Chapter 1 The Third Steel Rolling Mill

It was February of 1962, in the city of Beijing, and it was almost March, just after the New Year.

The north wind was howling outside, and the city inside and out was covered in silver.

The third steel rolling mill has the words "Learn from the spirit of model workers and be a pioneer in the industry" written on its wall.

Beyond the office building, in the third cafeteria in the distance.

It's almost time for lunch, and the cafeteria is very busy. Some are steaming buns, some are cooking, and everyone is working hard.

"Master Yang, are your steamed buns ready? My dishes are ready to be served."

Without even turning his head, Li Shengli shouted something to the back, waving the big spatula in his hand and stir-frying the vegetables in the pot.

Without waiting for a reply, Li Shengli shoveled the shredded potatoes from the pot into a bowl.

"Okay, Master Li, the steamed buns are out of the pot."

Hearing Li Shengli's shout, Yang Youfu, who was in charge of steaming the buns, quickly turned around and shouted back.

"Okay, serve the food and get ready to eat."

Throwing down the shovel, Li Shengli took off his mask, removed his hat, picked up the towel hanging around his neck and wiped the sweat off his face.

"Master, I'm coming."

Liu Xikui hurried over and went to the food window with the basin in his hand.

Looking at his apprentice, Li Shengli couldn't help but laugh and shook his head.

This guy is pretty good and works hard.

Don’t think about these things anymore. It has been more than a year since he came into this world, and he has gradually adapted to his current identity.

Li Shengli, a little unknown character in the TV series Love in Courtyard. He did not appear in the original plot.

Li Shengli is 21 years old this year. His mother died early and he was raised by his father, Li Fugui, who worked in the kitchen of the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill.

Li Fugui was a refugee from the city of Sijiu before the liberation. He learned some cooking skills on the way and became a cook in the kitchen of a steel mill after the liberation. The factory allocated two rooms to him, one in a courtyard.

Lee Seung-ri was not a good student at first. He failed to get into high school after graduating from junior high school at the age of 15. He did not continue to study after graduating from junior high school.

Li Fugui's cooking skills were not very good. In order for Li Shengli to live a better life, his father Li Fugui had to use his connections to let Li Shengli become the apprentice of Wang Defu, the chef of Huifangyuan.

Wang Defu was someone Li Fugui met during his escape, and the two were close friends. However, Wang Defu was luckier than Li Fugui, as he became a chef at Huifang Garden after liberation.

It turned out that Li Shengli studied under Wang Defu for five years.

The work in the restaurant kitchen is divided into three parts: "stove", "counter", and "tail". "Stove" is responsible for cooking, "counter" is divided into water table and noodle table, which refers to cutting vegetables and making noodles, and "tail" is cold dishes.

Apprentices have to start from the "tail", carving radishes and potatoes, arranging platters, and then learning to cut vegetables and meat, and make pasta, step by step, before finally being able to go to the stove and touch the handle of the big spoon.

After three years of apprenticeship, Li Shengli had laid the foundation for his original skills, and started cooking in the fifth year.

Wang Defu treated him very well, and because of the friendship between the two families, he never kept anything from him. He even asked Li Shengli to copy a copy of the recipe given by his royal chef.

Life seemed to be getting better and better, but then God played a big joke on him. His father Li Fugui had an accident in the factory, and Wang Defu asked Li Shengli to come back to take care of his father's funeral.

After negotiations between the factory leaders and Li Shengli, the final result was to give him a pension of 300 yuan and funeral expenses of 100 yuan, and let Li Shengli take over Li Fugui's job.

Li Shengli took over and gave the work of Huifang Garden to the relatives of his master Wang Defu. After Li Shengli buried Li Fugui, he fell seriously ill, which gave Li Shengli in later generations an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

Because of his five years of apprenticeship and his good cooking skills, Li Shengli was converted to a regular employee shortly after joining the factory. He now earns a salary of 31 yuan for a ninth-level cook.

In those days of food and clothing shortages, Li Shengli lived a pretty good life and could often get some food and oil.

Throwing down the shovel, Li Shengli sat on a stool to take a rest. Cooking this big pot of food is really strenuous work.

Thinking about the world outside, Li Shengli couldn't help but feel depressed. Why did he travel to such an era when he could travel to any other place? It would be fine if it was this era, but he traveled to such a courtyard.

"Jingle bell bell."

The bell for the end of work rang, and workers came out from workshops, office buildings and other places one after another, and the crowd gradually gathered together.

"Hey, Xiaoli, what are we having for lunch today? This smells so good."

A group of female workers got together.

"Well, what can we eat? Most likely stewed cabbage and fried potatoes."

"Master Li's cooking skills are really good. He can even fry potatoes and cabbage to make them so fragrant."

"That's right. Why don't you ask around? It's said that Master Li's master is the successor of the imperial chef."

"Is this true? Then can't Master Li be said to be the successor of the imperial chef? That Sha Zhu in the canteen is said to be the successor of Tan's cuisine, and he boasts about his wealth every day." A female worker couldn't help but curl her lips when she thought of Sha Zhu.

Sha Zhu is not a bad person by nature, but he has a foul mouth. Many people in the factory can't stand him.

"How can it be fake? Just smell it, it's so fragrant. Shazhu can't compare to Master Li." Another female worker also replied.

"Yeah, I don't know how old Master Li is and whether he is married." The female worker in front seemed to remember something.

"What, little bitch, are you in love? Forget it, you're already married. Besides, she's so good looking, how could it be our turn?" the person next to him said sourly. He still had some self-awareness.

"No, I just wanted to see if any of my relatives are suitable. Master Li is very popular." The female worker in front did not feel ashamed, after all, she was a married woman.

The gossip from outside could not reach the kitchen, and Li Shengli did not hear the gossip from outside. Seeing that someone had arrived, Li Shengli and other people in the kitchen started to serve food.

"Everyone, please be careful when you get your meals. Each canteen has a fixed amount of food. Try not to let anyone get to eat."

"This is a serious problem. There is famine outside right now. If someone doesn't have enough food to eat, it will cost their life."

"If there are any leftovers, then follow the old rules and take turns taking them, but don't deliberately stir the spoon to create leftovers."

Because the problem was serious, the team leader Wang Tiezhu spoke in a serious tone. If someone didn't have enough food and something happened in the factory, the people in the kitchen would be in trouble.

Wang Tiezhu is from Northeast China. He has been working in the steel mill for more than ten years and is considered an old man in the factory. He is a big and strong man. His cooking skills are not very good, but he can only cook big pot meals.

"Got it, squad leader." People in the kitchen responded in twos and threes.

"Don't worry, squad leader, we're all experienced." Li Shengli also picked up a spoon and stood by a window.

"Okay then, now that people are here, let's start getting their food." After saying that, Wang Tiezhu sat down on a small bench at the back and watched them get their food.

This is the chef's privilege, and it's also because cooking is a physical job, especially cooking in a big pot. With so many dishes in the pot, it all depends on the big spatula.

　I'm a novice writer, please bear with me

　　
　
(End of this chapter)