The story of a cook

Chapter 81 It's Over
Master Huang and Master Chen cooperated very well.Master Huang is a master and has no airs.Master Chen is young and has no character. He respects Master Huang very much and rushes to do any work. When there are too many dishes, the two of them fry together. When there are few dishes, Master Chen asks Master Huang to rest and cook by himself.Master Huang likes Master Chen very much.

Through the chat between the two of them, I learned that Master Huang has a very high seniority in the chef world, and even Master Chen's master has to call Master Huang a master uncle.

Master Huang rarely mentioned his past affairs, and sometimes he would simply say a few words when asked him, not much.The most talked about is the dishes, and it's not about his fishing.Master Huang likes fishing. He has all kinds of fishing tools at home, such as hand poles, sea poles, tents, and all kinds of fish food. Once he talks about fishing, his eyebrows start to dance, which is more exciting than when he talks about cooking.

One day I asked Master Huang where he used to work, and Master Huang said, "Have you looked at the Phoenix Hotel opposite?"

"I see, that's a high-end hotel." I said.

"When I first started working, I was planning to build the Phoenix Hotel, and I was the head chef there after it was built." Master Huang said flatly.

I looked at Master Huang in surprise and asked, "Then you should be a senior chef?"

Master Huang smiled and said to me: "Senior chef is just a name. It's useless. My level is higher than that. Is it useful? That is to stir fry a dish with a big spoon. Remember Tanzi, let's As a cook, don’t leave this three-foot stove, you’re nothing if you leave.”

Later, I gradually learned that Master Huang is very famous and has a background.

Master Huang is an ancestral craft. His father was the first director of the Hotel Association after the liberation of the provincial capital, and he worked until retirement.His family's old man and the three famous chefs in the provincial capital are also known as the four major shopkeepers in the provincial capital. He has cooked for the young marshal, and his craftsmanship is naturally top-notch.The old man has worked hard all his life and has a high reputation in the culinary world, so Master Huang's seniority is also very high.

Master Huang didn’t want to be a chef when he was young, so he first became a policeman. Later, his father felt that being a policeman was dangerous, so he arranged for him to work in a restaurant.

When Master Huang was young, he was one of the best cooking chefs among his generation, especially sea cucumbers. The provincial government would transfer him to the state guesthouse to cook sea cucumbers for any special entertainment.Later, Master Huang worked in top-level hotels and hotels. The dishes were good and the management was in place. Many bosses wanted him to go to their restaurants to cook, and the prices they offered were very high.

Master Huang stopped cooking until his son graduated from university. He began to rest at home, playing mahjong and fishing, and enjoying his old age with his wife.My wife is a restless person who has worked in restaurants all her life and is a provincial senior pastry chef.After the unit was bought out, he went to Taishan Hotel to work as a pastry chef, and at the same time he was also a pastry consultant for another seafood restaurant.My wife goes to work every day, and Master Huang can’t always fish at home, and it’s not interesting to stay there. It happened that the head chef of Taishan Hotel knew that he was not at work, so he went to his house with Boss Zou and invited him to open the restaurant.

Master Huang has had three apprentices in his life. The first apprentice was the son of his old comrade-in-arms, who was managing Cantonese cuisine in a Cantonese restaurant.The second apprentice was a neighbor of his family. He didn't plan to accept him at first, but his father asked him to accept him. He was working as the head chef at the Ailin Hotel under the Forestry Bureau at that time.The third apprentice was when Master Huang was teaching at the culinary school. A student wanted to worship him as a teacher.

Master Huang's third apprentice is still from my hometown, and also from Beipiao.

At that time I asked: "Master Huang still accepts apprentices?"

Master Huang said: "What kind of apprentices are you still taking? How old are you? If you don't do it yourself, how can you take your apprentices with others? If you accept them, you can't take them with you. Isn't that a mistake?"

I wanted to worship Master Huang as my teacher, but seeing that Master Huang said that he would no longer accept apprentices, I didn't go any further.It doesn't matter if you don't want to be an apprentice, so just follow along and learn the craft, as much as you can learn, and what you learn is your own.

It is not easy to meet a good master, so don't miss it.

Master Huang's serious and rigorous attitude towards dishes is the strictest chef I have ever seen, sometimes almost to the point of harshness.At the same time, he is also very serious about his work.His home is close to the restaurant, and Boss Zou said that Master Huang doesn't need to commute to and from get off work on time, as long as there is time for meals.But Master Huang has never been late and left early. Sometimes I came after [-] o'clock in the morning, and he also came and made preparations with me.In fact, he could have arrived at the hotel at ten o'clock.

Master Huang is very careful when cooking. Don’t look at people in their 50s. The cooking is no slower than young chefs. The speed of cooking is very fast, and each dish can maintain the quality and quantity. any mistakes.

This is the strength of the master chef. Rich stove experience and familiarity with the dishes cannot be cultivated overnight.

I am very troubled by the fact that Master Huang does not accept apprentices, because I really want to worship him as a teacher.

After Manager Chen left, another manager surnamed Liu came in. Two waiters left and found two more.

I pay more attention to one of the new waiters this time, she looks like Yaru.They are all similar in size, height, and body shape, but their hair is a bit different. Yaru's hair is a bit curly, but her hair is normal and doesn't curl.

I asked Sister Zhang, the dishwashing lady, "What's the name of the new waiter?"

Sister Zhang said: "There are two new waiters, which one are you talking about?"

I said, "It's the one with the ponytail."

Sister Zhang said: "My name is Lin Yan, what's the matter, did you like it?"

"No, I just feel a bit like a person."

"I just fell in love with it, and said it looks like a person." Sister Zhang asked me, "Who does it look like?"

"Like a waiter before."

"Really?" Sister Zhang said, "That Lin Yan doesn't live in the dormitory. I heard that she lives in a rented house with her classmates."

"Is she still a student?" I asked.

Sister Zhang said: "I have graduated, and now I am looking for a job. If I don't find a suitable job, I will work as a waiter first." Then she said: "I am a technical secondary school student."

I said, "That's pretty good, learned."

The reason for paying attention to Lin Yan is simple, she looks like Yaru, but not Yaru.

Yaru is already engaged and has someone from her husband's family.

I can't let her go, and I don't think too much about other girls, but I still feel a little stressed when I think of the promise to bring back a daughter-in-law to my mother when I go home for the Chinese New Year this year.My mother is anxious about my marriage, and if I don't talk about my daughter-in-law for a day, my mother can't worry about it for a day.

In my 20s, I should think about it.

It happened that Lin Yan was on duty that day, and when she got off work, she changed her clothes and was ready to go home.The lower body is a pair of denim shorts, the upper body is a yellow shirt, a small backpack is carried on the shoulder, and a pair of sandals are worn on the feet. The wheat-colored skin looks very healthy.

Other waiters wear makeup when they go to work, but she has no makeup and has a plain face.

After leaving the hotel, she was going in the direction of Beiling Park, and I asked her, "You don't live in the dormitory?"

She looked back at me and said, "I don't live here. I rent a house with my classmates."

I asked, "Is it far from here? Are you afraid to go alone at this late hour?"

She smiled, showing two small canine teeth, and said, "It's okay, it's not far, we'll be there in a while."

After speaking, he turned around and walked forward, flicking the ponytail behind his head.

Watching her walk away, I thought she really looks like Yaru.

Sister Zhao and Li Na are here.

When the two of them came, they were about to get off work at noon, and I was cleaning up in the kitchen. Manager Liu came and called me, saying that two beauties had come to look for me.I thought it was Sister Zhao and Li Na, and I didn't know any other women besides them, so it couldn't be Yaru and her sister-in-law.

When I came to the private room, Sister Zhao and Li Na were sitting there waiting for me.

Sister Zhao said: "Your business is going well after the decoration."

I said, "It's okay." Then I said, "Why do you two have so much time today, aren't you busy?"

"Still busy every day? Not busy anymore." Li Na said, and then glanced at Sister Zhao, "Your Sister Zhao misses you, come and see you."

I sat down with a smile, looked at a bottle of white wine on the table, and said to Li Na: "Sister Li, you are a hero as before."

Li Na laughed and said, "Why, are you scared?"

I said, "If you're not afraid, I just admire you."

"I don't know what's so good about that baijiu. You two drink it in summer." Sister Zhao said.

"You don't know if you haven't had it before, why don't you try some." Li Na said with a smile.

Miss Zhao waved her hand.

It's still the same, Li Na and I drink liquor, and Sister Zhao drinks beer.

Sister Zhao said: "Brother, I see that your restaurant has been renovated and has improved."

I said, "It's okay, it's just a mid-range hotel, and it can't be compared with other big restaurants."

"There are more people than before. The waiters in front are all new. I didn't see which waiter you mentioned."

I knew that Sister Zhao was referring to Yaru, so I said, "She's gone home and got engaged."

Sister Zhao asked in surprise, "What? Engaged?"

"Yes, engaged." I said, "I went home to her house last time, and she got engaged at home."

Sister Zhao looked at me and said nothing, took a sip of wine.

Li Na said: "If you are engaged, you are engaged. If you hang someone from a tree, look for it again. I see that there are so many waiters in front of you. They can't all be engaged."

I smiled and said: "I don't think about the partner now, it's very interesting for me to be busy in the kitchen every day." Then I said to Sister Zhao: "Sister, we have a master chef who cooks very well. I Serve him some dishes now, and take this opportunity to learn from him."

"If you are a master, you have to learn from them. The masters are good at craftsmanship and have a lot of experience. They can teach you whatever you want." Zhao said.

I said, "Yes, this master is not only good at cooking, but also a very nice person, but he doesn't accept apprentices. If he accepts apprentices, I will worship him as my teacher."

"Why don't you accept apprentices anymore?" Sister Zhao asked wonderingly.

"He said that he has retired and is not going to work anymore. Our boss invited other people to come to our house to cook. explain.

Sister Zhao said: "That won't delay the acceptance of apprentices, tell your brother, you will stick to him, and see if he accepts apprentices or not."

"That's enough, people really don't want to accept apprentices." I said.

"I heard that it costs a lot of money for your chef to become a teacher, right?" Li Na asked.

"Yeah, I really don't know about that." I replied.

Apprenticeship does cost money, but I don't know how much it costs, and I have never inquired about it.

Li Na said: "It has to cost money. One of my uncle's children did not pass the university entrance exam. He went to a culinary school to study. I heard that there was a master there, and he spent a lot of money. It seems to be [-]."

I was a little surprised and asked: "So much? If so much, I can't afford it. I have no money. Now I can't earn one thousand a month. Where can I get five thousand?" Craftsmanship, don’t think so much.”

It takes 5000 yuan to be a teacher. I really don't have that much money to be a teacher. I'd better work honestly.

Sister Zhao said: "It's worth paying 5000 yuan to a master with really good craftsmanship. At least you can learn real craftsmanship, and it's a lifetime thing." Take it, and pay me back when you earn money."

I quickly said, "No need."

"Oh, I heard that right, why is the person who is reluctant to buy an ice cream today, so generous." Li Na said exaggeratedly, and then went on to tease Sister Zhao: "I have a little doubt whether this is the younger brother or the younger brother. , is really a younger brother—”

"What are you talking about? I'm lending it to him, and it's not like I don't want it anymore." Sister Zhao said.

"Even if you borrow it, it's too generous. In my opinion, Hua, you have ulterior motives."

"Fuck you, just stay there." Sister Zhao gave Li Na a blank look, and then said to me, "Don't listen to her, she is suffering from divorce."

I asked Li Na: "Sister Li, are you really divorced?"

Li Na said: "Divorced, the divorce is true or false, it is true."

I asked, "What about the kid?"

Li Na said: "It's mine, the child will not give him anything, I will take care of what I gave birth to."

I said, "Then you are quite tired now."

Li Na said: "Why are you tired? I'm not tired. I feel much more relaxed than before. It's good to be alone. I don't care about what I want to do. Divorce is not a shameful thing now. Let's leave together, no one will delay anyone."

I said: "Sister Li, you are really amazing, I admire you, you are a hero among women! Come, brother, I will toast you."

Had a drink with Li Na.

Li Na put down her wine glass and said: "My mother will take care of the child for me. The old lady has nothing to do at home. She just takes care of the child and relieves boredom. My child is still willing to be with her grandma. I am now divorced just like your sister Zhao." single woman." After speaking, she smiled at Sister Zhao: "It's not the same, you Sister Zhao and your younger brother, I don't."

"Are you talking about drinking again?" Sister Zhao said.

"Hehe, you can't even make a joke." Li Na said, "Don't say it, your brother is really good. If you don't want me, I will."

Then he laughed.

Sister Zhao said to me: "Brother, you have to find a partner too, you can't just not have a date with optical skills."

"Let's talk." I said.

"Don't blame your sister Zhao for talking about you. Look at you. You can talk and do things, but you can't date. Let me tell you, you have to be generous when you date a little girl. You can't be twitchy, like a little girl." It's over, you know." Li Na said to me.

I just laughed.

Li Na went on to say: "If you think the other party is good, go up and tell people that I think you are very good, and I want to make friends with you. Let's get along first. Just tell others, it's nothing, generally small Girls have never dated anyone before, so I’m just waiting for you to take the initiative to talk about it. In most cases, if you tell someone, they won’t refuse, even if they don’t like you, they won’t say it directly. There’s nothing to be afraid of, just hand it over first Friends, treat someone to a meal, watch a movie, or take a walk in the park. Once you come and go, you will become familiar with it. As the saying goes, love grows over time, and you will gradually become a partner."

Li Na taught me persuasively.

Seeing that I didn't speak, she went on to say: "You said you can fix this, you have to be taught by someone." Then she said to Sister Zhao: "Xiaohua, why did you find a stupid brother."

"He's not stupid, he's smart." Sister Zhao said with a smile, then she looked at me and said, "Brother, you really need to learn a little bit, I think you're just not bold enough, so be bold and just say it, okay." No way, pull it, no way, let’s find something else, if it’s really not possible, don’t we still—”

"It's really impossible, don't you still have your sister?" Li Na joked.

Sister Zhao blushed a little, and said, "Li Na, I think you really drank too much, and you can talk about anything."

Li Na said: "Hey, it's just a joke. If I have a younger brother--" She looked at me and said, "I just have a child. If I don't have a child, I will be with you. If you have a child, you are a young man. You have to find me." I'm married, I'll give you a child to carry on the family, if we are together, you take me home, and I bring another child, maybe your mother can drive me out, haha."

I quickly said: "Sister Li, I'm convinced, come and have a drink."

When it was almost four o'clock, sister Zhao and Li Na left, and when they left, sister Zhao left me a cigarette.

Looking at Sister Zhao, I really don't know what to say.

Sister Zhao looked at me with a smile and said, "Brother, if you are in a bad mood, call me, and I will come over to drink with you when you get off."

"It's okay, it's all over, I don't think about it now."

(End of this chapter)