The General's Delicious Wife Chapter 052: Satisfied Guests and Hosts
Cui Second Sire had been by the seaside for many years, and he was naturally a knowledgeable person. He saw that the crab meat was extracted along the natural alignment of the meat shred, instead of being piled from broken bits and pieces at random, he could not help but exclaimed in wonder.
"Before coming back, I was still afraid that the cook over here won't be able to handle the seafood and waste the good ingredients. I was still contemplating about it at the time, in the worst-case scenario, I can prepare them personally, just boil everything and let everyone have a taste of something new. Never have I thought that it is I who have underestimated the people here. This crab is made so delicately, it is on par with the big restaurant's master chefs over at our side. Father, what's the background of this main chef you have found? Based on their skills, it would require at least a couple of decades as experience."
"Second Uncle, you have misjudged this." Cui Shu Qing smiled and shook his head, "Sister Xue is only early twenties in age, it couldn't be that she started practicing her craft when she is a few years old."
"Only in the early twenties?" Cui Second Sire truly did not expect this, this chef who surprised him from the start to finish was only so young in age.
Cui Shu Qing involuntarily swallowed the crab roe in his mouth and replied with admiration. "When I went to the kitchen just now, I saw Sister Xue picking at the last piece of crab, I didn't know how it was done, I only saw her using something like a crochet needle, with a few finger movements and the snow-white meat fell on the plate one after another. It was amazing."
"It seems that there exist really talented beings in this world." Cui Old Sire finished eating his crab contentedly and washed his hands in the orange peel water.
He usually paid the utmost attention to his health, and as he got older, he only ate to seventy or eighty percent full each day, but today... ...
Cui Old Sire touched his already protruding stomach, hesitated for a moment, and decisively threw those health care principles to the back of his mind, then he began to eat blueberry yam cake with a satisfied expression.
The feast at the main table was in full swing, the plates were dry and the bowls were clean, while the atmosphere over the female table in the inner room was even more lively.
Northeast cuisine mostly encircled around braised and stewed dishes. Even when the quantity was large and the taste was good, it was not refined enough, especially for some madams from the wealthier families, they would come to an impression that it was not posh enough.
But the feast today was vastly different from the usual. Not only was it exquisite and beautiful, but the food was also made in small delicate portions and easy to be eaten, the taste was so delicious that it made them speechless.
In the beginning, Madam Liu was still holding the expectations to watch Madam Wang and Xia Yue Chu making a joke of themselves, but as the starter snacks were served, she knew that she was underestimating Xia Yue Chu.
As the following dishes were served one after another, the very last bit of spite in her heart had also dissipated, being completely immersed in the bliss of eating such delicious delicacy.
And the one who was the most pleased from this banquet was actually Madam Wang, she had no idea how much this banquet had extended her face. Even the wife of the official registrar from the city, Madam Guo, who was normally cold and distant was beaming, she even took the initiative to talk to her.
Madam Wang was simply flattered.
You had to know, since the old madam in the family had passed away, the maintenance of relationship with all the madams in the society had become her responsibility.
However, this was after all, the contacts accumulated by the previous generation, although Cui Old Sire was still around and everyone was still willing to oblige, there was always a layer of barrier which could not bind them up any closer.
Madam Wang had never expected that a mere birthday banquet, would be able to dissolve most of the awkwardness in those relationships.
During the later part of the banquet, after the sweetness of wine and their ears turning hot, the wife of the official registrar was praising her for doing a great job at leading the household and the heart felt intentions in preparing for this birthday celebration of the elderly.
Shan Chang Madam from the academy in town was also praising her for her discerning eye over talented people, and she inquired about the origins of the hired master chef.
Madam Wang was so happy that she drank two more cups than she usually did, she was able to become more outspoken, unlike her past accustomed caution where she would speak based on the other party's reaction, her straightforward and graceful true nature made people appreciate her even more. The relationship was drawn to a closer degree while everyone ate and drank to their fill.
After lunch, some of the guests went home directly, and some were arranged to rest in the guest room, Madam Wang finally had the time to take a few sips of strong tea to sober up. Then, she asked someone to go to the kitchen and invited Xia Yue Chu over.
After finishing the last dish Xia Yue Chu was leading the people in packing up the kitchen.
The chore of cleaning was typically done by the kitchen aids, Xia Yue Chu main task was to pack the remaining ingredients appropriately.
When she finished her work at hand, she went to check the progress of the kitchen helpers, only to find that Xue Qin was gone without a trace.
Xia Yue Chu felt her heart sink all of the sudden. She had inquired about it before from Elder Sister Shan.
There would be many people from prestigious families in town and even family members of the regional city official. This was an important beginning for her to break open into the market of the town and the city.
Moreover, Madam Guo had come over just now to mention that both the guests and the hosts were very satisfied with the banquet this time, so Xia Yue Chu could expect to be well rewarded for her work.
Although Xia Yue Chu urgently needed the money, it had never been her ultimate goal to receive more for her tips, expanding her contacts and establishing her reputation was the most important thing.
She squeezed her hands tightly into fists on her side. If Xue Qin acted out haphazardly in the heat of her rut and ruined her hard work, she would definitely not be lenient to her.
Xia Yue Chu dared not delay any longer, she washed her hands in a rush and prepared to go find Xue Qin herself, who knew that just as she stepped out the door, she would bump into Madam Guo directly.
"Yue Chu, come with me quickly." Madam Guo grabbed Xia Yue Chu with a happy expression on her face, and even the way she called her became extra intimate.
Xia Yue Chu had to cheer up and asked with a smile. "Looking at Auntie being so happy, are there any good news that you are bringing me?"
When Madam Guo heard Xia Yue Chu calling herself auntie directly, she laughed even merrier that only her eyebrows could be seen but not her eyes, pulling her towards the main room.
"Isn't that a good thing! Didn't I tell you beforehand to just wait to be rewarded today, it was truly as I have said."
"If there is indeed reward money, then it must be because Auntie has spoken in my favor kindly." As Xia Yue Chu was joking about with Auntie Guo, she was paying attention to their surroundings from the corner of her eyes, but she did not find Xue Qin.
When Xia Yue Chu walked into the West wing of the house, Xia Yue Chu saw Madam Wang sitting at the brick bed desk with a slightly flushed face.
"Aiya, here you are." When Madam Wang saw Xia Yue Chu, she smiled immediately and called her over to her side. Pulling at her hands, she said. "You have worked really hard for today's birthday banquet, everyone was eating very well, even the wife of the official registrar and Shan Chang Madam kept praising you."
When Xia Yue Chu heard this, she felt relieved.
These two people basically represented the two main social circles of all the madams in the regional cities, one was the circle of official's wives and family members, the other one was the circle of well literate madams.
If she could catch the appetite of these two people, it would be very beneficial for her to open up her business in the regional city.
She thought so in her heart, but there was no trace of it on her face, and she only smiled to express her gratitude for Madam Wang's praise.
"Madam had placed your trust in me, by hiring me for such an important occasion as the Old Sire's birthday banquet, it is natural that I should be doing my best and not be an embarrassment to Madam."
It was much more than not being embarrassed today for Madam Wang. It was a huge leap of growth in her reputation. Just thinking back to Cui Second Madam's expression earlier, her reluctance to admit conceit despite being unable to suppress her desire to enjoy the food, was a delight to Madam Wang's health and heart.
"This is your salary today, and this bag is your reward." Madam Wang said as she took out two purses and stuffed them to Xia Yue Chu.
The purse did not look big, but it was heavy on its weight. Xia Yue Chu knew that it must be packed with silver.
Because there were five tables this time, and the dishes were much more complicated, it was agreed upon in advance that the salary would be one and a half tael of silver.
The bag of reward money was several times heavier than the salary itself, and it weighed heavily within the palm of her hand.
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Translator Notes:
Translated by YellowBean.