Chapter 20: Not Everyone Can Be a Taxi Driver

To eat a meal, you need staple food. With the five of them plus Ah Zhe’s father, a total of six people, steaming twelve two-part flour steamed buns would be just right.

The meat was already stewing. After adding enough firewood, there was no need to watch it constantly. Qian Bin went into the house and started kneading dough to make steamed buns.

Making steamed buns didn’t take much effort. With everyone lending a hand, the dough was kneaded in no time.

The kneaded dough was placed in a basin, covered with a cloth, and left to ferment.

Li Xiangdong and the others sat at the table, drinking water, smoking cigarettes, and chatting and laughing.

Zhang Sen said with a look of longing, “Sometimes when I’m pedaling my tricycle past Chang’an Avenue, I see those taxi sedans. As I’m pedaling, I can’t help but think, why don’t I know how to drive? Driving a sedan would be so impressive. You’d earn a lot of money and have a lot of face.”

“Stop dreaming, San Mu. If you want to drive, you’d have to find a way into a transportation company. Learning to drive a truck might be possible, but don’t even think about driving a sedan as a taxi.”

Although Li Xiangdong didn’t want to discourage his friend, reality was reality. It was best not to think about things that were out of reach.

In this era, ordinary people didn’t take taxis. The main purpose of taxis was to receive foreign guests.

Moreover, being a taxi driver now was different from in later generations. Not just anyone who wanted to be one could.

First, you had to get a recommendation quota, then pass a political background check and a cultural assessment.

The various requirements were extremely strict, even harder than getting into the National Defense University in later generations. The ones selected were all outstanding youth representatives who had won various honors.

Finally, these top talents and the children of high-ranking officials would be put together to compete for the few available job openings. The competition was so fierce it was like a dogfight.

In fact, even getting into a transportation company to drive a truck wasn’t easy. You not only had to know how to drive, but also how to repair the vehicle. What would you do if the truck broke down in the middle of nowhere?

There were no repair shops on the road now, let alone towing companies.

Calling for help from a nearby village was a gamble with your life.

If the local people were simple and honest, you might get a steamed corn bun and a ladle of cold water.

But if you encountered people who were greedy, the whole village could band together and just bury you…

Zhang Sen waved his hand and sighed, “I’m just envious. I don’t have that ability. I’d better just stick to pedaling my tricycle.”

“Things will slowly get better. There will be opportunities in the future.”

Li Xiangdong comforted Zhang Sen for a bit, then looked at Qian Bin and asked, “Binzi, you’re not going to work this afternoon. Did you take leave?”

Qian Bin said, “No need to take leave. Our restaurant has been assigned two more returned educated youths. Now there are more workers than tables in the restaurant. The leader said whoever is busy can rest. My dad just needs to go and say a word.”

Ah Zhe asked, “No pay deduction?”

“No deduction, but this year’s benefits will probably be reduced again.”

Qian Bin sighed as he spoke. He didn’t think much of it before, but now that his child was about to be born, he needed more and more money. He was certainly not happy about this situation, but fortunately, he was the only son in the family, and his father could still help him out.

“Alright, brothers, the heat should be about right. Let’s go and see if the meat is tender.”

If Qian Bin hadn’t reminded them, they wouldn’t have noticed. They had been chatting for two hours, and it was almost six in the afternoon.

The group came out of the house. As soon as the door opened, the courtyard was filled with the aroma of meat. Everyone unconsciously swallowed a few times.

At this moment, Ah Zhe’s father opened his door and stood at the entrance of the east wing room, “Binzi, your skills are almost catching up to your father’s. This stewed meat smells really good.”

Li Xiangdong said, “Binzi, it’s rare for Uncle to praise you. You have to have a few more drinks with Uncle later.”

“Of course, I must have a good couple of drinks with Uncle.”

Qian Bin smiled happily. Ah Zhe’s father was a cultured man. For him to praise his skills was a great compliment.

Ah Zhe’s father shook his head, “I won’t join in. You won’t be comfortable drinking if I’m there. I’ll just have some by myself.”

“Let’s listen to my dad. Binzi, you take the meat out first and cut a few pieces for us brothers to taste. This smells too good.”

Ah Zhe knew there was no point in refusing. If his father sat with him to drink, he himself wouldn’t be able to relax, let alone his friends.

Zhang Sen and Xiang Lin went into the house to move the table out. Ah Zhe brought out a cutting board and a kitchen knife from the kitchen. The tools were all ready.

Qian Bin, holding two rags, called Xiang Lin to help him lift the iron bucket off the stove. It was a whole bucket of meat and broth.

The offal was fine, but the pig’s head was stewed so tender it was falling off the bone. The tools weren’t handy, and it took a lot of effort to get it out of the bucket.

Ah Zhe pinched a piece of shredded meat and threw it into his mouth. He chewed a couple of times and swallowed, sucking in a breath from the heat. “It’s so hot, but this meat is really delicious.”

Ah Zhe’s father glared at his son and said, “There’s so much meat, we can’t finish it all tonight. Don’t let it go bad tomorrow. You should all pack some to take home. Just leave enough for us to eat.”

A pig’s head, a whole set of pig offal, and pig’s trotters. There was indeed too much meat for them to finish in one meal, and it wouldn’t last in this hot weather.

Qian Bin sharpened the kitchen knife a few times and said, “Then let’s listen to Uncle. Ah Zhe, go get a few more bowls. After I cut the meat, we’ll all take some home. Let’s all have a good treat today.”

Hearing this, Li Xiangdong went over and stood in front of the cutting board.

“Binzi, you take one of the pig’s ears home for your dad to have with his wine. Leave the other one for Uncle. And leave the pig’s snout for Uncle too.”

“Cut more of the pig’s head meat and offal for Xiang Lin and Zhang Sen to take home for their wives and children. We brothers can just gnaw on the bones and pig’s trotters while we drink. Remember to give me the pig’s tail. I’ll take it home for my daughter to eat. Don’t cut it!”