Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Shi Jia glanced at the kitchen helper indifferently, quickly cut the hawthorn and red date cake into pieces, plated them, and put them into two food boxes.

"Miss Hongliu, please try it first. If there's anything lacking, we can still make up for it." Shi Jia said, putting the cut-off pieces into a small plate and handing it to Hongliu.

Hongliu subconsciously swallowed. "Mmm." After she finished speaking, she pinched a piece and put it in her mouth. It was soft, sweet, and fragrant, but not too sweet. It was actually quite good.

“That’s right, you often make pastries?” Hongliu asked.

Shi Jia shook her head, divided the pastries into two portions, and packed them into two food boxes. One portion was for Lu Xing'er, and the other was for Madam Wang.

“I come from a farming family, and I only ever worry about having enough to eat. I would never go to such lengths,” Shi Jia said. Realizing she might have been showing off, she quickly added, “But I do know a bit about food, and I’ve always had the idea of ​​running a food business, so I’ve been thinking about it myself.”

Hongliu nodded. "Then you do have some skills."

"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Hongliu," Shi Jia said with a smile. "This one is for the Second Young Mistress, and this one is for the Old Madam. Thank you for your help, Miss Hongliu."

“It’s what I should do,” Hongliu said calmly, glancing at the main kitchen. “You’re new to the manor, so there must be many things you’re not used to. If you encounter any trouble, just tell me. If I can’t solve it, there’s always the Second Young Mistress.”

Hong Liu's words were not a small matter; at least everyone in the main kitchen heard them, and the kitchen helpers turned pale instantly.

Shi Jia smiled and said, "Thank you, Miss Hongliu. Don't worry, everything is fine. Manager Luo is also taking good care of me."

"Hmm." Seeing her smiling face, Hongliu didn't linger and left with another maid carrying a food box.

It was getting late, and she still needed to prepare dinner. She glanced at the large kitchen, then turned and went into the pantry to get the ingredients.

"Huh, why are all these fish dead?" Shi Jia frowned as he looked at the three fish in the basin, a surge of anger rising within him.

Manager Luo, who was busy distributing ingredients, walked over quickly upon hearing this and immediately saw the three dead fish with their bellies exposed. His face darkened.

"Manager Luo, the fish is dead." Shi Jia frowned. "I ordered fresh fish. Dead fish have a strong fishy smell. They're not suitable for soup or steaming either. Besides, if the masters find out I used dead fish to cook for them, they'll probably blame me."

Manager Luo said, "Madam Li, it's getting late. If we send more fish from the estate, it won't be long enough. Could you see if we can change the menu?"

His gaze swept over the ingredients on the shelf: chicken, duck, lamb, pork...

Upon hearing this, Shi Jia nodded with difficulty, "Alright, that's the only way."

"Well then, Madam Li, you can get back to your work." Manager Luo had someone carry the dead fish, basin and all, to the large kitchen next door. A moment later, the sound of Manager Luo arguing with He Chuan could be heard.

Shi Jia shook his head. Scheming and backstabbing were one thing, but for a chef to use ingredients to manipulate things was truly despicable. Indeed, ingredients were a chef's lifeblood.

Shi Jia never intended to confront He Chuan, after all, her visit to the Wan residence was merely a formality.

She glanced at the ingredients on the shelf, her gaze settling on the lamb. She frowned; she had never prepared lamb before. The recipe Hongliu had read today wasn't there either. She had no choice but to give up.

She thought for a moment, then picked up a duck, two chickens, yams, dried bamboo shoots, and wood ear mushrooms.

The recipes are ready: dried bamboo shoot and old duck soup, braised duck, yam and chicken soup, ginger and stir-fried chicken, stir-fried wood ear mushrooms and yam. Just see what vegetables you can add.

Having finalized the recipe, Shi Jia was in a very good mood. She carried a large basin out of the storage room.

"Huh? What's the matter, Manager Luo?" She bumped into Manager Luo as soon as she stepped out.

"Has Madam Li chosen the ingredients yet?" Manager Luo asked, looking at the large basin in her hands.

"Okay, everything's ready. Come pick out a couple more vegetables in a bit." Shi Jia's gaze fell behind Manager Luo, to the simple-minded kitchen helper. Manager Luo noticed her gaze and smiled, "This is kitchen helper Wang Quan. You can just call him Xiao Wang. He'll be your assistant from now on."

"Master Li!" Wang Quan hurriedly bowed and scraped to Shi Jia.

Shi Jia was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Sure, I can't manage it all by myself." How could she not be able to manage? She was only cooking for three people.

"Yes, Madam Li, go ahead and get busy. If you encounter any problems, just have Wang Quan come to me," said Steward Luo.

Before Shi Jia could answer, Wang Quan immediately promised to serve Shi Jia wholeheartedly.

"Thank you very much, Steward Luo."

Wang Quan insisted on helping Shi Jia carry the wooden basin, and Shi Jia didn't stop him. He then turned around and went to get two more baskets of vegetables. When they returned to the main kitchen, it was quiet, with only the sounds of chopping vegetables, lighting the fire, and stir-frying the food audible.

However, one of the stoves was empty, and Wang Quan was standing there at a loss.

When he saw Shi Jia come in, he quickly asked, "Master Li, what should I do now?"

"Let's start the fire and boil some water first." Shi Jia walked over, put down the vegetable basket, and began to scan the things on the stove: oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, cutting board, bowls and plates.

"Wash the knife and cutting board too." Shi Jia said, then turned and left the kitchen. She picked up the things she had left outside and came back in before starting to process the chickens and ducks.

Wang Quan quickly started the fire and asked Shi Jia what he needed to do. "Soak the wood ear mushrooms, peel the yams and soak them in water, and pick some green vegetables."

"Okay." Wang Quan immediately went to do it.

Shi Jia chopped up the chickens and ducks, blanched the ones that needed blanching, and marinated the ones that needed marinating, doing everything in an orderly manner. Wang Quan, on the other hand, was very busy, sometimes preparing vegetables and sometimes tending the fire.

Shi Jia subconsciously glanced at the person tending the fire behind the stove, thought for a moment, and then turned and went out. A little while later, Manager Luo came in and assigned her the job of tending the fire.

With someone specifically in charge of tending the fire, things became much more organized.

Wang Quan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly finished picking and washing the vegetables. "Master Li, I'm done. Is there anything else you need to do?"

"Grill some garlic." Shi Jia brought back some medicinal herbs to make soup. Of course, the soup she made today was based on a recipe she learned from, not something she just made haphazardly.

Chicken stewed with lotus seeds, lily bulbs, and red dates is nourishing and good for health. Dried bamboo shoots and old duck soup, paired with winter melon and barley, clears heat and removes dampness. The former is obviously for Lu Xing'er, while the latter is a soup for the two elders.

Fortunately, the stove wasn't just a large iron pot; there were also three smaller stoves next to it, where ceramic pots could be placed and the fire-tenders could start the fire.

She glanced at the ingredients on the table, each one neatly arranged on a plate. She looked at Wang Quan with satisfaction, surprised that this simpleton was so organized.

She glanced at the sky; it was still early, not yet time to cook the dishes. Suddenly, she remembered something and asked, "Is it okay to steam the rice?"

Wang Quan nodded, "Yes, someone is specifically responsible for steaming rice."

"That's good." Shi Jia nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "What do you want to eat tonight?"

Working at the Wan family mansion naturally included three meals a day. The kitchen also had dedicated chefs responsible for preparing meals for the servants.

However, Shi Jia couldn't wait for them to eat together before going back, so she made an appointment with Wan Anlu to cook dinner at Wan's house and bring it back to eat.

Wan Anlu naturally agreed without hesitation, even saying that he could cook whatever he wanted to eat from now on, and that he would take care of all the ingredients. (End of Chapter)