Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1331 - 185, Host a Banquet (First Watch)

After a series of provincial and imperial examinations, the top three ranks in this round of exams had finally emerged. Ma Junying lived up to expectations and claimed the title of First Scholar, bringing glory to the people of Zhuma Town.

Master Ma had arrived in the capital city from Zhuma Town with Ma Xiaonan even before the imperial examination. As soon as he heard that his son had topped the exams, he was overjoyed and immediately sent someone back home with the good news.

As the First Scholar, it was customary to host a banquet for relatives, friends, and classmates. According to Ma Bowen’s wishes, they would have the banquet at Drunken Immortal Tower, the best restaurant in the capital city. Although it was a bit pricey, it was well worth it to celebrate his son’s achievement and save face.

However, Ma Junying disagreed and insisted on having the event at Dong Tian—a choice whose reasons were perhaps known only to him.

Dong Tian was a recent up-and-comer in the capital city, not as established as Drunken Immortal Tower, but thanks to its delicious food and uniquely decorated interior, it had quickly built a great reputation.

With the Boss being an acquaintance, Ma Bowen reluctantly agreed.

Ironically, when Ma Junying sent someone to Dong Tian to set the place and time, Xia Zheng happened to be there.

Glancing at the jealous fellow, Lin Yuan secretly grimaced. Before Xia Zheng could react, she had already preemptively declined, "I’m terribly sorry, but I’m afraid our Dong Tian’s main hall can’t accommodate so many guests, so please, Top Scholar Ma, consider..."

"Hey!" Xia Zheng suddenly intervened with an indirect objection, "If the First Scholar of this year’s examinations were to have his banquet at our Dong Tian, it would be our great fortune and happiness. Never mind the small space, I’d even knock down walls if needed to accommodate Top Scholar Ma here!"

Turning to the young servant, Xia Zheng thumped his chest with a resounding smack, "Go back and tell your Top Scholar Ma, let him know that our Dong Tian has secured this business deal. Actually, our Boss and Top Scholar Ma are fellow villagers; it’s only right to offer Top Scholar Ma the best discount."

The young servant’s eyes lit up, just about to thank him when he heard Xia Zheng change his tune, swallowing back his earlier words.

"But, Top Scholar Ma is a once-in-three-years occurrence! And with his family being a wealthy household, how could he not afford even this bit of silver for a meal? Tsk, if I were to give a discount, it would be an insult to our Top Scholar! So, when you go back, tell Top Scholar Ma that our Dong Tian cannot partake in such insulting behavior. We’ll provide service at full price, and even clear out the restaurant to warmly welcome Top Scholar Ma’s arrival!"

The young servant’s mouth twitched, his hands clasped in a bow almost cramping, but he dared not say anything inappropriate for fear of tarnishing his Top Scholar Ma’s reputation. All he could do was smile and agree.

Watching the young servant’s trembling back, Lin Yuan was both frustrated and amused as she thumped Xia Zheng on the chest, saying, "You! You did that on purpose, didn’t you?"

Xia Zheng, with innocent-looking eyes, gently rubbed his chest where she had hit him, a smugly satisfied look on his face, "On purpose? What I said just now was nothing but the plain truth. Besides, having the very First Scholar choose to hold his banquet at our newly opened Dong Tian this year—that alone is promotion enough. Not to mention the capital city, the whole of Dayong will know about Dong Tian’s name! It’s only you, silly as you are, who actually tried to turn away a customer!"

While saying this, he unceremoniously poked Lin Yuan’s forehead with his finger.

Rubbing her forehead that he had poked red, Lin Yuan muttered quietly, "It wasn’t for any reason other than fear of you, the jealous pot, getting envious!"

Since they had taken on the business, Lin Yuan had to put her heart and soul into the preparations, from the arrangement of the rooms to the placement of every bowl and dish on the tables—she attended to it all personally. She even created a new dish specifically for Ma Junying, the First Scholar, calling it "Celebration of the Examination Success."

Despite the grand name, the dish was quite simple—just the vermicelli dish "Ants Climbing a Tree" from later times. But to suit the occasion, she specially shaped the crumbled vermicelli into a small tree stump carved from a carrot, with carrot strips inserted on top to resemble branches, preventing the vermicelli from falling off. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

After wrapping the vermicelli and minced meat around the "tree," she had the helpers carve several radish flowers to adorn the branches, and finally added some coriander leaves.

Thanks to all the decorations, the initially plain Ants Climbing a Tree was completely transformed, truly emitting a celebratory aura.