“No, is this how you invite someone to drink?” Sha Zhu stared at the pork on the cutting board, utterly exasperated.
“Who are you?” Leon asked with a serious expression.
“Hm?” Sha Zhu was stunned for a moment.
After a long while, he stammered, “I’m… He Yuzhu.” “You are the authentic successor of Tan Family Cuisine, Chef He of the steel rolling mill,” Leon said with a pained expression.
“I sincerely invited you to dinner, but looking across the entire South Luogu Lane, who can cook better than you?” “That’s true,” Sha Zhu said happily.
“So, I prepared everything and was only waiting for you to cook,” Leon sighed.
“That makes sense, that makes sense.
College students really are more cultured.” Sha Zhu looked completely at ease and even gave Leon a thumbs-up.
“However, I’m not good at cooking, so the side dishes might be a little incomplete.
Chef He, what do you think…” “Hey, you don’t need to worry about that.
Just wait for dinner.” He Yuzhu waved his hand magnanimously.
“All right, then I’ll be waiting to admire Master He’s culinary skills.” After giving a few simple instructions, Leon went back to his room and lay down.
He would have liked to relax in the courtyard, but aside from a bed that looked like it was about to collapse, the entire house was completely empty.
Sha Zhu was only twenty-three or twenty-four years old and was not particularly shrewd yet.
After being praised by Leon a few times, he was practically possessed.
He immediately ran home to get his tools, ready to get down to business.
“Sha Zhu, where are you going?” Yan Bugui asked curiously.
“Leon invited me for drinks, so I’m preparing a few things,” Sha Zhu said with a grin.
“No, Leon invited you for drinks, but you still have to prepare your own things?” Yan Bugui was dumbfounded.
What kind of trick was this?
“Looking across the entire South Luogu Lane, whose cooking is better than mine?” Sha Zhu said proudly.
“We’re all scholars here.
Look how reasonable Leon is.
Third Uncle, I’m not trying to criticize you, but when it comes to judging people, you really can’t compare to Leon.” After saying this, he left, leaving Yan Bugui standing there bewildered in the wind.
How strange.
Did this silly Zhu never learn his lesson?
He had been beaten twice yesterday, yet today he actually went out of his way to cook for Leon?
West Wing.
Accompanied by the clatter of pots and pans, a rich fragrance soon filled the entire courtyard.
“Who is it?
Eating meat at a time like this, when it isn’t even a holiday?” Liu Haizhong shouted angrily.
“That’s right.
How are people supposed to live like this?” Second Auntie chimed in.
Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangqi sniffed greedily, trying hard to remember the last time they had eaten meat, but they could not recall it at all.
In the central courtyard, Yi Zhonghai also smelled the aroma of meat and could not help clenching his jaw.
Although he was a level-eight worker with a monthly salary of ninety-nine yuan, he did not dare eat meat freely.
That money had to be saved for his retirement.
“Who’s eating meat!?” Jia Zhangshi instantly jumped up.
“It’s coming from the backyard,” Qin Huairu said softly.
“That damn idiot Zhu.
He actually dares to eat meat.
He deserves to be a bachelor for life!” Jia Zhangshi cursed and swore, but saliva kept dripping from the corner of her mouth.
“Dad, I want to eat meat!” Banggeng shouted.
“Get lost!” Jia Dongxu roared, scaring the child Banggeng into crying loudly.
“Why are you yelling at the child?” Jia Zhangshi hugged Banggeng and comforted him.
“Banggeng, don’t cry.
Tomorrow, I’ll have your mother buy meat, and we’ll make dumplings.” “Mom, I don’t have any money,” Qin Huairu whispered.
“You don’t have money?
Where did you spend all the money!?” Jia Zhangshi glared at her.
“You only give me ten yuan a month.
There are four people in the family eating… where would I get any extra money?” Qin Huairu said aggrievedly.
Jia Dongxu was a first-level worker, and his monthly salary was 27.5 yuan.
Qin Huairu was only given ten yuan a month for living expenses.
The rest was kept by Jia Zhangshi.
“You dare talk back!?” Jia Zhangshi pinched Qin Huairu and scolded, “If my family hadn’t wanted you, you’d still be digging in the dirt in the countryside!
Now you think you’ve grown capable!?” “Mom, I didn’t,” Qin Huairu cried out, her eyes red.
“All right, stop arguing.” Jia Dongxu roared, slammed down his chopsticks, and went to bed.
He hated Sha Zhu even more than Leon now.
Why did that bastard have to eat meat all the time?
He was making their whole family miserable.
West Wing.
Leon leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, watching Sha Zhu cook with great effort and praising him as if praise cost nothing.
“Master He, it really has to be you.” “This dish is no worse than something made by an imperial chef.” “Master He, working in the cafeteria is simply wasting your talent.” … Sha Zhu lost himself in the praise and worked with incredible enthusiasm.
Less than half an hour later.
Three dishes and one soup were ready.
It was truly a feast for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
Leon had taken out two jin of pork, and not a bit of it was wasted.
Sha Zhu had even added plenty of cabbage and seasonings.
“How about it?
My skills are pretty good, right?” Sha Zhu wiped his hands, his face full of pride.
“As expected of you.” After giving him a thumbs-up, Leon casually took out two teacups and filled them with liquor.
“Brother…” A timid voice rang out in Leon’s courtyard.
Leon turned his head and saw a little girl standing there with her schoolbag in her arms.
She was wearing a gray top that was neither new nor old, and her black pants had faded from repeated washing.
Judging from the fit, they looked like clothes Sha Zhu had worn before.
“Brother Leon, this is my younger sister, He Yushui,” Sha Zhu hurriedly introduced.
(Note: Yushui means Rainwater in English.) “Brother, who is this?” He Yushui tugged at Sha Zhu’s sleeve.
“Hello, my name is Leon.
I’m your brother’s colleague.” Leon waved to He Yushui, signaling her to come inside.
If they were talking about normal people in this courtyard, He Yushui was definitely one of them.
She was truly clear-headed.
Her father had run off with a widow, and her brother was simping a widow.
So she moved into the school dormitory and rarely came back.
After graduating, she immediately got married and never returned.
“Brother Leon, are you a cook too?” He Yushui asked curiously.
“Yes, I’m a cook too.” Leon casually reached down, and a sliced coconut appeared in his hand as if he had picked it up from the ground.
“Wow, it’s a coconut!” Sha Zhu exclaimed in surprise.
He had only seen this thing once before.
Back then, he had accompanied his father to help cook at a wealthy family’s house and had seen others drinking it.
“Good eye.” Leon handed the coconut to He Yushui and said, “Adults drink liquor.
Children drink beverages.” “Thank you, Brother Leon.” He Yushui smiled sweetly.
“Hey, girl, can I have a sip?” Sha Zhu said, rubbing his hands together.
He Yushui looked somewhat reluctant, but she still handed over the coconut.
Sha Zhu did not hold back and took several large sips through the straw.
There had not been much coconut water to begin with, so how could it withstand him drinking like that?
By the time it returned to He Yushui’s hands, not a drop could be poured out.
“…” He Yushui’s eyes immediately reddened.
She lowered her head, and tears streamed down her face.
“All right, here’s another one.” Leon pulled out another coconut from who knew where and stuffed it into her hand.
“Don’t give it to your brother this time.” “Thank you, Brother Leon!” He Yushui immediately stopped crying and smiled.
Looking at her smile, the corners of Leon’s mouth could not help curling slightly.
She was still only a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old child, yet she had been born into this era of scarcity.
It truly was fate.
“Come on, brother, let’s have a drink.” Sha Zhu immediately picked up his cup.
“Let’s have one.” Leon lightly touched cups with him, then took a sip of liquor.
It was Erguotou after all.
Nothing else—just strong.