Qin Huairu then looked at Liu Lan with some dissatisfaction and said angrily, "Liu Lan, what do you mean by this?"
Liu Lan was puzzled: "What's wrong? Qin Huairu, is there something you need? Wasn't it supposed to be two steamed buns?"
Qin Huairu got even angrier after hearing this and stuck the lunchbox out the window, asking, "What do you mean? Why is there so little food? Let me tell you, it's not usually like this!"
Unexpectedly, Liu Lan laughed sarcastically twice: "Usually, usually it's Sha Zhu who's around, and let me tell you, you like to eat, but you don't like to leave, next!"
Qin Huairu was so humiliated by Liu Lan's retort that she could only stomp her feet in anger and leave. She had no choice; people kept urging her on. Liu Lan watched Qin Huairu's retreating figure and smiled disdainfully. "What a piece of trash! I knew you were secretly talking about me behind my back all along. Pah! Let's see how Sha Zhu will protect you now."
Ma Hua was unaware of what had happened in the cafeteria. At that moment, Ma Hua was busy in the kitchen, cleaning the stoves and such, when he saw Director Wang rushing in. Upon seeing Ma Hua, Director Wang grabbed him and angrily berated Fatty: "Fatty, do you still want to work here? What happened? Sha Zhu isn't here, so you're not even taking care of the sanitation anymore?"
The fat guy stood to the side, feeling utterly wronged. But it was Ma Hua cooking today, not his master! He didn't dare say it aloud, only lowering his head and secretly vowing to make them pay when Sha Zhu returned.
After finishing his sentence, Director Wang pulled Ma Hua into his office and excitedly said, "Ma Hua, do you know what? When I delivered the dishes you cooked to the leaders, hahaha, you have no idea what Director Yang and Director Li's faces looked like!" Director Wang was practically bursting with laughter; he still remembered the astonished expressions on the two leaders' faces.
"However! Although I showed your certificate to the leaders, but..." Director Wang rubbed his hands together, saying somewhat embarrassedly.
"What's wrong, Director?" Ma Hua asked, somewhat surprised.
"Director Li agreed on the spot, but Factory Director Yang still had some doubts and hoped you would demonstrate your skills," Director Wang said, still a little embarrassed. He had given his assurance, and now something had gone wrong.
Ma Hua smiled calmly. He had thought it was something serious, but it turned out to be nothing. However, this also reflected that Director Yang was too rule-abiding and lacked decisiveness. No wonder he was brought down by Director Li later. "It's alright. It's only right that the leader considers this. After all, seeing is believing."
"Great, Ma Hua, it's wonderful that you think that way," Director Wang said excitedly to Ma Hua. He was right about Ma Hua after all.
"No, no, no, it's all thanks to the director's kindness. Otherwise, how could I have taken the exam? As for when the tasting will be, I'll have to trouble you to arrange that, Director Wang. Logically, I should be the one preparing the ingredients and treating you, but I really..."
Ma Hua said somewhat sheepishly, "It's not that I don't want to try, it's just that I'm short of money. I don't have the money to buy ingredients. Should I just use the radishes, potatoes, and cabbages from the canteen to try? (Even if I had the money, it wouldn't be of any use; I don't have meat coupons.)"
If the boss saw this, wouldn't he be even more annoyed? "You're looking down on the boss, aren't you? If you can't demonstrate your skills, you might as well just give yourself a permanent position and a level 9 promotion—wouldn't that be a huge loss for you?"
"Go away, go away, go away! This factory is so big, do you really need to pay for it? The boss is entertaining leaders from the Light Industry Bureau from the Northeast tonight, and since Sha Zhu isn't here, you can do it. Alright, alright, as long as you, Ma Hua, become successful in the future and don't act like Sha Zhu, knowing how to throw a tantrum?" Director Wang pointed at Ma Hua and laughed as he scolded.
"Of course not, don't worry, I'll arrange everything perfectly for you," Ma Hua immediately replied with a smile. He was relieved that he wouldn't have to pay anything himself; he was genuinely poor right now. But then Ma Hua thought of a few people and their status.
"Director, what's the standard for tonight's meal? Also, where are all the diners from? What are their tastes? Are there any dietary restrictions?" Ma Hua asked directly without any hesitation. A good chef should take care of every aspect of the diners' needs.
After hearing Ma Hua's words, Director Wang looked at him in surprise: "One from Sichuan, two from Northeast China, plus our factory's Director Li and Factory Director Yang, you can arrange eight dishes, but don't be too extravagant, and definitely don't be wasteful," Director Wang said, staring at Ma Hua.
He now values MCA even more, unlike Sha Zhu, who used to treat guests to all kinds of food, regardless of where they were from, and just kept serving his Beijing-style Sichuan cuisine. As a result, people who didn't eat spicy food were afraid to ask Sha Zhu for help. However, the other chefs at the steel mill were not up to par, so Sha Zhu had to be the one to cook.
Director Wang then tested Ma Hua, seeing what dishes Ma Hua could list. Soon, Ma Hua wrote the names of the dishes on a piece of paper and handed it to Director Wang.
Director Wang looked at Ma Hua with some surprise: "You can do all of this? No problem?" Seeing Ma Hua nod, he smiled and said, "Good lad, you're pretty good. Okay, I'll write you a slip. Go to the small warehouse and get the vegetables."
When Ma Hua retrieved the vegetables from the small warehouse, everyone looked at him with envy. Was Ma Hua going to take over Sha Zhu's stir-fry business so soon?
While everyone else was watching, Liu Lan walked up to Ma Hua without any hesitation and asked, "Ma Hua, what's this?"
Ma Hua looked up and saw Liu Lan. He smiled and said, "Sister Lan, we have a dinner party tonight. We'll have to trouble you to work overtime tonight!"
Although Liu Lan was secretly overjoyed, she pretended to be impatient and said, "Alright, alright, I know." It's great to have leftovers tonight; her daughter has been asking for meat for ages.
Ma Hua put the groceries she had received aside and joined the others in cleaning up the canteen. After cleaning up, Ma Hua began preparing the ingredients.
There was no other way; MCA had no apprentices to serve, and tonight was especially important. Liu Lan helped MCA pick and wash the vegetables, and the two chatted and laughed, getting along very well.
Suddenly, Director Wang walked into the kitchen and saw Ma Hua chopping vegetables. He walked up to Ma Hua and said, "Ma Hua, is everything alright? Let's start the banquet at 7 o'clock!"
“No problem, just you wait and see,” Ma Hua put the chopped vegetables aside, glanced at the clock on the wall, and then began to skillfully prepare the more time-consuming vegetables.
Liu Lan was almost stunned. She had never heard of Ma Hua's skill before. Although she thought Ma Hua's big pot dishes were pretty good at noon, seeing Ma Hua cook the dishes was a real treat. It was like a performance, so interesting that she couldn't take her eyes off it.
Ma Hua coughed twice, which startled Liu Lan awake. Ma Hua pointed to the two cold dishes on the table and said, "Sister Lan, do you think it's time to serve our cold dishes?"
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