The story of a cook

Chapter 72
New Year's Day.

The restaurant didn't have an order, so Huang Ping called and said it was closed today. She and Boss Zou went out to pay New Year's greetings, and asked me to make some delicious food, drink some wine, and have a good rest.

Putting down the phone, the person standing at the bar was lost in thought.

If I were at home, I would get up early every New Year's Day and clean up the house.The mother has a high seniority in the family, and many younger generations will come to kowtow to the mother to pay New Year's greetings.There is also an elder above me who is my cousin. I don't have to pay New Year's greetings to anyone after paying New Year's greetings to my cousin.

Every year from eight o'clock in the morning to ten o'clock on the first day of the new year, someone from the family will come to kowtow to the mother.The younger ones leave after kowtowing, and go to the next house to pay New Year's greetings, and the older ones chat with their mother for a while before leaving.My mother's seniority is high and so is my seniority. Many people who are older than me call me uncle and kowtow to me for New Year greetings.This is the case in rural areas, seniority cannot be chaotic, and etiquette cannot be less, especially during Chinese New Year and festivals.Even now that my mother is no longer in the village and lives at Fifth Sister's house, every year on the first day of the lunar new year, the younger members of the family will drive twenty miles to kowtow to mother at Fifth Sister's house.

My mother is now the oldest elder in the family who has seen six generations of people, and the youngest generation calls her "ancestor".

Everyone went out to pay New Year's greetings, and I was left in the store, thinking about it, I have to give New Year's greetings to others.I don't know many people in the provincial capital, and they call one by one to pay New Year's greetings.

First of all, he called Master Chen, and after a while, Master Chen called back.

Master Chen asked, "Which one?"

I said, "Brother Chen, Happy Chinese New Year!"

Master Chen recognized my voice and said, "Happy Chinese New Year! Tan Zi, haven't you been home for Chinese New Year?"

"No, the restaurant is open." I said

"I don't know. If I know, I will ask you to come to my house for the New Year." Master Chen said.

"Thank you, I spent the New Year at the boss's house, and I wish you a New Year greeting on the first day of the new year."

After chatting with Master Chen for a few more words, I hung up the phone.Then came the fourth child. The fourth child said the same thing as Master Chen. He didn't know that I didn't go home during the Chinese New Year, so he was very surprised.

Happy New Year to the eldest brother and the second brother. The eldest brother and the second brother are scolding the boss at home, saying that the boss will not be at home during the New Year, which is pure nonsense. Then he asked me to go to his house to drink with him. Said that the second day of junior high school came to drink with me, and then hung up the phone.

Finally, I called Sister Zhao, and Sister Zhao called back quickly.

"Sister, happy new year!" I said.

Sister Zhao didn't believe it was me, so she asked on the phone, "Brother, is that you?"

"Yes." I replied.

"You didn't go home for the New Year?" Sister Zhao asked.

"Well, I didn't go home for the New Year." I said, feeling sour.

"Then where are you now?"

"It's at the hotel."

"Is your hotel not on holiday?"

"No, it's been open all the time, so I didn't book a table today." I said.

Sister Zhao asked: "Then where did you spend your thirty yesterday, a restaurant?"

I said, "I spent the night at the boss's house by myself."

"Then why don't you call me? I've been to my sister's house." Sister Zhao said in a complaining tone.

"Forget, hehe."

"Then are you yourself today?"

"Yes, it's just me."

"Sister, come to my house. My mother and I are the only ones in my house. Come here." Sister Zhao warmly invited me to her house.

"No, it's not good for Chinese New Year." I replied, thinking that it would not be good for people to go on New Year's Day.

Sister Zhao was a little angry, and said, "What's the big Chinese New Year, please come to me quickly, and wait for me to pick you up."

I thought for a while and said, "Okay, sister, tell me the exact address of your home, so I can take a taxi there."

Sister Zhao told me the address of her home, and I started to take a taxi when I went out.Fortunately, regardless of the first day of the new year, there are still taxis on the street. I took a taxi, told the driver the location of Sister Zhao's house, and started to go to Sister Zhao's house.

Sitting in the car, I looked at the stores on both sides of the street to see if there were any stores that were open. I couldn't go there empty-handed on the first day of the new year, and I had to buy something.When I walked north, I saw a supermarket open. I went in and bought a few gifts, then got in the car and continued to drive to sister Zhao's house.

When I arrived at Sister Zhao’s community, I saw Sister Zhao waiting for me at the gate of the community.

After getting out of the car, he shouted at Sister Zhao, "Sister, what's going on here."

Sister Zhao saw me and smiled all over her face.

Go to sister Zhao.

"Sister, wait for half a day."

Sister Zhao said, "It didn't take long before I came down."

Sister Zhao didn't wear makeup, and she saw her appearance in Xinchuang Restaurant again, with light makeup and elegant appearance.

Sister Zhao saw me looking at her and said, "What are you looking at, I don't know her anymore."

"You look better without makeup than with makeup." I told the truth.

"When did your sister look bad, don't look at it, let's go."

Sister Zhao lived on the second floor. She opened the door and came in to see Sister Zhao's mother. She bowed and said, "Auntie, Happy Chinese New Year!"

Sister Zhao's mother said: "Okay, it's also good for you to celebrate the New Year."

After putting down the things he bought, he sat on the sofa and looked at Sister Zhao's house.Sister Zhao's house is an old-fashioned three-bedroom apartment, the living room is not too big, and it is very clean and tidy.

Sister Zhao's mother gave me the cigarette, and Sister Zhao said, "Brother, it's okay, you can smoke, my mother smokes too."

Sister Zhao handed me a bottle of drink, and pushed the fruit on the coffee table towards me.

"Eat fruit." Sister Zhao said, seeing that I was wearing a coat, "Take off your coat, it's hot in the room."

It was really hot in the room, so I took off my coat, and Sister Zhao took it and hung it on the clothes hanger.

Turn around and introduce me to her mother: "Mom, this is Xiao Tanzi, my former colleague, the younger brother I mentioned."

Sister Zhao's mother looked at me, nodded and said, "Oh, it's good."

"Mom, whatever is fine." Sister Zhao said with a smile.

Sister Zhao's mother said, "I think it's fine."

Sister Zhao said, "It's good for you, what are you talking about, old lady."

Sister Zhao's mother smiled: "I think Xiao Tanzi is pretty good, what's so good, you think I'm talking about you."

Sister Zhao said, "That's my brother, can you be okay?"

Sister Zhao’s mother said, “I know, you’ve said it [-] times, I know.” Then she asked me, “I heard from Hua that you were at the hotel yesterday at thirty?”

"Well, I stayed at the hotel." I replied.

"Look at you child, you are so good with Hua, and you are still her younger brother, why don't you come to our house." The old lady complained.

"It's also very good in the restaurant, and I also ate dumplings." I said with a smile.

"It's better to come to my house. My wife and I are just me and Hua. If you don't come, let's be more lively."

"I'm not here today, I wish you a happy new year."

Sister Zhao's mother is 55 or six years old, slightly fat, very kind, with a smile on her face, she is a kind-hearted old lady.

Sister Zhao sat down and peeled an orange for me, and asked me: "Why doesn't your restaurant have a holiday for Chinese New Year?"

I said: "A few years ago, there were a few reservations, and the boss said that they would not have a holiday to receive them."

"Then leave you alone, everyone else has gone home for the New Year?" Sister Zhao asked.

"Well, I went back early. I went back when my mother celebrated her birthday." I said.

"When is your mother's birthday?" Sister Zhao asked.

"The eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month."

"Didn't tell me, I don't even know."

"I also decided to go back temporarily. My mother's birthday is close to the New Year, and I didn't go back for the first two years. I reflect on going back this year to celebrate her birthday."

"How old is your mother this year?" Sister Zhao asked.

"It's 64 years old."

Sister Zhao's mother said: "64, eight years older than me, your mother is in good health?"

I said, "Very well, my mother is still in good health."

Sister Zhao's mother said: "It's enough to be in good health, and having a good health is better than anything else when you get old."

I said, "Yes, your body is stronger than anything else. Auntie, your body is quite good, with a rosy face."

Sister Zhao's mother was happy and said, "I'm in good health. I'm just 56, younger than your mother. I'll be content if I can still do this when I'm your mother's age."

"Looking at your current body, 83 is fine, and it will still be like this by then." I said.

"That's okay, I'm afraid I won't live to be 83." Sister Zhao's mother said.

"Look at what you said, my mother is still planning to live to be a hundred years old and have a great-grandson. You can do it too, just like my mother."

"This child, you still can talk."

Chatting with Sister Zhao's mother, looking at the old lady, I thought of my mother. I don't know if the fifth sister returned today, what is mother doing at home now?There should be quite a few people in the family who kowtow to pay New Year's greetings——
"I'm going to make some dumplings, you two chat." Sister Zhao's mother chatted with me for a while and stood up and said.

"Auntie, don't bother." I said.

Sister Zhao said: "Don't bother, my mother is not free, let her make it. My mother is at home all day, and it is her job to cook. I don't need to cook when I come back. If I say that the food I cook is not good, it is her." Do it, and I'll eat what's ready."

"It's all like this, and it's the same when I go home. My mother knows how to cook for me, so I'm afraid I will be hungry." I said.

"That's what mothers do."

Yes, mothers all over the world are like this. No matter how old the child is, in her eyes, they are still children who can't grow up. I'm afraid they won't eat and be hungry when they get home.

Sister Zhao said, "Why didn't you tell me you didn't go home for the New Year?"

I said: "I thought about how busy you were during the Chinese New Year, so I didn't tell you." Then I smiled and said, "Isn't it the first day of junior high school?"

"You came here, I didn't say you could come here?" Sister Zhao glared at me, and then said: "I was really busy during the Chinese New Year. I was always shopping for clothes. I was busy from morning to four or five in the afternoon. Sometimes I can't even eat, and I didn't bother to visit you. I still wanted to visit you during the Chinese New Year, but I didn't have time. After thinking about it, I went to see you after the Chinese New Year. Who would have thought that you didn't go home? I don’t know how to tell my sister.”

Sister Zhao blamed me.

"It's my brother's fault, I'll apologize to you." I said with a smile.

"You still know you're wrong, so you don't tell my sister anything."

"I'll tell you everything from now on."

"Yes, tell my sister everything, and I won't worry about it." Then he asked me: "By the way, how is the girl you dated? Has she returned home?"

I said, "She's gone home for the New Year, if it's still the same, let's deal with it first."

Sister Zhao asked: "Let's go first, how far is it? Does her family know?"

"Her family doesn't know, and she dare not tell her family. Her father doesn't tell her to have sex outside, but tells her to look for it at home." I said.

When it comes to Yaru, I don't know if she went home and told her parents about us, or whether her parents agreed, or she was too afraid to talk to her at all. Her parents said.

Sister Zhao asked: "Then she listens to his father?"

I said, "That's right, she doesn't have an idea either, she seems to be listening to her family."

"Then what are you two doing? Are you still in the same relationship? If her family disagrees, you two will not be in vain." Sister Zhao said worriedly.

"It's not a white place, why do you say this is also a relationship, I also had a relationship once, didn't I?" I said a little bit bitterly.

"How can you fall in love like this, knowing that it won't work and still talking." Sister Zhao complained a little bit for me.

I said: "Whoever said that you must get married when you fall in love, if that's the case, then all the blind dates will be done. It's all a fate. I went home and met twice but failed. Now I understand that this is not something to worry about." , what should be yours is yours, and what is not yours can’t be forced. Some people don’t like being alone for a lifetime, and it’s not normal.”

Thinking of the eldest brother and sister Wang, I sometimes envy them.In fact, there is really no way to say about love, just like Zhang Xueliang and Miss Zhao Si, who have never been married in their entire lives, but they have been together for a lifetime, who can say that is not love?We are ordinary people, looking for a daughter-in-law who lives in peace and contentment, we don't have any other ideas, even if we have that, we can't sleep and just think about it.

Nothing in this world comes for free, if you want to get it, you have to give.Whether it is money, wealth or love, it is the same.

As an ordinary person, living an ordinary life, being able to live your life well, and feeling happiness in ordinary days is the greatest success.Sometimes happiness has nothing to do with money. There are things that money cannot buy in this world, and those things are the real wealth in life.

In fact, if you think about it carefully, although life is plain, life itself is wealth.

At noon, Sister Zhao's mother prepared meals.

Sister Zhao took out liquor and said that her mother drank at every meal, but not much, only two taels.I drank white wine with Sister Zhao's mother, and Sister Zhao drank beer.

During the meal, Sister Zhao's mother asked me about the family situation, and I briefly told her about the family situation.

Sister Zhao's mother said: "Your life is good, five sisters, how good, the elder sisters are good to the younger brother." Then the old lady looked at Sister Zhao and said: "Look at my Jiahua, she is the only one. No, I got sick after giving birth to her and couldn't have children, just like a treasure."

Sister Zhao said: "It's not good for me alone, and no one made you angry."

Sister Zhao's mother said: "Just because you make me angry, I won't talk about finding another one when I get older, and I will live alone after how many years have passed."

Sister Zhao said: "It's not good if I don't look for it. If I look for someone to stay with you at home, it's boring for you to be alone."

"I don't care if you stay with me at home? I feel more at ease when you're not at home. I'm bored and won't go out to find an old man." Sister Zhao's mother said.

"You're still looking for an old man. How many years have you been saying this? I can almost hear the cocoons coming, and I haven't seen you find an old man back. If you find an old man, I will find you a son-in-law." Sister Zhao joked.

"Go away, you and your mother are not the same age, we can talk about everything." The old lady said angrily.

Miss Zhao just laughed.

Sister Zhao’s family is very similar to mine. Her family is just her and her mother, while mine is my family’s.Sister Zhao never looked for her again after her divorce, but she found a man who was still not doing his job properly.Maybe after that, she had a shadow in her heart and distrusted men.

Sister Zhao is a weak but strong woman, very virtuous and kind, and a good housekeeper. Anyone who marries her should be considered a blessing.

After eating, Sister Zhao's mother went back to the house to lie down, Sister Zhao cleaned up the dishes and made a pot of tea, and we sat there drinking tea and chatting.

Sister Zhao asked me: "Brother, you didn't sleep well yesterday, why don't you go to the room and lie down for a while and take a nap, don't you not go to work today?"

I said: "It's okay, I'm not sleepy, let's chat for a while, and I'll go back in a while."

Sister Zhao said: "I don't go to work and go back to do what I am busy with. I will stay with my sister for the New Year's Eve. I will go back after dinner."

"Where are you going to eat just after eating? I'm not hungry at night, so I'll be back in a while."

"What are you going back for? It's not fun to go back by yourself, why don't you just stay here, what's wrong? It's uncomfortable to stay at my sister's house." Sister Zhao said angrily.

"No, why don't you feel uncomfortable." I said with a smile.

"I think you are sleepy. Go to the house to sleep and wake up before leaving. I won't let you eat."

"No, I'd better go back to sleep, I can't sleep with you."

Sister Zhao just laughed and said, "He's quite a big guy and he's still shy, why can't he sleep, come on, go into the room and sleep."

Followed Sister Zhao into her room, the woman's room was clean and tidy, with a scent.

I lay down and smelled the fragrance on the pillow and said to Sister Zhao, "Sister, the pillow is very fragrant, isn't it a woman's fragrance?"

Sister Zhao said, "Are you looking for a beating, dare you call your sister."

"Isn't it the first time for me to sleep on a woman's bed? It smells really good, why don't you smell it." I said with a smile.

Sister Zhao smiled and sat down next to me.

"What's the fragrance? What's the fragrance?" She said, "It's just that men are different from women. We women like to be clean and are willing to apply cosmetics. In addition, we always wash and change the sheets and quilts frequently. What you smell is This one still smells like a woman?"

I smelled the pillow again, and there was a fresh scent of washing powder.

Seeing me, Sister Zhao couldn't help laughing, and said, "What are you smelling? Did you check to see if I smell like a man?"

I said: "There is no masculinity, but it has a fragrance."

After speaking, he sat up and smelled Sister Zhao and said, "It's your scent."

Sister Zhao said: "If I sleep here all day, can I lose the smell on my body? You, what are you doing, you don't know anything."

It's not that he doesn't know anything, he also knows a little bit about the affairs between men and women, but it's just not very clear.With curiosity in my heart, I want to figure it out.Now I think that the self in front of Sister Zhao is the same as the Yaru in front of me, knowing some things and not knowing some things, knowing what I don’t experience, and what I don’t know, I just want to know.

Lying on the bed, Sister Zhao wanted to cover me with a quilt, but I said it was hot in the room, so I didn't cover it.

I looked at Sister Zhao, she was very feminine without makeup, and she was casual at home, she was wearing an ordinary tights, which looked very charming.

"What are you looking at, let's take a nap." Sister Zhao said.

"I won't be sleepy anymore when I lie here. In fact, sister, you look good without makeup."

"I don't want to wear makeup either. I wear makeup when I sell clothes."

"Yeah, I mean like how you look without make-up, like this, looks very-female."

"What kind of woman do you know? You know a woman before you get married." Sister Zhao laughed.

"You don't know women if you don't get married? You are a woman now, and you are still very woman."

Sister Zhao patted me and said, "You're still a woman, as if you know everything. Go to sleep. I'll go to my mother's room. You sleep here by yourself. I'm leaving."

I fell asleep and woke up at night.

Sister Zhao has already prepared the meals. Sister Zhao’s mother took a bite early and went back to the house to rest. Sister Zhao and I had dinner.

(End of this chapter)