At the dining table, everyone was immersed in enjoying the food, occasionally glancing up to exchange a few words, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.
"Mr. Chen, do you find these dishes to your liking? Or is there anything that needs to be improved?" Li Hongling smiled at Chen Yu, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Chen Yu put down his chopsticks and nodded in satisfaction: "The food tastes very good, the ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are rich. It's clear that a lot of effort was put into it. However, if I had to give a suggestion, I think we could add some more types of vegetables to make the nutrition more balanced."
Upon hearing this, Li Hongling nodded earnestly: "Once the base cultivates the latest vegetable varieties, our Ministry of Education will definitely strive to introduce them into the student canteen as soon as possible to enrich the students' dining tables."
Chen Yu waved his hand and turned to Qiao Meng, saying, "Qiao, you'll handle this matter. Education is the foundation of Tianyu's grand plan. We not only need to ensure the children are well-fed, but also that they eat well and healthily."
Qiao Meng smiled and nodded: "Of course, I will have my subordinates prioritize all resources for the school's students and ensure the freshness and safety of the ingredients."
Chen Yu nodded and continued eating.
It has to be said that he really ate too much for this meal; he only ate half of it before feeling like he couldn't eat anymore.
But he didn't want to waste food, after all, every grain of rice is hard-earned, and wasting it in public would not have a good impact.
He glanced at the remaining food on his plate, then at Lin Lele who was engrossed in eating, and an idea formed in his mind.
Then, Chen Yu picked up a chicken leg and gently placed it on Lin Lele's plate.
Lin Lele looked up, her big eyes staring straight at Chen Yu: "What? Is this your apology?"
"Apologize?" Chen Yu was slightly taken aback, but he quickly realized what he meant and laughed, "You could say that. I see you have a good appetite, so why don't you eat more? If you're not full, I have more here."
As he spoke, he picked up the plate, preparing to hand the remaining food to Lin Lele.
However, Lin Lele immediately grabbed his hand, a slight smile playing on her lips: "I do not accept your apology."
As she spoke, she picked up the chicken leg she had just eaten and put it back on Chen Yu's plate.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, she picked up her plate and walked away with an air of arrogance.
Actually, she couldn't eat anymore. Although she has a big appetite, she is still just a girl and her appetite is limited.
However, seeing that Chen Yu hadn't stopped eating, she naturally wasn't going to be outdone, so she had no choice but to grit her teeth and continue eating.
Seeing Chen Yu "pouring" food onto her plate, she could easily tell that Chen Yu was also out of food and wanted her help to finish it.
This instantly made her feel relieved; she had won!
So, with the air of a victor, she walked into the food waste disposal area under everyone's noses with a large plate of food, and gracefully and calmly poured the food from the plate into the recycling bin. Every movement revealed her confidence and independence.
But just then, an angry voice rang out: "What are you doing, student?"
Lin Lele paused slightly, turned her head to look at the source of the sound, and saw a staff member in a neat uniform staring angrily at her.
"I...I'm dealing with leftover food," Lin Lele replied somewhat awkwardly, wondering to herself, "Is there something wrong with what I'm doing?"
The staff member frowned, clearly displeased with her behavior: "Student, do you know how much hard work these foods represent? You can enjoy these high-quality, inexpensive foods because you receive subsidies from the base. Every grain of rice, every leaf of vegetable embodies the sweat and toil of countless people. Your careless dumping is not only a huge waste of food, but also a disrespect to those who have worked so hard."
"What does this have to do with me? I didn't receive any subsidies. I bought it at a high price, a full 17 yuan!" Lin Lele retorted.
Upon hearing this, the staff member's expression became even more serious. He patiently explained, "Whether you directly receive the subsidy or not, these foods represent the base's care and efforts for every resident. Price is not the only standard for measuring value; what's important is the meaning behind these foods. Moreover, 17 yuan is a considerable expense for many people, so you should cherish it even more."
"I..." Lin Lele was speechless, taken aback by the staff member's words. She hadn't expected them to take the matter so seriously. People began to gather around, whispering among themselves, which made her feel even more uncomfortable.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, but her voice still trembled slightly: "I know food is important, but I really can't eat anymore. I... I just feel like it's not a big deal to throw it away, after all, I've already paid."
The staff member gently shook his head, his tone carrying a barely perceptible gentleness: "Student, paying doesn't mean you can waste food at will. In this world, there are still many people who can't even guarantee basic food. Every bite of food you waste could be a precious resource they desperately crave."
At this point, he pointed to a poster not far away, which depicted a hungry child with eyes full of longing for food: "Look at this child, his eyes are full of anticipation for food. And you? You are here, easily wasting hard-earned food."
Lin Lele's eyes reddened slightly as she suddenly realized how selfish and ignorant her actions had been. She lowered her head, looking at the empty plate in her hands, and a deep sense of guilt welled up inside her.
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