Chapter 17: A Battle of Wits

"Leader, do try it. Let me tell you, this He Yuzhu's Cooking is famously peerless."

Everyone sat at the dining table, smelling the fragrance of the food and drooling continuously; Factory Director Yang spoke first.

"It's quite good."

"That's for sure. I've been to their place more than once or twice; the taste is excellent."

"Haha, good. Then let's begin, everyone have a taste."

The Leader smiled and was the first to pick up food, and only then did the others begin to move.

While eating, the Leader nodded continuously and instructed Secretary Chen: "Go and invite the chef over."

Before long, He Yuzhu walked in carrying Twice-Cooked Pork and Dongpo Elbow.

"Hehe, Chef He, you make this food quite well." The Big Leader had a kind expression.

"You flatter me. Please eat more. If I may be so bold, when it comes to Sichuan Cuisine, I am the top in the capital, haha." He Yuzhu set down the two dishes and stood respectfully to one side.

"Mm, delicious. It's even better than what they make at the Sichuan restaurant." The Leader's wife was one hundred percent satisfied, her face full of smiles.

Originally, He Yuzhu's Cooking was already quite good, but now, with the help of the system, it had reached a superb level of the upper-lower grade, and with a large amount of high-quality seasonings and ingredients from later generations, the food he made was more fragrant, fresher, and more delicious than in the TV series.

Everyone praised He Yuzhu one after another.

"Haha, after eating this meal, I'll have to fight with my wife when I get home. Compared to this, what kind of food is it that she makes?" Bureau Chief Wang, sitting nearby, put down his chopsticks, shook his head, and said with a wry smile.

"Haha, you."

"Chef He, let me ask you, why did you make these few dishes?"

He Yuzhu smiled and said: "Hey, Big Leader, I can tell at a glance that you are from Sichuan. You know your stuff. All Sichuanese know that Sichuan Cuisine is just these few dishes, and they are all here."

"What did you call me?"

"Big Leader."

Factory Director Yang whispered from the side: "I didn't tell him who you are."

The Big Leader nodded: "Good. Aren't you curious about who I am?"

He Yuzhu hurriedly shook his head: "Not curious. I have a rule: I only cook, and I don't ask who the guests are."

The Big Leader was even more satisfied and nodded: "Pour a glass of wine for Chef He. I'll toast you."

"I toast you, I toast you."

With a glass of wine down his throat, He Yuzhu smacked his lips; it was indeed the wine that leaders drank, truly mellow.

"Chef He, thank you for today."

"Big Leader, no, please don't be so formal. You can just call me Shazhu. Everyone calls me that; I'm a willing fool for the revolution."

"Good, good, good! Look at how high Chef He's character is. You all look at that projectionist, hmph!" The Big Leader immediately thought of Xu Damao, and his face darkened.

"Don't worry, I will definitely educate him well when I go back." Factory Director Yang hurriedly lowered his head. His subordinate caused trouble, and he lost face too. Fortunately, Shazhu was quite impressive. Thinking of this, Factory Director Yang nodded at Shazhu.

"Exactly, otherwise, I would have been able to enjoy 'The Reed Marsh' today."

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up, and he smiled.

"Don't be angry, Big Leader. Everyone, please eat while it's hot; the taste will change if it gets cold. If you don't mind, I've learned a little bit. How about I make a fool of myself and sing a bit to liven things up?"

"Oh? Chef He can also sing 'The Wise Struggle'?" The Big Leader's eyes brightened.

"Hi, I know a little, just a little. I like to tinker with things when I'm free. Peking opera, Go, I've studied them all a bit. You just eat, don't laugh at me." He Yuzhu looked honest and sincere, causing everyone to nod repeatedly.

"This~ woman~ is not ordinary~"

"Good!" The Big Leader put down his chopsticks and led everyone in applause. He Yuzhu smiled and nodded, playing three roles by himself as he sang the whole passage.

"Secretary Chen, quick, add a seat for Chef He. What a surprise, what a surprise! Ah? Factory Director Yang, I didn't expect you to have so many talented people in your factory."

"Haha, you flatter us, Leader." Factory Director Yang was suddenly beaming with joy and glowing with health. This Shazhu, hey, he really brought him glory.

"No, it's not flattery. Chef He's 'The Wise Struggle' was sung to perfection. I feel it's even better than those professional actors. Quick, Chef He, I'll toast you again. Don't rush to leave in a while; I want to learn more about how your Go is 'just a little'."

He Yuzhu suppressed the excitement in his heart, thanked Secretary Chen, sat down, raised his glass to toast the Big Leader respectfully, and then drank the white liquor in one gulp.

At the same time, He Yuzhu looked at the high-spirited leaders and secretly thought to himself: It's in the bag.

In this era, there were only a few types of entertainment: gramophones, radios, Peking opera, and other stage plays; televisions were very rare.

The popularity of 'The Wise Struggle' among people today was no less than the attraction of Jay Chou to those little fan girls in later generations.

People today had a much greater appreciation and love for traditional culture like Peking opera than in later generations.

By later generations, with the explosion of various entertainment projects, most people couldn't understand traditional culture like Peking opera, and they didn't know much about the stories contained within.

The group of people took turns clinking glasses with He Yuzhu, and He Yuzhu drank one glass after another.

But no matter how much he drank, although his face became redder and redder, his eyes became brighter and brighter. Taking the opportunity to go to the restroom, he stuck his finger down his throat and vomited all the wine in his stomach.

In front of leaders, you cannot refuse to give face when drinking; you must drink the glass dry.

But you also cannot get dead drunk, or the leaders will think you are not worth using.

If you get drunk and act crazy, babbling nonsense, then that's it—go home and farm the land honestly.

He Yuzhu naturally knew these ropes well.

Hiding in the restroom, he smoked a cigarette and then flushed away all the vomit before walking out.

He splashed his face with cold tap water, and He Yuzhu's mind cleared. He wiped his face messily and walked out again, full of energy.

"Haha, Little Chef He, I thought you had slipped away." The Big Leader had also drunk quite a bit, and his tone was even kinder.

"How could that be? If you haven't given the order, how would I dare to run away? Haha."

"Good, Chef He is back too. Everyone, let's finish the wine in our glasses. I need to save some brainpower to ask for advice on Chef He's Go."

"Good, Leader, bottoms up!"

"Bottoms up!"

As the last glass of white liquor went down, everyone stood up one after another, and the Big Leader shook hands with everyone one by one.

"I won't go out to see you off. Take care on the way."

"Very well, Leader, please stay where you are." The crowd smiled and expressed their understanding, then left the courtyard together.

He Yuzhu followed them out: "Factory Director, about that Deputy Director position of mine..."

"What Deputy Director? It's Director! If your Factory Director won't give it to you, come to our bureau, and I will." Factory Director Yang was extremely happy today, constantly sighing to himself that he had struck gold; before he could even speak, Bureau Chief Wang had already cut in.

Factory Director Yang was stunned; this man was trying to poach his people!

"What business is this of yours, Old Wang? Go on, go on. He Yuzhu, don't listen to his nonsense. Wait until you return to the factory for work on Monday, ah, you understand." As he spoke, he patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder with a grin and forcibly pulled Bureau Chief Wang away from the spot.

"Hey, Old Yang, who's joking with you? Master He, think it over. Once you've thought it over, come find me. Stop pulling me, Old Yang!"

He Yuzhu clenched his fists. To be honest, he understood that Bureau Chief Wang's words were genuine, and he was tempted, but regardless of whether it was true or false, he could not choose it. In this world, the most taboo thing was to be a fence-sitter swaying with the wind; running to whoever offered benefits was not acceptable.

Shaking his head, He Yuzhu put on a smile again, saw everyone off to their cars one by one, and after instructing each driver to drive slowly, he returned to the room. By this time, The Big Leader had already set up the chessboard and was just waiting for him.