CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: CLUELESS YET PLAYFUL

"So it was Mr. Lin who cooked, then I must taste her skills!" Director Qian stopped declining and accepted the arrangement with a smile.

When they got to the table, seeing only half a stewed old hen, a dish of spicy diced chicken, and some pitiful pieces of minced pork in the braised meat noodles, Director Qian was quite content.

The people of the Li Hua Team wisely understood that if they truly hosted with lavish meals today, they would have to step aside in the future evaluations of excellence!

Director Qian had a heavy taste, and the first thing he picked up with his chopsticks was the spicy diced chicken. After chewing it in his mouth, he couldn’t help giving Lin Xiang a thumbs up, "No wonder your Western dishes are praised by foreign guests, your culinary skills are indeed impressive. My wife’s hometown is in Sichuan and Chongqing, and she loves spicy food. This spicy diced chicken is authentic!"

Lin Xiang smiled quietly, "My specialty is indeed Sichuan and Chongqing cuisine. When I have the opportunity in the future, I’ll make more for you."

"Good, good, good." Director Qian tried other dishes and couldn’t help but praise Lin Xiang a few more times.

Lin Xiang’s cooking skills were quite good, otherwise, she wouldn’t have become a food blogger with millions of followers on the whole platform.

However, it’s not to the point of making people endlessly rave with just one bite.

Lin Xiang humbly accepted Director Qian’s compliments and did not become arrogant because of it.

After the comrades from the Electric Bureau had a full meal, they told the team leader: "The telephone line has been set up. Tomorrow, you can go buy a landline and install it. If there’s ever an issue with the phone line or reception, feel free to contact us at the Electric Bureau. We’ll make time to help you resolve it."

"Thank you all so much!" The team leader beamed with joy.

Lin Xiang was also very satisfied, feeling that exchanging a meal for the after-sale service from the Electric Bureau was worth it!

After the meal, Director Qian proposed to take his leave.

As the head of the commune, he had many things to manage daily. If it weren’t for the Township Party Secretary’s secretary personally calling about this matter, he wouldn’t have deliberately come to the Li Hua Team.

However, before he could leave the team headquarters, Director Qian was stopped by someone.

"Leader, I want to report!"

The gravity of reporting in the current times needs no explanation. The team leader’s face changed dramatically, "Wen Siyuan, what nonsense are you speaking? Hurry back!"

"Hey~" Director Qian raised a hand to stop the team leader, "Since this comrade has a request, we shouldn’t ignore it. Comrade, who do you want to report, and for what reason?"

Director Qian’s tone was so gentle that Wen Siyuan’s confidence surged at once.

His gaze locked onto Lin Xiang, pointing over with a rough finger, "Leader, the person I want to report is her, Lin Xiang!"

"Despite us ordinary people never having contact with foreign guests, she somehow learned to make Western dishes. Who taught her Western cuisine? I suspect there’s something dubious about her connections, please investigate thoroughly, Leader!"

Lin Xiang watched Wen Siyuan with a sarcastic smile, "Just because I exposed your affairs and messy private life, you want to drag me down too? Smartie Wen, it’s amusing how petty a man can be."

Lin Xiang was stirring things up.

She escalated her conflict with Wen Siyuan into a confrontation between genders.

In current society, women’s social status is shockingly low, with men always priding themselves as the rulers of the era, never taking women seriously.

Wen Siyuan’s behavior was atypical of the men of the time, and with Lin Xiang’s provocation, he instantly became a public nuisance among the men.

Sure enough, the men watching around glared at Wen Siyuan with eyes full of condemnation.

Wen Siyuan pretended not to see; his sole thought was to let Lin Xiang taste criticism! To see if she’d dare be arrogant in front of him again!

However, to Wen Siyuan’s surprise, even after all he’d said, Director Qian had no intention of criticizing Lin Xiang.

Director Qian’s face still wore a light smile, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

"Is that right, Smartie Wen? I understand your point, but Lin Xiang being able to make Western dishes is something the township leaders have approved of, so there’s no error in that."

Even if Lin Xiang learned the Western dishes from someone in a work camp while they weren’t home yet, no one had found out back then. Now, with the winds of change, the state no longer pursues these issues. Does he, a minor commune leader, still have the right to criticize Lin Xiang?

Moreover, Lin Xiang can make Western dishes and serve as a translator; she might even bring in foreign trade orders. Now she’s quite the darling in front of the Township Party Secretary, who would dare to trouble her?

Never had it crossed Wen Siyuan’s mind that instead of Lin Xiang facing due punishment from his accusations, it made him utterly realize Lin Xiang’s current status?

Wen Siyuan became docile.

"Any more reports, Smartie Wen?" Lin Xiang smiled sweetly, "If not, please step aside, as Director Qian has other matters. Don’t block the way."

Wen Siyuan flushed with embarrassment, silently stepping aside.

Director Qian walked out of the team headquarters, saying to the team leader before leaving: "Your Li Hua Team is quite nice overall, but you lack a pillar economic source, so you’re at a disadvantage in choosing advanced collectives. Although the telephone line is set up, you still must work hard to attain an advanced collective status."

It’s the first time a commune leader had said such words to the team leader, moving him to tears, and he tightly grasped Director Qian’s outstretched right hand, promising repeatedly, "Rest assured, Leader, give our Li Hua Team some time, and we will certainly become an advanced collective!"

"Good! I await your good news!"

Director Qian glanced at Lin Xiang again, didn’t say much, and got into the public vehicle to leave.

After watching Director Qian’s vehicle leave, Accountant Xu hurried to the team leader, whispering, "Team leader, Director Qian left meal coupons."

"What meal coupons?"

"The meal coupons for the food!"

A hen laying eggs costs about two yuan and five cents without coupons, plus the rice, and Director Qian left enough meal coupons for himself and the Electric Bureau comrades.

Upholding the policy of not taking a single thread or needle from the masses to the end.

"Director Qian, indeed..." The team leader handed the coupons to Accountant Xu, "Be sure to clearly document this in the accounts, specifically noting that it was given by Director Qian."

"Rest assured, I definitely won’t mix it up."

At this point, Lin Xiang approached Wen Siyuan. Although her height was a head shorter than Wen Siyuan’s, her aura stood at 1.8 meters.

"Incapable and mischievous, Wen Siyuan, it’s amusingly embarrassing on your behalf," Lin Xiang remarked.

Wen Siyuan gritted his teeth, "It’s just making Western dishes, Lin Xiang don’t be smug; one day I’ll find your weak point!"

Lin Xiang smiled sweetly, "That would require the opportunity, wouldn’t it? Wen Siyuan, do you truly think what you did just now in front of Director Qian can just pass by like that?"