Chapter Thirty-Nine [V] Stealing the Show at the Coming-of-Age Banquet...

Since they've come seeking an opportunity, it's naturally inappropriate to discuss the price further.

Besides, even if we were to give it, how much could we possibly give? Just as Madam Hong said, how should we give this money appropriately?

Therefore, in order to make a good impression, Li Yan simply gave up the benefits.

“Madam, you’re just joking to amuse me. Since I’ve come to you begging for this opportunity, how could I possibly take your money? Giving me this opportunity is the greatest reward you can give me,” Li Yan said humbly.

There was no other way; she was new to the area and unfamiliar with everyone, so it wasn't easy for her to quickly integrate into the wealthy business circles of Huating County.

You have to lower your stance a bit and be willing to give up some benefits.

Otherwise, they're not doing charity work, so why would they help you?

The world is bustling with activity, all driven by profit. In the adult world, there's not so much room for sentimentality.

Besides, although she had cultivated a relationship with the county government, she was actually just a cook who prepared meals for the county government.

All I can say is that being able to cook for the magistrate's family provides an extra opportunity. If anything happens in the future, at least I'll have another avenue to rely on. As for anything else, I'll have to work hard to achieve it myself.

Upon hearing this, Madam Hong immediately began to do some mental calculations. She was already wavering, but outwardly remained calm, still sitting there in shock: "This... but the chef for the banquet has already been chosen, the number of tables, and the specifications for each dish have all been finalized. If there are any changes at the last minute, I'll have to inform the chef. So, it's not appropriate to give Madam Li a definite answer today."

Li Yan was somewhat aware that since the magistrate's wife had said that, it was basically a done deal. The reason she hadn't immediately agreed was probably because she was afraid of any unforeseen circumstances, or perhaps she needed to carefully consider her stance.

Therefore, Li Yan immediately said, "Of course." She then apologized, "I feel really bad for causing you trouble, Madam." Then, she offered a benefit, "If you don't mind, I will send some milk tea on the day of your daughter's coming-of-age banquet, as a treat for the guests after the meal."

Madam Hong felt a little embarrassed to accept this gift again. If she could come and help cook a few dishes, she could not only pay less to the chef she hired, but also get two or three signature dishes with excellent taste, which would be quite respectable.

In addition, she said she could make some snacks, which would save the money of hiring a pastry chef.

In this situation, it would be too unfair and unreasonable to also charge for the milk tea drinks.

So Madam Hong smiled and said, "Madam Li is a legitimate businesswoman, how could I take your drinks for free? How about this... I'll order thirty servings of milk tea on that day, and I'll trouble you to deliver them. As for the price... Madam, you'll have to make a little less profit. You sell it for five coins a bowl outside, but I'll give you a discount, four coins a bowl, how about that?"

Even at four coins a bowl, it's still profitable enough. Li Yan immediately replied, "Thank you, Madam."

The conversation went smoothly, making Li Yan happy, and Madam Hong was also very satisfied.

After exchanging a few more polite words, Li Yan tactfully excused herself, saying she had something to attend to at home, and left.

The next day, the second day of the eleventh month, Madam Hong sent her maid Qiu Hong to inform Li Yan that Madam Hong had reached an agreement on the matter she had raised the day before.

Although it was expected, Li Yan's feelings were still different when she heard Qiu Hong say these things in person.

"Thank you for making this trip, Miss Qiu Hong. Please come in and have a seat." Even though she was just a maidservant to the county magistrate's wife, Li Yan dared not show her the slightest disrespect.

Perhaps out of consideration for Li Yan's intervention on her behalf yesterday, Qiu Hong was also very kind to Li Yan: "I still have to go back to report to Madam. Thank you for your kindness, Madam. I won't stay any longer."

It is polite to ask guests to stay, but since they have politely declined, Li Yan did not insist.

"Then I'll see you off, young lady." Li Yan personally escorted Qiu Hong to the entrance of the alley.

After returning, I began to calculate the time in my mind.

Miss Hong's coming-of-age banquet is on the sixth day of the eleventh lunar month. She plans to ask the Wang family's son to deliver milk on the morning of the third day of the eleventh lunar month, and then ask him to deliver two more catties of milk on the sixth day of the eleventh lunar month, in addition to the original amount.

Then, on the morning of the sixth day, after Prince Wang delivered the milk, Li Yan immediately began making milk tea.

She made all the milk tea she needed first thing in the morning, then took thirty servings to the county government office. It was also convenient; now that the time had passed, she could start preparing the vegetables.

Now that the weather is cold, there's no need to worry about milk tea spoiling if left out for too long.

If the milk tea you made in the morning gets cold by evening, you can put it back on the stove to reheat it.

She had inquired and found out that the coming-of-age banquet usually consisted of only one meal at noon. After she arrived and prepared the meal and some snacks, she could go home and then prepare the braised pork.

Li Yan had calculated in her mind that this time would be just enough to make it in time and wouldn't interfere with her original business. That's why she went to the county magistrate's wife and begged her to give her this opportunity.

Li Yan pushed the cart to the entrance of the county government office and saw Qiu Hong waiting for her at the side gate.

"Why did you take so long, my lady? You must have been waiting anxiously." Upon seeing her, Qiu Hong helped push the cart and deliver the milk tea drinks to the backyard.

Li Yan had been busy non-stop for a moment, and her undershirt was soaked with sweat. She was also sweating on her face, but the cold wind had dried it off long ago, so it wasn't visible on her face.

Li Yan said with a smile, "I was busy early this morning. As soon as I finished making the milk tea, I rushed over, afraid that I would miss something."

The milk tea was delivered to the kitchen, where Li Yan also saw the head chef for Miss Hong's banquet, a man around forty years old.

After Qiu Hong walked over, she introduced Li Yan to the man: "Master Wu, this is Madam Li. Today you will be working together, and I hope you can help each other."

In front of Qiu Hong, Master Wu was alright. But as soon as Qiu Hong left, his expression changed completely.

Li Yan could probably understand his feelings, because she had done some of the work that was originally his, so she guessed that the magistrate's wife had given him less money.

Although Li Yan could understand, she knew that everyone was living their own lives, and she wasn't a saint who would feel guilty or remorseful because of it.

He wanted to earn more money, and she also wanted to expand her business to seek better development.

So, seeing that he ignored her, Li Yan simply greeted him politely and then focused on her own business.

She glanced around and noticed that there was meat, fish, and ribs in the kitchen. She realized that the magistrate's wife probably wanted her to cook three dishes.

Looking at Chef Wu's side, there were only some vegetables on the cutting board in front of her. It's estimated that all the main meat dishes for this banquet went to her, and Chef Wu was only responsible for preparing the side dishes.

No wonder he was so unhappy.

Li Yan sighed inwardly, thinking to herself, "This magistrate's wife is quite good at managing a household and keeping accounts."

However, she was also a beneficiary. For both her and Madam Hong, it was a win-win situation.

Thanks to her, Madam Hong was able to save a lot of money and still manage to organize Miss Hong's coming-of-age banquet. Although she was essentially working for free, she could use this opportunity to showcase her talents and essentially advertise herself.

Before long, Qiu Hong rushed over again.

"Masters, the madam instructed that once all the guests have arrived, we can prepare to serve the dishes in a little while."

Li Yan had no time to think about anything else and focused solely on the dishes in her hands.

The three dishes Li Yan prepared were all heavy meat dishes, which were the main courses. As main courses, they naturally required a great deal of effort.

As for Chef Wu, he was only making some side dishes, which was quite easy for him.

Li Yan had timed it perfectly, cooking all three dishes at once. Soon, the aroma of meat mixed with the fragrance of fish filled the air.

Master Wu smelled the aroma and took several deep sniffs. Then, unconsciously, his gaze drifted towards Li Yan.

Li Yan was busy and didn't notice the gaze that Master Wu was giving her from behind.

Master Wu initially looked down on her. What good dishes could a young woman possibly make? People like them who learn a craft usually start learning from a master when they are around ten years old and it takes them several years to become proficient.

This woman looks to be at most twenty years old. And since she's a woman, she's not strong. What kind of dishes could she possibly cook?

He was just trying to fool the magistrate's wife with some fancy tricks. He had originally thought he'd see how she'd handle things when she couldn't come up with anything good.

But unexpectedly, he had underestimated them.

But he never expected that a young woman who looked to be under twenty years old could cook such delicious food.

Master Wu was tactful enough not to bother Li Yan while she was busy. Only after she finished and the people from the magistrate's mansion who had come to help served out the dishes did Master Wu, seeing that she finally had some free time, come over to chat.

"Your cooking skills are excellent, madam." Chef Wu hadn't given her a friendly look before, but now that he knew how skilled she was, he changed his attitude. "Young lady, you seem so young. Who is your teacher? How can you cook such delicious dishes at such a young age? Just smelling them makes my mouth water."

If Master Wu ignored her, she didn't want to make a fool of herself. But if he greeted her politely, Li Yan naturally wouldn't deliberately ignore him.

"It's just a skill I learned from my grandmother when I was little, nothing special," Li Yan said modestly.

Master Wu looked her up and down, and felt that her words must be untrue. If she really only learned the recipe from her elders at home, how could the dish be like this?

Or perhaps, her elder was a master.

So Master Wu asked again, "Who is your grandmother, Madam? She must be a master chef."

Li Yan shook her head: "Grandmother was just an ordinary peasant woman, not a master chef."

Chef Wu was still unwilling to give up and wanted to ask again, but at this moment, Qiu Hong hurriedly entered the door and asked Chef Wu, "Chef Wu, is the dish ready?"

Although Chef Wu prepares side dishes, which don't require much effort, there are definitely more side dishes than main dishes.

He was so engrossed in watching others cook that he completely forgot he still had two dishes to prepare.

Just then, Qiu Hong came to urge him on, and Master Wu hurriedly ran back, starting his work as he went, while replying to Qiu Hong, "Don't worry, young lady, it won't delay the guests' meal."

Qiu Hong: "Today is the coming-of-age banquet for our young lady. My master and mistress have not only invited guests from Huating County, but also dignitaries from Jiangning Prefecture who have come to offer their congratulations. If anything goes wrong and we offend these dignitaries, you, me, and all of us will not be able to bear the consequences."

Master Wu repeatedly agreed and assured him again that he would not make any mistakes. Only then did Qiu Hong stop talking to him and walk towards Li Yan, saying, "Wife, you can start preparing to make the pastries." Qiu Hong's attitude towards Li Yan was quite different.

She had just come from the banquet outside, and the guests all praised her cooking, saying it was novel, refreshing, and delicious.

He even inquired with the lady about where the chef had been hired, as his skills were so excellent.

When the master and mistress are proud, those of us who are servants naturally benefit as well.

Therefore, Qiu Hong treated Li Yan very well and secretly told her, "The guests outside all like the dishes you make, madam. Several ladies have already asked where my lady hired the chef. They are all inquiring about you." This was also instructed by Madam Hong to be told by Qiu Hong.

The lady said that this was precisely why she had helped in this way. Since the customer's feedback was so good, there was no need to hide it from her.

The news was told to her, which naturally improved her mood. When she was in a better mood, she would put more effort and care into making the desserts afterwards.

So, after Qiu Hong finished saying all that, she immediately added, "Madam Li, I'll have to trouble you to prepare the snacks later."

Li Yan saw right through Qiu Hong's scheme. However, given that it was a mutually beneficial relationship, Li Yan would naturally do her best to prepare the snacks well.

Li Yan prepared three kinds of snacks, two sweet and one savory.

First, she made osmanthus sugar cake, then a pancake. For a savory option, she made a donkey meat sandwich.

I originally wanted to make something soupy, but then I realized that since we already have milk tea, there's no need to repeat the process.

The three desserts Li Yan made were ones she had practiced repeatedly at home over the past month. Naturally, the taste was excellent.

Once the last dessert was finished, Li Yan's task for the day was completely completed.

It was already quite late, and Li Yan was exhausted from all the busy work she had done since early morning. So, after waiting in the kitchen for a while and seeing that Qiu Hong hadn't informed her of the situation outside, she decided not to wait any longer.

She needs to rest for a while when she gets back, because she still has to make roast pork for Yuanbaolou around late afternoon.

Just as Li Yan was about to leave, Qiu Hong ran in from outside the door.

“Madam Li, the madam has sent me to invite you to the flower hall where guests are received.”

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Author's Note: Update is here!

Please water it~~~