I looked at my watch and it was almost half past eleven. I wondered if the school had lunch yet.
I walked to the guard room and knocked on the window. The door opened from the inside and a little old man in his sixties stuck his head out to look.
"What do you do?"
"Uncle, I used to be a student of this school. It's Mid-Autumn Festival now, and I want to come and see my teacher."
"Who is your teacher? You need to come over to register."
After entering, he was thoroughly questioned by the guard, and was made to write down his information in a notebook before being let in.
As one of the few students admitted to university, many people in the school actually knew Jiang Mengxue.
But unfortunately, the security guard was new in the past two years and was not familiar with the previous students.
According to the location of the office I remembered, I came to the office of the high school sophomore class teacher.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Come in."
Several teachers in the office looked towards the door, but Jiang Mengxue was not familiar with any of them.
Jiang Mengxue walked over to the table of a white-haired old man with a smile, "Teacher Xie, don't you see who's here?"
Xie Mubai raised his head and looked at the newcomer, a little surprised and delighted: "Classmate Jiang Mengxue?"
"It's me, Teacher Xie. I've been busy with hospital matters lately and haven't come to see you."
Jiang Mengxue was still young when she was in high school. Her classmates were several years older than her and treated her like a child. Teacher Xie also took good care of her.
"Hi, how many months have you missed visiting me since you came back? You just graduated and got a job, so you're focused on your work. I'm right here, so you can come over anytime you want.
Come home with me for dinner later, and I'll ask your mistress to make you some braised pork."
"No need, teacher. The house I live in needs to be renovated and I have to go back to move some things later. I will come to your house to see you and your wife next time."
As he said this, he put the things in his hand on the desk: two packs of mooncakes, a bag of apples, and a pound of pork belly wrapped in oil paper.
"I don't have time to go home during the Mid-Autumn Festival, but I have to share the same flavor of mooncakes with you. I'll trouble you to carry them back later."
Xie Mubai was very happy and relieved. He had been teaching for decades, and every year his classmates would come to his house during the Chinese New Year and other holidays. He was very happy that these classmates remembered him and came to visit him, but he didn't want the children to spend money. It was enough for them to come and see him. He also wanted to see how these classmates were living.
"Why are you bringing things here again, kid? I'm already very happy that you came to see me. Please take the things back to your parents."
The things were meant for Teacher Xie, how could Jiang Mengxue take them back?
"Thank you, Teacher. You take care of me like your own child. Shouldn't I be filial to you? I won't take it back. Otherwise, what will happen? Okay, I have to go. I have to rush home in the afternoon."
After saying that, I put my things down and said goodbye. I really don't like being pushed around with people, it's quite embarrassing.
I didn't stay in school for long because I was afraid of meeting someone I knew. Jiang Mengxue really doesn't like socializing.
I looked at the time and it was already half past eleven. I didn’t feel like cooking at home at this time, so I decided to try the food at the state-owned restaurant.
At mealtime, there were quite a few people in the state-owned restaurant, and there were only a few tables left.
Without further hesitation, I went to the ordering window, where there was a small blackboard hanging on it.
At this time, you can't just order whatever you want. You have to see what the kitchen offers today.
The dishes today are quite rich, including braised pork, braised pork elbow, and scrambled eggs, each of which is quite rare.
Jiang Mengxue has long wanted to try the braised pork in the state-owned restaurant.
"Hello comrade, give me one portion of braised pork, one portion of garlic egg, two taels of rice, and one portion of braised pork elbow to go."
The waiter's attitude was pretty good. Although he was not very enthusiastic, he was decent.
"A pound of braised pork costs eighty cents in meat coupons, a pound of braised pork elbow costs two yuan in meat coupons, an egg with garlic sauce costs ten cents, and two ounces of rice costs two ounces of grain coupons and three cents. That's a total of three yuan and ninety cents plus two ounces of grain coupons and two pound of meat coupons."
Jiang Mengxue immediately handed over the money and took out an iron lunch box from her bag.
State-owned restaurants have requirements for the portion size of dishes, and there are also requirements for the size of a serving. There is no need to worry about there being only a few pieces of meat on a plate. A pound of raw pork can eventually make six ounces of braised pork.
For example, there are sixty dumplings in a pound. A pound refers to the weight of flour used to make dumplings. Now there are regulations on how many dumplings can be made with a pound of flour, how much meat to put in, and how big the dumplings should be. You need one pound of grain coupons, half a pound of meat coupons, and one dollar.
Garlic egg is 1 cent, egg soup is 1 cent, and shredded potatoes are 3 cents a plate.
The price of each dish is marked, which can be said to be very cheap in Jiang Mengxue's eyes.
This meal cost about three yuan, two taels of grain coupons and two pounds of meat coupons.
No wonder few people eat at state-owned restaurants nowadays. A single meal costs several days’ salary, and you have to pay for the ticket.
Sit at an empty table near the door and wait for the waiter to serve the food.
Don't expect them to deliver it to you. If you go late, you'll be lucky if you don't get scolded. There's no such thing as the customer is God these days.
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