Year 1979: Eating meat with my wife and children

They definitely need to eat staple food. There are six people in total, including the five of them and A Zhe's father. Steaming 12 two-ingredient steamed buns is just right.

The meat was already stewing, and after adding fuel to the fire, there was no need to keep an eye on it. Qian Bin went inside to start kneading dough and steaming buns.

Steaming buns doesn't take much effort; with each of them lending a hand, the dough is ready in no time.

Place the kneaded dough in a bowl, cover it with a cloth, and wait for it to ferment.

Li Xiangdong and his friends sat at the table, drinking water, smoking, and chatting and laughing.

Zhang Sen said with a look of longing, "Sometimes when I'm riding my tricycle and passing by a car on Chang'an Avenue, I see a taxi and I think to myself, why can't I drive? Driving a car is so cool, you can earn more money and look good."

"Don't even think about it, Miki. If you want to drive, try to find a way to get into a transportation company and learn to drive a truck. That might be possible, but don't even think about driving a car and running a taxi."

Although Li Xiangdong didn't want to hurt his childhood friend, reality is reality, and he shouldn't dwell on things he couldn't grasp.

These days, ordinary people don't take taxis; their main purpose is to pick up foreign guests.

Moreover, taxi drivers today are different from those in later generations; not just anyone can become one.

First, you need to secure a recommendation, and then you need to pass the political review and the academic assessment.

The requirements were extremely stringent, even more so than applying to the National Defense University in later generations. Those selected were all outstanding young representatives who had received various honors.

Finally, if you put all these top talents and children of high-ranking officials together to compete for the limited number of job openings, they'll fight tooth and nail!

Even if you want to work for a transportation company and drive a truck, it's not easy. You not only need to know how to drive, but you also need to know how to repair it. Otherwise, what if the truck breaks down halfway?

There are no car repair shops or towing companies on the road now.

Going to the neighborhood to call for help is risking your life.

If the locals are honest and kind, you might be able to get a steamed bun and a ladle of cold water.

But if you encounter someone who's greedy and greedy, the whole village might band together and bury them alive...

Zhang Sen waved his hand and sighed, "I'm just envious. I don't have that ability. I'll just stick to pedaling a tricycle."

Things will get better eventually, and there will be opportunities in the future.

Li Xiangdong comforted Zhang Sen for a moment, then looked at Qian Bin and asked, "Binzi, you're not going to work this afternoon. Did you ask for leave?"

Qian Bin said, "No need to ask for leave. Two more educated youths who returned to the city have been assigned to our restaurant. Now there are more people working than tables in the restaurant. The leader said that whoever is busy can rest. My dad just needs to go over and say hello."

A-Zhe asked, "No salary deduction?"

"If we don't deduct it, then this year's benefits will probably decrease again."

Qian Bin sighed as he spoke. He hadn't thought much of it before, but now that his child was about to be born, there were more and more places to spend money. He was definitely feeling uncomfortable about this situation. Fortunately, he was the only son in the family, and his father could still help him out.

"Alright guys, it should be almost done cooking. Let's go check if the meat is tender enough."

If Qian Bin hadn't reminded them, they wouldn't have noticed, and two hours had passed in the blink of an eye; it was almost six o'clock in the afternoon.

As the group emerged from the house, the door opened, filling the courtyard with the aroma of meat. Everyone unconsciously swallowed a few times.

At this moment, A Zhe's father opened the door and stood at the entrance of the east wing. "Binzi, your cooking skills are almost as good as your father's. This stewed meat smells really good."

Li Xiangdong said, "Binzi, it's rare for your uncle to praise you like this, so you'd better have a couple of drinks with your uncle later."

"Of course, I must have a couple of drinks with my uncle."

Qian Bin smiled broadly. Ah Zhe's father was a cultured man, and he was very pleased that he could praise his skills.

Ah Zhe's father shook his head, "I won't get involved. It'll make you all uncomfortable drinking if I come over. I'll just eat by myself."

“Let’s listen to my dad. Binzi, you take the meat out first and cut a couple of pieces for us to try. It’s so delicious.”

Ah Zhe knew there was no reason to refuse. He himself wouldn't feel comfortable drinking with his father, let alone his friends.

Zhang Sen and Xiang Lin went inside to move the table out, while A Zhe brought out a cutting board and a knife from the kitchen, and the tools were all ready.

Qian Bin took two rags and called Xiang Lin to help him lift the tin bucket off the stove. It was a whole bucket with soup and meat in it.

The offal was fine, but the pig's head was stewed until the bones were falling off. The utensils weren't handy, and it took a lot of effort to get it out of the bucket.

Ah Zhe pinched a piece of minced meat and threw it into his mouth. He swallowed it in two slurps, and it was so hot that he gasped for breath. "It's burning hot, but this meat is really delicious."

Ah Zhe's father glared at his son and said, "There's so much meat, we can't finish it all tonight. Don't let it go bad tomorrow. Pack some up and send it home, and keep some for yourself."

A pig's head, a whole set of pig offal, and pig's trotters, etc. There was so much meat that the group of them couldn't possibly eat it all in one meal, and it wouldn't keep well in this hot weather.

Qian Bin sharpened the cleaver a few times and said, "Then let's listen to Uncle. Ah Zhe, go and get a few more bowls. After I cut the meat, we'll send some home with us. Let's all have a treat today."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangdong moved closer and stood in front of the cutting board.

"Binzi, take one pig ear back for your dad to have with his drinks, and keep the rest for your uncle. Also, keep the pig snout for your uncle."

"Cut up a lot of pig's head meat and offal, and have Xiang Lin and Zhang Sen take them back to their wives and kids. When we brothers drink, we can just gnaw on the bones and pig's trotters. Remember to give me the pig's tail, I'll take it back for my daughter. Don't cut it!"