HCB Chapter 469 Replicated Dishes
Chapter 469 Replicated Dishes
As soon as everyone left, Lao Lu immediately approached Xu Yiyi and said, "That Boss Wen seems to love his wife. You might actually be able to persuade him to sell Ruyi Residence to you."
Xu Yiyi pushed his head away.
“Doing business isn’t that simple. Wen Shichen clearly doesn’t want to sell. Even if Madam Wen pleads for him, he probably won’t give in so easily.”
Sure enough, Fu Wanying had just spoken on the way back.
Wen Shichen refused outright.
"Why?" Fu Wanying asked, puzzled.
"This matter needs to be discussed slowly; it can't be decided all at once," Wen Shichen said, helping her carefully sit down in the armchair.
Seeing that she was sullen, I quickly tried to comfort her with a few more words.
"Don't worry! I'll have a good talk with Mr. Xu."
Fu Wanying was very easy to coax; just one sentence made her happy, and she happily picked up the storybook to read.
Wen Shichen, who was sitting to the side, glanced at Manager Li and recalled what he had just said.
If he could really replicate the dishes of Wufu Restaurant, why didn't he take back Ruyi Residence and open his own restaurant?
Ruyi Residence is located on a street with an excellent location, close to the dock, making it a favorite spot for merchants.
The foot traffic goes without saying.
If we can get our hands on this secret ingredient, our business will definitely thrive.
Wen Shichen was making plans in his mind.
The sun was setting, and it was dinnertime.
Just as Fu Wanying was about to leave, Wen Shichen pulled her into the main room.
"What's wrong? I'm in a hurry to leave. If I linger any longer, there won't be any seats left at Wufu Restaurant," Fu Wanying said.
Wen Shichen shook his head, and at that moment Steward Li spoke up: "Madam, the master is taking you to the main hall for a meal. There's a surprise in store."
Fu Wanying was puzzled, and followed Wen Shichen into the main room.
Several dishes were already laid out on the carved round table, and in the very center was a pot of sauerkraut fish bubbling with red oil and a plate of steaming roast duck glistening with oil!
The enticing spicy aroma wafted straight into my nose.
Fu Wanying was both surprised and delighted. She quickly walked to the table, pointed at the two dishes, and looked at Wen Shichen behind her: "This is... something you specially bought from Wufu Restaurant? Why are you being so thoughtful today?"
Wen Shichen snorted: "Was I not considerate that day?"
As he spoke, he helped Fu Wanying sit in the main seat.
"Aren't you ashamed to say that? You'd never know who stopped me from going out to eat yesterday," Fu Wanying said coquettishly.
Wen Shichen smiled without saying a word, only raising his chin to indicate that she should start eating.
Fu Wanying didn't stand on ceremony and immediately picked up a piece of duck meat covered in red oil and put it in her mouth.
The duck meat was firm and tender; the moment it entered her mouth, the fat melted in her mouth, making her squint her eyes in satisfaction.
"Yes! That's it! It's definitely the taste of Wufu Restaurant."
Looking at her confident expression, Wen Shichen smiled and his eyes were full of smugness.
She quickly tasted another piece of the pickled fish: "Has this pickled fish been changed? It's not as good as the one I had last time!"
Fu Wanying looked puzzled.
Upon hearing this, Wen Shichen quickly picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
"Tender and smooth, isn't that the taste?" he asked, puzzled.
Fu Wanying shook her head: "No, no! The sauerkraut fish I had last time was refreshing and not pungent, the fish was sour and fragrant, and it was easy to eat without burning my stomach. It's completely different from this one."
She looked at Wen Shichen with a pitiful expression.
"You can pay extra to have the chef at Wufu Restaurant make me another serving, just like the one I made before. I really like that taste."
Wen Shichen put down his chopsticks and slowly sipped his wine: "You guessed wrong, these dishes were all made by Chef Zhang."
Upon hearing this, Fu Wanying quickly picked up her chopsticks: "Impossible! When did Chef Zhang acquire this skill..."
As she spoke, she picked up another piece of duck meat and put it in her mouth.
After tasting it carefully, I thought, "This is definitely the work of Wufu Restaurant; the taste is exactly the same."
Wen Shichen raised an eyebrow: "If Chef Zhang heard you say that, he'd be laughing his head off."
"Madam, this is truly Chef Zhang's skill. The master was worried that you couldn't eat, so he specially asked Chef Zhang to figure out the dishes you like. Just take this braised roast duck and sauerkraut fish, for example. Chef Zhang has been working on them since this morning. You said they taste exactly the same, so they must have succeeded."
The dishes we tried making all day were so numerous that the people in the dental clinic were almost stuffed, and it wasn't until the end that we figured out how to make them taste the same.
It's just a pity that the sauerkraut fish didn't suit my wife's taste.
Fu Wanying sighed with admiration: "Where did he go to learn such skills? He's improved so much."
Wen Shichen lowered his eyes and remained silent. This was not because Chef Zhang had secretly learned the recipe; it was purely thanks to the secret ingredients he had bought that morning.
After this interruption, Fu Wanying forgot that she wanted to go to Wufu Restaurant to buy another serving of sauerkraut fish.
……
As night deepened, Sihai smiled and saw off the last guest.
San Chuan sat to the side eating the scallion oil perch steamed by his eldest sister, teasing Wu Yuan as he ate.
Xu Yiyi stood behind the counter, her head bowed as she fiddled with the abacus under the dim light of an oil lamp.
The abacus beads made a crisp, clear sound as they clattered together, which was particularly distinct in the quiet main room.
She frowned slightly, her fingers flying across the paper as she meticulously reviewed the day's earnings.
A fluffy little head popped out from the edge of the counter, followed by two chubby little hands gripping the countertop.
Sihai stood on his special little stool, his big, dark eyes curiously opening the money box.
"Big sister," Sihai asked in a childish voice, "how much money did you make today?"
Xu Yiyi kept working and said softly, "Still calculating."
Sihai gave an "oh," but his gaze was drawn to the gleaming gold coins.
He skillfully pulled open a small drawer under the counter, took out a thin piece of hemp rope, and then leaned over the edge of the stool, carefully picking up the copper coins from the money box one by one with his chubby little hands.
Ten copper coins make a string.
After Xu finished calculating everything, the child had also counted them all.
Sihai's eyes widened in disbelief: "Big sister, did I miscount?"
As he spoke, he reached out and pinched the flesh on his face.
I discovered it really hurt.
"Three hundred strings of cash!"
Xu Yiyi smiled indulgently and closed the ledger with her other hand.
"You didn't miscount."
As night deepened, the wick in the oil lamp occasionally emitted a faint crackling sound.
She looked down at the copper coins on the table, neatly strung together by Sihai, heavy and gleaming with a reassuring luster under the lamp.
The revenue in the past few months has indeed been different from before.
Not only are they getting higher and higher, but more importantly, they have stabilized.
Even on market days, the shop is always about 90% full, and regular customers come every few days.
The prices are even higher during holidays.
She looked up, her gaze passing over the open shop door and landing on the neighboring Ruyiju restaurant, which had been closed for some time.
That building is much more spacious than her restaurant. If she could buy it and knock down the wall...
A larger restaurant can accommodate more guests.
During peak mealtimes, there won't be such long queues.
Xu Yiyi suppressed her thoughts, put the money box and the account book together, and carried them back to the backyard.
"You should exchange this money for silver ingots at the money shop when you have time. Copper coins take up too much space."
Old Lu sat in the backyard drinking a little wine, watching her carry the boxes into the house.
By the time the cleaning lady finished cleaning the restaurant and washing the dishes, there were hardly any people left on the street.
Xu Yiyi picked up Wu Yuan and instructed Lao Lu, "Be alert tonight, don't drink yourself to death again."
The others walked toward the dock in twos and threes.
The night was cool, but the world was warm and cozy, so no one felt cold at all.
Sanchuan, despite wearing a thin coat, was still so cold that she hunched her neck and placed her hands in his to warm them, her little face turning rosy.
Xu Yiyi pulled Wu Yuan's small blanket tighter, her tone leaving no room for doubt: "It's getting colder and colder. From now on, as soon as dinner time is over, before it gets completely dark, you guys should go home first. You can't stay in the shop until closing time like you did in the summer."
Sanchuan shook his head: "We're going to stay here and help out."
She touched Sanchuan's slightly cold face and continued, "The sea breeze is like a knife at night. You are young and frail, and you will easily catch a cold if you are exposed to it for too long. Listen to me, starting tomorrow, go back as soon as it gets dark. The restaurant is well-staffed now, so you don't need to work."
Today, they are basically all free.
Sihai looked up obediently and nodded: "Okay! Big sister, Third Brother, Wu Yuantian, and I will go home as soon as it gets dark."
Seeing his sensible appearance, Xu Yi's heart softened, and she reached out to pat his head.
When the boat returned to the river, the island had become quiet.
But on the distant coast, many warm yellow halos still flickered, like scattered gold dust on the night sky.
Unlike land dwellers who go to bed early, these fishermen work day and night.
By the light of these flickering lights, one can clearly see many blurry figures bending over and busy on the mudflats where the tide has receded.
Xu Anyang slapped his forehead: "I was so busy I forgot! Today is spring tide day!"
"Sister Yi, are you going to go beachcombing later?" Xu Anyang asked excitedly, wishing he could roll up his trousers and dive into the mudflats right now.
"No, my back hurts."
I haven't been feeling well lately. My lower back feels like it's filled with heavy, wet lead, and the soreness spreads from my lumbar spine to the muscles on both sides of my lower back, and even my hip bones feel heavy.
"In that case, I'll go myself."
Xu Anyang happily carried the lantern home to get his tools.
She looked down and saw that Sanchuan and Sihai were staring at her expectantly.
Sihai said sullenly, "Big sister! You promised to take us to go beachcombing at night last time, what happened?"
Xu Yi raised an eyebrow, surprised that the two kids still remembered.
"But there's nothing I can do, my older sister isn't feeling well and can't go this time."
As she spoke, she rubbed her lower back, quite appropriately.
"Sweetie! Big sister isn't feeling well, let her rest." Sanchuan coaxed Sihai, holding his hand.
The child wanted to go beachcombing, but felt more sorry for his older sister.
On the way home, she even pulled Wuyuan out of her arms.
Xu Yi felt a sense of relief immediately.
……
At that time, in the town.
"My lord, it's late at night. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Steward Li carefully draped the cloak over Wen Shichen's shoulders, and the master and servant stood under the eaves.
As the sea breeze rose, the wind chimes under the eaves were suddenly awakened, their delicate, tinkling sounds spreading outwards. Wen Shichen clenched his hands in fright, his heart clenching at the abrupt sound.
Even their breathing slowed down.
He looked impatiently at the strings of wind chimes hanging under the eaves: "Once Wanying gives birth, these things have to be taken down, they're so noisy."
I don't know why people here like to hang wind chimes under the eaves so much.
Not only do they hang in homes, but you can also see them in various shops, restaurants, and taverns on the street.
When the wind blows, it's incredibly noisy.
Manager Li looked at him so irritable, but smiled with his eyes lowered.
"What did you think of the two dishes Chef Zhang made today?" Wen Shichen suddenly asked.
Steward Li pondered for a moment: "My lord, although the taste of this pickled fish is different from that sold at Wufu Restaurant, it is still extremely delicious. If we really compare them, it is not inferior at all."
Wen Shichen's lips curled up slightly.
"Help me arrange a meeting with Boss Xu tomorrow. We... need to have a good talk." His eyes were full of determination.
Manager Li was taken aback for a moment.
"So...you're planning to sell the Ruyi Residence building?"
Wen Shichen clicked his tongue and tapped him on the head with the book in his hand.
"Why ask so many questions? Just go when we tell you to!"
Manager Li bowed repeatedly.
"My lord, the lady is calling for you."
Wen Shichen was about to say something when he was immediately interrupted by the maid who had come to fetch him.
"Do as I said! Tomorrow, you must remember to arrange a meeting with Xu Yiyi for me. Just say... just say that I'm interested in discussing a collaboration with her!"
After saying that, without waiting for Steward Li's response, she turned around and followed the little maid, walking hurriedly towards the main house.
……
When Xu Yiyi came out of the bathroom, Xueqiu was pacing back and forth in the room.
Wu Yuan was also waiting for her.
He was half-asleep, but when he heard her push the door open, he quickly opened his eyes, glanced at her, and then went back to sleep.
She lowered her head and kissed Wu Yuan's little face, whispering "you little devil."
In the next room, Sanchuan was still reading to Sihai. Xu Yiyi knocked on the wall, and Sanchuan paused for a moment.
The next moment, Sihai, like a chubby gecko, climbed onto the wall.
"Big sister? Is that you?" Sihai asked excitedly.
"go to bed!"
Xu Yiyi deliberately spoke in a deep voice.
Immediately afterwards, Sihai was pulled back into the quilt by Sanchuan.
As dawn broke, the sea fog rolled in, like layers of damp, cold curtains, enveloping the island.
Fishermen who had been out fishing all night gradually emerged from the fog, their weary figures and catches barely visible before disappearing back into the mist as they made their way home.
One rooster crowed after another, and Xu Yiyi felt a chill beneath her in her sleep.
Her eyelids twitched, and she vaguely wondered if Wu Yuan had wet the bed?
Before the thought was clear, his hand touched something unusually damp, followed by a faint smell of blood mixed with the metallic taste that entered his nostrils.
It's not urine.
Xu Yiyi's sleepiness vanished instantly, and she opened her eyes abruptly.