Starting with vegetable greenhouses in 1988

Chapter 314 Learning
As the sun rose, it dispelled the dampness of the residential compound of the Beijing TV Factory. The crisp sound of bicycle bells rang out from downstairs, mingling with the aroma of fried dough sticks from a distant breakfast stall and wafting into the second-floor window.

Wearing a blue apron, Chen Shufang lifted an aluminum steamer from the gas stove. The rising steam, carrying the aroma of white bread, wafted onto her face. She called out to the inner room, "Tingting, are you awake? Dinner's ready!"

The bedroom door creaked open, and Wang Ting, wearing pajamas, walked out of the bedroom: "I woke up early, I'm tidying up the room."

As she spoke, she walked toward the kitchen, and as she passed through the living room, she saw her father sitting at the dining table reading the Beijing Evening News.

Chen Shufang brought out the steamed buns and saw Wang Guangwei sitting still. She reached out and patted him on the arm: "Hey, you're quite self-aware. I called my daughter to eat, and you took the seat first."

She placed the aluminum drawer on the table and took out a dish of pickled vegetables from the cupboard—homemade pickled mustard tubers, finely chopped and mixed with a little sesame oil. Next to them were three tea eggs in a porcelain bowl.

Wang Guangwei folded the newspaper and retorted, "What did I do wrong? I didn't sleep in this morning. Besides, if my daughter can eat, why can't I, as her father?"

Chen Shufang raised an eyebrow, her tone full of pride: "Old Wang, you really can't compare to our daughter now—Tingting has been on the Tiananmen Square reviewing stand and received foreign guests. Can you do that?"

Instead of being angry, Wang Guangwei laughed and continued, "You're right, our Tingting is doing well now. I really can't compare to her." As he spoke, he stood up and beckoned to Wang Ting, "Tingting, sit down, Dad will get you some rice."

"Alright, you two, stop fooling around and sit down to eat. The food will get cold soon." Wang Ting placed two bowls of freshly served millet porridge on the table in front of her parents.

Chen Shufang picked up her chopsticks, took a bite of pickled vegetables and ate it with her porridge. She looked at her daughter and smiled, "Tingting, can you tell Mom about what happened yesterday when we received the foreign guests?"

Wang Ting was biting into a steamed bun when she heard this and looked up: "Mom, didn't we already talk about this at dinner yesterday?"

“Yesterday is yesterday, today is today,” Chen Shufang put down her chopsticks, her eyes full of anticipation. “Mom likes to hear it, so please tell it again, just to cheer her up.”

Wang Ting laughed and said, "I'm not going to talk about it anymore, or Director Wang will get annoyed."

Wang Guangwei immediately chimed in, smiling, "No problem, no problem, Dad loves to hear it too."

Looking at the undisguised expectation in her parents' eyes, Wang Ting knew they were truly proud of her, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

She paused, then suddenly remembered something and said, "Mom and Dad, there's something else I wanted to discuss with you. Teacher Han said that all of us students who participated in the National Day reception for foreign guests can apply for an exchange student program in the United States. Do you think I should apply?"

"Oh my god! Going abroad?" Chen Shufang's chopsticks clattered onto the table, her voice suddenly rising, her eyes wide. "Tingting, your teacher is sending you to study in America? Really?"

Wang Ting quickly nodded: "That's about right, but it's just the registration phase now, and it's not certain whether we'll be selected."

Suppressing his excitement, Wang Guangwei asked as calmly as possible, "Tingting, if you really become an exchange student, how long will you stay? How much will it cost?"

Wang Ting answered in detail: "The time abroad will be about two years. Because I am an exchange student, there is a tuition waiver agreement between the schools, so I don't need to pay tuition to the American school. However, I have to pay for my own accommodation, living expenses, visa fees, insurance, and round-trip airfare."

Ms. Han said that the school will also provide some scholarships and financial aid, so the overall cost shouldn't be too high.

Wang Guangwei nodded, his tone resolute: "You don't need to worry about the expenses, Dad will figure it out."

Wang Ting quickly added, "Dad, I didn't say I absolutely had to go abroad. I just wanted to discuss it with you first."

“What’s there to discuss?” Chen Shufang immediately chimed in, grabbing her daughter’s hand and refusing to let go. “Where else can you find such a great opportunity? Tingting, you should sign up right away! Your parents will support you! If you can study in America, your Wang family will be truly honored!”

Looking at her mother's excited expression, Wang Ting felt a little heavy-hearted: "Mom, if I really go, I'll be gone for two years. Won't you miss me?"

Chen Shufang paused, her eyes slightly reddening, but she still hardened her heart and said, "Of course I think about it. Your brother has been away in the army for almost two years, and I think about him every day, but it's all for his future. It's the same for you to go abroad to study; it's for your own good."

Wang Guangwei noticed his daughter's hesitation and asked softly, "Tingting, is there something you're worried about? Tell Dad."

Wang Ting thought for a moment and said truthfully, "I mentioned this to Li Zhe yesterday. He said that going abroad can broaden my horizons and I can learn something, but the security abroad is not very good, and there is some discrimination against Chinese people. He was worried that it would be unsafe for me to go alone."

Wang Guangwei nodded in agreement: "Li Zhe makes a good point. I've also heard that there are often demonstrations and shootings in the United States. It's definitely not as safe as here."

Chen Shufang scoffed, her tone tinged with disdain: "Tingting is going to study abroad, not to fight a war. What could be unsafe at school? Besides, Li Zhe is from the countryside. How could he understand America? I bet he doesn't even know which state America is in."

Wang Ting immediately defended Li Zhe: "Mom, why do you say that? Although Li Zhe is from out of town, he is no stranger to things abroad and definitely knows more than you do."

"Since he knows so much, why doesn't he want you to go abroad?" Chen Shufang asked rhetorically.

“They didn’t say I couldn’t go abroad, they were just worried about my safety. Besides, aren’t you worried about me going to America alone?” Wang Ting retorted.

"Of course I'm worried, but Mom still feels we can't miss such a good opportunity." Chen Shufang's tone softened as she advised, "If you really miss it, you'll definitely regret it later."

Seeing that Wang Ting didn't respond, she turned her head and nudged her husband's arm: "Dad, say something too."

"Tingting, what do you think?" Wang Guangwei didn't give advice directly, but asked his daughter's thoughts first.

Wang Ting pursed her lips and said frankly, "I'm also quite curious about America and would like to go and see it, but I feel that two years is a bit long... I'm not sure whether I should sign up or not."

Wang Guangwei then asked, "You and Li Zhe are dating now. Besides worrying about your safety, does he have any other concerns?"

Wang Ting replied, "His main concern was that I was not safe abroad alone. He also told me to wait for him for a few years, and that he would take me to America when his business was doing well."

"Pah, pah, pah! Men's words are just for show, don't take them seriously!" Chen Shufang immediately retorted, not forgetting to drag her husband into it, "Your dad said a lot of nice things to coax me into marrying him, but how many of them actually came true?"

Wang Guangwei's face immediately darkened, and his tone was tinged with displeasure: "We were talking about the children, why are you bringing me into this again?"

Chen Shufang ignored her husband, turned to stare at Wang Ting, and said firmly, "Tingting, listen to your mother. As soon as you get to school, sign up for the exchange program in the United States. Don't worry about anything else, your parents are here for you..."

“But…” Wang Ting wanted to say something more.

Chen Shufang interrupted her directly: "There are no 'buts'! You can't go wrong by listening to your mother. If you miss this opportunity, you'll never have another one. I don't want you to have any regrets in your life..."

As she spoke, she gently kicked her husband with her foot again: "Dad, why don't you try to persuade Tingting again?"

Wang Guangwei pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "Your mother is right. Since the teacher has given you the opportunity, you should sign up first—even if you really don't want to go later, you can cancel your registration later."

But if you miss the registration deadline now, you won't have another chance later.

Wang Ting lowered her head, pursed her lips, and remained silent for a while before softly saying, "There's no rush to register. I want to think about it some more..."

……

nine in the morning.

Outside the front store of Quanjude, vermilion pillars stand upright, supporting the grand lintel. In the center of the lintel hangs a plaque with the words "Quanjude" in gold on a black background. The characters are vigorous and powerful, exuding the weight of a century-old brand.

In the glass display cases on both sides, there are several yellowed group photos of leaders, with neat strips of Chinese and English text reading "Welcome Foreign Guests" pasted on the corners of the frames.

At this moment, Quanjude had just opened its doors and was not yet officially open for business. Restaurant manager Liu Yuewen was already standing in the center of the hall, dressed in a navy blue Zhongshan suit, his lean figure exuding competence.

He frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two rows of employees standing in front of him. His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "Be more alert! It's National Day now, and the streets are full of foreign guests. Our top priority these next few days is to take good care of our guests."

Remember, prioritize serving foreign guests. In your words and actions, you must act like you're from Quanjude. Keep a good temper; even if you're incredibly busy, never give a customer a hard time or lose your temper!

He paused, tapped his fingers lightly on his side, and said in a more serious tone, "Also, no one is allowed to take leave these next few days. Even the most important things have to wait until after this peak period."

"Our Quanjude brand can't afford to mess up at this crucial moment. Anyone who dares to let me down at this critical juncture will be washing dishes in the kitchen tomorrow!"

The employees, who had been somewhat inattentive, some secretly fidgeting with their clothes and others glancing out the window, instantly snapped to attention upon hearing Liu Yuewen's words, especially the phrase "assigned to the kitchen to wash dishes." They straightened their backs and responded in unison, "We heard you!"

Just then, a young employee walked in through the door, leaned close to Liu Yuewen, and whispered, "Manager Liu, Mr. Li, who supplies us with cucumbers, is here. He's waiting at the door."

Upon hearing "Boss Li," Liu Yuewen's serious expression immediately softened considerably. With the weather turning cold, only Li Zhe could supply fresh cucumbers in the entire capital city once winter arrived.

This person is crucial to ensuring the quality of the restaurant's food; we can't afford to neglect them.

He waved to his employees, "Alright, go and get ready. Remember what I just said." With that, he strode towards the restaurant entrance.

As soon as Liu Yuewen arrived at the door, he saw Li Zhe standing there, tall and with a more composed demeanor than before.

Liu Yuewen quickly greeted him with a smile, raising his hands slightly: "President Li, what a rare guest! What brings you here today?"

Li Zhe smiled and returned the greeting, his tone gentle: "Manager Liu, I heard you having a meeting with your employees as soon as I arrived at the door. I hope I didn't disturb your work?"

Yesterday I took Wang Ting to Quanjude, but not the Qianmen branch, but the Heping branch.

"No, no," Liu Yuewen waved his hand and said warmly, "It's been a while since we last met. I've been thinking of finding an opportunity to get together with you. Mr. Li, please come in!" With that, he made a respectful gesture and led Li Zhe into the restaurant. Following Liu Yuewen into Quanjude, the familiar environment rushed towards him, and Li Zhe's thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the past.

He recalled the first time he came to Quanjude to sell cucumbers. He and his father stood in line in the hall. The line was so long that he couldn't see the end of it. He was so hungry that he took out a cucumber from his bag and started eating it.

It was during that time that he met Da Zhuang. That guy bought cucumbers from him and then took them to show off to his friends. Thinking about it now, he still finds it a bit funny.

Later, because Quanjude Heping Store had a more spacious and upscale environment, he often ate there and came to this store less often.

Manager Liu led Li Zhe to a private room on the second floor. The room was elegantly decorated, with wooden tables and chairs that exuded a rustic charm.

He invited Li Zhe to sit down, turned around and took out tea leaves from the cabinet next to him, brewed a pot of hot tea, poured a cup for Li Zhe, and handed it to him: "Mr. Li, have some tea to warm yourself up first."

"Thank you."

Li Zhe took out a pack of Marlboro cigarettes from his pocket, handed one to Manager Liu, and lit one for himself. The smoke slowly dissipated in the private room.

Manager Liu took a puff of his cigarette and turned the conversation to business, his tone tinged with concern: "Mr. Li, it's already October, and the weather is getting colder. How's the yield of your greenhouse cucumbers this year?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhe smiled and waved his hand, "Manager Liu, don't worry, I've expanded the planting area this year and planted more cucumbers than in previous years, so I can definitely provide you with a sufficient supply."

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu smiled and picked up the teacup on the table: "Mr. Li, then I'll toast you with tea instead of wine. Thank you for your hospitality."

The two clinked glasses, each took a sip of tea, and after putting down their teacups, chatted for a few more minutes about the restaurant's business during the National Day holiday.

Manager Liu said that there have been a lot of guests these past few days, especially foreign guests, and he has been extremely busy.

Listening to this, Li Zhe took the opportunity to talk about his own business: "Manager Liu, my restaurant, Shuxiangju, has been doing quite well lately. This year, I plan to open another branch in Xidan to expand the business."

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu immediately became interested and asked, "Oh? The location in Xidan is quite good. How big is that branch?"

"It's nearly 500 square meters, two floors of ground-floor shops, and I've already started the renovations," Li Zhe replied.

"Wow, such a large area! Mr. Li, you really have guts!"

Li Zhe smiled, then changed the subject, his tone becoming earnest: "Manager Liu, the reason I came here today is actually to ask you for a favor."

“We’re old friends, so just let me know if you need anything. If it’s within my power to help, I’ll do my best,” Manager Liu said readily.

Li Zhe cleared his throat and slowly began to speak: "As you know, when it comes to the delicacies of Beijing, whether you are a local, a visitor from out of town, or a foreigner, the first thing that comes to mind is Quanjude's roast duck, which is the signature dish of our capital city."

My branch of Shuxiangju wants to add roast duck to its menu, in addition to Sichuan cuisine, hoping to benefit from the popularity of Quanjude.

Of course, it can't compare to your Quanjude. Your place has long queues of customers every day, and many people can't even get a table.

I was thinking that customers who wanted to eat roast duck but couldn't get a table at your place might be willing to try it at mine, giving them another option.

He paused, looked at Manager Liu's expression, and continued, "However, I've always worked in Sichuan cuisine and have no experience in opening a roast duck restaurant. I don't even know how to design a roast duck oven and roast duck room, so I came here today specifically to visit your roast duck room and learn from your experience."

After waiting a while, seeing that Manager Liu did not respond, Li Zhe said, "Manager Liu, my suggestion may be a bit presumptuous. If it does not comply with your restaurant's regulations, please just pretend I didn't mention it and don't take it to heart."

Manager Liu was silent for a few seconds, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, before slowly saying, "President Li, if an outsider had made this request, I would have refused without even thinking about it."

After all, the roast duck room is the core area of ​​our restaurant, involving many intricacies, and cannot be visited by just anyone.

"However, Mr. Li, we're old friends. Last year, you were our first cucumber supplier. For that reason alone, I have to give you face. No problem, I'll take you on a tour."

Upon hearing this, Li Zhe's face lit up with a delighted smile, and he quickly said, "Thank you so much, Manager Liu! You've really helped me a lot!"

Manager Liu stood up and gestured to Li Zhe, "Don't be so polite, come on, I'll take you to the roast duck room right now."

Just then, Li Zhe suddenly remembered something and said, "Manager Liu, there's something else I'd like to tell you. I brought two other people with me. One is the store manager of Shuxiangju, and the other is the person in charge of the decoration company, who is in charge of the branch's decoration work."

They're waiting in their car outside. Could we let them come along for a tour? That way, they'll have a better understanding of how to design and decorate the roast duck room.

Manager Liu replied generously, "No problem, let them come in together."

Li Zhe quickly stood up: "Then I'll go and call them in now." After saying that, he strode out of the private room, went downstairs, and went to the restaurant entrance to welcome Tan Jingya and Chen Yongfa in.

Li Zhe led the two men to Manager Liu and introduced them: "Manager Liu, this is Manager Tan from Shuxiangju. This is Manager Chen from Yongfa Decoration Company. I'll be entrusting the decoration work for my branch to their company."

Tan Jingya and Chen Yongfa quickly greeted Manager Liu: "Hello, Manager Liu!"

Manager Liu smiled and nodded: "Hello, welcome to Quanjude." After saying that, he led Li Zhe, Tan Jingya and Chen Yongfa toward the roast duck room.

Manager Liu himself is a chef by training, having spent many years in the roast duck room in his early years, and is very familiar with the kitchen environment and the structure of the roast duck room.

Upon entering the roast duck room, a wave of heat mixed with the aroma of roast duck hits you. Inside, there are several large roast duck ovens, with the fire burning brightly and orange-red flames dancing at the oven openings.

Manager Liu pointed to the roast duck oven and explained in detail: "This roast duck oven is specially made. It uses fruitwood as fuel, which gives the roasted duck a unique aroma."

The thickness of the oven body and the temperature control inside the oven are both crucial. Too high a temperature will cause the food to burn, while too low a temperature will leave it undercooked. Precise control is essential.

He then led the three to the other side of the roast duck room, pointing to the ventilation ducts on the wall and the worktable next to it, saying, "Ventilation in the roast duck room is very important. Otherwise, the oil fumes inside will be too strong, which will not only affect the chef's operation but also the quality of the roast duck."

The work surface here needs to have enough space for the chef to handle the ducks, hang them in the oven, and remove them from the oven. The dimensions also need to be determined based on the size of the roast duck oven.

As Tan Jingya listened, she took careful notes, occasionally asking, "Manager Liu, besides the roasting oven, what other special tools and steps are needed to make roast duck?"

Manager Liu patiently answered all the questions: "Making roast duck requires quite a few tools, such as a duck-slicing knife, hooks, and an air pump, all of which must be specialized."

Making roast duck is indeed a complicated process. From selecting and processing the duck, to inflating, scalding, coating with sugar glaze, air-drying, and finally roasting in a hanging oven, every step requires careful attention.

Especially during roasting, you have to frequently observe the duck's color changes and adjust its position, which definitely requires a high level of skill from the chef.

Li Zhe, however, was concerned about the cost and construction period. He asked, "Manager Liu, how much would it cost to renovate and rebuild a roast duck room like ours?"

Also, how long does the construction period typically take from the start of renovations to when the space is ready for use?

Li Zhe didn't go to the Heping branch because the restaurant there was too large. On the contrary, the Qianmen branch, which was similar in size to Shuxiangju, was more worthy of reference.

"In terms of cost, it mainly depends on the number of roast duck ovens and the level of decoration. If you want to set up a medium-sized one, including equipment and decoration, it will probably cost several thousand yuan."

"As for the construction period, if the workers are quick and efficient and the materials can be supplied on time, it should be completed in about a month." Manager Liu calculated carefully and gave an approximate figure.

Chen Yongfa, however, was more focused on the professional details of the renovation. He took out his notebook and pen and asked, "Manager Liu, are there any special requirements for the installation location of the roast duck oven?"
For example, factors like the distance from the wall and the floor's load-bearing capacity. Also, are there specific standards for the size and routing of ventilation ducts?

Manager Liu walked to the roast duck oven and pointed to the ground with his foot: "The roast duck oven must be at least one meter away from the wall to facilitate the operation and maintenance of the chefs. The ground must also have sufficient load-bearing capacity, after all, the roast duck oven plus the fuel and ducks inside is not light."

"The ventilation ducts must be at least 30 centimeters in diameter, and their route should be as smooth as possible, avoiding too many bends that could affect ventilation," he said, gesturing as he spoke, explaining every detail clearly.

After visiting the roast duck room, Manager Liu warmly invited the three of them to have lunch together in the restaurant: "President Li, it's almost lunchtime, why don't you have something to eat here and try our freshly roasted duck?"

Li Zhe glanced at the lobby outside, where customers were starting to arrive, and quickly declined, saying, "No, Manager Liu, the store is busy during the National Day holiday, so I won't stay here and trouble you."

I'm very grateful to have been able to visit the roast duck room today and learn so much. Let's get together again when you're less busy.

Seeing that Li Zhe was adamant, Manager Liu did not press the matter further and escorted the three of them downstairs to the restaurant entrance.

Just before getting into the car, Li Zhe leaned close to Manager Liu and said in a low voice, "Manager Liu, there's something else I'd like to ask you."

I used to run a Sichuan cuisine business, but I really don't know anything about roast duck and I've never met a roast duck chef. Could you please introduce me to a retired roast duck chef?
"With experienced chefs guiding us, our roast duck business can truly succeed; otherwise, we simply can't figure it out on our own."

Manager Liu thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay, I know a few retired master chefs who used to be senior chefs at Quanjude. They are highly skilled. I'll contact them later and ask if they are interested. I'll let you know when I hear back."

"Thank you so much, Manager Liu! You've really helped me a lot!" Li Zhe said gratefully.

He knew that roasting duck was a technical skill, and without an experienced chef, no matter how well the roasting room was decorated, authentic roast duck could not be made. Manager Liu's willingness to help introduce a retired chef undoubtedly solved a major problem for him.

(End of this chapter)