Returning to Yingkelai once more, the young attendant at the door was even more arrogant than before, not even sparing a shred of respect for Steward Lin.
“Well, well, Steward Lin, bringing your poor relatives here to swindle money again? Tsk tsk, if you’re going to swindle, at least make it worthwhile! Just one tael of silver at a time? Might as well just beg outright—saves you the trouble!”
Steward Lin’s face flushed crimson, but he said nothing. Over the past two days, he had heard far worse and more humiliating remarks.
Su Anyu couldn’t hold back and snapped back, “You’re not poor? If you had money, would you be standing here greeting guests? Tsk tsk, lucky for you this is Yingkelai. If it were Cuihonglou, they’d be calling you a pimp instead!”
The attendant was left speechless, his neck turning red with anger.
Su Zhen found it amusing and gave her brother’s arm an approving squeeze before quickly following Steward Lin inside.
Praise from his sister made Su Anyu overjoyed. He straightened his back and shot a glare back at the attendant. “Just wait till I’m rich—I’ll knock you out with silver! Hmph!”
Once inside Yingkelai, Su Zhen realized Steward Lin’s situation was even worse than she had imagined. Those who merely sneered at him were the kinder ones; what was truly frightening was the silent treatment—people outright ignoring him or openly ostracizing him.
But Steward Lin knew how to bend without breaking. He greeted everyone with a cheerful smile.
Su Zhen’s sympathy for him grew into admiration. A man who could endure humiliation and rise above it—now that was a true gentleman!
Manager Qian was at the counter doing accounts. When he saw Su Zhen, he immediately put on a professional, albeit insincere, smile, though his eyes held a hint of distance.
Su Zhen knew Manager Qian was also suspicious of her.
She didn’t waste time on pleasantries and got straight to the point. “Manager Qian, I heard from Steward Lin that the recipe didn’t work well? Forgive my bluntness, but I assure you, there’s nothing wrong with the recipe. The problem lies with your chef.”
Her words were so direct, it was almost as if she were saying: Your chef’s skills are lacking—even worse than a country girl like me! You should hire someone new!
Manager Qian was taken aback but then chuckled. “Young lady, do you have knives hidden in your mouth?”
“Manager Qian, don’t take offense at my harsh words. What if I’m simply stating the truth?”
Su Zhen glanced at Steward Lin but didn’t go out of her way to defend him. Doing so would only make others think they were in cahoots. She would let the facts speak for themselves!
Although Manager Qian also doubted Su Zhen’s recipe and had been cold toward Steward Lin, he had never openly mocked him. After all, they had worked together for years, and he understood the character of his subordinates.
He nodded and, along with Steward Lin, led Su Zhen and her brother to the kitchen.
It was almost noon, and the kitchen was bustling with preparations. In charge was a short, stout middle-aged man standing in the center of the kitchen, hands on his hips, directing the organized chaos.
Despite over a dozen people working, the kitchen was anything but messy. The only sounds were the rhythmic chopping of vegetables and the splashing of water from washing.
Su Zhen couldn’t help but marvel. The kitchen of a five-star hotel was indeed extraordinary—no wonder Yingkelai’s business was so thriving.
Manager Qian introduced Su Zhen and explained her purpose. The stout Master Cai immediately frowned. “I followed your recipe exactly. How could it be wrong? If it’s not your recipe, then are you saying my cooking skills are the problem?”
Master Cai was a highly skilled chef Manager Qian had poached from a neighboring county at great expense. Who would dare suggest such a thing?
Manager Qian quickly tried to smooth things over with flattering words.
However, Master Cai didn’t care for such flattering words. He simply stared intently at Su Zhen: “Young lady, did you really follow the recipe that day? How exactly did you make it? Can you make it again for me?”
Although he hadn’t personally tasted the digestive tea, he had heard about the extraordinary scene that day and had been pondering it for the past three days.
Su Zhen could tell he was someone deeply dedicated to cooking and became more earnest herself: “Master Cai, I swear my recipe is absolutely correct. I’ll make it for you right now, and you can see where the difference lies, alright?”
Master Cai was more than willing. He immediately had someone clear a stove and even prepared the ingredients in advance. He even arranged for another chef who had also made digestive tea before to prepare it simultaneously with Su Zhen.
The recipe Su Zhen had written was carried by Master Cai, its creases becoming more pronounced, clearly having been examined many times.
Following the recipe, he read out the first step: “Wash the hawthorn berries, remove the pits, and cut them in half.”
…
With each step he read, Su Zhen and the other chef followed suit. To ensure consistency, the other chef imitated Su Zhen in every detail, even whether to remove the stems from the hawthorn berries.
Two pots of digestive tea were soon ready. A bowl was ladled from each pot, chilled with the same amount of ice, and left for the same amount of time before the results could finally be revealed.
Manager Qian was very confident in his chef’s skills, so he took the lead, picked up a spoon, and tasted the digestive tea made by his chef.
Huh? How strange! Despite using the same steps, ingredients, and heat, why did the flavor fall short of the deliciousness he had tasted the day before yesterday?
Master Cai’s greatest wish these past few days had been to taste Su Zhen’s digestive tea firsthand. Now, unable to wait any longer, he eagerly picked up a spoon and took a sip.
With that one sip, his entire body froze as if immobilized by a martial arts master, stunned into stillness.
The flavor was perfectly balanced between sweet and sour.
The coolness seeped into his heart and lungs.
It was the most delicious digestive tea he had ever tasted!
And it was a flavor none of the chefs at Yingkelai could replicate!
Unconvinced, he went to taste the other bowl of tea.
His astonishment only grew!
Master Cai and Manager Qian exchanged glances, both seeing the same answer in each other’s eyes.
Su Zhen’s recipe was not wrong, and Steward Lin had not conspired with Su Zhen to deceive Yingkelai out of money.
They had both wrongfully accused Su Zhen and Steward Lin before.
“Miss Su, how is this possible? Why is it that with the same hawthorn berries and tangerine peel, the same heat and water, the digestive tea tastes different?”
Master Cai was utterly perplexed.
Su Zhen, however, smiled and said, “Master Cai, you’re a seasoned chef with many apprentices under your guidance. Surely you know that even with the same ingredients and the same heat, the dishes cooked won’t necessarily taste the same?”
Master Cai fell silent. Of course, he knew they wouldn’t be the same. Not to mention stir-frying, even when it came to making digestive tea, almost every chef had followed the recipe, yet the flavors of the digestive tea they produced were not identical.
He was truly convinced and admiringly gave Su Zhen a thumbs-up. He then nodded to Manager Qian.
Manager Qian understood and sincerely clasped his hands in apology to Su Zhen: “Miss Su, to be honest, we did suspect there was something wrong with the recipe. I apologize to you.”
Su Zhen waved her hand dismissively: “I just happen to know how to make this. In terms of culinary skills, I truly can’t compare to any of you!”
Neither arrogant nor impatient, and without holding grudges over minor slights.
Manager Qian was even more impressed with the young girl: “Miss Su, I have an unreasonable request. The digestive tea indeed works very well, but we simply cannot replicate the tea you make. I wonder if you could come to my place to prepare the digestive tea? Of course, the wages are negotiable.”
Before Su Zhen could speak, Su Anyu was first to be utterly astonished.
No wonder her sister said Steward Lin was here to deliver money, no wonder her sister said Yingkelai would come begging them!
It was actually true!
Sister, you are truly amazing!