area51novel Chapter 304 Ma Hua Finds Nan Yi to Learn Cooking
Chapter 304 Ma Hua Finds Nan Yi to Learn Cooking
In a corner of Hong Kong Island, hidden in the shadows of rows of high-rise buildings, there is a dilapidated tin house, standing there alone, as if it were an orphan of time.
The outer walls of the tin house are mottled and rusty, as if every piece of iron is telling of the ruthlessness of time and the erosion of wind and rain.
Inside the house, the dim light barely illuminated a small space. Xu Damao sat on the rickety old wooden chair. His face was weathered, his beard was untidy, and his eyes had lost their former luster.
Xu Damao used to be a projectionist in a steel rolling mill. At that time, he wore neat work clothes and operated the projector every day, bringing laughter and relaxation to the workers.
Although his life is ordinary, it is full of satisfaction and pride.
However, fate always seems to like playing tricks on people. An unexpected change forces him to leave his familiar environment and embark on an unknown journey to Hong Kong Island.
"Ah, these days are really going backwards."
Xu Damao sighed. The cigarette in his hand had burned to the end, but he didn't notice it.
He looked out the window. The prosperity of Hong Kong Island formed a sharp contrast with his current situation, and he couldn't help feeling a sense of sadness in his heart.
After arriving in Hong Kong Island, language barrier became his biggest problem.
He tried to find a job, but each attempt ended in failure.
The looks of those recruiters, whether cold or contemptuous, were like sharp knives, cutting his self-esteem.
"Boss, I can do any job."
Xu Damao had pleaded like this countless times, but the only response he got was often a shake of the head and the sound of doors closing.
Finally, in order to make a living, he had to compromise and started working as a laborer at the dock.
Every day, he had to carry heavy goods, sweating profusely and his shoulders were sore from the wear.
Days like this were a far cry from his previous life.
"Da Mao, why are you doing this?"
Occasionally, a worker would ask him this question, with a look of sympathy and confusion in their eyes.
Xu Damao just smiled bitterly. How could a few words express the pain in his heart?
He thought about giving up and returning to that familiar place, but every time he did so, he would think of Aunt Hua.
Aunt Hua is his only support in this strange city.
She followed him to Hong Kong Island, thinking they could create a wonderful life together, but she didn't expect the reality to be so cruel.
Poverty and hardship gradually wore away Aunt Hua's patience. Finally one day, while Xu Damao was out working, she quietly packed her bags and left this place that made her despair.
"Da Mao, I...I just can't stand it anymore. I'm sorry."
All Aunt Hua left behind were these words and an empty room.
Xu Damao felt heartbroken when he found out Aunt Hua had left.
He understood her choice, but he also felt extremely lonely and lost.
He sat at the door of the tin house, watching the sunset slowly sink into the horizon, with mixed feelings in his heart.
“Maybe I was really wrong.”
Xu Damao murmured to himself, tears welling up in his eyes but never falling.
He knew that crying would not solve any problem, he had to be strong and find a way out.
In the following days, Xu Damao worked harder. He began to learn Cantonese and tried to communicate with the locals.
Although progress was slow, he did not give up.
He also used his spare time to teach himself some simple maintenance skills, hoping to increase his competitiveness.
"Hey, Damao, you speak very fluently today!"
Fellow workers at the dock began to notice his changes and offered encouragement.
Xu Damao smiled slightly, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He knew that he was slowly changing, even though the process was full of hardships and challenges.
However, in this small world of the courtyard, Yan Jiecheng was thinking about how to get close to Liang Ladi every day.
Although Liang Ladi had no feelings for him, she had a special liking for Nan Yi.
The moment Nan Yi stepped into the canteen of the steel mill, the atmosphere of the entire space seemed to change. The sunlight shone through the half-open window onto his focused and confident face, as if even the light had a special favor for the new chef. In the canteen, the aroma of food mixed with the steam complemented Nan Yi's love and persistence for the art of cooking.
"Director Zhang, don't worry, I will take care of the canteen and make sure everyone will eat well and healthily." Nan Yi's voice was steady and powerful, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable determination. Hearing this, Zhang Jianjun smiled with satisfaction and patted Nan Yi on the shoulder: "Good boy, I knew you could do it! Just go for it, I fully support you."
As Nan Yi took over the management of the canteen, a series of reforms were quietly carried out. He personally cooked, striving for perfection in every link from selecting ingredients to cooking. On the canteen table, the once monotonous dishes were gradually replaced by delicious dishes with good color, fragrance and taste. The workers sat together, eating and chatting, praising the food.
"This braised pork is fatty but not greasy, and melts in your mouth. It tastes better than the ones in restaurants outside!" Old Li picked up a piece of meat and said with enjoyment on his face.
"Yes, and the steamed fish is cooked to just the right temperature, and it's so delicious that your eyebrows will fall off!" Xiao Wang echoed.
These words blew into Nan Yi's heart like a spring breeze, making him feel extremely satisfied and proud. However, he did not become complacent because of this. Instead, he listened more humbly to the opinions of every worker and continuously improved the dishes.
At the same time, as Sha Zhu's favorite student, Ma Hua's mood was extremely complicated. He stood aside, watching Nan Yi manipulate the pots and pans in the kitchen with ease, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings. On the one hand, he felt unfair that his master's skills did not receive due recognition; on the other hand, he had to admit that Nan Yi's cooking skills were indeed outstanding, which made him admire him.
Finally one day, Ma Hua plucked up the courage and walked towards Nan Yi who was busy cooking: "Master Nan, can I learn a few tricks from you? I know I had many shortcomings in the past, but now I really want to learn cooking skills well."
Hearing this, Nan Yi stopped what he was doing and turned to look at Ma Hua. A hint of surprise flashed across his eyes, which then turned into a gentle smile: "Of course, Ma Hua. Cooking is something that requires continuous learning and practice. Come, let's start with the most basic knife skills."
So, in the following days, Ma Hua became Nan Yi's right-hand man and his most diligent student. Whenever it was late at night and there were only the two of them in the cafeteria, Nan Yi would patiently explain to Ma Hua the characteristics of various ingredients, cooking techniques and the control of the heat. Ma Hua also cherished this rare learning opportunity and remembered every word and every action in his heart.
"Look at this fish fillet. It has to be cut as thin as a cicada's wing so that it will be tender and smooth when steamed." Nan Yi said as he demonstrated.
"I understand, Master. I will try my best." Ma Hua nodded seriously, and his knife skills gradually became more skillful.
As time went by, Ma Hua's cooking skills improved significantly. He not only learned Nan Yi's specialty dishes, but also gradually formed his own cooking style. The workers were also surprised and delighted by his changes: "Ma Hua, this kid, can now stand on his own!"
On the other hand, Yan Jiecheng still did not give up his pursuit of Liang Ladi. He often approached Liang Ladi with various excuses, trying to impress her with his sincerity and material conditions. However, Liang Ladi already had her own persistence and principles in her heart.
"Yan Jiecheng, I appreciate your kindness. But feelings cannot be forced. I hope you can understand." Liang Ladi refused in a firm but gentle tone.
Although Yan Jiecheng felt a little disappointed, looking at Liang Ladi's clear eyes, he knew that he could not force her. So he chose to guard her silently, hoping that one day he could prove his sincerity with his actions.
In this steel mill full of challenges and opportunities, everyone is working hard for their dreams and happiness. Nan Yi won everyone's respect and love with his cooking skills; Ma Hua grew into an excellent chef through continuous learning and practice; and Yan Jiecheng learned to persist and let go in the pursuit of love. Their stories are like the delicious dishes in the cafeteria, which are endless to savor.
On this day, the sun shines through the window into Zhang Jianjun's office, tinging everything with a warm golden glow. Zhang Jianjun is sitting at a large desk, concentrating on processing the documents on the desk. His eyes are sharp and focused, and he doesn't miss any details, as if he wants to find new opportunities for the development of the company from these tedious texts. The office is quiet, with only the sound of papers turning and the occasional rustling of pens across paper, creating a tense and orderly working atmosphere.
Suddenly, a knock on the door broke the silence. Zhang Jianjun raised his head, temporarily leaving the documents in his hand and looking at the door. The door was gently pushed open, and Liu Lan appeared at the door. She was wearing a neat business suit, with a hint of urgency on her face. She walked into the office quickly and said to Zhang Jianjun: "Director Zhang, I just received a notice that the senior leader will come to our factory for inspection tomorrow morning!"
Zhang Jianjun smiled slightly when he heard this. He put down his pen, stood up, and said firmly, "Okay, this is a rare opportunity! Let Nan Yi prepare it. Prepare more ingredients and don't be afraid of wasting them." His eyes were full of confidence and expectation, as if he had already seen the successful reception.
After saying that, he walked to the window and looked at the scenery outside. The sunlight shone on him, making his figure more upright. A strong sense of responsibility and mission surged in his heart. He knew what this reception meant to the steel mill. This was a great opportunity to show the strength and image of the steel mill, and it was also a great stage for them to show their work results and team spirit to the leaders.
Liu Lan turned and walked out of the office, heading towards the cafeteria with brisk steps. She knew that this reception was of great significance to the steel mill, and she had to do her best. Her heart was full of anticipation and nervousness, but also full of confidence and determination. She believed that as long as everyone worked together, they would be able to successfully complete this reception mission.
After entering the cafeteria, Liu Lan saw Nan Yi who was busy at a glance. He was wearing a white chef's uniform, a chef's hat, holding a spatula in his hand, and was carefully frying the dishes in the pot. His movements were skillful and powerful, and each stir-fry was just right, exuding an enticing aroma.
Liu Lan walked straight towards Nan Yi and said to him with a smile: "Master Nan, there will be an important reception in the factory tomorrow, you need to prepare!" Her tone was full of trust and expectation. She knew that Nan Yi's cooking skills were among the best in the entire steel rolling mill, and the success of this reception depended largely on his performance.
When Nan Yi heard the news, his eyes lit up immediately. He knew the importance of this reception and the responsibility he shouldered. He answered without hesitation: "Sister Liu, don't worry, I will be ready!" His tone was full of confidence and determination, as if he had already seen himself presenting a feast for the taste buds for the big leaders.
Liu Lan nodded with satisfaction, with a hint of appreciation in her eyes. She said, "Okay, you must be prepared, don't make any mistakes!" Her tone was both strict and encouraging. She knew that Nan Yi was a trustworthy person, and as long as he was given a task, he would definitely do his best to complete it.
Nan Yi nodded vigorously, indicating that he would go all out. He knew that this reception was not only about his personal honor, but also about the image of the entire steel mill. He was determined to use his superb cooking skills to present a feast for the big leaders. His heart was full of passion and motivation, as if he had already seen himself standing in the kitchen, holding a spatula, cooking delicious dishes for the big leaders.
In the following days, Nan Yi started to get busy. He carefully studied the menu, selected the freshest and best quality ingredients, and ensured that each dish could achieve the best taste and flavor. He also specially consulted several experienced chefs and learned some traditional cooking techniques and innovative dish combinations, hoping to bring some unexpected surprises to the leaders.
At the same time, Zhang Jianjun and Liu Lan were also busy preparing for other reception tasks. They checked the factory's environmental sanitation, equipment operation status, and employees' mental outlook to ensure that everything was in the best condition to welcome the arrival of the leader. They also specially organized a simulated reception event, and made detailed plans and drills for the reception process to ensure that every link could proceed smoothly.
The entire steel rolling mill was immersed in a tense and orderly atmosphere, and everyone was contributing their own efforts to this important reception.
They knew that this reception was not just a simple inspection activity, but also an excellent opportunity to showcase the strength and image of the steel rolling mill.
They want to use their actual actions to tell the leaders that the steel rolling mill is a united, enterprising, energetic and innovative team!