Yi Zhonghai's Siheyuan

(Yi Zhonghai's nickname is "Luanzi" and Yi Jianping would call him that)

Xu Wu brought the food over. Yi Zhonghai was still preparing to steam the buns. At this time, Yi Jianping walked in and said, "Luanzi, your skills have improved. Wow! Look at these steamed buns. They are all the same size."

Yi Zhonghai glanced at this cheap elder brother and said, "If you have nothing to do, you can learn from him."

As soon as Yi Zhonghai finished speaking, Lan Qingping walked in and said, "I think Luanzi is right. You should also learn how to cook. Now that men and women are equal, women can also hold up half the sky."

Yi Jianping smiled a smile that was more painful than crying and said, "I can lead the troops in battles, but I can't cook." Then he prepared to go out.

Lan Qingping became interested in the steamed buns made by Yi Zhonghai and asked him how he fermented the buns.

Yi Zhonghai told Lan Qingping some tricks, which made the sister-in-law return to the dinner table as if she had found a treasure.

As the steamed buns were cooked, Yi Zhonghai took off his apron and went to the table. "I didn't prepare any dishes today. You guys can try them. Especially Su Wan, there are your favorite Kung Pao Chicken and Fish-flavored Shredded Pork."

Huang Yulan was talking to Yi Suwan. When Yi Suwan heard her father say that there was something she liked to eat, she didn't have time to talk and was pulled by Huang Yulan to wash her hands.

There were many people eating today, so Yi Zhonghai specially set up a big table and invited the two guards to sit down and eat together.

The two guards looked at Yi Jianping, and when they saw Yi Jianping nod, they took their seats. Yi Zhonghai said, "Come, sit down and have a meal. The female comrades have drinks, and we men have some white wine." He took out four bottles of drinks and handed them to Yi Suwan, Lan Qingping and the two nephews. The one for Huang Yulan was the well water that Yi Zhonghai got from Lingquan Well.

Then Yi Zhonghai took out two bottles of Moutai from a wooden box in the house. There were lesbians, children and pregnant women on the table. Everyone did not smoke. When Yi Jianping saw Yi Zhonghai taking out Moutai, he said, "Luanzi, you still have this good wine? Let me taste it."

Yi Zhonghai smiled and said that it was the money he saved last year. He first poured a glass for his elder brother and then for Xu Wu. When Yi Zhonghai wanted to pour wine for the two guards, they refused and said that they were on a mission and could not drink.

Yi Zhonghai gave two bottles of drinks to the two guards and filled a small glass for himself. Then he raised his glass and clinked it with everyone and said, "Today is the day for our family to reunite. This Xu Wu is also my colleague in the steel mill and a member of our big family in the yard. Cheers!"

Yi Jianping also said, "Well, Xiao Sun and Xiao Chen have been with me through thick and thin for twenty years. I have long regarded them as my own juniors. When you come to Luanzi's house, you should treat them as your own family. Don't be polite."

After they clinked their glasses, Yi Jianping said, "Luan Zi, when we were conducting a drill with the Personnel and Security Department of the Ministry of Metallurgy a few days ago, a senior official of the ministry named Liu knew you."

When Yi Zhonghai heard his elder brother say that, he wondered if this person was the senior leader he knew. So he said, "I once talked to him when I went to the Ministry of Metallurgy to take the assessment for the eighth-level fitters and engineers."

Yi Jianping put down his wine glass and said, "Well, when he saw me, he said there was a guy who looked very similar to me but had different temperament. He said I had a military air and I had a scholar air. So I asked this leader named Liu, and he said he had the same surname as me, Yi. I tentatively asked if his name was Yi Zhonghai, and I actually guessed right." After saying that, Yi Jianping picked up a piece of chicken leg and started eating.

Just as Yi Zhonghai was about to speak, Yi Jianping gave him a thumbs up and said, "Luanzi, your cooking is so delicious. The Taifenglou in Sijiu City is not as good as you, and there is also the Emei Restaurant. If you don't become an engineer and become a chef, you will probably be a great chef."

Lan Qingping also tentatively picked up a piece of shredded pork with fish flavor with chopsticks. The taste was sour and sweet, appetizing and not greasy. She put down her chopsticks and started praising it.

With the evaluation of these two foodies, the others were secretly smacking their lips as they ate the dish. The cooking time, the knife skills, and the taste of the dish were impeccable.

Lan Qingping joked, "Yulan, I really envy you. Look at Luan Zi, not only can he make money, but he can also cook delicious food! Where did Luan Zi learn this skill?"

Huang Yulan smiled sheepishly and said, "I also found it strange at first. Old Yi's cooking skills are better than those of some restaurant chefs."

Yi Zhonghai smiled and made up an excuse, saying, "Sister-in-law, I learned this skill from an old master when I was fleeing from famine. Later, when the war broke out, I don't know where the old master went."

Xu Wu interrupted, "It is indeed difficult to find such a master. I have read many books about this. Many craftsmen and chefs were affected by the war, and only a few of their skills and authentic tastes have been passed down."

Yi Suwan was not to be outdone and said, "My father's cooking is delicious. I used to be able to eat two steamed buns after eating the food my father cooked."

The innocent words of the child made everyone laugh. Then Lan Qingping said, "Luan Zi, Yulan has been pregnant for almost 4 months now, right? She is a little bit pregnant, and her belly is quite big. You have to protect her well."

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said, "Well, sister-in-law, I recently said hello to our factory director and plan to transfer Yulan to our steel rolling mill. This will make it more convenient for me to take care of her and she won't be bored."

Yi Jianping: "Can the printing factory release me? If you have any difficulties, remember to come to me, big brother."

Yi Zhonghai: "Brother, our director of the printing factory has informed us, and the transfer order is about to come down."

Only then did Yi Jianping drink the wine with peace of mind. As long as Yi Zhonghai did not break the law, he could still help.

Yi Jianping: "I recently heard from above that the quota may be reduced. Our army has been reduced a lot, and it will probably be the turn of ordinary people soon."

Xu Wu: "Well, Uncle Yi, I saw many newspapers saying that there are food shortages in many places."

Yi Zhonghai played with his wine glass and said, "Well, what can we do! We can get through it slowly by tightening our belts. It's troublesome for people with rural household registration to live in the city. Not only can we not get any food, but we also have to reduce the ration." After saying that, Yi Zhonghai invited everyone to drink.

Xu Wu: "There is one family in our compound. I don't know how they managed to keep people with rural household registration in the city."

Yi Jianping found it incredible that she married into the city but didn't transfer her household registration.

Yi Zhonghai nodded and said, "It's like this. This family lives across from me. Her son used to be my apprentice when he was learning fitter work, but he didn't take on any apprentices when he took the eighth-level worker exam. His mother is not a good person. In order to covet the little land in the village, she also gave her daughter-in-law a rural household registration. Her son is the only one in their family with a city household registration."

Yi Jianping: "If the food ration is reduced, we will starve!"

Yi Zhonghai was thinking that Jia Dongxu might have left the food to the pregnant Qin Huairu and the greedy Jia Zhangshi at this time, and he himself was so hungry that he felt dizzy and had the accident.

The dinner lasted until three o'clock in the afternoon. During this time, Yi Zhonghai brought out two more bottles of Moutai. As the children and women finished their meal and went outside to bask in the sun, the men in the living room began to smoke.

At around four o'clock in the afternoon, Yi Jianping took his children, wife and Yi Suwan back home, while Yi Zhonghai was cleaning up the dishes. Xu Wu wanted to step forward to help but was rejected by Yi Zhonghai.