Chương 78: Emergency Rescue!

The factory canteen was the most affected by Sun Meili's arrest. These past few days have been turbulent, leaderless, and filled with anxiety. However, the workers generally reported that the food was much tastier than before, suggesting that Chef Xiao had returned. The original head chef, Huang Fusheng, was still at home awaiting the outcome of his investigation; rumors circulated that he was also implicated in Sun Meili's corruption case, and he was definitely out of a job as head chef.

The canteen director, Wang Defa, was also under investigation, not only for unclear accounts but also for an improper relationship between him and Sun Meili. However, rumors circulated that both of them vehemently denied all charges. The security department and the disciplinary committee interrogated them for three days but couldn't get them to talk.

But Sun Meili's denials were useless; the factory finance department worked overtime to reconcile the accounts, clarifying the issues, and the suppliers who delivered goods to the canteen were also being investigated, making the chain of evidence increasingly clear. The amount involved left even the security officers investigating the case speechless. If this is completely proven true, he'll be locked up for life.

In the canteen kitchen, lunch service had ended, apprentices were cleaning the stoves, and the chefs were gathered in small groups in the corridor smoking and chatting. A fat figure dragged his heavy steps towards them. The chefs, seeing him, quickly hid their cigarettes behind their backs and greeted him with smiles: "Director Wang."

Wang Defa looked rather haggard; in just three days, his temples had sprouted many white hairs, his beard was unkempt, his deep-set eyes were surrounded by heavy dark circles, and his face was much thinner, making him look ten years older. Wang Defa paused, his gaze sweeping over the chefs' faces, and asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "Where's Xiao Lei?"

"Master Xiao is sharpening his knives in the water room," one chef replied. Hearing this, Wang Defa walked straight towards the water room.

"Why does Director Wang look so haggard all of a sudden?"

"He's scared, I heard from a friend in security that Sun Meili's case might involve over 50, 000 yuan. If he gets involved, he might be in big trouble."

"50, 000! Wow—that's a lot!"

"The meat and vegetables we've been buying these past two years are nowhere near the quality of what we bought a couple of years ago. Chef Xiao went on strike because of that."

"Then what did he want with Chef Xiao today?" The cooks whispered among themselves, their eyes all fixed on the water room, some even taking a few steps in that direction. Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle! Inside the water room, a cleaver was being honed back and forth on the whetstone. Xiao Lei was bent over, his expression focused and serious. The cleaver gleamed, its blade flashing coldly. Wang Defa appeared in the doorway, blocking the light and casting a shadow that fell directly onto the whetstone.

Wang Defa said in a deep voice, "Xiao Lei, let's talk." Xiao Lei scooped up some water and splashed it on the knife, slowly straightened up, and gently scraped the blade with his fingertips before looking up at Wang Defa and smiling, "What do we have to talk about?"

"My transfer notice came down today. I'll be transferred to Linqiong soon. Before I leave, as the canteen director, I've decided to do one last good deed for the workers." Wang Defa grinned, revealing a set of yellow teeth, his voice hoarse and low:"I've submitted a nomination to the deputy factory director, making you the head chef of the factory canteen and the person in charge of the stir-fry area, so the workers can enjoy delicious and safe stews and stir-fries."

Xiao Lei sneered, "A shameless person like you, with no scruples and no manners, would you have good intentions? You're telling me all this because you expect me to thank you?"

"No need for thanks, we'll never see each other again anyway." Wang Defa's expression turned sinister. He clenched his fists, his voice trembling slightly.

"You two, master and apprentice, are really my nemesis, forcing me to leave. Zhou Yan is quite capable; he ran that shabby restaurant very well, stealing all the business from the cafeteria's stir-fry stalls. This whole mess started because of him."

"But it doesn't matter. You two are both powerful, so let the master fight him. I want to see if the workers prefer your cooking or your apprentice's. We'll settle this once and for all!"

"I'll go to Linqiong and watch you two fight like dogs, a bloody mess!" Wang Defa grinned, a hint of madness in his smile.

"You can't escape." Xiao Lei put the cleaver he was holding back into the cloth bag on the table beside him, looking at Wang Defa with a hint of pity.

"This morning I handed over all the evidence I've collected over the past two years regarding corruption in the canteen to Section Chief Luo of the security department. Wang Qi, your nephew, has been the one who supplied the canteen with the most pork these past two years. A lot of it was diseased pork mixed in. You can check the accounts with the security officers after you go in." Wang Defa's smile froze, his eyes widened, and his lips trembled slightly.

"You… you're talking nonsense!" Footsteps came from outside the door, and Luo Weidong arrived at the water room door with two officers. He said sternly, "Wang Defa, someone has filed a formal complaint against you for illegally purchasing a large amount of diseased pork during your tenure, which is suspected of endangering the lives and health of the workers and constitutes a serious violation of laws and regulations." This story originates from Royal Road.

Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Section Chief Luo…" Wang Defa's face turned pale as he tried to argue. The two officers stepped forward and restrained him from both sides, giving him no friendly look.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you, I resigned today." Xiao Lei slung the cloth bag over his shoulder and smiled at Wang Defa.

"A restaurant in Rongcheng invited me to be their head chef, the salary is higher than what I earned as a head chef in the factory. A friend also asked me to go to Jiaozhou to open a restaurant with him. The shop is all renovated, located near the Leshan Giant Buddha pier. He said I can earn tens of thousands of yuan a year. I'm still considering which one to go."

"You…you…" Wang Defa's chest heaved violently with anger, his face turning even uglier.

"Zhou Yan was fired because of me, you villain. I, as his master, will never forget this grudge." Xiao Lei looked at him coldly.

"If you want me to be a kitchen helper, I don't care if I just coast along until retirement, but if you want me to harm my apprentice, then I'll definitely send you to jail first."

"I've had enough of this lousy job. I'm a national level two chef. Wherever I go, people will call me master. I won't starve." After saying that, Xiao Lei nodded to Luo Weidong and went out. Outside the corridor, a dozen or so chefs and apprentices stood in a row against the wall, looking at him with utmost respect.

"Master Xiao, take care."

"Come back and visit often."

"Here, have some cigarettes." Xiao Lei smiled, took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, tossed it to one of the chefs, and waved his hand.

"I'm leaving." Xiao Lei slung his bag over his shoulder and went out. Wang Defa, on the other hand, was dragged out like a dead pig by two officers. His legs were weak, and his face was ashen. He seemed to have already foreseen his fate.

"Pah!"

"You fat pig!" The chefs looked at him with disgust, hurling the most offensive insults.

"Master Xiao, please reconsider. The canteen is short of someone who can manage things. If you're willing to stay, you can be the head chef and promoted to deputy director of the canteen..." Deputy Factory Director Liu Yusheng stopped Xiao Lei at the canteen entrance, earnestly persuading him.

"I'm sorry, Director Liu, my mind is made up," Xiao Lei said calmly, pushing his cart towards the factory gate.

"Sigh," Liu Yusheng sighed, watching Xiao Lei's retreating figure....

"What? You want me to organize a banquet?" At the restaurant entrance, Zhou Yan looked at Zhou Jie, who was covered in sweat, with a surprised expression. Zhou Jie took the large bowl of water from Aunt Zhao and gulped it down in two mouthfuls. He said anxiously, "The village cook who's preparing the banquet went back to get spices, but his bike got caught on a tractor, and he broke his hand. He's in the Suji Health Center now.

I just came from the hospital; he's screaming in pain and told us to find another cook ourselves. It happened so suddenly, where are we supposed to find a cook? Tomorrow's an auspicious day, and I've asked five or six, but none are available. You're the only cook in our family, so my father asked me to come and ask you if you can take over. Otherwise, we'll have to go to Jiaozhou to find someone."

"I definitely can't. All my best dishes are hanging on the wall; they can't support a banquet," Zhou Yan shook his head. The situation was indeed very sudden, and in their desperation, they'd come to him for help. A banquet usually involves nine large bowls of food; he couldn't possibly prepare that now. It's already afternoon; the village cooks have probably prepared most of the ingredients, so he's even less capable of taking over.

Zhou Hao is now a platoon leader, and his family has two plaques recognizing him as a first-class meritorious official, so leaders will definitely be attending the wedding banquet. This banquet needs to be held with dignity. Zhou Yan isn't a fool; he wouldn't dare to take on this responsibility. He's better at making braised dishes.

"Then... what should we do?" Zhou Jie was getting anxious.

"Don't panic, the sky won't fall." The old lady, who hadn't spoken until now, stood up. Zhou Jie consciously shut his mouth, and everyone looked at the old lady, as if they had found their pillar of support. The old lady looked at Zhou Yan and asked, "Zhou Yan, you've been learning to cook for over two years, do you know any chefs who can organize a large-scale banquet? Someone who can spare two days."

Zhou Yan immediately thought of his master, Xiao Lei, and nodded, "My master, Xiao Lei, is a national level-two chef. He used to be the head chef, managing the large-scale cooking for nearly three thousand people in the textile factory. I can go ask him if he can spare some time to help." The old lady nodded, "Go quickly. If Chef Xiao can't spare the time, you'll have to hurry to Jiaozhou to find a chef."

"Okay." Zhou Yan took a pack of cigarettes and put it in his pocket, quickly walking towards the factory gate. Just as he was about to ask the security officer for help, he saw a familiar figure carrying a cloth bag and pushing a bicycle towards the factory gate.

"Master!" Zhou Yan's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over to meet him: "I need your help urgently! Are you free tomorrow to help organize a large-scale banquet?" (End of Chapter)