Siheyuan: The romantic and suave Xu Damao

"Hey, Brother Zhao, it's not that I don't want to go, it's just that the workload in the factory is very heavy. Look at it's snowing heavily, and we are still asked to come out to work. I've been lazy this time." Xu Damao looked embarrassed and explained helplessly.

"No need to force me, no need to force me. If you are free, then go. If not, forget it. However, Long Mei and I will set up a table here tonight. You can't refuse, can you?"

Zhao Gang said with a smile.

Zhao Gang is quite good at talking, after all, he often interacts with the guests who come to Quanjude for dinner. When he was an apprentice, he sliced ​​duck right under the noses of the guests, which required not only good skills but also a sweet mouth.

In the meantime, we have to communicate with the guests and answer their various questions, such as how to slice the roast duck, how to handle the duck frame, how to match the seasonings, etc.

"Sister Qian, you're getting engaged soon, so I'm half your family, right? Take this ten yuan, and it'll be my engagement red envelope. On your wedding day, I'll give you another big red envelope!"

As Xu Damao spoke, he took out a brand new ten-yuan bill from his pocket and handed it to Qian Longmei.

"Oh, I don't want it. Damao, you have taken good care of me. I really can't ask for your money anymore." Qian Longmei waved her hands quickly, refusing to accept Xu Damao's kindness.

"Hey, Sister Qian, don't refuse. I plan to eat the dishes brought by Brother Zhao every day in the future!" Xu Damao pulled Qian Longmei's hand without saying a word and stuffed the ten-yuan bill into her hand.

Qian Longmei couldn't refuse, so she had to take the money: "Brother Damao, you are too polite."

"Brother Damao, you don't have to do this. Although I am not talented, I have saved some money over the years and will definitely not treat Long Mei unfairly." Zhao Gang said seriously.

Hearing his words, Xu Damao nodded: "I feel relieved when you say that, but I, Xu Damao, don't have a sister. Sister Qian is my biological sister. If I get wronged in your family, hehe." When he said this, Xu Damao's face turned cold and he looked straight at Zhao Gang.

Zhao Gang waved his hands quickly and said, "Hahaha, don't worry, brother Damao, I am completely devoted to Long Mei! My parents have also met Long Mei and they like her very much. I promise that Long Mei will never be wronged if she follows me!"

Seeing Zhao Gang's promise, Cuinong, who was standing aside, couldn't help but turn around and laugh.

"Little girl! What are you laughing at!" When Qian Longmei saw Cuinong's laughter, she immediately found an excuse and turned around to scold Cuinong.

"Oh, Sister Qian, I'm happy for you, please don't be angry." Cuinong said with a smile.

The lovely Cuinong hugged Qian Longmei's arm and acted like a little kitten, and not only could no men resist her, but even Qian Longmei, a woman, couldn't stand it.

"Okay, okay, go eat something and talk less!" Qian Longmei said unhappily.

"Okay, okay. I'll pour some wine for Damao and Gang."

Cuinong was not polite. She opened the paper package on the table, took two wine glasses, opened the wine, and was about to pour wine for Xu Damao and Zhao Gang.

"Longmei, go get the kitchen knife so I can slice the duck." Zhao Gang sat at the dining table and shouted to Qian Longmei who was busy in the kitchen.

"Okay, I'll get it right away." Qian Longmei responded gently, and then turned around and went to get the kitchen knife. Her eyes were full of trust and dependence on Zhao Gang, as if he was the pillar of this family.

Xu Damao looked at the scene in front of him and couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart.

He had to admit that Zhao Gang was indeed a good man, and Qian Longmei also listened to him very much. To be honest, Xu Damao still felt a little uncomfortable, but at the same time he felt an indescribable envy.

Zhao Gang picked up the kitchen knife skillfully and began to cut the roast duck into slices.

His knife skills were very skillful, and every cut was so perfect that it was amazing. In a short while, a whole roast duck was cut into even-sized and moderately thick slices, which were neatly placed on the plate.

Zhao Gang picked up a piece of roast duck meat with chopsticks, dipped it lightly in the special sauce, added some chopped green onions, and rolled it into a spring pancake as thin as a cicada's wing. He carefully handed the rolled spring pancake to Qian Longmei, his eyes full of tenderness. Qian Longmei took the spring pancake, took a bite lightly, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face...

Seeing this, Xu Damao couldn't help but admire, "Zhao Gang, your cooking skills are really getting better and better. The roast duck slices are simply amazing, and the size and thickness of each slice are almost the same. It's amazing."

Zhao Gang smiled and replied, "Haha, you're too kind. I just like to think about these things, and I'll become proficient in them over time."

At this time, Cuinong couldn't help but join the topic: "Yes, the dishes cooked by Brother Zhao are really delicious. Especially the roast duck, it is simply amazing." As she said that, she picked up another piece of roast duck and put it into her mouth, savoring the wonderful taste.

Everyone was chatting happily while tasting the delicious roast duck.

"The Japanese were hated by both humans and gods in Beijing back then, and they did a lot of evil things!"

"Yes, that's right, damn devils..."

As time went by, Xu Damao and Zhao Gang began to toast each other, drinking one sip after another and chatting about trivial matters in life and work.

Qian Longmei looked at them, feeling a little worried that they would get drunk.

So she gently advised: "You two should drink less. It's still snowing heavily outside, and Zhao Gang still has to go to the store to work in the afternoon."

"It's okay. Let's drink less with Brother Damao so as not to delay work. Besides, with this kind of horrible weather, there probably won't be many customers coming to the store this afternoon."

Zhao Gang smiled and waved his hands to show that he was fine. He continued to clink glasses with Xu Damao.

"Sister Long, I'll chop up the duck and make some soup later. I'll put some radish in it and it'll taste delicious."

"Okay, I know you can cook."

The four of them sat at the square table, enjoying their meal. Knowing that Zhao Gang and Qian Longmei had to go to the store to work in the afternoon, Xu Damao did not deliberately urge them to drink. The two of them only drank half a bottle of wine and then stopped.

After eating and drinking, it was already past noon, and the snowflakes in the sky gradually became smaller.

Zhao Gang and Qian Longmei also said goodbye and left to go to work in the store, leaving only Cuinong and Xu Damao at home.

"Cuinong, please clean up. I drank too much and feel a little dizzy. I'm going to your room to sleep for a while." Xu Damao said pretending to be a little confused.

"Okay, Brother Damao, you go and take a rest. I'll clean up here. Hey, my sister Cuilan is not coming back, and it looks like Sister Qian won't be back tonight either..." Cuinong said meaningfully.