Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 383 Home-cooked food tastes the best

While the two of them were talking to the old butler, Shen Yu had already taken a small shallow bamboo basket and used a spatula to scoop down the pancakes that were around the edge of the pot.

The dough cakes mixed with bean flour were attacked by steam and fire from both sides. The bottom was slightly browned, while the top was soft and chewy, exuding the unique aroma of pasta.

Because Lu Zheng wanted to stay here for dinner, Qixi served a large soup plate, put two pancakes in a small plate, and a bowl of thick yam and pumpkin porridge, and placed them all on a large tray.

Qixi asked respectfully, "Master, where do you want to eat? Do you want to eat in the dining hall here, or should I send it to the dining hall in your courtyard?"

Lu Zheng waved his hand: "Why bother? It will be cold if you bring it over."

"Besides, what's the point of eating alone? I can just eat with all of you in the dining hall."

The county magistrate's sudden desire to have fun with the people put Qi Xi in a dilemma, and he didn't know what to do for a moment.

He didn't have the courage to eat at the same table with the county magistrate.

In desperation, he looked to the old butler for help.

The old housekeeper is a relative of the Lu family and watched Lu Zheng grow up.

When he was in the mansion before, during festivals, Mr. Lu often invited the old housekeeper to the same table for banquets. He felt that he had some face, so he hurriedly took charge and arranged, "Bring the master's portion to the dining hall table."

"Give me another portion, and I will shamelessly eat with you today."

"Qi Xi, you and Miss Shen and her brother can eat at the table over here in the kitchen. We are older and eat slowly, so we won't eat with you young ones."

After hearing this, Qi Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and started serving dishes and porridge with Shen Yu and others.

Shen Yu took out two small plates, put a portion of the two prepared pickles in each and asked Qixi to bring them over.

I stewed a lot of goose meat today. After serving two portions, there was still about half of it left in the pot.

Qixi brought warm water and asked Lu Zheng to wash his hands, then handed him a towel to dry them.

Lu Zheng straightened his sleeves, looked up and saw that the old housekeeper Lu was still standing there waiting for him. He smiled and greeted him, "Housekeeper Lu, why are you still standing there? Sit down and eat quickly."

"This dish smells delicious, but it won't taste good if it gets cold."

As he said that, he sat down first, picked up the bamboo chopsticks, picked up a piece of goose meat and started to taste it.

Seeing that the two had started eating and there was nothing else to do, Qi Xi stepped out and sat down at the square table in the kitchen with Shen Yu and others and started eating.

The goose meat has been stewed for a long time until it is boneless and tastes very fragrant. The meat is tender, juicy and has the unique sweetness of plum wine.

The cabbage and mushrooms in the dish have absorbed the soup and are soft and fresh. They have a different kind of freshness and flavor than goose meat, and the taste is not inferior to goose meat.

The pancakes were soft and chewy, the pumpkin and yam porridge was cooked to perfection, sticky and sweet, and paired with a handful of salty and fragrant pickles, the meal tasted very good.

Today, because the county magistrate was next door, everyone was very quiet during the meal. They just drank porridge, ate vegetables and ate cakes quietly. It was far less lively and cheerful than yesterday.

Shen Yu and his friends finished eating quickly, and after whispering a few words with Qi Xi, Yu Tao and the others quickly cleaned up the dishes and washed them.

Shen Yuze and Qixi went to the dining hall next door together.

Lu Zheng and old housekeeper Lu were still eating leisurely, occasionally commenting leisurely, with happy expressions.

It was obvious that both of them enjoyed their meal very much.

Shen Yu came over with a smile and bowed to Lu Zheng, saying, "My Lord County Magistrate, my brothers and I have already had our meal. I have to hurry to Guang'an Temple to make flower cakes for tomorrow, so I'll take my leave now."

Lu Zheng put down the chopsticks in his hand and said with satisfaction: "Why are you leaving now?"

"Miss Shen's cooking skills are indeed excellent. The elegant chrysanthemum tofu is very good, and this home-cooked stewed goose tastes great too."

"The stew is boneless and tasty, the pancakes are delicious, the yam and pumpkin porridge is also very good, and even the pickles are more delicious than what we usually eat."

"This is the only meal I've had in recent days that I've enjoyed so much. Today is really a treat."

Shen Yu listened with a slight smile, and said humbly, "Thank you for your compliment, sir."

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "We eat slowly, so you guys go and do your own thing. After the Wanshou Festival, I will bring Old Butler Lu to your restaurant for dinner."

Shen Yu thanked him quickly and then left with Qi Xi.

Returning to the kitchen, Shen Yu said to Qi Xi, "The county magistrate and housekeeper Lu haven't finished their meal yet. Although the magistrate has his entourage, it's better for you to stay here."

"If Mr. Lu comes back, you can also take care of their meals."

"We can go back on our own. You don't have to take them to play in the tile house."

Qi Xi was also hesitant. He had originally said that he would take Yu Tao and the other two to Wa Zi to watch a play.

The county magistrate was still eating in the dining hall at that moment, so how could he dare to just leave?

Hearing Shen Yu say this, he hurriedly thanked her and said, "Thank you for your understanding, young lady. Today I can only break my promise."

Then he solemnly said to Yutao and the other two, "I can't take you out to play today. When I have free time another day, I will definitely take you to the tile house to watch a day of opera and treat you to delicious food."

Yu Cheng waved his hands like a little adult: "Brother Qi Xi, what are you talking about? This is a serious job for you. We can go out and play some other day."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "That's it for now. You don't have to see us off. We can go on our own."

Having said that, he took Yutao and the other two and went out through the back door of the county government office as usual.

Standing at the intersection leading to Guang'an Temple, Shen Yu asked, "Are you three going back to the restaurant first, or are you going to the temple fair?"

"I have to go to Guang'an Temple to prepare the dough for making flower cakes, so I can't accompany you."

Yutao, Yucheng and Dundun discussed it and decided to go back to the restaurant directly, and then go out for a walk with Li, Jiang and others.

Shen Yu thought for a moment and said, "That's good. My mother and the others are only busy listening to the lectures and not going to the temple fair. This is a bit boring."

"It's a good opportunity for you to take them for a walk, and then come directly to Guang'an Temple to make cakes in the evening."

"I'll also talk to Master Yan Xin, so there's no need to send a car to pick you up in the evening."

After the few people had discussed it, they parted ways at the intersection. Shen Yu went to Guang'an Temple to prepare the dough for making flower cakes.

By the evening, the dough had almost risen due to the double warmth of warm water and quilt. Shen Yu asked Master Wen Yuan and the others to set up a separate dough board and start making the big flower cake to be used tomorrow.

Li and her friends also arrived on time, washed their hands, tied aprons, and started making the dough for the flower-shaped pastry.

Because the flower cakes were much bigger, more flower cakes were needed on the Wanshou Festival, so today's work was not completed until the second watch.