The Northern Stories of Chef Lao Tan

Chapter 594 Is it a disaster year?

Lao Tan didn't go home when he came out from childhood, but walked towards Yaru's residence.

When Yaru opened the door, Lao Tan brought in a breath of air-conditioning and a smell of alcohol.

"Who did you drink with, drink these."

"Drink with Brother Liu and Brother Li, and Zhongqing."

Yaru fetched slippers for Lao Tan, and after Lao Tan put on the down jacket, he took off the down jacket and handed it to her, then sat on the sofa.

Yaru poured Lao Tan a cup of hot tea.

Old Tan felt much more comfortable with a cup of tea, and then fell down on the sofa, resting his head on Yaru's legs and closing his eyes.Yaru put his hand on his head and touched it, then stroked his cheek.

"Did Mr. Wang die when you arrived?" Yaru asked softly.

"Swallowed—and closed my eyes—" Old Tan said.

"Like me, my dad died when I got home and closed his eyes—"

Then the two fell into silence, the silence of thinking and reminiscing——
Old Tan turned over, buried his head in Yaru's arms, and hugged her with both hands.

Yaru caressed Lao Tan's back, like a mother coaxing a wronged child, before her eyes was the scene of the old father leaving.

"I didn't expect my dad to leave in such a hurry--I think it's so hasty, I still think about it every day, but I can't dream of it--" Yaru muttered, "I'm in a hurry, and I'm not ready to wear old clothes , all bought now——
Mr. Wang's too, right? "

"Well--I can't sleep at night these days, I always feel that she hasn't left--"

"It's all the same, I went too fast—unexpected things—who would have imagined—"

"I thought I had to go first."

"You can't leave, you will be blessed if you survive a catastrophe, how many people are pointing at you."

Old Tan took his head out of Yaru's arms and sat up, Yaru filled his cup with tea, he picked it up and drank it in one gulp, then filled the cup half full.

"Let's live here today." Yaru said.

"Well, live here."

"Bring my mother over after the New Year, and you won't be able to live here anymore."

"---"

"Your mother's birthday is two days away, and you won't be able to go back here."

"Can not go back."

"I don't know what it will be like during the Chinese New Year, so I won't be able to go back."

"No one can say for sure now, let's see when the time comes."

"Hey, this epidemic, when will it end—"

The two went to bed, and in the dark, Yaru hugged Lao Tan with her plump and warm body, giving him physical satisfaction and comfort, and made him fall asleep sweetly.

The next morning, Lao Tan was woken up by Zhou Xiaomei's phone call. Zhou Xiaomei reported a bad news. Fortunately, the Zhonghai store in Hushi was patronized by a positive infected person. The store was closed and all the employees in the store were sent to quarantine for observation. .

Lao Tan sighed that it was impossible to defend against it, but there was nothing he could do. He asked Zhou Xiaomei to do a good job of protecting other stores and stabilizing the employees.

"In the past two days, the epidemic situation in Changsha has also been quite serious," Zhou Xiaomei said.

"As long as it doesn't explode," Old Tan said.

"I'm worried that the closure of the community will close the store."

"There is no way to seal it, we can only hold on, we have to cooperate with the epidemic prevention work. Don't tell me about the meeting, once the community where the store is located is closed, the store manager will immediately contact the community and make boxed meals for the epidemic prevention personnel for free."

"Oh, I see."

"Also, we must do a good job in the emotional work of the employees, and don't believe in rumors and make false statements, and make improper remarks. If there are few guests, you can clean up, and if you don't organize some entertainment activities, it is impossible to have a meal, or the raw materials will not be sold and will be wasted.

The Chinese New Year is coming soon. This year, local Chinese New Year is advocated. I have made it clear to the employees that those who can’t go home will not go home. Safety comes first.

There is no reservation for the New Year's Eve dinner this year, but the raw materials are prepared and the quantity is the same as in previous years. "

"If you don't make a reservation for the New Year's Eve dinner, what are you still preparing?" Zhou Xiaomei was a little puzzled.

"Is your head spinning slowly? Do you know what it means to celebrate the New Year on the spot?"

"Oh——" Zhou Xiaomei immediately realized, "I understand, uncle, you are the best! I admire you!"

"It's good to understand. We have to make back the money we didn't make last year. At the same time, we want to reserve some free ones and make more quick-frozen dumplings. Many people will not be able to eat dumplings because they can't go home."

"Roger that!"

"By the way, do you have a sister-in-law who makes dumplings at the University Town Store in North Province?" Old Tan asked.

"Yes, I went there last year. What's the matter? What happened?" Zhou Xiaomei asked.

"Nothing happened. She underwent acute appendicitis surgery two days ago and is now in the hospital. Call to see her when you have time."

After talking on the phone with Zhou Xiaomei, Old Tan checked the time, it was exactly seven o'clock.Yaru left early for work, and her working hours were the same as when she was in Suzhou, four in the morning and three in the evening.

Get up and wash your face, after a little tidying up, just about to go out, the phone rang, Yaru called, today is Laba, she made Laba porridge and told Lao Tan to drink it.

Lao Tan walked out of the door and the phone rang again, this time it was Li Shuang, who cried on the phone and said that the old father had left.

Lao Tan felt dizzy for a while.

What's the matter this year, why do people always leave?First Wang Ming, then Yaru's father, followed by Wang Shulan, and now Li Shuang's father is gone---
Is it the year of catastrophe?
When Lao Tan arrived at Li Shuang's house, Yanhua, Zhang Li, Zhongqing, and Huaqing were all there. There were many relatives standing in the house, which was very crowded.

Li Shuang's family of three wore mourning and mourning.Li Shuang's mother was in her hut, accompanied by several old ladies from the family, talking comforting words.

It is estimated that no one likes to watch this scene, and no one can stand it except for the person who buried a dragon.

Old Tan offered incense and kowtowed to the old man, then went into the hut to see the old lady, came out to comfort Li Shuang in mourning, and then asked Zhongqing to stay and greet relatives and friends who came to express condolences.

The temporary eating place is arranged in the old shop, and the people who call can come to eat at any time, and Huaqing is responsible for informing customers.

After arranging everything, they came out of Li Shuang's house. Yanhua and Zhang Li were all in a low mood. They didn't speak, didn't know what to say, and walked forward in silence.

The weather was fine and the sun was shining brightly. The children in the community were running and playing, followed by grandparents and grandparents who kept shouting to slow down and don't fall.

After the three people walked out of the community, they stopped and looked at each other, all a little dazed, sad and empty.

"Uncomfortable, not a taste." Zhang Li said.

"Me too, it's like I'm holding my breath, it's hard to breathe," Yanhua said.

Old Tan didn't say anything, and he was also in a bad mood.

"Go and drink, it won't hurt if you drink too much." Zhang Li suggested.

Yanhua looked at Lao Tan, who nodded and said, "Drink in the morning and get drunk all day, let's get drunk when you get drunk. I've been in a bad mood for the past two days, and I feel aggrieved."

So the three of them hailed a taxi and headed straight for Puhe Daji. There was a barbecue restaurant run by pure fresh people. It was delicious and quiet, suitable for quiet drinking.

Mainly because Zhang Li is familiar with it.

The door was only opened when the three of them arrived. The woman who looked like the proprietress looked them up and down, and said that it was not time yet and they had to wait for a while for dinner. Zhang Li said it was fine and could wait.

The woman let the three of them into the store, opened a small private room and said, "Sit down first, the fire has just been lit, the kang is a bit cold, there are cushions there."

The three of them took off their shoes and got on the kang and sat down around the table in the middle. Zhang Li asked the woman to serve two ready-made side dishes and a bottle of wine, and drank them first.

(End of this chapter)