There were two large water vats deep inside the house, where people washed things.
There was an auntie tidying up the table, and someone was stirring the food.
Ye Panjiu nodded. The ingredients were clean, and the hygiene was good.
There were many stoves inside, the charcoal was burning hot, and the person cooking was naked.
Ye Panjiu asked her aunt, "Auntie, what's your name? Who's in charge of this room?"
The aunt looked up; she had heard the conversation at the door. “The master can just call me Granny Ma. The steward went to take a nap and hasn’t gotten up yet.”
Ye Panjiu smiled and continued to ask, "Aunt Ma, when did it all start?"
Granny Ma nodded repeatedly, "Soon, I just finished working at noon."
"Okay, Aunt Ma, how many people are responsible for cleaning like you?"
In no time, Ye Panjiu had found out the staff situation of Jinxiu Pavilion.
The twenty-four waiters were also responsible for cleaning when they weren't serving.
There are eight people cleaning the kitchen, and they are also responsible for helping out in the kitchen, washing and chopping vegetables.
There are seven chefs in total, and the head chef is in charge of the most difficult signature dishes.
Three people were in charge of purchasing. Every day, just after the fourth watch, before dawn, they would put the fresh vegetables and meat they bought into the Golden Delight Pavilion.
Ye Panjiu then looked around the remaining rooms of Jinxiu Pavilion. Except for the three side rooms, which she did not enter, she looked through all the other storerooms.
Everything was arranged quite neatly.
Luo Sheng found a good person; he managed Jinxiu Pavilion very well.
The head chef was a burly man with a thick waist and broad shoulders, who looked to be in his forties.
Upon seeing Ye Panjiu, he muttered, "Nobody seems to care about my kitchen. Nobody ever says anything bad about the dishes I make."
Ye Panjiu wasn't annoyed. "Yes, I wasn't planning to interfere. I was just taking a look. The dishes you make are really delicious. I love your Linglong Peony Zha the most."
Upon hearing this, the burly man's thick, dark eyebrows twitched with delight. "This dish is no ordinary dish. In the entire Shuzhou, only I, Lu Xiu, can make it the best!"
Ye Panjiu smiled and said, "Yes, yes, Master Lu is amazing. I'll go talk to the accountant in the front."
Lu Xiu wasn't curious about what she was going to do. He waved his hand and walked towards the kitchen.
Ye Panjiu smiled; she didn't dislike people who were capable and had a generous temper.
The accountant, dressed in silk, was working on an abacus.
In the inner room behind him, a shopkeeper sat in a rocking chair looking at the account books.
Luo Sheng couldn't possibly stay at Jinxiu Pavilion all day, so Jinxiu Pavilion must have a manager in charge.
Ye Panjiu took out the account book and placed it in front of the accountant. "Did you write this account book, sir?"
Upon hearing this, the young shopkeeper looked outside and immediately stood up. "What brings you here today, sir?"
Ye Panjiu replied, "I've been busy during the New Year, but I have some free time now. Manager, do you see any problems with these ledgers?"
Feng Hongfu's mind was on high alert, but he smiled warmly on the outside, "Oh dear, please don't test me, boss. My brain isn't very sharp. If there are any problems, I'll do whatever you say."
The accountant quickly added, "Yes, boss, Jinxiu Pavilion has been open for seven or eight years, and this account book has always been like this."
Ye Panjiu pointed to the backyard, "Alright, what should I call the shopkeeper?"
Feng Hongfu touched his forehead. "Boss, my name is Feng Hongfu."
Ye Panjiu looked towards the accounting office.
"My name is Ma Jiang."
"Uncle Feng, Uncle Ma, don't be nervous. You'll still be in charge of Jinxiu Pavilion from now on. I don't plan to get too involved. We only have an account book, but we can't be unaware of what the outside world is like. So, Uncle Feng, please come with me today."
The two of them didn't quite understand what he was saying.
But Feng Hongfu nodded repeatedly, "Okay."
Ye Panjiu didn't go back to ride her horse, but walked out of the Golden Delight Pavilion.
Jinxiu Pavilion is well-located, avoiding the high foot traffic of Zuixianlou.
There are many shops and stalls along the street.
Ye Panjiu casually walked towards a butcher stall and asked, "Uncle, how much is this meat?"
The butcher was deftly wrapping the meat in an oilcloth. "Lean meat is eighteen coins a pound, fat meat is the same price, and it's chopped into minced meat for free."
Ye Panjiu glanced at Feng Hongfu.
Feng Hongfu was stunned.
"Uncle, has this been your price all year?"
The butcher waved his hand, "Oh, young lady, you don't know this, but the price goes up a little before and after the New Year and holidays. It's usually sixteen."
Ye Panjiu nodded. "I see. Uncle, how much do you sell these offal for?"
This question puzzled Feng Hongfu even more.
"Six coins a pound, even cheaper if you buy more!" the butcher said generously.
Ye Panjiu nodded, "Thank you, Uncle."
Thank you, and I'll go.
Immediately afterwards, Ye Panjiu asked about the prices of rice, noodles, vegetables, and other items.
I'm not buying anything.
I asked at three meat stalls, and the prices were not much different, with only a difference of one or two coins. Offal was basically priced at six coins.
After her trip, Ye Panjiu turned back to Jinxiu Pavilion.
Feng Hongfu felt he understood, and to confirm his idea, he immediately opened the account book.
Upon seeing it, he was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared, exclaiming, "Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
Ma Jiang was shocked. "What on earth is going on?"
Feng Hongfu pointed to the items he had purchased, "Eighteen yuan a pound of pork, and that's after the New Year, when prices are higher! Look how much it says here! Thirty! That heartless bastard!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Jiang turned pale.
Jinxiu Pavilion has been open for so many years, but he has never given much thought to purchasing; he just records whatever the purchase order is submitted…
There are so many ingredients to buy, how could he possibly remember them all over the years?
This hole is huge!
Ye Panjiu's eyes twitched as she listened. "Uncle Feng, don't be angry. We'll solve the problem if something goes wrong."
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