"The dishes on the table, such as chicken, fish and pork, are not expensive. One penny is enough. What is more expensive is Aunt Zheng's cooking skills. Everyone has tasted them. They are better than the chef at the Yuelai Inn in town. You Do you know how much money it costs to hire a cook?"
Hu Er swallowed: "How much?"
Cao's sister-in-law stretched out two fingers and gestured: "Ten taels! Spread it out on each table, one, two, and five cents of silver."
The young man who looked like he was not short of money just now suddenly lost his composure.
"What nonsense are you talking about? You think we are fools. It costs one penny to stir-fry in the pot, and you charge me one penny more. Are Zheng's hands made of gold? Can you order dishes to turn into gold?"
Lin Laosan laughed out loud: "I know my wife's craftsmanship best. It's a bit exaggerated to turn everything into gold, but she can turn everything into something miraculous. I have never seen anyone do it better than her."
"Ang! Aung!" Xiangyun stared at his calves, and with the help of his father's strength, he stepped on his thighs with both feet. He was dancing and excited at the moment.
Her grandmother's craftsmanship was very good. If she hadn't stayed in the Lin family for almost half a year and knew that Zheng was a native of ancient times, Xiangyun would have doubted whether she had also traveled through time.
There are many stews in Dagan, and few people know how to stir-fry.
First, cooking consumes oil, and second, cooking requires an iron pot. In this era when iron is scarce and most iron is used to make farm tools, only those who open restaurants in town are willing to buy iron pots.
But on the first day that the Lin family settled in Lianhua Village, they went to the town and bought an iron pot, as if they were already used to it.
The dishes made by Zheng are completely unlike products of this era, let alone ones that ordinary farmers like the Lin family can access.
I heard from Mrs. Lin that the craftsmanship was taught by Zheng's former relatives, and she didn't know more about it.
Hu Er felt that the Cao family had taken him for granted. He refused to agree to anything and walked out.
He was stopped by two brothers from the Cao family.
Cao Tongguang said: "If you don't believe it, go to the town to find a restaurant and ask about the price."
"So what if the price is really this? How can she, a village woman, compare herself to the chef of Yuelai Inn? She thinks that she can become a cook just by cooking two dishes? Then can anyone who knows two words open a school to become a cook? Sir?"
That's one tael or five taels of silver, and Hu Er and the others may not be able to save even one tael if they save it for a year.
Many villagers were soft-spoken about the Cao family, but they also felt really sorry for the wasted meal, and clamored for them to pay for it.
Regardless of whether Zheng's craftsmanship is worth the price, today must be remembered by these people.
Among the gangsters, a young man who had been hanging out in the town's gambling houses and bars all year round shouted: "We brothers have also seen the world. There are acquaintances in the Yuelai Inn. You wait, we will ask them right away."
Several people left in a hurry, fearing that if they were too late, the coins in their pockets would be lost.
Cao Tongguang invited everyone to sit down again, while Cao's wife and Shun Xi's wife cleaned up the leftovers and wiped away tears.
"Those who waste food should be struck with lightning, tied up and starved for ten days and a half, so that they can taste the feeling of hunger."
The Cao family's place was lively again. Hu Er and his group rushed to the entrance of the Yuelai Restaurant in the town. After waiting for a long time at the back door, a young man dressed as a waiter came out.
"What's the matter, are you calling me in such a hurry? Business in the store has been bad recently, and the shopkeeper has a bad temper. If you have anything to say, tell me quickly. When he sees that there is no one in the front hall, he will scold me to death!"
Hu Er poked his head in and saw that it was lunchtime, and there were only one or two guests sitting in the hall. He couldn't help but be curious.
"No one is eating? Xiaojia, isn't your restaurant business always good?"
"What's so good? The cooks are all gone, who's going to eat?" Xiao Jia pulled off the towel on his shoulders and shook the red sticker on the wall. ?"
Hu Er and the others didn't know how to read, so they only glanced at the recruitment notice: "The cook ran away? Where did he go?"
The little nail finger pointed across the street: "Well, in this newly opened tavern, firecrackers were set off for three days. The drinks and dishes were discounted by half in the first half month of the opening. They also poached our chef away. If this continues, Yuelai Inn It’s going to go bankrupt.”
When he heard that he was taking advantage of him, Hu Er almost forgot what he was here for.
It was only after someone around me reminded me that I finally remembered: "How much money can your chef earn in a month? If he goes out to take on a job, how much money can he be hired for?"
Xiao A glanced at him: "Why are you asking?"
In his heart, he looked down on Hu Er and his gang. Although they got acquainted with each other in gambling houses, he thought that he was different from this group of idlers. He had a serious job.
Hu Er briefly described what happened to the Cao family, covering up being slapped by Uncle Yu and the ridicule from the villagers. He only said that he was afraid of being cheated and came to ask about the situation.
"Do you even need to ask? Let alone a peasant woman. Even if Liu Yishao cooks it himself, he can't even spend one, two or five yuan per table. The Cao family is obviously blackmailing you."
Xiao Jia has been working in Yuelai since he was fourteen years old. He can be said to be a skilled cook and a tough waiter.
I have seen no less than four or five chefs, and no one dared to offer such a high price.
Hu Er felt confident and strengthened his waist. Looking at the people coming and going across the street and the crowded seats, his heart started to itch.
Seeing his greedy look, Xiao Jia ridiculed: "Why don't you hurry up and join in the fun while the new store is opening? Once the event is over, not everyone can enter the gate of Xiangmanlou."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was an angry shout in the lobby: "Where are the people? Where are all the dead! The tables, chairs and benches are getting moldy, and no one is cleaning them. Do you still want to do it? If you don't want to do it, leave as soon as possible!"
Xiao Jia suddenly felt a chill on his back and ran to the lobby, holding his stomach while running: "Shopkeeper, I just went to the hut. I drank some cold water last night and I feel a little dizzy."
In the lobby of Yuelai, the woman sitting at the counter flipping through the store's inventory suddenly closed her account book. Her silver plate-like face and plump figure added a hint of the rare charm of a young girl and daughter-in-law, and she became a special scenery in the store.
Jin Manniang's long ink-colored hair was tied back with only a gold hairpin. She wore a simple jacket and skirt, but it was even more beautiful than the brocade clothes.
"It's a shame, it's a shame. Let's forget about the store closing down soon. I'll find a place to retire immediately."
Such a beautiful woman, with a mouth that has no temperament, and a loud and sharp voice, which is more eye-catching than the men on the street shouting for business.
Xiao Jia is as quiet as a quail, but the shopkeeper has a hot temper and is known as the spicy Xishi. When he gets angry, no one dares to say a word.
"Are you all mute? Use your brain. If there are no more customers in the store, give me the northwest wind!"
Jin Manniang was sweating from anger in the winter. She picked up the cattail leaf fan and shook it vigorously. She saw that all the clerks in the store were frowning, and then she saw the sound of firecrackers across the street, which made her family feel more and more desolate.
Xiao Jia came forward and said flatteringly: "Shopkeeper, please calm down. It's hard to find three-legged toads, and there are only two-legged cooks on the street."
Jin Manniang glanced at him: "Okay, then you go look for him now. If you can't find him, you are not allowed to come back! I want him to be ten times better than Liu Yishao. The salary is not a problem, I can afford it!"
Xiao Jia choked. He didn't know a cook. Even if he did, who would dare to say that his cooking skills were better than Chef Liu's.
My ancestors had served as imperial chefs. Even though I was away from home, my identity was given by myself. Let’s not talk about the authenticity of the imperial chef. If someone dares to boast about Haikou, he must have some skills.
Just as he was regretting what he said, Jin Manniang kicked him in the butt and rolled him to the side of the road.
The shopkeeper kept his word, but if he couldn't find a cook, he wouldn't even think about returning to Yuelai Restaurant.
It happened that at this time, Hu Er and others were invited out by the waiter from Xiangmanlou.
"Guests, the food in our small shop is exquisite, and the prices are naturally not cheap. If you think it is expensive, I suggest you turn left and go to the roadside wonton stall, and walk slowly without delivery."
Hu Er was unhappy and spat: "What are you proud of? You are just a sweeper and table cleaner, and you are provoking customers. Bah, a plate of snacks sells for fifty cents. You are taking advantage of us. Sooner or later, you will go bankrupt!"
As soon as he turned around, he bumped into Xiao Jia who was getting up from the ground. Hearing that he had been entrusted by the shopkeeper with an important task to find cooks in other towns, Hu Er became very excited.
Didn’t the Cao family say that Zheng’s craftsmanship is comparable to that of a chef? He gave her a chance to prove herself.
"We have a suitable candidate in our village. That person claims to be better than the chef at Yuelai Restaurant. Why do you want to look far away?"
Xiao Jia's face lit up, and he quickly realized: "You're not talking about the woman who wants to defraud you of your money, are you? How can a woman be a spoon cook? She's not even qualified to be a vegetable cutter."
"What's wrong with the woman?"
Jin Manniang appeared out of nowhere and stood behind Xiao Jia with her arms akimbo, "Your mother is not a woman? Didn't you grow up eating her food? Why can't you take the spoon?"
Xiao Jia wanted to retort, but was frightened into silence by Jin Manniang's sharp look.
Hu Er concealed his intention to slap the Cao family and the Zheng family in the face, and couldn't help fanning the flames.
"Yes, I don't know how many people she has deceived under the name of Yuelai. Everyone thinks that the name of Yuelai restaurant is just in vain, and the craftsmanship is not as good as that of a country woman who has never seen the world. Shopkeeper, don't blame me for talking too much." , if this continues, your restaurant's reputation will be ruined by her!"
Jin Manniang has been running a shop for more than ten years and has met countless people. She knows exactly what kind of person Hu Er is.
If he wanted to borrow her knife to kill whoever he wanted, he had to ask her first if she was happy with it.
She raised her almond-shaped eyes, slightly opened her red lips, and poked the waiter's forehead with her nails stained with impatiens juice.
"Go and find the woman he mentioned. If she doesn't come back, you can pack your bags and get out!"
…
On the Lin family side, after finishing the Cao family's banquet, Mrs. Zheng was a little tired and slumped down on the bed to stretch her limbs.
Xiangyun was lying next to his parents. He was just learning to turn over, and his calves were fluttering on the bed, trying to get up. After several attempts, his limbs became limp and weak, and he was sweating profusely.
Nothing is difficult in the world, as long as you are willing to give up.
She immediately lay motionless on the bed like a fat turtle.
Lin Laosan felt like laughing.
He leaned next to his wife and pinched her back to relax her: "Daughter-in-law, after today, the entire Lianhua Village will know that you are a master of cooking."
Mrs. Zheng smiled and held her head up proudly without holding her head in front of her husband.
"You know my cooking skills. No one who has tasted it can say anything bad about it. When my sister taught me how to use a spoon and how to use a knife, it took me a long time to learn it."
It was rare for Lin Laosan to see her take the initiative to mention that sister with a special experience, so he couldn't help but ask a few more questions.
