Courtyard House: Purchasing Agents' Comeback from the Great Famine

The group chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere was fairly harmonious. Zhang Jing occasionally asked Wang Feng and Qin Jingru some questions about their lives, and the two answered truthfully.

"Master's wife, it's already past six o'clock, why hasn't Master come back yet?" Qin Jingru asked curiously.

Zhang Jing smiled gently and explained, "Jingru, that's how it is when you're a chef. It's only a little past six o'clock, and many customers are eating. But your master said he would be back early today, so he should be back soon."

"Knock knock knock".

Just as Zhang Jing finished speaking, there was a knock on the door.

"My dad's back, I'll go open the door for him."

Wu Jing walked into the courtyard and saw Wang Feng and Qin Jingru. He smiled and said, "You two probably haven't eaten yet. Jingru, come to the kitchen with me. I'll show you how to cook first, and then I'll teach you some basic skills. Wang Feng, you can rest for a while and have a couple of drinks with me later."

After saying that, Wu Jing turned to Wu Yun and said, "Xiao Yun, come and help too."

"Thank you, Master."

"Thank you, Uncle Wu."

"Dad, my junior sister brought pork, mutton, and offal today."

Wu Jing smiled and nodded: "Alright, Jingru, today I'll teach you how to make braised pork and stir-fried mutton with scallions, and also braised pork intestines. We still have half a chicken at home, so let's make Kung Pao chicken too."

With that, Wu Jing led Qin Jingru and Wu Yun into the kitchen.

In less than twenty minutes, a rich aroma wafted from the kitchen. Ten minutes later, Wu Yun and Qin Jingru each came out carrying two plates of food.

Looking at the dishes that looked and smelled delicious, Wang Feng couldn't help but swallow.

"The dishes are all served, let's start eating. Xiaoyun, go get two bottles of Moutai."

"Why."

Just as Wu Yun was about to get the wine, Wang Feng quickly stopped her, saying with a smile, "I brought two bottles of wine with me, so drink mine first."

As he spoke, Wang Feng took out the two bottles of Moutai he had brought with him, poured a glass for Wu Jing, and then poured one for himself. He was about to pour wine for Aunt Wu and Wu Yun when they stopped him.

Seeing this, Wang Feng didn't press the matter. He picked up his wine glass, stood up, and said to Wu Jing:

"Uncle Wu, this glass of wine is for you. Thank you for taking Jingru as your apprentice and teaching her cooking. Don't worry, Jingru has loved cooking since she was little, and she's also very hardworking. She will definitely learn well and will never tarnish your reputation."

After saying that, Wang Feng drank it all in one gulp.

Wu Jing downed his drink in one gulp, then chuckled and teased, "Wang Feng, you're such a sly fox! I know exactly what you're thinking. You just want Jingru to master her cooking so you can eat gourmet food every day, right?"

"Cough cough."

Wang Feng coughed lightly, quickly poured wine for Wu Jing, and then said somewhat awkwardly:

"Uncle Wu, that's only one aspect. On the other hand, I also want Jingru to learn a skill so I can get her a job at the factory."

Wu Jing pressed his hand down: "Alright, you don't need to explain anymore. If it weren't for Jing Ru's exceptional talent, I would never have taken her as my apprentice."

"Hey Wang Feng, Jingru calls my dad 'Master,' shouldn't you start calling him that too?" Wu Yun teased with a smile.

Wang Feng was about to speak when Wu Jing interrupted him.

"It's fine for us to just talk our own way. Wang Feng is a shrewd kid, and I quite like his personality. If he also started calling me 'Master' like Jingru does, it just wouldn't feel right."

"Hehe, Uncle Wu, I feel the same way. Come on, let's have another drink."

"I'm telling you guys, stop drinking and eat some food, otherwise it'll get cold and won't taste good," Zhang Jing interjected.

After toasting with Wu Jing again, Wang Feng said with a smile, "Uncle Wu, I'm really in luck today, to be able to eat dishes personally prepared by you, the chef of state banquets."

Wu Jing laughed and said, "Wang Feng, you've misjudged us. Apart from this stir-fried mutton with scallions, the other three dishes were all made by Jingru."

Qin Jingru winked at Wang Feng: "Hehe, Brother Wang Feng, come and try my cooking! These dishes were all taught to me by my master."

Wang Feng stared at Qin Jingru in shock. Without saying a word, he picked up a piece of braised pork and put it in his mouth. It was tender and juicy, not greasy at all, and had an unforgettable aftertaste. This dish was almost as good as the braised pork he had at Fengzeyuan Restaurant for lunch today.

Wang Feng could hardly believe that such a delicious and visually appealing dish was actually made by Jing Ru. It was worlds apart from the dishes she had made before.

After eating another piece of Kung Pao Chicken and Braised Pork Intestines, Wang Feng finally understood just how strong Uncle Wu's claim of Qin Jingru's talent truly was.

"Brother Wang Feng, how is it? Is it delicious?"

Wang Feng nodded, picked up a piece of stir-fried mutton with scallions and put it in his mouth. After a while, he gave a thumbs up and said:

"Jingru, you're amazing! It looks like you'll be a master soon."

Uncle Wu's stir-fried mutton with scallions was absolutely perfect. It was fragrant, tender, and smooth, with no gamey smell at all. It was definitely the best mutton he had ever eaten.

If Uncle Wu's dish gets a 10 out of 10, then Jingru's three dishes should get a 5 out of 10. However, it's uncertain whether Qin Jingru can still make them taste this good without guidance.

"Hehe, I did it exactly as Master said. I'm glad Brother Wang Feng likes it."

After tasting the dishes she had just cooked, Qin Jingru could hardly believe that she had made them.

After that, Wang Feng stopped drinking with Uncle Wu. He only drank with Uncle Wu occasionally, and spent most of his time eating, especially the stir-fried mutton with scallions, which he ate half of by himself.

After finishing his meal, Wang Feng was still feeling a bit unsatisfied when Wu Yun brought him some tea.

After Qin Jingru served tea to her master and mistress, the apprenticeship ceremony was considered complete.

Seeing this, Wang Feng also smiled.

He had considered having Qin Jingru learn culinary skills from other chefs, but he only had a vague impression of his master, Sha Zhu. He didn't know any other chefs who could reach the level of a state banquet chef.

Anyway, since Sha Zhu had severed his master-disciple relationship with him, Wang Feng felt that it was fine to let Qin Jingru become Wu Jing's disciple.

After serving tea, Wang Feng chatted with them for half an hour. Wu Jing then gave Qin Jingru a few more instructions, and Wang Feng took Qin Jingru back home.

Back at No. 95 compound, it was already almost 9 o'clock. The compound closes at 9 o'clock at night. If it were any later, we would have to ask Yan Fugui to open the gate.

Back in the house, Qin Jingru prepared a basin of water for washing Wang Feng's feet. While washing his feet, she smiled and said:

"Brother Wang Feng, I don't know why, but I feel like I'm learning things really fast now. My master teaches me how to cut vegetables and cook, and I can remember it immediately after he shows me how to do it just once. What do you think is going on?"

"Hehe, Jingru, this is a good thing. I guess you were naturally talented at cooking, and now that you've met a real master to teach you, your talent is showing." Wang Feng explained with a smile.