Chapter 110: Task

"And Brother Zhuzi, you too..."

"Ah?" No wonder I felt my nose getting hot just now; this wipe really was blood.

"Ahem, Damao, Zhuzi, you two should eat less venison and soft-shelled turtle."

"Oh, okay."

Xu Damao and Shazhu were seventeen and nineteen respectively, and they understood a thing or two about relations between men and women. Since venison and soft-shelled turtle were both highly nourishing, they naturally ate more, wanting to be stronger in the future.

The two seemed to understand each other's thoughts; they exchanged an awkward glance and then tacitly turned their heads away.

This meal lasted until past eight in the evening. Zhang Ping'an saw that everyone's faces were flushed, clearly having over-nourished.

"Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop!" The five people who hadn't yet left the courtyard gate turned back, all looking bewildered.

"Hahahaha!"

"Uncle Zhang, you don't play by the rules! Brothers, get him!" Xu Damao reacted first, lowering his head to start packing snowballs, and the others reacted as well, joining in one after another.

Zhang Ping'an retreated as he fought; in the end, two fists were no match for ten hands, and he was hit several times. However, the five on the other side were in a more miserable state, with snow all over their heads and faces.

"Stop, it's already late. Don't disturb everyone's rest, all of you go back." Before the five could react, they were pushed out of the courtyard by Zhang Ping'an.

"Zhuzi, Damao, if you still feel hot after getting home, just come back out for a snowball fight. Don't go 'playing with tiles' in secret; it's bad for your health, especially for your kidneys. And Guangqi, Jiefang, you two as well."

The four who were about to leave stiffened at Zhang Ping'an's words. Although they didn't understand what "playing with tiles" meant, it certainly wasn't a good term.

Jia Dongxu, however, realized that he hadn't been mentioned; the only difference between him and the four was that he was already married.

"Ahem, Uncle's meaning should be..." Jia Dongxu thoughtfully gave a simple explanation and then drifted away; he had a wife, so he wasn't afraid of the heat.

"Uncle Zhang and Brother Dongxu are really something, always saying things I don't understand."

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, I'm heading back first."

"Right, right, right, going home."

Zhang Ping'an woke up early in the morning and found that he had "pitched a tent" again. Having too much vigor wasn't necessarily a good thing. Thinking that he could win his beauty by May, Zhang Ping'an got excited again.

Zhang Ping'an did his boxing practice in the courtyard while wearing his underwear. It took half an hour for his fire to subside, and after washing up, he began to clean up the aftermath of last night.

After finishing his meal around 7:10, Zhang Ping'an went out to join the main group for work. He specifically checked Shazhu and Damao's expressions; they were full of energy and didn't look like they had been "playing with tiles" last night.

"Uncle Zhang, what are you looking at?"

"I'm looking to see if you guys are 'tile-learning juniors'."

"..."

"What is a 'tile-learning junior'?" He Daqing asked curiously.

"Ahem, nothing. Brother He, which part of the canteen is Zhuzi responsible for?"

The current Rolling Mill had just over three thousand people, and the staff was still expanding. There were two canteens, and it was said that two more would be built after the New Year.

"He'll start by cooking the big-pot meals, and later he'll gradually take over the banquets for the factory's social functions."

Shazhu now held a certificate recognized by the culinary world, which was a Primary Worker level—roughly equivalent to the eighth level among the Level 8 Workers two years later—so he was qualified to work the stove directly.

"Impressive. Then even if I don't have a task, I can eat the food Zhuzi makes at the canteen." In fact, since entering the Rolling Mill, Zhang Ping'an had never eaten at the canteen once.

"Hahaha, don't you worry, Uncle Zhang. I'll definitely give you a full scoop when the time comes."

"You have to give everyone a full scoop." He Daqing glared at Shazhu.

Shazhu didn't have a filter when he spoke. Now that the workers were the masters of the house, if you dared to target anyone, you wouldn't have a good outcome.

The Rolling Mill was all manual labor; if a worker came to eat after a hard day's work and you only gave them half a scoop, getting slapped across the face would be the least of your worries.

The reason Shazhu dared to skim off rations in the show was because he was spoiled, had the backing of Factory Director Yang, possessed high combat power, and was the protagonist, which was why he succeeded repeatedly.

Now with He Daqing pressing down on him, Shazhu would only be able to behave himself for the rest of his life.

"Oh, I know, Dad."

Shazhu wasn't actually stupid. The reason he was foul-mouthed in the show, choking people to death with a few words, was just because he lacked proper guidance. Of course, it could also be his protective camouflage.

In the show, He Daqing abandoned him and his sister when he was young, so he could only stand his ground by being ruthless to others; when fighting, he also liked to go for a "one-hit kill."

It was better now; He Daqing hadn't run away, he had his master's guidance, and he hadn't been brainwashed by the twisted logic of Yi Zhonghai and the Deaf Old Lady. It could be said that the current Shazhu was healthy, though his soft-heartedness and mouth running faster than his brain remained.

Everyone separated once they entered the factory, and Zhang Ping'an and Jia Dongxu went to the Procurement Section.

Before the New Year, Procurement Group One had completed its target tasks, which also made Zhu Weiguo look at Zhang Ping'an with new eyes.

He was from the new generation at the Rolling Mill and didn't have a friendly attitude toward the original residents, assuming everyone in the Procurement Section was there through connections. However, Zhang Ping'an and his nephew broke his perception.

"Ahem, before the New Year, everyone perfectly completed their respective group tasks. You all know that our Rolling Mill is expanding, so our task regarding supplies will be even heavier."

"Next month, everyone will be dispatched to all parts of the country to procure everything needed. You must not hold the factory back."

"We will rush to finish the plan this morning and distribute it this afternoon. No one is allowed to ask for leave. Pair up in groups of two and form your own teams. You must overcome difficulties. Meeting adjourned."

"Uncle, where do you think we'll be assigned?"

"Who knows? Anyway, don't even think about anywhere nearby." Zhang Ping'an had originally wanted to ask Wu Qiang, but after thinking about it, he decided against it.

After spending a boring morning in the Procurement Section, Zhang Ping'an and Jia Dongxu took their lunch boxes to the canteen.

The canteen currently had decent food, and since they came to the one where Shazhu worked, even though it was big-pot food, the taste made by a professional chef was just different.

He Daqing used to be specifically responsible for Lou Bancheng's private kitchen and would occasionally give pointers to the Rolling Mill's chefs, but they were ultimately no match for Shazhu, who had studied systematically since childhood.

"Today's food is so fragrant. Could it be that Master He made a move?"

"I'm not kidding, it really is fragrant. But it seems different from Master He's Lu Cuisine. This spicy flavor is more like Sichuan Cuisine."

"Did a new chef come to our canteen?"

It must be said that Sichuan Cuisine was quite suitable for big-pot meals, especially in winter; it was appetizing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant, with an endless aftertaste.

"This hot and sour cabbage, *s-ha*, refreshing."

"Hahaha, yeah. I feel like one cabbage is enough. I'll take this potato home for my old lady to taste."

"Hahaha."

"The canteen is exceptionally lively today." The Factory Director and Deputy Factory Director arrived together.

"Factory Director, a new Chef arrived today, and everyone is very satisfied with this flavor, which is why the discussion is so loud."

"Oh? Yang, it seems we came at the right time. Let's go over and have a taste."

"Hahaha, good."

The two looked at the hot and sour cabbage covered in red chili oil, and their mouths couldn't help but secrete saliva.

"Not bad, not bad, it really is delicious."

"Indeed. Xiao Wang, go and call our new Chef over."

"Very well, Factory Director."

Secretary Xiao Wang left quickly and arrived at the back kitchen to find He Daqing.

"Director He, where is the Chef who just arrived today? The Factory Director wants to see him."

"What is it, Secretary Wang? Did something go wrong?" He Daqing asked hurriedly; today was Shazhu's debut, and he had just checked and there were no problems.

"No, no, the leaders are very satisfied and want to meet the Chef who cooked the meal."

"Understood. You go back first; I will go call him and we will be there shortly."

"Very well, the Factory Director is in Private Room Number One."

Five minutes later, the He father and son arrived in the private room.

"Factory Director, this is Deputy Cafeteria Director He Daqing, and this is..."

"Factory Director, this is my son, He Yuzhu."

"Hello, Factory Director."

"Not bad, not bad, truly a young... hmm, truly a tiger father has no dog for a son. Director He, your son's culinary skills are incredible; his first time cooking and he has already won unanimous praise from everyone."