Chapter 569: Master Hu is not here???
Wang Jianguo took a few steps towards him and said anxiously:
"Shuzhuo, stop studying. Erhua and the others didn't have enough for lunch. Let's take them to eat now."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Shuzhuo immediately put down the booklet, stood up, and followed Wang Jianguo out without saying a word.
The five people left the guesthouse and stepped into the cold night. In the night of the 60s, the streets and alleys were filled with a chilly atmosphere, and the cold wind swept in with a whistle, cutting people's faces like ice knives.
A few dim street lights swayed in the wind, casting dim and mottled light and shadows, barely illuminating the way ahead.
They wrapped their cotton coats tightly, hunched their necks, but never stopped walking as they walked quickly towards the state-owned hotel.
Along the way, occasionally a few passers-by in a hurry passed by, most of them were workers rushing home after get off work, and their figures quickly disappeared into the darkness.
Soon, the old but warm sign of the state-owned restaurant came into view. The restaurant was noisy and hot, in stark contrast to the cold outside.
Wang Jianguo took the lead and stepped into the restaurant. A wave of heat mixed with the aroma of food blew in their faces, instantly cheering up the hungry and cold people.
Wang Jianguo habitually glanced towards the restaurant's kitchen, which was the place he paid most attention to on weekdays. As long as he saw the director's husband, Chef Hu, busy in front of the stove, he would feel at ease, knowing that he would be able to eat delicious meals.
However, today, when he stood on tiptoe, stretched his neck, and tried to look through the crowd into the kitchen, he did not see the familiar tall figure.
In the past, Chef Hu always wore a snow-white apron, a tall chef's hat, and a warm smile on his face. He skillfully used the spatula to stir-fry dishes amid the smoke and fire.
But at this moment, a few unfamiliar faces were busy working at the stove in the back kitchen. Wang Jianguo couldn't help but feel a little nervous and thought to himself:
Why isn't Chef Hu here? Did something happen?
His brows slightly furrowed, a trace of doubt and worry flashed in his eyes, and his steps paused unconsciously. But looking at his hungry companions behind him, he quickly came to his senses and thought: No matter what, I have to fill my stomach first.
So he turned around, waved to his companions, and said:
"Go in and sit down first."
Cheng Hai and others nodded and followed Wang Jianguo to sit down at an empty table.
Wang Jianguo was full of doubts. He paused slightly and looked around the bustling state-owned hotel eagerly, but still found nothing.
He frowned slightly, took a few quick steps sideways, and happened to see a waiter hurriedly passing by with a plate of steaming braised pork.
The braised pork was bright red in color and full of fragrance, which drifted freely in the somewhat chilly air, attracting the attention of diners around.
Wang Jianguo quickly stretched out his hand and gently blocked the waitress's way, with a polite smile on his face and a gentle tone, for fear of disturbing her busy life:
"Hello, comrade. Excuse me. I want to ask you a question. Why didn't I see your chef Hu today? Usually when I come here, I can always see him busy at the stove as soon as I enter the door."
As he spoke, Wang Jianguo's eyes revealed a hint of regret, as if he had begun to recall the delicious dishes that Chef Hu had made in the past.
The waitress who was stopped was a young girl in her early twenties, with two shiny black pigtails and her round face flushed from being busy.
She was slightly stunned at first, the plate in her hand stopped steadily in the air, and then a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, as if she did not expect that this customer would pay so much attention to Master Hu.
She tilted her head slightly, a warm smile bloomed on her face, and replied crisply:
"Comrade, you still know our Master Hu! He is the mainstay of our place, and many old customers come here for his craftsmanship."
"It's Chinese New Year, and he and his wife went back to Shanghai to visit their relatives. The elderly and children at home are looking forward to seeing them. They won't be back until the Lantern Festival."
At this point, the waiter paused slightly, as if he thought of his relatives far away in his hometown, and a trace of longing flashed in his eyes.
"During this period, other chefs in the kitchen are also working hard to ensure that the quality of the dishes does not decline. You can order with confidence."
Wang Jianguo listened to the waiter's explanation and nodded slightly, with a look of understanding on his face:
"So that's how it is. Thank you for telling me. Shanghai is not close to here. It's rare for a family to get together. I should go back and spend more time with my parents and children."
As he spoke, he stepped aside to make way for the waiter to continue delivering the food. The waiter smiled and thanked him, then walked briskly towards the corresponding table.
Wang Jianguo stood there, looking at the waiter's back as he left, seeming to be thinking about something.
The image of Chef Hu's busy daily life and the loving relationship between him and the director emerged in my mind.
In the 60s when materials were relatively scarce, it was a rare opportunity to have such a skilled chef who could bring comfort to everyone's taste buds.
Now that he has returned to Shanghai to visit his family, there must be a warm and reunion scene at home. Wang Jianguo sighed softly, came to his senses, turned around and walked towards his companions, ready to tell them the news.
Wang Jianguo hurriedly turned back from the kitchen, walked through the bustling lobby of the state-owned restaurant filled with the aroma of food, avoided several waiters who were busy running around with steaming dishes, and walked straight to their table.
At this time, Cheng Hai was hunching his back slightly, with his elbows resting on the greasy table, talking in a low voice with Cheng Erhua and Liu Erzhu, his eyes full of consideration for the follow-up matters of this trip.
The dim light on the table flickered, illuminating their slightly tired yet determined faces.
Wang Jianguo walked to the table, gently pulled over a chair and slowly sat down. The friction between the chair legs and the ground made a slight "creaking" sound, which immediately attracted everyone's attention.
He first looked around, seeing the fatigue on his companions' faces from the long journey, and the expectations for the future in their eyes. He paused for a moment, then turned to Cheng Hai and asked with some inquiry:
"Brother Hai, when you went to the supply and marketing cooperative today, what was the situation there? You didn't see the director, did you?"
As he spoke, his hands casually rested on the edge of the table, and his fingers subconsciously tapped the tabletop, revealing his inner anxiety to know the answer.
When Cheng Hai heard the question, he straightened his back subconsciously and his expression became serious.