NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18 Chrysanthemum Banquet
On the first day that Liuxiang Snack Shop opened, it was packed with customers and all the seats were packed. By Xu Shi, all the ingredients in the store had been sold out. Aniang and Mu Zhiyuan helped Shua Xi clean up and close together.
Mrs. Chen was in charge of scrubbing in the store. She encouraged Shu Xi and Mu Zhiyuan to watch the play on the stage next door: "Ah Shu, Mu Yuan, you two have been busy all day. The stage next door is singing "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" It’s very lively.”
The two came to the stage to watch. Mu Zhiyuan took out a cookbook from his arms and gave it to Mao Xi.
"Mao Xi, I bought this "Collection of Ancient and Modern Recipes" from a bookstore in Beidu. I hope you like it."
Mao Xi took the recipe, the author was unknown, and she read it carefully: "Brother Mu, some of the foods in this recipe have never been heard of. I have to study it carefully and improve it. Maybe it can be reproduced in Liuxiang Snacks in the future. "
Sure enough, he did not choose the wrong gift. This recipe still won Ma Xi's heart more than the hairpin ring. Mu Zhiyuan paused and continued:
"I said before that I was entrusted by someone, but it was actually my brother. He was working as an errand in the Beidu Yamen and was busy with official duties, so he asked me to investigate clues to the grain embezzlement case for him in Lihua Town... Now I live in Luda's garden, and I also I don’t have much to earn a living from, can you help me in your shop from now on? I won’t charge you any wages, just give me three meals a day.”
Mu Zhiyuan's words were sincere and his eyes were sincere.
How can anyone work for free? Mao Xi put the recipe away close to her: "Brother Mu, how can there be a waiter who doesn't charge money? I will give you 500 Wen every month. When the business is good, I will give you more money."
Seeing that Mao Xi agreed, Mu Zhiyuan continued to inquire: "What are you going to do for the chrysanthemum feast in Nalan Mansion? Food related to Qiu Ju is not easy to prepare."
There were still a few days before the Chrysanthemum Banquet. That night, Shuang Xi opened the virtual universal mall and directly purchased the dishes for the experiment.
"Ding~ Mandarin fish and chrysanthemum were purchased successfully!" The mall prompted that it could be upgraded. She performed the operation and the screen displayed:
*** Mall L5 *** ＜Upgrading＞
"Ah Shu isn't resting yet!" Mother saw that Shu Xi had just finished preparing ingredients for the snack shop and was busy cooking in the kitchen at home.
"I'm going to study the dishes for the Chrysanthemum Feast, and I'll make them a supper for everyone later."
She separated the fish heads and tails, marinated the fish fillets with a flower knife, sprinkled the fish with starch and deep-fried the fish heads and tails. Finally, she boiled the tomato sauce with oil in a pot, adding oil, salt, sugar, vinegar, and water. Boil the starch and gravy until thick and pour it on the fried fish flowers. When placing it on the plate, put a chrysanthemum on the edge of the plate.
Then she started to cook the porridge. When the porridge was cooked, she sprinkled in the chrysanthemum petals, mixed them and took them out of the pot. The two chrysanthemum supper dishes were completed. She served a bowl of porridge to each family member and some fish to feed to her sister Ajiao.
The filleted fish is fried to look like chrysanthemums. The sweet and sour taste is very popular with children. Xiaodouzi couldn't stop eating and kept saying: "Sister, I want to eat chrysanthemum fish tomorrow~"
On the day of the chrysanthemum banquet, Mao Xi came to Liuxiang Snack Shop early in the morning. After preparing the food for the day's opening, she began to cook the dishes for the chrysanthemum banquet. Mu Zhiyuan asked for leave from her, and he didn't know where he was. However, the chrysanthemum for cooking was sent over last night with Lu Da.
Mother Chen is serving breakfast in the store.
Mao Xi put the prepared chrysanthemum fish and chrysanthemum-stuffed bamboo fungus into the food box, and walked to Nalan Jue's Nalan Mansion at the end of the street. There was an incense shop and tea house next to it.
Before sitting down to the table, the waiter in the house collected Mao Xi's dishes and recorded the names of the dishes on the food list for that day.
Today is the chrysanthemum feast. Mao Xi is wearing a light yellow skirt with two small yellow velvet flowers on her head.
Yan'er brought Shui Xi to the courtyard and took a seat. The chrysanthemum banquet had not yet started. Also attending the banquet were shopkeeper Hu Xinrong from Qingxiang Building and shopkeeper Liu Xiangniang from Ruifeng Building. They were sitting on both sides of Shui Xi.
Ma Xi greeted the two shopkeepers one after another. Liu Xiangniang held a round fan and said coquettishly: "Miss Ah Ma, I heard that your snack shop has just opened. Business must be very good, right?"
"We just sell some home-cooked snacks. If Shopkeeper Liu wants specialties or dry goods from the mountains, you can keep looking for me."
Shopkeeper Hu stroked his mustache. He and Shopkeeper Liu competed for the restaurant and did not interact with each other. He sat on the right side of Shu Xi and said, "Miss Ah Shu, you have opened a shop. If you have new glutinous rice wine, don't forget it." Sell me some more."
"Definitely." Mao Xi secretly guessed that Mr. Nalanjue called the shopkeepers of the two major restaurants in Lihua Town, and then called me. Today's chrysanthemum banquet dishes must be prepared by experts.
Mao Xi took a sip of chrysanthemum tea. She was very confident in her two dishes!
Su Xuexue and Nalan Jue were playing Go, and a boy was pouring chrysanthemum tea beside them.
Next to the Go table is a stove. A girl came to the stove with a basket of chrysanthemums in her hand, and another boy was pouring water to stew by the stove.
Yan'er walked to Nalan Jue and said, "Sir, Master Mi Yuan hasn't arrived yet, and the other guests have already taken their seats."
As soon as he finished speaking, Mi Yuan came to the courtyard with a smile, followed by a spirited young man holding a jar of chrysanthemum wine.
Seeing Mi Yuan coming, Nalan Jue hurriedly stood up and said, "Hello, teacher!"
"Nalan, I brought chrysanthemum wine. Do you think it can be used as a delicacy for today's chrysanthemum feast?" Master Mi Yuan walked straight into the courtyard.
"Teacher, please take a seat."
Mao Xi took a closer look at the energetic young man beside the master. Isn't this Brother Muyuan?
When everyone arrived, Su Ziguan sat next to Mi Yuan.
Yan'er walked to Nalan Jue and started to name the dishes.
"On the Double Ninth Festival, we bid farewell to the green, appreciate the chrysanthemums, and enjoy the flower feast. Today, Nalan Mansion brings out "Chrysanthemum Tea", "Chrysanthemum Crab Fat" and "Chrysanthemum Hot Pot", Master Mi Yuan makes a jar of "Chrysanthemum Wine", and Su Ziguan's pedantic "Chrysanthemum Tea" comes out. "Chrysanthemum Tofu", "Ruyi Chrysanthemum Rolls" and "Chrysanthemum Rabbit Shreds" from Qingxiang Tower, "Chrysanthemum Crystal Shrimp" and "Chrysanthemum Cake" from Ruifeng Tower, and "Chrysanthemum Fish" and "Chrysanthemum Stuffed Bamboo Fungus" from Liuxiang Snacks. "
Master Mi Yuan, who is usually a heavy drinker, took a bite of the chrysanthemum fish made by Miao Xi, and immediately felt the sweet and sour aftertaste in his mouth. This is another delicacy that goes well with wine, and he was full of praise.
Nalan Jue and Su Ziguan like to eat chrysanthemums stuffed with bamboo fungus. They usually only use bamboo fungus to make soup, but this is their first taste of chrysanthemum stuffed with bamboo fungus. The taste is novel.
"It's just like Qu Zi said, 'Drinking magnolias in the morning will make the dew fall, and dining with autumn chrysanthemums in the evening will make the flowers fall'!" Su Xuexue was very happy and quoted Qu Yuan's "Li Sao" to enjoy it.
The two shopkeepers, Hu and Liu, who have been running the hotel for many years, are confused about the ingredients of the two dishes. The chrysanthemum fish sauce uses tomatoes, while the stuffed bamboo fungus is seasoned with green and red peppers. These are currently unique vegetables in the millet field.
After the banquet was over, the shopkeepers of the two restaurants came to Shu Xi one after another to ask for advice on side dishes.
"These side dishes are all newly grown vegetables in our fields in Liujia Village. When the vegetables are ripe, you can come to our village to order!"
There are not enough vegetables in Mao Xi's own land for the restaurant. She has already sold bell peppers, hot peppers and tomato seedlings at low prices to Brother Chunsheng, Brother Lu, and some villagers who came forward to beg.
Since she made money selling roasted sweet potatoes, the villagers have followed Ah Shi's example and started growing sweet potatoes. This crop has edible leaves that can feed chickens and ducks. Now, as long as there are new vegetables in Mao Xi's fields, villagers will always come to ask for them. On the premise of ensuring the cultivation of his own vegetable fields, Mao Xi will sell some seedlings to the villagers at a low price.
Mu Zhiyuan came to Shu Xi and said, "Ah Shu, just give your recipe for side dishes to the restaurant. You won't be afraid of them taking away your business in the future."
"Brother Mu, they are all grown in the village. Even if I don't sell them, others will sell them to restaurants sooner or later. I still have many new dishes, don't be afraid... Hey, how can you enter the house today without Mr. Nalan's invitation?"
"I entered the mansion with my teacher, Master Mi Yuan."
After a chrysanthemum feast, the sales of dry goods bamboo fungus in Maoxi's shop quickly increased. Chrysanthemum fish and chrysanthemum-stuffed bamboo fungus have also been added to the seasonal menu of Liuxiang Snacks.
"Ding~" Another projection of the mall appeared in front of Mao Xi's eyes.
*** Mall L5 *** ＜Upgrade completed＞
Unlock: ＜Brewing process, spice preparation method＞
Mao Xi opened the mall and bought some peanuts, which are vegetables that have not yet been introduced to the Huai Kingdom. Next, she will run her own snack shop carefully.