Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 263: Guests begin to order food for banquet

Qi Xi touched the back of his head sheepishly, and continued: "But that's much better than the original food on the construction site."

"At noon, the young master told me that he had sent the cook away with an excuse and asked me to prepare meals for 15 people in the big kitchen that night and send them over on a cart."

"The young master promised Chef Jiang in the kitchen that if he cooked extra meals for the construction site that day, he would give him an extra hundred coins in wages. Chef Jiang was so happy."

"I taught him how to make it. He was used to making the big pot meals for the yamen runners, so he was very skillful. The cabbage and bean sprouts were ready, and he made it in less than an hour."

"The taste is okay, and Chef Jiang even added some fried tofu to it."

Qixi grinned when he said this, as if he was blaming Chef Jiang for adding something else randomly: "The fried tofu looks like fried eggs, but it doesn't taste like that."

"Chef Jiang said that this way the eggs look more abundant, and he kept asking me who I learned this from. The food cooked this way tastes pretty good. I lied to him and said I figured it out myself, and he believed me."

Shen Yu laughed as he listened, and suddenly remembered the scene when he was a child, eating scrambled eggs with green peppers at his aunt's house in the evening.

Under the dim light, I picked up one piece and it was tofu, and then another piece and it was tofu. I felt disappointed but couldn't speak of it. It was such a long time ago, and now when I think about it, it seems like something from my previous life.

Shen Yu smiled and consoled him, "Tofu is not bad either. It's made from beans and it can satisfy your hunger. Chef Jiang's idea is good. Tofu is always cheaper than eggs."

Qi Xi was happy again after hearing what Shen Yu said, nodding repeatedly: "Although tofu is not as fragrant as eggs, it looks like a larger portion."

"Chef Jiang said that he would also make this dish for the yamen runners. Sometimes they go to the countryside to do errands, and when they come back they are like hungry wolves, complaining that there is not enough food."

"This dish of fried shredded pancakes has both rice and vegetables, is cheap, filling, and quick to make. It's a great dish."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "That's good. I can eat more and have more energy when repairing the road. Have you asked about the road repair for me?"

Qi Xi nodded hurriedly: "I did ask, but I was in a hurry to leave that day and forgot to tell the girl."

"Young Master said that the local residents must first report the road repair, and the master can only make a decision after conducting an on-site inspection of the road damage. There are standards for whether a road should be repaired, and it can only be repaired if it is damaged to a certain extent."

"Another thing is to see if there is enough money in the county government. If there is, we can repair it."

After hearing this, Shen Yu knew that there was little hope. Unless the merchants here applied collectively, no one would come to repair it.

Seeing that Shen Yu didn't say anything, Qi Xi comforted him, "The young master also said that when there is a chance, he will mention it to the master, or if the big merchants here are willing to pay for it, it can be repaired."

Shen Yu realized that he had lost his composure, and hurriedly smiled to cover it up, "Well, it's nothing. I just saw that the road was too muddy on a rainy day, so I asked if it was possible to repair it."

"Go back and tell your young master to thank him for his troubles. Don't force this matter, so as not to upset the county magistrate."

Qi Xi added, "My young master also said that he will return to his hometown in a few days to celebrate the birthday of the Madam. The banquet he arranged with his classmates will have to wait until he returns."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "My shop here can cook at any time, we can discuss it then."

When Qi Xi saw that he had finished his instructions, he hurriedly said goodbye, saying that he wanted to help Chef Jiang prepare a meal. He had been the one delivering meals these days.

After saying this, he bowed and left in a hurry.

After Qixi left, Shen Yu thought while making cakes that if he had more money in the future, he could repair the road in front of his shop.

At least you won't be covered in mud on rainy days and dirt on sunny days. The store will also be cleaner and you don't have to keep half the door closed when it's windy.

At this time, the window paper pasted on the doors and windows has poor light transmittance. When the shop door is half closed, the room will be a little dark. If it is a rainy day, you have to light oil candles in the room in broad daylight.

At noon, a shop assistant came over and said, "Our shopkeeper has a guest from out of town today, and he is handing over the goods now."

"I've finished my work, and I want to invite him over for a simple meal. I want to ask if the young lady can prepare a table of food for him, four dishes and a plate of skewers."

Shen Yu asked with a smile: "About what time will he come? Is the guest from the south or the north? Does he like sweet or spicy food?"

The waiter was also smart. He thought for a moment and replied, "The customer is from the south. We will be able to count the goods in about an hour."

"This guest must like sweet food. Our shopkeeper invited him before, and he even sent someone to buy sweet bean soup for him, saying that he couldn't get used to our soups."

Shen Yu nodded and said, "I understand. I will prepare it now. One hour will be enough. Please ask your shopkeeper and the guests to come over then."

The guy thanked him, bowed and left.

Mrs. Li said worriedly, "Yuzhi, our store is simple. Will it be in time? Where will we let them eat then?"

Shen Yu pointed to a table in the corner of the store and said, "Mom, don't worry. When they arrive, the guests who came for lunch will have almost finished their meal. They can just sit in the corner."

"I know the owner of this shop. He is in the silk business. The customers are from the south. I think they are from Shanghang. The taste there is sweeter and fresher."

"I thought, if I cook a sweet and sour fish as the main dish, and pair it with the three stir-fried dishes of sweet and sour pork tenderloin, twice-cooked pork, and small river shrimp, and cook a portion of red bean sweet soup and add some meat skewers, the customers will be satisfied."

Seeing Shen Yu's confident look, Li felt relieved: "Fortunately, there are still a few fish I bought last time in the basin. Otherwise, where can I buy fish if I need them for cooking?"

Probably because they were raising fish with well water at that time, Shen Yu bought a dozen fish last time, but after eating a few of them, the rest were still alive and well in the big basin.

On the contrary, because there were fewer fish and they had more space to move around, the fish seemed to be more energetic.

When Shen Yu passed by, they would spit bubbles and wag their tails, which made Shen Yu unable to bear to eat them these days.

Shen Yu thought of the fish and discussed with Li: "Let's buy two more large water tanks and buy some fish to raise in them. I think it won't be difficult to raise them."

"This way we can always have live fish to eat, the price is cheap, and the dishes we cook look good."

After the pickled fish was bought by Miss Song that day, Shen Yu made it again. Everyone praised it for being delicious, especially in rainy weather, as it was refreshing and appetizing.

Li smiled and said, "That's a good idea. You don't have to worry about the water tank. I'll buy it tomorrow."