Chapter 72: With the decision made, Jiang Zhenniang saw a glimmer of hope and could hardly contain her emotions…
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Jiang Zhenniang could not contain her joy; her eyes and brows radiated happiness as she urged her daughter to hurry ahead.
Following Jiang Zhenniang's lead, Su Zhihan put down her work and went to the shop. She found Manager Zheng and Yao Lang sitting in front of them, enjoying their food and drinks.
"Why don't you go and buy two ounces of fine wine? That way, the steward won't have to drink it with tea." Seeing the situation, Jiang Zhenniang scolded her and quickly called over a maid to go to the main shop in front to get the wine.
"No need, no need," Manager Zheng said, waving his hands in refusal. He was a glutton, and after wandering around the shop with his hands behind his back, he was tempted by the aroma of the braised food. Finally, at the urging of Yao Lang and Uncle Chai, he sat down and tried some: "I still have to go back to the mansion to report to my husband and wife, so I can't drink."
"I see." Jiang Zhenniang's thoughts changed, and she smiled, "Next time you have time, come to the shop again, and I'll definitely treat you to a good drink!"
"Hey, that's great." Manager Zheng felt a little guilty thinking about how he had neglected Su Zhihan and Yao Lang yesterday, so he was happy to get closer to everyone and responded very warmly.
He exchanged a few pleasantries with Jiang Zhenniang, then hurriedly bowed to Su Zhihan and said, "Chef Su, yesterday, the gentlemen and ladies at the banquet all praised your cooking skills. They originally wanted to invite you to come and chat with them, but they didn't expect you to leave in such a hurry. Therefore, the gentlemen and ladies specially sent me today to deliver a reward to you."
Neither Master Peng nor Madam Qi had initially considered this matter. It was only today, when they summoned Steward Zheng to inquire about the cook's origin and the amount spent by the accountant, that they learned they had only been given five hundred coins for kitchen expenses.
Actually, the price wasn't small, considering that it was Lu Zao Ren who was in charge yesterday, and Su Zhihan only made cold dishes and soups. But who could have predicted that two of the dishes she made would receive praise from Xu Lang and his wife?
Master Peng first praised Steward Zheng, and then worried that Su Zhihan would think his family was stingy and would not want to come to the mansion to cook again in the future. So he specially asked Steward Zheng to send another reward and invite Su Zhihan to cook two more dishes at the mansion.
Steward Zheng handed the reward money to Su Zhihan and invited her to visit the mansion again the next day. This time, it wasn't to prepare a feast; it was just that the young master and his wife both enjoyed Su Zhihan's cooking and wanted her to prepare a few more dishes.
Su Zhihan understood the implication in Steward Zheng's words. He clearly wanted her to taste the dishes. If the taste test was satisfactory, she would be in charge of the banquet at Master Peng's mansion next time.
Su Zhihan smiled and said, "I understand."
Jiang Zhenniang was overjoyed when she saw that the matter was settled. When she saw that Manager Zheng was about to leave after finishing his business, she hurriedly took out money from the shop cabinet to give to Manager Zheng. However, Manager Zheng refused to accept it, smiling and saying, "How could I accept your money? If my husband finds out, he will be furious."
"How would my wife and husband know? Just take it as payment for tea." Jiang Zhenniang persisted, trying to stuff it into Steward Zheng's hand.
"Oh dear, we really can't accept this." Manager Zheng waved his hands repeatedly, resolutely refusing to take it.
Yesterday, he would have complained after accepting the money, putting on airs of being in charge. But today is different. The young master and his wife value this cook, Su, highly, so how could he accept her money? Instead, he has to serve her carefully.
Although Steward Zheng has many shortcomings, he is able to hold the position of chief steward of Master Peng's mansion, which means he must have some outstanding qualities.
Jiang Zhenniang tried to persuade him twice more, but finally gave up and picked up a bag of braised food for him: "Take these braised foods and try them."
"I just ate..."
"It's just some food, not worth much money. You've refused us so many times, so please don't refuse us this time."
Manager Zheng thought for a moment, then smiled and accepted it.
As soon as he left in his sedan chair, the onlookers surged forward like a tide, bombarding everyone in the shop with questions about the background of the manager Zheng.
"They invited my young lady to prepare the banquet," Jiang Zhenniang said, her face flushed with joy as she proudly announced. Yao Lang also puffed out his chest and echoed her, recounting the background of Steward Zheng, which drew gasps of surprise: "Han'er is truly amazing!"
"No wonder your braised food is so delicious!"
"How old is Han Jie'er? How can she prepare banquets for officials?"
"That's really impressive."
"You didn't know? Han'er was originally from an official family!"
"Oh my, is this really true?"
"Which family are you from?"
"Yes—" Yao Lang was about to show off when he heard Su Zhihan call him. Yao Lang quickly stopped talking and happily followed Su Zhihan to the kitchen: "Sister Han, did you need something from me?"
"Brother Yao, are you trying to find me some work?"
"..." Upon hearing this, Yao Lang was taken aback at first, then his face instantly turned bright red: "I do have this idea, but, but I don't know if you would be willing?"
As Yao Lang spoke, he gradually calmed down and revealed his situation to Su Zhihan: "To be honest, I have never been involved in this industry before, and my connections are certainly not as extensive as those of the top brokers in the brokerage business."
"But I can help with errands and odd jobs."
"I can wholeheartedly help you with the banquet arrangements."
Knowing that the Jiang family mother and daughter only had three servants and were short-handed, Yao Lang mustered up his courage and said these words.
After all, although the old brokers in the brokerage firm have extensive connections, it's uncertain whether they'll be willing to let Su Zhihan use those connections, and what percentage of the money they'll charge.
Yao Lang knew this, and Su Zhihan was well aware of it as well. Previously, she and Jiang Zhenniang had repeatedly run into obstacles with those brokers, ultimately failing to find even one willing to let them taste the dishes.
It's easy to imagine that unless Su Zhihan becomes famous in the future, these people would probably never be willing to use their connections to help her.
At first, Su Zhihan wanted to learn on her own or through her mentor, but the shop became increasingly busy, and both mother and daughter were overwhelmed with work, especially since it was a completely unfamiliar industry.
Later, Su Zhihan realized that she couldn't possibly handle everything on her own. She had been planning to find someone to help her with some things, but before she could find a suitable candidate, Yao Lang offered her a job.
“I’ve heard that Yao Lang doesn’t like to work long hours and prefers to do temporary jobs,” Su Zhihan said after a moment’s hesitation, expressing her concerns.
The Yao couple had mixed reputations in the alley. Some praised them for being honest and kind, keeping their rented house clean and tidy, never raising prices, and being law-abiding. Others criticized them for being lazy and not having a proper business to make a living in the years since their marriage, just living off the house.
Su Zhihan was worried that Yao Lang was just trying to apologize to his wife on a whim, and that he might give up halfway and leave, causing her unnecessary trouble.
Upon hearing this, Yao Lang's face turned red once again: "The past is the past, and things are different now. To be honest, my wife is pregnant, and in another six months or so, we will have a new baby. I'm thinking that we'll only have more and more expenses in the future, and I don't think I can continue like this. That's why I want to find a long-term way to make a living."
Upon hearing this, Su Zhihan's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. Her brows relaxed, and she smiled, "Congratulations! Why didn't you tell us about this joyous occasion sooner?"
"I only found out a couple of days ago." Yao Lang didn't mention that he only found out yesterday, for fear that Su Zhihan would suspect that he had made the decision on a whim and wouldn't want to give me the job.
He glanced at Su Zhihan, and seeing that she did not agree, he added, "This banquet at Master Peng's mansion doesn't count. If I can find three more banquets for you, Madam Su, you can sign a lease agreement with me. What do you think?"
Su Zhihan had already expressed her interest, and seeing Yao Lang's sincerity, she readily agreed. However, before Yao Lang could even feel happy, she added a condition: "When you help me find a banquet, don't mention that I come from the Marquis's mansion."
Yao Lang hesitated for a moment before agreeing to the matter. After he left, others asked about Su Zhihan's background, so Yao Lang changed his story and said that Su Zhihan was originally from an official family in another region. The official had gone to another place to become a prefect, and Su Zhihan wanted to go with her mother, so she did not go with her and chose to stay in the capital to open a shop.
As mentioned earlier, those who open shops outside all like to give themselves a background.
The other diners, upon hearing this, didn't find anything strange about it, merely clicking their tongues a few times before ceasing their inquiries. Those who were more interested asked Yao Lang what dishes Su Zhihan had prepared at Master Peng's residence last time, and others inquired about the cost of hosting a banquet.
Yao Lang smiled without saying a word, only noting down each item, intending to inquire outside before finding a catering job for Su Zhihan. His previous melancholy vanished, and he happily returned home, embracing his wife and kissing her passionately several times.
"Your mouth stinks!" Yao's wife pushed him away in disgust, waving her hand in front of her nose, inwardly displeased: "The sun hasn't even set in the west yet, and you're already out drinking..."
"Silly wife, Han-jie has agreed!"
"Really?" Yao's wife immediately lost her previous disdain and pulled Yao Lang forward to ask her in detail.
When Yao's wife heard that her husband had searched for a banquet in two places without success, she was terrified. But when she turned around and came out, she bumped into Steward Zheng, who was out looking for someone. Yao's wife was overjoyed and patted her chest repeatedly, saying, "Look, even God is protecting you."
Yao Lang couldn't help but nod, feeling that even the heavens were on his side. He only had one question left, so he told his wife about Su Zhihan's request: "Han'er said that from now on I can say that she comes from an official family, but I can't say that she comes from a marquis's family."
"Why do you think that is?"
"I don't know... Perhaps Han-jie wants to test you?" Yao's wife pondered for a moment, but still couldn't figure it out.
In this world, those who serve as servants in wealthy and powerful families, despite being of lowly status, often rely on the power of their masters and look down on ordinary people.
The common people secretly cursed them for looking down on others, but in reality, countless people were desperate to get in, hoping to live that superior life themselves.
Those born into official families, and even those of officials of a certain rank, all have their own particularities. Just like the several well-known kitchen staff in the capital, each has their own background: some come from a famous restaurant, some from the mansions of dukes and princes, and some from the imperial kitchen.
Many of them claimed to be from a noble family.
The Yao couple thought about it again and again but still couldn't figure it out, so they just assumed that Su Zhihan was testing Yao Lang's abilities.
In the afternoon, Yao's wife remembered something else: "You said that Master Peng's mansion invited Han'er to go tomorrow, so are you going to Master Peng's mansion with Han'er tomorrow?"
"Well... I guess I shouldn't go."
“I think that if Han’er were that kind of person, she would probably ask you to come along.” Yao’s wife thought for a moment, but had a different opinion. She hurriedly told Yao Lang to get up and go out to the market to inquire about the writing style and requirements of renting books, as well as the rules and prices of various banquets: “Who knows, we might need it tomorrow.”
"You're right." Yao Lang, hearing this, felt it was better to be prepared. He quickly got up, changed his clothes, and was about to leave. But when he reached the door, he kissed his wife again and said with a grin, "People often say that pregnancy makes you stupid for three years, but I say it's different in my family. My wife is twice as smart!"
After saying that, he ran out.
Yao's wife was initially smiling, but after a while, she gradually came to her senses and realized that Yao Lang was calling her stupid. She immediately raised her eyebrows in anger: "You rascal, just wait until you get back tonight and see how I teach you a lesson—"
Seeing people coming and going at the alley entrance, she angrily went into the house. However, after only a short while, Yao's wife thought about it again and shamelessly went to Jiang's braised meat shop. Her husband had apologized to her, and she couldn't just hide behind him; she should apologize to Han'er.
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