Chapter 380: Eighty-Era Gourmet System (18)

The employees who went to protest returned dejected, gathering in the Canteen hall, struggling with how to choose.

Xiao Rong sidled up to Xie Yang, who was standing apart as if an outsider, and asked in a low voice, "Sister Xie, do you want to take on a contract?"

Xie Yang looked at him in surprise: "I'm just a Temporary Worker..."

"That doesn't matter. I asked Director Lao, and he said the contract isn't limited by position or job type; Formal Workers and Temporary Workers can both apply. Even Workshop Workers can, though we canteen staff have priority."

Xiao Rong's words opened up a new line of thinking for Xie Yang.

She had originally intended to experience the path to wealth as a self-employed individual during the trend of the early eighties.

But if the Canteen could be contracted, wouldn't that be more suitable than finding a place to open a shop herself?

The Canteen's main entrance faced the Gad Steel Factory, serving the Gad Steel Factory employees; by chiseling a doorway or opening a window in the back wall facing the residential area, she could also do business with the neighbors.

Moreover, her culinary skills, after a week of offal banquets, had already won over the hearts of some employees, so business after taking the contract shouldn't be bad.

Seeing that she was somewhat moved, Xiao Rong was even more excited than if he were taking the contract himself: "Sister Xie, go apply quickly, I'll work with you!"

"..."

Setting aside whether Xiao Rong truly wanted to work with her, his proposal did indeed tempt Xie Yang.

Before getting off work, she made a detour to the leadership office to confirm with Director Lao whether a Temporary Worker could take a contract.

"Of course you can! I never said at the meeting that you couldn't! Xiao Xie, if you have this idea, I support you!"

Director Lao encouraged her:

"The food you make is recognized as the best among all the canteens. If you contract a window to open a Snack Bar, business is bound to be good."

Xie Yang nodded: "Alright! I'll write the application right now."

Seeing her so straightforward, Director Lao said happily: "Comrade Xiao Xie, since you support my work so much, I will certainly give you preferential treatment. You can pick from the canteen windows first!"

There was such a good thing?

Xie Yang didn't stand on ceremony!

She simply filled out the form on the spot in Director Lao's office, analyzing the pros and cons of the canteen windows as she wrote.

The two windows of the Da Shitang mainly faced the Old Factory District workshops and the Warehouse, so the number of employees was definitely smaller than in the New Factory District where the Third Canteen was located.

But it had an advantage that the Third Canteen didn't: the outer wall of the Da Shitang's kitchen Courtyard was only separated from the residential area by one alley.

"Director Lao, I still prefer the Yi Chuangkou of our Da Shitang."

Director Lao had originally thought she would choose the Third Canteen, since it was closer to the New Factory District and the newly built family quarters, and had more employees.

He didn't expect her to still choose the Yi Chuangkou of the Da Shitang.

At this moment, Director Lao felt very gratified: "Xiao Xie, you are a good comrade!"

"???"

Xie Yang didn't understand the director's train of thought, and she still had one question to settle:

"Director, once I contract the canteen window, it means this part is entirely under my control, right? I can renovate and arrange it however I want, right?"

"Of course!" Director Lao promised immediately, "During the contract period, you can decorate it however you like."

Having the director's word was enough!

After filling out the application form and handing it to the director, Xie Yang went home.

The other canteen staff were still gathered in the hall discussing countermeasures, having no heart to go home.

They were about to lose their jobs!

No, that's not right! They were about to lose this good job with perks to skim off!

But asking them to pay 30 yuan a month to contract a window made them feel it was a loss.

How bad the business at the Da Shitang was—if others didn't know, how could they, the insiders, not be clear about it?

Except for those few days at the beginning of the month, there really weren't many employees coming to eat on other days.

Since the public paid for it, they didn't care, and were even secretly happy.

If it didn't sell out, weren't there still them?

They could divide it up and take it home to add a dish to their family's meal, saving on grocery money.

Why else would people say the canteen had so many perks?

But if they had to be responsible for their own profits and losses, and the money had to come out of their own pockets, then it wouldn't be so wonderful.

In the end, besides Xie Yang, not a second person wanted to contract a Da Shitang window.

Master Fan and Master Lou both applied for the Third Canteen.

Seeing this, Xiao Rong had an idea and ran over to discuss it with Xie Yang:

"Sister Xie, the Er Chuangkou of the Da Shitang has no one to contract it, how about I go and contract it? When the time comes, we can open up the two windows, you be the Master Chef, and I'll be responsible for the front of house."

Xie Yang: This works too?

"Why wouldn't it!" Xiao Rong said righteously, "The document only says that after the canteen reform, the contractor must pay 30 yuan to the factory every month, it doesn't specify how we should operate. As long as it's better than before the reform, it's a success!"

Xie Yang gave him a thumbs up: "Alright! Then the two of us will partner up! Let's strive to make the Da Shitang, which has accompanied everyone for many years, regain its youth!"

Just like that, Xie Yang and Xiao Rong joined forces to apply for the contract for the entire Da Shitang.

When the four contractors for the windows at the Third Canteen were decided by drawing lots, the Gad Steel Factory canteen reform was settled.

After the list was posted, some were happy and some were sad.

Only the Rong family was an exception; in their house, one was happy and many were sad.

Rong Jianguo raised a shoehorn, chasing his son to beat him.

"You scoundrel! How dare you engage in some canteen contract without discussing it with the family!"

Xiao Rong dodged while explaining: "Didn't I discuss it with you? You said you would support me!"

"Bullshit! Did we support you in taking unpaid leave to engage in a contract? We told you to obey the factory's arrangements and take whatever position you were assigned; anyway, we would find a way to transfer you to an administrative position before long."

Xiao Rong made a face at his father: "It's too late to go back on it now! Dad, just support me! I really like learning to cook, and Sister Xie knows how to make so many dishes, following her won't be a loss!"

"..."

Rong Jianguo was so angry he fell backward: "She... she is your Uncle Zhang Li's widow. If you go work for her, will that sound good when word gets out?"

"What's wrong with that! I'm partnering with her to open a Snack Bar and learning culinary skills from her, not dating her... Ouch! Dad, are you really hitting me?"

"I'll smack your mouth for having no filter! I'll smack you for speaking without using your brain!"

"Ouch! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts..."

The Rong household was truly in an uproar for a while because of this matter.

By comparison, Xie Yang's ears were much quieter.

That is the one good thing about having a private courtyard—once the gate is closed, all the annoying business is blocked outside.

It was only when Liu Shen came to find her that she mentioned it:

"Are you really planning to contract the factory Canteen? I heard you have to pay thirty every month from now on? That would be three hundred sixty a year, wouldn't it? That's as much as a Temporary Worker's annual income. What if business isn't good? How long is the contract period? Can you back out halfway through?"

Xie Yang laughed in spite of herself: "The contract is already signed, I can't back out. The contract period is five years, and if I want to continue the contract after five years, I have priority."

"Why sign for as long as five years?" Liu Shen was worried for her, "Now Xue Lihua has even more of an excuse to come and take the Shuisheng brothers. All your money is invested in the Canteen, how will you raise the two children?"

Xie Yang asked in surprise: "Xue Lihua is coming to take the children? Didn't she say she wasn't coming anymore?"

"Before, she was hiding from the Women's Director and refused to come, but yesterday she suddenly sent word through someone, saying she's coming tomorrow to take the Shuisheng brothers. She is the children's birth mother after all, how could a birth mother not miss her children?"

【You cannot give the children to her.】 The Main System suddenly popped up, 【She has no good intentions!】

Afterward, it kept egging Xie Yang on to fight Xue Lihua for custody of the two children.

Xie Yang narrowed her eyes: Speak! Are you hiding something from me?

【...】