Siheyuan: Sizhu starts blindly and takes a new path

After hearing this, Sha Zhu was also moved: "Yes, there is also Lei Feng, but there are indeed not many people like him. Such people can be said to be saints or gods. We ordinary people can't do that, because we have our own parents and wives to take care of, and we have our own concerns and desires. We don't have the selfless love they have."

"In fact, you did a pretty good job. You cooked the wild boar meat you got for everyone before, and this time you provided clues to track down Pai Huazi."

"Alright, stop talking. She's not that kind of person at all. I'm so embarrassed. Fortunately, she didn't come after me, otherwise..."

"Haha." Zheng Xi looked at Sha Zhu's embarrassed face and defended him: "The one to blame for this is Qin Huairu's son. That kid didn't know anything and just talked nonsense. He caused chaos in the entire Nanluoguxiang."

Sha Zhu didn't want to comment on this ungrateful man who drove him out of the house in the dream and stole his steamed buns and money when he pretended to be blind. He just wanted to watch him silently. If he could become a better person, he wouldn't care. If he became a bad person, maybe he would push him away. But if he dared to touch the people around him, he would be ruthless.

Seeing that Sha Zhu didn't say anything, Zheng Xi changed the subject: "Section Chief Jin wants to have a drink together tonight, would you like to come?"

"I can't go. Today, there are people from other units who are going to exchange and study. I need to receive them. I can't leave. Besides, my wife is alone at home with a big belly, and I am worried."

"Okay, then we'll go drink. You take good care of your sister-in-law." Zheng Xi left.

Sha Zhu started to prepare the dishes for the evening, thinking about the menu for the banquet he was going to prepare this weekend. This was a job that Uncle Ren had recruited for him. His colleague Director Song's child was getting married, and they wanted to set up 8 tables. The standard for each table was 8 yuan, and he was asked to arrange the menu. In addition, his labor fee was 2 yuan per table, and he could bring in a host to do odd jobs for 4 yuan.

Sha Zhu prepared the following based on the ingredients that were available in the market: 6 cold dishes, 8 hot dishes, and 1 soup. After preparing the reception dinner in the evening, he went directly to the Song family.

Director Song and his wife looked at the menu and became happier and happier, especially when they saw that the hot dishes included meat and fish and had festive names, such as the candied yam, which Sha Zhu named "Long Long Long", the sweet and sour pork tenderloin, which was called "Suantian Daji", the pork with preserved vegetables, which was called "Hongpao Tianxi", and the last dish, red dates and lotus seed soup, which was called "Zao Sheng Guizi". Director Song originally thought that the chef recommended by Deputy Secretary Ren was too young and might not be able to prepare a good wedding banquet for his son. It seems that the chef's name is unique. So he asked, "Master He, I heard from Secretary Ren that you learned cooking from the master chef of Fengzeyuan before, and the menu you gave is indeed good."

Sha Zhu said politely, "I learned cooking from my master when I was young. Later, for some reasons, I went to work in the steel mill. Secretary Ren came to inspect our factory and tasted the dishes I cooked. The leaders who came with him were all very satisfied."

"Then it seems that it is right to ask you. So a friend of mine said he prepared some sea cucumbers for me. I wonder if you can make them?"

"No problem. I learned Shandong cuisine from my master. The Fengzeyuan Shandong cuisine has scallion-fried sea cucumber, which is also a signature dish."

"Okay, then you can take the trouble to make two plates of scallion-fried sea cucumber for us. Do you think I should pay you for the processing?"

"No need. If I charge you extra for two dishes, wouldn't that be a bit greedy?"

"Okay, then we have a deal. I'll have someone prepare the materials in the next few days."

"No problem. I'll bring people over to build the stove on Saturday, and I'll make sure to prepare a beautiful wedding banquet for you on Sunday."

On weekends, Sha Zhu took Ma Hua to the Song family to cook. Ma Hua had followed Sha Zhu to do private work for several times. Every time, in addition to being able to bring some delicious food home, Sha Zhu asked him for odd jobs. After several times, it was almost equal to his monthly salary. His parents kept nagging him to follow Sha Zhu well, listen to the master, work harder, and not let the master get tired. So Ma Hua was very diligent in picking vegetables, washing pots, and pumping bellows every time, which made Sha Zhu very depressed. He asked Ma Hua to come with him, not just to do odd jobs, but he wanted Ma Hua to learn more, see more, and have more contact, but this child was too honest. If Sha Zhu didn't say it, he would never see it, which meant that he didn't intend to steal the master's skills.

The ingredients prepared by the Song family this time were good, especially the sea cucumbers. Sha Zhu had no choice but to tell Ma Hua clearly and asked him to watch carefully the steps and techniques of his cooking after he finished his chores.

As Sha Zhu cooked, he said, "There are three key points to cooking sea cucumbers with scallions. First, cleaning. Make sure to clean the sea cucumber thoroughly without any impurities. You have cleaned it very well just now. Second, add spices. First, add ginger, then garlic, and then scallions. Fry slowly over low heat. Fry the scallions until they are golden brown and cooked thoroughly to make them fragrant."

Sha Zhu raised his nose and sniffed. The fragrance of the onion had been fully aroused. Ma Hua watched his master's movements and also sniffed.

"Can you smell the difference? What's the difference between the scent just now and now?" Sha Zhu asked Ma Hua.

"Master, they seem to be all the same." Ma Hua replied.

"When it wasn't fully cooked just now, there was a slight spicy and astringent smell. You probably couldn't smell it. Your master said that my nose is one in a million. You don't have this special ability, so you can only rely on your brain to remember. Remember the color of the onions I fried now. Next time I make it again, compare it with this time to see if it's the same. Remember these colors, and you will know when to take the dish out of the pan when you cook it yourself."

"I understand, Master." So, Ma Hua stared closely at the color of the onions and sea cucumbers in the pot, and he also carefully observed the colors of other dishes when they came out of the pot. Sha Zhu nodded, Ma Hua knew how to draw inferences from one example.

Sha Zhu scooped out some of the remaining soup in the pot for Ma Hua to taste. "It's not just the appearance of the dish, but the taste that should be remembered. Color, aroma and taste are the soul of a dish. If you can do two of them well, you can be a good cook. If you can master all three, you can be a master chef. When you become a master chef, I can take a break."

Ma Hua scratched his head and said, "Master, it's still too early for me to become a chef, but don't worry, I will definitely work hard."

Sha Zhu patted his apprentice on the shoulder and said, "Ma Hua, I have confidence in you. You are willing to endure hardships, have perseverance, and know how to adapt. You will become a great chef, but you must first correct your habit of scratching your head. We chefs must pay attention to hygiene. I didn't pay attention to this aspect before, and it was your wife who reminded me that I gradually changed."

Ma Hua thought about it and realized that his master had changed a lot. Not only did he wear clean clothes, but his sleeves were also clean every day. Although Ma Hua and Liu Lan washed them at night, it was all at Sha Zhu's request. Sha Zhu's hair was rarely tangled, and he always wore a hat when he entered the operating room. Look at him now, with a white hat, white sleeves, and a white apron. He was just short of riding a white horse.

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There is another chapter at 8 o'clock. Please comment. Thank you.