Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 257

He Yuzhu thanked him for his hard work, then drank tea with He Daqing, while Ma Hua tactfully went to get back to work.

After everyone left, He Daqing said, "Don't you think Ma Hua is a very clever kid?"

"Yes, they have a good eye."

He Yuzhu nodded and said something, then asked, "What, are you thinking of taking on an apprentice?"

"We are considering this, and we are currently investigating it," He Daqing said.

"No, you can't take this disciple."

He Yuzhu quickly stopped him, saying it was a joke. Ma Hua was supposed to be his apprentice in the future. If He Daqing took him as an apprentice, wouldn't he become his junior brother?

It would be fine if it were someone else, but it just feels weird that it's MCA.

Doesn't this mess up the generational hierarchy?

He Daqing was somewhat surprised and asked, "Don't you think this child is suitable?"

In the entire kitchen, Ma Hua was the most diligent and perceptive. He had long wanted to take Ma Hua as his apprentice, but he didn't expect that He Yuzhu would reject the idea.

He Yuzhu racked his brains but couldn't come up with a suitable reason to persuade He Daqing. He couldn't very well say that Ma Hua should be his apprentice and that he didn't want him to become his junior apprentice!

But he couldn't bring himself to say that reason, and he couldn't speak ill of MCA either, because if he did, it would be difficult for him to stay in the kitchen.

Isn't this putting MCA in a difficult position?

All I could say was vaguely, "This child is still young; you should observe him for another two years."

I asked him about it while I was working. He was a temporary worker, and if nothing unexpected happens, he'll be a temporary worker for life and will never become a permanent employee.

There are two ways to recruit workers into the factory now. One is as a temporary worker. No matter how many years you work there, you will always be a temporary worker and will not be directly converted into a permanent worker.

However, if someone enters as an apprentice, after a three-year apprenticeship and learning skills from a master, they can be directly promoted to a full-time employee based on their assessment level.

After three years, they would become permanent employees of the steel rolling mill, a status vastly different from that of temporary workers.

Ma Hua was a kitchen helper, only a temporary worker.

Although He Daqing didn't know why He Yuzhu said that, he still said, "Alright, let's wait two more years. After all, he's still weak and doesn't have the strength."

The MCA incident was just a minor episode. The two rested for a while, and then got up to start cooking.

Factory Director Yang led a four-person inspection team to inspect the newly completed forging workshop. The purpose of this inspection was to see if the new workshop could produce smoothly.

Fortunately, production was already underway and nothing went wrong. After the inspection, we were invited into a separate dining room as usual.

Without being told, the waiter went out and brought the dishes to the table.

The head of the inspection team was a high-ranking official. He looked down and saw that it was all Sichuan cuisine. He smiled and said, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

"Serving the leaders is our duty. Please try this Sichuan cuisine and see if it's authentic."

You can find plenty of Sichuan cuisine in Beijing, with the Emei Restaurant being a prime example, which recently opened.

It was only slightly modified to cater to the tastes of Beijingers, so that ordinary people could get used to the spiciness of Sichuan cuisine.

However, this would mean it wouldn't be pure Sichuan cuisine anymore.

"Then I'll try this Sichuan cuisine and see if it's authentic."

As the leader spoke, he picked up his chopsticks, took some Kung Pao Chicken, and put it in his mouth.

Then his eyes lit up.

Chapter 191 Subduing the Top Leader

Factory Director Yang was delighted to see this; this arrangement was the right one.

Although He Daqing was also very skilled, he was several levels below He Yuzhu, and the taste of their dishes was definitely different.

Although He Daqing studied Sichuan cuisine, what he actually made was a modified version of Sichuan cuisine, not authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Just like how Shandong cuisine was introduced to Beijing and transformed into Beijing cuisine, it lost its original flavor and became more suited to the tastes of Beijingers.

He Daqing had cooked Sichuan cuisine before, and the senior leader's evaluation was just average. Director Yang immediately realized that what the senior leader wanted was authentic Sichuan cuisine.

Such chefs are hard to find in Beijing. You can't really go all the way to Sichuan Province to hire one!

He Daqing had previously said that his son not only had excellent cooking skills, but was also proficient in all eight major cuisines and could make authentic dishes.

Asking He Yuzhu for help has indeed given the big boss a pleasant surprise.

"How does it taste this time?"

"It's very authentic, the original flavor of Sichuan cuisine. You should try it too."

The last sentence was addressed to the other three members of the inspection team and the accompanying deputy secretary and deputy factory director.

Everyone picked up their chopsticks, tasted the dish, and exclaimed how delicious it was. The top leader had already declared it to be authentic Sichuan cuisine, so no one raised any objections, since the dish was truly delicious.

The food was much better than what I had eaten during my previous check-ups.

"Have you changed chefs?" the senior leader asked.

Factory Director Yang quickly explained, "No, sir, it's like this, our original chef was named He Daqing, and he had a son..."

He quickly explained He Yuzhu's background, which made the big boss realize that today's chef was an outsider and that they wouldn't normally get to eat like this.

If you don't make things clear, and someone wants to eat He Yuzhu's meal replacement again, where are you going to catch them?

"You're not a permanent employee at your factory?"

Factory Director Yang said with a wry smile, "He is a first-class cook. Our factory doesn't have the resources to hire such a famous chef, not to mention that Comrade He Yuzhu has his own career."

"It is indeed beyond the standard. The factory can only hire chefs with a level of 6 or below for its large-scale catering system."

As for He Daqing being promoted to deputy director of the canteen after obtaining the Level 4 certificate, such things are minor. Although strictly speaking, there is some suspicion of violation, as leaders who often come to inspect, no one would go against their wishes to eat more delicious food.

But if you want to hire a top-level cook, it's a different story. The official salary is 89.5 yuan, and that's not a penny less. But it's impossible to hire someone just by paying that little money.

You definitely have to give them more extra benefits, otherwise they won't come here to serve these leaders in this crappy factory.

It would be better to stay in a big hotel as a head chef, or go to a government agency to cook for the leaders.

Only then did they realize that the meal was prepared by a top-level chef, which was practically at the level of a state banquet chef.

Factory Director Yang, accompanied by several deputy secretaries, warmly invited the four members of the inspection team to eat and drink well.

Director Fan was waiting outside and overheard their conversation. He was now completely relieved. As long as these leaders were satisfied, it would be a reward for his work.

The atmosphere here is lively with toasts and laughter. Although these factory leaders are usually very authoritative, they are all shrewd and diplomatic at the dinner table, ensuring that the atmosphere never gets dull.

The food was exceptionally delicious today, prompting everyone to pick up their chopsticks and grab some.

Dishes like Mapo Tofu, Sliced ​​Beef and Offal in Chili Sauce, Wontons in Red Oil, Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce, Kung Pao Chicken, Twice-Cooked Pork, Boiled Beef in Chili Oil, and Dongpo Pork Knuckle are all delicious and visually appealing, making them irresistible to everyone.

The senior leader was very satisfied with the hospitality and said to Director Yang, "Please invite Master He over. I want to toast him today and thank him in person."

The top leader is from Sichuan Province. Since leaving his hometown, although he has eaten a lot of Sichuan cuisine, none of it has been authentic.

I originally thought today would just be an ordinary meal, but I never expected to get to eat authentic Sichuan cuisine, which impressed the big boss.

This meal unexpectedly brought back memories of my hometown and reminded me of my youth.

"Alright, I'll go and invite Master He."

Back in the kitchen, He Daqing was still a little uneasy, saying, "What if the boss isn't satisfied and says it's not authentic?"

"Don't worry, you won't be dissatisfied; it's absolutely authentic Sichuan cuisine."

He Daqing still had some doubts. Preparing a banquet for the leaders was always a test, as he was afraid it wouldn't suit their tastes.

He Yuzhu, however, was very confident. He had just glanced at the person in charge of today's inspection and realized that the big boss was the one in charge. Originally, He Yuzhu's cooking skills could have impressed him.

Now that I've become a first-class cook and learned about the eight major cuisines, with the support of a systematic approach, satisfying the top leader shouldn't be a difficult task.

Before He Daqing could say anything more, the father and son saw Director Yang stride in with a beaming smile.

He warmly extended both hands to shake He Yuzhu's and said, "Thank you, Comrade He, you've worked hard."

"You're too kind, it's all I should do."

"Comrade He, the leaders inside are very satisfied with the dishes you prepared. Please come with me. They want to thank you for your hard work in person."

He Yuzhu was invited into the room, and Director Yang stood up, holding a wine cup and handing it to him: "Thank you, Comrade He, for making authentic Sichuan cuisine."

"It's only right for the big boss to serve you, you don't need to be so polite."

He Yuzhu took the wine cup, a broad smile on his face.

Just as I thought, if you're not satisfied with the dishes you make, then there's no food in the world that's edible.

"Comrade He, you are too modest. Thank you for reminding me of the taste of home. I must toast you with this glass of wine to thank you for your hard work."

The high-ranking leader was speaking from the heart, not out of pretense.

This made He Yuzhu feel relieved; he could get along with this high-ranking leader.

He Yuzhu happily accepted the toast from the senior leader. After drinking, the senior leader invited He Yuzhu to sit down and have dinner together.

He wasn't an immature child, so of course he politely declined the big boss's offer.

"Thank you for your kindness, sir. There's a dessert and a soup in the kitchen, so I won't take up any more of your time."

The senior leader extended the invitation in a moment of excitement, realizing that He Yuzhu was not suitable to sit down and have this meal with him.