Young cook Feng Ruoruo narrated how she was making breakfast in the kitchen with her parents when Feng Yifan went to open the front door of the restaurant.
Let people who are queuing up to buy pot stickers next door come into Su Ji and sit down to have breakfast.
Not long after the door opened, Mr. Zhuang Daozhong arrived at Su Ji.
As soon as he entered the door and saw Shi Jinbin sitting in Su Ji, Zhuang Daozhong immediately said, "Well, Shi Jinbin, you're already here, but you didn't even come to see me. Are you hiding in Su Ji
If I don't come, do you plan to visit me, your uncle?"
When Shi Jinbin saw Zhuang Daozhong coming in, he immediately stood up and greeted him cheerfully: "Master, didn't you always say that there's not much difference between our ages, and asked me to call you brother?"
Hearing this, Zhuang Daozhong immediately became happy: "Okay, you're waiting for me here, right?"
Shi Jinbin smiled and said, "How dare I, Uncle Master, please come and sit down. Have you had breakfast yet? This is a good opportunity to taste the cooking skills of our little darling Ruoruo."
Zhuang Daozhong was a little surprised when he heard this: "Oh? Was it Ruoruo who did it this morning?"
Feng Ruoruo also stood up proudly and said, "Grandpa, Ruoruo and Mom and Dad made this today. Ruoruo helped Mom and Dad make wontons. Do you want to try it?"
Zhuang Daozhong said with a smile: "Of course I want to taste our Ruoruo's cooking skills."
After Zhuang Daozhong sat down, Feng Yifan hurried to the kitchen, heated up the soup, and made a bowl of wontons and noodles specifically for the old man, then poured the tomato soup he had prepared on it and served it out.
Zhuang Daozhong saw the bowl of tomato wonton noodles in front of him, which looked like dumplings but were not dumplings. He smelled the aroma and couldn't help but exclaimed, "Mm, it smells really good."
After expressing his admiration, Zhuang Daozhong scooped up one of the wontons with a spoon, put it to his mouth and blew gently.
After it cooled down a little, the old man opened his mouth and ate the wonton.
When you put the wontons in your mouth, the taste is not that outstanding.
But the light salty taste, combined with the sweet and sour taste of tomatoes, and the freshness of the meat filling and shrimps themselves, the complex flavor spreads in your mouth as you chew.
In an instant, it was like a key that woke up the body in the morning.
If you really want to say how delicious it is, in fact, a bowl of tomato wonton noodles doesn’t have too many amazing flavors.
But eating a bowl of noodles like this in the morning is indeed very suitable.
After watching her great-grandfather eat the wontons, Feng Ruoruo immediately asked with a smile, "Great-grandfather, do you think it tastes good?"
Zhuang Daozhong naturally understood that the filling of the wonton should be prepared by Feng Yifan, and the little girl might have just wrapped it, but seeing the little girl's happy expression, he still encouraged her.
"Mm, it's delicious. This is the best wonton my great-grandfather has ever eaten."
Feng Ruoruo clapped her hands happily after hearing this: "Great! My great-grandfather thinks it's delicious too."
Then, Feng Ruoruo took the initiative to confess to her great-grandfather: "Great-grandfather, Ruoruo will tell you in secret, actually these wontons were made by Dad and Mom. Ruoruo only made a few because Ruoruo's hands are too small to make them."
Zhuang Daozhong responded with a smile: "Okay, great-grandfather knows, but great-grandfather still thinks Ruoruo is great. When Ruoruo grows up, he can learn from daddy."
When Feng Ruoruo heard her great-grandfather say this, she nodded with a smile and said, "Okay, okay. When Ruoruo grows up, she will learn from Dad and Grandpa, and then cook for her great-grandfather."
The old man was very happy to hear this. Although Mr. Zhuang, who is now over 80 years old, himself doesn't know whether he can wait to eat the dishes cooked by Feng Ruoruo, he is still very happy.
Everyone finished their breakfast happily, and Feng Yifan led his wife and daughter into the kitchen to clean up, leaving the front to his mother Lu Cuiling.
As for the three old men, they sat in a corner of the restaurant and began to discuss the really important things.
Zhuang Daozhong was the first to speak: "Shitou is here too. I think you should know what happened. There are still two days until Children's Day. I wonder how you are preparing?"
Shi Jinbin answered confidently: "Don't worry, we have already prepared everything here, and I have already asked people to deliver all kinds of ingredients here. I guarantee there will be no problems."
Zhuang Daozhong nodded: "Well, as long as you are ready."
Shi Jinbin then asked, "Uncle Master, how are Su Lanxin and the others preparing for the competition?"
When Zhuang Daozhong heard Shi Jinbin asking about the competition, he also gave a brief account of the preparations for the Fujing Building competition.
"The publicity has already been done. Next up is the time for auditions across the province. The audition process will not be broadcast live, but the edited audition scenes will be released later."
At this point, Zhuang Daozhong added, "By the way, the auditions at Fujing Building have also started in the past few days. If you have time, you can go there and take a look."
Shi Jinbin has never been very interested in this kind of cooking competition, especially one that is too commercial in nature.
"What's so interesting about an audition? There might be a lot of non-professional chefs participating."
Zhuang Daozhong smiled and said, "Shitou, this competition is intended to promote the classic dishes of Jiangsu cuisine, and non-professional chefs are allowed to participate."
At this point, Mr. Zhuang added, "And let me tell you, there are indeed quite a few professional chefs participating in the auditions."
After listening to his uncle's words, Shi Jinbin's original dismissive attitude instantly changed.
"Oh? So that's how it is? Then I think it's right to let folk masters participate. Maybe some classic dishes and folk cooking methods can give us a lot of inspiration."
Zhuang Daozhong smiled and nodded: "That's right, Shitou, you said that like a master."
Shi Jinbin smiled and said, "Uncle Master, please stop talking nonsense. How can I be considered a master? In my mind, only my master and masters like you can be considered masters."
Zhuang Daozhong was naturally unmoved by such compliments. He smiled and said to Shi Jinbin, "Shi Tou, we are not much different in age, so there is no need to say such compliments."
Then, Zhuang Daozhong continued, "I came here today to see how you are preparing. Secondly, I think you and Jinrong should go to Fujing Building."
These words surprised Su Jinrong and Shi Jinbin.
Zhuang Daozhong went on to say: "Although we don't have any restrictions this time, even ordinary people can participate as long as they have cooking skills, there are still some cooking masters in the auditions.
You two old brothers should go and have a look. Perhaps some young man who receives your guidance will have a promising future."
Shi Jinbin and Su Jinrong looked at each other, and then asked on behalf of Su Jinrong: "Uncle Master, do you mean that we should accept you as a disciple on the spot?"
Zhuang Daozhong shook his head: "How can it be so formal as accepting a disciple? I think that if you go and take a look, and if you meet young people who are destined to be together, give them a few words, maybe it will create a good story in the future."
After a pause, Zhuang Daozhong continued, "Besides, we old guys have been sticking to the old stuff for too long, and our imagination is not as good as that of the young people. Perhaps we can get some inspiration from this seemingly unrigorous audition."
Su Jinrong suddenly said: "Maybe, folk masters can educate us."
These words first made Zhuang Daozhong and Shi Jinbin stunned, and then the two old men laughed.
Zhuang Daozhong looked at Su Jinrong with a smile and said, "It looks like you are getting better and better, Jinrong. You can even make jokes now."
Shi Jinbin smiled and said, "Maybe it's not a joke. What if there really is some folk expert?"
Zhuang Daozhong said calmly, "That's nothing. We can just take it as a chance to learn something new. Maybe we old guys have really been wrong for so many years?"
After listening to Zhuang Daozhong's long speech, Shi Jinbin finally nodded and said, "Okay, Master, since you have said so much, I will go with Jinrong to take a look."
Su Jinrong also nodded: "Go, go and take a look."
In fact, Zhuang Daozhong persuaded Shi Jinbin and Su Jinrong to go mainly because he hoped that Su Ji’s fellow apprentices could meet each other on the spot and have a frank talk with each other.
After all, given the current situation, it seems like none of Su Ji's fellow disciples are willing to hang out with each other.
Neither Shi Jinbin nor the four fellow apprentices from Chen Wei's side have contacted each other in such a long time.
Although these teachers and brothers will meet in two days, Zhuang Daozhong still hopes that they can meet in advance to avoid embarrassment for both parties.
Seeing that the two had agreed, Zhuang Daozhong immediately said, "Then I'll have someone come pick you up tomorrow morning."
Shi Jinbin and Su Jinrong were both stunned. Shi Jinbin asked on behalf of Su Jinrong: "Are you going tomorrow?"
Zhuang Daozhong smiled and nodded: "Of course, there will definitely be a lot of people attending the auditions over the weekend, so it's just right to go tomorrow."
The fact is just as Zhuang Daozhong said, the cooking competition at Fujing Building was about "Chinese cuisine".
From the moment the news was announced, it immediately attracted the attention of many people in Huaicheng.
I have to admit that Su Lanxin’s company’s advertising and promotion capabilities are indeed very strong.
It was directly called a “Chinese cuisine cooking competition, you get to cook the Chinese dish in your mind”.
Once this advertising slogan is shouted out, coupled with the announced competition system that everyone can participate, not just professional chefs, it can be said that this has greatly encouraged the enthusiasm of non-professional chefs to participate.
After the advertisement was released, it can be said that the number of applicants was very enthusiastic.
To the extent that at one point the registration phone line was almost overwhelmed with calls.
Finally, yesterday, Su Lanxin made a bold decision with great courage, which was to allow all those who participated in the auditions to register on-site at Fujing Building and participate in the auditions on site.
As soon as this news was released, before Zhuang Daozhong came to Su Ji this morning, he went to Fujing Tower and found that many people had gathered nearby.
It is obvious that Su Lanxin's series of actions are really attractive and have really created momentum.
Thinking about it now, Zhuang Daozhong couldn't help but admire Su Lanxin's courage.
Although today is only the first day of on-site registration and direct auditions, Zhuang Daozhong has reason to believe that after today, Fujinglou will surely become famous.
Zhuang Daozhong told this to Su Jinrong and Shi Jinbin.
The two old men also fell into silence.
It must be admitted that Su Lanxin's courage really surprised the two of them.
But after thinking about it carefully, the two old men felt that it was not strange at all for Su Lanxin to do such a thing.
Shi Jinbin sighed: "When it comes to the courage to do things, Su Lanxin is indeed very bold."
Su Jinrong nodded in agreement: "She has courage and ability."
When Zhuang Daozhong heard this, he immediately smiled and asked, "It seems that Jinrong doesn't have much resentment in his heart, and is still willing to forgive this sister."
Shi Jinbin helped Su Jinrong and said, "Master, we are all this age now. We don't have much fighting spirit. To be frank, we are all half buried in the earth. What grudges do we still have?"
Zhuang Daozhong nodded, but then sighed: "Alas, if Lan Xin is more open-minded, maybe when she comes back this time and you brothers from Su Ji meet, it will be a different scene."
Shi Jinbin said directly: "Uncle Master, people are different. Su Lanxin has been strong all her life, how can it be so easy for her to let go?"
Zhuang Daozhong couldn't help but sigh and had to admit that Shi Jinbin was right.
Su Lanxin has been very strong-willed all her life, and she even turned against her father and brother because of the old plaque.
Even though his father didn't teach him any cooking skills, he relied on his own diligence to learn from him. He is a very strong-willed person.
But Zhuang Daozhong still felt regretful. He always felt that now that he was old, there was really no need to argue about winning or losing.
Su Jinrong was silent for a while and said, "If I lose again, maybe she will understand."
Zhuang Daozhong shook his head: "Her knot may not be so easy to untie."
After listening to the uncle's words, Su Jinrong was silent, and Shi Jinbin also did not speak. For a moment, the three old men sat there thinking secretly about how to solve this problem.
In the restaurant in front, three old people were worrying about some past events, while a family of three in the kitchen were very happy.
Feng Ruoruo packed up with her parents. The little girl helped her parents with things within her ability, which made her feel particularly satisfied.
For example, helping dad carry a basin to the water room at the back.
Or I could help dad take some unused ingredients to him and have him put them in the refrigerator.
These processes made Feng Ruoruo very happy and she felt that she was really useful.
Of course, Dad also kept praising him: "Well, my little baby Ruoruo is really useful. She can help Dad do many things, not just pass on the menu."
Su Ruoxi was so happy watching her daughter busying around and running back and forth that she could hardly stop smiling.
When her daughter was almost done with her work, Su Ruoxi asked with a smile, "Little Feng Ruoruo, are you tired?"
When Feng Ruoruo heard her mother ask this, she also gasped and said, "Oh, Mom, Ruoruo is so tired, you should come over and hug Ruoruo."
Seeing her daughter acting like a spoiled child, Su Ruoxi walked over and picked her up: "You've only done a little bit of work, and you're already tired. You still want your mother to hold you."
Being held in her mother's arms, Feng Ruoruo hugged her mother's neck and responded with a smile: "I want a hug from mom."
When Feng Yifan saw the mother and daughter, he also had a satisfied and happy smile on his face.