Zuixianlou is located in a very conspicuous place because it is opposite Haoqinglai.
Merchants passing through Ping'an Town with ample funds would either go to Haoqinglai or Zuixianlou. Haoqinglai had a better reputation than Zuixianlou, thanks to the chef Chen Youliang, who had worked in Kyoto.
Of course, this doesn't mean that the chefs at Zuixianlou are bad; they're just slightly inferior to Chen Youliang.
It's somewhat of a nonsensical piece of literature.
Huang Daxian, the head chef of Zuixianlou Restaurant, is 55 years old this year. Thirty years ago, he was an apprentice at the Ping An Hotel in Kyoto. His master came from the palace and was proficient in the eight major cuisines.
After completing his apprenticeship, Huang Daxian stayed at the Grand Hotel for fifteen years before leaving. It wasn't because he coveted the high salary at the Grand Hotel, but because apprentices had an agreement that the learning period was one year and the service period was fifteen years.
Simply put, if you want to learn a trade, you have to sell yourself for fifteen years. You can leave if you want during that time, but you have to pay any amount of compensation.
"Anything" means the employer can set the price arbitrarily, so high that you won't dare mention leaving.
Of course, you can choose to leave secretly, but the contract of indenture is still in the hands of the employer. Even if you run to the ends of the earth, you will always be an unregistered person, unable to find any livelihood, and going out will only lead to your death.
Fifteen years later, Huang Daxian returned with 150 taels of silver. That was 10 taels of silver a year, which was considered top-tier for a cook. In comparison, Chen Youliang, who worked as a cook in the Prime Minister's mansion, only earned 12 taels a year.
That was the Prime Minister, and his private chef, yet he only offered twelve taels of silver. It seemed rather stingy, which was the main reason Chen Youliang left.
Huang Daxian returned to his hometown with a huge sum of money, and naturally wanted to make a grand entrance. He partnered with his clansman Huang Jincheng to open the Zuixianlou restaurant.
The building cost 100 taels of silver, which wasn't much, and it was paid for by Huang Daxian. The land was bought from the government for 1,000 taels of silver, all paid for by Huang Jincheng. However, the restaurant's profits were split 50/50 between the two of them, and Huang Jincheng couldn't utter a word. After all, Huang Daxian was the head chef, and Huang Jincheng was the technical expert.
In the ten years that Huang Daxian has been in Ping'an Town, he has taken in many apprentices, but now he can only use three or four, and none of them meet his expectations. He is getting old and wants to find someone who can satisfy him in all aspects. After teaching him, he can retire safely and enjoy his old age.
He longed for the idyllic life of receiving dividends every year, sitting in a rocking chair, with people serving him tea and water.
But where exactly is this person who can satisfy him in every way? This is what Huang Daxian worries about every night before going to bed.
The following day, Huang Daxian finally arrived at the shop, where his apprentice, Xiao Chen, told him that someone was looking for him.
He went outside and saw a man standing in the hall. He was dressed simply, but had a handsome appearance and an extraordinary demeanor.
"What business do you have with me, sir?"
"You are the renowned Chef Huang Daxian of the Tongba Department?" This was the first time An Rong had ever been flattered, and he couldn't help but feel nervous. To be honest, the lines that Dou Dou had written for him were really difficult to pronounce.
Huang Daxian was quite irritable when he arrived at the restaurant, but when he heard this handsome man sincerely praising him, his heart soared.
"You flatter me, you flatter me. My name is Huang Daxian. Please speak freely." They immediately flattered him, but I have no idea what they were up to.
An Rong dropped the fawning expression on his face; he was simply too tired of pretending.
"Chef Huang seems like a straightforward person, so I'll get straight to the point. I'd like to ask Chef Huang if you have any plans to take on apprentices?"
Huang Daxian was overjoyed. He had been silently praying last night, "My disciple, my disciple, when will you come?" And this morning he came to his door early in the morning. Indeed, heaven rewards those who persevere.
"You want to be an apprentice?"
No wonder Huang Daxian was overjoyed and extremely surprised, his heart pounding like a thousand deer. It was because the apprentices he had previously recruited were all quite distinctive in appearance, some were ugly as misshapen gourds or cracked dates, and some were shockingly ugly.
Without comparison, there is no harm; he has never met a man as outstanding as the one before him.
Good heavens, you've finally opened your eyes and realized you have pity on this old man. Chen Youliang, who's three years younger than him, has many apprentices and is often away from the restaurant, enjoying a life of leisure at home.
Look at him again, his beard is all white, and he's still in this restaurant directing those three or four clumsy apprentices, busy like a grandson.
"It wasn't me."
Huang Daxian's grin disappeared, utterly disappointed. If it wasn't him, then who was it?
He suddenly lost interest.
“He’s my younger brother,” An Rong said immediately.
Huang Daxian raised an eyebrow. His younger brother was as handsome as Pan An, so he figured his brother wouldn't be much less so.
"Where's your brother? Why didn't he come with you?" Huang Daxian just wanted to see his brother as soon as possible.
Anyone who didn't know better would think he was selecting concubines, finding a cooking apprentice and even putting a beauty contest on her.
But if you think about it carefully, it's understandable. When a country selects talent, ability is the most important thing, but good looks are also a must. So it's understandable that a master would want to find a good-looking apprentice. Even if the apprentice is a little slow, the teacher won't be in a bad mood if he sees a handsome face every day.
Huang Daxian himself is of average appearance, so he needs a handsome apprentice to make a good impression and bring him honor when he goes out.
An Rong saw that he was interested and thought that this time there was a chance.
“That’s right, my younger brother wants to become an apprentice, so I, as the older brother, came to inquire first. If you are interested in taking on apprentices, I will then have him come.” An Rong’s answer was exactly what Dou Dou had anticipated.
Huang Daxian stroked his goatee, agreeing with his words. He hadn't publicly announced that he was taking on apprentices; he had been observing in secret. Like a lion hunting in the forest, upon seeing its prey, it pounced without hesitation, biting its neck and preventing its escape.
"Alright, then bring your brother another day. I'll make a decision after I've seen him." He wouldn't agree directly until he saw his brother's true appearance. After all, many brothers look very different. The older brother is so beautiful, the younger brother might be extremely ugly.
Having achieved his goal, An Rong thanked Huang Daxian and turned to leave.
Huang Daxian gazed at his tall and upright back, stroking his goatee with great interest, and couldn't help but smile.
At DouDou's Tavern, Yuan DouDou was not surprised at all to hear that things had gone smoothly.
"How can you be so sure he'll agree?" An Rong rarely showed curiosity, and this was the first time he had ever been so curious.
Before going to Zuixianlou, DouDou explained to him how to deal with the situation, and frankly said that Huang Daxian would be very enthusiastic and willing to give him a chance to meet.
Yuan Doudou said mysteriously, "Because you're handsome."
An Rong blushed; what kind of logic is that?
"You're blushing. I'm not making this up; I have evidence to back it up," Yuan Doudou said, covering her mouth with a laugh.
It's understandable that Lu Xi blushes easily; he's a child and shy. But it's amusing to see a grown man like An Rong blush.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
