Chapter 140: A New Dish: Roast Duck

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What had originally been meant as a simple invitation for Qiu Rongrong and Chef Chen to sample the roast duck and discuss a possible partnership had turned into a full roast-duck banquet when Bighead insisted on inviting Mr. Lian as well.

Besides the roast duck, they had to prepare several other dishes and wine. Fortunately, Wen Yao was now thoroughly experienced in such matters, and the new house had a dining room large enough to entertain guests.

Toward evening, three carriages stopped outside Wen Xiuyi’s home.

It was supper time again, and the villagers who had gone out to work had all returned. Seeing the three carriages outside the Wen residence from afar, they did not dare approach to watch the excitement, and could only gossip among themselves at a distance.

Whatever the villagers might say, the Wen household was bustling with activity.

When Bighead had invited Director Wu, the director had initially intended to refuse. However, Manager Qiu, who had come to collect Bighead and the others after school, said that he could go along as well, and Director Wu had agreed to come.

Seeing the Wen family’s house, Director Wu stroked his beard and nodded. The Wens’ circumstances appeared to be quite good; otherwise, they would never have sent three children to school all at once.

Qiu Rongrong arrived in one carriage with Xie Anyi. From the carriage behind them, Chef Chen and Manager Lu also climbed down.

They were all men, with Qiu Rongrong the sole woman among them.

Yet she showed not the slightest trace of shyness. She greeted Doctor Jin and Manager Qiu with calm ease, and when she learned that Director Wu was her son’s teacher, she offered him a respectful bow as well, without displaying the least awkwardness or restraint.

Manager Qiu smiled. “You are too polite, Manager Qiu. You and I share the same family name, and you and Yao Yao are as close as sisters. I am also one of Yao Yao’s elders. If you do not mind, Manager Qiu, you may simply call me Uncle, as Yao Yao does.”

He had addressed her as Manager Qiu rather than Madam Xie. The title nearly made Qiu Rongrong lose control of the bitterness in her eyes. She gave a slight curtsy and said, “Then I shall shamelessly call you Uncle.”

Director Wu stroked his beard and laughed as well. “I have only heard that Drunken Immortal House has been introducing new dishes one after another lately, each more exquisite than the last. I never imagined that the proprietor behind it would be so young. Manager Qiu, you truly are no less capable than any man.”

Qiu Rongrong bowed again. She found herself liking the title of Manager Qiu more and more. As for Madam Xie—let that name go to the devil.

“Teacher, you are too kind. Ordinarily, I should have been the one inviting all of you to Drunken Immortal House for a meal, but Yao Yao got there first. Tonight, we shall eat Yao Yao’s cooking. Another day, I will invite you all to Drunken Immortal House and bring out the century-old wine from my cellar for everyone to sample.”

The others raised their brows. “Oh? Then we are the lucky ones. In that case, we certainly will not stand on ceremony with Manager Qiu.”

They all understood that if they treated Qiu Rongrong as an ordinary woman confined to the household, they would only create unnecessary awkwardness between them. It was much easier to interact with her openly and naturally.

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Manager Lu and Chef Chen had come to see the new dish. As soon as they arrived, they followed Wen Yao into the rear courtyard to inspect the roasting oven. Since the dish was intended for Drunken Immortal House, Wen Yao had no need to hide anything from them.

Once the greetings were over, Madam Luo began setting the table with her two daughters-in-law. Even Qiao Yan, whom Qiu Rongrong had brought along, was sent to help.

When all the dishes had been served, the roast duck came last. Holding a knife, Chef Chen slowly carved the duck into thin slices right there at the table. His movements were unhurried, but every slice was fine and precise. He truly deserved to be called a master chef; Wen Yao had only demonstrated the technique once, and he had already memorized it.

After the duck had been carved, Wen Yao personally demonstrated how to wrap and eat it.

Though they did not quite understand at first, Doctor Jin, Manager Qiu, Qiu Rongrong, and Director Wu all followed Wen Yao’s instructions and wrapped a piece for themselves in a thin pancake.

The moment the roast duck touched their tongues, their eyes lit up, and they began praising it without end.

The skin was richly red and glistening with oil, crisp and refreshing to the bite, with just the right hint of slickness from the thin layer of duck fat beneath it.

Placed in one of the freshly made thin pancakes, spread with sweet bean sauce, mixed with slivers of scallion, rolled up, and stuffed generously into the mouth, it was to be chewed slowly and savored. It was a genuine delight.

Compared with the adults’ restraint, the children’s table had already descended into chaos.

“So delicious! Sister Qiao Yan, wrap me another one.”

Xie Anyi instinctively ordered Qiao Yan to do the work. But the moment he finished speaking, Jin Xiuyi and Bighead both glanced at him. Xie Anyi was so frightened that the roast duck in his mouth nearly caught in his throat.

Without either of them saying a word, he understood their meaning. He pushed aside Qiao Yan, who had already picked up a pancake, and took it himself.

“Sister Qiao Yan, go eat. I can do it myself.”

Bighead and Jin Xiuyi nodded in satisfaction. Seeing that Xie Anyi was rather clumsy, they even lent him a hand.

When Qiu Rongrong witnessed the scene, her eyes reddened slightly, but she quickly steadied her emotions.

She looked at the roast duck on the table. She very much wanted to wrap another piece, yet felt that doing so in front of so many elders would be improper. She swallowed and suppressed her desire, then turned to Wen Yao.

“Yao Yao, what is this dish called?”

Wen Yao stood upright and smiled. “It is called roast duck. First, the duck is slaughtered and cleaned, then marinated in a honey-based sauce. After that, it is roasted until the skin is crisp while the meat remains tender. Before serving, it is sliced thinly and wrapped with sweet bean sauce, scallions, shredded cucumber, and other accompaniments. The result is crisp, fragrant, and delicious.

“This sweet bean sauce is my grandmother’s secret recipe. It is unique to our family, with no other like it anywhere. Paired with our roast duck, it is like the steelyard and its weight—neither can do without the other.”

The first part had been perfectly ordinary, but the final comparison made everyone burst out laughing.

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Madam Luo was momentarily stunned when Wen Yao suddenly mentioned her, but after thinking it over, she immediately understood the girl’s intention.

Wen Yao was trying to promote her sweet bean sauce to Qiu Rongrong.

That girl was truly something else. At every possible moment, she was thinking of ways to earn money for the family.

Qiu Rongrong played along at once, looking at Madam Luo in surprise. “So this sweet bean sauce was made by Grandma Wen herself? I had assumed Yao Yao had bought it somewhere. It is far tastier than the sauce at our restaurant.”

Hearing this, Chef Chen lightly dipped his chopsticks into the sauce and tasted a little. He did not find anything particularly remarkable about it; it was more or less the same as the sauce served at their restaurant.

But if the proprietor wished to say so, then so be it.

Madam Luo flushed at the praise. “It is enough that you enjoy it. It is merely a countrywoman’s humble handiwork. I am glad it suits your tastes.”

Doctor Jin smiled. “Sister-in-law, you are being far too modest. This sauce truly pairs wonderfully with the roast duck. Just as Yao Yao said, the two complement each other perfectly. Neither can do without the other.”

Director Wu had entirely abandoned the dignity expected of an academy headmaster. He ate four or five pieces before finally setting down his chopsticks.

“Could this dish also be one of the new dishes Drunken Immortal House plans to introduce? In that case, I must ask Manager Qiu for a favor. Otherwise, once this dish is offered, I fear it may become impossible to buy.”

Wen Yao cast a furtive glance at Director Wu. It seemed that he was a true food lover as well.

Covering her mouth with a handkerchief, Qiu Rongrong laughed softly. “If you wish to eat it, simply tell Yao Yao’s brother. I will have the kitchen prepare it specially for you. There is no need for you to compete with everyone else in line.”

Director Wu threw back his head and laughed. “Then I shall not stand on ceremony with Manager Qiu.”

The three children, Jin Xiuyi, and Xie Anyi stared at him in utter astonishment.

Was this really their usually stern and unsmiling director—the same man who would strike their palms with a ruler?