Chapter 91 Chapter 91: Banquet and other events...

Qin was nearly seventy years old, having met many people and witnessed even more. When Lu Zheng expressed his desire to repay his kindness, Lin Qiuran didn't mention anything else, simply saying she wanted to come to the Marquis's residence to help with the banquet. With her excellent cooking skills, it wasn't difficult to guess her intentions.

Lin Qiuran didn't hide it and admitted it openly, "Madam, my family is from Xuzhou. We used to run a restaurant back home, and now we've moved to the capital, hoping to pick up this craft again. However, the capital is bigger than I imagined, and there are countless restaurants. If I just open a restaurant, I'm afraid not many people will go. That's why I came up with this idea. Please forgive me if it's abrupt."

Besides, if Lin Qiuran hadn't met Lu Zheng again, he wouldn't have thought of coming to the Marquis' Mansion to cook. They all had something to ask for, and if Lin Qiuran's cooking skills weren't up to par, the Marquis' Mansion didn't need him.

Mrs. Qin nodded. This child was quite frank. She said, "That's not bad. Your cooking skills are excellent. I've been eating for so many years, but I've never tasted anything so novel and delicious."

Lin Qiuran quickly said, "You're too kind. These are just some of my home cooking skills."

Madam Qin smiled and waved her hand, saying, "That's not right. If it's just a home-cooked dish, as you said, you want to open a restaurant in the capital, but there are so many restaurants in the capital, why would customers have to come to your restaurant to eat? I held a flower viewing banquet, and I invited the ladies of the noble families. You said the food was simple, even if it was just for modesty, others would think it was worthless."

Scarcity makes things valuable, just like embroidery, everyone can do it, so why do people scramble for skilled embroiderers and masters who make beautiful jewelry, and take pride in buying the clothes and jewelry they make?

You can never say that this is a home-cooked meal outside.

Lin Qiuran nodded thoughtfully. She was used to it in Yu An. She used to consider these things when cooking for Xu Yuanheng, but later Xu Yuanheng would not be overly picky.

In Yu'an, as long as the food was good, plentiful, and reasonably priced, business was booming. But there were so many restaurants like this in the capital that one more wouldn't make a difference, and one less wouldn't make a difference either. Lin Qiuran thought, "There have to be these restaurants in the capital, but they can't be the only ones."

Just like those ladies from wealthy families, if the food is really cheap and large in quantity, they will find it fresh once, but later they will think the food is not exquisite enough. On the contrary, they will like beautiful food more, especially the one that they can eat but others can't.

In fact, the Xiao family restaurant had this problem from the beginning. The decoration was simple, and it changed later, but this problem became obvious again after moving to the capital.

Although Lin Qiuran is modest, he has been thinking about opening a place similar to Yu'an Jindinglou these days.

Lin Qiuran nodded, "I understand, but I couldn't help but tell the truth in front of the old lady."

Madam Qin's eyes shone with a hint of smile. "No matter what time, craftsmanship is the foundation of life. If you can do something that others can't, then it's unique. This applies to everything. And when you speak and act, you should be reserved and concealed. This applies to everyone else. Never be too honest."

This is how the ladies of the aristocratic families in the capital get along with each other.

Lin Qiuran clenched his palms and nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, old lady."

Madam Qin pressed her eyebrows together. "It's not really a teaching, just some words. Okay, I'll send someone to pick you up that day."

Lin Qiuran wanted to refuse, but then she thought it was a good idea. After all, there was a difference between someone coming over to do something and asking her to do it. This was for others to see, especially since the old lady was willing to help, why would she refuse?

Lin Qiuran couldn't help but sigh in her heart, thinking that she had met a noble person, and she thanked him solemnly.

Mrs. Qin is old and not very energetic, and she felt a little tired after saying such a long string of words.

Seeing that she was tired, Lin Qiuran immediately said goodbye.

On the way back, she kept thinking about what Mrs. Qin said.

When speaking and doing things, be reserved and keep three points secret... The restaurant menu must not list all the dishes that can be prepared. It should be divided into two types. The ones on the first floor should remain the same. After all, they have to make money. The private rooms on the second floor should be more casual and the prices should also be raised.

There are still as many private rooms as before, and with so many people in the capital, there are bound to be some that cannot be eaten... What Lin Qiuran wants is that some people cannot eat.

If someone invites her to a banquet later, she cannot agree immediately. The restaurant can open later, but everything that needs to be prepared must be prepared.

And it can't be too big. In addition to keeping one point and hiding three points, it is also because Lin Qiuran doesn't have that much money.

If Mrs. Qin had not said these words, Lin Qiuran had planned to go to any banquet invited after the banquet and promote the restaurant. But after hearing what Mrs. Qin said, Lin Qiuran felt less anxious.

Slow work produces fine results. She is not short of money to live on now. Besides, the shop has not been decided yet, so she can just wait and see.

It was already noon when Lin Qiuran returned home. Tangyuan had finished his meal and was playing with Sun at the side door.

The stables were over here, and as soon as the carriage came in, Tangyuan ran after it. Lin Qiuran looked out through the curtain from inside the carriage, fearing that he would fall or crash into the carriage.

Lin Qiuran frowned and said, "Tangyuan, stop and don't run away."

Tangyuan stood still and waited for the carriage to stop before quickly walking towards it.

Tangyuan was wearing thick clothes and walked over like a big glutinous rice dumpling. "Mom, mom, you are finally back."

Lin Chun got out of the car first, holding a pottery jar, and Lin Qiuran followed behind, holding a knife. Her thick winter clothes made getting in and out of the car a bit difficult. After getting out, Lin Qiuran adjusted the hem of her skirt.

Sun smiled at the side, "Is it okay now that you're back?"

Lin Qiuran nodded, "It's done."

Besides hosting the banquet, she also had an unexpected gain. She gave the cloth bag containing the knife to Sun, then picked up the glutinous rice balls and weighed them. "This is all thanks to the glutinous rice balls."

Tangyuan didn't understand any of this. He hugged Lin Qiuran's neck and kissed him. He only knew that Lin Qiuran had been out for the whole morning and had gone to work.

Sun said, "You haven't eaten yet, right? I left some food for you."

Lin Qiuran: "Well, I'll go eat it later. Was Tangyuan good this morning?"

Before Sun could say anything, Tang Yuan said he was a good boy. Lin Qiuran tapped his nose and said, "You can only talk about yourself. Others can't believe you. Mom, you can talk."

Sun said, "He was quite obedient this morning."

This is the truth. Sun doesn't spoil him, and he doesn't say anything.

Lin Qiuran: "Then I'll make some fresh food tonight to reward Tangyuan for his goodness and to thank Mom for her hard work in bringing him Tangyuan."

Lin Chun behind him was holding a large can of milk, which was given by Jinxiu before he left. She said that it would be delivered directly to the house tomorrow. One can of goat's milk and one can of cow's milk cost two cents of silver, and the payment would be made monthly, which was not expensive, six taels a month.

Lin Qiuran doesn’t think it’s expensive now, but in the past, his family couldn’t afford it.

Jinxiu didn't tell Lin Qiuran that she would give it to him directly. If his family was short of money, it would be fine to give it to him for free. However, looking at Lin Qiuran's clothes, although the style was a bit old, they were made of silk, so he probably didn't need to be short of money. Since he was not short of money, there was no need to argue about this small amount of money.

Lin Qiuran planned to make some spicy hot pot in the evening.

Lin Qiuran had eaten this dish before; it was a simple spicy hot pot with bone broth and sesame sauce. They had broth at home, and the sesame sauce could be used to make the "Er Ba" sauce. The chili peppers were brought by Yu An, and they were flavorful enough. He thought the result would be good. Now they had milk, which would be added to enhance the flavor.

Tangyuan's eyes lit up, "Mom, what's new to eat?"

Lin Qiuran said, "Don't you like hot pot? This is what Mom makes, called hot pot. It has a spicy broth base, and you can add frozen tofu, vermicelli noodles, and cabbage... and boil them until cooked. You can also make some fish balls and meat rolls, and eat them with sesame sauce."

The base of the pot is fried with bone broth to make it spicy, and then the spiciness is neutralized with milk. The sesame paste is very fragrant. These are all available in Beijing. It is very comfortable to cook a pot of hot soup and eat it together with the family.

Lin Qiuran asked Lin Xia to go out and buy some things, such as sesame paste and peanut butter. If these two were not available, she could buy some sesame and peanut butter, or grind them herself at home.

We didn't have any frozen tofu at home, and since we didn't have a freezer, we could just go out and buy some. If there were any vegetables, we'd buy some too. And if there was beef or mutton, the fresher the better. They could freeze it and it would be frozen solid in a short while. Lin Qiuran could even cut the mutton rolls that were sold outside, which looked like flowers.

Tangyuan originally liked to eat hot pot meat. When he heard Lin Qiuran say that it could be made spicy, he was so craving it the whole afternoon that he wished the meat rolls and frozen tofu would be coated with sesame sauce and fly into his mouth.

The kitchen was busy all afternoon. Lin Chunlin Ying made fish balls and shrimp paste for Lin Qiuran to use when he cooked.

Tangyuan likes meat but not vegetables, so the two of them peeled a big cabbage as Lin Qiuran said, picked out the leaves and core, and ate them deliciously.

Lin Xia didn't buy any vegetables when she went out, but she bought bean sprouts. Lin Qiuran thought this was okay, as it was better than not eating anything.

It gets dark very early in the capital at this time of year, so Lin Qiuran went into the small kitchen as soon as it got dark.

Stir-fry scallions, ginger, garlic, and spices with lard, then pour in clear broth and add milk. The aroma instantly rises to a higher level. The fragrance drifts outside the kitchen, and Tangyuan can't help sniffing at the door. Of course, if Lin Qiuran allows, he will definitely go into the kitchen to watch.

In order to make it easier to eat the glutinous rice balls, Lin Qiuran boiled the soup and then used a colander to scoop out the chili and spice residue. The soup then turned orange-white, clean, and looked appetizing.

First put in the fish balls and shrimp balls that don’t like to be cooked easily, then add the frozen tofu, vermicelli and noodles. Finally, when they are almost cooked, blanch the cabbage, bean sprouts and meat rolls. Because the mutton rolls are cut thinly and cook quickly, they only need to be blanched lightly. The cooking time of each dish is controlled to ensure the best taste.

After cooking, serve in bowls, topped with two tablespoons of erba sauce, a spoonful of minced garlic, and a pinch of chopped green onions. Lin Qiuran didn't like the numb taste, so she didn't add sesame oil, but she brought it to the table, allowing the glutinous rice balls and Sun's to add sesame oil.

It's ready, Lin Chun brought it out. To be honest, these dishes would not be bad even if cooked with bone broth, not to mention adding other things.

Tangyuan watched Lin Chun come out, thought about it again and again, and finally decided to wait for his mother to come out and have dinner together.

It was made in the small kitchen in the main courtyard today. It was still hot when it arrived in the house. Each person got a big bowl. Sun had never eaten this before, but it smelled delicious. She cooked a big bowl of it. It had everything in it and was very convenient to eat.

Lin Qiuran said, "Eat it quickly. If you think it's not spicy enough, you can add a small spoonful of chili."

Too much is not good, it will make my stomach uncomfortable.

Lin Qiuran tasted it and found that the ingredients were well used and the dish was delicious. The meat was fresh and tender, not the duck meat rolls you eat at spicy hot pot restaurants outside. The fish balls and shrimp pastes were also homemade. The fish balls were chewy and the shrimp pastes were tender and chewy.

However, as a chef, it is not good enough to think that you are good. Lin Qiuran looked at Sun and Tangyuan. Tangyuan did not exaggerate, but just ate his food. He was patient and wrapped the meat roll with sesame paste, then put it in his mouth, squinting his eyes in enjoyment. Then he had the frozen tofu, and only ate it after absorbing the soup and sesame paste. He could not stand the spicy food, and he felt it was hot, so he inhaled and blew air while eating.

After eating a few pieces, he finally remembered to praise it. He said simply: "Mom, this is really delicious."

"It smells so good! Why does it have a fragrance I've never tasted before? It makes me feel dizzy after eating it."

Lin Qiuran said, "It contains milk. If you add this, the snacks and food will taste better. Try drinking a bowl tomorrow morning. If you can't finish it, I'll try to make something else for you."

You can eat both milk tofu and fried milk.

Lin Qiuran wouldn't force Tangyuan to eat something he didn't like. After all, there were so many things that could be substituted, so why force him to eat something he didn't like?

Tangyuan nodded, and this time he didn't say anything and concentrated on eating.

Sun also thought it tasted good, but she couldn't tolerate spicy food as well as Tangyuan, so she didn't add any chili peppers. She just ate it as it was, drinking the soup from time to time, and her hands and feet soon warmed up.

There is a milky aroma in the soup, but Tangyuan definitely doesn’t remember it. He drank milk when he was young, and then he started eating rice. He definitely doesn’t know what it is now.

This is milk, which people can drink. If you put some cooked food in it, the aroma will be stronger.

There was a charcoal stove in the room, and the food was hot. The three of them soon found themselves sweating and their faces flushed. Hot soup is the most comfortable thing in winter. After finishing her meal, Sun lazily leaned back in a chair.

After dinner, Lin Qiuran took Tangyuan for a walk in the garden. The house was big, and walking around could help digest the food.

Tangyuan felt that today was really great. He played during the day, ate delicious food at night, could lie next to his grandmother and mother at night, and could play again tomorrow. When he thought about this, he felt that he had no worries.

Of course, at his age, he really has no worries, and eating, drinking and having fun are the most important things for him.

Sometimes Lin Qiuran envied Tangyuan, who grew up without worries and carefree. This was her child, and she had to protect this beauty no matter what.

The day after tomorrow, Lin Qiuran was going out. She told Tangyuan to listen to her at home, "Don't be naughty. Wait for me to come back."

Tang Yuan said: "Mom, don't worry, are you still worried about me? I've been very good today, just ask me next time, I will tell the truth."

Lin Qiuran nodded and spent the next two days preparing for the banquet. She felt that the flowers made with bean paste were not colorful enough, so she found a few things to try to dye the bean paste. However, there were not many things in winter, so dyeing was very troublesome.

In the end, I just used carrot juice mixed with orange peel juice to dye it orange, and black wolfberry to dye it purple.

She asked Lin Xia to go to the Marquis' Mansion to inform them that these things had to be prepared in advance so as not to be left without them when they were needed.

Good things come in pairs. On the morning of November 1st, there was news about Ya Ji's shop.

Although there are many businesses on the street, not all businesses can make money. There are many shops, but many are closed. So whether you want to rent or buy, you can buy it.

Lin Qiuran asked Lin Ming to go and have a look. Whether to buy it or not should be decided after he has finished seeing it.

If it doesn’t fit, wait a few days before buying it.

Lin Ming saw it and said the shop was good, but the prices were a bit high, so he had to bargain a little more.

Lin Qiuran nodded, and the next day she took the Anyang Marquis's carriage to make snacks. The red bean paste and other ingredients had been prepared long ago.

The guests had not arrived yet, but Lin Qiuran was methodically mixing colors and carving patterns. When the snacks were served, she knew that the guests were about to arrive.

Lin Qiuran's hands were constantly moving, and he couldn't hear the guests talking or laughing in the kitchen.

In the front yard, the room is as warm as spring. Roses and gardenias, which are not suitable for this season, are in full bloom. Although the colorful flowers are kept indoors, there is still undried snow outside. These flowers can be seen everywhere in summer, but in winter, they seem rare and beautiful.

Some people even leaned in to smell the fragrance. The servants brought in plates of snacks, and the woman caught a glimpse of the small, delicate snacks placed among the clusters of blooming peonies. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Old Madam, the Marquis's Mansion can even cultivate peonies in winter. But this is too extravagant. Are they just picking some to serve on the plates?"

Madam Qin smiled but said nothing. Someone looked at her intently and jokingly said, "What's that look in your eyes? Take a closer look."

The woman took another look and realized that the flower was artificial.

But it has the texture of petals, even the stamens, and it smells fragrant.

Madam Qin said, "Try some of these too. I specially asked someone to prepare these to suit the name of today's flower viewing banquet."

Dou□□Qiuran has made some improvements by adding milk, and it tastes good.

Someone took a bite. Mrs. Qin's niece savored it carefully. It tasted good, and most importantly, it looked beautiful. If she took it out, she would be very proud. She said, "When did my aunt hire such a clever and skillful person? Tell me about it."

Madam Qin said, "This is really difficult for me. Madam Lin, who did this, likes these things. I have some friendship with her and cater to her interests, so I invited people to arrange the banquet for me."

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The author has something to say: Thank you for your support [Panda Head][Cat Head] If you are short of books, you can read "I Lie Down After Becoming the Heroine's Maid". It has been signed to be published in traditional Chinese. It is a food farming novel [Spreading Flowers]