Siheyuan, Me and the Yu Sisters

The leader's wife came to the kitchen and said to Zhang Renkang

"Hey guys, shall we get started?"

Zhang Renkang asked in confusion

"Aren't we going to watch a movie first? If you cook it too early, the Sichuan food will get cold and won't taste good."

The leader's wife said with a smile

"No need to watch, let's eat first"

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"Okay, you can watch it"

As he said this, he heated up the oil in a pan and put the radish strips, black fungus and green peppers from the plate into the pan to make fish-flavored pork shreds. He instructed the leader's wife on the tricks and the time to add the ingredients, and then taught her how to control the heat. Soon, a plate of fish-flavored pork shreds was ready.

The leader's wife happily took it to the restaurant.

Zhang Renkang began to prepare the twice-cooked pork again. After steaming, slicing, spitting out oil, adding ingredients... a plate of tempting twice-cooked pork was ready and he asked the leader's wife to take it away. Zhang Renkang continued to be busy. At this time, the big leader, Director Yang, and Secretary Liu who were ready in the restaurant looked at the twice-cooked pork brought by the leader's wife and smelled the smell and their appetites were whetted.

The leader said with a smile

"It seems that Madam's cooking skills have improved a lot."

The leader's wife sat down and said

"Of course not. I, a young master, look young, but my skills are really good."

The leader took a bite of the twice-cooked pork with fat and lean meat, chewed it slowly, and in addition to the fresh aroma of the meat, there was also the good taste of bean paste and chili peppers. The spicy and salty taste lingered in the mouth for a long time. Without saying a word, he quickly took two more bites before putting down his chopsticks and said

“It’s delicious, really delicious. The chef’s cooking skills are authentic. I haven’t eaten such authentic Sichuan cuisine in many years. It tastes just like what I eat in my hometown.”

At this moment, the staff brought radish soup, Kung Pao chicken, Jiangyou pork intestines and a large bowl of tomato and egg soup. Finally, Zhang Renkang came in with the boiled fish that had just come out of the pot. After putting the boiled fish in the pot, Yang Weiguo introduced it with a smile.

"Leader, this is our steel mill's chef, Comrade Zhang Renkang."

The leader said with a smile

"Comrade Renkang is so young, but your cooking skills are amazing. You have satisfied my appetite."

"You can't judge a person by his appearance. Come on, comrade, sit down and eat with us."

Zhang Renkang cast his eyes towards Director Yang. Seeing Director Yang nod for him to sit down, he dared to sit down next to Secretary Liu. The big boss smiled and said to Zhang Renkang

"Renkang, what kind of dish is this?"

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"Boss, this is a new dish I cooked up using traditional Sichuan cooking methods. Please try the boiled fish and see if it suits your taste."

The leader smiled and picked up a piece of fish and said

"New dish, I must try it."

He put it in his mouth and chewed it, then nodded without saying anything and picked up another piece of fish meat to eat before saying

"Delicious, is this a new dish?"

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"Yes, I can't say about other places, but you are the first one to eat it in Yanjing City."

The leader smiled and said

"Well, I'm so lucky. You guys try it. It's really delicious. I think I can eat two big bowls of rice."

She motioned for everyone to try it. As soon as the leader's wife finished eating, she said

"Renkang, you have to teach me how to make this dish."

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"If you want to learn, I can teach you anytime. It's not difficult. You just need to fillet the fish and prepare the seasoning."

"Sichuan cuisine doesn't require much skill, it's mainly about the seasoning. I'll leave you a few seasoning recipes so you can make them at home."

The leader's wife happily picked up food for Zhang Renkang and said that this young man was really good. The leader took a few bites and asked

"Renkang, from what I heard you said, you don't care about this secret recipe being spread out?"

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"The chef industry is actually too closed-door. It takes three years for the new to be new, three years for the old to be old, three years for cooking, and three years for cutting."

"In fact, I am afraid that if I teach my apprentices something, I will starve to death. But I think technology is constantly improving and developing. If I am always worried about being surpassed by others, I will not make any progress in my life."

“I teach others what I know. When they surpass me, does it mean that I have a new direction to learn?”

After listening to Zhang Renkang's words, Yang Weiguo also sighed

"Yes, many of our masters just can't understand this. Nowadays, when the workshop asks them to take in an apprentice, they just do it to get by. There aren't many who really want to take in an apprentice."

The big leader also thought about it and said

"This is indeed a difficult problem. If we keep it secret, how can we train so many qualified workers in the future? It will also be a problem for national construction."

Zhang Renkang knew where the problem was, but he couldn't really say it. After all, everything was planned now, and no one had any motivation. He should not interfere in some things. Seeing that the senior leader and Director Yang were in trouble, Zhang Renkang picked up the cup and said

"I toast to the leader and wish you good health, smooth sailing, no worries, and happiness every day"

The big boss was also happy when he heard this. He stopped thinking about these troubles and smiled and said to Zhang Renkang:

"You are such an interesting young man. Please come over more often when you have time and cook some dishes from your hometown for me."

Seeing that the leader was happy, Zhang Renkang also responded

"Don't worry, if you want to eat it, you can always come to me. I have some new recipes, and you can help me try the taste when the time comes."

The big boss answered happily.

"That's good. You treat me as a food taster, so I'll let you taste it and see if I'm good or bad."

He clinked glasses with a few people. The leader had eaten a few more bowls of rice today than usual, which made the leader's wife and Secretary Wang very happy. When leaving, the leader's wife insisted on giving Zhang Renkang a radio to thank him for teaching cooking and giving him the secret recipe. Zhang Renkang didn't want to change his mind, but the leader's wife had to thank him.

"Thank you, Madam Leader. If you have learned the recipe I left for you, I will leave it for you next time."

Several people took Director Yang's jeep to the steel mill.

On the way, Director Yang said to Zhang Renkang

"Renkang, you are still young. When you become a state banquet chef in the future, I may not be able to eat your dishes."

"I see that Director Liu from your cafeteria will retire next year. Do you want to take a further step?"

Zhang Renkang said with a smile

"I don't have any big ambitions. I will do whatever you arrange for me to do."

Yang Weiguo nodded and asked

"What happened to the supplies you mentioned last time?"

Zhang Renkang said

"I will ride my bike there as soon as I have a day off tomorrow. It just so happened that Director Li gave me a bicycle ticket this morning. I just bought a bike this afternoon, and I followed you as soon as I got back to the factory."

Yang Weiguo nodded and thought

"This Li Huaide is really thoughtful. No, I can't let Li Huaide do the favor alone."

Say

"I was wondering if you needed a car. Since Director Li has arranged it for you, please come to my office later. You are not a child anymore, and it is time to get married. I have a sewing machine ticket. Take it and buy something for the family when the time comes."

How could Zhang Renkang refuse? If he refused now, wouldn't Director Yang think that he should keep his distance from him? He nodded quickly and said

"Thank you so much, Director. You really love us, your subordinates."

In just one day, Zhang Renkang's three turns and one ring were put together, and he made a watch. He could be said to be one of the best families in this city.

Yang Weiguo took Zhang Renkang to the office to get the ticket. When it was getting dark, he gave Zhang Renkang a few words and asked the driver to take him away. Zhang Renkang returned to the carport and rode his bike back to the courtyard.

Zhang Renkang, who was riding a bicycle with a radio in his arms, was undoubtedly the most handsome guy in the city. Although there were fewer people along the way, they were still attracted by Zhang Renkang's outfit.