HCB Chapter 149 Self-recommendation
Chapter 149 Self-recommendation
The next morning, Yun Ji rode into the city before dawn. He went to the city to buy milk and butter. Min Xi needed these to make snacks for Mrs. Comstock today.
Min Xi had already planned to make three kinds of snacks last night: cake, biscuits and custard buns. Cake and custard buns both require milk, so they need to buy it early in the morning.
Min Xi got up and started kneading the dough, still using old dough as a starter for fermentation. When Yun Ji came back with the milk, the dough was almost done.
Min Xi went to mix the fillings for the custard buns, while Yun Ji went to make biscuits. There were special molds for biscuits, which Yun Ji carved himself. They were all in the shape of small animals, and each one was different. After pressing a mold, several biscuits of different shapes would appear, which was convenient and quick.
The cookies can be baked first, and the cakes and custard buns can be made later. It is best to make them before the heat is over so that they will taste better.
Brett came here at noon. He had a selfish motive and wanted to have a meal at Min Xi's place.
The guests came at dinner time, and Min Xi certainly couldn't fail to provide them with food, so he went to cook two more home-cooked dishes and brought out two plates of yesterday's braised beef and roasted beef jerky.
Brett really likes beef jerky: "Can you grill some of this beef for me? I can buy the meat myself."
"Of course. You don't have to buy the beef. I'll make it and send it to you." Since the other person was helping to make connections and using his connections, Min Xi had to be tactful. If he wanted to eat some beef jerky, he had to ask the other person to pay for it himself.
"Thank you so much!"
After dinner, Min Xi and Yun Ji brought the snacks that had just been taken out of the oven and got on Brett's carriage. After tasting several snacks, Brett pointed at the custard bun and said, "I like this one the best. The other two are also delicious. I think Madam will like them."
Min Xi did not make egg tarts and double-skin milk, which are particularly popular in Lisbon, because these two are too troublesome, so he chose several kinds of snacks that can be steamed and baked in batches, so that he and Yun Ji can also be busy. Moreover, egg tarts and double-skin milk need to be served separately in suitable containers, which is also a troublesome thing for the host family.
Comstock was an old aristocrat. Although his title was downgraded from marquis to earl, the wealth accumulated by his family over generations was still there. Comstock served in parliament, and Mrs. Comstock was a sociable person, so she had a particularly wide network of contacts.
Blake talked about his relationship with Mrs. Comstock: "My mother and Mrs. Comstock were close friends. Now that my mother has passed away, I still visit Mrs. Comstock every year."
Min Xi knew that he had used Brett's favor to support his own cause, so he would always remember this favor and would send a portion of any delicious food he had to the other party.
The Comstock family's estate was located in a fairly large manor in London. After they entered the gate of the manor, the carriage drove a long distance inside. This manor was about the same size as Duke Fernando's manor, but the layout was quite different. The flowers and plants were neatly cultivated, and it was obvious that the owner was very fond of cleanliness.
Bright reminded in advance: "Mrs. Comstock likes to talk and doesn't like to be interrupted. When she talks, we just listen, and when she asks, we answer."
People in high positions all have this problem to some extent. People with this kind of personality should not be liked by others. So why do so many people come to her parties every year? Min Xi can probably guess one thing: the host spends money to treat everyone and provides a platform for people to meet men and women of the opposite sex. This is a great opportunity for many people, so even if people don’t like the host, they are still willing to come to the party.
When getting off the carriage, Min Xi and Yun Ji each came down with two boxes. Brett saw that there were still two boxes left on the carriage and reached out to help carry them down, but was stopped by Min Xi: "No, Mr. Brett, these two boxes are snacks for you, take them back for your family to taste."
Brett smiled brightly when he heard this: "There's also a share for me? Thank you so much!"
Brett led them into the house, and a servant came to lead the way and led them to the living room on the first floor: "Madam is taking a nap, please wait a moment."
"It's okay. Please inform us when Madam wakes up," Brett said.
Min Xi came here to ask someone to do something for him, so naturally he should follow the host's wishes and wait.
The house is really big, but it is decorated very luxuriously and the furniture is very exquisite. Except for the slightly old-fashioned colors, there is nothing wrong with it. This also indirectly reflects the family's background and shows that this is not an ordinary upstart family.
After waiting for about an hour, the servant finally came to inform everyone: "Madam has woken up and is waiting for you in the living room. Please follow me."
Min Xi and Yun Ji took some snacks and went into the living room. An old lady in her fifties or sixties, wearing a nightcap and loose pajamas, was sitting on the sofa drinking tea. When she saw Brett coming over, she put down the tea saucer and said, "Oh, Alex, what brings you here?"
Brett went up to her and hugged her, and whispered in her ear, "Aunt Sarah, long time no see, how are you?"
"Thanks to you, I'm doing fine. I can eat and sleep well!" The old lady said with a smile, looking up at Min Xi and Yun Ji standing beside her. "Are these the two Chinese friends you brought? They look fair too."
Bright released Mrs. Comstock, "Yes, they have fair skin, just like us."
Mrs. Comstock looked back and forth between Min Xi and Yun Ji's faces and said with a smile, "They are two very beautiful children. Are they married?"
Min Xi didn't expect the old lady to ask this, so he said, "Madam, we are already married." He remembered what Hopson had told him. At that time, it was to guard against Mrs. Wells, but now it seemed that he needed to guard against all British old ladies.
"It's a pity that you get married at such a young age, otherwise I could introduce you to beautiful young girls." Mrs. Comstock's greatest hobby in her life was to see lovers get married.
"Thank you very much for your concern, ma'am." Min Xi replied.
Mrs. Comstock turned to Brett. "Alex, what are you doing here?"
Brett quickly said, "It's like this, my two Chinese friends have admired you for a long time, so they made some Chinese desserts and sent them to you to try."
"Really?" Mrs. Comstock obviously didn't believe it. She looked at the three people's faces and said after a long while, "Where's the dessert? Give it to me to try. I'm drinking tea at the moment."
Min Xi and Yun Ji put the boxes of snacks in their hands on the coffee table, opened them and presented them to Mrs. Comstock. Mrs. Comstock reached out and took a small biscuit, looked at it carefully and said, "This is a kitten, it's so cute, I can't bear to eat it." Having said that, she still put it in her mouth and took a bite. It was loose, crispy and sweet.
The old lady couldn't help nodding her head while eating: "It tastes great! Very crispy and delicious, and very friendly to an old person like me. I like it very much. I'll try the others." She picked up another piece of cake and put it in her mouth. It was soft and sweet.
Brett asked, "Aunt, how do you feel?"
"Delicious! Let me try another one." She grabbed a plump white custard bun and took a bite. It was still soft and had a sweet milky aroma. "Young man, did you make all of these?"
Min Xi answered seriously: "Yes, ma'am, I made it, do you like it?"
"I love it, and I never had such a delicious dessert," said Mrs. Comstock. "What trouble have you come to see me for?"
Mrs. Comstock was old and experienced, so she thought the two young men who came to visit her with gifts for no reason wanted to ask her something, so she just told them directly.
Min Xi smiled awkwardly: "No, no, ma'am, we have no difficulties."
Brett spoke for him, "Aunt Sarah, my two Chinese friends are very good at cooking. They heard that you are going to hold a party in a few days, and they want to come over and serve you and make some delicious snacks."
Mrs. Comstock looked at them with a smile: "Why do you want to help me?"
"They opened a one-table restaurant and needed some customers, so they wanted to promote it through my aunt's party," Brett said.
"What is a one-table restaurant?" Mrs. Comstock asked curiously.
"It's a private restaurant that only serves one table of guests for each meal. I've eaten the food he cooked, and I can guarantee that there is no chef in the whole of Britain or even Europe who cooks better than him." Brett spared no effort to praise Min Xi.
"That's it?" Mrs. Comstock asked.
Brett and Min Xi were both stunned. What did the old lady mean?
Mrs. Comstock waved her hand and said, "It's easy. You can help make refreshments for my party, and I'll introduce you to the guests then."
"Okay, thank you ma'am, you are so kind." Min Xi thanked.
Mrs. Comstock waved her hand and said, "You are such a young and handsome man, and you are so clever and skillful, of course I have to help you. But I am only responsible for the introduction, and I can't guarantee that anyone will go to your restaurant for dinner. By the way, you haven't told me yet, what is the name of this dessert?" She pointed to the custard buns.
Min Xi hurriedly said, "Madam, this is called Custard Bun. It's enough that Madam is willing to help introduce it!"
Mrs. Comstock nodded. "Of the three desserts, this is my favorite. Make more when the time comes."
"Do you need the other two?"
"Of course, they are all very good. The desserts for this banquet are all left to you. It would be even better if there were more varieties." Mrs. Comstock said, "You can discuss with the butler later and ask him to cooperate with you on what needs to be done."