Chapter 71: Improving Dishes
The group didn't engage in any further idle chatter, each closing their eyes to rest until the carriage stopped at the entrance of the restaurant.
He Jing got off the carriage first, offering his hand to Yu Wan, who naturally grabbed his strong arm and stepped off the carriage.
Upon seeing this, Jin Yifei gave a bitter smile, but quickly composed himself and enthusiastically introduced his shop to Yu Wan.
"This is the earliest restaurant opened by the Jin family in Jiangnan. It has been around for a hundred years. My cousin is the manager now, and it's the fourth generation."
Yu Wan stood at the main entrance, looking at the golden plaque of the Jin Family Restaurant above her head, which was actually bestowed by the late emperor.
Not to mention the magnificent and splendid atmosphere of the entire restaurant, which is truly amazing.
She joked, "Now I feel like I have a concrete representation of the Kim family's wealth."
Jin Yifei laughed heartily: "These things shouldn't mean anything to you. Your business will surpass the Jin family's one day."
"Thank you for your kind words," Yu Wan said with a smile.
Jin Yifei gestured for you to enter, "We had prepared a grand welcome ceremony, but after what happened last night, we were worried about your safety, so we canceled it. We hope you don't mind."
Yu Wan didn't care about these formalities. She followed along for a tour and then went to the kitchen.
This restaurant has stood the test of time for over a century and still attracts legendary guests to come and enjoy its cuisine multiple times; it has done an excellent job.
Jin Yifei asked her for some suggestions, and she sincerely praised him, but also spoke her mind.
"Do you remember the restaurant I took over in the county town? It used to be called Fumanju."
When Jin Yifei recalled that time, he felt a pang of sadness. Perhaps if he had been more proactive back then, would he have left a deeper impression on her?
Yu Wan said, "The biggest problem with Fu Man Ju back then was that it was all show and no substance. Its dishes looked very nice and tasted acceptable, but they were only focused on the level of the food and lacked attention to the taste itself. It attracted people with status and prestige who felt that eating there was a matter of face, but they had already lost interest in food. Their purpose in coming here was not to taste good food."
Jin Yifei snapped back to reality. "Yes, that's exactly the problem you mentioned. Over the years, the restaurant has lost many customers; they all prefer to go to smaller eateries."
At this moment, Jin Yizhuang arrived from the kitchen, clasped his hands in apology,
"Madam Yu, I'm so sorry, I had some urgent matters to attend to, so I couldn't greet you right away."
After a few brief pleasantries, we found a nice private room to sit down.
A table full of signature dishes was served, and Yu Wan was convinced that they must have been made by a very skilled chef, either an imperial chef or his prized apprentice.
Jin Yizhuang greeted, "Madam Yu, please try it and give us your feedback. To be honest, I think these dishes are quite good at first, but after eating them a lot, they're just so-so. But if you ask me how to change them, I can't seem to think of anything. The people in the kitchen have also racked their brains, but they just can't come up with anything. Those people are so stubborn. They say that's how their master taught them, and that's how they learned it. If it's changed beyond recognition, then it won't be the same dish anymore."
His words revealed his anxiety and urgency, but his expression was calm, making him seem like a very composed person.
Yu Wan slowly observed the dishes on the table. If the dishes at Fu Man Ju were as exquisite as works of art, then the dishes at Jin Jia Restaurant could be described as breathtakingly beautiful, making one wonder if they were even edible.
Whether in terms of shape, carving, or color, the craftsmanship is superb and truly admirable.
Such works are pleasing to the eye just to look at, and one can't bear to destroy them.
Why didn't I see these dishes at the grand banquet on my first day at the Jin family's house? They must have kept some of their signature dishes?
Seeing her examining the dishes, Jin Yizhuang answered her guess.
"To be honest, these are new dishes that our kitchen has just developed. They haven't been officially announced yet and are still kept secret. We invited Madam Yu here today so that you can taste them and give us your feedback. Of course, we also hope that you can keep them a secret for us."
Yu Wan's lips curled slightly. "Logically speaking, the distinguished guest you're talking about has been here more than once. You should know his tastes to some extent. But I don't even know if that person is male or female. Why should I be the one to taste him?"
Jin Yizhuang looked embarrassed. "Well... this..."
His gaze drifted uncomfortably to his cousin, Jin Yifei, and he chuckled twice.
"Yifei once said that you are not only a skilled cook, but also a gourmet even better than him. You can make all kinds of flavors. Yifei has tasted all over the country, but he still praises your talent. I know him. He has never been one to easily submit to anyone since he was a child, and he is very picky about food. Anyone who can conquer him and his stomach must be even more extraordinary."
Jin Yifei looked embarrassed and protested in a low voice against his cousin's evaluation of him.
"Cousin, we're talking about the food here, why are you teasing me?"
Jin Yizhuang laughed heartily, "Why are you so shy? I was just answering Madam Yu's questions. Besides, wasn't what I said true? Didn't you lavish praise on her character and talent?"
Jin Yifei's face turned completely red, and he had to cover it with his hand as he pleaded:
"Cousin..."
Jin Yizhuang pretended not to know why he was so embarrassed, "That's really strange, Yifei, what's wrong with you? I didn't say anything bad, why are you being so hesitant?"
Jin Yifei felt that his cousin was forcing him into a trap, and secretly glanced at Yu Wan, worried that she would be disgusted, so he quickly interrupted his cousin.
“Cousin, I see you’re not in a hurry at all. Our distinguished guests will be arriving in the next few days, and you’re in charge of this restaurant. If you’re not in a rush, then I’ll take A-Wan and the others out for a trip. We haven’t seen much of the scenery in Jiangnan yet.”
Jin Yizhuang knew when to stop, so he stopped teasing him and cheerfully invited everyone to try the food.
Of course, his main focus was on Yu Wan's opinion on the dishes.
"Madam Yu, come and have a taste. Please feel free to offer any opinions, and I will definitely remember them."
Since Yu Wan has already agreed to help, she will do her best, regardless of the Jin family's intentions in seeking her assistance.
After carefully tasting all the dishes on the table, she said that they were all excellent in terms of both taste and texture.
If I had to say something, it would be that it's not too different from what she thought before.
"Madam Yu, how is it?" Jin Yizhuang asked anxiously.
His stance was simple: he was in charge of the restaurant, so naturally he hoped that nothing unexpected would happen. If he could achieve outstanding results, his position in the Jin family would be more secure.
He also knew that the entire Jin family hoped this matter would succeed.
Disappointing a distinguished guest can result in damage to one's reputation at best, and serious consequences at worst.
“These dishes are all delicious,” Yu Wan said honestly, “but they’re really just delicious.”
Jin Yizhuang nodded repeatedly, "That's right, that's exactly it. Do you have any suggestions for improvement?"
Yu Wan then offered suggestions for improvement on each dish, keeping the overall composition the same, only adding or subtracting some changes to the flavor.
Jin Yizhuang was unfamiliar with cooking, so he was skeptical of her opinions. He simply made a note of it and then sent the written improvement plan to the kitchen.
The chefs in the kitchen were dumbfounded when they saw the plan. For them, it had undoubtedly changed the essence of their work.
They wanted to protest, but realized that this was a critical time. Their previous dishes had not satisfied the boss, and now they could only follow the boss's instructions.
"We'll just do whatever the boss says. After they've messed around with it, they'll definitely realize that our original method was already the most perfect and ultimate recipe."
"Yes, in the end, we're all just working for someone else. They pay us wages, so we should just do whatever they ask. That distinguished guest is no small person; he's very mysterious and I've heard he has a lot of influence. We can't afford to take on that responsibility, so we'd better be honest and listen to them."
Then, a new table was made according to the improved plan.
A single meal consisted of sixty dishes, and it would take at least two hours to prepare. Yu Wan would then wander around the restaurant, observing things that interested her and consulting with Jin Yizhuang.
Jin Yizhuang was very sincere and answered all of Yu Wan's questions in detail without holding anything back, which gave Yu Wan great inspiration.
Yu Wan discovered that Jin Family Restaurant had one major advantage: besides its great reputation, it was also frequented by many high-ranking officials, dignitaries, celebrities, and scholars who all enjoyed the atmosphere there.
This isn't really a great place for sightseeing; it's more of a place where these people can make friends.
Yu Wan's restaurants and food courts currently lack this advantage because, due to their geographical location, most of the diners visiting Sui County are ordinary people, with fewer people of status and prestige.
Today, her food court is a landmark in Sui County, but its influence is not enough. To spread its fame further, it needs more prestigious and influential people to use their status to make an impact.
She knew she was being greedy, but she had to do it. She had to do everything in her power to expand her business and elevate her status. Because in this dog-eat-dog society, oppression could occur at any level. With her current status, she only had a place in a small, remote county town. If she faced someone of higher status or greater wealth, she would still be like an ant.
In her past life, she was a person who was content with the status quo. As long as she had enough to eat and wear, a fixed income each month, and could save some money in her wallet, she was satisfied.
But from the very first day she came into this world, she knew that she had to improve her strength so that her whole family could be safer.
Thinking back to when she was in a small town, her little eatery caught the eye of Fu Man Ju, the largest restaurant in the county. Now, her food court might also be seen as a lucrative target by some people.
She has always felt a sense of crisis, and she has never stopped.
After learning about her current performance, Jin Yizhuang keenly sensed the crisis she was about to face and offered her advice.
“Madam Yu, it’s best that you’ve managed to form a united front with the local officials. Lord Zhu is our uncle, and he’s an upright man, nothing to complain about. However, he’s just a minor county magistrate, while your food city is already famous far and wide. I suggest you befriend those in higher positions of power. Otherwise, I really don’t want to think about what kind of crisis you might encounter in the future.”
Jin Yifei's expression changed slightly, "Cousin, you mean..."
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