The cafeteria is not very large, it is the typical unit canteen, with a few square tables and benches for each table, forming the whole of the dining room. The dining room and operation room are divided into two parts, inside and outside, and the small food pick-up is the main area connecting the inside and outside.

It was already past the time to eat, there was no one in the dining room, and because they deliberately avoided the time for everyone to eat, Qi Tianxiang and their arrival was when there were few people in the cafeteria. Qi Tianxiang briefly looked at the dining room, walked straight to the food pick-up mouth, looked in along the window, the operation room was not very big, it was still an old-fashioned coal-fired stove, and there was nothing in the two large iron pots, only to see the steaming heat in one pot, obviously boiling water, and the long case was clean, and it seemed that it had been cleaned up.

Under the window is a table with a large aluminum basin filled with vegetables, a long rattan basket lined with white cloth and white steamed buns, and an aluminum basin with thick salty soup and stacks of white porcelain bowls nearby. Apparently that was all there was to for lunch, and a middle-aged man in a white apron stood behind the table, as if he was waiting for Qi Tianxiang and them.

"The master has worked hard, and he is so busy that he can't rest here, and it's really not easy." Qi Tianxiang greeted the master in the window warmly, and asked with good interest: "What delicious things have been prepared for us at noon!" ”

"It's not hard, it's not hard. It should be, it should be. The master who was already nervous didn't expect Qi Tianxiang to talk to him, his face was flushed with nervousness for a while, and he said continuously, as if he was cooperating with the conversation, his two big hands kept waving, and he seemed to understand Qi Tianxiang's question for a long time, and blushed and whispered: "Chowder, gnocchi soup, the food we eat in the mountains is not delicious, not delicious." ”

"Lao Chen, don't be stunned, don't hurry up and cook for the leaders." Seeing where the master master was cramped and nervous, Liu Nengfu reminded anxiously, and then explained to Qi Tianxiang with a smile: "People in the mountains, I haven't seen anything in the world, and when I am nervous, I forget everything serious. ”

"No, I have two hands, one hand can serve the vegetables, and the other hand can serve the soup and steamed buns, which can be completely handled. Do it yourself, have plenty of food and clothing! Qi Tianxiang looked at Liu Nengfu and said lightly, and then said with a smile to Zhou Tong beside him: "The sky is big, the chef is the biggest, no matter how big you are and how much money you have, no one can only give you food and drink blood, so you must have enough respect for the chef, and the other should be in awe enough is the doctor, one is in charge of the stomach, and the other is in charge of life and death, all of which are careless." ”

"When I was in college, I had a deep understanding that a good relationship with a chef can get more benefits than a good relationship with a professor." Qi Tianxiang spoke, took the white porcelain bowl handed by the master, took a bowl of soup with the other hand, muttered to Zhou Tong and proudly let him see the dishes in his bowl, and while turning to leave, he did not forget to thank the master: "Thank you!" Master Chen. ”

The chowder is very rich, including dried vegetables such as fried tofu, fungus, kelp, vermicelli, and shiitake mushrooms, as well as seasonal vegetables such as greens, soybean sprouts, and eggplant, as well as meatballs, crispy pork, pork ribs, and of course, pork in the house. Although the pork has been oiled, it still looks a little greasy because it is the meat of pork ribs, coupled with the special care of Qi Tianxiang by the master, the big white porcelain bowl is full of pork, pork ribs, small crispy meat and other dry goods, full of a large bowl, exuding a hot aroma, more than tempting, but it is very embarrassing for Qi Tianxiang.

Qi Tianxiang's stomach is not very good, usually for greasy food, has always been respectful, and prefers a light diet, for the traditional heavy oil, heavy taste food is not very adaptable, the amount of food is not very large. Now in the face of such a big bowl of oily chowder, I really don't know how to swallow it, but in front of Zhou Tong, Wang Tongjun, Liu Nengfu, who are sitting at the same table with him, and the master who is looking at him with attention from the window, Qi Tianxiang knows his appetite, for the master's self-esteem, or the importance of the rice bowl, and at the same time he is unwilling to brush off the master's kindness.

After all, he has followed Qi Tianxiang for many years, and as soon as the chowder was in his hand, Xiao Zhang realized that something was wrong, and while blaming himself for his mistakes, he looked at Qi Tianxiang anxiously, and quickly thought of ways to save it. Qi Tianxiang read his self-blame and worry from Xiao Zhang's eyes, stopped his thoughts with his eyes, looked at Liu Nengfu and said praisefully: "This bowl of steaming chowder is really hard work, such a rich content, you don't need to deliberately guess, you know that it is not something that ordinary people in the mountains can't eat on weekdays, even if it is a New Year's holiday, it is rare to have such a bowl of nutritious and attractive food!" ”

Liu Nengfu listened to Qi Tianxiang's praise, his heart was like eating honey, but there was a modest look on his face, and he hurriedly answered: "Indeed, as you said, such a bowl of chowder is rare for the people in the mountains to eat, not to mention the people in the mountains, even we, the township cadres, can not eat it if we want to." It's not that there is no opportunity to eat chowder, but there are not so many materials and contents, usually just a few dried vegetables to get some meat and stew, make a big pot, you can eat at any time, more people eat lively, less people can not finish eating, the next meal is hot and can still be eaten, simple and convenient, but also save time. Sometimes I go to the countryside to run for a day and come back, tired back and leg pain, a bowl of hot, oily chowder under the stomach, feel comfortable all over, if you get a few taels of liquor, sleep beautifully, and you can go to the countryside in good spirits again tomorrow. ”

Qi Tianxiang was attracted by Liu Nengfu's simple and easy narration, and a picture of late return appeared in front of him, his face was full of dust, his tired body, the thatched hut firewood illuminated by the sunset, the smoke rising and diffused, the peasant woman looking forward to returning, the children around his knees, the steaming coarse vegetables and light rice, a bowl of sweet and fragrant wine, the warm evening breeze, and the smile, and he was already drunk without drinking.

Qi Tianxiang was fascinated by the beautiful scenery of the imaginary rural life, but after just a moment of wandering, he was pulled back into reality, looked at the eyes that looked at him, smiled faintly, and did not make more statements about Liu Nengfu's words, but pretended to be strange and said: "What are you looking at me for?" Could it be that such a delicious and tempting chowder still can't whet your appetite? ”

As he spoke, Qi Tianxiang picked up the chopsticks on the table, took a steamed bun in the other hand, and ate it with taste, the greasy and somewhat salty pieces of meat, at first I felt a little nauseous and nauseated, but under the squeeze of the steamed buns, it was quickly neutralized, and slowly adapted, and I also felt the joint effect of shiitake mushrooms and fatty meat, and the special fragrance emitted by it was also a rare enjoyment. Qi Tianxiang ate very naturally and felt very good, not only cleaned a large bowl of chowder, but also eliminated a white flour steamed bun and a bowl of pimple salty soup.

Watching Qi Tianxiang eat with relish, it drove everyone to respond positively, it is rare to have never eaten, the feeling of eating is enjoyable, and different performances are reflected in everyone's faces. After a short effort, a simple lunch was over, and a look of satisfaction spread across everyone's faces.

"It's rare to eat such a delicious and affordable meal, and my food volume has grown greatly, and if I continue to eat like this, I won't be able to walk the road or climb the mountain for a few days." Seeing that everyone had put down the dishes and chopsticks, Qi Tianxiang stood up and teased wittily, then looked at Liu Nengfu, smiled slightly and asked gently: "What do you arrange for us to see, you won't just send us to the county!" ”

Without waiting for Liu Nengfu to express his position, Qi Tianxiang caught a glimpse of Fang Jianshe walking in in a hurry, accompanied by Wang Ping and Liao Yong, so he smiled and said to Liu Nengfu: "It seems that you don't need to send it away, I should also go home, I really want to stay here for one night, and feel the beauty of a bowl of chowder, a few taels of white wine, and a plate of peanuts you said!" ”

As Qi Tianxiang spoke, he turned to Fang Jianshe and the others who were approaching, looked at him kindly, did not speak first, but patiently waited for Fang Jianshe to speak.

Fang Jianshe walked to Qi Tianxiang's approach, and said calmly in a low tone: "I just received a call from the ministry, the investigation team led by Minister Yao Bingxin is coming to Guishui County, and a group of five people will take a plane to Shanyin City at two o'clock in the afternoon, and it is estimated that they will be able to arrive in Guishui County soon, do you think we should go back to the county as soon as possible?" ”

Qi Tianxiang raised his wrist and glanced at his watch, slowly looked at Fang Jianshe and said, "It's past two o'clock, it's time to go back, our time on the road will not be short, it is obviously inappropriate to let the minister wait for us." ”

As Qi Tianxiang spoke, his eyes turned to Wang Ping, who was standing beside Fang Jianjian, and teased: "Do you still want me to take your armed policeman's rocking car back?" Could there be any other way? ”

Before Wang Ping could answer, Liao Yong hurriedly replied: "After asking the headquarters for instructions, it is agreed that you and Secretary-General Zhou will take a helicopter back to the county, and you can also take the plane to patrol the sky above the mining area to understand some basic information." ”

"That's right! Anyway, you have to let me see the mountains and rivers of Pingba Township, and it is not in vain. Qi Tianxiang was obviously excited, but he quickly reined in the happy expression on his face, slowly walked in front of Liu Nengfu, beckoned Wang Tongjun over, and instructed earnestly: "I am optimistic about the two of you, and even more optimistic about the work you can do in restoring the ecological environment of Guishui County. We do not lack officials, but cadres who really do things for the society and the people, and I hope that the two of you will understand this and that you will do this. ”

Qi Tianxiang said seriously, then solemnly shook hands with Wang Tongjun and Liu Nengfu one by one, and then strode towards the outside of the cafeteria accompanied by Fang Jianshe and others.