ryethenovel Chapter 36 The Republic Pot!
Chapter 36 The Republic Pot!
He told Zhang Chengfei that it wasn't a major case, just a minor dispute between factory workers, and the security department wouldn't bother to make a big deal out of it.
Zhang Chengfei gave a thumbs up: "It has to be you, Brother Da Mao, you've got the security team's psychology figured out perfectly."
"Hehe, let's not talk about that anymore. Are you free to have dinner together tonight?"
Zhang Chengfei hesitated slightly: "I really don't have time. I just received an award and promised my department I'd treat them to hot pot tonight."
"You're inviting others but not your own brothers, are you?" Xu Damao feigned anger.
They're all young people. Although they've only known each other for a few days, they all live together. Last night, they got completely drunk together and immediately started calling each other brothers.
"How could that be? I, Zhang Chengfei, am not that kind of person. Tomorrow you prepare the dishes, I'll prepare the wine, and we'll invite Brother Zhu, Yan Jiecheng, and Liu Guangqi. We'll drink until we drop."
Before Zhang Chengfei could finish speaking, Sha Zhu's voice suddenly came from the doorway:
"No way! Tomorrow, that bastard Xu Damao has to pay for everything! That dog cheated me out of four yuan and fifty cents; I absolutely can't let him get away with this!"
"Was that bastard just showing off to you that he has connections at the hospital and that there's something wrong with the medical record? Dafei, if you're a decent guy, you and I will go to the security office tomorrow and report him."
Before he could finish speaking, Sha Zhu had already strode in with a net bag containing lunchboxes, looking like he didn't recognize anyone.
"You little bastard, stealing public property again?" Xu Damao sneered, his eyes darting over the lunchbox.
He Yuzhu had grown up with him since childhood, they had peed and played in the mud together, so he knew all too well what that look in his eyes meant.
He immediately denied it three times, telling Xu Damao to stop talking nonsense. Stealing public property is called burglary.
"Stealing public property is a crime punishable by imprisonment! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll make you pay!" He threatened, pointing his finger at Xu Damao's nose.
Xu Damao pointed to the ground: "Stop pretending, you scoundrel. The soup is all spilled on the ground."
Tsk, Sha Zhu glanced at the ground, clicked his tongue, and when he looked up again, his expression had changed.
"Da Mao, look at you, your brother was just kidding! We've been friends since childhood, we might fight or argue, but when it really matters, we're brothers in arms. You really believe I'd take Da Fei to the security department to overturn the case?" He laughed, patting Xu Da Mao hard on the back.
Xu Damao stumbled from the slap, but steadied himself and slapped back, saying, "We're brothers, aren't we?! If I report someone for stealing food from the cafeteria, would I report you, you idiot Zhu?"
"That's right!"
"Good brother!"
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Zhang Chengfei was amazed by the two men's superb face-changing skills.
Goodness, really goodness! They can turn on each other in a minute and make up in a minute, and the key is that they can even coordinate perfectly.
Schrödinger's childhood friend! No wonder these two were able to have a love-hate relationship for decades in the original series.
……
After arranging the newly purchased pots and pans and installing the chimney, Zhang Chengfei prepared to light the stove.
He used tongs to pick up a new honeycomb briquette and knocked on the door of Yan Bugui's house across the street.
"Uncle, I'd like to ask you to replace the coal for starting the stove."
Yan Bugui grinned from ear to ear, leading him to his own stove. He handed Zhang Chengfei the second, glowing red honeycomb briquette and placed the new one Zhang had brought on top.
Yan Bugui was extremely pleased to have replaced the half-burnt one with a new one.
He saw Zhang Chengfei to the door and told him that if the stove went out again, he could come and replace it.
Zhang Chengfei nodded with a smile.
Back home, Zhang Chengfei lit the stove. He filled a tin kettle with water and sat on the stove. This way, as long as the fire didn't go out, there would never be a shortage of hot water in winter.
After getting everything ready, he changed his clothes, tidied himself up, and took the bus to Longji on Meishi Street, the place where he had arranged to eat popular hot pot with everyone.
After arriving, we met up with everyone and went inside together.
Zhang Chengfei was dumbfounded when he saw the huge hot pot inside.
Seeing that he seemed to be here for the first time, Nie Lan introduced it as a "Republic Pot".
The restaurants in Gongheguo all have large round tables with a huge hot pot on them.
The hot pot area is divided into several sections, with seating areas for about one person. Depending on the size of the table, there are usually six to eight sections, and the hot pot itself is also divided into six to eight sections. The hot pot is separated by wire mesh to prevent food from "crossing over" to other people's tables.
"You have to buy the broth and dipping sauce from hot pot restaurants like Donglaishun, but Gonghe Hot Pot doesn't, and the ingredients are more affordable."
Zhang Chengfei hesitated, feeling that since it was his first time hosting a dinner, it shouldn't be so simple.
Old Tian chuckled and said, "There are exactly eight of us. We'll sit at one table together and not share with others."
Xiao Ke also said, "Rounding it up or down, it's the same price as eating at Donglaishun, but much cheaper."
Seeing that Zhang Chengfei remained silent, Lao Tian continued to persuade him, saying that Zhang Chengfei had just started working and should still be frugal.
They also said that people get together for fun, and it doesn't matter what they eat, as long as it's lively and fun.
Old Ma waved his hand dismissively: "It doesn't matter where you eat, Xiao Zhang. You're a man, stop being so effeminate."
As he spoke, he gently patted Zhang Chengfei on the shoulder.
Upon receiving the message, Zhang Chengfei sighed softly, "Then please bear with us."
Everyone just said that it didn't matter whether they were particular or not, they were already happy to be able to eat meat.
After the eight people were seated, a waiter came over with a large basin to pour out the broth.
Although Lao Ma and Lao Tai are leaders, they have no airs at all. They told everyone to order whatever they wanted, and they would just eat along with them.
That's right, although Lao Tai didn't say he was going to come, he couldn't resist Lao Ma's persistent pleading and attended the dinner for the first time.
Zhang Chengfei knew that life was hard these days, and if he didn't order meat, others would feel embarrassed to order it either. So he ordered a plate each of cucumber strips, small three-pronged fork, large three-pronged fork, tripe, and beef tripe, and then let everyone add to the meal.
Just as the fat man was clamoring for two more plates of lamb brain, Lao Tian said that Xiao Zhang had already ordered so much meat, so just adding some vegetables would be enough.
"Winter melon, frozen tofu, cabbage, and radish slices." Seeing that the chubby boy was a little reluctant, he added, "And half a portion of lamb brain."
The fat man scoffed, "Half a portion isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap... Was it Tian's idea to come here for Gonghe Hot Pot? You really know how to save Zhang Chengfei money."
Old Tian said seriously, "I come from a poor background and have been used to hardship since I was a child. I can't stand extravagance and waste. Let's leave it at this for now. If we really don't have enough, we can always add more."
"Our country is not wealthy now, so we should respond to the call and avoid extravagance and waste."
Having said all that, the chubby boy couldn't say anything more.
Once all the dishes were served, Lao Ma took out his own Erdezi (a type of dipping sauce), and everyone started dipping meat in sesame sauce, taking a sip of wine, eating meat and drinking heartily, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Zhang Chengfei poured Lao Tian a glass of wine: "Brother Tian, have another one."