The canteen where Ma Hua worked was the smallest in the entire factory, the "small canteen" that the leaders referred to. Its full name was the Sixth Canteen of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill.
It's called a small canteen not just because it's small in scale and only serves meals for less than a thousand people.
Furthermore, the Sixth Canteen has a rather special location, being quite close to the leaders' office building. In addition, with the skilled cook Sha Zhu in charge, the Sixth Canteen is usually responsible for the leaders' private meals and various hospitality arrangements.
Normally, only the logistics department in the office building and the nearby workshops can eat here. Others would give up even if they wanted to, because it's too far away. So, don't be fooled by the unassuming and ordinary appearance of the Sixth Canteen from the outside; it has all kinds of facilities inside, the work isn't tiring, and you can often see various leaders.
There's an old saying that cooks and drivers are the boss's favorites, which gives you an idea of why.
This canteen isn't a place just anyone can come to. For example, Liu Lan is the mistress of Li Huaide, who's in charge of the factory's logistics; Aunt Sun is supposedly a relative of some director; and so are Aunt Liu and Aunt Li. Don't let the low wages fool you; it's a place many people would fight tooth and nail to get into.
Speaking of which, Ma Hua benefited from Sha Zhu's influence. Sha Zhu was the best cook among the two cooks in the sixth canteen. The kitchen staff believed in earning a living through skill, so Sha Zhu usually acted arrogantly and bossily in the canteen because of his cooking skills. No one dared to mess with him. If Sha Zhu displeased them even slightly, they would refuse to work. Who would cook the meals for the leaders then? In the end, Ma Hua would be the one who suffered.
It's a pity that, due to his parents' situation, despite being from a prominent family, he didn't benefit from any of the advantages he received at this crucial little canteen.
What light? It's a closely guarded secret in the culinary industry, cough cough cough... if I say too much and people find out, Ma Hua is afraid the whole canteen will...
Just as the group was happily gossiping, Sha Zhu walked in from outside with a stern face. Sha Zhu glared at Ma Hua first, then plopped down in his assigned chair. He reached around and realized there was no tea. Sha Zhu wanted to yell at Ma Hua, but then he remembered he had already kicked Ma Hua out of the group…
He then shouted loudly at the crowd, "Fatty, where the hell have you been? What's wrong? Are you planning to betray your sect like that ingrate? You didn't even pour me tea, are you going to rebel too?"
Sha Zhu, seeing that he had called for a long time but the fat man hadn't appeared, glared at Ma Hua and sat down angrily in his chair. Liu Lan, somewhat gossipy, nudged Ma Hua with her elbow: "Ma Hua, are you serious?"
"Hmm," Liu Lan exclaimed upon seeing the determination in Ma Hua's eyes, "Alright, alright, we understand you. You were really too naive before." They had seen how Ma Hua had treated Sha Zhu before.
But there's nothing they can do. Sha Zhu is Ma Hua's mentor, and these outsiders are just speaking up for Ma Hua, so Ma Hua has to listen. Before, when they tried to advise Ma Hua, he not only wasn't grateful but also went against them, saying that Liu Lan and her group were ruining the mentor-student relationship between him and Sha Zhu.
Seeing Silly Zhu's furious expression, everyone chuckled and glanced at him from his chair. "Sigh, Silly Zhu," they thought, "without Ma Hua, let's see who does your job. Even before, Ma Hua helped me with my work. You really think a chef only cooks dishes? Wrong!"
Everyone had to do all sorts of work; everyone was equal, just with different roles in the revolution. Besides, Sha Zhu was just a cook. The canteen didn't just involve cooking; there was also picking, washing, and chopping vegetables, and even making pastries.
That is, steaming buns and cornbread. Before, Ma Hua would finish her own work quickly and then help Sha Zhu with this and that, but unfortunately, she didn't get any credit for it after doing it for so long.
On the other side, Sha Zhu, who was so thirsty he was practically steaming, was furious inside. He was cursing Ma Hua, that little bastard, in his heart. He had been walking and chatting with Sister Qin the whole way, and he was so thirsty, but Ma Hua, that ingrate, hadn't even prepared a cup of tea for him.
Just as he looked up, he saw the fat man walk in with a carefree expression. Upon seeing this, Sha Zhu immediately yelled at the top of his lungs, "Fatty, do you even respect me as your master?"
"Ah, yes, Master, what do you mean? You're the person I admire most," the fat man exclaimed in surprise, then ran up to Sha Zhu with a fawning expression.
"Hmph, didn't you see my cup is empty? Hurry up and pour me some water. What's wrong? Are you going to betray your sect like that ingrate?" Although Sha Zhu was talking about the fat man, everyone could tell that Sha Zhu was just making a veiled insult.
"Master, look at what you're saying. I, Fatty, am not that kind of person. Come, come, Master, have some tea. You must be tired." As he spoke, he reached for the hand warmer on the ground to pour water for Sha Zhu.
Liu Lan couldn't hold back any longer. Others might be afraid of Sha Zhu, but she wasn't, especially since Sha Zhu felt he had slandered her Sister Qin and had been making things difficult for her. "Yeah, Fatty, you're not that kind of person. If you're so capable, go get the water yourself! Sha Zhu, didn't you look down on Ma Hua? How come you're drinking water that Ma Hua fetched?"
Ma Hua said coldly, "Sister Lan, it's alright, just consider it feeding the dogs. It's not a big deal. Anyway, some people are just unwarm dogs." Ma Hua thought of all the things she had made for Sha Zhu before, and felt a wave of disgust.
Upon hearing Liu Lan's words, the fat man froze on the spot. Sha Zhu, however, instantly flew into a rage at this damned Ma Hua for daring to mock him: "Liu Lan, who said I wanted a drink? Didn't you hear me, Fatty? Hurry up and get some warm water! How did I end up with a disciple like you?"
"What bad luck! Bah! Fatty, what are you still standing there for? What's wrong? You want to rebel too? Don't want to learn from me? Fine, I don't want to teach you anymore."
Sha Zhu glared angrily at Liu Lan. He knew Liu Lan had powerful backers and that he couldn't afford to offend her, so he could only vent his anger on Fatty.
The fat man gritted his teeth and forced a smile, saying, "Yes, yes, Master is right, I'll go right away," but a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes.
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