Courtyard House: Passing through the Silly Pillar, Activating the Blessed Cave Heaven

89

"I heard you're sixteen years old this year and have been learning cooking at Fengzeyuan for four years. You can already cook on the stove?" Lou Bancheng asked.

"I've been able to cook since last year."

"I mainly studied Shandong cuisine, and I also learned some Sichuan cuisine cooking methods from my father," He Yuzhu replied.

"Then at noon, cook ten of your best dishes so I can taste them." Lou Bancheng paused, then added, "I don't have any dietary restrictions, so just cook whatever you like."

Go and call Secretary Shen.

He Yuzhu walked out of the office and relayed Lou Bancheng's words to Secretary Shen.

After listening, Secretary Shen hurriedly went into her office.

Not long after, he came out and said to He Yuzhu, "Come with me to the cafeteria."

Upon arriving at the cafeteria, Secretary Shen called over a kitchen helper: "Go and call Liu Daikui over." Not long after, a middle-aged man hurried over.

"Secretary Shen, what instructions does the boss have?" Liu Daikui asked.

"This is He Yuzhu, the son of He Daqing."

"The boss wants him to show off his skills at lunchtime. You can show him around the kitchen," Secretary Shen said.

"Xiao Wang, take this comrade to the small warehouse in the back and take stock of the ingredients we'll be using for today's special meal."

"He Yuzhu, you go with Xiao Wang first, I'll be right behind you," Liu Daikui instructed.

After He Yuzhu left, Liu Daikui pulled Secretary Shen aside and asked in a low voice, "Secretary Shen, is he really He Daqing's son? I remember He Daqing's son is not very old and doesn't look much like him."

What is the boss's attitude towards him? Could you please advise?

"He is indeed He Daqing's son, and he looks like his mother."

He is so tall because he has practiced martial arts since he was a child.

After He Daqing left, someone needed to take over the small kitchen. When leaders came to inspect, someone had to be responsible for receiving them.

The boss's idea was that as long as his skills were up to par, he could take over his father's job, mainly taking care of the kitchen and cooking for the workers in his spare time.

"I've told you everything I needed to say. I'll head back now." Secretary Shen said, then turned and left.

"Understood, thank you for your guidance, Secretary Shen." After seeing Secretary Shen off, Liu Daikui quickly went to the small warehouse and saw He Yuzhu selecting ingredients.

"You must be Comrade He Yuzhu? I'm in charge of the canteen here."

I used to be your father's colleague. I was in charge of the main canteen, and he was in charge of the leaders' private meals.

"Are there enough ingredients in the warehouse? Is there anything we need to replenish?" Liu Daikui asked.

"Director Liu, my father often mentions you."

I met you when I was a child. You can just call me Zhuzi.

The warehouse has plenty of ingredients, so please go ahead and get on with your work.

"After I've selected the ingredients, I still need to prepare the dishes. I wonder what time the boss usually comes to eat?" He Yuzhu asked.

"The boss usually comes around 12 o'clock, so please make sure to keep track of the time."

"Then you go ahead with your work, I'll go take care of other things." After saying that, Liu Daikui turned and left.

He Yuzhu has selected the ingredients and is preparing to cook ten dishes, including premium tofu, sweet and sour carp, and braised sea cucumber with scallions.

After preparing all the ingredients, he began to process the food and mix the seasonings, working diligently and methodically.

When Lou Bancheng arrived at the canteen, ten dishes were already neatly arranged on the table.

He invited union representatives and key technical personnel from the factory to have lunch together.

After dinner, Lou Bancheng had his secretary, Shen, call He Yuzhu to his office.