In 1954, Cheng Ruming, who was transferred from Tianjin to Beijing Railway as a chef because of his excellent cooking skills, received a special transfer order: to go to Zhongnanhai to work as a chef for Chairman Mao.
Cheng Ruming was excited and nervous to be Chairman Mao's chef. I was excited that I could cook for Chairman Mao, but I was nervous that I couldn't cook for Chairman Mao. In this uneasy mood, Cheng Ruming decided to start with Chairman Mao's favorite - braised pork, so that he could leave a good impression on Chairman Mao.
However, the braised pork that he had worked so hard to make did not let Chairman Mao move his chopsticks, which puzzled Cheng Ruming. Fortunately, Cheng Ruming was a person who dared to ask questions, so he directly asked Chairman Mao if he was dissatisfied with his braised pork.
Chairman Mao's answer enlightened Cheng Ruming, and he racked his brains to solve this problem. Later, this problem was solved with the efforts of Cheng Ruming, and Chairman Mao was full of praise for Cheng Ruming's cooking skills. However, when Cheng Ruming was Chairman Mao's chef, he once did something that made Chairman Mao angry.
So, why didn’t Chairman Mao eat the braised pork that Cheng Ruming originally prepared? What did Cheng Ruming do to make Chairman Mao change his mind, and what made Chairman Mao angry?
1. The great man became angry
During Cheng Ruming's time as Chairman Mao's chef, the most unforgettable thing for him was the fact that Chairman Mao was angry because of him. As we all know, Chairman Mao is very gentle and considerate towards the people and the staff around him. However, when he was angry with Cheng Ruming that time, he did have a reason.
In 1959, drought broke out in many areas of our country, resulting in a significant drop in grain output. Seeing that people in many places were temporarily in trouble, the whole country was united in trying to save their lives as much as possible in order to successfully survive this year of famine. As a national leader, Chairman Mao took the lead in saving and strictly controlled dietary standards. For this reason, he requested that his kitchen no longer cook any meat dishes. This temporarily embarrassed Cheng Ruming.
As Chairman Mao's chef, the most important thing is for the Chairman to maintain balanced nutrition. However, now that the country is suffering from a drought, the chairman advocates frugality, and all kinds of ingredients have been reduced, and meat dishes are not allowed. So, how can we ensure that every meal on the chairman's table is nutritious?
adheres to the good quality of facing problems and solving them. Cheng Ruming decided to start with Chairman Mao's preferences. Since we can’t cook meat dishes and we don’t have that many ingredients, we should make more careful preparations of Chairman Mao’s favorite home-cooked dishes.
Cheng Ruming knew that Chairman Mao liked the radish cakes he made, so he started making radish cakes in different ways. Although Chairman Mao still liked to eat them, Cheng Ruming considered that no oil was used in the making of radish cakes, and even the most basic oil needs of the body were not met, so he found another way and made scallion pancakes with a higher oil content.
Thinking that Chairman Mao didn’t like eating onions very much, Cheng Ruming made a lot of determination before making “scallion pancakes”, because if he failed, Chairman Mao might be even less interested in onions. However, in order to get Chairman Mao to eat something that could increase nutrition, Cheng Ruming thought twice and plunged into the kitchen to make repeated preparations. Finally, his scallion pancake was presented to Chairman Mao after being unanimously approved by his comrades.
Chairman Mao also admired Cheng Ruming's scallion pancakes . However, there was one thing that Chairman Mao was not satisfied with: too much oil.
In difficult times, Chairman Mao suggested using less lard. In order to reassure Cheng Ruming, Chairman Mao also specifically told Cheng Ruming: "Don't worry about the lack of oil and the abundance of green onions. I won't eat this cake. Just feel free to cook it. I will eat whatever you cook!"
Because of the drought, Chairman Mao not only had to preside over daily work, but also inspected the disaster relief situation across the country, which caused Chairman Mao to have some minor physical symptoms. Cheng Ruming silently remembered what his doctor said, "Nutrition has not kept up with demand."
On New Year's Eve in 1960, when Chairman Mao invited everyone to the New Year's Eve dinner, he said to everyone: "This year is a special situation. Although we don't have chicken, duck or fish, it's good to have these simple meals!" After saying that, he took the lead in eating a piece of scallion pancake.
Unexpectedly, Chairman Mao's expression changed immediately after chewing a few times. He put down his chopsticks and shouted sternly: "Call Cheng Ruming!"
Everyone was still confused, but Cheng Ruming had already walked in. Looking at Cheng Ruming, Chairman Mao sternly reprimanded him: "Try what's in this scallion pancake for yourself? Have you forgotten what I said to you? How dare you deceive me!"
Everyone looked at each other, and Cheng Ruming took a piece of scallion pancake and said with red eyes: "It's meat, Chairman. You can punish me, it's all on my own initiative. I'll admit it if you fire me or transfer me, but, this You must eat the scallion pancakes. The doctor has said that you can’t keep up with your nutrition and the work is really heavy. It’s impossible not to eat meat. Your body must be the first priority! I will let you eat this meat even if I lose my job!”
The minced meat hidden in the scallion pancakes was Cheng Ruming’s true love for Chairman Mao. Faced with this, Chairman Mao's eyes turned red. Everyone was also moved by Cheng Ruming's sincerity. Chairman Mao immediately ordered the scallion pancakes to be distributed to all the staff that night, and punished Cheng Ruming, who was "clever" in the scallion pancakes, by not being allowed to make any more scallion pancakes.
2. Improved Braised Pork
In 1962, the disaster was brought under control and the living standards of the people across the country returned to normal. Cheng Ruming was very happy because he could finally cook a meal of braised pork for Chairman Mao. However, Chairman Mao looked at Cheng Ruming with a smile and said: "We must continue to be diligent and frugal. We can't make braised pork, but you can make scallion pancakes if you want."
This was Chairman Mao's revocation of his punishment two years ago, and Cheng Ruming was extremely excited.
Speaking of braised pork, Cheng Ruming put a lot of effort into it. Initially, under Cheng Ruming's questioning, he learned that Chairman Mao did not use chopsticks on the braised pork he made because the Chairman did not like to eat food made with soy sauce. After learning about this, Cheng Ruming was worried that Chairman Mao would not be able to enjoy many delicacies that required soy sauce, so he determined to find a good recipe.
Huangtian pays off. Cheng Ruming was inspired by candied haws and used sugar color stir-fried with white sugar instead of soy sauce to bring a bright color to the braised pork. After the success of this method, Cheng Ruming's braised pork was deeply loved by Chairman Mao.
After that, Cheng Ruming tried the method of frying sugar-colored to make a lot of Chairman Mao's hometown dishes - Hunan cuisine. Chairman Mao highly praised Cheng Ruming's cooking skills, especially the braised pork. When Chairman Mao entertained foreign guests and distinguished guests, he would ask Cheng Ruming to cook a portion.
From serving as Chairman Mao's chef to Chairman Mao's death, Cheng Ruming has always fulfilled his mission and put Chairman Mao's health first in everything. This dedicated work attitude is Cheng Ruming's dual respect for Chairman Mao and his own work.
