Chapter 17: Taking an Apprentice

Rolling Steel Factory

The bell for the end of the shift rang, and the workers poured out of the Rolling Steel Factory like a tide.

In the kitchen, a group of people were busy dividing up the leftovers.

Do not underestimate these leftovers; they are the kitchen "fringe benefits" that countless people envy and are jealous of!

Taking these leftovers home not only saves on the family's food rations, but they are also oilier and richer than the meals cooked at home.

Li Dong asked, "Brother Weiguo, aren't you taking some back?"

Cao Weiguo shook his head and smiled, "I won't take any; you guys take a bit more."

Shazhu, while packing dishes into his lunchbox, said in a sour, sarcastic tone, "Some people have eaten at Donglaishun, so how could they possibly look down on these leftovers?"

Li Dong said with annoyance, "Shazhu, nobody will think you're a mute if you don't talk."

Liu Lan and the others shook their heads speechlessly; this Shazhu truly never learns from his beatings.

With that foul mouth of his, he never knows when to keep it shut, and he becomes detestable the moment he opens it.

The cafeteria director walked in from outside, paying no mind to the people hiding their lunchboxes.

He walked up to Cao Weiguo with a cheerful smile: "Weiguo, let's go together. Director Liu wants to treat you to a meal, and I'm going to tag along and share in the favor."

Glancing at Liu Limin, who was buried in cleaning up, Cao Weiguo smiled and said, "Director Liu is too kind."

The cafeteria director said exaggeratedly, "What's a meal? Even if you ordered ten bottles of Moutai, he would still happily foot the bill."

Cao Weiguo said, "Oh, then I have a treat in store today."

The two left the cafeteria chatting and laughing, while Ma Hua and the others looked on with envy.

Liu Limin quickly finished cleaning up and then hurried to catch up.

"Ding! Daily check-in successful!"

"Obtained 1 jin of fruit hard candy, 10 jin of peanut seeds!"

Listening to the prompt in his mind, Cao Weiguo and the cafeteria director walked into the state-run restaurant near the Rolling Steel Factory.

The fat-headed, big-eared Deputy Director of Logistics, Liu Hong, greeted them enthusiastically.

The table was already filled with dishes—fish, meat, all of them hearty, oil-rich dishes.

The cost of this single table of food, if converted into coarse grains, could feed a family of three for two months.

Liu Hong raised his wine glass: "Master Cao, thank you for taking in my nephew and giving him a bowl of rice to eat."

Cao Weiguo said modestly, "Director Liu, you speak too harshly. Limin is honest and hardworking, which suits my taste, and I am happy to teach him the craft."

These words greatly increased Liu Hong's favor toward Cao Weiguo, and he said to Liu Limin, "Limin, Master Cao doesn't look down on you; why don't you hurry and toast your master with the apprenticeship wine?"

Liu Limin happily held up his wine glass and bowed solemnly to Cao Weiguo: "Master is here, thank you for being willing to teach me." ===== CHAPTER 19 =====