Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 878 877 If you can't kill me, then talk.

"Shark fin soup in milk broth?" Tang Zhitong glanced through the catalog and his gaze fell on the shark fin.

My mother has never had shark fin soup before. I think it would be okay to take the dishes I made back with me on this occasion.
At worst, I'll just pay for it myself; I have money!

"I'm afraid that won't work; making the broth takes a lot of time." Teacher Wang looked slightly embarrassed. He had just made a boast, but he didn't expect that he couldn't make the first dish that Tang Zhitong ordered.

"Then let's choose another one." Tang Zhitong continued looking down the catalog, eliminating all those with "milk soup" in their names.

"Braised shark fin?" Tang Zhitong saw another way to prepare shark fin.

"I'm afraid that still won't work. This dish uses a simmering method with milk broth, so we still need to make the broth. Xiao Tang, I remember your application materials said that your cooking skills were passed down in your family." This time, Teacher Wang wasn't embarrassed, but a little surprised. As someone who wrote so perfectly about being a family chef in his application materials, he shouldn't not know that braised shark fin also requires broth. This... seems to be quite different from what he wrote in his application materials.

"Hehe, my family is poor, we don't have access to such high-end ingredients." Tang Zhitong didn't even prepare the application materials himself, who knows how Brother Ma wrote them back then? At this point, Tang Zhitong could only give a vague answer and try to get away with it.

Next, Tang Zhitong became much more serious. He couldn't very well tell Teacher Wang, "This is acceptable," when it came to the third one, could he?

Further down, I like fried patchouli. I wash the patchouli leaves, wrap them around minced meat, roll them in batter, and deep-fry them. The taste is unique, and even my urine smells like patchouli remedy.

I've never tried fried lotus flowers before. This is the first time I've ever known that lotus flowers can be eaten this way. Do you want to give it a try?

What exactly is fried watermelon? Is it like candied sweet potato? I don't even dare to pour sugar onto watermelon when making candied hawthorn skewers; how can the sugar stick?
Chicken and monkey head mushroom, this should be monkey head mushroom, right? Tang Zhitong resisted the urge to turn to the page where there was no corresponding page number, and decided to go back to the bookstore to find a set of "Chinese Famous Recipes" to collect. Anyway, the price was very reasonable, and even if he couldn't eat it, he could still broaden his horizons. At least he should live up to his title of Level 2 Chef Skill Certificate, right?

"Then let's have the stir-fried double crisp and the braised pork intestines," Tang Zhitong said, closing the book.

These two dishes are quite famous in Shandong cuisine, and Tang Zhitong had eaten them before.

Stir-fried Double Crispy Delights: This dish demands an extreme level of skill from the chef in controlling the heat.

Nine-Turned Intestines is a complicated dish to prepare, known as the "hellish dungeon" of Shandong cuisine. It is troublesome to make and tests both the chef's skills and patience.

These two dishes are widely recognized as the most difficult to make in Shandong cuisine. Even decades later, not every Shandong restaurant can make them, and even if they can, not every restaurant can make them well.

If Zheng Liang can cook these two dishes well, then the quality will be beyond question.

"Okay!" Teacher Wang originally thought that trying one dish would be enough, but he didn't expect Tang Zhitong to order two. That's a lot of money, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and stomped his foot, and agreed.

While Teacher Wang went out to get ingredients, Zheng Liangcai began preparing for the two dishes, first by turning on the stove to boil water, and then by familiarizing himself with the location of all the seasonings.

Only Tang Zhitong was idle, watching from the sidelines.

"Brother Zheng, do you know how to make snow-white red bean paste?" Seeing Zheng Liangcai's posture, Tang Zhitong began to inquire about some dishes that were not within the scope of Shandong cuisine. Although Wei Zhizhen required Shandong cuisine, there was no guarantee that there would be people from Northeast China, Sichuan and Chongqing, Jiangsu and Zhejiang among the school leaders.

If Zheng Liangcai can do this, it will be a huge plus, making it much easier to get a raise in the future.

"I can do a little bit, I've done it a few times." Zheng Liangcai looked up and smiled at Tang Zhitong, then continued with his work, washing the basins and other things under the tap. He was clearly a clean person.

"What about the 'Three No-Stick' dish?" Tang Zhitong continued to test Zheng Liangcai with a difficult famous dish.

"I've done it a few times." Zheng Liangcai still smiled, a simple and honest smile that made people feel at ease.

"If a customer orders snow-white red bean paste, Sanbuzhan (a type of stir-fry), candied sweet potato, braised pork intestines, fried double crisp, or sweet and sour carp, how long will it take to make them?"

Zheng Liangcai stared wide-eyed in disbelief, his eyes filled with worry for his future, and asked, "Are the requirements for your school's cafeteria really that high?"

"Hehe, no, the small canteen wouldn't be that torturous. I was just asking." Tang Zhitong waved his hand with a smile. These dishes are time-consuming to prepare. Decades later, with more chefs in the kitchen, they might be able to manage. But ordering such a table full of dishes now...

"If this were in a restaurant, let's not even talk about whether they know how to cook these dishes. Even if they did, if you ordered this much, the chef would come out of the kitchen with a spoon and beat you up, you believe me?" Teacher Wang came in from outside carrying a few pig parts, laughing and scolding.

"I believe you." Tang Zhitong nodded. These dishes were challenging and demanding, and if they were served every five minutes...

Even if there's no sign on the restaurant wall saying "Do not beat customers without cause," the chef probably still couldn't resist hitting them.

"Alright, let's cook, it's getting late." Teacher Wang could tell that Tang Zhitong was joking with Zheng Liangcai. If he didn't hire him, he would definitely find fault with everything. The fact that he could joke around was a good sign.

"Teacher Wang, let's agree on this first. Our college will cover the cost of the tasting. Let Brother Zheng prepare the ingredients first, and we'll go and get the order slips." Tang Zhitong glanced at the ingredients—pig stomach, pig kidneys, and pig intestines—he had plenty in his own space, and then said righteously.

Tang Zhitong said this not only because she didn't want to put Teacher Wang in a difficult position regarding ingredients, but also because she wanted to bring some home for her family to enjoy. Only if the college paid for it would it be convenient for Tang Zhitong to bring Zheng Liangcai's cooked dishes home.

"No need, I can afford it." Although according to the rules, the ingredients and cooking utensils for the tasting should be provided by the host, Teacher Wang was prepared to take on the responsibility himself for his apprentice's job.

"That won't do. How about this, I'll coordinate with the school to get the exact same ingredients and send them to you tomorrow." Tang Zhitong remembered the last time she bought sauerkraut and pickled peppers. That time, Teacher Wang did receive the money, but she didn't issue a receipt. Instead, she used the money to entrust the purchasing staff to buy them again.

"I'm already very grateful that you thought of coming to take care of this old man since you have a job opportunity. I can't let you spend any more money." Teacher Wang was determined not to accept Tang Zhitong's money.

"Teacher Wang, this is official business. There's no reason for you to bear this burden. Don't you agree? Please don't insist. It's settled then." Tang Zhitong said firmly. Meat is not like pickled vegetables. Right now, the supply of meat in the private sector is almost zero. Pig offal used to be cheap meat, but now its value has skyrocketed. For an individual, it is definitely a considerable burden.

"Well... alright." Teacher Wang felt that Tang Zhitong's words made sense, but she did not give up. Instead, she was thinking about how to express her feelings to Tang Zhitong and discuss it with Zheng Liangcai later.

"Hey, that's more like it." Tang Zhitong smiled happily. Skills don't lie. Judging from Zheng Liangcai's technique, he's clearly a good cook. The family is in for a treat tonight!

Tang Zhitong didn't know how to make either of these dishes, so he planned to learn them from others.

"Teacher Wang, does Brother Zheng have a chef's certificate?" Tang Zhitong asked Teacher Wang while trying to learn from him. Wei Zhizhen had emphasized that a certificate was necessary, so it would be best if Zheng Liangcai had one.

"Yes, Level 1!" Teacher Wang said with great pride when talking about Zheng Liangcai's chef level.

"Level 1?!" Tang Zhitong was very surprised.

As a half-baked chef, Tang Zhitong once talked to Brother Ma about chef levels. These levels were actually equivalent to professional titles.

The professional titles in the chef industry are roughly divided into four levels, from highest to lowest: Special Grade, Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. The Special Grade is also called Technician, which is further subdivided into Special Grade 1, Special Grade 2, and Special Grade 3.

The technician level is extremely difficult to obtain, and requires approval from relevant departments. Only a very small number of people hold the technician title, and it's usually found in large hotels. For ordinary chefs, the technician level is a distant dream; the vast majority are at level three or not at all, a small number are at level two, and an extremely small number are at level one.

It is no exaggeration to say that as long as you can pass the exam and obtain a Level 1 Chef Skill Certificate, you can be qualified to work as a head chef in any restaurant or hotel open to the general public.

Teacher Wang was pleased with Tang Zhitong's surprise, smiled and nodded, confirming, "Level 1."

"Teacher Wang, I remember that the auditorium was recruiting chefs last year. Since Brother Zheng is a Level 1 chef, why didn't he apply?" Tang Zhitong had already learned about Zheng Liangcai's past. He was fired last year for personal reasons. Even though ordinary restaurants had no job opportunities due to reduced supply, places like the auditorium had ample supply.

"Oh, don't even mention it. My senior brother was seriously ill at the time. I stayed by his bedside and attended to his funeral. Liangcai was through all that for about a month and lost about ten pounds."

I did mention it to him, but he said he couldn't take care of it and couldn't let family matters interfere with his work, so he didn't go.

After my senior brother's funeral arrangements were completed, the meeting hall was full.

Speaking of this, Teacher Wang shook his head with regret.

"It's all about timing and fate." Tang Zhitong wanted to say that Zheng Liangcai was just unlucky, but it wouldn't be appropriate to say that when faced with life and death and filial piety.

Nothing in life matters except death. Zheng Liangcai was filial to his master, willing to forgo opportunities to care for him in his old age and see him off in death. This character is commendable, and Tang Zhitong had even higher expectations for him.

"Liangcai's skills are undeniable, but he's too honest and easily taken advantage of. If it's convenient for you, please keep an eye on him in the future." Teacher Wang saw that Tang Zhitong valued talent and took the opportunity to make a request.

"Teacher Wang thinks too highly of me. I'm just a student at the Post and Telecommunications Institute." Tang Zhitong shook his head with a wry smile. If this were the Municipal Bureau, he could at least talk to Lao Su. But at the Post and Telecommunications Institute, the person he was most familiar with was probably Wei Zhizhen, but he was just a section chief.

"Let's go first and talk about it later," Teacher Wang said sheepishly.

"Just by looking at Brother Zheng's posture, you can tell he's got real skills. Compared to Brother Zheng, my certificate is practically worthless." Tang Zhitong said, watching Zheng Liangcai wield the cleaver with fluid and graceful movements, a sight that was both delightful and pleasing to the eye.

"You benefited from the new dish. I heard that many leaders praised the sauerkraut fish you made." From the moment Tang Zhitong ordered braised shark fin, Teacher Wang felt that there was something fishy about his application materials, but since he needed Tang's help, he didn't point it out.

"Hehe, I'd better learn from them." Tang Zhitong said, and then openly began to learn from them.

Teacher Wang was tactful and provided feedback from the side, actually explaining the techniques to Tang Zhitong.

Stir-frying a dish isn't difficult. Regardless of age or gender, most people can follow a recipe or cooking video to cook it. However, there are many tricks to making it delicious.

Without expert guidance, one might never grasp the basics in their lifetime.

Even though Zheng Liangcai was quick, it still took him two hours to prepare the two dishes.

Tang Zhitong understood Zheng Liangcai's worries after hearing the names of those dishes.

Unless someone prepares the ingredients in advance, these dishes are really difficult to make.

"Try it." Teacher Wang confidently handed Tang Zhitong a pair of chopsticks.

"Then let's try it." Since it was a tasting, Tang Zhitong took a bite of the stir-fried double crispy dish without hesitation.

The stir-fried double crispy pork kidneys were crispy and tender, savory and delicious. It was the first time Tang Zhitong had ever tasted pork kidneys without any gamey smell. He gave Zheng Liangcai a thumbs up and said, "Very good, amazing!"

When Zheng Liangcai heard Tang Zhitong's praise, he just put his hands on his apron and chuckled sheepishly.

Teacher Wang chimed in, "Chicken gizzards would be better, but the school doesn't have any, so we'll have to make do with pork kidneys."

"It's already very good, much better than I expected." Tang Zhitong then picked up another piece of large intestine.

Zheng Liangcai's braised pork intestines are not only reddish in color, but also exquisitely presented.

When you put it in your mouth and savor it carefully, you'll experience a full range of flavors: sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty, with a predominantly sour and sweet taste, followed by a slightly bitter aftertaste.

"Teacher Wang, Brother Zheng, I won't say anything more. Brother Zheng, please bring your Level 1 Chef Certificate. I'll be waiting for you at the west gate of the Post and Telecommunications Institute at 8:30 tomorrow morning." Tang Zhitong was convinced; Zheng Liangcai's culinary skills were impeccable.

"Thank you, thank you!" Zheng Liangcai was overjoyed and thanked his uncle and Tang Zhitong without hesitation.

"Salary..." Teacher Wang didn't forget about the benefits and brought it up at the right moment.

"Setting him at level seven is indeed unfair to Brother Zheng. I'll go back and try to get it. I'll aim for level five, but guarantee level six. If we can't get him at level five, then let him stay at the level six cook's salary. Brother Zheng, don't mind. There's still a long road ahead, and we'll raise it slowly." Tang Zhitong relented, releasing the highest salary offered by Wei Zhizhen, and even considered going back to try to get it for Zheng Liangcai again.

The current ten-grade wage system for cooks probably originated around 1956. At that time, there was no established professional title for chefs, and many chefs for state banquets also followed the ten-grade wage system.

Once the technician title is introduced, the salary of a master chef will rise sharply, directly exceeding the salary of a tenth-level cook, starting at over one hundred yuan, with a maximum of 150 yuan per month.

Ordinary chefs still use a ten-level salary system. The first, second, and third levels of professional titles are the reference for salary increases, but they are not absolute, because factors such as the chef's workload, contributions, and seniority must also be considered.

Generally speaking, a chef with a first-level professional title can earn the highest salary of a first-level cook, while the lowest might be a fourth or fifth-level cook.

Given Zheng Liangcai's skills and professional title, paying him a level-six cook's salary for a month is indeed a bit low.

"That's quite a lot..." Zheng Liangcai was very satisfied with the sixth-level salary, which was already half as much as the salary on the construction site.

"Then it's settled. Let's aim for Level 5!" Teacher Wang interrupted Zheng Liangcai, trying to secure a higher level of treatment for his junior apprentice.

"Alright! But let's be cautious and clear from the start. There's something I need to say upfront. Brother Zheng's cooking skills are fine, but you must be clean in your work from now on. Not only must the food be hygienic, but you also can't steal anything. The previous cook got caught because he wasn't clean." I'd rather die than say anything, but if you can't kill me, I'll tell you.

Teacher Wang and Brother Zheng were both frank, so Tang Zhitong couldn't hide it anymore. Even if he tried to, he couldn't hide it. Once Zheng Liangcai went and inquired, he knew everything.

"Don't worry about that. If Liangcai takes even a single scallion home from the kitchen, you can come and slap me in the face!" Teacher Wang knew his nephew's character. Back then, he had been ostracized a lot because he didn't fit in with the group. So, without waiting for Zheng Liangcai to express his opinion, he directly vouched for him.

“Teacher Wang, I trust you and I can tell that Brother Zheng is an honest man, but we can’t let others find fault with us, can we?” Tang Zhitong waved his hand repeatedly at Teacher Wang’s assurance. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust him, but rather that he didn’t believe Teacher Wang’s words.

(End of this chapter)