The story of a cook

Chapter 142
Zhang Hao has a hobby, like collecting stones, all kinds of stones, including fossils.When you are free, you always talk about stones with me.

Zhang Hao asked me: "Tanzi, what good stones are there in your hometown?"

I said, "The best stone in my house is coal essence."

Zhang Hao asked: "Coal essence? What is coal essence, I have never heard of it."

I said, "Coal fines are the stones that come out of coal. They are black and black. I heard from the old man that the coal lumps have turned into fine coals. It is considered good if there is one fine coal out of ten mines."

Zhang Hao said, "Do you have one at your house?"

I said, "If my family has a piece of fine coal, I don't have to go out to work."

Zhang Hao said: "According to you, coal essence is quite valuable."

I said, "It should be quite valuable. Recently, I heard that a piece of fine coal was dug out of the Fushun Coal Mine."

Zhang Hao asked: "Why haven't I heard of it, who did you hear it from?"

I said, "The newspaper said, you don't read the newspaper either."

Zhang Hao thought about it, and then asked me: "Tan Zi, what else do you have at your house besides coal essence?"

I said, "There is also the Sinosauropteryx fossil, you know that."

Zhang Hao said: "I know this, I have been there, that place is called Sidaogou, and there are all over the mountain. You can't get in, and there are troops guarding you, so you won't be allowed to enter."

I said, "That's archaeology. At the beginning, we could still dig fossils, but now it's too much, and it's all under control."

Zhang Hao said: "Then I also dug a few pieces there, and one piece was whole. Now I am not sold for 1000 yuan."

I asked, "Then how much do you plan to sell?"

Zhang Hao said: "I risked my life to come here. At least I got 5000 yuan. If I don't pay [-] yuan, I will never sell it."

At this time, the master said, "You can take it here tomorrow and let me have a look. Any stone is worth 5000 yuan."

Zhang Hao smiled and said, "Master, if you want me to give it to you, I don't want a penny."

The master said: "No, I can't afford it. I don't have the 5000 yuan, and I don't want it for free. Human favor is too great."

Yes, some things can be bought with money so don’t give them for free. Owing favors to others is more uncomfortable than owing money.

Gold has a price, but favors are priceless.

When I work in the club for the second month, I can have a rest, two days a month.

Sister Zhao knew that I was working at the club, so I never came over. She was also busy there, so she told her to go to see her during the break. She was very happy to hear that, and told her in advance when she would take a break, and then she and Li Na would go to Taishan Road. We went to Li Na's house, and then we went to the barbecue restaurant to eat barbecue, which was delicious.

This day, I called Sister Zhao during the break, and Sister Zhao said that I would be at the barbecue restaurant at [-]:[-] noon.Seeing that it was still early, I cleaned up the house at home and washed clothes at the same time.

Wang Jing in the opposite room is also at home. She hasn't found a job yet.It is rare to have the opportunity to meet her and Wang Hao. Usually, when I get off work, they go to sleep. When I get up, Wang Hao goes to work, and Wang Jing is still sleeping.

Seeing me at home, Wang Jing asked me, "Did you not go to work today?"

I said, "Today is off."

Wang Jing asked, "You guys still have a rest."

I said, "Yes, two days a month."

She said, "That's good, I thought you guys weren't resting."

I said, "It's also divided into places. There is no rest in small places, but only in bigger places."

She said: "Have a good rest, you can cook at home now, what are you going to do for lunch?"

I said, "Sorry, I made an appointment with my friends to go out to eat at noon today."

She couldn't help being a little disappointed when I said that I went out to eat, and said, "Hey, I thought you could cook."

I said, "Next time, I'll cook at home during the next break."

She asked, "Who did you go out to eat with at noon? A man or a woman?"

I said, "Just friends."

She said: "It looks like a woman, no, I have to follow, watch out for Lin Yan, don't go out to find Tie Zi."

I smiled and said, "Do you think I'm a man who can have iron? I'm a poor man with no one to follow."

She said: "You cooks and waiters are together every day, I don't believe you are not a iron man."

I said, "I really don't have this, but I want to be with someone and no one will be with me."

She asked: "Are you afraid that Lin Yan will destroy you?"

I said, "Yes, I'm afraid that Lin Yan will destroy me."

After I finished washing my clothes and went back to the room, Wang Jing came in and said to me after washing and putting on makeup, "Old Tan, look at me, aren't I pretty?"

She was beautiful, and even more so with makeup.

I said: "Pretty."

She asked, "Isn't it shameful to go out with you at noon?"

She is very generous, but I can't take her when I go out to eat with Sister Zhao.

I said, "It's shameful to be so beautiful, but I have to go alone today, and I can't take you with me."

She said: "Look at how thoughtful you are, you can't even take someone with you, so I won't go."

I said, "There will be opportunities in the future, but not this time."

She said: "I'm not going, I have a dinner at noon today, and Tie Zi is looking for me."

I said, "That's a good thing. It's not good if someone invites you to dinner. Drink less wine."

She said: "There is no one who drinks less, he must drink more."

After she finished speaking, she went back to the house.Shaking his head, having such a partner is enough for Wang Hao. He stays at home all day without going to work and goes out to drink. I really don't know what they are thinking, maybe they know how to live.

When it was almost eleven o'clock, I went downstairs and walked slowly on a bicycle. Although it was quite cold in winter, it was rare to take a rest.

Arriving at the main gate of Beiling Park, it is very lively here, selling everything.The Chinese New Year will be over a month away, and those who are in a hurry will start selling New Year's goods.I bought five bunches of candied haws and a seller of frozen pears. I bought a bag of frozen pears and started walking to the barbecue shop.

When I arrived at the kebab shop, I went into the kitchen just as the customers were starting to serve.

Seeing me coming, sister Jin and the others were very happy and gave them candied haws.

Sister Ma took the candied haws and said, "Master Tan, you are fooling the children. We are all adults and still eat candied haws."

I said, "I don't know what you guys like to eat. If you don't want to eat it, give it to Sister Jin. Sister Jin likes to eat."

Seeing that Sister Ma looks very good, I know that the incident caused by her ex-husband has passed, and it has no effect.Sister Ma is a person with a good attitude and a big heart, who can easily untie her knots. Such a person is happy.

Sister Ma said: "I know I will give it to your apprentice." After eating a hawthorn, she said: "Eating is fine."

At this time, customers began to order, and I was helping out in the kitchen.

Sister Jin asked me: "Why didn't you go to work today?"

I said, "Today is off."

Sister Jin asked: "Do you still have a rest?"

I said, "Yes, two days a month."

Sister Jin said a little enviously: "It's better to have a big place and have a rest."

I said, "In the future, everyone will have to rest, no matter how big or small the shop is."

Sister Jin said: "It's good to have a rest, you can go out for a stroll."

I said, "I always go to work, and I don't know what to do when I take a break."

Sister Jin said: "It's good to have a rest, sleep late at home, wake up after enough sleep, and then go shopping in the street."

I said: "You girls just like to go shopping, don't be tired."

Sister Jin said, "Why are you tired of shopping? How interesting."

Helped Sister Jin serve four hot pots, and then came to the vegetable mixing room.

Sister Ma saw me coming and asked, "Have you chatted with your apprentice enough?"

I said, "Enough talking, let's start talking to you for ten yuan."

Sister Ma said, "Come on, add another five yuan."

Sister Wang just laughed and said, "It's hard to take a day off, and I ran over to help when I wasn't at home."

I said: "It's boring to be at home, come and have a look, and come over to have a barbecue with two friends later, it's not convenient."

Sister Ma asked, "What kind of friend? A man or a woman?"

I said, "It's the two women who came back from above, my sister."

Sister Ma said: "Return to your sister, you call me so dear, is she love sister?"

I said, "Where is Sister Qing, it's not like you haven't seen her before."

Sister Ma said: "I have seen it before, but I don't think it is that simple. It can be seen that you have a relationship with someone, and it is guaranteed to be iron."

I said: "Tie Zi, you are still a rigid son, how are we two, we have become iron sons too?"

Sister Ma said generously: "Come on, we two are tight friends, go to sleep at my house tonight, whoever doesn't go is a man."

I took the cauliflower that Sister Wang had mixed and came to Fucaikou. At this time, I saw Wang Jing, a woman, and two middle-aged men sitting in the hall by the window to barbecue. I saw them talking and laughing. Yes, it should be very familiar.Standing there and watching for a while, Wang Jing and that woman were dressed a little revealingly, especially that woman, not only revealing, but also a little frivolous.The two men are both in their 30s, and they look like the kind of small bosses with a little business.Seeing these four people eating, drinking, talking and laughing, I knew the relationship between them, and I felt a little silent mourning for Wang Hao.

Sister Zhao and Li Na didn't arrive until a little later. When they arrived, Wang Jing and the four of them had already left.

Sister Zhao was wearing a white down jacket and that limited-edition scarf.

I said, "Sister, don't change a scarf, it's a bit outdated."

Sister Zhao said: "Who said it's out of date, this scarf will never be out of date."

I just smiled and didn't say anything.

Li Na said: "Xiaohua's scarf is estimated to be around seventy or eighty."

Sister Zhao told me: "It's better to work in a big place and have a rest."

I said: "Yes."

Li Na said: "Have a good rest, you can have a good drink. I have been wanting to drink for the past few days, but I have not found a match. Today, brother, let's have a good drink. If you don't drink, you are not allowed to go home."

I said, "It's okay, I will accompany you to the end."

Women like to eat barbecue. When you see women eating stir-fried vegetables, they will say: put less spicy food, I don't eat spicy food.When eating barbecue, if the dipping sauce is not spicy, it will not work, and I especially like spicy food.

Li Na said: "I just love to eat their spicy cabbage and cold noodles, and I want to stop eating them after a while."

I said: "The spicy cabbage and cold noodles in his family are authentic, especially the cold noodle soup, which is mixed with white sugar, unlike the cyclamate used by others."

Li Na said: "I said his cold noodle soup is delicious, but it turns out that it is made with white sugar, so the cost is quite high."

I said: "Of course the cost is high, but the drink is delicious. Only in this way can guests be accommodated and repeat customers be retained."

Li Na said, "That's right, cyclamate is cheap, but it doesn't taste good. It's useless if no customers say anything."

I said to Sister Zhao, "Sister, I'm an apprentice."

Sister Zhao asked happily: "Really, that's great, who are you worshiping? Are you famous?"

I said, "I worship Master Huang, who is quite famous. He is the old master who opened the Rose Hotel."

Sister Zhao said, "That's pretty good, doesn't it cost a lot of money?"

I said, "It doesn't cost any money. Master Huang doesn't need any money to accept disciples."

Li Na didn't believe it, and said: "It's impossible without money. Now there is no one who accepts apprentices without money, or else they have no name."

I said, "Don't believe me, my master doesn't want money. My master is quite famous."

Li Na said, "Tell me about your master, why don't you want money?"

Sister Zhao was also curious, with a look of wanting to know.

I introduced Master Huang to them both in detail, and at the same time, I also told them how I worshiped Master.

After listening, Sister Zhao said: "Brother, you have worshiped a good master, you have to learn from him, and when you make money in the future, don't forget his master."

I said, "Well, I can't forget."

Li Na believed it this time, and said: "Master and apprentice are like father and son. In the past, it was said that the master is similar to my father. You have to treat the master as you want to treat your father. Brother, with such a good master, you have to be good, just like you treat your father." Treat it, such a master is hard to find now."

I say yes."

After chatting about my master for a while, I asked, "How is your men's clothing store doing now? Is it better than when it first started?"

Sister Zhao said: "It's okay, it's pretty good, it's better than when it first started, and there are many repeat customers. Now both men's and women's clothing are very good, mainly because we introduce women's clothing to those who buy men's clothing, and men's clothing to those who buy women's clothing. , and also gave discounts, there are quite a lot of people, and they want to take advantage of the discounts."

I said, "You guys are pretty good at doing business. This business is for you to do. No one else has anything to do with it."

Sister Zhao just laughed and said: "How can that be, other people's houses are still other people's houses. Some are better than mine. Some people have money and have several stalls in the store, selling clothes, shoes, and hats." Yes, it looks like they are each in their own way, but in fact they are all one boss, and they are the big bosses, earning money."

I said, "Don't worry, you can do the same slowly."

Li Na said, "Look, it's pretty good now, it depends on how it develops in the future."

I asked, "When the two of you come out, the stall will be closed? No more sales?"

Li Na said, "How can it be? I hired two young girls to sell them there until three o'clock in the afternoon."

I said, "That's okay, I thought you two would close the shop when you came out."

Sister Zhao said: "Now we have to sell at any time. Li Na and I mainly focus on the morning, especially in the morning, when there are wholesalers. At this time, we just buy some individual customers. Sometimes we have to buy goods. At home It doesn’t work if no one sells.”

I said, "You two are starting the business, hold on, you are both big bosses."

Li Na said: "I don't have that kind of ambition, just enough to eat and live. Your sister Zhao is ambitious. The whole Wu'ai market should be hers."

I said, "Ambition is a good thing, but people are afraid of not being ambitious."

Li Na said, "Little brother, I think you are very ambitious."

I said, "I'm not ambitious. I like to go with the flow and live in peace."

Sister Zhao said: "This is very good. In fact, life is a state of mind. A state of mind is better than anything else."

I said, "I agree, let's have a toast."

Sister Zhao is right, life is a state of mind.People have a good attitude is more important than anything else.

I was a person with no ambitions. At that time, my only wish was to learn to be a chef, and then become a good chef, earn money to support my family, give Lin Yan a stable life, and give my mother an environment where she can spend her old age in peace. That's fine.The rest is to be able to live in peace.

I drank and chatted with Sister Zhao and Li Na, and soon it was two o'clock when the kitchen got off work. At this time, Sister Ma came over after changing her clothes, and came to me and said, "Master Tan, drink slowly, I'm off work, and I'll have a drink with you next time you come to rest."

I said: "Miss Ma, you are welcome. Don't you get off work now? Come and have a drink?"

Sister Ma said: "No, you guys drink yours, Jin Zi and I will go back."

Li Na was probably excited, and said, "Hey, we are all friends. You and my younger brother are also former colleagues. Don't be too polite. It's time to get off work. Come, let's sit down and have a drink. It's so lively."

After Li Na said that, Sister Zhao also said, "Come and sit down. I'm his sister. Today he said he would take a break and come to get together. It just so happens that you and my brother are on good terms. Come, let's get to know each other and drink less."

Sister Ma was a little embarrassed, so she said, "The gold is still waiting there."

I turned around and saw Sister Jin standing at the door looking over, and walked over to pull Sister Jin over, so the team at the wine bureau expanded to five people.

Drinking is afraid that someone will join in the middle of the drink, so it is easy to drink too much.

At that time, I was surprised that it was easy for women to find common topics.After a while, the four girls, Sister Zhao, Li Na, Sister Jin, and Sister Ma found a common language, and talked together as if they had known each other for a long time.

I drank a lot that day, and it was almost four o'clock when I got home. After I got home, I drank a pot of tea, sobered up, and started cooking for Lin Yan.

If you take a day off, you have to cook a meal for your wife anyway, otherwise it will be unreasonable and you will be easily injured.

While cooking, Wang Jing came back, she saw me cooking, and asked me: "Why, did you go out to drink with Tie Zi and didn't eat?"

I said, "Isn't this cooking for Lin Yan?"

Wang Jing said: "Okay, model husband, you can do more, and bring some to Haozi and me."

I said, "Okay, you can bring it to Haozi." I looked at her and asked, "What's wrong, you didn't have enough barbecue at noon, do you still want to eat?"

Wang Jing was taken aback, and asked me, "How do you know I went to eat barbecue?"

I said, "The barbecue restaurant you went to was the one I used to work at. How do you think I know?"

She asked, "Didn't you not do it at his house?"

I said, "If you don't work at his house, why don't you go back and have a look."

She looked at me quietly and said, "Don't tell Hiroko."

I didn't say anything, I continued to cook, and I didn't mind my own business. It's important to make good food for Lin Yan.

(End of this chapter)