Siheyuan: Tanjia Cuisine He Daqing, destroying Yi Zhonghai

One day, He Daqing ran into Lao Zhao in the courtyard of the Siheyuan. Lao Zhao was a retired cadre in the courtyard. He didn't talk much, but he often went to eat at those big restaurants in the city. Lao Zhao was in a good mood that day, and he talked to He Daqing about a high-end restaurant in the city. The chef there was said to be highly skilled, and the dishes he made were delicious. Although the price was high, there were always customers.

He Daqing was moved when he heard this. He couldn't help thinking that although what he learned in the cafeteria was good, if he could go to such a big restaurant to see it, he might gain more. He Daqing decided to find an opportunity to discuss with He Yuzhu to see if they could go to that restaurant together to learn some real skills.

At night, He Daqing finished a busy day in the cafeteria, and He Yuzhu was cleaning up the stove and preparing to go home. He Daqing thought again and again, and finally plucked up the courage to speak: "Brother Zhuzi, I heard Lao Zhao say today that there is a big restaurant in the city with very good chef skills. I thought, should we go and see how they cook?"

He Yuzhu was stunned, and looked up at He Daqing, feeling surprised and relieved. He didn't expect He Daqing to have such an idea, which showed that this kid not only had aspirations, but also knew how to keep learning and improving. He Yuzhu nodded secretly in his heart, thinking that He Daqing was indeed a talented person with great potential.

"Oh? Do you want to go to that restaurant?" He Yuzhu wiped the oil off his hands and said slowly.

"Yes, Brother Zhuzi. I think that the dishes we usually cook in the cafeteria, although they can make everyone full and eat well, always feel like something is missing. I heard that the dishes in that restaurant are not only delicious, but also particularly exquisite. I want to go and learn from them to see if we can also improve our cooking skills." He Daqing said seriously.

He Yuzhu nodded, and was eager to try. As a chef, he knew that learning was endless in this industry, and any new inspiration could bring great progress. He had been with He Daqing for so long that he had already regarded him as his younger brother. Seeing He Daqing's pursuit, he naturally supported it.

"Okay! Daqing, I also think we should go and take a look. Let's take a day off tomorrow and go to that restaurant to have a look. We won't just go to eat, but also carefully study their cooking methods. Maybe we can learn something good." He Yuzhu patted He Daqing on the shoulder, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

The next morning, He Daqing and He Yuzhu changed into clean clothes and set off for the big hotel in the city with a little excitement. On the way, He Daqing felt complicated and excited. On the one hand, he was looking forward to learning new things, but on the other hand, he was worried whether he could understand those advanced skills. He secretly glanced at He Yuzhu and found that he was also a little nervous, but more of it was the kind of excitement to meet a master.

When they arrived at the entrance of the hotel, they saw the name of the big hotel - "Jin Ding Xuan". This is one of the most high-end hotels in Beijing. The entrance is gorgeously decorated, and all the customers coming in and out are well-dressed. He Daqing couldn't help but feel scared. Usually, they dared not even enter such a place, but today they had to come here to learn skills, which was quite stressful.

He Yuzhu seemed to see He Daqing's nervousness, and smiled and said, "Daqing, don't be afraid, let's just treat it as a meal, watch and learn more, and ask if you don't understand. If we learn with an open mind, others will not embarrass us."

He Daqing nodded and followed He Yuzhu into the restaurant. As soon as they entered, they were stunned by the luxurious decoration inside the restaurant. The hall was magnificent, with mahogany tables and chairs neatly arranged, and the waiters were all smiling and moving quickly. The two found a seat and sat down. Looking around, they found that the dishes on each table were unique, colorful, and exquisitely presented, as if each dish was a work of art.

"Brother Zhuzi, the dishes here look really special." He Daqing said in a low voice.

"Yes, Daqing, this is really an eye-opener. The dishes we usually cook are far inferior to this." He Yuzhu couldn't help but sigh.

After a while, the waiter came over and handed over the menu with a smile. He Yuzhu opened the menu and found that the prices of the dishes here were higher than he had imagined. Although he felt a little sad, he still decided to order a few signature dishes to try.

"Let's just order these." He Yuzhu decided not to order too much and only picked a few dishes that looked particularly distinctive.

The dishes were served quickly, and He Daqing and He Yuzhu tasted them carefully. As they ate and savored them, He Daqing felt the unique craftsmanship behind each dish. It was not just a matter of taste, but also a full range of sensory enjoyment. Every bite shocked him, and he knew that these skills were something he could not learn in the cafeteria.

"Brother Zhuzi, how do you think these dishes are made? They are so exquisite and taste so good." He Daqing couldn't help but ask.

He Yuzhu also looked thoughtful: "I guess they must have spent a lot of thought on the heat and seasoning. Also, the choice of ingredients is all the best. The ingredients we usually use are definitely not so particular. These dishes have a strong sense of layering in taste, and you can taste different flavors in every bite."

He Daqing nodded. He felt that He Yuzhu was right, but he felt that there was something they didn't realize. "Brother Zhuzi, can we find a chance to see their kitchen? It might be more helpful to see how it's done firsthand."

He Yuzhu thought about it and thought it was a good idea. He called a waiter and asked with a smile, "Brother, we are very interested in your cooking skills. I wonder if we can have a chance to meet your chef? We are all chefs and we also want to learn from you."

When the waiter heard that they were in the same business, he immediately became more friendly. He smiled and said, "Wait a moment, I'll go ask for you." Then he turned and went into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, the waiter came over with a middle-aged man in a white chef's uniform. He looked to be in his forties, energetic, and confident. He introduced himself, "I'm the head chef of this restaurant, my last name is Liu. I heard that you two are also in the same industry, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask."

He Daqing and He Yuzhu quickly stood up and greeted politely: "Master Liu, we are just ordinary chefs. We came here today to broaden our horizons. We really saw a lot of good things."

Chef Liu smiled and appeared very modest: "No, no, we all cook, but we all have our own styles. If you are interested, you can visit our kitchen. It may not be convenient in a crowded place, but I can take you to see our cooking process."