Ye Qingcheng's spirits returned after drinking the hangover soup.
Jing Xiu put down the bowl and asked worriedly, "Wangfei? Are you feeling better?"
Ye Qingcheng rubbed her temples, "Mmm! Much better."
It was then that Bi Xi handed over a handkerchief, while Jing Xiu went to fetch the clothes for the day.
After washing her face, Ye Qingcheng handed the handkerchief to Bi Xi. Bi Xi took it and then began to help her put on her shoes.
Once her shoes were on, Ye Qingcheng sat before the dressing table. The mammy who styled Ye Qingcheng's hair entered.
Smiling, she asked, "Wangfei, how was your birthday celebration!"
This mammy was an old servant of the mansion. Ye Qingcheng was from modern times and believed in respecting the elderly and cherishing the young, so she always spoke more gently to older people.
"It was quite good, a birthday I won't forget."
The mammy smiled and nodded.
"Then, Wangfei, allow me to style your hair."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, Mammy."
Ever since the mammy had styled her hair for her the last time, she had fallen in love with that unique aesthetic. It was truly beautiful.
After her hair was done, Ye Qingcheng joked, "I truly adore your craftsmanship, Mammy. What will I do when you're no longer here!"
The mammy smiled without a word.
Today was the second day of the release of braised pork. Ye Qingcheng still wanted to see the results of her dish, so she quickly finished her breakfast and rushed to the restaurant.
Watching her retreating figure, Xiao Wangye suddenly felt that eating was also meaningless. He put down his chopsticks and went to the study to review memorials.
As soon as Ye Qingcheng arrived at the restaurant, she overheard some whispers at the entrance.
"This is called braised pork? Why such a name, couldn't it be more pleasant!"
Hearing this, Ye Qingcheng felt embarrassed. She turned to look. Well, it was a refined scholar. No wonder he found the name unpleasant; it was certainly not artistic.
"I personally feel this dish is quite delicious. It's rich but not greasy, and very fragrant."
"Yes, yes! And this fatty meat can melt in your mouth. It's truly delicious."
Ye Qingcheng nodded, it seemed the results were quite good.
Gradually, this dish proved so effective that it propelled "Seeming Flowing Years," the restaurant, to a new peak.
It wasn't just the dishes that became famous, but the unique design within the establishment also possessed a distinctive charm.
Now, in the capital city, this restaurant had become a representative landmark.
Ye Qingcheng was very gratified because she had finally established her unique brand.
She had also considered that with two delicious dishes, people would naturally try to imitate and develop them. However, she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
One day, as Ye Qingcheng arrived at the restaurant, she noticed there were very few people. She tapped the shopkeeper's table, "What's going on? Why are there so few people today? It's already noon."
The shopkeeper looked up. He had been calculating accounts and only now noticed, "Indeed! Why are there so few people today? At this hour, there are usually not so few!"
A waiter passing by overheard and asked curiously, "Don't you know? The restaurant across the street has also introduced Sichuan-style poached chicken, and it's much cheaper than ours. Customers are all going there."
Ye Qingcheng went out to look and indeed, there were many people.
Afterward, she thought, it seemed she needed to take precautions.
Ye Qingcheng called a waiter, "Go and inform everyone that we need to have an emergency meeting."
The waiter had never heard such a novel term and scratched his head, looking confused, "Dongjia, what does… a meeting mean!"
Ye Qingcheng only then realized she had used a term from modern society. She quickly explained, "It means gathering everyone together to discuss countermeasures."
The waiter suddenly understood.
Soon, everyone was gathered, with only one waiter left to mind the shop.
In the private room, Ye Qingcheng rested her hands on the table, "Everyone, the situation is urgent. The restaurant across the street has already developed Sichuan-style poached chicken. Let us now discuss countermeasures. First, the head chefs."
The atmosphere was very tense. The three head chefs who were called upon immediately became nervous.
"Have any of you encountered anyone in the past few days and revealed the recipe?"
The several chefs thought for a moment.
One chef replied, "It seems so."
Everyone's hearts leaped.
The chef began to recount.
His surname was Fang, so let's call him Chef Fang.
Someone had indeed tried to get his recipe, but it wasn't someone else, it was his brother-in-law.
That day, when he returned home, his brother-in-law came to mooch a meal. He already disliked his wife's family. Whenever there was anything profitable, they would secretly scheme. When they needed help, they would demand money and effort, and after it was over, they would act with an arrogant demeanor. He found it very annoying. His wife, on the other hand, was indecisive and dared not breathe loudly at her parents' home. She was often scolded. But whenever something displeased her, she would take it out on him and the children at home. Chef Fang understood this, so he usually doted on his wife and never wronged her at home. He bore all the troubles from outside the house.
He had just received his salary a few days prior, and Chef Fang had intended to send his son to a scholar's academy, hoping he might one day achieve an official position and not end up like him, doing nothing significant his entire life.
Recognizing more characters was beneficial. When his brother-in-law came for dinner, he initially thought perhaps his brother-in-law knew his son was attending the academy and thought the family had money again, coming to extort some.
Therefore, from the beginning, he had a poor attitude towards him.
His brother-in-law noticed all this. When he went to the kitchen, he secretly said harsh words to his wife behind his back: "Look at him. You refused to marry a rich old man when you had the chance, and insisted on marrying him. What's the point of marrying someone so poor? He's still a pauper. Alas~ Sister, I heard he's working as a chef for the Wangfei now. The boss is the Wangfei, so his wages must be quite high by now? Enough to let my nephew study at a private school."
Although his wife had always been quiet at her parents' home, her mind was clear. Hearing this, she didn't say how much his wages were, but just kept smiling foolishly.
His brother-in-law looked disgusted, "As expected, she's a fool. The whole family is full of fools."
Chef Fang was in the kitchen preparing food at that moment. He had bought a chicken on his way back, which he could use to make Sichuan-style poached chicken for his wife and child, as they hadn't eaten it yet.
It was then that his brother-in-law entered with a smiling face.
"Brother-in-law, are you making food? What are you making?"
Chef Fang understood that unsolicited kindness often hid ulterior motives. He had never looked at his brother-in-law properly, yet now he was smiling at him.
There must be something amiss.
So, he kept a close eye on his brother-in-law.
When his brother-in-law asked, "How do you make that Sichuan-style poached chicken!"
Chef Fang glanced at him, "Nothing more than using chicken to make it."
His brother-in-law quickly nodded, "Yes, yes. And then?"
Chef Fang said without changing his expression, "Boil it, cut it into pieces, and season it."
He was speaking and doing as he spoke.
This dish had become a hit, with many people ordering it. Chef Fang was already very fast at making this dish.
While his brother-in-law was still counting on his fingers, Chef Fang had already finished.
His brother-in-law still looked bewildered.
Chef Fang smiled wryly, "Brother-in-law, we are preparing dinner, so we won't keep you any longer. Goodbye, no need to see you off."
His brother-in-law remained in a state of utter confusion.