The young master was as elegant as jade, refined and graceful. When Xiao Yi appeared in public, no one would doubt his identity. As the most distinguished royal heir in the capital, his appearance would undoubtedly bring honor to the Chamber of Commerce.
"Greetings, Your Highness. I was unaware of Your Highness's presence and what I wish to offer you," Jin Danyang greeted him with utmost respect.
"I have no other business here, but I've come to inform the Chamber of Commerce that my mother has opened a restaurant out of leisure," Xiao Yi said slowly as he followed the Chamber President inside.
Jin Danyang and the other restaurant owners were all startled, and they couldn't help but have the same thought in their minds: Could it be the Star-Picking Tower?
"May I ask, Your Highness, which restaurant is it?" Jin Danyang asked cautiously.
“Zhaixinglou!” Xiao Yi said amicably. “Since it’s inconvenient for Mother Consort to come in person, she specially invited two managers, one in charge of the kitchen and the other in charge of the front of the restaurant. I wonder if, according to the Chamber of Commerce’s regulations, there are any procedures that need to be explained to the Chamber of Commerce in advance when opening a restaurant?”
Who dares to demand an explanation from the Prince Rui's Mansion?
Jin Danyang chuckled and replied, "So it's the Star-Picking Tower. Don't worry, Your Highness, since it's a property of the Prince Rui's Mansion, the Chamber of Commerce will definitely support it. However, according to the Chamber of Commerce's regulations..."
Xiao Yi listened to the portly chairman's eloquent speech, hearing the common phrase that joining the chamber of commerce would grant protection and mutual support among business partners. However, since Tao Wanniang was taking the lion's share of the profits from the restaurant, Xiao Yi, to save trouble, still paid the so-called membership fee.
Seeing that the young master was so compliant and did not use his power to oppress others, the members of the merchant guild were very satisfied.
After Xiao Yi left, Jin Danyang sighed, "Zhaixing Tower belongs to Princess Rui. It seems that the number one restaurant in the capital is about to change hands."
"That's not necessarily true!" It was Zhao Changgui, the manager of the number one restaurant in the capital, who spoke up. "Guests might come because of the power of the Prince Rui's mansion, but whether they can stay depends on the restaurant's hospitality and the quality of its dishes. Let's wait and see."
That's true, and the others nodded in agreement. Inside the hall, discussions about the Star-Picking Tower began to rise and fall again, with many people becoming curious about the two managers.
The entire place needed to be renovated, personnel arrangements needed to be made, and chefs and kitchen helpers needed to be recruited. Tao Wanniang was very busy. Since there were already people at home helping out, she simply called on everyone who was going to work at the restaurant to come and help.
With more people doing the work, Tao Wanniang simply started tasting the dishes at the restaurant.
"Manager Tao's dishes are indeed a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate." Lu Neng savored Tao Wanniang's cooking and couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "I've heard that Manager Tao used to own a restaurant with delicious food, but I've never had the chance to try it. Today I'm truly in for a treat."
Tao Wanniang waved her hand and asked Lu Neng, "Manager Lu, you should think about what kind of special dishes our Zhaixinglou restaurant has that other restaurants don't have."
"Mother, we've never had a whole roasted lamb before. Why don't you make one for us?" Ling Dapeng said eagerly, his eyes still filled with resentment as he looked at Tao Wan's mother.
Tao Wan's mother picked up a chicken leg and stuffed it into Ling Dapeng's mouth. Couldn't that chicken leg shut him up?
The son and daughter-in-law had spent the first half of their lives in Lingjia Village and had only been to a restaurant once, so their perspective was limited. As for her, she had too many novel dishes in her mind, and she was afraid that if she went too far ahead of her time, it would cause trouble.
"Speaking of mutton, that's something that the wealthy like. To make mutton that is fresh without being gamey and tender, it's a top-quality dish," Lu Neng said. "As for specialties, I can't say for sure if I haven't tried them. The signature dishes of major restaurants are all pretty much the same, with the same ingredients. It all depends on how much effort the chef puts in."
That's true, it still depends on her own efforts. Let's focus on the ingredients we have.
The chicken... Tao Wan's mother came up with a novel way to cook it. As for mutton, there are boiled, braised, and grilled options.
Ducks can be stewed in soup, stir-fried, or roasted.
Pork can be used to make braised pork belly, pork belly, lion's head meatballs, and four-happiness meatballs.
Fish can be steamed or braised; shrimp is the same!
Tao Wanniang thought for a moment and said, "How about this, I will cook one main dish every day, and then everyone can taste it and give their opinions. If there is anything that is not good enough, please feel free to point it out."
"Great! Great!" Ling Dapeng was the one who shouted the loudest. He was very happy to be a waiter and to be able to eat Tao Wanniang's cooking.
"Also, Manager Lu, do you have a candidate for head chef?" Tao Wanniang asked.
Luneng looked somewhat embarrassed. It wasn't that he hadn't found someone, but this kitchen had always only had one head chef. However, for a large restaurant, having two wasn't unusual. The problem was that the other head chef was a woman.
"What is it? Just say it." Seeing Lu Neng's expression, Tao Wanniang frowned slightly and asked directly.
"Manager Tao is a heroine among women. Let's not talk about those pedantic people." Although Luneng didn't say it explicitly, he did explain the reason.
Tao Wanniang chuckled. So that's why she didn't want to come because she was a woman!
"What about the pastry chef? Are there any candidates?"
"Yes, there are some, they should be coming soon." Luneng's expression was somewhat evasive again.
"Is this the Star-Picking Tower?" Just then, a woman's voice came from outside the door.
Tao Wanniang looked in the direction of the sound and caught a glimpse of Luneng's slightly tense expression.
A fair-skinned woman with a round face stood at the door. As she spoke, she walked in. "Luneng, I'm here!"
"Here she comes, here she comes~ Ha~" Lu Neng chuckled a few times. "Yue Niang, surnamed Liu, is a pastry expert. Her family owns a pastry shop."
There's something fishy about these two!
Tao Wanniang looked at Lu Neng and Liu Yueniang and said, "Have you had lunch? Would you like to have another pair of chopsticks?"
“Great! I came straight here after entering the city, without even having time to drink some water,” Liu Yueniang said cheerfully, her eyes narrowing into slits as she laughed.
Wang Hongyu quickly fetched a bowl and chopsticks for Liu Yueniang. Taking this opportunity, Tao Wanniang casually asked, "Yueniang, do you know why Luneng sent you here?"
"Making pastries? My family used to make pastries. But there's a brother and sister in my family, and now my brother is in charge. Luneng used to be my family's son-in-law..."
"Engaged? It was just an engagement. I broke it off later!" Lu Neng immediately interrupted Liu Yueniang.
"If the engagement is called off, then it is. Why are you in such a hurry? Didn't we agree to wait for you to establish yourself in the capital before proposing marriage to me? I've been waiting for six years."
Tao Wanniang looked at Luneng, thinking that he seemed rather unkind.
"Your younger brother is still young and unable to support the family business, and I can't let you marry far away," Luneng said awkwardly in a low voice. "That's why I called you here."
Liu Yueniang laughed and bumped into Luneng.
“If you write to me, I will come. My younger brother has already completed his apprenticeship, and our parents can also help out.”
"The bowls and chopsticks are here, let's eat!" Tao Wanniang said, suppressing a laugh as she saw that Lu Neng's ears were red.
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