Chapter 30: Using the Back Door

Right now, the cafeteria was buzzing with talk about her.

The lady serving the rice was in high spirits, possessing a natural talent for performance, and was describing Tu Shan’s massive appetite with vivid, exaggerated gestures.

Tu Shan blended into the crowd and listened along.

The people, busy spitting as they talked, didn't notice her at all.

Tu Shan listened as they repeated the same few points over and over: she ate a lot, she was thin, she was a freak—nothing new.

She lost interest.

"Who’s in charge of the cafeteria?"

The abrupt voice successfully drew everyone’s attention.

Tu Shan had her signature bangs, making her instantly recognizable.

"When did you get here?" someone asked, their tone a mix of embarrassment and surprise.

"Right when you were saying my clay pot is bigger than my butt."

Everyone: "..."

"You’re looking for our cafeteria director?"

"Does he run the cafeteria?"

"He does."

"Then I’m looking for him."

"What for?"

"To pull some strings and get a full meal."

Everyone: "..."

"Our director is upright and incorruptible."

"That’s only because the offer wasn't high enough."

"Watch out, or we’ll report you."

"Where’s the evidence?"

...

Tu Shan was brought to the cafeteria director’s office.

The director was a balding middle-aged man.

"I heard you want to pull strings with me? I never open back doors for anyone; I don't even have doors or windows for that."

Tu Shan pursed her lips. *Old man, you’re going to be slapping your own face for saying that.*

"Where does the cafeteria’s grain come from?"

Lu Hongtao was stunned for a moment. "We apply for it from the logistics department."

"And where does the logistics department get the grain?"

Lu Hongtao: "???"

"It’s allocated by the organization. No, wait, girl, what exactly are you trying to say? Let me tell you, one must be down-to-earth; don't spend all day thinking about unrealistic things.

You were able to get into the criminal investigation team across the street, so you must have passed the background check and have good character. You can’t ruin your future for the sake of a few bites of food."

Tu Shan smiled. "Don't worry, Director. I guarantee I will be a down-to-earth person and work diligently."

Lu Hongtao was satisfied. "Then you..."

"So, Director, is there enough grain to go around?"

Lu Hongtao: "???"

In this day and age, who ever had enough grain?

"Not enough, right?" Tu Shan eagerly recommended herself. "If it’s not enough, come to me."

Lu Hongtao: "???"

Tu Shan leaned in. "I can provide five thousand catties of grain to the cafeteria every month. You can choose between coarse or fine grains, and the price will be favorable.

I just need you to set aside two hundred catties for me each month and let me eat my fill. How about it?"

Lu Hongtao’s breathing quickened. Their cafeteria had to provide meals for about eight hundred people, and only for the lunch shift. The daily ration per person was one tael of grain, which meant two thousand four hundred catties a month. But due to various circumstances, they usually only received about two thousand catties.

With other side dishes added, everyone was only about fifty or sixty percent full.

The guys working on the front lines could only manage forty percent.

He had begged and pleaded to get those kids fed, but he just couldn't get his hands on more grain.

Suddenly, a pie had fallen from the sky.

Five thousand catties a month—five thousand! Lu Hongtao didn't even dare to imagine how magnificent that would look stacked in the warehouse.

Adding that to what they already had, that was seven thousand catties. Averaged out, everyone could get nearly three taels of grain a day—that was no small amount.

If he added some vegetables and found a way to get some meat, there was no doubt everyone could be seventy or eighty percent full.

If it weren't for the social boundaries between men and women, Lu Hongtao would have wanted to grab Tu Shan’s hand and give her a warm hug.

"Girl—no, no, Comrade, can you really provide that much?"

Tu Shan lifted her chin slightly. "Of course I can."

"Good, good, good!" Lu Hongtao spun around in excitement, his eyes brimming with tears. Then he asked eagerly, "Do we need to sign an agreement or something?" He didn't want her to run off and the grain to disappear.

Tu Shan waved her hand. "This isn't public; it’s a private arrangement. An agreement would just become evidence against us.

Anyway, from now on, I provide the grain, and you provide the food. If I don't provide the grain, you don't provide the food. Neither of us loses out."

Lu Hongtao gradually calmed down. That made sense. "Aren't you afraid that I’ll take the grain and not give you food?"

Tu Shan looked at him as if he were stupid. "I’m providing the grain month by month, not ten years at a time. Unless you’re a complete idiot, you wouldn't do that."

Lu Hongtao laughed sheepishly. It was indeed a silly question; he had just been so stimulated that his brain wasn't working right.

"However, I can't let you eat as much as you want. With your appetite, even if you gave me ten thousand catties, I couldn't afford to feed you. One clay pot a day, maximum, and you still have to pay one meal ticket."

Tu Shan: "..." *What a profiteer.*

But that was fine. The grain she grew herself provided more energy, so eating less wouldn't be a problem.

"I have one condition, too."

Lu Hongtao sighed inwardly. *Here it comes.* He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch, but if it went against his principles, he would refuse even fifty thousand catties.

"All the grain I provide must go into the mouths of the colleagues in the unit. You cannot use it for anything else, and you certainly cannot line your own pockets. Keep the people below you in check, too—no stealing from the storehouse or internal corruption. Otherwise, I’ll be very angry."

Tu Shan leaned slightly closer to Lu Hongtao. Her eyes, hidden beneath her thick bangs, flickered with a cold light. Even though they were obscured, Lu Hongtao felt his heart race and his hair stand on end. He straightened up.

"In my life, Lu Hongtao has never failed the heavens above or the people below. Even if I starve to death or die in poverty, I will never touch the food meant for the people's heroes. I give you my word of honor: every single grain will go into the stomachs of our comrades."

Tu Shan believed him. She had looked into it; Lu Hongtao was exactly as the ladies had described—an upright and incorruptible man. Otherwise, she wouldn't be doing business with him.

She was providing this grain mainly to give people like He Jiahuan a little extra nourishment.

They were all comrades-in-arms; they needed to live long, healthy lives to serve the country and the people. It would be a waste to end up in the dirt too early.

"The Director’s character is noble, upright, and selfless. I’ll be counting on your care in the future."

Lu Hongtao was silent for half a second. Everyone usually called him a stingy, bald donkey—stingy, stubborn, and bald.

This was the first time he’d heard such a spot-on compliment, and he felt completely awkward.

He gave a dry laugh and nodded. "Easy, easy. So, what about this month’s grain?"

The old man rubbed his hands together, looking extremely sleazy.

Tu Shan stepped back. "Even though more than half the month has passed, I’ll still provide the full month’s amount.

I’ll give you an address tomorrow; you can bring people to pick it up yourself.

This time, I want everyone to eat well, so I’ve prepared rice. Tell me what kind of grain you want for next month in advance.

The price will be the same as the grain station, but no tickets required."

Lu Hongtao hadn't expected to get five thousand catties even though the month was half over. He was so happy his gums were showing, and even if it was all rice, he didn't feel a pinch of regret.

"Alright, alright! You said this is private, so the money can't go through the public account. I’ll figure out a way to get it to you privately. It might need to pass through a few hands, so it might take a few days."

Tu Shan didn't care; she let Lu Hongtao handle it.

Once everything was settled, the two went to the kitchen. Everyone looked over with eager, thirsty eyes.

Tu Shan announced with a wide grin, "I cured the Director’s chronic leg pain, and he was so moved that he’s paying out of his own pocket to make sure I’m well-fed. From now on, one ticket gets me one clay pot of rice. Auntie, don't let your hand shake."

The lady serving the rice: "..."

Tu Shan skipped away, leaving Lu Hongtao surrounded by a pack of wolves.

"Director, what’s going on? Since when did you have chronic leg pain?"

Lu Hongtao remained silent. He didn't have chronic leg pain; it was just that the other party gave too much, and he had fallen from grace.

"Give her a bit more," Lu Hongtao said, his stiff face gradually blooming into a smile at the thought of the five thousand catties of grain. "Our cafeteria can afford it."

*No, hold it in, get back to the office!*

Everyone: "..." *Did that back door just open?*