1994: Starting with unpaid leave

The next day at noon, lunch break was approaching.

Director Zhang of the Harbin Passenger Transport Section frowned as he smoked, looking at a summary table of train sales during the National Day holiday compiled by his secretary.

This year's National Day holiday is usually a peak travel season, and the number of complaints received has also increased exponentially.

If it were just a regular complaint, that would be fine.

The key issue is that this year, the provincial bureau leaders, for some unknown reason, took a train back to their hometown of Mudanjiang and wrote down everything they saw and heard along the way, along with their suggestions for improvement.

Yesterday afternoon, the supervisor in charge held a meeting with the heads of the passenger transport section, emphasizing the problems, which were almost all issues specific to the passenger transport section.

The most pressing issue is that the food on the train is both expensive and unpalatable.

This is a problem that occurs almost every year.

Everyone knows there's a problem, but everyone knows there's no way to fix it.

To be honest, as the director of the passenger transport section, Director Zhang had also thought about reforms and alternatives.

And it's not like he did nothing.

Since becoming the director of the passenger transport section, those substandard, counterfeit products have never appeared on the trains in Harbin again.

But that's all he did.

He had considered changing the prices of those overpriced foods, but any slight change would offend many people.

It's not just the suppliers.

Even among the employees of the passenger transport section itself, there is a lot of opposition.

After all, a large portion of the sales revenue will go towards employee benefits for the passenger transport section.

If they really dare to implement reforms, they'll be transferred within two days.

The price will have to be adjusted back later, so there's really no point in making a fuss.

As for the taste issue... that's somewhat unfair.

Director Zhang believes that the main reason for the taste disorder is that passengers felt resentful after paying a high price...

"On our railway, we must be bold and innovative, especially in improving customer service quality!"

"Your passenger transport section shouldn't just be stuck in the past. It's time to come up with some delicious new dishes for customers to try. There are so many delicious foods in Heilongjiang Province, why can't we see any of them on the train?!"

Thinking about the leader's latest instructions, Director Zhang felt a headache coming on.

He wanted to serve the customers sweet and sour pork, but he couldn't!

"Clang clang"

"Enter"

As soon as the door opened, Director Wan pushed it open and walked in.

"What wind blew the bureau chief into my office today?"

"Oh ho, it's been so long since you've been here. Old Zhang, are you picking a fight with me?"

"How could I dare?!"

Both men were railway soldiers in their youth and were promoted to officer at the same time, so they can be considered old acquaintances.

They communicated privately, without much of a workplace etiquette; it was more like the familiarity between old comrades.

Deputy Director Wan, without any hesitation, placed the box he was carrying on the table and walked straight to Director Zhang, looking at the documents in his hand:

"Wow, you work so hard! I think you're aiming for another promotion before you retire, Lao Zhang!"

"Stop talking nonsense, what do you want? I'm having a headache right now. Let me make it clear, I'm not doing anything for you!"

"His character and temper are still as awful as ever!"

Director Wan muttered something to himself and pointed to the box on the table:

"Do you remember Director Dong, the factory manager I recommended to you?"

"Didn't you solve the problem for him? To express his gratitude, he sent you a box of new products for you to try."

Director Zhang was taken aback upon hearing this. He looked up but didn't glance at the box. Instead, he scrutinized Director Wan repeatedly.

"Hey Lao Wan, is it really worth you making this trip yourself for something as trivial as running a small food factory?"

"Since you were transferred to Harbin, you've only come to see me twice, but both times it was related to him. Just how much did that kid give you?"

Director Wan curled his lip:

"What benefits?! He actually haggled over the price when he bought my house in Hecheng, I even sold it to him for a thousand yuan less!"

Director Zhang: ...

"Do you want this? If not, I'll take it home!"

Seeing that Director Wan was really going to take the things away, Director Zhang's curiosity was piqued.

He raised his hand and pressed down on Director Wan's large hand:

"Fine, I'll take it, but don't leave yet. What if you find gold bars or something... I can't say for sure..."

Director Wan's lips twitched; the words sounded familiar, as if he had said the same thing to Secretary Wang yesterday...

Director Zhang put down the materials, took a paper cutter from the pen holder on the table, and got up to use the knife to cut open the tape sealing the box.

The contents of the box were the same as those given to Director Wan: a dozen or so bags of pickled chicken feet.

"What is this thing again?"

"Braised chicken feet, they're a bit spicy," Director Wan replied, smacking his lips.

"If you think there's a problem, just give it to me. If Xiao Dong asks, just say you received the goods."

Last night there was a Jia-A League match, and Director Wan watched the entire Dalian Wanda game while having beer and pickled chicken feet at home.

As the team with the best chance of winning the championship, Wanda played tough in that game and easily won 3-0.

The players enjoyed the game, the fans enjoyed watching, and Director Wan enjoyed the meal.

It wasn't until after the competition that he realized he had eaten half of the chicken feet Dong Jianguo had given him...

Hmm... I urgently need to replenish my stock.

Director Wan's words piqued Director Zhang's curiosity, and he let out a cold laugh:

"Old Wan, I feel like you've changed."

"Huh? What's changed?"

"His face is getting bigger and bigger!"

Director Zhang picked up a bag of pickled chicken feet and looked at his old friend's face:

"I helped Xiao Dong find sales channels for his braised eggs, and I'm getting a little something in return. Why should I give it to you!"

"No, this stuff hasn't even received its certificate of conformity yet. Aren't you worried you'll get sick from eating it?"

"None of your business, I have medical insurance if I get sick from eating it!"

After saying that, Director Zhang tore open the packaging, picked up a chicken foot, and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Ouch..." Director Wan winced in distress.

Having tasted them, he naturally knew the power of these chicken feet.

Once it's in Old Zhang's mouth, this whole box of chicken feet will probably be gone forever, just like meat buns thrown to a dog.

Fortunately, he was quick-witted and took advantage of the moment when Old Zhang was savoring the food to pick up a bag of chicken feet from the box, intending to take it back as payment for this delivery.

"Wait a minute..."

"I have something to do, so I'll head back now..."

"Don't go yet, I need to ask you something."

Director Zhang reluctantly swallowed the chicken feet meat in his mouth, savoring the taste he had never experienced before.

"Just who is this Xiao Dong from Hezhiwei? Tell me about him in detail..."

Why are you asking this?

"We've been criticized lately, haven't we? The leaders complain that our passenger transport section doesn't have any outstanding achievements. I was thinking that if we could sell these chicken feet on the trains, the passengers' complaints would decrease a lot. If they sell well, that would be an achievement for the passenger transport section."

"But before we cooperate, I need to get to know him better. If this kid tries to sabotage me halfway through, I can't handle it."

Seeing that Director Zhang was clearly interested, Director Wan nodded.

His eyes glanced at the box of pickled chicken feet on the table and he said:

"Oh, you're asking about that? Then you'll have to get me another bag—no, two bags of chicken feet!"

Director Zhang: "I'm so angry!"

……