Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

The sun was already high overhead, and although the temperature under the makeshift shade had risen, it was still quite cool compared to the scorching concrete outside.

This morning, Chen Zailong had the people from Huaxingsheng Supermarket bring over a dozen lotus-shaped electric fans. In addition, he bought large blocks of ice from the ice factory, broke them up, and put them in a basin. With the electric fans blowing, it was quite pleasant.

Chang Liangming and his apprentices straightened the last few benches, checked the fire path of the temporary stove again, then took off their aprons and sat down next to Chen Zaiguang.

The water on the small charcoal stove had already boiled. Chen Zaiguang was not idle; he brewed tea. Chang Liangming said to Chen Zaiguang to drink tea, then picked up a cup and sipped it while it was still hot.

"Senior Brother, is everything alright with the banquet? If you need anything, just let me know, and I'll have someone send it over right away." Chen Zaiguang offered a Huazi cigarette.

"Everything's fine," Chang Liangming said, taking the cigarette and picking up another cup of tea, sipping it slowly. "Dinner starts at five o'clock. We two brothers will keep you entertained with the hot dishes until eight, then Chuanzi and the others will take over."

"Third brother, don't worry, you know our skills. We'll make sure everything is arranged perfectly for you," Lin Depeng said as he walked over, wiping his hands and taking a break while drinking tea.

Chen Zaiguang nodded and offered a cigarette in return. "Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, thank you for your hard work today. Although this is a family banquet, we have invited half of the Lian Village. If you are really too busy later, I will come and help."

Chang Liangming joked, "Forget it, third brother, you're the big boss now, not the little chef you used to be. If Master finds out, he'll definitely scold me and second brother."

"Senior Brother, you've really embarrassed me," Chen Zaiguang laughed. "If I didn't help, and Master found out, he would really scold me for putting on airs."

Lin Depeng waved his hand and said, "I don't need your help. These twenty-odd tables are a lot of work. When my senior brother and I were working in the state-run canteen, we used to cook seventy or eighty tables a day. We've gotten a bit rusty now, but we're still more than capable of handling this kind of situation."

"That's right, Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother, you two did see some big scenes when you followed Master back then." The three's master, Ye Daqiu, was one of the top Chaozhou cuisine chefs in Tuocheng. Even Chang Liangming is now a Chaozhou cuisine chef, and Lin Depeng was promoted to a second-level chef last year.

Chen Zaiguang's two senior apprentices would be top-notch chefs in any state-owned factory or even a restaurant. If Chen Zaiguang hadn't personally begged their master, Ye Daqiu, to open a Chaozhou-Tuoshan restaurant and offered his two senior apprentices 5% of the restaurant's shares, Ye Daqiu wouldn't have asked them to resign and come to help Chen Zaiguang.

Chen Zaiguang was also willing to delegate authority, entrusting all the purchasing and personnel management of the kitchen of "Nanyuelou" to his senior brother Chang Liangming. The two of them are now the head and deputy head managers of the kitchen of "Nanyuelou". Even Fang Zhentao, the general manager of the restaurant, cannot interfere with the personnel of the kitchen. This is the confidence that Chen Zaiguang gave to his two senior brothers.

Chang Liangming chuckled and said that he would not mention the past. Instead, he asked Chen Zaiguang, "Third brother, when do you have time to go to Nanyue Restaurant? The renovation is almost finished, and the menu and staff are waiting for your approval."

Chen Zaiguang smiled wryly, "Next Monday, I guess. 'Kende Chicken' just opened a few new branches these past few days, and I'm too busy to handle everything here. Once Rongfei's matter is settled, I'll try to go over when I have some free time. As for the menu, you can draft it first, Senior Brother. As for the kitchen staff, didn't we agree that you two would decide? Why are you asking me?"

"Well, you're the boss, so why wouldn't we ask you? What if you, Boss Chen, don't like the people we pick?" Lin Depeng said with a smile.

"No way! We're brothers, how could I not trust you two with something like this?" Chen Zaiguang refilled the teacups, gesturing like Guan Yu patrolling the city, then like Han Xin commanding his troops, before waving his hand at them and saying, "Drink tea, drink tea!"

As the three were drinking, Chen Xiangui, unable to stay idle at home, strolled over with his hands behind his back, followed by several tagalongs who also imitated Chen Xiangui by walking with their hands behind their backs.

"Third brother, how are you?" Chen Xiangui walked to the tea stall. As soon as Chang Liangming and Lin Depeng saw Chen Xiangui, they immediately stood up and greeted him with smiles, "Uncle, you've come. Please sit down and have some tea."

"It's alright, you all sit and drink. I just couldn't stay idle and came to check on things," Chen Xiangui said, his hands behind his back, as he went over to check on Liu Huanchuan's apprentices' preparation of the dishes. He nodded in satisfaction and returned to the tea stall. "The grouper that Wu Gui brought was pretty good, wasn't it?"

"This grouper is big enough, steaming is the best way to cook it. You really know how to pick fish," Lin Depeng said with a smile, flattering Chen Xiangui. Chen Xiangui laughed and said, "It's not that I know how to pick fish. I'm telling Wu Gui, if you dare to try to fool me with something bad, I've invited two top-notch chefs of Chaozhou cuisine today. If the chefs say the fish is no good, I'll have someone overturn your fish stall."

"Hahaha!"

Chen Rongguo and Chen Ronghui, the two mischievous boys who were following behind, each carried a pack of Huazi cigarettes. They came to Chen Xiangui's side, leaned against Chen Xiangui's legs, and said, "Sir, cigarettes."

Chen Xiangui took the cigarettes and casually placed them on the tea stall table. "Take these two packs and smoke them. If you need more, just tell Zaiguang. Everyone works hard, and you're all your own cooks, so we won't try to teach you how to make lunch. I can still provide you with plenty of cigarettes."

"Want to have a few more drinks at noon? I have over a dozen bottles of Moutai at home, but I haven't drunk much of it. I'll have my grandson go get it."

"No, no, Uncle, you're too kind," Chang Liangming quickly waved his hand and said no, "I'm smoking and drinking like this, Master will scold us for being ignorant."

"What's the big deal? He's your junior brother, and I'm your uncle. How can I treat myself badly when I'm helping out at my own home? Rongyuan, take your brothers and go get a few bottles of Moutai. Grandpa will stay here at noon and have a few drinks with your Uncle Liangming and Uncle Depeng," Chen Xiangui told his third grandson, Chen Rongyuan, to take his men and get the liquor from home.

The younger children immediately obeyed and ran home without giving Chang Liangming and the others a chance to say no. Cai Gengsheng had already finished moving the tables and chairs, and when he saw Chen Xiangui and the others drinking tea, he came over. As soon as Chen Xiangui saw Cai Gengsheng, he pointed to the tea and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Gengsheng. Have some tea. Don't leave later. I'll have Liangming make a lot more so we can have a few drinks together."

"Then I'll take this opportunity to enjoy the chef's cooking first, Uncle," Cai Gensheng said with a smile as he pulled over a stool and sat down. The other young men from the village who had helped carry the tables and chairs also sat down with smiles when they heard that there would be wine to drink later, and listened to Chen Xiangui and the others chatting.

"They're here, they're here!" Chen Rongyuan and Chen Rongxiong led the way, followed by five younger brothers, each carrying a bottle of Moutai, who ran over happily.

"Wow! Don't take all of your grandpa's personal belongings!" some adults joked.

Chen Rongyuan scoffed, "No way, my fifth uncle owns a big supermarket, my grandfather would never lack alcohol."

"Hahaha!"