Siheyuan: A Cook in the 60s

Chapter 33: Really Good at Playing

"Help in the kitchen?"

"Oh, didn't you say you were short of people?"

"Then we have to talk about it." Cao Wei immediately became interested: "Kitchen helpers are also divided into different types."

"Generally speaking, in our line of work, whether it's for personal connections or something else, we all take apprentices. When a master takes an apprentice out to cook, he doesn't pay. The master will only pay if the apprentice's skills reach a certain level and are recognized by the master. Different masters have different rules. Of course, Sister Qin, you can't be considered my apprentice, that's another way of calculating."

“What algorithm?”

"The calculation of the kitchen helper is also very particular. Some people are there because they can't get any work, but their own skills are okay. Except for some main dishes, they can make everything else. Then they will discuss with the chef about the specific price and how to distribute it. And some people are just pure helpers, helping to wash vegetables, steam buns, etc."

"How much money does a helper usually get?"

Qin Huairu knows it herself. You said she can cook and has no problem making the food cooked, but she can't do anything more advanced.

In this era, the so-called cooking over fire means making wild vegetable dumplings, porridge with rice shavings, cornmeal and the like. At best, they would fry an egg with oil, which was the ultimate luxury. As for other dishes, she had heard of them but had never made them, let alone know how to cook them.

"It depends on how much you help. If you only help wash the vegetables, you may not get paid, but after you're done, you'll probably get a portion of the food you pack. If you can also help cut the vegetables, you'll get paid. The amount of money depends on how much the chef gives you. So, Sister Qin, if you go, I'll give you fifty cents at most. After you're done, you can take a portion back, but I guess there won't be any meat or vegetables, so take some meat."

Fifty cents, this number is actually very clever.

One trip costs fifty cents, which is not much, but it is not much. It is enough for just washing vegetables. Moreover, she can bring back some meat dishes. She can help out and get a meal, which means she can save a meal. This price is not the kind of price that she likes, but a standard price for a job. This makes her hesitate.

To go or not to go.

"If you really want to do it, just tell me earlier. Come to think of it, this is my first time to cook alone. It's a good thing to have your help, Sister Qin. You know, I'm not good at dealing with interpersonal relationships." Cao Wei shrugged.

"How dare you charge ten dollars for the first time?" Qin Huairu widened her eyes.

"Yeah, my master assigned it to me when I graduated. You know, a few years ago, there were fewer people doing banquets. I didn't have the chance to take it. Before that, I was still young and followed my master to do it."

This year is 62 years old. In the past few years, there were three years when we had no food to eat.

Prices in the city were soaring. On the surface, pork was still the same price, 20 cents to yuan per pound. In fact, on the black market, a pound of pork could be sold for more than yuan. Behind such outrageous prices was an even more outrageous shortage of supplies. Therefore, in those years, Cao Wei had no chance to accept any banquets, let alone prepare them. It was good enough to have something to eat.

It was also during those years that Fengze Garden's business plummeted. At the end of last year, the owner quit and reportedly ran away, so the business disbanded.

The price of ten yuan is not just nonsense. Every person who has graduated will be taught by his master how much his craft is worth. Most of the inherited crafts are not allowed to be sold at a low price. Of course, it depends on the specific person and the specific method. Anyway, Cao Wei is not that bad, so he doesn't want to sell his craft at a low price.

"Sister, think about it carefully. If you are willing, tell me."

"What if you don't want to?"

"Then I'll do it myself. The year is not good now, so I guess I can only prepare two tables. I can still handle it." Cao Wei smiled and said, "Okay, I'm here. I'll go back to the kitchen."

Qin Huairu looked at Cao Wei's background in a daze. She was at a loss as to what to do at this moment. She shook her head and threw away the messy thoughts in her mind. She had to do her job well first before talking about other things.

Nothing much happened in the afternoon. At about four o'clock, Wei Wei came over.

Cao Wei gave a few instructions and followed him out. He had discussed this matter with Master Li and Master Zhang during lunch break, and gave them two boxes of cigarettes to make the two masters work harder and help out. Don't think that cooking a big pot of food is easy. There are more than a thousand people in a canteen, and it's all done by these three masters. If one of them is missing, they will have to cook a few more pots, which will be exhausting.

Leaders should take care of their subordinates' feelings. They should not simply use their power to suppress others.

"It's still Master Cao who is so particular." Master Li touched his pocket with a smile on his face.

"I'll buy it from you for 2.3 cents a pack?" Master Zhang glanced at Master Li.

"It's not a small amount, not a small amount. 23 cents is not expensive. Cigarette tickets are hard to come by." Master Li happily took out a cigarette and said, "Let's go out and get one. We have to get it early today, otherwise we won't be able to supply it when the time comes."

No one in the cafeteria said anything bad about Cao Wei, because before that, retired Master Sun also often did the same thing. When they were called out, they had to take over. However, Master Sun was not as generous as Cao Wei. He just said a few words and went. Everyone knew that Cao Wei went out to help the leader and it was good for him. The only difference was that Master Sun ate by himself, while Cao Wei got a share.

What Cao Wei didn't expect was.

Wei Wei actually let him get in the jeep.

This was the first time he had sat in a jeep of this era. As for the feeling of sitting in it, he didn't feel much, except that the seat was not very comfortable. He just sat in it for the novelty. There was already a female worker sitting in the car. She was pretty, but thin and skinny, not the type Cao Wei liked. As soon as he got in the car, Liu Lan immediately greeted him enthusiastically: "Is this the chef? My name is Liu Lan."

Cao Wei was a little confused, but he didn't say anything. He just greeted him, "Hello, my name is Cao Wei."

"Master Cao, this is Liu Lan, the kitchen helper this time. Director Li specifically asked me to take her with me."

Cao Wei: ???

Good man, Li Huaide, you play more extravagantly than me.

Everyone who has seen Siheyuan knows that Li Huaide and Liu Lan have an affair, but Cao Wei doesn't know when the two of them started having an affair. Now it seems that they have already had an affair, otherwise, Wei Wei wouldn't have said something like this out of nowhere, who can help in the kitchen? Why must it be Liu Lan? The key is to bring her home.

Li Huaide, ah Li Huaide, you really know how to have fun...

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