Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1268 Reunion Dinner

“This, this has always been a tradition of the Wan family. It is said that this recipe was used by the old master’s generation,” Steward Luo said after thinking for a moment.

Shi Jia frowned, "But looking at these names, do you know what these dishes are?"

"This..." Manager Luo remained silent.

Shi Jia had a sudden inspiration, "That's right, how about this, the original two dishes are called 'Golden Jade Abundance' and 'Joyful Occasion,' why don't I just name the two dishes I change to the same thing?"

"Huh?" Manager Luo was taken aback. "How can this be?"

"Why not?"

“Look, this winter melon and shrimp stew, the winter melon is jade, the shrimp is gold, it has both gold and jade. And look at these four happiness meatballs, they have fortune, prosperity, longevity and happiness, isn’t this just ‘joy on the eyebrows’? Isn’t this more worthy of the name ‘joy on the eyebrows’ than that steamed egg custard?” Shi Jia said.

Manager Luo nodded subconsciously, but immediately realized, "Master Li is right, but what about the old lady..."

"You talk to her first." Shi Jia waved her hand, becoming even more determined in her decision. Actually, she wanted to change all the other dishes, but time was too short, so she only changed two seemingly insignificant dishes.

"Then I'll make another trip," Manager Luo sighed. "As for the five-grain rice, Madam said the rules..."

"Sigh, forget about that. I was thinking of making it even tastier." Shi Jia shrugged. The original Five Grains Rice was made with rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans, and the taste was just so-so. Shi Jia was thinking of replacing the millet and beans with corn and sweet potatoes to improve the taste.

"It's good that Master Li understands." Manager Luo breathed a sigh of relief; at least one thing had been accomplished.

"Thank you for your hard work, Manager Luo." Shi Jia felt guilty upon seeing this. "Ahem, Manager Luo, I'll go get the ingredients now."

"Please go ahead." Manager Luo raised his hand, beckoned a servant to help Shi Jia, and then hurriedly left.

After listening, Madam Wang nodded, "It's not impossible." The dishes are the same every year, and she is indeed getting tired of them.

Manager Luo was taken aback. The old lady had agreed so easily?

"I remember she also changed the recipe for multigrain rice?"

"Master Li said, if it can't be changed, then forget it."

"That's all she said?" Madam Wang asked, somewhat displeased.

Manager Luo was stunned again. What did the old lady mean by this? Why did she seem to want Chef Li to change the recipe?
"Uh, no, Master Li said that the original multigrain rice tasted so-so, and the taste will be better after she changed it."

“In that case, let’s change it. I remember that corn and sweet potatoes are also grains,” said Madam Wang.

"Is that so?" Manager Luo couldn't help but rub his forehead. Why did he feel like he was just a messenger?
Because it was New Year's Eve, the lanterns in the Wan family mansion were already lit up before it was completely dark, illuminating the entire mansion.

Everyone put on new clothes and joyfully welcomed the arrival of the New Year.

The kitchen was the liveliest of all.

"Master Li, is the food ready? The New Year's Eve banquet is about to begin." The head steward of the Wan family came to the kitchen personally.

"It's ready, let them serve the food." Shi Jia finished cooking the last dish, took off her apron, and went home.

Shi Jia turned to He Chuan and said, "Master He, the food for everyone is in your hands now. Enjoy your meal tonight!"

The chefs, exhausted from a long day, responded to her sparsely, but she didn't mind. She walked up to the housekeeper, greeted him, and prepared to leave.

The butler frowned. "Master Li, where are you going?"

"Me? Going home. Did the housekeeper forget?" Shi Jia laughed, completely ignoring the other party's question, and went straight to the storage room to collect today's ingredients to go home.

The housekeeper knew, of course. He had heard that this cook, Li, would leave after cooking every day, and he didn't expect it to be true.

"Master Li, today is New Year's Eve. The manor has prepared a sumptuous dinner for the servants. Why don't you eat before you go back?"

"No, I have kids at home. I need to go back and cook." Shi Jia smiled and left through the back door with the groceries.

The butler looked away, his expression unreadable. "Hurry up, the master and mistress are waiting for dinner." "Yes, sir!"

In the main hall of the Wan residence, there was a long table with more than a dozen chairs. One by one, well-dressed men and women came to sit down at the table.

After Prefect Wan and Madam Wang took their seats, the steward shouted, "Serve the dishes!"

"May you have good fortune and everything go smoothly. Wishing you a happy new year, sir and madam!" A pretty maidservant stepped forward carrying a dish called "Good Fortune and Everything Goes Well" and bowed.

"Good, good, there will be a reward!" Prefect Wan said with a smile, and a maidservant handed a red envelope to the serving maid.

"May joy and happiness fill your hearts! Wishing you and your wife a blessed new year!"

"May auspicious purple clouds bring good fortune to your official career, and may you and your wife enjoy a prosperous and blessed new year!"

May your home be filled with gold and jade, and may wealth and prosperity abound in the New Year!

May your happiness be as boundless as the Eastern Sea and your life be blessed with longevity in the New Year!

……

"Very well, everyone will be rewarded!" Prefect Wan and Madam Wang's smiles grew brighter and brighter, showing their delight.

Meanwhile, Shi Jia sat in a circle with her younger brother, sister, and son. In the center of their table was a bubbling iron pot.

"Sister-in-law, what is this?" Wang Tiehua asked curiously.

“Hot pot, but people are more used to calling it warm pot,” Shi Jia said with a smile. “I came back late today, so I didn’t have time to cook. It’s perfect timing to have hot pot.”

"Come on, like this, put these lettuce leaves into the pot to cook. These meat slices are thin, so they'll cook quickly." Shi Jia saw that the lamb slices had completely changed color, so she scooped them out.

"Have some." Shi Jia placed the mutton into Wang Tieshan and Wang Tiehua's bowls. "Dip it in some sauce."

There were no outsiders present, and the two were quite at ease. They picked up pieces of mutton, dipped them in sauce, and put them in their mouths. The scalding hot mutton almost burned their mouths, but the next moment, they both gave a thumbs up and exclaimed, "Delicious!"

Shi Jia smiled happily.

The little guy next to me protested, "Mom, eat!" He slammed his hand on the table, making a loud banging sound.

"Okay, okay, I'll give it to you right away." Shi Jia quickly reassured him. The little guy already had eight teeth and could eat some hard things.

Shi Jia first cooked some mutton and shrimp for him before cooking it for himself.

Speaking of which, we must thank the Wan family. If it weren't for their estate, they wouldn't be able to enjoy fresh fish and shrimp and such a plentiful diet in winter.

"Mommy, eat!" The little guy grinned, showing his teeth.

"Good boy, come and have some greens." Shi Jia blanched a leafy green and put it in the little guy's bowl. The little guy quickly pushed the bowl away, "No, don't want it."

Like many children, this guy is a picky eater.

"Good boy, you have to eat, or you won't get any steamed egg custard tonight." Shi Jia looked at him with a determined gaze. The little guy seemed a little scared by her gaze and obediently grabbed the bowl back, reaching out his little hand to pick up some vegetable leaves.

Shi Jia was startled and quickly grabbed the bowl, picked up a leaf of vegetable with her chopsticks, took a bite to make sure it was cold, and then tore the leaf into pieces and fed it to the little one. "Eat."

Smack smack...

Only when the little guy quietly ate his food did Shi Jia feel relieved.

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, have some mutton." Wang Tiehua picked up a piece of meat from the boiling pot and placed it on Shi Jia's bowl, giving her a sweet smile.

"You eat too," Shi Jia smiled at her.

"Sister-in-law, your meatballs are so delicious." Wang Tieshan also put a plump meatball into Shi Jia's bowl.

"Okay, let's eat together."