Gourmet: Midnight Vending-Chapter 413 - 367: Clear Soup and Milk Soup (Part 2)
A moment later.
Hou Yao, who was already preparing to rest, was awakened by his boss and confusedly sat in a car heading to Jiuniu Pass.
"Boss, what’s going on?"
Mu Xin said righteously, "No matter what, Chen Mo is a junior we know. I’m ultimately uneasy with him handling such a big banquet alone, so I asked you to go and check things out, help him supervise."
Hou Yao looked delighted. In fact, he wanted to visit Jiuniu Pass to see Chen Mo prepare the banquet ever since he heard about the event during the day. However, at that time, the boss was so angry after hearing about Mu Mu’s situation, and it was not the right moment to bring it up.
Now that the boss suggested it, it was just perfect.
But when Hou Yao looked at Mu Xin, he felt that the expression on his old face was not that pleasant.
’Is that really the case?’
Hou Yao pondered secretly.
Some things were too complicated to figure out, and he was too lazy to think too deeply. Recalling the ingredient list Chen Mo handed to Mu Xin, some items on it clearly indicated to Hou Yao which dishes Chen Mo intended to make at a glance.
He was rather shocked at that time.
This kid wasn’t following conventions. Most restaurants preparing large banquets balance "pork, beef, lamb, chicken, duck, fish, shrimp" dishes aimed at extreme deliciousness while compressing costs to the minimum.
But the dishes Chen Mo planned to make seemed to completely disregard costs... The most baffling part was that a mere table of banquet included dishes across all eight major cuisines!
This was absurd.
Could he handle so many dishes by himself?
Jingzhou wasn’t too far from Jiuniu Pass, and as Hou Yao was lost in thought, the car entered the village of Jiuniu Pass. Mu Xin was still thinking about how to call for the specific address.
Just as the car passed through two alleys, Mu Xin saw a courtyard ablaze with lights, bustling with people inside.
"Stop, this should be the house."
Hou Yao was about to ask the boss how he knew this was the house, but he got the answer immediately after getting off the car.
"It smells so good... What is this kid cooking that smells so nice?"
Even before entering the courtyard, the enticing aroma filled the air.
Hou Yao squinted slightly, trying to feel it. Even as an experienced Cantonese cuisine master, he couldn’t immediately identify what dish this aroma belonged to.
"Won’t we know if we go inside and take a look?" Mu Xin said, displeased.
He was somewhat upset—how did this kid’s culinary skills improve so much? Since their last brief meeting on Wanglong Mountain, he already felt that Chen Mo was progressing rapidly, and now, from this aroma, it seemed he had improved even more.
The two entered the yard together.
Mu Xin deliberately assumed a stern expression, trying to look like an expert, but as soon as he entered the courtyard, "Hey, you little kid!"
Mu Xin, speechless, pointed at a little child who had just bumped into him.
Looking closely again.
The courtyard was packed with people, layer upon layer.
"Is having a big feast at night a thing here?"
"It can’t be. Even if it were, it wouldn’t be at this time, right?"
The two struggled to squeeze through the crowd to see what was going on, hearing the noisy chatter from the people surrounding the center.
"Mo, although we don’t know your boss, we’re familiar with you! Your boss’s kid’s birthday is just like your kid’s birthday. It’s normal for us to give a gift and join the banquet tomorrow, right?"
"No matter! Anyway, your boss’s birthday is a big deal. I must come to celebrate with you tomorrow!"
"Add more tables, more tables! Twenty tables aren’t enough for anyone. Just us villagers need several tables. You wouldn’t deny us celebrating, would you?"
"Our etiquette must be proper. I’m giving five hundred! Mo, save me a seat for tomorrow!"
Chen Mo was surrounded by uncles, aunts, and villagers, sweating profusely.
He hadn’t anticipated this situation.
Originally, he was planning to start making the Cream Soup after finishing the Clear Soup. Although these two soups were different, their basic methods were similar.
Clear Soup is simmered slowly over low heat, while Cream Soup is boiled rapidly over high heat.
The same big black pot and the same ingredients were boiled on high heat for a full two hours!
When about half of the soup in the pot was boiled away, the remaining broth became milky.
The pork hock, chicken, and duck inside were all cooked into mush.
When he poured the broth through a clean cloth to filter it into other clean basins, the rich and savory aroma of the soup filled the air instantly.
The aroma was so overwhelming that it even lured the neighbors next door over.
Brother Niu, a neighbor just slightly older than Chen Mo, ran over to hear that Chen Mo was preparing a big feast, immediately expressing that a seat for him must be reserved for tomorrow to celebrate Chen Mo’s boss’s son’s birthday!
That’s not all. Brother Niu, inhaling the aroma in the yard, and the uncles who had been helping out earlier started showing off on WeChat.
Within just over ten minutes, the bored folks in the village all came to Chen Mo’s house. After witnessing and smelling this aroma firsthand, it led to the scene just now.
Chen Mo looked at his father, troubled, "Dad, what do we do?"
As the saying goes, those who come are guests!
And there are those online videos where if there’s a wedding, online bloggers crash the feast, as long as they’re willing to pay, no host would refuse guests.
Firstly, it’s a joyous occasion. The hosts are surely happy to have more guests.
Secondly, generally speaking, if guests give five hundred as a gift, it’s definitely a profitable deal for the host. Why not?
Chen Jinping held this kind of thought, "I say, why not make more tables? Twenty tables are the same as thirty tables. Otherwise, what if someone really can’t resist coming to celebrate your boss’s son’s birthday and there’s no space tomorrow?"
Chen Mo wiped the sweat from his forehead, "Alright, it’s a good thing I prepared enough stuff."
Then he shouted to the villagers surrounding him, "Everyone, if you’ve nothing to do, go home and sleep. I’ll add ten more tables! Ten tables, okay. Whoever wants to come tomorrow, feel free."
But he also had to make one thing clear first. Chen Mo smiled and added, "But, this is my boss’s banquet, not a free meal! When I get married, I’ll treat everyone to a three-day, three-night feast!"
Those words hit the mark, achieving both face and substance.
Chen Jinping looked at his son with some gratification, feeling that Chen Mo’s speaking and handling of matters was comprehensive now.
Chen Mo’s words made the villagers in the courtyard very happy.
Brother Niu, holding his child in his arms, said, "Mo, we’re a family of three, and I’ll give a thousand as a gift tomorrow!"
Chen Mo thought to himself whether Brother Niu simply wanted to enjoy the feast, rather than genuinely celebrating the birthday?
He looked at Niu Kui exasperated, "Brother Niu, a thousand yuan will ensure you don’t lose out!"
Amid the satisfied laughter from everyone, Chen Mo continued to work.
The connections between villagers in this small village were slightly closer; seeing Chen Mo start working again, some who weren’t in a hurry went to ask if there was anything they could help with, mostly women.
The men gathered to chat and boast, while Liu Ping, who had been busy all day, became the center of attention.
"Oh, you guys don’t know, but it was Xiao Mo who made us breakfast this morning. The mutton was stunning! I’ve lived for over sixty years and never had such delicious mutton!"
"And those buns, amazing! Even with just lard and chicken, one bite was filled with meat and soup. I ended up eating five buns and drank two bowls of mutton soup!"
"Old Liu, is it really as magical as you say? It’s just mutton and buns—those are available everywhere downtown. I think you’re boasting."
"Ha! You’re just being sour grapes because you didn’t get to eat them. I’m too lazy to explain. You’ll know when you have the chance to eat them yourself!"
But everyone wasn’t truly doubtful, because while they were boasting, they were suddenly hit by another aroma they had never experienced before.
Everyone fell silent instinctively, curiously turning their gaze towards Chen Mo.
Mu Xin and Hou Yao couldn’t resist either.
The two moved to the front.
Mu Xin’s face went dark and he stayed silent when he saw his own daughter, wearing an apron and a headscarf, looking just like a little peasant girl!
She was busy acting as Chen Mo’s assistant!
Hou Yao paid no attention to these details; instead, his eyes twinkled at the beef in Chen Mo’s hands, "Can I come to the banquet tomorrow?"
Chen Mo looked up.
Slightly stunned at first, then delighted, Master Hou?
