Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 85 I still have to learn to cook (4K please subscribe)
When leaving the station, He Yuzhu saw a person who surprised him. He was in a taxi with the curtains half-drawn. But who could blame He Yuzhu for his good eyesight?

This face, these glasses, isn’t this Lao Yu?
It seems that his Aunt Wang really came here to have a fake marriage with this guy.

He glanced at He Yuzhu with a strange smile on his face and left.

He still had to go to Huifanglou. He had just registered. If he couldn't find him, he would have to go to his house.

I found a rickshaw and was told it would take me to Huifanglou. The distance was not short, so I was lucky.

When we arrived outside Huifang Building, we paid the fare.

After getting off the car and carrying his suitcase, he was stopped by the waiter as soon as he entered Huifang Building.

"Sir, Huifanglou is reserved for a distinguished guest today. If you want to eat, there's Qingfenglou two streets ahead..."

When He Yuzhu heard this, he looked up and frowned. It was obvious that there were only individual customers inside, so this meant that no customers were allowed to come.

"I'm not here to eat, I'm looking for someone."

"Looking for someone?" When the waiter heard that he was looking for someone, he looked He Yuzhu up and down again.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Chef Yuan."

"There are at least eight or ten chefs named Yuan among us."

"Yuan Taihong, Chef Yuan."

As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter's hand holding the rag trembled violently, and his eyes instantly moved from He Yuzhu's coarse cloth clothes to the fuzzy box in his hands. His Adam's apple rolled up and down twice: "You mean Yuan Touzhao? You should have said it earlier! Sorry for the swear! Please come in, please come in."

As he said this, he led He Yuzhu to a dining table and served him tea, showing his rudeness at first but respectful later to the fullest.

"What's your name? I'm here to help you pass on the message!"

"My last name is He. Just tell Chef Yuan that I'm He Daqing from Sijiu City and he'll know."

"Okay, wait a moment."

Just as the waiter was about to go to the back kitchen, he was stopped by the shopkeeper in front. He had seen every move of the waiter just now. There were too many such things, so he didn't care. But the waiter let the person in and served tea, which meant that there must be some background. Now seeing the waiter running to the back kitchen, he thought that the person had ordered dishes.

"Feng Xiaowu, who is that? Why are you going to the kitchen?"

"Reply to the shopkeeper, I'm here to look for someone."

"Who are you looking for? Why don't you just ask him to go to the back?"

"Looking for Chef Yuan."

"Which Chef Yuan, Yuan Taihong?"

"Yeah."

"Where did they come from?"

"He said he was from the Forbidden City, and his name seemed to be He Daqing."

"He Daqing, that's not right. I've heard of He Daqing before. He's Chef Yuan's apprentice. Was that guy twenty?"

"Should I call or not?"

"Go ahead and call him, what if he's a relative?" The shopkeeper didn't want to offend the chef over such a small matter.

"Okay, I'll go then."

He Yuzhu didn't hear the conversation between the two people, but he saw it and didn't care. After drinking a few sips of tea, he sat there and began to observe Huifanglou.

The lobby is bright and clean, which is in line with the temperament of a large restaurant.

People who come to eat generally dress quite elegantly, but with his outfit, it’s no wonder the waiter wanted to stop him.

After a while, a middle-aged man with an apron and a chef's hat came out with the waiter. He was fat and had a round face.

When they got closer, He Yuzhu stood up. The middle-aged man said, "Young man, you're looking for me. Who is He Daqing to you?"

"You are Yuan Taihong, my father He Daqing!"

"Your father is He Daqing? That's not right. I remember my junior fellow student's child was only twelve or thirteen."

"Uncle, my name is He Yuzhu, I am twelve years old this year, and this is a letter from my father to you." He Yuzhu said with a smile, taking out a letter from his arms.

Yuan Taihong took the letter with a doubtful look, and after reading it, he looked He Yuzhu up and down again.

"It's really twelve!"

"Really Twelve, you're getting a bit fierce."

"Come to learn cooking?"

"Yes, come and learn to cook."

"Your father didn't go into detail in the letter. What did you learn from him?"

He Daqing didn't say that he couldn't teach anymore, so who would dare to accept him? One should always be humble.

"This, the basics are all fine."

"Then wait a minute. I'll go tell the shopkeeper. Come with me to the kitchen later."

After saying that, Yuan Taihong took the letter to the shopkeeper, said a few words, and then came back and said to He Yuzhu: "Let's go and try your craft."

"Okay." He Yuzhu picked up his suitcase.

"Give the box to Xiaowu first and ask him to put it away for you. You can get it from him later."

"Yes."

The two of them entered the kitchen. Yuan Taihong asked He Yuzhu to wash his hands first, then pointed to a place where vegetables were cut and said, "Go, go cut some vegetables first."

He Yuzhu nodded, walked to the table and took a look: potatoes, carrots, white radishes, cabbage, and green peppers.

He first tried the knife on the knife rack, then peeled a potato at random, cut out a flat surface, laid the potato flat, and then heard the sound of "snapping", and the potato was cut into slices.

After arranging them, the potato slices are turned into potato shreds with another "dong dong dong" sound. Use a knife to scoop up the potato shreds and put them into the basin of water on the side. Each potato shred is of uniform thickness, just like a basin of matches.

While cutting, Yuan Taihong nodded on the side. When he saw the potato shreds in the water, Yuan Taihong knew what was going on. This kid didn't need to practice cutting anymore.

However, halal dishes mostly consist of beef and mutton, and cutting vegetables is different from cutting meat. He asked He Yuzhu to cut the meat into cubes, strips, slices, and shreds. With this level of skill, it is impossible that his junior brother did not teach him anything else.

His curiosity was piqued, so he asked casually, "Have you ever been to the stove?"

He Yuzhu said, "Master, I know some Shandong cuisine, but I don't know halal cuisine. I haven't learned it."

"First-class tofu and shredded potatoes with vinegar." Yuan Taihong looked at the ingredients and saw nothing seemed suitable, so he said.

When He Yuzhu prepared the ingredients, the wok weighing more than ten pounds flew up and down in He Yuzhu's hands as if it were nothing. Not only Yuan Taihong was shocked, but also the apprentices, handymen and other chefs beside him.

Yuan Taihong had only one thought in his mind: "He Daqing, are you trying to trick me? Your son is definitely here to learn cooking, not to mess things up."

"Uncle Master, please try it." Yuan Taihong's thoughts were interrupted by He Yuzhu who had finished cooking.

"Oh, good!" Yuan Taihong picked up the shredded potatoes, which were sour, crispy and refreshing. Then he tried the 'first-class tofu', which was delicate and smooth, with rich soup and layers of flavor.

"Come and try it, everyone." He pulled He Yuzhu aside and asked in a low voice, "Are you really here to learn cooking? Your cooking skills are considered top-notch in the Shandong cuisine community, right?"

"I really came here to learn, but I don't know who my master is. My father's skills can only be said to be a family inheritance." He Yuzhu said.

"Tell me the truth, how much of your father's cooking skills have you learned?"

"As for Shandong cuisine, I think it's about 70% to 80% accurate. As for Tan's cuisine, I haven't tried it and I don't have the ingredients."

"Your father sent you to Tianjin, was it also to let you practice Tan family cuisine here?"

"Yeah, there's seafood here," He Yuzhu said without denying it. "If you really want to be my disciple, you know, I'm only good at halal dishes. I'm not as good as your father at Shandong cuisine."

"Really, I have to worship you. Otherwise, why would I come to Tianjin? Why doesn't my uncle want to accept me?" He Yuzhu asked back.

"I must accept it. However, I still need to discuss this matter with the owner of Huifanglou. It's definitely not appropriate to ask you to do odd jobs and chop things. I'll ask if you can go straight to the stove!"

"Don't ask, I'm here."

At this time, a voice came from behind the two of them.

Yuan Taihong recognized the shopkeeper's voice and turned around and said, "Shopkeeper Bai, is this appropriate? Zhuzi just arrived after all."

"I tasted the dish just now, I watched the chopping and stirring, there is no problem with the second stove, but this guy..."

"Shopkeeper Bai, my name is He Yuzhu."

"I'll call you Zhuzi too. I heard what you two were talking about just now. You don't know how to cook halal food yet, so you can only use the three stoves."

"Hurry up and thank Manager Bai!" Yuan Taihong pushed He Yuzhu.

"Thank you, Manager Bai!" He Yuzhu said to Manager Bai with a fist salute.

"Hey, Chef Yuan, when are you planning on holding the apprenticeship ceremony?"

"This pillar has just arrived, so we have to let him settle down. There is no need to rush." ​​Yuan Taihong said.

In fact, he was a little impulsive just now. He felt that he needed to observe the other person a little more. They had only said a few words, so he didn't know his character.

Then there is the old custom of diligence. He Yuzhu definitely cannot be asked to do odd jobs. Judging from the situation, it will be difficult for him to serve for two years. He wants to ask He Yuzhu what he thinks.

"Okay, you two take care of it. I'll go to the front and get busy first." Shopkeeper Bai also saw what Yuan Taihong was thinking and said no more.

"Please come in!" they both said at the same time.

After Shopkeeper Bai left, Yuan Taihong said to He Yuzhu, "Come with me. I have something to ask you."

"it is good!"

When the two of them arrived at Yuan Taihong's lounge, Yuan Taihong asked, "Zhu Zi, how long did it take you to learn Shandong cuisine from your father?"

"A few months."

"How many months?" Yuan Taihong exclaimed.

"Yes, I used to go to school. I graduated last July, and then I studied until the Chinese New Year, about five months."

"What about your basic skills?"

"My dad is at work, so I cook all the meals at home. I can practice slowly."

"So what are your plans for Tianjin?"

"If you're willing to teach me, I'll definitely learn well and I promise not to bring shame to your reputation in the future. But I definitely won't do this kind of odd jobs. My service depends on the time. You know, things aren't peaceful out there right now."

"Oh, I knew it, but you're breaking the rules."

"Then please consider whether to accept me or not. If you don't think it's possible, I won't bother you anymore!"

"Hey kid, is that what I meant? I'm afraid people will gossip about you in the future. Rumors are scary!"

"Uncle Master, I'm not hanging around in Tianjin anymore!"

What He Yuzhu wanted to say was: "I don't even necessarily want to be in Qinxing."

But to be honest, I guess no one can teach him.

"Sijiu City isn't far away!"

"Well, let me be the third cook first, and you take a look. If you think I'm a good fit, you can hire me. If not, you can tell me."

"That's fine, you're better than your father! By the way, how are you going to live? Are you going to stay at my place, or what?"

If he was a real apprentice, Yuan Taihong would definitely not ask this question. It is the rule to eat and live at the master's house. Another reason is that apprentices do not receive any wages.

But the shopkeeper just said that if He Yuzhu can work in the third stove, then he will have the capital to settle down.

In addition, he dared to come to Tianjin alone at the age of twelve, and he is so tall. From the way he speaks, it can be seen that this kid is not that simple. He knows that his junior brother is capable of some tricks, and they had fought with others when they were young.

There is another reason. His house is full. If He Yuzhu was just a boy, there would be a way to accommodate him, but now he looks like an adult, so there is really no way to arrange for him to live there.

"If your house is spacious, I won't look for a place to stay. If not, please introduce me to a real estate agent so I can rent a place myself."

"Okay, then I'll take you there after lunch."

"Thank you, Master!" Before becoming his disciple, He Yuzhu could only call him that.

After the lunch market closed, Yuan Taihong took He Yuzhu out of Huifang Building and looked around for a long time. He Yuzhu chose a small courtyard not far from Huifang Building. It was a small courtyard with only a main room, an ear room and a kitchen. He didn't want to live in a large courtyard with too many people and too much trouble.

The rent was two dollars, the contract was signed, and the broker left.

Yuan Taihong asked him if he had any money left. He hadn't even started working yet, but he had already rented an expensive yard. This kid was spending money too lavishly.

"Don't worry, Uncle Master. My mother gave me some money before I left. It's enough for me to live here for a few months. Besides, we don't have to pay for food there."

"Kid, you should clean up the house by yourself today. I'll take you home to introduce you to the house later!"

"it is good!"

"Do you know the way to Huifanglou?"

"remember!"

"Then I'll go back first. Remember to go early tomorrow morning."

"I'll send my uncle off!"

After seeing Yuan Taihong off, He Yuzhu cleaned the house, then went out, found a deserted place, took out a roll of bedding from the space, and carried it back to the courtyard.

Then he went out again, this time with the washbasin, kettle and other things. As for the pots and pans, he didn't bring any. He was alone and didn't cook when he came back.

After a good sleep at night, he went to Huifanglou early the next morning.

When Yuan Taihong arrived, I first took him to the job, then introduced him to the people in the kitchen, assigned him a stove, and then let him get familiar with the job.

He Yuzhu was not idle either. He first looked through all the dishes on the menu, wrote down the ones he knew how to make, and then told the waiter not to deliver the wrong order and delay the customers' meal.

Then he started to prepare the dishes and ingredients and cut the meat by himself. Yuan Taihong came to watch and nodded secretly. This kid was not like those who worked until the third day of the cooking. He just didn't do these things and didn't instruct others to do them.

When picking up customers at noon, He Yuzhu was very idle at first, very idle, because there were no orders for him.

He was too busy directing the other three chefs, so when the order came to him, he became like a battlefield after the dishes were served. He had no time to care about cutting the meat. Two more people came up behind him to cut for him. His wok was shaking so hard that sparks were coming out, and he didn't even have time to drink a sip of water.

By the time lunch was over, even though he had amazing physical strength, he was still exhausted.

The shopkeeper Bai came in specially because there were obviously more people ordering vegetarian dishes today than usual, and he was looking at the orders from other tables.

When he came in and saw that the orders were all assigned to He Yuzhu's stove, Manager Bai secretly felt lucky that he had made the right decision yesterday. It would be a waste to let such a person go to cut the blocks and learn the basics.

The evening market was basically the same, until the evening market closed, and then the shopkeeper Bai came again and talked to He Yuzhu. He decided to give He Yuzhu some stove share, which was not available to the new stove.

Another thing is to ask He Yuzhu to be more restrained. If he continues like this, the other three kitchens will have nothing to do. He Yuzhu is too busy to pay attention to the chefs in the other three kitchens.

Only after Shopkeeper Bai reminded him did he realize that others were looking at him with resentment. This was because he had stolen too much of the limelight today.

He Yuzhu quickly agreed, and then selected a few of his best dishes from those he had picked in the morning. He said he would not take the rest unless he was too busy.

Only then did Manager Bai nod, and the other three kitchen chefs also breathed a sigh of relief.

(End of this chapter)