Chapter 168 Lotus Garden Manager
Wen Zhenyi and the others were holding something in their hands. Ma Yushun was holding a baking tray and looking at the lotus garden curiously.
Master Cheng looked at him and smiled, "My nephew, have you ever been to the Lotus Garden?"
Ma Yushun shook his head. "I've never been here, but I've heard the Lotus Garden in Wenxia Town is famous. I'm sure I'll be able to feast my eyes on it today."
Soon the gate of the Lotus Garden opened. The steward inside greeted Steward Cheng with a smile when he saw him. "Steward Cheng, Master Cheng, we have been waiting for you for a long time."
Master Cheng walked over with Wen Zhenyi and said, "This is Miss Wen from the Wen family. She brought some homemade cakes."
The Lotus Garden manager looked at Wen Zhenyi and said, "I've heard that Miss Wen's cooking skills are superb. I've always wanted to try her, but unfortunately I've been busy with so many things that I can't spare the time."
"My shop will have a food delivery service soon. If you want to eat, you can order in advance and it will be delivered to you the next morning."
"Wow! That's really convenient." He made way for the door and said, "Everyone, please stop standing here. Let's go inside and talk."
Mr. Cheng walked in first, followed by Wen Zhenyi and the others.
The houses and buildings in the lotus garden are all located in the back. What comes into view is the large lotus pond, stone bridges and corridors connecting the entire lotus garden.
There are also pleasure boats on the shore where guests can go boating and enjoy the coolness of summer.
There are pavilions and waterside terraces on the lake, and the winding corridors make the lotus garden a beautiful picture.
Ma Ruier's face was full of surprise: "Cousin, this place is so beautiful."
"I guess the steward must have put a lot of effort into taking care of these lotus flowers."
When the steward heard her words, he felt a little happy and proud: "These lotus flowers have grown to their current size thanks to the steward's careful cultivation from generation to generation."
Wen Zhenyi could smell the fragrance of lotus flowers all the way, which made people feel relaxed and happy. Living in such a courtyard would probably dispel a lot of the summer heat.
They walked into a building. The first floor was a large hall, and the second floor was a very good viewing platform, from which one could see most of the scenery of the lotus garden.
There were four other people in the hall. When they saw Mr. Cheng, they all stood up and greeted him.
Wen Zhenyi and the others also greeted them one by one.
One of the older stewards, whose hair and beard were all gray, looked at Wen Zhen and smiled, saying, "Miss Wen, you are so young, but your cooking skills are already well-known. I wonder what you will bring us today?"
Wen Zhenyi greeted with a smile: "Today I brought three kinds of snacks for you, the managers. I don't know if they will suit your taste." Then he placed all the things he brought on the table.
Ma Yushun lifted the cloth covering the iron plate, revealing the baked bread.
When Ma Ruier opened her food box, she found egg roll lollipops inside, while Wen Zhenyi's food box contained purple chrysanthemum cakes.
The five elders were dumbfounded when they saw what she brought. They had never even seen these things, let alone eaten them.
Each one is so exquisite that one cannot bear to touch it, and it is a pleasure to look at it alone.
Master Cheng looked at the things she brought and said, "Girl Wen, you made something new again, why didn't you inform me?"
Wen Zhenyi looked at him apologetically: "Yesterday I was trying out the oven, but I wasn't sure if it would work, so I didn't dare ask you. If I failed, I'd definitely disappoint you."
The steward came back to his senses and looked at Wen Zhenyi: "Miss Wen, please introduce these things to us."
Wen Zhenyi walked over to the bread and introduced it to them one by one: "This is focaccia bread. The decorations on it are all made with vegetables and fruits. It has a soft texture and a vegetable and fruity aroma."
"This is a two-color egg roll lollipop. It has the same soft texture and the aroma of eggs."
"Finally, there's the chrysanthemum pastry, which has a crispy texture and distinct layers, with red bean paste inside."
The stewards were all eager to try it: "Can we try it?"
"Of course you can."
Wen Zhenyi took out a knife from the lunch box, cut the bread into nine pieces, and handed one piece to each of them.
These people naturally include Mr. Cheng and Butler Cheng.
Only then did Mr. Cheng nod with satisfaction.
Ma Yushun and Ma Ruier were a little impatient and pulled her sleeves: "Cousin, can we go for a walk outside?"
The steward smiled and said, "I'll have someone take you for a walk." Then he called a servant from outside and asked him to take the two of them to the lotus garden for a walk.
Wen Zhenyi sat aside drinking tea and waited for them to finish eating before chatting.
Master Cheng sat next to her and said, "Girl, can you make more of these cakes and sell them to me?"
Wen Zhenyi looked at him and said, "Chrysanthemum crisps?"
"Sell me some of each and I'll give them to my old friend."
"Is it far?"
"It's two or three days' journey from town."
"Then I can only make you chrysanthemum cakes. Others can't be stored for that long. Bread is good for three days, and egg rolls need to be eaten on the same day."
"Okay, then let's have chrysanthemum pastry."
"How many people?"
"There are only three that are relatively close. The others are far away, and I'm afraid they will all get damaged if I take them with me."
"Okay, I'll make it for you when I get back, but let me make it clear first, these pastries are not cheap."
"It's okay, I'll give you the money when the time comes."
"Master Cheng, is anyone renting a stall in your market now?"
"Yes, the permanent stalls have all been rented out, so yours will be reserved for you. For the other temporary stalls, just collect the fees on the day."
"This is moving fast enough. I think it will open in a few days."
"Not so fast. We still have to clean it inside and out."
The chief steward ate all three kinds of cakes and still felt unsatisfied: "Miss Wen."
Wen Zhenyi turned his head and looked at the stewards: "Big Steward, you go ahead."
“We are very pleased with your pastries.”
"It's best if the stewards like it."
"This flower viewing event will be held for three days. The total cost of refreshments is 150 taels. You need to provide enough for 100 people each day. I wonder if this is a problem on your end."
"I'd like to ask, do snacks and teas need to be different every day?"
"What's the difference?"
"Of course there are. Three different refreshments for three days will surely attract quite a few people."
The steward's eyes lit up: "Miss Wen can also make a lot of tea and snacks?"
"Of course I will. It's no problem to have different snacks for three days. But I want to know how many snacks do I need to prepare every day?"
“There are about five to six snacks a day, not including tea.”
"Do we need to prepare enough for a hundred people for everything?"
"That's about right."
Wen Zhenyi was calculating in his mind whether to convert it. One hundred plates of bread cost one tael and five cents. If calculated at one yuan per person, only eleven plates would be enough.
"Is one chrysanthemum pastry considered a single serving?"
The steward looked at the empty food boxes. It seemed that each of them had eaten more than one. If everyone was like them, the budget would probably be exceeded.
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