The Northern Stories of Chef Lao Tan

Chapter 54
Everyone hopes to have a stable job and be able to do it for a long time, instead of being laid off at every turn and looking for a new job.However, the hotel industry has its own particularities, and it is not something that can be done if you want to.Employees may work for a lifetime, but the boss does not necessarily run a restaurant for the rest of his life, so it is normal for a restaurant to be laid off.

In ten days, Lao Tan will be laid off from Gan Qika.

The layoff this time was expected. When I came here, I knew that I could only work until the Spring Festival.This time, only Hua Qing, Sun Haicheng, Wang Hong, and cold dish master came to Ganqi to take the tape. The pressure was not great, unlike when they were working in Binhai, more than [-] people were transferred from the provincial capital, and they would go one by one when they quit. To arrange work, the pressure is so great.And these four people have already made arrangements to go to Yanhua's restaurant with me after the Chinese New Year.

Lao Tan's wages for them are not low, four thousand in Huaqing, three thousand five thousand for Sun Haicheng, Wang Hong, and cold dish masters, which is also high in the provincial capital.Do it with yourself, you can't treat it badly, and the handles of four people are also worth the money.

Sun Haicheng and Huaqing planned to go out to study after the new year, and they also contacted the place.The fourth child has done a good job in the provincial capital. His family's fusion dishes are famous and the dishes are authentic. I introduced the two of them there, hoping to learn something.

The Chinese New Year is almost here, and the small county town is no better than a big city, and the busier it gets as the Chinese New Year arrives. The rural customs are still maintained here. Every family goes to the store to prepare new year’s goods, and they don’t come out to eat very often.

Lao Tan has been working here for half a year, and he has met many friends, and they are always supportive. Before he leaves, he has to treat him to a meal.

On the morning of the 22nd of the twelfth lunar month, I called Director Wu, Zhang Zhigong, Bart, and the heads of several units in advance, and invited them to come over for dinner at night and have a lively and lively time together.

At half past four, the guests arrived one after another.Arranged in the largest private room, a total of 22 people.These people are the owners of the hotel, they are familiar with Lao Tan, they are all brothers and sisters, and they are good friends who talk about everything.

President Hu of the Osteopathic Hospital also came.

Old Tan clearly understood the meaning of Dean Hu's visit, and he came here for Dade's bracelet.Since Dade handed the bracelet to Lao Tan, Dean Hu came several times, and he always came here with a good bracelet. He wanted to change it with Lao Tan, but Lao Tan politely refused.This time he came with a good bracelet and a pair of walnuts, and he meant to promise not to give up unless Dade's bracelet was left behind.

Lao Tan didn't disappoint him and gave him the bracelet directly.

Knowing that Lao Tan was going to leave here, Director Wu and Zhang Zhigong were a little bit reluctant, feeling that they had nowhere to go with Lao Tan, so they brought a lot of local specialties and asked Lao Tan to bring them back.

The others got along well with Lao Tan, and more or less brought gifts.The chubby head nurse at the Osteopathic Hospital was the funniest. He bought Lao Tan a Mongolian hat, and after wearing it, Lao Tan looked more like a Mongolian.

Dean Hu was very happy to get the bracelet, and he said to Lao Tan while drumming: "Old Tan, it seems that you have a predestined relationship with Buddha."

Old Tan said: "Almost, I don't believe in Buddhism, but I like to study."

"Buddhism is the same as our medicine. It is to save all beings. We save lives, and they save hearts." President Hu said.

"President Hu's enlightenment is the blessing of the common people." Old Tan said in admiration.

Dean Hu picked up the wine glass and took a sip with Lao Tan, and said: "Without compassion, it is difficult to do Xinglin's hand. This is what the old lama said. My father told me that it took me so many years to understand it. Knowing this hand-to-hand Who is it? The old lama’s, I think it’s just for a thought, our old Hu’s family is today, it’s all because of the old lama’s enlightenment.”

Old Tan said: "Using medicine to understand Taoism is the same as Buddhism and Taoism. President Hu is a person who has fully realized."

"Hehe, it's not as good as brother Tan. Brother Tan has superb cooking skills and noble cooking ethics. Among other things, there are many cooks in Gan Qika, and there are not a few of them who are famous. How many of you can do it like you? Gan Qika tonight More than half of the important officials of the government have come, and the appeal is no less than that of the banner chief. What does it mean? It means that you, old Tan De, are good enough, you are upright, and everyone admires you."

Old Tan was a little embarrassed, his face turned red.But it was true, these people came here because of Lao Tan's character and virtue, and if Lao Tan didn't do well, they wouldn't come.

People have left their names and geese have left their voices. Wherever you work, you should set your conscience straight, be a real person, walk in a down-to-earth manner, and guarantee that you will not make mistakes.

Director Wu, the one with the deepest friendship, was reluctant to part with Lao Tan, so he toasted frequently, and Lao Tan also let go of his alcohol and began to drink.

The atmosphere was lively and everyone drank a lot.

Half of the tables are Mongols, singing and dancing when they drink up, until midnight.

After seeing off everyone, Old Tan walked upstairs, staggering a little bit on his feet.

Wang Hong was worried that he drank too much, so she came down to check it at eleven o'clock, and went upstairs after seeing that he was still drinking.I came down again at twelve o'clock, just in time to see him staggering upstairs, so I hurried forward to support him.

"Drink too much again." Wang Hong blamed.

"Happy, we are all buddies, drink more." Old Tan said with tongue curled.

"I think you are dying."

"Hehe, sister, it's okay, I didn't drink too much."

He said he didn't drink too much, but his feet didn't listen to him, and his feet were crooked, either to the left or to the right, or he didn't follow the right path.Wang Hong couldn't support him by himself, so he called Tana in the corridor, and the two fought to help him into the dormitory.

After arriving at the dormitory, I lay on the bed, still muttering that I didn't drink too much, nothing happened.

Wang Hong made tea and asked him to drink a cup to sober up.

Lao Tan sat up and didn't drink right away, but lit a cigarette and smoked.

"Don't drink these wines, your health will be ruined." Wang Hong said with concern.

"Well, stop drinking." Old Tan said.

"I see that you've been drinking too much recently. How can you drink like this? You can't drink too much." Wang Hong finished speaking and handed the tea to Lao Tan, "Drink it, it's not hot anymore."

Old Tan drank his cup of tea, feeling better, and said to Wang Hong, "Sister, Gan Qika doesn't have a direct train to Tieling, so I have to go to the provincial capital, and then we will go together."

"Well, let's go together. I'll go to the provincial capital to do some shopping. I'll stop by to see Xiaomei and Zhang Li. I'll go home after a day. There's nothing to do when I go home, just me." Wang Hong said.

"If you don't get it from my house for the New Year, my house still has a place to live."

Wang Hong smiled and said: "What's the matter with your New Year's Eve? Your wife must not tear you apart? I'll go back to my mother's house. I won't spend it alone. Don't worry about it. Stay at home for a month after the New Year's Eve and wait for your call." , When will your place be decorated, and when will I come over?"

"That's okay. The decoration will be fast. It will take two months at most. It will be completed in mid-April. You have to come in early April, and so do Huaqing and the others." Old Tan said.

"I don't care about work, what do you arrange, anyway, I'm with you." Wang Hong said and got up, "Go to bed early and drink those wines."

Old Tan took advantage of the alcohol to joke: "Let's go? Won't you sleep with me?"

Wang Hong turned her head and said with a smile: "You just talk about your ability, how dare you really sleep with you?"

After speaking, he took the door and left.

Old Tan said in his heart that he really didn't dare.

On the second day of Xiaonian, the sound of firecrackers sounded in the street early in the morning, and the smell of the year permeated the air.

Lao Tan took out two hanging whips and five boxes of salutes, and asked Hua Qing and Sun Haicheng to set them off in front of the hotel.Wang Hong and the pastry boy made dumplings. The new year is also the new year, and everyone eats dumplings.

No guests came to the restaurant in Xiaonian, so factory director Gao reserved four tables at noon to reward workers who worked overtime.In the afternoon, the finance and warehouse managers in the factory came to take stock. After the stocktaking, Sister Yuan handed over to Director Zhang.

All the employees had dinner together in the evening, and the business was closed for the next day, and the employees went back to their homes.

Lao Tan drank a little too much yesterday, and he didn't sober up all day, so he didn't want to drink during the dinner at night.But everyone followed each other to toast, it's not good if you don't drink.Especially the brothers in the kitchen, they get along well and have feelings for half a year.I don't know when I will see you again this time, so I can't help but feel a little sad, so I naturally drink more.There are a lot of Mongolian employees in the area, and they can drink, and there are more old Tans while drinking.

When Tuyaqiqige led the waiter to toast, he was already in a state of drunkenness, and he did it as soon as he picked it up, just like drinking water.

He was really drunk this time, and he didn't know how he got back to the dormitory.

The next morning, I woke up and found myself lying on the bed, my brain was buzzing, and I couldn't remember most of what happened last night.

I don’t know why I went back to the dormitory, the screen stayed on the scene where the staff danced and sang, toasting back and forth, it seemed that I also sang a song, Tuya gave me a khata, and kissed myself, then drank with Sister Yuan, and then I can't remember anything after that.

This wine was drunk, broken into pieces, shameful.

Why did you come back?Did you walk up by yourself or someone else carried it up?Not impressed at all.

I really have to drink less of this wine, if I drink too much I feel uncomfortable, and I don't even know what I say or do. Doesn't this delay things?

It's past nine o'clock. Fortunately, there is a train at two o'clock in the afternoon, so I have time to organize things.

After a while, Wang Hong came in with porridge, steamed buns, and pickles on a tray. Seeing that Lao Tan woke up, the two of them had a simple meal.After dinner, Wang Hong helped Lao Tan pack his things, and there were not many. He took most of them back home for his mother's birthday in the first few days. Now it is just a few changes of clothes and daily necessities.My friend brought a lot of presents yesterday, but Lao Tan couldn't take that much, so he gave half of it to Wang Hong.

There was nothing to do after tidying up, but Lao Tan still had a headache, so he half leaned on the bed and chatted with Wang Hong.

"Old Tan, you should train a few to follow you, or take in a few apprentices, so that you can have someone under your command wherever you work in the future." Wang Hong said.

"The apprentice doesn't take me anymore. I'm still hunting for food. How can I take care of others? Besides, how many children are willing to learn to be a chef?" Old Tan said.

"Then you have to train a few, you can't have one under your command."

"It's good to get along with everyone's friends, shoulders and heads are brothers."

Wang Hong said: "It's okay to say that. When the time comes, it's better for your own people to speak up and do it with sincerity. I think Huaqing wants to worship you as a teacher, and Sun Haicheng thinks so, but he just doesn't have the nerve to say it."

Old Tan said: "After forty, just 37, I won't accept it for now."

Wang Hong smiled and asked, "What's wrong? Is there an age limit for accepting apprentices?"

"That's not true. When a person is forty years old, his heart can calm down, he doesn't do anything impulsively, and he thinks and does everything comprehensively. At that time, it is a good time to recruit apprentices, and we can't mistake them." Old Tan said.

"You, you just talk a lot. When the time comes, you will be the first to accept me, and I will also worship you as my teacher." Wang Hong said.

"Old Tan doesn't accept female apprentices."

"Let's make a small sample. If you don't accept it, you have to accept it. If you dare to throw me down and drive me to your house."

The two of them didn't eat at noon, and arrived at the train station after one o'clock, and took the train back to the provincial capital at two o'clock.

(End of this chapter)