolerance, the resulting dishes are industrial-grade standard parts."

These words were like a hand grenade, leaving everyone present stunned and confused.

Li Huaide's mouth was so wide open it could fit a light bulb.

I've never heard of anyone describing stir-frying in such a hardcore way before!

The top leader was stunned for a few seconds.

"Snapped!"

He slapped his thigh suddenly, his laughter shaking the teacup lid: "Hahaha! What a perfect zero-tolerance product! What an industrial-grade standard part! I was wondering why this dish had such a kick, now I know!"

The top leader's eyes were full of praise.

For an old revolutionary like him who came from a heavy industry background, nothing was as inspiring as this industrial cooking theory!

"Gurgle—"

Just then, a sound like muffled thunder suddenly came from the leader's stomach.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

The secretary's face changed drastically, and she stepped forward to help him: "Sir! Is your stomach acting up again? I told you you can't eat spicy food..."

Li Huaide's heart stopped instantly.

Finished!

Extreme joy turns to sorrow!

If a meal sends a high-ranking official to the hospital, he'll have to clean toilets tomorrow!

The top leader frowned and waved away the overreacting secretary.

He didn't speak, but simply felt the movement in his stomach.

It didn't hurt.

Instead, it felt like a warm spring flowing down my esophagus all the way to the bottom.

It feels so good.

"call……"

The leader exhaled a long breath, and his complexion visibly became rosy.

"Amazing..." the big boss muttered, looking up at Zhou Jianguo, "Little Zhou, what did you put in this dish?"

Zhou Jianguo remained calm and uttered two words: "Dedicated."

"Great! What a thoughtful gesture!"

The top leader laughed heartily, his thoroughly comfortable joy impossible to conceal.

Immediately afterwards, he did something that almost gave Li Huaide a heart attack.

He pointed to the empty seat next to him, which had originally been reserved for important guests.

"Why are you standing? Sit down."

The secretary's hand froze in mid-air, and Li Huaide's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

坐？

Why put a first-class fitter at the head table?

Or is he working alongside a high-ranking leader?

If this gets out, the entire steel mill... no, the entire system will be turned upside down!

"Deputy Factory Director Li, is this... in accordance with the rules?" Zhou Jianguo didn't move, but turned his head to look at Li Huaide, who was already petrified, with a playful look in his eyes.

Li Huaide shuddered, his survival instinct kicking in, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "This...this is perfectly in accordance with the rules! The commander is giving us a meal, that's an immense honor! Please! Please sit down!"

He was internally screaming: "You old ancestor! You still have to call me out at a time like this? Hurry up and sit down, or I'll kneel down and kowtow to you!"

Zhou Jianguo didn't stand on ceremony and pulled out a chair to sit down without any hesitation.

The higher-ups find him more and more pleasing to the eye.

He picked up the white porcelain teapot on the table, and just as his secretary was about to grab it, he blocked her.

"go."

The top leader personally carried the teapot, his wrist slightly tilted.

slam-la-

The emerald green tea liquor was poured into the cup, filling it to seven-tenths full.

When a high-ranking official personally pours tea, it's a silent declaration in official circles: "This kid is under my protection."

Zhou Jianguo held the cup with both hands, bowed slightly, and said with perfect timing, "It is a gift from an elder, and I dare not refuse. Thank you, leader."

"This is to thank you for your industrial discourse earlier, and also to thank you for this comforting meal." The high-ranking leader put down the teapot and began to chat casually, "Little Zhou, judging from your demeanor, you don't seem to come from a humble background. Who else is in your family? Which compound do you live in?"

coming.

He held the hot tea, his eyes somewhat unfocused, lost in memories.

"There's no one here."

Zhou Jianguo's voice was dejected. "My parents passed away early, working themselves to death on the job to build the factory. Now I'm all alone... I guess I'm just gloriously all alone."

"To die from overwork on the job."

These six words struck the top leader's heart like a heavy hammer.

The leader's eyes shone with kindness: "It's not easy. Living alone, you're bound to have your share of troubles. I see you live in the factory's staff quarters, right? We're neighbors, we can look out for each other, can't we?"

Zhou Jianguo put down his teacup and let out a sigh.

"Take care of us? They certainly do take care of us."

He raised his head, revealing a bitterness he was trying hard to suppress.

"An old man in our compound, Yi Zhonghai, who was also an eighth-grade worker in the factory, often taught me: 'Jianguo, suffering is a blessing. You're a bachelor, so don't hoard your food. Help out the orphans and widows next door. It's a good deed.'"

"Just a couple of days ago, during the big cold snap, the only half bag of cornmeal I had left was taken by the neighbor's kid and fed to the dog."

When Zhou Jianguo mentioned the words "feeding the dog," he emphasized them, then chuckled self-deprecatingly, "According to an old man, it's just that the kids are being unreasonable. If I were to argue about it, I'd be heartless and disruptive. Boss, tell me, am I being too naive?"

boom!

The high-ranking leader slammed his teacup down on the table, splashing tea all over it.

"You bastard!"

Li Huaide was so frightened that he almost slipped under the table.

He knew all too well that the top leader hated two things most in his life: deception and oppression of the good!

"Suffering a loss is a blessing? What kind of bullshit robber logic is that!" The top leader was so angry that his chest heaved, his knuckles clenched white. "The country we fought and sacrificed our lives for, is it just for these hypocrites to use moral blackmail? To steal other people's food to feed their dogs? Is this still the people's country?!"

"The darkest place is under the lamp! A classic case of the darkest place being under the lamp!"

The senior leader turned his head and said, "Xiao Li! This kind of trend is appearing in your residential compound. As the deputy factory director in charge of logistics, are you aware of it?"

At this moment, Li Huaide wished he could drag out that old bastard Yi Zhonghai and shoot him for five minutes!

He jumped to his feet, stood at attention, and said indignantly, "Sir! I'm guilty! It was my negligence! I had heard that Yi Zhonghai was running a one-man show in the compound, but I never imagined it was this egregious! Rest assured, I will investigate thoroughly when we get back! I will show absolutely no leniency!"

The senior leader snorted coldly, his anger still simmering.

He turned to look at Zhou Jianguo, his anger turning into deep pity.

"Xiao Zhou, don't belittle yourself. Low awareness? I think your awareness is much higher than those who spout nonsense about benevolence and morality!"

The big leader reached out his rough hand and patted Zhou Jianguo on the shoulder heavily.

These three pats were heavy, like some kind of promise.

"Remember, as long as you act uprightly and honestly, the organization will be your support! Evil cannot prevail over good, and some unhealthy tendencies will not last long!"

From now on, anyone who dares to touch Zhou Jianguo in this steel rolling mill will be slapping the face of the top leader and going against the organization!

Zhou Jianguo looked into the sincere eyes of the senior leader.

He stood up and bowed deeply.

"Thank you, boss. With your words, this meal was worthwhile."