The General's Delicious Wife Chapter 013: Passing successfully
Because the Cui family's eldest granddaughter is getting married, so other than the second branch family that is far away at Liao Dong, the remaining branches of the Cui family has returned to the old main house in this village.
Cui Old Sir is sitting in the main room's brick bed smoking, opposite him sits the Cui's eldest grandson Cui Shu Qing, other sons and daughters-in-law, grandsons and granddaughters are all crowding around on the floor.
Madam Shan brings in Xia Yue Chu, setting the two dishes down on the bed desk. She pushes Xia Yue Chu to the front and pokes her in the back, implying her to say something.
Xia Yue Chu is wearing a rough cloth brown garb today, in her hair there is also only a copper hairpin, there is not a single article worth of value on her.
Seeing her condition, the people in the house snort and snicker.
Xia Yue Chu is not a tiny bit fearful, unhurriedly and gracefully starts her introduction. "These two dishes, one is called 'Until hair turns white', one is called 'Shreds of adoration', please have a taste Cui Old Sir!"
"These two dishes have such interesting names, did you come up with it?" Cui Shu Qing sees the dishes and asks with interest.
Xia Yue Chu supposes that this person should be that scholar studying in the city, according to what Madam Sun has said.
"Yes, the first dish is made from white cabbage leaves enveloping meat filling and steamed, it is topped with vermicelli and drizzled with a sauce, the name of 'white' is taken from the white cabbage and the appearance of the thin white vermicelli, calling it 'Until hair is white" for a good omen."
Cui Shu Qing inclines in, looking into the bowl of Wensi Tofu. "This dish is made beautifully, as written in the old poetry, heavy makeup or light touch up is always suitable. This dish perfectly depicts the essence of the mountain and water painting, making one unable to move the chopsticks."
Before waiting for Xia Yue Chu to respond this time, Madam Shan cannot help but to speak up. "This soup requires mastery skills! Look at the thin shreds on the top, it looks like an embroidered flower, if its not mentioned, who would have known that this is tofu!"
"Tofu?" Cui Shu Qing is shocked to hear this, moving closer to inspect. Then picking up two strands with his chopsticks and putting it into his mouth tasting it carefully. "It is really tofu!"
Upon his verification, the others get up to check it out, even Cui Old Sir puts down his tobacco pouch.
"Don't tell me that tofu as thin as this is cut with a knife?" Cui Shu Qing ladles a small bowl tofu soup and sets it in front of Cui Old Sir.
"Truth to be told, if not for seeing it with my own eyes, I won't believe if anyone tells me." Madam Shan continues chatting, telling the story of Xia Yue Chu cutting the tofu, recounting it with extravagant details.
Xia Yue Chu has come to an understanding that Madam Shan is a truly honest person. As long as there is real capability, she will recognise them, she shows everything on her face and will not make things difficult for others behind their backs.
Listening to Madam Shan's storytelling which is full of praises, Cui Old Sir has slowly and calmly started to eat.
As a spoonful of tofu soup enters his mouth, his expression changes slightly. Looking down into his bowl and pursing his lips, this is different from the taste that he has imagined.
Without giving any verdict, he picks up a piece of white cabbage meat roll, takes a bite and the meat juice pours forth.
This dish is made extremely soft and chewy, it has a nice bite to it, and the sweetness of white cabbage balances with the salty meat stuffing, it magnifies the refreshing flavour of the dish, making one desire to eat some more.
Cui Old Sir picks off another two white cabbage meat roll into his own plate and ladles another small bowl of tofu soup, then he waves his hand. "All of you come and taste this as well."
Seeing Old Sir's actions, the rest already know these dishes must not be bad.
Hence, the younger kids bolt up, snatching off the all the white cabbage roll.
Cui Shu Qing perceives the chaos and ladles two more scoops of tofu soup into his small bowl quickly, then protecting his own bowl as he goes to a corner.
The adults who are still reserved in the beginning, realised that there won't be anything left for them to eat if they continue to take it slow. They ordered the children out of their way swiftly and crowd up to have a taste.
The white cabbage meat roll is convenient for the taking, so it has been cleared by the kids and women early on, the men did not have any, only tasting a few bites of the vermicelli and then finishes up the tofu soup to the last drop.
Cui Shu Qing shielding his own bowl, taking small sips of his tofu soup with a fear that the others may snatch it away from him.
"Sir, what do you think, I thought it tasted better than the chef who prepared the wedding banquet, the dishes are made prettily too, the names are also auspicious."
Cui Old Sir empties his plate of white cabbage meat roll and his bowl of tofu soup. He looks well satisfised but did not make the decision immediately. Turning his head to his eldest daughter-in-law Madam Wang. "Eldest's wife, what do you think?"
Everyone can tell that Old Sir is well pleased, Madam Wang naturally will not mention anything negative.
Furthermore, she thinks that these two dishes are delicious as well. They look appetizing and the names are great, it will definitely be promising for the newlywed's returning banquet.
Madam Wang smiles in responds. "I thought it tasted strangely good, the names sounded good too. If Father likes it as well, then we should confirm it!"
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Seeing Old Sir nodding his head reservedly, Madam Wang faces Xia Yue Chu. "Come over tomorrow morning, we will start the banquet at noon. There will be two tables set, ten dishes for each table. Lunch will be provided at noon, we will give you three hundred copper coins, we will give red packet* for excellence standards too!"
Xia Yue Chu has surveyed previously, at the current times now, a young man wages per day, taking on the most strenuous labour, is approximately one hundred copper coins.
Although the head chef is a job of skills and workmanship, the wages for being hired to prepare a banquet will not be low, but as of now, she is nameless with no credibility, getting busy over half a day for three hundred copper coins is not a bad deal.
"But I have two things to ask for." Xia Yue Chu has not agreed in the instant but raises her own conditions.
"Wei, who do you think you are, we are already giving you the honour to hire you, still dare to bargain with conditions?" There is a young lady around fifteen or sixteen years of age sitting on the floor who jumps up with displeasure.
"Undisciplined!" Cui Old Sir scolds. "Is this your place to speak?"
"Grandfather, I…" The young lady is not convinced and wanted to argue, but she is held back by her parents beside her.
On the other hand, Cui Shu Qing smiles and ask. "Tell us, what are the two things you are asking for?"
"Firstly, since I'm here to cook, the people in the kitchen needs to heed to my instructions, there can't be anyone who interrupts or hinders over the dishes I make."
"That is natural, you don't have to worry about it." Cui Shu Qing agrees straight away. "And the second?"
"My sister-in-law from my house works with cleanliness and efficiency, she is the one helping me today preparing the ingredients and watching the fire while I am cooking, can she come tomorrow with me as a kitchen assistant?"
"That is even easier, we are hiring kitchen helpers to begin with, it is the same for us no matter who comes. You have my word on the behalf of my mother over these two conditions." Cui Shu Qing promises without a second thought.
Hearing what her son has said, Madam Wang agrees straightforwardly as well. "No problem. If your sister-in-law comes, we will follow the rates for the kitchen assistant which will be thirty coins. Are you relieved now?"
Xia Yue Chu then nods her head. "I need someone to go through the list of ingredients we have in the house and also to enquire if there are any foods to avoid for the guests tomorrow. Once these are confirmed, I will list out a menu for your verification. After confirmed by both parties, I will come over this afternoon to prepare for the ingredients that we need for tomorrow."
"Never have I thought, you look so young but your manner of work is well thought through." Madam Wang commends on Xia Yue Chu. "You can ask Madam Guo and Madam Shan concerning the things about the kitchen. I am not too sure about the foods to avoid, I will send someone over to inform you later once I have asked."
Xia Yue Chu gets Madam Sun to return home first. She meticulously goes through everything the Cui family has in the kitchen and drafts out the ten dishes of the menu in her heart.
After confirming in communication with Madam Wang, it is already late in the day. Xia Yue Chu remembers that she has to brew medicine for Xue Zhuang, so she goes home in a rush.
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Translator Notes:
*Red packet/red envelope usually contains money, given from an elder to someone younger as an auspicious wish on an auspicious day.