Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Chapter 165 Teaching Cooking

After tidying up his younger sister, Wang Chengpeng picked up his book again and began to study.

However, today didn't seem to be a particularly suitable day for studying. He had just gotten into the zone when a loud barking of a dog rang out from outside the door. Clearly, another guest had arrived.

Unexpectedly, after Wang Chengpeng went out, he saw He Quan outside the courtyard.

Judging from the large bags and packages the other person was carrying, it was clear they had something to discuss with Wang Chengpeng.

Since he had promised the other party that he could consult him if needed, Wang Chengpeng naturally couldn't turn He Quan away.

He placed the gifts he was carrying in the living room and said with a face full of self-reproach:
"Master, I'm so sorry that I only have time to visit you now."

"I brought you some cheap gifts, but you don't mind, so keep them."

He Quan wasn't just being polite when he said that. He didn't know how much money Wang Chengpeng had made, but he knew how much he had made.

Wang Chengpeng earns a lot more money than he ever did, so he certainly wouldn't care about such a small gift.

Shaking his head slightly, Wang Chengpeng smiled and said, "They say people forget you once they're gone, so your visit is already a pleasant surprise."

"Please sit down. It's just an ordinary farmhouse with some common tea. I hope you won't mind."

Looking at his watch, Wang Chengpeng said, "The timing is perfect, let's stay for lunch."

When the topic of lunch came up, He Quan blushed. His arrival at this time made it seem like he was there specifically to freeload a meal.

Unfortunately, he was quite busy, and it was only with great difficulty that he managed to find the time to come over, so naturally he didn't have the right to choose the time.

Looking at the various pieces of equipment he had brought, He Quan felt even more embarrassed and lowered his head, saying:
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Master."

"I came here mainly to ask my master some questions about repairs."

“These are all pieces of equipment that I feel I can handle, but I just can’t seem to fix them. Please teach me, Master.”

He Quan understood Wang Chengpeng's personality; he disliked beating around the bush, so it was better to get straight to the point and not waste Wang Chengpeng's precious time.

Without refusing, Wang Chengpeng stood up and went to the equipment He Quan had brought.

With simple tapping and fiddling, Wang Chengpeng began his on-site teaching, just as he had done before in front of Shi Ren and He Quanmian.

Since He Quan came to seek advice individually, Wang Chengpeng slowed down his teaching pace considerably this time.

Many times, he would even stop specifically to give He Quan time to think.

Even so, this pile of equipment, which seemed like a difficult problem to He Quan, was completely fixed by Wang Chengpeng in just one hour.

Listening to the smooth playback from the device, He Quan was filled with emotion and said:

"No matter how many times I watch it, my master's repair skills still amaze me."

"In my opinion, Master's repair skills are no weaker than those of the veteran mechanics in our factory, and may even be stronger."

"Being able to learn from my master is truly a blessing I've accumulated over several lifetimes."

Back in his chair, Wang Chengpeng smiled and said, "Well, you have to be willing to learn."

"It's clear that you've made some progress since you returned to the repair shop. The equipment you brought back shows that your skill level has improved considerably."

Speaking of this, He Quan was filled with emotion, saying, "Master, what you said back then was absolutely right."

“When I was studying here, I felt like an idiot, and I could never find the key point.”

"After returning to the repair shop, I realized how wrong I was. It wasn't that I was incompetent; it was simply that my mentor was too amazing."

"What did I say back then? I chose the wrong comparison."

“I feel that I am even more capable than the workers in the factory who are two or three levels higher than me.”

Nodding naturally, Wang Chengpeng said, "Of course."

"After all, the items that are sent to the scrap yard have already been screened, so they are basically scrap. They are completely different from equipment that only has minor problems and is much harder to repair."

"Work hard and improve your skills. You'll see the benefits that skills bring you in the future."

When the topic turned to studying hard, He Quan's eyes became confused, and he said:

"Master, I feel very lost right now. I feel like all my hard work in studying is useless."

“In the factory, I have to work my way up in seniority and experience. Even if my skills are better than theirs, what good is it? I can still only be the lowest-level worker.”

"It would be better to spend your time on other things; you might gain something from that."

Without directly answering He Quan's question, Wang Chengpeng tapped his index finger on the table, and with a tapping sound, he spoke:

"Last time, if it weren't for your hard work and dedication, you might not have had this opportunity to earn extra money."

"The opportunity may not have come yet, but if you wait until it comes and find that you don't have the ability to seize it, all that awaits you is regret."

Nodding as if he understood but not quite, He Quan said:
“Look at me, why am I telling my master all these unlucky things?”

"By the way, Master, do you know what happened to Shi Ren afterward?"

"He's having a really tough time right now."

After talking too much pessimistic stuff, it's time to talk about something cheerful to ease the mood, and Shi Ren is clearly the kind of person who can provide that kind of fun for the two of them.

Seeing that Wang Chengpeng gestured for him to continue, He Quan opened up and began to recount the recent events in detail:

"Even though I was prepared, I didn't expect this business to fail so quickly."

"It's not that it's gone bankrupt, it's just that it's not making as much money as before, and it's clearly showing signs of not being able to sustain itself."

"I don't know what nonsense Fang Weimin told Shi Ren, but he didn't continue his unpaid leave and instead chose to resign directly."

"Even several key technical personnel in the factory were bewitched by him and took leave without pay to work for Fang Weimin."

"It's just that Shi Ren was stupid enough to believe Fang Weimin, who withheld his partners' pay as soon as he took office. He soon got his comeuppance."

"I have to say, when we have a master to keep things in order, our pay is really high."

"But after Fang Weimin took over, things turned completely different."

"He said that Master was taking kickbacks and taking the lion's share, but at the same time he was paying Master less than when Master was alive."

“The master takes the money because he sincerely taught us the skills, so he deserves it.”

"But what about Fang Weimin? He does nothing, yet he deducts so much from his pay. His behavior is truly despicable."

"Even after the experienced workers in the factory arrived, he took the initiative to remove Shi Ren from the job."

"After all, since they are both being paid, why would he give the pay to Shi Ren, whose cost-effectiveness is clearly inferior to that of the veteran? Fang Weimin will naturally kick him out as soon as the personnel are in place."

"It's a pity that Shi Ren couldn't see the situation clearly, and ended up with a miserable ending."

It was expected that Shi Ren would be kicked out, since he was recruited to assist Wang Chengpeng, and now that Wang Chengpeng was gone, he had no value in staying.

Looking up at Wang Chengpeng, He Quan thought to himself that his master was truly astute, not sensing the slightest surprise. He continued, "..."
"It is said that he went to Fang Weimin's place again to make a scene. After all, this business deal had some shady elements, and in the end, he was brought back."

"The pay, tsk tsk, I heard it's even less than what we got when we were apprentices."

"On the contrary, those veteran workers eventually slunk back to the factory, only treating it as a part-time job, going there occasionally to do some work."

"This business was originally supported by Master's superb repair skills. Now Fang Weimin doesn't want to pay but still wants people to do the work. Where in the world is there such a good thing?"

"Only Shi Ren, who is desperate, will be exploited by him, but I think this business is about to fail."

“Those experienced repairmen can do repairs, but most of them mainly focus on replacing parts. They can’t turn waste into treasure like the master does. Where is the profit in this kind of repair method?”

"When I passed by the scrap metal recycling station last time, I saw that Station Master Fang's expression was not very good. I was so happy. This is what happens when someone dares to disrespect their master."

It was expected that this business would fail. If He Quan hadn't brought it up, Wang Chengpeng wouldn't have bothered to even pay attention to it.

As for Shi Ren? He's just a passerby. Since he's courting death, Wang Chengpeng is not going to help him.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while and having a simple meal, He Quan excused himself from Wang Chengpeng, citing his busy work schedule.

Wang Chengpeng didn't try to stop him, since he himself had many things to do.

While sorting through the gifts He Quan had brought, he noticed a bulging envelope had fallen out.

Upon opening it, besides a thank-you note, there was a solid fifty yuan.

“Master, this fifty yuan is not much, and it is worthless compared to the knowledge you have taught me, but it is a token of my appreciation. Please accept it.”

With a sigh, Wang Chengpeng ultimately decided to accept the fifty yuan.

He doesn't lack the fifty yuan, but since He Quan has shown his sincerity, he's willing to lend him a hand when the time comes.

Once the market economy opens up, as long as He Quan's skills are strong enough, he can make a fortune by opening a private repair shop.

As for the other things, they were just some rice, flour, and meat. Simple, yet they were the best gift of this era, saving Wang Chengpeng the trouble of making a trip to the county.

With that thought in mind, Wang Chengpeng put the things in the kitchen and returned to his study.

Time always flies when you're studying. I'd only read a little over half of the book when the sun was already starting to set.

I glanced at my watch; it was 4:12. Just in time to get to the educated youth settlement.

After instructing the dogs, including Dahuang, to guard the house well, Wang Chengpeng rode his bicycle towards the educated youth settlement.

It was already summer, and everywhere was covered with lush green crops, creating a vibrant scene.

Especially those rapeseed seedlings that have just broken through the soil, so small, yet they contain boundless hope.

With the help of his bicycle, Wang Chengpeng arrived at the educated youth settlement at 4:30 a.m.

Looking at the black smoke billowing from the chimney and smelling the strange fragrance in the air, Wang Chengpeng had a vague premonition.

Sure enough, as he approached the kitchen, Wang Chengpeng could see a very obvious plume of black smoke, and there was a strong smell of burning in the air.

Wang Chengpeng rubbed his forehead slightly, feeling that coming to the appointment today was a terrible mistake.

Thinking this, he gently knocked on the kitchen door and asked softly, "Is anyone in there?" The door opened, revealing An Qiuyun's disheveled face.

Upon seeing that the visitor was Wang Chengpeng, An Qiuyun asked with extreme embarrassment, "Comrade Wang, why did you arrive early?"

"Just wait a little longer, only half an hour, and you'll be able to enjoy a delicious meal."

Wang Chengpeng glanced at the mess in the kitchen and tentatively asked, "Should I help?"

He feared that if things continued like this, he might not even get to eat by six o'clock.

Both of them were female educated youths who had basically never cooked before. Xia Mingyue was alright, as she had at least learned some things from her neighbors, but An Qiuyun was a complete novice.

Unfortunately, An Qiuyun is both incompetent and loves to play around. For some reason, she insists on cooking a dish herself, making the whole kitchen a complete mess.

Faced with Wang Chengpeng's initiative, An Qiuyun felt as if she had seen a savior. She immediately pulled Wang Chengpeng into the kitchen and said:
"Comrade Wang, you've come at just the right time."

"I'm going to make an egg, tofu and mushroom soup for everyone, but the soup seems a bit strange. Can you come and take a look?"

Following An Qiuyun's directions, Wang Chengpeng soon witnessed a truly shocking scene.

There was a lot of black water in the pot, and some black, unidentified objects were floating on it.

Seemingly noticing Wang Chengpeng's shocked expression, An Qiuyun explained somewhat embarrassedly:
"I was worried the eggs weren't cooked through, so I fried them a little longer, but I didn't expect them to turn black."

"With the idea of ​​not wasting food, I continued to make it the same way as before, and added tofu and mushrooms as well."

"It seems I added too little water. By the time I smelled something was wrong, they were already partially burnt."

"Thinking I could salvage it one last time, I added a lot of water and boiled it again, which is why it turned out like this."

Yeah, it's a little burnt.

Wang Chengpeng sighed and instructed, "Some things, we have to give up."

"Why don't you go sit outside and I'll finish your unfinished masterpiece for you?"

Little did they know that An Qiuyun was unusually stubborn, standing in front of the stove with no intention of leaving.

Seeing this, Wang Chengpeng sighed and said, "Alright, then I'll teach you."

"Pour out the black soup first, wash the pot clean, and then start making it again."

Smiling and nodding, An Qiuyun said, "Okay, Comrade Wang, I will do as you say now."

I scrubbed it with a brush to remove the stubborn stains on the bottom of the pot, and then rinsed it with clean water. The pot was finally back to its original condition.

Seeing that An Qiuyun had just heated the pan and was about to add oil, Wang Chengpeng quickly stopped her:
"Don't add oil yet. Use low heat to dry out the water in the pan before adding oil. This will prevent oil from splattering."

Speaking of oil splattering, it's a nightmare for almost every kitchen novice.

Ultimately, it's a simple physical phenomenon caused by the different boiling points of water and oil.

Simply removing the water, which acts as an impurity, allows the oil to be heated very stably in the pot.

Although she didn't understand the reason for doing so, An Qiuyun had one good quality: she listened to advice.

He held the lard ladle like a soldier awaiting orders, waiting for Wang Chengpeng's instructions.

Although there was some distance between them, Wang Chengpeng had excellent eyesight and could clearly see the situation in the pot.

After the last drop of water had completely evaporated, Wang Chengpeng gave the following instructions:
"Alright, now we can add the oil."

"Keep the fire a little low, don't rush, turn the fire up high once you're more skilled."

With a forceful scoop, An Qiuyun poured a large spoonful of snow-white lard into the pot, where it quickly melted into transparent oil under the heat.

Seeing that the pork was obviously not heating evenly, An Qiuyun felt that she should stir it. She immediately took out a spatula and wanted the lard to heat up more evenly.

Unfortunately, she soon paid a heavy price for her recklessness.

There was indeed no water left in the pot, but there was still some on the spatula.

Wang Chengpeng's original plan was to crack the egg into the pan and wait until one side of the egg was slightly browned before using a spatula.

The egg cushions the oil from splattering, preventing oil from splashing even if there is some water left on the spatula.

The moment the spatula touched the hot oil, oil splattered everywhere. As if instinctively, An Qiuyun quickly stepped back.
Forgetting that there was someone behind him, he crashed solidly into Wang Chengpeng's body.

Wang Chengpeng: ...

An Qiuyun: ...

Wang Chengpeng wanted to hide, but the kitchen was cramped, so there was nowhere for him to hide.

Fortunately, An Qiuyun quickly regained her composure, and while waving the spatula, she apologized to Wang Chengpeng:
"Comrade Wang, I'm so sorry, I forgot you were still behind me."

"Did I do something wrong? There was no oil splashing before."

It was precisely because of the gentle nature of the hot oil that An Qiuyun subconsciously overlooked the fact that this was a kitchen monster capable of going berserk at any moment.
Fortunately, people in this era dressed conservatively, and An Qiuyun stopped quickly, and the lard had just been put into the pot, so she was not burned by the hot oil.

Shaking his head helplessly, Wang Chengpeng comforted him, "It's okay. After all, this is your first time cooking, and you've done quite well."

"Don't rush, listen to my instructions, take your time, and you'll be able to make the delicious dish you want."

"Wait until the oil settles down a bit, then dip a dry chopstick into it. If you see tiny bubbles, you can start beating the eggs."

There wasn't much moisture left on the spatula, and after it was completely evaporated by the high temperature, the pork calmed down.

Following Wang Chengpeng's instructions, An Qiuyun carefully picked up a chopstick and inserted it into the hot oil.

But this time, the hot oil didn't boil wildly; instead, it swirled around the base of the chopsticks, bubbling with tiny bubbles.

That's it!
An Qiuyun took a clean egg and, imitating the old master, gently tapped it on the corner of the stove.

Wang Chengpeng shook his head at such a cautious action.

Especially when he saw that An Qiuyun had failed to crack the eggshell on the first try and had to try many more times, he showed an expression of "I knew it."

In fact, cracking eggs requires speed, precision, and ruthlessness; the more careful you are, the less likely you are to break the eggshell.

Even if you manage to crack the eggshell, you'll break it too badly, and it will end up in the pot along with the egg.

"Comrade Wang, what should we do? It seems that several pieces of eggshell have fallen in."

"The yolk of this egg is broken, and it looks really ugly."

After what seemed like the umpteenth sigh of the day, Wang Chengpeng gave the order:
"Don't rush, just carefully pick the eggshell out with chopsticks."

"Even if you miss a little bit, it's okay. If you eat it, you can either spit it out or treat it as a calcium supplement."

"Wait until the first egg has solidified slightly, then flip it over."

"We'll be boiling it later, so it doesn't need to be fully cooked. Just use a spatula to spread it out a bit, and then you can start cracking the second egg."

"You need to use more force when beating the eggs, so that you won't break the eggshells too much."

"As for the egg yolk, if it breaks, it doesn't matter; it won't affect the taste."

With Wang Chengpeng's guidance, An Qiuyun seemed to have found her backbone and her initial panic subsided.

An Qiuyun carefully used chopsticks to remove all the eggshells that had fallen in before she started wielding the spatula.

With the egg as a buffer, the spatula did not splatter oil this time and easily collided with the egg.

With a little effort, An Qiuyun was pleasantly surprised to find that she could actually push the egg over easily.

Using a spatula as a barrier, An Qiuyun began to crack the second egg into the pan.

With the secrets taught by Wang Chengpeng, she decided to give it a try and put in all her effort this time.

Not only did he crack the egg open with one strike, but he also easily and completely smashed it into the pan without breaking it at all—it was truly perfect.

So I can actually crack such perfect eggs?
An Qiuyun felt her body beginning to stir, as if she had awakened some kind of gene called the God of Cookery.

Let's try to prove that this is just An Qiuyun's illusion, because this time she didn't have such good luck when she tried to push things through.

As if deliberately trying to annoy it, the egg stuck to the bottom of the pot and couldn't be moved no matter how hard I tried.

An Qiuyun, who had absolutely no patience, could only resort to brute force, which caused the seemingly perfect fried egg to fall apart in an instant.

Maybe I'm just not cut out for cooking?

Just as An Qiuyun was doubting herself, Wang Chengpeng's deep voice came again, giving An Qiuyun the confidence to continue:
"That's fantastic! If the second fried egg is this good, the third one will definitely be a success."

After Wang Chengpeng's praise, An Qiuyun suddenly felt that it was already quite remarkable that she could fry an egg like this in just two tries.

After all, even seasoned chefs who have been cooking for many years occasionally make mistakes when frying eggs, the simplest of dishes.

Taking a deep breath and ignoring her previous failure, An Qiuyun started cracking the third egg.

Perhaps it was a combination of perfect timing, location, and circumstances, but this time, she managed to fry a perfectly cooked egg.

Just looking at the silver-plated gold made An Qiuyun feel great.

With the fried egg done, the rest was much simpler.

Use a spatula to break up the fried egg, then add an appropriate amount of water. Once the water boils, add the remaining ingredients.

If you prefer your tofu to be softer, you can add the mushrooms first.

If you prefer firmer tofu, you can put it in the pot with the mushrooms.

It doesn't need to be cooked for too long. Once the soup boils, add some seasoning.

Finally, sprinkle some chopped green onions on top of the egg, mushroom, and tofu soup, and you have a delicious dish that is perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

The soup, in particular, is rich, sweet, and incredibly delicious, brimming with the essence of the ingredients.

(End of this chapter)