Chapter 273 On the other hand, things were in a bad state for Yu Guoliang…
At East China Textile University, as soon as the lunch bell rang, students rushed to the cafeteria as usual. No matter how bad the food was, they rushed to grab a seat so they could at least fill their stomachs in advance. Otherwise, it would be too much of a pain to wait in long lines and squeeze together.
Those with bicycles naturally have an advantage, while some resourceful individuals take on three or four people on a bicycle, turning it into an off-road tank, and launch a massive attack on the cafeteria.
"It's just a cafeteria, so we can't ask for too much. As long as it's edible, it's fine!"
“Back in our county high school, a meat dish cost two cents, and only a small number of people could afford it.”
"We college students get a little subsidy... Let's order a meat dish today."
...
The students had no expectations for the school cafeteria. However, when the first student stepped into the cafeteria, an unprecedentedly overpowering aroma, like a straight spear, suddenly pierced into their noses, instantly robbing everyone of their sense of smell.
"What...what is this smell?"
For the first time ever, I actually started swallowing, and my throat felt sour.
It's not the blandness of everyday boiled vegetables, nor the tantalizing aroma of pork belly from the next table when you're indulging at a restaurant. It's an extremely complex food fragrance.
A variety of fragrances wafted towards me in turn.
I could almost smell the aroma of my grandmother making pork cracklings at home during the Lunar New Year, the crispy texture hidden within, and I could almost hear the sizzling sound of the pork cracklings in the pan.
The mysterious and rich aroma of soy sauce seems to carry a charming hint of alcohol, making one feel slightly tipsy. The subtle fragrance is of unknown origin, and one wonders how long it has been simmered over low heat.
The seafood flavor is salty and savory, like MSG dancing on the tongue, giving the soup a unique sweetness that evokes the sound of ocean waves. The sweetness hidden in the fishy smell tantalizes the taste buds.
One after another, the students couldn't help but swallow hard. They quickened their pace and rushed towards the window, quickly forming a long line. Now, the students at the "head" of the line were starting to hesitate.
The scene before me is just like the exam questions I wrote last December, making it hard to make a choice.
"Ah, there's absolutely no choice, are we just guessing?"
A male student who said he wanted to order meat dishes couldn't help but look at the "green vegetables" under the ladle of the serving lady. The green vegetables that used to be watery and yellowish after cooking had been transformed into bright green, shiny stir-fried green vegetables.
It also contains golden pork cracklings!
His eyes lit up when he looked at it.
"Big sister, I want this, give me more of this! More... the yellow stuff inside."
"I want another one—" The boy glanced at the rich, dark-sauced braised meat, but ultimately couldn't bear to spend the money. "I want this pickled vegetable."
"Okay, classmate, there's free soup in the cafeteria today, remember to go and get some."
The boy took his meal, not caring whether it was soupy or not, and eagerly picked up a piece of pork cracklings. With a "crunch," the unique aroma of pork cracklings spread between his lips and tongue.
Add a piece of green vegetable; its sweetness and tenderness neutralize the greasiness of the pork cracklings, making it absolutely delicious!
"Delicious—delicious!"
The boy had no expectations when he ate the pickled vegetables next to him, but once he put them in his mouth, he felt even more invigorated.
This pickled vegetable—it must be a divine dish!
Some students ordered stir-fried vegetables with pork cracklings, others ordered meatballs with bean curd residue, and those with more money opted for braised pork or red-braised pork... Countless difficult choices weighed on the minds of the students in the cafeteria.
"Which one should we choose? They all say it's delicious."
"For a cheaper option, try stir-fried vegetables with pork scraps!"
"Soybean curd balls are also delicious."
"If you have the money, choose braised pork! This braised pork sauce with rice is so good, even a god wouldn't trade it!"
...
Today, the cafeteria had something special: the "free soup" that the cafeteria lady had reminded everyone of. Many people didn't take it seriously, thinking that what good things could be free? Probably just dishwater.
However, once it was in my hands, I discovered that it was a clear soup with seaweed, dried shrimp, and scallions floating on top.
A girl was prepared to drink the soup like she usually drinks dishwater to fill her stomach, but she was stunned as soon as she tasted it.
This soup is delicious!
It's not the umami flavor from excessive MSG, but a different kind of very natural and mellow umami taste.
The chef next to him immediately boasted proudly, "This soup is made from bean sprouts!"
"Your eyebrows are falling out, aren't they?"
Using bean sprouts to make soup is a skill, a skill that was known only to a very few people, even in the old City God Temple in Shanghai.
Today's free soup is even more of a "show of skill".
Stir-fried vegetables with pork cracklings, braised pork, braised pork belly, soybean curd balls, bean sprout soup... Even the pickiest girl on a normal day would eat the last piece of vegetables in her bowl.
Four or five boys sat around a table, almost turning against each other over the last small piece of braised meat.
"Give me this piece today, and tomorrow we'll chip in and buy another braised pork. I'll cut it up with the knife!"
This is the students' ingenuity: they pooled their money to buy a dish of braised meat, shared it, and everyone could enjoy the flavor without it being expensive.
However, no matter how they divided the money—they almost lost their friendship!
And because each person can only eat "a small piece," this braised meat has become a dreamlike delicacy.
"This soup is amazing! A true master has come to our school!" An old professor exclaimed, holding the bowl of free soup.
Professor Zheng, standing next to him, pursed his lips. He had originally said he wouldn't eat, but his colleague had dragged him over. He only ordered stir-fried vegetables with pork cracklings, while the old man next to him ordered braised pork and said there was free soup. Professor Zheng said he didn't want any!
The old professor said, "Oh, give me this bowl of soup too."
Professor Zheng was annoyed. As he ate his food, the pork cracklings smelled delicious, but the braised meat next to them smelled even better. The old man had also bought bean curd balls. And just how delicious was this soup?
He stood up!
Professor Zheng finally couldn't resist and sheepishly went to order a plate of braised pork, and also got a free bowl of soup.
"Teacher Shen, you finished your soup? You really enjoy it!"
"Qin Xiangxiang is your student, isn't she?"
Professor Zheng's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
This student who doesn't study properly! This problem student, Qin Xiangxiang, who doesn't study properly!
Is this how she manages a textile factory as its manager?
Professor Zheng complained, "She says she's the director of a textile factory, but you'd think she was the manager of some state-owned hotel. Her abilities are really being wasted!"
Other students were also discussing it enthusiastically:
"Why has our cafeteria changed so much?"
"A female student has taken over the management of our school cafeteria!"
"That's a very influential figure, Qin Xiangxiang!"
"This student Qin is simply a reincarnation of Guanyin Bodhisattva; she saved our stomachs!"
Lin Xiuqin sat in the cafeteria, holding her lunchbox, feeling extremely uncomfortable. Her face was filled with disbelief and shock. "This Qin Xiangxiang... did she graduate from the culinary school?"
"This guy should open a 'New Oriental'!"
From that day on, the canteen at East China Textile University was no longer a place students complained about as being fed dog food, but rather a place they longed for. Many students developed the skill of "speedy legs" so that they could rush to the canteen as soon as get out of class ended.
Some students even pooled their money to assemble bicycles, all so they could get to the cafeteria faster.
"After the cafeteria changed, we saved money. I don't want to eat out at restaurants on weekends anymore. I can use the money I saved to eat braised pork in the cafeteria more often! Hehe."
In just a few days, the "good reputation" of the East China Textile University canteen spread to the ears of students at Fudan University and Tongji University, attracting many students from other universities to "mooch a meal".
"I've come to try your school's amazing braised pork!"
"Alas, why didn't this Qin student get into Fudan University!"
“I’m from Tongji University, and I would like to get to know this student, Qin.”
...
Compared to students from other schools, the students of East China Textile University felt a tremendous sense of superiority in the city's university circle for the first time because of the school's cafeteria and their unique female factory director, Qin Xiangxiang!
On this day, the school principal accompanied several leaders from the Ministry of Education to inspect the teaching and discuss the first batch of students after the resumption of the college entrance examination, as well as the adaptation of the freshmen of the class of 1977 and 1978 to school.
When it was lunchtime, the group arrived at the school cafeteria, which was bustling with people and filled with an enticing aroma of food.
The Ministry of Education staff were greatly surprised. After tasting the "soybean dregs dumplings" and "soybean sprout soup," one leader praised them highly: "We have visited universities all over the country recently, and the quality of your canteen is unparalleled, absolutely top-notch!"
"Cheap, delicious, and affordable!"
The principal was beaming with pride. At the school-wide assembly the following Monday, he stood under the national flag and solemnly praised Qin Xiangxiang: "...Qin Xiangxiang is the pride of our East China Textile University. She is not only an academic backbone of our school, but also applies the spirit of reform and innovation to serving her fellow students! The cafeteria she reformed has been praised by people both inside and outside the school, and it has almost become a 'living advertisement'! This fully embodies the spirit of college students in the new era who dare to think and act and serve the masses!"
Amid thunderous applause, Qin Xiangxiang received a certificate for "Outstanding Student".
Qin Xiangxiang: "???"
Can you even get an award certificate for this?
On the other hand, things are in a bad state for Yu Guoliang.
A new batch of Ministry of Foreign Affairs orders were mostly returned, and with foreign trade orders looming large, the factory was in complete chaos.
"You... these factory workers are deliberately trying to trip me up... What's wrong with this? How could there be a problem?"
The factory workers had reached their breaking point:
"You're the one with the problem, you're the one who's crazy!"
"The previous orders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Factory Director Qin carefully inspected each and every one of them!"
"Shameless! We should all go on strike and kick him out!"
"A hero of reform? A hero of chaos! We can't possibly fulfill that Eastern European trade order; everything's a mess now. You're shameless!!!"
"Director Qin was featured in the newspaper years ago, 'Skillful Hands Protect National Treasures,' what about you? What abilities do you have?"
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