Chapter Twelve: Tomato Braised Beef Brisket

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“Mr. Wilson said he needs to discuss with his partners before giving a definite answer, so there’s still room for negotiation.”

“Since there’s no outright refusal, let’s not rush things. We’ll wait until they make up their minds before discussing cooperation,” the town official said. “Being pushy doesn’t help business. Although we want to increase revenue and need foreign currency, rushing will only make them drive the prices down. These fabrics aren’t cheap; their costs are high, so we can’t let prices be squeezed too much.”

Lin Xiang wanted to give the town official a big thumbs up.

“Leader, can I go home now?”

“Comrade Lin, thank you for your help today,” the town official smiled warmly. “You’re the translation talent our Mianyang Town desperately needs. For now, just focus on the translation work.”

Lin Xiang rubbed her hands together. “Leader, of course I want to be a translator and contribute to fostering cooperation with foreign guests. But I promised Chef Shen I’d cook Western dishes first. If I break my promise, the state-run restaurant won’t find a Western cuisine chef to replace me anytime soon.”

The town official had witnessed Lin Xiang’s cooking skills today; the foreign guests were full of praise, making it clear no replacement could be found in a short time.

“Alright, before the foreign guests arrive, I’ll have someone notify you in advance. Come early, prepare the meals at the state-run restaurant, then head to the town government before ten o’clock. There’s plenty of time.”

Lin Xiang frowned and cautiously said, “Leader, our Lihua Brigade has no telephone. If someone has to notify me, it’ll waste a lot of time going back and forth.”

The town leader silently looked at Lin Xiang, his gaze making her feel as if she couldn’t hide anything, as if all her little thoughts had been seen through.

“Xiao Wang, arrange to give the Huaihua Commune a telephone installation quota for Lihua Brigade.”

At the end of the 1970s, even brigade offices couldn’t just install a phone at will. Each commune had only a few quotas. Without the commune’s approval, not even money could get a phone installed.

For years, Lihua Brigade hadn’t made the advanced collective ranking, so the phone installation was never approved.

“Thank you, Leader! I promise not to disappoint your trust!”

The town official smiled. “It’s getting late. I’ll have the driver take you home.”

Lin Xiang waved her hands. “No need to bother, Leader. My mother will come to pick me up later.”

After bidding farewell to the town leader, Lin Xiang went back to the state-run restaurant.

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By 5:30 p.m., the state-run restaurant was closed, but Chef Shen hadn’t left; he was waiting for Lin Xiang.

“The secretary’s assistant, Wang, told us that the foreign guests were very satisfied with today’s Western dishes. Little Lin, you really helped us a lot!”

Lin Xiang smiled brightly. “It’s what I’m supposed to do. I should thank Chef Shen for giving me the opportunity!”

Besides, Chef Shen was kind and didn’t ostracize her just because she could cook Western food.

“This is your promised payment. Comrade Lin, don’t neglect the restaurant side just because you made a good impression with the leaders!”

“Of course not! Chef Shen, I already told the leader I’d come early in the morning to prepare meals at the restaurant, then work as a translator afterward. I won’t neglect either.”

Lin Xiang accepted the one-yuan note Chef Shen handed her. “Chef, do you still have any large meat buns? I want to buy a few to take home for my mother.”

“The large meat buns sold out this morning. But there’s some leftover beef trimmings from today’s Western dishes. I saved some for you. Take them home to cook for your family.”

Even though it was trimmings, it was still meat!

Though beef isn’t as fragrant as pork, its filling quality can’t be matched.

Lin Xiang rubbed her hands together. “Chef, can I trouble you a little longer? To be honest, my family’s seasoning containers are almost empty. Even if I take the beef home, I can’t cook much. I want to shamelessly borrow some seasonings from the kitchen. Is that okay?”

“No problem, cook away!”

Besides, he could watch from the side.

Lin Xiang didn’t cook anything complicated, just stewed beef brisket with tomatoes.

“Beef can be cooked this way? Looks quite appetizing.”

Chef Shen’s cooking skills were good, but he rarely had a chance to cook beef, so he never thought of stewing it with tomatoes.

“If you add some rice, the rice grains soaked with the acidity of tomatoes would be really appetizing.”

“We have rice!” Chef Shen shared half the rice he was going to take home with Lin Xiang.

The state-run restaurant didn’t sell leftover food, but it was an unspoken rule that the chef could bring unsold meals home. No complaints about that.

Though half was given, it was enough for the Lin family of three.

Lin Xiang wasn’t stingy either, giving half of the stewed tomato beef brisket back to Chef Shen.

He waved her off. “I learned how to make it already. If I want it, I can make it myself at home. There’s not much meat anyway. Take it home for your mother.”

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“It’s getting late. You should head home early; it won’t be safe on the road later.”

Lin Xiang continued rubbing her hands. “Hehe, Brother Shen, can you lend me a lunchbox? I’ll return it next time I come.”

“No need to borrow, I’ll give you one!” Chef Shen promptly handed Lin Xiang an aluminum lunchbox with a slightly dented lid.

Because Lin Xiang hadn’t hidden anything while cooking and patiently explained things he didn’t understand, Chef Shen had made up his mind about this girl!

Feeling satisfied, Lin Xiang took the lunchbox filled with food and set off on her way home.

Just as she reached the village-town boundary, Lin Xiang saw a familiar figure.

“Brother?”

She hurried over and saw Lin Yun squatting by the roadside.

“What are you doing here?”

“Mom said you’d be working in town today and might come home late. She was worried about your safety on the road, so she sent me to pick you up.”

“I told Mom to just come a few hundred meters from the village entrance. Why did you come all the way to town?”

That would take an hour on foot. Lin Yun’s leg injury hadn’t healed properly. The round trip would be two hours—how could his body handle that?

“It’s fine. Let’s go home.”

“Wait!” Lin Xiang grabbed Lin Yun’s arm. “Since you’re already in town, Brother, I’ll accompany you to the hospital to get the right medicine. That way, you’ll recover faster.”

Lin Yun refused Lin Xiang’s kindness. No matter how she tugged, his feet seemed rooted to the ground, unmoving.

“I’m almost healed. Don’t waste money.”

“How can that be a waste? Brother, I earned money today—though it’s just one yuan—but it’s enough for some medicine. No matter how important money is, your health is more important.”

“I said no!” Struggling, Lin Yun forcefully pulled his hand free from Lin Xiang’s grasp, causing her to fall hard on her backside.