Chapter 645 Department Dinner
Zhou Yimin quickly processed several food purchasing reports piled up on his desk and looked at the time. It was almost ten o'clock in the morning.
He stood up, straightened his clothes, and decided to gather everyone from the fourth purchasing department for a short meeting while everyone was just starting work.
After all, the Fourth Department is responsible for the procurement of food supplies in the factory, which is related to the jobs of tens of thousands of people in the factory, and no carelessness is allowed.
Although it is not solely dependent on the fourth purchasing department, it is also unplanned and relies on the fourth department.
He walked out of the office and knocked on the doors of other colleagues along the corridor.
"Everyone come to the conference room for a short meeting." The voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone.
When everyone heard the call, they all put down their work - some were checking the rice and grain ledgers, some were sorting out the list of meat and egg suppliers, and some were frowning at the vegetable price list - and walked towards the small meeting room at the end of the corridor.
Zhou Dazhong was the first to arrive, clutching a delivery note for cooking oil. Seeing Zhou Yimin come in, he smiled and asked, "Uncle Sixteen, you're having a meeting right after you get to work. Is there something wrong with the canteen's ingredients?"
"Let's not talk about this for now. Let's talk about it after everyone is gathered." Zhou Yimin waved his hand, walked to the main seat at the conference table and sat down, his eyes sweeping over the colleagues who came in one after another.
Soon, everyone arrived and found a seat. Their faces showed some tiredness from just starting work, but also a hint of curiosity.
After everyone was seated, Zhou Yimin cleared his throat and said, "I called everyone here today for no other important matter. We just returned from the New Year holiday, so there must have been some problems with the canteen's food procurement."
"We are responsible for the food supplies, from rice, flour, oil to meat, eggs, and vegetables. If any of them is not available, all the factory workers will have one less thing on their table, which will affect everyone's work enthusiasm."
Xiao Wang then spoke up, "Section Chief Zhou, due to the previous disaster, the price of grain has skyrocketed. I went to the place where I used to buy it, and they said the price is going up by 10 cents per pound."
There is no way. After experiencing three years of disaster, everyone has greatly increased their attention to the importance of food, and is afraid of repeating the same mistake.
After hearing this, Zhou Yimin fell into thought. Even if it was a little more expensive, there was nothing he could do: "Just follow their price, and leave the rest to me."
When Xiao Wang heard this, he was very happy. He was still hesitant at first because this price was already beyond the stipulated price.
Everyone was talking at once, from the shelf life of soy sauce and vinegar to the storage problems of frozen meat, to the canteen's feedback that the flour was not gluten-rich enough. Zhou Yimin wrote them down one by one, occasionally interrupting to ask for details, with a serious and patient attitude.
The meeting room, which was originally a bit dull, gradually became lively. The tiredness on everyone's face disappeared, replaced by a sense of steadiness.
After everyone had finished speaking, Zhou Yimin closed his notebook, looked at everyone and said, "I have written down all the questions you have raised. I will give you an answer within three days.
We're in charge of the food and drink for the entire factory, so we have to ensure everyone eats comfortably and with peace of mind. Procuring food is a meticulous job, and we need to work together and help each other to get the job done. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to contact me.
"Thank you, Chief Zhou!" Everyone responded with relaxed smiles on their faces.
Zhou Yimin stood up and said, "Alright, the meeting ends here. Let's get back to work."
Watching his colleagues walk out of the meeting room in high spirits, Zhou Yimin rubbed his sore wrists, feeling at ease.
Zhou Yimin glanced down at the densely written words on his notebook and was about to turn around and head back to the warehouse when he suddenly remembered the earnest yet exhausted energy with which everyone had asked questions earlier. He then shouted to the section chiefs who were still standing, "Inform everyone: After get off work, don't rush to leave. Gather in the cafeteria!"
Upon hearing this, the section chiefs stopped and looked back at him in confusion.
Zhou Dazhong, who was in charge of the fifth section, couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Sixteen, why are all fifty people in the section going to the cafeteria?"
Zhou Yimin smiled and said, "Everyone has been working so hard since we just started. I'll treat everyone to a start-of-work dinner. It will be lively and also a boost for our team."
"Really? That's great!" The young section chief Xiao Li's eyes lit up and the shyness on his face disappeared.
The other section chiefs also showed happy smiles, thanked him repeatedly, and turned around to convey the news to the people in their respective sections.
After everyone left, Zhou Dazhong stayed behind and said, "Uncle Sixteen, if we treat all four sections to a meal, we'll need a lot of food."
As he said this, he took out all the food coupons and money he had on him. Although it was not much, there were only about ten yuan and more than two kilograms of food coupons.
Zhou Yimin was quite touched. It seemed that the people he brought up were still capable.
"No need, you should save these little things to buy something to replenish your happiness!"
Zhou Dazhong also understood Zhou Yimin's abilities, so he walked out of the meeting room without saying much.
After everyone dispersed, Zhou Yimin started to think: There are fifty people in the entire Purchasing Department 4. It is definitely too busy for him to handle it all by himself, and there is no place to get so many ingredients.
He pondered for a while, and his eyes involuntarily turned towards the cafeteria.
There are always some leftovers in the cafeteria every day. Although they are not delicacies, they can be heated up and added with a lot of fresh ingredients to make five tables of dishes.
If we give these leftovers to the chefs in the cafeteria, they will definitely be willing to work overtime to help cook them. After all, it will also benefit the chefs.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yimin no longer hesitated and turned around and walked towards the cafeteria.
The cafeteria had just passed its lunch rush hour, and the chefs were cleaning the stoves. The air was still filled with the aroma of food. He walked straight to the cafeteria director's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in." The canteen director's loud voice came from inside.
Zhou Yimin pushed open the door and walked in. The canteen director was looking down at the account book. Seeing him, he looked up and asked with a smile, "Xiao Zhou, you're here in the canteen right after work. What's the purchase?"
"Director Wang, I want to discuss something with you." Zhou Yimin sat down on the chair opposite him and told him in detail his idea of inviting fifty colleagues in the department to a start-of-work dinner and asking the canteen chef to help with some leftovers from the canteen.
"Don't worry, I won't let the chefs' hard work go to waste. I'll pay them every penny of their hard work, and these leftovers will be put to good use, so there's no waste."
The canteen director laughed heartily after hearing this. "It's not a big deal, why even bother asking for hard work pay? The fifty people in your purchasing department have put so much thought into the canteen's ingredients. I have to help with this little favor."
He patted the table and said, "I'll ask the chefs to stay a few more people tonight to sort out the leftovers that can be used. But as for the meat, you have to bring it yourself, Yimin."
"You don't need much meat, just ten or so pounds of it. I guarantee all fifty of you will be well fed."
Director Wang had no choice. It would be fine if it was just some vegetables, but if he used the meat in the factory, it would definitely not work.
However, he also knew that with Zhou Yimin's ability, he could definitely get ten pounds of meat.
"Thank you so much, Director Wang!" Zhou Yimin felt relieved and quickly stood up to express his gratitude.
"Sorry to bother you with so many people. I'll ask each unit to report the number of people so that the masters can have an idea."
"Don't be polite. We are all doing business for the factory." The canteen director waved his hand.
"At six o'clock in the evening, just ask your colleague number fifty to come directly. I guarantee there will be a hot meal waiting for you."
Zhou Yimin said a few more words of thanks before turning around and leaving the cafeteria, feeling a lot more relieved.
He looked at the time and decided to go to the warehouse to check the inventory first. After finishing the work at hand, he could spend the evening with his colleagues in peace.
After finishing the warehouse matters, there is still some time before getting off work. I thought about the dinner party in the evening. The meat has not been taken to the cafeteria yet. How can we have a dinner party without meat?
Zhou Yimin drove his motorcycle on the bumpy dirt road outside the factory. The spring breeze rustled the leaves of the poplar trees on the roadside, and the fields in the distance were full of fresh green, presenting a vibrant scene.
In less than half an hour, a large bag of things appeared on Zhou Yimin's motorcycle.
There were a lot of good things in the sack, including more than ten pounds of pork belly with fat and lean meat, which looked shiny and greasy.
There was also a clean whole chicken, the feathers of which had been plucked cleanly, leaving only a few fine fluffs.
There are also some home-grown potatoes and radishes, with the fragrance of soil.
He nodded with satisfaction, paid the money, and carefully tied the sack to the back of the motorcycle.
Zhou Yimin got on the motorcycle. The sack on the back seat was so heavy that it caused the motorcycle to sink slightly.
He carefully controlled the handlebars and drove towards the steel plant. After returning to the factory, he rode his motorcycle directly to the cafeteria entrance, turned off the engine, untied the sack on the back seat, and carried it to the cafeteria director's office.
"Director Wang, I brought some things here. These are the ingredients for dinner. Take a look." Zhou Yimin pushed open the office door and put the sack on the ground.
The canteen director looked up from the account book when he heard the voice. His eyes lit up when he saw the sack. He quickly stood up and walked over to untie the sack. "Oh, this pork belly looks really good, with fat and lean parts. It will be delicious when stewed. And this chicken is also quite big, enough for a big pot of stew."
He flipped through the vegetables inside and said, "These potatoes and radishes are fresh too, perfect for stewing with the meat."
"Do you think these are enough? If not, I'll think of another way." Zhou Yimin asked.
"That's enough, with these plus the leftovers from the cafeteria and some fresh vegetables, I'm sure everyone in your department will have good food and drink." The cafeteria director smiled from ear to ear.
"I'll tell the chefs to get ready and make sure dinner is served promptly at 6pm."
"Thank you, Director Wang and the masters, for your hard work." Zhou Yimin said with a smile.
"It's not hard, it's not hard." The canteen director waved his hand.
"I'll arrange it right away, don't worry."
Zhou Yimin spoke a few more words to the canteen director before turning around and leaving the canteen and heading towards his office.
He felt happy when he thought that his colleagues in the department would have a lively dinner together in the evening to start the work.
Just as he reached the office door, Zhou Yimin stopped and suddenly remembered that Director Ding had not given an accurate answer to the pork matter he had instructed him about in the morning.
He slapped his forehead, cursing himself for almost forgetting about this matter, then turned around and walked quickly towards Director Ding's office.
Director Ding's office was at the end of the corridor. Zhou Yimin walked to the door and knocked. A familiar voice responded from inside: "Come in."
When he pushed open the door, Director Ding was sitting behind his desk reviewing documents. Seeing Zhou Yimin coming in, he immediately put down his pen, a warm smile appeared on his face, and he stood up and greeted him, "Yimin, come in and sit down."
As he said that, he turned around, poured a cup of hot tea from the thermos beside him, and handed it to Zhou Yimin.
"I was just looking for you, and you're here just in time. Have some tea to warm yourself up first."
Zhou Yimin took the teacup, and when his fingertips touched the warm wall of the cup, his heart also felt a little warmer.
He sat down on the chair across from Director Ding. Seeing the anticipation in Director Ding's eyes, he knew he was waiting for his reply regarding the pork. Without further delay, he said, "Director Ding, I've contacted the farmers in the countryside. I'll ship back 300 kilograms of pork tomorrow. I guarantee it'll be fresh, fat, and healthy."
Even though it was purchased from a store, it must have a source!
"Three hundred pounds?" Director Ding's eyes suddenly lit up, and a smile instantly appeared on his face. He leaned forward, his tone unable to conceal his excitement.
"That's great, Yimin! I feel relieved with your words."
Director Ding thought, if I have any problems, I can find Zhou Yimin and he will definitely solve them. It seems that in the future, I will go to Zhou Yimin first for such problems, and find a solution later if he fails.
He took a sip from his teacup and continued, "With these 300 kilograms of pork, the canteen can improve the food for the workers."
Zhou Yimin smiled and said, "This is what I should do. I want to ensure that the workers can eat pork that they like."
I've already made an agreement with the farmer to have them slaughter the pigs early tomorrow morning, and I'll personally go and bring them back to ensure they don't delay the canteen's lunch break."
"Okay, okay, thank you for your hard work, Yimin." Director Ding nodded repeatedly, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.
"By the way, have you agreed on the price with the farmers? If you have any difficulties, just tell me and the factory will fully support you."
Director Ding also knows that it is difficult to purchase materials now, so the price can be appropriately increased.
Zhou Yimin replied, "The price has been negotiated. It's slightly cheaper than the market price. The farmer gave us a fair price because of our long-term cooperation."
"Don't worry, it won't exceed our purchasing budget."
Director Ding nodded with satisfaction, and then talked to Zhou Yimin about the supply of other ingredients in the purchasing department. Zhou Yimin answered all his questions in detail.
After chatting for about ten minutes, Zhou Yimin looked at the time and felt that he should go back to prepare for the evening start of work dinner, so he stood up and said goodbye: "Director Ding, if there is nothing else, I will go back first. There is a small gathering in the department tonight."
"Director Ding, are you interested in joining us?"
"Okay, go ahead and do your thing! I won't go." Director Ding didn't try to keep him. He walked Zhou Yimin to the door and gave him some more instructions.
After all, if you go alone, there will definitely be people who can't let go, and a meal won't be a big deal.
Then he added: "If you need help or a car to pull pork tomorrow, please let me know anytime. Don't hesitate."
"Okay, thank you Director Ding." Zhou Yimin responded, turned around and left Director Ding's office with brisk steps, feeling relieved.
(End of this chapter)
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