Sesame Green Bean Garlic

When the two of them returned to the store, a man was waiting at the street door.

"Teacher Huo!" the man called out politely.Zian was surprised, it was the first time he was called that.

Under the light bulb at the door, he saw clearly that the man was Aunt Kong's nephew Wei Guoen.Wei Guoen lowered his head slightly, the weather was cold, but a thin layer of greasy sweat appeared on his forehead.Seeing his nervous appearance, Huo Zian thought something had happened, and asked, "Looking for me?"

"Hey," Wei Guoen nodded vigorously, showing a broad smile, "Are you recruiting people?

It turned out to be an application.Huo Zian breathed a sigh of relief, and welcomed him into the shop, "What do you want to do?"

"I want to learn from you in the kitchen." He lowered his head again, as if about to bow.

"Well, do you have experience?"

Wei Guoen shook his head.Huo Zian was in trouble.He already has Yu Liangchen in his small kitchen, and there is really no way to accommodate another rookie who doesn't understand anything.Wei Guoen immediately said: "But I can learn, please give me a chance."

Huo Zian thought for a while: "If I remember correctly, you sell insurance, right? Why do you want to be a chef?"

Wei Guoen hesitated for a while, and then said in an enthusiastic tone: "I want to be a chef because I want to be like you. I will work very hard, and it is okay if you don't pay me; because I will definitely succeed, and I will put This investment earns back! When I persuade others to buy insurance, I always tell them that people have to live for the future. But the future of insurance is either sickness or death. , because my future is you. Please give me a chance."

Huo Zian was stunned, speechless for a long time.Turning to look at Yu Liangchen next to him, he saw him leaning against the table with a half-smile.

Of course Huo Zian didn't want to be Wei Guoen's "future", because his past wasn't like Wei Guoen either.He doesn't want to hire Wei Guoen, but although Wei Guoen's reasons are unacceptable, his attitude is very enthusiastic, and Zi'an will never harden his heart for enthusiasm.Thinking of Yu Liangchen's negativity and lethargy, he felt that he even accepted Yu Liangchen, and it was really against the law to reject an aspiring young man like Wei Guoen.

He thought for a while, and compromised: "Okay, try it for a month. The work in the kitchen is heavy, and you may feel tired and monotonous. Is this your future? You should try it first."

Wei Guoen was overjoyed and thanked again and again.Only then did he greet You Liangchen, as if he had just seen him.You Liangchen still raised his head, but didn't even say a word.

Wei Guoen has long been used to You Liangchen's indifference - not only You Liangchen, but the young people in these alleys, in his opinion, are all idlers, and they don't care about anything or anyone.Just because they happened to be born here, in the heart of this country!

Wei Guoen often feels unconvinced.But even his dissatisfaction was not noticed.He later figured it out: it was because he was not capable enough.Look at Huo Zian, isn't he also a foreigner?But he can make everyone in the alley pay attention to him and talk about him.Even Yu Liangchen, who was hanging in a bad way, was pushed around by him, and the more he was pushed around, the happier his mother was.

You Liangchen relied on his mother to stay by Huo Zian's side, but he could only rely on himself.He got the opportunity by himself, he believed that as long as the competition is equal, he will definitely throw these Beijing young masters a few blocks away, and Yu Liangchen can't even catch up with him!

As he promised, Wei Guoen was very diligent.Every day he comes to the store at seven o'clock and cleans it from front to back.After an hour, or an hour and a half, Huo Zian rode his bicycle from his apartment to the old alley.

No matter how clean Wei Guoen is, Huo Zian will wipe the kitchen carefully again, which seems to be his old habit.Then, Huo Zian would knock on a wall brick in the kitchen, usually three times, and after waiting for three or four seconds, he would lift off that "wall brick"—it turned out to be just a wooden board—to reveal a book-sized hole.

"Yu Liangchen, get up!" Huo Zian shouted towards the entrance of the cave.

After half an hour, You Liangchen will slowly step into the kitchen, as if he is not coming to work, but to go for a walk in the park.Then, depending on how sleepy You Liangchen was, Huo Zian chose to make him a cup of mint tea first, or make him breakfast first.

Yes, Huo Zian made breakfast for You Liangchen every day.This also made Wei Guoen puzzled—you Liangchen couldn't go out and buy two deep-fried dough sticks and pancakes, and he had to ask the Michelin-starred chef to serve him fried eggs with noodles? !And because Wei Guoen got up early, he was not only very energetic, but also had a meal, so he had no reason to enjoy mint tea and breakfast.

So, he could only watch the two of them, slowly eating breakfast and drinking tea, it was already ten o'clock.

This day has just begun.Huo Zian stayed in the kitchen unless he was talking outside, studying recipes while teaching them cooking knowledge and techniques.

Wei Guoen studied very seriously. Apart from memorizing every sentence of Huo Zian, he would practice whenever he had the opportunity.With the heart of an apprentice, he not only wants to learn what the master teaches, but also learns what the master doesn't teach, and he can't miss a single glance.What surprised him was that Huo Zian was not that kind of teacher, he taught them very wholeheartedly, and would explain everything clearly to them.If they didn't understand, he would read the book for them, and it was all in foreign languages. If Wei Guoen couldn't understand it, Huo Zian would translate and interpret it for him line by line.

Wei Guoen has never met such a teacher, not at school.Therefore, he was more grateful and fond of Huo Zian, and like a good student, he always hoped that the teacher's attention would be on him.

Huo Zian had a completely different attitude towards him than towards You Liangchen.If he did well, Huo Zian would appreciate it, if he didn't do well, Huo Zian would criticize it; and even if You Liangchen baked the steak into beef jerky, Huo Zian would not say a word.He privately analyzed that Huo Zian regarded himself as a student, while You Liangchen was just his burden, a kindergarten kid thrown to him by Aunt Kong, he had to take it with him, but never took it seriously.

No, it's not right to say that Yu Liangchen is a kindergarten kid, he is like an old man who regards the whole world as a park for walking birds.In You Liangchen's life, there are no words of self-motivation and learning, and he never takes the initiative to ask questions, as if everything is not worth raising his eyes.He made people close to him slow and lazy, even people like Huo Zian.

Huo Zian and You Liangchen never discussed cooking. When they talked, they were like two old men meeting in the park:

"Last night again?"

"Ah."

"Drink too much."

"No, just two bottles of beer."

"Beer hurts your body, it's better to drink some white wine."

"If you didn't wake me up at nine o'clock every day, I would drink anything."

"Yo, can't you drink earlier and go back to sleep earlier?"

"It's not dark enough, and there's no atmosphere for drinking."

"You still pay attention to this. Hey, let's eat shabu-shabu tonight and drink some Erguotou. Which restaurant in Beijing is good for mutton-boiled meat?"

"Jubaoyuan—forget it, the queue is at least two hours."

"Waiting for two hours and there are people in line?"

"Well, every day."

"Go ahead! How does it taste?"

"It's okay."

"Tsk."

Huo Zian would invite Wei Guoen to go with him, and Wei Guoen, like a good student, always straightened his back, happily saying that he still needs to read books and practice sword skills.Huo Zian never forced himself to go out with You Liangchen when the time came.

Watching the two of them leave, Wei Guoen felt that the world was moving fast.He feels that the kitchen has become bigger, and sometimes there will be a sense of loneliness; but such negative emotions are quickly buried by positive forces.He was an apprentice, so he had to bear the hardships and sacrifices of an apprentice, and he felt urgent because he had just stolen a while.During this time, You Liangchen ate meat and drank leisurely, while he ran non-stop on the road of cultivation.

He will far surpass You Liangchen, and even his "future", Huo Zian.

You just wait and see.

Before it was dark, there was a long queue at the gate of Jubaoyuan.After asking for a number, there are still 97 tables ahead.

Huo Zian and You Liangchen wandered around Niu Street, chatting with beef and mutton stall owners, inquiring about the place of origin, butcher, transportation, etc., and trying various halal snacks. Finally, the two of them made a bunch of candied haws and walked back to the gate of Jubaoyuan.There are more people than before, and the table numbers are only half gone.The two had no choice but to stand where they were and wait.

Zian took a bite of candied haws and said in amazement: "The sugar coating is thin and crisp, the hawthorns are soft, and the sweetness and sourness are really well controlled." Candied haws are also "limited" heavy foods, but he couldn't help eating the whole bunch.

You Liangchen has been with Huo Zian for a long time, and he knows that he actually loves sweets. Whenever he eats the flavor he likes, he will be as happy as a child, but he strictly controls himself not to eat too much roadside food. Contemplating the survival of the world.Every time he saw Zi'an's troubled appearance, he wanted to laugh, and his heart felt terrified.There are many things in his heart, such as when the little milk cat rubs its ears against the gray wall, or stepping on the muddy floor with bare feet, and finds a few small flowers that have sprouted beside his feet; but now the person who can make him feel furious, Only Huo Zian.

So, he gave Zian the remaining half bunch of candied haws in his hand.Zian wanted to refuse, but You Liangchen directly stuffed it into his hand, "Here, I'll go smoke a cigarette."

Zi'an held the candied haws, distressed in his heart: "Today, I failed again." After confessing, he happily put the candied haws into his mouth, and with a click, the sweet and sour juice filled his mouth, as if he was caught by someone who didn't know where. The wind stole a kiss.

Afterwards, although the shabu shabu was really delicious, it couldn't replace the half bunch of candied haws.

Jubaoyuan’s famous hand-cut mutton is a combination of three parts of the meat. The cut is thin and even. The meat will not leak water when placed on a plate, and it will not be muddy when boiled in a pot. It is very tender and does not stick. Sesame sauce is also delicious.

Seeing Huo Zian staring blankly at the chopsticks, You Liangchen asked, "Are you full?"

Zi'an thought about it and said, "The meat here is really good. The quality of mutton and beef is excellent. As you saw in the butcher shop just now, Beijing also has good ingredients. But the problem is not the ingredients, but the craftsmanship."

You Liangchen didn't know what he was going to say, so he said "hmm" casually.

Huo Zian held a piece of dark red beef, "Shabu-boiled meat should be eaten fresh; but steak in western food should be cooked." Knowing that You Liangchen didn't understand, he roughly explained that cooking means putting the meat at the right temperature and In the humidity, the beef's own enzymes are used to decompose the connective tissue in the beef, and the flavor of the cooked meat will be concentrated and more tender.Because special equipment is needed to control the humidity temperature, large stores usually have their own ripening room; otherwise, in Europe and the United States, many butchers will ripen the meat and sell it to customers.There, people can say "a good steak is not fried, but bought", but here, there is nowhere to buy it.

After listening to it, You Liangchen said indifferently, "Isn't it okay if you don't eat steak?"

Huo Zian smiled, what would you order in a western restaurant if you don't eat steak?Steak is a "universal" food, and it is easy to eat good food wherever you go. However, there are many types of French food, as well as liver and country stews, etc., which require some cultural emotions and habits to appreciate.Of course, there is also seafood, but the purchase channels of seafood are more severe, and the best ingredients are basically controlled in a few big restaurants.Zian has no capital to compete, so he can only get some from his friends in Shanghai.

This is mainly to fight for connections.Zian can think of a solution in Shanghai, but here he is blind.

You Liangchen had set up a stall selling food, no matter how high or low he faced the same problems, so he immediately understood Zi'an's distress.He is used to being safe when he comes, so he took a sip of Niu Er and said, "Don't bother, if you can't find eggs, go find a hen. Hens don't lay eggs, so chop up and eat meat, isn't it the same?"

Huo Zian laughed loudly, and had a drink with You Liangchen, "Nonsense!"

The two drank seven or eight minutes, and when they checked out and left, they realized that it was windy.The temperature at night is already low, and when the cold wind blows, it will freeze people immediately.As soon as the wind blows, the spirit of alcohol also rises. Huo Zian's alcohol capacity is mediocre, and the height of three or two is overwhelming. At this time, the soles of his feet seem to be stepping on cotton, fluctuating up and down.

You Liangchen hugged his shoulders, "How about you, sit and rest for a while?"

Huo Zian didn't speak, but put his hand into You Liangchen's pocket.You Liangchen confirmed that he was already drunk, and said with a smile, "What are you doing?"

Huo Zian said softly: "It's so warm...inside you." After a while, he remembered: "Give me a cigarette."

He felt cold, so he took a cigarette from You Liangchen's pocket.He seldom smokes. To him, tobacco is on the same level as monosodium glutamate and sugar, which has bad taste buds.But now he can't control himself, he just wants to smoke a cigarette.

You Liangchen took out the cigarette case from the other pocket, seeing that Huo Zian's eyes were blurred, he took out the cigarette and put it in his mouth.He picked up the plastic lighter, flicked out the flame, and approached the cigarette on Huo Zi'an's mouth.After clicking a few times, it didn't catch.

You Liangchen patted his face, "Dude, suck it." Huo Zian smiled, "I...I order it myself."

He hit it several times before he lit the fire.But he just stared blankly at the flames, but did not light a cigarette.

After a while, he suddenly said: "You Liangchen, I'm very cold. Beijing is really cold."

Yu Liangchen stopped in his tracks.He looked at Zian's face and said casually, "You miss home?"

As if waking up from a dream, Zi An shook his head and smiled, "No, I don't have a home to think about. I went abroad with my mother when I was very young and lived in...nine, ten, thirteen or fourteen cities. Cities...all It’s the same.” Looking at the junction between the building and the sky, he felt himself spinning, “It’s the same everywhere, and there is no difference between Beijing and other places.”

Huo Zian leaned over, put his arms around You Liangchen's neck, and said with a smile: "You Liangchen, if you want to run, where are you going? The whole world is the same!"

You Liangchen has a good capacity for alcohol, but when the wind blows, his body also feels light, feeling excited and sad at the same time.He followed Huo Zian and laughed: "That's right, they all look the same!"

"That's right. I've traveled all over the world, and it's all the same. What does it matter where my home is? They're all the same!"

"Then what are you doing in this broken alley?"

Huo Zian closed his eyes, as if experiencing some kind of mysterious experience.He smiled slightly, and said as if wandering: "Because... I miss home."

"Fuck!" You Liangchen pushed him away: "Aren't you still homesick, what are you talking about?"

Huo Zian opened his eyes, "But I don't know where home is."

Yu Liangchen slowly stopped smiling.After a while, he said: "It doesn't matter where the home is, the whole world is the same!" The two laughed like fools again.They are drunk and know that they are drunk, so they are qualified to be the masters of this world. They walk straight and sideways, and they can't say what they don't understand, and they can run rampant in this spinning world...

Yu Liangchen lit a cigarette: "I'm homesick too."

Huo Zian laughed and scolded: "What the hell, you can't even tie you with a rope."

"Didn't you tie me up?"

"I... am I a fucking rope?"

……

The night was too cold, and soon the cold wind covered everything, and the people and whispers gradually became lower and lower, and finally fell silent.