Yesterday, when Meng Zhao was preparing the dishes, he had someone add sugar to the milk and freeze it in the ice room. Today, he took it out and pounded it into shaved ice with a rolling pin.
Layer shaved ice and mulberry jam in a prepared white porcelain cup, then add pre-made sweet red beans, hawthorn, crushed peanuts, and taro balls. Finally, drizzle with a little honey, and your shaved ice dessert is ready.
After finishing, Meng Zhao quickly placed it on a tray and asked the maids to send it over as soon as possible. Although the shaved ice was still very delicious and had a rich milky aroma even after it melted, it was still not as novel as the snowflake cheese.
On a hot summer day, after everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they discussed the banquet they had just enjoyed.
At this moment, the maids slowly entered and placed the snowflake jelly in front of everyone, immediately attracting everyone's attention.
The food in the white porcelain cup was piled up like a small mountain. If you got a little closer, you could feel a cool breeze, which was very comfortable.
I scooped a spoonful of shaved ice into my mouth, and as soon as it touched my tongue, it melted into a rich milky flavor, combined with the refreshing aroma of mulberries. Just one bite and the heat from the previous day vanished.
Try the other ingredients. The sweet red beans are very soft and smooth. They turn into red bean paste with just a touch of your tongue, filling your mouth with the sweetness of red beans without being too sweet.
These little round balls, I don't know what they're made of, taste slightly sweet like taro, and have a chewy and bouncy texture that makes you want to chew them a few more times, they're really fun.
After finishing their meal, everyone in the side courtyard forgot everything that had happened before the banquet and could only reminisce about the delicious food they had just enjoyed.
The guests and hosts alike enjoyed the meal in the main courtyard, praising it highly and giving Master Zhao a great deal of face. With a wave of his hand, he summoned Steward Chen, saying he wanted to give the cook a raise.
Therefore, when Meng Zhao went to Steward Chen to settle the bill, he received not the remaining five taels, but a full ten taels.
This banquet, which took less than three days, earned thirteen taels of silver, enough to make Meng Zhao earn more than a month's worth of hard work selling boxed lunches.
He was worried that Zhao Shida would withhold the money, but he didn't expect to receive it so easily.
Meng Zhao accepted the money, said a brief goodbye to everyone in the kitchen, and happily left through the back door.
As soon as he stepped out, he encountered Shen Qinghe, who was waiting at the door.
Perhaps because he was there to attend a banquet, the young man wore a dark blue robe with wide sleeves, which made his face appear even whiter. He stood under the tree with his hands at his sides, and the bright sunlight refracted through the leaves, casting his slender shadow. He looked a little taller than when we first met. His face was indifferent, and his slightly furrowed brows inadvertently revealed a hint of displeasure.
He himself got out safely, but Shen Qinghe probably suffered a lot of ridicule afterward.
Seeing Meng Zhao come out, Shen Qinghe hurriedly went to greet her, "I've implicated you this time, sister-in-law, and caused you to be humiliated." He lowered his head slightly, his tone tinged with guilt.
Meng Zhao quickly waved his hand, "No, that's not true. This is what I do. It doesn't matter who I cook for, what's the point of talking about being humiliated?"
As he spoke, he waved the money bag he had just received at Shen Qinghe, “A full ten taels, plus the three taels given at the beginning, that’s a total of thirteen taels. If you can get this much money just by introducing a few dishes at a banquet, I hope this kind of ‘humiliation’ happens every day.”
Shen Qinghe and Gang were waiting outside, their hearts filled with guilt. Not only could he not protect his family, but he had also caused them to be humiliated because of him. He was truly incompetent.
I was just thinking about how to explain to my sister-in-law, afraid that she would blame me, but I didn't expect Meng Zhao to not care at all.
Meng Zhao strode towards home, then turned to the stunned Shen Qinghe and called out, "Don't stand here talking. Where are you going later? Back to the academy?"
Shen Qinghe turned around and followed, "Tomorrow is a day off, I'll go home with my sister-in-law."
"Oh, I've been so busy these past few days that I completely forgot it's already the end of the month."
Meng Zhao put a lot of effort into preparing this banquet, and even closed his lunchbox stall for a day.
There is no character named Zhao Shida in the book; he is probably an even more cannon fodder character than her. But since he is hostile to Shen Qinghe, why did he come to today's banquet? He doesn't seem like the kind of person who would attend a classmate's birthday banquet.
Thinking to himself, Meng Zhao asked, "Young Master Zhao clearly doesn't like you, so why did you come today?"
After a moment of contemplation, Shen Qinghe said, "He has a spot for admission to the county school. He promised me that as long as I come, he will have his father recommend me for admission."
"County school? Aren't you already studying at the academy?"
In response to Meng Zhao's question, Shen Qinghe patiently explained, "The county school was established by the government. Originally, only scholars could enroll, but Qingshi County is a small county with few scholars, so the county expanded the enrollment quota."
"These specially admitted students need to pay a certain fee, but it is less than that of the academy. Moreover, the county school usually provides some subsidies. Many students with excellent grades can not only be exempted from fees, but also receive some rewards."
"Moreover, in addition to the instructors and teachers, the county school also has scholars who have passed the imperial examinations. I have to observe the mourning period and will have to wait more than a year before I can participate in the imperial examinations. My teacher suggested that I go to the county school, where I will benefit more."
After listening to Shen Qinghe's words, Meng Zhao roughly understood that this was probably the difference between private and public schools.
Public schools have better teachers, lower tuition fees, and the possibility of receiving scholarships.
Since Shen Qinghe is currently unable to participate in the imperial examinations, staying in the academy would only be a waste of time, so it would be better for him to enter the county academy as soon as possible.
"Do you think that young master Zhao will give you a spot?"
Shen Qinghe shook his head. "I was just trying it out this time, I didn't have much hope. I thought I would at most be ridiculed, but I didn't expect Zhao Shida to invite his sister-in-law over." As he said this, his face slowly darkened.
Seeing his displeasure, Meng Zhao comforted him, "You don't need to worry about what happened today. I don't care about this young master Zhao's ridicule."
"For me, cooking is not something that is lowly to do, and I don't need to feel ashamed of it."
"In the cooking process, how to select and process ingredients, control the heat, and use various seasonings to make the ingredients more delicious all require rich experience and talent. I like to use my hands to make delicious dishes, bring delicious food to others, and make me happy."
"Of course, it would be even better if I could make money." As he spoke, he weighed the purse in his hand, feeling the weight of the silver, and felt only happiness in his heart.
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