60s: I have a store

Chapter 608 Challenge
The atmosphere in the office of the fourth purchasing department was quite different from usual.

Ever since Zhou Yimin announced in the morning that he would treat everyone to a start-up dinner that evening, everyone had been filled with a little anticipation, and couldn't help but get distracted while working.

Everyone knows that Zhou Yimin is generous, but I wonder what kind of good dishes will be on the table when he treats people to a meal?
Is there any meat?
Xiao Wang held a pen in his hand, but his eyes kept glancing at the wall clock, which ticked away.

His colleague next to him was checking the purchase order, but after a while he put down his pen, looked up at the sky outside the window, then looked up at the time on the wall, and muttered to himself, "Why isn't it time yet?"

A day that usually flies by felt like it stretched out several times over today.

Xiao Li, from the second shift, stared at the calendar on the table, his fingers unconsciously tracing lines on it, calculating how much longer it would take to get off work.

The older woman across from him had just finished sorting through a pile of documents. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, but her eyes kept drifting toward the office door, as if that would make time pass faster.

Throughout the department, almost every few hours, someone would look up to check the time, more frequently than when they were taking a break to go to the bathroom.

Some people looked at the wall clock, some looked at their watches, and some even asked their colleagues, "Hey, how much longer until we get off work?"

The answer is often: "It'll be here soon, just wait a little longer."

But the words "soon" sounded like they were taking an exceptionally long time to come.

Finally, the clock on the wall slowly moved to six o'clock, and the bell for the end of the workday rang out in the factory area, its crisp sound instantly spreading to every corner.

The team from the fourth procurement department seemed to have been activated; their fatigue vanished instantly, replaced by smiles.

Normally at this time, everyone would be scrambling to pack their things, eager to rush out of the office, but today was completely different.

Zhou Dazhong slowly closed the ledger, carefully put it into the drawer, and didn't forget to turn back to his colleague and say, "Don't rush, we definitely won't be able to eat, take your time."

Xiao Li also stood up, stretched, and then slowly and methodically tidied the documents on the table, a wide grin on his face.

The others did the same, calmly packing up and calling to each other as they headed towards the cafeteria.

In the corridor, people from the fourth purchasing department walked around in twos and threes, chatting and laughing.

Some people were chatting about what they might eat that evening, others were discussing their work plans after the New Year, and still others were joking about who had checked the time the most earlier.

Everyone knew that there would be hot and plentiful meals waiting for them in the cafeteria. This anticipation made everyone slow down and enjoy this rare moment of comfort.

At this moment, the canteen kitchen was already a scene of bustling activity.

Director Wang placed the ingredients that Zhou Yimin had brought on the counter, and the chefs immediately got to work.

Chef Zhang, wearing a shiny apron, swung a large ladle in his hand and gave orders in a loud voice: "Xiao Li, cut those dozen or so pounds of pork belly into chunks and blanch them! Lao Zhang, chop the chicken into pieces and add plenty of ginger slices to remove the fishy smell!"

Xiao Li responded, picked up the cleaver and "thump thump thump" cut the pork belly into two-finger-wide cubes, threw them into the large aluminum basin next to him, filled it with water, sprinkled in two handfuls of cooking wine, and carried it to the stove to blanch it.

As soon as the water started to steam, a layer of grayish-white foam floated to the surface of the basin. He used a long-handled spoon to skim it off repeatedly until the water was clear before scooping the meat into a basin of cold water to cool it down. This way, the stewed meat would be firm and not dry.

On the other side, Old Zhang was dealing with the whole chicken.

The cleaver seemed to come alive in his hands; with a few quick "snap, snap," he chopped the chicken into evenly sized pieces and threw them into water to soak and remove the blood.

After soaking, take the chicken out and drain the water. Pour oil into a large iron pot, and when the oil smokes, pour in the chicken pieces. With a "sizzle", oil splatters high.

He quickly stir-fried the chicken pieces with a spatula, and in no time they turned golden brown, glistening with tempting oil. He then sprinkled on some scallions, ginger, garlic, and a handful of dried chili peppers, and the aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.

Chef Liu, who is in charge of vegetarian dishes, was also busy.

He poured the potatoes and radishes that Zhou Yimin had brought into a large basin, and used a board with stiff bristles to scrub the mud off them. The washed potatoes were all clean and smooth.

He cut the potatoes into chunks, the radishes into thick slices, and then took out a few cabbages from the canteen's vegetable cellar, quickly tearing them into large pieces. They looked fresh and vibrant green.

Master Zhang had just poured the blanched pork belly into the wok, added two spoonfuls of white sugar, and slowly stir-fried it until the pieces of meat were coated with caramel color and emitted a sweet aroma, before ladling in two large spoonfuls of soy sauce with a "glug" sound.

Pour in half a pot of boiling water, then add star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves. Cover with a heavy wooden lid and simmer over low heat.

The aroma of meat mixed with the fragrance of seasonings wafted out from the cracks in the pot lid, making one's mouth water.

"Old Zhang, is the chicken stew ready?" Chef Zhang asked, turning his head.

"It's still early. I just added water. It needs to simmer until the broth is thick." Old Zhang was adding mushrooms to the chicken pot when he heard this and replied without looking up.

Chef Liu chimed in, "My vegetarian dishes are almost ready. We can serve them together once the meat stew is done."

The flames on the stove licked the bottom of the pot with a "whoosh," the pork belly in the large iron pot simmered and bubbled in the broth, the potato chunks absorbed the aroma of the meat after being poured into the chicken pot, and the radish slices were stewed until soft in another pot.

The chefs moved between the stoves, occasionally lifting the pot lid to check the heat and add seasonings. Beads of sweat streamed down their faces, but they didn't bother to wipe them away.

Fifteen minutes before six o'clock, Chef Zhang lifted the lid of the stew pot, and a rich aroma of meat wafted out. The pork belly was stewed until it was shiny and glossy, and you could easily pierce it with chopsticks.

He nodded in satisfaction and called out, "The food is served!"

The chefs packed the stewed pork belly, mushroom stewed chicken, radish stewed with vermicelli, and stir-fried cabbage into large basins, which were then carried by two apprentices to the dining hall.

The freshly cooked dishes were steaming hot, and their aroma wafted far and wide, attracting the attention of the purchasing team from the fourth department who were already waiting in the hall. They craned their necks to look, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Just then, Zhou Yimin strode into the canteen. He immediately saw that the hall was already full of people, with colleagues from the five departments sitting at five tables according to their respective departments.

Everyone had a bowl and chopsticks set out in front of them, and their eyes were all fixed on the dishes that had just been served, but no one touched their chopsticks, clearly waiting for him.

"Sorry to keep you all waiting." Zhou Yimin walked forward with a smile, carrying a bulging net bag in his hand.

He placed the net bag on the table in the middle, and with a "whoosh," seven or eight bottles of Lotus liquor rolled out.

"Knowing there will be a lot of people today, I specially prepared a few extra bottles. Everyone, drink as much as you like, but don't overindulge, you still have to go to work tomorrow."

Everyone's eyes lit up when they saw the liquor, and many people laughed and cheered, "Section Chief Zhou is awesome!"

"This lotus-flavored liquor is a real gem; we're usually reluctant to sell it!"

Zhou Yimin waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet: "Alright, all the dishes are ready, no need to wait, let's eat!"

In fact, everyone was already incredibly tempted by the food in front of them. The stewed pork belly was glistening with oil, and the aroma of the mushroom stewed chicken was irresistible.

If they weren't waiting for Zhou Yimin, they would have started eating long ago.

Hearing Zhou Yimin's words, everyone could no longer contain themselves and picked up their chopsticks, reaching for the dish. "I'll try this pork belly first!" Zhou Dazhong was the first to act, picking up a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat and stuffing it into his mouth. The aroma of the meat instantly exploded in his mouth; it was fatty but not greasy, and the saltiness was just right.

He exclaimed indistinctly, "It smells so good! Master Zhang's cooking is truly authentic!"

Xiao Li at the next table wasn't idle either. He picked up a large piece of chicken, along with a shiitake mushroom soaked in broth, and ate it with his mouth full of oil, saying in a muffled voice, "This chicken is stewed so tender, and the shiitake mushroom is even more fragrant than the meat!"

Zhou Yimin also found a seat and poured himself and his colleagues drinks. "Come on, everyone, have a sip first to warm yourselves up."

"Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses, clinking them together with a crisp sound. The wine, with its unique mellowness and slight sweetness, flowed warmly into their stomachs, making them feel comfortable all over.

As everyone ate and chatted, some praised the food, some shared anecdotes from their work, and others toasted each other. The entire canteen was filled with laughter and joy, creating a lively atmosphere.

Everyone's face was beaming with satisfaction. The fatigue from the previous work seemed to have been dispelled by this sumptuous start-of-work meal, leaving only relaxation and comfort.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere in the canteen became increasingly lively.

The dishes on the table were gradually running low, and some people simply stood up and stretched out their arms to pick up food from the dishes on the next table, which drew a burst of good-natured laughter.

Zhou Dazhong was the most engrossed in his meal. Several empty bowls were piled up in front of him, and there was still some meat broth on the corner of his mouth. He picked up the last piece of pork belly, stuffed it into his mouth, smacked his lips, and said, "This stewed meat is really flavorful, even more delicious than the one my family makes for Chinese New Year."

Just then, a hot-headed young man named Zhang from the third group stood up, his face flushed red from drinking, his steps unsteady. He walked straight towards Zhou Yimin. "Section Chief Zhou, I'd like to propose a toast to you!"

His voice trembled slightly, but it revealed a defiant spirit.

Zhou Yimin smiled and picked up his wine glass: "Sit down and drink, what are you standing for?"

“No, not standing won’t show sincerity.” Xiao Zhang said defiantly, his neck stiff, having apparently heard the news from somewhere.

"I've heard that you have an incredibly high alcohol tolerance, Section Chief. I... I'd like to give it a try."

As soon as he said that, the surroundings fell silent. Everyone's eyes were drawn to him, and even the hands that were picking up food froze in mid-air.

Zhou Dazhong chimed in from the sidelines, "Little Zhang's got guts! Daring to challenge the section chief!"

Zhou Yimin raised an eyebrow, not annoyed at all: "Oh? Who told you that? I didn't know that myself."

He tilted his head back, took a sip, swirled the liquor in his mouth, and then swallowed: "But you have to drink within your limits, don't overdo it."

Encouraged, Xiao Zhang tilted his head back and downed the wine in his glass. He wiped his mouth and was about to pour another glass when his colleague stopped him, saying, "That's enough. Don't drink too much and make a fool of yourself."

But once that started, one after another, bolder people came over to offer their toasts.

Old Chen from Sigu came over with a wine glass, smiling, and said, "Section Chief, I'd also like to toast you. I'm so grateful for your help all this time."

He was quite honest; he didn't mention his drinking capacity, he just wanted to express his feelings.

Zhou Yimin smiled and clinked glasses with him, and the two drank it all in one gulp.

Then several young colleagues came over, openly and secretly wanting to test Zhou Yimin's drinking capacity.

Some said, "The section chief showed us his skills."

Let's see if the rumors are true.

Zhou Yimin never refused anyone's offer, but he always only had a small sip. Even if he drank a little more, he remained unfazed and continued to chat and laugh.

The liquor on the table was gradually emptied, and the dishes were all gone, but no one thought about leaving. They remained seated together, having endless things to talk about.

But the challenges continue.

Xiao Zhang, who had just been pulled away from his colleague's hand, poured himself another full glass of wine, blushing and shouting, "Section Chief, you have to drink this one with me, otherwise you're looking down on me!"

Zhou Yimin smiled helplessly and picked up his glass: "Okay, I'll drink with you, but you can't drink anymore after this one."

Having said that, he tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhang also forced himself to drink it down. As soon as he put down his glass, he swayed and fell straight backward. Fortunately, his colleague behind him caught him. He mumbled, "I'm not drunk," but his eyes were already closed.

The young men who followed behind had planned to take turns "battling" Zhou Yimin, but to their surprise, Zhou Yimin's face didn't turn red at all after drinking so much, as if he had just drunk water.

Even if it's just drinking water, after drinking so much, there should be some kind of reaction!
Many people don't know how many times they've gone to the toilet, but Zhou Yimin never did.

This has made many people aware that Zhou Yimin has a high alcohol tolerance, which seems to be true, not just a rumor.

A young man wearing glasses had only offered two toasts when he slumped onto the table, unable to get up, muttering intermittently, "The section chief has a good capacity for alcohol."

Another person, who boasted that he could "never get drunk," turned red like a pig's liver after his fourth drink. He started to stutter and had to be helped by his colleagues to sit up.

Before long, the challengers were all drunk and staggering. Some were slumped on the table, fast asleep; some were groaning incoherently in their chairs; and others were gesticulating wildly and talking nonsense, which drew laughter from the crowd.

Seeing this, Zhou Yimin smiled and shook his head, then told his sober colleagues to clear the empty vegetable bowls to the side.

Several wine bottles on the table had fallen over, spilling some wine onto the surface. The air was filled with the aroma of food mixed with the smell of alcohol.

As everyone finished eating, the chatter gradually subsided, and many people began to burp and rub their stomachs.

"It's getting late, everyone should go back and rest." Zhou Yimin stood up, clapped his hands, and said, his gaze sweeping over the drunken people.

"These guys are so drunk, is anyone going that way and could help take them home?"

“It’s on my way, I’ll give Xiao Zhang a ride,” one of San Gu’s colleagues said, raising his hand. His alley wasn’t far from Xiao Zhang’s.

“I’ll deliver it to the person who wears glasses; it’s just two streets away from my house,” another colleague chimed in.

"I'll take the other one back with me; it's going in the same direction anyway," Zhou Dazhong said, patting his chest. He had a high alcohol tolerance and was still quite sober at the moment.

Everyone agreed, and the sober colleagues helped each other up to carry the drunkards out.

The drunkards, who were being held up, were still restless. Some tried to break free with unsteady steps, while others kept shouting "One more drink!" causing quite a few laughs.

Zhou Yimin followed behind, reminding his colleague who was dropping someone off: "Drive carefully and get the person home safely."

Then everyone embarked on their journey home.

(End of this chapter)