A bowl of double-layered milk, a pudding, and a large bowl of milk tea—all finished.
Master Jiang wiped his mouth with a handkerchief contentedly and said, "It’s alright."
"So it’s not quite to your taste? I was considering serving you another portion, but if that’s the case, I wouldn’t want to trouble you," Meng Yao said with a smile, "An brother, you love eating, have more."
"You! When did I say it wasn’t to my taste?" Master Jiang was agitated.
Master Jiang immediately realized she was doing it intentionally.
So he snorted, "You woman, how can you lack humility ? Also, do you think getting my approval so easily? In Qingzhou Prefecture, there are only two restaurants that have received my ’alright’. ’Alright’ is to leave room for your improvement."
"If you praise how delicious it is, I would be more willing to make it," Meng Yao replied.
"It’s delicious, delicious, is that okay now?" Master Jiang huffed, his beard puffing.
"Would you like another portion?" Meng Yao asked.
"Yes, bring it over," Master Jiang grumbled.
"Please wait a moment," Meng Yao mixed another portion for Master Jiang.
"Mother, where is my portion?" Zhao Dahe’s voice pitifully called from inside the house.
"Coming," Meng Yao mixed a portion, and Qin Zheng took it inside to Zhao Dahe.
Compared to how quickly he ate earlier, Master Jiang ate this serving very slowly, savoring each bite.
"Is this truly made from cow’s milk?" asked Master Jiang.
"Double-layered milk is mixed with egg whites, pudding with egg yolks. So, strictly speaking, it’s a combination of cow’s milk and eggs," Meng Yao replied.
"Who taught you to make this?" asked Master Jiang.
He considered himself well-versed in world cuisine, yet he had never tasted these two items before.
As for the milk tea, he had tasted something similar. It was good, but didn’t spark his curiosity as much.
"Figured it out myself," Meng Yao said nonchalantly.
She wasn’t foolish enough to claim it was some sort of southern snack.
After all, someone like Master Jiang, a great scholar, might very well have traveled all over Zhou Country. He was clearly a connoisseur, not someone easy to deal with like Zhao Xiaohua.
Self-taught or not, Master Jiang had no choice but to believe her.
After all, there was no way to verify it.
"Old Jiang, you’re lucky. My mother’s culinary skills aren’t limited to mere sweets. Her cooking is not inferior to those of the restaurant chefs," Zhao Dahe shouted.
"Respect your teacher and the principles, call me Master," Master Jiang replied sternly.
"Not calling you Master doesn’t mean I don’t respect you. It’s just a title, right?"
"Your son is quite remarkable," Master Jiang said through gritted teeth to Meng Yao.
"Isn’t it? You think so too? What a coincidence, I thought so as well," Meng Yao said with an expression of ’surprise’. "I didn’t expect you, Master Jiang, to share my opinion."
Couldn’t you tell I was being sarcastic?
Meng Yao: I could tell. But my son is indeed remarkable.
Zhao Qing and Yun Ying came in from outside, and Meng Yao thought he was coming to see Zhao Dahe, so she shouted, "Dahe, Mr. Yun is here."
It counted as giving him a signal to avoid any slip-ups.
Yun Ying walked up to Master Jiang and bowed respectfully.
"Teacher." (Suddenly remembered that calling Master Jiang a great scholar as Master didn’t seem quite right. So, afterward, I’ll call him Teacher. I checked, and in ancient times there was indeed the term Teacher. I won’t change what was written before.)
Yun Ying is a disciple of Master Jiang?
Meng Yao looked at Master Jiang, then at Yun Ying, and then at Ren Zhong.
Master Jiang had an indifferent face.
Yun Ying also maintained an indifferent demeanor.
Ren Zhong looked confused; he didn’t know Master Jiang had other disciples.
"Why are you here?" Master Jiang asked Yun Ying.
"Disciple came to seek Teacher, informed by Uncle Jiang," Yun Ying replied.
"Well, meet your junior disciple, Ren Zi’an," Master Jiang said, pointing to Ren Zi’an.
Ren Zi’an immediately greeted Yun Ying respectfully, "Greetings, Senior Brother."
Yun Ying nodded slightly, "Greetings, Junior Brother."
"There’s another little junior brother in the house," Master Jiang chuckled, eyes twinkling, "I’ve recently taken in two junior disciples."
"Old Jiang, what do you mean?" Zhao Dahe’s voice came out, agitated.
What do I mean? Exactly what it says.
Senior and junior brothers are not based on age; whoever enters the apprenticeship first is naturally the senior.
Ren Zi’an is Yun Ying’s junior disciple, but he’s Zhao Dahe’s senior disciple.
"I’m acquainted with Brother Dahe," Yun Ying said, "This time Brother Dahe was injured, partly due to my fault."
"Oh?" ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝕟𝕖𝕥
"I’ve taken care of those matters, and it won’t involve Brother Dahe again," Yun Ying replied.
Master Jiang saw Yun Ying didn’t want to elaborate further and knowing that Yun Ying was always someone with discretion, he didn’t press on.
"In the future, I’ll temporarily reside here at your Brother Dahe’s place. If you need to find me, come here," Master Jiang said.
"Isn’t staying here somewhat..." unjust.
After all, the estate outside the city is by the mountains, with clean air and picturesque scenery, and quite spacious. The buildings within the estate were specially constructed by craftsmen hired from the Ministry of Works.
While this house is small, not to mention the many people living here.
"Not unjust, as long as the food is good, drinks are good, sleep is good, nothing is unjust. Just send me a comfortable bed, and it solves all problems," Master Jiang said boldly, especially since good food and drink were guaranteed.
"Understood," Yun Ying didn’t say much; his teacher was stubborn about living habits.
If he wants to do something, he won’t listen to persuasion.
"You’re not going to consider it? Really want to stay here?" Meng Yao asked.
"You’re unwilling for me to stay? Well, you can offer to send meals to me every day, and I wouldn’t oppose," Master Jiang replied.
Yun Ying glanced at Meng Yao unintentionally, then quickly withdrew his gaze.
Is the reason Teacher wants to stay because of Zhao Mrs.’s culinary skills?
It should be noted that even with skills of an Imperial Chef from the palace, Teacher was merely indifferent about eating their food.
So what did Mrs. Zhao prepare to capture Teacher’s gastronomic interest?
Besides his scholarly pursuits, Teacher’s other great passion in life is eating. Nonetheless, as a connoisseur who has tasted countless delicacies, ordinary culinary skills cannot move him.
"You want me to deliver meals daily, leaving me no time for anything else? Although you’re now Dahe’s Teacher, you cannot use this identity to coerce me," Meng Yao said seriously, "I can only promise to cook for you when available but can’t guarantee three meals a day."
"That, hmm..." Master Jiang drawled, "I didn’t say you must cook three meals daily."
"Then whether you stay or not is up to you," Meng Yao said.
In the end, Zhao Dahe relinquished his room, as it was the best room besides Meng Yao’s room.
Even though he called him Old Jiang, Zhao Dahe was very respectful to Master Jiang in action.
Yun Ying was also decisive, quickly arranging for a very comfortable large bed to be sent over.