Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 1138 - 548: Xu Nuo (Part 8)_2

"Little Wang's salary isn't low, right? I see him every day with pickles and rice, sometimes pickles and cornbread, living worse than Old Lu."

"Who's Old Lu?"

"The one whose mother is sick and needs medicine every month, has six kids at home, and Mr. Xu made an exception, allowing him to advance as much as half a year's salary."

"That can't be, Old Lu is the most troubled in our factory."

"Yet Old Lu can still manage boiled cabbage every day."

"Why is Little Wang having such a hard time? He's so young and not even dating."

"I might know a bit about that." The colleague whispered, glanced at Wang Gen Sheng, lowered his voice, covered his mouth like a secret agent meeting, "It's probably because of Xu Nuo."

"Mr. Xu's youngest son?"

"Yes!"

"What's their connection? I heard he's a spoiled brat, stays home all day without working, always dining out at the State owned Restaurant. Even with a mountain of wealth, Mr. Xu can't sustain that."

"Do you know that driver, Xu Mo?"

"Yes, Mr. Xu's distant cousin, the one with a huge appetite and not very bright. Every time at the cafeteria, they give him extra scoops; I've heard he's good at farming, grows all the vegetables behind the cafeteria, and they're thriving."

"Xu Nuo, the scoundrel, even scams his own relative. Xu Mo gets a good salary and money each month but leaves everything to Xu Nuo, fooled into thinking Xu Nuo is saving it for him. He's hopeless."

"But what's that got to do with Little Wang?"

The colleague pointed at Wang Gen Sheng: "I've seen it a few times, Xu Nuo goes to Little Wang's dorm, and every time, he leaves with something in his pocket. The factory gave Little Wang a single room, probably caught Xu Nuo's eye, and he got swindled of his money."

"What? Even college grads like Little Wang can be fooled? And Mr. Xu does nothing?"

"How can he? I heard Mr. Xu's mother protects Xu Nuo like it's her eyeball, and his wife spoils the youngest, can't beat him or scold him, completely unmanageable."

"Ah, truly, a mother's love spoils the child."

Qin Huai:...

For some reason, Qin Huai suddenly felt a bit of sympathy for Xu Nuo. He just got a bad reputation even though he doesn't work, enjoys good food, has some skills, doesn't deserve such infamy.

It's shocking he ended up with such a bad reputation.

If these two in finance talk more, they'd make Xu Nuo a generational villain.

After chatting about Xu Nuo, they gossiped about other factory rumors.

One family wants a son but ends up with five daughters, a wicked granny tries selling the granddaughter, discovered and fought by the daughter-in-law, causing a major disturbance and public criticism.

The canteen supervisor anonymously reported last month for stealing flour and eggs, because someone smells their house cooking eggs often, apparently made from pure white flour.

A fight broke out at the State owned Restaurant yesterday, a waitress fought five single-handedly, achieving remarkable feats.

Qin Huai avidly listened to gossip until he realized those two were slacking off all shift, never actually worked. Compared to them, Zhao Cheng'an and Tan Wei'an seem devoted enough to be model workers.

Of course, the real model worker was diligently working at the desk.

"Little Wang, let's go to the canteen for dinner, if you're late they'll serve less," a colleague cheerfully invited Wang Gen Sheng with a lunchbox, "It's almost New Year, meals should be good, there might be meat today!"

"Maybe even slices of meat!"

Wang Gen Sheng didn't look up from his abacus, said, "Brother Zhang, Brother Li, I'll come after I finish."

The two left joking, "It's nice Little Wang is here, he doesn't need to work; are you coming tomorrow?"

"Of course, we don't match the seniority of the section chief and Brother Jiang. But tomorrow I'll just sign in and leave, need to rush to the grain store for flour."

The two cheerfully left, leaving Wang Gen Sheng to work overtime. After about half an hour, he finished up, took his lunchbox, meal ticket, and a small bottle of pickles, slowly heading to the canteen.

By now, there weren't many people left at the textile factory, close to New Year the canteen's food improved, many brought meals home for their families.

Wang Gen Sheng went to the canteen for food, only a few still there, and Qin Huai saw Shi Dadan eating.

Shi Dadan had three lunchboxes, two of rice and one of veggies, one box was already emptied to remaining rice grains, and the veggies eaten halfway.

Qin Huai glanced at the food and saw it looked good: cabbage stir-fried in lard, boiled soybeans, celery stir-fried with meat, the meat slices instead of shredded. The soybeans were slick with oil, not just sticking from other dishes.

Wang Gen Sheng went to the food counter, the server lady smiled and filled his lunchbox to the brim, "Accountant Wang, so close to New Year and you're still busy, working late. Good thing I saved some food for you."

Wang Gen Sheng said, "It's a bit busy."

The lady showed an understanding expression, glanced at the pickle jar he held, knowing he'll make do with pickles again, said: "Today there's leftover celery meat stir-fry, I spoke to the supervisor about this. He said with New Year nearing, even the toughest days deserve some good food, hand me your lunchbox."

"Sister Ma, wouldn't it be improper?" Wang Gen Sheng hesitated slightly.

"What's wrong?" Sister Ma snatched the lunchbox, "Since Accountant Wang joined, no payroll mistakes ever happened, can't hurt to enjoy some celery stir-fry. Today some fried eggs left from the deputy director's banquet, I'll slip you a few pieces."

Sister Ma winked at Wang Gen Sheng, took his lunchbox back, shortly turned his plain rice into topped celery meat stir-fry with fried eggs mixed in.

Wang Gen Sheng awkwardly took the box, hesitated, thanked her, found a quiet spot, and ate heartily.

He never opened the pickle jar once.

Who'd want pickles over real dishes.

Qin Huai realized when young, Wang Gen Sheng was quite reserved, not so much introverted or closed-off, just didn't like talking. Left alone, he silently went about his business, eating and working like that.

Compared to back then, today's Wang Gen Sheng is lively and articulate.

Qin Huai wandered the canteen, due to the distance, unable to peek inside the kitchen, watching Wang Gen Sheng and Shi Dadan eat from outside.

As Shi Dadan finished his meal, Xu Nuo arrived.

Seeing Xu Nuo, Shi Dadan instantly set aside the lunchbox, started fumbling through pockets, extracted a wad of money and two bars of soap, handed them to Xu Nuo without hesitation, saying: "Xu Nuo, I'm heading out the next couple of days, so the team leader gave me my New Year's benefits, this month's allowance, and meal tickets, all here."

"I asked the team leader, he said someone can collect meat rations on my behalf later, so just sign for it."

"Alright." Xu Nuo took the meal tickets without counting, pulled a biscuit from his pocket, and handed it to Shi Dadan, who happily ate it.

Factory staff witnessing the whole deal shook heads, sighed with colleagues: "Such a fool, losing so much money over a biscuit."

"Sad indeed!"

Qin Huai:...

He could see why Xu Nuo gained such a bad reputation.

You two do your deals so publicly.

Wang Gen Sheng glanced at Xu Nuo's way, Xu Nuo caught sight of him when leaving, briefly locking gaze.

Nothing particular happened, just simple eye contact, but Qin Huai felt Wang Gen Sheng maybe signaled Xu Nuo.

Shi Dadan remained oblivious, continued eating.

Xu Nuo left the canteen.