Chapter 81 Chu Yanluo's Invented Snacks
Li Yao was stunned: "What, what did you say?! You're not kidding me, are you?"
Shen Wantang chuckled: "I'm serious."
"How is this possible?!"
Li Yao exclaimed incredulously, "How could Zuixianlou possibly surpass Qingyunlou?"
"Does the young master not trust the capabilities of his own restaurant?"
Li Yao shook her head, then nodded: "You probably don't know who's behind Qingyunlou, do you?"
Who is it?
"It's the Yuan family of Wenbo Mansion. They are extremely wealthy, far beyond what our Li family can match."
Shen Wantang suddenly realized that the Yuan family was behind Qingyun Tower. No wonder they were willing to go to any lengths to promote Chu Yanluo. It must have been Yuan Zheng who ordered it!
In fact, the Wenbo family was not particularly wealthy, and even the title of nobility was already in its last generation when it came to Yuan Zheng.
Twenty years ago, the Wen family was practically destitute, barely holding the airs of a noble family. But after marrying the daughter of the richest man in Jiangnan, the family gradually began to exude the grandeur of a noble family.
For the past twenty years, money from Yuan Zheng's mother's family has flowed into the Earl's mansion like water, making the entire mansion very prosperous.
Unfortunately, the Wenbo family was still considered low-class in the capital. Noble families behind their backs called the Wenbo family a merchant family in disguise, lacking any true nobility and only vulgarity.
Even the most prominent young noblemen in the capital disdained to associate with Yuan Zheng, because he was ignorant and incompetent and only liked to flaunt his wealth.
"Young master, you don't need to worry about money. The most important thing in opening a restaurant is not money, but the food."
Li Yao still shook her head: "The dishes in our restaurant are not as good as those in Qingyunlou, because they have hired the best chefs, and we can't poach them."
Shen Wantang chuckled: "That's why I'm here to discuss a big business deal with the young master!"
"Do you have a very skilled chef?"
"I don't have a chef, but I have some methods for improving the dishes, as well as a list of new dishes. Your restaurant's head chef must be quite skilled. I'll give them a few tips, and they should know how to do it."
Li Yao looked at her suspiciously: "You really know how to improve dishes? And you even have new dishes?"
"I can."
As Shen Wantang spoke, she picked up a half-finished cup of fruit yogurt: "Call your chef who makes fruit yogurt over. I'll teach him how to remove the sour taste from this right now."
Li Yao's heart skipped a beat. She knew better than anyone the shortcomings of the fruit jelly sold in her family's restaurant.
She had also tried Qingyunlou's fruit yogurt, but Qingyunlou's fruit yogurt didn't have that sour taste; it was only sweet.
She had always wanted to improve her homemade fruit yogurt, but unfortunately she couldn't get the hang of it. Even the chef said that fruit yogurt should taste like this, and that it should have a sour taste to be authentic. All the fruit yogurts sold outside taste like this, and Qingyunlou's is an exception.
But because of this special case, Qingyunlou's business is better than Zuixianlou's.
The fruit yogurts sold outside are all sour, but that doesn't mean they taste good. Many young ladies and gentlemen only want sweet fruit yogurts; they don't like sour ones.
If Shen Wantang can really help improve the sour taste of the fruit yogurt, then she will have to thank her properly.
The head chef was quickly summoned. Shen Wantang explained how to remove the sour taste, and then the head chef went to the back kitchen to make the fruit jelly again.
A moment later, the head chef excitedly ran in: "Young Master, the Crown Princess's method really worked! The fruit yogurt you've always wanted without the sour taste is ready!"
Li Yao was startled: "Really? It's not sour anymore?"
"Really! Try it, it's not sour at all!"
Li Yao took the fruit yogurt from the chef, took a sip, and her eyes lit up immediately!
It's actually not sour anymore!
She looked at Shen Wantang with a mixture of surprise and delight: "You actually have a way to improve the taste of fruit yogurt!"
Shen Wantang smiled: "Now, can we talk about real big business?"
Li Yao was shocked: "Doesn't this count?"
"Of course not, this is just a small gift I'm giving you for free. The real business is yet to come!"
Li Yao realized, "Oh, right, right, you just said you can improve dishes, and you even have new dishes!"
Over the next period of time, Shen Wantang tasted ten dishes from Zuixianlou and offered suggestions for improvement. She based her suggestions on her previous life's experience and modified the dishes according to the most popular ones.
After improving the dishes, she also provided the recipes for several snacks that became very popular in later generations.
Of course, after giving her the recipe, she also required Li Yao to keep it strictly confidential. No matter who asked, she could not reveal that she was the one who provided the recipe.
Li Yao is treating her like a living cash cow right now. Even if Shen Wantang asked her to keep it a secret, she would never tell anyone, no matter what. What if Qingyunlou takes away her cash cow in the future?
Two days later, in the evening.
Qingyunlou Restaurant was brightly decorated and packed with guests. Even outside the restaurant, many people came to watch the spectacle, as everyone was curious about the identity of the extraordinary woman who invented the fruit jelly bowl and other snacks.
The show was about to begin, and Shen Wantang naturally wouldn't miss it. She specially asked Qin Xin to reserve a private room at Qingyun Restaurant, and she brought her maids to try the special snacks that were about to be launched.
In addition to the fruit yogurt ice bowl, Qingyunlou also served them three snacks.
Sweet fermented rice with osmanthus, glutinous rice cake with sweet bean paste, and sweet taro balls.
Shen Wantang tasted everything and then gave it all to the maids.
After finishing her meal, Qin Xin looked puzzled: "The taste was good, but it didn't seem particularly special. All the chefs in our Prince's Mansion can make these!"
Du Juan added, "It's just a bit sweeter than what we make at the Prince's Mansion, so it tastes better. But if it's this sweet, you'll get tired of it if you eat too much."
Shen Wantang sighed slightly. She had really overestimated Chu Yanluo. She thought Chu Yanluo could come up with something amazing, but it turned out she didn't know much!
Just then, a sudden burst of gongs and drums erupted outside, and then Chu Yanluo appeared.
The private room was on the third floor, with the window open. Shen Wantang could clearly see Chu Yanluo, dressed in white, standing gracefully on a high platform specially prepared for her by the restaurant.
The platform was surrounded by people, and all the windows of the restaurant were open, with many heads sticking out. All eyes were on Chu Yanluo.
Chu Yanluo's delicate face carried a faint air of aloofness. She enjoyed the feeling of being watched by everyone. She slowly glanced at the ants below the platform, maintaining her pride, without uttering a single word.
The head manager of Qingyun Restaurant announced loudly, "Let me let you all know that our most popular snack at Qingyun Restaurant recently, the Fruit Ice Bowl, was invented by Miss Chu! She is incredibly clever and not only invented such a wonderful thing as the Fruit Ice Bowl, but also other snacks and desserts. If any of you would like to try Miss Chu's inventions, then hurry up and come into our Qingyun Restaurant!"
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