Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

Chapter 389: A Moment of Contemplation

Wang Qiang forced a smile, "Nothing, just looking at these ingredients, thinking about trying a few new dishes tomorrow." But there was a trace of concern in his eyes, "Wang Qiang, don't keep anything in your heart, there is nothing that can't be talked about between us brothers? Is your sense of taste not so good recently? Unexpectedly, He Yuzhu directly pointed out the hidden worries in his heart. In the end, he sighed, "Zhuzi, you can see it. Yes, I do feel that my taste is a little bit wrong recently, especially the saltiness, I am always unsure."

He Yuzhu gently patted Wang Qiang's shoulder, his face did not show any blame, but full of understanding and concern, "Don't worry too much, this kind of thing happens to everyone. Maybe you are too tired recently, or it may be some other reason. Let's find out the reason first, and then find a way to solve it. No matter what, we are still together, and you are not fighting alone."

When Wang Qiang heard what He Yuzhu said, a warm feeling surged in his heart. He knew that he could no longer bear this pressure alone. With He Yuzhu by his side, many problems could be faced together. Although the road ahead was unknown, he had made up his mind to face his problems, and he would not give up easily no matter what the result was. Wang Qiang and He Yuzhu began to work more closely together. Wang Qiang invested more energy in the management of the kitchen, while He Yuzhu took on more tasks of tasting dishes. At the same time, they also contacted some friends who knew Chinese medicine conditioning to try to find out the reason for Wang Qiang's change in taste. Although the problem still exists, Wang Qiang's mentality has been adjusted. He no longer puts all the pressure on himself, but has learned to rely on and trust.

Wang Qiang's recent busy schedule has left him no time to take care of his personal image, and his hair has grown too long without him noticing. A few strands of hair hang down in front of his eyes, blocking his vision from time to time. Every day when he is busy in the kitchen, he feels that these strands of hair are a bit of a hindrance, especially in the hot kitchen, which makes him feel bored. He finally decided to take some time to get a haircut, cut off these hair that are in the way, and restore his previous capable image.

One morning, the courtyard house was not open for business yet, so Wang Qiang decided to take advantage of this time to go to a nearby barber shop to get a haircut. He casually put on a coat and said to He Yuzhu who was busy in the kitchen: "Zhuzi, I'm going to get a haircut and will be back soon."

He Yuzhu looked up at him and said with a smile, "Your hair is indeed a little long. Go quickly, otherwise you will be too busy when customers come."

Wang Qiang smiled and nodded, thinking that it was imperative to get a haircut this time. He walked out of the courtyard and walked towards the small barber shop nearby that he often went to. The shop was not big, but the environment was clean and tidy, and the barber was also a skilled man. Wang Qiang usually came here to get his hair cut, and the two sides were already familiar with each other.

However, today's situation was a little different. When Wang Qiang entered the shop, he found that the barber was cutting a customer's hair, and there were two waiting customers sitting on the seats next to him. He walked up and greeted the barber, "Master, I want to cut your hair. If it's convenient, I'll wait for a while."

The barber looked up at Wang Qiang and said with a hint of embarrassment, "Oh, Brother Wang, today is really a bad day. I have received several appointments from customers, all of whom are acquaintances. The time is a bit tight. If you are not in a hurry, can you wait for an hour?"

Wang Qiang was a bit troubled when he heard this. An hour? Time was very tight this morning, and he couldn't wait that long. But he asked politely, "An hour may be a bit too long. I have something else to do here. Can you cut it for me first? I'll make it shorter, and it will be quick."

The barber shook his head in embarrassment. "Brother Wang, it's not that I don't want to help you. It's just that there are so many people here today. As you know, we have to follow the first-come-first-served principle in our business. These customers made reservations in advance. It would not be good if the order was disrupted."

Wang Qiang knew the barber was right and understood the rule, but he was still unwilling to give up. His hair had been delayed for several days, and if he didn't get it cut, it would affect his work. But the reality was in front of him, and he couldn't force it. He could only smile helplessly and said, "Then I'll come next time. I really can't make it today."

After saying that, Wang Qiang walked out of the barber shop, feeling somewhat disappointed. He didn't care much about his image, but his long hair did make him feel inconvenient at work, and this little discomfort made him feel a little depressed. Back at the courtyard, he was thinking about whether he should change barber shops, and reluctantly put the matter aside.

As soon as he entered the door, He Yuzhu saw him and said, "Oh, you're back so soon. Did you cut your hair?"

Wang Qiang smiled awkwardly and touched his hair. "I didn't get my hair cut. There were too many people in the barber shop. I had to wait for an hour. I didn't have the time."

He Yuzhu looked at Wang Qiang's long hair and couldn't help but joked, "Why don't you just keep your hair long? It's popular now anyway."

Wang Qiang smiled bitterly and waved his hands, "It doesn't matter if my hair is long, but it's really a nuisance when I'm busy in the kitchen. I'll find time to cut it after I'm done with this."

Although he still coped with it easily on the surface, he felt a little depressed in his heart. This incident made him feel a vague sense of loss of control, as if even such a small matter did not go smoothly, foreshadowing a series of recent misfortunes. He had an indescribable feeling of depression in his heart, but he could not find a way to vent. Wang Qiang was getting busier and busier, and the haircut was delayed again and again. Every time he wanted to find time to go to the barber shop, it was either peak hours or the shop was extremely busy, and he simply could not spare the time. The longer his hair was, the more irritable he felt in his heart. This irritability not only came from external inconveniences, but more deeply, it was the worry about his physical condition and the accumulation of recent work pressure.

One night, after all the guests had left, He Yuzhu was sitting in the yard drinking tea. When he saw Wang Qiang coming out, he said, "Wang Qiang, I see that you seem a little bit strange recently. Are you worried about something?"

Wang Qiang was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "What can I worry about? I'm just too busy to have time to think about anything else."

He Yuzhu shook his head, "I don't believe it. Just based on our friendship, can't you tell me if there is anything? Are you still unable to let go of the taste incident that day?"

Wang Qiang sighed and sat down next to He Yuzhu. "To be honest, I really can't let it go. I've been feeling something is wrong with me lately. My sense of taste is off, and I can't cut my hair. I feel like something is holding me back, and nothing works for me."

He Yuzhu nodded after listening and thought for a moment, "I understand, this may be because you put too much pressure on yourself.