Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 174 - 173: Awaiting the Honored Guest

Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Awaiting the Honored Guest

At this moment, even though it was not completely dark, the red lanterns outside the door and in the yard had already been lit.

Only a crack of the kitchen door was open. Chen Afu looked through the slit and saw a man in a black cloak leading the way. On his left shoulder perched Qi Qi and on the right, Hui Hui. He must be the affable and bird-loving Marquis Chu. Behind him were two men, the one in a dark blue cloak was Chu Lingxuan, leading Chen Dabao by the hand. The other man in a cyan cloak was holding Chu Hanyan, who was wrapped in a red cloak. This man must be Mr. Chu.

Chen Ming, Alu, Manager Luo father and son, Zeng Shuang, and others followed behind.

Chen Afu guessed that they should have settled down and started drinking, so he began to stir-fry garlic sprouts with twice-cooked pork. After it was ready, he took the mutton wrapped in scallions and the simmered beef with radish that had been kept warm in the pot, filled it into the dishes, and with Zeng Xiaoqing, carried it to serve them in the hall.

There were two maids standing at the door. Seeing them coming, they quickly opened the door and lifted the door curtain.

Inside the hall, four candles were lit and two charcoal braziers were burning, making it warm and bright.

An old man around sixty was seated at the head of the table. He had a rosy complexion, a gentle expression, and was dressed in a dark red cotton satin jacket with grey fur trim, he didn’t look like a formal Marquis at all. To his left sat a man in his thirties, looking handsome and dignified, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and a faint beard. He looked a lot like Chu Lingxuan, and was dressed in a golden-bordered navy blue cotton-jacket with floral and bird patterns. Chen Dabao was seated next to him. Chu Lingxuan, dressed in a brown jacquard brocade cotton jacket, sat on the right. Chu Hanyan was next to him. Chen Ming and Alu were seated at the foot of the table, across from the old Marquis.

Manager Luo and others were serving from behind.

Chen Ming had finally been invited to sit at the table, surely invited by the Chu family members.

Chen Afu first placed the mutton wrapped in scallions and simmered beef on the table, then added the stir-fried garlic sprouts with twice-cooked pork. She smiled and said, "Although stir-fried garlic sprouts with twice-cooked pork is a common home-style dish, it’s one of my specialties. I hope the Marquis and the two gentlemen will find it to their liking?"

The old Marquis chuckled first, "You’re too kind, my dear girl. My grandson tells me you are clever and skilled, not only in educating my great granddaughter, but also in making delicious meals and rearing flowers and birds. The dishes and snacks you made are excellent, I am very pleased."

Chu Lingxuan glanced at the old Marquis, his face a bit flushed, perhaps due to the heat. He quickly added, "I believe much of it is thanks to Yan’er and Mr. Luo." He also supplemented, "However, it is indeed true that Master Chen is a good cook."

Mr. Chu remained quiet, first picking a piece of twice-cooked pork for the old Marquis, then taking a piece for himself. He chewed slowly, seemingly savoring it. After swallowing, he took a piece of garlic sprout and tasted it before nodding with satisfaction. He laughed, "I have had twice-cooked pork many times, but this is the best. The meat is fatty but not greasy, and the garlic sprouts are deliciously fresh. The young girl’s culinary skills are impressive, nearly on par with a royal chef."

He truly was a refined gentleman, his demeanor mild and gentle, cordial and approachable.

Being praised, Chen Afu felt a bit embarrassed. She knew she was not yet at that level and that her success was largely due to the special water and Yan Poop fertilizer from her house. She quickly responded modestly, "Marquis, the two gentlemen are too kind."

Chu Hanyan then said, "Auntie’s Golden...is the yummiest."

The old Marquis who had eaten several pieces of twice-cooked pork, paused at Chu Hanyan’s words and asked, "What? You can eat gold too?"

Chen Afu laughed and clarified, "Young Mistress must be referring to the Golden Slip Meat I prepared." She added, "I am going to cook another dish today called Golden Shrimp Balls, which Young Mistress will surely love even more."

Shrimps were quite expensive and the household usually didn’t buy them. It was only because the Chu’s Mansion had sent some cold shrimps this time that Chen Afu had decided to make this dish.

Mr. Chu chuckled, "In that case, we look forward to the Golden Shrimp Balls."

Chen Afu smiled and nodded, and then glanced at Dabao, Alu, and Chen Ming. Dabao was the least fearful, helping himself to the food he liked, occasionally introducing a dish, and serving Chen Ming. Alu was also doing fine, although a little nervous and blushing, with not much conversation, he was still eating his food.

Contrarily, it was Chen Ming who was so nervous that he didn’t even dare to pick up any food, and was even sweating from his nose.

Chen Afu was profoundly upset. But there was no other way, he could only bear the hardship for now. The family needed to get on the good side of the powerful people in order to secure their future. Once these powerful people visited more often and got accustomed to it, things would improve.

With an evident sadness in her eyes, she bent her knees and left the hall.

As she was opening the door, Chu Lingxuan’s voice came from behind, "Uncle Chen, don’t be nervous, come and taste..."

The door cut off the voices inside the room... she sighed with relief.

After finishing the Golden Shrimp Balls, Chen Afu personally brought them to the hall, and saw that the twice-cooked pork with garlic sprouts on the table was already gone. Chen Ming’s bowl was half filled with food, and he was eating slowly with his head bowed.

Everyone laughed when they saw the plump and golden-colored shrimp balls, each with a small shrimp tail sticking out of the top.

Marquis Chu tried one and nodded in approval, saying, "Mmm, it’s delicious. The appearance is attractive, the texture is crispy, and the taste is savory. It’s excellent!"

Hearing this, Ms. Chu rushed to say, "I want, I want, I want."

Chu Lingxuan quickly served her a piece in her bowl, then put one in Chen Ming’s bowl before he started eating himself.

After eating, both Mr. Chu and Chu Lingxuan repeatedly nodded their heads and commented, "Delicious, scrumptious."

They then discussed the tasting notes of other dishes on the table.

This felt a bit like the televised cooking competitions Chen Afu had seen in his former life; each time a dish was made, the judges would first taste it and then offer their critiques.

Once all the dishes were finished, Chen Afu started to make Jin Si cake. Mrs. Wang had already prepared the initial steps, so all she had to do was fry the noodles.

By the time the Jin Si cake was almost ready, the people upstairs were already satisfied from eating and drinking, and Auntie Zeng and her team started to clear the dishes away.

When the Jin Si cake cooled down, Chen Afu, along with Zeng Xiaoqing and Mrs. Wei, each carried two food boxes containing the cakes to the hall.

Walking in the yard, they could hear the loud laughter coming from the hall. Chen Afu knew that it must be coming from those two parrots, chatting away impulsively.

The room had gone back to its original state, with Marquis Chu and Mr. Chu sitting by the square table, and several others sitting on either side of them.

Qi Qi and Hui Hui were perched on Marquis Chu’s leg, and since they had been occupied with eating, they hadn’t spoken much until now. As their mouths were free now, they tried their best to attract attention by speaking non-stop.

They recited poems, sang the "Health Song", sang "Little Swallow", imitated human speech, and mimicked the howling of Zhui Feng and Wang Cai... causing everyone in the room to burst into laughter. Especially Marquis Chu, who was laughing the loudest. Having cheered up, he took out a pine nut and fed it to them.

As soon as Chen Afu walked in, Qi Qi and Hui Hui hurried to call, one saying "mom" and the other "aunt", mimicking Chen Dabao and Chu Hanyan’s voices. The room erupted into laughter again.

At the direction of Mr. Chu, Chen Afu and the others placed the six food boxes on the square table. Mr. Chu nodded his head in appreciation and waved his hand. A man, who appeared to be a servant, quickly stepped forward with a tray.

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