Rebirth: Starting from the Cafeteria

Chapter 154: Commissioned Work
The thing about food is that it is difficult to compare. Those who like it can naturally tell the good from the bad.

Some customers bought the food with the intention of giving it a try, but once they tasted it, they were immediately conquered by its deliciousness.

The taste is moderately spicy and rich in fragrance. You can't stop eating it after one bite.

This is how word of mouth was established. Word of mouth spread, and then people started lining up at the [Pepper and Spicy Chicken] window of the Chinese restaurant in Guangyuan Hotel.

Huang Tingting learned very quickly, and Xiao Jianjun was also good. After a few days, the two of them could operate independently. Du Shaojie was very confident in them. In addition to frying spices and boiling sauces, he let them do the rest.

"Master Du, someone is looking for you outside."

Everyone has now gotten used to someone coming to see Du Shaojie from time to time. After all, he is a young man, and who doesn’t have a few friends, right?
Du Shaojie had just finished his work, changed his clothes and ran out.

He probably knew who was looking for him, so when he went out to take a look, it was indeed Qi Yan.

"Shaojie, are you off work yet? The reporter from the newspaper is interviewing Mikoto, and they said they will interview her classmates and friends later. Let's go and help them out."

The interview was something we had agreed on before, and after a long wait, it finally happened today.

Du Shaojie nodded, then took his bicycle and took Qi Yan to Liang Meiqin's house.

The reporter was a woman in her twenties, wearing glasses and looking very capable. When we met, I noticed that her eyes were red, and she was obviously moved by Liang Meiqin's story.

Qi Yan and Du Shaojie talked about Liang Meiqin from a side perspective, which could better set off the heroic character, make the reporter's report more flesh and blood, and more easily resonate with readers.

"Xiao Du, Xiao Qi, thank you. By the way, what does Xiao Du do? I see that you have a clear mind and speak in an orderly manner. Are you also a college student like Xiao Qi?"

The reporter's surname is Cui. She knows that Qi Yan is a college student, but she doesn't know Du Shaojie's identity.

After the interview, Cui Lingling first thanked the two of them, and then asked a question out of curiosity.

"I am a chef, currently working at the Chinese restaurant of Guangyuan Hotel of the Electric Power Industry Bureau."

Du Shaojie responded with a smile.

"Chef? Sorry, I made a mistake. Xiao Du is young and promising, so he must have already graduated."

Perhaps it was a professional habit, Cui Lingling trusted her own judgment too much, and just after stepping into one pit, she immediately stepped into another pit.

Qi Yan couldn't help curling her lips and said, "Shaojie has already graduated. He is now a first-class chef and also the winner of the special prize in the National Young Chef Skills Competition."

"Sorry, sorry"

Cui Lingling felt a little embarrassed, but she was a reporter after all, so she was quite capable of responding to changing circumstances.

"Master Du, our newspaper is going to add a new lifestyle column, which will include 'Gourmet Talk' and 'Weekly Dish'. Master Du is an expert in this area, and you are welcome to contribute to the newspaper."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Cui Lingling shook hands with Du Shaojie and others one by one, then said goodbye and left.

After returning to the newspaper office, she began to work overtime to finish the manuscript and showed it to the editor-in-chief. The editor-in-chief was very interested in the report and asked Cui Lingling to verify it with the army as soon as possible. If there was no problem, it could be published in the newspaper.

Within a few days, Cui Lingling's long report appeared in the newspaper.

The report resonated strongly with everyone, and Liang Meiqin was invited to give several reports, which were also a huge success.

Her job was quickly arranged. She was given a sinecure in the Municipal Disabled Persons' Federation. She did not have to go to work every day, but her salary and benefits were still the same.

This afternoon.

Du Shaojie was still busy in the kitchen when Cui Lingling suddenly came to him.

"Reporter Cui, thank you for your report, which helped Mikoto find a job. You came to see me because of something, right?"

"Xiao Du, you don't have to be polite to me. That's what I should do. Compared with Comrade Liang Meiqin's contribution, what we have done is simply insignificant.

I came to see you today to ask you to write an article on behalf of Editor He of the newspaper. Last time I told you that I hope you can contribute to "Food Talk" and "Weekly Dish", but you may have been too busy to remember it. "

Cui Lingling came today to help her colleague ask Du Shaojie for articles. The new column has been opened, but the number and quality of submissions are not good.

She felt that Du Shaojie was different. She could tell from the way he spoke that he was not only a good cook but also had a lot of knowledge. Therefore, she came here today to bring up the old matter.

"I'm sorry, reporter Cui, I've been really busy lately. How about this, I'll try to write two articles when I get home from get off work today. I can't guarantee the quality, so if they're usable, I'll use them. If they're not, I'll just throw them away."

Du Shaojie has had a lot of things going on recently.

He sent Liao Yongxin away a few days ago. The restaurant's [Pepper and Spicy Chicken] has been very popular these days. In addition to his normal work, he also has to help Huang Tingting and Xiao Jianjun cook chicken, so he has almost no time during the day.

He had to spend more time with his family at night, as Xiaomei would soon be going to school. In addition, he couldn't neglect Qi Yan, as she would also be starting school soon.

I also have to find time to visit Wang Liwen and Liang Meiqin from time to time, and I can't miss the simulation training and competitions. I was so busy that I forgot about submitting my work.

However, he had a good impression of Cui Lingling, and since she came to him, of course he agreed without hesitation.

"Then I'll trouble you, Master Du. I'll come again tomorrow at noon. Just give me the manuscript then."

Cui Lingling was very straightforward in her words and deeds. After finishing her business, she turned around and left. Du Shaojie stood there for a while, thinking, this reporter Cui is more ruthless than Zhou Paopi. She wants to see the manuscript tomorrow after finishing her business today.

Then write it!

When I got home in the evening, I quickly finished my meal and then lay on the table to write.

Xiaomei was very curious. Why was her brother's hands, which usually held kitchen knives and spoons, holding a pen today?

"Brother is writing a story. I just took a few peeks. It can't be wrong."

Xiaoya told her sister mysteriously, but what she said was both right and wrong.

Du Shaojie first wrote "One Dish a Week", which is the home-cooked method of [Spicy Chicken with Peppercorns]. Then he wrote "Miscellaneous Talks on Food", briefly describing the origin of [Spicy Chicken with Peppercorns] and adding some stories he had heard about it.

His writing style is quite good. You know, when he told stories on the farm, he attracted countless men, women, young and old.

After some revisions, the two manuscripts were completed.

"Xiaomei, help me check if there are any mistakes or omissions. If not, please copy it now. I need it tomorrow."

Du Shaojie then found an excuse and asked Xiaomei to help him copy.

Xiaomei happily agreed, mainly because she wanted to see what story her brother had written.

Xiaoya also came up behind her, and the two sisters were surprised when they saw it. They had never expected that their brother's writing style was quite good, the writing was concise and fluent, and the narrative was fascinating.

"Brother is awesome!"

The two sisters expressed their heartfelt admiration. They usually didn't have the chance to see this side of their brother. To be honest, they didn't know what else their brother couldn't do.

Noon the next day.

Cui Lingling came to the Chinese restaurant as promised and met Du Shaojie.

Du Shaojie gave the other party the two transcribed manuscripts. The other party quickly browsed through them and was very surprised.

"Master Du, your handwriting is so beautiful and the text is so elegant. I think Editor He will like it."

Cui Lingling was overjoyed and ran away with the manuscript.

Back at the newspaper office, she handed the manuscript to He Yuting, a young editor who was very close to Cui Lingling. After reading the manuscript, she couldn't help but smile happily.

"Sister Ling, thank you for helping me. Alas, maybe I am too young, and I have never been able to get a high-quality manuscript. This has solved a big problem."

He Yuting went to see her leader for review without saying a word. The review of this kind of article is very quick. The leader signed it readily after reading it once, and it can be sent out tomorrow.

Du Shaojie gave himself a pen name "Ajie", which was very casual, but it sounded quite friendly.

It was just a minor incident and he forgot about it afterwards.

In the next few days, Du Shaojie took advantage of the lunch break and the less busy time in the afternoon to take Xiaomei on a shopping spree.

"Let me tell you, it's hot and humid in Guangzhou, so you should prepare a few more summer clothes. The bedding doesn't need to be too thick, but you must have a towel blanket. In addition, you can buy cool mats, mosquito nets, etc. when you get to school."

They had to buy things one by one, and after buying sheets and clothes, he took Xiaomei to the department store.

Du Shaojie promised his sister that he would buy her a watch when she was admitted to university. Xiaomei looked at it at the counter and chose an "SH" brand watch.

其中，“SH”全钢防震21钻手表125元，半钢19钻120元。秒针带红剪头的125，不带红剪头的是120元。

The price difference was not much, so Du Shaojie asked the salesperson to issue an invoice and then paid 125 yuan.

Xiaomei put the new watch on her wrist, looked at it left and right, and was extremely happy.

Afterwards, Du Shaojie took Xiaomei to buy a pair of Huili shoes and a pair of sandals, and then they returned home with the bags.

According to Du Shaojie's idea, he planned to send Xiaomei to school personally, but unlike later generations, very few parents did so in those days. Generally, students went to school to register by themselves.

As a result, even Wang Yuxiu couldn't stand it anymore: "Xiao Jie, you are pampering them too much. You have to go to work, how long does it take to go back and forth? Just let her go to school by herself."

"Brother, it's okay. In addition to those who were admitted to Zhongda, some of our classmates were admitted to Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Institute of Engineering) and Huazhong Normal University (Teachers College). We can make an appointment to go together, and we can take care of each other on the way."

No. 1 Middle School is indeed the best middle school in the city, and it won a great victory in this college entrance examination.

Not to mention anything else, there were three people admitted to CUHK alone, and more than a dozen people were admitted to HN Institute of Technology and HN Teachers College.

A classmate had come to see Xiaomei before, and wanted to make an appointment for everyone to go together.

"Okay, but you must pay attention to safety during the journey. Don't relax even after getting off the train, especially at Yangcheng Railway Station, which is a very messy place. Once you get out of the station, go to the freshman reception desk immediately, okay?"

Du Shaojie talked for a long time, and finally agreed to let Xiaomei and her classmates go together.

(End of this chapter)