Chapter 197: Joy from Above
Chapter 197: Joy from Above
Afternoon.
On the large dining table in Deng Shirong’s home, there were over a dozen dishes, the most eye-catching of which were four plates of perfectly seasoned wild rabbit meat, arranged in a row. If someone from Sichuan Province were to see it, they would immediately recognize the dish.
However, everyone at the table, except for Deng Shirong, was seeing this dish for the first time and had no idea what it was.
Once everyone was seated, Deng Yunzhen looked at the plates of wild rabbit meat and said, "Dad, you should have cooked this last. It’s already cold now, should I reheat it?"
"No need to reheat it. This is one of the most representative dishes from Ziyang, Sichuan, called 'Cold Rabbit.'"
Deng Shirong picked up his chopsticks and explained with a smile, "From the name, you can tell that this dish is meant to be eaten cold. The flavor is even better when it’s cold. Try it, you’ll see."
Everyone was amazed to learn about this unique Sichuan dish.
One by one, they reached for the cold rabbit meat with their chopsticks.
Deng Shirong also took a piece and tasted it, finding it even more delicious than he remembered. Perhaps it was because the wild rabbit’s meat was of higher quality than domesticated rabbits!
"Wow, this is absolutely exquisite!"
"Delicious, it’s really, really good!"
"The flavor is so fresh and aromatic, and the texture is so crisp. It’s no wonder it’s a famous Sichuan dish!"
"..."
The children ate and praised the dish, which quickly won them over.
Chen Bangguo also couldn’t stop praising it, saying as he ate, "My mom really knows her limits. This morning, when my dad brought the wild rabbit home, she said it would be a waste to cook it at home. I’m glad she didn’t insist, or I wouldn’t have known that rabbits could be cooked to taste so good."
Deng Shirong smiled and said, "I’ve kept two plates aside. You can take them home for your parents to try tomorrow."
Chen Bangguo accepted the offer without hesitation, saying, "Sure, I’ll take them home tomorrow and let them try it. They’ll be in for a treat."
Zhang Xiuping had an idea and said, "Dad, if we introduce this dish at our restaurant, it should be a big hit, right?"
Deng Shirong chuckled and replied, "That’s a good idea. We can try it out. However, most people in Bobai can’t handle spicy food, and chili peppers are a crucial part of this dish. So, it will only be a niche specialty dish in Bobai and won’t be popular with the masses. You need to be prepared for that."
Zhang Xiuping nodded, "That’s fine. Even a niche dish can add up over time. As long as our restaurant offers unique dishes that others don’t, we’ll have an advantage over the competition."
Deng Shirong said, "You can try it out gradually."
Hearing the conversation between his uncle and his sister-in-law, Chen Bangguo couldn’t help but ask, "Uncle, what restaurant are you talking about?"
"Even if you hadn’t come today, I would have told you during the New Year’s visit," Deng Shirong said, taking a sip of wine. "I plan to open a restaurant in the county town after the New Year. Your brother and sister-in-law will manage it. We’ll need a lot of help, so if you and your sister, as well as your cousin, are willing to work in the county town, I’ll reserve positions for you."
When Chen Bangguo heard this, his eyes lit up. In this era, finding a job in the countryside was incredibly difficult. For instance, the three siblings could only stay at home to help with chores or go to the mountains to cut silvergrass to earn some pocket money.
However, such work paid very little, and the pocket money they could earn was extremely limited. As a young man approaching twenty, Chen Bangguo had always been quite strapped for cash. To say he didn’t want to change his circumstances would be a lie.
Now, his uncle-in-law was offering him a job, and not just any job, but one in the county town. This was like a stroke of luck from the heavens.
Chen Bangguo immediately said excitedly, "Uncle-in-law, of course we’re willing to go! I’ve never been to the county town before. If I can work there, it will make the other young men in the village so envious!"
Deng Shirong understood his excitement. In this era, unless a commune was close to the county town, few villagers ever went there. In places like Shuangwang, which was seventy-six kilometers away from the county town, only the village and production team leaders had been there.
Working in the county town, regardless of the job, was something to be envied.
"Alright, if you’re willing, that’s great. You should also tell your two sisters. If they’re all willing, I’ll make sure to give them positions when the restaurant opens."
Chen Bangguo quickly replied, "Uncle-in-law, I don’t even need to go back and ask. I can give you an answer right now. With such a good opportunity to work in the county town, my sisters will definitely jump at the chance."
Deng Shirong smiled, "You should still go back and ask them. Working in a restaurant can be quite tiring. You’ll have to help with washing vegetables, dishes, and utensils, as well as cleaning. It can be exhausting by the end of the day."
Chen Bangguo clinked his glass with his uncle-in-law’s and said with a smile, "Uncle-in-law, don’t worry. Those tasks won’t be tiring for me or my sisters."
He wasn’t exaggerating. In this era, both men and women in the countryside were used to hard labor from a young age. They had to carry seedlings during rice planting, carry harvested rice, and carry grains for drying. They also had to chop wood and carry it back for cooking and fetch water every day.
Compared to these tasks, washing things was nothing.
Deng Shirong was just saying this out of concern. He didn’t really think washing dishes would be too tiring for them. Seeing Chen Bangguo’s confidence, he nodded and said, "As long as you understand. When you get to the county town, work hard. I’ll also try to find a good match for you."
Chen Bangguo took a sip of his wine and promised, "Uncle-in-law, I’ll definitely work hard."
Deng Shirong nodded. He had planned to send his nephew and his late wife’s niece and nephew to the county town to help. On one hand, it was to help his relatives, and on the other, it was for the safety of his eldest son and daughter-in-law.
If he only sent his eldest son and daughter-in-law to start a business in Bobai, his beautiful daughter-in-law might attract unwanted attention.
By sending more relatives to help, the safety risk would be much lower. He could also instruct them to stay indoors at night and avoid any trouble, ensuring everything went smoothly.
Of course, Deng Shirong would also ask Mr. Zhang and Colonel Zhou to look after his eldest son and his family, striving to ensure their absolute safety.
(End of Chapter)
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