what to do? what to do……
Little Tommy looked at the bald man wearing a chef's apron in front of him in fear, his mind buzzing with confusion. He had the urge to run away, but his legs seemed to be filled with lead and refused to obey his orders.
"Sorry, I forgot to clean the pool, let me do it -"
The man named "Master" smiled and put his hand into the brass sink. He gently scratched the sink with his strong palms, collected the hair at the bottom and edges, took out the filter tank together, and rubbed it carefully. Into the trash can.
Tommy carefully glanced into the kitchen waste bin, where there was clearly a bloody scalp.
After finishing the treatment, the bald man went into the wash basin to rinse his hands, and then used castile soap to rub his hands inside and out again. While wiping his hands with a towel, he asked:
"The last helper really left me a mess. By the way, what's your name?"
Can't talk to him. Can't talk to him. Can't talk to him. Tommy's mind was filled with this idea.
"Am I talking to you, kid?"
The man did not give up, but just looked at him expectantly and stopped doing anything.
After a few minutes passed, Tommy couldn't bear the silent torture anymore and could only whisper:
"I'm so sorry, sir. Club policy is that I can't talk to you."
"Yeah, it's a club rule. But when you say that to me, you're already breaking the rules."
Does he mean, I broke the rules? ! Tommy shivered again. What will he do to me? Will I also become a steak on the dinner table?
"Haha, don't be nervous, nothing will happen. Everyone here is violating the rules - the moral code."
The master smiled kindly. If he added eyebrows and hair, he would look more like a regular good guy.
"We don't have to follow the rules in everything. On the contrary, sometimes breaking away from the constraints of the rules will make people's hearts more fulfilling. What's your name?"
"Tommy."
"Oh, okay Tommy...I understand. Don't be nervous. If nothing happens in the future, we can get along for a long time. I will teach you some things slowly, but there are some truths that I must let you understand clearly. .”
The chef nodded and smiled, then picked up a bright red chili pepper with two fingers from the vegetable basket:
"By the way, Tommy, do you know what this is?"
"Chili." Tommy hesitated for a moment, then answered.
He heard about this small vegetable that burned like fire from a sailor, and sometimes the crew would use it to make a sauce to cover up the salty smell of dried meat. But he had never tasted it himself.
"Yes, spiciness is a pain, but some people are addicted to its taste - the spicier the dish, the happier he eats. The same is true for diners here, who have an addictive obsession with crossing moral boundaries .”
As he spoke, the master put the chili pepper into his mouth, bit off half of the chili pepper in one bite, closed his eyes and chewed it repeatedly in his mouth with enjoyment:
"It's not bad. The spiciness is just right. Have you ever tried fresh chili peppers? Do you want to give it a try?"
He handed over the remaining half of the pepper. You could still see the full, milky white seeds inside the bright red peel, which looked very attractive.
But people and vegetables are not the same thing. Tommy didn't dare to say these words, so he could only lower his head and say expressionlessly and respectfully:
"The club rules that I cannot eat the food you give me."
"Well, you can't force this." The master smiled helplessly, ate the remaining half of the pepper, and flicked the green tail into the trash can.
"You think I'm a bad person, don't you Tommy? You're dead wrong. People who are truly evil at heart are indifferent to morality. If you can't feel any stimulation from eating chili peppers or drinking water, then what's the fun in it? What's the point?"
"...I can tell you that those diners are good people with good consciences. They know what they are doing, and they feel guilty, sad, and self-blame, so they can truly enjoy the food."
"Morality is an artificial boundary. Only by crossing this non-existent boundary can people reach nature, truly discover themselves, understand themselves, and enjoy themselves. This is the meaning of the existence of the 'Desire Club'."
For Tommy, he didn't take this philosophy into heart, he just felt in a trance. These days were like living in a dream. He wished he could continue selling his newspapers when he opened his eyes, and he could continue to share what he saw on the street with the beautiful and approachable Miss Catalina.
He shouldn't be here. He thought this job could change his destiny, but he didn't expect that it would kill him at any time.
The chef took out a pack of Blue Star cigarettes from the pocket of the chef's skirt, lit it with a pop on the gas stove, and handed it to Tommy:
"Your body is shaking. Have a smoke. It's not food and it won't be against club rules."
"Thank you." Tommy took the handed cigarette and squeezed out a sentence through his teeth.
"Everyone comes from an apprenticeship. It's natural to be afraid, but you can't always be afraid, you know?"
The master came over, first patted Tommy's thin shoulder affectionately, and then said:
"After you finish smoking, go wash the potatoes, and then I'll teach you how to peel them. This is a high-end restaurant, and the requirements may be different from your usual methods..."
…
