Chapter 6

Steel Mill

Cao Cao Weiguo lined up with his coworkers, smiles on everyone's faces.

Today was the last day of March, and also payday.

"Cao Weiguo, your cooking is really great!"

"Your skills are amazing!"

"Cao Weiguo, will you be cooking tomorrow too?"

Relying on his exquisite cooking skills, Cao Cao Weiguo made the food tasty with few ingredients.

A lunch made Cao Cao Weiguo recognized by the coworkers.

In this era of material scarcity, "eating" was one of the most urgent needs in people's hearts.

In the kitchen, Cao Cao Weiguo received praise from the cafeteria director.

Being praised by coworkers in the factory made Cao Cao Weiguo happy and Sha Zhu full of frustration.

"Cao Cao Weiguo, this is your salary for this month, thirty-one Brother Yuan and five jiao."

Before passing the assessment, Cao Cao Weiguo received a ninth-grade cook's salary.

Next month, he would be able to receive the treatment of an eighth-grade cook.

Putting the salary into his pocket, Cao Cao Weiguo invited the cafeteria director, Li Dong, and Ma Liang out to eat.

Arriving at the destination, the cafeteria director opened his eyes in surprise.

Donglaishun: A time-honored Chinese brand, founded in 1903, and achieved public-private partnership in 1955.

A place ordinary people wouldn't even dare to think about; a single meal could cost a family's half-month ration.

The cafeteria director swallowed his saliva: "Cao Weiguo, we're not outsiders, a simple meal will do, let's change to another place."

Cao Cao Weiguo said sincerely: "Director, I was able to get promoted so smoothly, thanks to your care; inviting you to a meal is just a token of my gratitude."

Enthusiastically, he pushed the cafeteria director into the Donglaishun restaurant.

Entering the Donglaishun restaurant, Cao Cao Weiguo took out food stamps and a ten-Brother Yuan note.

He ordered six plates of mutton in one breath!

Donglaishun's instant-boiled mutton is the crown of Beijing's instant-boiled mutton, with its unique features of fine material selection, fine processing, complete seasonings, and strong fire.

Donglaishun's chefs have exquisite knife skills; the mutton is spread out on blue and white porcelain plates after being cut, and the patterns on the plates are vaguely visible through the meat slices.

"Thin as paper, even as crystal, neat as a line, beautiful as a flower" mutton is cooked instantly in the dried shrimp and mushroom soup, tasting fragrant and tender, not gamey or greasy.

Paired with seasonings such as sesame paste, Shaoxing wine, fermented bean curd, pickled chive flowers, halogen shrimp oil, soy sauce, chili oil, green onions, and cilantro, it integrates various flavors such as fragrant, salty, spicy, halogen, dregs, and fresh, plus homemade white sugar garlic and sesame seed cakes, tasting mellow and thick.

When the six plates of mutton were served, the cafeteria director looked at Cao Cao Weiguo with admiration.

Feeling Cao Cao Weiguo's respect and importance for him, the cafeteria director was very happy.

A sumptuous instant-boiled mutton meal, the four of them ate until their mouths were oily and drank to their heart's content.

The tipsy Cao Cao Weiguo carried the packed side dishes back to the Sihe Academy.

"Where did you go to drink? You're covered in the smell of alcohol."

"The streets haven't been safe lately, you should be careful."

Just as he entered the courtyard, he ran into the Second Master, who was strolling around with his big belly.

"Second Master, you're still up so late."

Cao Cao Weiguo greeted him with a smile and handed a bag of side dishes to the Second Master.

Cao Cao Weiguo was a "little transparent" in the Sihe Academy, having no dealings with anyone in the courtyard.

Giving the Second Master some benefits was also because he knew that this Second Master had gained power for a while when the wind blew.

Just consider it feeding the little ghosts in advance to avoid being entangled later.

"Went out for a few drinks with friends, these are side dishes from Donglaishun, take them to go with your wine."

"Donglaishun's side dishes, these are good things, thank you Cao Weiguo for still thinking of the Second Master."

The Second Master happily took the side dishes: "Donglaishun is a time-honored brand that even leaders like to go to; you really have ability."

Others in the courtyard looked at Cao Cao Weiguo and the Second Master, envy and jealousy appearing in their eyes.

Third Master, who hadn't taken advantage yesterday, was even more angry and greedy, rubbing his hands.

"Second Master, my head is dizzy, I won't talk to you anymore."

"Alright, I see you've had quite a bit to drink, hurry home and rest."

Cao Cao Weiguo walked through the courtyard tipsily, and Third Master greedily approached the Second Master.

"Second Master, share some of these side dishes with me, let me taste them."

The Second Master said proudly: "What are you thinking, Yan the Miser? These are side dishes from Donglaishun, things that leaders like to eat."

The Second Master was obsessed with officialdom and liked to associate everything with leaders.

Carrying the side dishes from Donglaishun, the Second Master returned to his room with his belly out.

Third Master returned to his room angrily, and Third Master's wife asked: "Who are you angry with?"

"Who else? Cao Cao Weiguo!"

"I asked him to set up a banquet yesterday, and this brat locked me out!"

"He came back today and gave the side dishes to the Second Master!"

"This brat is clearly looking down on me, the Third Master!"

It must be said that Third Master was really thinking too much, a burst of self-brain-supplementation.

Speaking of Cao Cao Weiguo, Third Master's wife also had her own views.

Cao Cao Weiguo was inconspicuous in the courtyard, unsociable and frugal, closing his door to live his own life.

Now that his work was promoted, he didn't show off but had real ability.

"You, you're just looking for trouble."

"Cao Cao Weiguo is famously stingy in the courtyard, eating corn buns and pickles every day!"

"He doesn't associate with people in the courtyard; you asked him to set up a banquet, aren't you asking for trouble!"

Third Master's wife talked to Third Master, making Third Master feel even more depressed.

He was stingy in his life and liked to make small calculations.

Third Master's wife and Third Master were an old couple, naturally knowing her husband's nature.

Putting down the rag in her hand, Third Master's wife thought for a while and said: "Cao Cao Weiguo isn't young anymore, why not introduce him to a partner? If this matter succeeds, won't Cao Cao Weiguo have to remember our family's kindness?"

Third Master's eyes lit up: "This is a good idea, this brat is stingy, but his family foundation is solid, why not introduce Yu Li's younger sister to him."

Third Master's wife said: "How high is Yu Yu Haitang's vision? Can she take a fancy to Cao Cao Weiguo?"

Third Master calculated confidently: "She can't take a fancy to Cao Cao Weiguo? You don't know Cao Cao Weiguo's family foundation."

"Let me calculate for you!"

"Cao Cao Weiguo's father was a martyr, the pension is at least a thousand Brother Yuan."

"He has been working for three years, eating corn buns and pickles every day, eating in the cafeteria at noon, with almost no expenses, his salary must have saved at least seven or eight hundred Brother Yuan!"

"Adding the two together, calculate how rich he is!"

"Becoming an eighth-grade cook in his early twenties."

"Salary thirty-five Brother Yuan and five jiao, this condition is rare even in the four-nine city."

Third Master's wife's eyes lit up after hearing this; Cao Cao Weiguo's condition was indeed good enough.

If her daughter wasn't still young, Third Master's wife would have wanted to recruit Cao Cao Weiguo as a son-in-law.

Third Master calculated happily: "If Cao Cao Weiguo and Yu Yu Haitang succeed, then our two families will be related, and he won't be able to help our family in the future."

Third Master's wife listened with expectation: "This matter is not bad, I'll hurry to find Yu Li and talk about it."