Chapter 23: As expected

Deputy Factory Director Li and Director Qi felt like their heads were about to explode; they had been happy when they first got rid of He Yuzhu, but now, faced with the situation, they were dumbfounded.

Today we got past it, but what about tomorrow?

Can the canteen really fight every day?

"It's all your fault, hiring some lousy cook who can't even handle this small thing." Deputy Factory Director Li began to complain, "His skills aren't up to par."

Director Qi was full of complaints—could this be blamed on him? When Deputy Factory Director Li ate the meatballs, he beamed with joy, and of course he also enjoyed eating his own scallion‑pork dumplings.

"So what should we do now? Why don't we just find another cook?"

Deputy Factory Director Li looked at Director Qi as if he were an idiot. 'Is this a cook's problem? No, it's a meat problem—without meat, even summoning the imperial chef from the palace would be useless.'

"You're the canteen director; you shouldn't be unfamiliar with supplies. Can't you get another batch of meat?"

Director Qi said this was too difficult for him; handling supplies wasn't his forte.

"I don't care anymore—quickly think of a solution. If this happens again, you can wait in the lower workshop." Deputy Factory Director Li shouted angrily, "We need to figure this out today."

Director Qi paced around the office, and a nasty idea popped into his head.

"Factory Director, I've come up with a plan: bring He Yuzhu back as head chef of the canteen. If there's another fight, he'll be directly responsible." Of course the plan isn't that simple: "If he doesn't come back, just have him bring some meat back—after all, he's in the Supply Group."

This plan is really spiteful—using He Yuzhu as a pawn to forcibly remove themselves from the canteen turmoil. Deputy Factory Director Li directly asked, "What if He Yuzhu doesn't agree?"

There are two options; he'll have to agree to one of them.

Deputy Factory Director Li didn't want to be involved, so he directly had Director Qi go talk.

After hearing Director Qi's conditions, He Yuzhu unhesitatingly told him he had no interest in returning to be a head chef, and besides, the Supply Group wasn't responsible for getting them meat.

Director Qi's face flushed with anger as he shouted that He Yuzhu only cared about himself, ignored the factory's difficulties, and was simply a typical example of backward thinking.

"If your thinking isn't backward, spit out the dumplings you've swallowed and replenish the canteen's meat!" He Yuzhu retorted rudely, "You stole the donkey, making me pull the stake—grandma!"

Director Qi could only go back.

At noon the sun wasn't too fierce; distant leaves kept fluttering down, and workers in thick‑clothed attire trickled into the canteen, looking at the dishes at the window with unwilling faces.

Liu San ni knew he wouldn't last long, so he gave up. At noon there was only stewed cabbage and stewed radish, lacking oil and sauce, making it terribly unpleasant.

The direct result was that in the afternoon the workers labored listlessly.

Now all the leaders were alarmed.

They discussed for half a day but came up with nothing.

The leaders were still discussing plans at seven or eight in the evening, and the courtyard house wasn't peaceful either—several people already had different thoughts.

Second Elder Uncle was still at home undergoing a suspension review, but he had also heard about the Steel Rolling Mill's affairs; Second Elder Aunt felt the canteen now had a problem, and if it were solved she might even become a leader of some sort.

"What are you thinking? Solving this problem requires meat." Second Elder Uncle frowned, thinking Second Elder Aunt was truly long‑haired but short‑sighted, "This job isn't easy to do."

Second Elder Aunt refused to give up, saying following Second Elder Uncle was simply unlucky—she could only ever be a worker, couldn't even become a minor leader, and couldn't hold her head up in the courtyard house.

"Even Silly Zhu can be a leader, and you still can't compare to him."

Upon hearing that, Second Elder Uncle's fat all over his body seemed to move; he had always thought He Yuzhu lacked culture, was just a lousy cook, and certainly couldn't match himself.

"I'll go see the leaders tomorrow and voluntarily share the Steel Rolling Mill's worries." Second Elder Uncle then changed his mind, feeling he should strive for it, otherwise he couldn't hold his head up in the courtyard house.

As for getting meat, let's settle our own problems first.

Xu Damao shared the same idea.

"Honey, tomorrow go tell your father again—take advantage of this chance to oust the Qi guy and let me become the canteen director."

Xu Damao also wanted to bring He Yuzhu back, so he could then get his revenge.

Lou Xiao'e remained very calm; she knew that to solve this problem they'd definitely need He Yuzhu back in the canteen, and since he was now the leader of the Supply Group, he wouldn't return as head chef.

He would certainly return as a leader.

"Your messy affairs have only just been suppressed; better to stay put for a few days." Lou Xiao'e advised, "You can't cook anyway—what would you even mix in?"

"It's just to press that damned Silly Zhu down." Xu Damao's face twisted with anger, "He can be a leader, so why can't I?"

The more he thought, the angrier Xu Damao got; he got out of bed, considering that without relying on the Lou family's connections, he could go see Deputy Factory Director Li and maybe persuade him.

Then he could……

The morning sun was bright and warm; Xu Damao deliberately put on his newly bought Zhongshan suit, slipped in a steel pen, strode with a leader‑like gait, and entered the Steel Rolling Mill.

This feeling was really great.

At the office door, Xu Damao found Second Elder Uncle already seated there, his fleshy face showing a hint of servility; his whole person looked awkward no matter how you viewed him.

"Xu Damao, what are you doing here? This is Deputy Factory Director Li's office—you should go to the Security Department to explain the issue." Second Elder Uncle spoke sarcastically.

"At least I'm still working; you, who are at home reflecting, what are you doing here? This isn't your family's kang."

The two instantly saw each other's intentions.

"Xu Damao, you know how to cook, you know how to buy vegetables, but you can't even hold up a fallen oil bottle—yet you want to get into this line of work."

"Do you recognize the character for oil or for meat? Uncultured people ought to obediently stay in the workshop."

Second Elder Uncle got a bit heated and shoved Xu Damao.

"Enough, you're treating this place like your courtyard house." Deputy Factory Director Li yawned as he came down the stairs, "You've got so much energy first thing in the morning—go help out in the sand‑casting workshop."

Xu Damao and Second Elder Uncle exchanged awkward smiles.

"Factory Director Li, I'm here to help the factory solve its problems—we could launch a "recalling bitterness, thinking of sweetness" activity……

Before Second Elder Uncle could finish, Xu Damao cut him off, saying he had a better method that would definitely fill the workers with energy, ensuring work would be done quickly and well.

"Alright, you've come too late—after the factory leaders' comprehensive consideration, it's already been decided to let He Yuzhu return to work in the canteen; as a logistics leader, I believe in him."

"Will he agree?"

"As Supply Group Leader and canteen director, what does he have to refuse?"

Xu Damao and Second Elder Uncle blinked their eyes, then silently went back.