Chapter 29

Meeting Him at the State-Owned Restaurant

After Niu Dapang left, Tie Lanyan also prepared to go out.

She didn’t want to cook at noon.

She had been here for so long, but she hadn’t eaten at a state-owned restaurant yet.

She was going down to the countryside tomorrow, so she had to be a little extravagant today.

Most of the houses in the 70s were brick and tile houses, looking dusty at a glance.

The state-owned restaurant was a state-owned enterprise, so the decoration was naturally different.

Blue bricks and white tiles, with small red flags, a five-pointed star carved at the top.

In the middle was written “State-Owned Restaurant” in four large characters, and on both sides were written slogans “Self-Reliance” and “Hard Work” (as shown in the picture).

It looked very grand.

There was also a small blackboard at the entrance, listing the menu for the day.

Dishes: Braised Pork, Kung Pao Chicken, Roast Duck, Stir-Fried Potato Strips, Vermicelli Stewed with Cabbage

Staple Foods: Rice, Noodles, Steamed Buns, Wontons

The ordering window was right at the entrance, very convenient.

“Comrade, please give me a serving of braised pork, a serving of Kung Pao chicken, a serving of stir-fried potato strips, and two bowls of hanging noodles!”

The waiter was a young female comrade, with a haughty look on her face.

Well, those who have iron rice bowls naturally look down on others.

She didn’t take the money or tickets, but instead looked at Tie Lanyan with a dissatisfied look:

“Comrade, you’re ordering three dishes by yourself, can you finish that much?”

Tie Lanyan: “I can finish it.”

Anyone who has read period novels knows that the portions at state-owned restaurants are huge, they are served in stainless steel bowls, two or three times the size of a normal plate.

Tie Lanyan always had a big appetite, she could finish three dishes.

But the female waiter didn’t believe her: “We have a fixed amount every day, if you order too much, others won’t have any.”

Tie Lanyan was speechless, what she said made it sound like Tie Lanyan was taking advantage.

“I said, comrade, you’re so funny, this state-owned restaurant is open for business, I pay for my meal, isn’t that natural?

You keep stopping me, are you afraid that I’ll order all the dishes and your friends won’t have any to order later?”

Tie Lanyan’s words came true, the waiter was instantly embarrassed and angry:

“You’re talking nonsense, wasting is shameful, I’m just kindly reminding you!”

Tie Lanyan snorted: “I won’t waste it, even if I burst, I’ll finish it, okay!”

“You!…”

The female waiter’s face flushed with anger.

Tie Lanyan threw the money and tickets on the counter: “Alright, go tell the kitchen, “If the food doesn’t come out, I’ll report you!”

Hmph, who’s afraid of who.

Hearing the word “report”, the female waiter immediately cowered: “Then wait a minute!”

Tie Lanyan raised an eyebrow.

Little thing, I’ll teach you a lesson.

Tie Lanyan casually found a seat and sat down.

It was noon, and there weren’t many people eating at the state-owned restaurant.

It was a weekday, everyone either ate at the factory or at home, who had the money to eat out?

Soon, the window announced that the food was ready.

When Tie Lanyan went to get her food, the female waiter didn’t even dare to look up.

She was a bully.

It had to be said, the portions were really generous.

A large bowl of braised pork, at least two pounds, and the only ingredients were scallions, ginger, and garlic, nothing else.

Unlike in later times, where you order a dish of stir-fried pork strips, it’s all green peppers, with only a few pieces of meat.

The key was that it looked delicious, the color was red and bright, and the aroma was intoxicating.

The Kung Pao chicken was also good, sweet and sour, spicy and flavorful, every bite was satisfying.

The potato strips were stir-fried, light and refreshing, and the texture was also good.

The hanging noodles weren’t just boiled, they were also seasoned with sesame oil, fragrant.

This trip was worth it.

Tie Lanyan ate until she was full.

She almost couldn’t finish it.

In the end, she forced herself to finish it.

She had made a big promise, she couldn’t lose face.

Tie Lanyan had just finished the last bit of soup.

A tall figure walked in from outside.

This person was strange, it was summer, but he was wearing a black trench coat, covered in dirt.

His hair looked like a bird’s nest, his beard was unkempt, and he looked very unkempt.

The female waiter had been holding back her anger from Tie Lanyan, and she was looking for an outlet.

Seeing this person who looked like a beggar, she immediately became disgusted:

“Comrade, this is a place to eat, not a shelter, don’t get this place dirty!”

The tall man paused, his voice a little hoarse: “I’m here to eat.”

The female waiter sneered: “Do you have money to eat?”

“Yes.” The tall man took out a few yuan from his pocket and handed it over, “Please give me three bowls of hanging noodles and a serving of braised pork.”

The female waiter rolled her eyes: “Where are your food coupons and meat coupons?”

The tall man looked embarrassed: “I only have money, I forgot to bring the coupons, can I borrow some? I can pay more.”

The female waiter decisively refused: “No, we keep track of the food at the end of the month!

How much food was used, how much money came in,

“We’re short on food coupons, everything is clearly recorded, I can’t make that decision.”

The tall man: “I…”

“What are you saying, you want to eat without coupons? You want to eat for free?”

The female waiter was impatient and directly chased him away:

“Get out of here, don’t affect the next customer from ordering, or I’ll call someone!”

This attitude was too bad.

Even Tie Lanyan couldn’t stand it anymore.

She was really annoyed by the female waiter’s attitude.

So she walked forward, threw a food coupon and a meat coupon over:

“I’ll give this comrade’s coupons, you hurry up and serve him, or I’ll report you!”

The female waiter was speechless, she glared at Tie Lanyan as if she was an enemy.

“Fine, wait.”

In the end, she replied through gritted teeth.

“Thank you, I’ll pay you back with money.”

The tall man turned around and thanked Tie Lanyan.

Tie Lanyan: “No need, old man, consider it my treat, just do a good deed!”

She had a lot of gains last night, and she was in a good mood today, and she had just confronted the female waiter.

Tie Lanyan was practically radiating a halo of saintliness.

After saying that, she turned and left.

Looking at her departing figure, Song Baiyuan was dumbfounded.

Did he just hear wrong?

That female comrade called him old man?

He had just been on a mission, he hadn’t taken care of himself for a few months, was he that old?

For a moment, Song Baiyuan was filled with deep doubt…