War Photographer's Notebook

Chapter 1879 The Chief Learns Skills
Waving his hand to put away the metal notebook, Wei Ran walked out of the bathroom holding the big knife and put it back on the table.

But then, he was so angry that he laughed at his dad.

If it was because of his low military rank, he could understand it to some extent, but he needed to learn a local specialty snack that could fill his stomach, which made him want to tear his father to pieces.

Of course, impulse is just impulse after all. After calming down, he had to consider where to learn this skill that would never make him hungry, and what "subject" to choose.

Obviously, the easiest and simplest to learn is undoubtedly braised pork rice.

As long as he found an excuse and worked as a helper in the kitchen of Lu Yue's shop for a few days, he would be able to master it.

But he had to carefully consider the metaphor behind the dad's strange request.

He needs to learn it himself instead of having his father force it into his head. This skill is probably not just for filling his stomach - there are too many props in his possession that can be used to fill his stomach. Not to mention anything else, as long as he is given the bamboo basket he got from the Savage Mountain or the sled he got from the labor camp, it will be enough to keep him from starving to death.

In this case, this skill is most likely used to set up a stall, and it is very likely that he sets up a stall together with the crazy grandpa.

This forced him to think carefully.

What if you need to partner with or compete with the crazy grandpa? What if that crazy dad suddenly gives you a daily KPI?
This is not without precedent. "Back then" he developed a smoking addiction in Xuqing Bookstore in order to meet his smoking quota every day.

In this case, the first skill I want to learn is Changsha stinky tofu.

Secondly, based on this premise, what he wants to learn is best a business that can cooperate with Changsha stinky tofu.

After thinking about it over and over again, Wei Ran already had the best "learning option" in his mind.

Having made up his mind, he picked up the huge camera again, put a few extra rolls of film into his pocket, then went downstairs, greeted Li Yizhong who was waiting, and walked out.

"Where are we going?" Li Yizhong asked, "Has Brother Wei found out anything?"

“Not that fast”

Wei Ran waved his hand, "I just sorted out my thoughts. This matter is not that easy. Let's go find them first. Also, arrange for the shipment as soon as possible and send the big knife to Tianjin."

“I’ll arrange it right away.”

Li Yi Zhong nodded quickly and enthusiastically invited Wei Ran to get in the car to find Sui Sui and others.

For the next week or so, Wei Ran stopped thinking about the big knife and just focused on accompanying Sui Sui. Under the guidance of Li Yi Zhong and Lu Yue, they wandered around various scenic spots and took a lot of beautiful photos with the bulky camera they brought with them.

Early in the morning of March 3, Wei Ran and others, who had had a great time, said goodbye to Li Yi Zhong, Lu Yue and their families, and boarded a flight to Tianjin with bags of gifts.

"How many more days will you stay in Tianjin?" Sui Sui asked in confusion on the flight, "Do you need me to accompany you?"

"Need not"

Wei Ran shook his head and refused, "I plan to find someone to teach me a craft. It will probably take a week. I will go back after I learn it."

"Learn a craft?"

Sui Sui looked at Wei Ran suspiciously, and then reminded him worriedly, "Don't run around, especially not to the Middle East or North."

"Don't worry, you can't leave Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei." Wei Ran agreed readily.

"Why don't you tell me what skill you plan to learn?" Sui Sui couldn't help her curiosity after all.

"Keep it a secret for now. You'll know when I come back after completing my studies." Wei Ran kept the secret.

“It’s best to be surprised”

Sui Sui finally stopped asking any more questions and just urged Wei Ran to scan the photos he had taken before and send them to her in electronic form as soon as possible after landing in Tianjin.

While the four of them were flying in the sky, their family's wizard housekeeper, Mrs. Samantha, had already taken a fruit transport plane back to Papua New Guinea, where she had been away for a long time. Or perhaps not too long, and after leaving the airport, she took a helicopter to their tribe.

At the same time, the Time Library Coffee Bar in Kazan also welcomed a new owner.

Even the Time Kindergarten and Time Bar at the neighboring winery, which were about to start recruiting students, had formed a complete team in just one week.

Not only the coffee and winery-related industries are right under Wei Ran's nose, but the Kajianka sisters, who enjoy visiting tourist attractions every day, have also been busy over the past week or so.

Under their arrangement, a new Marta House has been built on Golonide Island in the middle of the Volga River.

In places such as the film studio, Inta, the polar town and even the drone assembly factory where Mr. Alexander, Alexei and Aunt Zhou work together, a number of new employees and new positions such as legal affairs, logistics supervisors, and security managers have been parachuted in.

Also gaining new employees are Greva's fruit business, the transport aircraft crew, and even the castle-style hotel and ski resort in Austria that have already started operations.

With so many complex industries to digest, the "burdens" that once troubled Culp and others were eliminated in the blink of an eye.

Even the night before leaving Tai Province, Anfisa asked Ms. Anna politely but arrogantly through the megaphone Lola, "Is that all? Anything else?"

Of course, if there is planned "recruitment", there will also be unplanned proactive contacts.

Almost just when the flight landed in Tianjin and Wei Ran sent Sui Sui and the other two on the flight to Vladivostok, Mr. Hans, who had once again taken the initiative to help them years ago, called.

"Thank God, your call finally got through." Hans said happily on the other end.

"Hello, Mr. Hans," Wei Ran said politely, "I was just on the plane and just turned on the phone."

“I guessed it.”

Mr. Hans said, "Victor, how about we get straight to the point and talk about a cooperation?"

"Of course, it's an honor."

Wei Ran asked as he walked out of the airport, "Mr. Hans plans to take care of my business?"

"To be precise, this time I'm not taking care of your business."

Mr. Hans on the other end of the phone said bluntly, "I heard that the Spanish wrestler Miguel and your gang friends are planning to cooperate in the coffee business?"

"Mr. Hans is also interested?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"Of course, of course I'm interested."

Mr. Hans said with a pun, "Whether it's blood or teeth, they go perfectly with coffee, don't they?"

"Indeed," Wei Ran replied with a smile, "Does Mr. Hans plan to come in person to discuss this cooperation?"

“I’m retired.”

Hans smiled and said, “And this investment is not for me, but for the mother and daughter Maura and Anna.

Their dessert shop business has very low profit margins, and I think it is necessary to let them make more money while I am still alive.

Of course, out of protection for them, I will also symbolically own a portion of the shares, and by the way, I will help you open coffee shops in every corner of Europe, even in the bedrooms of Jews. "

"Thank you for your help," Wei Ran said with a smile, "Are you going to let them come and talk?"

"If you agree, I will ask Ms. Diane from the Edelweiss Organization to bring her and her daughter to Kazan to find you and discuss cooperation with your Majesty the Queen."

"It seems that Aurora's nickname has reached Mr. Hans' ears," Wei Ran said with a smile.

"Diane told me that Aurora is a very talented businessman." Mr. Hans explained with a laugh.

"Aurora is expected to return to Kazan tonight"

Wei Ran said, "Mr. Hans, please let Ms. Diane take them to Kazan. I will ask Aurora to entertain them warmly."

"Then it's settled"

Hans said happily, "After they have settled the coffee shop business, Victor, I would like to meet with your gang friends and Mr. Miguel. How about you help me invite them?"

"It's my honor," Wei Ran replied again.

"It's settled then, Victor. I look forward to seeing you again."

"I am looking forward to it as well, Mr. Hans." As Wei Ran responded, Mr. Hans on the other end of the phone hung up.

After turning off the phone, Wei Ran thought about it and didn't take it seriously. He casually edited a WeChat message and sent it to Sui Sui. He had already found his luggage and saw Qin II who came to pick him up outside the airport.

"Can't you just take a taxi back by yourself?"

Qin Ershi said as he threw the car keys to Wei Ran, "How old are you and still need to come pick me up?"

"Stop talking nonsense. I have something important to talk to you about."

Wei Ran followed the other party out and asked, "Did you collect the stuff I checked in?"

"I have received it. It is in the car." Qin II said, "So what's the business?"

"It's barely related to our family search group," said Wei Ran.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"

Qin II mocked, "Does our Wei Da scholar still remember the family search group? Can you..."

“Less interruptions”

Wei Ran gave him a middle finger in return, "This matter has something to do with the photographer named Li Yizhong whom I met in Shengzhou some time ago."

"What's going on?" Qin II became somewhat interested.

"Some time ago." Wei Ran briefly explained the cause and effect as he walked.

"So what do you mean?"

When Qin II asked this question, he had already opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat.

"I'll go find the family of Cheng Guanyin, how about you take care of the rest?"

Wei Ran asked, "It doesn't matter whether we do it in the name of the family search group or in your name."

"Are you giving away your credit again?" Qin II asked with a smile.

"I'm busy here," Wei Ran made up an excuse, "Where do you get off?"

"No, can you at least take me to the city?" Qin II asked unhappily.

"also"

While Wei Ran was talking, he had slightly increased the speed of the car, and the topic of their conversation naturally turned to the nameless theater troupe that didn't even have all the members when he and Sui Sui left last time, and they kept talking about this topic.

"Have all the people gathered?" Wei Ran asked in surprise, "How long has it been?"

"They have already started rehearsals, and they have quite a few performances lined up," Qin II said. "I went to that school yesterday to listen to a performance."

"How was the singing?" Wei Ran asked.

"I can't understand it, let alone tell whether it's good or bad."

The uneducated Qin II said truthfully, "I didn't like this before." "Forget it, I don't need to ask you."

Wei Ran had already driven the car into the high-speed railway station while he was talking. "Are you going back to the capital?"

"Can't"

Qin II pretended to be helpless and said, "I came all the way here to deliver your car and take on a mission, but you don't even plan to treat me to a meal. I have to go back early, right?"

"Then drive slower on the way," Wei Ran said with a smile, "You can get home earlier and have lunch in time."

"I'm curious. What's the urgent matter that has you come back in such a hurry?" Qin II asked curiously.

"I was hungry, so I came back to eat something delicious." Wei Ran answered truthfully.

"You are just talking nonsense," Qin Ershi said, but he couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's delicious?"

"Do you want to eat too?" asked Wei Ran, who had already stepped on the brakes.

“I haven’t had my breakfast yet.”

Qin II also said truthfully, "I thought you would have a good meal this time, so I saved some food for you."

"Do you have time?" Wei Ran asked with a smile.

"Do you think I don't have time?" Qin II spread his hands. It was obvious that he was just curious.

"You should have said so earlier"

Wei Ran said this, stepped on the accelerator again, and drove the car out of the high-speed rail station again.

"You are so annoying, blame me." Qin II lit a cigarette, "Where are we going to eat?"

"Wait, it's still far away." Wei Ran smiled and stepped on the accelerator to increase the speed of the car.

This journey was indeed far enough, so far that halfway through, while Wei Ran was buying various gifts for his apprenticeship, Qin II took the opportunity to buy a few packets of instant noodles and snacks such as ham sausage and boiled eggs to fill his stomach.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon, when Qin II, who was hiding in the back seat of the car, had taken a nap, Wei Ran finally drove the car to the junction of Tianjin and Hebei, to the entrance of a small village on the banks of the Yongding River.

"Wake up, we're here." Wei Ran pulled the handbrake and woke up Qin II, who had already started snoring.

"Where is this?" Qin II climbed up in a daze, looking out the window and asked blankly.

"Meng Family Tomb," said Wei Ran.

"Where is that?" Qin II was increasingly confused. "What are we doing here?"

“I came here to eat sesame cakes”

Wei Ran said as he opened the car door, "Get out of the car, I'll take you to eat something delicious."

"We drove all the way here just to eat sesame cakes?"

Qin Ershi rubbed his eyes and asked, but at the same time he couldn't help cursing in his heart, "You are a sesame cake?"

"Let's talk after we finish eating"

Before he finished speaking, Wei Ran had already walked towards the small pancake shop on the roadside at the entrance of the village - Meng's Pancake Shop.

"I don't believe that the sesame cakes here can be inlaid with diamonds," said Qin II, and he pushed open the car door and got out.

"What to eat?"

Wei Ran had just walked into the pancake shop when a simple and honest man who looked to be in his forties asked enthusiastically.

"Two sesame cakes with sausage, two roujiamo, and two more"

Wei Ran looked at the menu on the wall and said, "Let's order two more with braised bean curd."

"What would you like to have something thin?" asked the owner of the pancake shop as he walked into the kitchen.

"Which one tastes better?" Wei Ran threw the question back.

“All delicious”

The boss was honest. "If you don't know what to drink, try the salt water tofu soup. It's a specialty of my wife's hometown. It's delicious."

"Okay, two bowls then." Wei Ran nodded casually, "What's your name, boss?"

"Surname Zhao"

As the boss spoke, he picked up a few sesame cakes and threw them into the hanging oven to heat them up.

"I heard that your pancake shop has been around for a long time?" Wei Ran asked with a smile as he scanned the code to pay.

"That's not it"

The boss answered proudly while working, "My great-grandfather has been making sesame cakes since his generation. By the way, what kind of sausage do you want to eat? Here are some..."

"Ningji, Hou Yi's enema."

Wei Ran gave his answer before the other party finished speaking, and then he asked, "The boss's surname is Zhao, why is this pancake shop called Mengji?"

“That’s a long way off.”

The boss, who was busy cutting sausages, said with emotion, "This story started when my great grandfather was learning the craft in Tianjin. Back then..."

Unfortunately, before his storytelling, which had attracted the attention of Emperor Qin II, began, an old man who looked to be in his sixties walked in.

"Third brother, give it to me?"

The old man who came in looked at Wei Ran and asked, "How can I recognize a young man like you?"

"Master, we have met before."

Wei Ran smiled and said, "After Mr. Tao Canhua was buried, I went to the grave to pay my respects."

"Oh! Yes, yes, yes! I remember now!"

The old man immediately and enthusiastically invited Wei Ran to sit down, "Are you just passing by? Third brother, you can't take the money, this is your..."

"Old sir, I came here specifically for your pancake shop." Wei Ran said, not forgetting to make a subtle gesture to Qin II.

Qin Ershi was definitely a shrewd man. He barely even thought about it, or even figured out what was happening and what the purpose was. He had already left this pancake shop which had only eight tables in total, walked to the roadside, opened the car door, and took out all the gifts that Wei Ran had bought on the road.

At the same time, Wei Ran also said, "Old sir, I came here to learn the skill of making sesame cakes. I won't learn it for nothing. I will pay the tuition."

"What did you say? You want to learn how to make pancakes?"

Mr. Zhao asked in astonishment. Not only him, but even his son and the owner of the pancake shop didn't react for a while.

"Yes, I want to learn how to make pancakes."

Wei Ran lied with ease, "To be honest, ever since I met you at Mr. Tao's grave last time, I took a detour to this pancake shop to buy two pancakes when I came back.

After that, I kept thinking about this. I was so greedy that I thought I might as well learn from a master and master this skill. The main thing is that this sesame cake and the sausage are really delicious. I want to learn both of them. "

"Old man, he really didn't lie."

Qin II had already walked in carrying a lot of gifts. "Look, this is the gift he prepared for his apprenticeship. This guy usually hangs out with the Russians, and this time he is really greedy. Otherwise, could you please teach him a lesson?"

"It's still from Mao--!"

It was only at this moment that the owner of the pancake shop slapped his thigh and said, "I know who you are! I've seen you on TV! I was wondering if you looked familiar!"

The "chief leader", Qin II, who had just been helping out, muttered something silently.

Unfortunately, before Mr. Zhao could say what he saw, Wei Ran changed the subject and said, "Yes, it was me. Also, old sir, I have rebuilt Mr. Tao Canhua's Canhua Opera Troupe. After the play is rehearsed, the first show will be in your village for a charity performance."

"Have you set up that opera troupe?" Mr. Zhao asked in surprise.

"It's set up"

Wei Ran, who had already thought of all the details on the way, said, "In addition, I came here not only to become your disciple, but also to recruit workers.

Now the troupe has everything except a chef who can make sesame cakes and sausages for the canteen."

"You young man, are you kidding me, an old farmer?"

Mr. Zhao's expression did not seem very excited, but rather serious, so serious that Wei Ran even felt that he might know something.

"If you think I'm joking, it won't be too late to decide when the Canhua Opera Troupe comes to your village for a charity performance."

Wei Ran said this and looked towards the kitchen, "Is the pancake burnt?"

"Hold!"

Boss Zhao reacted quickly and pressed the handle that was like a scale to move the upper part of the hanging oven. He shoveled out the over-burnt sesame cakes inside, and then put a few more in.

"You really came."

"I really came here to learn the craft and I would like to ask you or Brother Zhao to be the chef."

Wei Ran said sincerely, "I especially want to learn the skills of making sesame cakes and sausage."

"This world is really evil. There are big bosses who want to learn this?"

Mr. Zhao sighed cheerfully, and then said openly, "I thought my eldest grandson was unwilling to learn this craft, and it would be discontinued in the future.

Got it!
It's rare that someone wants to learn, so I'll teach you myself!
By the way, I don’t even know your name, young man.”

"My name is."

"Wei Ran, his name is Wei Ran." Mr. Zhao's son said, "He is a historian. Last year during the National Day, he found photos of the Long March!"

"He's still a whore," Qin II muttered secretly.

"That's right." Wei Ran ignored the Qin II who was making up stories for himself. "My name is Wei Ran, old man. Let's hold a ceremony to pay respect to each other."

"Hey! What's the use of this skill? Tell me, which one do you want to learn first? Making pancakes or preparing sausage?"

Mr. Zhao asked impatiently. Apparently, the issue of inheriting family skills was probably as important to him as his children's marriage.

"Uncle, can we start with eating?"

Qin II licked his face and asked, "We rushed all the way here and didn't even have breakfast, let alone lunch."

After he finished speaking these words, Wei Ran and the other two couldn't help but laugh. Boss Zhao even hurriedly brought out a plate of freshly cut sausages for them to eat first.

While filling his stomach, Mr. Zhao, who also sat down, asked about various matters related to the rebuilt Canhua Opera Troupe.