Phi-Fic Chapter 183 How many dishes did you prepare at your home?
Chapter 183 How many dishes did you prepare at your home?
"Hey? Director Yan is hosting a banquet on Friday, and Comrade Zhang is hosting one on Sunday. That's double the good news! Congratulations!"
"Where does Director Yan plan to hold it, in the factory canteen?"
"Yes, Xiao Guo and I are both employees of the machinery factory, so it's most convenient to hold the banquet at the factory. Cough cough..."
Yan Chengke coughed again, his neck turning red and swollen: "Alright, you guys get back to work, I'll go back to my office first."
Originally, Director Yan's office was part of a suite with theirs. Director Yan's office was in the smaller inner room, while the other employees had theirs in the larger outer room.
Ever since Director Yan was drugged, his health has been poor. Fearing it would affect the work of others, he voluntarily resigned from his position as office director.
It was Miao Shoujun who persuaded him to stay and arranged a secluded office for him, allowing Yan Chengke to continue to shine in the office.
Although he was in poor health, his mind was very clear. He was the best office manager until a successor was trained.
Seeing him leave, Qiao Manman ran over to find Guo Youfeng: "Sister Youfeng, congratulations!"
"Manman, are you alright? We were so scared when we heard from Director Miao that you saved him!"
"No, no, I'm perfectly fine!" he said, turning around to let her see him clearly.
Guo Youfeng looked at her fair and rosy cheeks with extreme envy.
I used to think that being able to have children was enough. But after going through this, I realize that a peaceful and uneventful life is also quite nice.
Qiao Manman took a small jar out of her pocket: "Hey, Sister Feng, look, what's this?"
"What?" Guo Youfeng took the jar and noticed that there were no words on it, which made her curious.
"I brought the orange powder back from the provincial capital. Where's your cup? Let's make some and try it!"
Guo Youfeng nodded and turned to get the enamel mug.
Qiao Manman twisted open the lid, poured some orange powder into the enamel mug, and asked, "Where's the thermos?"
"No need, you sit down, I'll go get it!" he said, leaving to get the thermos from the outer office.
To be honest, Guo Youfeng is now quite easily frightened; he won't eat anything if it's out of his sight.
But she trusted Qiao Manman, so she left without a second thought.
Qiao Manman brushed her fingers across the enamel mug, and some Rejuvenation Pill powder fell into it and disappeared without a trace.
Qiao Manman had just poured herself some orange powder when Guo Youfeng came in.
Pouring hot water into an enamel mug instantly fills the office with a sweet aroma.
The two sat at the desk talking quietly. After the water cooled down, they drank it with smiles and then went their separate ways.
Looking at the withered branches and fallen leaves outside the window, Guo Youfeng felt that her own body was withering away like a tree in winter.
I envy Qiao Manman's vitality; she seems like the sun in spring and summer, intense and dazzling.
I don't know if it was the sweetness of the orange juice that soothed the bitterness in my heart.
Guo Youfeng didn't cough much that morning, and felt much more relaxed.
At noon, Qiao Manman went home for lunch. She ate a large bowl of braised beef brisket with potatoes, along with a small bowl of rice, and was quite satisfied. After a short rest, it was time to go back to work.
In the afternoon, I took the opportunity to give Yan Chengke some Rejuvenation Pill powder to cleanse his body of some chronic illness.
Qiao Manman knew she wouldn't be staying long, so she hurried to write the plan.
One by one, novel ideas leaped off the page. Qiao Manman hoped that this plan would allow Yangxian Machinery Factory to survive until after the reform and opening up, and protect the factory's employees for a few more years.
Time passed little by little, and Friday arrived quickly.
Even though they were getting married today, Yan Chengke and Guo Youfeng went to work as usual. They only took half an hour off in the morning to go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get their marriage certificate.
Arriving at the office, blushing as they accepted everyone's congratulations, Yan Chengke and Guo Youfeng felt a bit dazed.
It was soon noon, and a group of people hurried towards the cafeteria. The accountant was at the door keeping records; those who came to attend the wedding would give some money as a gift.
Some gave a dollar or two, others a dime or two. Qiao Manman was on good terms with the two, so she gave them a dollar as a gift and also a pair of red pillowcases.
The red double happiness character and mandarin duck embroidery made many girls envious, asking her where she bought them.
Qiao Manman claimed that she brought it back from the provincial capital, which made the girls envious, but they could only shake their heads in regret.
A group of people took their seats, and Director Miao personally presided over the wedding.
After a brief introduction of Yan Chengke and Guo Youfeng, the two were asked to bow to the portrait of the leader, take an oath, and then give a speech, thus concluding the process.
Soon, in about ten minutes, everyone laughed and applauded, wishing them a long and happy life together.
When the cafeteria staff served the food to everyone, Qiao Manman discovered that there were two meat dishes and six vegetable dishes.
Meat dishes include braised pork ribs and stewed pork with potatoes, while vegetarian dishes include shredded potatoes, Chinese cabbage, steamed pumpkin, boiled vermicelli, stir-fried wood ear mushrooms, and braised tofu.
That's quite a big investment.
The plate had barely been placed on the table when everyone scrambled to grab it. Qiao Manman was only a second too slow, and the braised pork was gone.
However, her target was braised pork ribs, and she quickly grabbed two pieces with more meat.
Afterwards, I ate some vegetables and put down my chopsticks.
"Comrade Xiao Qiao, why are you eating so little? Look at your frail body, you'll have trouble getting pregnant in the future!"
"Come on, try some rice noodles!"
Qiao Manman awkwardly declined with a smile: "I ate too much this morning, and my stomach is a little full. Thank you, Sister Chunhua!"
Yao Chunhua didn't mind, only saying that Qiao Manman was unlucky. Such a fine feast, and she only ate a couple of bites. Tsk tsk, what a waste!
Qiao Manman wasn't angry and chatted casually with everyone.
I didn't leisurely return to the office until almost 1:30. I sat down to rest for a bit, then seamlessly transitioned back to work.
Then he heard other colleagues in the office asking Zhang Shuhan, "How many dishes did you prepare for your family?"
Zhang Shuhan was a little embarrassed: "One meat dish and seven vegetable dishes. My family has limited meat coupons, so we could only buy ten catties of meat. I'm sorry to disappoint everyone."
"Hey, what are you talking about? It's good enough if there's even a hint of meat. In the countryside, many families don't even hold a wedding banquet."
Comrade Zhang, please don't mind my bluntness!
Zhang Shuhan nodded, indicating his understanding. However, he couldn't help feeling uneasy.
He hadn't expected the banquet to be so close to the director's. But the date was already set, and he couldn't postpone it because of such a small matter.
If I don't postpone it, I'll inevitably be compared to others. It's so annoying!
Qiao Manman was kind-hearted and gave Zhang Shuhan a wink.
Zhang Shuhan immediately understood. He lingered until the very end of the workday, then lowered his voice and asked, "Comrade Xiao Qiao, do you have a way to get meat?"
Qiao Manman said, "Meat won't do, the pigs are all slaughtered at the end of the year. But, I'm from the countryside, I can help you buy some eggs. Five cents each, no coupons required, do you want some?"
"Yes, of course!" Eggs are also a meat dish. Adding a scrambled egg to each table would elevate the banquet to a whole new level.
"How much do you need? I'll go back and arrange it for you!"
"I'll take as much as you have!" Zhang Shuhan thought for a moment, then took out ten yuan from his pocket: "Comrade Qiao, you can decide what to take, and I'll refund any overpayment or make up any underpayment."
"Okay!" Qiao Manman accepted the large sum of money, slung her canvas bag over her shoulder, and left.
Zhang Shuhan closed the windows and locked the door, his smile simple and honest.
When he got home and shared the good news with his parents, they praised him, saying, "Your colleague is a good person!"