Cheng Su decided to host the dinner at her own restaurant, admittedly with her own ulterior motives in mind.
It wasn’t about saving money, as she had already planned to foot the bill for the event regardless of its location. The thought of holding the dinner in her restaurant was entirely about seizing the opportunity to drum up publicity for the place.
After all, one guest was the county head and the other a school principal, naturally holding higher status than the otherwise insignificant Cheng Su. If they had a meal at the restaurant and endorsed its offerings, then there would be chances to host such esteemed guests again in the future.
Once the precedent was set, there would be a second time, and that’s how opportunities unfold.
Therefore, this time, she had to pull out all the stops.
Cheng Su had inquired in advance about the two dignitaries’ preferences and dietary restrictions and then settled the menu with Old Song.
Old Song, upon learning that the incoming guests were the county head and the principal, was equally surprised and agreed with Cheng Su that this was an excellent opportunity to promote the restaurant.
Together, they meticulously crafted a menu that catered to the guests’ tastes and taboos. Cheng Su herself also concocted a dessert.
On the day of the dinner, Cheng Su told Taiguo that she’d be home late because of a dinner event at the restaurant and that he should take care of his own dinner at the canteen.
As soon as the lunch rush was over, all the restaurant staff, having had their own lunch, immediately got busy preparing for the dinner event.
They had to set up the venue, give it a thorough cleaning, and prepare the ingredients. Cheng Su took Song Xiaojang shopping for the best ingredients and handed them over to Old Song. Meanwhile, she started making the dessert and directed He Yue and Qiulan to arrange the dining table.
But the work didn’t stop there. Once the venue was set up, she joined Old Song in the kitchen to cook the evening’s dishes.
She realized that Old Song was truly an exceptional and born chef; thanks to his expertise, his insights into culinary matters surpassed her own, which were acquired halfway through her life. Moreover, he was generous in sharing his knowledge.
For instance, with the peacock fish dish, he personally showed Cheng Su how to slice the fish so that it would be smoother and how to marinate it to ensure perfect doneness.
While cooking his specialty, Old Song was open and forthcoming, even teaching Cheng Su how to cook without any reservation.
With guidance offered, Cheng Su was keen not to miss such an opportunity. Her eagerness to learn and suggest improvements only fueled Old Song’s enthusiasm.
Cooking, like any skill, thrives on challenge and competition.
Interaction fosters mutual progress; Cheng Su enjoyed strategizing about food, while Old Song relished the process of research and experimentation. They worked in harmony, much like a May-December friendship.
Yet, it was Song Xiaojang, who should have inherited his father’s culinary skills and carried on the family legacy for generations, who felt utterly lost in their discussions, finding them more perplexing than music notes.
Old Song hadn’t failed to notice his son’s confused expression, feeling a twinge of disappointment. The child had never taken to cooking and lacked the innate talent. He couldn’t even fry rice without burning it.
As for Cheng Su...
Old Song cast a sidelong glance at Cheng Su and thought to himself with a sigh: If only she were my daughter, then my ancestors’ craft could be passed down!
"Sister Su, it’s almost 6 o’clock," Qiulan reminded.
Cheng Su checked the time, saw that the dishes were almost ready, and then said to Old Song, "I’m counting on you here; I need to get ready to greet the guests."
"Sure."
Cheng Su untied her apron, washed her face, then put on a well-tailored pink and white dress with high-heeled sandals. She pulled out the makeup bag she had purchased expressly for this occasion and hid behind the cash register to apply the makeup she hadn’t worn in a long time.