Chapter 86: Nan Yi

After leaving the Rolling Mill, Zhao Gangzi rode his bicycle to the nearby Red Star Machinery Factory.

Actually, it is not that chefs are hard to find, but that chefs like Shazhu are hard to find. When it comes to cooking, Shazhu does have some real skills; after all, he is a specialist in Tan Family Cuisine, and there is nothing to be said against him in that regard.

However, there are few people of Shazhu's level who are willing to work in a place like the Rolling Mill, where the wages are low and the benefits are poor.

"Nan Yi? When I saw him last time, I think I was still a fool, right?" Zhao Gangzi was recalling the memories of this body.

Zhao Gangzi's father, Zhao Dehan, did indeed have a history with Nan Yi's father, and Zhao Gangzi had played with Nan Yi when he was a child, but their relationship was not particularly close.

Nan Yi is the head chef at the Machine Repair Factory and makes excellent dishes. He can even turn "bitterness-recollection meals" into a feast that everyone fights to eat; his culinary skills are even a cut above Shazhu's.

If one were to talk about poaching him to the Rolling Mill.

That is almost impossible.

Not to mention the relationship between the two, the benefits the Rolling Mill can offer are far inferior to those of the Machine Repair Factory.

Zhao Gangzi rode his bicycle into the gate of the Machine Repair Factory, quickly attracting the attention of many people. Bicycles are rare items to begin with, let alone riding one to work.

"My god, who is this guy? How come I've never seen him in the factory, and he actually has a bicycle?"

"He looks so handsome! Could he be a descendant from one of the big courtyards?"

Many people were discussing this suddenly appearing young talent.

Zhao Gangzi rang his bicycle bell and soon stopped in front of a group of people. One of them was the "factory flower" of the Machine Repair Factory, Ding Qiunan. Zhao Gangzi had a strong impression of this person; she was a genuine, top-tier beauty.

"Is it Doctor Ding Qiunan?" Zhao Gangzi asked with a smile.

Ding Qiunan looked at the man in front of her with confusion and asked curiously, "Comrade, do you know me? Is there something you need?"

Ding Qiunan is the famous "ice beauty" of the factory. She is cold when speaking to others and rarely shows a smiling face; she treated Zhao Gangzi the same way.

However, she felt a bit curious in her heart. There didn't seem to be anyone like this in their factory; after all, there were only a few workers who owned bicycles, and they were all advanced in age.

She had heard that there was one quota this year, and for the sake of this one Bicycle Ticket, Nan Yi and Cui Dake had almost come to blows.

"Um, I'm Zhao Gangzi from the Rolling Mill next door. I have something to discuss with your factory's head chef, Nan Yi, today. May I ask where he is now?" Zhao Gangzi asked with a thick-skinned smile.

"Ah? You are that Zhao Gangzi, the youngest Third-Level Fitter in Sijiucheng, right?"

Behind Ding Qiunan, a young nurse looked at Zhao Gangzi like a fan girl, saying with a face full of surprise.

The name Zhao Gangzi had spread throughout the Rolling Mill and the Machine Repair Factory. Overnight, he went from a fool to a normal person, and he possessed an extremely high talent for locksmithing, skipping the apprentice stage entirely to directly reach the status of a Third-Level Fitter.

Moreover, he is the child of a hero; not only is his salary high with subsidies, but his background is also impeccable. Not just in the Rolling Mill, but even in the Machine Repair Factory, many people regard him as their dream lover.

Even Ding Qiunan had heard of this person, Zhao Gangzi.

And seeing him today, he was indeed extraordinary, even possessing a big-ticket item like a bicycle.

"So you are Zhao Gangzi, nice to meet you," Ding Qiunan revealed a rare smile on her face, then paused and continued: "Nan Yi? I've been quite annoyed with Chef Nan lately. Day after day, he runs over to my side for no reason, along with that Cui Dake."

"Sigh, I get a headache just thinking about him. He should be in the back kitchen stir-frying right now, since it's mealtime."

"Great! Then I'll go find him now. Doctor Ding, let's have a meal together when you're free," Zhao Gangzi swung his leg over the bike, preparing to continue to find Nan Yi, but after thinking about it, he still reminded Ding Qiunan:

"Doctor Ding, you should be careful of that person Cui Dake. That guy is no good."

In the memories of Zhao Gangzi's past life, Cui Dake had caused Doctor Ding Qiunan terrible harm. Of the entire Machine Repair Factory, he was the least decent person. Since he had run into Ding Qiunan today, Zhao Gangzi felt it was necessary to give a warning.

Ding Qiunan was a bit confused; what did Zhao Gangzi mean by saying that?

Before she could ask further, Zhao Gangzi had already ridden his bicycle out of sight.

The Machine Repair Factory back kitchen.

Nan Yi was stir-frying dishes while listening to why Zhao Gangzi was looking for him. A scent of meat wafted through the entire kitchen.

"Gangzi, I didn't expect you to really not be a fool anymore," Nan Yi scooped a ladle of food for Zhao Gangzi and said with a grin: "Try this dish I made first, loach stewed with tofu. It will absolutely make your day!"

Zhao Gangzi also drooled looking at the ladle of food in front of him. Nan Yi was truly worthy of being a famous head chef to be able to make a dish like loach stewed with tofu.

After one bite, a savory flavor echoed endlessly in his mouth. This culinary skill was more than one level higher than Shazhu's!

"Don't just let me eat; have you thought about this matter?" Zhao Gangzi asked while eating.

Nan Yi just scratched his head and answered as expected: "It's impossible for me to go to your Rolling Mill. Not to mention anything else, just because Doctor Ding is here, I won't go. No matter how much money you offer, I won't go."

"How about this? I'll discuss it with the leadership and get Cui Dake moved to your factory, so he stops pestering Doctor Ding..."

Zhao Gangzi rolled his eyes at Nan Yi. "Cui Dake," he thought, "I see it's you who is pestering Ding Qiunan every day. Looking at this 'lick-dog' behavior, you definitely have something in common with Shazhu!"

Moreover, this person Cui Dake is even harder to move. He already has a certain status in the Machine Repair Factory; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a local tyrant. If he came to the Rolling Mill, others would inevitably suffer his bullying in the future.

"That won't work; we can't suppress a guy like Cui Dake."

"Our Factory Director said it would be best to poach you, but your factory refuses to agree no matter what, so they sent me over to probe your thoughts," Zhao Gangzi said, his mouth stuffed full, making his speech a bit slurred.

"But as such a great chef, you must have some fellow apprentices, right? Introduce one to me so I can go back and report."

Since things had reached this point, Nan Yi really couldn't refuse. He had no choice but to scratch his head and think for a while, then slapped his forehead and said: "I actually do remember someone. I have a cousin nicknamed 'South Heaven Gate,' whose real name is Pumpkin. Although he can't compare to a successor of Tan Family Cuisine, he has at least studied Sichuan Cuisine for a few years."

"It's just that he has high standards but low abilities. His father didn't have the connections to get him into a factory, so he's just been a street loafer at home. Look..."

Nan Yi's meaning was very clear. He was obviously trying to find a way out for his cousin; after all, charity begins at home, and if such a good opportunity is going to be given to someone, it might as well be a family member.

Zhao Gangzi understood this logic too. Anyway, he was just helping the factory find a passable chef. As long as the leadership was satisfied with the food, everything else was negotiable.

"Alright! Let's do it today; take me to see him first."

"And let me satisfy my cravings while I'm at it!"