Chapter 51: The 51 Compound Canteen

Chapter 51: The Compound Canteen

Secretary Wang personally carried the crate of vegetables to the canteen. The head chef rushed forward to greet him enthusiastically

"Secretary Wang, what is this? Why did you deliver it personally?"

Secretary Wang smiled.

"The leader had some farmhouse dishes last time and thought the flavor was excellent, so he specifically bought some to let everyone have a taste today. As you know, we don't know the first thing about cooking; we have to rely on you!"

The head chef immediately perked up to one hundred and twenty percent!

A top leader had proactively sent this over. Even though it was meant for everyone, he couldn't afford to be tactless. He was already mentally cycling through his recipes—

If it were abalone, sea cucumber, or shark fin, there wouldn't be enough time to prepare it by lunch.

If it were other farmhouse specialties... how should he cook them to make them taste unique and delicious enough to earn collective praise?

It wasn't until Secretary Wang left that the young apprentice assistant opened the crate. Staring at the pile of vegetables, the boy looked up blankly

"Master, what is this?"

The head chef leaned in to look and was also stunned.

He took the vegetable out, examined it meticulously from all angles, and even snapped off a piece to taste. Finally, he was certain—

"Isn't this Chinese milk vetch?"

Back in his hometown, wasn't this just fodder used to fertilize fields? Both cattle and sheep ate it.

"Hey, tell me..."

He couldn't help but voice his confusion: "People eat so much meat and fish these days. Not only are wild vegetables expensive, but is this milk vetch even worth being packaged and delivered like this?"

The dry ice bags inside were still emitting wisps of white smoke!

The apprentice was young and had never seen this before. He finally rubbed his stomach and gave a silly grin

"I'm different; I just love meat!"

The head chef looked at him with a smile, then scolded, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up, get those cured meats and braised pork pots out, and this vegetable—"

He pointed to another person: "Clean this up well for me."

Even though it was already quite clean, since Secretary Wang had delivered it, they had to be even more careful.

***

Meanwhile, in the compound.

It wasn't even time to clock out yet, but the people from the Administration Department were already sniffing the air. "What is that smell? It's so fragrant!"

Just as they were speaking, the people from the neighboring Rural Affairs Department poked their heads over to ask, "Is there a new dish at the canteen today? Why does it smell so good?"

The Administration Department was responsible for security, so logically, they should have known what new dish the kitchen was serving today.

But thinking carefully about today's food carts—they looked just like the usual ones.

Could the canteen really work such magic?

The leaders had their own private kitchens, but the person in question was a practical man who didn't care much about gourmet food; instead, he often ate with the general canteen.

This had its benefits; the canteen's cooking was currently far from perfunctory and was quite exquisite.

This had actually made everyone more eager to eat at the canteen.

Now, as several departments converged, they became increasingly convinced that there was a feast today!

Consequently, as soon as work ended, anyone who didn't have pending tasks rushed into the canteen in a swarm!

In contrast, the "owner" of the food was still busy receiving guests from the city.

Secretary Wang naturally had to remain at his post. Smelling the waves of fragrance drifting through the window and glancing at his WeChat Moments to see everyone's praise for the canteen (and mainly for the leader)...

Finally, his stomach betrayed him with an uncontrollable growl.

Coincidentally, the leader had just stepped out of the office with his guest.

In the sudden silence of the room, the series of sounds from his stomach became exceptionally prominent.

Secretary Wang swore: He had never felt so humiliated in his entire life!

Fortunately, the leader was truly a considerate one. He burst into laughter, breaking the awkwardness

"Look at that, we were so busy chatting we forgot mealtime... Old Qian, would you do me the honor of tasting the flavors of our compound canteen at lunch?"

The guest also offered a perfectly timed smile: "I've been wanting to say so. I've been smelling that wonderful aroma for a while. Your canteen is truly a hidden gem!"

Secretary Wang finally regained his wits and said with feigned complaint

"Then you have no idea. Previously, this canteen was just average. But this morning, the leader bought a crate of farmhouse vegetables and sent them over. I don't know what kind of skill the chef used to make them smell so delicious! As soon as work ended, everyone rushed there!"

The smell was just as enticing as the one he had encountered at the hospital canteen last time!

***

Inside the canteen, the head chef was also in a state of distress.

Everyone was holding their plates, clamoring at the empty serving window

"Hurry up! Isn't that a huge portion? Give me some more..."

"Give me some first, give me some first..."

"Brothers and sisters, you guys came early and have already had two helpings. I only had one bite and the dish is gone!"

"What happy event happened to our chef today? He's using a hundred years' worth of skill!"

The head chef couldn't stop smiling

"I told you, it's not my skill, it's our leader. I don't know where he bought these farmhouse vegetables, but they are incredibly delicious..."

While simultaneously trying to dampen everyone's expectations

"You've all eaten your fill, no more, no more! I have to save what's left in case the leader comes to eat!"

Someone else said reluctantly, dripping with saliva, "They haven't arrived even at this hour. They might be out hosting guests for lunch..."

Just as the words fell, three people were seen walking slowly toward the canteen entrance.

After a moment of silence, everyone hurriedly changed the subject in a stiff manner and then dispersed like startled birds.

Seeing guests from a distance, the head chef was secretly delighted—

Today, he was going to gain some serious face!

He quickly called out, "Oh, Leader! Those farmhouse vegetables you sent this morning were so fresh and vibrant. Once they were stir-fried, everyone snatched them all up. I barely managed to save this little bit..."

He wasn't lying. As soon as the warming lid was lifted, a nose-stinging fragrance surged into the air.

The aroma of crispy, slightly spicy meat mixed with the crisp freshness of the greens; all the flavors blended together. Even the guest from afar couldn't help it—his stomach gave a loud growl as well.

At this, Secretary Wang kept a straight face, but his heart felt relieved.

The leader also seemed somewhat impatient

"I thought this batch of milk vetch wouldn't be as good as the last time, but it smells just as good."

Although using such simple wild vegetables to entertain guests was somewhat improper, the visitors today were certainly not outsiders. The group of three sat down harmoniously and quickly each took a bite of the refreshing dish.

"Mmm!"

After that short exclamation, the entire table fell silent.

Then came the continuous sounds of picking up food, chewing, and swallowing.

It was a good thing the head chef had tasted a bit after the dish was ready and decisively set aside a large portion; otherwise, the three people present likely wouldn't have been full.

While refilling rice, the apprentice whispered, "Our leader pays so much attention to health; this is the first time I've seen him eat three bowls."

The head chef glared at him. "You talk too much."

In the private small dining room of the canteen, Secretary Wang suppressed the urge to loosen his belt. Looking at the mess of empty plates before him, he thanked himself ten thousand times for not angrily leaving the group chat after the boss had randomly added him.

If there's no free delivery, so be it—he'll just buy it himself later!

As an insider, the guest spoke even more casually

"Leader, which farm does this vegetable seller belong to? Please be sure to recommend them to me. After this meal, I'm afraid I'll be thinking about it all night."