Chapter 876: The Finale Dish
Editor: Henyee Translations

Hongyun Restaurant.

Knowing that Chu Qingzhi was coming for a meal, Manager Qian waited at the door before noon. “Miss Chu, you’ve finally arrived.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “Thank you for the trouble, Manager Qian.”

Manager Qian, with a polite smile, said, “It’s no trouble at all. This is what we should do. Please, come inside.”

Manager Qian personally led Chu Qingzhi and her party to the private room.

As the host, Grandfather Ning arrived early. Seeing the guests, he warmly welcomed them, “Brother Chu, Sister-in-law Chu, please have a seat.” He was greeting Grandfather Chu and Grandmother Chu.

Grandfather Chu, dressed anew and looking spirited, seemed years younger, “Brother Ning, you’ve been waiting.”

Grandfather Ning chuckled, “We’re all old, no longer the young ones.”

Grandfather Chu laughed, “That’s relative to the younger generation. Among us, we’re certainly not the young ones.”

Grandfather Ning led Grandfather Chu to sit down, then greeted everyone, “Please, everyone, take a seat. Don’t be shy.”

Everyone exchanged greetings.

Laughter and chatter warmed up the atmosphere right from the start.

Manager Qian asked in time, “Have all your guests arrived? Shall we start serving the dishes?”

Ning Yuting said, “Start with some appetizers and drinks. We can wait a bit for the dishes.”

Manager Qian nodded, “I’ll arrange for the staff to bring the items right away.”

Soon after, several waiters brought in appetizers and drinks.

“Half spicy beef jerky, half five-spice beef jerky, red bean pies, already sliced, egg tarts, spicy potato chips, yellow wine, beer, bayberry wine, honey syrup. Ladies and madams prefer bayberry wine and honey syrup. Lastly, this is Tan’s preserved fruit, very delicious, please have a taste.”

Seeing the snacks brought by the waiters, everyone thought it was amusing that most of what they were eating came from their own homes.

Ning Yuting opened a bottle of beer for the men present. The two pregnant girls drank honey syrup, and others had bayberry wine or honey syrup.

While snacking and drinking, everyone chatted as they waited for the main dishes.

Ning Yuting asked, “Fifth Sister, I heard you plan to distribute porridge to the poor on New Year’s Eve?”

Chu Qingzhi shook her head, “I plan to distribute New Year’s money. The news has already been spread. On New Year’s Eve, the people of Shuiyun County and the surrounding villages can receive one tael of silver per household with a household registration and a poverty certificate written by the local headman or a respected clan leader.”

Constructing the charitable hall only cost five thousand taels, and there was still over a million taels left. Every person in Shuiyun County and the surrounding villages could receive one tael, ensuring that all the needy could be cared for.

Ning Yuting smiled, “I didn’t expect you to distribute silver directly. It’s quite efficient.”

He had thought about taking on this task if it involved distributing goods.

Chu Qingzhi nodded, “Indeed, it’s more straightforward, and I believe this way, we can truly help everyone.”

Now that there’s no shortage of food, directly giving money to the villagers allows them to buy what they need without the risk of corruption, ensuring the money serves its purpose.

While everyone was chatting, Manager Qian and his staff came to serve the dishes, “Hot and delicious delicacies, please enjoy.”

Chu Xuhua laughed, “Manager Qian’s voice could make him a great ceremonial host.”

Manager Qian patted his belly, laughing, “It’s all practiced by serving dishes. My voice wasn’t this loud originally. Let me tell you a secret, I actually looked like a scholar when I was young, very gentle. I never expected to end up like this as I got older.”

“Haha, I can’t even imagine…”

Following the laughter, Manager Qian said, “Please enjoy, everyone. There are some steamed dishes coming up shortly, but you can start with these.”

“Thank you.”

After Manager Qian and his staff left, closing the door behind them, adults and children gathered around the table. After Grandfather Chu and Grandfather Ning said some auspicious words, everyone started eating in a lively atmosphere.

Towards the end, there was a finale dish…

Manager Qian came with his staff, smiling, “Classic Glutinous Rice from ‘The Book of Songs’, please enjoy.”

“Hm?” Chu Xuyan stopped Manager Qian, “How does your restaurant have the Classic Glutinous Rice from ‘The Book of Songs’?”

“I knew you would ask.” Manager Qian explained with a smile, “The Classic Glutinous Rice from ‘The Book of Songs’ is now well-known across the land. It’s just that Chu’s Easy Trade doesn’t sell it, so people have tried to recreate it themselves. Our restaurant’s chef also made an attempt, and now it has become our restaurant’s signature dish.”

Actually, making the Classic Glutinous Rice from ‘The Book of Songs’ is quite straightforward. Of course, to reach Chu Qingzhi’s level requires perfect timing, but people enjoy it more for its fame than its taste. So far, no other dish in Dalin has become as famous as this one.

Everyone smiled and began to taste the Classic Glutinous Rice from ‘The Book of Songs’, served one “character” per person, resembling the real thing closely enough to be enjoyable.

After eating the Classic Glutinous Rice from ‘The Book of Songs’, the reunion dinner concluded.

Tang Jinghong whispered to Chu Qingzhi, “I want to take you somewhere. Are you busy this afternoon?”

Chu Qingzhi, curious, turned to him, “I need to visit the paper mill later to arrange some matters, but I’m free after that.”

Tang Jinghong said, “Then I’ll go with you. After that, I’ll take you to the place I mentioned.”

“Alright.”

Chu Qingning, seeing everyone paired up, felt envious but also couldn’t help worrying. She usually received a letter from Zhao Yong every three days, but it had been six days this time without any news, and her letters to Zhao Yong had gone unanswered, making her worry that something might have happened to him.

She tried to reassure herself that Zhao Yong might have been delayed because he was on a secret mission for the emperor.

Regardless of her attempts to comfort herself, the worry in her heart grew heavier.

Those with tasks left to attend to them, while those without returned home.

Grandfather Ning approached Grandfather Chu, patting his shoulder, “Brother Chu, fishing, shall we?”

Grandfather Chu, without hesitation, replied, “Sure, I just made a new fishing rod a few days ago and was planning to try it out. If you’re going, that’s perfect.”

“Your fishing rods are good. Could you make one for me?”

“No problem.”

The two old men left for the village together, walking briskly, not at all like their age.

…

At the Chu Paper Mill.

The mill’s business had long since been on the right track, and while the other three products were manageable, tissue paper was always in short supply, nearly demanded several times daily.

Ever since the noblewomen of the capital city began using tissue paper, they couldn’t do without it anymore.

Initially, the queen had gifted it to the wives and daughters of ministers, and from there, it spread throughout their circles. Now, every high-ranking household in the capital used it, and not having it meant falling behind.

Not only the elite families but also some wealthy households were using it. The mill could only produce so much each day, leading to constant shortages.

Chu Qingzhi planned to expand the mill and create a separate tissue paper workshop, focusing solely on its production. This came at a good time as Nie Huiyang had just completed a project and had labor available.

However, this was still just an idea of Chu Qingzhi’s. Even if they decided to expand, it would have to wait until after the New Year.