Chapter 333: Tan and Zhang's Battle for

Hegemony The twenty-fourth day of the ninth lunar month, Monday.

Sui Feng Hotel.

Today is Deng Shirong’s 50th birthday. He has no intention of celebrating his birthday. If he really wanted to celebrate his 50th birthday, he would have celebrated it last year instead of this year.

Celebrating a big birthday usually refers to the tenth birthday such as 50th, 60th, 70th...100th birthday.

In our country, there is a saying that men celebrate their birthdays at the age of nine and women at the age of ten. If he is celebrating his birthday, 50 would be the most appropriate age.

Of course, only in this era can 50 years old be called a big birthday. In later generations, because people's life expectancy has increased, big birthdays usually refer to tenth birthdays such as 60, 70, 80... 100 years old.

Birthdays over 60 years old can also be called birthday celebrations.

Although I don’t have the idea of ​​celebrating my birthday, it is my 50th birthday after all, and it is very necessary to have a good meal with my family and relatives to celebrate.

Deng Shirong cooked himself today. During his previous trip to Sichuan, he bought a lot of high-quality dried chilies and peppercorns, as well as the soul of Sichuan cuisine, bean paste. After reaching a deal with the descendants of the Chen family, they also gave him some high-quality bean paste made with traditional techniques and with a fermentation cycle of more than three years.

With such great seasoning, he naturally wanted to make good use of it and prepare some classic Sichuan dishes for his family and relatives to taste.

Deng Shirong was making the classic Sichuan dish, Twice-Cooked Pork. Twice-Cooked Pork is a very down-to-earth home-cooked dish and also a classic Sichuan dish. It occupies a very important position in Sichuan cuisine and has always been considered the top Sichuan dish.

The twice-cooked pork cooked with Pixian bean paste is really fresh and fragrant, fatty but not greasy, and is one of the best dishes to go with rice.

The finished product is as shown below: I have to say, the twice-cooked pork cooked with authentic Pixian bean paste is really delicious.

When the aroma spread, not only the chef who was cooking other dishes in the kitchen was looking at it with awe, but even the family members, relatives and other diners sitting in the restaurant chatting, at this moment, kept twitching their noses, smelling this extremely special aroma.

Everyone had an expression of surprise on their face.

An old customer couldn't help asking, "Boss Deng, what are you cooking in the kitchen? Why does it smell so good?"

Deng Yunzhen smiled and replied, "This is my dad making Sichuan food!"

An old customer asked curiously, "Is this what Sichuan cuisine tastes like? It smells really good!"

Other diners also echoed, "Yes, it smells really good. Boss Deng, are you planning to add Sichuan cuisine to the Suifeng Hotel?"

Deng Yunzhen shook her head and smiled, "No, I made this for myself. Sichuan cuisine smells delicious, but it's still a little spicy for us Bobai people. Many people can't stand the spiciness."

The customer said regretfully: "That's true. I can't eat spicy food. I can't even stand the spiciness of green peppers. It seems I won't be able to enjoy Sichuan cuisine anymore!"

When the other diners heard the word "spicy", they all shook their heads. It was true that not many people of their generation could eat spicy food. It was not until the next generation that more and more people began to eat spicy food, and by the time of later generations, almost all young people could eat spicy food.

Of course, the so-called ability to eat spicy food is only relative. If it is classified into slightly spicy, medium spicy, super spicy, and extremely spicy, 90% of Bobai people are at the stage where they can only eat slightly spicy food, and only a few can eat medium spicy food. As for those who can eat super spicy food, they are rare.

The one who can eat extremely spicy food probably hasn’t been born yet.

In the kitchen, after making twice-cooked pork, Deng Shirong went on to make classic dishes such as shredded pork with fish flavor, mapo tofu and boiled fish.

As for the various white-cut dishes and local classic dishes, they are made by other master chefs.

Soon, after Deng Shirong finished preparing the Sichuan dishes, he asked the waiter to serve the dishes and prepared to eat.

Although Deng Shirong invited relatives to have dinner together on his birthday, he only invited relatives in the county town, such as Bu Dashi and his wife and his sister-in-law, Bu Zhongshi and his wife and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Chen Bangguo, Chen Bangli, Chen Bangfeng, Zhu Junjie and his parents, Zhang Guangzong, Zhang Guoan, etc.

With so many relatives and friends, plus our own family, one table naturally couldn't accommodate them all, so we split it into two tables.

When it was time to eat, the authentic Sichuan dishes prepared by Deng Shirong were very popular. He knew that people couldn't eat too spicy food, so he tried to use as little chili as possible in dishes like boiled fish, which should have a heavier chili content.

Zhang Guangzong tasted all the Sichuan dishes made by Deng Shirong and said with emotion: "Boss, these Sichuan dishes you made are really great. They taste almost the same as the Sichuan dishes I had back then, or maybe even better. It's amazing!"

Liang Yunfei also praised: "I have heard people say that Sichuan cuisine is delicious before, but I have never had the chance to try it. Now I finally get to eat it, and it really lives up to its reputation!"

Deng Shirong said: "This Sichuan cuisine is indeed unique. There are so many provinces and autonomous regions in my country, but only four provinces' cuisines are listed as the four major cuisines in the Chinese Cookbook, and Sichuan cuisine is one of them. It can be seen that Sichuan cuisine is indeed amazing."

The birth and popularity of my country's "cuisine" was roughly between the 1950s and 1970s.

When the Ministry of Commerce organized the compilation of the "Chinese Cookbook" in the 1970s, it mentioned the "four major cuisines", which are Shandong cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Huaiyang cuisine, and Cantonese cuisine.

Later, a large number of cuisines such as the “Four Major”, “Five Major” and “Ten Major” gradually became popular.

It was not until 1980 that the Financial and Trade Front News published an article titled "my country's Eight Major Cuisines", which counted Shandong, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian and Anhui as the eight major cuisines. This is the earliest source of the "Eight Major Cuisines".

Although the concept of eight major cuisines already exists, it is not as well-known as it is in later generations. People who do not pay attention to relevant newspapers really do not know about the four major cuisines and the eight major cuisines.

The people present obviously didn't know. When Zhu Junjie heard Deng Shirong mention the four major cuisines, he couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Deng, in addition to Sichuan cuisine, what are the other three of the four major cuisines?"

Upon hearing this, the others looked at Deng Shirong curiously.

Deng Shirong gave them a brief introduction and also introduced the eight major cuisines. Finally, he said, "We actually have a lot of specialties in Guangxi, but unfortunately they are not systematic. The eating habits of different regions are different. For example, southeastern Guangxi tends to prefer Cantonese cuisine, northern Guangxi tends to prefer Hunan cuisine, and northwestern Guangxi tends to prefer Yunnan and Guizhou cuisine."

Liang Yunfei admired and said: "My dear, you are really knowledgeable about food!"

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "I just pay more attention to this aspect. I also travel a lot, so I naturally know a little more."

Mrs. Zhu said with regret, "You guys say this Sichuan food is so delicious, but it's a pity that I can't eat spicy food. I'm really missing out!"

Deng Shirong said: "The other dishes may be a little spicy, but this twice-cooked pork should not be too spicy. Relatives, you can try it."

Mrs. Zhu wanted to try it, but when she saw the pepper and color on the twice-cooked pork, she shook her head and said, "Forget it, I won't try it, lest I waste such a good dish by not being able to eat it."

Deng Shirong said with a smile: "What's the waste? This is not the time like a few years ago when we could hardly eat meat once a month."

Deng Yunzhen directly picked up a piece of twice-cooked pork and put it in the bowl of her future mother-in-law, saying, "Aunt, try it. If you can't eat it, just spit it out. It's okay."

Upon seeing this, Mrs. Zhu stopped being pretentious and picked up the twice-cooked pork in the bowl and put it into her mouth. She then took a mouthful of rice and chewed it together with the rice. The spicy taste was acceptable and the dish became more fragrant the more she chewed it. It went very well with rice and was completely different from the lighter local dishes.

After swallowing the food, Mrs. Zhu exclaimed: "This Sichuan cuisine is really delicious!"

Seeing this, other relatives, regardless of whether they could eat spicy food or not, all reached out for the twice-cooked pork. They also wanted to try this dish that had been praised so much to see how delicious it was.

And after tasting it, there is nothing I don’t like.

Sichuan cuisine is undoubtedly the most popular cuisine in the country.

In addition to Sichuan cuisine, other dishes on the table are also carefully prepared by master chefs and are all very classic local delicacies.

This meal made everyone very satisfied.

Deng Shirong spent his 50th birthday with the blessings of his family, relatives and friends.

…

After Deng Shirong celebrated his 50th birthday, it was soon the tenth month of the lunar calendar, and the countdown to his eldest daughter's wedding had begun.

Now the second floor of Naye Deng’s Community has been renovated and cleaned.

The decoration is in European and American style, which is very fashionable and beautiful in that era. The bed is naturally not a bunk bed, but the famous Simmons mattress of that era. The sofa is also a very high-end leather sofa. All other furniture are high-end products of that era.

There are nine rooms in total in the house, three of which are master bedrooms with bathrooms, three public bathrooms, a kitchen of more than 30 square meters, and a dining room of 50 to 60 square meters.

As for the living room, it is really huge.

The overall decoration is very high-end. Even Deng Shirong, who has truly witnessed the prosperity of later generations, thinks it is quite good. You can imagine how luxurious it is for people of that era.

Since the house was renovated, Deng Yunzhen has visited it dozens of times, but every time she sees it, she still feels amazed. It is so beautiful!

Deng Shirong sat on the sofa in the living room and asked, "Ah Zhen, what else is missing from this house?"

Deng Yunzhen shook her head repeatedly and said, "Dad, there is nothing missing. You have already prepared all the furniture and appliances."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "Since you don't need anything, then you can choose a master bedroom. You will be getting married in less than three months, so it's time to decorate your wedding room."

Deng Yunzhen was stunned and said, "Isn't it already decorated? What else do we need to decorate it?"

Deng Shirong said: "Decoration and layout are not contradictory. If you are getting married, you must put up the word "囍" (happiness) on the windows, put up window decorations, and hang up lanterns and decorations. In short, the layout must be festive, so that there is a wedding atmosphere."

Deng Yunzhen said, "Dad, there's no need to put up window decorations or lanterns. At most, you can put up a "囍" character and change the quilt, sheets, pillows, etc. to red, and that's enough."

Deng Shirong said: "What's the trouble? Just prepare in advance and decorate slowly. There is only one wedding in life. When your eldest brother and sister-in-law got married, the family conditions were not very good, so there was no decoration. We only worked hard on the food.

Now that you are getting married and your family is well off, you should naturally make good arrangements."

Hearing this, Deng Yunzhen was deeply moved. It is no exaggeration to say that there are really few fathers in the world who can do this for their daughters. It is even more unique in Bobai. Compared with other girls, she is really too happy!

Deng Yunzhen returned to the original topic and said, "Dad, you choose the master bedroom first, and I will choose after you choose."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "This is the house for you. Pick the master bedroom that you like the most. Don't consider me. I can live in any bedroom. Besides, when the other floors are renovated, I will have plenty of places to live!"

Deng Yunzhen also knew the truth, so she didn't bother to be polite with her father. She picked a master bedroom she liked and asked, "Dad, do you want to light the fire first in this house?"

Deng Shirong said, "There's no need to light the fire first. We're eating in a restaurant anyway, so there's no need to light the fire here. If we light the fire first, according to custom, we'll have to stay here for the New Year. You've just got married, so it's best for you to go back to your hometown to celebrate the New Year with your spouse in the first year, so that people won't gossip about you."

After a new house is built, you can move into it at any time. There is no particular requirement for this in Bobai. But if you want to make a fire and cook, you can't do it casually. You have to find a master to choose an auspicious day to hold a ceremony. This ceremony is what Bobai people call "entering the fire."

Deng Yunzhen nodded and said, "Well, let's wait until next year to enter the fire!"

…

afternoon.

After dinner, Deng Shirong, as usual, took his hookah and went to the entrance of the restaurant to smoke.

Just after I smoked two cigarettes, I heard a familiar sound of music coming from the front: "If we are destined to break up, there is no need to pretend to keep us together. If love is eternal, how can we break up..."

Deng Shirong instantly determined that this was Principal Tan's song. Although he was past the age of chasing stars in his previous life, music is truly universally loved, and there are only a very small number of people who don't like listening to music.

The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!

Deng Shirong has no talent for singing, but he listens to as much music as anyone else and has followed some of his favorite singers. When music programs were popular in his previous life, he watched every episode of those programs.

The song "Love in Late Autumn" is one of Principal Tan's classic songs. Deng Shirong could easily recognize it. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw a fashionable young man wearing bell-bottom pants and big sunglasses holding a tape recorder, playing Principal Tan's songs and humming along.

Coincidentally, at this moment, from the alley opposite, a similar trendy young man came out with a tape recorder, which was also playing a song that Deng Shirong was very familiar with:

"I advise you to go home early. You said you don't want to go home.

Just let me hold you

The sea breeze blows gently

Cooling the wildfire..."

This is Brother’s famous song "The Wind Continues to Blow". As a music lover, Deng Shirong naturally recognized it the first time.

The two trendy young men met each other in an unpleasant way, and then they stopped and looked at each other at the same time.

If special effects were added at this moment, the gazes of the two people would be filled with strings of lightning and sparks. Then the trendy young man who came out of the alley instantly turned up the volume of the tape recorder to the maximum, as if he wanted to overwhelm the other person with his volume.

Another trendy young man was not to be outdone and also turned up the volume of his recorder to the maximum.

At the same time, the two mocked each other:

"What kind of rubbish song are you playing? It's really disgusting to my ears. How dare you play it so loudly?"

"The songs you play are rubbish. Calling them songs is flattering you. The sound is as disgusting as the buzzing of flies."

"Whose voice is disgusting? Who knows? You are such a piece of rubbish, and you dare to argue with my principal? Do you think I'm giving you face?"

"Haha, you're anxious, aren't you? What a shitty principal! He's nothing in front of my brother!"

“…”

Seeing this scene, everyone else was confused.

Everyone knew that the two were arguing, but the key point was that they couldn't understand the content of the argument. It seemed that they were arguing about whose song was better? Are these two people bored?

What the hell is going on? Deng Shirong was probably the only one present who knew what was going on.

If he remembered correctly, from this year until 1989, the Hong Kong music scene saw an unprecedented rivalry between Tam and Cheung.

This all-round competition between the two music superstars ended up with both sides suffering losses. One announced that he would no longer accept competitive music awards, and the other announced his retirement from the music industry. There was really no winner in this competition.

When these two superstars were competing against each other in their previous lives, Deng Shirong was still living in the countryside. At that time, information was closed and he knew nothing about this. It was not until the development of Internet information that he learned the causes and consequences of this competition in detail.

After understanding the situation clearly, Deng Shirong felt a little sad. Originally, the two might not be willing to compete in this way, but many things are not up to the idols to make the decision, and those irrational fans took action on their own.

My brother's car was scratched, and his mailbox was filled with paper money and abusive letters, which made him overwhelmed.

Principal Tan also had a hard time. After the award ceremony on May 18, 1987, Principal Tan was ridiculed for "buying the award" almost every time he won an award.

The newspapers, led by Mr. Jin's Ming Pao, also wanted to see the excitement, or rather, it was in the newspaper's interest to see a big event, because big events would lead to sales! These newspapers directly disclosed the so-called "inside story", using a lot of "it is said" and "rumors" to write one article after another about "the inside story of Principal Tan buying the award".

Principal Tan and his brother originally had a good relationship, but under the influence of these irrational fans, they had to compete. When the competition between the two was most intense, the fans of both sides even had physical conflicts.

Although the rivalry between Tan and Zhang is just in its initial stages, it is quite normal for the two fans to meet and quarrel with each other.

In his previous life, Principal Tan, unable to bear the harassment, announced in 1987 that he would no longer accept competitive awards.

After Principal Tan announced that he would not take the award, my brother was mocked when he won the award, saying, "It's your turn because our principal didn't want you to take the award."

So my brother officially announced his retirement from the music industry in 1989, and the sensational "Tan-Zhang rivalry" officially ended.

Thinking of the rivalry between Alan Tam and Leslie Cheung, Deng Shirong couldn't help but think of the Four Heavenly Kings who had overwhelming dominance.

Throughout the Hong Kong music scene in the 1990s, the Four Heavenly Kings were unrivaled in their popularity. They represented the pinnacle of the star-chasing phenomenon and directly monopolized the award for the most popular male singer in Hong Kong in the 1990s. The four of them held more than 1,600 solo concerts in total, and the legitimate sales of their records exceeded 100 million copies, which is truly amazing.

Thinking of this, Deng Shirong thought of a business related to these music superstars, that is, opening a music store specializing in selling music tapes and video tapes, which would probably make a lot of money.

While Deng Shirong was thinking about business, the two trendy young men did not fight. They just scolded each other for a few minutes, and then left with their recorders, leaving the audience confused, completely unable to understand what they were arguing about.

What principal, what brother, I don’t understand anything.

I can't even understand what I'm eating, it's so depressing!

…

Time flies, and soon it is the eleventh month of the lunar calendar. Zhu Junjie's position has been confirmed, and he officially becomes the head of the county public security bureau.

Being able to get promoted before getting married is also a very happy thing for Zhu Junjie.

Originally, based on his personal conditions, Zhu Junjie was completely worthy of Deng Yunzhen. Normally, he should not feel anxious, but his wife's family was so powerful that the dowry they gave was so generous that he could hardly imagine it, which made him bear a lot of pressure invisibly.

Now that I'm the head of the county public security bureau, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Things like promotions naturally need to be kept low-key. Zhu Junjie had no intention of publicizing it. He just asked his mother to buy more dishes, had a sumptuous dinner, and invited his wife Deng Yunzhen to come over to eat, as a celebration.

Knowing that their son had been promoted, Mr. and Mrs. Zhu were very happy.

The director of the county public security bureau is a great honor for the Zhu family.

Deng Yunzhen was also very happy. After all, this was her husband and they would live with him for the rest of their lives. If her husband was capable, she, as his wife, would also be proud.

After dinner, when Deng Yunzhen returned, Mrs. Zhu said, "Ajie, you and Azhen will be married in more than a month, and it's time for us to send the money to your father-in-law. How much do you think is appropriate?"

Generally speaking, according to the marriage customs in Bobai, both parties have to give the price of their marriage to the woman before registering.

If you are not registering and just holding a wedding ceremony, then you have to give the wedding money to the bride before the wedding ceremony.

It is rare for people like Zhu Junjie and Deng Yunzhen to have been registered for such a long time but have not yet paid their real estate.

Zhu Junjie said: "They don't need the money, we can just give them an auspicious number."

Mrs. Zhu said, "They don't lack this little money, but we can't be too casual. We still have to do our best to give a reasonable figure."

Zhu Junjie said: "Mom, you can do whatever you want. I have no objection."

Old Mrs. Zhu pondered and said, "Then I'll give you 1,399. I wish you a long and happy life."

Zhu Junjie nodded and said, “Okay, this number is pretty good.”

Mrs. Zhu looked at Old Man Zhu and asked, "Old man, what do you think?"

Old Man Zhu nodded and said, "Just decide. I have no objection."

Mrs. Zhu made the decision and said, "That's settled!"

(End of this chapter)