Chapter 475: Chapter 475: High-Profile Students

Today, the Principal and his entourage were far from low-key. The academy was taking a holiday, and they each rode in their luxurious horse-drawn carriages, forming a procession stretching dozens of meters long.

When this procession entered the village, it attracted countless onlookers.

Even though they had already seen the grand procession of the supreme emperor, in the countryside, where there was little entertainment, any novelty was always a welcome sight.

The procession entered the village and headed straight for the mountain.

Once they arrived at the foot of the mountain, these horse carriages came to a stop.

Only walking was possible up the hill, so students left their luxurious carriages behind and, guided by the Principal and Tiehu, began to make their way up the mountain.

After the students ascended the slope, their coachmen remained to tend to the carriages.

Leaving only a few to mind the carriages, the rest of the coachmen headed straight for Xiaomai’s house.

When Principal had discussed this matter with Xiaomai beforehand, he mentioned that there would only be a little over ten students visiting, yet dozens showed up that day, so a heads up had to be given to Xiaomai.

“Miss Xiaomai, we’re here to help,” said Fan Jia’s coachman, Fan Er, starting the conversation with a broad grin. “There are more people than expected from the academy today, so the principal asked us to find you and suggested holding a bigger banquet. Look, we’ve brought all the ingredients ourselves.”

Xiaomai was speechless.

Originally, only a dozen or so people were supposed to come, yet dozens of students showed up in the end.

Add to that the students’ servants and coachmen, and we’re talking about over a hundred people!

“Don’t worry, Miss Xiaomai, all you need to do is cook. We’ll take care of everything else,” Fan Er added promptly, reading Xiaomai’s dumbfounded look.

The others heard this, nodded, and added, “That’s right. Be it butchering, washing, chopping, or setting up the table, we’ll handle it all. All you need to do is cook, Miss Xiaomai.”

“Also, this is for you, for your troubles today. We hope you’ll accept it,” said Fan Er, pulling out two banknotes from his pocket.

They were for a hundred taels each, totaling two hundred taels.

Xiaomai smiled and said, “Master Fan, you are very generous. Please, everyone, come in.”

With that, she took the banknotes from him.

She had originally only prepared enough food for a little more than ten people, spending less than fifty taels on ingredients. Now, Fan Jia had given her two hundred taels. It was quite a deal.

Besides, all these people were either rich or high-ranking. She was only a village girl.

With everyone being so respectful to her, she naturally had to return the favor with a cheerful disposition.

And so the bustling preparations began.

The meat was butchered, the vegetables cleaned and chopped.

Xiaomai was directing the operations, marinating this, mixing that.

Two pots weren’t enough, so they quickly set up a makeshift stove.

Some others brought over tables and chairs. There was a dedicated set of tables and chairs stored in the village for banquets.

After arranging over ten tables in front of Xiaomai’s house, they opened their large umbrellas for shade and quickly transformed the front of Xiaomai’s house.

By the time the group came down the mountain at noon, the banquet for more than ten tables was all set.

The students had seen the secret tunnel. They didn’t know how it was constructed, but being able to see such a spectacle was enough to satisfy them.

The satisfied students sat down at the tables and tasted the delicious food, making them even more content.

Previously, when Xiaomai displayed her cooking skills at Bailu Academy, the aroma had drifted across the entire training field, waking the appetite in everyone.

However, because the food was meant for people of high status, they were only able to smell it but not taste it.

Now, they could finally taste these delicious dishes!

Moreover, Xiaomai had come up with many new dishes to entertain the supreme emperor.

The food was absolutely delicious!