Now that Ma Hua has become a head chef, you're all rushing to curry favor, huh? What a bunch of ingrates! But Sha Zhu never reflects on his mistakes. If you hadn't been so domineering and greedy in the kitchen, why would anyone dislike you?

As for introducing you to someone, that's laughable. Everyone in the kitchen knows about your messy affair with Qin Huairu. How could I possibly introduce you to someone like that? Do I have no shame?

Just as Sha Zhu was about to explode with anger, Fatty came over. Fatty looked at Sha Zhu with surprise, thinking that Sha Zhu had returned to work. He immediately ran to Sha Zhu's side in a fawning manner and said, "Master, you've finally come! I was almost bullied to death by them."

Sha Zhu glanced at the fat man and said irritably, "Not yet," really bringing up the very thing he didn't want to talk about.

The voices coming from the kitchen doorway startled everyone inside. They all looked towards the door and saw Sha Zhu and Fatty. They rolled their eyes but didn't say anything. Liu Lan whispered to Ma Hua, "Your master is here. Aren't you going to welcome him? Welcome him!"

"Get lost, Sister Lan. If you're going to do this, give me back my candy." Ma Hua glared at Liu Lan, annoyed.

When Sha Zhu saw Ma Hua, he immediately remembered what Yan Bugui had told him. Coupled with what happened that morning, he was furious and stormed off to the kitchen.

When Ma Hua saw Sha Zhu, he simply said, "The kitchen is a restricted area; unauthorized personnel are not permitted to enter." Ma Hua pointed to the newly posted sign on the wall.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu became even angrier and retorted, "Pah! When I started working in this cafeteria, you were still running around somewhere. You dare to kick me out? Who do you think you are?"

"Who do you think you are? You're not one of our cafeteria staff anymore. You're under the cleaning team now. Get lost, Fatty. You brought Sha Zhu here, right? You'll be responsible if anything happens." Ma Hua chuckled. What's wrong with Sha Zhu? He still can't tell the difference between the big and small bosses. Does he really think he's still the all-powerful head chef?

"Go to hell!" Sha Zhu couldn't take it anymore. Enraged, he swung his fist at Ma Hua. Ma Hua stood up and kicked Sha Zhu to the ground.

Ma Hua had wanted to beat up Sha Zhu for a long time, but he never had the chance. Last time, there were so many people watching in the alley, and he was too embarrassed to keep kicking him.

Sha Zhu was kicked to the ground by Ma Hua, curling up in pain. Ma Hua hadn't used a groin kick; he'd just used a little too much force. Ma Hua then grabbed Sha Zhu's clothes.

He simply dragged Sha Zhu outside the cafeteria, smiled calmly, and said, "Fatty, this is the first and last time. If you don't want to work in this cafeteria anymore, just say so."

The fat man dared not say anything more. He was trembling with fear, never expecting that Ma Hua's fighting skills were so high.

The cafeteria ladies stared at Ma Hua in astonishment. Some of them thought he was about to be beaten and were about to call security. They never expected that this idiot Zhu, who had been boasting about how great he was, would turn out to be so trash.

Seeing the surprised looks on everyone's faces, Ma Hua said somewhat embarrassedly, "Ahem, I know I'm quite handsome, please don't look at me like that, it makes me shy."

"Pah, pah, pah, shameless." The older women spat a few times after hearing Ma Hua say that, and then laughed. However, their gazes toward Ma Hua became more gentle. Ma Hua was still the same Ma Hua, completely different from Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu lay on the ground at the cafeteria entrance, unwilling to get up for a long time. How could this be? He was kicked down by Ma Hua with a single kick, and shouldn't Ma Hua be groaning under his iron fist? This... After a long while, Sha Zhu finally comforted himself, "Hmm, it must be because I didn't eat last night and this morning. Yes, that's why."

The work in the canteen is both simple and tedious. After lunchtime, when everyone in the canteen has finished cleaning up, they sit together in twos and threes to chat.

Seeing that no one was around, Ma Hua quietly said to Liu Lan, "Sister Lan, can I ask you something?"

"Hey, why are you being so polite now? Tell me, what's the matter?" Liu Lan could tell that Ma Hua wasn't asking about anything ordinary, otherwise why would his voice be so soft?

"Is there a black market around here? I'd like to buy something," Ma Hua asked somewhat embarrassedly. He didn't know anyone else, so he could only ask Liu Lan. He knew his parents would know, but he didn't dare ask, afraid of worrying them.

“Why are you going to the black market? It’s not safe there. If you want to buy something, go to the pigeon market. Although there are fewer items there, no one usually checks. If you get caught at the black market, you’re finished,” Liu Lan said in a low voice, looking around nervously.

"Huh, is there such a difference?" Ma Hua was confused. These were all places that sold things, so what was going on? Later, after Liu Lan explained, he learned that the black market usually dealt in things that couldn't be sold openly, and this kind of thing was strictly cracked down on; getting caught would be terrible.

People usually go to Pigeon Market to buy things. Although the neighborhood committee may come to catch them, they are usually just educated and released unless it is serious. People who come to Pigeon Market are usually workers or farmers from the surrounding area.

"Sister Na Lan, is there a pigeon market near our compound?" Ma Hua asked, slightly embarrassed.

"It's not far from Nanluoguxiang, from here to here, and then to here," Liu Lan didn't waste any time and directly told Ma Hua the address.

"Okay, I got it," Ma Hua nodded, realizing it wasn't far from here.

Time flies, and it was time to get off work in the blink of an eye. Ma Hua rode his bike home to have a meal before heading to the courtyard house.

When Ma Hua arrived at the courtyard house by bicycle, he saw a group of people gathered in the front yard. Upon seeing Ma Hua return, someone immediately exclaimed, "He's back! He's back!"

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!