Xiao Lei is forty five years old, about 1.7 meters tall, wearing a worn white chef's uniform and cloth shoes with thick soles.
He has a square face, his hair is meticulously parted in a 2:8 ratio, with a few white hairs at his temples and a slightly receding hairline, but he looks quite energetic. His rolled-up sleeves reveal his strong forearms, suggesting he holds considerable authority in the culinary field.
This is the first time Zhou Yan has seen Xiao Lei since arriving here, yet the word "Master" comes out naturally, without any awkwardness, and he feels a sense of closeness towards him.
In Little Zhou's memory, Xiao Lei was a strict master, with extremely high expectations for him during his apprenticeship. A mistake would inevitably result in a severe scolding, followed by careful instruction.
Little Zhou hasn't quite mastered the skill of stir-frying and braising dishes because he's only been learning for a short time, but his knife skills, under his master's strict guidance, are quite high, undoubtedly the best among apprentices of his age in the cafeteria.
"A banquet for tomorrow?" Xiao Lei looked at Zhou Yan and asked in confusion, "Which family is hosting a banquet and only started looking for a chef today?"
"It's my brother's wedding banquet. We originally hired a local chef, but he got into a collision with a tractor at noon and broke his hand. He can't work anymore. Tomorrow's an auspicious day, and I tried to contact chefs everywhere, but none were available. I had no choice but to think of you, Master." Zhou Yan looked at him sincerely. "A banquet with thirty tables—no one but you could manage that kind of event."
"Your tongue has become quite smooth. No wonder your business is thriving." Xiao Lei chuckled. The kid who used to be so quiet now knew how to flatter people.
"I'm telling the truth, but running own shop really does train myself. If I don't learn how to talk, customers won't even come in." Zhou Yan's smile faded.
For the past two and a half years, Little Zhou had spent more time with his master than with his family. Xiao Lei probably knew him best.
Fortunately, after not seeing him for over three months since the shop opened, he had an excuse for becoming a capable boss.
"A banquet for thirty tables is no simple matter. The pots, stoves, bowls and chopsticks all need to be prepared in advance. The helpers need to be contacted in advance, and the braising liquid for the cold dishes also needs to be prepared in advance. I only have two kitchen knives in my cloth bag, nothing else. I'm afraid I can't handle this banquet." Xiao Lei opened his cloth bag, revealing two kitchen knives inside, and shook his head as he spoke.
"The cookware was provided by the village chef; it was already piled up at the banquet venue yesterday. The temporary earthen stove is also set up, and the host family has provided the bowls and chopsticks. The helpers are also readily available from the village; everything was arranged in advance. I can handle the braised dishes; I recently learned how from my grandma." Zhou Yan glanced at the two gleaming kitchen knives in his cloth bag—a slicing knife and a cleaver—and asked somewhat doubtfully, "But Master, where are you going with those knives during work hours?"
"Why go to work? I quit today." Xiao Lei slung his bag back over his shoulder.
"Quit? Why so suddenly?" Zhou Yan was shocked. For the past two years, Xiao Lei had been constantly suppressed by Wang Defa, even being demoted from head chef to kitchen helper, but he hadn't quit. Now that Wang Defa had fallen, why the sudden resignation? "This job is boring, I'm quitting. I'm thinking of trying my luck at a big restaurant in Jiazhou or Chengdu, or may be opening my own restaurant like you." Xiao Lei explained with a smile, then looked at him with some doubt: "You learned braised food from your grandma?"
"The economy is developing very fast now, being self-employed is better than working a regular job." Zhou Yan nodded, but still felt that his master's resignation was a bit strange, then he explained: "My grandma used to run Zhang Ji Braised Food stall near Suji Bridge, and she was very popular back then."
"Is Zhang Ji Braised Food your grandma. Aunt Zhang? Her braised food is the best in Jiazhou, no doubt about it. Even your grandmaster loved her braised food when he was alive." Xiao Lei's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he nodded repeatedly: "You've found a really great braised food master."
"My masters are all top notch." Zhou Yan grinned, then continued, "Master, since you're free these next few days, why don't you take on this banquet? My second uncle said they'll charge three yuan per table for the service. You can also give the village chef some money for the cook's utensils. That'll be a great start for your solo business."
"Three yuan per table? Isn't that a bit too high?" Xiao Lei pondered.
"That's the price the village chef negotiated. His cooking skills are far superior to yours; he's worth that price, so you're definitely not ripping off." Zhou Yan smiled and said, "That's the going rate. You have to charge enough so that everyone enjoys the food and wants to invite you to host banquets next time. Only then can you command a higher price."
Xiao Lei looked Zhou Yan over, then nodded with a smile, "You've been out in the world for over three months, and you've already seen more of the world than I have."
"Master, so you're agreeing?" Zhou Yan smiled back.
Xiao Lei nodded, "Okay, since I have nothing else to do, let's get this banquet organized for your brother first. Weddings are always busy, and this kind of thing is just too much. Take me to Zhou Village, let's look at the menu the previous chef made and prepare the dishes we need to prepare in advance."
"Okay!" Zhou Yan was overjoyed and led his master to the restaurant, informing Zhou Jie and the old lady of the matter.
"That's great, Master Xiao, thank you so much." the old lady said, looking at Xiao Lei with gratitude.
"Aunt Zhang, you're too kind. Zhou Yan is my apprentice, so it's only right that I help him out." Xiao Lei said with a smile. "My master has been craving your braised dishes for years, always saying he wants to try your braised beef intestines. If I had known Zhou Yan was your grandson, I should have come to ask you to braise two jin of beef intestines for him to try again the year before last."
"Your master was Master Kong, the former head chef of the textile factory canteen?" the old lady asked. "How is he doing?"
"Yes, I didn't expect you to still remember him. My master passed away last year." Xiao Lei said with a smile.
The old woman's face showed a hint of reminiscence. "He used to come every three days, each time buying half a jin of beef intestines and a pig's ear. He'd bring his own cup, get two liang of liquor from Old Zhang's, and sit on the long stone slab at the head of the stone bridge. He'd eat and drink his fill before going home. I remember it very clearly."
Xiao Lei laughed, "My Master's wife wouldn't let him drink, but when he was craving something, he'd sneak over for two liang. Afterward, he'd walk around the flood control embankment until the smell of alcohol had mostly dissipated by the time he got home; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to get into his bedroom. He often mentioned this to me later, lamenting that after the street vendors were banned, he couldn't eat your braised food anymore, and he drank much less liquor, feeling like something was missing."
Zhou Yan listened with great interest. Stories about food should be like this, full of warmth and human touch.
After a few words of conversation, Zhou Yan told the old lady about his work making braised food.
The old lady nodded after listening: "Tomorrow morning, take the pig's head and beef shank and bring me over. I'll watch you cook them."
"Okay." Zhou Yan nodded, and the matter was settled.
The braising liquid is nourished by the meat; the longer it's used, the more fragrant and flavorful it becomes.
The amount of pig's head and beef needed for the thirty table banquet is considerable, which will make his freshly prepared braising liquid even more perfect.
He'll be starting to sell braised food soon. If he does well at this banquet, word of mouth will spread immediately.
And this is outside the textile factory circle; his customers are all fresh-faced newcomers.
"Are you coming back to cook tonight?" Aunt Zhao asked, looking at Zhou Yan riding his bicycle.
Zhou Yan turned around and said, "I'll come back as soon as I've settled things. I'll definitely sell all the ingredients tonight."
"Okay." Aunt Zhao nodded.
"Guo Guo, I'll wait for you to come back and cook!" Zhou Momo waved her little hand and called out in her childish voice.
"Okay." Zhou Yan nodded with a smile.
The group got on their bicycles and headed towards Zhou Village.
In these times of scarcity, everyone was poor, so extravagance wasn't important, but a lively atmosphere was.
Zhou Jie's house was located at the village entrance. The field in front of his house had been leveled, and twenty or thirty tables had been set up.
Six makeshift stoves had been built in front of the house, and dozens of large steamers were piled up next to them, stacked as high as a person.
Relatives and friends all came to help; some moved tables and chairs, others put up "double happiness - 囍 " characters and paper-cut window decorations, making the small courtyard very lively.
However, a few people were sitting on the long stone slab in front of the house, smoking and looking worried.
The village chef suddenly broke his hand, halting the preparations for the traditional banquet, which was only halfway done.
The Zhou brothers were scrambling to find connections and even their in-laws were helping to contact a chef.
The situation was sudden; where could they find a suitable chef so quickly? The date was set, invitations sent out, and the guests were arriving tomorrow, but the lack of a chef was causing the hosts great distress.
Zhou Ze, the second son, stubbed out his cigarette, his dark, round face filled with worry. He stood up and said, "I'll go to Jiazhou. I have some friends there; I'll see if I can find a reliable chef."
"Dad, I'll go with you. I also have some friends in Jiazhou. Finding one at this time might require asking around." said Zhou Hao, dressed in military uniform, as he also stood up.
Zhou Ze shook his head, patted his shoulder, and said, "You, as the groom, don't need to go. I'll go to town to find your brother and have him come with me. Don't worry, even if it costs a fortune to hire a chef from a restaurant, I'll get him back and make sure the banquet is done well..."
"Isn't that Zhou Jie and Zhou Yan? There's a guy in a chef's uniform following behind them; they must have brought a chef back!" Zhou Hai, with sharp eyes, pointed to the three old-fashioned bicycles approaching on the road in the distance.
"It really is them!"
Everyone jumped to their feet, their eyes lighting up as they looked towards the village road.
Zhou Yan, with the old lady on his bicycle, didn't dare ride too fast due to the bumpy road. When they finally reached his second uncle's house at the village entrance, the doorway was already crowded with eagerly awaiting relatives.
They pulled the bicycle over to the side of the road.
"Grandma." Zhou Hao greeted the old lady, smiling as he patted Zhou Yan's arm. "Zhou Yan, you've grown taller and stronger."
"Brother Hao." Zhou Yan replied with a smile.
His cousin brother, Zhou Hao, was twenty six years old this year. He had been in the army for eight years and hadn't been home for over a year. He was 175 cm tall, with a strong build, wearing a military uniform and a buzz cut, looking very smart. His right hand was covered in calluses and scars. His demeanor resembled his uncle's, but lacked some of the ruthlessness, perhaps related to the scar near his uncle's eye.
"Zhou Yan, who is this master?" Zhou Hao asked, taking out a cigarette and looking at Xiao Lei.
Zhou Ze and the others also looked nervous and expectant.
"This is my master, Master Xiao Lei, the former head chef of the textile factory canteen, a national second level chef, an expert in hot-cooked dishes, and the most popular chef among the textile factory workers." Zhou Yan got out of the bicycle and solemnly introduced him to everyone. "My master happens to be free these days, and at my kind invitation, he agreed to help take over this outdoor banquet."
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Yan is so reliable!
He actually managed to invite such a chef.
The textile factory is the most profitable state-owned factory in Jiazhou. Someone who can be the head chef in the factory canteen must have excellent culinary skills!
And a national second level chef, that's even more beyond question; he's not comparable to an ordinary village chef.
"Master Xiao, thank you so much for coming. We're counting on you for this outdoor banquet!" Zhou Hao quickly took out two cigarettes and handed them to Xiao Lei.
Xiao Lei accepted the cigarette with both hands, smiling, "You're welcome. You're a soldier protecting the country; it's only right that we lend a hand with such an important event as your wedding."
"Master Xiao, thank you so much! Otherwise, we wouldn't know where to find a suitable chef." Second Uncle Zhou Ze was also full of gratitude, handing Xiao Lei a pack of Hongmei cigarettes, then pondered, "It's just the payment..."
"The wages will be the same as the previous chef's," Xiao Lei said with a smile.
"Okay! Thank you!" Zhou Ze grasped Xiao Lei's hand, deeply grateful.
Time was of the essence; there was no way to go to Jiazhou in time, and the price would definitely double. With Chef Xiao here, it was wonderful!
"Brother in law! Brother in law! Found him! We've found the head chef for you!"
Just then, three more bicycles appeared on the village road. The young man riding the lead bicycle waved and shouted from afar.