CHAPTER 447: 447 SECRETARY MENG

The task of chopping chili and garlic was for the men. After the first batch was done, Jiang Xinyu asked Wang Ailing to start the fire as the chili sauce needed to be simmered.

Generally speaking, she added sweet bean paste and sugar, secretly putting in MSG to recreate the taste of the chili sauce from a past life.

They simmered it five times in total, filling five large basins, enough to fill a hundred bottles.

"Xinyu, this tastes really good. Well, you used such good ingredients, how could it not be delicious?"

"Sister She, can you find someone to gather more chili and garlic, and also some dried chili? We can make some chili oil to enjoy."

"Sure, I’ll find a way to leave five pounds of oil for you."

"Xinyu, do we have enough canning jars?" Previously, it was Chen Guoliang’s brother-in-law who helped get them, but since his elder sister isn’t doing well, we don’t want to rely on them anymore.

"Lv Beiguang helped to order them. Their distillery and glass factory made an order, so he ordered some for me."

"That’s good. I was thinking of having your brother-in-law call his brother-in-law otherwise."

"No need, Lv Beiguang’s place is enough. By the way, Sister She, can you buy some fermented black beans from the soy sauce factory? Can you also get some sesame seeds?"

"Both of those are doable."

"That’s great. Once we have all the ingredients, I’ll teach you two how to make chili oil. It’s very versatile and particularly tasty."

"Alright, I’ll start preparing people tomorrow. How much sesame do you need?"

"Two pounds will be enough."

"Xinyu, when it comes to making food, I really admire you," Wang Ailing said with a smile.

Jiang Xinyu burst out laughing, "Sister, I’ll take your words as a compliment."

"I really am praising you."

The three of them laughed heartily. "You two can come over on Saturday to pick them up. The chili sauce needs to cool completely before being put into the canning jars, and it must be steamed for a quarter of an hour before sealing."

"Will you have time tomorrow?"

"No worries, I’ll get up at midnight. Two pots at once go fast, you don’t have to worry."

It was getting late, so Jiang Xinyu gave each of them five pounds of dried shrimp. "When you get back, still put it in a ventilated place; I’m afraid it’ll spoil."

"Alright, this stuff does attract flies. Let me have my father-in-law weave some lidded baskets. Do you two want one each?"

"Sure, Uncle can do that?"

"Yes, my father-in-law is very handy."

After seeing them off, the family washed up and went to bed.

Jiang Xinyu got up at three in the morning, portioning out the chili sauce and then steaming it.

The hardest part of this task was lifting the lid and immediately tightening the lids of the canning jars.

There were a total of one hundred and nineteen bottles, all placed on the shelf in the warehouse, waiting for a chance to be given away.

In the morning, it was just noodles cooked and directly scooped into the chili sauce basin, then topped with green onions and a splash of hot oil, creating a really fragrant flavor.

"Mom, make sure you rest at noon. You’ve done so much work yourself."

"Alright, Mom will rest at noon. You two listen to Master Shang, Mom is going to work."

After the morning meeting, Yao Shimin walked beside Jiang Xinyu. "Jingyi and I have got our marriage certificate, and the wedding date has been moved to National Day."

"Haha, congratulations to both of you. When is Jingyi coming over? I still have some good food saved for her."

"Coming over on Saturday, we’ll be having dinner at your place in the evening. During the day, Sister Meng and the others are helping me make bedding."

"Sure, dinner at my place in the evening then."

The two parted ways at the door of Jiang Xinyu’s office, both having lots of work and no time for small talk.

After lunch, Jiang Xinyu called Ding Shihong to let him know there was time to pick up the chili sauce.

"Secretary Lv, when can the canning jars arrive?"

"At the earliest, mid-month."

"Alright, I understand. By the way, the chili sauce is ready, come by the house to get a few bottles when you have time."

"Sure, the wine is being released from the cellars today. Want me to save some for you?"

"Secretary Lu, I’d like to save some Daughter’s Red for Feifei."

"Sure, today’s batch, even though it’s millet wine, will undoubtedly turn into a fine wine after twenty years. I’ll bring you some back."

"Alright."

After putting down the phone, she went to rest in the back, feeling a bit dizzy, as she hadn’t slept much last night.

In the afternoon, the gatekeeper called, saying there was a woman looking for her.

Jiang Xinyu guessed it must be the secretary sent over for her.

She went out and saw a woman with glasses and two braided pigtails.

"Hello, I’m Jiang Xinyu. And you are?"

"Hello, Vice Factory Director Jiang, I’m Meng Weihong. Here’s my letter of introduction, I’ll be your secretary from now on."

Jiang Xinyu took the letter of introduction and glanced at it, "Welcome, Mr. Meng. Please come in."

She helped Meng Weihong carry some luggage directly to her office.

"Put the luggage down first, I’ll take you to meet Mr. Qian."

"Okay."

Leading the way, Jiang Xinyu entered with Song Qingqing, who noticed the woman and knew that she must be the new secretary for Vice Factory Director Jiang.

"Vice Factory Director Jiang, Mr. Qian is not in the office right now. I’ll call him. You two take a seat first."

"Alright, I’ll just wait here then."

Taking the opportunity to chat, "Mr. Meng, the dorms are a bit tight right now. I’ll call the logistics department later to have them arrange it."

"Vice Factory Director Jiang, it’s no problem for me, I came here to work."

Jiang Xinyu found it amusing internally, wondering if she had really such a high sense of duty or was just saying elegant things.

"Mr. Meng, you have a really strong sense of duty."

Qian Jun came in. The two of them stood up. "Let’s go to my office."

Song Qingqing brought in some tea.

Meng Weihong gracefully handed over her letter of introduction, "Mr. Qian, Meng Weihong reporting for duty."

Then she took out her diploma and file to give to Qian Jun.

Jiang Xinyu thought that this Secretary Meng might want to be Qian Jun’s secretary; if they could switch, it’d be great. Song Qingqing is reliable and obedient, getting along best with her.

So, she didn’t accept the file Qian Jun passed over.

Meng Weihong also realized she hadn’t shown her leader her file, feeling a bit nervous inside.

"Vice Factory Director Jiang?"

"Mr. Qian, my work ability isn’t great, and if I have to train a newbie, my energy won’t be enough. How about this, let Secretary Song work with me, and Secretary Meng be your secretary?"

"Vice Factory Director Jiang, she was sent from above."

"It’s alright. Why don’t I make a call and ask? Working with Mr. Qian, the pressure on me would be much less."

"Alright then, but Secretary Song should guide Secretary Meng."

"Okay, I have no objections; Mr. Qian, you arrange it. Right, I’ll call logistics later to have them arrange a dorm for Secretary Meng."

Jiang Xinyu finished speaking and left with a smile.

Song Qingqing, who had heard the conversation outside, gave a thumbs-up as Jiang Xinyu exited, and they both exchanged a knowing smile.

For Song Qingqing, it wouldn’t matter who she was a secretary for, but if given a choice, Jiang Xinyu was obviously much better than Qian Jun, especially since Qian Jun was still unmarried.