CH 7

The place where she made an appointment with Zhang Caimai1 was in a small restaurant on Zhuquefang Street.

It can be said that almost half of the powerful and wealthy households in Chang’an City were gathered in Zhuquefang.

Someone once joked that walking on the street of Zhuquefang, even if you take a breath, you can get the smell of money and power in the air.

The Wen family in her childhood memories used to be a member of the Zhuquefang, but then… nothing.

After being convicted, power and money turned into nothing.

However, Zhang Caimai did not meet her here to see the rich and powerful.

Except for the rich and powerful, the rest of Zhuquefang was the yamen, and more than half of the yamen of the various ministries in Chang’an City were gathered in the area of ​​Zhuquefang.

Holding the tea, Zhang Caimai said, “Zhao Sishan has entrusted me with this matter since last year. I did find a good place for you before you left the palace.” While speaking, Zhang Caimai stretched out his hand and pointed out the window. Facing the tall red-walled yamen, he said, “This was the place I planned for you.”

Wen Mingtang looked at the big golden characters on the plaque above the red-walled yamen, and read out: “Dali Temple yamen?”

“No ” Zhang Caimai glanced at her, shook his head, and said, “Although they are recruiting a public chef in Dali Temple, the place I chose for you was the Guozijian2 behind Dali Temple.”

Wen Mingtang said “Oh”, indicating that she knew. Anyway, they are all cooks, isn’t it the same in every yamen?

Probably seeing Wen Mingtang’s thoughts, Zhang Caimai explained one more sentence: “You don’t know, in all the yamen of Chang’an City, the official chef of this Guozijian is recognized as a fat job!”

Wen Mingtang nodded in agreement: since ancient times, no matter how hard it is, the idea of ​​children is the vast majority of the crowd. Those who can get into the Imperial College were all sons of rich and powerful families, and their spending was naturally generous. Not to mention that some elders in the family were willing to pay rewards to these children. It can be said that as long as the craftsmanship was good, the rewards were probably much more than the wages.

“It’s also a coincidence that there was a vacancy in the official kitchen of the Guozijian a few days ago. I have a good relationship with their official kitchen, and I reported you immediately when I got the news.” Zhang Caimai said, “Zhao Sishan said that your craftsmanship is better than her and she is one of the best in her field. So I thought that I will assure Ding Caimai that you are a good crafter. After a while, when Ding Caimai comes, you must show him your hand. If Ding Cai approves your dish, you getting this job is probably settled.”

Wen Mingtang said she understood.

While they were talking, Ding Caimai, the official chef of Guozijian, came in.

After sitting down, he took the tea poured by Wen Mingtang, and Ding Caimai didn’t talk nonsense, he pointed to the back kitchen and said, “Make a dish to see if the craftsmanship is feasible?”

Wen Mingtang nodded, this was something Zhang Caimai had already told her beforehand.

Just as she was about to turn around and go to the back kitchen, Ding Caimai glanced at Zhang Caimai, who was flirting with him, with a half-smile, and said, “Old Zhang, you don’t have to speculate on my taste preference, I’ll just say it myself. Yes! I like sour and sweet…”

Zhang Caimai heard this, and quickly said to Wen Mingtang: “Then make a sour and sweet cold vegetable dish…”

Before he finished speaking, Ding Caimai said again: “I don’t like vegetarian dishes, I like to eat meat.”

Hearing this, Zhang Caimai’s face stiffened slightly: “Old Ding!”

Can meat dishes be delicious if they were made sweet and sour?

Ding Caimai didn’t look at Zhang Caimai, and he opened his mouth and said: “Although I like meat, I ran for a trip on this hot day, and I don’t want to eat too much…”

Zhang Caimai’s face became more and more greasy when he heard this. It was ugly, he looked at Ding Caimai, and said straightforwardly: “Old Ding, you have already promised me, why do you have to force others to go through this?”

Although he was not a cook, he still has to eat. From the perspective of an ordinary person like him, sweet and sour dishes were mostly desserts such as pastries, and only occasionally a few vegetarian dishes can be sweet and sour, which taste like appetizing cold dishes. But Old man Ding “deliberately” tripped her up and asked for meat by name.

Sweet and sour, but also made into meat dishes, no matter how Zhang Caimai thought about it, the dish will not be so delicious. However, this old man was not finished yet. After clamoring for meat, he can’t get too greasy.

But in the requirements he specified, no matter whether it is sweet or meat, the food was easy to become greasy, what should I do?

Old man Ding ignored him, rolled his eyelids, and looked at Wen Mingtang: “Miss Wen, can you do it?”

The girl didn’t respond immediately but pointed to the back kitchen, and said, “I’ll go to the back kitchen to see if the ingredients are available.”

The owner of this small restaurant was Ding Caimai, so it can be conveniently used for this trial.

Ding Caimai nodded, and the girl only took a few breaths to go in. Even before Zhang Caimai had time to question Ding Caimai, she came out again, and nodded to Ding Caimai: “I can do it!”

People who appreciate straightforwardness also tend to like others who are straightforward. Hearing the girl’s straightforward response, Ding Caimai had a good impression of her. He waved his hand and said, “Okay, I’ll wait here and try Miss Wen’s skills.”

Wen Mingtang responded and entered the kitchen.

Seeing that Wen Mingtang was no longer here, Zhang Caimai can finally explode.

He glanced at Ding Caimai: “Old Ding, you and I have been friends for many years. You promised me, why do you want to make trouble on purpose?”

He took a sip of tea and said, “Old Zhang, you might as well be as refreshing as a little girl! Look at Miss Wen, she just went into the kitchen without saying anything? Since you rely on craftsmanship to eat, you should see the truth under your hands, What’s the use of talking?”

“It’s okay to enter the kitchen to test your skills, but why are you making things so difficult?” Zhang Caimai squinted at him, “As for the request you just made, look at how many cooks there are in the capital city, can it be done?”

Ding Cai paused while drinking tea, glanced at him, and said, “I didn’t make trouble on purpose! To be honest, all my requests just now were made by our Yu Jijiu3. Even if Miss. Wen passed my level and the level of Master Jiang who is in charge of the public cook, but she will still have to give another test in front of Yu Jijiu to be approved.”

Seeing the sullen expression on Zhang Caimai’s face dissipate, Ding Caimai smiled and stretched out his hand to pat him on the shoulder: “You and I have been friends for so many years, do you think I look like someone who deliberately finds fault?”

“Recruiting a chef and being so cryptic about it.” Zhang Caimai cast a sideways glance at him, the previous displeasure in his heart dissipated at this moment. He let out a sigh of relief and said, “It’s rare for Yue Rou to ask me for help. If I can’t handle this matter well, how can I face her in the future?”

Yuerou was Zhao Sishan’s boudoir name, and Ding Caimai suddenly understood: “I just said, why are you so active? It’s not like an ordinary friendship at all. It turns out that Zhao Si is the one you like…”

Before he could finish speaking, he was kicked on the leg.

It turned out that Wen Mingtang, who had been busy in the back kitchen for a long time, came out with the dishes.

Ding Caimai glanced at Zhang Caimai who had regained his sitting posture, shook his head, and casually glanced at Wen Mingtang who came out with the dishes.

The first time he saw the dishes, Ding Caimai was stunned: “This is…”

Although he can’t say that he was a foodie who has tasted all kinds of delicacies, he was also a restaurant owner after all. And he had eaten almost all the common dishes in his daily life.

But it was the first time he had seen such a dish in front of him.

Wen Mingtang smiled at him and said, “Green plum ribs.”