Chapter 67 Salted Egg Yolk Tofu
The kitchen was bustling with activity, while the guests were gradually arriving outside.
Pei Guyou and the other two were only responsible for moving things and accompanying Jiang Zhi for a while. As young masters and ladies of the same generation as this young lady of the Zhang family, they naturally couldn't sneak in before she announced that the door was open.
However, when the two children took the opportunity to slip inside, the three of them didn't stop them. None of the three were social butterflies. As for the awkward small talk outside, Pei Ye preferred to sit quietly by Jiang Zhi's side, which made him feel much more at ease.
Therefore, he not only did not stop the two children from doing this, but he was also a little envious, but he couldn't follow the children's example.
He could only straighten his clothes in silence, then hitch a ride in a carriage nearby. He planned to sneak into the kitchen to check on Jiang Zhi and see if there was anything he could help with when he came with the Pei family's group.
*
Unfortunately, imagination is beautiful, but reality is cruel.
Before Pei Ye could even jump down from the carriage he had just been in and pat off his indigo robes, he looked up and saw a familiar woman staring at him coldly.
"mother!"
Before Pei Ye could hide the surprise on his face, he saw his mother slightly tilting her inherited peach blossom eyes, looking him up and down, before making a sarcastic remark.
"Oh, which young master just came from some brothel? Still remembers to go home?"
Pei Ye, still a little embarrassed, quietly avoided his mother's slightly teasing gaze, quickly took two steps forward to help her up, and then, seeing his mother's expression, went straight to the point.
"Mom, I've got my eye on a girl! I'm pursuing her now! Let me tell you, she really likes me..."
*
Pei Ming glanced at her unreliable youngest son, then looked him up and down. Although she was a little shocked by his words, she had become quite authoritative as the head of the family.
Her gaze lingered on Pei Ye for so long that her usually unreliable youngest son probably felt embarrassed by her scrutiny and turned to stare at her blankly. Only then did she chuckle and speak.
"Then go after her! I'm not stopping you from pursuing a woman. Speaking of which, you should thank me for giving you such good looks, otherwise, it's uncertain whether any girl would even be interested in you."
"Mom, how could you say that!"
Pei Ye angrily demanded an explanation, but was pulled away by his mother's personal maid, who was also his adoptive mother who had raised him since childhood, to change his clothes. She gently advised him that they would be attending Miss Zhang's banquet soon.
Pei Ye left, but Pei Ming also began to ponder his youngest son's words.
What she said just now may have had an element of teasing and joking with her silly son, but she also genuinely had some suspicions about it.
My youngest son neither inherited the family property nor pursued an official career. After thinking it over, I'm afraid all he has to offer is his good looks!
That girl, how could she possibly be like her back then, planning to borrow something...?
*
Pei Ye had no idea that her few words had stirred up the brain of the current head of the Pei family. He picked and chose, like a butterfly, until he finally found the clothes he wanted.
So when Pei Ming saw his youngest son again, he just thought the guy was dressed up crazy.
He was dressed in a black and white straight-cut robe with wide sleeves, which wasn't particularly unusual. But the fact that he specifically chose a pair of cloud-patterned shoes embroidered with mandarin ducks seemed a bit too wild.
Not to mention the sachet hanging on his body; Pei Ming actually felt like sneezing just from the smell.
This really is his own son, no mistake! He even said that's how a child's real father is.
Pei Ming couldn't help but twitch as he pondered this question.
*
While Pei Ye was dawdling, the Zhang family's gate finally opened wide to the guests.
As the youngest daughter, she was the most beloved by her elders. Therefore, on her birthday, the Zhang family led her to the waterside pavilion that the Zhang family had not used for a long time.
It is called the Water Pavilion because it is built on an island in the middle of the lake in the middle of the Zhang family's garden.
But unlike the islands we usually encounter, it's not so small; it can accommodate ten or so tables for a banquet.
Therefore, the Zhang family actually cherishes this place quite a bit, because if it loses its prestige even once, the banquets they hold afterward will be utterly worthless.
...
That's why the guests invited by the Zhang family had all visited this waterside pavilion before. But even after being led in by the Zhang family's respectful servants, they were still astonished.
The place appears to have been renovated; the wood in the pavilion has been replaced with nanmu, and a faint fragrance wafts from the pillars, creating a refreshing and pleasant atmosphere throughout the pavilion. Those who know their stuff will recognize that while this wood may not be as fine as golden nanmu, its aroma is still strong enough, indicating that it has been stored for quite some time.
The entire window frame was replaced with one featuring a crackled ice pattern, which looks both beautiful and elegant, and adds a touch of fragile beauty.
...
As soon as Pei Ye walked in, he was greeted by this scene: a clear blue sky, wisps of clouds, the reflection of the Heavenly Pool below, and the faint scent of wood. Even he couldn't help but sigh, the Zhang family had indeed made a lot of money from the night market business!
That's right. What Jiang Zhi, who traveled through time, didn't know was that the Zhang family was actually one of the people behind the lifeline he grabbed back then. The Zhang family was the pioneer of the entire night market, without exception.
Back then, it was the current head of the Zhang family who first learned about the news from the upper echelons of the imperial court and confirmed that the night curfew in the distant city of Bianjing had been relaxed considerably. Only then did he persuade the local governor to promote the establishment of this night market.
Now, with the night market thriving, the shops under the Zhang family's control are also making a fortune because of their proximity to the night market. Not to mention the management fees they collect every month. Although each individual shop may not be much, the sheer number of shops makes up for it.
Even the prefect now treats the Zhang family with respect. After all, it's their father who provides the largest amount of tax revenue!
*
Jiang Zhi was unaware of the background here. After the dishes started to come out smoothly like an assembly line, Jiang Zhi began to help a few people with slightly slower hands to speed up the process.
Because she was so excited, she didn't feel tired at all, and her bright eyes reflected the food being constantly turned in the pot.
These are all precious ingredients. While ginger can still be bought in modern times, in ancient times, the price was simply...
For example, the shrimp in the lychee shrimp balls, although not sea shrimp, are as big as a palm and are hard to find on the market.
However, the Zhang family's food supplies were delivered in baskets, half full and half full.
For example, dried shrimp, Jiang Zhi never intended to see it in the Song Dynasty.
After all, no matter how small, how dried, or how much of a shrimp it is, it still has some connection to the sea.
In a city as remote as Shu, far from both land and sea, and in an era with poor transportation, the acquisition of such a place would have been incredibly difficult.
but--
When Jiang Zhi suggested these ingredients, the Zhang family member didn't hesitate much and remained indifferent, simply stating that the Zhang family already had their own stock.
With so many great ingredients, cooking with ginger was naturally a smooth and enjoyable experience!
*
As the sun gradually rose to the mountain peak, the water in the pond around the pavilion was illuminated by the sunlight, and the light rippled everywhere. For a moment, looking at the water, one could only feel that it was clear and beautiful, like gold shimmering on the surface.
By this time, most of the guests outside had arrived, and more were slowly making their way in.
Over there, the butler had already quietly come over and urged them to serve the dishes.
Jiang Zhi also checked the progress. Fortunately, with her help earlier, everyone had finished relatively quickly. Now it was time to serve the dishes.
The way the dishes are served is also quite particular. First, small snacks are served to whet the appetite; then cold dishes are served to refresh the palate; then hot dishes are served, starting with light dishes and moving to rich ones, starting with vegetarian dishes and moving to meat dishes, starting with small dishes and moving to large ones; finally, soup, desserts, and fruits are served.
Jiang Zhi was extremely familiar with this process of serving dishes; it was something ingrained in her very being, the kind she could recite with her eyes closed.
There's nothing we can do; these are the basic etiquette rules for hosting a banquet!
*
Just as the host, whom the Zhang family had hired at great expense, was entertaining everyone with his witty antics in the waterside pavilion, the Zhang family's steward, while directing the serious performance of the variety show backstage, frowned as he glanced at the clock and looked towards the cooking area in the distance.
The food should be served now!
Jiang Zhi arrived at that moment!
She pushed the cart, which was divided into three tiers and contained ten dishes of salt-baked winter melon seeds and almonds, gave a slight nod to the butler, and then stopped. The people following her went to the front, each carrying a plate to the table quietly, without disturbing any of the guests' enjoyment.
Jiang Zhi, who had pushed the food cart there, also glanced over and looked at the branch office over there at the banquet.
As expected, there were ten tables. The Zhang family was quite resourceful, with four tables for men and six tables for women. The birthday girl was easily recognizable; she was the pretty young woman sitting in the center, chatting and joking with another young woman beside her.
Most of the people at their table were around the same age as the birthday boss, chatting and laughing, patting each other on the back and making a ruckus. Even the variety show couldn't compare to the liveliness of those few.
Besides the most eye-catching little girl, Jiang Zhi also caught a glimpse of Pei Ye out of the corner of her eye.
There's no way around it, this guy's style isn't particularly common even in this era. If he were in modern times, Pei Ye would definitely be considered a "fashion trendsetter".
Perhaps because he wanted to be a playboy since childhood but never actually became one, this guy is quite good at dressing up.
Although many people would consider this a major flaw, Pei Ye didn't care.
He was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, looking less like his usual spoiled brat and more like someone who was—
Look dashing and handsome!
Jiang Zhi had just thought of this adjective when she immediately rejected it.
This guy isn't like that.
For reasons that are not easy to talk about, Pei Ye deliberately sat at the end of the water pavilion, at the male banquet table. He seemed to ignore the variety show in front of him, clearly in a daze.
Therefore, he was the first to notice that a plate of this snack had been quietly placed on the table.
Before he could think things through carefully, he subconsciously turned his head and happened to meet Jiang Zhi's gaze, which was still lingering.
One second, two seconds later, he laughed, his eyebrows and eyes arrogant and unrestrained, like a young man full of vigor, his smile never stopping.
*
When Jiang Zhi pushed the food cart back, her face was still flushed, and her earlobes were tinged with a thin layer of pink.
However, the servants here had been trained to be completely obedient by her cooking skills, some cooking and some serving dishes, and none of them noticed the unpredictable expression on Jiang Zhi's face at this moment.
Even Jiang Zhi, who has never been in a relationship since birth and has always been slow to react to emotions, knows why her heart is pounding and her cheeks are hot.
But how could that be?
As Jiang Zhi pushed the food cart over there, a whirlwind of thoughts raged in her mind.
These days, although she feels that she has gradually integrated into this era, can understand the joy of "sowing a seed in spring", and can gradually forget the pleasure brought by modern electronic products... because she can no longer return to the modern world, therefore, adaptation is the best medicine.
But this doesn't mean that Jiang Zhi is willing to fall for someone.
Yes, the moment Pei Ye smiled at Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi realized in that instant that she was smitten.
But she couldn't let her heart be moved! Throughout her life, even though Jiang Zhi tried her best to adapt to the era, she still couldn't reconcile with certain views of the time, such as polygamy and feudalism...
It was fine that Jiang Zhi was all alone, and she could even barely tolerate her making friends.
But not a lover, at least not Jiang Zhi's lover!
*
While Jiang Zhi was in turmoil, the people listening to the variety show also noticed the several dishes that had suddenly appeared on the table.
If you're not hungry, that's fine, but if you feel a rumbling stomach and can't wait any longer, just start eating!
One bite and someone immediately cheered!
"This tofu is really satisfying!"
The small, white tofu cubes are coated in a layer of salted egg yolk butter, dotted with the vibrant green of peas, and topped with a touch of golden-brown, stir-fried minced meat.
Just looking at it is enough to make one's mouth water, not to mention the hot and tempting aroma wafting around everyone's noses!
It's unclear which table or person took the first bite, but even before swallowing, their mouths were already making smacking sounds, accompanied by the sound of swallowing as they smelled it. The sounds drifted throughout the entire waterside pavilion, echoing everywhere.
*
When Miss Zhang and her close friends slowly made their entrance, they witnessed this scene.
People at one table after another quietly dipped their chopsticks into the same dish, picked up a mouthful, and stuffed it into their mouths, while also wiping the remaining soup off their tongues with satisfaction.
Miss Zhang remained silent, only quietly taking a step back.
Is this her birthday gift? Why are these people eating like this...? Did the people invited to the house not have enough breakfast and came here hungry just to freeload a meal?
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Author's Note: I've done the math, and I can finish the main story around Thursday when I put out the clips!
Updates on Wednesday and Thursday will be delayed until the evening. Please check back the next morning!
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