Reborn in 1977

At this time, a robust man who looked eight or nine parts similar to Chef Zhu, only much younger, came out from the back kitchen.

He happened to hear Chen Fan's words and couldn't help but say with a face full of emotion, "No wonder Chef Chen can publish articles in the District Committee's newspaper. He's diligent and eager to learn, truly different from us roughnecks."

At the same time, he was still wondering, what do raising chickens, pigs, and ducks have to do with handicrafts, carpentry, and electrical work?

Chef Zhu quickly introduced Chen Fan, "This is Zhu Hao, my cousin."

Chen Fan stood up and smiled, "Hello, Chef Zhu."

Wait, two Chef Zhus?

Zhu Hao waved his hand with a smile, "I'm not that much older than you. Just call me Brother Hao."

Chen Fan followed suit, "Brother Hao."

Zhu Hao smiled again, "You guys sit for a while, the dishes will be ready soon."

As he spoke, he was about to go inside.

At this moment, Chef Zhu stopped him and pointed at Chen Fan, "That's right, tonight you tell Xiaojuan to check if the bookstore in the county has the books Chef Chen wants. If they do, help bring them back."

Then he smiled at Chen Fan, "Xiaojuan is my sister-in-law. She works in the supply and marketing cooperative as an accountant. She has to go to the county every week to submit accounts, so she can help you take a look tomorrow."

Chen Fan was overjoyed, but he first looked at Zhu Hao.

In his heart, he couldn't help but be a little surprised. Chef Zhu wields the butcher knife, Zhu Hao wields the spatula, and his wife is in finance. This family all has good jobs.

"Stethoscopes, steering wheels, butcher knives, shop assistants" are the most enviable professions in today's society, and there is also the saying of "Eight Great Personnel": salesperson, driver, telephone operator, projectionist, hygienist, cook, broadcaster, technician.

These are all professions that are closely related to the quality of life of ordinary people, and all practitioners are the envy of everyone. Even going on a blind date has a higher chance of success than ordinary people by several times.

It must be very easy for the Zhu family to find wives.

Hearing his cousin's words, Zhu Hao immediately patted his chest and guaranteed, "It's a small matter. Write down a list of the books you want to buy, and I'll have her buy them tomorrow."

Chen Fan then smiled, "Then I'm really grateful."

Immediately, he took out a notebook from his cloth bag, quickly wrote down some keywords, then tore it off and handed it to Zhu Hao along with 10 yuan, "Then I'll trouble Brother Hao. Also, if it's convenient, please also bring me three meters of wire and a socket."

Zhu Hao took it and looked at it. It was about the same as what he had just heard. He couldn't help but marvel in his heart. Is there really someone who knows so much?

But he smiled on his face, "Wire and socket, right? No problem. You guys sit for a while, I'll make you a few dishes."

At this moment, Chen Fan suddenly said, "Brother Hao, I suddenly want to eat twice-cooked pork and stir-fried pig liver,"

Then he looked at Chef Zhu, who was full of surprise, and continued with a smile, "It just so happens that Chef Zhu brought pork belly and pig liver today, why don't I borrow flowers to offer to Buddha and make two plates?"

Zhu Hao burst out laughing, "Then I'm really asking for it."

These past few days, he didn't know how many times he had heard his cousin talk about these dishes, and he had tried it himself several times, but the old man always said that the taste was too different. Now, if he could watch Chen Fan personally make it once, even if he couldn't replicate it, he would definitely be able to improve. By then, he would have mastered a few unique skills.

Chen Fan entered the kitchen, and sure enough, just like imparting skills, he shared the techniques for making these dishes without reservation.

"Twice-cooked pork should be made with pork belly, with alternating layers of fat and lean. First, put it in clear water and add scallions, ginger, and cooking wine to boil. Boil it until you can easily pierce it with chopsticks. It can't be too raw or too old. Then, take it out and cut it into thin slices, stir-fry it in oil until it forms a nest shape…"

Zhu Hao himself was a chef who had been in charge of the wok for nearly ten years, and he quickly understood the trick.

After Chen Fan made two dishes, he didn't even let the two apprentices touch them. He personally brought them out, took another bottle of Yunhu Daqu, and smiled extra happily on his face, "You guys eat first, and for the next few dishes, please have Chef Chen take a look at my skills."

Chen Fan smiled, "I'm already calling you Brother Hao, you can just call me Little Chen or Little Fan, don't call me Chef Chen anymore, I really can't afford it."

Zhu Hao laughed, "Okay, okay, then I'll call you Little Fan from now on. Come, come, come, you guys drink first, I'll be right back."

After speaking, he went into the kitchen.

Chef Zhu also smiled at Chen Fan, "You probably don't know my name yet, right? My name is Zhu Shaojiang. If you think highly of me, you can call me Brother Jiang in the future."

Chen Fan immediately raised his glass, "Then I'll toast Brother Jiang."

The glasses clinked, and both of them were overjoyed.

Originally, Zhu Shaojiang just wanted to invite Chen Fan to a meal and try a few new dishes. He didn't expect Chen Fan to be so generous, directly teaching his cousin. This favor was quite big.

Chen Fan was also very happy. Building a good relationship with the knife master of the food station and the chef of the state-owned restaurant would only benefit him and do no harm.

These two are both positions that deal with people. The food station is where everyone in the commune has to go to buy meat, and the restaurant chef directly meets with the leaders every two or three days. In this era where human relationships are very important, in this three-acre land of Nanhugong Commune, these two are probably able to "reach the heavens with their hands and eyes."

While drinking and chatting, Chen Fan spoke less and listened more, like an excellent straight man, listening to Chef Zhu tell all kinds of little-known secrets in the commune, which also increased his understanding of this place.

After a while, Zhu Hao also came out with two dishes and a soup, and sat down to chat together.

Men talk more when they drink. This chat went from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Four dishes and a soup were not enough, so they added a plate of braised beef and braised large intestines.

Zhu Hao was also worried that Chen Fan would think he was stingy for not serving fatty meat, but instead served a plate of beef, so he said with a smile, "Don't look at this beef being two cents cheaper than pork, that's because there's not much fat, so fewer people buy it. But if it's made well, this beef is much more delicious than pork. If you don't believe me, try it."

Chen Fan grinned awkwardly. Beef is cheaper than pork? Really?

He picked up a piece with his chopsticks, put it in his mouth and tasted it, and nodded repeatedly, "Hmm, very tender, Brother Hao has good craftsmanship."

Zhu Hao was immediately surprised, "Yo, you're an expert, knowing that braised beef should be eaten tender. Many people say that this meat has no chewiness, it's really wasting my craftsmanship."

Zhu Shaojiang smiled, "You don't look at what Little Fan does, maybe he's a more powerful chef than you."

Zhu Hao immediately shook his head and said seriously, "That's impossible. Little Fan is a cultured person, making a living with his pen, how could he be wielding a spatula?!"

As soon as these words came out, the three of them laughed again.

At this time, it was already noon, and the door of the restaurant was pushed open, and a group of people walked in, bringing in a chill.

Those people stood outside the counter at the door, looked at the blackboard menu hanging on the wall, and ordered a few dishes.

The salesperson wrote a menu and said expressionlessly, "4 yuan 8 mao, two jins of food stamps."

One of them quickly took out money to pay, then took a small ticket and walked to the innermost place near the kitchen door to sit down.

The salesperson then handed the written menu in through the serving window.

Zhu Hao, who should have been cooking, didn't move at all, still holding his wine glass and chatting.

Seeing this scene, Chen Fan realized that it should be a little late now.

Looking outside again, there were only sporadic snowflakes in the morning, but now they gradually became larger, so he said softly, "Brother Jiang, Brother Hao, it's getting late, why don't we stop here today and find a time to drink again next time?"

Zhu Hao still wanted to say something, but Zhu Shaojiang waved his hand and said sternly, "You still have to go to work in the afternoon, and it's a bit far to walk back. Then let's stop here today. You still have to come over to get the books tomorrow, let's continue drinking."

Chen Fan quickly said, "Brother Jiang, Brother Hao, I'm definitely happy to have good wine and good food, but I really have a lot of things to do these days, especially since the New Year is coming soon, and I haven't prepared anything yet, I'm afraid it's really not possible during this time."

Seeing that he was telling the truth, Zhu Shaojiang didn't force him, and smiled, "Okay, there's plenty of time in the future."

After a pause, he smiled again, "But on the Little New Year, your Captain Xiao asked me to go over to slaughter pigs, you can't run away that day, right?"

Chen Fan laughed immediately, "Okay, okay, let's drink again that day."