Chapter 253: County Leaders Extend Goodwill, Factory Leaders Are Shocked (6,100 Words)

Chapter 253: County Leaders Extend Goodwill, Factory Leaders Are Shocked (6,100 Words)



---

National Day.

And it was also the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of China's four major traditional holidays.

At Sui Feng Restaurant.

The sky had just begun to brighten when all the permanent and temporary staff gathered. Even Deng Yuntao, the young boss who managed the entire operation, was present.

As soon as the restaurant opened, people started delivering the fresh ingredients that had been pre-ordered.

The gathering for the bicycle parts factory was different from the last banquet the restaurant had hosted, which was a baby's first month celebration. The first month celebration started between 10:30 and 11:00 AM, so the preparation time was very tight. They had to prepare the time-consuming dishes like meatballs, egg rolls, braised pork, and sweet lotus root the day before.

However, the bicycle parts factory's gathering was scheduled for between 4:00 and 5:00 PM, giving the restaurant ample time to prepare. They didn't need to start the day before, ensuring that the food would be as fresh as possible.

In the kitchen, Master Zhang Guofu, the head chef, was still in charge. With the addition of four kitchen helpers and twelve waitstaff, the kitchen's efficiency had skyrocketed. The waitstaff handled the vegetable washing, while Master Zhang only needed to season the time-consuming dishes like meatballs and egg rolls, leaving the rest to the kitchen helpers.

Everything was proceeding smoothly.

Deng Shirong arrived at the restaurant around 9:00 AM, just as Zhang Guangzong was starting to drink.

Generally, people who drink are used to having an empty stomach, but drinking on an empty stomach is very harmful. So, Deng Shirong didn't rush to drink. He first asked a waiter to bring him a bowl of congee, which he ate with some tasty pickles to line his stomach before sitting down to drink with Zhang Guangzong.

Zhang Guangzong was used to his boss's habit but still commented, "Boss, that's a really good habit of yours. I've tried it a few times, but whenever I eat congee or noodles before drinking, my stomach gets bloated, and it's not as enjoyable."

Deng Shirong picked up a peanut and popped it into his mouth, chewing and smiling. "Habits can be gradually formed. Excessive drinking is already bad for the body, and drinking on an empty stomach makes it even worse. I do this to be able to drink for a few more years without ruining my health, so I can still enjoy a drink when I want to."

"I understand the logic, but I've been drinking like this for decades. I doubt I can change such a long-standing habit!"

Zhang Guangzong sighed, took another sip of his drink, and said, "At my age, life is on a countdown. You never know when it might end, so I don't bother with these things anymore. I just try to enjoy each day as much as I can."

Deng Shirong understood that Zhang Guangzong wasn't exaggerating. In this era, people didn't live as long as they do in modern times. It was rare for anyone, especially in the countryside, to live past sixty.

In their village, it wasn't uncommon for people to die in their forties or fifties. There were very few people over sixty in the entire village.

In his previous life, Deng Shirong lived to be 88, which was considered a very long life. Among his peers in the village, very few made it to 80, and he was the only one to live past 85.

Deng Shirong raised his glass and took a sip. "Life is something we can't control. We might have a few more years, or we might live to a ripe old age. Who can say for sure? What we can do is enjoy the good things while we can. That way, even if we go, we won't have any regrets."

"You're right, boss. I'll make sure to pick the best things to eat. Don't worry about me!"

"Go ahead and enjoy yourself. Do you think a few dishes will bankrupt me?"

---

By noon, customers began to arrive in small groups.

Most of the customers were regulars, having visited the restaurant at least twice, with some wealthy families coming more than ten times. They were regulars who visited every few days, which was quite impressive for this era.

When the regulars saw that the restaurant had suddenly added over a dozen waitstaff, they were all quite surprised.

After all, the "Seven and Eight" employment restriction was still a significant constraint in this era. It wasn't until 1984 that an elderly leader, who was related to Deng Shirong from five hundred years ago, stated during a meeting that the issue of individual employers exceeding the limit should be left alone for a couple of years, which finally made the employment situation safer.

Before that, it was best to keep a low profile.

Seeing the sudden increase in waitstaff, the regulars who knew about the restriction were naturally shocked.

One curious regular asked, "Boss, why are there so many new waitstaff all of a sudden?"

Deng Yuntao smiled and replied, "They're just temporary help. The entire staff of the bicycle parts factory is coming to our restaurant for a gathering this afternoon. We don't have enough regular staff to handle such a large event, so we had to hire some temporary help!"

The regulars understood immediately. The "Seven and Eight" restriction applied to permanent staff, not temporary help.

Knowing that the bicycle parts factory was holding a gathering here, everyone had come to recognize and appreciate the Suifeng Restaurant even more.

With the kitchen now fully staffed, today’s diners found that their dishes started arriving almost immediately after they placed their orders, the speed was truly remarkable.

...

It was four o'clock in the afternoon.

Under the leadership of their factory leaders, the employees of the bicycle parts factory arrived at Suifeng Restaurant.

Just like the last time they held a full moon celebration, Suifeng Restaurant had hung a welcome banner at the entrance for all the employees of the bicycle parts factory. Inside the restaurant, there were signboards and ribbons that marked off the left half of the area.

Thus, when the employees of the bicycle parts factory arrived, they could follow the signs to their designated seating area.

On each table in the designated area, there was a large plate of stir-fried sunflower seeds, a complimentary offering from the restaurant to keep the employees occupied while they chatted and waited.

Once all the employees were seated, Director Chen jokingly reminded the owner, "Boss, you need to make sure the head chef pulls out all the stops and makes the food as delicious as possible. This time, not only are our factory employees gathering, but the higher-ups will also be joining us."

Deng Yuntao replied seriously, "Director Chen, rest assured, our head chef will definitely give his best effort to ensure that all the employees and leaders of your esteemed factory enjoy a delicious meal."

Director Chen laughed, "That's good to hear. You go ahead and get busy, boss. I'll call you if there's anything."

...

Suifeng Restaurant, including the private rooms, had a total of 88 tables. Although there were several six-seater and four-seater tables, it could easily accommodate around six to seven hundred people.

However, excluding the ten private rooms, the arrival of the 260-plus employees of the bicycle parts factory had already taken up nearly half of the restaurant's space.

About ten minutes later, Factory Manager Li Chunhua arrived at Suifeng Restaurant, accompanied by County Magistrate Song.

"Leaders!"

"Leaders!"

"Factory Manager!"

"..."

As the senior leaders and the factory manager arrived, the employees all greeted them enthusiastically. The management team ran over, surrounding the leaders and guiding them to the reserved tables.

The arrival of the leaders was a signal, and the servers, who had been prepared, started serving the dishes.

With twelve temporary servers and the four regular servers, a total of sixteen people serving the dishes, the speed was quite impressive.

Since they had prepared in advance, the only dishes that needed to be cooked on the spot were the vegetables. In less than twenty minutes, twenty-four dishes and three soups were all served.

The employees of the bicycle parts factory had never seen such a lavish spread before, and they all dug in with gusto, their mouths watering.

At the table where the leaders were seated, County Magistrate Song, seeing all the dishes, said, "Be mindful of the impression this makes!"

Factory Manager Li Chunhua smiled and said, "Leaders, don't be fooled by the number of dishes. They aren't that expensive. On average, it costs only a few dollars per person. The employees have worked hard for so many years, and this year, the factory has finally seen significant growth. It's a rare occasion to celebrate, especially since today is both National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival, so we wanted to treat everyone to a good meal."

County Magistrate Song nodded and didn't press the issue further.

At that moment, Deng Shirong came over with a bottle of Maotai, smiling and greeting them, "Esteemed leaders, and the leaders of the bicycle parts factory, I am the owner of the restaurant. Thank you all for your support. This bottle of Maotai is a small token of our appreciation. We hope you enjoy your meal and drinks."

"Thank you, boss!"

"Wishing you a thriving business!"

"Boss, your restaurant is great, clean, and spacious, and the food is delicious. It's hard for your business not to do well!"

"..."

The leaders of the bicycle parts factory, seeing Deng Shirong come over with the best Maotai, naturally had no qualms about offering a few kind words.

As they were talking, they were all seated. However, when County Magistrate Song, who was sitting in the main seat, saw Deng Shirong, he stood up and said with a smile, "Mr. Deng, during the summer, my daughter mentioned you quite a bit. That girl came here to freeload quite a few times."

With the leader standing up, they all quickly followed suit.

Although Deng Shirong had never met County Magistrate Song before, he immediately understood his identity when he heard this and couldn't help but laugh, "Ah, it's County Magistrate Song. I've been looking for an opportunity to invite you for a simple meal, but I was afraid of being too presumptuous and disturbing you. I didn't expect to meet you like this today. I must raise a glass to you."

"We should indeed have a drink!"

As he said this, County Magistrate Song turned to Li Chunhua and the others, "Factory Manager Li, Mr. Deng's son is also studying in Beijing, and he is a classmate of my elder daughter. Although this is our first meeting, because of our children, we can be considered old acquaintances."

Hearing this, Li Chunhua and the other leaders were all taken aback. It was no secret in the county that County Magistrate Song's elder daughter was studying at Peking University, and they all knew it. The fact that Mr. Deng's son was a classmate of the leader's daughter meant that he was also a Peking University student.

In this era, the prestige of a Peking University student was well-known to Li Chunhua and his peers. As long as they didn't make grave mistakes or have extremely bad luck, they would graduate with a government official status, and not just any low-level position. Their futures were boundless.

Originally, Deng Shirong, the restaurant owner, was already quite impressive, but due to the general prejudice against individual entrepreneurs in this era, the leaders of the bicycle parts factory didn't hold his status in high regard.

However, after hearing the county magistrate Song's introduction, Li Chunhua and the others looked at Deng Shirong with newfound respect.

A capable business owner with a son at Peking University and a close relationship with the daughter of a leader—such a person was definitely worth befriending.

Realizing this, the leaders of the bicycle parts factory warmly invited Deng Shirong to sit and join them for a few drinks.

The table had only a few people besides County Magistrate Song, who were all high-ranking leaders of the bicycle parts factory. Deng Shirong sat down amidst their enthusiastic invitations, and a quick-witted waiter promptly brought him utensils.

This was the bicycle parts factory's celebratory banquet, so Deng Shirong didn't want to overshadow the hosts.

After a round of toasts and a chat about their children with County Magistrate Song, Deng Shirong found an excuse to leave, giving the leaders time to enjoy their meal with the county magistrate. They had a rare opportunity to dine with their superior, and if he monopolized the time, they would be unhappy, even if they didn't say it aloud.

In just those few minutes, Deng Shirong left a deep impression on the leaders of the bicycle parts factory. Whether for official or personal matters, they would likely choose to dine at Shuifeng Restaurant whenever they ate out.

In the previous life, the county bicycle parts factory began its decline in the early 21st century and eventually disappeared from history. But in the 1980s and 1990s, the factory was highly successful. Around 1987, it was the leading producer of bicycle chain guards in Guangxi, ranking third nationwide, making it one of the top three chain guard manufacturers in China.

With the support of the factory's leadership, the development of Shuifeng Restaurant would undoubtedly be smoother.

The meal lasted until 6 PM.

County Magistrate Song, being a leader, left half an hour early.

After everyone had their fill, Director Chen stayed behind to settle the bill, while the other leaders and employees left in small groups.

As for taking leftovers, that was out of the question. In this era, it was considered shameful to take leftover food from a meal, whether at a relative's house or a restaurant. People couldn't bear the strange looks they would receive.

It had been emphasized many times that the customs of this era were different from the future. In the future, taking leftovers was seen as a way to avoid waste, making it a common practice without ridicule. But in this era, it was a different story. Whether at a family gathering or a restaurant, taking leftovers was a source of embarrassment, and few could withstand the disapproving glances.

Moreover, plastic bags were not widely available, even in the county, so asking the restaurant staff to pack the food was considered a shameful act that no one wanted to do.

So, despite the many leftovers, none of the employees wanted to take them, preferring to leave with their colleagues.

After Director Chen settled the bill and left, Deng Yuntao gathered the 16 temporary employees who had helped out today and distributed their wages.

The four kitchen helpers received the highest pay, 5 yuan each, and the twelve waiters received 3 yuan each, totaling 56 yuan—a considerable expense.

However, it was worth it. Without the help of these 16 temporary employees, the restaurant wouldn't have been able to handle so many guests.

The 16 employees were overjoyed to receive their well-earned wages.

Don't underestimate these few yuan. In this era, where earning opportunities were scarce, many rural people were happy to earn 10 to 15 yuan a month. Now, they could earn 3 to 5 yuan in a single day, which was a rare and valuable opportunity.

After distributing the wages, Deng Yuntao smiled and said, "Thank you all for your hard work today!"

"Not at all!"

"Boss, it's our duty."

"Boss, if there's another opportunity like this, please let us know. We'll be ready at a moment's notice."

"..."

Deng Yuntao chuckled and responded, "You can all go home now. There are plenty of leftovers, so each of you can take a portion home. If you don't want to eat the leftovers, you can feed them to your pigs or dogs. It's better not to waste them here."

The temporary employees were delighted at this offer. Today's meal was a luxurious set provided by the restaurant, with many hearty dishes, many of which were prepared by the four kitchen helpers. Such a feast was rare, even during the New Year's celebrations.

Now, even though they were taking the leftovers from others' meals, who in this era would possibly be picky about that?

Moreover, Boss Deng Yuntao had given them a way out. They could take the leftover food home and feed it to their pigs or dogs if they didn't want to eat it. This completely alleviated their psychological burden.

As a result, all the temporary workers responded enthusiastically, taking out oil paper from the restaurant to start packing.

Once they were done, they respectfully bid farewell to the boss and walked home with their bountiful harvest, their steps light and their spirits high.

It was clear that the sixteen families of these temporary workers would have a memorable Mid-Autumn Festival tonight.

After the temporary workers left, Deng Yuntao instructed the regular employees, such as Zhang Guofu, Zhang Wenjuan, and Zhang Wenying, to pack the leftovers from two tables and take them home. Since it was Mid-Autumn Festival, no one would come to dine at this hour, so the restaurant could close early, allowing the employees to go home and celebrate with their families.

Packing the leftovers was something Zhang Wenjuan and Zhang Wenying were very enthusiastic about. The last time guests had a full moon celebration at the restaurant, they had packed a lot of leftovers and brought them home, which had made their parents and siblings incredibly happy. After that, their status in the family had significantly improved.

This time, the bicycle parts factory's gathering featured a luxurious meal, and they were even more enthusiastic and full of energy. On the one hand, there was the year-end bonus to look forward to, and on the other, the prospect of packing leftovers made them even more eager.

So, after packing the leftovers, Zhang Wenjuan and the three others, like the temporary workers, happily carried the heavy food home.

Throughout the process, Deng Shirong did not show his face. He was satisfied with how his eldest son had handled things.

After these three months of experience, his eldest son had truly become capable of handling things independently. Now, he and his wife could run the restaurant with peace of mind.

...

The next day.

At the county court entrance.

While stuffing tobacco into his pipe, Deng Shirong asked, "Brother Zhang, I have a question. Can you get me a TV voucher?"

It was already 1982, and if he remembered correctly, the first Spring Festival Gala would be broadcast on New Year's Eve this year. He wasn't short on money now, and it was time to get a TV so that he could watch the gala during the New Year. He believed it would be quite a lively event.

As for the village not having electricity, there was a solution: buy a few batteries.

In his previous life, the first TV in Naye Village was bought by Deng Shirong, but that was in 1987. At the time, the village still didn't have electricity, so he had to buy two batteries to watch TV.

When the batteries ran out, he would ride his bike to Shuangwang to recharge them, and each charge cost one or two yuan, which was quite a burden.

However, compared to the prestige it brought him, the cost was worth it.

Getting a TV in this era was no easy task, mainly because the vouchers were hard to come by.

Of course, as the saying goes, money can move mountains. If you were willing to spend enough, getting a TV wasn't impossible.

With the idea of buying a TV in mind, Deng Shirong decided to ask his friend Brother Zhang, who had many connections. If he could get the voucher normally, that would be best. If not, he could always buy it from someone else at a higher price. As long as he was willing to pay, he could get the TV.

Zhang Guoan couldn't help but laugh. "Uncle Jiu, you should have bought a TV a long time ago. Look at others who earn just two or three hundred yuan a month; they already have TVs at home. You run the largest restaurant in the county, and your family still doesn't have a TV. That's a bit embarrassing, isn't it?"

"Regarding the TV voucher, don't worry. I'll get it for you."

"Thanks, Brother Zhang!"

Deng Shirong lit his pipe with a match and, after a few puffs, smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, you don't know this, but my hometown still doesn't have electricity. That's why I haven't rushed to buy a TV. But now, it seems we don't know when the village will get electricity, so I'm thinking of buying the TV first and a few batteries to use it. It might be inconvenient, but it's the best I can do."

"Oh, so the village hasn't gotten electricity yet. No wonder!"

Zhang Guoan realized, "Without electricity, it is inconvenient. Fortunately, our village is in the county, so we got electricity a few years ago."

"Actually, our village has the conditions for electricity. The county's only large reservoir is not far from us. Unfortunately, the power from the Laotou Reservoir is prioritized for several nearby communes. If a village enterprise in our village urgently needs electricity, they can get it first. But since our village is small and unimportant, we don't get priority."

"There's nothing we can do. Our country is short on electricity everywhere, so they have to prioritize the important areas."

"That's understandable. With the country developing so fast, it won't be long before everyone has electricity."

"Definitely, but I wonder if we'll live to see it."

"We're not that old yet. We'll definitely see it."

"..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end