Chapter Seventeen: Clumsy and Playful

“It turns out the dishes were made by Comrade Lin; I must try her cooking!” Director Qian, no longer refusing, cheerfully accepted the arrangement.

At the dining table, seeing only half an old hen stewed in soup, a dish of spicy diced chicken, and a meager portion of minced pork in soft vermicelli, Director Qian was quite satisfied.

The people of Lihua Brigade were clear-headed; if they were served a lavish feast today, in future evaluations, Lihua Brigade would have to step aside.

Director Qian preferred strong flavors. The first dish he picked up was the spicy diced chicken. After chewing it, he gave Lin Xiang a thumbs-up. “No wonder your Western dishes impress foreign guests. Your culinary skills are indeed impressive. My wife’s hometown is in Sichuan-Chongqing; she loves spicy food. Your spicy chicken is authentic!”

Lin Xiang smiled with pursed lips. “My specialty is Sichuan-Chongqing cuisine. I’ll cook for you again when there’s a chance.”

“Good, good,” Director Qian said, trying other dishes and praising Lin Xiang a few more times.

Lin Xiang’s cooking was indeed good; otherwise, she wouldn’t have become a food blogger with over a million followers on the entire platform.

But it wasn’t to the exaggerated extent of being praised endlessly after just one bite.

Lin Xiang humbly accepted Director Qian’s compliments without arrogance.

After the Electric Bureau comrades had a hearty meal, they told the brigade leader, “The telephone line is already installed. Tomorrow you can buy a landline and have it set up. If there are any problems with the telephone line or signal reception, you can come to the Electric Bureau at any time. We’ll find time to help you solve them.”

“That’s really very kind of you!” The brigade leader beamed with joy.

Lin Xiang was also satisfied; a meal that secured after-sales service from the Electric Bureau comrades was worth it!

After the meal, Director Qian took his leave.

As the commune director, he had many tasks every day. If the town official’s secretary hadn’t personally called about this matter, he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to visit Lihua Brigade.

However, before he could leave the brigade office, he was stopped.

“Leader, I want to report something!”

The word “report” carried great weight in these times. The brigade leader’s face changed dramatically. “Wen Siyuan, what nonsense are you talking about? Hurry back!”

“Hey—” Director Qian raised his hand to stop the brigade leader. “Since this comrade has a request, we can’t ignore it. Comrade, whom do you want to report? And what is the matter?”

Director Qian’s tone was gentle, which instantly bolstered Wen Siyuan’s confidence.

His gaze locked onto Lin Xiang as his rough fingers pointed at her. “Leader, the person I want to report is her, Lin Xiang!”

“She’s learned to make Western dishes without any ordinary people here ever having contact with foreign guests. Who did she learn her Western cooking from? I suspect her connections are problematic. I ask the leader to investigate!”

Lin Xiang smiled bitterly at Wen Siyuan. “Just because I exposed your juggling of multiple relationships and chaotic private life, you want to drag me down with you? Wen Zhiqing, a man petty enough to stoop this low is quite something.”

Lin Xiang was stirring trouble.

She transformed the conflict between herself and Wen Siyuan into a confrontation between men and women.

In these times, women’s social status was frighteningly low. Men always fancied themselves masters of the era and never took women seriously.

Wen Siyuan’s behavior was unlike the usual restrictive masculinity of the era. Lin Xiang’s words immediately cast him as a male nuisance.

Sure enough, the surrounding men looked at Wen Siyuan with strong disapproval.

Pretending not to see, Wen Siyuan had only one thought: to let Lin Xiang taste criticism as well! Let’s see if she dares act arrogantly in front of him in the future!

But to Wen Siyuan’s surprise, even after his accusation, Director Qian showed no intention of reprimanding Lin Xiang.

Director Qian’s face still bore a faint smile, but it did not reach his eyes.

“Wen Zhiqing, right? I understand your meaning. But Comrade Lin Xiang’s ability to make Western dishes was approved by the town leadership, so there is no wrongdoing.”

Even when Lin Xiang learned Western cooking from the people in the cattle shed, they hadn’t returned home yet, and no one had noticed. Now the climate has shifted; the country no longer pursues such matters. Could a small commune leader like him criticize Lin Xiang?

Moreover, Lin Xiang can make Western dishes and serve as a translator. She might even bring in foreign trade orders. She is now a prized asset close to the town officials. Who dares to cause her trouble?

Wen Siyuan was utterly taken aback, realizing that his accusations not only failed to punish Lin Xiang but made him fully aware of her current standing.

He became meek.

“Anyone else want to report Wen Zhiqing?” Lin Xiang asked with a smile. “If not, please step aside. Director Qian has other matters to attend to. Don’t block the way.”

Wen Siyuan flushed red and silently stepped aside.

Director Qian left the brigade office. Before departing, he said to the brigade leader, “Your Lihua Brigade is overall good, but it lacks a pillar economic source, so you’re at a disadvantage in the advanced collective evaluations. Although the telephone line is installed, you must not slack off. Work hard to become an advanced collective.”

The commune leader spoke such words to the brigade leader for the first time. The brigade leader was moved to tears, clasping Director Qian’s outstretched right hand tightly, promising repeatedly, “Leader, rest assured. Give Lihua Brigade some more time, and we will definitely become an advanced collective!”

“Good! I look forward to your good news!”

Director Qian glanced once more at Lin Xiang but said nothing, then boarded the bus and left.

After Director Qian’s vehicle departed, Accountant Xu approached the brigade leader quietly. “Brigade leader, Director Qian left behind meal tickets.”

“What kind of meal tickets?”

“Meal tickets for the food!”

A laying old hen without tickets would sell for about two yuan fifty. Including the rice, Director Qian had left enough meal tickets to cover the expenses for himself and the Electric Bureau comrades.

He was thoroughly upholding the principle of not taking a single needle or thread from the masses.

“Director Qian really is something…” The brigade leader handed the tickets to Accountant Xu. “Make sure you record it clearly in the accounts and specifically note that these were given by Director Qian.”

“Don’t worry, I definitely won’t mix them up.”

At this moment, Lin Xiang approached Wen Siyuan. Although she was shorter than him, her presence was like that of someone six feet tall.

“Clumsy and frivolous, Wen Siyuan, you’re so ridiculous you embarrass me for you.”

Wen Siyuan gritted his teeth. “So what if you can make Western dishes? Lin Xiang, don’t get cocky. Someday I’ll catch you slipping!”

Lin Xiang smiled sweetly. “That depends if you get the chance! Wen Siyuan, do you really think your report in front of Director Qian will just pass like that?”