Several chefs muttered among themselves.
“Having us learn how to cook from some little girl? Has Manager Liu lost his mind?”
Another chef whispered, “If he wants us to learn, then just learn. Why are you complaining?”
“No, but look at her. I’ve never seen fish and pickled vegetables cooked this way before. There’s no way those two ingredients can taste good together. Besides, pickled vegetables are such a cheap, unsophisticated ingredient. How can we serve something like that to customers in our restaurant? Wouldn’t that just embarrass our restaurant?”
The chefs all wore disdainful expressions.
Jiang Yutong didn’t bother arguing and simply pretended not to hear them.
Jiang Yutong worked swiftly and efficiently. “First, we’ll fillet the fish. There’s a bit of technique to slicing the fish, so watch carefully.”
The fish prepared for Jiang Yutong was a grass carp. She had noticed long ago that most people here ate grass carp. Black carp would have been even better, but grass carp would do just fine.
With a swift motion of her knife, Jiang Yutong killed and cleaned the fish. Then she ran her knife along the back and carefully removed the flesh, leaving only the bones.
“Hold the knife at an angle and slice the fish into thin pieces, like this.”
Jiang Yutong demonstrated her knife skills, and before long, she had finished preparing the entire fish.
“Now we’re going to marinate the fish. This step is crucial.”
The chef from earlier sneered. “Which step of yours isn’t crucial?”
“We add a small amount of salt, pepper, egg white, and starch, then marinate the fish for fifteen minutes.”
“Next, fry the fish bones until both sides are golden brown and set them aside.”
Jiang Yutong spoke as she worked.
Next, she stir-fried the pickled vegetables.
“Stir-fry the pickled vegetables until they become fragrant, then add boiling water. Using boiling water is crucial.”
Finally, Jiang Yutong added the fish slices. The rich aroma of the fish began to rise.
The chefs who had been mocking Jiang Yutong moments ago gradually wiped the smiles from their faces. Their attitudes became much more serious, and all of them stared intently at every step she took.
Jiang Yutong transferred the fish to a serving dish, then placed dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns on top. She poured hot oil over them, releasing their fragrance.
Before long, a beautifully fragrant and appetizing dish of fish with pickled vegetables was ready.
Jiang Yutong clapped her hands and turned to Manager Liu. “Have a taste.”
Manager Liu could tell from the aroma alone that the dish had to be good. He immediately picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of fish.
The fish was tender and silky, without the slightest trace of fishiness. It tasted excellent, and he couldn’t help taking another bite.
He gave Jiang Yutong a thumbs-up.
“Madam Jiang, your cooking skills are incredible. It’s delicious!”
Hearing this, the chefs also wanted to have a taste and see just how good it really was.
Manager Liu had seen the chefs’ expressions earlier. He knew they were some of the best chefs in the entire county, and he had assumed they simply looked down on Jiang Yutong. Now they were getting a taste of their own medicine.
Manager Liu turned to them. “You should have a taste too.”
The chefs hurriedly picked up their chopsticks and tried the dish.
Those who had been unconvinced moments ago were now completely won over.
“Delicious.”
One of them even picked up some of the pickled vegetables.
“The pickled vegetables taste great too. I never imagined fish and pickled vegetables could be cooked together and taste this good.”
Jiang Yutong was pleased with their response.
Back in the apocalypse, she had never cooked for herself. These were dishes her mother used to make for her when she was little. Whenever she missed her family, she would take out the recordings and watch them.
The recipes were already etched into her memory.
Jiang Yutong then made another dish: hot-and-sour shredded potatoes.
This dish was very simple, and she finished it quickly.
People in this era were mostly concerned with having enough to eat, so their meals were simple. Very few people put much thought into developing recipes. The restaurant was an exception, of course. With customers constantly coming and going, they were always looking for ways to attract more business.
While Jiang Yutong prepared the shredded potatoes, the chefs no longer dared to look down on her. They carefully memorized every movement she made.
Manager Liu said to Jiang Yutong, “Madam Jiang, please wait a moment. My young master happens to be here. I’ll have him taste the dishes.”
Jiang Yutong had no objection.
The chefs were now extremely enthusiastic toward Jiang Yutong. They hurriedly brought her a stool and poured her some water.
“Madam Jiang, have a seat and rest your feet.”
Jiang Yutong chatted casually with everyone while comfortably waiting for Manager Liu.
Before long, Manager Liu returned.
“Madam Jiang, our young master would like to meet you. Would you mind coming to see him?”
Jiang Yutong readily agreed.
She followed Manager Liu through the main dining hall, turned a corner, and headed upstairs.
It wasn’t mealtime yet, so there were only a few scattered tables of customers. Yinbai County was an important supply point for military provisions, and the county just ahead was located at the border. People came and went every day, so there were still quite a number of people looking for food and lodging.
It was much quieter upstairs.
They walked through a secluded corridor and arrived at a door. Manager Liu knocked.
A deep male voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
Manager Liu pushed the door open.
Inside, a man with his hair tied up in a topknot was sitting at a table. The two dishes Jiang Yutong had just prepared were placed in front of him.
A pair of dark, unreadable eyes turned toward Jiang Yutong.
Jiang Yutong wasn’t intimidated at all. She greeted him calmly and naturally.
Liu Lexian had never expected that the person who had made these two dishes would be such a young woman.
“Madam Jiang, would you be interested in working at our restaurant?”
Jiang Yutong shook her head.
“Thank you for the offer, Young Master Liu, but I’m a woman, and I have no intention of taking a job outside the home.”
Liu Lexian didn’t pressure her.
“If you come up with any good recipes in the future, you can bring them to our restaurant first. We’ll make sure to offer you a price you’re satisfied with.”
Jiang Yutong nodded.
“Of course. Whenever I have a new recipe, the first restaurant I’ll consider is Jing Shui House.”
Liu Lexian said nothing more. He simply instructed Manager Liu, “Manager Liu, make sure you pay her generously.”
Manager Liu nodded repeatedly and led Jiang Yutong back downstairs.
With a beaming smile, Manager Liu said to Jiang Yutong, “Madam Jiang, you’re quite fortunate. You’ve caught our young master’s attention.”
Jiang Yutong smiled.
“I have you to thank for introducing me.”
Manager Liu directly handed Jiang Yutong thirty taels of silver.
Jiang Yutong slipped some loose silver into Manager Liu’s hand.
“Manager Liu, you’ve worked hard. Take this and have some tea.”
Manager Liu didn’t refuse. He was very pleased by Jiang Yutong’s gesture.
He had originally thought she was just an unsophisticated country girl who had never seen much of the world. He hadn’t expected her to be so generous and graceful in the way she handled herself.
She was truly a rare and remarkable young woman.
Jiang Yutong had no idea what Manager Liu thought of her. She took the silver and left the restaurant.
Her first stop was the pharmacy, where she bought medicine for Xiao Yifeng. Then she went to the cloth shop and bought several bolts of fabric.
She chose gray and dark navy fabrics. Rural women also wore these colors, and they were practical because they didn’t show dirt easily and held up well.
After counting the silver in her purse, she decided to have a set of surgical instruments made at a blacksmith’s shop.
She found a blacksmith and handed him the drawings of the tools she needed.
“Boss, can you make a set of instruments according to these drawings?”
The blacksmith carefully examined the designs and readily agreed.
“No problem. As long as you pay enough, there’s nothing I can’t make.”
“Make them exactly according to my markings. I’ve marked all the measurements.”
After paying him and agreeing on a date to pick them up, Jiang Yutong prepared to return home.
She also paid close attention to what was happening around the county town. There didn’t seem to be anything unusual, and Xiao Yifeng’s injury apparently hadn’t caused much of a stir.
Jiang Yutong carried her things on her back as she walked, lost in thought.
Suddenly, a little boy crashed straight into her arms.
Jiang Yutong’s expression hardened.
Well, well. A pickpocket had actually targeted her.