Tripe Takes Seven Dips Up and Eight Down, Got It?
A week has passed in the 749 Bureau in the blink of an eye.
With the combined effects of a host of bizarre medical devices invented by Da Vinci and modern medicine, several seriously ill patients finally recovered.
As for the most hardcore Wolverine, Logan?
He refused injections and medication, spending his days leaning against the headboard of his private ward, smoking cigars, drinking vodka delivered by the logistics department, and staring blankly at the wall.
At this moment, Sing Sing was sitting opposite Director Wang, looking serious.
"Chief, I've decided to skip those rigid procedures for now."
"Let's move all these newlyweds to Siheyuan temporarily, so they can get a good night's sleep under a normal roof."
"A thousand pieces of gold can buy bones. To demonstrate our company's excellent humanistic care, tonight's welcome dinner is on me!"
Sing Sing patted his chest. "We'll just set up a few copper pots in the courtyard and eat the most authentic Beijing hot pot!"
Director Wang squinted at the elite special agent with the look one might give a weasel presenting a banner to a chicken.
"You're treating me privately?"
"You stingy rooster who'd hesitate half the night to pluck a single feather, did you get your head caught in a door frame today?"
Sing Sing's face fell, his features scrunched up, and he clutched his chest, wailing.
"Director, how can you slander me without any basis! I, Sing Sing, am utterly loyal to the organization, and I am known for my generosity and courtesy towards my comrades!"
He paused for half a second, then changed his tone.
"Since this is a formal welcome dinner for new employees, shouldn't our bureau's overseas talent fund reimburse at least 80% for the cost of the hot pot base and the premium mutton?"
Director Wang sneered and lowered his head to continue reviewing the official documents in his hand.
"Get lost, make your own arrangements."
Night fell over the Beijing.
The Siheyuan was lit up with dim yellow lights.
Sing Sing stood in the center of the courtyard and began to give his opinions.
"Listen up, comrades. Tonight's room allocation will follow three basic principles."
"Men and women are separated, the sick are given priority, and those who snore severely are sent to the farthest frontiers, far from the people."
He pulled out two keys and tossed them to his Secretary Liu, who was standing next to him.
"Aunt Martha and Nina live in the large room in the east wing, which has a private bathroom. The bed sheets and duvet covers are all newly changed pure cotton products by the maintenance lady; smell them, they smell of sunshine."
"Harry hates dryness, so he's going to stay in that little hut next to the water room. Secretary Liu just moved an industrial-grade humidifier in there yesterday; it produces mist 24 hours a day."
"Luke, you live next door to him. You have a back injury, so be careful when you turn over at night. If you need anything, knock on the wall and call for help."
The Sand Rat rubbed its hands together and licked its face as it squeezed to the front.
"Boss, look at me, I'm quick and efficient, could I be allocated a large south-facing master bedroom?"
Sing Sing glanced at him with the white of his eye.
"You go sleep on the single folding bed next to the storage room."
The Sand Rat had just opened its mouth, trying to assert its right to a proper night's sleep.
Sing Sing pointed to the spherical surveillance camera at the entrance of the storage room.
"You've failed the political background check across the board, and you've got some dirty hands."
"We're putting you here so the organization can provide you with round-the-clock ideological support. Avoid trouble, work hard, and follow the rules, and you'll have food to eat."
The Sand Rat shut its mouth and resignedly scurried to the corner.
Sing Sing glanced at Wolverine: "Cousin, the room closest to the door is yours."
"If I can't sleep at night, I can just wander around the entrance a few times, saving our unit some night shift security allowance."
"Room assignments are complete. Now... let's officially begin the welcoming ceremony for the newlyweds!"
Three golden hot pots have already been set up in the courtyard.
Several small square tables were pushed together, and the tables were piled Lao Gao with plates.
Thinly sliced Inner Mongolia lamb hind leg meat, as thin as paper; a large plate of black tripe...
Next to it were more than a dozen kinds of condiments, including sesame paste, chive blossoms, and fermented bean curd. The Wandering Girl had already secured the best spot upwind.
Holding a giant cup of full-sugar taro boba milk tea in my left hand, and a whole, glistening Beijing duck on my right.
It's served with sweet bean sauce, shredded scallions, and cucumber strips.
This is her exclusive fee for international delivery.
Just as the Sand Rat reached for a piece of duck meat with the skin on, she tapped the back of his hand with a chopstick.
"Non-formal staff are prohibited from coveting the special allowances for formal staff." The Wandering Girl protectively pulled the whole plate of roast duck towards herself.
Sing Sing picked up a long-handled strainer, exuding heroic spirit.
"Eat to your heart's content! Tonight's entire bill is on me, Young Master Zhou!"
Just as he was reveling in his glorious and noble image as a public servant, Xiao Liu came over.
A white receipt was handed to Sing Sing.
"Brother Zhou, I've compiled all the bills that the logistics purchasing department sent over from the canteen for you."
"We ordered six portions of five jin of premium lamb hind leg, six plates of freshly sliced black tripe (85 yuan a plate), and this roast duck."
"Including the milk tea delivery fee that Comrade Edith specifically requested. I signed your name on all of them, and the money was directly deducted from your salary card."
Sing Sing's hearty smile vanished.
His eyelids twitched wildly as he stared at the total number at the bottom of the receipt, his heart pounding with pain.
He severely underestimated the appetite of these Mutants.
If he had known this would happen, he should have listened to the advice of the logistics lady and bought half a pig carcass from the Shunyi Meat Processing Plant to butcher it himself. At least he could have saved on the butcher's fee!
The Mutants gradually took their seats, awkwardly gesturing with their chopsticks.
Wolverine pulled out a chair, sat down, grabbed a large piece of black tripe with his chopsticks, and threw it directly into the boiling water.
Not only that, he also vigorously stirred the bottom of the pot with chopsticks.
This act of wasting ingredients directly pushed Sing Sing to his breaking point on the spot.
"Hey buddy! Stop!" Sing Sing snatched the chopsticks from Logan's hand.
"This is top-quality fresh-cut black tripe, which cost me eighty-five yuan a plate! It's all about the precise seven-up-eight-down cooking process!"
He picked up a piece of tripe and dipped it into the boiling water.
"If you stew it like that, the meat will turn into rubber shoe soles!"
Wolverine snorted and picked up the plate of raw mutton slices, shoving them, blood and all, into the boiling soup.
Sing Sing stared at the pot of mixed stew, his heart bleeding.
Luke, who was sitting next to me, had an injury on his back and could only eat clear soup.
Sing Sing walked over, cursing, took the empty bowls from the group, scooped out two spoonfuls of pure sesame paste, added a few drops of sesame oil, some chive blossoms and fermented bean curd sauce, mixed it well, and then distributed it to them.
"You have to dip it in something; what's the point of just eating boiled cabbage?"
Martha scooped up a piece of cooked tofu and put it in Nina's bowl.
The little girl blew on the hot food and took a bite.
Harry ate until he was sweating profusely, coughing from the spiciness of the chili, but he couldn't resist putting more chopsticks into the hot pot.
Sand Rat eat the least elegantly.
Towards the end of the hot pot meal, he even scooped out the scallion segments and ginger slices used to enhance the flavor from the broth, coated them with a thick layer of sesame sauce, and ate them clean.
The charcoal fire slowly dimmed.
The plates on the table were empty.
Martha put down her chopsticks, stood up, and began clearing the empty bowls and plates from the table.
"You rest, let me do it." Secretary Liu stepped forward to help.
"I'm used to working on the farm, and my bones ache when I'm idle. It's good to move around." Martha was quick and efficient.
Nina also helped to put the bone plates on the table into the trash can.
Sing Sing didn't stop him anymore.
I feel more at ease letting them do what they can.
Wolverine lay on a recliner nearby, a bottle of Yanjing Beer open in his hand. The sound of running water came from the kitchen, accompanied by Martha softly humming Texas country folk song.
Harry and Luke leaned against the doorframe, chatting.
The Sand Rat patted its full belly and burped.
This place...
Not bad.