The corridor of the back kitchen is connected to the outside. There is no curtain. The cold air from outside suddenly penetrates into the corridor, and it is equally cold inside and outside.
I turned to the right and bumped into Meihua who was walking away.
When did Plum Blossom come back? I didn't even notice.
He hurriedly greeted, "Happy New Year, Master!"
Mei Hua also had a busy day, with a tired look on her face, she closed the corners of her mouth and said,
"Halfway, happy New Year!"
Mei Hua walked several steps and seemed to remember something again.
"Halfway, when can we have the New Year's Eve dinner ourselves?"
I replied,
"It's the third watch now, it's past 12 o'clock in the middle of the night. Dinner will be served soon, captain of the guard."
"Okay, but from now on, don't call me that!"
"It's just the two of us here!"
"You can just call me Plum Blossom, and I'll call you Ban Cheng. There's nothing wrong with that!"
A very happy woman.
I replied, "Nothing wrong!"
Entering the kitchen, the chefs saw that the two chief officials of the Xiangshan Hall came back to them and stood up to salute.
Plum blossoms greet everyone,
"We will also celebrate the New Year soon and have a big meal."
Then she went back to the corridor and lit the fire herself.
The corridor was so cold that I put my hands in my sleeves and didn't want to take them out, not to mention it was already midnight.
Halfway through, he bent down and asked the chefs to fetch water from the well, pour it into a clay pot, put it on the stove, and cover it with a bamboo curtain.
Then he squatted down again and poked at the bottom of the stove, which was about to fall into flames.
After he poked it like this, the flames in the stove immediately jumped.
I want to cook their Chinese New Year glutinous rice balls with my own hands on New Year’s Eve.
The cold wind blew in from outside the corridor, the fire was getting stronger, the heat finally came up, and the water began to "simmer". Mei Hua and I both rubbed our hands, one person opened the lid, and the other stirred again and again with a spoon.
This is the first time I have cooked rice balls from the Liang Kingdom. It is also the first time I have cooked rice balls for the chefs. It is also the first time I have cooked glutinous rice balls from the Spring Festival in the Liang Kingdom.
As soon as the water boils, the white and round meatballs float up.
The first jar comes out of the pot.
The steaming glutinous rice balls were brought into the hut where the chefs were dining.
At this time, the slave at the front desk sent a message:
"Master, the adults at the front desk have almost drunk. They need to serve the main food. They ordered glutinous rice balls."
After hearing this, I quickly handed over the cooked meatballs to my slave to serve to the adults first.
Then the other chefs lit the fire and started cooking the meatballs on their own stoves.
It's steamy and smokey.
Jars after jars of meatballs were sent to the front hall by the slaves.
I've been cooking meatballs for the chefs in the hallway.
It's pity for these servants who are serving on the front line. From sunset to midnight, they haven't had a sip of water or a sip of food.
If you don’t have time to eat, take turns eating.
Whoever was free would hold a bowl, put the meatballs on it and squat down to eat.
After eating the meatballs cooked by me and Mei Hua, these people all had tears in their eyes.
After that, another batch of meatballs was sent up.
…
I could see the stars outside through the hallway window.
Pluto, the brightest planet, has already passed overhead.
This should be the fourth watch, when people sleep the most deeply.
The guests had already dispersed.
But I was alone in the kitchen hallway.
He sang a song that he was reluctant to give up but very difficult to let go of.
The chefs all listened blankly, listening to his singing with half-understanding.
The song was loud and graceful,
Over the years, I would like to say that I was so confused back then.
It’s hard to choose between reality and illusion.
There have been joys and sorrows, partings and reunions,
Why are you so persistent?
Searching up and down the long road of life
Longing for a sincere life
Who can tell me whether it is right or wrong
Inquire about passengers traveling from north to south
…
The song floated out of the window from the corridor and lingered back in my ears.
This song seems to be sung to the cooks and slaves behind them.
It’s like singing to myself too!
Plum blossoms are inexplicably drunk
Just after the New Year, the Master of Plum Blossom Hall accepted the first reception task of the new year.
Queen Mother Renxian's younger brother, Chunfeng Jun Renchen, is going to entertain guests from the Mo Kingdom in the evening.
It can also be regarded as the natal family of Queen Mother Renxian.
You know, in order to prepare the New Year dinner two days ago,
He Xiangte approved that a large amount of expenses had been transferred to Xiangshantang in advance.
Because the servant in charge of the accounts has reported this situation to Mei Hua and me many times.
He Xiang said,
"First of all, I will cover the current expenses temporarily. After ten or eight days, I will apply to the king when it is convenient."
A capable person can handle no matter how difficult the situation is.
"Well, since we don't have to worry about money, let's concentrate on studying the recipes.
I feel relaxed.
Yang Yong, the big chef, is obviously very familiar with the guests at Queen Mother Renxian's house.
Be the first to comment on this recipe,
"In the past, all the ministers from the Mo Kingdom came to our place, and I was always in charge! So I have already thought of today's recipe!"
He handed the bamboo slip to Meihua calmly.
Plum Blossom didn't even look at it, she just handed the bamboo slip to me across from me.
I looked at it briefly,
There are chicken, duck and fish.
Local ingredients from Liang Guo account for the majority.
I looked up at the plum blossoms and then at Master Wang Qiang, and said,
"It seems that in the past, we paid great attention to the reception of Mexican guests. This has resulted in set meals and cuisines, which is not simple!"
The master could tell that I was praising him, and his face lit up.
But the conversation changed and I said,
"But as far as I know, Mr. Chunfeng is hosting someone of Mexican ambassador level this time.
When hosting such a person, one should be more careful in the design of recipes and the selection of ingredients! "
The chef's face turned cold.
It seems to mean, what the hell?
I have been serving here for more than thirty years, and I am no more experienced than you. I rarely make any suggestions for changes to the recipes I have formulated!
You newbies want to be creative, so go ahead!
I already understood what Yang Yong meant from his face.
I said,
"I don't mean to deny it. I know that Master Yang is definitely opposed to the opinions I'm going to say below."
"But it doesn't matter. Please listen to what I have to say, and then the captain of the guard will decide whether to accept it or not, okay!"
Plum Blossom nodded,
I said,
"I think Chunfeng-kun's hometown is the land of Mo, the land of plenty and plenty."
“There are rich products and abundant ingredients!”
"Receive high-ranking officials from such an area!"
"We need to be extra attentive. The dishes should not only reflect our local characteristics, but also consider the eating habits of our guests. People should feel like they are at home when they come to our place!"
"So, we need to highlight the main dishes on the table to reflect the reception level of our Xiangshan Hall."
"We don't understand what the standard is or isn't!"
"Then since they are a land of plenty, it's just a fish dish! Isn't it in the recipe? Didn't you see it?"
Wang Qiang asked,
I saw that Master Yang Yong’s reaction was strong and direct, so he continued,
"Master, you are right. The recipe you provided does contain fish, but the way you prepare the fish seems a bit petty to me!"
Yang Yong was about to explain his thoughts on this dish, but I motioned with my hand to wait a moment.
