Chapter 300
"Wow, the color is really good! Secretary, try it!" The eldest son was slightly surprised when he saw the appearance of the fish, and a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes. He took the three pairs of chopsticks and gave one pair to Su's father and mother first.
"Oh, how embarrassing..." Mother Su felt embarrassed to eat the food after others tasted it, but she was also really curious and couldn't help but take the chopsticks.
Seeing that Su's mother had accepted it, Father Su took the chopsticks with a smile and said, "Then we should help check it too. We can't let Old Wei force us because of our relationship with Xiao Jing. The old lady's birthday banquet is a big deal."
"That's right! The old lady's birthday party can't be sloppy." Mother Su secretly thought that Father Su was smart, and immediately responded with a smile.
"No way, I'm bothering you during the New Year. Whether this thing succeeds or not is a matter of friendship." The eldest son bowed.
A few people exchanged polite words as they passed around the table, each picking up a chopstick. Su's parents, having tasted Zhao Xiaojing's marinated fish and chili oil, were somewhat confident her cooking skills were up to par, but they weren't entirely certain. Only after they'd taken a bite of the fish did they finally feel reassured. They all glanced at Su Yuchen, who had remained composed and unmoved, and after receiving her mocking glance, they couldn't help but glare at her.
Several members of the Wei family nearby were not so calm. They took several bites in a row, even turned the fish over, and continued eating as if they were having lunch.
"Ahem, eldest and second brother, what do you think?" Father Su asked in confusion when he saw that the others were silent and arrogant.
"...It's delicious!" The eldest son raised his head when his father Su called him, but he didn't seem to react. After a pause, he said forcefully.
"I think this cooking skill is as good as Chef Xie's!" The second son added as he quickly swallowed the fish meat that had just been deboned.
"I think it's much better than Chef Xie's. Chef Xie can't make it taste this good," said the eldest daughter-in-law.
"The shredded pork with green peppers is here." At this moment, the second dish was cooked, and Zhao Xiaojing also came in with a steaming plate.
Several people were so hungry after the first dish that their eyes lit up when the second dish was served. They forgot whether to try the dish or not and stretched their chopsticks to the plate. For a moment, no one spoke in the living room, and the only sound was the occasional sound of chopsticks poking the bottom of the plate.
Zhao Xiaojing sat down next to Su Yuchen without saying a word. The two of them smiled as they watched the group of people eating enthusiastically. In less than two minutes, both plates were empty.
However, since it was a tasting, the portion Zhao Xiaojing made was not very large.
Su's father and mother were thinking that they were at someone else's house, and after tasting it twice, they felt embarrassed to eat more even if the food was delicious. The four members of the Su family waited until the plates were empty before they realized that there were guests at home, and they were inviting people to taste the food. They looked embarrassed for a moment.
"Miss, I spoke rudely before. I was in a hurry to find a chef. I couldn't believe you were so young. Please don't mind me." The grandson of the Wei family who had questioned Zhao Xiaojing hurriedly apologized.
Zhao Xiaojing smiled, thinking that this person was quite straightforward, much better than many people who refused to apologize. "It's okay, you didn't say anything. You don't believe in normality."
"We are so stupid that we didn't recognize such a great person. It's really a joke. This dish is better than Chef Xie's. Haha, we are worrying about nothing. The person recommended by the secretary can't be bad." Seeing that his son had taken the lead, the eldest son bowed to Zhao Xiaojing and Su's father again.
"Girl, how about this? Chef Xie's team is 600 per table, including staff and ingredients. Our relative has some special ingredients, so we prepared them ourselves. Chef Xie said this morning that they could either refund us double our deposit, or they could provide staff and ingredients other than the head chef, but they could only refund me 2000 for the head chef. I'll add 3000, for a total of 5000. What do you think?"
"Sure." The price offered by the eldest son was not high but not low either. Although it was during the Chinese New Year, she didn't have to pay for the ingredients and didn't have to worry about the helpers. It was just a meal, so it was still very cost-effective. Zhao Xiaojing readily agreed.
Su's father and mother looked at each other in amazement. Earning 5,000 yuan a day is almost equal to Su's father's monthly salary. It seems that Chenzi was not fooling them before?
After the matter was finalized, the eldest son immediately called Chef Xie's team. They communicated on the phone for a while. After lunch that day, Chef Huang brought some ingredients and tables, chairs and benches to the village.
It would be too rushed to prepare forty-five tables of dishes tomorrow. It was fine before Chef Xie was here; some ingredients could be prepared in town. But now that Chef Huang was replaced, he was worried about making another mistake. Plus, he couldn't do Chef Xie's job well, so he had to drive his truck and his two apprentices over half a day early.
When Master Huang and his two companions arrived, they first set up the greenhouse, a temporary chopping board and workbench, and sorted out several large stoves and various pots and pans. Only after they had completed the temporary kitchen did they call Zhao Xiaojing.
After the four of them met, they were so busy that they couldn't stop. They communicated about the details while preparing. It took the whole afternoon just to braise the meat, make the meatballs, fish cakes, and crispy meat in the family portrait, as well as make the buckled bowls, soak the squid, and then clean up.
Chef Huang was nearly forty years old, and the two apprentices he had brought with him were new to the business. Though slightly younger than him, they both looked older than Zhao Xiaojing. They were both suspicious upon meeting her, but since the incident had started with them, and they had finally found replacements, they didn't dare to complain. But once they got busy, they saw Zhao Xiaojing's thorough understanding of the kitchen tasks, and her proficiency in the kitchen. She'd even occasionally offer guidance when she saw a few people mishandling ingredients, and their attitudes quickly changed, with a genuine admiration for her.
The next morning at eight o'clock, Zhao Xiaojing arrived at the place as agreed.
There is a large open space in front of the gate of the second son's yard. At this time, a pile of tables and chairs are not yet placed. 50 meters in front of the tables and chairs, a small stage has been set up and the sound equipment is still covered. It is said that a folk band has been invited and the performance will start at 10 o'clock.
Zhao Xiaojing walked straight into the yard. Master Huang and his men had already arrived and had unloaded all the goods. The truck was parked on the side of the road, and they were collecting water outside and washing vegetables in a large basin.
"Master Zhao is here!" The three people who came yesterday waved to Zhao Xiaojing enthusiastically. The other three team members who did not come yesterday looked up and greeted him.
"Good morning, everyone," Zhao Xiaojing said, walking quickly to the counter. She saw the stove already lit. One of the apprentices from yesterday was boiling water in a large pot to cook quail eggs. Master Huang and another apprentice were carrying a braising pot from the kitchen, setting it beside the stove. They were using a colander to scoop out the Shunfeng Wagyu beef they had braised yesterday.
The other dishes had not been washed yet, and the chopping of chicken and beef was handed over to a few helpers. Zhao Xiaojing put on the chef's uniform directly, washed her hands and started to prepare the sauce for the braised meat.
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