Silly Zhu's Moving: The Old Neighbor's Nightmare

Chapter 38 Small gathering

After finishing his work in the kitchen, Sha Zhu figured his master should be back by now.

Just as I was about to go out and take a look, the food was ready to be served.

Turning my head, I saw two heads, one big and one small, peering into the kitchen from the doorway, drooling.

"Master, you're back from get off work! Doesn't my stir-fry smell delicious? Hehe."

My sister and I have come to rely on you today. Today I'll show you what I'm capable of.

"Let me show you, Master. My cooking skills are no worse than my martial arts."

Sha Zhu was carrying the food out while talking to his master.

"Hurry up, Master, Yushui, wash your hands and eat."

The food smelled so good that the two of them even wanted to come in and help serve the dishes.

Upon hearing Sha Zhu say to wash his hands, he forgot about helping and hurriedly ran to the sink to wash his hands.

Once all the food was served, the three of them sat down, without the chef or Yu Shui even greeting them.

I couldn't wait to pick up a piece of braised pork with my chopsticks and taste it.

"Hmm, not bad. I didn't realize you were such a good cook, Zhu Zi."

I stayed at my master's house for almost two months, and he never even cooked me a meal.

Let me satisfy my craving. You're not being honest, buddy; your cooking skills are just as good as your master's.

While eating, Master Li kept criticizing Sha Zhu.

"Hehe, Master, you can't blame me for this. When I was working at Fengzeyuan..."

I don't get off work until 8 or 9 pm every day. And on weekends, Chef Wang comes over wanting to cook for you and drink with you. He doesn't even give me a chance!

As he spoke, Sha Zhu also picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth. It was bright in color, rich in flavor, sweet with a hint of salt, and fatty but not greasy.

"Master, would you like a couple of drinks?"

Without waiting for Master Li's reply, Sha Zhu ran into his room.

They transferred a bottle of Lai Mao liquor and two bottles of Beibingyang soda from the space and brought them back to the dining table.

I handed Yushui a bottle of Beibingyang soda, intending to pour wine for my master, but then I realized there were no glasses. So I ran back inside and got three more glasses.

"Master, how about you try this wine?" Sha Zhu said as he poured wine for his master.

Master Li Xinggong picked up the Lai Mao liquor on the table and looked at it.

"Lai Mao, it's good wine. I drank it with my colleagues at school the other day."

I heard that the government is planning to send personnel to Guizhou to inspect wineries, and is interested in promoting Guizhou's Lai Mao liquor.

Hua Mao and Wang Mao are merging to form the Guizhou Maotai Distillery.

The master then took a bite and smacked his lips.

"Hey, not bad. Smooth on the palate, rich in soy sauce aroma, and with a long finish. Good wine, Master Wang, you've gotten a good deal."

I haven't come home from get off work yet. Good food deserves good wine, and this wine is all mine today.

Master Li Xinggong was savoring the memory.

The courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open, and Master Wang Yijun walked in pushing his bicycle. "All the good wine is yours to keep."

When Sha Zhu saw Master Wang come in, he quickly stood up and prepared a chair for him. He then went to the kitchen to get chopsticks and serve rice.

Seeing the stranger enter, the raindrops beside him glanced at him twice.

Keep stuffing food into your mouth, nothing smells better than the delicious food.

Mr. Wang parked his bicycle and washed his hands at the sink. He went to the dining table and saw Yushui. "Yushui, don't you recognize your Uncle Wang?"

Yu Shui stopped eating, opened her eyes wide, and stared at Master Wang carefully, her mind racing.

"I remember now, big meatballs, braised lion's head meatballs. You're Uncle Wang. You're my brother's master." Yu Shui said happily.

"That's right, you still remember Uncle Wang making you braised lion's head meatballs. You haven't forgotten your Uncle Wang."

Master Wang patted Yushui's little head, then looked at Shazhu.

"I knew you two siblings were coming over today, and I was worried, so I left work early to come and check on you. Have you finished taking care of everything at home?"

Sha Zhu quickly snatched the wine from Master Li's hand.

Li poured a cup for Master Wang, and sighed repeatedly with reluctance.

Looking at Master Li's expression, Master Wang said, "What good wine is it? It's such a waste. Master Li, you have such good wine but you don't even know how to share it with your good friend."

"Oh, not at all. I was just marveling at how your apprentice brought over a bottle of fine wine."

You're working overtime again and can't come home, which is great news for me. But my happiness hasn't even lasted two seconds!

"Master Wang pushed open my door. Come on, let's have a drink." Master Li quickly offered him a drink.

After having a drink with him, Master Wang continued to ask Sha Zhu questions.

"What's the situation at home?"

Sha Zhu thought for a moment and said, "All the things from the courtyard house have been moved to Master Li's place, and the house has been changed."

The construction teams under the Military Control Commission don't have time to build houses. Do you know any construction teams, sir?

"You'll have to wait. There are two places on Qianmen Street. I asked one I know."

They only take on large projects: restaurants, gardens, villas, or government projects.

Your place is so small, people wouldn't even consider it if they didn't know me. I'll take you there this weekend and see if they're available.

Master Wang poured himself another sip of wine and drank it all in one go.

He picked up his bowl and started eating. After tasting the food, he looked at Sha Zhu and said, "Zhu Zi, did you make this?"

Seeing his master's bad expression, Sha Zhu quickly and cautiously answered.

"That's right, Master, you know my cooking skills, didn't you? You even tested me when I was at Fengzeyuan Restaurant."

"Back at Fengzeyuan, I had you cook two dishes, one was shredded potatoes."

There's also a meat dish for the guests. I knew you were hiding your talents, but you've kept it well hidden.

And last weekend, you brought back braised pork, a side dish for our two chefs to go with drinks.

It tastes exactly like the braised pork on the table. Did you buy this too?

"The braised pork on this table was made by my brother in the kitchen. I watched him make it from the doorway. I went with my brother to the market to buy the meat and fish."

Yu Shui, lifting her head from her meal, interjected, "My brother's braised pork is so delicious! The pork we eat at Uncle Ge's restaurant just doesn't taste like anything. I wish we could eat it every day."

“Zhu Zi, what do you say?” Master Wang asked.

How can I put it? Master's nose and mouth are so incredibly sensitive! No wonder the head master still remembers them after all this time.

Sha Zhu thought to himself, "I have several pots of braised pork in my space that I haven't taken out yet. After all this time, the master still managed to taste it."

"Master, last time I ate at a small restaurant, the braised pork they made didn't taste very good."

"I wanted to add a meat dish for the two chefs when they came back, so I used their little restaurant's kitchen for a bit," Sha Zhu argued. "Anyway, you're not going to take me there to verify it, are you?"

"You little brat, just say you made it, why do you have to say you bought it?"

I wanted to ask you where you bought it. There are dozens of pubs and restaurants on Qianmen Street.

"I can tell you exactly which restaurant a dish comes from just by tasting it," Chef Wang said confidently.

"Yes. Master, try my signature tofu. Which is better, Mapo tofu or other tofu?" Sha Zhu flattered.

Master Wang tasted them all. "The Mapo Tofu is no worse than Old Li's from Fengzeyuan; it's quite authentic."

However, for the tastes of ordinary Beijing residents now, it would be better to change the seasoning to mildly spicy chili peppers. Then he looked at the rain.

"Rain, isn't this tofu you're eating spicy?"

Rainwater was so focused on eating that it looked up, touched its stomach, and felt it could still eat.

"Uncle Wang, it's not spicy, just a little numbing. I'll just drink some Beibingyang soda and it'll be fine. If I mix it into the rice, it won't be spicy at all."

Rainwater spoke the truth, showing no leniency whatsoever to Uncle Wang.

"Okay. If it's not spicy, eat more, just don't overeat."

"Zhu Zi, your cooking skills are good enough to get an advanced certificate. You should be able to earn more money working in a factory. I can help you get a certificate at the Beijing Hotel."

Master Wang considered it for a moment and then said.

"Master, it's not necessary for now. I'm still trying to hide my talents because I'm a bit young."

I don't lack money. The money my dad left me is enough for my siblings and me to live on. Once the money runs out...

My dad said I could just send him a letter. Mainly, I don't want to work overtime; my cooking skills are just too good.

A bunch of factory leaders have their eyes on me, so they have to find a way to make me work overtime every day to cook special meals for them.

It's great to cook large batches of food for the workers; I can get off work early every day.

They finished cleaning and left an hour earlier than the factory workers. They also made sure to collect rainwater before school let out.