CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: AN URGENT PROBLEM SOLVED

Chef Zhang, who followed closely behind, immediately had his eyes light up when he saw the fish in Xinyan’s hands.

The group entered the back kitchen, and Manager Lu got straight to the point: "Miss, how do you plan to sell this fish?"

Xinyan looked down at the fish: "You’re the expert, how much do you think this fish is worth?"

Chef Zhang listened to Xinyan’s words and thought to himself: This young lady is really smart.

Time was tight, and the fish was indeed fresh, plus it solved an urgent need, so Manager Lu straightforwardly said: "Miss, I’ll buy this catfish from you at forty cents a pound, and the black fish, which is rare, I’ll give you seventy cents a pound, how about that?"

Xinyan understood that in this era, grade-three pork was around seventy cents, and carp was just over thirty cents, so this price was genuinely generous: "Sure, just as you said."

Manager Lu was relieved and instructed someone to quickly weigh the fish. It turned out to be quite coincidental; the catfish was five pounds, and so was the black fish. Xinyan received five yuan and fifty cents from Manager Lu.

Chef Zhang leaned over: "Miss, catfish are common, but black fish are rare. If you have such fresh ingredients again, feel free to bring them over."

Xinyan smiled and agreed: "If I have more, I’ll definitely bring them."

Chef Zhang is a descendant of an Imperial Chef, and everyone knows he’s very picky about his ingredients. It was clear that the fish the young girl brought caught his eye.

Xinyan was about to leave, remembering she didn’t have a ticket for a meal, she bashfully looked at Manager Lu: "Um, I’d like to order a bowl of noodles here, but I don’t have a ticket. Can I pay extra instead of a ticket?"

Manager Lu laughed: "Today, you’ve been a great help to us, so I’ll cover the ticket for you. Just pay at the front."

After speaking, Manager Lu gave Song Wenjuan, who was standing nearby, a glance.

Song Wenjuan understood: "Miss, come with me."

Xinyan thanked her, then followed Song Wenjuan to the front hall.

Song Wenjuan, being cheerful by nature, casually introduced Chef Zhang and Manager Lu to her. She actually knew about the two in her past life; Chef Zhang, a descendant of the Imperial Chef, had a bit of a quirky temper, while Manager Lu had a leeching nephew hanging onto him, and both were quite famous.

Xinyan paid and found a place to sit down.

Later on, customers gradually came in to order, and the hall became lively.

It didn’t take long for her noodles to be ready. She got up and brought them over, the smell was appealing.

What she didn’t expect was a poached egg buried at the bottom of the bowl. She looked towards the kitchen, saw the curtain sway a bit, didn’t see the face, but knew who it was.

Since it was a kind gesture from them, she’d remember this favor.

The noodles were tasty, and since she was truly hungry, she finished the bowl in no time.

Once full, she nodded to Song Wenjuan and left the state-operated restaurant to head back.

By this time, it was completely dark. She was a bit afraid of the dark, got quite spooked walking back to the mechanical factory. Eventually, someone rode by on a bicycle, which gave her a little courage.

*

On the other side, Yao Hui finished cooking the rice, just as Lyu Juncheng returned with Lyu Xiangyang.

Yao Hui heard the commotion and put on a virtuous appearance: "Just wait a moment, the food will be ready soon."

Then she returned to the kitchen and began tidying up, occasionally stirring the food in the pot.

The three kids, having played wildly all afternoon, were already hungry. Once the food was on the table, their manners disappeared. Lyu Xiangyang went straight for the braised meat.

If he wasn’t allowed to eat it, he insisted on eating it, and even wanted more.

Like a demonstration, he kept glancing at Yao Hui.