Chapter 396 Gifts and Surprises
Chapter 396 Gifts and Surprises
Dibo is really proud of French cuisine and explained its historical origins and development in detail to Gu Lu.
Unfortunately, Gu Lu was not interested in this: "Okay, if you are interested, I will definitely try it."
"Don't be interested. Let's make an appointment soon. Are you free tomorrow? My term in China is running out, so it's better to do it today than tomorrow." Dibo continued, "Our French cuisine is also very innovative. Both Paul Bocuse and Auguste Escoffier have contributed to the construction of modern French cuisine and provided many good ideas."
Next, Gu Lu tried to "interrupt" the other party tactfully twice, but the other party was determined to finish his words.
Even if I admit that French food is better than Italian food, it doesn't have any decisive effect, right? Gu Lu thought to himself, why bother to talk so much to him.
"I see." "Is that so? I didn't know that before." "It really opens my eyes." Gu Lu was doing two things at once, using a more advanced perfunctory method, while using his other hand to pack up the books in the apartment.
Maybe someone is curious at this point, what is the low-level perfunctory way? It's "Oh oh", "Hahahaha", "Okay".
The small apartment was only 40-50 square meters, and he lived alone, so the space should be plenty. The books that could be bought and a lot of information were scattered around - no, it couldn't be said to be scattered, they were neatly stacked, one pile and another, like Tetris blocks that were about to end the game, full to the brim.
After more than 20 minutes, Dibo concluded with a lingering feeling, "The selection of the world's four major cuisines is nonsense. There should only be Turkish cuisine, French cuisine, and Chinese cuisine in the world! The remaining Italian and Japanese cuisines are just to make up the numbers."
In order to get the other party's approval, Dibo even brought in Neon.
"What is there in Turkish cuisine? Well, it doesn't matter. I'm really looking forward to authentic French food!" Gu Lu interrupted his curiosity. He had learned enough scientific knowledge tonight.
The following conversation is about the specific time and place of the meeting tomorrow.
After the deal was done, both parties hung up the phone.
Dibo's wife Camille was quietly applying a facial mask with a wine glass in front of her. This was her little habit before going to bed.
Seeing her husband hang up the phone, Camille smiled and said, "Why didn't I know that Mr. Dibaud was a defender of French cuisine before?"
The two now communicate in French, as Camille's Chinese is not as good as her husband's.
"You can't take risks," Dibo said. "Writers like Hugo and Kawabata Yasunari have played an exaggerated role in the spread of things. Gu Lu is likely to become a world-class writer. Even if he can't become such a writer, at least he can become a best-selling author like Mark Levy."
Guaranteed to be Mark? That's too high a rating.
Ma is the ceiling of bestsellers in France, and has been ranked in the top 3 of the French bestseller list for eleven consecutive years. His works such as "The Man Who Steals Shadows", "If Everything Starts Over Again" and "Holiday in Istanbul" are all popular works in Hollywood.
Camille understood her husband's approach. She should have planted the idea that French food is delicious among future best-selling authors as soon as possible, so that Italian food would not be outdone. Food culture is also culture, and spreading French culture will soon be Dubo's responsibility.
"I have to plan carefully. Tomorrow I will let him understand the charm of French cuisine." Dibo said that he would let him try at least ten kinds of cheese tomorrow! Cheese is the essence of French cuisine. Italian cuisine uses less cheese, and Italian cuisine emphasizes restoring the original taste of the ingredients.
"Have you completed the handover of work?" Camille reminded.
"Of course, the handover was completed a week in advance." Dibo said that according to the plan, he will return to Paris next week to serve as the first minister of the Ministry of Culture and Communications.
However, the attitude of his successor, Ambassador to China, Mudd Bruno, was very different from his.
To put it more bluntly, if Dibo returned to Paris a year earlier and let Bruno take over, "One Night Genius" would never have happened, as the two had completely different positions.
It should be pointed out that the difference between Bruno and Dibo’s positions does not refer to their attitudes towards China, but to the focus of their work.
"They are all leaving, and it's none of my business." Dibo put aside his worries and thought about what cheese to eat tomorrow.
……
The next day, Gu Lu called a local courier to deliver some books and materials to a larger suite near Union Hospital.
I was on the phone yesterday and actually packed up a lot of things.
Gu Lu also sent an email to Fujimaki Tadatoshi and Tsukuda. Since he wanted to help, he should be thorough.
Do all of the above before going out.
"I'm a little hungry...but I won't have breakfast." Dibo treated Gu Lu to a big meal at noon, and Gu Lu saved some space to show respect.
However, some small details of yesterday’s incident at the ferry area still need to be revised.
"Would you like two pounds of bananas and half a watermelon?"
King Gollum was passing by, thinking about something, when suddenly a familiar male voice sounded in his ears.
He was the owner of Lele Fruit Shop. When he saw Gu Lu passing by, he took the initiative to speak.
"Hmm? Oh, okay, then have some." Gu Lu spoke faster than his brain.
It wasn't until all the things were packed into red plastic bags and in Gu Lu's hands that he came back to his senses.
While scanning the code to pay, Gu Lu was thinking, who should I give these things to if I don't go to see Professor Lu or President Jian? I'll just eat them myself.
Put the things back first, and then meet Li Minghai.
The meeting place was more formal than yesterday, a boutique coffee shop in the city. The interior decoration was Nordic style, with a wooden grid on the left wall filled with coffee beans of various brands. The density between the tables was very sparse, and even craft statues were used as screens to create soft partitions.
To discuss things, one must find a quiet and formal place, either a teahouse or a coffee shop will do. Li Minghai thought for a long time and decided that young people should all love coffee. He recalled that the interns in his department drank two cups of loose coffee every day. Therefore, he made this choice.
As soon as they sat down, Li Minghai immediately ordered coffee for Gu Lu.
Start off politely with a few casual words before getting to the point.
"I've looked at the plan and it's very feasible."
What made Gu Lu most satisfied was that the Dukou District did not set a very high goal. The Dukou District only wanted the [Gu Lu Festival and related festivals] to bring 50 million yuan in revenue to the region every year. It was not really high, because it included accommodation, food and other expenses. In the half month that "Hyouka" was popular, the overall tourism revenue was millions.
Compared with Ciqikou, which generated more than 2019 billion yuan in revenue in the first two quarters of , it is nothing. Moreover, it is not just the ferry area that attracts tourists. The Fog City already has huge tourism resources. As long as it can become one of the top five check-in spots for tourists, it is completely enough.
"There are a few minor issues that I need to report to Director Li, among which the Gu Lu Festival is a bit too high-profile." Gu Lu said. Another reason is that festivals named after writers in ancient and modern times, both in China and abroad, are all posthumous.
Like the Shi Naian Literature Festival, or the Hemingway Festival. It would be better to learn from Ireland's "Bloomsday". This is a festival to commemorate the writer James Joyce. And Bloom is the protagonist of the famous novel "Ulysses". Everyone knows Ulysses, right? It is a work that eight out of ten people cannot understand.
“You can name it [Little Prince Day] or [Little Deer Day],” Gu Lu suggested.
"Teacher Gu Lu's suggestion is very constructive." Li Minghai said immediately, "For the specific selection, we need to hold a meeting in the district. But does Teacher Gu Lu have any preference for these two names?"
If it was called Little Deer Day, I guess the government would have given its full support. A few years later, I don't know how many generations the little mouse Algernon has lived to. The downside is that he is not so well-known.
On Little Prince Day, the popularity will be higher.
"In our department's discussions, we will definitely focus on Mr. Gu Lu's opinions," said Li Minghai.
"In addition, Director Li also has these few small points..." Gu Lu mentioned a few more small issues.
Li Minghai's attitude was very good. He took out a small notebook and recorded everything.
For example, regarding the use of the Little Prince as the mascot of the ferry area. This matter involves copyright, and Guo Dafa needs to come to discuss it. Gu Lu is more sensible. Since he has delegated power, he should not give blind orders or delay things.
Maybe even many locals don’t know that there is no mascot for fog, but the most representative one is “Shanwa”, the mascot of the International Garden Expo, which is very green…
"I know. I know Mr. Gu. Mr. Gu's copyright has definitely been signed out. We need to talk to the copyright agent about this." Li Minghai said, "Mr. Gu Lu, can you give me the agent's contact information?"
Gu Lu handed over Guo Dafa's contact information.
"We will probably have a decision in a week after our district meeting," Li Minghai said. "Teacher Gu Lu, do you think it would be appropriate for me to call him in a week?"
No problem. Gu Lu responded that he would call ahead to explain the matter. Li Minghai hurriedly thanked him. He was waiting for this sentence.
"Dukou District is also where I grew up, so I plan to give the Dukou District a small surprise," said Gu Lu.
"What surprise?" Li Minghai guessed in his heart, could it be a donation of money or something?
"We'll know when the event starts." Gu Lu kept it a secret.
The remaining minor issues were resolved after chatting for more than ten minutes.
After the deal was settled, Li Minghai wanted to invite Gu Lu to lunch.
Not to mention that the other party came to Sijiucheng from the Fog City, and he was asked to treat him to a meal, which was not in line with the style of the people in the Fog City.
"Sorry, Director Li, I just happened to have an appointment at noon..." Gu Lu said, "How about I treat Director Li to a meal tonight. You have come all the way to Sijiucheng. Have you heard of Quanjude's roast duck?"
No matter how many times I say it, it's always the same. Quanjude Roast Duck is just average, but it's still famous!
Li Minghai tried to treat himself, but in the end he was no match for Gu Lu.
"The Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the National Museum in Beijing are all very interesting. If Director Li has nothing else to do this afternoon, you can go shopping there." Gu Lu said, "If necessary, I can arrange a reliable tour guide."
As a veteran, Li Minghai certainly understood the implication of this sentence. He immediately said, "I have some work arrangements this afternoon, so forget about traveling. Teacher Gu Lu, you see...then we can talk later."
That’s right, what Gu Lu said meant that it was time to end the party.
After taking a few sips of coffee, the two walked out of the cafe and poured into the busy street, just like a drop of water melting into the water.
The taxi stopped in front of a French restaurant. This restaurant seemed to be a three-star Black Pearl restaurant? It was created by Dianping. Gu Lu felt that all reviews were unreliable, because the one-star ratings were expensive, and there were very few small restaurants with good food.
The dining environment is indeed an important part, but it is definitely not the core.
Let’s get back to the topic. At this moment, King Guru doesn’t know that today is the day of his tribulation.
I haven't seen Dibo for a long time, and he is still in good spirits. He has already ordered a set meal for two.
The set menu was different from the normal order of appetizers, side dishes, hot soup, etc. Dibo knew the restaurant chef, so today's meal was specially arranged according to Dibo's requirements.
First up was the small dessert of apple and brie cheese. It's called a dessert, but it's just toasted apple slices with cheese on top.
"This is Camembert cheese, the most delicious of the soft cheeses with flowery rinds. It is usually spread on bread. The taste... Gu, you can try it to see how it tastes." Dibo seemed to have thought of something and added, "I prefer Brie. The hazelnut flavor is stronger."
"Delicious." Gu Lu decided to be a ruthless praise robot today. But this little dessert tastes pretty good, the apple has a little sourness, and it goes well with the cheese.
Three of the next five courses are related to cheese.
It was the first time that Gu Lu knew that cheeses were so different. The production of washed soft cheese was quite troublesome. It had to be scrubbed with salt water in the later stage, and special fungi had to be added to stimulate red yeast. The taste was also very different, just like air-dried meat.
Just when King Gollum let his guard down, a pork chop with blue cheese was served. It smelled, uh, stinky...
Could it be similar to stinky tofu, smelling bad but tasting good?
"Blue cheese! You must try it. But do you know how the blue veins in cheese are produced?" Dibo kept it a secret.
"It should be that I added something." Gu Lu seemed to have seen it on the Internet, but he didn't have a deep impression. People who surf the Internet frequently are like this, with a lot of knowledge, and most of it is not thought about.
"Smart," Dibo said, "Blue cheese is made by adding Penicillium mold during the production process, so blue or green marble patterns will form on the surface and inside of the cheese. The blue cheese in this restaurant is the Hogburg brand, which tastes salty and has a moist and crumbly core. Come and try it."
After taking a bite, Gu Lu felt that his throat was not used to the musty and spicy taste. But Di Bo opposite him was enjoying the food.
It couldn’t be said that it was particularly unpalatable, it was just the kind that Gu Lu couldn’t accept. He swallowed it.
"Gu, when will our sister go to Paris?" Dibo asked, "I have a suggestion. What do you think? I have an unused small villa in Paris. It is usually idle and is managed by a housekeeper. It happens to be in Saclay Plateau, which saves a lot of trouble."
Saclay Plateau is the Silicon Valley of France, where most high-tech companies are concentrated. As you can imagine, the housing prices are definitely not cheap, but for Gu Lu at the moment, it is not a big problem, it is just that it is good to have someone familiar to take care of him outside.
"Specific enrollment requires some preparation..." Gu Lu was interrupted by Di Bo before he could finish his words.
"Gu, we don't need any other preparation. Your sister is definitely my sister. As long as she brings a good mood and a desire to study, it will be fine." Dibo, who is about to return to Paris, has this ability.
Very good and domineering.
Then Dibo started to introduce the new ambassador to China, Mud Bruno, to Gu Lu. But there was a small accident...
Dibo's perfect arrangement today was to let Gu experience the beauty of French cuisine, followed by afternoon tea and introducing Bruno to him.
Although I thought that he would return to China regardless of the flood, I still kept in direct contact with the ambassador in China, which would be convenient for any cultural activities in the future.
But... Bruno said that he had something urgent to do and couldn't keep the appointment in the afternoon.
"The chef doesn't seem to be in a good condition today. He can cook this dish better." As Dibo's mood worsened, his tongue seemed to become more sensitive.
It was indeed a matter of urgency, and Bruno had no need to offend Dibo. It was just that this matter was not very important, but in Bruno's opinion, it was more important than meeting a Chinese writer.
Bruno's focus is on finance. As ambassador to China, he has set himself the task of promoting bilateral trade.
An ambassador's duty is to promote international exchanges and cooperation, to promote cooperation between the two countries in various fields through diplomatic channels, and to enhance friendship and understanding between the two peoples. Culture and trade are one way.
[I'm sorry Mr. Dibo, I just have an urgent meeting.] Bruno replied.
Bruno looked at Dibo's reply and thought to himself, "I don't have time to waste on these useless things."
Just look at his Statham-like hairstyle and his premature baldness, and you will know that he is an ambitious and introverted person.
He has great respect for the Pompon family, one of the top ten political families in Paris, which is very difficult to become powerful.
But as for the evaluation of Dibo Pumba, Bruno felt it was a waste of time.
Look at what he has accomplished in the past few years as ambassador to China. The only bright spot is the singing of the Chinese and French on National Day, which can be regarded as a political achievement.
But culture is useless in the face of economy!
Only economic trade can bring real benefits, and only by making real political achievements can the French people live a better life.
Of course, his ultimate goal was not to make people live better, but to leave his name in history! Even decades later, people are still talking about his name.
Bruno's ambitions are quite big.
To sum up, Dibo did not wait for Bruno.
"The position handover is coming up soon and I'm already busy. This is normal," said Gu Lu.
He himself had no interest in making friends with foreign dignitaries, and what's more, what King Gollum wanted most now was to leave the restaurant in front of him.
"That's right. We can't let other things affect our appreciation of delicious food." Dibo calmed down and asked, "Have you ever had a subversive change in your view of French food?"
"Yes, quite a lot." Gu Lu said firmly.
It's hard to believe that I had nine different cheeses in one meal.
Gu Lu even wondered if the other party was deliberately taking revenge? Nine kinds corresponded exactly to nine miles.
He forgot every kind of food he ate. Gu Lu felt that he would feel uncomfortable seeing the word "cheese" for at least the next few months.
Slowly walked out of the French restaurant——
"Look, Gu, this is my gift to you." Dibo handed over a package, "It contains cheeses from Cantal and Salé."
King Gollum couldn't help but burp, and he agreed that France was the country of cheese.
"That's too polite. Besides, I don't cook much at home." Gu Lu said, "It would be a shame if it went bad."
"Not at all. Both of these are hard, unripened cheeses that can be kept for a long time." Dibo said, "I will soon leave China. You and I... yes, in Chinese, it's called a friendship of forgotten age. Don't refuse this gift."
Now that I have said this, it would be impolite for Gu Lu not to accept it. He took a deep breath and took the gift as if he was taking a bomb, it was heavy.
Seeing the other party nod, Dibo nodded happily and added two more words. "Oh, by the way, both cheeses come from the Auvergne Mountains, but the core of the Salé cheese is firmer, the amount of pure cheese is higher, and the taste is mild and smooth. It is very suitable for diners who are just starting to try cheese. Don't save it. After you finish it, I will send you a more authentic and delicious one from Paris."
Gu Lu really regretted it now. If he had known this would happen, he would never have added Italian food to "Nine Mile Walk".
孽 孽!
The two walked along the pedestrian street. There were a lot of people. Gu Lu felt that his burps smelled like cheese...
"I also have a gift for you, which can be regarded as a farewell gift." Gu Lu said.
"Oh? What?"
"A rather special gift, which you will definitely receive at your farewell party tomorrow." Gu Lu was talking about "Who Moved My Cheese?" which swept Europe and America and was renamed "Ciba" by himself.
"A special gift? I'm really looking forward to it." Regardless of whether Dibo really expected it or not, he gave it enough emotional value.
After walking for more than ten minutes, Dibo suddenly felt a little sad.
"It will be hard to have the opportunity to walk together like this in the future," Dibo sighed.
"Won't Mr. Dibo entertain me if I go to Paris?" Gu Lu didn't like this kind of sad atmosphere, so he changed the subject.
Around three o'clock in the afternoon, the two separated.
Gu Lu went home, rested for a while, and sat in front of the computer.
I retrieved a document that had been saved in the cloud disk for a long time.
Seriously speaking, there is a 23-year age difference between Gu Lu and Di Bo, but due to the latter's personality, communication is very smooth.
It's a bit of an exaggeration to say that they are close friends regardless of age difference, but they can indeed be called friends. It's useless lying in the armory anyway, so it's better to take it out.
Change all the glutinous rice cakes to "cheese", and then Gu Lu adds a preface [Mr. Dibo Pengpang, thank you for the cheese feast].
After finishing it, I printed it out at home. Whether it was the room in Sijiucheng or in Wudu, there were printers. After all, I often printed some contracts and so on.
It is better to be solemn when giving it to a foreign friend who is about to leave China. Print it out, bind it, and it is a thin little book.
After all, "Who Moved My Cheese" is a novella, and its word count is even less than that of "The Little Prince".
Sending it directly to the embassy requires special procedures, which is too troublesome. Gu Lu chose a simple one and asked Director Zhao to help.
In fact, in addition to Director Zhao, the diplomats I met in the Great Diplomacy International Think Tank can also help.
Dibo's farewell dinner was semi-official, so he could invite some friends privately in the evening, but the former was attended by civil servants...
(End of this chapter)