Chapter 169 Going to the Big Leader’s House

At night, Yu Li came back and returned the bicycle to Li Shengli. Li Shengli checked and found that his bicycle was intact. Yu Li still had some sense of the overall situation. It seemed that after the reform and opening up, Yu Li and Yan Jiecheng were the first people in the courtyard to open a restaurant.

Two days later, the steel mill closed early today. People thought that paying their wages in advance would allow everyone to have a good New Year. However, this early closure made some people happy and some worried. Qin Huairu was a little worried.

Li Shengli didn't quite understand. Even if the bell went off early, he still had to get every penny of the money. As long as he didn't eat and drink too much, how could it be not enough? Unless he wanted to eat something good, Li Shengli looked down on Qin Huairu for this reason. People from poor families who eat steamed bread every day don't say anything, just like Yan Bugui's family.

Other people haven't eaten any meat for several months and have been eating steamed corn bread for every meal. Unlike Qin Huairu, she eats white flour buns every day and buys new clothes for her children during the New Year. Of course, the money she has is not enough to spend like this.

Wages were collected from each workshop one by one, and soon Li Shengli received his salary of 41 yuan. After signing his name on the form, Li Shengli rubbed his hands to count the money.

"Lee Seung-ri's salary is really high, and he's still so young."

"Of course not. I'm a level 7 cook."

Sha Zhu, who had just received his salary but had not left yet, curled his lips at Li Shengli and wondered when he could get a promotion. It was not good if Xu Weimin always prevented him from taking the exam.

Li Shengli had no mood to pay attention to Sha Zhu. Sha Zhu was in trouble tonight and was ready to meet Teacher Ran. Who would have thought that he met Teacher Ran when he was selling car wheels. Sha Zhu didn't think there was anything wrong with stealing car wheels at this moment.

Li Shengli has his own mission today. I don’t know how the big leader in the plot knew him. He called Director Yang yesterday and asked Director Yang to take Li Shengli to his house today.

"Li Shengli, don't talk nonsense when you get there." Director Yang, who was sitting in the back seat of the car on the way to the big leader's house, said to Li Shengli beside him.

Director Yang didn't know why the boss asked him to bring Li Shengli to his house. Logically speaking, since the boss is from Sichuan, shouldn't he look for Sha Zhu, a Sichuan chef?

Director Yang was originally planning to introduce Sha Zhu to the top leader someday.

"Don't worry, Director. The rule in our industry is to ask less and talk less." Li Shengli sat aside and had no intention of trying to curry favor with others. He was just a cook, so what if he knew the leader? He couldn't do business at the moment, and the leader wouldn't let him be an official.

If a cook becomes an official, who will cook for him in the future?

Director Yang looked carefully into Li Shengli's eyes, and was relieved when he saw that Li Shengli had a neither humble nor arrogant attitude.

Director Yang knew the temper of his big boss. If there was anyone who flattered him, he would definitely be kicked out. After all, Li Shengli worked in his factory. It would be so embarrassing for him if he was kicked out by the big boss.

Along the way, Director Yang told Li Shengli what he should pay attention to.

Li Shengli ignored it. He had no plans to continue working in the Ministry of Metallurgy. He did not need to curry favor with the leaders of the Ministry of Metallurgy. He just needed to do his job well.

Soon the car arrived at a small courtyard, which was quite large. Li Shengli compared it with the house of Deputy Director Li, whom he had visited earlier. The two houses were almost the same size, and it seemed that the two men were of similar level.

In the small courtyard, the big boss was greeting guests. Most of the guests invited by the big boss today were from Sichuan. Director Yang also instructed Li Shengli to use his special skills to cook a table of Sichuan cuisine.

"Let me tell you, I heard Lao Wang and his friends say that this chef is a great cook. He even improved a dish. I specially asked him to cook it for us this time." The big boss laughed and boasted to the visiting guests. "Really? Then I have to try it." After hearing what the big boss said, the guests also showed their respect and said that they wanted to try it.

Director Yang brought Li Shengli to the kitchen. After Director Yang went to the front to greet the leaders, Li Shengli began to prepare the ingredients for dinner.

Judging from Director Yang's tone, this big boss hasn't been back to Sichuan for a long time. Li Shengli thought about it and decided that he couldn't cook some of the more expensive Sichuan dishes himself, and this big boss might not have eaten them before, so he decided to just stir-fry some home-cooked dishes.

"Young comrade, can you please see if there is anything missing?" The leader's wife came over and asked.

"Nothing is missing. We have everything." Li Shengli took a look at the prepared items. There were chicken, fish, meat, pork elbows, and the seasonings were also quite complete.

"By the way, young comrade, I heard that you are good at making pickled fish?" The boss's wife remembered a dish that was mentioned when she visited other people's homes.

"Madam, do you want to eat this dish?" Li Shengli was a little surprised how this person knew this.

"Yes, I heard that you are good at cooking Sichuan cuisine and have an improved dish, so I asked you to come and cook for us." The boss's wife smiled and did not look down on Lee Seung-ri, although she was surprised by his youth.

Li Shengli's tone was very gentle, unlike Sha Zhu who had a sullen face and acted like he was the boss.

"Okay, but this dish requires sauerkraut. Are you and your guests used to it?" Li Shengli asked politely.

"Of course, I've been waiting for you." Of course the boss's wife had inquired about this in advance.

"That's no problem. Where did you put the sauerkraut?" Li Shengli finally understood why Director Yang asked him to cook instead of asking Sha Zhu.

"In this jar." The leader's wife pointed to a black jar nearby.

"Okay, then everything is ready." Li Shengli nodded. The leader's family are all from Sichuan, and one can tell what the menu is by looking at the prepared ingredients.

In the original plot, Sha Zhu used sesame paste when cooking, which is generally the method used by Beijing-style Sichuan chefs. Since the leader is from Sichuan, Li Shengli felt that the most authentic Sichuan cooking method was more appropriate.

"Then I won't bother you anymore." The boss's wife prepared to go to the living room to chat with someone.

"Wait, ma'am." Li Shengli hurriedly called out to the leader's wife, "When will the leaders have dinner?"

"You can start now. We'll have dinner in an hour." The boss's wife calculated the time.

"Okay, then I'll start preparing now." Li Shengli nodded. Some of these dishes still need some time. If they are cooked now, it may be too late. Otherwise, what will happen if we wait for people to finish eating before serving the second dish?

(End of this chapter)