The Northern Stories of Chef Lao Tan

Chapter 264 Baotou Store

On June 28, the first store in Baotou opened.

The deputy head of the district where she was located also came on the day of the opening. I have to say that Wang Shulan has strong social skills and can build relationships with leaders wherever she goes.

On the second day after the opening, accompanied by Zhang Yu and Lao Tan, Zhang Li and Yanhua visited the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan.

On the third day, I went to Tengger Tala Scenic Area for a day of fun. In the evening, I participated in the bonfire party and ate roasted whole lamb.

Returning on the fourth day, I passed by Boss Bai’s farm on the way, went there to bother, and ate little stupid chickens deep in the mountains.

After returning, Zhang Li expressed some emotion, saying that Inner Mongolia is so big, the two scenic spots are separated by [-] miles, if they were in the provincial capital, they would be out of the province.At the same time, I was shocked by the beautiful scenery of the grassland, and I still have more to say.

Yanhua also felt the same way, suggesting that this year's trips for outstanding employees in the provincial capital should not go to those places of interest, but to the grasslands.The proposal was approved by everyone, and the time was set for late July. Zhang Li and Zhongqing led the team, and Zhou Xiaomei and Zhang Yu in Hohhot were responsible for the reception.

The next day, Zhang Li and Yanhua returned to the provincial capital. Lao Tan was worried about the newly opened shop, so he went to Baotou again.

Here we talk about Baotou.

Baotou, the homonym of "Baoketu" in Mongolian, also known as Jiuyuan and Lucheng, is a prefecture-level city in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, an important economic center, and an important heavy industry base in China.

The city has jurisdiction over six districts, one county, and two banners, with a permanent population of 700,000.

Baotou is a comprehensive industrial city in my country, mainly engaged in metallurgy, rare earth and machinery industries.

This is a typical immigrant city.In the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there were only more than 1 people here. Later, many people came from Shanxi. In addition, in order to support the construction of Baotou Steel, a large number of military transfer personnel from Hebei, Shandong, Tianjin, Liaoning, Sichuan and other places were assigned here. Influx from all over, to [-], the population reached [-] million.

In the end, the old Baotou people are mostly in Donghe District, the Hebei people are mostly in Qingshan District, and the Northeast people are mostly in Kundulun District.Northeast Errenzhuan, Peking Opera, and Pingju also had a profound impact on Baotou.

Aqiao's first store is in Kundulun District, where there are many people in the Northeast. It is absolutely no problem to open a dumpling restaurant. If the restaurant is not popular, I can only blame myself for not being rich.

Although there was no publicity, it opened in a low-key manner, but it sold [-] yuan that day. The dumpling eaters never stopped from [-]:[-] noon to [-]:[-] p.m., and the kitchen was almost sold out of ingredients.

In addition, it is the first open kitchen in Baotou, with a novel form, direct feeling, clean, hygienic, on-site production, which is reassuring and ornamental, and guests line up to eat.

The business is good. The boss is of course happy. Seeing Lao Tan coming, Wang Shulan warmly entertained him and announced that all the employees will have dinner in the evening to celebrate.

"The boss is generous enough." Old Tan said.

"Must! Everyone is exhausted and can't rest at noon, so we must reward you." Wang Shulan said happily.

"Let's not talk about the staff, I have to go up and cook, otherwise I will be too busy." Yang Zhijun said.

Zhou Xiaomei gave Yang Zhijun a blank look, and said: "What's the matter? Fry two dishes to repay your credit? It's because you didn't prepare enough, can you serve the dishes if you are full? Hmph!"

As the saying goes, if you order tofu in brine, one thing will drop one thing. Yang Zhijun is rarely afraid of people. Sometimes he even reprimands Lao Tan, but he is afraid of Zhou Xiaomei, and Zhou Xiaomei really doesn't give him face.

Yang Zhijun laughed and said nothing more.

"It seems that Baotou is better developed than Hohhot, and the streets are wider than Hohhot." Lao Tan said.

"I heard that the Soviets helped plan it." Wang Shulan said.

"At that time, the Soviet Union was our big brother." Old Tan laughed.

"Russia is fine with us now," Yang Zhijun said.

"If you say it, everyone knows it." Zhou Xiaomei said very bluntly.

Wang Shulan smiled, pointed to Zhou Xiaomei and Yang Zhijun and said, "You two—enemies in previous lives, enemies in this life."

"Almost, at first I thought they could be a couple." Old Tan joked.

Zhou Xiaomei and Yang Zhijun looked at each other with the expression "I can be with him (her)" on their faces.

Dinner is very busy at night, the lobby on the first floor and the private rooms on the second floor are full, and there is a waiting list.

Lao Tan was standing at the front desk, and the hot scene made him excited. What was even more exciting was that he could hear his hometown dialect in Northeast China, which made him feel very cordial.

There is an endless stream of customers in Mingchu's ordering area, like shopping in a food street, and from time to time, "this, just give me this."

There is also the voice of the chef recommending dishes.

"Sister, this dish is very delicious. If it's not good, I'll pay for it." This is the cold dish master.

"Really? Believe you, here is a copy."

"Brother, here is a piece of fish, if you don't order it, it will be gone in no time." This is the big sister who stewed fish.

"Come on slowly, one by one, and there are five pots of little stupid chickens, you happen to be the fifth, what a blessing—" This is the stewed chicken master.

"---"

The most crowded place is the dumpling stall, and the customers don’t leave after ordering the dumplings, watching and admiring them from time to time.

"Look at others, two hands roll the skin, six at a time, it's amazing!"

"It's wrapped really fast, one at a time, like a small ingot."

"This is the real thing. I have seen all the fillings and noodles, so I can rest assured to eat."

"Besides, it's clean, even cleaner than my kitchen."

"If you don't know how to make dumplings at home, come and eat them a few times, and you will learn everything."

Someone raised his head and asked, "Did you reconcile in advance?"

"Well, make up in advance."

Someone else asked: "How long will it take for you two to practice making skins by hand?"

"It will take three days, but it will take half a year to achieve what we do."

The person who asked stuck out his tongue in surprise.

Lao Tan chatted with an elderly man at the bar. The old man was from Anshan and worked in a steel plant. He responded to the call of the country in five or six years and came with his lover to support the construction of Baotou Steel. 60 years have passed in a flash. The young man at that time It is amazing that my son has become an old man in his eighties.

"I was the first batch to come here. There are 35 people in total, and there are still eight alive now." The uncle said.

"Are you going to live a long life this year?" Old Tan asked.

"86."

"It seems that you are in good health and healthy."

"Well, my health is not bad. I always exercise. I get up at five o'clock in the morning to go for a walk in the park and do Tai Chi. It's like this all year round." The old man is full of confidence.

Lao Tan nodded with a smile and said yes, and then asked: "Who else is there in my hometown now?"

"There is no one else." The uncle waved his hand and said, "We have three brothers, my third child, the eldest child and the second child are in my hometown. My parents have disappeared for more than seven years, and my two older brothers have also passed away. My nephew and brother have all passed away." I live by myself and have nothing to do with each other—hey, that’s all.”

When it comes to his hometown, the old man feels a little lonely.

The old man's grandson came over, a handsome young man in his twenties, smiled politely at Old Tan, and helped the old man upstairs.

Looking at the back of the old man, Lao Tan felt a little nostalgia for some reason, and the face of his mother appeared in front of his eyes——
Old Tan didn't plan to drink during the dinner at night, but it's not the case not to drink on this occasion. There are so many people toasting, one cup on the left and one cup on the other, and he soon becomes half drunk.

After the dinner, Yang Zhijun and Zhou Xiaomei helped him to the hotel.

Lao Tan took a shower, sobered up quite a bit, then sat on the sofa and turned on the computer to check the business status of each store that day. When he saw the Suzhou store, someone knocked on the door, and Wang Shulan, who was blushing, opened the door and walked in.

Not only was Wang Shulan blushing, but she was also wearing a brand-new red cheongsam with short sleeves and short skirt, looking radiant and several years younger.

He holds a bottle of red wine in his left hand, and a food bag with packed vegetables in his right hand.

It seems that I am happy to drink, and I want to continue drinking with Lao Tan.

(End of this chapter)