At four o'clock in the afternoon, there was a chaos at the entrance of the School of Surgery. Giustina was dictating the contents of her letter, and the entire Viennese surgical community was scratching their heads for this radical mastectomy. Just as Kawei was about to quietly leave through the back door to return to the hospital, he received an invitation to a dinner on the street.
The other party was wearing a luxurious dark blue formal suit, with a cane on his hand, blue-black breeches and black boots underneath, and he spoke extremely standard French. After listening to the self-introduction, Kawei realized that the other person was Edward's first-class clerk.
The clerk is equivalent to the secretary of the embassy. Even though the invitation is verbal, it shows sincerity. Kawei has no reason to refuse.
"The dinner time is set for three hours later, and the location is the Roche Shuart restaurant on the Ring Road." The clerk asked, "If you don't know Dr. Carvey, please tell him the address, and we will send a special car to pick you up. Of course, you You can also come back to the embassy with me, and we will go there together."
"I know you, thank you."
"Well, we'll see you at the restaurant at seven o'clock." The clerk smiled and bowed slightly, said a brief farewell to Kawei and then got on the carriage on the roadside.
Ambassador Edward had just met with King Franz, and now he was naturally concerned about the relationship between the two countries and their respective attitudes towards the Austro-Prussian War. Kawei knows that he is just a doctor who has nothing to do with politics, and most of the time he is called are related to medicine.
Although in Kawei's view, his achievements are mainly concentrated in the drugs methylene blue, oxytocin and sodium citrate. But from the perspective of ordinary people in the 19th century, cesarean section and the radical surgery that had just been performed were probably more exciting.
"Forget it, why do you think so much..."
Kawei also found a carriage and drove directly towards the Municipal General Hospital.
The main reason for returning to the hospital was that I had been spending the past few days in the surgical college. I had to go back to see the patients in the ward, and at the same time, I had to prepare Marshal Ludwig's spine. In order to make the operation successful, he specially collected two corpses and could start work tonight.
But now that I have to go to the banquet, I'm afraid the time will have to be postponed until tomorrow.
Half an hour later, on the other side of the Roche Shuart restaurant, chef Alphonse was taking off the apron hanging on the wall, preparing for the final sprint for the upcoming evening market. But just as he was about to get started, he was called out by the visiting secretary:
"Mr. Alphonse, Ambassador Edward needs to entertain distinguished guests tonight. I hope you can prepare a dinner for us."
"Tonight?" Alphonse was a little surprised, "But it's already four o'clock..."
"Don't be so nervous." The secretary explained with a smile, "Because the embassy is too formal, we chose to dine here. The dishes don't need to be too grand, just follow the usual specifications."
Alphonse said: "But we have a reservation system here, and diners have reserved their seats early, so there is not much room left in terms of ingredients."
"It's just ingredients. The embassy's kitchen is at your disposal. The ingredients prepared are the freshest." The other party did not reason with Alphonse at all and took out a few banknotes from his pocket. "This is a deposit of 300 kronor. We will wait for it later." There will also be 500 crowns as a reward."
"Can......"
"You should know that Mr. Edward likes your food the most, and he has always told you the truth. I am just a messenger." The clerk put the banknotes into his hand. "You only need to prepare food for five people. It shouldn't be necessary." It takes too much time.”
Alphonse always pursues the quality of ingredients, and the restaurant's profits are not high. In addition, he had been out of business for a long time, and he also needed money for turnover.
For him, the money is not small, but French food needs to be prepared in advance. Even if the ingredients from the embassy are sent to the kitchen here, there is no way to turn the basic ingredients into a French meal in just three hours. .
What's more, the embassy is still a long way away from here, and it will take an hour to drive back and forth.
what to do?
Just serve tonight's menu?
This obviously doesn't work.
Not to mention that the restaurant had just started to improve, but it was too bad of character to suddenly close temporarily. Even if they were taken away, the ingredients would definitely not meet Edward's requirements.
It is said to be an ordinary banquet, but ambassadors abroad are the personal representatives of the emperor and heads of state abroad, and the meal specifications must at least be prepared according to ordinary dinners in the palace. Now, these novel dishes, which even Alphonse himself didn't know were delicious, were not qualified to be served on Edward's table.
Everything happened so suddenly.
However, as a former palace chef, Alphonse still has something on his hands: "What else is in the kitchen?"
"Half a roasted turkey, a couple of leftover pickled partridges, two cabbages, two pigeons stuffed with truffles, some fried porcini mushrooms and raw oysters..."
Alphonse looked around the kitchen: "By the way, are there any leftovers of the marinated lobster meat?"
“There’s creamy seafood soup and lobster salad tonight, so…”
"I want to use shrimp. Just make the original salad, but replace it with chicken. Change the seafood soup to cabbage and pumpkin soup." Alphonse went into his small kitchen and took a few bottles of condiments. "Ambassador Edward's I'll handle the food by myself, and I'll leave the restaurant to you guys. Please serve me the snacks, so don't mess it up."
...
In the embassy at this time, Edward walked into the study alone. Taking off his coat and gloves, he breathed a sigh of relief. His tense nerves and body could finally relax for a while.
The previous meeting with Franz made him know at least three things.
The first thing is that the young Austrian Emperor Franz is not peace-loving.
Prussia had become a thorn in his side, and war between the two countries was inevitable. The main reason is nothing more than the incomplete carving up of the Danish land during the Danish War two years ago, which led to a series of subsequent problems.
The second thing is the Austrian attitude towards the war.
War is inevitable, and the whole country is quite confident that it can win the war. This confidence was not groundless, because Edward's immediate boss, Napoleon III, also felt that the war was a one-sided victory for Austria.
The third thing is medical treatment.
Although medical ability seems out of place in the relationship between the two countries, Edward is a person who has been on the battlefield and knows well the changes that superb surgical ability will bring to the war.
The French Empire had just defeated Austria, and its army must be stronger. But what Edward couldn't believe was that Austria's surgery had developed to the point of crushing France. Breast cancer surgery may not have a real effect yet, but cesarean section has a 100% success rate.
Cesarean section can save newborns and women of childbearing age, which is the foundation of the country.
The thought of France falling behind others made Edward uneasy.
He unbuttoned his tie and shirt, briefly sorted out his thoughts, then took out the pen and paper beside the table and began to write a letter that could be delivered directly to the emperor's hand. If nothing else happens, Emperor Nahuang will definitely make his own decision after receiving the letter. 【1】
Which side will France help, or will it continue to sit on the sidelines based on the results of its discussions with Bismarck last year?
"The Indestructible King of the Great Village"
Edward was just an ambassador, and all he could do was to tell the Emperor exactly what he saw, heard, and thought, and finally added his own opinions. As for the final decision, it actually has nothing to do with him...
It is said that it has nothing to do with it, but once the war breaks out, France's attitude will determine whether Edward will stay or go. As the French ambassador in Vienna, how could he be so sensible and safe amid the turmoil in inter-state relations?
We can only take one step at a time.
Dongdongdong~
"Please come in."
The door was gently pushed open: "Mr. Edward, Dr. Carvey has agreed to attend the banquet."
"Very good." Edward put down the pen in his hand and said, "I won't go to the countess's place. There is a strange smell in the surgical college. You can go and see her for me tomorrow."
"yes."
"Tell Justina that I will accompany her to explore the city after she recovers and is discharged from the hospital."
"yes."
"Where's the restaurant? Have you taken care of it?"
"Mr. Alphonse is selecting ingredients in the kitchen." The clerk said with a smile on his face, "He knows your taste well. The dishes include lobster, beef, pickled partridge..."
Edward was still writing the letter, and all he was thinking about was the concern between Fap and O. He couldn't bring himself to eat for the time being: "I asked you to check Dr. Kawi's information this morning. How is it? Are there any results?"
"We are still investigating, it will take some time."
"Huh?" Edward was a little strange, "I didn't ask you to dig up the history. I just want to know his resume. Is it that difficult?"
"We only know that he was a doctor who just entered the hospital two months ago, and was recommended to the University of Vienna last month. What he said before..." The secretary hesitated, not knowing what sentence to choose to describe it. Life before Kavi.
"What happened before?" Edward asked casually, "Where did you go to middle school?"
"He, he never went to middle school."
"Didn't go to middle school..." Edward's thoughts hadn't turned around yet. It wasn't until the study room became completely quiet that he realized something was wrong. "What did you say? He didn't go to middle school?"
"It's true that I haven't been there before. I heard that he was just a tree cutter."
"This is impossible!" Edward sat up straight and said, "He is a baron. How can an heir to a baron not go to middle school? Besides, how can he enter university without going to middle school?"
"It seems to be the school recommended by Dean Waterman."
"He didn't go to high school. Does he know Latin?"
"Seems like he's learned quite well."
"Does he know French?"
"The conversation I just had with him was in French. I have to say that Dr. Carvey behaves well and is very fluent in French."
If the man standing in front of him wasn't his confidant, Edward wouldn't even dare to believe his ears: "This is so strange. Is he a genius?"
At this point, he finally understood what Franz said before.
Kawei might be a genius, a true medical genius.
Surprised, several thoughts immediately passed through Edward's mind. He pondered for a moment, and then immediately ordered: "Don't let Alphonse go. The dinner will be held at the embassy, and I want to entertain him here."
"This is the embassy, Mr. Edward." The secretary was a little worried. "According to the previous plan, this should be the last step in getting to know Dr. Carvey."
"I changed my mind." Edward immediately pushed aside the half-written letter in front of him and took another one from the side. "Such a powerful young man is exactly what France needs. I have to realize the importance of being in Austria." Hold him in the palm of your hand before sex!"
"Okay, I'm going to find Alphonse now."
"By the way, what's the name of the surgeon Marshal McMahon invited?"
"Alfred Vilpeo."
Edward immediately wrote down his name on the first line of the letter: "I hope my efforts will be rewarded."
"You've worked really hard." The clerk said politely, turned around and glanced at the closed door, then slowly walked towards Edward's desk, "How about you go out and relax at night?"
"You mean..."
The clerk nodded: "As long as you tell me, I will go there personally and help you prepare it anytime and anywhere."
Edward wanted to say no, he was really tired today. But my body felt like it was addicted, and it really couldn't resist the desire to be aroused. Once this kind of thought comes up, it will be like a cat scratching its paws, making it impossible for him to calm down: "If you follow the process, the dinner should be over before ten o'clock."
"There's definitely enough time. I'll be there at half past ten and come back at six in the morning..."
Edward listened to his casual plan and seemed to be unable to find any flaws: "Okay, let's go there again."
...
At seven o'clock in the evening, Kawei, who had just got out of the car, stood blankly in front of the Roche Shuart restaurant.
The so-called see-and-see did not allow him to see Edward and the clerk. Instead, he was greeted by another open carriage that looked familiar. The change of things was beyond his expectation, and what was even more unexpected were the other guests at the same table.
In addition to several senior French officials in the embassy, there were also Imperial Foreign Minister Karl and Edinson, who had always disliked seeing Kavey.
Kawei stepped forward to shake hands and greet each other one by one. As the first assistant who had just completed radical breast cancer surgery, he became the protagonist at the dinner table.
"Let's serve the food first. Let's chat while we eat." Edward waved to the servant, "Come and try the skills of a French chef who has worked in the palace for more than ten years. He is much better than the two chefs I brought to Vienna. ”
Kawei thought of Alphonse as soon as he heard it. He looked up at the door and saw the fat French chef wearing a top hat and pushing a dining cart slowly toward the dining table.
"Thanks to the rich ingredients of the embassy, today I chose a set of dishes that were once the favorite of the Sun King Louis XIV. First of all, the first dish: Queen's soup, which is made of good partridge meat puree and pheasant chicken stuffing. Meatballs, drizzled with butter, fried over low heat and stewed into a thick soup.”
