svetikya Page 243
Page 243
“That’s still a leader. I never thought I’d become a leader myself,” He Daqing said happily.
He was a womanizer, and having spent his whole life as a chef, he was uneducated and only thought about eating, drinking, and having fun.
Being able to eat meat and having a woman in the house is the greatest happiness.
The thought of becoming a leader soon filled him with such joy that he didn't know what to say.
He Yushui looked disgusted with her father's appearance and couldn't help but say, "So what if he's a small leader? I'm the class's academic representative!"
"How can these be the same? I'm also a leader in a steel rolling mill, which now has several thousand employees."
"Hmph, what's so great about it? Your cooking isn't even as good as my brother's."
He Yushui knew that as long as she brought up her brother, her father would have no temper.
He Daqing sighed. He figured he might as well not have this young lady; her cotton-padded coat was already letting in the wind.
The next day, He Daqing took his Level 3 chef's certificate to Deputy Factory Director Yang, who was in charge of the kitchen, and said:
"Director Yang, I've obtained a Level 3 chef's certificate. Does that mean I'm not in compliance with the rules and regulations of our steel rolling mill?"
"What? You got a Level 3 certificate?"
He Daqing proudly handed the certificate to him.
After reviewing it, Deputy Factory Director Yang said with delight, "Old He, congratulations! I never expected you to get a Level 3 certificate."
"You're too kind, I didn't expect that either."
"Old He, don't worry. The higher-ups have indeed stipulated that the highest level for chefs in our factory is level 6. However, rules and regulations are rigid, but we people are flexible. We can't let you lose your job just because you got a level 3 certificate."
Director Yang put it nicely, but emphasized that they couldn't let an old man who had worked hard in the steel rolling mill for more than 10 years lose his job just because his rank was promoted.
They never mentioned that without He Daqing Steel Rolling Mill, the hospitality meals would be several levels lower.
After all, hiring another top chef from outside would attract too much attention, so it's better to keep He Daqing here, so that no one will say anything.
He Daqing thought to himself that it was just as Zhu Zi had said: the steel mill would always try to keep him and not push people away.
"Don't worry, I'll report the situation to the factory director and the party secretary, and then I'll give you a satisfactory answer. I won't let you suffer injustice while looking for a hero."
Deputy Factory Director Yang first calmed He Daqing down, then went to report to the Factory Director and the Party Secretary. He then summoned He Daqing again in the afternoon.
"Old He, after discussing it, the Party Secretary and the Factory Director have decided to appoint you as the deputy director of the canteen, while I will concurrently serve as the director."
He Daqing was overjoyed and didn't know what to do. He was finally going to become an official. The canteen director and deputy director of the steel rolling mill were equivalent to section-level cadres. It could be said that he had suddenly become a leader.
The entire steel rolling mill has several canteens and several branch factories, with a total of over a hundred people, all of whom will be his soldiers from now on.
"Thank you, Director Yang, for your care and guidance. I will definitely cook well, learn skills from my son, and ensure that the hospitality work is completed satisfactorily so that the guests can eat and drink well."
"Alright, alright, Lao He, you're a smart man."
Old Yang was relieved. Giving He Daqing the title of deputy director of the canteen was just to ensure he could earn a high enough salary; he didn't expect him to manage the canteen.
After all, there are other canteen directors and deputy directors to manage it.
Old He's focus was still on providing excellent hospitality, ensuring that visiting leaders, colleagues exchanging experiences, and key clients were all satisfied with the steel rolling mill's hospitality. That was the most important thing.
After hearing that sentence, Old Yang had a sudden thought and asked, "Old He, how come you learned that from your son?"
He Daqing then realized that in his excitement, he had blurted out the truth.
Then, embarrassed, he said, "Director Yang, you know my situation. The chefs I worked with before weren't very good."
"Yes, your cooking skills have improved a lot in the past year or two."
He Daqing said, "I've made such great progress mainly because my son taught me. It's embarrassing to say, but it's the truth. My son got a Level 1 certificate in the exam!"
Factory Director Yang exclaimed in shock, "What? You're saying he got a Level 1 Chef's Certificate?"
Chapter 181 Remember what you said today
A Level 1 chef's certificate is the highest level of certification, so it's really surprising that He Daqing's son was able to obtain it.
Deputy Factory Director Yang was also very glad that he and the Party Secretary and Factory Director had just argued with each other to keep He Daqing, which was definitely the right choice.
If we keep He Daqing around, wouldn't that give us a chance to connect with a top-level chef?
Even though I am at a very high level, it is not an easy thing to find a top-level chef to cook for me in society; it is extremely difficult.
He was a high-ranking leader in this large factory with thousands of employees, but his influence didn't hold much sway in the wider society.
If He Daqing is kept around, there is a way to ask his son for help. After all, his eldest son also needs to consider whether his father will offend the leaders at the steel rolling mill.
Factory Director Yang said happily, "Old He, you have a good son! Could you ask your son to help cook a meal sometime?"
"this......"
He Daqing was so shocked that he couldn't speak. This Director Yang was a very high-ranking leader, yet he was thinking of asking his son to cook.
"It should work. I'll talk to my son about it later."
"Alright, it's settled then. I'll let you know the date in advance."
Deputy Factory Director Yang patted He Daqing on the shoulder with great pleasure, thinking that good people are indeed rewarded.
No matter the cost, being able to hire a top-notch chef to come to your home to cook is already a great thing.
Chinese people value eating and drinking, and important matters are almost always discussed over drinks. As long as a good chef can be found to help cook, things are easier to discuss.
He Daqing had something on his mind, so after get off work he went to find He Yuzhu and told him what was going on.
He Yuzhu said, "That's fine. As long as I have time, I can cook."
With the public-private partnership about to begin, my income will decrease significantly, and I'll have more free time. Taking on some freelance work will provide me with extra income.
His culinary skills were already top-notch; as long as no one was nitpicking, everyone would say "good" to him.
This way, I can earn extra income.
He Daqing was worried that Zhu Zi wouldn't agree, which would make him lose face in front of Director Yang.
Seeing that he agreed, she felt relieved and then asked, "Zhaodi is getting married soon, and Xu Damao's mother asked me to prepare the wedding banquet for them."
He Yuzhu nodded and said, "It's only right. You do it, and give me a copy when you hand over the gifts later."
"Okay, even if you didn't say anything, I would still have given you a gift. It's a tradition in our courtyard."
After discussing it, He Daqing went back.
Time flies, and before they knew it, it was the day before He Yongqiang's wedding. Although He Yuzhu didn't cook, he did ask a few of his junior apprentices to come and help, which pleased Old He.
On the first day, they ate at the lower-class table. After the helpers left, He Yuzhu went to find Old He.
"Grandpa, you're getting married tomorrow, aren't you happy?"
"I'm so happy, so incredibly happy! If it weren't for you playing matchmaker, Yongqiang wouldn't be a wife yet!" Old He couldn't stop smiling.
He Yuzhu had been waiting for this moment. Otherwise, he wouldn't care whether He Yongqiang had a wife or not, or whether Xu Zhaodi could find a partner or get married.
"My dear Uncle He, what about the painting you promised me?"
Before the marriage proposal was made, the two agreed that if the deal went through, Old He would transfer the galloping horse painting to He Yuzhu.
With the wedding ceremony tomorrow, He Yuzhu came today to ask for the painting.
Old He said, "What's the rush? Isn't the wedding ceremony tomorrow?"
"Look, what you've said is already done, and we're about to consummate our marriage. Just give me the painting."
Since he had already agreed, Old He naturally had to keep his word and said, "Okay, I'll go get the painting for you. Let's get this straight up beforehand: this painting is being transferred to you."
"Okay, just sell it to me."
These days, a matchmaker's gift only costs one or two yuan. Even someone like He Yongqiang, who has a hard time finding a wife, would only receive a matchmaker's gift of three to five yuan at most.
The matchmaking gift that He Daqing gave to Wen Yuping was a special case, and the amount given should not be taken as the going rate.
Besides, the two families were neighbors, and He Yuzhu's gift to the matchmaker was at most two or three yuan, which couldn't be compared to a painting.
He Yuzhu only wanted to buy Xu Beihong's galloping horse painting at the market price; Old He was willing to sell it.
In just a few minutes, Old He took out the painting, placed it on the table, and He Yuzhu slowly untied it.
Horses were a signature subject in Xu Beihong's paintings. The horses he depicted were varied and full of passion and vitality.
Furthermore, his galloping horses were often inspired by the times and events, and his passion was conveyed in his brushstrokes, possessing a captivating power.
In this painting, Xu Beihong uses bold and unrestrained ink to outline the major turning points of the head, neck, chest, and legs, and employs dry brushstrokes to depict the mane and tail, creating a natural and harmonious interplay of light and dark ink. The horse's legs are rendered with slender yet powerful straight lines, like steel blades, penetrating the paper, while the curves of the abdomen, rump, and mane and tail are elastic and dynamic. Overall, the painting is characterized by a strong sense of perspective, with the foreground larger than the background. The outstretched legs and the horse's head possess a powerful impact, seemingly poised to burst through the canvas.
The horse in the painting is muscular, with a rounded belly, its head tilted slightly to the right, and its nostrils slightly large. The horse is leaping into the air, head held high, hooves pounding, mane flying, spirited and exuberant, igniting a sense of excitement. With just a few strokes, the artist has given the horse a lifelike form, powerful and vigorous. The artist uses thick ink to depict the dense mane, and light ink with dry brushstrokes to convey its soaring momentum.
He Yuzhu repeatedly praised it, saying that although this painting of galloping horses was not the one he painted in 1941, it was still one of his finest works and truly rare.
Old He said proudly, "Isn't this horse beautiful? I had a hard time getting this painting; I don't usually show it to just anyone."
Thinking that the painting would soon no longer belong to him, Old He suddenly felt a pang of emotion.
He Yuzhu said, "The painting is good, but compared to the He family's traditional incense offerings, it's nothing. You'll be getting married tomorrow and holding your big, fat grandson next year. What's there to be dissatisfied about?"
"Thank you for your kind words. I hope to hold my grandson soon so that our He family line can continue."
Old He had no male heirs, but he adopted his nephew, who also had He family blood flowing through his veins, so he could be considered to have done right by his ancestors.
He Yuzhu asked, "Grandpa, can you name a price?"