After achieving a minor level in his culinary skills, Yang Xuan had once again put the fitter skill on his auto-leveling panel. After all, fitter skills were the key for him now. Ideally, he could level up as quickly as possible, so that once there were special tasks in the rolling mill, he would have a chance to stand out.
Although the big leader was also a way out, it wasn't entirely reliable. The most reliable thing was still to stand out with his own skills.
After all, in this era, getting too close to these big shots might not be a good thing. Although the big leader in the "Siheyuan" plot was impacted, he did not completely fall from power. He even had the opportunity to make a comeback and even helped He Yuzhu resolve the Lou family's predicament.
But now, after all, it was Yang Xuan himself who was involved. Who knew if the plot would change because of his arrival?
For example, He Yuzhu's plot had already changed greatly due to Yang Xuan's involvement. He didn't get branded as a "chicken thief" for bringing chicken from the rolling mill, nor did he get revenge by the third master for stealing and selling his car tire.
These were important plots in the show, affecting the later developments.
He Yuzhu had also seen through Qin Huai Ru's true face through the outdoor movie matchmaking, and began to distance himself from her.
Yang Xuan had finished his morning processing tasks and was sitting there chatting with his master, Zhou Demin. He Yuzhu's apprentice, Ma Hua, ran over.
"Yang Xuan, my master wants you to go over and help. A leader is coming today, and my master is a little busy." Ma Hua said.
"Okay, I'll go tell Director Guo, and I'll be over soon." Yang Xuan put his gloves aside.
Although he had finished his morning processing tasks, he still had to tell Director Guo before leaving the workshop, lest he be caught for leaving his post without permission by someone.
Qin Huai Ru and Yi Zhong Hai had been watching this place closely.
Director Guo readily agreed when he heard that Yang Xuan was going to the first canteen to help with the reception meal.
"I didn't expect your fitter skills to improve so quickly, and your cooking skills are so good. Go ahead. After you're done, you can rest this afternoon." Director Guo said.
The leaders who came to the rolling mill today were from above, and Factory Director Yang had made arrangements the day before, so Director Guo knew immediately that Yang Xuan was not lying.
As soon as he saw Yang Xuan, He Yuzhu immediately waved.
"One of the leaders who came today is from Hunan. I haven't learned Hunan cuisine. You take charge of making two Hunan dishes. This won't be difficult for you, right?" He Yuzhu said.
Yang Xuan nodded with a smile. His current culinary skills had already reached a minor level, surpassing He Yuzhu in all aspects. His culinary skills were comprehensively improved, and he had reached a minor level in all major cuisines. Making two Hunan dishes was naturally no problem.
Yang Xuan asked for the ingredients for red braised pork and chopped pepper fish head, and began to prepare.
These ingredients were all prepared in the canteen.
Yang Xuan made the two dishes, but He Yuzhu was not finished yet.
"Your progress is a bit slow." Yang Xuan walked over and said.
"Just a few more dishes left." He Yuzhu was not in a hurry.
"I'll take care of these two." Yang Xuan saw the ingredients He Yuzhu was preparing and knew what dishes he was preparing.
He Yuzhu nodded: "Okay."
Before, Yang Xuan was slightly inferior to He Yuzhu in Sichuan cuisine. But now, Yang Xuan had surpassed him.
When Yang Xuan finished the two dishes, He Yuzhu was also nearly finished. Only then did he have time to look at the two dishes Yang Xuan made.
"No way! Your cooking skills have improved again?" He Yuzhu was a connoisseur, and he could judge the general idea by looking at the appearance of the dish and its aroma.
He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite, immediately showing an expression of wanting to cry: "At this rate, you're going to steal my job sooner or later."
"You're joking. I, a future eighth-level fitter, am going to steal your cook's job? Go ask around, which factory canteen in the entire City 49 has a head chef who earns more than an eighth-level fitter?" Yang Xuan said.
"There's no distinction between noble and low professions. There are thirty-six professions, and each one has its own champion. Whether it's a fitter or a cook, they are all serving the people." He Yuzhu said.
"Alright, alright, let's serve the food." Yang Xuan waved his hand.
Yang Xuan, naturally, stayed in the canteen with He Yuzhu, eating the leftover dishes, enjoying a free meal. The leaders who came from above would naturally not have the two chefs accompany them.
But just as they started eating, the canteen director, Director Li, ran over.
"Silly Zhu, Factory Director Yang is calling you. The leaders who came from above want to meet this chef."
"Yang Xuan, you eat first. I'll go take a look." He Yuzhu said.
Yang Xuan knew that the leaders who came from above must have been very satisfied with today's dishes. Could it be He Yuzhu's "noble person"?
Not long after, He Yuzhu ran back, pulling Yang Xuan out: "Let's go, the leaders who came from above want to see you. The leader from Hunan was very satisfied with the Hunan dishes you made. He said that he had never tasted such authentic Hunan dishes in City 49. He asked if you were from Hunan."
This leader hadn't appeared in the show. Perhaps it was due to the arrival of Yang Xuan, the butterfly, that he appeared in the rolling mill.
"You are Yang Xuan, right?" A middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit extended his right hand to Yang Xuan enthusiastically.
Yang Xuan stepped forward and shook hands with the middle-aged leader: "Comrade leader, I am Yang Xuan. But I'm not from Hunan. I am a native of City 49. I learned Hunan cuisine by looking at cookbooks."
"Then you are amazing. You can cook such authentic Hunan dishes just by looking at cookbooks. I've eaten Hunan dishes made by many chefs in City 49, and I always felt that they were missing something compared to the Hunan dishes I ate in Hunan. But I never expected that the Hunan dishes you made were completely original and authentic." The middle-aged leader said.
Besides this Hunan leader, the big leader who appeared in the show was also at the table.
The Hunan leader was surnamed Zhang, an old revolutionary who had participated in the Anti-Eagle War a few years ago. After returning, he transferred to the Ministry.
The big leader said: "He Yuzhu said that the Mapo Tofu and Spicy Chicken were also made by you. Have you also learned Sichuan cuisine?"
Yang Xuan nodded: "I just like cooking. I've learned a little bit of everything from different cuisines."
The big leader said approvingly: "Young comrade, don't be so humble. It's not just a little bit. Your cooking skills are incredible. The Sichuan cuisine is also very authentic. Originally, I, like Comrade Zhang, thought you were from our Sichuan province."
"Comrade leader, cooking is really just my hobby. My main job is a fitter. I've been in the factory for almost four months." Yang Xuan said.
"Haha, you are a chef who is wasted on being a fitter." The big leader said with a chuckle.
He Yuzhu immediately stood up and said: "Comrade leader, in fact, Yang Xuan's fitter skills are also very good. Although he is still an apprentice, his skills are no worse than those of a fifth or sixth-level fitter. It's just that the factory regulations require apprentices to complete three years before they can be assessed for their level. Otherwise, based on Yang Xuan's skills, there would be no problem at all in assessing him as a fifth-level fitter."