CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: WORKSHOP

Lin Xiang returned to the state-run restaurant, and before she could find a seat, she was surrounded by a group of people.

"Comrade, what was that method you used to save the person just now? Does it really work?"

"Comrade, can you teach me that method? My child eats like they haven’t eaten in days and often gets food stuck in their throat. If I learn it, I won’t have to worry about them choking in the future."

"Comrade..."

Lin Xiang was enveloped by everyone’s enthusiasm, and she taught the Heimlich maneuver without reservation.

"When using this method, you must exert enough force. Don’t hold back just because you’re afraid of breaking someone’s ribs. Bones can be mended later, but the window for rescue is just a brief moment. If you don’t use enough force, you won’t be able to dislodge what’s stuck, so consider the consequences carefully."

Everyone was naturally full of gratitude.

Seeing everyone discussing the matter, she quietly went to the kitchen, hiding her merits and fame.

Chef Shen handed her a bun and gave her a thumbs up, "Lin, what you did earlier was amazing!"

"Brother Shen, you’re flattering me." Lin Xiang chuckled, "Anyone would save a life in that situation. I only did what any citizen of Hua Country should do; it’s not worth praise."

"But your method of saving someone looked unreliable, yet it worked. How did you figure it out?"

Lin Xiang had already thought of an explanation, "I learned it from the person who taught me to make Western cuisine, but I’m not sure where he learned it from. It looked unreliable, but it does work, and not only for children; it can save adults too! Brother Shen, you can learn it too; it can be crucial when it comes to saving a life."

"Alright, I listened to a few points earlier; I’ll learn more later."

Just after Lin Xiang finished talking with Chef Shen, the town leaders accompanied the foreign guests outside.

Lin Xiang placed the half-eaten bun on the countertop and hurriedly went out.

The contract content is confidential, and it was drafted beforehand, so Lin Xiang’s translation wasn’t needed and it wasn’t convenient for her to be present.

But now that the contract was signed, her translation work was needed again.

After the foreign guests were settled into their car, Lin Xiang’s translation work temporarily ended.

Secretary Wang stayed behind and handed an envelope to Lin Xiang.

"Mr. Lin, the leadership asked me to pass this to you. Additionally, the leadership asked me to tell you that soon, there will be a second batch of foreign guests coming to Mianyang Town, and you’ll need to assist with translation then too, so try not to leave town during this period."

Lin Xiang received the envelope with both hands, "Understood, when I’m not in town, I’m usually at home. Just call ahead if I’m needed."

Secretary Wang exchanged a few more words with Lin Xiang before leaving.

Lin Xiang tucked the envelope into her coat pocket and returned to the kitchen to find Chef Shen.

Chef Shen also gave her a one yuan salary as agreed.

"I’ve secretly set aside some pork for you today; you can take it home, or prepare it first and then take it, whichever you prefer."

"Then I won’t stand on ceremony with you, Brother Shen. I’d like to borrow some seasoning."

Chef Shen liked Lin Xiang’s straightforward and cheerful personality and found her requests reasonable and amusing, so he didn’t refuse her small requests.

The pork was only three taels, a small piece, but it was marbled with fat and lean meat, showing Chef Shen’s generosity.

Lin Xiang peeled a few potatoes and stewed them with the pork, and also stir-fried the leftover river shrimp.

Since she was using the kitchen’s oil, she didn’t use much, just enough to cook the shrimp.

"Brother Shen, I’d like to ask you about something."

"Go ahead."

"You live in town, know a lot, and have many contacts. What kind of workshop do you think is popular now?"

Lin Xiang had been thinking about what the team leader had said a few days ago; several neighboring villages already have their workshops, while Li Hua Team still has nothing.

Without a workshop, there’s no way to generate income, and with low per capita income, it’s hard to be recognized as an advanced collective.

Lin Xiang didn’t intend to take on this task herself; she simply saw a business opportunity.

If she could facilitate the establishment of a workshop and bring real benefits to the villagers, she could completely change everyone’s negative impression of her predecessor.

Plus, she could give Mrs. Lin something to focus on, diverting her attention from troubling the protagonist, which would make life with the Lin Family much happier and prevent the protagonist from resenting her and Mrs. Lin when he becomes famous.

It was a win-win situation, so why not?

Chef Shen had already regarded Lin Xiang as a confidant despite their age difference, so when he saw her worrying about this issue, he seriously pondered various possibilities and analyzed them for Lin Xiang, finally making a decision.

"Your Li Hua Team is rich in sweet potatoes. Why not make sweet potato noodles? Sweet potato noodles are chewier than potato noodles. When I stew pork, I love adding noodles."

Making sweet potato noodles wouldn’t be difficult, and they store well.

The problem, though, is that many people can make them, so market demand isn’t high.

"Our state-run restaurant needs at least a hundred jin of noodles each month. If Li Hua Team did open a workshop, I could help find business, provided the quality is good. If they break easily when cooked, they won’t pass the first hurdle with me."

Lin Xiang immediately beamed with joy, "Thank you so much, Brother Shen! I’ll discuss it with our team leader. If the sweet potato noodle workshop gets going, I’ll definitely repay you."

Just then, the potato stew was ready, and Lin Xiang packed both the river shrimp and potato stew into lunch boxes, shamelessly asked Chef Shen for four big buns, and didn’t forget to eat the bun she had taken bites of before leaving, munching on it while saying goodbye to Chef Shen.

Lin Xiang went directly to where she had parted ways with Sun in the morning; his ox-cart was still parked there.

"Grandpa Sun, let’s go home."

"Alright, hold on tight. We’re heading back now."

Lin Xiang carried several white steamed buns in her arms but didn’t share them with Sun.

She had already given him meat buns in the morning, and giving him steamed buns too might make her seem like a pushover.

Proper courtesy is okay.

Excessive courtesy is not.

Grandpa Sun took Lin Xiang back to the Lin Family.

Mrs. Lin and Lin Yun were not home, so Lin Xiang set the lunch boxes in the kitchen and returned to her room.

She wanted to see what was inside the envelope from the leadership.

Lin Xiang opened the envelope and the first thing she saw were two banknotes.

"Twenty bucks! Being a translator for just two days and getting twenty bucks! That’s some generous leadership!"

Behind those banknotes was a letter, or rather, a letter written in the tone of leadership.