There were only two days left for the Chinese New Year. Lao Tan called again and explained the work during the Spring Festival to the managers and executive chefs of each district in detail. After feeling a little relieved, he started to prepare his own New Year's goods.
You don’t need to prepare cigarettes, alcohol, or food. You have them at home. The main thing is to prepare some sugar, fruit, snacks, etc., in case people and children come to visit you on the first and second day of the first lunar month.
The rest is to buy Spring Festival couplets and blessing characters, and make the house look like the Chinese New Year.
Also, he lied and told everyone that he was a family of three celebrating the New Year at home. Otherwise, if he knew he was spending the New Year at home alone, he would ask him to go to his own home to celebrate the New Year. It is not good to go to anyone’s home on New Year’s Eve.
Yaru returned to her hometown with her son yesterday. Before leaving, she told Lao Tan that her mother was coming with her after the New Year.
"I can't help it. My mother and sister-in-law can't go together, and I don't worry about her being alone at home," Yaru said.
"Get it right, so you don't have to worry about it all the time." Lao Tan said.
"As soon as my dad left, she started to die. She was in a lot of pain, and she had to take medicine all day long. I could still take care of her after I picked her up."
"That's not the case."
"The main reason is that my brother is playing tricks and cannot be my sister-in-law's family."
"Isn't there a girl like you?"
"Why--"
"Isn't my mother at my fifth sister's house? I'm still a son."
"It's different for you. Your mother doesn't like to come."
"It's the same, I can't come now even if I want to ------"
Yaru comforted Lao Tan with an understanding smile, but Lao Tan had a wry smile on his face.
In the afternoon, Lao Tan bought some New Year's goods and came to Yingzi's house. It happened that Zhang Li and Lao Huang were also there, and they also sent New Year's goods to Yingzi's house.
Zhu Debao took the things from Lao Tan's hand. Lao Tan walked into the living room and sat on the sofa. Yingzi gave him tea.
"I heard from Yingzi that you prepared a lot of dumplings this year?" Zhang Li asked.
"Well, I've prepared quite a lot," Lao Tan said.
"Don't stay at home on New Year's Eve like last year," Zhang Li said worriedly.
"Oh, that happens to be selling dumplings." Lao Tan laughed, and then said: "This year we advocate celebrating the New Year on the spot. Many people from other places cannot go home. As long as there is no epidemic, the restaurants will definitely be busy." Then he emphasized: "Don't look at the request to make reservations for the New Year's Eve dinner.
, I guess it’s no worse than booking a New Year’s Eve dinner.”
"You're betting."
"That's not entirely true. The actual situation is out there, and anyone with a discerning eye can see it."
"Not necessarily. There are lessons learned from last year. Most hotels are on holiday this year, and we had to pay for the damage last year."
"In business, there are losses and gains. All factors must be taken into consideration. You cannot be afraid of being bitten by a snake for ten years. If crops are not harvested, you plant them every year. Who knows which year the weather will be good."
Lao Huang interjected: "That's right."
"There are really some people who like to flatter people." Zhang Li said.
"Hey, it's a pity that I'm not a national football player."
"But you were very wise to take the vacation last year."
"When a blind cat meets a dead mouse, there is no way to be forward-looking. I just wanted to send employees home to celebrate the Chinese New Year, and it happened to happen."
"Oh, you are so humble."
"What a modesty, that's true."
Yingzi and Debao wanted to stay with Lao Tan and Zhang Li for dinner, but they declined.
After Zhang Li and Lao Huang drove away from Yingzi's house, Lao Tan walked home alone. When he walked to the old store, he happened to meet Li Shuang.
Li Shuang has gotten over the pain of losing his father, and his whole person looks the same as before, but also different.
More mature and steady than before.
The master and apprentice stood in front of the old shop and chatted for a while.
"Master, why do you look so old here lately?" Li Shuang asked, and then as if he had found an answer he asked: "Why did Sister Wang leave?"
"Half of it - mainly the feeling of being old and unable to do what I want." Lao Tan said.
"This is not like you." Li Shuang laughed after saying this.
"Oh, it doesn't look like that. Master is just a cook, not as good as you think."
"You are too tired."
Old Tan looked at Li Shuang, and from the look in her eyes and the whole demeanor, he seemed to see himself from ten years ago, but he was calmer than he was then.
He smiled happily and said, "Then master, let's take a rest and retire to the countryside."
"You are just like my father. He worries about whether I will grow up all his life. When I grow up, he worries that I will not be able to live a good life. When I do, he is worried that I will not live well. You are always worried."
"Really, am I that old?"
"I'm talking about mentality. I, Xiao Gao, Hua Qing, and Liu Yang are your apprentices. You can't rest assured about anyone, including Xiaomei. Only Zhongqing can make you feel at ease.
Don’t worry, we have trained you hard over the years. You can withstand pressure and be able to stand on your own."
"That's good."
The two of them were talking when their neighbor, Brother Li, called Lao Tan and told him to arrange three tables for an impromptu dinner meeting of the team, which would arrive at six o'clock in the evening. Lao Tan handed the matter over to Li Shuang and started walking home.
When I got home, my phone rang again. When I saw that the phone number was SF Express, I wondered why I didn't buy anything online.
It turned out to be seafood delivered by Sister Zhao.
After the courier boy made sure he was at home, he climbed upstairs and came to the door. After Lao Tan signed for it, he called Sister Zhao to express his gratitude.
"Why are you thanking me for this? It's my own stuff." Sister Zhao said.
"Thank you for that." Lao Tan said.
"If you want to thank me, you can take me to Beautiful Valley after the New Year."
Lao Tan promised to take Sister Zhao to Beautiful Valley, but was delayed by Wang Shulan's death, so he has not gone yet.
"Okay, I will definitely go after the Chinese New Year." Lao Tan said.
"Sister is teasing you. It's time for you to be busy. Wait until you have time."
"When I have time, I will officially retire after the Chinese New Year and no longer manage."
"Why did you return it if you were fine?"
"When you are tired, take a rest and live the life you want."
Sister Zhao smiled on the phone and said, "How old are you?" Then she said, "It doesn't matter, I'll walk around with you when I get down. I'm just a free person anyway."
"good."
After hanging up the phone, Lao Tan started to do nothing, so he thought about what else he had to do. After thinking for a long time, he called Li Shuang to ask if Brother Li's ordering arrangements were made. Li Shuang said that the arrangements were made. They were in the small banquet hall on the second floor of the Chishan Road store.
Twelve dishes per table, plus two additional dishes and a plate of dumplings.
Lao Tan was very satisfied with this arrangement and lit up a cigarette happily. After the smoke filled his lungs, he exhaled it comfortably and coughed.
It seems that he really should quit smoking. If he can't quit, he should smoke less because his health is important. When he was thinking this, someone knocked on the door. When he opened the door, he saw that it was his apprentice Hua Qing.
Hua Qing held a box of wine and two cigarettes in his arms. Lao Tan said that he wanted to quit smoking, why don't you buy some. Hua Qing smiled and put down the cigarettes and wine, then took out a small box from his pocket and took out a
The cigarette holder was handed to the master.
"Master, if you use this to smoke from now on, it can filter out the nicotine." Hua Qing said.
Lao Tan put the cigarette in his mouth into the cigarette holder in disbelief, "Will it work?"
"It works. I read the introduction. It doesn't affect the smell of cigarettes, but it definitely filters out nicotine. It's quite expensive, more than 200 yuan, and it's genuine."