love cafeteria

Chapter 5 The Last Boss
When Long San came in, I thought he was collecting protection money.He looked about 50 to [-] years old, and a scar on his forehead seemed to be old.In the middle of the night, he was wearing a black attire and a pair of sunglasses. His slightly chubby figure looked calm and majestic.When Long San first walked in, I clearly saw Mr. Qiao and Danzi shivering for a while.

"Hi, what would you like to order?" I asked, standing up from behind the bar.

He looked around, took off his sunglasses, looked at me, and said in a low voice, "Can you make West Lake beef soup?"

I nod.This is a typical Hangzhou dish, of course I can cook it.

"Give me a copy." After speaking, Long San chose a seat and sat down, took off his coat and put it on the back of the chair.A tattoo of a green dragon protruded from his shoulder, poking his head out, as if he wanted to choose someone to devour.The originally lively Shenai Canteen became much quieter because of Long San's arrival.

In the kitchen, I prepared the ingredients for West Lake Beef Soup.After the water boils, add beef cubes, diced tofu, and diced mushrooms in turn, simmer on low heat for about 2 minutes, and add salt to taste.The next step is to stir the water starch evenly, pour it into the soup until it is slightly thick, and then add the egg white over medium heat.While stirring.Finally, add pepper, chicken essence, parsley, and sesame oil.Such a thick and fragrant West Lake Beef Soup is out of the pan.

I brought the beef soup over and asked, "Do you just want a piece of beef soup?"

"Yes." He nodded, "That's enough." Long San finished his West Lake Beef Soup quietly, wiped his mouth, walked to the bar and said to me, "Boss, your soup is very good."

"Thank you." I replied politely.

"However, I don't have any money with me today, can I owe it first?" He said calmly.

"Sorry, no credit for small businesses."

"I see." He hesitated for a while, then took off the watch he was wearing and put it on the bar counter, "I'll bet this piece of 'Citizen' with you first, okay?"

"This, isn't it too expensive?" I hesitated.

"It's okay, it's just a mechanical watch." He gently put the watch on the bar, turned and walked out the door.

I'm playing around with this vintage Citizen mechanical watch.This watch, like the scar on his master's forehead, looks old, slightly dusty with time.Turning it over, I saw a shallow "Wei" engraved on the back cover of the watch.

"How can you accept his watch?" Tanzai approached mysteriously, "Do you know who he is?"

"I don't know, who is it?"

"I don't know." Egg Boy shook his head, "Anyway, he doesn't look like a good person. Haven't you seen a movie? Those gangsters are all dressed up like this."

"There is no underworld in China." I corrected me solemnly, "There are only evil gangs with the nature of the underworld."

"Isn't that a unit?"

"Of course there are differences."

When I was arguing endlessly with Danzi, the old dean suddenly came up and said lightly: "Long San."

"Who?" Eggboy turned his head and looked at him.

"I said that the man who put the watch here just now is called Long San." The old director took out a cigarette, lit it, and smoked slowly, "The boss is right. Ten years ago, Long San went in At that time, the charge was to form a "gang of evil forces with the nature of the underworld". Back then, when Long San was in this area dozens of miles away, when he was in fresh clothes and angry horses calling the wind and rain, Danzi, you haven't graduated from junior high school yet."

"Ah!" Eggboy was dumbfounded when he heard that, "So, that guy just now really is a gangster?"

"Ten years ago. As for now." The old dean hesitated, "That's hard to say."

"Let me just say, Boss, how can you accept things from this kind of person casually!" Danzi was a little anxious, "Just by looking at that guy's appearance, you can tell that he is not a good stubble. You accept his appearance now." , he might come up with some kind of moth."

"What can you do?" I rubbed the watch with a very special feel, and said, "He took the initiative to bet on this watch here, and I didn't ask for it. Besides, it's only right and proper to pay for meals, and the underworld can't do it either." Shameless?"

The next night, Long San came again.He is still dressed in black and insists on wearing a pair of sunglasses at night. This reminds me of when Wong Kar Wai gave a speech in the university. Some students asked him why he was wearing sunglasses all the time. Wong Kar Wai said: "As a director, you must You have to learn to persevere.” I don’t know if Long San has ever watched a movie directed by Wong Kar Wai, but judging from his insistence on wearing sunglasses, his temperament is still in the “classical gangster” stage.It seems that ten years of prison life has made him out of this era. "Classical gangsters" are already things that can only be seen in old movies. Now the popular ones are washing, cutting, cosplay, nobles killing Matt, and groups of sissies whizzing past the street. It is the mainstream of society.And Long San still sticks to his beliefs like a feudal defender. Although it is outdated, the deep and fierce temperament that has settled down is still not to be underestimated.He is like a long-extinct saber-toothed tiger that has reappeared, wandering through a new generation of forests full of hyenas and foxes.

"Boss, let me have some West Lake Beef Soup." Long San said expressionlessly.

"Okay, please sit down, I'll be here right away." I thought it was a little funny, the cafeteria that was bustling just now became completely silent because of the arrival of Long San.

When Yingzi saw Long San for the first time, she couldn't help asking: "Who is that..." Before he finished speaking, Young Master Qiao hurriedly blocked Yingzi's mouth, and made a silent movement towards her.Yingzi is definitely a standard female man, and her next move was beyond everyone's expectations. Yingzi threw off Mr. Qiao's arm, "Huo" stood up, and shouted loudly: "What's the matter, don't let me go?" People are talking! The Heavenly King and Lao Tzu don’t have such power either!”

When she yelled like this, Mr. Qiao and Danzi turned pale with fright, and hurriedly turned their heads to see Long San's reaction.

Long San tilted his head and glanced at Yingzi, then stood up, and walked towards her slowly, a strong sense of oppression filled the cafeteria in an instant, I said "Oops" to myself, and tightly grasped the underside of the bar. a table knife.Long San walked up to Yingzi, was silent for a moment, then stretched out his hand and said, "Hi, it's our first time meeting, my name is Long San."

"Uh." Yingzi was a little confused for a moment, hesitated for a moment, and shook hands with him lightly, "Chen Yingzi."

"Please take care of me in the future." Long San nodded politely, then sat back and silently waited for his West Lake Beef Soup. I felt that everyone in the cafeteria breathed a sigh of relief. no danger.

Long San finished his West Lake Beef Soup, was silent for a moment, then raised his head and said, "Boss, let's have another serving."

I was surprised, generally no one would drink two servings of soup, unless he has a special affection for this West Lake Beef Soup.Anyway, the customer is God, since the customer asks, I can only do it.

Long San drank two servings of beef soup before standing up satisfied.There was a slight smile on his grim face, "Boss, the West Lake beef soup you made is very authentic, which makes people have a nostalgic taste, maybe..." He shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "I was also in it It’s been too long, I haven’t been exposed to this smell for ten years.”

It seemed that he didn't regard his imprisonment as a taboo, so I tentatively asked, "Can't you drink beef soup inside?"

"Hehe." He actually laughed, and the scar on his forehead looked less hideous, "Boss, do you think you're on vacation inside? You underestimate the power of labor reform." Hearing him I also laughed at such a humorous answer, "That watch." He paused and said, "Let's put it with you first, I don't have any money with me today, please be sure to put it away, wait After a while, I will redeem it." This is not like the tone of a person on credit, but more like the entrustment of a person who is traveling far away, this cold and quiet man, there is a kind of gentleness in his eyes at this moment Things are moving slowly.I thought of the word "Wei" on the back of the watch cover. For Long San, this is not just a watch.

I said, "I will put it away, and when you come to redeem it, it will be returned intact."

He smiled, turned around and left the cafeteria, and quickly disappeared into the night.For some reason, Long San's figure that night seemed a bit decisive.

Yingzi looked at the direction Long San was going away with an idiot-like expression on her face, unable to recover for a long time.

"Yingzi, are you okay?" Egg Boy waved his hand in front of her. "

"It's really manly!" Yingzi murmured.

two.
Night began to fall.I sat behind the bar, holding Long San's watch, playing with it boredly.Rubbing the rough scratches on the body of the watch due to the long time, there is actually a very comfortable feeling, like a piece of ancient jade that has been played with for a long time, smooth and moist.

The door opened suddenly, and a girl in her 20s walked in, looking cautious, I stood up and said, "Sorry, it's not business hours yet."

"I'm not here for dinner, I just want to ask you, boss..." She stopped suddenly in the middle of her words, staring blankly at the watch I was playing with.

"What's wrong?" I was a little surprised.

She didn't answer, just walked over and snatched the watch from my hand without any explanation.Then I turned over and saw the word "Wei" engraved on the back of the watch cover, "Have you met my father?" She raised her head and looked at me, her voice was trembling, her eyes were red, tears welled up, and she burst into tears. Did not run down inside the eye socket.

I wondered: "You are?"

"My name is Long Xiaowei."

Oh, I got it all at once.Long San should be the father of the girl named Long Xiaowei in front of him, and the word "Wei" engraved on the back of this watch is also to commemorate his daughter.Unexpectedly, Long San, who is as fierce as Yan Luo, would have such a beautiful girl with delicate features.

I said: "I did meet your father. He has eaten at my place several times. Because he has no money to pay the bill, he bet this watch on me first."

"How is it possible!" Long Xiaowei held the watch firmly, suppressing the emotions that surged up, "I bought this watch for Dad with a scholarship from the first year of college, and he likes it very much. Why? Could it be bet on others so easily?" It can be seen that this watch has touched her a lot, but she has been restraining her tears that kept pouring up.This seemingly weak girl also inherited the tenacity and tenacity of Long San's character.

I said: "It's true, I didn't lie to you. This watch was indeed bet on me by Long San."

She gritted her teeth and shook her head fiercely, "I don't believe it. Unless, unless he confessed to me himself." Then, she looked up at me, "Boss, I want to see him, can you help me?" I?

I smiled bitterly and said, "I want to help you too. He still owes me money for meals. But since he ate at my place last time, he hasn't been here for five days."

"This watch is here, he will always come again." Long Xiaowei paused and said, "Boss, I want to stay here and wait for him."

"No problem," I said, "but don't blame me if you can't wait."

Long Xiaowei chose a corner table and sat down, without saying a word, she just silently looked at the watch in her hand, with that calm expression, she really resembled Long San.

"When you first came in, you said you wanted to inquire about someone, and that was Long San, right?" I started chatting with her without saying a word.

"Yeah." She nodded, "I heard that my father came out, but I don't know why, and kept avoiding me. A friend told me that he had seen him around here before."

"How long has it been since you saw him?" I asked.

"Ten years." Ten years, I sighed.Ten years is enough to change a person.

It was late at night, and the cafeteria gradually became lively. Some acquaintances gathered here, chatting relaxedly or joking with each other, enjoying the intoxication and leisure of the night to the fullest.Long Xiaowei was out of tune with this scene, she just sat there quietly, holding the watch tightly in her hand, and didn't say a word the whole night.

Egg Boy walked to the front of the bar, punched me on the shoulder, and said mysteriously: "Boss, you can do it."

"what happened?"

"Where did you find a little beauty?" Tanzai glanced in Long Xiaowei's direction, and said in a low voice, "Look at it, you've been sitting here all night like a bitch. It must be you What have you done to be sorry for others?"

"I'm wronged." I laughed. "It really has nothing to do with me. He came here to find Dad."

"Oh, where is Dad going? Boss, do you think I'm a three-year-old kid?"

"Really, I didn't lie to you." I suppressed the smile on my face and said solemnly, "His father is called Long San."

Danzi's eyes widened in surprise, and he turned his head to look at Long Xiaowei once again, "Is this Long San's daughter? Be good, she looks so pretty?"

I warned: "Danzi, you'd better not get her ideas, Long San is not easy to mess with."

"Look at what you said, boss, do I look like that kind of person?" Egg Boy said, and sat back in his seat resentfully.

The sky above the city is slowly changing. From night to dawn, the people in the cafeteria gradually dispersed, returning to calm from the hustle and bustle.After I finished working all night, I stretched my waist, walked to Long Xiaowei who was still waiting, and said, "Xiaowei, go back, your father won't be here anymore."

Long Xiaowei, who had been waiting all night, silently bit her lips, then suddenly raised her head and said, "Boss, I want to know what my father has eaten when he came to you?"

"Every time he comes, he only orders one dish, West Lake Beef Soup."

Long Xiaowei froze for a moment, then said, "Can you make me a copy too?"

"Okay." I turned to the kitchen.Boil water, prepare ingredients, put beef cubes, diced tofu, and diced mushrooms into the pot one after another and simmer, then add salt to taste, add water starch to thicken, and add egg whites at the same time.When it is about to come out of the pan, add pepper, chicken essence, coriander segments, sesame oil, etc. in turn.

The rich aroma of West Lake Beef Soup filled the Deep Love Canteen on the eve of dawn.I brought the beef soup over, Long Xiaowei took a sip, pursed her lips and remained silent for a moment, then suddenly a few tears fell on the table.

I hurriedly asked, "Are you okay?"

"West Lake Beef Soup...is the first dish my father taught me to make." She choked up and said, "At that time, my mother had just passed away. To comfort my sad father, I often made this soup for him... Boss, you The soup I made tastes very similar to the one my dad used to make."

"Yeah." I nodded, "The same dish, as long as you cook it with your heart, the taste will be very similar."

"Father likes to drink this soup, which means that he is still thinking about me, and he will definitely come here again." Long Xiaowei stood up and bowed to me, "I'm sorry to trouble you this evening, boss, today In the evening, I want to stay here and wait for him."

"no problem."

The sky in the east was already white, I slowly closed the door, and at the same time let out a soft sigh.Unexpectedly, an unremarkable West Lake beef soup is a time bond linking the love between the father and daughter.Long Xiaowei can taste the taste of her father's cooking from the West Lake beef soup. Every time Long San comes here, she only orders beef soup. It must be because she misses her daughter. It can be said that the love between father and daughter is deep.But why didn't Long San meet Long Xiaowei?What is the secret behind this.

three.
Long Xiaowei would come to Shenai Cafeteria to wait every night, but Long San never appeared again, as if she had disappeared.This situation lasted for more than ten days, so that in the end, Long Xiaowei slowly became a regular customer of the cafeteria.And the relationship with other people has gradually become familiar.Waiting for Long San, just like "waiting for Godot", has gradually become a way of behavior for Long Xiaowei, not a purpose of behavior.Each of us doesn't know why Long San doesn't show up anymore, why he rashly bet me a commemorative watch, and why he doesn't see his biological daughter after ten years of separation. upper side.These mysteries confuse each of us, but life still goes on. In every dark night, Long Xiaowei will appear in Shenai Canteen. A person's grievances.

Everyone knows that Long Xiaowei is Long San's daughter, and most people don't want to have too much communication with her, but Tanzai always strikes up a conversation with her when she has nothing to do.For Egg Boy's enthusiasm, Long Xiaowei only responded out of politeness, not to mention much reaction.This is not surprising, she is different from Tanzai and the others, Long Xiaowei is a girl with many things on her mind.

Danzi didn't know when he became obsessed with the "Three Kingdoms Killing" game. If he had nothing to do, he would find someone to kill someone in the cafeteria. He almost used my place as a board game entertainment room.That night, he was eager for skills again, and he set up his formation to start the game, but found that he couldn't gather enough people no matter what.Tanzai then shouted to Long Xiaowei: "Come on, girl, help the world, there are five missing one."

"I'm not very good at playing." Long Xiaowei politely declined.

"It's okay, everyone is not very good at playing, the most important thing is entertainment!"

Long Xiaowei glanced at me and said, "Boss, you can play with them."

I shook my head and smiled, "I don't participate in the fight."

"What about fighting and killing? It's just a card, okay? Boss, you are too high-level." Tanzai shouted dissatisfied, and then said to Long Xiaowei, "Xiaowei, let's play two games. It doesn't matter if you win or lose, friendship comes first, competition comes second."

Faced with Tanzai's gracious invitation, Long Xiaowei had no choice but to sit down and start a "five-player game" with them, and got the role of "The Lord" for the first time.Long Xiaowei said that she was not very good at playing, but in fact she was very good at playing cards. After a few rounds, she had already killed the "rebel" Yingzi to the last drop of blood.

Yingzi couldn't help shouting: "Oh, Xiaowei, you are too good."

Eggboy said sarcastically: "Hmph, killing is so enjoyable now, be careful that your stepmother will wear small shoes for you in the future."

"What, stepmother?" Long Xiaowei was confused. "

Yingzi blushed instantly, and said angrily, "Damn boy, what nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm not talking nonsense. When Long San left that day, you stared at his back like a nympho for a long time, lost your soul, and said that he was manly, right? This is not my making up Yes, there were Mr. Qiao and the old dean as witnesses at the time, hey, yes, the boss is also watching, Yingzi, you can't play tricks..." Before he could finish speaking, Yingzi punched him attack.

"Oh, you bastard, I'll let you talk nonsense again..."

When the two were fighting endlessly, suddenly the news broadcast on the TV attracted everyone's attention, Tanzai and Yingzi immediately fell silent, and turned their heads to look at the TV screen.

"According to reports, around [-]:[-] a.m. in this city, an incident of wounding by a gang of evil forces occurred. After receiving the report from the masses, the police immediately went to the scene and arrested many suspects. One person was seriously injured at the scene and has died. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment by the police, and he is out of danger. According to the reporter, the injured person was named Long San, who was a prison inmate who had just been released. Before being imprisoned, Long San had also participated in gangster-like evil forces Based on the experience of the gang, the police initially suspected it. The case was an act of revenge between different gangs..."

Long Xiaowei stood up "Huo", turned around and ran outside.

Egg Boy shouted anxiously: "What are you doing!"

"Go find my father!" As soon as these words fell, Long Xiaowei's figure had already melted into the night outside, Yingzi was worried, shouted "this child", and rushed out after her.

Danzai shouted from behind: "Yingzi, be careful, you must keep an eye on her." It wasn't until the two of them disappeared that Danzai said worriedly, "Is Long San alright?

Mr. Qiao frowned and looked at him: "You are so worried, why don't you follow?"

Danzi curled her lips: "I'm not involved in the matter of the family of three."

Mr. Qiao continued to frown and asked, "Danzi, you seem to be interested in Long Xiaowei?"

"What's wrong with me being interested in Long Xiaowei? Is it against the law?" Danzi replied unconvinced with a stern neck.

"No, I'm just thinking—" Mr. Qiao said, "If you really get married with Long Xiaowei, wouldn't you have to call Yingzi 'Mom' when you meet Yingzi?"

"I'll go!" Eggboy was taken aback, and held his forehead, "Why didn't I consider this relationship? It seems that we need to think about it in the long run."

"It shouldn't be necessary, Eggboy." I patted Eggboy on the shoulder and comforted him, "It seems that Long Xiaowei is not very interested in you."

Mr. Qiao looked at me in surprise, after a moment of stunned, he praised: "Boss, you are a godsend."

I don't know if Yingzi confessed her love to Long San that day, but from that day on, Long Xiaowei and Long San never came to the cafeteria again, as if these two people had never appeared before.After a short period of turmoil, the cafeteria has returned to its original stability and calm.Diners will still talk about Long San's deeds and his prestige ten years ago after dinner.However, there was no awe in that tone, but full of melancholy and regret.

About half a month later, on an ordinary late night, I was busy behind the bar when I heard the door open.I just wanted to say "Welcome" habitually, but found that the cafeteria, which was still noisy just now, suddenly became quiet.I raised my head and saw Long San walking in. As usual, he was wearing a black attire and sunglasses, but his left arm was in a plaster cast, which looked very inconvenient.Supporting him next to him was his daughter Long Xiaowei.

I smiled and said, "Discharged?

Long San also smiled. In my memory, he rarely smiled so brightly, like a thawed glacier. He stretched out his right hand to me, "Boss, can I return the watch?"

"You still owe me some money for West Lake Beef Soup." I put the watch on his hand and said, "However, you can tell me why you want a watch that is so important to you Bet on me? This will be considered as your meal payment."

Long San took back the watch, rubbed it in his hand for a while, raised his head and asked: "Boss, do you know who I am?"

"I know, you are from the Jianghu."

He sighed: "Where there are rivers and lakes, there are grievances. Ten years ago, because of the land grab, I stabbed the eldest brother of another gang to serious injury, and finally died. Because of this, I went to prison. For ten years, this This thing tortures me every day. I can't believe that I took a living life with my own hands. Since I went to prison, this sense of guilt has never been relieved. Ten years later, I came out, I want to make a clean break with the past. But there is a saying that is good, if you come out to mess around, you will have to pay back sooner or later. I must accept the other party’s revenge. Contact, I did this to do my best to protect her. And this watch, if something happens to me, I want to entrust it to a trustworthy person!"

I asked, "How do you know I'm a reliable person?"

"An untrustworthy person cannot make that kind of West Lake Beef Soup."

I smiled in relief, that's what it was.

Long Xiaowei supported Long San to sit down, winked and smiled at me, and shouted: "Boss, two portions of West Lake Beef Soup!
I quickly made the beef soup.When I took it out, I found that the cafeteria had returned to the hustle and bustle of the past, and everyone started chatting or joking with each other as usual, enjoying the peace and leisure of the night.Jianghu, among them, seems to be far away from here.In the wisps of smoke from the West Lake beef soup, the scar on Long San's forehead also looked much gentler.

Long San finally left the rivers and lakes, giving this matter a happy ending.But what's regrettable is that Egg Boy didn't confess his love to Long Xiaowei after all, and Yingzi didn't have anything to do with Long San either.Maybe it's because the time is short, maybe it's because the fate is still shallow, but it doesn't matter, life is always moving forward, and sooner or later, we will meet our true love.

West Lake beef broth

Raw materials Main ingredients: beef mince, shiitake mushrooms, coriander, tofu, eggs.

Accessories: ginger, Shaoxing cooking wine, white pepper powder, salt, pepper powder, monosodium glutamate, water starch.

practice:

1. Prepare the ingredients, put the beef mince in a cooking bowl, take the egg yolk from the egg, add a little Shaoxing cooking wine, add a little salt, and marinate together for about 10 minutes.

2. Mince shiitake mushrooms for later use, chop tofu (as small as possible), and mince ginger.Pour a little oil into the pot, heat it to [-]%, add minced ginger and sauté until fragrant, add beef stuffing and fry until it turns white, add mushrooms, tofu, salt, and pepper powder and stir fry (do not use too much force when frying, otherwise the tofu will be easily broken), fry Pour clean water after it is ready, and when the water boils, skim off the floating powder.

3. Turn off the fire.Take the egg white and slowly pour it into the pot (the action must be slow to prevent the egg white from becoming lumps), and keep stirring with chopsticks, add pepper, thicken with water starch, take out the pot, and sprinkle with coriander powder.

(End of this chapter)