Chapter 25: Chapter 23, Remarkable Culinary Skills l
Translator: 549690339
In the kitchen, everyone was skeptical about the dadao soup Daohua was making; they even felt sympathy for County Magistrate Yan who would have to drink it.
When other girls wanted to show filial piety, who wouldn’t sincerely make a couple of dishes? Even if they didn’t make a main course, they should at least prepare a couple of desserts.
They had never seen anyone as perfunctory as the eldest girl!
However, as the water kept boiling, the soup started to turn milky white and gradually thickened, emitting a faint, natural grain aroma.
Daohua sprinkled some salt, added some chopped green onions, then drizzled a few drops of sesame oil, indicating that the dadao soup was ready.
From the time she entered the kitchen until the dadao soup was ready, it took less than fifteen minutes in total.
Simple, fast!
“Let’s go, take it to daddy.”
Daohua ordered Ping Tong to carry the dadao soup, then couldn’t wait to head towards the front courtyard of the County Governor’s Office.
As soon as they left, the kitchen was filled with the sound of saliva swallowing.
“I didn’t expect the dadao soup to be made so aromatic!”
Nanny Ren looked at the soup pot several times, and it took her a while to force herself to turn away, swallowing hard, and gesturing for the maids to take the pot away to be washed.
“Nanny Ren, we also saw how the eldest girl made the dadao soup just now, why don’t we give it a try?”
The white flour brought by the eldest girl was used up, but there was still some in the kitchen.
Nanny Ren also wanted to taste it very much, so she nodded, “Alright, let’s try it. If it tastes good, we can add another soup dish in the future.”
The people in the kitchen got busy.
Some time later.
Looking at the dadao soup in the pot, they all exchanged glances.
“That’s right, the eldest girl did it just like this, why is there such a big difference?”
The dadao soup made by the eldest girl, the aroma could be smelled from far away;
The one they made… couldn’t be said to be bad, just very ordinary, totally lacking that tempting, mouthwatering aroma.
Nanny Ren: “I had heard Old Madam praising the eldest girl’s cooking skills before, and I thought it was an exaggeration, but now I see it’s really the case!” She knew more about the goings-on in the kitchen than others.
I understand, the simpler the thing, the more it tests a person’s cooking skills.
Meanwhile, in the front courtyard of the Governor’s Office, County Magistrate Yan, who had been busy all morning, was discussing the resettlement problem of the refugees with the assistant magistrate, officials, and secretaries, when suddenly a faint aroma wafted over.
“How fragrant, what is that?”
Assistant Magistrate Xu stretched his neck to look towards the door.
County Magistrate Yan also looked over, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
This aroma, he remembered it.
It was the same scent from the dadao soup his eldest daughter had made the day his second and third child returned.
The others in the room were also full of curiosity.
Taking advantage of his relationship with County Magistrate Yan, Secretary Lin said with a smile, “This early in the morning, Madam is sending food for your lordship. I wonder what delicious thing she made that smells so good?”
County Magistrate Yan smiled, “Just in time, I am also hungry.” With that, he waved someone over, “Go, have the meals brought here.” After saying this, he looked at Assistant Magistrate Xu and the others with a smile, “In a moment, we’ll all eat together.”
Assistant Magistrate Xu and the others nodded with smiles.
Normally, they would definitely not behave like this, but today, that aroma was just too tempting, so they shamelessly decided to stay.
Even the aloof and proud Secretary Xiao remained seated without moving.
The allure of delicious food was evident.
Soon, the group saw a girl of about 8 or 9 years old walking over with a smile, followed by a maid carrying a food box.
Upon seeing the newcomers, the eyes of everyone there brightened.
What a spirited and impressive young girl!
Her bearing, those spirited and bright eyes, made people forget about mundane matters at a glance.
County Magistrate Yan looked at Daohua in surprise, “Girl, how did you run off to the front courtyard?”
Daohua, seeing so many people in the room, was also somewhat surprised. She gracefully greeted County Magistrate Yan with proper decorum, then said with a smile, “Mother said father has been very busy these days, so I thought I’d come and see you.”
Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Yan smiled warmly, “You’re thoughtful, but the front yard is for official business, and you’re not to wander here in the future.”
Daohua nodded obediently, “It was my negligence, having disturbed father’s work. I will leave now.”
County Magistrate Yan waved his hand, “We’ve just finished our discussions; you haven’t disturbed us.” He said, smiling at the other people in the room, “This is my eldest daughter who hasn’t been with us for long. You’ve seen something quite comical. Daohua, hurry up and greet the elders.”
With an unchanging smile, Daohua courteously greeted everyone present in the room, following the order of their seating.
Throughout the process, everyone sized up this young girl who responded appropriately and carried herself with an extraordinary demeanor.
Assistant Magistrate Xu laughed, “So this is the eldest daughter. No wonder the magistrate always talked about her, and today we finally understand why. With such a sensible and well-mannered girl, it’s only right to keep her close and personally instruct her.”
Registrar Liu also joined in with a smile, “The bearing of the eldest daughter makes her stand out from my wild girls at home.”
Master Lin’s smile was somewhat strained, but he still managed to offer a compliment to Daohua.
In the room, only Scholar Xiao remained silent, simply smiling and nodding at Daohua.
To this, nobody found it strange.
Scholar Xiao was exceptional in his abilities, but he was too aloof, rarely concerning himself with ordinary matters beyond the official duties of the Governor’s Office.
After bantering with everyone for a while, County Magistrate Yan finally turned to Daohua, “Did your mother send you here with some food?”
Daohua shook her head, “No, not yet—it’s still a while until lunch. Mother was worried about you being too busy to eat, getting too hungry. I happened to hear her, so I thought I’d make you a bowl of dough drop soup to tide you over.”
At these words, the others in the room showed a hint of disappointment.
Dough drop soup, ah…
Such a rich aroma, they had thought it was something quite special!
Who would have thought it was just ordinary dough drop soup!
Master Lin’s expression improved quite a bit.
Dough drop soup, indeed from the countryside—an attempt at a filial gift without the knowledge to use something more valuable.
Just as everyone felt let down, County Magistrate Yan’s face lit up with anticipation, “Is that so? I am indeed a bit hungry.”
Hearing this, Daohua beamed a smile, took the food container from Ping Tong’s hands, stepped forward, and opened it herself.
In an instant, a rich fragrance wafted out.
Those who had just been dismissive now craned their necks with interest.
Seeing the expressions of the people, County Magistrate Yan noted that there was plenty of dough drop soup to go around and then said with a smile, “Everyone, try some.” After speaking, he glanced at Daohua.
Daohua, very perceptively, began ladling out the soup, first serving County Magistrate Yan, and then the others. Each bowl she filled, she had Ping Tong deliver it.
Soon enough, the dough drop soup had been portioned out.
Just enough, one bowl for each person in the room.
Scholar Xiao glanced at the bowls of soup in front of everyone, a trace of surprise in his eyes. He looked at Daohua, and his gaze flickered briefly.
Daohua said, “I shall not disturb father any longer and will now take my leave.”
County Magistrate Yan nodded, smiling as he watched his eldest daughter leave.
As soon as she had gone, his tone becoming slightly hurried, he said, “Everyone, please start tasting!” He then began to eat with great interest.
The others could hardly wait, and they too began to eat.
Scholar Xiao also slowly picked up his bowl, glanced in the direction where County Magistrate Yan’s eldest daughter had departed, and thought to himself that the magistrate’s eldest daughter was indeed astute and quick-witted..