Siheyuan: Breaking up with Shazhu at the beginning

A fat chef said hurriedly: "I know, this is yellow fruit." But his answer made Sha Zhu dissatisfied, "Do you think yellow is yellow fruit? The inside is white, why don't you use the term white fruit?" Obviously he was not satisfied with his answer.

Another smarter person, Hua Ma, thought for a while and suggested: "This one is shaped like the moon, so it should be called moon fruit." But he was immediately mocked by Sha Zhu: "It looks like an old lady's back, so you can call it milk fruit." While everyone was talking about it, Liu Lan walked forward to examine the appearance of the banana.

"I think this looks...seemingly...familiar." She was thinking seriously, revealing a hint of understanding. After realizing something, Liu Lan covered her mouth shyly, her cheeks slightly red, and left quietly without saying anything more.

"Haha!" "Yes! That's right!" The crowd laughed and joked.

Amid the noise, Sha Zhu cleared his throat and said, "Quiet! Let me tell you, this is a real banana, grown in the south, and it tastes great! I remember that Uncle Zhu used it as his staple food..." Seeing Sha Zhu getting proud, Yang Jun couldn't help but remind him, "Master He, it's almost time to get off work, hurry up."

So, Sha Zhu laughed, tied his apron hurriedly, and started to prepare the ingredients. The staff around him still gathered around to watch the fun, and everyone wanted to know what that strange "stranger friend" was.

After washing his hands, Sha Zhu found a clean porcelain bowl. He carefully peeled the banana skin, revealing the pure white inner core, and skillfully cut into small pieces. Not minding the gaze of Yang Jun beside him, he tasted a small piece without hesitation in front of everyone, "Hmm, so fragrant, it's a familiar flavor." While enjoying it, he put on a greedy expression, making everyone greedy. Yang Jun stood aside, with a slight curl of his lips, half-believing and half-doubting Sha Zhu's reaction, thinking, whether this guy has really eaten bananas, it is still questionable.

The moment Yang Jun's attention was diverted, Han Zhu quickly and secretly took a bite of the banana before adding the starch.

"Hmm, soft and sweet, leaving me wanting more." He talked about his taste.

Yang Jun stood aside with his arms crossed, secretly regretting that he had not kept a close eye on him earlier, otherwise he would have secretly eaten up this delicacy.

Now it’s coated with starch and then wrapped with egg white, how can you still try it?

Han Zhu held the bananas tightly in his hands so that they were evenly coated with the paste.

Then, he began to heat the frying pan, poured in cold oil, and waited until it was 50% hot before throwing the bananas coated with starch into the pan.

The bananas quickly become soft and golden in the pan and can be removed from the pan in about tens of seconds.

At this moment, Han Zhu reached out for another piece and said incoherently: "I have to taste it, is it cooked?"

Yang Jun was completely speechless. He had thought that wrapping it in paste would curb his desire to steal food, but he didn't expect that he would still want a spoonful after it was fried.

This person is so shameless. Do you need to fry bananas before eating them?

Han Zhu re-lit the stove, added half a bowl of cold water and another half a bowl of sugar, and stirred to make syrup. This step was crucial. He strictly controlled the fire, keeping it low and slow to prevent it from burning, while keeping it hot enough to turn the sugar liquid into thick syrup.

The syrup initially tumbles and produces large bubbles, which then gradually turn into dense small cannon-shaped bubbles. After that, the color gradually changes to yellow-red and becomes viscous.

Han Zhu observed the fire for enough time to confirm the temperature, and then poured the fried bananas into the boiling syrup.

Turn off the gas, take out the cooked bananas, shake them gently, and finally sprinkle some white sesame seeds. The delicious candied bananas are ready.

Afraid that Han Zhu would taste the food secretly again, Yang Jun immediately stepped forward and prepared to take over the plate of dishes.

Han Zhu quickly grabbed a spoon and ate it up in one gulp.

As the distance between the two people increased, the threads that were pulled out became longer and longer.

"Ouch! It's too hot, Uncle Han Zhu!" Han Zhu complained and quickly moved the candied banana to the sink to cool his hands.

You should be thankful that the freshly-baked sugar syrup doesn’t burn you to the point of screaming out of heat.

"Please bring me the other dishes." Yang Jun ordered with a smile and left with the plates.

Han Zhu agreed, quickly wiped his hands, turned around and was surprised to find that the banana shreds on the table had disappeared. At the same time, Ma Hua outside the door opened his mouth slightly.

Han Zhu, who instantly became angry, said sternly:

"Ma Hua, stay and clean the kitchen tonight!"

On the way to the private room.

While no one was paying attention, Yang Jun quietly hid the tempting but better-looking banana shreds on the plate in a private space.

When he walked into the private room, he saw Yi Qiu Shui had arrived first, and Ding Qiu Nan was beside her.

Yang Jun was not unfamiliar with Ding Qiunan's presence here.

After the life-and-death experience after the last incident with the street gang and the experience of sticking to their posts together, the emotional bond between the two became closer and they became close friends who could talk about anything.

"Eat it while it's hot." He put the plate with the dishes on the table, picked up a piece skillfully and handed it to them to try.

Han Zhu's banana shreds cooking skills are amazing, the bright and shiny syrup makes people salivate. The long shreds of sugar tempted them to keep trying to pull, and finally Yang Jun stood up.

"How can I eat this smoothly?" Ding Qiunan looked at the long and thin pulled silk with a puzzled look on his face.

"You have to bite vertically along the direction of the silk," Yang Jun answered almost instinctively.

Just as he finished speaking, there was a kick from under the table.

"Really? Eat vertically." Yang Jun glared at Yi Qiushui and began to demonstrate: "Look, if you eat it horizontally like this, the sugar will gather around your mouth and it is likely to burn your lips."

Yi Qiu Shui looked back at him and gently shook her little fist.

Ding Qiunan, who didn't understand what was going on, followed suit, opened her lips, and tasted it lightly with her teeth slightly exposed.

A crisp sound was heard. "Crack——".

The syrup has solidified into a sticky candy, which is crispy and sweet when you put it in your mouth.

"It's really good."

"If it tastes good, you should eat more. This is banana shreds that are hard to taste at other times." Yang Jun couldn't help but say.

Yi Qiu Shui immediately gave him an angry look to stop him from speaking.

"Is this a banana? I've never eaten it before." Ding Qiunan asked.

"It's a fruit unique to the south and not very common in our north," Yi Qiu Shui explained.

Next, the dishes in the box were served, two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, including a stewed lamb chop, a sweet and sour pork tenderloin, and a portion of hot and sour shredded potatoes. Seeing such a rich variety of dishes, Ding Qiunan felt a little embarrassed and blushed as she said:

"When you are free someday, I will treat you to a meal."

"Do you have plenty of money?" Yang Jun asked curiously.

"Not much," she answered.

"Then why are you entertaining us?"

Ding Qiunan smiled and explained, "The deputy director has been helping me all the time, and I've been thinking about finding an opportunity to repay you, but I'm worried that you're too busy to spare the time."

"Did you do anything for me? How come I didn't know anything about it?" Yang Jun buried his head in his food, looking confused.

When Ding Qiunan mentioned the promotion to deputy section chief, the employee welfare housing and the last street incident, Yang Jun said it had nothing to do with him. "Have you forgotten about stopping Xu Damao?" Ding Qiunan asked angrily, and it was obvious that Yang Jun did not respond directly.

Seeing this, Yi Qiu Shui quickly tried to smooth things over: "Okay, let's not talk about that. We appreciate your hospitality, just tell us when you are free. Don't be upset." She gave Yang Jun a warning look.

Considering that Ding Qiunan could not afford the down payment for the cadre housing, Yang Jun felt distressed. He decided to give as much help as he could in this world, and drove Cui Dake away and intercepted Xu Damao just to hope that Ding Qiunan would have a good life.

Yang Jun only had pure sympathy for Ding Qiunan, and his actions were only to save money and help her. After hearing Yi Qiushui's mediation, Ding Qiunan was not so angry, and seemed to be looking forward to the possible opportunity: "Doctor Ding, if you don't have a suitable one, do you want me to help you find a boyfriend?"

Hearing this, Yang Jun casually said, "That man is really suitable. Not only is he handsome, but he also has a bright future." He added mysteriously, "He is the deputy director of the steel mill. In fact, he is the driver of that leader."

This sentence caused the two to burst into laughter. Yang Jun's humorous ridicule hit a sore spot. Ding Qiunan finally stopped laughing, straightened his back, and asked, "Your driver Ma... the one called Juzi?"

"Well, his name is Ma Zhiping, and we all nicknamed him 'Juzi'." Yi Qiu Shui explained.

"That's right, Ma Juzi, the name sounds like someone who does hard labor." Yang Jun looked at the two of them helplessly.

Speaking of pulling a car, the atmosphere seemed to be getting worse and worse. But in fact, Yang Jun secretly thought that Juzi had good driving skills and a promising future, and could provide a good foil for Ding Qiunan, who was at the deputy section chief level. "He is the driver of the deputy director of the steel rolling mill, think about it." He said lightly.

Ding Qiunan caught the meaning of Yang Jun's words, and after sorting out her thoughts, she responded: "I will think about it carefully." She hopes to make a decision after further understanding, after all, she has spent so many years in Cui Dake's shadow.

thirteen

She never wanted to meet someone like Cui Dake again. If that person was as unbearable as Cui Dake, then she would rather be alone in her life. …

In Li Huaide's office, Gengzhi and Li Huaide were sitting opposite each other. The ashtray was full of cigarette butts and thick smoke filled the entire office area.

"I think we should keep our hands off this time." Gengzhi, who was sitting on the sofa, exhaled a smoke ring, with a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.

Li Huaide looked at the old man with white hair in front of him, and felt that he was getting old. As time passed, his courage and insight seemed to have weakened. Today, Gengzhi is no longer as brave and hardworking as he was when he was young. Recalling his arduous journey over the past 30 years, he had achieved countless brilliant achievements by coping with difficulties alone. Now, this hero who once stood alone began to hesitate.

"The reward for this mission is generous. If you succeed, you will get a large sum of money, enough to support the rest of your life." Li Huaide lobbied with a smile, with bait in his words.

Gengzhi took a long puff of his cigarette and shook his head, "It's not that I don't want to do it, but I feel something is wrong this time. My intuition tells me that something unexpected will happen."

"Lao Geng, you are worrying too much. You just need to remember the design drawings and related parameters, and I will take care of the rest." Deputy Director Li advised.

But Geng Zhi refused: "Deputy Director Li, don't force me. I have never been so scared in all these years. That ominous feeling follows me like a shadow, as if I will be captured at any time."

Seeing this, Li Huaide tapped the table with his fingers and reminded: "Lao Geng, this is the decision from above, I cannot change it. Whether you are willing or not, you must do it."

"Are you threatening me?" Gengzhi asked back with narrowed eyes.

"It's also a good idea to understand it from a different perspective," Li Huaide said frankly.

"What if I refuse?" Gengzhi pressed the subject.

"Then there is only one way - go to No. 32, Dalaba Hutong, the third house on the left to find the answer." Li Huaide responded indifferently, as if he had already prepared a backup plan.

Gengzhi was shocked when he heard this, and stared at Li Huaide with wide eyes in disbelief. "How did you know my relatives are here?"

Li Huaide smiled and replied: "When we were young, we often flew kites. Only by controlling the string in our hands can we control the flying kite. No matter where it flies, as long as there is a string holding it, it will eventually return to my hands."

"You are despicable and cunning." Gengzhi's fingers trembled, his hair stood on end, and the accusatory tone was evident in his words.

Li Huaide smiled bitterly: "Despicable and cunning? This word doesn't suit people like us. You and I are both in the hands of others. I should have known that once I got involved in this business, there would be no escape."

Gengzhi pondered and realized that what Li Huaide said was correct. The ending seemed to have been predetermined, and it was impossible to expect an ordinary return home.

His years of caution and concealment could no longer conceal everything. He originally thought that his family hid it well, but he didn't know that every step he took was controlled. At this moment, he felt tired and wanted to retreat unscathed.

However, no matter how strong the thought is, will others allow me to quit? Besides, my life is in the hands of others.

"Is that my only request? Can you let my family go if I complete the mission?" He finally compromised.

Hearing this, Li Huaide smiled with satisfaction: "As long as you bring back the drawings and data, I will not only release your family, but also provide a huge sum of money for you to choose where to live. The sky is high and the land is vast."

Li Huaide raised a smile. This result was expected, as if someone had already predicted this ending. Even though he had promised a generous salary, in the end, it was just a different ending...

Li Huaide has given up hope of escaping control after being caught in repeated betrayals.

"Tomorrow, I will call a meeting of all technical experts to discuss the issue. We can then take the blueprints back from the security department. With your memory, you will definitely be able to memorize those blueprints. Is that a problem?"

"For many years, I have let you, an engineer, do the work of a junior technician. I have treated you unfairly, but as long as you can successfully copy the drawings and data, a good life is waiting for you in the future."

Li Huaide's smile outlined an empty promise.

"Okay, I believe you. I just hope you don't betray me. Otherwise, I won't forgive you even if I become a ghost."

At this point, Gengzhi turned around and left the office. Li Huaide looked at the departing figure, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and he laughed silently.

Hey! I told you!

Once you enter this industry, it means you will end up with no way out.

When it was time to go to work the next day, Yang Jun realized that the visitor was an uninvited guest as soon as he walked into the office.