I Can't Hold It In for Another Day!

Everyone's eyes turned toward the corner, where Xiao Lei sat on a stool with a relaxed look on his face.

The chefs and prep cooks' facial muscles twitched as they struggled not to laugh.

Chef Xiao's mouth was truly venomous. His insults were vicious.

He had not left Huang Fusheng or Wang Defa a shred of dignity.

Outside the door, Wang Defa was red with rage, his fists clenched tight.

"Xiao Lei, you... you're utterly lawless!" Huang Fusheng stamped his foot in fury and pointed at Xiao Lei. "Do you have even a shred of discipline? Do you have any conscience? Do you have any respect for Director Wang?!"

After saying that, he did not forget to turn to the others. "Tell me, am I right?"

The kitchen remained quiet. No one responded to Huang Fusheng.

Chef Xiao had worked in the kitchen for nearly twenty years. He was a proper Level Two chef, and when it came to cooking at the Factory Canteen, he undeniably held the top spot.

Which of the chefs and prep cooks present had not received his guidance?

They could not bring themselves to eat from his bowl, then curse him after putting it down.

Huang Fusheng wanted to suck up to Wang Defa, but they had no need to do the same.

Besides, there was not a single thing wrong with what Chef Xiao had said.

Ever since Huang Fusheng became head chef, the stir-fries under his charge had gotten worse by the day. It had gotten so bad that whenever they went out, even they canteen chefs were cursed by the workers until they could not lift their heads.

Back when Chef Xiao had been head chef, they had received no shortage of praise.

"The duck blames the slope for being steep, and the crab blames the road for being narrow." Xiao Lei sneered. "Zhou Yan learned his skills in the canteen and opened his restaurant fair and square. If he can get customers through the door, that's his own ability. If you put even half the effort you use sucking up to Wang Defa into your cooking, the workers wouldn't curse you nearly this badly."

"Xiao Lei, you..." Huang Fusheng gritted his teeth.

"Enough. It'll be time to get off work soon, so why aren't you prepping ingredients?" Wang Defa walked into the kitchen and said in a low voice, "Huang Fusheng, come out here."

"Director..." Huang Fusheng immediately put on a fawning smile and followed him out of the kitchen, then promptly complained, "That little bastard Xiao Lei has a lax attitude and no sense of organization or discipline. He openly insulted you. I think we should find a way to fire him!"

"Fire my ass. He's got more seniority than I do, and he hasn't done anything wrong. How am I supposed to fire him?" Wang Defa shot him a glare. "I heard Zhou Erwa Restaurant is starting to sell braised dishes and stir-fries today. They're planning to go head-to-head with our stir-fries. Today is crucial, so you'd better get your ass in gear."

"I guarantee I will!" Huang Fusheng immediately straightened up.

"Wang Wei, wasn't Zhou Yan famous for how awful his cooking was? How did his reputation suddenly turn around? These past few days, everyone's been talking about Zhou Erwa Restaurant whenever it's time to eat."

"Yeah. Just two months ago, everyone was saying his stir-fries were worse than even the canteen's big-pot dishes. Who would have thought Sichuan Fine Arts Academy students would eat at his place for two meals in a row?"

Two female accountants from the finance department walked toward the factory gates with Wang Wei, their faces full of curiosity.

"I think Zhou Yan just never found the right niche before. How could one person possibly handle a wall full of dishes?" Wang Wei brushed back her short hair and smiled. "He's changed his strategy now. He only makes noodles and Qiaojiao Beef, and it tastes even better than the state-run restaurants. I heard he's starting to sell stir-fries and braised dishes today. Let's go try them too and keep up with the trend."

"We should give it a try. Otherwise, we won't be able to get a word in when those women in the workshop start chatting." Wen Ling nodded.

"I haven't seen Zhou Yan in ages since he left the canteen. Is he still as handsome as before? Wang Wei, you see him often, so you should know, right?" Zheng Xiuhui asked with a gossipy expression.

"Mm, more or less the same," Wang Wei said with a smile.

She had seen Zhou Yan when she went to his restaurant for noodles the day before yesterday. His appearance had not changed, but his bearing was somewhat different. The dejection and confusion he once had were gone, replaced by confidence and composure.

That change in temperament made him seem more attractive. It was like the light had returned to a young man's eyes.

The three of them chatted and laughed all the way to Zhou Erwa Restaurant. It had only been a short while since work ended, but several tables in the restaurant were already occupied.

"You girls, be good and sit inside," Zhao Tieying greeted them with a smile.

"Okay, Auntie Zhao." Wang Wei smiled back, led the other two to an empty table, and looked up at the menu board hanging on the wall beside them.

"These prices... Beef Braised with Dried Bamboo Shoots is one yuan a serving. That's even more expensive than the canteen's stir-fries."

"Yeah, and Braised Spare Ribs costs one yuan sixty. That's a whole day's wages for me."

Wen Ling and Zheng Xiuhui clicked their tongues, both stunned by the prices of the stir-fries and braised dishes.

The customers entering one after another also hesitated when they saw the prices written on the board.

Zhao Tieying felt anxious. She opened her mouth, but found it hard to explain. If it were her, she would turn around and leave after seeing those prices. No matter how good the food was, it was beyond what she could afford.

"These prices actually aren't expensive. Our canteen buys ingredients with ration coupons, so our prices are nearly half what they are at the market." Wang Wei explained with a smile. "For an independent restaurant like this, a pound of beef costs two yuan. A serving of braised beef or stir-fried beef has to contain at least three taels of beef. The meat alone costs sixty cents, not to mention the vegetables, seasonings, oil, rent, wages, and everything else. They can barely make twenty or thirty cents per serving, which is less than they earn on a bowl of noodles."

Wang Wei did not deliberately lower her voice, and everyone else heard her.

Wen Ling and Zheng Xiuhui were both accountants. After Wang Wei put it that way, they understood the numbers.

"That makes sense. If they prep too much and fail to sell a few portions, they might even lose money." Wen Ling nodded.

The customers all nodded upon hearing that. As expected of an accountant from the Factory Canteen—she had explained it simply and clearly.

It was a straightforward calculation. Meat was expensive to begin with, and viewed that way, the dishes suddenly seemed fairly cost-effective.

"Then shall we order two dishes to try?" Zheng Xiuhui asked.

"How about we order a serving of Qiaojiao Beef and another dish, then split the cost?" Wen Ling suggested.

Wang Wei said, "How about Two-Pepper Beef? Last time, I saw people eating it with noodles, and it looked especially good with rice."

"Sounds good." Wen Ling and Zheng Xiuhui nodded with smiles.

"Auntie Zhao, we'd like to order." Wang Wei called over to place their order. They got one serving of Two-Pepper Beef, one serving of Qiaojiao Beef, and three bowls of rice.

"Sure thing, girls. I'll have it stir-fried for you right away." Auntie Zhao beamed, looking at Wang Wei as though she could not adore her more.

This girl was wonderful. If not for what she had said, Auntie Zhao had no idea how they would have opened things up at lunch today.

Seeing this, the other customers began placing orders as well.

Beef Braised with Dried Bamboo Shoots and Two-Pepper Beef were ordered the most. Few people asked about the spare ribs, while the two-yuan Agastache Carp drew no interest at all.

The freshly stir-fried Suihua Beef was brought to their table shortly afterward. The two peppers were bright in color, while the beef was lightly charred on the surface and coated in glistening red oil. Its spicy fragrance rushed up with the steam, making all three women's eyes light up.

"It smells so good! And this portion is really generous. There's got to be at least three taels of beef in there. They're being honest with the serving!" Wen Ling praised.

"This Suihua Beef looks perfect with rice, and it was stir-fried fresh." Zheng Xiuhui swallowed.

"Here you go, girls—your Qiaojiao Beef." Zhao Tieying brought over a serving of Qiaojiao Beef, along with three dipping dishes, three small bowls, and two plates of pickled radish. Smiling, she said, "When you finish the soup, just call me and I'll bring you more. Drink as much as you want."

"Auntie Zhao, if we order one serving of Qiaojiao Beef, can we really have unlimited soup? Won't that make you lose money?" Wang Wei asked somewhat embarrassedly.

"Lose money? Not at all. Unlimited soup is our rule. You can drink as much as you like." Zhao Tieying smiled, then raised her voice a little. "It's the same for everyone. If you order Qiaojiao Beef, soup refills are free, so don't be shy."

"Sounds good." The customers answered with smiles.

"Auntie Zhao is so nice. Compared to those state-run restaurant servers who curse at people, she's like an angel. She's even nicer than the ladies who serve food at the canteen," Wang Wei remarked.

"Exactly. Eating here just makes you feel comfortable." Wen Ling nodded, glanced at Wang Wei with a grin, and said, "She'd be even better as a mother-in-law. She seems really easy to get along with."

"That's true." Zheng Xiuhui nodded and looked at Wang Wei. "The two of us are already married with children, so we don't have a chance anymore. But you can seize the opportunity."

"What are you two talking about? Eat your food." Wang Wei protested with a pout. Those two older sisters from the office always loved teasing her.

"Come on, let's each take our own beef first. Two slices per person, just right." Zheng Xiuhui smiled as she picked up her chopsticks, lifted a slice of beef, dipped it in the dry seasoning, and put it into her mouth. She was immediately startled.

The beef slices were large, thin, and tender beyond anything she had imagined. There was also a faint milky aroma that collided with the spicy dipping seasoning on her tongue.

Delicious!

"I'll try the Suihua Beef first." Wen Ling picked up a small spoon, scooped some Two-Pepper Beef over her rice, mixed it lightly with her chopsticks, and took a big mouthful.

The minced beef was charred on the outside and tender within—fragrant, spicy, rich, and glossy. Chewing it together with the aromatic rice brought an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

The beef was deeply fragrant and full of wok hei. Paired with the green and red peppers, it was more than a collision of colors—it was a perfect union of fragrance and heat.

She had eaten Suihua Beef at the Factory Canteen last month, but its texture and flavor had been nowhere close to this!

"Suihua Beef mixed with rice is unbelievably good. It's absolutely unbeatable." Wen Ling looked at her two friends and enthusiastically recommended it.

Wang Wei had just ladled herself a bowl of soup and was drinking it. Hearing that, she said, "This soup is so fresh! Try it—the hotter it is, the fresher it tastes. I heard it's simmered for eight hours."

Satisfied customers were undoubtedly the best advertisement.

Still, most customers chose Qiaojiao Beef.

At sixty cents a serving, it came with meat and soup. Add a bowl of rice, and one person could eat very well.

If they had dining companions, they could order a dish and split the bill, making it quite affordable.

As the dishes reached the tables, praise became unceasing.

The customers were utterly satisfied.

Zhou Erwa Restaurant's stir-fries and braised dishes had taken their first step today.

"What kind of Kung Pao Chicken is this? It tastes burnt! The peanuts aren't even crisp!"

"Is this how Garlic Sauce Pork is supposed to be sliced? It's thicker than my shoe insoles!"

"Damn it, I can't hold it in for another day!"

"Huang Fusheng, come out and taste it yourself! Is this fit for human consumption?"

At the Factory Canteen, in the dining area in front of the stir-fry section, Zhao Dong slapped the table and cursed furiously.

The workers eating nearby all turned to look at him, as though they were looking at a hero who had finally stood up.