Zhang Xudong and John discussed the final arrangements for William's case and went to the guild hall.
Today the guild hall has become a busy construction site.
There are workers renovating the guild hall, and people are digging the foundation and transporting building materials near the courtyard wall.
Sima Langyue walked back and forth with one arm hanging, giving orders non-stop.
Hu Minghai led more than fifty brothers to do odd jobs and move materials.
On the other side of the yard, three large stoves stood in the open air, and three cooks and two handymen were preparing lunch.
Zhang Xudong asked Hu Minghai to make arrangements according to family customs.
These workers who come to build houses not only receive salary subsidies, but also two big pot meals a day.
When the Chinese workers who were invited to work saw these, they felt both surprised and a little excited.
Especially those old Chinese workers and those who have only been here for a few years.
They still remember the scene where everyone came to help when one family had problems, and then gathered together to eat from a big pot in the afternoon.
But since I left my hometown, I have never experienced such a scene again.
Zhang Xudong walked up to Sima Langyue and said:
"Second uncle, why are you here? You should rest more!"
Sima Langyue looked at Zhang Xudong and said unhappily:
"How could I not come? Haizi went to your house and couldn't find you, so he had to come to me.
He said that when these chefs saw the big stove being set up, they knew they were going to be provided with meals and started making a fuss.
Those old masters said that since the host wanted to follow the rules of his hometown.
They also have to follow the rules of the house.
Either you get paid and don't eat, which means you are working for the boss.
Or you can just eat without getting paid, and help the folks.
I finally managed to calm them down and let them do it first.
Now it's up to you to decide what to do."
Zhang Xudong scratched his head. He didn't know that he just wanted to give some subsidies to the workers, but such a thing would happen.
Zhang Xudong thought for a moment and said, "Second uncle, we will set up a construction company in the future.
I also want to do it according to our local customs.
That is, workers get paid in addition to wages.
Three meals a day and temporary dormitories for the workers must also be arranged.
Not only does this arrangement make work more convenient, it also gives everyone a sense of community and belonging.
Of course, these are just the treatments given to us Chinese.
As for those foreigners, he can eat or not, live or not as he pleases, because there is no other subsidy except salary.
Of course, our construction company also tries to recruit only Chinese people, to keep it quiet.”
Sima Langyue was speechless when he looked at Zhang Xudong.
It turns out that racial discrimination is not exclusive to foreigners, it is also so serious here, Zhang Xudong.
"We can talk about those things later, just tell me what to do now.
Do you want to be the boss, or do you want these fellow villagers?"
Zhang Xudong felt a headache looking at his second uncle.
"I say, Second Uncle, why are you here to command my army?
Can I say that I want to be a boss and not have fellow villagers?
We will stop work and have lunch at 11:30 am. I will talk to you about this before lunch.
Now I'll go see what the chef is preparing for lunch."
Sima Langyue turned around and said:
"Come on, let's go together. There are over a hundred people having lunch today.
Haizi bought fifty or sixty kilograms of meat, as well as other vegetables, which was quite a feast.
When Zhang Xudong went over to ask, the chefs said that they were preparing to stir-fry four dishes and the staple food would be steamed rice.
When Zhang Xudong heard this, he realized that this was a habit of people in the south, but people in the north liked to eat noodles.
"Masters, do any of you know how to make noodles with gravy?
Just stir-fry the meat with onions, ginger and garlic, then fry some soybean paste, add water and put some tofu cubes in it.
Finally, add some starch, sprinkle with a handful of chopped green onions, and drizzle some sesame oil.
Using this broth to pour over noodles is easy and delicious.”
The three cooking chefs shook their heads and said:
"I've only heard my father talk about this kind of noodles you're talking about, but I've never seen anyone make it."
It’s too troublesome to eat noodles here, you have to make it yourself.
No one has the time to waste, and after a while, few people eat noodles anymore.”
A big man in his forties happened to come over with a bucket of water.
After hearing their conversation, he said, "Boss, I can cook this meal.
I am from southern province and I often roll noodles to make noodles with soybean paste at home.
But there is no noodle sauce or chili sauce sold here, so even if I make it now, I won’t be able to use it in time.
Also, rolling noodles for so many people is not easy. Without a rolling pin, it would be exhausting.”
Zhang Xudong was delighted when he heard this and quickly said with a smile:
"As long as you can cook it, it's fine. Now, prepare to cut the meat. I'll bring you all the seasonings and noodles in a while.
You chefs are still working on cooking and steaming rice.
At noon, everyone can eat whatever they like.
Brother Hai, come here. It looks like this stove is not enough. Please ask someone to prepare two more.
Uncle, can you cook a big pot stew or a pig-killing dish?"
"Boss, my last name is Gao, you can just call me Lao Gao.
That pig-killing dish is something we make every year in the north, so how could we not know how to make it?
I can even kill pigs, but can I do it here?
There are no pig heads, offal or other things for sale here, not even vermicelli.
I haven't had this for four or five years, and I'm really missing it."
“Master Gao, let’s make this pig-killing dish this afternoon.
Then steam a pot of big white steamed buns and cook a pot of big residue porridge.
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