Zhou Xuan first called the Beicheng Company to make an appointment, which was in the center of the city, very close to where he lived.

The North Side buffet is well-known in Los Angeles. Over the years, a buffet trend has sprung up in Chinese-populated areas across the United States, with large-scale high-end buffet restaurants opening in metropolitan areas from New York and Houston to Los Angeles and San Francisco. This kind of buffet is actually a continuation of the style of the American chain effect in almost all major cities.

Chinese buffets have swept across the United States, blossoming all over the United States, and every family is doing a prosperous business. Some people don't like to be too constrained, and it doesn't matter if they eat at the buffet; Some people have a large stomach and feel that eating some food is not enjoyable; Some people don't like to tip, or don't know how much to tip and are very annoyed, and the buffet is to eat what they like, take it yourself, unlimited amount, and don't tip it. You don't know the rules, and we don't talk about those rules here; You have a large belly, we have no limit, you can eat as much as you want; You don't want to tip, we don't tip. Whether you wear a suit, a sweatshirt, chew slowly, or gobble up, no one cares about you. You don't have to be polite, just let go and eat. In short, there are so many advantages to self-help.

Zhou Xuan was also dressed in sportswear when he went to the interview.

The waitress at the front desk saw him and said politely, "Is Mr. coming to dinner?" It was still too early and we were open at 11 o'clock. ”

"I'm not here to eat, I'm applying for a chef, and I've called before." Zhou Xuan smiled.

"Huh? Then please come here. "No matter how you look at this American chick, Zhou Xuan doesn't look like a chef, she's tall, very young, full of sunny taste, like an athlete.

When he saw the boss of Beicheng, Zhou Xuan suddenly felt cordial, because he was a Chinese. The boss was even more surprised when he saw him, and said strangely: "Hey, aren't you Zhou Xuan of the defender?" How did you get here, you want to apply to be a chef? ”

"You know me?"

"I know a lot of people here, and I go to watch every game you play. My name is Wang Meng, hello. ”

Wang Meng is fifty years old, and young people call him "Uncle Meng", which is what he asked, and he is a little unaccustomed to being called "Uncle Wang", in fact, he will become "Wangye" in a few years. He is an old fan who supports the Lakers, and after a Chinese came to the Development League, he went to Staples Arena to watch Zhou Xuan's game.

Zhou Xuan shook hands with him and said with a smile: "It's a pleasure to meet you, and thank you for going to the stadium to support me before." ”

"Ha Luha, didn't you sign up for the draft? Why did you come to be a chef? Come and sit down, let's have a good chat and have tea! Wang slammed out the house and shouted.

An interview became a fan meeting, Wang Meng called and quickly called a few friends who watched the game together, and everyone chatted about basketball for two hours, what Zhou Xuan used to do, and how he lived in China.

Hearing that Zhou Xuan didn't get an invitation to the training camp, Wang Meng slapped the table and said, "Are these Yankees blind?" I won't let you go. The Lakers haven't moved, Fisher can't play for a few years, Farmar can't pass, and they should also consider letting you go to a tryout. ”

Another person also said: "If these teams don't choose you, you will definitely regret it in the future, I think you are better than that Sessions." ”

"I'm not famous, I didn't have results in the NCAA, and it's normal to not be favored, but I've been to the Clippers for a tryout before, and I might join the Clippers, I'm not sure." Zhou Xuan said lightly.

"It's best to join the Clippers, and we'll all watch your games." Wang Meng smiled: "Fight hard, Sun Yue hasn't been able to sign a contract yet, if you sign a contract first, we will go out and say that we know you It will also be very face-saving." But why did you apply for a chef? ”

Zhou Xuan's mouth was dry, and he took a sip of tea and thought to himself, Uncle, you finally mentioned the matter of applying. He smiled bitterly: "I haven't played recently, and I'm a little nervous about the economy in the United States alone, so I want to find a place to work." My dad is a chef, I learned to cook with him since I was a child, and I have good cooking skills, and I came after seeing the job posting. ”

"It's true that there are very few young Chinese people who go abroad like you." Wang Meng smiled and said, "Since you need money, I'll keep you." But you also have to do the work, what do you cook? ”

"I know how to basically make Lu cuisine, and I will also have some other cuisines, as well as those home-cooked dishes in restaurants. I can try it right now. Zhou Xuan was full of confidence.

"Okay, I often host buffets for parties and parties here, and there is a recipe, as long as you know how to do this, you will be qualified, I will take you to the kitchen, you can stay and eat, and try his craft." Wang Meng proposed.

"Okay. Future NBA stars have cooked for me, will it be written in a book when you retire in the future? A bald uncle asked with a smile, his name is Liu Yuan, who sells mobile phones.

"Uncle Liu, I haven't entered the alliance yet, do you think of me retiring first? But I've written it down, and if it's really an autobiography in the future, I'll definitely write it in it. ”

Wang Meng personally took Zhou Xuan to the kitchen. He is Chinese, and his grandfather immigrated to the United States as a chef in his generation, and he has fought step by step to his current status, and he is a rich capitalist. As an expert, he also wanted to see Zhou Xuan cooking.

Zhou Xuan changed into a chef's uniform and apron, stood in front of the table, took a knife and pulled a flower and began to do it, Wang Meng immediately knew that he was extraordinary, his movements were very standard, and he was professionally trained.

When he stopped cutting for a while, Wang Meng praised on the side: "Chinese immigrants who left their homeland and crossed the sea to settle down in the United States rely on 'three knives', kitchen knives, tailoring scissors, and razors." It's a tradition, with kitchen knives at the top. You're very well prepared to come here. ”

"Passing the prize."

"This is not a compliment, my child is about the same age as you, and he knows that he is fooling around with a group of fox friends all day long, he doesn't want to do anything, and he can't study well, the gap is really big." Wang Meng smiled bitterly.

"Maybe he has something he likes to do." Zhou Xuan smiled.

That kid likes to pick up girls. Wang Meng sighed in his heart and ended the topic.

Since his mind has improved, Zhou Xuan's cooking has become better than before, when to add water, when to add how much ingredients, and to which heat to turn the pot, he has memorized these steps by heart, and there has been no mistake.

After the stir-fried kidney flower, sweet and sour carp, and the three-course dish of nine turns of the large intestine were completed, Wang Meng was full of praise as soon as he tasted it. "It's amazing! Even if you don't play basketball, you can make a lot of money as a chef in the United States, and you can win a prize if you go to a cooking competition, you are such a genius! I've never seen anyone so good on the pitch or in the kitchen......"

"Am I qualified?"

"Qualified! Of course! You can work hard at the next party, now wash your hands and let's go out and talk. Wang Meng turned his head and said to the young waiter who was watching: "You take these dishes out of the soup, and let Lao Zhang make a few specialty dishes." ”

Most of the guys here are Chinese, and they know the character of the boss of the Dao Dao, and it is rare to see him so praised, and he immediately admires Zhou Xuan very much.

I entered the private room, and after a while, a table of dishes was served. There are all middle-aged people here, only Zhou Xuan is young, and he feels a bit of a generation gap. He just answers what others ask, and tries to talk as little as possible. These people are very good at drinking, but no one persuaded Zhou Xuan to drink, and everyone reached a consensus that there are many examples of NBA players falling into depravity because of drinking, and athletes are still better off smoking and drinking.

Wang Meng was in a good mood today and said: "Recently, a competing company poached a few people from here, and I was in a hurry to recruit a chef, but I didn't expect to recruit a football star." The day after tomorrow, we are going to host a big party, and the request is Chinese food. Xiao Zhou's level can be the main force, and then he will be a little more tired, with an hourly salary of $25, what do you think? I will not do you any wrong. ”

Zhou Xuan also felt that the other party would not treat him badly, so he never asked about his salary. There are many jobs in the United States that pay by the hour, and the salary is hundreds for four hours a day, and if you work eight hours, it will be good to live in the United States. He was happy with the price and said with a smile: "I'm going to do a good job, but there's no guarantee when I'll leave, maybe I'll have to play in the summer league when the draft is over." ”

"I know that Lu Dao can't keep you for long, that's why I pay you by the hour, and you don't treat us as outsiders, come here if you need help anywhere. We've been in the U.S. for a long time, and we know more than you do. You'll definitely have a future in the future, and when you get into the NBA, give us a few tickets, and we'll follow suit. Wang Meng laughed.

"Okay, then I'm not welcome, thank you uncles here, I will toast everyone." Zhou Xuan replaced it with a small cup and poured a glass of liquor, it was okay to drink less.

In a foreign country, several Chinese people got together, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

The meal was very pleasant, and it was already afternoon when he left the Beicheng Hotel, and Zhou Xuan went home to tell Mitchell that he had successfully applied for the job.

Mitchell turned down the volume of the TV and said with a smile: "I just know that you can do it, there are all Chinese, it's easy to talk, right?" ”

"Not only that, but the owner is also a fan, and he has watched my game, so I'm ready and I'm going to start work tomorrow." Zhou Xuan lay on the sofa and said with enjoyment.

"It's a pity that if you don't come back, it will be a problem for me to eat." Mitchell licked his lips.

"I haven't forgotten you, and I told them that you like China and Chinese food, and they gave me this card." Zhou Xuan handed a black VIP card to Mitchell.

"Senior VIP card, 7% off, I heard that you have to spend a certain amount of money to do it, you are really a friend, thank you!" Mitchell fiddled with the card a few times and put it away. "You'll be able to attend some celebrity parties, even though you're a chef, and you might be able to meet some Hollywood stars."

Mitchell knows that North City often hosts parties and takes care of the food. American catering companies are far inferior to Beicheng in this regard, and their main dishes are generally a few, chicken and beef, which taste average and can only be mixed to a full. Beicheng is high-end, as long as they pay for customized packages, they can make a hundred and ten things, and the cottage is full of Han people.

Zhou Xuan disagreed. "There will be a party the day after tomorrow, I don't know if the road is opened by a celebrity, even if it is, I may not know it."

"Don't recognize?"

"I haven't seen many Hollywood movies, I only know China, and they won't come here."