txolops Chapter 45 Dinner on Time
Chapter 45 Dinner on Time
5:20 PM.
Conference room on the top floor of Yintai Building.
The projector screen displayed a dense array of data charts.
The marketing director stood in front of the screen, holding a laser pointer, giving a report on business development for the second half of the year.
"Mr. Su, based on our competitor analysis from last quarter, we believe our core focus for next quarter should be on..."
Su Qingxue sat at the head of the long conference table.
Holding a fountain pen, he occasionally makes a note in the notebook in front of him, his expression cool and focused.
The meeting was fast-paced, but in the brief pause between the director's page turns, Su Qingxue raised her left hand and glanced at her watch.
The clock has struck 5:25.
There were only five minutes left before the fried rice stall downstairs opened.
Given how popular it was yesterday, with everything sold out in just two hours, if you go late today, you'll most likely go hungry again.
Su Qingxue put down her pen without interrupting the marketing director's report.
She simply turned her head slightly, her gaze passing over the long table to look at Secretary Chen standing to the side and behind her.
Secretary Chen, always focused on her work, immediately caught Su Qingxue's gaze.
The two exchanged a glance.
Su Qingxue didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.
Secretary Chen immediately understood.
She silently closed the meeting minutes notebook in her hand, tiptoed out of the meeting room through the side door.
After leaving the conference room, Secretary Chen went straight to the elevator and pressed the button for the first-floor lobby.
As Su Qingxue's chief secretary, she knew what to do and when.
Her top priority now is to go downstairs and buy the 99-yuan fried rice for the CEO.
……
5:28 PM.
The edge of the plaza on the first floor of Yintai Building.
"Squeak—"
With a familiar screech of brakes, Lin Chen's dilapidated tricycle stopped precisely at its usual spot next to the flowerbed.
"Brother Chen, we've arrived."
Wang Hai jumped out of the driver's seat with a flourish. "It's quite cool downstairs today."
"Let's set up the table first."
Lin Chen pulled out the car key and got out of the car.
He deftly took the faded apron from the bag and tied it around his waist.
Wang Hai quickly lowered the partition in the carriage and moved down the folding table.
Immediately afterwards, he used his strength to move the two insulated buckets full of rice to the side of the counter.
Tangtang climbed down from the passenger seat by herself.
"Uncle Fatty, my little stool!"
There are spoons too!
Tangtang ran to the side of the truck bed, looked up and shouted.
"Alright! Our little helper Tangtang is ready to go!"
Wang Hai smiled as he moved the small stool down and put it away. Then he took out a large bag of unopened disposable spoons from the cardboard box and handed it to Tangtang.
Tangtang, holding a plastic spoon, obediently walked to the side of the table and stood there, her two little hands holding it, ready to distribute the spoons at any time.
At this moment, the glass sensor doors on the first floor of the building slid open to both sides.
Secretary Chen walked out steadily in her high heels.
The timing was perfect; she had just reached the edge of the square when Lin Chen's stall placed the last takeout box on the table.
Since it wasn't yet the time for most companies in the building to leave work, there were only a few people who had slipped down early and were queuing up in the square.
Secretary Chen strode forward and stood at the second position in the line.
"Everyone, please line up! We're offering 150 servings today, no limit on purchases!"
Wang Hai stood in front of the table and shouted loudly.
The young man in front of Secretary Chen immediately pulled out his phone: "Boss, give me three servings!"
"Okay, three servings!"
Wang Hai deftly pulled out three takeout boxes.
Lin Chen stood in front of the stove and pressed the knob with his left hand.
"Click".
A pale blue flame shot up.
Heat the pan, add cold oil. Lin Chen grabbed a few eggs from the paper tray next to him with one hand and cracked them cleanly on the edge of the pan.
The egg mixture expands and bubbles the moment it hits the pan, and then the dry, aged rice is poured into the pan.
The shovel flew as flames licked the bottom of the pot.
In just over two minutes, three servings of fried rice were quickly ready.
The young man paid and left with his food, and the line moved forward one step.
Secretary Chen stepped forward and stood in front of the folding table.
"How many portions?"
Wang Hai asked without looking up.
"One serving."
"Secretary Chen said."
Hearing the sound, Lin Chen looked up at her, but didn't say anything, and continued to turn over with the shovel in his hand.
Heat oil in a pan, crack in an egg, and pour in a spoonful of aged rice.
"One serving, ninety-nine."
Lin Chen scooped the fried rice into a takeout box, pushed it to the table, and spoke calmly.
Secretary Chen took out his phone and scanned the QR code for payment on the table.
"Beep—WeChat payment received, 99 yuan."
Here's your food.
Wang Hai closed the lid, put the lunchbox into a plastic bag, and handed it over.
"Pretty auntie, here's a spoon for you!"
Tangtang tiptoed, pulled a handful of disposable spoons from a stack of them in her bosom, and carefully handed them to Secretary Chen, her big eyes filled with a sweet smile.
Secretary Chen looked at the little girl in the kindergarten uniform in front of her, paused for a moment, and then reached out to take the spoon.
"Thank you, little sister."
Secretary Chen said softly.
After buying the fried rice, Secretary Chen didn't linger in the square for even a second longer.
Carrying the lunchbox in the transparent plastic bag, she turned around, her high heels clicking as she walked steadily across the plaza and back into the building.
Behind her, a large number of white-collar workers who had just finished get off work poured out of the building and quickly formed a long line in front of the stall.
……
A few minutes later.
The CEO's office is located on the top floor of the Yintai Building.
Secretary Chen pushed open the door to the empty office and placed the box of fried rice on the desk.
The spoons were also neatly arranged next to the lunchbox.
After doing all this, she quietly left, closing the door behind her.
6:10 PM.
The door to Conference Room One was pushed open.
The managers who attended the meeting came out one after another, talking quietly about their respective work assignments.
Su Qingxue walked at the back, rubbing her slightly stiff neck, and headed back to her office.
The moment I pushed open the door, that familiar, dry aroma of scallion and egg wafted towards me.
Su Qingxue looked up and immediately saw the box of fried rice on the desk.
She walked to her desk, sat down in the leather swivel chair, and casually pushed aside a few documents that needed her signature, clearing a clean surface.
Su Qingxue reached out and lifted the lid of the lunchbox, and steam instantly rose up.
She tore open the plastic spoon packaging, scooped up a full spoonful of golden fried rice, and put it in her mouth.
Chew and swallow.
The warmth of the rice filled my stomach, and the feeling of satisfaction instantly soothed my fatigue.
The rice grains are dry and distinct, and the savory aroma of eggs and the refreshing fragrance of scallions blend perfectly.
In the president's office, Su Qingxue ate one bite after another, eating with extreme seriousness.
With Secretary Chen around, there's no need to worry about missing meals due to meetings.
After finishing the last bite of fried rice, Su Qingxue took a tissue to wipe her mouth and threw the empty lunchbox into the trash can next to her.
She leaned back in her chair, gazing at the dazzling neon lights that had already illuminated the window, and let out a satisfied sigh.
Ten minutes later, the internal phone rang.
Su Qingxue pressed the answer button.
"President Su, the meeting minutes have been compiled and sent to your email."
Secretary Chen's professional voice came from the other end of the phone.
"received."
Su Qingxue paused, then added, "You bought dinner right on time, thank you for your hard work."
"It's what I should do."
The phone hangs up.
Su Qingxue turned on her computer screen, opened the meeting minutes in her email, and threw herself back into her work for the evening.