Wash the duck and chop it into small pieces. Heat oil over high heat and stir-fry until the skin is crispy. Add ginger, garlic, and soy sauce and continue to simmer over low heat. Once the duck has absorbed all the soy sauce, add shredded bamboo shoots and day lily, simmer with a bowl of Zhuangyuanhong sauce until cooked through, and finally remove from the heat.

The spare ribs are used to stew lotus roots. First blanch them in water and then put them into the pot with clean water. Add ginger, garlic and a little soy sauce. When the spare ribs are almost boneless, add the chopped tender lotus roots. Once the core is cooked, simmer them with the residual heat of charcoal fire.

Thinking that there was still Huoxiang left from the slurry and there were so many fish, Xu Jiang added another dish of Huoxiang fish.

Choose a small fish, kill it, remove the scales, gills and fishy thread, then cut the whole fish into pieces, add two egg whites, onion, ginger and garlic water, a spoonful of Zhuangyuanhong, and salt to marinate for later use.

Simmer lard in a wok until fragrant. Add cooking oil and continue simmering. Then add scallions, ginger, and garlic to bring out the aroma. Add chicken broth to the wok, then add boiling water, soy sauce, cornel oil, and Sichuan peppercorns. Before adding the fish, drain out any impurities, leaving only the broth. Shake the fish clean and add it to the water. Once added, do not stir. Remove from heat until the fish is just cooked through. Finally, sprinkle with chopped fennel seeds.

Finally, to prevent herself from getting too sick of the meat, she made a simple dish - shredded green onions and shredded radish.

Set the table!

When the people in the restaurant smelled the aroma, how could they still have the energy to argue? When they heard that she was going to set the table, they hurriedly worked with Lin Hongchu to put away the utensils needed for the table setting and put in the dishes and chopsticks.

Li Tongxue finally let Yue Nu go.

After everyone was seated, blood soup, cold shredded chicken, stir-fried duck, Huoxiangdu fish, lotus root and pork ribs, and other dishes were served one after another.

Lou Jing couldn't wait any longer and quickly called out, "Madam Xu, why hasn't she come to the table yet?"

"I'm coming!" Xu Jiang came over with a smile, holding two bags of mare's milk and some wine.

Du Hui looked at the table full of food and felt that it was hard work.

Xu Jiang laughed and said, "If you gentlemen hadn't come, I don't know how we would have sold all the vegetables in the house." She added, "Besides, you gentlemen have helped a lot, so this little trouble is nothing."

Yuan Zuzhi sighed, "With just this mouth, I wonder how many people he has fooled."

Lou Jing agreed, "Isn't it?" For example, the taciturn guy in his family.

Xu Jiang laughed, then poured them some wine and said, "This wine is made from mare's milk from the Western Regions. Don't underestimate its light and mild taste; it has a strong aftertaste. Everyone, drink slowly."

As she spoke, she ignored Lin Hongchu's eager gaze and poured herself a glass. "Since Xu Jiang arrived in Beijing, I have been so grateful for your care. Today, I am honored and fortunate to have you all witness the completion of our first collection of works. I would like to offer you a glass to express my gratitude."

After saying that, she drank first.

Seeing how earnest she was, several people were moved, especially Du Hui. He had watched this bookshop and this young lady being built up step by step under his watch. He knew best how difficult it was.

As for Xu Jiang, to be frank in his heart, he already treated her as half a daughter.

"Why are you saying such awkward things? Sit down! The food is getting cold."

Lou Jing also said: "That's right, there are no outsiders here."

Yuan Zuzhi looked at him sourly. This old fellow was probably thicker-skinned than a city wall. Did she agree to be your daughter-in-law?

Li Tongxue laughed and said, "Mrs. Xu is really good at tormenting people. She makes people just watch and smell. Is she trying to make them die of greed or even starvation?"

Everyone laughed, and Xu Jiang hurriedly said, "Oh, it's all my fault for the delay. Gentlemen, please pick up your chopsticks and try my simple cooking."

Lou Jing was already hungry, and upon hearing this, he couldn't wait to serve himself a bowl of blood soup. The blood soup was salty and sour, which was appetizing. He drank half of it in one gulp and said, "It tastes good!"

Upon hearing this, Li Tongxue also added another bowl and nodded while eating.

Afterwards, they tried shredded chicken and duck, all of which were highly praised. Du Hui particularly enjoyed the fish dish, devouring most of the fish. Yuan Zuzhi, on the other hand, loved the lotus root soup, drinking several bowls in a row.

Several people ate with rosy faces, and after clearing the food on the table, they were all full.

Lou Jing touched his belly and thought: No wonder that kid is never home, it turns out he comes here to eat alone every day.

Fortunately, he had something to do in the yamen today. Otherwise, with him around, how could these old enemies have the audacity to ask for this good meal?

After dinner, seeing that it was still early, Lou Jing suggested walking back to help digest the food.

The few people who were full naturally agreed, said goodbye to Xu Jiang, and went to the street.

Manager Wu was about to go and pick a fight, but when he saw them coming out of the shop, he stopped dead in his tracks. He hesitated for a moment, then snorted coldly and turned away.

After seeing off a few people, Xu Jiang returned to the shop to clean up the mess, but saw Lin Hongchu holding the wine bag with a blank look in his eyes.

"Oh my God! You bitch, why are you drunk again?"