A few days ago, Ding Sha was discussing with Xiao Jun whether to hire more people. As the business of the shop was getting better and better, the division of labor between the two of them became a bit too much.
Xiao Jun put his things away and sat next to Ding Sha, "Brother Dazhuang, are you not working on the construction site anymore?"
"It's not me, it's my wife," Da Zhuang said a little embarrassedly, "She wants to find a job."
He said with some embarrassment, "But there are some things I need to tell you first."
"What's wrong?" Ding Sha was curious seeing how he was struggling and embarrassed.
"That's right..." Da Zhuang gritted his teeth, "She is not alone, she is taking care of her aunt."
After saying this, Da Zhuang felt relieved but also ashamed. He knew Ding Sha was a good person, so he asked with such a thick face.
"Her aunt had some mental problems before, but she was not aggressive and would help with the work."
"No." Xiao Jun refused as soon as he heard it. Given Ding Sha's current situation, he was not comfortable with putting any unstable factors around Ding Sha.
Not to mention someone with a history of mental illness.
Da Zhuang said quickly, "Brother Xiao, listen to me first. My aunt will never hurt our sister!"
"You don't know, my aunt used to be a well-known straightforward person in the surrounding area. Her husband is also hardworking and honest. They have two children. The brother and sister are both smart and sensible. Everyone in the village envy her family for their good life."
Da Zhuang sighed and said, "But a few years ago, a family of four went out to celebrate their little girl's birthday. They sat in the restaurant and had just lit the candles but hadn't sung the birthday song yet when a gas leak caused a huge explosion in the kitchen."
"The two children died on the spot. My uncle was in the hospital for several days but he didn't survive. Only my aunt escaped because she went out to buy ice cream for her children."
"But within a few days, my aunt became mentally unstable. She ignored people and didn't talk. She cried when she saw a baby and was afraid of fire."
"Aunt took care of our family before. She bought all the things for Cui'er and I to get married. Aunt has been very kind to us, so we discussed bringing her in to live with us."
"Before, Cui'er had been at home taking care of the children and aunt, and I worked on the construction site. Now my aunt's mental state has almost returned to normal. Cui'er felt sorry for me and said that I would take my aunt out to find a job so that life would be better at home."
Da Zhuang rubbed his hands and said, "This is basically the situation. Unfortunately, there are still many places that don't want aunts. I shamelessly came here to ask you..."
Before Xiao Jun could speak, Ding Sha spoke up, "Can we meet my sister-in-law and aunt?"
"Sure, sure! Of course!" Da Zhuang was very happy and immediately took out his cell phone and went to the door to make a call.
"Shasha, I think..." Xiao Jun frowned and wanted to say something.
Ding Sha immediately covered her ears, "I don't want you to think, I want me to think!"
After saying that, he went to observe Xiao Jun's reaction, and sure enough, he saw that he looked confused.
He has indeed never heard of Mingxue!
Ding Sha chuckled and took his arm, "Oh, just meet them first. I haven't decided to hire them yet, don't worry."
"If we meet and it doesn't seem right, we can talk about it later. If it is right, it will save us the effort of recruiting more people."
She also shook his arm gently.
Xiao Jun touched her head with tenderness in his eyes. This was the look of Shasha that he was most familiar with.
"Shasha, you have been very distant to me since I came back. Are you..."
Xiao Jun wanted to ask her if she minded the fact that he had been to jail once.
Ding Sha felt guilty and thought that he had discovered his mistake.
"What did you say?" Ding Sha pretended not to hear him clearly.
However, Xiao Jun could see the panic and helplessness she was trying hard to hide.
Do you really mind
Da Zhuang came back with the phone, "I talked to Cui Er, they will be here soon!"
Xiao Jun stood up and said, "Then you sit down first, I'll go cook."
He said as he took his apron and went to the kitchen.
Put large pieces of pork belly into cold water, cook with onion, ginger, garlic and cooking wine, then cut into thin slices. Put into a pan and stir-fry to release the fat, then sauté the ginger and garlic slices. Add a spoonful of bright red, salty and spicy bean paste and stir-fry to produce red oil, then season according to experience.
The taste of twice-cooked pork made by each chef is different. Xiao Jun likes to stir-fry the fat until dry and fragrant. The salty taste of the bean paste itself is already enough, so he adds some cooking wine, salt, sugar, and a little light soy sauce. Finally, he puts in a handful of garlic sprouts, stir-fryes evenly and serves.
Xiao Jun came out of the kitchen carrying this rice killer. Ding Sha was already sitting at the bar, continuing to settle the bill from yesterday. Da Zhuang couldn't wait to serve the rice.
"You don't know how much I want this!" Da Zhuang stuffed a handful of pork into his mouth and chewed it for a few times with ecstasy. "Especially recently, we've been so busy that the workers are so tired that they fall asleep right after returning home. We dream about eating your twice-cooked pork every day."
"Come often in the future." Xiao Jun brought him a pot of water and placed it on the table. He also scooped out some kimchi that Ding Sha had pickled himself and gave it to him to try.
Not long after they had eaten and drunk their fill, two women walked in.
It’s Cui’er and her aunt.
Da Zhuang left in a hurry. "I have to go back to the construction site. Otherwise, I will be fined if I am found out. Cui Er, please tell me whether it will succeed or not."
He gave a few instructions and quickly ran away.
The woman stood there stiffly, not daring to move.
She looked much older than people of her age, probably due to years of hard work. Her hands were covered with calluses and cracks. She wore a floral short top and her hair was neatly combed.
Even though her aunt was thin, she still had a round face and looked very friendly. She was also very neat and tidy.
"Please sit down first. You must be tired after coming all the way here. Have a drink of water first." Ding Sha poured two glasses of cold white wine and placed them on the table.
The woman thanked him quickly and took it.
Perhaps it was Ding Sha's gentle and soft appearance that put them at ease. The woman said nervously, "Hello, boss lady. My name is Tong Cui, I'm 35 years old this year, and this is my aunt, Zhuang Qiongying, she's 48 this year."
She took out two stacks of papers from her pocket and said, "This is the medical examination report of me and my aunt. This is my aunt's diagnosis. She is really fine now."
Xiao Jun took it and looked at it carefully, while Ding Sha looked at Zhuang Qiongying. Zhuang Qiongying smiled at her and said, "Hello, boss lady. I am now cured. I can do the general work such as washing dishes, cleaning, washing vegetables and preparing food, and I can also keep accounts."
She looked perfectly normal.
Xiao Jun asked a few more questions, and finally decided to keep the two of them with Ding Sha's consent.
"There is a vacant room in the west. You can clean it up and move in." Xiao Jun didn't let Ding Sha get up. He led the others to the backyard. "That's the toilet. The kitchen is over there."
“Because food and accommodation are provided, the salary will not be particularly high.”
"My wife is pregnant now and many things are inconvenient for her, so you must pay more attention to her."
Xiao Jun explained one by one, "Nothing more, you can move freely."
After saying that, he went to accompany Ding Sha.
He still remembered the topic just now.
Xiao Jun is a persistent person, and he wants to ask Ding Sha if he really minds.
Author's side note: Every chef has a different way of cooking, and I have never tasted twice-cooked pork twice the same way.
Sometimes I think cooking is really magical, the seasonings are similar, but the taste is very different in the end, it's a pity for me, a kitchen killer hhh