Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 1032 - 501: Scammer (Part 9)

As for how to address the root cause...

Please refer to the delightful plot of Accountant Wang next door.

Gong Liang was a sales director at the Silk Factory for less than two years. Just as he saw potential for advancement, he realized that there was no future for the Silk Factory. It was around the time when taking unpaid leave to venture into business was very popular, so Gong Liang joined the wave of entrepreneurs. In the first couple of years, he was cheated left and right, even to the point where he couldn't find shelter under a bridge—good spots under bridges required fighting for.

Later, when the business started to pick up, Zheng Da left the State owned Restaurant to start his own business. Gong Liang, having just made money, supported his brother wholeheartedly, providing a big and sturdy umbrella while he got soaked in the rain himself. It was only after that that everything went smoothly, diligently working in business until today.

Looking at it this way, Gong Liang's life is...

Well, there weren't too many setbacks; it's also quite a joyful scenario.

He spent a whole day reading newspapers in the office, and just before getting off work, Gong Liang received a notice that he could go to the logistics department to receive a small piece of mooncake and a bar of soap.

Don't underestimate these items; they are a remarkable benefit for the Mid-Autumn Festival. All the workers at the Silk Factory were beaming with joy, cherishing the mooncake to take home and share with their families at night.

When it was Gong Liang's turn to get his mooncake, the people in logistics noticed Director Gong had arrived and purposely picked out the biggest one for him. Qin Huai took a close look and figured it was just an ordinary plain-filled mooncake, likely with quite substantial ingredients, judging by the oily surface; it looked like a pure sugar-oil mixture and probably wouldn't taste great.

Gong Liang had a big meal scheduled for the evening, so he wasn't in a rush to eat the mooncake. He put the mooncake in his pocket and went to pick up Guo Mingzhu from the theater; the two of them headed to the State owned Restaurant together.

The State owned Restaurant tonight was only hosting neighbors and locals attending the Mid-Autumn dinner.

Everyone knew this was not only the Mid-Autumn dinner but also Master Jing's retirement party. This special treatment was a rare exception made by the restaurant's management for Master Jing, charging only the basic cost price. Besides Master Jing, Zheng Da, and Huang Shengli, all the other chefs and waiters left early after wishing each other a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and went home.

As for the banquet, there were only three tables in total.

Each table seated 12 people, adding up to 36 people, all gathered in the hall.

The neighbors and locals who had been looking out for Master Jing over the years were certainly more than those 36 people, but everyone knew this banquet was funded by Master Jing himself and was sure to be abundant. No one wanted to impose too much, so each family sent one or two representatives to enjoy the feast.

Only four people from Gong Liang's household attended, mainly because his family had the best relationship with Master Jing. The Xia family only sent two of the younger ones, the eldest son and daughter, as a result of drawing lots last night, which Qin Huai witnessed throughout, ensuring fairness without any tampering.

Just as Gong Liang arrived at the State owned Restaurant, a neighbor stopped him: "Xiao Liang, finally you're here. Master Jing has been talking about getting you to the kitchen to help."

"Oh, oh." Gong Liang hurried into the kitchen, where it was a bustling scene. Zheng Da and Huang Shengli were busy as bees, and Master Jing was managing three pots and two stoves by himself.

Seeing Gong Liang arrive, Master Jing smiled and waved him over. Gong Liang approached somewhat bewildered, unsure how he could help at such a moment, only to be handed a piece of coconut jelly by Master Jing.

"Coconut jelly, made with fresh coconut milk. It was prepared this afternoon. Zheng Da said you would definitely sneak out of work for some afternoon snacks, and even made a bet with Shengli; because you didn't come, Zheng Da lost a dollar."

Gong Liang: ...

Gong Liang looked at Zheng Da, who cast a resentful glance at him.

"Xiao Liang, now that you're the sales director, so many people are watching such a young director like you. Of course, you wouldn't skive off work. Letting Zheng Da learn a lesson isn't a bad thing." Master Jing said.

"Master Jing, did you call me in just to give me some snacks?" Gong Liang asked.

Master Jing nodded with a smile: "From tomorrow, I'll be retired and won't be able to make snacks in the State owned Restaurant. Many snacks are easier to make at the restaurant than at home. This coconut jelly, coconut mooncake, and papaya cake were all made using the coconuts you brought back yesterday. Who knows when they'll be made again."

"If you don't seize the moment to eat some in the kitchen before the dinner starts, you might not get the chance later."

Gong Liang appeared a bit embarrassed: "Master Jing, I'm not a child anymore. I won't sneak into the kitchen to steal snacks like I used to."

Hearing this, Zheng Da was furious: "Gong Liang, what do you mean? Last New Year, I stole some snacks from the kitchen."

Gong Liang: ... 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Master Jing chuckled: "You and Zheng Da and Shengli, I've watched you all grow up. No matter how old you are, you'll always be children to me."

With that, the coconut mooncakes were ready.

The freshly baked coconut mooncakes smelled amazing, a dominant sweet aroma mixing the coconut and sugary oil, which could awaken a primal appetite.

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival." Master Jing said.

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival." Gong Liang said as he looked at the coconut mooncakes.

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival." Huang Shengli chimed in with a smile.

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!!!" Zheng Da shouted loudly, begrudgingly at first, but then genuinely laughed, "Haha, mine was the loudest."