Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

Chapter 378 Let’s Try It

After graduating from high school, he did not continue his studies, but chose to work as an apprentice in a restaurant. After several years of hard work, he has become a well-known young chef. He has a pair of skillful hands and can make mouth-watering food, especially good at cooking. Neighbors often praise his cooking skills. People say that Wang Qiang's cooking is really unique, and even the chefs of some big restaurants in the city may not be able to compare with him.

However, despite his great cooking skills, he still couldn't find a good place to display his talent. He worked in some small restaurants, but those places had too many rules and it was difficult for him to really display his skills. Wang Qiang was holding back his energy, thinking that one day he could open a small restaurant of his own, cook those really delicious, homely, Beijing-style dishes, and let more people taste his cooking skills.

It was at this time that he heard of a person - He Yuzhu.

He Yuzhu is an old Beijinger. When he was young, he worked in several old restaurants in the city. Later, for some unknown reason, he opened a small restaurant. This small restaurant is not big. It is located in an old Beijing courtyard. The name is very simple, just called "Zhuzi Home Cooking". Although the name is inconspicuous, this is a paradise for food lovers. Many people come here because of its reputation, even if they have to queue up, they want to taste the dishes made by He Yuzhu.

One day, Wang Qiang overheard neighbors talking about He Yuzhu's home cooking, saying that He Yuzhu's cooking skills were incredible, not only did they have the flavor of old Beijing, but he also created some new dishes, which were praised by everyone who had eaten them. Wang Qiang was moved and wanted to meet He Yuzhu, both to learn from him and to see if there was an opportunity for cooperation.

After asking around for a while, Wang Qiang finally found the location of "Zhu Zi Home Cooking". It was an old courtyard house, not big, but very clean, full of the charm of old Beijing. There was a wooden sign hanging at the door with the words "Zhu Zi Home Cooking" written on it. Although the handwriting was a little yellow, one could still see the neatness and care when writing it.

Wang Qiang took a deep breath and pushed open the gate. Several guests were sitting on the old wooden tables in the yard. They were eating and chatting quietly, and occasionally exclaiming with satisfaction. Wang Qiang looked past the guests and looked at a corner of the yard, where a burly middle-aged man was standing, busy in front of a wok.

That person was He Yuzhu.

Wang Qiang walked up and politely greeted He Yuzhu: "Hello, Master He, my name is Wang Qiang, and I came here specifically to ask you for advice."

He Yuzhu stopped what he was doing, looked up at the young man, and nodded: "Oh, young man, what's the matter?"

Wang Qiang smiled and said, "I heard that your dishes are very famous. I have worked in a restaurant for a few years myself, so I want to ask for your advice. Also... I have an idea. Let's see if we can do something together."

He Yuzhu raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a hint of interest. He didn't say much, but asked directly: "What are you good at?"

Wang Qiang answered without hesitation: "Cooking."

"Cooking?" He Yuzhu smiled. "Cooking is a good skill, but the key is to have your own characteristics. What are your specialties?"

"I can cook some traditional Beijing home-cooked dishes, and I have also come up with some of my own recipes, such as a modified version of shredded pork with Beijing sauce, spicy shrimp balls, and a dish I created myself - stir-fried beef with green onions."

"Oh? Stir-fried beef with green onion?" He Yuzhu's interest grew. He put down the spatula in his hand and motioned Wang Qiang to follow him to the kitchen. "Come on, young man, show me your cooking skills in my kitchen. Let me see how good your stir-fried beef with green onion is."

Wang Qiang was delighted and followed He Yuzhu into the kitchen. The kitchen was not big, but it was neat and tidy, with seasonings and ingredients arranged in an orderly manner. Wang Qiang nodded secretly, knowing that He Yuzhu had put a lot of effort into the management of the kitchen.

He washed his hands skillfully, took the beef out of the refrigerator, and began his performance. The beef slices were evenly sliced, and he was skilled in knife skills. Then he quickly prepared the onions, ginger, garlic and other auxiliary ingredients. While busying himself, Wang Qiang talked to He Yuzhu about his ideas: "The key to my dish lies in the ratio of heat and seasoning. The heat must be controlled well, the beef cannot be fried too well, and the seasoning must make the onion fragrance stand out without overpowering the taste of the beef itself."

He Yuzhu watched quietly, nodded from time to time, and admired Wang Qiang's knife skills and use of seasonings.

Soon, the aroma began to waft out of the pot. Wang Qiang gently stir-fried the beef with a spatula, his movements smooth and flowing, as if every step was carefully designed. With the addition of the last seasoning, the aroma of the whole dish instantly reached its peak.

Wang Qiang turned off the fire, put the dishes on a plate, and handed it to He Yuzhu: "Master He, please enjoy it."

He Yuzhu picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of beef, and put it into his mouth to taste it carefully. He closed his eyes, as if he was recalling something. After a moment, he opened his eyes and smiled approvingly: "Not bad, not bad, the heat is well controlled, the onion fragrance comes out, and the beef is still tender."

Wang Qiang felt relieved. He knew that He Yuzhu was not the kind of person who would praise others easily. Being recognized by him showed that his craftsmanship was indeed good.

"Young man," He Yuzhu put down his chopsticks and looked at Wang Qiang seriously, "You are really good at cooking this dish, but if you want to make a name for yourself in this alley, you need to work harder."

Wang Qiang nodded, and began to think in his mind. He knew that although he had been recognized by He Yuzhu, this was just the beginning. If he wanted to cooperate with He Yuzhu, he needed to further demonstrate his ability and win his trust.

"Master He, do you think we can work together? I'll be in charge of cooking, and you'll be in charge of operations and management. Together, we can make this 'Zhuzi Home Cooking' bigger and stronger."

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment, his eyes lingering on Wang Qiang's face for a while, as if he was weighing his proposal. Then he nodded: "Your idea is not bad, but there are many rules here. Can you adapt to it?" "Master He, I can follow any rules you have. As long as I can show my skills, I am willing to learn from the beginning."

He Yuzhu smiled slightly: "Okay, since you said so, let's give it a try. You work for me for a while first, and see if our cooperation can be well-adjusted. If it works, we can discuss further cooperation. Knowing that this is already a good start. He clenched his fists and swore secretly in his heart that he must seize this opportunity, not only to promote "Zhu Zi Home Cooking", but also to make his cooking skills famous.