Chapter 2, The Big Pot and the Small Pot

Oh... Sir, please have a seat and try some of these little black melon seeds, a specialty of Maple Forest Town, they are particularly fragrant... What shall we eat today?

When it comes to my son, he truly has the makings of a restaurant owner. He is sweet-tongued and skilled in his craft, addressing customers as uncles, aunts, sisters, and brothers, which is a fundamental skill in the restaurant business; he is diligent and loves to think creatively when cooking; when serving dishes, he is meticulous and far superior to the clumsy young waitstaff; if one were to say he does not perform well academically, he can recall the names of dishes without needing a pen, accurately remembering three tables with eighteen or nineteen different dishes without a single mistake; it is just that his math skills are lacking, and he struggles with calculations, but that is of little concern, as my son always tends to calculate on the higher side and has never undercharged!

Sigh... In the kitchen, Jing Zhongshi sighed, his manner of sighing strikingly similar to that of his son when he failed an exam

The exact duration for which this sign has been hanging is unclear even to the present day. Since I can remember, whenever my father's acquaintances meet him, they call him "Jian Tie Guo" (Jian Iron Pot), and I have inevitably become the one and only "Jian Xiao Guo" (Little Pot). Since kindergarten, this nickname has followed me all the way to now. Occasionally, some girls flirtatiously call out "Handsome!" with the "ge" (brother) sound noticeably elongated and infused with an "OU" sound, which essentially makes it "Handsome Pot!" A few childhood friends directly call me "Guo Ge" (Pot Brother) or "Guo Di" (Pot Younger Brother), and even my girlfriend, Xiang Xiang, has earned the title of "Guo Sao" (Pot Sister-in-law)!

There should be no issues, yet there are significant problems. The wife will certainly not agree. Even Jian Zhongshi feels that after studying for over ten years and graduating from university through numerous ups and downs, it is truly unfair to confine his son to such a small county and a small shop. It is indeed a bit discontenting

And these delicious scenes, the first pot is something we see every day

Upon entering, one is greeted by the unique and fragrant aroma of stewed dishes, which is quite strong

Not mentioned

Oh, aunt, your son looks really smart... How old is he... What's his name... Please wait a moment, both of you, just a moment...

During meal times, one is generally busy from around noon until two or three in the afternoon, when the guests start to dwindle. While bustling about, one is also scrubbing pots and washing dishes, while others outside are settling bills and clearing tables, leaving no time for a moment's rest. After more than two hours of this hectic pace, the guests gradually disperse, and the large piles of vegetables and dishes turn into either complete or partial bills in the cabinet. At this point, one can finally take a moment to drink some water and rest. Just as Jian Fan has barely sat down, he catches sight of two cars stopping outside, signaling the arrival of more guests.

Wulong First Pot is well-known as the signature restaurant for iron pot stewed dishes in Wulong County

Dad, then I might as well follow you to open a restaurant, since this job has no prospects for the time being

What outsiders find mysterious is quite ordinary in Jianfan's eyes. Growing up surrounded by it, he feels confident that taking over the cooking from his father should pose no problem. The first pot of stew, to put it plainly, is nothing extraordinary; it simply has a few more variations than others. As for the flavor, it is more fragrant and fresh; the broth is richer and more robust; and the price is more affordable and value for money. Jianfan does not think his father's skills are particularly high, and since no one is striving for excellence in this area, the ingredients for the stew are merely common vegetables like radishes, cabbages, tofu, and bean sprouts, with the occasional addition of pork, beef, or lamb. A whole table of dishes cannot compare to a single dish in a large restaurant. It has always been a business of thin profit margins, making a modest living is fine, but striking it rich is out of the question.

Dad, with your skills, I could do that when I was ten

Although I may be a bit impatient, after working for a few years, it should be no problem to pass on the brand of the first pot of Wulong to my son

"What are you talking about? I see you are itching for trouble." As a father, he casually flicked his hand, and a rag flew over. Jian Fan did not even lift his head and effortlessly caught it. The tacit understanding between the father and son was profound. With a smile, he listened to his father affectionately say: "Don't blame your mother; she means well. She doesn't want you to end up like me, spending your whole life around the stove without any prospects. If you really want to be a chef, why spend over 100,000 to send you to university? ... This routine of Dad's isn't anything strange; you've almost learned it all."

"Then you know I can't do it, yet you still want me to take the exam," Jian Fan pouted, speaking resentfully

The father remained indifferent, and from this statement, it is clear without asking that the exam results were not satisfactory

Cousin, cousin... come outside to help, there are many people today...

Dad dipped a small spoon into the soup pot to taste it and casually asked, "Xiaofan, have you seen your mom?"

Jian Fan is aware that the admiration from this group of childhood friends is largely related to their shared experiences of enjoying food and drinks together. However, Jian Fan subtly does not resent this nickname; after all, the first pot of stew has been a staple since childhood, and there is no sign of growing tired of it. Moreover, over the years, the siblings have relied on their father, who works tirelessly from dawn to dusk, to support the family through the first pot. Not only does Jian Fan not feel any resentment, but there is also a special fondness for the four large iron pots stacked in the restaurant's backyard, which are even older than he is.

It was just a few words, as if my father was merely asking casually. His attention was always focused on those few pots. Jianfan had heard his father ramble on more than once, saying that the dishes were merely superficial; it didn't matter what vegetables were cooked, as long as those soups were added in, and with a fierce boil, they would immediately transform into a fragrant spread of dishes.

More surprising than the woman was the car, an Audi and a Thunderbird, both bearing license plates starting with 'O', clearly indicating they were vehicles from a government department

"Hey... this! I said, Dad, how come you are even less accomplished than I am?" Jian Fan chuckled softly. Dad never concealed his lowly status; even the name of the head of the household was Mei Yu Yun. With Mom being so domineering, Jian Fan felt that a part of it was indeed cultivated by Dad.

The man does not think much of it, but those two women are clearly not products of Wulong County. The women from Wulong County generally have arms as thick as a cousin's and do not look much better than a cabbage.

Watching Jianfan leave, a barely perceptible smile crossed the father's face. This was indeed the son's forte. After four years of university, Jianzhong felt that his son had not wasted his time at all. At the very least, that little child who could not sit still was now able to stand on his own. This smile was soon validated. The son's clear and melodious voice was truly heard.

The first pot of Oolong tea, with its large golden characters and lacquered sign, is prominently displayed at the intersection of the secondary road and the highway leading into the county town

The iron pots produced in Wulong County are renowned throughout the province, and the reputation of Wulong's iron pot dishes surpasses that of the iron pots themselves. Whenever a restaurant in various regions offers dishes cooked in iron pots, they will certainly emphasize to their guests, "Our chef is from Wulong County!"

As he stirred the vegetables, Jianfan secretly observed his father. The tall figure had begun to stoop slightly, and the wrinkles on his face were deeper than a few years ago. With a standard square face, upon closer inspection, he indeed bore some resemblance to a tough man. Jianfan had always felt ashamed of his own delicate appearance, resembling his mother too much, and lacking the imposing demeanor of his father. However, he had grown emotionally closer to his dad; every time his mother scolded him with a feather duster or broom, it was his father who spoke up for him, protectively hiding behind him. In his childhood, he did not think much of it, but after graduating from university, having spent over a hundred thousand on a third-tier degree, he found himself at a loss for what he had actually learned, and immediately faced unemployment. Jianfan always felt a sense of guilt towards his family, as if he had incurred a significant debt to them.

Oh

As noon approached, guests began to arrive at the table one after another. Two waitstaff busily moved about like busy bees. My father rolled up his sleeves, listening attentively to the menus brought in by the waitstaff or my cousin at the bar, skillfully wielding a large ladle. He added ingredients, scooped vegetables, drained oil, and seasoned, placing each dish into the double-ear pot over a fierce flame: clear soup hotpot, pork stewed with cabbage, earthen pot rabbit, earthen pot chicken, winter melon with pork ribs and cloud beans, potato noodle cakes...! With the large ladle in hand, he continued to add ingredients, scoop vegetables, drain oil, and season, placing each dish into the double-ear pot over a fierce flame: clear soup hotpot, pork stewed with cabbage, earthen pot rabbit, earthen pot chicken, winter melon with pork ribs and cloud beans, potato noodle cakes...! The father and son worked busily, adding broth pot by pot, flowing like a stream into the restaurant's dining tables

Jianfan smiled awkwardly, lowering his head and busying himself. He was preoccupied with thoughts of the upcoming exam, noticing that his father did not mention anything about it. His heart raced as if he were a thief, pounding with anxiety. Every time he performed poorly on an exam or made a mistake, he would work twice as hard here, both to alleviate his feelings of guilt and to silence his mother if she happened to notice. No matter how mischievous or troublesome he was outside, he would always be the obedient child at home

Outside the kitchen, in the backyard, there are four large soup pots, capable of holding eighteen loads of water. One pot is filled with braised pork belly, while the other two contain broth made from lamb and beef bones. The final large pot is truly impressive, stacked with twelve layers of bamboo steamer walls, emitting white steam like a steam engine. It is a mixture of steam and the light smoke from firewood, carrying the scent of rural cooking. Lifting the walls made of straw reveals large, white, tender, and chewy steamed buns. These buns, steamed using traditional methods, possess the natural fragrance of straw and the aroma of wheat. From the time the fire is lit in the morning until the pots are lifted at noon, it takes over six hours, continuously releasing white steam like a steam engine, blending steam and light smoke, evoking the smell of countryside cooking. Lifting the straw walls reveals large, white, tender, and chewy steamed buns, which, despite being delicious, are time-consuming and labor-intensive to make. Moreover, they are in short supply. Jianfan has advised his father more than once to switch to a mechanized steamer for the buns, but his father can be even more stubborn than his mother, insisting on sticking to this traditional method.

You are mistaken. You are capable of selecting materials, preparing ingredients, and handling the knife, but not everyone can brew this pot of soup. Your temperament is just as impatient as your mother's, easily getting worked up. You are still a bit inexperienced for this task.

At the serving window, my cousin was stretching her head out and shouting, while outside it was bustling with noise. Jianfan responded and rushed out.

Is she coming back for lunch?

This elder brother, come, let me first serve you a cold dish. You two enjoy this while I offer you three cups of our homemade corn liquor on behalf of my father

Xiao Fan, you have returned

The kitchen does not resemble a kitchen; it is merely a standard rural stove. A row of mud stoves holds four, seven, and twenty-eight small double-handled pots, simmering slowly on one side, while on the other side, there is a whole row of coarse porcelain square bowls, white with a blue base, which can be considered a specialty of Wulong. On the counter, several large basins are piled high with chopped cabbage, tofu, greens, mountain mushrooms, soaked vermicelli, boiled cloud peas, and fried potato slices, creating a substantial heap.

Apart from cooking at home, everything else is managed by your mother

Dad, can't you just stay home for once? Why do you have to ask Mom?

Upon entering the restaurant, several people greeted Jian Fan in succession. At the bar, there was a robust black girl, who was Jian Fan's cousin, Jian Tao Hua! She had dropped out of middle school and was temporarily working at the bar as a cashier. The ones wiping the tables and washing dishes at the sink in the kitchen were two waiters, one named San Qiang and the other Shui Sheng, both from the same hometown and both surnamed Jian! Dad was busy in the backyard; having graduated a year ago, he had already taken it for granted to treat Jian Fan as a waiter to command! Not only did he command her, but he also did so without any compensation!

The father and son were chatting casually, with the father always remaining calm and composed, while Jian Fan was perpetually cheerful and playful. Their conversations were typically very relaxed and easygoing

At this moment, my father said not a word, at most just a few phrases like adding soup, heating up, and serving the dish. My father, wielding a large ladle, and my son, bringing the pot to the table, the two of them shared an indescribable tacit understanding

You, young man, are simply not cut out for this. If you wanted to perform well in the exam, you should have informed me earlier.

Sister, please wait a moment. There are many people today, so the dishes will be a little slower, just a little bit. We must ensure that the food is visually appealing, aromatic, and flavorful. We cannot ruin the first signature dish of the Jian family, can we?

But what can be done? A couple, one is a master chef and the other a poor teacher. If it weren't for the restaurant business, supporting these two university students would be a problem. Now, finding a job costs tens of thousands, which is frightening to hear. Fortunately, the son is understanding and does not pressure his parents to do this or that; otherwise, it would truly put the father in a difficult position

Son, come here, go tidy up that pot of small fish

... ...

I didn't ask you to go, your mother asked you to go

A typical family-run old shop, and the liquor sold in the store is the corn liquor and sweet potato liquor brewed at Grandpa's distillery in Maple Forest Town, transported to the county town once a month

My mother has a professional ailment, and I certainly do not want to be like her

I have no opinion, go ask your mother

"Oh, son, this little knife works well!" Dad turned his head and glanced casually, offering a compliment.

... ...

Hey! Don't let them find out!

Today, having performed so poorly on the exam, Jian Fan felt embarrassed as she looked at her busy father. She cautiously asked, "Dad, why don't you ask me how I did on the exam?"

Cousin, you have returned!

In Wulong County, the iron pot stew is a well-known and beloved dish that is familiar to every household. If you casually ask an elderly man or woman, or a young man or uncle in the village, they will surely know how to prepare it. With just a few basic seasonings, a handful of firewood to stoke the flames, and six or seven types of vegetables tossed into the pot, they start by stir-frying, then flipping, and adding a few ladles of well water for a long simmer. The result is always delicious. When the dish is ready, steam rises, filling the air with a fragrant aroma, as the family gathers around the table. They enjoy the steaming pot with fluffy white buns, accompanied by chili made with lard and sweet potato liquor. During festivals or on lucky days, there might even be a wild rabbit, a mountain chicken, or slices of fatty pork in the pot, which would be the ultimate delicacy for the people of the countryside

Jianfan demonstrated it in a very impressive manner. His father was also amused, patting his son's head and smiling as he praised, "My son is indeed clever! Hehe, I have been a chef for so many years and have never figured this out."

Five men and two women, the first one leading the group is even fatter than Fei Shiqing by a few degrees, with fair and tender arms exposed, his whole body resembling high-quality streaky pork! The five men are all similarly rotund, clearly the type with gluttonous thoughts; surprisingly, the two accompanying women are strikingly beautiful. The younger one, in her early twenties, wears a white sun hat and a white dress that is snug around her chest, leaving much to the imagination even without seeing her face; the slightly older one carries a bag and wears sunglasses, and she is not unattractive either. The five men are all similarly rotund, clearly the type with gluttonous thoughts; surprisingly, the two accompanying women are strikingly beautiful. The younger one, in her early twenties, wears a white sun hat and a white dress that is snug around her chest, leaving much to the imagination even without seeing her face; the slightly older one carries a bag and wears sunglasses, and she is not unattractive either

Jian Fan squatted down to look at a basin of small fish, each about an inch long, likely caught by his father's drinking buddy. He fumbled around his body and took a curved small knife from his keychain, a homemade knife with a blade one inch wide and over three inches long, sharpened from a steel saw blade. With three swift strokes, he scaled the fish and one cut to gut them, his technique remarkably deft. He had enjoyed doing these kitchen tasks since he was young, and before long, the large basin was filled with an increasing number of small fish.

Oh, what a coincidence

... ...

Jian Shizhong smiled, a knowing smile. At that moment, regardless of how many people arrived or their status, his son would undoubtedly handle everything with grace and ease. As soon as his son appeared, the chaotic restaurant would be organized in no time. Those who complained about slow service, inattentive staff, or minor issues with the food would soon be persuaded.

With her cheeks puffed out, my cousin nodded repeatedly with a smile as she looked at her older cousin. In the eyes of this cousin, who had dropped out of middle school, this older cousin, who was handsome, clever, and intelligent, was undoubtedly an idol. The two of them exchanged smiles.

Dad, you know your stuff, right? Tomorrow I will make you one, a fish gutting knife that I invented myself, see!" Jianfan smiled as he turned the small knife in his hand and explained, "One side is the blade and the other side is the serrated edge. It only takes one cut to gut a fish and three cuts to scale it, look...

Not a local car, not a local person, Jian Fan turned his eyes around and looked back in a daze. His cousin, with thick fingers touching her thick lips and counting a pile of money, said: "Peach Blossom, take a look... a group of fat sheep has come, waiting to be slaughtered. I'll take care of this table."