The Northern Stories of Chef Lao Tan

Chapter 311 Chatting
Siheyuan is full of spring.

The flowers beside the rockery are in full bloom, and the pink, red, white, and golden flowers exude fragrance, which is fascinating.The sycamores in the north corner of the wall stretch out their green leaves, echoing the holly on the other side of the wall, and bathe in the warm spring breeze together.

Old Tan stood quietly in the yard, greedily enjoying the warmth.

It's better to be in the south, it's not cold.

In fact, it is not cold in the yard, there is no heating period here, and the house is damp and cold.

Lao Tan closed his eyes comfortably, but before his eyes strangely appeared the snowy roofs and gray trees of the provincial capital, as well as the snow on the slopes of Daqing Mountain in Hohhot, and people wearing down jackets.

What appeared in front of my eyes was incompatible with the environment I was in, yet harmonious.

He lit a cigarette and took a puff. The smoke came out of his mouth and curled up.

When the sun sets, you can't see the setting sun, only the afterglow.

People's voices came from the street outside the courtyard gate, mixed with the sound of car horns, music and singing from far and near——
The evening in the city is noisy and tired, and the evening in the country is talking about peace.

At this time, in my hometown, my mother was sitting cross-legged on the kang, the room was very warm, and the kang was very hot.The fifth sister and the old brother-in-law have finished their meal, the old brother-in-law is closing the door, and the fifth sister is washing the dishes in the outhouse, adding fire to the stove from time to time——
The sky is gradually getting dark, and the distant and near scenes are blurred.

The lights on the street were turned on and there were neon lights flashing.

night.

"What are you doing standing there?" Yaru, who came back from get off work, walked into the yard, saw Lao Tan standing there stupidly, and asked with a smile.

"You didn't do anything, you're back?" Old Tan said, saving himself.

"Well, it's already six o'clock." Yaru said.

"Don't you get off work at three o'clock?" Old Tan asked.

Yaru is in the central kitchen, responsible for the production and delivery of dumpling stuffing and dumpling noodles in five stores, and goes to work at four o'clock every morning.

"I'm busy today, help them make dumplings for a while."

The two followed each other into Lao Tan's room. Yaru put the bag on the sofa and turned on the air conditioner.Lao Tan sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette habitually.

Yaru went to boil the water, plugged the kettle in and started brushing Lao Tan's purple sand pot.

"I heard from Li Shuang that there is a meeting today?" Yaru asked.

"Yes." Old Tan replied.

"Have you seen the shop Gu Ge found?"

"Look, it's pretty good."

"Mr. Qiao is also looking for a store, in the north of the city." Yaru said.

"Ah."

"Tired, listless."

"A bit."

"Rest early today, take a shower later, and sleep after washing." Yaru said.

"Well - what food is there at home?" Old Tan asked.

"Dumplings, some peanuts, half a salt-baked chicken, bought at the morning market." Yaru said, and then said: "I have melon seeds in my room, and a bag of chicken feet."

"Okay, drink some wine and sleep after drinking."

Yaru came out with a kettle, made tea, and put the purple clay pot in front of Lao Tan.

"Still drinking? Li Shuang said that you started drinking in the first day of junior high school, so you have no memory." Yaru gave a reproachful look, and went into the kitchen to cook dumplings.

Twenty minutes later, the two sat facing each other, eating and drinking.

Yaru is already a woman, and the years have been polished quietly, and her youth has become a memory, her face is no longer fiery and romantic, and she is as serene and indifferent as a nun.

She is still beautiful.

The beautiful flowers are fascinating, and the ripe fruits are even more intoxicating.

The wheaten complexion, large deep-set eyes, puffed chest and well-proportioned figure remind people of Leonardo da Vinci's immortal Mona Lisa.

"When will you quit drinking?" Yaru asked with a smile.

"It's not easy to quit—" Lao Tan said, and then asked: "If you don't want me to drink it, you can still take it?"

"If you don't take it, you won't find it yourself. When did you hear about it?" Yaru said, looking at Lao Tan dotingly, her face flushed.

Old Tan laughed.

"Drink less in the future, blood pressure is so high, what should I do if something goes wrong--I can't just think about myself, but also my children." Yaru said.

"Yes--"

"Your body is yours. Others say it's useless." Yaru picked up a dumpling and put it in Lao Tan's bowl, then said, "I always give lessons to others, and I'm confused. Who will listen to me in the future?"

Old Tan smiled and said, "Doctors can't cure their illnesses."

Yaru also laughed, picked up the cup and touched Lao Tan, took a sip, and Lao Tan did it.

"I heard that sister Zhang Li introduced a man to her?" Yaru asked.

"You know all about this." Old Tan was surprised.

"Hehe, Li Shuang said it."

"Yes, her sister introduced one to me. I heard it's very good. It's an electrician."

"Can it be done?" Yaru asked.

"I don't know, I didn't ask."

"Did you not ask or did you not want to?"

Yaru looked at Lao Tan and waited for his answer. After drinking today, she was bolder than before. If she didn't drink, she wouldn't ask such a question.

"I didn't find time to ask—it's right to say that I don't want to. After all these years, I know it even if I don't say it—" Lao Tan looked at Yaru without dodging, "Speak from the bottom of my heart, I hope she has a home."

"With you or someone else?" Yaru asked again.

"It's a strange question. Of course I'm with someone else. Am I not famous yet?"

Yaru was amused and said, "You two are not strong."

"Tie Zi is Tie Zi, but you can't delay people looking for someone." Old Tan continued: "Besides, we have already crossed the category of Tie Zi. We are pure buddies, pure friends. If something happens between us, I will feel it." awkward."

"No one will believe what you said." Yaru said.

"If no one believes it, you have to believe it yourself."

Lao Tan raised his glass and motioned to drink one, and Yaru responded.

"It's just like the two of us. Now we say that both of us are believed, but we both know it, don't we?" Old Tan put down his glass and said.

"That's true—" Yaru put down her wine glass, pursed her lips, and said somewhat involuntarily, "Your wife is fine."

"Of course my daughter-in-law will be fine, otherwise she would be my daughter-in-law." Old Tan said.

Hearing what Lao Tan said, Yaru couldn't help but feel dark. She felt uncomfortable, but she didn't show it. She smiled and asked, "Does she care about your drinking?"

"Don't worry, can you leave it alone?" Old Tan said, "You've seen it too. I can't stop drinking. I can't stop drinking when I meet an occasion. Today, Gu Yi and Qiao Shan are still looking for it. I said no, I'm too tired. Rest and rest." Speaking of this, he sighed, "I can't help it, I can't help myself, and I also like to drink, so I can't quit for a while."

"You—" Yaru also sighed.

(End of this chapter)