Chapter 29: Eating meat is so delicious
"I knew you were here for this. Are you done washing up?"

Zhang Lan asked again.

"It's done, look."

Wang Jianwu walked up to Zhang Lan and looked at her hands and face, showing her his teeth. They were all washed and looked clean.

"Well, I see. You two go sit down. We'll be eating soon."

Zhang Lan gave instructions and took down the aluminum pot with cooked food, then picked up the double-handled pot on one side and sat it on the fire.

The double-handled pot was clean. After serving the dishes last night, Zhang Lan cleaned it while the pot was still hot.

The food heats up quickly. When the pan is hot, put the food in and turn it over a few times before serving.

Zhang Lan brought a plate of steaming fried pork with garlic to the table.

Wang Jianwu quickly took the chopsticks of the family and divided the meat among them. Then he held his own chopsticks in his hand and stared at the meat.

Although he was very greedy and wanted to eat it very much, Wang Jianye was sitting in front of him and he didn't dare to touch it.

Wang Jianwen brought a bowl from the cupboard, and Wang Jiannan opened the lid of the aluminum pot and began to scoop out the cornmeal porridge.

Zhang Lan served the second dish, Kung Pao Chicken, and placed it on the table. Seeing Wang Jianwu staring at it but not moving his chopsticks, she smiled and said, "Alright, eat now."

"Eh."

Wang Jianwu quickly picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.

Finally I’m eating meat, it’s so delicious.

Wang Jianwu nodded continuously while eating.

Although it was a leftover dish, it was made by the chef in Fengze Garden. The cooking skill was very high and the taste was very good.

"Eat slowly, don't choke."

Zhang Lan reminded with a smile.

Wang Jianwu nodded: "Mom, this dish is really delicious."

"Of course not. This is a dish made by the chef at Fengze Garden. How can it not be delicious?"

Zhang Lan placed the two meat dishes that had just been heated up on the table closer to the children, and then placed the shredded pickles that she had mixed yesterday in front of herself.

"Jianye, you should also eat more meat."

Seeing that Wang Jianye was basically just picking up the garlic hairs, Zhang Lan couldn't help but persuade him.

"Mom, I'm the cook. I'm in charge of the stove all day. There's no shortage of meat. You just need to eat more."

Wang Jianye explained.

Zhang Lan asked curiously, "Can you eat a bite while they're cooking in the kitchen?"

"Mom, I know this. If the cook doesn't steal, the crops won't be harvested."

Wang Jiannan put down the bowl and said with a smile.

Hearing her words, Zhang Lan looked at Wang Jianye worriedly: "Won't your leaders criticize you for cheating like this?"

"Mom, can what we cooks do be called cheating? That's called food tasting. It's a very important step in cooking to see if the food tastes right and is cooked. Even if the boss sees it, he won't say anything."

Wang Jianye ate two bites of the food and continued, "Besides, I am only an apprentice now and I am not qualified to cook. I usually help my master and practice cooking.
The dishes I practiced definitely cannot be served to guests. To avoid waste, I have to eat them myself. For example, the sweet and sour carp, stir-fried pork tenderloin and other meat dishes I practiced these past two days, I have to eat them all after I make them.
So, I can never be short of meat in the kitchen, so you guys can eat more."

"So this is ah."

Zhang Lan felt relieved.

Just don't break the kitchen rules.

When Wang Jianwu heard Wang Jianye talking about eating meat and tasting vegetables, he couldn't help swallowing his saliva: "Brother, I want to be a chef like you in the future."

"Just to eat meat?" Wang Jianye asked with a smile.

Wang Jianwu nodded seriously.

Zhang Lan frowned: "No, you have to study hard and get into college like your elder sister in the future. That would be great."

Wang Jianwu was somewhat reluctant, but did not speak.

Wang Jianye advised Zhang Lan, "Mom, let me say something unpleasant. Do you think Jianwu can get into college based on his academic ability? Let alone college, do you think he can get into high school?"

Zhang Lan hesitated.

Wang Jianwu is a playful kid. He hangs out outside all day and doesn't study well in school. His personality is the same as Wang Jianye's.

Wang Jianye did not go to junior high school that year. After finishing primary school, he went out to find a job. Later, Zhang Lan helped him find a recommendation and introduced him to Fengzeyuan as an apprentice.

Thinking of Wang Jianye's achievements today, Zhang Lan suddenly felt that it would be a good idea to be a chef's apprentice.

Although Zhang Lan hopes that her children will all be very successful, she cannot force them if they lack the ability.

We can't expect all of these children in our family to be like our eldest daughter, Wang Jianting, who has excellent academic performance and is successfully admitted to university. That would be too unrealistic.

Seeing Zhang Lan wavering, Wang Jianye continued, "Mom, Jianwu is still young, so there's no need to rush to choose a path. If his studies in the past few years are really not good enough, let him learn cooking from me when he grows up, and I'll be his master. By then, my level will definitely be very high, and I will definitely be qualified to accept apprentices in the kitchen of Fengze Garden. If he becomes my master, I will definitely teach him well and bring him out."

Wang Jianye is quite confident about his future.

After all, he only took one day to upgrade nine dishes to the three-stove level, which was equivalent to three years of hard work for those ordinary apprentices.

And if he is given a few more years, he will definitely reach a very high level, be proficient in various cuisines, and become the next state banquet-level chef of Fengze Garden.

By then he will definitely have a very high status, and I wonder how many people will want to send their children to be his apprentices.

"Okay, let's take a look first."

Zhang Lan nodded.

Just when Wang Jianwu was about to be happy, Zhang Lan said to him, "But you have to study hard in the next few years. You can't stop studying just because you have a way out. Do you hear me?"

"I know, Mom."

Wang Jianwu was a little depressed.

Wang Jianwen next to him comforted him, "No matter what, you should learn more first. My brother even finished high school, so you should also finish high school smoothly."

"OK then."

Wang Jianwu collected his thoughts and continued to eat well.

Wang Jianye drank a bowl of cornmeal porridge and then served another bowl.

The cornmeal porridge in the pot was too hot when it was first served, so Wang Jianye didn't rush to drink it, but waited for a while.

After breakfast, Wang Jianye put on his backpack and stuffed the two lunch boxes given to him by his master into it.

Then he went out and pushed his bike.

When passing by the Intermediate Court, he met Jia Dongxu who was also going out to work.

Wang Jianye greeted him.

He was a few months older than Jia Dongxu, so Jia Dongxu called him "brother" and went to find Yi Zhonghai who lived in the east room.

Wang Jianye walked out of the courtyard gate, rode his bicycle, and arrived at Zhushikou West Street half an hour later.

Although he arrived very early, the back door of Fengze Garden was also open. Uncle Zhang, who lived in the gatehouse, got up very early every day to open the back door.

"Oh, you came early today."

Uncle Zhang remembered that Wang Jianye gave him a cigarette yesterday, so he greeted him with a smile when they met. He had never been treated like this before.

(End of this chapter)