Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1267 New Year's Eve Dinner

"You mean you want me to organize the New Year's Eve dinner at the manor?" Shi Jia pointed to himself and asked uncertainly.

Preparing New Year's Eve dinner is not difficult for her, especially as time goes by and she remembers more and more recipes, so a simple New Year's Eve dinner is really not a challenge for her.

The problem is, today is Lunar New Year's Eve, which means that the New Year's Eve dinner is tonight, and there are only a few hours to prepare!

Of course, this is not a problem for me!
But that's not how it works!?

Manager Luo wiped his sweat and said with difficulty, "This, Master Li, I am really sorry. This morning when the master and madam asked about this matter, I remembered that you had only been in the manor for a short time... But as you know, the master and madam have praised your cooking skills highly. If the New Year's Eve dinner tonight is not prepared by you, I'm afraid the masters will not be happy."

Shi Jia didn't want to pay attention to what Manager Luo said, but she was soft-hearted after all. After Manager Luo coaxed and pleaded with her, she finally agreed.

"Do you have a menu for the New Year's Eve dinner? Have all the ingredients been prepared?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Luo's worried expression vanished instantly, and he deftly pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. "The menu is here. Chef Li, please take a look and see where it needs to be changed."

"Don't worry, all the ingredients are ready. What other ingredients would you like? I'll have Zhuangzi bring them up right away."

Shi Jia took the menu and glanced at it. "Fu Lu Shou? What kind of dishes are those?"

"Oh, it's a stew of lamb, chicken, and fish."

"Who made this dish? How does it taste?" This dish is not easy to make. Although fish and mutton are both symbols of freshness, they are also symbols of fishiness and muttony. If it is not handled properly, it will not taste good.

"It's Chef He, the taste should be pretty good," Manager Luo said hesitantly.

Shi Jia sighed, "Alright, I know." Another chance to snatch food from the tiger's mouth!

"What about 'a house full of gold and jade'?"

"Vermicelli, daylily stew with pork."

Hmm, this dish isn't difficult; the chefs at Wanfu should have no problem with it. But the name "Golden Jade Abundance" seems a bit mismatched with "Stewed Pork with Vermicelli and Daylily."

In her memory, "golden abundance" would likely refer to winter melon, shrimp, or seafood. And "vermicelli and daylily" would be described as having golden and silver threads.

She asked again which chef was in charge of cooking before looking at the next dish.

"Where is the treasure bowl?"

"It's a mixed vegetable dish with cucumber, carrot, diced lean meat, diced bell pepper..."

……

After listening to Steward Luo's introduction, Shi Jia had a better understanding of the dishes for the Wan family's New Year's Eve dinner. She thought about it and only modified one or two dishes that she felt were not suitable.

"Please ask the old lady if it's suitable? If not, then proceed as before. I'll get back to work now." Shi Jia handed the menu to Manager Luo.

Manager Luo was still a little dazed, staring at the neat handwriting on the menu and lost in thought. Didn't Madam Li say she couldn't read?

"By the way, please tell the Second Young Madam that I'm afraid I won't have time to make any desserts today," Shi Jia said.

“Okay.” Manager Luo hurriedly replied, “Master Li, you can go ahead and do your work. Leave the rest to me. I’ve already spoken to the other masters. Just tell them what to do.”

"Ah."

Although it's still early, the kitchen is already bustling with activity, with all the chefs and helpers working non-stop.

When Shi Jia entered, she didn't attract anyone's attention except for Wang Quan and the fire-tender. She glanced at the various chefs' busy work and quickly figured out what dishes they were preparing.

She thought for a moment, then said loudly, "Everyone, stop for a second."

Clearly, no one paid any attention. She had to raise her voice, and this time half the people stopped.

Shi Jia looked at the other half of the group and said, "If you are not satisfied with the arrangements made by the old lady and the master, I can speak with Steward Luo now."

"Very well, everyone stopped and watched Shi Jia silently, as if in silent protest." "I won't waste any more words," Shi Jia said calmly, quickly redistributing tasks. The Wan family's New Year's Eve dinner required preparing more than twenty dishes, which would be difficult for her to handle alone. Therefore, she assigned some of the simpler dishes to others.

She only needs to prepare four main dishes.

Upon hearing Shi Jia's arrangement, the chefs' dissatisfaction was clearly visible on their faces.

"Why? We've made this dish every year, why not this year?" the chef complained.

“Because I’m the head chef this year,” Shi Jia said firmly. She didn’t have time to deal with these people. “Everything has to be done my way.”

"I'll listen to you? Will you take responsibility if something goes wrong?"

“Yes!” Shi Jia looked at the man with a firm gaze! The man seemed not to have expected Shi Jia’s attitude to be so firm. He was stunned for a moment and subconsciously avoided Shi Jia’s gaze.

"Chef Li, did the old lady approve of this menu?" a chef asked.

Shi Jia nodded without any hesitation. "Since the master and madam have designated me to host tonight's New Year's Eve dinner, it means they support all my decisions."

After she finished speaking, she looked at He Chuan and was somewhat surprised that he was so silent today. If she was not mistaken, He Chuan was the head chef of the New Year's Eve dinner.

"Master He? Do you have any questions?"

The chefs looked at He Chuan expectantly. They dared not openly confront Li Yunniang; He Chuan was the head chef of the Wan family, how could he be willing to let a newcomer take his place?

However, He Chuan raised his heavy eyelids, glanced at Shi Jia indifferently, and said only two words, "No."

The chefs frowned, their disappointment evident.

Shi Jia glanced at them and nodded. "Alright, then do as I say. Although the New Year's Eve dinner is important, don't neglect lunch either. Everyone will come to collect lunch in a little while, so please don't say we didn't prepare anything."

"Don't worry, Chef Li, it won't be delayed," said a chef who was friendly to Shi Jia.

Shi Jia nodded, his gaze sweeping casually across the room before meeting Wang Quan's expectant eyes. "Master Li."

"Okay, you prepare the ingredients for lunch first," Shi Jia said. "I'll go ask Manager Luo for the ingredients for dinner later."

"Okay!" Wang Quan went to work with great enthusiasm.

Shi Jia didn't rush to find Manager Luo, but instead went to observe the various kitchen helpers as they chopped vegetables. "Are you chopping vegetables for dinner now?"

On the table were diced cucumbers, diced carrots... clearly for a mixed vegetable dish. But it was only Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and by the time they were cooked in the evening, these vegetables would probably be dehydrated.

"Yes," the kitchen helper quickly replied.

"Prepare lunch first, we can cut it up after lunch, so it won't be too dry by then," Shi Jia said.

The kitchen helper paused for a moment, then looked at his master, who frowned and nodded, without glancing at Shi Jia the entire time.

Shi Jia didn't mind and continued to observe the kitchen helpers' knife skills. After finding that they basically met his requirements, he turned around and left the kitchen.

"Manager Luo?" The other person looked worried.

Shi Jia raised an eyebrow. "What happened?" Did Old Madam Wang cause trouble again?
"Uh, Master Li, you're here." Manager Luo looked at Shi Jia with a conflicted expression.

"Just say what's on your mind."

"The old lady said that the dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner have always been fixed..."

"Standard practice?" Shi Jia frowned. She had just told that group of people that she wanted to change the recipe.

"Yes." Manager Luo nodded, looking at her expectantly.

Is there any explanation for this?

"Huh? What explanation?" Manager Luo looked completely bewildered.