Making One's Own Way with Two Hands
His nephew, He Chuan, works as a helper at his uncle Zhou Dequan's restaurant. During a twelve-table banquet, He Chuan takes care of everything himself: cutting the meat, braising the chickens, and tending the fire. Even in the early hours of the morning, he is still watching the pork knuckles cook. When the work is finished, his uncle hands him 180 yuan, saying he's earned a little extra for working so hard today. He Chuan refuses to accept it. He understands the usual helper's daily rate, but heavy banquet work should not be paid at the same ordinary daily rate. He brings out last month's accounts: three banquets, each involving more than ten hours of work a day. His uncle gets angry too, listing the rent, utilities, attracting customers, buying meat, and taking responsibility for problems, challenging him to consider who bears those costs. The uncle and nephew stand frozen beside the bubbling pot of braising broth. When money becomes the issue, even family ties are difficult to reconcile.
Main characters: He Chuan, Zhou Dequan
Also known as: 一双手做出自己的路
Sa Dalawang Kamay, Binubuo ang Sariling Landas (46 episode)
Nagtatrabaho bilang katulong sa kainan ng kanyang tiyuhing si Zhou Dequan ang pamangkin nitong si He Chuan. Sa isang handaan na may labindalawang mesa, siya…
Nagtatrabaho bilang katulong sa kainan ng kanyang tiyuhing si Zhou Dequan ang pamangkin nitong si He Chuan. Sa isang handaan na may labindalawang mesa, siya lamang ang gumawa ng lahat: naghiwa ng karne, nagluto ng anim na manok sa pampalasa, at nagbantay sa apoy. Kahit madaling-araw na, binabantayan pa rin niya ang nilulutong pata ng baboy. Nang matapos ang trabaho at oras na para magbayaran, iniabot ng tiyuhin niya ang 180 yuan at sinabing dagdag iyon dahil napagod siya nang husto ngayong araw. Tumanggi si He Chuan na tanggapin ang pera. Wala siyang pagtutol sa karaniwang arawang sahod ng isang katulong, pero hindi dapat kapareho ng ordinaryong arawang sahod ang bayad sa mabibigat na trabahong gaya ng paghahanda ng handaan. Inilabas niya ang talaan ng nakaraang buwan: tatlong handaan, at mahigit sampung oras silang nagtatrabaho bawat araw. Nagalit din ang kanyang tiyuhin at isa-isang binanggit ang upa, tubig at kuryente, paghahanap ng mga kostumer, pagbili ng karne, at pananagutan kapag may problemang mangyari. Natigilan ang matandang tiyuhin at batang pamangkin sa harap ng malaking kalderong kumukulong sabaw. Kapag pera na ang pinag-uusapan, maging ang ugnayan ng pamilya ay mahirap pagkasunduin.
一双手做出自己的路 · Making One's Own Way with Two Hands