The time came to February of 1954.

The New Year is coming again.

Similar to last year's New Year's celebration, Wang Jianye's family bought a lot of New Year's goods, a lot of food, and even more fireworks.

They also bought a lot of firecrackers for the brothers Wang Jianwen and Wang Jianwu to set off as many as they wanted.

New clothes for the family were also prepared. Last year, Wang Jianye bought the cotton and cloth, and Zhang Lan sewed them.

This time, Wang Jianye bought ready-made clothes in the store. The styles were new and beautiful.

Wang Jianye’s brothers and sisters were so excited after getting the new clothes that they couldn’t sleep.

When Zhang Lan saw that Wang Jianye spent money to buy her a new set of clothes, she was happy but also felt a little sorry for the money.

After all, the price of a piece of clothing is not low, which is equivalent to more than one week's salary of Zhang Lan.

It is better to save the money for later use than to spend it.

The older generation has been used to living a hard life, so they would have such thoughts.

With Wang Jianye's patient persuasion, Zhang Lan happily accepted it.

There were also some gifts given to them by Chen Kejia.

Wang Jianye and Chen Kejia have been dating for two months and are planning to pick a good date to get married after the New Year.

So this year, Chen Kejia won’t be able to spend the New Year at Wang Jianye’s house.

Before the Chinese New Year.

Xiyuan will hold a reception as usual and invite representatives from all walks of life to attend.

As the most famous chef in the country, Wang Jianye also has experience in preparing state banquets, so it was natural for him to be invited to cook.

Wang Jianye came here last year.

Most of the other chefs didn't know him, and they looked down on him and ignored him.

Wang Jianye came here again this year.

The situation is very different.

When Wang Jianye arrived, all the chefs in the kitchen greeted him warmly.

Chef Cheng is also the person in charge of the dishes for the Xiyuan reception this year.

He is very grateful to Wang Jianye.

Because Wang Jianye raised his son Cheng Jie into a talented person.

In December last year, Cheng Jie was promoted to head chef in the grading assessment at Fengze Garden.

Over the past few months, my skills have improved a lot.

If Wang Jianye had not accepted Cheng Jie as his master, Cheng Jie would never have the excellent skills he has today.

"Thank you so much, Master Wang."

"Cheng Jie is a hard-working person. Otherwise, even with my great abilities, I can't help him improve so quickly."

Wang Jianye was chatting with Master Cheng.

After a while, Chef Qian, the head chef of Tianfu Food House, also arrived.

Say hello.

Everyone began to prepare the banquet.

There were three dishes assigned to Wang Jianye, namely, scallion-fried sea cucumber, Longjing shrimp, and braised pork.

In each case, Wang Jianye reached a legendary level.

There were a total of sixteen tables of guests at this reception.

Every dish that Wang Jianye makes has to be prepared according to the quantity for seventeen tables to prevent the food from not being enough to eat.

Wang Jianye is familiar with these experiences and does not need Master Cheng to remind him or her like he did last year.

The reception officially begins at 6 p.m.

Five fifty-five in the afternoon.

Wang Jianye prepared all three dishes and placed them on the table, which were then served to the guests by a special waiter.

"Master Wang, don't leave yet. The dishes you cook are so delicious and famous. Someone will definitely want you to add a few more dishes."

Seeing Master Cheng is so sure.

Wang Jianye decided to wait for a while.

as predicted.

The guests at the reception praised the three dishes made by Wang Jianye and unanimously decided to ask Wang Jianye to make two more. "Master Cheng, you really guessed it right."

Wang Jianye received the message in the kitchen. While tying an apron on himself, he said to Master Cheng with a smile.

"Master Wang, you are so famous now that you are invited to the reception for dinner. Everyone knows you."

Master Cheng also tied an apron on himself, ready to help Wang Jianye and prepare the dishes as soon as possible.

The leader asked Wang Jianye to cook two more dishes.

Then Wang Jianye made spicy and sour shredded potatoes and Kung Pao chicken.

These two dishes are easy to make and take a short time to prepare, so the leaders won’t have to wait long to eat them, which is quite suitable.

With the help of Master Cheng and his apprentice, Wang Jianye fried sixteen plates of spicy and sour potato shreds in half an hour.

It took another forty minutes to make sixteen plates of Kung Pao Chicken.

The leaders at the reception were very happy after eating the food and kept praising the dishes cooked by Wang Jianye.

Later, Wang Jianye was even invited to the reception in the front hall to meet everyone.

Those who were able to attend the reception were all bigwigs from various fields and industries, and important leaders from various departments. Many of them had left their names in history books.

It was the first time for Wang Jianye to see such a grand scene, and it would be a lie to say he wasn’t nervous.

He couldn't even remember what someone asked him at the reception or how he answered.

……

After the reception, Wang Jianye and other state banquet chefs had nothing to do, so after receiving their allowances, they went back home.

As soon as Wang Jianye left the gate of Xiyuan, he saw his girl, Chen Kejia, waving at him from across the street.

"Didn't you just wait for me at home? How long have you been here?"

"Not long."

Chen Kejia was wearing the scarf that Wang Jianye gave her. The tip of her nose was slightly red, obviously because she had been blown by the northwest wind for a long time.

Wang Jianye grabbed Chen Kejia's cold little hand and said with some distress, "Let's go home."

Chen Kejia nodded obediently, sat on the back seat of the bicycle, hugged Wang Jianye tightly, and was taken back to the private courtyard in front of the door by him.

"You must be tired this day, let me cook."

Chen Kejia said to Wang Jianye.

Wang Jianye nodded and agreed. Since Chen Kejia was willing, let her do it.

Chen Kejia’s best dish is noodles, so tonight she made a bowl of mixed noodles.

After spending so much time with Wang Jianye, Chen Kejia's skills have improved a lot.

The noodles made with soybean paste reached the level of the second kitchen chef.

Wang Jianye was eating and was quite satisfied with Chen Kejia's cooking skills.

"how is everything?"

Chen Kejia sat next to Wang Jianye and asked expectantly.

Wang Jianye nodded and gave her a thumbs up: "It's delicious. I feel it's improved compared to last time."

"right."

Hearing the praise from chef Wang Jianye, Chen Kejia was very happy and proud, "I think I have a talent for cooking."

……

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Jianye was invited to Xiyuan to prepare a state banquet.

There was no New Year’s Eve in 1954, so the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month is New Year’s Eve.

Early in the morning, Wang Jianye rode his bicycle back to Nanluoguxiang.

The couplets, New Year pictures, window decorations, etc. at home have all been pasted up, so Wang Jianye doesn't have to worry about them.

Wang Jianye only needs to be responsible for making dumplings and preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner.

Last year, Liu Haizhong asked Wang Jianye to cook more dishes so that he could share some with their family. Of course, it was not for free, he paid for it.

This year is no exception. Liu Haizhong has been craving for it for half a year. It’s finally the New Year and it’s time to eat a meal cooked by Wang Jianye.

Liu Haizhong brought a piece of the best pork belly to Wang Jianye's house and told Wang Jianye his request.

Wang Jianye agreed without thinking. It was just a simple matter of adding one more spoon.

Liu Haizhong was very happy: "Okay, then I'll go back and wait for Jianye. When it's done, I'll come and get it." (End of this chapter)