Although it was called a dinner, the food that could be put on the table was far from sumptuous.
There was a variety of meats, but they were mainly preserved products like salted meats and sausages, lacking fresh meat.
As for vegetables and fruits, they could almost be described as rare; except for some fresh vegetables and fruits in front of Perfikot, everyone else mostly had only meat. The only side dishes were some pickled cabbage and potatoes, which were particularly good for storage.
Seeing this, Perfikot couldn’t help but ask Foster, "Grandpa Fu, is the territory’s food supply very tight?"
Perfikot’s question was understandable; given the scale of food she had stored in the warehouse before leaving, there should certainly be more than just a hint of fresh green vegetables on the table.
Although what she mainly stored in the fjord camp warehouse was indeed various meat products along with a large amount of flour and potatoes, it wasn’t as if there were no vegetable reserves at all.
She clearly remembered that she had arranged for the Flying Airship she built to stay in the Northern Territory, specifically to purchase fresh vegetables from the New Continent and transport them over, with special instructions to purchase vegetables that are good for storage.
This was to allow the people of the Northern Territory to eat fresh vegetables even in winter to supplement their dietary needs.
However, looking at the food on the dinner table, Perfikot couldn’t help but suspect that something had gone wrong at some step. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be the only one with green vegetables in front of her.
After all, this was the dinner of the Count of the North, and with Foster’s professionalism as a noble butler, he wouldn’t make such a mistake that would go against Perfikot’s identity.
Yet in the face of Perfikot’s inquiry, the old butler gave a wry smile and only after bowing apologetically to Perfikot did he say, "I am terribly sorry, Miss; it is my negligence for not preparing a meal and banquet fitting your status, truly..."
"You don’t need to say that, Grandpa Fu. You’re my butler; just tell me the reason directly." Perfikot wasn’t interested in hearing empty words; she wanted to know directly why there were no vegetables on the table.
The old butler’s face showed an awkward and guilty expression, and then he explained to Perfikot, "I had planned to tell you tomorrow. It’s the Flying Airship you left in the territory; it has been responsible for buying fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats from the New Continent colony all winter, maintaining the territory’s food supply.
But two weeks ago, it developed some malfunction and is unsuitable for flying tasks due to its inability to fly properly, so for safety’s sake, I ordered it to stop flying and had the territory’s researchers try to repair it.
The lack of the Flying Airship’s procurement has led to the tight food supply in the territory, resulting in meals not fitting your status. I am truly very sorry."
Although there are no regulations on what ingredients or standards aristocrats must follow for their diet, the meals should at least match their status.
A Count’s meals shouldn’t be the same as a worker’s under normal circumstances; that would be a matter of lost status and dignity.
Perfikot wasn’t overly particular about this, but after all, she was the Lord of the North, a Count of the Empire. In a semi-formal dinner setting, failing to offer a dish fitting her status was indeed undignified from a certain perspective.
The old butler, who had cared for the Brandlis Clan for three generations, cherished the family’s honor and dignity far more than Perfikot did.
Hence, the old butler felt deeply guilty and blamed himself for such a disgraceful matter.
Listening to the old butler’s report, Perfikot didn’t get angry; she just furrowed her brows, then while scooping a spoonful of stew into her mouth, she asked the old butler, "In two weeks’ time, you haven’t been able to repair that Flying Airship? I remember there are professors from Langton University in the territory, aren’t there? Can’t they solve even this small issue?"
In Perfikot’s view, these old professors might not be able to build a Flying Airship, but surely they could solve a minor malfunction.
If they indeed were so incompetent, Perfikot would have to question their professional expertise.
"Several professors have found the cause, but parts need to be ordered from the homeland for repairs, hence the delays," the old butler continued to explain and also clarified, "Apart from the temporary shortage of fresh vegetables and fruits, other food reserves are quite adequate, so I haven’t rushed to address this issue, resulting... in your disappointment, Miss. I truly apologize!"
"There’s no need to apologize for such things. Grandpa Fu, you didn’t do anything wrong." After listening to the old butler’s explanation, Perfikot didn’t mind this minor issue: "Tomorrow I will go to see exactly what’s going on, and if parts need to be ordered from the homeland for repairs, I might need to adjust my plans."
If the Northern Territory currently lacked the capability to repair Flying Airships, Perfikot would have to consider first addressing this issue, perhaps building a repair factory capable of maintaining at least the Flying Airship in the Northern Territory.
After all, Flying Airships are an indispensable part of her entire Northern Territory development plan in the future. If they broke down and had to be returned to the homeland for repair, the problem would be quite severe.
"In fact, a bearing was damaged due to the harsh Northern weather, and we couldn’t balance it with the equipment we have, hence we couldn’t repair it. Your loyal old butler hasn’t made any mistake." At this moment, Professor Archibald suddenly spoke up, exonerating the old butler.
Hearing Professor Archibald’s words, Perfikot nodded in understanding. If this were the case, indeed, it was a problem the Northern Territory couldn’t solve.
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Evidently, the Northern Territory doesn’t quite posses such processing capabilities, and even the New Continent colony struggles with such high-precision machining technology for this era, which is only solvable back in the homeland.
Perfikot couldn’t help but frown and ask the old butler, "I remember I prepared spare parts, did we use them all up?"
"Miss, the winter weather in the Northern Territory is too harsh." The old butler’s response was quite euphemistic.