Yan Funing said, "To be honest, my uncle and aunt and I also came to Beijing from other places. We understand that it is not easy for outsiders to make a living in Beijing. In this case, this restaurant has decided to provide food and accommodation."
Tietou was surprised when he heard this: "I just asked, can you really guarantee it?"
Yan Funing said frankly, "However, there is no accommodation available today. I will go to the dental clinic in the next two days and will let you know then."
"Good!" The chefs applauded.
Liu Song took out a pen and ink and said loudly, "Let's register the names and tell us what dishes you are good at. Starting tomorrow, the six of you will be the chefs of Chengwen Restaurant."
Tietou was the first to step forward: "My name is Tietou, I'm the best at chopping bones and cooking stews."
The second man who came forward said, "My name is Hua Dao, and I'm the best at cutting food into flower patterns."
When their names were announced, everyone laughed.
He shook his head: "What's your last name?"
Tietou was a dark-skinned man. He touched his head shyly and said anxiously, "My last name is Tie. They said I was a country boy who had moved to the city, so they couldn't say anything bad about me. I was called Tietou when I was born. My last name is Tie and my given name is Tou."
Hua Dao is handsome and smiles shyly: "Our family name is Hua, and Dao is my given name. My grandfather and father worked as temporary cooks for families holding weddings in the village, and I have been able to use Hua Dao since I was a child."
Yan Funing chuckled, picked up the pen, and wrote their names in the booklet.
The third cook who came up spoke up: "My name is Lü Pin. Lü Pin has five mouths and knows how to eat."
Another cook came up and sneered, "Who doesn't know how to eat? Little shopkeeper, my name is Pi Dan. Pi Dan is my first name. Pi is my last name, that's right."
"My name is Yuan Luobo."
"Zhang Doudou, my name is Zhang Doudou."
Yan Funing finally couldn't help herself and chuckled: "Tell me where you're from, too."
"Young shopkeeper, what are you laughing at?" Lu Pin asked.
Yan Funing smiled softly: "Nothing to laugh at, you are born to be cooks."
"The young shopkeeper thinks highly of us," Tietou said. "When the imperial chefs were being selected, I signed up and everyone smiled. But since they heard I was from a small village, my score was low."
Yuan Luobo lowered his head and said, "The bad thing is that we are all from the countryside. We have never seen many precious ingredients, so we can't be the royal chef."
Yan Funing comforted them, "Our restaurant doesn't look at background, only ability. In the future, you will have the opportunity to come into contact with precious ingredients. If one day you want to become a royal chef again, my uncle and aunt will definitely not stop you."
"With what the young shopkeeper said, we have followed the right person!" Lu Pin said.
After registering the six chefs, they began to clean up inside the restaurant.
The cooks were also busy, and they washed the pots and pans they had just used before leaving.
On the ninth day of May, Yan Funing went to the dental clinic and rented a yard right behind the restaurant.
The yard is spacious, with many rooms and a courtyard in the middle where clothes can be washed and dried on weekdays.
The six cooks moved in happily.
There were still rooms available, so Yan Funing told the waiters, "Those of you who live far away can stay here. The restaurant will be open late into the night, so it will be more convenient to rest here."
Xiaowen asked: "Do I have to pay?"
Yan Funing smiled: "The cooks don't have to pay, so naturally you don't have to pay either."
"That's great!" The guys went to pick a house.
A room for two was quickly booked.
After the accommodation problem was resolved, everyone returned to the restaurant.
Liu Song got off the carriage and together with He Shi carried in a plaque covered with red cloth.
Seeing this, Yan Funing quickly ordered the servants to help lift it.
Liu Song watched the waiter carefully place the plaque, then said to Yan Funing, "My daughter, the restaurant is all ready. Your aunt looked at the perpetual calendar this morning and it says tomorrow is an auspicious day. How about we open it tomorrow?"
"Okay, I'll listen to my uncle and aunt."
--
The next day, the tenth day of May, is an auspicious day for opening a business.
Red silk was hung high inside Chengwen Building, and firecrackers were deafening outside the building.
Brother and sister Longchi Anshi and Yangyang, brother and sister Pang Gaozhuo and Pang Anmeng, arrived one after another.
"Fu Ning, congratulations and good luck on your opening." Shi Yangyang took the brocade box from his brother and handed it to Yan Fu Ning. "This is a gift from my brother."
"Thank you!" Yan Funing thanked and handed the gift to Caiyu beside her.
Pang Anmeng also came forward, carrying a gift: "You informed me yesterday. Fortunately, I am free today. Otherwise, if I missed it, what would happen?"
Yan Funing accepted the gift and said, "I'm a little anxious indeed, but today is a good day. We should open the store sooner and start generating revenue sooner."
Yesterday afternoon, she only sent someone to the Pang family to inform Pang Anmeng, but she didn't expect that Long Chi'an and Shi Yangyang would also come, which surprised her.
What surprised her even more was that Lu Wenfeng and someone else also came.
Seeing this, Liu Song asked his servant to stop Fu Ciyi.
Fu Ciyi stood across the street with his hands behind his back, looking at her indifferently, past the waiter in the restaurant.
Yan Funing turned her head to avoid his gaze and ordered Caiyu, "Hurry up and serve snacks and tea to the Prince, Princess, General Pang, and Miss Pang."
Caiyu said yes, glanced worriedly across the street, and went into the kitchen to get some snacks.
Lu Wenfeng squeezed past the waiter and placed the gift he had prepared on the table next to Yan Funing. He said softly, "Funing, for my sake, please have a chat with him."
Yan Funing shook her head calmly, "He and I are no longer husband and wife. He is now the fiancé of the Prime Minister's daughter. With such status, we should avoid suspicion."
"That's what he said, but he's not feeling well either. Who dares to disobey an imperial decree? The day before yesterday, he had no appetite and didn't even go to the Imperial Academy. Do you think he's feeling bad?"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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