Usai Lu Yuanfeng bicara, Sun Dawu masih dalam kebingungan.
Lu Yuanfeng lanjut, "Kakak Dahu, seperti yang kukatakan tadi; pilihannya kini ada di tanganmu. Kalau kau bersedia jadi koki kepala kami, ikutlah kami ke Kota Qingshan.
Kalau merasa merepotkan atau terlalu jauh, kau bisa tinggal di sini, Kota Shigou. Shuangshuang bilang, apapun keputusanmu, dia akan ajarkan dua cara bikin roti bakar lagi.
Bahkan kalau cuma jual roti bakar, dia jamin kau tak perlu khawatir soal makan seumur hidupmu."
Mu Shuangshuang dan Lu Yuanfeng tulus berharap Sun Dawu mau bantu mereka.
Tapi mereka tak memaksa, seperti kata Yu Dahai; kan, meninggalkan kampung halaman bukan hal kecil, dan mereka tak bisa mengancamnya dengan pisau di leher.
Sun Dawu tak langsung jawab, dan Mu Shuangshuang beri dia waktu buat mikir.
Mereka akan berangkat ke Desa Er Gui setelah sarapan besok pagi, memberi Sun Dawu batas waktu sampai saat itu.
"Kakak Dahu, aku tak mau bertele-tele; kami ngajak kau ke restoran jadi koki kepala. Kalau kau setuju ikut, kuarajakin beberapa masakan yang orang lain tak tahu, berdasarkan yang sudah kau kuasai.
Soal tunjangan dan gaji, belum kami finalisasi, tapi tenang, kau tak akan dirugikan."
Ucap itu, Mu Shuangshuang dan yang lain pamit ke Keluarga Sun dan menuju pusat Kota Shigou.
Di kota, mereka nemuin penginapan cukup bagus dan pesan dua kamar.
Usai mandi, mereka bertiga, lelah seharian, tertidur nyenyak.
Keesokan pagi, baru fajar, Sun Dawu datang cari Lu Yuanfeng bawa bakul bambu, berisi sarapan untuk mereka bertiga.
Serahkan sarapan ke Lu Yuanfeng, Sun Dawu ungkap jawaban yang dipikirmalaman: "Fengzi, aku tak mau sembunyi; Ibu Daya dan aku tak punya apa-apa, tapi pengen cari duit buat anak-anak. Daya mau nikah, mahar wajib ada.
Xiao Zhu laki-laki, dan kami pengen masukkin dia sekolah, jadi Ibu Daya dan aku putusin, begitu anak-anak mulai sekolah, seluruh keluarga kami akan ikut kau ke Kota Qingshan biar bisa ngurusin anak-anak dan tetap bersama sebagai keluarga."
Jawaban Sun Dawu di luar dugaan tapi juga wajar buat Lu Yuanfeng.
Cinta Sun Dawu pada memasak tak bisa dimengerti semua orang. Dulu di markas, dia sering suruh prajurit bantu makan masakannya.
Nanti, pas semuanya pulang, dia diam-diam nangis, keluh tak akan lagi punya begitu banyak orang yang nikmatin masakannya; dia tak rela!
Bekerja nanti jadi asisten koki di restoran, dia dapet semangat dulu.
"Kakak Dahu, terima kasih sudah ambil keputusan ini, dan terima kasih sudah beri kami kesempatan," kata Lu Yuanfeng.
"Fengzi, aku punya motif sendiri. Di angkatan, aku selalu rasa kau paling berpotensi, tapi aku tak pernah punya kesempatan kerja sama denganmu.
Sekarang ada kesempatan, dan aku harap dengan ikut kau, aku bisa hidup baik."
Memutuskan begitu, Sun Dawu pada dasarnya bertaruh.
Tapi dia tak menyesal, mikir kalau mereka bisa betah di Kota Qingshan, itu pilihan bagus.
Akan bermanfaat buat putra dan putrinya nanti.
"Kakak Dahu, jangan khawatir. Manajemen restoran ada di tangan Shuangshuang, dan pasti tak akan ada rugi."
Lu Yuanfeng percaya pada kemampuan Mu Shuangshuang lebih dari siapapun.
Segala yang dia berani lakuin, pasti sukses.
"Kakak Dahu, ayo diskusiin sama Shuangshuang soal cara konkretnya."
Lu Yuanfeng ajak Sun Dawu ke kamar Mu Shuangshuang dan juga panggil Yu Dahai, dan mereka berempat mulai bahas operasional restoran.
Mu Shuangshuang saran, better renovasi restoran dulu sebelum buka, dan akan diskusin sama Yu Dahai soal cara renovasinya pas pulang.
Soal hari buka, renovasi butuh minimal sebulan, dan sudah mendekati akhir tahun.
Semua mungkin siap bulan Februari atau Maret, yang kebetulan masa pertumbuhan, dan mungkin bawa pertanda baik.
"Kakak Dahu, sekarang biar aku ajarin cara lain bikin roti bakar. Ingat, dua bulan depan, cari duit sebanyak-banyaknya.
Pas modal cukup, kau bisa rekrut orang bikin roti bakar Wu Dalang, di mana kau dapet duit dari kerjamu, dan orang yang direkrut juga dapet duit; saat itu, mahar Daya maupun biaya sekolah Xiao Zhu tak jadi masalah."
Pertimbangan Mu Shuangshuang teliti dan komprehensif.
Sun Dawu mengangguk berulang, kilat harapan menyala di matanya.
Keluarin duit, Mu Shuangshuang pinjam dapur dari pemilik penginasan dan beberapa buah plum kering, siap bikin roti daging babi dengan sayur asin.
Sun Dawu sudah jago bikin roti bakar, jadi tak perlu ditingkatkan.
Tapi banyak yang bisa bikin roti bakar, dan tak ada yang bisa jamin suatu hari orang yang pelajari mendalam akan bikin roti bakar lebih enak dari keluarga Sun Dawu.
Jadi, dia perlu ajarin Sun Dawu sesuatu yang orang lain tak tahu.
Di dapur, Mu Shuangshuang ulen adonan dan cincang plum kering dan daging lima rasa.
Lu Yuanfeng bantu, ngasih api, dan mereka berdua kerja sama dengan harmonis.
Usai roti daging babi jadi, Mu Shuangshuang serahkan yang pertama ke Sun Dawu.
Ngecung roti itu, Sun Dawu nemu baunya harum dan manis sekali.
Dia bilang, "Belum kumakan, tapi lihat dan cium saja sudah enak—Nona Shuangshuang, kau benar-benar punya keahlian luar biasa!"
Ucap itu, Sun Dawu mulai mengunyah rotinya.
Sambil makan, Sun Dawu angkat jempol ke Mu Shuangshuang sambil menutup mulut.
"Roti ini memang beda. Kalau ku kuasai, pasti bikin rame." Sun Dawu tertawa.
Roti dia belum habis, Yu Dahai yang kangen juga ikut makan.
...
Usai Mu Shuangshuang penuhi janjinya, mereka bertiga pulang ke Kota Qingshan lewat jalan yang sama.
Sore hari, Mu Shuangshuang dan Lu Yuanfeng tiba di Desa Er Gui.
Meski cuma sehari, Mu Shuangshuang rasa seperti berabad-abad.
"Fengzi, kita akhirnya pulang!"
Mereka capek banget perjalanan sehingga tak sempat minum segelas air pun.
Keluarga Mu Tua lagi berebut, kali ini melibatkan Mu Dashan dan Yu Si Niang.
Belum sempat napas, Xiao Han tarik Mu Shuangshuang ke tempat Keluarga Mu Tua.
Di jalan, Mu Shuangshuang tanya ke Xiao Han, "Ada apa? Bicaralah pelan, biar aku paham dan bisa mikir solusi."
"Kakak, Paman... keluarga Paman jual resep mi dingin kita, dan sekarang orang-orang menuntut resepnya dari mereka, tapi keluarga Paman tak bisa kasih.
Mereka bikin onar sama keluarga Paman, Bibi nangis, dan Ayah sama Ibu 둘 다 di sana nyoba selesaikan," kata Xiao Han.
"Maksudmu keluarga Paman jual resep mi dingin kita? Aku sudah jual ke Keluarga Xue di kota dulu, dan ini terasa aneh," tanya Mu Shuangshuang bingung.
After Lu Yuanfeng finished speaking, Sun Dawu was still in a state of confusion.
Lu Yuanfeng continued, "Brother Dahu, it’s just as I mentioned before; the choice is now in your hands. If you’re willing to become our head chef, you can come with us to Qingshan Town.
If you find it troublesome or too far, you can stay here in Shigou Town. Shuangshuang said that no matter what you decide, she will teach you two more ways to make baked pancakes.
Even if you just sell baked pancakes, she guarantees you won’t worry about food for the rest of your life."
Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng sincerely hoped that Sun Dawu could come to help them.
But they weren’t forcing him, as Yu Dahai said; after all, leaving one’s hometown is not a small matter, and they couldn’t hold a knife to his throat.
Sun Dawu didn’t immediately give an answer, and Mu Shuangshuang gave him time to consider.
They would leave for Er Gui Village after breakfast the next morning, giving Sun Dawu until then to think about it.
"Brother Dahu, I won’t beat around the bush; we’re inviting you to the restaurant to be the head chef. If you decide to join, I’ll teach you some dishes that others don’t know, based on what you’re already familiar with.
As for benefits and salary, we’ve yet to finalize them, but rest assured, you won’t be at a disadvantage."
With those words, Mu Shuangshuang and the others bid farewell to the Sun Family and headed towards the downtown of Shigou Town.
In town, they found a pretty decent inn and booked two rooms.
After washing up, the three of them, exhausted from a day’s work, fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, just at dawn, Sun Dawu came looking for Lu Yuanfeng with a bamboo basket in hand, filled with breakfast for the three of them.
Handing breakfast to Lu Yuanfeng, Sun Dawu revealed the answer he contemplated overnight: "Fengzi, I won’t hide it from you; Daya’s mom and I have nothing, but we want to make money for the kids. Daya is getting married, and a dowry is indispensable.
Xiao Zhu is a boy, and we want to send him to school, so Daya’s mom and I have decided that once the children start school, our whole family will follow you to Qingshan Town so we can take care of the children and be together as a family."
Sun Dawu’s answer was expected yet unexpected for Lu Yuanfeng.
Sun Dawu’s love for cooking is something that not everyone can understand. Back in the military camp, he would often have the soldiers help eat the meals he cooked.
Later, when everyone returned, he secretly cried, lamenting that he would no longer have so many people to enjoy his cooking with; he was reluctant!
Working later as an assistant chef in a restaurant, he regained his former enthusiasm.
"Brother Dahu, thank you for making this decision, and thank you for giving us the opportunity," said Lu Yuanfeng.
"Fengzi, I have my own motives too. In the army, I always thought you had the most potential, but I never had the chance to work with you.
Now I have the chance, and I hope that by following you, I can live a good life."
Deciding this way, Sun Dawu was essentially taking a gamble.
But he didn’t regret it, thinking that if they could settle in Qingshan Town, it would be a good choice.
It would be beneficial for his son and daughter in the future.
"Brother Dahu, don’t worry. The restaurant’s management is in Shuangshuang’s hands, and there would absolutely be no loss."
Lu Yuanfeng had more faith than anyone in Mu Shuangshuang’s capabilities.
Everything she dared to do would undoubtedly succeed.
"Brother Dahu, let’s discuss with Shuangshuang about how to proceed concretely."
Lu Yuanfeng brought Sun Dawu to Mu Shuangshuang’s room and also called Yu Dahai, and they all started discussing the restaurant’s operation.
Mu Shuangshuang suggested that it would be best to renovate the restaurant before opening and would consult with Yu Dahai about how to renovate it when they returned.
As for the opening day, the renovation will take at least a month, and as it’s nearing the year-end.
Everything might be ready by February or March, which coincides with the time of growth, and might bring a good sign.
"Brother Dahu, let me now teach you another way to make baked pancakes. Remember, for the next two months, earn as much silver as you can.
When you save enough capital, you can hire someone to make Wu Dalang’s baked pancakes, where you’ll earn money for your work, and the hired person will earn too; at that point, neither Daya’s dowry nor Xiao Zhu’s educational expenses will be a problem."
Mu Shuangshuang’s considerations were thorough and comprehensive.
Sun Dawu nodded repeatedly, with a spark of hope igniting in his eyes.
Spending some money, Mu Shuangshuang borrowed a kitchen from the innkeeper and some dried plums, preparing to make pork belly buns with pickled vegetables.
Sun Dawu was already skillful at making baked pancakes, so there was no need to improve them.
However, many can make baked pancakes, and no one can guarantee that one day those who study it thoroughly will make better pancakes than Sun Dawu’s family.
Thus, she needed to teach Sun Dawu something others didn’t know.
In the kitchen, Mu Shuangshuang kneaded the dough and chopped the dried plums and five-flavor pork.
Lu Yuanfeng assisted her, stoking the fire, and the two of them worked together harmoniously.
Once the pork belly buns were ready, Mu Shuangshuang handed the first to Sun Dawu.
Taking a sniff of the bun, Sun Dawu found it to smell particularly fragrant and sweet.
He said, "I haven’t even eaten it yet, but it looks and smells delicious—Miss Shuangshuang, you truly have remarkable skills!"
After speaking, Sun Dawu began to chew the bun.
As he ate, Sun Dawu thumbs up to Mu Shuangshuang with one hand over his mouth.
"This pancake is indeed special. If I master it, it will surely attract a lot of business." Sun Dawu chuckled.
With his bun not yet finished, Yu Dahai, craving, also joined in.
...
After completing what Mu Shuangshuang promised, the trio returned to Qingshan Town the same way they came.
By dinnertime, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng arrived at Er Gui Village.
Though it had been just a day, Mu Shuangshuang felt like centuries had passed.
"Fengzi, we’re finally home!"
They were so tired from the journey that they couldn’t even have a sip of water.
The Old Mu Family was arguing again, this time with Mu Dashan and Yu Si Niang involved.
Before Mu Shuangshuang could even catch her breath, Xiao Han pulled her to the Old Mu Family’s place.
On the way, Mu Shuangshuang asked Xiao Han, "What’s going on? Speak slowly, so I can understand and think of a solution."
"Sister, Uncle... Uncle’s family sold our cold noodle recipe, and now people are demanding the recipe from them, but Uncle’s family can’t provide it.
They’re causing trouble with Uncle’s family, and Aunt is crying, and Dad and Mom are both there trying to solve it," Xiao Han said.
"What do you mean Uncle’s family sold our cold noodle recipe? I sold it to the Xue Family in town long ago, and something about this just doesn’t add up," Mu Shuangshuang asked, puzzled.
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