Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading

Chapter 170: Drunkenness Dispels a Thousand Sorrows

Director Song was immediately intrigued: "What kind of bidding? Let’s hear about it."

"We can post a bid announcement, so anyone who wants to contract the cafeteria can participate in the bidding. Then we’ll set some standards for the cafeteria contract, like daily food supply standards, selection criteria for ingredients, and so on. We’ll conduct the bidding according to these standards and let the participating merchants or individuals submit their bids, selecting the one with the best value for money as the contractor."

"That’s a good idea, let’s do just that."

Director Song made the decision promptly and then looked at Su Xiaoxiao: "Since this idea was proposed by Comrade Xiao Su, the standards will be drafted by Comrade Xiao Su together with Manager Xu."

As he spoke, he turned to Secretary Wang on the side: "I want a full investigation into the people behind the cafeteria manager within two days. I want to see who has such power to dare openly take bribes and protect others right under my nose."

Cold sweat dripped down Secretary Wang’s forehead.

Because that person’s backing was him, and he couldn’t exactly expose himself, right?

Director Song was already displeased with him due to his daughter’s incident last time. If something like this came up again, he might lose his position as Director’s secretary.

No, he absolutely couldn’t be exposed; it seemed he would have to sacrifice his brother-in-law.

As long as his brother-in-law firmly claimed that the backstage issue was all nonsense, no one would be able to trace it back to him.

With this in mind, Secretary Wang immediately went to find his brother-in-law to get their stories straight once he left the office.

Su Xiaoxiao and Manager Xu agreed to come early the next day to the department store to discuss the bidding standards before heading home from work.

On her way home, Su Xiaoxiao suddenly thought that her mom and Sister Zhaodi were very good cooks, and they might be able to try contracting the cafeteria.

If they could successfully do this, Sister Zhaodi wouldn’t have to struggle to find a job elsewhere, and the family would have an additional source of income.

Making up her mind, she took out some braised dishes and beer from her small warehouse space, packed them in a net bag, and headed home.

Knowing her mom and Sister Zhaodi, they definitely wouldn’t agree when sober, but if they got a little drunk, it might be a different story.

Though this approach seemed a bit underhanded, she genuinely wanted the best for them, and she was sure they’d forgive her once they were sober.

Sure enough, she brought up the bidding matter when she got home.

Liu Cuilan immediately shook her head in opposition.

"Third daughter, I might be okay cooking at home, but cooking for so many people is beyond me. Plus, what if something goes wrong? We can’t bear that responsibility."

Xu Zhaodi echoed: "Xiaoxiao, I can’t do it either. My cooking is only good enough for our family to eat."

As expected.

Su Xiaoxiao calmly put down a big bag of braised dishes and beer on the table.

As soon as Liu Cuilan saw her take out the beer, her face turned pale green. Last time, this girl drank a bottle and almost drove the neighbor’s dog, Yellowy, into depression, insisting on chatting with the dog in the middle of the night and not letting it eat feces, nearly causing Yellowy to swear on the spot.

Yellowy was not a person; she’s a dog, after all!

"Third, you’d better not drink that."

"Mom, don’t worry, I know my limits. I’ll just have a little."

As she spoke, she fetched three teacups, placing one in front of each of them: "Come on, let’s all have a little drink together."

Little Shitou was mainly drinking milk powder and rice soup now, so there was no problem with Xu Zhaodi drinking; however, recalling Su Xiaoxiao’s drunken antics last time, the two of them immediately shook their heads.

"Let’s not."

They couldn’t afford to lose face like that.

"Mom, you’ve had a tough time raising us. Come on, I toast to you."

Su Xiaoxiao poured a cup for Liu Cuilan, then filled another for Xu Zhaodi, "Sister Zhaodi, I know you’re suffering inside. It’s hard to keep it all in; let’s drink together. As the saying goes, ’a drink can solve a thousand worries,’ with two cups of wine in us, nothing will be a problem."

Both watched as Su Xiaoxiao downed her cup in one go. Hesitating for a moment, they both lifted their cups simultaneously.

"This beer with braised dishes is just too enjoyable."

Su Xiaoxiao handed each of them a duck neck, and the three chatted as they ate.

"Contracting the cafeteria is such a great opportunity. I’ve got it all planned out: first, we’ll contract the department store’s cafeteria, and in a few years, when private enterprises are fully liberated, we can start our own business—open restaurants, supermarkets, and open franchise stores all over Hua Country. By then, we’ll be the richest people in Hua Country..."

A few drinks in, and Su Xiaoxiao was starting to slur her words.

Liu Cuilan shook her head: "Third daughter, are you serious? Can your Sister Zhaodi and I really contract the cafeteria?"

"Yeah, Xiaoxiao, can we handle it? I’m not confident."

Xu Zhaodi said; in her twenty plus years, she’d never done anything so daring.

"Why not? With your skills and mom’s, you two cook better than the chefs in state-run restaurants. If you both go, half the battle’s won already."

Su Xiaoxiao poured herself another drink: "Mom, Sister Zhaodi, trust me, if this works out, we’ll be rich people in the future."

She turned to Xu Zhaodi: "Sister Zhaodi, you want to give Little Shitou a better life, right? If this business succeeds and you have money, no one will dare to look down on you two."

Hearing this, Xu Zhaodi immediately stood up: "Xiaoxiao, for Little Shitou, I’ve made up my mind, I’ll follow your lead."

Su Xiaoxiao then turned to Liu Cuilan: "Mom, Grandma and Aunt Second always look down on you. Are you okay with that? Just imagine, if you contract the cafeteria and make lots of money, would they still dare to treat you that way? They’d be sucking up to you in no time."

Liu Cuilan slammed her hand on the table: "Third daughter, I agree with this plan. They look down on me now, but one day I’ll be out of their league."

"That’s the spirit! Come on, let’s toast to us becoming the future richest people in Hua Country."

"Cheers!"

"Bottoms up!"

The three clinked and downed their last drops in unison, "bang," all peacefully collapsed onto the table.

The two younger brothers had just entered when they were shocked by the sight.

Su Jianwu rushed over like an arrow and clutched Su Xiaoxiao, wailing: "Third sister, why are you doing this?"

Turning his head and seeing Liu Cuilan beside him, he rushed over: "Mom, mom, if you die, what am I supposed to do?"

Then he looked up to see Xu Zhaodi across the table and was about to rush over when Su Jianwen caught him by the collar of fate: "Enough, stop wailing, they’re just drunk."

Silence immediately filled the room; Su Jianwu stood still for two seconds, trembling and finally extending a finger under Su Xiaoxiao’s nose.

Then, a heart-wrenching scream pierced the sky the next moment.