Chapter 154: New Cook (Part 1)
Nasha had come all this way, naturally, to eat. But since the shop was about to close, she couldn't let it go in vain, so she had a sudden idea and went in under the guise of a job opening. Only after Takumiyou invited her in and sat her down at the table did she catch her breath and carefully read the job posting.
Seeing that she was out of breath after running all the way, Jiangyou went to the kitchen to pour her a glass of water, and stirred the plum jam that was simmering on the stove over a low fire. The plum jam in the pot was bubbling and looked particularly tempting.
The excess water in the jam had to be boiled away, allowing the pulp and sugar to blend better and concentrate into a sweet and sour jam. This process required someone to supervise and stir the jam to prevent it from burning. Jiangyou called on Jericho to help, while he, carrying a cup of water, went to the front office to interview the "new employee."
During the time that Jiangyou was away, Naxia not only read the job notice, but also thought the matter through thoroughly. Although she had just blurted out this excuse on a whim, now that she sat down and thought about it, she realized that it was a brilliant idea.
Nasha Ho Chena is the illegitimate daughter of the upstart Baro Ho Chena. Her mother was just an unknown singer in the slums. After giving birth to her, her mother sent her to Baro's mansion when she was still in her infancy and then quietly left.
The upstart Barrow was originally an unknown businessman. His handsome appearance in his youth helped him secure a good marriage. His wife was a relative of a fallen baron. While she held no title herself, she possessed considerable wealth. Barrow used her wealth to build a jewelry business, ultimately establishing his current fortune.
Although Barrow, like most men, was a playboy, he was grateful for his wife's help in starting his own business, and he dared not offend her. He had no idea that after a night of debauchery, he would inexplicably father a daughter ten months later. After a bloodline test revealed it was indeed his own, he reluctantly allowed his servants to take her in.
However, he did not value his illegitimate daughter, and was afraid of arousing his wife's suspicion, so he asked his housekeeper to secretly buy a small courtyard in the southeast district and find a nanny to take care of her. From time to time, he would slip a little bit of living expenses from his fingers.
Nasha had been raised by this nanny since she was little, and she had only met Barrow a few times. She lived a simple life with the nanny, and her only hobby was food.
Not only does she know how to eat, she can also learn to cook. Ever since her nanny got too old to do heavy work, she has been doing all the daily chores in the house by herself. She is not some rich girl who has never done any housework.
Interestingly, with the exception of Nasha, the Chena family all harbored a deep obsession with marrying into the nobility. Barrow's wife had always been troubled by her inability to inherit the titles and assets of her noble relatives, while Barrow, now a wealthy man, still dreamed of becoming a noble himself. Not to mention their daughter, Chirsina, who was eager to marry into a noble family.
Nasha, on the other hand, was different. She was down-to-earth, with no aspirations for wealth or power. Only food could light her eyes. Now an adult, she had only two options: find a job and live independently from the Chena family, or return to the Chena family in disgrace and follow Barrow's lead in climbing the ladder of the nobility.
Nasha had no intention of living under someone else's roof, nor did she want to become the mistress of a dissolute nobleman. As an illegitimate daughter with no name or status, and believing herself unattractive, she had no chance of becoming a nobleman's legal wife. The only right path was to find a job and earn a living by her craft.
"I want to apply for the position of chef." Nasha made up her mind and said to Jiangyou.
"Yeah, yeah," Jiang You nodded. She looked up at the sky and said, "Then without further ado, why don't you make dinner for five people first~"
Nasha: “?”
It was supposed to be dinner, but it was actually a test of Nasha's cooking skills. Jiangyou took the plum jam off the stove and let it cool. Then, calmly holding a teacup, he stood at the entrance of the small dining room, watching Nasha frantically rush around the kitchen. However, once Nasha got familiar with the kitchen's furnishings and layout, her hands and feet became much more nimble.
Nasha used sweet potatoes and lamb to make a very common home-cooked dish in Huntington - stewed hot pot. This dish looks very similar to the famous Lancashire hot pot.
The lamb is cut into large pieces and put into an iron pan, and fried on each side until it is beautiful golden brown. Then add chopped onions and stir-fry until fragrant. Add appropriate amount of flour and stir-fry until fragrant. Then add broth and carrots, and season with pepper and salt.
After cooking for ten minutes, Nasha found the largest casserole she could find. She first put the lamb, onions and carrots into the casserole, then poured in the soup. Finally, she neatly placed two layers of sliced sweet potatoes on top, and then put it into the still hot bread oven for baking.
An hour later, this family-sized dish, big enough for five, arrived. The lamb, pan-fried and then braised, was tender and melt-in-your-mouth. The onions and carrots, their natural sweetness, seeped into the broth, fully absorbed by the lamb. The best part was the golden, crispy sweet potatoes layered on top, baked in a bread oven. Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, soaking up the broth. Every bite was a hearty delight.
"Wow," Jiang You scooped a bowl for himself, drew out the soul fire, and took a big sip: "Delicious!"
"This is very authentic." Aunt Wolf also praised.
"Not bad." Andre said it concisely, and Jericho nodded in agreement.
Naxia held her small bowl nervously: "So, did I pass the interview?"
Takumi nodded and gave a skeletal thumbs-up. "Congratulations on passing the initial test. Now let's discuss the terms of employment."
Nasha swallowed and stared at the lich with wide eyes.
"My business hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. When I'm in the shop, employees must arrive at least an hour early to prepare for business. If I'm out for something, you must be at the shop on time at 8 a.m. to receive the vegetables and meat delivered. After closing the shop in the evening, you can go home, or you can choose to stay for dinner with us."
Naxia nodded. These working hours sounded reasonable.
"We provide food but not housing, and your salary will be paid monthly. The first month is a probationary period, and I will only pay you ten silver coins. During this first month of probation, I will examine your qualifications, skills, and character, and I have the right to fire you at any time. However, if you successfully pass the probationary period, you will become a full-time employee, and I will increase your salary based on your performance. If you work hard, you may even receive a salary of several gold coins and bonuses each month."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
