CHAPTER 605: 322 EPISODES WHAT IS YOUR WAY_2

The shop was doing well; these vegetables and groceries were restocked every three to five days. Scholar Wen simply arranged orders with several shops in the city. On designated days, they would deliver the goods themselves and settle the money in person, so the shop assistants no longer needed to make the trip.

Soon, Ji Xiang and the others who went to the Provincial City to buy supplies had returned, bringing a whole cart of seafood.

Fish Maw and sea cucumber, being expensive items, hardly needed mention. Clams, razor clams, and crabs, which were somewhat cheaper, were even more varied. After drying, the seafood naturally retained a salty and fresh taste. Once brought into the main hall, its aroma wafted about, enveloping the entire restaurant in the briny air of the sea.

Fire Knife Village was not close to the sea, and the shop assistants—especially those who came after the expansion—had rarely seen such seafood and inevitably found themselves craving it. Hua Xiaomai was not stingy; though she was reluctant to serve abalone and shark’s fin to guests, cooking a bit extra of the other items to share with everyone was no big deal for her.

It happened that she hadn’t cooked in a long while and was itching to do so. Without needing Master Tan’s help, she started managing on her own in the kitchen.

Dried Razor clam meat and crab were soaked in cool well water for a whole day, then boiled for five days until they swelled to two inches long, the meat thick and tender, looking just like they did when freshly caught. She simmered them in chicken broth, adding just a bit of ground licorice to season, and threw in a handful of noodles, boiling until the soup was thick and bubbling. She then served it in bowls, each topped with a palm-sized piece of pickled fish, and personally brought them to everyone.

After stewing, the rich flavor of the razor clam meat and crab first permeated the soup, then infused the noodles, even turning the hard pickled fish soft. The generous portions were delicious, and everyone devoured their meal with satisfied hearts. Others might not mention it, but even old Lady Meng, who usually preferred strong flavors, praised it highly. Clasping Little Walnut tightly with one hand, her other hand was unaffected as she continuously shoveled noodles into her mouth, repeatedly urging Hua Xiaomai to prepare a bowl of the same noodles for Meng Yuhuai in the evening.

As for the name of the dish, Hua Xiaomai actually couldn’t specify, merely having chosen ingredients that paired well together. It was an unexpected delight, and she herself was quite pleased. Everyone in the main hall was busy eating their noodles and didn’t bother to speak, fully immersed in their meal, when suddenly Wang Zhanrui stepped in, carrying two large cloth bags, followed by an old man who also carried quite a few items.

The two men carried a scent of fresh tea with them and upon entering the restaurant, they energized those who were deeply engrossed in their meal, prompting smiles and greetings from everyone to Wang Zhanrui.

Hua Xiaomai also approached, smiling at Wang Zhanrui: "Just yesterday, I was telling Sister-in-law Chun Xi that business was good, and if you, Master Wang, delayed a few more days, we would truly be overwhelmed. What a coincidence that you are back—tell me, are those bags full of tea leaves?"

Welcome to Daoxiang Village. Wang Zhanrui had had a strenuous journey. He wiped his sweat with his hand but didn’t immediately answer Hua Xiaomai. First, he helped the old man put down the bags and casually poured him a cup of tea. Then he smiled and nodded: "I brought some tea leaves grown at home, and I bought quite a lot from a famous tea shop in Lingquan Prefecture, including green and white teas both of good quality, suitable for both cooking and serving guests. On the way here, I guessed that the warm weather must have been good for business at Daoxiang Garden, and I was anxious to come back and help. However, procuring these tea leaves couldn’t be rushed."

The tea leaves were bought for the use of Daoxiang Garden. Naturally, he shouldn’t have to pay for them, so Hua Xiaomai instructed Wen Huaren to make sure he was reimbursed properly, then glanced at the old man: "And this gentleman is..."

The man appeared to be in his sixties, short, with an ordinary appearance and wearing simple clothes. Perhaps because he frequently stayed in the sun, his face was somewhat tanned, resembling an aged but still hearty old farmer.

At first, Hua Xiaomai hadn’t paid much attention to the old man, assuming he was probably someone Wang Zhanrui had asked to help deliver the tea. But then she reconsidered and suddenly had her doubts.

This was Wang Zhanrui, a bona fide chef’s son, considering an old man appeared with him in Daoxiang Garden, could he possibly be...

With that thought, she felt a surge of excitement, her eyes darting between Wang Zhanrui and the old man, perking up her ears for fear of missing a word.

Wang Zhanrui glanced at the elder and smiled faintly, "This is my father."

It really was Wang Tonghe!

Hua Xiaomai’s eyes widened in shock.

What’s going on? She had thought that such a famous Divine Chef, who didn’t even care for an opportunity to become an Imperial Chef and preferred joyfully growing tea in the remote mountains, would at least have an air of otherworldly grace. Yet why did he look so... ordinary?

At the very least, he should have resembled Doctor Xing from the Baosheng Medical Hall, right?

Moreover, hadn’t he been out of the public eye for a long time? How did he suddenly come to Daoxiang Garden with Wang Zhanrui?

She was a bit too slow to react, and meanwhile, Master Tan had already put down his bowl and dashed over, bowing respectfully to Wang Tonghe.

"Are you Elder Wang? Ever since I entered the culinary field, your esteemed name has been reverberating like thunder. I never thought I’d have the fortune to meet you in person today!"

Wang Tonghe laughed heartily and helpfully extended his hand to him, "I’m just a tea farmer now and haven’t seriously cooked in a long while. No need to be so formal with me. I came here on a whim; just don’t mind me causing you any trouble."

Hua Xiaomai was dizzy, her ears filled with the men’s conversation, yet she hadn’t caught a word of it. She turned to look at Wang Zhanrui, who smiled helplessly, as if to say, this situation wasn’t something that could be explained in a word or two.

"Young lady?"

After exchanging a few words with Master Tan, Wang Tonghe turned his body towards Hua Xiaomai, "You are the owner of Daoxiang Garden, right? We’ve been rushing our journey and haven’t eaten well on the road; I’m quite hungry now. Was that noodle dish cooked by you? It looks good, could I... try some?"

Was he going to... test her culinary skills?

Hua Xiaomai felt a bit panicked, more nervous than she had been at the final selection of the distinguished banquet, and hastily agreed without saying much. She hurried into the kitchen, cooked two more bowls of noodles, and brought them to Wang Tonghe.

Wang Tonghe accepted the bowls but didn’t rush to eat the noodles. Instead, he first sipped a bit of the soup, tasting it thoughtfully for a while, and suddenly his eyebrows raised, "Strange, what method is this?" (To be continued. If you like this novel, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket and monthly ticket on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)