Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

The thirty-eight Soviet experts thoroughly enjoyed their Russian-style lunch and returned home satisfied.

The braised beef in the earthenware pot on the porcelain plate was emptied, the borscht was drunk clean, the freshly baked white bread was sliced ​​into even pieces and eaten with butter until almost nothing remained, and even the dish of pickles was devoured. The egg tarts served after the meal had a crispy crust and a smooth filling, with the aroma of milk and eggs filling the air, and received unanimous praise from everyone present. Many experts ate two and still felt they wanted more.

No one would deliberately nitpick that the meal wasn't "authentic" enough, but the kitchen staff member, Sha Zhu, knew in his heart that this was the first time he had seriously made Russian food. Due to the limited supply of ingredients, he could only make a few of the most representative dishes of Russian cuisine and couldn't make a complete selection.

The most obvious example is the staple food, rye bread. Authentic Russian rye bread is mostly baked with rye flour, resulting in a dense texture and rich flavor. However, rye flour is currently scarce in Beijing, and bulk purchases are even more difficult. Sha Zhu pondered the recipe for half the night, and finally decided to use high-quality all-purpose flour as a substitute, adjusting the fermentation time and baking temperature to bake a soft and chewy white rye bread. The freshly baked bread has a slightly crispy crust and a soft interior. When you cut into it, the cross-section is even, and the aroma of wheat is irresistible. Although it is not traditional black rye bread, it has its own unique flavor.

Take jam, for example. Russians have always loved to eat bread with various kinds of jam, but with winter approaching and fresh fruit already scarce, the ingredients for making jam were nowhere to be found, so Sha Zhu had to give up on that idea for the time being. Fortunately, fresh milk was in ample supply, and following the recipe given by Wang Huanbo, he and He Daqing made butter and fermented cheese by hand. The result was a rich and creamy cheese that perfectly filled the gap in flavor when eaten with bread slices.

These milks have quite a history.

With thirty-eight Soviet experts suddenly stationed at the Hongxing Factory, ensuring their food supply was of paramount importance. The higher authorities granted special supply permits to the relevant units, prioritizing the food needs of the foreign experts. However, even with these permits, securing a stable and high-quality milk source was not easy. Li Huaide put in considerable effort, and finally, through the influence of his father-in-law, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Industry, he managed to secure a long-term exclusive supply from the Xijiao Farm Livestock Farm.

This West Suburbs Farm is no ordinary facility; it's a special food supply base exclusively for high-ranking officials. The quality of its milk and its feeding standards far surpass those of other farms in the South Suburbs, East Suburbs, Shuangqiao, and North Suburbs. The fresh milk it produces is rich, creamy, and highly nutritious, enjoying a stellar reputation in Beijing's social circles. Adhering to the principle of "if you're going to use it, use the best," Li Huaide made several trips and pulled strings to secure this special supply slot, ensuring the expert canteen has a sufficient supply of fresh, high-quality milk every day.

At that moment, in the canteen, the aroma of wheat from the white bread, the rich fragrance of the beef stew, and the sweet and sour borscht, coupled with the crisp and refreshing pickled cucumbers, filled the air. A bite of hot soup, a bite of meat, a bite of bread, a bite of butter – the Soviet experts ate until they felt warm all over. They had thought that arriving in a foreign land meant they would have to make do with the food for a while, but their first proper meal was unexpectedly so satisfying. Looking at Li Huaide, who was accompanying them, their eyes were filled with genuine gratitude.

At the accompanying table, Li Huaide observed the experts' reactions and was quite satisfied. He turned to the factory and, in front of Party Secretary Yao Jianghe, Factory Director Yang Weimin, and other high-ranking factory officials, lavishly praised He Yuzhu: "Secretary Yao, Director Yang, look, the experts are very satisfied with the food. Comrade He Yuzhu truly lives up to his reputation as a key member of our factory's kitchen staff. To achieve such a result on his first attempt at preparing Russian cuisine is remarkable. His skills are superb, and he's meticulous. Entrusting the experts' food supply to him this time was definitely the right choice."

Being publicly praised by the deputy factory director, especially in front of the Party Secretary and the factory director, made Sha Zhu's cheeks flush. He felt a surge of pride and his energy soared. He was usually straightforward and stubborn, and what he valued most was having his skills recognized and his work affirmed. Li Huaide's public praise made him even more excited than receiving a bonus.

Yao Jianghe smiled and nodded upon hearing this, then looked at Sha Zhu and solemnly instructed, "Comrade He Yuzhu, the Soviet experts have come from afar to support our construction, so their food supply is of paramount importance. In the coming period, you will have to put in extra effort to ensure the experts' meals. Adjust the flavors and variety, making sure they eat well and with peace of mind. Don't let logistics hold you back."

"Secretary Yao, don't worry!" Sha Zhu immediately puffed out his chest, patting it loudly, his face full of confidence. "With Chief Engineer Wang's recipes as a safety net, my father's help, and Factory Director Li's excellent ingredients, I, He Yuzhu, guarantee to arrange the meals for the thirty-eight experts perfectly, with no repetition and authentic flavors at every meal. I will absolutely not let the factory down!"

His words were firm and resolute, and Yao Jianghe and Yang Weimin nodded in agreement. Li Huaide also smiled and patted him on the shoulder, his eyes full of approval.

Beside the food serving area in the kitchen, He Daqing watched his son being praised by a group of factory leaders, and a faint smile quietly appeared on his usually expressionless face. He wiped the grease off his hands, turned around and continued to organize the ingredients to be used in the afternoon, his hands and feet moving even more nimbly than before.

During the meal, Vasily slowly finished the last bite of his egg tart, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and wore the same satisfied expression as everyone else. But his gaze subtly swept over the food delivery lanes, the routes of the support staff, and the security officers on duty in the corners, silently memorizing every detail.

The fact that even milk could be reliably supplied from designated farms demonstrates that the Red Star Factory's logistical mobilization capabilities and connections with higher-ups were far stronger than anticipated. Seeking infiltration opportunities within such a robust support system would likely require a long-term strategic plan.