Chef Hua
Chapter 121: Episode 84 Suspected Examination_2

Chapter 121: Episode 84 Suspected Examination_2

"Hua Family girl," Jing Taihe began, "to tell you the truth, the reason I wanted to meet you today is that I was curious about the dishes at your Spring Wine Banquet. Although I am not familiar with Ke Zhenwu, I know that since he runs an Escort Agency, most of his connections are with wealthy people. Those who have built substantial fortunes are always picky about their food. How exactly did you manage to satisfy their discerning tastes?"

Jing Taihe might have noticed Hua Xiaomai’s gaze, for she smiled lightly at her and said.

You run such a famous restaurant yourself, one that is well-known in the Provincial City, do you really need to ask me this question?

Hua Xiaomai couldn’t help feeling puzzled in her heart, but she still smiled in response, "In truth, if we are to be precise, it’s all quite ordinary practices. Uncle Ke is willing to spend on ingredients, so I just made arrangements according to what was available, using simple cooking methods like pan-frying, stir-frying, deep-frying, and so on. There was nothing special about it."

"Oh," Jing Taihe nodded and mused, "If the ingredients are particularly good, then a chef will naturally have more room to showcase their skills. I suppose you prepared the ’Sixteen Dishes,’ ’Eight Baskets,’ ’Four Dim Sums,’ and ’Ten Main Courses’ sort of thing..."

She hadn’t finished speaking when she saw Hua Xiaomai already smiling and shaking her head, raising her eyebrows, "What, did I get it wrong?"

Hua Xiaomai’s bright sparkling round eyes blinked twice, as she articulated clearly and logically, "Mrs. Song, I apologize if I’m being too direct. Those so-called numbers of bowls and large plates, though they look grand and impressive when laid out, end up being somewhat clichéd. When the guests at the table finish one dish, they can immediately guess what the next one will be, so where’s the fun in that? Honestly, I can’t even clearly tell what’s included in those ’Ten Main Courses.’ I only know that as a chef, one should excel in matching the right ingredients. If used properly, you don’t need a table full of dishes; even with just two or three dishes, you can still enjoy excellent flavors."

The smile at the corners of Jing Taihe’s mouth deepened, "Oh, then in your opinion, how should a banquet be prepared to satisfy everyone?"

"Cater to their preferences, balance richness with lightness, alternate between savory and sweet, and act according to the season," Hua Xiaomai replied readily, all the while feeling more puzzled.

How can Song Jingxi possibly not understand these things?

"Act according to the season? You mean, prepare the dishes according to what’s in season? But isn’t it more pleasing to see something that’s hard to come by during the season on the dining table?" Yet Song Jingxi simply continued to smile, as if she was truly filled with a thirst for knowledge.

Hua Xiaomai then had no choice but to patiently answer, "In my opinion, all things grow in an orderly fashion. Once their prime has passed, even if they are still available, they often lose their essence. Their own good flavor is greatly diminished. Occasionally having one or two such dishes on the table or at a banquet may be novel, but if one places too much importance on them, it arguably puts the cart before the horse."

"Hmm, that’s quite reasonable," Song Jingxi nodded as if deeply appreciative, "People say a good chef must be skilled at knife work, heat control, seasoning, and creativity. Of these, which do you think is the most important?"

Song Jingxi had asked so many questions in such a jumbled manner that even if Hua Xiaomai was a bit slow-witted, she could mostly guess that this woman was likely assessing her abilities, testing just how much she was capable of. Although Hua Xiaomai did not know why she was doing this, since the woman was interested in her cooking skills, talking a bit more with her was not a big deal. So without fail, she elaborated at length on the theory that "the true essence of food is the foundation of being a chef."

Luckily, she had read quite a few books on this subject when she studied before, enabling her to speak fluently and compellingly, so much so that she continued until she was parched and hastily reached for a cup of tea, gulping down two big mouthfuls.

It was only at this moment that Song Jingxi finally seemed satisfied, smiling amiably, "I rarely come to Fuzhe County, and meeting you today, having talked so much, fills me with joy... Have I kept you too long?"

Hua Xiaomai hurriedly waved her hands, "Please don’t say that, you haven’t delayed me at all. It’s just that my second sister and brother-in-law are still waiting for me, so..."

"Ah, that’s truly inconsiderate of me." Song Jingxi instantly regretted and clapped her hands, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s getting late too. In that case, you’d better hurry back. If we have the chance to meet again another day, we can continue our detailed conversation."

Hua Xiaomai was indeed a bit worried about Hua Erniang and Jing Taihe becoming anxious and promptly stood up to say goodbye to them, leaving with Meng Yuhuai.

Once the two had walked off into the distance, Zhao Laoye turned around and said, "Miss Song, what exactly was your intention today? That girl from the Hua Family may have good culinary skills, but compared to you, she still falls short. You..."

"You should stop trying to flatter me with what you think I want to hear. I know better than you what that girl is really like." Song Jingxi continued to look in the direction where Hua Xiaomai had departed, and with a hint of a smile, she said, "She is a promising seedling indeed. With a bit more tempering, she will certainly make a name for herself. But after all, she is a young lady, and no one can predict what she’s thinking."

She paused, then turned to say, "You mentioned she has set up a small noodle stall in the village? I must make an opportunity to taste her cooking."

...

After leaving the Zhao Family’s large house, Hua Xiaomai still felt somewhat uneasy. After walking a few steps, she couldn’t help but raise her voice to Meng Yuhuai, who was quickly walking ahead, "Big Brother Meng, what do you think that Miss Song is up to? I don’t know her at all, yet she suddenly bombarded me with so many questions. I just can’t shake this unease!"

Meng Yuhuai’s doubts were no less than hers. He turned back, looked at her face and opened his mouth, but the question he asked was completely unrelated, "You lived in Shengzhou before you came to Fire Knife Village. Your family was just an ordinary farming household, right?"

Hua Xiaomai hadn’t expected him to bring this up and was momentarily at a loss for words. After a while, she simply nodded, "Yes, that’s right..."

"Your family wasn’t well-off, to the point of being in dire straits?"

"...Yes, that’s correct. What about it?"

"I’m somewhat puzzled," Meng Yuhuai said slowly, "The conversation you just had with Miss Song was full of references and well-reasoned arguments. I was truly taken aback to hear it. Culinary skills may indeed be a matter of talent, but to articulate the principles, one cannot rely solely on imagination... Given your impoverished family and illiteracy, where exactly did you learn it from?" (To be continued. If you like this novel, you are welcome to vote for it with a recommendation ticket or a monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)