The roast suckling pig has crispy skin and tender meat just by eating it like this.
The skin is not greasy at all, as the fat inside has been roasted out. It can also be eaten with the two seasonings prepared by Xu Qinyu. Roast suckling pig must be eaten with sugar. Some people think it looks strange to eat it with sugar, but it tastes completely different. The roast suckling pig dipped in sugar completely stimulates the aroma, and it is crispy and sweet in the mouth.
The other is also a dry dipping sauce, which is made with several of her own secret seasonings, peppery and spicy, which have two completely different tastes from white sugar.
Xu Qinyu felt that it was a waste to give the roast suckling pig to the imperial envoy, but this was the only way for the time being.
Madam Zhu knew how delicious the food was just by smelling it, but she still couldn't help herself. When the young master asked her to try it, she nodded and picked up some from the extra dish and put it on her plate.
She had thought the roast suckling pig outside tasted the best, but once she tasted the dishes, she knew she was wrong. Every dish made by this young master amazed her. If everyone wasn't there, she would have wanted to feast on it. It was really delicious.
These dishes are already so delicious, how delicious must the roast suckling pig outside be?
Madam Zhu took a bite, put down her bowl and chopsticks, wiped the corner of her lip, and said gently, "Originally, I was suspicious of the young master because of his youth. I hope you will forgive me. Your cooking skills are already superb."
It was the first time she knew that cooking skills could reach such a level.
Xu Qinyu said, "As long as Madam Zhu thinks it's appropriate, it's fine. Get ready. The imperial envoy should be arriving soon. We can serve the food as soon as he arrives."
…
The imperial envoy's surname is Fu. He is a descendant of the distant cousin of Empress Dowager Fu's ancestors, several generations apart. His name is Fu Chenghong, and he is already in his thirties. Although Empress Dowager Fu entered the palace as a concubine before, the Fu family was just an ordinary duke, and he was just a distant relative from several generations earlier, so naturally he did not get any benefits.
Fu Chenghong was not from the capital. He studied the Four Books and Five Classics since he was young and took the imperial examinations, but his knowledge was very mediocre. It was not until he was thirty that he barely passed the examination. It was by chance that he borrowed the power of Concubine Fu.
When the new emperor ascended the throne and opened the imperial examination, he went to Beijing to take the exam. Because his surname was Fu, he finally made it to the palace examination, but his knowledge was mediocre and he did not make it into the first class. The new emperor gave him the second class. He first stayed in the Hanlin Academy. The previous assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue suddenly died of a heart disease in the court. The right assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, who was only in his twenties, became the minister of the Ministry of Revenue. The vacant position of the right assistant minister was taken up by Fu Chenghong.
The Minister of Revenue was a fourth-rank official.
After becoming the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, many people fawned over him. He was not fat originally, but now he was covered in fat and his gait was shaky. Many people mocked him behind his back, saying that he had borrowed the power of the Fu family and now that his life had finally gotten better, he was eating and drinking recklessly, eating himself like a pig. His personality became more and more weird. It was common for him to beat and scold the servants in his house. He even tortured several maids to death. However, the maids were all indentured to death and their lives were worthless. If they were beaten to death, they would just be thrown into a mass grave and no one would vent their anger for them.
Even if outsiders find out, they can just shut them up by saying that they stole something from the house.
In the case of embezzlement of military pay, because the Minister of Revenue was busy with other matters, he was appointed as an imperial envoy to go to the southwest to investigate the case.
The embezzlement of military pay was originally done by the Ministry of Revenue, but the money all went into the pocket of King Handong, and he also got some benefits. Naturally, he understood that it was just a formality. However, the Minister of Revenue was unwilling to come to such a remote place in the southwest, and of course he was unwilling to come, but he had to come. When he came, he naturally took his anger out on the Prefect of Raozhou. This Prefect was also short-sighted. The food he treated him to was ordinary food, and the Prefect's Office did not allow him to hold banquets and invite actors for entertainment.
After staying in the prefect's mansion for a few days, he went out to eat, deliberately trying to make the prefect uncomfortable.
The food at Zuixianlou was actually quite good, but he was angry and naturally wanted to vent it.
Later, he heard from people around him that the owner of Zhu's Restaurant was the prefect's sister-in-law, so he asked the officials around him to go to Zhu's Restaurant to order a table of evening meal.
As for the food prepared at Zhu's Restaurant, he also sent people to inquire about it. The taste was average, but the portion was good. He went there not for the taste, but to humiliate the prefect. After he had the evening meal at Zhu's Restaurant, he beat Madam Zhu with a stick on the grounds that the food tasted bad, and he did it in front of the prefect. It was pleasant to think about it.
So Fu Chenghong also invited the prefect to have dinner at Zhu's Restaurant.
Zhu Taishou originally had no intention of accompanying Fu Chenghong to dinner, but when he heard Fu Chenghong say that he had booked a table for dinner at Zhu's Restaurant, he understood Fu Chenghong's plan. He also couldn't bear to watch Fu Chenghong embarrass his wife's sister, so he went with him. If Fu Chenghong really did embarrass his wife's sister, he would be able to protect her.
Fu Chenghong and Prefect Zhu arrived at the Zhu Family Restaurant at about the same time, accompanied by two other officials close to Fu Chenghong, who also came from the capital.
When the few of them arrived at Qingguhu in a carriage, they smelled a strange fragrance as soon as the carriage entered.
The aroma was so strong and tempting that the two officials beside Fu Chenghong couldn't help but lift the curtain to look outside. They asked the prefect Zhu, "Master Zhu, there's a famous restaurant in this market. Why didn't you tell our Master Fu? If you knew there was such a restaurant, you wouldn't have to go to Zhu's Restaurant to order dinner."
Zhu Taishou was also a little surprised when he smelled this smell. He naturally knew which restaurants there were in Qingguhu, and no matter which restaurant it was, it would be impossible for it to have this smell.
In his opinion, there seemed to be only one person who could make such a delicious dish.
Prefect Zhu's heart skipped a beat. Wei Xuan was in Raozhou City. He said that he and Yu Niang came to Raozhou City to look at shops and land. Yu Niang wanted to open a restaurant or a restaurant.
Could it be that this food was made by Yu Niang?
But where did Yu Niang do it? The Zhu Family Restaurant? But Wei Xuan probably didn't know Fu Chenghong was going to make things difficult for the Zhu Family Restaurant.
Never mind, maybe it was just his random guess, maybe it was food made by someone else.
Fu Chenghong was also tempted by the fragrance and started drooling, but he held back and did not lift the curtain to look outside.
He then heard Zhu Taishou say, "I don't eat out often, so I'm not very familiar with Qingguhu's restaurant."
Fu Chenghong sneered in his heart and thought, I'll see how you can keep pretending when we go to Zhu's Restaurant later.
The further the carriage went inside, the stronger the fragrance became.
Even the two officials couldn't help but murmur, "What kind of food is this? I've never smelled such an aroma in the capital."
Seeing Fu Chenghong's sullen expression, another person quickly said, "Maybe it's just the aroma that's enticing, but the taste is just average."
When we arrived at the Zhu Family Restaurant, the fragrance seemed to be right in our nostrils.
The two officials were shocked. Could it really be that the fragrance came from the Zhu Family Restaurant?
After getting off the carriage, the four of them entered the Zhu Family Restaurant.
The waiter recognized the two officials and also recognized Governor Zhu. He was surprised for a moment, and then quickly led the four people to the largest room on the second floor. He opened the window so that they could see the bustling crowd below. After they sat down, another waiter came up not with tea, but with a white porcelain soup basin. The soup basin was a bit milky white and dotted with dense small particles. They didn't recognize what it was, but it looked very tempting.
Fu Chenghong couldn't help but frown. Before he could say anything, the two officials immediately scolded him, "You didn't serve us tea. What kind of tea are you serving?"
The waiter was a little frightened, but still said, "Hello, adults. This is a water chestnut drink made by our restaurant's chef. He said it can replace tea. Would you like to try it first?"
Xu Qinyu was the first to make the water chestnut soup, which she chilled in well water.
It is also easy to make water chestnut cake. After chopping it, boil it with rock sugar, then add some prepared honey and lotus root powder to thicken it.
It tastes refreshing and sweet, and the cooking time is well controlled. The shredded water chestnuts are still refreshing, crispy and tender. Although it is just autumn, the weather is still a bit dry, so I put the cooked water chestnuts in well water to chill them. After two hours, I took them out and they were already icy cold and very refreshing.
Xu Qinyu made a lot, and in addition to what was served, there was still a lot left in the kitchen.
In the kitchen, she, her fourth brother, and Madam Zhu had already eaten a bowl.
Fu Chenghong waved his hand, and the two officials stopped talking. The waiter served each of them a bowl and a spoon.
Fu Chenghong took a bite first, and after just one bite, he was stunned for a moment. It was icy, crisp and refreshing, and the sweetness was just right, not too sweet. He couldn't help but take one spoonful after another, and soon the bowl of water chestnut soup was empty.
Zhu Taishou drank in silence, for he knew that only Yu Niang could make such a fresh and delicious drink.
Could it be that Yu Niang really came here to take care of his wife's younger sister?
Seeing that everyone had finished their drinks, the waiter continued, "Gentlemen, next we're going to serve the main course of tonight's dinner, roast suckling pig. The aroma you smell outside is the aroma of our roast suckling pig."
The two officials said, "Then send it up quickly."
The other two waiters came up carrying a roasted suckling pig on a wooden chopping board.
The bright red roasted suckling pig was whole. Just the sight of it being carried up like this gave Fu Chenghong and the two officials a great visual shock. They felt incredible. Could such a small pig be roasted and eaten whole? It looked like it was roasted, but the aroma was so strong.
The waiter also prepared two servings of dipping sauce for each person.
An official muttered, "Is this candy? Why is roast pork served with candy?"
Although it is a roasted whole pig, it is also a kind of barbecue. Isn’t barbecue always eaten with sauce?
The Jixianglou in the capital city serves roasted meat. A thin slice is placed on a red-hot ironware. With a sizzling sound, the meat rolls up and is then eaten with a secret sauce prepared by the chef. The secret sauce is wet. It is the first time I have seen such a dry dipping sauce, and it even uses sugar.
The waiter said, "Our cook said that it has a unique flavor when dipped in sugar. You adults can try it."
He then took out a large kitchen knife and cut the whole suckling pig into neat small pieces according to the instructions of the young master in the kitchen. "You gentlemen are ready to eat."
Naturally, Fu Chenghong ate first. He picked up a piece and found it crispy and crumbly. The pig skin was roasted until it was charred and crispy. Most of the fat was roasted away, leaving only a small part. The aroma of the fat and the crispness of the pig skin went straight to his head, and in an instant, the roast suckling pig was the only thing left in Fu Chenghong's eyes.
Fu Chenghong ate with relish, the food was truly delicious. Even in the capital, he had never tasted such delicious food. The roasted meat at Jixianglou was nothing compared to the roasted suckling pig in front of him.
How could it smell so good? Aren't the dishes at Zhu's Restaurant just average?
The other two officials also took a piece and opened their eyes wide as soon as they put it in their mouths. They simply couldn't believe it. This thing smelled delicious and tasted even more delicious. It almost made them dizzy with the fragrance.
After Governor Zhu tasted the roast suckling pig, he already knew in his heart that Yu Niang was most likely in the kitchen of the restaurant.
The food made by Yu Niang is not only delicious, but also has a special feature, which is that it makes you feel that the delicious dishes you have eaten in big restaurants before are no longer delicacies. After eating the food made by her, your taste will become more discerning.
Zhu Taishou couldn't help but feel a little worried. He was afraid that someone would covet Yu Niang's cooking skills. People like Fu Chenghong would definitely want to flatter him and take credit for his work. Would he want to take Yu Niang with him when he left? Otherwise, if Yu Niang finished cooking and left, Fu Chenghong would not let it go.
Even he could guess that Fu Chenghong and the others must have checked the taste of the food in Zhu's Restaurant before, and they must have known that it was not made by the Zhu family's chef.
Whether it was looking for trouble with his wife's sister or wanting to take Yu Niang away, the prefect didn't want to see it.
Fu Chenghong ate several pieces in a row and added another piece. He looked at the candy in front of him, hesitated for a moment, dipped some in the sugar, and it tasted even more fragrant when he put it in his mouth. It was fragrant but not greasy, with a hint of sweetness, and it was even more delicious with the crispy taste.
He hissed and couldn't help asking the waiter, "Did your boss and the chef in the restaurant make this?"
The waiter hesitated and said, "It was made by our restaurant's chef, but he's an assistant chef who just joined the restaurant a few days ago. Originally, our boss never let him take charge of the cooking. But today, knowing that you're coming to the restaurant, this assistant chef said he knows a lot of new recipes and wants to take charge of the cooking. Our boss also knows that his cooking skills are average, and he was afraid that you wouldn't be satisfied with the food, so he let the assistant chef give it a try..."
This was also what the young master said.
Fu Chenghong then stopped talking.
At the moment, he had no other thoughts. He just thought that the young chef had the recipe for this fresh dish, which was why it was so delicious.
Fu Chenghong and the other two officials were busy feasting. They quickly finished most of the roast suckling pig, and the remaining dishes were served one after another.
I originally thought that the roast suckling pig was very delicious and the other dishes might taste just average, but I didn’t expect that the other dishes were also very delicious, and they were still more delicious than those at the Jixianglou in Beijing, and even had amazing tastes.
It can be said that every dish is delicious and has its own flavor, but the roast suckling pig is the most memorable and people want to eat it again and again.
Fu Chenghong couldn't help but ask the waiter again, "Who made these dishes as well?"
The guy said yes.
Fu Chenghong was a little surprised. He thought these dishes were made by other chefs. It turned out that the kitchen assistant could cook so many fresh dishes, but he didn't say anything for the time being.
At dinner today, he ate heartily from a table full of dishes in a good mood. As he had other ideas, he did not bother Madam Zhu.
Before leaving, Fu Chenghong gestured to his men to throw a hundred taels of silver notes, and said, "I will come to your restaurant to eat in the next few days. Remember to prepare breakfast and dinner. For dinner, prepare a roast suckling pig. Other dishes are optional."
The waiter was stunned for a moment, but could only agree.
After everyone left the restaurant, Prefect Zhu couldn't help but look towards the backyard. Seeing no one, he didn't want to go to the backyard, so he followed Fu Chenghong out first.
There were many people outside the restaurant, wondering whether Madam Zhu would be punished like the chef of Zuixianlou. But unexpectedly, the imperial envoy came out after finishing his meal. His eyes, which were already blind, narrowed into slits due to his smile. It was obvious that he was in a good mood.
Everyone was a little surprised. Madam Zhu was actually okay?
Could it be that the aroma I smelled today was coming from the Zhu Family Restaurant? So the food must have been delicious, and the Imperial Envoy must have been very satisfied with it, so he didn't bother Madam Zhu.
After everyone left, the waiter went to the kitchen and handed the 100 taels of silver to Madam Zhu. "Boss, this is what the masters left behind when they left. It should be the settlement."
After that, he repeated to Madam Zhu what the imperial envoy had said before he left. He couldn't help but look at Xu Qinyu with a sad face as he spoke, "The imperial envoy also said that he would come over tomorrow for breakfast and dinner. He wanted to prepare a roast suckling pig for dinner, and other dishes were optional."
Because he knew that today's dinner was prepared by this young master, and he was not a kitchen helper of Zhu's Restaurant at all, he thought that the young master would definitely leave after preparing this meal.
Madam Zhu's expression, which had been relaxing, froze again.
She thought that after this meal, the imperial envoy would stop bothering her.
Now it seems that the imperial envoy really has no intention of causing trouble for her anymore, but because the food made by the young master is so delicious, he is addicted to it and wants to continue eating it.
Xu Qinyu said, "Don't worry, Madam Zhu. I will come over tomorrow to cook for you. My brother and I have no place to stay, so we need your help to come up with a plan."
In order to conceal his and his fourth brother's identities, he definitely could not go back to the Bafang Inn and had to stay somewhere else.
Madam Zhu said happily, "Thank you very much, young master. If you two don't have a place to stay, you can stay at my house. My house is just for me and my apprentice, and we have a few maids and servants to clean the house, and we have extra guest rooms."
Not only that, she also gave all the one hundred taels of silver notes today to the young master in front of her.
She knew that if it weren't for this young master, she would be beaten with a stick, and the prefect would also be humiliated.
After finishing the work in the kitchen, Xu Qinyu and Pei Weixuan followed Madam Zhu to where she lived.
The house where Madam Zhu lived was in a nearby alley. After walking in and turning a few corners, you will reach a big alley. Madam Zhu's house was here, a two-story house, big enough for her and Zhu Zhu to live in.
Zhu Zhu has admired Xu Qinyu since he made these dishes in the restaurant, and she talked a lot with Xu Qinyu along the way.
Xu Qinyu didn't say much. Her voice was still a little delicate, and she was afraid of being exposed, so she just replied with two simple sentences.
After arriving at Zhu's house, Mrs. Zhu thought the two were really brothers, so she arranged for them to stay in a side room.
Xu Qinyu didn't know how to tell the truth, so she just asked Madam Zhu to prepare an extra quilt because she and her brother were not used to sleeping in the same bed.
Madam Zhu prepared two quilts for the two of them.
Xu Qinyu didn't have anything to worry about. She knew her fourth brother's character, and now was a special period.
The two asked for water to wash. The medicine she applied on her body could not be washed off without the medicine given by her fourth brother, but it could not be washed off with clean water. She did not need to reapply it in the past few days. In order to achieve an even skin tone, Xu Qinyu also applied ointment on her skin, and soon her skin became dark.
After she finished washing, it was her fourth brother's turn to wash.
After washing up, the two of them went to bed. Fortunately, the bed was big enough and each of them could sleep in their own quilt.
Pei Weixuan was a little stiff. Xu Qinyu thought she could remain calm, but even she was a little nervous. She just chatted with Pei Weixuan to ease her emotions. "Fourth brother, since this imperial envoy is here in the southwest for show, when can he leave?" She didn't want to keep preparing food for this person. From what her fourth brother said before, this imperial envoy was not only a man of the Queen Mother and the King of Handong, but also not a good official.
If he were a good official, would he not investigate the case of embezzlement of military pay with all his heart?
In short, Xu Qinyu did not have a good impression of this imperial envoy.
Pei Weixuan said, "It should take another four or five days."
Xu Qinyu was a little discouraged. "Then I have to prepare food for him for another four or five days."
She was still very confident in her cooking skills, and the imperial envoy was a foodie, so they would definitely eat at Zhu's Restaurant in the next few days.
Pei Weixuan said: "Not only that, I'm afraid he will have other ideas."
"Have you developed other thoughts?" Xu Qinyu's tone was a little dazed. "What do you mean, Fourth Brother?"
Pei Weixuan lowered his voice and said a few words.
Xu Qinyu's heart skipped a beat when she heard this. She said, "Fourth brother, then I'm in trouble."
Although it will not affect other people, it will cause trouble to myself.
Pei Weixuan said, "Don't be afraid, Yu Niang, I have a way."
He whispered a few words to Yu Niang before continuing, "Although Fu Chenghong took the surname of the Empress Dowager and the Prince of Handong, he is only a distant relative. His ancestors were distant cousins with the Empress Dowager Fu's great-grandfather's family. Fu Chenghong's family is not from the capital. He used to live an ordinary life and was considered a poor boy. He didn't pass the imperial examination until he was thirty years old. Later, the new emperor opened an imperial examination, and he went to Beijing to take the examination. Thanks to the relationship between the Empress Dowager Fu and the Prince of Handong, he was able to obtain the rank of Jinshi in the second class. He initially entered the Hanlin Academy. Later, the Minister of Revenue died of illness, and the original Right Vice Minister of Revenue became the Minister of Revenue. He was then promoted directly from the Hanlin Academy to the position of Right Vice Minister."
Having said that, he also told Yu Niang that Fu Chenghong was a mean-spirited person. When he was in a bad mood, he would often beat and scold the servants in the mansion, and he had even tortured and killed several young maids.
When Xu Qinyu heard this, she clenched her fists.
Pei Weixuan finished speaking and said, "So, Yu Niang, don't worry. The method I told you will definitely work. It's just that you have to bear with it for the next few days. You still have to cook for him for a few days."
Xu Qinyu hummed, her voice a little muffled.
Pei Weixuan knew why Yu Niang was unhappy because she heard that Fu Chenghong had tortured and killed several maids.
He wanted to tell Yu Niang not to worry, because Fu Chenghong would not live for many days, but it was not easy to tell Yu Niang directly about such a murder. Moreover, it was not only Fu Chenghong's death, but there were also many follow-up implications, including the Ministry of Revenue in the capital.
Xu Qinyu knew that the method her fourth brother gave her would definitely work. She had to admit that her fourth brother was really good at understanding people's hearts. If she were the imperial envoy, she would be tempted.
But even so, when she thought of the imperial envoy abusing the little maid, she didn't want to talk much and remained silent.
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