Chapter 38 – Canteen Guidance

After breakfast, the two of them headed to the military camp together.

On the way, they ran into Wu Huaying. Last night, Ye Tao had stopped by her place to let her know she’d be working in the canteen today, so their cooking lesson might have to be pushed to the afternoon.

Wu Huaying said, “Then I’ll take Xiao Xing to the canteen for lunch today. No rush with the cooking lesson.”

After all, she was the one troubling Ye Tao—of course everything had to follow Ye Tao’s schedule.

Huo Tingwu brought Ye Tao to the office of the Logistics Director.

Director Lu Jianguo was flipping through the canteen’s suggestion book, growing more and more distressed. Nearly every single page had the same complaint written on it: The food tastes terrible!

He felt like his already-thinning hair was about to fall out completely. Manpower on the island was scarce, and the current head cook, Fang Ming, had been poached from a Guangzhou restaurant at a high price.

At the time, no one thought his cooking skills were this poor. One or two people might say it was fine, but when a whole group said it was bad, clearly the problem was with him.

To be honest, Fang Ming’s attitude had also soured compared to before. If he weren’t short-staffed, Lu Jianguo would have replaced him long ago.

With a sigh, he took a sip of his strong tea. Suddenly he remembered that Commissar Feng had mentioned sending someone over to guide the canteen staff.

Knock, knock, knock.

Lu Jianguo put down his cup, rubbed his face, and pushed the thought aside. “Come in.”

When he saw it was Huo Tingwu, he was a little surprised. “Well, well, Deputy Commander Huo—what brings you here?”

He and Huo Tingwu had fought side by side during military competitions between divisions, so they knew each other. By all rights, at this hour Huo Tingwu should be on the training grounds. Coming to the canteen was certainly unusual.

“I came to bring my wife to see you,” Huo Tingwu replied.

Lu Jianguo had heard about Huo Tingwu’s marriage. Back then, when Zhao Juanjuan was rejected, the whole base had been buzzing. Huo Tingwu had coldly declared he wasn’t planning to marry, yet after one visit home he returned with a wife.

But why was he bringing her here?

Ye Tao stepped out from behind Huo Tingwu and greeted him politely. “Hello, Director Lu. I’m Ye Tao. Commissar Feng said I should come report to you.”

“You’re the one he mentioned would be guiding the canteen?” Lu Jianguo asked, a little doubtful.

The girl looked thin and delicate. Could she even lift a wok and toss a ladle?

Ye Tao smiled. “Guiding is too much to say. I just happen to know how to cook a few dishes.” She didn’t yet know what the situation in the canteen was like—better not to brag and get slapped in the face later.

“You’re being modest. Commissar Feng praised your cooking to the skies,” Lu Jianguo said, giving a thumbs-up.

“Taotao, I’ll head back to the camp first. I’ll come pick you up at noon. Remember, don’t overexert yourself,” Huo Tingwu reminded her. He’d just managed to get the calluses off her hands—he wasn’t about to let her wear herself out again.

“Alright, go on,” Ye Tao replied.

Lu Jianguo secretly found the scene amusing. Huo Tingwu’s considerate side was rare—his soldiers ought to see this.

After Huo Tingwu left, Lu Jianguo led Ye Tao toward the canteen, introducing the situation along the way.

“Our canteen doesn’t have many people—four permanent staff, three temporary workers. The head cook is Fang Ming. He’s a bit arrogant, so please be patient with him. If anything happens, come to me right away.”

Since coming to the camp, Fang Ming’s temper had only grown worse. Lu Jianguo was afraid he might give Ye Tao attitude, and after all the effort it took to bring her here, he couldn’t risk her being driven off.

Ye Tao nodded. She’d tasted Fang Ming’s cooking before—it was nothing special. If he behaved, fine. But if he tried to make trouble, she wasn’t going to let herself be bullied.

“They should be getting ready for lunch prep now,” Lu Jianguo said.

As they entered, people along the way greeted Lu Jianguo and shot curious glances at Ye Tao behind him.

They’d heard rumors of a new guide for the canteen, but seeing Ye Tao, they assumed she was just a new military wife coming to help out.

“Everyone, stop what you’re doing for a moment,” Lu Jianguo ordered.

The noisy kitchen immediately fell silent. The staff had worked under him for a long time and respected him greatly.

“This is Comrade Ye Tao, who will be guiding our canteen. For the next while, she’ll be teaching everyone new cooking methods. Her skills are excellent, so make the most of this chance to learn from her.”

He paused, then added, “You’re all aware of the complaints in the suggestion book—I won’t spell them out. Now, let’s welcome Comrade Ye Tao. Applause, everyone.”

A scattering of half-hearted claps followed. The loudest came from someone familiar-looking.

Lu Jianguo frowned. “What’s this? Haven’t you eaten?”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Fang Ming. His face was dark as he reluctantly clapped, forcing the others to join in until the applause grew stronger.

Ye Tao smiled. “Hello everyone, I’m Ye Tao. I’m very glad to be working with you here in the kitchen. Please take care of me in the days ahead.”

After her brief introduction, Lu Jianguo asked veteran staff member Miao Fang to show Ye Tao around.

Miao Fang mainly handled noodles and pastry work, but whenever she had time, she also helped out in the kitchen. With manpower so limited, aside from Fang Ming, the division of labor wasn’t very strict.

“Comrade Ye, let me first introduce you to everyone here.”

“These are the helpers in the canteen—they mostly wash dishes and prep ingredients. They’re all military wives from the compound—you may have seen them before.”

“I have,” Ye Tao said with a smile, greeting them warmly.

Fang Ming cut in impatiently. “Miao Fang, it’s getting late. Go get started on lunch prep.” He shot Ye Tao a sideways glance. “Everyone’s busy—don’t just wander around aimlessly.”

Miao Fang looked uneasy.

“It’s fine, I’ll look around myself. You go on,” Ye Tao reassured her.

Once Miao Fang left, Ye Tao greeted one of the women nearby. “Sister-in-law, I remember you used to work at the supply and marketing cooperative, didn’t you?”

Yang Xiuhua wiped her wet hands. “Sigh, it wasn’t pleasant working there, so I quit. Helping in the canteen suits me better—at least I don’t have to put up with Zhao Juanjuan’s attitude.”

Zhao Juanjuan?

Ye Tao recalled that after their quarrel, Zhao Shuhui had come to the co-op making a scene. Yang Xiuhua had even gotten into a fight with her, while Zhao Juanjuan carried on as if nothing happened.

Later, Zhao Shuhui approached Yang Xiuhua in private, saying Director Lu was very displeased with her, and not only would her pay be docked, but she’d also be held accountable. Furious, Yang Xiuhua quit on the spot. No point in spending every day stewing in resentment around Zhao Juanjuan.

Then she heard the canteen was short-staffed, so she came here instead.

“The canteen’s conditions are much better than the co-op. No need to watch people’s moods, and we finish on time every day,” Yang Xiuhua said. Director Lu was considerate too—sometimes they could even take leftovers home. She was much happier here.

“Since Miao Fang left, let me introduce the others. This cheerful one is Sister Qiaocui, and the shorter one is Sister Aiqin.”

Peng Aiqin immediately retorted, “Who are you calling short? Don’t listen to his nonsense, Comrade Ye.”

Yang Xiuhua laughed and pointed toward a round figure with his back to them. “That’s the assistant cook, Zhu Dabao. The lanky one beside him is his apprentice, Wei Jun.”

Hearing their names, both turned and greeted Ye Tao warmly.

“And lastly, that’s our head cook, Fang Ming,” Yang Xiuhua said. “Director Lu recruited him from Guangzhou. He’s not one of our army men—but he certainly carries himself like a big shot.”