Siheyuan: The happy life of a little chef

"Xie Cheng may not have time. So, Jianjun, I will let Jiefang and Jie Kuang go. They can just take a leave tomorrow. It will be a good opportunity for them to be with Guangtian and Guangfu, so they won't be tired." Yan Bugui thought very clearly. More people means more income.

"Okay, one dollar each, I treat you all equally and invite two people to my house for dinner tomorrow night. Do you think it's okay?" Li Jianjun asked.

Yan Bugui's eyes lit up. He knew the food at Li Jianjun's house, and who wouldn't want to eat it? "That's great, Jianjun. Just wait and see. I promise to take care of it for you."

Li Jianjun took out the money and bills and handed them to Yan Bugui: "Third uncle, please keep the money and bills. Tomorrow, ask Jiefang and the others to go find Brother Guangtian. Second uncle should be able to tell them."

Yan Bugui took it over: "Don't worry, Jianjun, I won't delay your business. By the way, Jianjun, what did you say about this banquet when you got married?"

"Uncle, the economy is bad right now, who dares to hold a lavish banquet? On Sunday, I will just invite a few people with whom I have some connections to have a meal in the yard. We still have to keep a low profile," Li Jianjun said in a low voice.

"I understand. Jianjun, the uncle will be waiting for your wedding banquet." After saying that, he went home.

Yan Bugui returned home and held the nth family meeting: "I have something to tell you. Tomorrow, you two should take a leave of absence and go with Guangtian and Guangfu to help Li Jianjun buy and transport coal. We won't work for nothing. You just need to hand over half of the money he gives you."

Yan Jiefang asked: "Dad, how much money can he give? If we hand over half of it, we won't make any money. It's too tiring. I don't want to go."

Yan Bugui smiled. His son was just like him and liked to calculate. "One dollar per person, and we'll go to Li Jianjun's house for dinner in the evening. If I didn't have classes tomorrow, would it be your turn? The food at Li Jianjun's house is different. You'll know tomorrow."

Yan Jiecheng next to him was anxious: "Dad, I'm already doing odd jobs outside, why don't you let me go?"

Yan Bugui adjusted his glasses, revealing a gleam of wisdom: "Originally Jianjun wanted you to go, but I turned him down. Think about it, it only costs one dollar for you to go alone, but your two brothers only cost two dollars, and they can go out to eat together. Do you understand? This is called sacrificing the self for the benefit of everyone."

Yan Jiecheng muttered, "You've got a good idea. Sacrifice me so they can have something delicious to eat."

Yan Jiefang was happy: "Dad, don't worry, I will definitely get it done, hehe." He had already started fantasizing about going to Li Jianjun's house to eat meat tomorrow.

Li Jianjun returned home and told Han Chunyan about the matter. Although she felt sorry for the money, the man had already made up his mind and she had to execute it without objection. This was also what her mother taught her.

The next day, Li Jianjun arrived at the cafeteria and said, "Nan Yi, do you want to take a job? Someone asked me to go, but I was too lazy to go, so I recommended you. How about it?"

"Oh, thank you brother. I will never embarrass you." Who doesn't want to live a better life, but there is not much time to live these days.

"The host asked us to bring two kitchen helpers. You take one, Liu Lan, and you can choose the other one yourself." Li Jianjun decided on one and kept one for himself, then told him the time and place.

Nan Yi knew that Li Jianjun wanted him to build good relationships in the cafeteria. After all, Liu Lan was no ordinary person at first glance, and everyone gave her some respect except Li Jianjun.

Nan Yi found Liu Lan and said, "Sister Liu, Master Li introduced a job and asked me to take you there. You can find someone suitable in our cafeteria. Two people are just right."

Liu Lan said excitedly, "Really? Thank you Nan Yi and Jianjun. Let's take Xiao Zhao with us. He's the best at cutting vegetables and he's also an honest person. The three of us will go when the time comes."

Liu Lan recommended a young Zhao named Zhao Desheng. His family conditions were not very good, but he was honest and hardworking, never gossiped, and had a somewhat dull personality.

Nan Yi nodded in agreement. He had also seen Xiao Zhao cutting vegetables. Although his skills were somewhat inferior to theirs, he could still help.

After work in the evening, Li Jianjun found a deserted place and took out some meat and a white-striped chicken from the space. There were also cabbages and radishes at home, which was enough.

As soon as I entered the door, I saw Xiaodang. When Xiaodang saw Li Jianjun coming back, he ran over and said, "Uncle, there is someone at home."

Qin Huairu didn't let Xiaodang look for Li Jianjun these two days. She knew that Li Jianjun was married and it would be inconvenient for Xiaodang to go there all the time.

Li Jianjun picked up Xiaodang and said, "That's my uncle's wife. You should ask your aunt to leave and go home with your uncle."

Li Jianjun pushed the cart with one hand and held Xiaodang's hand with the other as they returned to the house. Everyone in the courtyard could only envy them, feeling that the Jia family was really lucky.

Li Jianjun came back with Xiaodang: "Wife, take the things back." As he said this, he handed the cloth bag to Han Chunyan.

Han Chunyan came out and saw Li Jianjun holding a child and asked curiously, "Jianjun, whose child is this?"

"Child of the Jia family, Xiaodang has been my good friend since I entered this courtyard." As he said this, he tickled Xiaodang, who giggled non-stop.

Seeing how much Li Jianjun loved children, Han Chunyan decided to give birth to a child for Li Jianjun as soon as possible.

Li Jianjun put Xiaodang in Han Chunyan's hand and said, "Xiaodang, play with your aunt for a while, and I'll make you something delicious, okay?"

Xiaodang has become much more cheerful now that she has more contact with Li Jianjun. She is no longer afraid of Han Chunyan and plays with her. Li Jianjun went into the kitchen and started cooking. He called the boys over today and had to cook more as they might eat a lot.

Soon, the kitchen smelled delicious food, and the second uncle could smell it at home: "You two little bastards, go eat and behave yourself, don't embarrass me like starving ghosts."

Liu Guangtian drooled: "I know, Dad."

Liu Haizhong wanted to go, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Li Jianjun had invited a junior to help him. Wouldn't it be shameless for him to go? If it was someone else, it would be fine, but Li Jianjun didn't dare.

Soon three dishes and a soup were ready. They were all meat dishes: braised pork, braised chicken, stewed pork ribs with radish, and fried cabbage. The stewed pork ribs with radish was made in the space. Li Jianjun made perfect use of the flow rate of the space.

Li Jianjun came out with a small bowl with some fried food in it: "Come, Xiaodang, see what delicious food your uncle has made for you."

"It's fried, Xiaodang knows it." Xiaodang may have eaten one or two pieces only during the Chinese New Year, but forget about it at other times.

Li Jianjun picked up one and put it in Xiaodang's mouth. Xiaodang chewed it with an intoxicated look on his face. At the same time, he put one in Han Chunyan's mouth and ate one himself. It was so delicious.

The three of them finished eating in a short while, with only a few pieces. "Xiaodang doesn't want to eat anymore. It's time for dinner. Chunyan, the dishes are ready. I'll go call them and you bring the dishes up."

Han Chunyan was a little surprised: "It's ready so quickly, I thought you came out while the food was stewing, how did you do it?"

"The mountain man has his own clever plan. Don't ask me anymore. I'll go call for help." After saying that, Li Jianjun went out.

Soon four young men came over: "You four, wash your hands and get ready to eat."

The aroma was so overbearing that the four of them all wanted to eat quickly and rushed to wash their hands.

Li Jianjun, as the host, who was sitting at the table, spoke first: "Thank you for your hard work today. I'll pay you before we eat." After that, he gave each of them one dollar.

The four of them took the money and put it in their pockets without even looking at it. Now their attention was focused on the food.

Li Jianjun picked out a chicken leg and a chicken wing and put them in Xiaodang's bowl. They didn't say anything when they saw it. Why bother with a four-year-old kid? How much could she eat? Besides, there was still so much.

"Don't just stand there, eat. If it's not enough, there's still rice in the pot. Go add more yourself." After saying that, he started eating.

Maybe their families had told them so, so the four of them were restrained at this moment. Although they ate quickly, they did not wolf down their food like Jia Zhang and Bang Geng did.