Siheyuan: Starting from 1958

Wang Dong's answer confused He Yuzhu.

Didn’t Director Yang promise to give me a position as the kitchen team leader? How come this opportunity for fair competition has popped up now?

This is completely different from the result I imagined.

Director Yang is the head of the steel rolling mill, and he would definitely not use the position of kitchen team leader to fool me.

So there is only one possibility for the current situation.

Wang Dong didn't want to be the kitchen team leader, so he must be the one behind the scenes.

He immediately stood up to refute: "What bullshit fair competition, how come I have never heard of it."

"In the past, the team leaders in the kitchen were appointed by the factory leaders..."

"Why did you suddenly change the rules?"

"Wang Dong, is it you who is behind this?"

"I used to be an eighth-level chef in the steel mill. I was punished, but I finally passed the ninth-level chef exam and can be the team leader of the kitchen. I am also the most qualified person to be the team leader in the kitchen..."

"You definitely don't want me to be the kitchen supervisor, so you're causing all this trouble?"

"I'm going to find the factory leader now..."

"Although you are the deputy director of the kitchen, you don't have the final say in the kitchen. You dare to mess with the appointment and decision of the factory leaders. You are too bold..."

He Yuzhu became more and more excited as he spoke, and he firmly believed that he had been appointed as the kitchen team leader by Director Yang, but Wang Dong did not want him to be the team leader, so he caused so many messes in his capacity as the deputy kitchen director.

Seeing He Yuzhu dropping what he was holding and trying to leave the kitchen, Zhou Guoqing, who had been promoted to deputy director of logistics, suddenly appeared at the door of the kitchen, staring at He Yuzhu with a pair of angry eyes and scolding him.

"He Yuzhu..."

"What do you want to do, kid..."

"When I was the head of the kitchen, you were lawless..."

"Now that Comrade Wang Dong has become the deputy director of the kitchen, you are still lawless..."

"Have you forgotten the punishment the steel mill gave you?"

"Or maybe you want to be punished again, and be thrown out of the ninth-level chef position that you worked so hard to pass, and continue to be a tenth-level chef in the kitchen of a steel mill."

When he heard the word "punishment", He Yuzhu immediately became obedient.

But he was not the kind of person who would swallow his grievances. In addition, he firmly believed that Wang Dong was playing tricks on him in becoming the squad leader, so he immediately shouted, "Director Zhou..."

"Wang Dong played tricks on the appointment of the kitchen team leader."

"The factory leaders have already appointed the kitchen team leader, but he still wants to hold a fair election..."

"This clearly shows that they don't take the factory leadership's decision seriously. It's unnecessary to do anything here."

"You are the deputy director of logistics, you must help us make the decision."

"Otherwise, I, He Yuzhu, will go to Director Yang to seek justice for us even if I risk being punished."

Director Zhou was so angry that he laughed. He snorted and asked, "Who told you that the factory leaders have appointed a candidate for the kitchen team leader? How come I haven't received any news at all?"

He Yuzhu felt that Wang Dong and Director Zhou were targeting him, and immediately retorted: "Don't worry about how I know this. Anyway, the factory leaders must have already appointed a candidate for the kitchen team leader... There is no need to start any competition..."

Wang Dong suddenly interrupted: "Comrade He Yuzhu..."

"Since you keep telling us that the factory leaders have already appointed a candidate for the kitchen team leader, then tell me who the factory leaders have appointed as our kitchen team leader." "I..." He Yuzhu blurted out.

Seeing that everyone was staring at him with mocking eyes, He Yuzhu suddenly realized that he had said the wrong thing.

But the arrow had already been shot, so he answered with a stiff upper lip: "What are you laughing at?"

"This is what Director Yang told me this morning. He appointed me as the kitchen team leader. If you don't believe me, you can go ask Director Yang..."

"That's enough..." Director Zhou interrupted without any hesitation.

"Comrade He Yuzhu, I don't care where you heard what you said just now. Which factory leader of our steel rolling mill gave you the promise as the kitchen team leader... It's all fake..."

"I attended the leadership meeting this morning as the acting director of the Logistics Department."

"Director Yang did propose that you be the kitchen team leader, but the leaders rejected it."

"In order to be fair and just and give more comrades a chance to serve as kitchen squad leaders, the leaders decided to hold an election in the kitchen."

"Five level nine chefs who are qualified to be kitchen team leaders are running for election in two canteens. All the kitchen assistants and apprentices in the canteens will vote. Whoever gets the most votes will be ranked first on the recommendation list."

"Each squad leader shall submit three recommended candidates."

“If someone doesn’t receive one of the top three votes in two voting elections, I’m sorry.”

"Even if you are qualified to be the kitchen team leader, your name will not appear on the kitchen recommendation list."

After finishing speaking, he ignored the stunned He Yuzhu and turned his gaze directly to Wang Dong: "Deputy Director Wang..."

"How about starting now..."

"Take five level nine chefs to the two cafeterias for an open election. I'll have a chance to learn from them."

"Master...you are about to set off..." Looking at He Yuzhu who was still in a daze beside him, Ma Hua hurriedly reminded him, with a look of deep worry on his face.

When there is an election, there will be voting.

He Yuzhu was in the dark and had no idea how bad his reputation was in the kitchen.

As a bystander, Ma Hua knows everything clearly.

He Yuzhu had been given suggestions several times before, asking him to make some minor changes so as not to make the relationships between the workers too strained. However, He Yuzhu, relying on his status as an eighth-level chef in charge of the steel rolling mill's small kitchen, did not take these problems seriously.

If the kitchen helpers and apprentices in the two canteens don't have a good impression of He Yuzhu, then his chances of being elected as the kitchen team leader will definitely be very low.

All those big dreams that He Yuzhu had drawn for himself before would never come true.

Thinking of this, Ma Hua felt a little regretful.

If I had known this, I should not have agreed to let He Yuzhu be his apprentice again.

Ma Hua became a level nine chef in this assessment, but he did not take part in the assessment due to He Yuzhu's request and remained as a kitchen helper.

You have to know that two years ago, the fat guy’s chopping skills in the kitchen were not as good as mine, but in the blink of an eye, he has become a team leader in the kitchen. It would be a lie to say that I am not envious.

If He Yuzhu hadn't suddenly appeared and accepted me as his apprentice again, I might have passed this year's chef assessment and become a level 10 chef at the steel rolling mill.

But there is no regret in taking medicine.

He was now tied to He Yuzhu, and he only hoped that He Yuzhu could fulfill his promise. Regardless of whether he could become the kitchen squad leader in this election, he would do his best to teach him cooking skills so that he could pass the tenth-level chef exam as soon as possible, or even the ninth-level chef exam. Otherwise, he would become the assistant chef with the slowest progress in the canteen. (End of this chapter)