Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 877, Chapter 876: Just pick whatever you like!
Teacher Wang left a message over the phone and then took Tang Zhitong to his office to chat while they drank water.

The main topic of discussion is the background of the chef who applied for the job today.

"This boy is Zheng Liangcai, my senior brother's apprentice. He fled to Beijing when he was young. My senior brother saw that he was honest and that we were from the same hometown, so he spoke to the manager of Yanxitang and got him a job in the kitchen. By the way, my senior brother is from Fushan and he's an excellent cook of Shandong cuisine." Teacher Wang spoke of his senior brother's skills with admiration, giving him a thumbs up with pride.

“Yanxitang is great. It used to be the top of the eight great restaurants in Beijing. Your senior brother must have had outstanding culinary skills to be able to stand out there.” Tang Zhitong nodded.

There's an old saying in Beijing's catering industry: "Eastern women, Western buildings, Shandong restaurants, and Fushan chefs."

Some say that she is "a woman from the East, a building from the West, and a chef from Fukuyama who dominates the world."

Either way, it's an affirmation of Fukuyama's chefs.

Yanxitang specializes in Shandong cuisine. Both the name Yanxitang and the fact that the chef's ancestral home is Fushan are pluses for a Shandong cuisine chef.

"That's right, their craftsmanship is impeccable," Teacher Wang agreed, then sighed, "It's just that Yanxitang was a disappointment; it couldn't stay in business for more than a few years."

"With war and chaos, it's not easy to make a living, and closing down is a common occurrence." Tang Zhitong knew that there was also a Yanxitang in Quancheng, but he didn't know if there was any connection between the two Yanxitangs.

Yanxitang in Beijing is more like a theater, with daily shows featuring Kunqu opera troupes. It was one of the first restaurants in Beijing to use Kunqu opera as a selling point.

The so-called Kunban refers to women performing on stage, breaking the tradition that only men could perform on stage and laying the foundation for men and women to perform together.

Women performing on stage has existed since ancient times, as evidenced by the twelve officials in "Dream of the Red Chamber." However, before the Republic of China era, female performers were kept in the private quarters of wealthy families for their own enjoyment and were not open to the public.

In opera troupes performing for the public, all roles—male, female, painted-face, old man, and clown—were played by men. Jiang Yuhan in "Dream of the Red Chamber" was a female role, and Jia Baoyu was severely beaten by his father because he was on good terms with him.

Before the Republic of China era, there were many people whose behavior was even more outrageous than Jia Baoyu's, and Wan Laosi was beaten for the same reason.

"Who wouldn't say that? Yanxitang is gone, but we still have to eat. My senior brother took Liangcai to Guangheju again, and it was at Guangheju that my senior brother formally accepted Liangcai as his disciple."

“Guangheju is also good. It was one of the ‘Eight Great Residences’ in Beijing back then, and its reputation is no less than that of Tongheju.” Tang Zhitong nodded as he listened. Zheng Liangcai would need time to arrive, so he could take this opportunity to hear about Zheng Liangcai’s resume.

"That's what they say, but my senior brother had a strong desire to find a better job, not for any other reason than to make long-term plans for Liangcai." Teacher Wang had some reservations about his senior brother's choice back then.

“That’s right. It seems that Brother Zheng has caught your senior brother’s eye.” Tang Zhitong knew that Yanxitang and Guangheju were different in terms of “building” level, just like resigning from a central enterprise and joining a municipal state-owned enterprise. To be honest, the difference was quite big.

"That's right, Liangcai is a promising young man, he has truly inherited my senior brother's skills. I'm not bragging, Liangcai can cook all Shandong dishes." When talking about Zheng Liangcai, Teacher Wang was even more lavish in his praise, extolling him like a flower.

"Hearing you say that, I'm even more looking forward to Brother Zheng's future. Where did you work before, Brother Zheng?" Tang Zhitong was determined to try the dishes today, and didn't make a decision just because Teacher Wang said that Zheng Liangcai's cooking skills were superb.

"The child has no mother, and it's a long story. During the chaos of war, my senior brother and Liangcai worked at Guangheju for several years, but Guangheju closed down. At that time, my senior brother had three choices."

Tongheju was the first to extend an olive branch, but at that time Tongheju was not very well-known.

Secondly, there was Cuihualou, but at that time, Cuihualou only had the intention to do something and had not actually opened for business yet.

The last one is Dongxinglou, which has the greatest reputation and offers the best treatment.

My senior brother chose Dongxinglou.

In those years, Dongxinglou was very successful, buying houses and building an auditorium. On the surface, it looked quite impressive, but the food and management didn't keep up.

When An Lingdong (Lingdong being the general manager) was in charge, everyone at Dongxinglou, from top to bottom, received shares in the company and monthly dividends. Even an apprentice could earn seven or eight silver dollars.

"Hey, eating at Dongxinglou, you won't have to worry about finding a wife," Tang Zhitong chuckled as he added.

"Oh, you're not that old, but you know this saying?" Tang Zhitong's words tickled Teacher Wang's sore spot, greatly piquing his interest.

"I remember my grandma telling me about it," Tang Zhitong said with a smile. When the old lady was alive, she often took him to tell stories under the gate.

When the old lady took Tang's father to Beijing to escape the disaster, Dongxinglou was at its peak. As the leader of Shandong cuisine, Dongxinglou was highly regarded by the people of Shandong. If Tang's father had entered Dongxinglou at that time, the family would have been able to make a living and would not have needed to work as a laborer delivering water. However, they had no connections and could not get in.

"Your grandmother was from Shandong?" Teacher Wang stopped talking about his senior's past and instead tried to get closer to Tang Zhitong.

“Yes, from Jinan.” Tang Zhitong nodded.

"Oh dear, Fushan isn't far from Jinan, we're from the same hometown. When fellow townsmen meet, tears well up in their eyes. Liangcai's skills are excellent, you must take good care of him." Teacher Wang was overjoyed and swallowed his pride to help his apprentice build a relationship.

"No problem, no problem. It's not easy for anyone when they're away from home. It's only right that we take care of each other," Tang Zhitong said with a smile, making small talk.

Fushan is 370 kilometers away from Jinan in a straight line, which is almost the same as the straight line distance from Jinan to Beijing. This distance is almost as far as the distance from the southernmost point to the northernmost point of South Korea. It is not close at all.

Tang Zhitong felt that if it weren't for Teacher Wang's thin skin, he could have immediately arranged a distant relative for him.

"That's more like it. Liangcai will never let you down. If he makes a mistake, just tell me, and I'll teach him a lesson." Teacher Wang was very satisfied with Tang Zhitong's attitude and made a firm promise.

"Teacher Wang, why don't you tell me about Brother Zheng's past? If the college leaders ask, I'll have something to say, right?" The more Teacher Wang tried to get Zheng Liangcai into the program, the more uncertain Tang Zhitong felt.

If someone is truly capable, the title of "fellow villager" is just a fancy name used to promote others. If they don't have real skills, they are no different from ordinary people.

"Yes, yes." Teacher Wang took a sip of water to cover up his embarrassment and continued, "My senior brother chose Dongxinglou, but after a few years, Dongxinglou also failed. The owner used the excuse of inventory to close down, and once it closed down, it never operated again."

"And then what?" After finishing this section, Teacher Wang strategically took a sip of water, showing no intention of continuing. But Tang Zhitong didn't give up. This all happened before liberation, with a gap of more than ten years in between. What did they do during those ten years? They couldn't have been cooking for the puppet troops, could they?
"Later, later... sigh! When my senior brother left Guangheju and went to Dongxinglou, some bastard started spreading rumors that wherever he went, things went wrong, and it spread like wildfire. When Dongxinglou closed down, the master and apprentice wanted to find a new place to stay, but no restaurant dared to take them in." Teacher Wang slapped his thigh and got to the point.

Isn't this the industry's jinx? Tang Zhitong wanted to laugh, but it would be impolite to laugh out loud, so he had to forcefully hold it back. "Isn't your college afraid?" Teacher Wang asked cautiously when Tang Zhitong didn't respond.

"As long as Brother Zheng is truly capable, we dare to take him." This is such an old story. Even if Zheng Liangcai really is a jinx in the industry, Tang Zhitong is not afraid. The Post and Telecommunications Institute is a future 211 university, the kind that will live as long as the country. Why should we be afraid of a jinx in the industry?
"That's good, that's good." Teacher Wang nodded, relieved, as if she had breathed a sigh of relief.

"Teacher Wang, how has Brother Zheng managed these past ten years or so?" Tang Zhitong wanted to ask both polite questions and detailed inquiries, as he only wanted to ensure Zheng Liangcai's innocence.

"Sigh, the two of them worked in the greenhouses, day and night, at least they got a meal. Later, after liberation, Liangcai went to work as a cook in a factory."

He was doing well, but last year, my senior colleague fell ill and was on and off for more than half a year. Liangcai took care of him the whole time, which caused him to miss a lot of work. The factory had just found a cook to take over, and then the city of Beijing started to reduce its population, so his company fired him.

Liangcai lost his job and was even persuaded by the neighborhood committee to return to his hometown, but who was left in his hometown? His whole family was in Beijing, and it wasn't something he could just go back to whenever he wanted.

Before my senior brother passed away, he entrusted Liangcai to me. As his uncle, I can't just watch this filial son go astray.

But jobs are hard to find these days, so I can only help him find some odd jobs at a construction site first.

Teacher Wang finished recounting Zheng Liangcai's story in one breath, then looked at Tang Zhitong with anticipation.

"Teacher Wang, as long as Brother Zheng's cooking skills are up to par, I agree." Having passed the test of having a clean background, Tang Zhitong made a reluctant promise. As for his cooking skills, she would bring up the matter of tasting the dishes later.

"Liangcai's cooking skills are absolutely top-notch. Order whatever you like later, and I'll have Liangcai show you his skills. If even one dish isn't authentic, I'll let you stomp on my old face!" Teacher Wang stood up, grabbed Tang Zhitong's hand and shook it, speaking with conviction.

"Oh, Teacher Wang, it's not that serious. As long as the skills are passable, that's fine. If Brother Zheng really had the skills of a state banquet chef, our academy couldn't hire him even with this amount of money." Seeing that Teacher Wang took the initiative to suggest tasting the dishes, Tang Zhitong realized that Zheng Liangcai was probably a person with real skills. If his skills were even slightly lacking, Teacher Wang probably wouldn't dare to make such a guarantee.

"To be honest, I had my own selfish reasons regarding his salary. Liangcai has it tough; his whole family depends on him, and he has three children in school, so the pressure is immense."

I know perfectly well that Liangcai's skills are worth far more than a cook's level seven salary, but I don't want to put you in a difficult position. Try the dishes later; if you think it's worth it, then help me apply to the supervisor.

Teacher Wang was very frank, but her tone was also full of a hint of pleading.

"Alright! Then let's wait until after the tasting before deciding." Faced with an old man who was willing to put aside his pride to consider his junior apprentice's feelings, Tang Zhitong really couldn't bring himself to refuse.

Teacher Wang helped me publish my recipes back then, and the newspaper sent the payment directly to me; he didn't ask for a single penny.

Later, they even promised to replace the pickled cabbage and pickled peppers for me, and used the brine from that brine to pickle Xiao Wang's cabbage.

These are all matters of courtesy and favor.

"Good, good, good!" Seeing that Tang Zhitong had agreed, Teacher Wang was overjoyed and said "good" three times in a row.

"Uncle-Master, you were looking for me?" Zheng Liangcai arrived, panting, just as the two had let go of each other.

Tang Zhitong glanced at him and said he looked to be at least forty years old. How could he be called the elder brother?
No wonder Teacher Wang said that Liangcai made a mistake. He personally took action. Given Zheng Liangcai's age, it's not easy for him to say anything when he makes a mistake.

"Liangcai, you've come at the right time. This is Comrade Tang Zhitong from the Post and Telecommunications Institute. Their unit needs a cook." Upon seeing Zheng Liangcai, Teacher Wang didn't even bother to let him wipe his sweat before immediately pulling him in front of Tang Zhitong.

"Hello, Chef Zheng. I was entrusted by the college leaders to find a head chef for the college cafeteria. I came here to ask Teacher Wang for a recommendation, and you were the first person Teacher Wang thought of." Tang Zhitong didn't mind that Zheng Liangcai's hands were sweaty and extended his hand to him.

"Hello, Comrade Tang. Thank you and my uncle for giving me this opportunity." Zheng Liangcai shook Tang Zhitong's hands, his words filled with excitement.

“Liangcai, Xiao Tang’s ancestors were from Jinan, so you’re practically from the same hometown. Xiao Tang, weren’t you just calling him Brother Zheng? Why don’t you call him that now that you see him?” Teacher Wang tried to bridge the gap between the two.

"Teacher Wang, if you keep saying that, I'll be too ashamed to face anyone. Master Zheng is old enough to be my uncle." After letting go, Tang Zhitong waved his hands repeatedly. The way he addressed Zheng Liangcai earlier was mostly just casual. Once he saw Zheng Liangcai's face, he couldn't bring himself to call him "big brother."

“Our culinary industry places great emphasis on apprenticeship. I was in charge of your exam, so you can be considered half my student. It’s appropriate for you to call Liangcai ‘Brother Liangcai.’” For his nephew’s future, Teacher Wang didn’t care about his reputation and did his best to make this happen.

"Brother Zheng." Life is not easy. Tang Zhitong saw that Teacher Wang blushed after speaking, so he quickly agreed. If he delayed any longer, he might have to find another master.

"Yes!" Zheng Liangcai replied in a simple and honest manner.

"Alright, I've told Xiao Tang everything about your past. Let's go taste the dishes now. Liangcai, whether you can get a stable job depends on this." Teacher Wang glanced at his watch; time was still quite tight.

"Uncle-Master, I will do my best!"

Zheng Liangcai had no objection to the food tasting, and Tang Zhitong naturally had even less objection.

Teacher Wang first took a book from his desk before leading Zheng Liangcai and Tang Zhitong to the exam classroom. The classroom was fully equipped with cooking utensils and seasonings, but there were no ingredients.

"Xiao Tang, just follow this book and pick whatever you like. As long as the technical school has the ingredients, Liangcai can make it." Teacher Wang handed the book to Tang Zhitong, his tone very confident.

For the sake of his junior's job, Teacher Wang decided to go all out and use the exam ingredients, promising to make up for it later out of his own pocket.

Tang Zhitong took the book and glanced at it. It was the sixth volume of "Chinese Famous Dishes Recipes", compiled by the Catering Service Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, first edition in 1959, retail price 73 cents.

Tang Zhitong opened the catalog and glanced at it. Good heavens, there were more than a hundred Shandong cuisine dishes alone. Many of them were dishes he had never even heard of, let alone eaten.

"Can you really order whatever you want?" Seeing Teacher Wang's confident expression, Tang Zhitong was completely convinced that Zheng Liangcai was indeed a person of real talent.

“Really, Liangcai can do anything, no matter what you ask for.” Teacher Wang nodded again to confirm. Zheng Liangcai grinned sheepishly, showing no apprehension or stage fright whatsoever.

Looking at the dishes on the menu, Tang Zhitong really wanted to say: "Make all of them according to the list, and I'll pay for the ingredients!"
(End of this chapter)