Chapter 299: Crouching Dragon and Hidden Phoenix
“Xiyue, I didn’t expect we’d meet here! What a coincidence—we were thinking the same thing,” Liu Yao said excitedly, hopping over to link arms with Ning Xiyue.
Ning Xiyue glanced at Liu Yao, then at the other two, and asked curiously, “Did you three plan this together?”
“We ran into each other at the work points,” Wang Mengmeng explained with a smile. “Liu Yao said she wanted to check this place out, and we were all curious. In the youth courtyard, only a few of us cook for ourselves. So we decided to come here, see if we could slack off a little, and eat here instead of cooking.”
Wang Mengmeng shook her head, laughing, and linked arms with Ning Xiyue on the other side.
Wang Jiandong saw the three of them with partners and realized he had no one to link with. He shrugged, crossed his arms, and felt instantly less awkward—at least his hands had a place to go.
Liu Yao looked at the interior of the canteen—it was bigger than she imagined—and felt a little lost. “Where should we start checking things out?”
Wang Jiandong glanced at the crowded and unfamiliar faces inside the canteen. He didn’t rush to investigate the food stations. Instead, he turned to the calm Ning Xiyue and asked with a smile, “Sister Xiyue, do you know any inside information?”
Although phrased as a question, he was confident. He trusted that Ning Xiyue could provide exactly the answers they wanted without asking anyone else.
“You’ve got sharp eyes, nothing escapes you. Follow me—I’ll take you there and explain as we go,” Ning Xiyue said.
She led the way, walking while briefly summarizing what Aunt Yangliu had said earlier and glancing around to see if her second brother was nearby.
Her brother wasn’t in sight. Reaching the innermost window of the canteen, she noticed a small room beside it and knew this was where tickets were exchanged.
“This should be the place,” Ning Xiyue said, stopping and speaking to the three behind her.
Excitedly, Liu Yao ran ahead. “Let’s go knock on the door and exchange tickets quickly! I saw dishes like pork stewed with noodles, and a mix of fermented beans and crucian carp—looks delicious.”
Wang Mengmeng licked her lips and kept glancing at the food window. “I can smell the aroma—it’s really good. I’m having those two dishes today.”
Wang Jiandong stepped forward and knocked on the door. A stranger at a nearby window shouted, “What are you doing there?”
With a smile, Ning Xiyue stepped forward. “Aunt, we’re here to exchange meal tickets. Is this the right place?”
The aunt didn’t reply. Instead, she shouted loudly toward the back, “Chef Shen is looking for you!”
A few seconds later, a middle-aged man wearing an apron and glasses ran out from the kitchen, wiping water off his hands, shouting, “Coming, coming!”
Chef Shen clearly seemed educated, though unfamiliar. He was likely assigned by the coal mining team.
Following him closely was a familiar face, Chen Ye Chu, who drew the attention of all five young people immediately.
Chen Ye Chu raised an eyebrow at them, greeting them with her eyes.
Liu Yao whispered to Ning Xiyue, “Isn’t that Yechu? Could she be in charge of ticket exchanges?”
“Let’s see first,” Ning Xiyue replied calmly.
She wasn’t surprised; Chen Ye Chu was fully capable of being in charge.
Chef Shen opened the door and sat down, with Chen Ye Chu sitting next to him and placing a notebook in front of her.
Smiling at the four of them, Chef Shen said, “I didn’t expect anyone to exchange tickets on the first day. You’re quick to get the news—you’re the first batch. How many tickets do you want?”
Ning Xiyue waited until he set the tickets on the table and asked, “Chef Shen, how does it work? How much is a meal ticket?”
Liu Yao followed, “Chef Shen, do we just need one ticket per meal at noon?”
“You’re from Daliu Team, right?” Chef Shen glanced at Chen Ye Chu, got her confirmation, and continued. “For Daliu Team members, one ticket costs one mao (0.1 yuan). One ticket can get you one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and rice. Soup is self-served at the side.”
Hearing the price, the group relaxed and exchanged glances—they all had plans.
Ning Xiyue found the price reasonable. If the dishes were good, she could eat here every day. The two dishes Liu Yao mentioned were already tempting, and passing the other windows, there were at least five different dishes.
Affordable and tasty—she liked it.
“I’m from Daliu Team. I’ll take 30 tickets,” Ning Xiyue said, pulling out three yuan and handing it over.
Chef Shen passed the money to Chen Ye Chu. “Little Chen, record it.”
He then took the ticket box and started counting tickets for Ning Xiyue.
Chen Ye Chu recorded everything in her notebook, and Ning Xiyue signed.
Seeing Ning Xiyue buy so many, Liu Yao decided to get 30 as well. “Chef Shen, I’ll take 30 tickets too.”
Wang Jiandong followed suit, also buying 30.
Only Wang Mengmeng was different—she boldly pulled out six yuan. “I’ll take 60 tickets.”
Ning Xiyue smiled knowingly, expecting this.
Among the youth courtyard, only Zhao Jianshe and Wu Guifang were from older families with many children and average means; the rest came from better-off families who regularly sent supplies.
Wang Mengmeng’s family was even wealthier, with both parents in high-ranking factory positions. She had been pampered growing up, was used to not compromising, and had plenty of money and tickets.
She had long given up on cooking for herself. After working in the field, cooking was exhausting. Seeing the canteen and hearing the price, she wished she could eat there three meals a day—liberating her hands.
After getting her 60 tickets, she glanced at the dishes and passing servers, then asked, “Chef Shen, do you provide breakfast in the morning?”
Ning Xiyue also paused and looked at Chef Shen for an answer.
Smiling warmly at the big-ticket customers, Chef Shen said, “Yes, the canteen provides three meals a day. You’re welcome anytime. Next time, just call me here to exchange tickets.”
Overjoyed, Wang Mengmeng took another three yuan from her pocket. “Exchange 30 more for me. I’ll eat here in the morning too.”
Liu Yao was surprised. “Mengmeng, so many tickets?”
Ning Xiyue shook her head with a smile—this was someone who was rich and generous.
She pulled Wang Mengmeng aside, whispering, “Why not taste the dishes first? What if they’re not good?”
“No problem. Even if they aren’t, they’ll taste better than what I cook. From now on, I’m done cooking with them. I’ll eat here every meal—the canteen is my second home,” Wang Mengmeng said.
She glanced at Liu Yao, who helped her with the tickets, and Wang Jiandong at the food window, then whispered again.
“Most of the good cooks went to the coal mining team. The rest of us are no match. Liu Yao and I aren’t as good as Aunt Chunsheng at cooking pork. Eating at the canteen is more reliable.”
Ning Xiyue: …
She was speechless—this was a criticism of her and her friends’ cooking skills.
Though harsh, it made sense.
Except for Xia Zhipeng, whom she didn’t like, the only people left cooking with her were Liu Yao and Wang Jiandong.
She recalled last year, when Wang Mengmeng and Liu Yao—the “Crouching Dragon and Hidden Phoenix”—cooked together, and the food never cooked properly.
Ning Xiyue fully understood. “You’re right. Let’s get our meals.”
“Mengmeng, your tickets,” Liu Yao said cheerfully, handing over the sorted tickets.
Wang Mengmeng looked at her equally skilled friends, teary-eyed. “Thank you, Yao Yao. From now on, I’m eating at the canteen. What about you?”
Liu Yao happily linked arms with her. “I’m thinking the same—eat at the canteen. I’ll exchange rations for tickets, and if I run out, I’ll use money. I’ll discuss with my cousin at home—he still has rations we can exchange.”
Well, these two really were the “Crouching Dragon and Hidden Phoenix”—they thought alike, planned everything, and left no room for worry.
