Chapter 41

Deputy Factory Director Li hesitated: "Cao Weiguo is a good person, but can the food he makes catch up to Shazhu?"

The cafeteria director said: "Cao Weiguo's culinary skills are no worse than Shazhu's."

Deputy Factory Director Li nodded: "Alright, you go notify Cao Weiguo and have him prepare dinner."

The cafeteria director said: "I'll go right away."

Arriving at the kitchen, the cafeteria director found Cao Weiguo.

"Weiguo, Deputy Factory Director Li wants to invite leaders from brother units to dinner tonight; I recommend you take Shazhu's place at the stove; you must perform well."

Cao Weiguo said confidently: "Thank you, Director; I will definitely not let you and Deputy Factory Director Li down."

After the cafeteria director left, Cao Weiguo began to ponder what dishes to make.

His intermediate Chinese cooking skills obtained from check-ins include the cooking techniques for cold and hot dishes of the four major Chinese cuisines, the understanding and processing of cooking ingredients, cutting and preparation techniques, and basic nutritional and hygiene knowledge.

He can cook cold and hot dishes of the four major cuisines, but what he is best at is the Lu cuisine passed down by Chen Baoshu.

Based on the ingredients, Cao Weiguo decided on 10 dishes.

After work, he kept Liu Limin, Li Dong, and Ma Liang, and drove everyone else out of the kitchen.

This made Ma Hua, Fatty, and the others only envious and jealous.

After all, they are neither apprentices of Cao Weiguo nor close to him.

When cooking for leaders, not only can one learn real skills, but one can also take away "leftovers" full of oil.

The sky gradually darkened, and the kitchen was steaming with heat.

Small stir-fry, big stir-fry, hanging stir-fry, shaking the wok, turning the wok... Liu Limin watched with admiration.

Cao Weiguo displayed exquisite culinary skills, and dish after dish of color, aroma, and taste were carried away by Liu Lan, who was swallowing her saliva.

"Salty, fresh, and pure!"

"Food is in China, fire is in Qinglu!"

"Incredibly fresh and tender, the taste is excellent, clean and not greasy! Wonderful!"

"This tofu dish is made perfectly!"

"This Nine-Turn Intestine is fat but not greasy; authentic! Delicious!"

"Fragrant, fresh, tender, and mellow!"

"Factory Director Li, where did you invite this Lu cuisine master from!"

In the small restaurant, the visiting leaders praised endlessly, and their chopsticks couldn't stop.

Even the pickiest ones were full of praise, eating ravenously.

A gentle man wearing glasses exclaimed: "Factory Director Li, today's chef couldn't have been invited by you from a big restaurant, right?"

Deputy Factory Director Li said proudly: "To tell you the truth, Director Jiang, the head chef is a newly promoted chef in our Rolling Steel Factory; although he is young, he has received the true teachings of Master Chen Baoshu."

"A disciple of Lu cuisine master Chen Baoshu!"

"No wonder he can make Lu cuisine so perfectly!"

"Factory Director Li, you really have a good appetite!"

"I want to come often in the future; Factory Director Li, don't be annoyed."

Director Jiang said expectantly: "Factory Director Li, can you invite the head chef to meet us?"

How could Deputy Factory Director Li refuse when a distinguished guest spoke? He quickly said: "I will send someone to invite him immediately."

With a look, the cafeteria director hurriedly got up and headed to the kitchen.

"Weiguo, you are truly amazing!"

"The leaders are full of praise!"

"A big leader even named you to meet him."

The cafeteria director said excitedly, and Liu Limin and the three others were full of admiration.

Cao Weiguo was also very happy that the food he made satisfied the diners and received praise.

Following the cafeteria director into the restaurant, Deputy Factory Director Li introduced enthusiastically:

"Director Jiang, this is Comrade Cao Weiguo, the head chef of this dinner."

Cao Weiguo said politely: "Hello, leaders."

Director Jiang looked at him with appreciation: "Comrade Cao Weiguo is truly young and promising; to have such good culinary skills at such an age, he will definitely become a master chef in the future."

Cao Weiguo said modestly: "Leaders, you speak too harshly; I am still far from being a master chef and need to constantly study and practice."

Director Jiang praised: "Not arrogant or impetuous, diligent and eager to learn, truly a good comrade."

Deputy Factory Director Li said with a full face of smiles: "Cao Weiguo, you are truly hiding your light; you haven't been working in the Rolling Steel Factory for a short time, and if it weren't for letting you take the stove today, I wouldn't have known you had such superb culinary skills."

Cao Weiguo said: "Factory Director, how can my culinary skills be called superb? I am just a beginner, and I wouldn't dare to show off my meager skills everywhere."

Deputy Factory Director Li laughed: "You, you are too modest; if you have good skills, you should show them."

Director Jiang stood up and said: "Comrade Cao Weiguo, I want to invite comrades-in-arms to dinner at the end of the month; I don't know if I can invite you to come and cook a meal for me."

Cao Weiguo said readily: "I am honored by the leader's regard; I will definitely go all out."

Director Jiang said happily: "Thank you, Comrade Cao Weiguo; then it's settled; I will send a car to pick you up then!"

The meal was enjoyed by both host and guest, and Deputy Factory Director Li was full of spring breeze.

After the meal, Deputy Factory Director Li took Cao Weiguo to his office and showered him with praise:

"Weiguo, you did well; you won glory for our factory today."

Cao Weiguo said: "It is all due to the leader's wise leadership."

Deputy Factory Director Li said with a smile: "Weiguo, do you have any interest in serving as the deputy director of the cafeteria?"

At the same time, Deputy Factory Director Li wrote a "500" on the desktop with his finger.

Cao Weiguo understood and said: "Thank you, Factory Director, for your trust and heavy use; I will definitely work seriously and responsibly, and will absolutely not live up to your expectations of me."

Deputy Factory Director Li beamed: "Hahaha... young people are full of spirit and drive; come to my office tomorrow to get the appointment document."

Being able to recruit a talent and also gain some benefits.

Deputy Factory Director Li was in a great mood and sent Cao Weiguo away with a full face of smiles.

Returning to the kitchen at nine o'clock in the evening, Cao Weiguo distributed all the leftovers to Liu Limin, Li Dong, Ma Liang, and Liu Lan.

These dishes were not taken off the table, but were dishes that Cao Weiguo "made too much of" and couldn't fit.

Receiving so many "leftovers," Liu Limin and the four others were overjoyed.

Cao Weiguo is much more generous than Shazhu!

In the past, when Shazhu cooked small meals, almost all the leftovers were taken home by him, and what Liu Lan got were only soup and water.

Li Dong and Ma Liang couldn't even touch them.

Liu Limin wiped his tears with emotion: "Master, you are too good to me."

Cao Weiguo was speechless for a while, patting Liu Limin on the shoulder: "Limin, study culinary skills seriously, don't fear hardship, don't fear fatigue, there will be many good days ahead."

Liu Limin nodded heavily: "I will listen to everything Master says."

Ma Liang, who was the oldest, handed half a plate of crispy chicken to Cao Weiguo:

"Weiguo, you worked the hardest for this meal; if you don't take some back, we would be embarrassed to take it."

Liu Lan quickly echoed: "Yes, Master Cao, you should take some back."

Cao Weiguo knew that Liu Lan and Ma Liang did it for peace of mind, so he didn't refuse.

After leaving the factory, Cao Weiguo stuffed the lunchbox to Liu Limin.

"You work hard, eat more good things; you can't lose strength if you want to learn culinary skills."

This action made Liu Limin's eyes moist with emotion. ===== CHAPTER 43 =====