"Mr. Wilson said he needs to go back and discuss with his partners, but he didn't give a clear refusal, so there should still be room for negotiation."
"Since there's no clear refusal, let's not push it. We'll wait until they've made up their minds before discussing cooperation," said the Township Party Secretary. "Rushing things won't help our business. While we want to increase our income and need foreign exchange, rushing will only result in them lowering the price. These fabrics aren't cheap, and the costs are high, so we can't afford to cut the price too much."
Lin Xiang really wanted to give the Township Party Secretary a thumbs up.
"Leader, can I go home now?"
"Comrade Lin, thank you so much for today." The Township Party Secretary smiled warmly, "You're the translation talent our Mianyang Town lacks the most. For now, let's have you continue doing translation work."
Lin Xiang rubbed her little hands together, "Leader, I certainly want to be a translator and contribute to cooperation with foreign guests. But I promised Chef Shen I'd help with Western cuisine first. If I don't keep my promise, the state-run restaurant won't find a replacement chef who can cook Western dishes anytime soon."
The Township Party Secretary had witnessed Lin Xiang's culinary skills today. Being able to impress foreign clients, indeed, they couldn't find a substitute in a short time.
"How about this, before the foreign guests arrive, I'll have someone inform you in advance. You can come early, prepare the meals at the state-run restaurant, and make it to the town government before ten o'clock. You'll have plenty of time."
Lin Xiang frowned, cautiously broaching, "Leader, our Lihua Team doesn't have a phone. If you send someone to notify me, it'll waste quite a bit of time going back and forth."
The town leader silently looked at Lin Xiang, saying nothing.
Under his gaze, Lin Xiang felt there was no place to hide, as if her little plans were all seen through.
"Xiao Wang, arrange for the Huaihua Commune to allocate a telephone installation spot for the Lihua Team."
In the late '70s, even for brigade headquarters, installing a phone was not a simple matter. Each commune only had a few spots, and without an allocation from the commune, no amount of money could get a phone installed.
Lihua Team hadn't been able to qualify as an advanced collective for years, and the phone installation had never been realized.
"Thank you, Leader! I promise not to let you down!"
The Township Party Secretary laughed, "It's getting late, I'll have the driver take you home."
Lin Xiang waved her hand repeatedly, "Leader, there's no need. My mom will come to pick me up later."
After saying goodbye to the town leaders, Lin Xiang looped back to the state-run restaurant.
At 5:30 in the afternoon, the state-run restaurant had already closed, but Chef Shen hadn't left, waiting for Lin Xiang all along.
"Secretary Wang said, the foreign guests were very satisfied with today's Western cuisine. Lin, you've really helped us a lot!"
Lin Xiang smiled pleasantly, "It's what I should do. I should also thank Chef Shen for giving me the job opportunity!"
Moreover, Chef Shen was kind and wouldn't exclude her just because she could cook Western dishes.
"Here's the reward I promised you. Comrade Lin, just because you've shown your face in front of the leaders, doesn't mean you can ignore the state-run restaurant!"
"Of course not. Chef Shen, I've already arranged with the leader. I'll come early to the state-run restaurant in the morning to prepare meals, and then I'll go be a translator, neither will be delayed."
Lin Xiang took the dollar Chef Shen handed over with both hands, "Chef, do you still have big meat buns? I'd like to buy some to take back for my mom to eat?"
"The big meat buns were sold out in the morning. But there's some leftover beef trimmings from today's Western cuisine prep, I saved some for you to take home and cook for your family."
Even if they're trimmings, it's still meat!
Although beef doesn't taste as good as pork, it fills you up better than pork can.
Lin Xiang rubbed her little hands, "Chef, could I borrow a bit more of your time? To be honest, all my spices at home are about to run out. Even if I take all the beef home, I won't be able to make much. So I'm thinking of thickening my skin and borrowing some spices from the kitchen. Would that be okay?"
"Of course, go ahead and use what you need!"
While doing so, he could also watch from the sidelines.
Lin Xiang didn't make anything too complex, just tomato-braised beef brisket.
"Beef can be cooked like this? It looks quite appetizing."
Chef Shen's culinary skills were good, but he didn't get to cook beef often, so he never thought beef could be stewed with tomatoes.
"And if you add some rice, the rice grains will absorb the tomato's tanginess, making it quite appetizing."
"There's rice, alright!" Chef Shen divided half of the rice he planned to take home with Lin Xiang.
The state-run restaurant didn't sell overnight meals, whatever wasn't sold each day could be taken home by the chef, an unspoken rule without reproach.
Even if it was only half, it was enough to feed the Lin family of three.
Lin Xiang wasn't stingy, she split the braised tomato beef with half going to Chef Shen.
Chef Shen waved his hand in refusal, "I've already learned how to make it, I can cook it at home if I want to eat some. Besides, there aren't many pieces of meat, take it home for your mother."
"It's getting late, head home early before it's unsafe on the road."
Lin Xiang continued to rub her little hands, "Hehe, Brother Shen, could you lend me a lunchbox? I'll return it to you next time I come by."
"Why borrow? I'll give you one!" Chef Shen cheerfully handed her an aluminum lunchbox with a slightly dented lid.
Just because Lin Xiang didn't avoid him while cooking, and patiently explained things he didn't understand, Chef Shen was sure about this girl!
Only then did Lin Xiang contentedly take the lunchbox filled with food, heading homeward.
As soon as she reached the border between village and town, Lin Xiang saw a familiar figure.
"Brother?"
Lin Xiang ran over and sure enough, there was Lin Yun squatting on the curb.
"Why are you here?"
"Mom said you were working in town today and coming back late. She was worried it'd be dangerous for you on the road, so she sent me to pick you up."
"I told Mom, just walk a couple of hundred meters to the village entrance, why did you come all the way to town?"
It takes an hour by foot, Lin Yun's injury hadn't completely healed, how could his body bear a two-hour round trip?
"It's fine, let's go home."
"Hold on!" Lin Xiang caught Lin Yun, "Since you're already in town, Brother, let's go to the hospital, get some medication for your injury, that way you'll recover faster."
Lin Yun refused Lin Xiang's offer. No matter how she tugged, his feet seemed rooted in place, motionless.
"I'm almost healed, no need to waste money on this."
"How can this be a waste? Brother, I made money today, even though it's just a dollar, it's enough for some medicine. No matter how important money is, it's not as important as your health!"
"I said there's no need!" In the struggle, Lin Yun wrenched his hand free from Lin Xiang, causing her to fall on her backside.