Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1332 - 185, Host a Banquet (Part 1 of 2)

Although this dish was simple, its rarity and value were enhanced because its vermicelli could only be found in Dong Tian.

Upon seeing it, Xia Zheng slammed the table and exclaimed, "Brilliant! This dish will be Dong Tian’s signature dish from now on! Eating it ensures topping the imperial examinations! Hence, fifty taels of silver per serving!"

Everyone thought the first part was quite normal, but when they heard the price, everyone in attendance was dumbstruck. Lin Yuan’s legs even went weak, and she had to lean on the table for support. Fifty taels of silver—Xia Zheng indeed was outrageous! Thinking about it, only the vermicelli was worth some silver, but even so, its value wouldn’t exceed ten taels. Yet he just casually inflated it as if the figure was swept in by the strong wind.

Lin Yuan waved her hand, signaling to Shopkeeper Liuher suggestion: ten taels.

"Twenty taels!"

Just after signaling, Xia Zheng caught sight of it. Lin Yuan, speechless, compromised, "Alright, alright, twenty taels."

That was much better than fifty taels, wasn’t it?

On the day of the top scholar’s banquet, Lin Yuan had her boys busy early on. Not only were Ma Junying’s classmates coming to dine, but many officials from the court as well. After all, the newly titled top scholar hadn’t yet been assigned an official position, yet he was at least going to be a Fifth Rank. Starting from such a high rank, if he performed well in politics later, further promotions and noble titles would just be a matter of time.

So, when Ma Junying hosted the banquet, any keen-minded official generally came.

This certainly brought much prestige to Lin Yuan’s Dong Tian. Even though Dong Tian’s opening had attracted many people before, because it was focused on the Second Prince and Drunken Immortal Tower, many officials avoided dining at Dong Tian to avoid any implications. Today was a perfect opportunity to witness what made this much-talked-about Dong Tian so extraordinarily unique.

Lin Yuan had also anticipated this, so today, on the open space on the first floor, she had specially arranged for a chef to roast a suckling pig live for everyone. Since summer was just around the corner, and the most delightful thing in summer was to enjoy barbeques and beers at night. Although there was no beer available, Liu’s Brewery provided hawthorn wine and various other fruit wines, which were quite fitting for the occasion.

The suckling pig was also a special addition by Lin Yuan today. The piglet had naturally been prepared in advance, marinated a day before with honey, soy sauce, salt, and other seasonings. That morning, it was skewered with two wooden sticks from both sides of its body, then roasted over a big fire.

The fire used for roasting was in a specially made stove, essentially a large pot with a rounded belly filled with big, long-burning logs.

Because roasting a suckling pig would cause dripping pork fat to produce some smoke when hitting the fire, Lin Yuan had the workers set up the rack near a window and also surrounded the rack with wooden boards to prevent any splashing oil from scalding the guests.

Most of the dining guests usually sat in the main hall, while those with higher status or rank were allocated to elegant rooms. As for the unique-themed chambers, Lin Yuan didn’t open them, but she allowed the waitresses dressed in kimonos and Hanfu to set up dedicated tables in the corners of the main hall with dishes like sushi and cold noodles. Any guest who wanted to try something could simply ask any passing boy or girl to bring it over.

However, due to the number of guests, specialty dishes were limited to one serving per table. This limited supply piqued everyone’s interest greatly, and they eagerly called the servers to bring the dishes.

Watching the bustling yet orderly main hall, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but smile. Taking on today’s business was indeed the right move and had become another excellent promotion for Dong Tian.

Looking up towards the second floor, the smile at the corner of Lin Yuan’s mouth turned somewhat enigmatic.

Among today’s guests, besides Ma Junying’s classmates and some folks from his hometown, there were a few others who naturally couldn’t be absent. The Second Prince Zhao Hongde was one, of course. Thinking of Tang Ruyan and An Yueyue, who had just entered the door with him, Lin Yuan felt a discomfort in her heart.

Tang Ruyan was one thing, regardless if her affection for Zhao Hongde was genuine or simply for a position as an Imperial Concubine, it had little to do with Lin Yuan. But as for An Yueyue? That naive girl still cheerfully followed Zhao Hongsheng. Had she not noticed the unsettling gaze Wu Jiangtao cast her way?