At lunchtime, Jiang Tiecheng squeezed in with a group of workers at the canteen.
This is my first time in the cafeteria. Ever since I was transferred to the pipeline handling team, my treatment has been completely different.
This is the canteen on the construction site. There are two types of canteens: one is for the ordinary people who come to repair the irrigation canals.
They usually eat steamed buns made from a mixture of white flour and cornmeal. Of course, there will also be a large stew, but no meat.
This is another canteen, the staff canteen.
Besides the villagers and educated youth from these villages, the other workers on the construction site were all employees of the construction company.
They are full-time employees, so their food is naturally better than that of the ordinary villagers.
They ate white flour steamed buns and a large stew, but you could always see a couple of greasy slices of fatty meat in the stew.
In short, the treatment is clearly different here.
Jiang Tiecheng followed him in.
He had now become the group leader of their sixth moving team.
Although I'm not a permanent employee, I receive the salary of a permanent employee.
After all, it would be a waste to leave such a talented person out there.
Changing jobs is definitely not an option.
In those days, becoming a worker meant having a secure job, and it was impossible for someone like Jiang Tiecheng, a sent-down youth, to get a job so easily.
Most importantly, as the group leader, he was in charge of 16 people.
The 16 of them are responsible for moving more than 20 cement pipes a day.
He came to the cafeteria with his men.
To be precise, Jiang Tiecheng had long realized that his position as group leader was not legitimate.
Although he became the group leader because of his strength, he had worked with their original group leader for many years.
The regular movers were very resentful that he had taken the position of team leader as soon as he arrived, even though he was only a temporary worker.
For example, he is now just a nominal team leader. After entering the cafeteria, his subordinates have already dispersed and no one pays attention to him. After getting his food, no one greets him either.
Jiang Tiecheng knew perfectly well that everyone's displeasure was written all over their faces, and they didn't even bother to hide it.
This was actually a disguised form of intimidation; he knew in his heart that he was now alone and helpless.
I didn't intend to take someone else's spot, but since I've already taken it, I can't just ignore it.
After all, being able to earn a salary and eat in the staff canteen is definitely much better than the previous benefits.
His primary goal in coming here was to survive, given that there was still one more year of famine ahead.
He wasn't prepared to go hungry.
The chef, who was serving food at the window with his lunchbox in hand, looked at him empty-handed and asked...
"Where's your meal ticket? We all get meal tickets at the cafeteria here. Where's yours?"
Jiang Tiecheng then realized that the staff canteen wasn't a place where just anyone could eat.
He looked embarrassed, but still asked the question.
"Master, I just arrived today and don't know about meal tickets. Could you tell me where to get them?"
The head chef was a kind-hearted man, and was about to speak when an unexpected voice suddenly appeared from the side.
"Hey comrade, if you're not getting your food, move aside and don't block other people from getting their food!"
"Take a half-hour break at noon, so as not to disturb others while they eat. There are so many people behind us."
Jiang Tiecheng had no choice but to step aside, and the master chef shook his head.
A young man squeezed up behind him, handing over his lunchbox and meal tickets.
"Old Zhang, don't open your heart to just anyone."
Some people are really amazing. One of them became the leader of our sixth group on his very first day here.
They directly replaced our team leader, Wang, with a regular mover.
How could someone like that not know where to get a meal ticket?
Don't try to wink at a blind man.
The head chef glanced at Jiang Tiecheng with some surprise, and his brows furrowed instantly.
Clearly, they have been working together for many years and know each other very well.
Everyone eating around them subtly glanced at Jiang Tiecheng, clearly indicating that many had overheard his words.
Everyone was watching Jiang Tiecheng.
If he can't get this meal today, he'll either slink away to the cafeteria next door to eat.
Then Jiang Tiecheng will have no place to stand here, and managing his 16 subordinates will be extremely difficult.
All the strangers were staring at Jiang Tiecheng with amusement.
There was an atmosphere of shared hatred and dread throughout the canteen, since everyone saw Jiang Tiecheng as the one who had jumped in and taken away their own people's jobs.
This is a natural hostility.
Jiang Tiecheng looked around, and amidst everyone's gaze, he directly focused his attention on the person behind the table near the door.
He took the lunchbox and came straight to the table, surprising everyone who hadn't expected Jiang Tiecheng to have such keen observation skills.
"Comrade, I am a new temporary worker who arrived today and am in charge of the sixth group."
"Is this where I pick up my meal tickets?"
The middle-aged man sitting behind the table raised an eyebrow, glanced at Jiang Tiecheng dismissively, and snorted coldly.
"We've used up all our meal tickets for today. Please come early tomorrow."
This remark immediately drew a burst of laughter from those around him; clearly, everyone was mocking Jiang Tiecheng.
"Comrade, food is as essential as iron. I do such heavy physical labor every day. If you don't give me a meal ticket today, I won't be able to eat."
In other words, if you work on an empty stomach and any safety hazards arise during your work, I'm not sure if you can bear that responsibility.
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