Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 214: Just like a private restaurant, a banquet is held in the store

Zheng Sanniang didn't expect that the county magistrate's son would be willing to lend her money, so she didn't dare to agree.

Shen Yu asked in confusion: "Why did you only hear you say that you were going to attend a poetry and wine party? Are you just going to eat at someone's banquet and not return the favor?"

Lu Lang heard that in Shen Yu's mind, he was just a glutton who only knew how to eat and drink for free and take advantage of others.

His face flushed with anxiety, and he hurriedly explained, "Why don't you return the feast? It was agreed that it would be my turn to host the feast on September 16th, but it hasn't come yet."

Shen Yu immediately refused: "Then we can't lend you this money. You have to pay it back when the time comes. How can we hold a banquet without money?"

"We can't pay you back so quickly. Maybe, maybe if we wait for two days, we won't have to pay you more money."

Shen Yu then told Lu Lang about his plan, intending to wait for the owner of the gambling house to come and collect the debt before discussing the divorce. He also told him about how Li Changgen had come to the store with Mrs. Liu today.

Shen Yu finally said, "It's nothing else. I'm just worried that in the next few days, if Li Changgen finds out that Sister Zheng and Xiao Zhuzi are hiding here, and comes to my shop to cause trouble and rob people, I don't know how to deal with it. That's why I'm a little worried."

Only then did Zheng Sanniang realize that Li Changgen had been to the store today.

She was so scared that she hugged Xiao Zhuzi tightly and murmured, "What should I do? He will definitely come to snatch Xiao Zhuzi away. He is the only child in his family for three generations. If Xiao Zhuzi is missing, he will definitely look for her everywhere."

Zheng Sanniang said pitifully, "Master Lu, do you think Li Changgen will give me the small pillar? What if he keeps it for himself?"

Lu Lang raised his eyebrows: "That's why I asked you to prepare more silver."

"Give him more. He's so focused on making a comeback that he probably won't care about Xiao Zhuzi."

Jiang agreed, "Mr. Lu is right. Li Changgen can force a child to drink a bowl of wine just because the child is noisy, without caring whether it will hurt the child. I don't think he has the child in his heart."

Shen Yu thought, things have come to this, I can't just stand by and watch, regardless of Zheng Sanniang and her son, I should prepare the money myself.

She made her attitude clear to Lu Lang: "Mr. Lu, I appreciate your kindness, but I'll just have to find a way to get some together myself."

Lu Lang was puzzled and said as a matter of course: "Why can't I borrow it?"

"If I don't have money by then, I can just ask the county government's chef to prepare a table of food."

"My classmates are all children of officials. They have eaten all kinds of delicious food. They don't have to eat delicacies from land and sea at my place. They can eat whatever is available."

Shen Yu still felt that it was inappropriate, and Jiang said gently: "Mr. Lu, although you are classmates, you don't have to be so particular about trivial matters."

"But your fathers were officials in the same dynasty. They wouldn't think so. It's better not to neglect them."

Shen Yu nodded as he listened. That's right, Jiang's explanation was clear and easy to accept.

When watching TV dramas, I have seen too many scenes of mutual exploitation and collusion among officials.

Sometimes the children of officials play together not on their own initiative but at the instigation of their parents.

But she didn't dare to say it too bluntly, and she didn't know how to say it.

After listening to Jiang's words, Lu Lang realized that Jiang and Shen Yu rejected him because they were thinking about him.

I had to ask, "Ms. Shen, where did you get the money? Your store has just been opened for a few days, so you don't have much cash on hand."

Shen Yu said helplessly, "I still have a small gold ingot in my hand. It was given to me by an old man on his birthday. I have never been willing to spend it, so I kept it in the bank. If it doesn't work, I can only take it out first."

Lu Lang paused and asked, "Miss Shen, if I hold a banquet in your shop, you will have to collect the money for the banquet, right?"

Shen Yu and Jiang looked at the county lord in front of them as if he were a fool.

Lu Lang, ah Lu Lang, do you know what you are saying?

For a long while, none of the three people in the room spoke.

Zheng Sanniang didn't dare to say anything and could only sit quietly by the side, gently patting the sleepy Xiao Zhuzi.

Lu Lang looked at Shen Yu expectantly, waiting for her to agree.

Shen Yu couldn't help but laugh: "Mr. Lu, my restaurant is so small."

"It's just some coarse food for the customers who come to the market to eat and have breakfast and lunch. How can it be used for banquets?"

Lu Lang retorted, "Why not? There are only a few restaurants in the county, and I've been there a few times with my classmates."

"If you ask me, the dish is just so-so, not as delicious as the one you cook."

"The only famous dishes are steamed lamb in wine, soft lamb soup, lamb bones, and small lamb heads. These are the only dishes we have over and over again. Once they are on the table, we get tired of them."

"The dishes on the table look expensive, it's because they are all made of mutton."

"I saw that the mushroom stewed chicken, stir-fried diced chicken, and pork belly skewers you made were all very unique and delicious."

"Then I'll prepare a table of food with this flavor for them. I guarantee they'll enjoy the meal to their heart's content. How can that be inappropriate?"

Shen Yu was moved when he heard Lu Lang talk so much.

Yes, although the restaurant is a bit simple, but if the dishes are innovative and the taste is unique, wouldn’t it be like eating in a private restaurant?

When she was taking cooking class, she had the opportunity to follow the master chef to a private restaurant opened by his fellow apprentice.

The quaint Chinese-style courtyard only accommodates two tables of guests a day.

The master said that the restaurant of his junior brother's family is very famous, and the reservation orders have been scheduled for two months later. Today is the junior brother's birthday, so the restaurant is closed for one day, and the brothers from the same school brought their apprentices to get together.

The dishes were delicious, and everyone's tastes were asked in advance, so everyone had their favorite dishes in front of them.

Shen Yu remembered that what was placed in front of him was a dish of fried bacon with mugwort and a casserole dish of stewed pork ribs with radish.

It looked like an ordinary home-cooked meal, but Shen Yu almost cried while eating it.

The dish of stewed pork ribs with radish tasted almost exactly the same as the dish Shen Yu remembered her mother making.

Finally, Shen Yu shamelessly asked for the recipe of this dish. The master uncle was already quite old, and after hearing Shen Yu's reasons for wanting to learn, he actually agreed to teach her.

But no matter how Shen Yu cooked it later, even though he used the same method, he could never get the same taste. It was always a little bit off.

After tasting the dish, the chef’s comment was, “You are still young, too impatient, and used too much fire.”

Shen Yu felt regretful, but he also knew that it was because he had not mastered the skill enough in cultivation, and it had nothing to do with the way the dish was prepared.

Shen Yu was suddenly reminded of long-lost memories by Lu Lang's words. For a moment, he just lowered his eyes and sat quietly.

Lu Lang was surprisingly patient and didn't say anything, just waiting for Shen Yu's reply.

Shen Yu felt very sad, then he realized that the room was very quiet.

Everyone in the room was looking at her, waiting for her reply.