Starting a new chapter in life

Chapter 170 Shen Rongrong's College Admission Banquet Food Tasting

Sister Wang smiled and said, "This is a good thing. Anyway, there's not much work to do at home right now. I can easily spare a day. Let's decide on the dishes first. I'll cook my specialty dishes. Ten dishes shouldn't be too difficult."

Jingyan laughed along, and the two of them put their heads together to start deciding on the menu: Local Shanghai cuisine - pickled bamboo shoots and pork soup is a must-have, the key point is that it is easy to make. One big pot can be cooked, not to mention ten tables, even thirty tables can be served in one pot, as long as the pot is big enough;

Fried river shrimp? It's quick and easy, and river shrimp are cheap. You can easily make about twenty plates for ten yuan. It doesn't require much cleaning either, so it's a good choice. Braised catfish? This is Sister Wang's specialty, and it's a dish that appears on the dinner table every Chinese New Year. Braised pork belly? It suits the general public's taste and is hard to go wrong with.

Hunan cuisine – Family Reunion – is a specialty of Hunan cuisine. Although there are a lot of ingredients, the method is simple and can be prepared in advance, making it easier to cook later. Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix – well, it's actually steamed chicken. A whole chicken for the whole table is impossible, but half a chicken is fine. Stir-fried beef with yellow peppers – buy some beef slices. Hunan vegetables and millet peppers are plentiful in the garden, so you don't need to spend extra money. Well, it's a good deal.

Northeastern Chinese cuisine – a bountiful harvest: potatoes, pumpkin, corn, green beans, and pork ribs stewed together. This is Jingyan's specialty. Except for the pork ribs, which need to be bought, the rest of the ingredients are readily available at home.

Cold black fungus salad: a handful of soaked black fungus can make three plates of salad, delicious and refreshing; sweet and sour pork: Jingyan loves this dish, but she never made it very well before, as the sweet and sour flavor was hard to adjust. However, in the past two years, Sister Wang's version has become very popular, so Jingyan added this dish to the menu.

There were ten dishes in total. The cost of the dishes that could be produced on our own land was not included. The dishes that had to be purchased would cost about ten yuan per table, so the profit was not high. Of course, the dishes we provided were also quite substantial and substantial, and they were presentable.

The menu was drawn up and handed to Shen Aiguo for a look. Shen Aiguo only glanced at it before laughing and saying, "Although I don't know how it tastes, just by looking at the dishes and the main ingredients in each dish, I can tell that they are all main dishes and hearty dishes. Your family is indeed honest in doing business. I won't change this menu. When can we come to try the dishes?"

Jingyan looked at Sister Wang, who thought for a moment and said, "Let's do it tomorrow morning. There are some ingredients for the 'Family Reunion' dish that need to be prepared in advance. I'll make it at home this afternoon. Both 'Yan Du Xian' and 'Family Reunion' dishes require broth. We also have two big bones at home. I'll make the broth in advance when I get back so that it will be faster to cook tomorrow."

Shen Aiguo nodded, took out thirty yuan from his pocket and handed it to Jing Yan: "This is the money for the dishes for tomorrow's table. I will bring my wife with me tomorrow morning. If we both think it's okay, then let's go with this. Can I take this menu with me? I want to go back and show it to my family."

Jingyan agreed, copied a copy and handed it to Shen Aiguo. After seeing the Shen family off, Jingyan took out eight yuan and handed it to Sister Wang: "This is your share. You are the head chef this time, so you should get the most." Then she gave each employee six mao (0.6 yuan): "This is your extra work fee for tomorrow. Don't think it's too little."

No one complained about the amount; this was business the owner had secured, so it was only right that they weren't paid. Now that they were getting paid, everyone happily accepted the money and went to prepare the ingredients listed on Jingyan's menu.

The next day, Shen Aiguo and his family came to sample the dishes. When they saw the dishes on the table, all three of them were shocked: "Is this the menu for this banquet?" Shen Aiguo's wife asked, pointing to the table full of dishes.

Jing Yan nodded: "That's right. A banquet that costs thirty yuan a table must be worth the price. You guys try it and see how it tastes. I'm not bragging, but my sister Wang's cooking skills are excellent. She's definitely no worse than a regular chef. It's just that the presentation isn't quite as exquisite, but it's a graduation banquet, so practicality is the priority. Those superficial things aren't that important, are they?"

Shen Aiguo nodded in agreement: "The portions here are not as big as yours. This amount is almost enough to fill two plates in a state-run restaurant. It's really a good deal."

The family of three began tasting the dishes, nodding as they ate. Shen Aiguo's wife tasted a bite of each dish. "Except for this beef, which I found too spicy, I thought the rest were quite good. They were also quite oily. What do you think?"

Shen Aiguo nodded: "Yes, as long as there are no particular dietary restrictions, everyone can eat it. This beef dish cannot be replaced. Some of my comrades love spicy food. With this, they can probably eat an extra steamed bun."

Satisfied with the food, the couple immediately discussed the drinks. Shen Aiguo was pleased with the food and felt that Jingyan probably wasn't making much profit at thirty yuan a table, so he suggested they get the drinks directly from Jingyan's restaurant.

One advantage is convenience; you can pay the bill at the end based on how much you drink, so you don't have to worry about having too much or too little. The other advantage is that if you don't bring enough of your own drinks and have to get more from the restaurant, there's a risk of problems when settling the bill.

Besides, this is, after all, a shop owned by my daughter's classmate's family, and I don't want to be too fussy about it, lest it make my daughter lose face.

Once the couple made their decision, they asked Jingyan for her opinion. Jingyan naturally agreed and, of course, handed over the drinks menu in advance, explaining the price of each item: "Our drinks are slightly more expensive than those at the supply and marketing cooperative, but there's a reason for the higher price."

First, our family only drinks Moutai. Brands like Huadiao and Shikumen, which require a permit to purchase at the supply and marketing cooperative, don't need one here. Second, if you're looking for beer, given the hot weather, we can provide ice-cold beer—it's especially refreshing and cooling. Why don't you try some?

Shen Aiguo's eyes lit up: "Iced beer? I'll have a bottle to try."

Dou Zhixiao was very observant; he immediately went to the kitchen, took three glasses and put them on the table, then took a bottle of beer from the refrigerator. His movements as he opened the bottle and poured the beer were incredibly skilled and smooth, producing very little foam. His technique was top-notch.

Shen Aiguo picked up his cup and took a sip. Wow, it was indeed refreshing. His wife glanced at Shen Rongrong and said, "You're an adult now. You're allowed to have a drink today."

Shen Rongrong smiled, picked up the cup, took a sip, frowned, and stuck out her tongue: "It's not very good."

Shen Aiguo laughed heartily, saying, "My dear daughter, you don't understand wine. Once you learn to drink it, you'll know its benefits."

His wife slapped his hand: "Shut up. This is the first time I've ever seen a father encouraging his daughter to drink."

Jingyan stood at the braised meat window, watching the interaction of the family in the lobby. She thought life was truly amazing. It seemed that most successful children came from harmonious families, or rather, it was the family atmosphere that mattered. Only when they didn't lack love could they focus all their energy on their studies.

Shen Rongrong has good grades and is polite. Her parents also get along well. He Ci'en is also a good student. Although her parents are busy with work and rarely take care of her, she can feel the warmth of her family and is not particularly sensitive. Well, except that she is a little quiet.

In her past life, the relationship between her and her husband was worn down by trivial family matters. Her in-laws also treated her poorly because she only had a daughter, and due to the one-child policy, they couldn't have a second child. Under these circumstances, her temper became increasingly shrewish.

The cheerful and carefree spirit of my youth gradually disappeared, the arguments between husband and wife increased, and eventually my husband stayed away from home for many years. My daughter repeatedly advised me to get a divorce and not waste time with her father. What was I thinking back then?

Was it that she truly couldn't let go of that relationship, or was she simply unwilling to accept it? In the end, she wasted her short life in that cold and unloving family. Later, her brother-in-law cheated on her with a female subordinate, and her sister divorced. Both families essentially fell apart.

The third sister suffered from depression and irritability, which caused her three children, Ronggang and Rongqiang, to be very averse to relationships and marriage. When she passed away, her biggest worry was whether her daughters would remain unmarried for life or view marriage as a transaction.

If she were to meet a kind man who could warm her daughter's heart with his love, her daughter would likely find happiness. But what if she wasn't so lucky? And if she were to meet a bad man, given her daughter's personality, she'd probably cause him a complete upheaval—she'd be walking on her hands!

Sadly, she knew nothing of it all. Her daughter was left to walk the rest of the road alone, and that was her greatest regret. If she could do it all over again, she would treat everyone around her with kindness.

It can't be said that she didn't have a selfish desire to be a good person, hoping that her kindness would accumulate some blessings for her daughter in the afterlife, so that her future life wouldn't be too difficult.

Thinking of this, and glancing at the family of three, Jingyan blinked, dispelling the stinging in her eyes and burying the emotions of that moment. When she opened her eyes again, she was still that cheerful and kind person, no longer hysterical, no longer misanthropic...

After the family of three finished eating, Jingyan thoughtfully asked Dou Zhixiao and Chen Qing to take out aluminum lunch boxes from the kitchen to pack up the remaining dishes. Great, ten dishes were packed into ten portions. The store only had three aluminum lunch boxes in total. Later, they dug out all the usable utensils in the store, such as lacquered basins and porcelain basins with lids, and they actually managed to gather enough.

While it was still early, Jingyan asked the two waiters to help Shen Aiguo and his family of three deliver the packed food home and bring back the bowls and plates as well. This trouble made Shen Aiguo and his family feel embarrassed, and they kept saying things like "thank you for your trouble" and "thank you for your hard work" until they left.

Sister Wang watched them leave, exchanged glances with Jing Yan, and the two smiled at each other. Before leaving, Shen Aiguo told them to prepare dishes for two out of sixteen tables, which would make eighteen tables, and they would have a week to prepare, which was quite ample time.

Jingyan and Sister Wang started listing the items they needed to buy and the quantities. After they finished, they copied the meat order and gave it to Dou Zhixiao: "Give this list to the meat processing plant's deliveryman tomorrow and tell him we need to receive these by next Friday morning."

After saying that, he gave him the money for these things: "I'll pay for them all tomorrow, just say it's for our individual purchase."

Dou Zhixiao nodded, put away the money and the receipt, "I'll give it to you tomorrow morning, it won't cause any problems. But their banquet is on Saturday, why not deliver it on Saturday morning? It would be fresher that way."

"There are a few things that need to be prepared and processed in advance. Making these semi-finished products a day early will give us time to avoid being late in serving the dishes due to the chaos on the day of the banquet."

"You all have to open for business tonight, so if we can serve all the dishes early, those people can finish eating and leave sooner, and we'll have more time to clean up," Sister Wang explained.

On Monday morning, He Ci'en went to his grandfather's house in Haishi over the weekend and asked his three younger brothers if any of them wanted to go back with him. None of them wanted to go, as they all thought it was too far. Well, he had to set off alone.

He carried a bag with a change of clothes and food for the journey, and a train ticket that He Zhijun had bought for him. Jingyan and her grandmother saw him off on the train. After the train started moving, Jingyan sighed, "It's too far. I'm really worried about him going back alone. Luckily, he's a boy. If it were a girl, I would never have let her go."

Grandma was reluctant to let her go, but as people grow up, they eventually have to experience things on their own. Whether it's sooner or later doesn't really make a big difference. The two of them slowly left the train station platform, took a bus to the pier, and then took a boat home after a lot of trouble.

When they got home, Grandma was exhausted and quickly went back to her room to lie down. Jingyan started to pack He Ci'en's things slowly, thinking that since her own daughter had a suitcase when she went to university, she should have one now.

Without hesitation, Jingyan went to the supply and marketing cooperative on the island to inquire. Sure enough, they did have one, though it was a bit ugly. It had a zipper, and you could hang a small padlock on the zipper, but you had to buy the padlock separately.

Jingyan was generous; with a wave of her hand, she bought two suitcases. At that time, the outer layer of the suitcases looked like rattan or some kind of fabric. She didn't know what material it was, but it looked quite sturdy. She also bought two of the smallest brass locks and carried them home.

She gradually packed He Ci'en's clothes for all four seasons, even picking out his underwear and socks. The boy was thrifty, and being a young man, she had never interfered with his personal clothing.

I didn't realize how bad it was until I cleaned it up. My underwear was faded and baggy from washing, and almost all my socks had holes in them, even though they'd been mended, the stitches were... well...

Jingyan wasn't being picky; after all, her needlework skills weren't great either. She rummaged through her underwear but couldn't find more than two pieces, so she just threw them away and decided to wait until He Zhijun came back that evening.

When He Zhijun returned home that evening, he hadn't even sat down when Jing Yan dragged him into He Ci'en's room. He Zhijun was already completely bewildered, but when he saw the underwear, socks, and tank top that Jing Yan had pulled out, his expression turned quite ugly.

"I really didn't know Ci'en's underwear was so damaged." He Zhijun was genuinely aggrieved; his child was so old, and he had never paid attention to these things.

Jingyan sighed: "I know, I was negligent too. He's been wearing his school uniform to school for the past few years, and he has two sets of regular clothes to change into during holidays, so I didn't think much of it. Ci'en has never asked me for clothes. Every year when I take them to buy clothes, he always says he has enough clothes and doesn't need any. I actually believed him. Sigh!"

I called you over not to complain, but the child is about to start school. You can tell he doesn't buy these things since I give him his monthly allowance; he doesn't know how to buy clothes for himself. Look at the sizes of these things he owns. We'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative on Sunday…

Go to the shopping mall in Haishi to buy clothes for Ci'en, and get him new bedding too, so he can leave home looking brand new. Oh, and let's go together to take him to university, make sure he's settled in before we come back. Otherwise, I'm really worried about how he'll manage out there.”