Siheyuan: He Yuzhu since 1958

"Pa pa!" Before He Yuzhu finished speaking, applause broke out. Then Director Yang and Hao Shuji followed several leaders in from outside. The one walking in front was none other than the big leader Wang Huansheng.

Wang Huansheng said, "Xiao Yang, your factory is great! The workers have a very high level of ideological awareness!"

Hao Shuji said: "Leader, this comrade He Yuzhu is the deputy director of our factory canteen and the chef of the third canteen. He became a probationary member of the organization a few years ago. Recently, our factory organization held a meeting to study and agreed to let Comrade He Yuzhu become a regular member."

Wang Huansheng nodded with satisfaction and said, "Comrade He Yuzhu, now that the supply of grain and non-staple food has decreased, the role of you chefs is even more important. You must ensure that the workers have good food!"

He Yuzhu said: "Leader, don't worry! Our canteen staff will do their best to ensure that the factory workers have good food!"

Wang Huansheng asked, "Xiao Yang, what are you having for lunch at the factory today?!"

Director Yang looked at Li Huaian. Li Huaian said, "Today's lunch will have two dishes, shredded potatoes and braised eggplant. The soup will be egg drop soup. The staple food will be steamed buns and wowotou."

Wang Huansheng frowned immediately and asked, "How many times a month does your factory eat meat now?!"

Director Yang said, "Boss, the last time our factory ate meat was a month ago."

Wang Huansheng looked at Secretary Chen who was following him. Secretary Chen said, "Leader, supplies are in short supply right now. There is a shortage of meat everywhere. The slaughterhouse can only guarantee a supply of meat once every two months. Sometimes, in special circumstances, it may take three months or even longer to supply meat."

Wang Huansheng understood what Secretary Chen meant by the special situation. He snorted and said, "The difficulties are only temporary. If you grit your teeth, it will soon be over. I will contact them later and try to increase the supply of non-staple food for your factory."

After a while, the leaders left. Li Huaian was relieved, looked at He Yuzhu, and said, "Zhu, thank goodness you are here. Otherwise, I don't know how I would get through today!"

He Yuzhu asked: "What's the matter?!"

Li Huaian said: "What else can it be?! Someone reported it to the department?! Fortunately, our factory has not given any special treatment during this period. Otherwise, it would be really troublesome."

He Yuzhu said, "Director, I saw a lot of soybeans and mung beans in the warehouse yesterday. Boiling soybeans or mung beans is not enough for the people in the factory to eat for two meals. Otherwise, we can make tofu and jelly ourselves. What do you think?!"

Li Huaian cried and said, "No one in our factory knows how to do this?!"

He Yuzhu said: "Others can't do it, but I can!"

Li Huaian was stunned for a moment, and asked uncertainly: "Zhu Zi, do you really know how to do it?!"

He Yuzhu said: "Whether it is a mule or a horse, we will know it after we do it! "

Li Huaian thought for a moment and said, "Let's try making a small amount first. If it works, we will expand production and make it in large quantities."

"Okay! I'll go prepare some things while we still have time." He Yuzhu rushed out of the kitchen. About ten minutes later, He Yuzhu came back with a large piece of filter cloth. He Yuzhu first soaked the soybeans and mung beans in two basins. Then he moved the stone mill from the warehouse to the back kitchen. Then he asked the carpenter in the factory to make a few molds.

He Yuzhu was busy until about ten o'clock in the morning, when he finally finished and started cooking.

The soybeans and mung beans were soaked overnight. The next morning, He Yuzhu arrived at the factory and first ground the soybeans into soy milk. After filtering out the dregs, He Yuzhu poured the soy milk into the pot. Not long after, the soy milk boiled. When the temperature of the soy milk dropped a little, He Yuzhu took out the brine that he had prepared in advance and started to make tofu. When the soy milk began to condense into tofu pudding, He Yuzhu poured the tofu pudding into the mold. A stone was pressed on the mold, and when the water in the tofu pudding was almost drained, He Yuzhu opened the mold, and the tofu appeared in front of everyone.

Sister Huang couldn't help but ask, "Master He, is this it?!"

He Yuzhu replied: "It's done!"

Sister Huang said, "Master He, this is not enough to cook for lunch today?!"

He Yuzhu said: "It's not enough for the whole factory, but we can add one dish for the leaders. If the leaders say it's good after eating it, we can increase production. Even if not everyone can eat it, we have to ensure that some people can eat it first."

"Zhuzi, how is it going?! Is the tofu ready?!" As soon as He Yuzhu finished speaking, Li Huaian rushed in from outside and asked anxiously. However, when he saw the tofu on the table, Li Huaian thought he had seen it wrong, rubbed his eyes, looked at the tofu on the table again, and showed a surprised expression on his face, and asked: "Is it ready?!"

He Yuzhu replied, "It's done. We made two plates of tofu today. It's definitely not enough for the whole factory. I want to make some mapo tofu for lunch so that the leaders can have a taste. If possible, we'll make more tomorrow. Even if we don't have time to fry it, we can mix it with dipping sauce and let everyone eat it with it."

Li Huaian said: "Zhu Zi, just do it with confidence!"

He Yuzhu said, "Director, thank you for your trouble. Please go find some small lunch boxes."

Li Huaian instantly understood what He Yuzhu meant and said, "I'll get it for you right away!" Then he asked, "Is Zhuzi's jelly ready?!"

He Yuzhu replied: "Do it in the afternoon."

"Okay!" Li Huaian responded and ran out of the kitchen. After about a quarter of an hour, Li Huaian returned to the kitchen with a pile of small lunch boxes and said, "I have had all these lunch boxes washed."

"Director, you are really good at this!" He Yuzhu added the last seasoning to the pot, scooped out all the tofu in the pot, and put it into a small lunch box. Then He Yuzhu asked someone to put the small lunch box into the steamer and put it on the pot to keep it warm.

At 11:30 am, the bell rang for the end of get off work. Workers poured into the cafeteria like a tide. Li Huaian began to work as a handyman, delivering meals for the factory leaders to their offices. At the last stop, Li Huaian delivered the meals and a box of mapo tofu to Li Huaide's desk.

Li Huaide saw a small lunch box that suddenly appeared and asked, "What does this extra lunch box mean?!"

Li Huaian said, "Director, isn't the supply of side dishes reduced?! In order to enrich the workers' tables, our chef He in the back kitchen has made tofu. Today is a trial production, the quantity is small, and we can only let the leaders taste it first. If the taste is okay, our back kitchen will increase the production starting tomorrow. We will try to let all the workers eat tofu. In addition, chef He is going to make jelly this afternoon. If it succeeds, our factory workers will have a treat."

Li Huaide nodded with satisfaction and said, "We still have to rely on He Yuzhu at critical moments. If the jelly is ready in the afternoon, we will send a portion to the factory leaders and let everyone give their opinions."

"Yes!" Li Huaian responded with a smile and said, "Director, I won't disturb you while you eat."

"You go and do your thing!" After Li Huaide sent Li Huaian away, he immediately opened his lunch box, picked up a piece of tofu and put it in his mouth. After chewing it for a few times, a bright smile appeared on his face, and he muttered, "This He Yuzhu is really good at it!"