It has been nearly a month since he came back from the United States, and in this month, Liu Mang has either nested in the back kitchen to teach everyone to cook, or hid in the space to hoe and plant trees with Xiaobao. Pen fun and pavilion www.biquge.info

No way, since the successful application for the World Heritage Site, Liu Mang has completely become a big celebrity, and he will be watched by people when he goes out, which makes him annoyed.

"Hello, Mr. Liu Mang!" A special guest came upstairs today, it was none other than Max, the producer of Colombia who I met last time in the United States.

"Welcome to China!" Liu Mang shook Max's hand: "Mr. Max, I've finally waited for you." ”

"I was expecting to come back to you after the Chinese New Year, but Mr. Baird said that the Chinese New Year would be a festival of food, so I came early. ”

"Well, there's still a month left before the Chinese New Year, and there's still plenty of time. ”

"Mr. Liu Mang, this is the script we have written, you can see if we need to revise it. Max took out a few pages of paper stapled together from his handbag and handed them to Liu Mang.

"Well, I'll see. Liu Mang took it and watched it carefully.

"Mr. Liu Mang, are you still satisfied with the scripts of these two episodes?" After waiting for a while, Max saw that Liu Mang was speechless and asked.

"Not satisfied, very dissatisfied. Liu Mang shook his head with a look of disappointment: "Mr. Max, I'm afraid you don't understand our Chinese culture at all." ”

"Ah, why? This script was carefully prepared by our director team, so there shouldn't be any problem, right?"

"It's a big problem!" Liu Mang frowned: "Your first episode is about shark fin, and the second episode is about bird's nest, is there any purpose?"

"Aren't shark fin and bird's nest two foods unique to China? They are also very valuable ingredients! We are going to shoot the whole process of collecting and making these two ingredients, I believe it will be very exciting." ”

"With all due respect, Mr. Max, the reason why you put shark fin and bird's nest at the top of this documentary is to catch the audience's attention, right? Liu Mang was a little angry.

What a joke! In an era where there is a growing consensus on environmental protection, choosing such a theme is obviously to scandalize China, and shark fin and bird's nest do not represent Chinese cuisine at all.

In Liu Mang's long-standing concept, real Chinese food should be popular and belong to the public. And not high up, full of blood and plunder.

"Mr. Liu Mang, don't be angry, the scripts of these two episodes are just the first drafts of the director team, and the decision to shoot is still in my hands. Max quickly explained.

Hearing Max say this, Liu Mang's face looked a little better: "That's it, Mr. Max, I'll take you around during this time to learn about real Chinese food before shooting." A good documentary, it should not be prejudiced and arrogant, and there should be a downward posture. ”

"I understand, Mr. Liu Mang. Max nodded: "That's why I came to China early." ”

Day 2......

"Mr. Liu Mang, where do you want to take me?" Max asked.

Today is Li Ruonan's personal drive, ready to take Liu Mang and Max around outside.

"Mr. Max, if you want to know about Chinese cuisine, it's not enough to taste the dishes at the hotel. There is a saying in China's culinary industry that the output and selection of ingredients is a basic skill of Chinese chefs. ”

"So do you chefs pick the ingredients yourself?" Angus, who was sitting in the back seat, took out a small notebook and wrote down what Liu Mang said.

"I don't pick the ingredients myself, but I can tell the difference between the good and the bad. Just like our restaurant, there is a special supply channel. In order to ensure the freshness and quality of the ingredients, we have special personnel to carry out rigorous inspections. ”

Liu Mang is right, the opening of the upstairs was inseparable from the strong support of Li Ruonan's Four Seasons Pavilion. The supply of ingredients for the Four Seasons Pavilion is achieved through its own cultivation of suppliers and long-term cooperation.

This method ensures the freshness and quality of the ingredients to the greatest extent, which is by no means comparable to those small restaurants outside.

"This is it. Li Ruonan stepped on the brakes, and the car stopped in a large area of farmland.

Located in the col of two hills, this farmland is a small valley of about a few hundred acres, and a babbling stream flows down from the top of the hill to irrigate the fertile land.

"The scenery of this place is good!" Liu Mang stepped out of the car, took a breath of fresh air, and praised.

This valley is far away from the urban area of Jiangdong and close to the Black Elk Peak National Forest Park, with a quiet environment and fresh and sweet air, which is indeed a rare treasure.

"Of course, in order to find this place, my old man personally ran all over Jiangdong. Li Ruonan said a little proudly.

"Mr. Li, welcome!welcome!" a man in a dark blue cotton coat greeted him.

"Let me introduce, this is Huang Gutian, the village head of Huangjia Village, and this is the upstairs chef - Liu Mang. Li Ruonan said.

"You are Mr. Liu!" Huang Gutian held Liu Mang's hand: "Welcome to guide the work." ”

"Uh...... That old Huang, let's just take a look casually, don't be so polite. Huang Gutian's enthusiasm made Liu Mang a little unaccustomed.

"Liu, is this where the ingredients for your restaurant come from?" Max asked.

"Fresh vegetables and meats are served here, but some ingredients are not. Liu Mang paused: "For example, some local specialty ingredients, we select the best quality from the place of origin. ”

"Please, two bosses. Huang Gutian led everyone to the valley.

This time Max didn't come alone, he also brought a cameraman with him.

Park the car in the barn at the entrance to the valley, and everyone walked through the valley on a bluestone road.

There are about thirty or forty families living in this small valley, each of which is a small two-story building with a small courtyard, and it seems that the economic conditions are not bad.

"Now that everyone is working in the fields, why don't I go and call them back?" asked Huang Gutian.

"No need, Lao Huang. We're here to see it, so take us to the field. Li Ruonan replied.

"Okay, okay. Huang Gutian nodded again and again, and walked towards the field with a few people.

"This is our greenhouse base, thanks to Mr. Li drilled a few geothermal wells for us, there are fresh fruits and vegetables produced throughout the year. Walking to a huge plastic greenhouse covering an area of twenty or thirty acres, Huang Gutian introduced.

Walking into the greenhouse, there were more than a dozen people squatting there and busy. Each of them held a bottle and a pair of tweezers in their hands, and the contents of the vegetable patch plants were clamped into the bottle.

"What are they doing, are they picking out some precious ingredients?" Max wondered.

"It's not. Li Ruonan laughed: "They're killing insects in vegetables." In order to ensure that the vegetables are green and pollution-free, our base here is produced in an ecological way, without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. ”

"So, what about the cost?"

"Of course, the cost will increase exponentially, but it will all be worth it in order to get the best ingredients. Li Ruonan replied.

After visiting the vegetable base, Huang Gutian took everyone to the farm, where chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, pigs and other poultry and livestock are raised.

"Aren't any of these animals kept in captivity?" Max asked again.

"Nope. There is a huge difference between captive and free-range animals in terms of the taste of their meat. In order to obtain high-quality meat, it is important to ensure that the animals are exercising. ”

"Well, although these animals will inevitably be slaughtered in the end, at least this time is quite happy. Max looked at the chickens that were crouching on the low branches and sighed.

"Two CEOs, let's stay here for lunch today. After visiting the breeding base, Huang Gutian said.

"Okay, Lao Huang, let's try farmhouse cuisine today. Li Ruonan replied.

Everyone arrived at Huang Gutian's home, which is a small Chinese-style two-story building, and a new Ford Edge is parked in the spacious courtyard.

"Mother-in-law, here are the guests!" Huang Gutian shouted as soon as he entered the courtyard gate.

"Who?" A middle-aged woman wearing an apron, carrying a kitchen knife, walked out of the building, and saw Liu Mang and his party obviously stunned, and hurriedly put down the knife in her hand and wiped her hands with her apron: "It's Mr. Li, a rare guest." ”

"Mr. Liu, this is my lover Zhang Cui. Huang Gutian introduced.

"Sister-in-law, I'm bothering you today, I want to have a meal at your house. Li Ruonan said with a smile.

"No trouble, no trouble. Zhang Cui moved a few chairs and beckoned everyone to sit down.

Liu Mang sat down and looked at the courtyard in front of him. The yard is very tidy, and there is a row of flower beds against the wall, which are full of blooming autumn chrysanthemums, and it can be seen that the owner is still quite good at enjoying life.

"Liu, what's that?" Max pointed to the pieces of meat hanging from the shelves in the yard, "Is it cured meat?"

"It's pretty much the same, but we call it bacon here, which means it's eaten in winter. Liu Mang walked over and pinched it with his hand: "Sister-in-law, do you make so much bacon?"

The bacon dried here is hung on a shelf, and roughly half of the pigs are full.

"The children are all out of town, so do more to bring them there. Zhang Cui replied.

"How is this meat made? Is it pork?" Max stood up and walked over. And the camera he brought with him pointed the camera at the bacon on the shelf and filmed it.

"It's pork, first salted, then dried, and finally smoked. Cooked bacon can be stored for a long time, even if it is left for two or three years. Liu Mang replied.

"Mother-in-law, wait until you can cook and cut some points, let Mr. Liu and them taste it too. Huang Gutian said.

"Mr. Max, Chinese food is not only hidden in restaurants, but also in families everywhere. For example, this bacon is made by almost every household. Li Ruonan said.

"That's right, in my opinion, in fact, these ordinary and ordinary foods are more representative of China. Liu Mang also said.

After chatting for a while, Zhang Cui was already busy working in the stove and began to prepare lunch for everyone.

"Sister-in-law, just get some of it, don't bother too much. Li Ruonan walked to the stove and said.

"No trouble, no trouble. Zhang Cui, who was cutting a piece of bacon, replied.

Zhang Cui's hands and feet are very quick, and it only takes about 40 minutes for all kinds of dishes to be served.

"You're welcome, everyone, it's like home. Huang Gutian poured wine for everyone: "I made this rice wine myself, you can taste it and see how it tastes." ”

"Not bad. Liu Mang picked up the sea bowl containing the wine and took a sip gently: "The entrance is slightly astringent, but the aftertaste is sweet, and it is genuine! It is much better than those blended wines on the market." ”

After taking a sip of wine, Liu Mang picked up a piece of fat and thin, palm-sized bacon and sent it to Max's bowl: "Mr. Max, you can taste it." Look at the difference between our Chinese bacon and your Western bacon. ”

"Okay. Max nodded, picked it up and brought it to his mouth and bit it: "Hmm...... It's a little salty, it's a little oily, it doesn't feel like it......"

As soon as you bite into it, the fat of the fat melts in your mouth, and the strength of the lean meat is entangled between your teeth, and after the slight saltiness, it is a smoky taste, and with the spicy feeling of the rice wine you just drank and still in your mouth, the more you chew, the more fragrant it becomes.

"Yes, it's delicious!" Max gave a thumbs up.

"Sister-in-law, your skills are good!" Li Ruonan also tasted a piece of steamed bacon and praised.

"Where, it's not as good as you masters. Zhang Cuihua smiled a flower on her face.

"Master Huang, how many people are in your family?" asked Liu Mang after taking a sip of wine and eating a piece of bacon.

"There are also two sons and a daughter. Now they are all in big cities, they are busy with work, and they will not come back until the Chinese New Year. At the mention of his son and daughter, Huang Gutian's wrinkled face showed a proud look.

"That's almost there, there's still a month to go before the New Year. Li Ruonan said.

Thanks to Mr. Li's care in the past few years, our lives have been getting better and better year by year. Huang Gutian pointed to the car in the yard: "I just bought it this year, and I didn't dare to think about it before." ”

"It's a nice place and the food is delicious, so why don't his sons and daughters live with them, and just come back for the Chinese New Year?" Max wondered.

"This ......" Liu Mang thought for a moment: "Maybe it's for life, maybe it's for dreams." However, even if the Chinese are far apart, even if they have settled elsewhere, they will not forget their hometown, let alone miss home. This is something engraved in the bones of the Chinese, and it cannot be changed at all. ”

"Huh? Why?"

"Because there is food!" Liu Mang and Li Ruonan laughed at the same time: "It's like this bacon, it's not just a food, it's a memory." It is always calling for wanderers from afar, reminding them of the direction of their home. So you look at the Spring Festival of the Chinese, the long-distance migration of hundreds of millions of people, what is it for?

"I seem to understand something. Max nodded thoughtfully: "Mr. Liu Mang, can you tell this gentleman that let's stay at his house for a few days and shoot some materials?"

"Of course it's fine!"