“Chen Yu.” Feng Chuli looked at Zhou Chen Yu, nodded in satisfaction, and after confirming that the person was correct, he looked at Chen Tongsheng, “Tongsheng, what is your relationship with this Miss Chen Yu?”
Chen Tongsheng said happily, "To tell you the truth, Steward Feng, Chen Yu is indeed my sworn sister."
"Oh, really?" After her initial surprise, Feng Chuli chided, "Since she's your sworn sister, why didn't you react at all when I mentioned her that day?"
Chen Tongsheng apologized and hurriedly said, "Steward Feng, to be honest, I'm a bit of a blockhead. When you mentioned the sweet soup to me that day, I really didn't realize that the person was right next to me. It wasn't until I got home that I realized that the person you were looking for was right next to me. Knowing that it was the person you were looking for, I quickly brought the person to you."
Zhou Chenyu smiled and said, "Steward Feng, you can't really blame my sworn brother. After you had the sweet soup last time, I haven't been to the stall for several days. It's normal that he doesn't remember."
"How can I blame him? Tong Sheng helped me a lot." Feng Chuli smiled faintly, looked at Zhou Chenyu, then put away his smile and explained seriously, "Although I like the sweet soup, the matter of the pre-meal dessert is not something I can decide alone. In addition to me, there are also the two managers of the kitchen. The three of us discussed it together."
Feng Chuli then said, "Before Miss Chenyu arrived, the manor had already selected two people to make desserts, and they were to have a competition today to choose the winner. Now that Miss Chenyu is here, I'll have it postponed for a day and set it for tomorrow, so the three of you can compete and we can inspect your work on the spot, how about that?"
Zhou Chenyu breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, she had prepared a backup plan last night. "Steward Feng, the competition was decided long ago. If I were to change it at the last minute, others would not only criticize me but also say that Steward Feng is biased. I don't want to put you in a difficult position."
She smiled confidently, "Manager Feng, I can compete with them today."
Feng Chuli was surprised and asked with concern, "Isn't this too hasty?"
Zhou Chenyu glanced at the sky; it wasn't noon yet. She shook her head and smiled, "The key to making sweet soup is the ingredients and time. I've prepared everything I need. As long as I have enough time, I can make several different kinds of sweet soup."
Feng Chuli exclaimed in surprise, "Several different kinds of sweet soup? Could it be that besides mung bean and taro ball sweet soup, you can make other kinds?"
Seeing the shock on Feng Chuli's face, Zhou Chenyu smiled. Not to mention knowing how to make it, she was practically dripping with sugar water in her blood, since it was cheaper and healthier than milk tea.
She hid her smugness and tugged at Feng Chuli forward step by step, saying, "Reporting to Steward Feng, I can also make a white fungus soup, a papaya and snow fungus sweet soup, a mung bean and lotus seed soup, and a green rice dumpling and coconut milk sweet soup."
Feng Chuli's gaze followed Zhou Chenyu intently, his smile growing wider. "The weather has been hot lately, and everyone's appetite has decreased. Refreshing dessert soup is an important dish at banquets. I was just thinking that having only one type of dessert soup might be a bit too limited. If Miss Chenyu could make several kinds of dessert soup, that would be wonderful. Since you don't need to wait until tomorrow and can compete with them today, I'll have someone arrange it immediately."
Seeing Feng Chuli's enthusiastic expression, Zhou Chenyu readily agreed. Not long after, the servant in charge of purchasing ingredients arrived. Zhou Chenyu simply told him what she needed and waited patiently.
However, time was tight, and Zhou Chenyu was worried that the ingredients they bought would not be what she wanted, so she went out with the servant to buy them.
On the way, Chen Tongsheng took advantage of the servant's inattention and whispered, "Chenyu, Steward Feng delayed for a day just for your sake, but you want to finish it today. Can you really do it?"
Zhou Chenyu happily replied, "Brother Chen, I'm not Baoyu, when have I ever made you worry?"
Chen Tongsheng thought about it carefully and it seemed to make sense. He scratched his head and chuckled, "I was completely baffled by all the names of those sweet soups you mentioned. You're such a clever girl, you can do everything and nothing can stump you. You're sure to make something of yourself in the future. When that happens, don't forget to give your older brother a hand." Zhou Chenyu and Chen Tongsheng followed the servant, winding through several turns and corridors, finally stopping in front of a quiet courtyard. "Steward Feng, Chen Tongsheng, who supplies fruits and vegetables, has come to see you."
"Really? What else does he need from me? Tell him to come inside."
A calm male voice came from inside. Zhou Chenyu and Chen Tongsheng thanked the servant, and then the two slowly walked into the house.
Zhou Chenyu stared at the young man with his head bowed in front of him for two seconds, stunned. He had thought that someone who could be the head steward of a wealthy family would be an older middle-aged or elderly person, but he didn't expect that the young man didn't look much older than him.
The young man placed a thick stack of account books aside, raised his head, and revealed a handsome face that was both composed and upright, yet full of affection. When he smiled, it was like a bright moon and a gentle breeze, making people feel exceptionally close to him.
But why does this person look so familiar?
Chen Tongsheng led Zhou Chenyu forward, about to explain their purpose, when Feng Chuli suddenly stood up, staring intently at Zhou Chenyu. After a long silence, he exclaimed with delight, "Are you the girl who sold mung bean and taro ball sweet soup at the market a few days ago?"
Um?
He recognizes her?!
Zhou Chenyu raised her eyebrows, vaguely recalling that this guy had been to the dessert shop before, and she had even praised his good looks to Baoyu. This seemed to give her an even better chance of winning.
Zhou Chenyu stepped forward with a gentle smile, intending to say some flattering words to get closer to each other. However, as a head housekeeper, she was used to dealing with people and was already tired of flattery. If she said it, she would give herself away. If she said it again, it would probably have the opposite effect. It would be better to do the opposite and appear calm and professional. "Reporting to Head Housekeeper Feng, it is indeed me. My name is Zhou Chenyu."
Zhou Chenyu smiled faintly, "I like hearing you say that, please praise me more in the future."
After chatting, Zhou Chenyu led his servant into the grain shop and bought red dates, goji berries, mung beans, lotus seeds, lilies, mugwort, white fungus, papaya, coconut, and sugar, according to the list he had prepared the night before. After a quick lunch, the group rushed back to the Tang family's kitchen to prepare for the afternoon's competition.
Originally, there were only two men participating in the election, but now Zhou Chenyu has suddenly appeared, which has instantly aroused the dissatisfaction of the other two.
In the cleared-out kitchen, Zhou Chenyu was pushed into a corner by two men who, while preparing food, mocked, "I was wondering why there was an extra person out of nowhere. I thought she was some important figure, but she's just a young, naive girl. She looks so fair and clean, she probably hasn't even used a spatula much, yet she dares to come here and cook for so many people. She's really bold."
Another short man with a black mole on his lip gave a sly smile and said sarcastically, "Tch, are you stupid? She's not here for the competition at all. She's clearly someone's lover. She'll take off her clothes, spread her legs, and give a seductive wink to the man. That's how she makes money."
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