Chapter 29: The Reason for Sweet Words

y to borrow some fire and salt, and grill them up. They taste pretty good!.........Seeing Liu Haizhong carrying a pair of tongs and looking furious, Qin Huairu spoke up to persuade him: “Second Uncle,...Today was different from usual. As it neared quitting time, He Yuzhu led his apprentices Ma Hua and Liu Lan to the host's house to cook.

Follow the direction of Shichahai eastward, pass through several alleys with pole-bearers, and you'll reach your destination.

A middle-aged man stood at the courtyard gate early, waiting for He Yuzhu.

Upon seeing someone arrive, she immediately grabbed his hand and shook it repeatedly. "Oh, Master He! You're finally here! Everything is bought according to the list you provided earlier, and the vegetables are all washed."

He Yuzhu took the bag of big front door that the man had handed him, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I will definitely help arrange this wedding feast today, so that every guest can eat happily!"

The middle-aged man smiled amiably: "Your craftsmanship speaks for itself. Our whole family tasted it last time in Liutiao Hutong, that's why we went to such lengths to invite you here. At the time, my son said his wedding banquet had to be prepared by you, no one else would do!"

After some simple pleasantries, He Yuzhu began to work.

Before they arrived, the women in charge had already washed the vegetables. As for how big to cut the meat and whether to slice or chop the fish, they didn't dare to take the initiative. These matters all depended on the master chef's instructions when he got there.

All in all, there's not much going on. These days, even weddings aren't extravagant affairs.

Nobody has any leftover grain, basically everyone just eats one meal a day. In summer, they eat dinner, and in winter, they eat lunch. If you're polite, the host will give out some candy and melon seeds. Like this family today, having both fish and meat already means their household is quite well-off!

The bride's dowry usually consists of only one quilt and two hot water bottles. As for the groom's family, they don't go overboard with extravagant gifts like "three turns and one chime" (referring to traditional wedding customs). They are ordinary people who focus on preparing a good banquet for guests and the bride's relatives. That's what truly matters.

So even at this moment, He Yuzhu's culinary skills are still highly sought after.

In the kitchen, He Yuzhu first assigned Ma Hua and Liu Ran to lead several middle-aged women responsible for helping to process the meat and fish. He couldn't just stand around either; he had to prepare a few cold dishes first.

Cold shredded radish, fried peanuts, cucumber salad, snow-capped tomatoes, this dish is still appetizing even on a cold day.

To earn face for his master, He Yuzhu decided to change pickle cucumber into a "cloak cucumber." This wasn't complicated at all; as long as you had good knife skills, when slicing cucumbers, you wouldn't need chopsticks underneath. The result was an entire cucumber sliced thinly and evenly, each slice connected to the next, visually stunning.

Nowadays, without smartphones and social media, guests wouldn't dream of not taking a couple of photos at the table to show off their lavish meal on social media.

When He Yuzhu had finished seasoning all the dishes, Ma Hua and Liu Ran had already processed the meat and fish.

He Yuzhu clapped his hands and ordered: "Ma Hua, Liu Ran, take people and serve these cold dishes. Just follow my example."

Ma Huá came over and took a look. "Wow! Master, your table setting is really exquisite! I saw something similar in the newspaper, it looked like how they set the tables at the Peace Hotel!"

Liu Lan also gave a thumbs up: “Good job, this cucumber looks high-class at first glance.”

He Yuzhu laughed and said, “Alright, don't be stingy. Quickly put the cold dishes on the table. When the guests arrive and settle down, we’ll have a lot to do.”

As someone who has transmigrated from the future, I've eaten hundreds, if not thousands, of different noodles. I have a good idea how these dishes should be plated.

When these few cold dishes were served, the people watching the excitement in the courtyard couldn't sit still any longer.

"Wow! The cook Lao Zheng hired isn't ordinary at all. Look, these tomatoes are sliced just like crescent moons, and they even made a "star-studded" arrangement!"

That cucumber is really something, good fellow! I've never seen anything handled like that before.

"Is Lao Zheng, this cook, hired by Lao Mo This is really spending a lot of money!"

"You're talking nonsense. This is his only son, you have to make a good wedding for him, don't you"

"Well, I've learned something new today."

Before the feast even began, and before the guests had touched their chopsticks, the host's face swelled with pride as they listened to the admiring crowd.

Even the bride, seeking peace and quiet in her new home, could hear the commotion. The young woman reached out and shook the man's arm: "Hey! This head chef is truly impressive! The salt flowers sprinkled on the peanuts are even prettier than anyone else's."

Seeing the bride in this meek and gentle manner, the groom immediately perked up. "That's right! She's incredibly talented. It took us a lot of effort to get her and my father to agree to this!"

Actually, it wasn't much effort. I just thought the food tasted good last time I had a meal there, so I casually ordered it. Unexpectedly, today this master chef unexpectedly showed off all his best skills! But that doesn't stop me from bragging in front of my wife, does it

Whatever, just come as you please!

Otherwise, how can one demonstrate their sincerity

........

"Master He, this is my son and daughter-in-law. They came over especially to toast you. Thank you for your help today!"

The host was incredibly polite, thanks to He Yuzhu who had truly saved face for his family. The dishes on the table were not only delicious but also beautifully presented, allowing him to stand tall and proud in front of his bride's family.

He Yuzhu took the cup and smiled, "It's truly a match made in heaven! Well then, I'll join you in celebrating your happiness!"

Today's banquet was really a waste of effort. Before the dishes were even served, several people came over and insisted on asking him to cook for their families! They even offered five dollars per meal!

After the toast, the host privately slipped a sealed red envelope into He Yuzhu's hand.

He Yuzhu picked up the package, opened it, and said: "Hey Master Zheng, this number seems wrong, didn't we agree on three yuan"

Because he had drunk a little too much, the host's face was flushed now. He grasped He Yuzhu's hand and said gratefully: "Master He, you are too kind. Today, thanks to your help, my son's wedding banquet is truly impressive. These extra two dollars are our family's extra gratitude."

On a joyous occasion like this, there's no reason to refuse. He Yuzhu laughed and accepted the money.

After all the guests at the banquet had left and he was sure everything was taken care of, He Yuzhu led his apprentice and Liu Lan to bid farewell to the host's family. Naturally, this involved another round of flattering compliments.

Out of the alley, Liu Ran sighed in admiration: “Master He, you’re truly amazing! Today I am truly convinced!”

Flattery has its uses. Today, not only did Liu Ran get two lunch boxes, but He Yuzhu also let her off five cents. If she didn't sweet-talk him, it wouldn't make sense.. After I shoved him twice, the head chef of the dining hall immediately came out and caught me in the act. The two of them acted so convincingly, playing along perfectly, and they pinned the blame on...