Chapter 169: Cai Quanwu's Work Post

Time quickly arrived at the day off. Zhang Ping'an prepared two packs of green tea, two bottles of Tiger Bone Wine, two bottles of nourishing Medicinal Wine, two jars of Wild Honey, and added a bit of fruit; these were all things they could use.

Zhang Ping'an had never given the Tiger Penis Wine to anyone. He had drunk a small amount himself before and only felt his entire body's Qi and blood surging; that medicinal potency was truly not something an ordinary person could withstand. Even if he gave it to others in the future, he would have to dilute it dozens of times.

At ten in the morning, Zhang Ping'an pedaled his tricycle to the location Xu Kun had given him. From afar, he saw him waiting at the entrance of the Security Department office.

"Xiao Kun."

"Brother Zhang."

The guard at the entrance had a slightly strange look in his eyes; it was the first time someone had come over pedaling a tricycle. After checking all the items as per the rules, he finally let them through. Under Xu Kun's guidance, they arrived at a courtyard.

Although it was also a single-entry courtyard, the area was not small. It was somewhat similar to his own courtyard and also had a vegetable patch.

"These vegetables were all planted by my grandparents in their spare time."

"Self-sufficiency is quite good. I also have a patch of land in my courtyard. I plant some wheat and corn every year. If I'm frugal, it's enough for a year's food and drink."

"No, Brother Zhang, you aren't short of that little bit of wheat."

"I just come from the countryside; I don't feel comfortable if I don't plant some land."

"..."

Zhang Ping'an's father, Xu Baisheng, could understand these words, but as for Xu Kun, forget it; one look and it was clear he hadn't suffered much since he was young.

"Ping'an, come in quickly. My father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law are all waiting inside."

"Oh, oh, good. Sister-in-law, you are here too?"

The current Xu Lijuan was at most just over a hundred pounds. Her face was much thinner, and it was no longer dark and sallow. Her facial features were all three-dimensional, and she even had a bit of Xu Qianshan's shadow.

"Isn't it because your Li Ge said so? I happened to have time, so I came over to take a look. Let's go, let's go inside. Xiao Kun, you didn't even know to take some things for your Zhang Shu."

"..."

"Ping'an, you too. You came, so why did you bring so many things?"

"Sister-in-law, look at what you're saying. How can there be a reason to visit empty-handed? Besides, these are basically goods from the mountains." Zhang Ping'an raised the tea leaves and hawthorn in his hands.

As the three of them just entered the door, Xu Baisheng and Li Huaide came up to greet them, exchanging the same polite pleasantries.

"Ping'an, you are too much of a stranger. You are not allowed to bring things next time you come."

"Xu Shu, Auntie, these are just some local specialties from the mountains; they don't cost money."

"You, do you know how to play Chinese chess?"

"I know a little bit."

In his past life, Zhang Ping'an had learned Chinese chess. Although he couldn't be called proficient, he knew the rules. However, he definitely couldn't beat Xu Qianshan; generally, old men were very formidable at chess.

"Fine, let's play a round. Lijuan, you and your sister-in-law go cook."

"Okay, Father."

An hour later, the old man and the young man had played three rounds, but Zhang Ping'an had lost all of them, which made the Xu Baisheng watching from the side twitch his mouth.

"Even my father, this lousy chess player, won. It seems Ping'an is just a novice. I thought he was being humble when he said he knew a little bit; I didn't expect it to be the truth," Xu Baisheng thought to himself.

"Alright, Old Xu, Ping'an, wash your hands and eat."

"Hahaha, Ping'an, it's still fun to play chess with you."

"Xu Shu, you are too amazing; I can't beat you."

"Hahaha, Ping'an, you are still young; just practice more and you'll be fine."

Xu Qianshan was very happy today. He finally experienced the feeling of crushing a novice—no, three times.

The dishes today were very rich, with fish, meat, and shrimp. Xu Qianshan knew Zhang Ping'an's appetite and specifically had them make more today.

"Ping'an, don't be polite; treat it like your own home."

"Alright, Xu Shu, I'm not one to put on airs."

"That's how it should be. Eat, everyone eat."

"Ping'an, this child Xiao Kun has learned a lot from you this year, and now he knows how to care for people."

"No, no, Auntie, Xiao Kun was already excellent to begin with."

After several more rounds of commercial mutual flattery and words of thanks to Zhang Ping'an, the meal was finally finished. As soon as he put down his chopsticks, Zhang Ping'an was pulled to play chess again.

After playing two more rounds, Zhang Ping'an grasped the knack. Xu Qianshan was already winning with some difficulty. Before the third game was finished, Xu Qianshan cut his losses in time.

"Ahem, Ping'an, let's stop here for today. I should take a nap. Ah—yawn." After finishing, he got up and returned to his room on his own.

"..." Zhang Ping'an was a bit dumbfounded. Did his sleepiness come so suddenly?

"..." Xu Baisheng, standing to the side, was also incredibly embarrassed.

"Ahem, it is indeed getting late. Ping'an, let's head back," Li Huaide said, smoothing things over.

"That's right, I didn't even notice it's already past two in the afternoon. Xu Ge, then we'll head back first."

"Fine, I'll see you off."

As soon as Zhang Ping'an came out, he was a bit stunned. His tricycle was already piled high with things, covered by a burlap sack, and the ropes were tied up as well.

"Xu Ge, this..."

"Ahem, just a small token of appreciation."

"Hehe, your sister-in-law packed it for you. It's all some of my father-in-law's stored wine and cigarettes," Li Huaide whispered.

"Li Ge, this... this isn't appropriate, right?"

"It's fine. Anyway, the doctor doesn't let my father-in-law drink or smoke. Just treat it as helping your Xu Shu quit drinking."

Just looking at the surface, that wine wasn't just one or two cases; it was at least four cases, and there were certainly plenty of cigarettes.

A scan with his space confirmed it: four cases of wine and eight cartons of cigarettes. Moutai, Fenjiu, Laojiao, and Xifeng, one case of each, and the cigarettes were all China brand.

"Then... then fine. Xu Ge, Li Ge, I'm leaving now."

"Good, take it slow on the road."

"Alright."

Zhang Ping'an remembered the way he came; he pedaled the tricycle and vanished in a flash, and on the road, Zhang Ping'an stowed all the items into his space, for these liquors would all become treasures worth thousands of times more in the future.

Meanwhile, at the Rolling Mill, Cai Quanwu and He Daqing were in the office discussing the matter of resigning.

"Big Brother, everything is settled over at the Small Tavern, and the expansion is finished too; I plan to head over in these next few days."

It turned out that ever since Cai Quanwu married Xu Huizhen, he would help out at the Small Tavern from time to time; originally, the Small Tavern only had a few simple cold dishes to go with liquor, so Cai Quanwu added a few more.

This addition was no small matter, as the foot traffic surged instantly, which also meant that Cai Quanwu had to work overtime every night when he went back.

Later, with the support of Xu Huizhen and their proposal to the Street Office to add a Chef position, the Street Office, after more than a year of statistics, agreed to it, which led to the expansion of the Small Tavern and Cai Quanwu's appointment.

"Hmm, these past few years I have taught you everything I should have, and you can manage seven or eight out of ten; you must also practice well when you go over there, and don't let your culinary skills slide."

"Yes, Big Brother, I know."

"Hmm, in these two days I will arrange for the job to be passed on, and when the time comes, you should take the money with you too."

"Big Brother, this job was originally given to me by you, so I don't want the money, but I will keep the Bicycle."

"You, oh well, fine."

He Daqing's two apprentices, Chen Guodong and Liu Haiyang, after a year or so of training, were also capable of being canteen cooks, so there was no fear of having no one to stir-fry the dishes.

In the evening, He Daqing returned to the Siheyuan and went straight to Yan Bugui's house.

"Lao Yan, there is a Kitchen Helper job now, do you want it?"

It turned out that Yan Bugui hadn't just spoken to Zhang Ping'an about finding a job for Yan Jiecheng; he had mentioned it to several of the old fellows in the courtyard as well.

"Kitchen Helper? Lao He, how much money will it cost?"

"Lao Yan, I won't cheat you; three hundred yuan, and if Jiecheng has talent, I can also teach him a trick or two."

"Done, Lao He, I'll take it. Jiecheng, Jiecheng?"

Yan Bugui's original idea was to let Yan Jiecheng go to the workshop to learn a trade, but Yi Zhonghai and the others didn't have any job quotas on hand right now, and if he could learn a trick or two from He Daqing in the future, he wouldn't have to worry about food and drink.

"Coming, Dad."

"Your Uncle He found you a job as a Kitchen Helper; pack up your things and go report for duty in these next few days."

"Alright."

Yan Jiecheng, just as Yan Bugui had expected, had not passed his exams; he wasn't diligent about school, but he agreed to the job quite readily, so Yan Bugui didn't have much else to say.