Rebirth: Starting from the Cafeteria

Chapter 18 Can you help me make braised beef?

"How bizarre! You have also learned to wish your leaders a happy new year?"

In the compound, Du Shaojie met Liao Yongxin.

Liao Yongxin patted his shoulder and said with a smile.

"Not only the leader, I just wanted to visit your house, and that's how we met."

Du Shaojie was not talking nonsense. If he had not met Liao Yongxin, he would definitely visit him to wish him a happy new year.

Liao Yongxin laughed and was very satisfied with the young man's attitude.

"Go do whatever you need to do now. Come over to my house when you get off work at noon. I'll cook two dishes and we can have a few drinks."

"Okay, see you at noon."

Du Shaojie was secretly happy. He had always hoped to have a good relationship with the other party, so he agreed immediately.

Then he went to the dormitory and hid for a while. When the time was almost up, he went to Liao Yongxin's house with his hands swinging.

It's not appropriate to bring things to the door at this time, and he doesn't have anything to show for it right now, so he can wait until later.

When Du Shaojie walked into Liao Yongxin's home, three hot dishes were already on the table.

The two of them sat down immediately, eating and drinking, and Liao Yongxin took the initiative to talk about his family affairs.

His wife and daughter are both in his hometown. The parents on both sides are old and need someone to take care of them, so the couple have been living apart for many years and can only see each other once a year.

"My family leave for this year has been approved, and I will take the train on the third day of the first lunar month."

According to regulations, the annual home visit leave for couples to visit each other shall not exceed 30 days.

There were many things to do before the New Year, so Liao Yongxin was unable to buy a ticket and had to rush back on the third day of the New Year.

Du Shaojie was happy for him, but also a little disappointed. To be honest, Liao Yongxin had always been nice to him. If he hadn't been there, Dai Tong didn't know how he would have bullied him.

"Master Liao, I offer this glass of wine to you. I wish you a safe journey and happiness for your family."

After calming himself down, Du Shaojie sincerely offered Liao Yongxin a glass of wine.

Liao Yongxin raised his glass, clinked it with his, and drank it all in one gulp.

"During the time I'm away, don't confront Dai Tong head-on. When I come back, I'll teach you how to cook two dishes. Once you learn the skills, the uncle and nephew of the Dai family will be nothing."

Before he knew it, Liao Yongxin had drunk a little too much.

Du Shaojie stopped pouring wine for the other party. After eating and drinking, he took the initiative to clean up the mess before leaving.

In the afternoon, Liao Yongxin arranged dinner and then assigned shifts to everyone.

Du Shaojie was on duty on the third day of the Lunar New Year, so he left early. In fact, the so-called no holiday was just a situation, and there were few people in the entire office building.

Du Shaojie went to Qi Yan's home and Su Dapeng's home to wish their elders a happy new year.

Qi Yan, Liang Meiqin and Su Dapeng also went to Du Shaojie's house to wish Wang Yuxiu a happy new year. Du Shaojie specially cooked a few dishes and invited the three of them to have dinner at his home.

"Shaojie, my dad's comrades-in-arms are coming to our house for dinner on the third day of the New Year. They like to eat braised beef in soy sauce, but no one in my family can make it well. Can you help make it?"

After eating and drinking, they played cards and chatted in Du Shaojie's room.

Liang Meiqin and he were not very familiar with each other, and they were often together mainly because of Qi Yan. Qi Yan liked to take Liang Meiqin with her wherever she went, and they were inseparable "besties".

She was very clear that her relationship with Du Shaojie was average, so she felt very nervous when she said this.

"You have soy sauce at home, right? What about other condiments?"

Du Shaojie pondered for a moment, then asked.

He had made braised beef in soy sauce before, and he could still remember the recipe very clearly when he recalled it just now, but he was not sure whether he could make it well.

"I have yellow sauce and some seasonings at home, but I don't know if they are all complete."

Liang Meiqin felt a little regretful when she saw that Du Shaojie neither agreed nor refused. Like Qi Yan, she had nothing to do now. Her father wanted her to join the army, and in fact, he had this consideration when he invited a group of old comrades to his home for dinner on the third day of junior high school.

Liang Meiqin hoped that this matter could be settled, otherwise she would not ask Du Shaojie for help.

"As long as there is yellow sauce, it's fine. It doesn't matter if there are more or less other seasonings. We're hosting a party on the third day of the New Year, so we have to prepare the beef tomorrow morning. So I'll go to your house tomorrow morning?"

Du Shaojie glanced at Qi Yan and agreed.

Qi Yan rolled her eyes at him in annoyance. Was it necessary to overthink such a small matter?
"Ah? That's great, thank you, Shaojie!"

Liang Meiqin's face turned from cloudy to sunny, and she kept thanking him.

Qi Yan smiled and said nothing. She knew that Du Shaojie agreed to this matter only for her sake.

But she didn't know that Du Shaojie also needed such a practical opportunity.

"No more fighting, let's go play something else."

Seeing that no one was interested in playing cards, Su Dapeng threw the cards in his hand onto the table.

Then, he opened his schoolbag mysteriously, and inside was a bag of firecrackers.

"You are really good, you can even get this stuff. Let's go outside the yard and set off firecrackers. Isn't the purpose of New Year's Eve fun?"

Du Shaojie immediately put on his cotton coat, pushed the door open and went out with everyone, and also called Xiaomei and Xiaoya.

Twenty or so firecrackers were quickly set off. Both the two little girls, as well as Su Dapeng, Qi Yan and Liang Meiqin were very happy.

Du Shaojie was infected by their emotions and also had a lot of fun.

Afterwards, Su Dapeng and others said goodbye directly, and Du Shaojie took his two sisters back home.

Before going to sleep, Du Shaojie learned how to cook various dishes by following the teaching materials as he did before.

On New Year's Eve, the dishes he cooked were praised by his family, but only he himself knew that the dishes he cooked that night were not up to standard.

For example, in the dish of Kung Pao Chicken, the oil temperature was not controlled well when frying the chicken, resulting in the dish not being smooth and tender enough, thus affecting the taste.

This was the conclusion he came to after repeatedly comparing the teaching materials. He should perform better next time.

The next day.

Du Shaojie got up at work in the morning and then rode his bike to Liang Meiqin's home.

Liang Meiqin's house and Qi Yan's house were not far apart. When he entered the house, he saw not only Liang Meiqin but also Qi Yan.

"Shaojie, you really keep your word!"

Qi Yan quietly gave him a thumbs up, Liang Meiqin quickly let him into the house, and then made a pot of jasmine tea.

Liang Meiqin's parents chatted with Du Shaojie casually for a few words, then went to the bedroom on the pretext of not getting enough rest. In fact, they deliberately left the space for a few young people.

"Let's work first."

Du Shaojie drank a cup of scented tea and asked Liang Meiqin to take him to the kitchen.

Liang Meiqin smiled and nodded, and gave the other party detailed instructions in the kitchen.

Seeing that the beef had been cleaned, Du Shaojie made a few cuts on the large piece of beef to make it easier to marinate.

Next, put the processed beef into a large bowl, pour soy sauce on it, add yellow paste and sprinkle some salt and cinnamon powder, then evenly spread the sauce inside and out of the beef, and marinate with the cut side facing down.

If you want the braised beef to taste good, the marinating time must be long, at least eight hours.

"Mikoto, find something to cover the mouth of the basin and put it in a cool place. Be careful not to let the temperature get too high, but don't let it freeze either. I'll come back after dinner and we can braise it then."

After the beef is processed, it’s just a matter of waiting. If he didn’t have to be on duty tomorrow, it would actually be better to braise it tomorrow morning.

Du Shaojie gave Liang Meiqin some instructions and prepared to leave.

(End of this chapter)