The golden age began in 1977

Chapter 362 From Slingshots to Cannons: Villa and Office Building

The snow has been falling non-stop this winter, as if it's trying to make up for all the snow that was left over from last winter.

Snowflakes began to fall at dusk on the day of the Great Cold, and continued to fall all night and into the day, before the sky remained overcast.

However, this time it wasn't heavy snow, but rather just a steady drizzle of snowflakes.

Qian Jin estimates that snowplows won't be needed this time; each street will just need to organize a simple snow removal operation.

On Wednesday, the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Qian Jin still went to the office in the tenement building after get off work.

Upon entering, one finds a group of company commanders and deputy company commanders huddled inside, warming their hands with their warm breath.

They also roasted sweet potatoes and peanuts.

These were all gifts delivered by the neighborhood committees of various streets yesterday. Qian Jin did not refuse them; they represented the goodwill of each street.

Anyway, they're not the People's Liberation Army, so there's no need to be so strict with discipline.

Furthermore, he refused to accept these gifts, which is why the neighborhood committees were unwilling to accept them.

With the establishment of the Labor Glory Construction Brigade, the value of the Labor Assault Team has become increasingly apparent.

Each neighborhood knows that they must maintain good relations with them, so that they can easily get any masonry or carpentry work done in the future.

As Qian Jin entered, Wang Xiaoyi handed him a roasted sweet potato.

Xu Weidong said, "Why are you still eating roasted sweet potatoes and reading newspapers?"

"We're in the provincial newspaper!" Pang Gongbing excitedly held up a newspaper for Qian Jin to see.

The Earth Daily.

This is one of the most influential newspapers in the province.

Qian Jin opened it and found that the front page headline was a long news report about them:

"Backbone in the Wind and Snow: A Chronicle of the Haibin City Labor Glorious Construction Brigade's Battle to Renovate Dilapidated Houses in Various Streets of Haibin City"

The report details how the construction team, led by Qian Jin and Chen Jingdi, overcame numerous difficulties such as severe cold, insufficient transportation capacity, and technical challenges, and completed the renovation of more than 300 dilapidated houses in the city in less than a month.

The article highly praised their spirit of "self-reliance and hard work", "dedication to the masses and selfless contribution", and "superb skills and excellent work style", calling them "outstanding representatives of industrial workers in the new era" and "pioneers in the renovation of the old city of Haibin".

The report also included several photos:

Team members braved the snow to build walls, Chen Jingdi led people to carry pine logs to make purlins, Qian Jin talked with residents at the construction site, and there were before and after photos of newly renovated houses.

There are quite a few photos.

Everyone was very excited:
"Chief Qian, we're really famous this time! We're in the provincial newspaper! Holy crap, we're really in the provincial newspaper!"

"Look, this is me in the photo. I'm laying bricks. Damn it, the person taking the picture told me to pose, but I was squatting on the ground. This pose looks so disgusting..."

"And what about Captain Chen and Chief Qian? Chief Qian's photo is amazing, looking out from a high vantage point..."

Qian Jin's photo was taken with special effects.

He stood on the roof of a newly renovated building, inspecting the work, in a posture reminiscent of the Soviet Red Army climbing the Reichstag building in Germany to plant their battle flag.

The Earth Daily was delivered to the city at noon, and the group had already read it, but when they talked to Qian Jin about it now, they were all still excited and their faces were flushed.

Who are they?

Just like what Pang Gongbing said last night, the unknown educated youth and the farmers who toiled in the soil were both people that urban residents used to look down on.

The educated youth had no jobs, and the farmers were considered country bumpkins.

Now, not only have the neighborhood committees of each street recognized their achievements, but the provincial newspaper has also given them its approval.

If the affirmation of the neighborhood committee and the citizens is like a piece of cloth, then the affirmation of the provincial newspaper is like gilding that cloth with a layer of gold.

This means that their efforts and contributions have been recognized at the highest level in the province!

To put it even more dramatically, their name, the Glorious Labor Construction Brigade, is now known throughout the entire province!

Qian Jin was also very happy.

The construction team got off to a flying start, which was fantastic—even better than their previous mobile canteen and garment factory ventures.

The weather outside was getting colder, and the snow was falling even harder, but Qian Jin's heart was burning with warmth.

Seeing that all the officials, big and small, were highly interested and excited, he slammed his hand on the table and declared, "We'll have a banquet tonight!"

"Great!" The group applauded enthusiastically.

The workers put in a lot of hard work, so they really wanted to eat something nice.

Pang Gongbing, as the general secretary, immediately got busy: "President Qian, where should we have the meal? Or should we go to the training school?"

Qian Jin said, "No, it's just going to Kunlun Mountain Road. Let's go see the new office building that the municipal government arranged for us. This office building was earned for our brigade by the comrades of the construction team!"

Snowflakes, as fine as goose feathers, fluttered down.

The Kunlun Mountains, with their sparse architecture and beautiful scenery, are covered in a tranquil silvery white.

Only occasionally, birds flap their wings and dart out of the woods, creating a commotion.

A bus struggled to navigate the road before finally stopping at the bus stop.

The car door opened, and a group of burly workers followed Qian Jin off the bus. They were radiating heat, and their voices were rough and unrestrained. Instantly, the tranquility of the street was broken, and it became bustling with activity.

Qian Jin was unaware of the situation at Villa No. 037, but Yun Botao, the second deputy captain of the Eighth Squadron, happened to be a resident of Kunlunshan Road, and he had probably heard about the villa.

He said the villa was an old building with a legendary history.

During the Republic of China era in the old society, this place was once the Belgian consulate. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it became the office space for some associations.

For example, the Haibin City Literary Workers Association, the Haibin City Musicians Association, and the Agricultural Association all have their offices here.

But as the chaotic years began, these associations were driven away, and the place became the office of a motley crew of young people.

These offices were shut down a few years ago, and the people inside were evicted. They have been vacant ever since, and now they have fallen into their hands.

Upon hearing this, Qian Jin realized that this place had been the site of many organizations.

That won't do. He'll have to find a way to establish himself properly from now on!

If the opportunity arises, we'll buy it as part of the Labor Assault Team.

The houses along Kunlun Mountain Road will be very valuable in the future. It is nestled between mountains and the sea, with a tranquil environment.

For example, after they got off the bus, there were tall plane trees planted on both sides of the road, and the distance between them was the same.

But at this moment, the branches are bare and covered with snow.

Courtyard No. 037 is situated on a slightly raised hill beside the road, backed by a lush pine forest and facing the undulating blue sea. Every south-facing room in this villa offers a view of the ocean.

The place is very close to the bus stop, so Han Zhaoxin's decision to entrust them with the office was indeed thoughtful.

The public transportation is convenient, which will make it easier for team members to come to the office in the future.

The villa was surrounded by a tall wall, the outside of which was covered with withered vines, and a wire mesh was strung around the top.

The wall was made of blue bricks. Among the group were experienced bricklayers and stonemasons. After looking around, they gestured and said:
"This wall was added later; it was supposed to be this high all along, a little taller than a person, right?"

"What kind of skill is this? It must have been a bunch of rascals messing things up. Otherwise, this bricklayer's skills must have been taught by his master's wife. Such a good location, and he's turned this wall into this mess!"

"This wall is really no good..."

But the tall walls did indeed enclose a relatively independent little world inside.

In the middle of the wall is a heavy black wrought iron gate.

The door lock had been opened, and Qian Jin pushed the door open, revealing a rather large detached villa.

As the wind and snow intensified, snowflakes fell like goose feathers, veiling the scene before us with a serene yet weathered veil.

He squinted at the villa.

This should be an old villa that blends Chinese and Western architectural styles. It has a brick and wood structure with four floors above ground and five or six floors in some areas, including attics.

The villa has a steep pitched roof, and under the cover of snow, it is impossible to see what kind of tiles are used; only the undulating outline is visible.

A square brick chimney stands in the center of the roof, which immediately elevates the villa's grandeur.

A fireplace in a villa is like a wealthy man's long-legged secretary; whether you use it or not, you have to have one.

The craftsmen rushed in, and then, still using their professional expertise, analyzed the building:
"Wow, this building is amazing! Look at its exterior walls, isn't the base made of granite? It's so solid and sturdy."

"It's granite. We call it mushroom stone where I'm from. And look, there are traces of the chiseling process on this stone. It's pretty barbaric."

"Hey, look up, look up! What's the material on top?"

Qian Jin couldn't understand it either, only that the walls above were a warm yellow color, but they were poorly maintained, with some parts already peeling off, revealing the red bricks underneath.

Ma Pengzi glanced at it and calmly said, "This is called rough cement wall. In the old society, warlords and wealthy merchants liked to tinker with this kind of thing in their homes. It looks nice but is useless."

The warm yellow walls are decorated with simple geometric lines, and the doors and windows are tall and spacious, arched at the top and square at the bottom, with dark brown wooden window frames inlaid with intricate patterns.

Qian Jin looked at it carefully and found that it hadn't been changed much: "It seems that the people who lived there before took good care of this villa."

"It uses good materials," Zhang Houde said, hitting the nail on the head.

The condition of the glass confirms the old craftsman's judgment: most of the glass is broken, and the glass will inevitably have to be replaced when the labor shock brigade moves in.

The main entrance on the first floor is a covered porch supported by two Roman columns.

The door was a heavy solid wood door, and the brass door knocker was rusted and covered with green patina.

Under the eaves are simple wooden overhangs and drainage ditches. Looking at the corners of the walls and windowsills, you can see exquisite brick carvings and cement plaster moldings. Although eroded by time, you can still glimpse the exquisiteness of the past.

In front of the villa is a small front yard paved with bluestone slabs. In the corner stands an old locust tree with gnarled branches, its trunk strong and covered with icicles and snow.

There should have been a circular stone fountain in the center of the yard, but it's long gone and covered in thick snow.

Snowflakes fell softly, and the entire building stood quietly in the wind and snow, exuding a calm elegance and a slightly dilapidated sense of history, like an old-fashioned scholar who has experienced many vicissitudes but still retains his integrity.

"This...this house is really impressive!" Wang Dong looked up at the towering roof and chimney, and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

“Yeah, it’s a hundred times better than our old dilapidated warehouse and tenement building!” Xu Weidong rubbed his hands together, his breath steaming in the air. “Don’t just stand there, hurry up and go inside to warm up.”

Qian Jin chuckled: "It's probably colder inside than outside—I doubt there's any wood or charcoal."

Chen Jingdi squeezed through from behind, placed the electronic throat under his throat, and said in a mechanical voice, "I brought it. You said the new unit has been empty for several years, so I brought the deputy captains and some coal from the office."

Qian Jin looked back.

Sure enough, the craftsmen were carrying heavy bags or sturdy cloth sacks.

He was overjoyed: "Great job, Captain Chen! You're so thoughtful. I knew choosing you as the captain was the right decision!"

The group quickly went to open the door.

Zhu Tao looked at the peeling paint on the wall and said, "This house is too old. It's a real pity. It would be better if it were new."

"What's there to be afraid of? What do we do? We repair houses!" Wang Xiaoyi said confidently. "This house has a good frame, it will look absolutely beautiful when it's finished, right, Master Ma, Master Zhang?"

After spending these days with them, they had come to realize that among all the craftsmen, Ma Pengzi and Zhang Houde were the most skilled.

The stableman nodded.

Zhang Houde said, "It will be easy to clean up. Just like the squadron leader said, its frame is good, there are no bad parts, and it's simpler than the houses we built."

Then he added, "Hopefully there aren't any major flaws, otherwise my skills really wouldn't be enough to clean up such a nice house."

The wooden door was still secured with a large brass lock.

Qian Jin took out the key given to him by the city government, struggled to open the brass lock, and then pushed open the heavy wooden door.

"Squeak..."

Accompanied by the long, sharp sound of the door hinges turning, a blast of cold air mixed with dust and musty smells rushed in.

It's snowing today, and the indoor lighting is dim.

Qian Jin fumbled for the switch on the wall, unsure if the circuit still worked.

Then, with a "click," the lights came on!

Several incandescent light bulbs covered in cobwebs lit up, emitting a dim yellow glow that was enough to fully illuminate the interior space.

The first thing that catches the eye is a spacious foyer.

The floor is covered with colorful terrazzo tiles with beautiful floral patterns.

After many years, the floor tiles are surprisingly not worn out.

Considering that the previous owners were a group of reckless young people, one can only say that these floor tiles are of very good quality.

High on the ceiling hangs a chandelier with only its iron frame remaining, now devoid of crystal pendants.

The lower half of the wall was covered with dark brown wooden wainscoting, which was cracked in many places and the paint was peeling off badly. The upper half was painted with light yellow lime plaster, but it had many cracks and stains.

A wide stone staircase leads to the second floor, flanked by exquisitely carved railings, highlighting its refined aesthetics.

The entrance hall has tall archways on both sides, leading to different rooms.

The group went to see it in a noisy commotion.

Qian Jin also went to check, focusing on the kitchen.

But they found the fireplace first.

The fireplace is in the living room to the left of the foyer, or rather, a banquet hall. The space is extremely spacious, with a ceiling height of six or seven meters.

Its south side features a row of tall, arched windows, providing excellent natural light. If the courtyard wall weren't so high, one could enjoy a sea view from here.

The carpenters went to start a fire.

Today, the north wind was blowing, making it easy for a fire to start. Fortunately, there were many scraps of wood in the room, so the carpenters selected some easy-to-start wood and stuffed it in. The roaring fire began to radiate heat.

Xu Weidong and his group cheered and rushed over to warm their hands.

At this moment, another group of people braved the snow and arrived.

More teams kept arriving behind them. The deputy team leaders in charge of management hadn't accompanied them earlier; instead, they had gone to notify the workers to come to Villa 037 for a meal.

Just as Qian Jin was about to warm himself by the fire, Song Tiezhu, the captain of the 12th Squadron, called out from outside, "Mr. Qian, the kitchen you requested is here."

With a whoosh, several more people rushed over upon hearing the sound.

The villa's kitchen is quite large, covering an area of ​​fifty or sixty square meters. The floor is paved with rough but thick red bricks, and against the wall is an old-fashioned stove made of blue bricks and cement.

This stove is very long and has multiple burners, indicating that many people used to eat here.

Qian Jin was very happy. This thing was useful. With this kind of mature stove, he wouldn't have to bother the bricklayers anymore.

What pleased him even more was that the iron pot on the stove was still there, though now it was covered in rust.

The group that came next happened to be from the 12th Company, so Song Tiezhu called them over to clean up the iron pot.

Next to the stove is a sink with tiled surface, which is quite sophisticated. Nowadays, it's rare to see tiled sinks in kitchens with shared stoves. Unfortunately, the tiles are badly damaged.

As the crowd watched, they marveled and sighed in amazement.
"This living room inside is really nice; it's big enough to hold a large meeting."

"What a nice kitchen, everything is ready, but it's a pity about this iron pot, can it still be washed?"

"Yes, this kitchen is big enough, but it's too dirty. The stove needs to be cleaned properly. It's comparable to Zhang Maitai's house in our brigade."

"The bathroom... Ugh, it's unbearable, it needs to be rebuilt!"

"The floorboards are made of good wood, but a few pieces are rotten. Mr. Zhang, could you take a look and see if we can find a way to fix them?"

Qian Jin instructed the squad leaders to lead teams to clean the hall and kitchen. They needed to get these two places ready tonight before having a meal there.

He started going upstairs by himself, carefully examining every corner. After walking around once, he already had a plan in mind.

Although the building is old, its main structure is sturdy and its spatial layout is reasonable. In particular, the office, meeting and logistics areas are clearly separated. This is a good building that the commando team has never encountered before.

As for the location, it's absolutely superb; with a little renovation, it would be an ideal office space.

The villa was very large, and after he looked around, more team members arrived.

Moreover, the team members living on Taishan Road and Wutaishan Road brought food, meat and vegetables from the People's Canteen in their carts.

It snowed all day, and the snow intensified in the evening, so there weren't many people at the People's Canteen. Lou Xiaoguang decided to personally lead the team to prepare this grand dinner.

The construction team has more than 500 people; an ordinary person couldn't possibly host such a large banquet.

Everyone gathered in the spacious living room.

This villa used to be an office space, which is also beneficial to them as successors.

There are many tables and chairs inside.

Now that everyone has moved out, we can all squeeze in a seat.

The wind and snow lashed against the tall windows, making a howling sound.

The room was initially chilly, but as more people arrived, their enthusiasm grew, and they managed to raise the temperature in the living room using their body heat.

Seeing that so many people had arrived, Qian Jin rubbed his frozen hands and looked at everyone with bright eyes: "Comrades, what do you think of this place?"

Sounds of mountains collapsing and tsunamis:

“What a great place!”

"It's just too old and dirty!"

"What's wrong with being dirty? Just clean it up. What's wrong with being old? Just tidy it up. Anyway, this place will definitely look amazing when it's turned out!"

"Mr. Qian, when are we moving in?"

Qian Jin laughed: "Want to move in? I think it's a long way off. This house needs to be tidied up properly."

"The plumbing and electrical work needs to be redone, the walls need to be repainted, the floors need to be repaired, the bathroom needs to be rebuilt... I estimate it will be a huge project!"

He changed the subject, pointing towards the kitchen: "But today, we can do one thing first—warm the pot!"

The term "warming the pot" is a colloquialism in Haibin City. In the past, when older generations moved into a new house, the first thing they would do was to light the stove and cook a meal. This was called "warming the pot," which symbolized that the new home had a lively atmosphere and that life would be prosperous.

Even when a construction team moves to a new location, they have to be mindful of auspiciousness.

Everyone was prepared; they all brought enamel mugs, aluminum lunch boxes, spoons, and chopsticks.

It's all for the sake of having a big meal tonight!
Therefore, when Qian Jin made his suggestion, it immediately received a warm response from everyone:
"Okay, let's warm the pot together!"

"That's so true! This place only feels like home when it's filled with the warmth and life of everyday people!"

"I'm starving, Mr. Qian! Hurry up and clean the kitchen to cook! I could eat a whole cow right now!"

Just do it.

Qian Jin nodded to Chen Jingdi and said, "You're the captain, you make the arrangements."

After nearly twenty days of training, Chen Jingdi is now quite skilled at assigning tasks to his subordinates.

He set up a working group.

For example, the first team is the cleaning team, led by Wang Xiaoyi and Song Tiezhu, consisting of a group of young and strong members, who are responsible for a thorough cleaning of the kitchen.

They had to remove the thick grease, clean up the garbage and debris, and wash the floors and walls.

Then there's the repair team: several experienced craftsmen lead workers to inspect the stove, clean the flue, repair damage, and unclog the sink if it's clogged.

Lou Xiaoguang didn't need to arrange anything for the chefs and their crew. He found a table, wiped it clean, and set out large and small basins, a cutting board, and a work surface to start preparing the meal.

Chinese cabbage, potatoes, and radishes are the three staples, along with eggplant, cucumber, tomatoes, and green and red peppers.

The three main ingredients here are very common, but the other vegetables are quite rare.

It's not surprising that Qian Jin is involved.

Last year, the Xiping Production Brigade had no water shortage, and with the help of the task force, they were finally able to build the greenhouses.

There are still few greenhouses in use; this year is a trial period.

Therefore, the amount of vegetables produced was small, and they were mainly supplied to the people's canteens.

Apart from Lou Xiaoguang and his group, everyone else was amazed when they saw this: "How can there be fresh cucumbers in this cold weather?"

"These green peppers are really good; the aroma alone is enough to whet your appetite."

"Where did all these fresh vegetables come from? With this heavy snow, how could there be any fresh vegetables?"

Lou Xiaoguang laughed: "It was conjured up by a deity."

He opened another burlap sack, which contained vermicelli, and cooks carried out slabs of pork.

The cleaning team performed a simple cleanup.

People who used to cook here didn't care about hygiene, and the place was covered in years of accumulated grease and grime. It was hard to clean without special cleaning agents in the cold weather, so we just cleaned it until it was edible.

These days, people only care about having enough to eat; as for whether or not they pay attention to hygiene when cooking, well...

Regardless of!

Why are the men on the construction site so meticulous?
The repair team members circled the large stove several times, tapping and tinkering.

"The flue isn't too clogged, just clear it. The stove has a crack, but you can just patch it with refractory clay. It's a pity we don't have any refractory clay right now. Just use snow water to wash the pots and mix some clay to get through tonight. We'll come back tomorrow to fix it properly."

The embers drawn from the fireplace were stuffed into the hearth, and chopped firewood was placed on top.

The flue had been cleared, and the orange-red flames leaped up quickly, greedily licking the firewood and crackling.

Seeing this, Zhou Yixing put the blower back and said, "I thought this crappy place couldn't get any air in..."

The construction team members all looked at him with sharp eyes.

Zhou Yixing hurriedly waved his hand: "It's not a lousy place, it's a good place!"

Everyone nodded in satisfaction.

The north wind howled, fanning the flames, which instantly grew stronger. Golden tongues of fire rolled in the stove, dispelling the chill in the kitchen.

Zhou Yixing suddenly realized: "Hey guys, I'm also a member of the assault team. This is the office building of our assault brigade, not your construction team's office building. Why are you so protective of yourselves?"

"Alright, kid, stop talking nonsense. Boil water, wash vegetables, cut meat, and get ready for the big feast!" Lou Xiaoguang rolled up his sleeves and personally took charge of preparing the food.

The large iron pot was scrubbed clean and placed on the burning stove.

Water was poured into the pot, and steam quickly rose from it.

The cook picked up a newly sharpened cleaver and sliced ​​the pork belly into evenly thick slices.

Some people soak the vermicelli in warm water until soft, cut the scallions into sections, and slice the ginger and garlic.

The seafood they brought was frozen solid. Zhou Yixing held up a large yellow croaker, shook it, and laughed, "The weather's good; it keeps things fresh."

Lou Xiaoguang took charge of cooking and started stewing the dishes.

He waited for the pot to heat up, then scooped a large spoonful of lard and slid it into the pot.

Once the oil is hot, add sliced ​​ginger and garlic and sauté until fragrant, then add the sliced ​​pork belly.

With a sizzling sound, a rich aroma of meat burst forth, filling the entire kitchen and even drifting into the snow outside.

Immediately, one of the newcomers pressed his face against the window and peered inside, shouting, "Is it stewed meat? I can smell it! My nose is better than a dog's; you can't fool me..."

"Who the hell is trying to fool you?" Ma Congli, the helper, shouted.

The sliced ​​meat in the pot was stir-fried until it released its oil, turning golden brown and slightly curled.

Lou Xiaoguang brought over a large bowl of cabbage stalks and stir-fried them, then added cabbage leaves and continued stir-frying.

On the other side, a large pot of water was boiling, and the cleaned fish was plated and served in.

Steamed yellow croaker!

The roaring fire illuminated several faces.

The stewed cabbage, pork, and glass noodles in the pot were bubbling away, and the rich aroma, mixed with the smoke from burning firewood, rose and filled the old kitchen.

The aroma dispelled the musty smell, warmed the cold, and ignited everyone's boundless anticipation and sense of belonging to the new office building.

The wind and snow howled outside the window, and the old villa stood silently in the snow.

But in the kitchen at No. 037 Kunlunshan Road, the stove was burning brightly, and the aroma of food filled the air.

The third large pot is used to braise pork.

Just before, when we visited the neighborhood committees, several neighborhood committees delivered baskets of eggs to us.

After boiling the eggs, he threw them into the braised pork soup to simmer. Zhou Yixing turned around and laughed, "Tonight, you can eat as many eggs as you want."

Upon hearing this, Ma Congli began to swallow hard, muttering, "No wonder everyone wants to come to the city; life here is so good."

"What's so great about it? We don't usually get to eat eggs. We're just lucky to have these eggs; they were a gift from someone else," said another cook, Yin Xiaofei.

Pour the frozen tofu into the large pot of braised pork belly and vermicelli.

Cut the potatoes into chunks and stew them with the beef delivered by the Taishan Road Neighborhood Committee: "Potato stew with beef, we've entered the primary stage of socialism!"

The lamb bones were stewed together with radish chunks.

Tonight's soup is radish and mutton soup. "Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer, and you won't need a doctor's prescription."

The fire in the stove was roaring.

Lou Xiaoguang, wearing a white apron, waved a large iron ladle, directing the kitchen helpers who were busy running around.

One after another, people came in to see what was there, drawn by the aroma.

On Monday, Zhou Xing proudly opened the wooden board that was being used as a makeshift pot lid to show them.

The pork belly slices, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, are stewed until tender and soft. The cabbage, soaked in the broth, is tender, sweet, and fragrant. The glass noodles are crystal clear, and there's also honeycomb-like golden frozen tofu.

These delicacies tumbled in the oily broth, which bubbled and simmered, releasing an irresistible aroma.

Construction team meals aren't too fancy; they don't need seven plates or eight bowls. The best they can do is make sure the guys are full and their bellies are round.

So there are only a few dishes, and the key is to make a large quantity, one pot after another.

After the last batch of dishes was cooked, Lou Xiaoguang directed the cooking of rice.

Construction workers are all big-bellied men.

They cooked a lot of dishes, but no matter how much the men ate, they felt empty in the end because they didn't have any staple food to fill their stomachs.

Qian Jin wanted to say that this was a bad habit, as one could be full just by eating vegetables.

But considering that this was a dinner party for more than 500 people, and that everyone's stomachs were practically garbage cans, he didn't dare say that.

The tables on each floor were collected and arranged into several rows, but there were still too many people and it wasn't enough.

Qian Jin volunteered that he would squat down to eat, which prompted many people to echo: "It tastes better when you squat down to eat!"

"I eat standing up, hehe, I eat more when I'm standing up."

"Mr. Qian, you need to sit down, sit up here. We must follow the proper etiquette..."

Qian Jin waved his hand: "Our rule is that during work hours, orders are absolute, but after get off work, we're all brothers!"

"Come on, let's go to the bar. I've only allowed you guys to have a warm-up drink so far to keep us busy. Tonight, you can drink as much as you want!"

The liquor was bought from a shopping mall; it was all in large 25-jin (12.5 kg) barrels.

Qian Jin said they could drink as much as they wanted, but he only brought ten barrels of wine. There was no way to let them drink too much.

It's the dead of winter now; if any of them collapses on the roadside, they could freeze to death!

Steaming hot food is served.

The clear, transparent pure grain liquor was poured into an enamel mug.

"Comrades!" Qian Jin raised his wine glass to greet everyone, "The Great Cold has just passed, and it's snowing outside. It's another auspicious snow that promises a bumper harvest."

"Our Labor Glory Construction Brigade has won its first tough battle! And it was a resounding victory! This victory belongs to every one of our team members who shed blood and sweat! So, this first toast is for you all to yourselves!"

Ma Congli raised his bowl and shouted, "I want to toast Boss Qian! Without Boss Qian, I, Old Ma, would be nothing but a damn beast! How could I have come to the city to enjoy this glory?! I don't care about you guys, I'll drink this!"

"Go for it!" A deafening roar erupted in the hall, the sound so loud that the ceiling light bulbs swayed.

Qian Jin's eyes widened.

When these guys saw there was alcohol to drink, they really went all out and drank like there was no tomorrow!
You have to simmer at least two ounces of food in the very first bite!

Qian Jin originally intended to toast the government and the nation with his second cup, but now he thinks he should forget about it.
"No more talk, no more chatter, let's begin the feast, everyone dig in with your chopsticks!"

The team members stopped being polite and lined up with their lunchboxes to get their food. The braised pork with eggs was paired with their favorite pork and cabbage stew with glass noodles. The combination was fragrant and sweet, and they enjoyed it immensely.

Chopsticks flew through the air, and snoring continued.

Slices of succulent pork, savory fish, glistening glass noodles, sweet and savory eggs, and large chunks of meat that are fatty yet not greasy...

The delicious taste of the food, mixed with the joy of victory, put everyone in high spirits.

They toasted each other.

The spiciness of the liquor rolls down the throat, bringing waves of warmth and a sense of pride.

At this moment, the falling snow outside the window became the most suitable backdrop for this grand feast.

After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.

The spacious hall was filled with the aroma of wine, food, and the warm smell of cooking.

The team members' faces were flushed, and some of them had started to drink too much.

Qian Jin instructed the squadron leader and deputy squadron leaders to take charge: "Tonight is a good night, so don't fucking cause trouble. Pass down my orders: eat and drink as you please, but anyone who gets drunk and causes trouble is fired tomorrow!"

These words immediately quelled the brewing trend of drinking contests.

Chen Jingdi squatted down next to Qian Jin, his heart filled with excitement as he watched the scene unfold before him.

If we're talking about who's most amazed by the wonder of fate, it has to be him!
It seems that all the grievances suffered in the first thirty years of my life have been repaid in this great year of 1981!

He raised his glass to clink with Qian Jin's, and just as he was about to speak, Qian Jin pressed down on his electronic throat: "Alright, if you're going to thank me, then it won't be meaningful."

Chen Jingdi grinned and said, "No... thank you, I have... something important to say."

"I'm so happy these past two days. We did a great job. The neighborhood committee sent us a flag and a letter of thanks, and it was even published in the provincial newspaper! We're so proud!"

"But I think that when we repair a house, we can't just repair the shell, we can't just keep the house from collapsing!"

Qian Jin looked at him in surprise: "Captain, what do you mean?"

Chen Jingdi calmed himself down and slowly said, "What I mean is that many households are having a hard time. Many people are crammed into small rooms of just over ten square meters, cooking on coal stoves inside, and the fumes are so thick that they can't open their eyes."

"Going to the toilet is even more of a hassle! We have to go all the way to a public toilet! It's inconvenient for the elderly and children! And now that it's snowing, it's even more dangerous at night!"

"I think we should take this project a step further. For some households, I think we can build kitchens and outhouses!"

Qian Jin looked at him in surprise.

So ambitious?

The construction team is about to start work?!
(End of this chapter)