Xu Qinyu was busy cleaning the intestines and preparing to make fatty intestine fish and sticky rice intestines. Since she was cooking for Officer Xu’s superior, she didn’t use wood ash to clean the intestines. Instead, she used some flour and Huadiao wine. Although wood ash is very clean, she didn’t want to risk offending the distinguished guest.

Pei Weixuan was helping her by cleaning the fish. There was a mandarin fish and a silver carp. She planned to make fatty intestine fish with the silver carp. For the mandarin fish, she would prepare squirrel mandarin fish, a Suzhou-style dish that was impressive and delicious.

Xu Yunlan, holding her little nephew, stood by the flower gate, watching the pretty young lady clean the intestines. After hesitating for a moment, she entered the courtyard with Xi Ge’er. Standing closer, she could smell the fishy odor, but she didn’t mind. However, Xi Ge’er wrinkled his little nose and kept tugging at her clothes, calling out, “Auntie, Auntie…”

The child amused Xu Qinyu and spoke to the nearby girl, “You can stand by the kitchen door. You won’t smell anything from there.”

Xu Yunlan smiled and moved to the kitchen door, where the smell was indeed less noticeable. She glanced at Pei Weixuan but quickly looked away, focusing on the young lady cooking. Although the man was quite handsome, probably the best-looking man in Yuanbao Town, watching the young lady cook was more interesting. She was curious about how a girl around her age could cook so well. Besides, it was the New Year, and she had nowhere else to go. She had a few good friends in Yuanbao Town, including the county magistrate’s daughter, who was being entertained today. Since her father was hosting the superior, her friend wouldn’t be coming over. It was the New Year, and her father didn’t allow her to go out and bother people. Staying at home, she didn’t know what to do, so she decided to watch the young lady cook in the backyard.

Xu Qinyu handled the ingredients quickly and efficiently.

The kitchen also had pork bones and lotus roots. After cleaning the intestines, she processed these ingredients. The pork bones were not the usual meatless bones she bought but had thick pork leg meat on them. She planned to make a lotus root and pork bone soup. She chopped the bones into pieces and cut the lotus root into chunks.

The fresh pork bones didn’t need blanching. She boiled them in a pot, skimming off the small amount of foam, then transferred them to a clay pot, added the lotus root chunks, and simmered them over low heat. This lotus root and pork bone soup doesn’t require many seasonings—just a bit of salt and two slices of ginger. After simmering for over two hours, the meat on the pork bones becomes tender and melts in your mouth, while the lotus root turns soft and sticky. This dish is nourishing for the spleen and stomach and is suitable for people of all ages.

While preparing the soup, Xu Qinyu explained the recipe and flavor to the girl holding the child. She guessed that the girl was likely Officer Xu’s daughter, as she resembled him and was quite tall.

Xu Yunlan listened to the young lady describe how to make the dish and its taste, unable to stop herself from swallowing.

After half an hour, Madam Xiang came looking for her daughter and grandson. She had noticed their absence and heard from a maid that her daughter had taken Xi Ge’er to the kitchen out of curiosity about the young lady.

The Xu family originally had a maid who also managed the kitchen, but Madam Xiang worried that Young Lady Xu might not like others watching her cook, fearing they might steal her techniques. So, she had the maid busy with other tasks.

When Madam Xiang reached the kitchen, she saw her daughter holding her grandson at the door. She hurried over, “You girl, what are you doing in the kitchen?”

Madam Xiang glanced into the courtyard and saw the young lady cooking. She was quite pretty, with almond-shaped eyes, fair skin, and willow-leaf eyebrows, working swiftly. The handsome man beside her, likely her husband, was stacking bricks, though she didn’t know what he was planning. There was also an iron net, which had been lying unused in a corner for years but was now cleaned.

Madam Xiang didn’t know what the young lady’s husband was doing. Seeing the young lady handling taro, she hesitated. Taro was cheap and usually kept in the kitchen for family meals. With so many good ingredients prepared for the banquet, why was the young lady using taro?

“Young lady, why taro?” Madam Xiang couldn’t help but ask.

Before Xu Qinyu could answer, Xu Yunlan quickly replied, “Mother, she is making brown sugar glutinous rice taro cakes. She said they are fragrant, sweet, and sticky.” Although she wasn’t entirely sure what “sticky” meant, she guessed it meant very soft and chewy. She hadn’t tried it before.

Hearing that the taro was being used for a new dish, Madam Xiang stopped questioning. Seeing the young lady’s husband still working with the bricks, she realized he was building a small stove. He even moved the iron net outside and placed it on the small stove, taking some coals from another stove to start a fire.

Madam Xiang didn’t understand what he was doing.

Xu Yunlan tugged at her mother’s clothes, “Mother, the young lady said they are making charcoal-grilled lamb ribs.”

Just hearing the name made her mouth water, even though the young lady hadn’t explained the details.

Madam Xiang decided not to ask further. The aroma of the soup simmering on the small stove filled the courtyard, reassuring her. She had smelled it even before reaching the kitchen. It was the lotus root and pork bone soup. After simmering for another hour, the aroma would fill the entire alley.

Madam Xiang called her daughter to the front yard, not wanting to disturb the young lady. But Xu Yunlan refused to leave, so Madam Xiang took Xi Ge’er and left, leaving Xu Yunlan to watch the cooking for a few more hours.

Xu Qinyu quickly processed the ingredients.

The lamb was ribs, and the kitchen had various spices, including star anise, bay leaves, and even some pepper. Seeing the iron net in the courtyard, she thought of making charcoal-grilled lamb ribs.

She had already cleaned the lamb and marinated it with soy sauce, ginger, scallions, and other spices. By dinner time, it would be ready to grill on the iron net outside.

She also prepared the other spices, making a barbecue seasoning.

There were plenty of lamb ribs, enough to serve at the banquet and for the Xu family to enjoy.

She knew the girl’s name was Xu Yunlan. She was Officer Xu’s daughter, with a bold and straightforward personality.

Xu Qinyu had almost finished processing the ingredients. She had soaked the sticky rice early on, using hot water to speed up the process.

Since it was still early, and the dishes would cool down if prepared too soon, she planned to cook them later. The kitchen had enough pots and stoves for her to prepare several dishes simultaneously.

Xu Qinyu moved a small stool to the courtyard and chatted with Xu Yunlan, finding they had a lot in common.

The aroma of the lotus root and pork bone soup, along with the rich scent of braised beef tendons, filled the entire Xu residence.

The Xu family had bought a piece of beef with plenty of tendons, which she had braised early on to make a dish of braised beef tendons.

As the time approached, Xu Qinyu began to get busy.

In addition to the lotus root and pork bone soup, charcoal-grilled lamb ribs, and braised beef tendons, she also prepared fatty intestine fish, squirrel mandarin fish, braised fish head, sticky rice intestines, and a fragrant chicken dish.

The beef tendons and large river shrimp were stir-fried with garlic chives, creating a fresh and sweet flavor.

She also made a dish of stir-fried wood ear mushrooms with yam slices.

She also made brown sugar glutinous rice taro cakes using glutinous rice flour and steamed taro, which counted as a dessert.

A banquet wouldn’t be complete without dessert.

Additionally, she prepared a tangy and spicy soup to whet the appetite and cut through the richness, a dish she had previously made for Officer Xu at the Xia family.

In total, there were twelve dishes: ten main courses and two soups.

When the charcoal-grilled lamb ribs were cooking, Xu Yunlan stayed close to Xu Qinyu while Pei Weixuan sat nearby, having no more tasks to assist with. There were still two stir-fried dishes that Yuniang could quickly prepare.

Xu Qinyu personally grilled the lamb ribs outside while the other dishes simmered in pots. The lamb ribs sizzled, their exterior turning golden and crispy, and barbecue seasoning sprinkled on top released an enticing aroma.

Xu Yunlan squatted beside her, watching the grilling process. She couldn’t help but open her mouth slightly, feeling something drip down. Wiping her mouth, she realized she had drooled a bit. Blushing, she quickly wiped her mouth and washed her hands in the kitchen before returning to watch the young lady.

When the aroma of the barbecue seasoning filled the air, Xu Qinyu placed the lamb ribs on a plate. She had grilled two racks of lamb ribs.

Xu Yunlan’s eyes sparkled as she asked, “Young Lady Xu, is the remaining rack for us to keep?”

Xu Qinyu smiled, “Yes, I made extra. You can keep it to enjoy later.”

Xu Yunlan couldn’t help but cheer, eagerly eyeing the plate of lamb ribs.

Even Madam Xiang and her daughter-in-law were drawn by the aroma, coming to the back kitchen with Xi Ge’er in their arms.

Seeing the charcoal-grilled lamb ribs, a new and delicious dish, Madam Xiang’s mouth watered. Noticing her daughter and daughter-in-law eagerly eyeing the lamb ribs, Madam Xiang suggested, “Why don’t we all have a taste first?”

Since her son and husband would soon join the county magistrate for dinner, and the women couldn’t join the table, it was fine for them to sample the food in the back kitchen.

Xu Yunlan immediately nodded, and her daughter-in-law also nodded slightly.

When marinating the charcoal-grilled lamb ribs, Xu Qinyu cut them into individual ribs but didn’t completely separate them. After washing her hands, she gently pulled apart a few ribs and handed one to each person.

Madam Xiang said, “Young Lady Xu, you and your husband should try some too.” She wasn’t stingy and believed that those who made such delicious food should also enjoy it.

Xu Qinyu thanked her and pulled a rib for herself and Fourth Brother.

The charcoal-grilled lamb ribs had a crispy, golden-brown exterior, with the fat rendered out. Taking a bite while they were hot, the outside was crispy, and the inside was tender. The lamb wasn’t fed with commercial feed but with grain husks and grass. After marinating, it wasn’t gamey or greasy, just incredibly flavorful.

Xu Yunlan’s eyes widened in disbelief at how delicious it was.

Madam Xiang had a similar expression. She no longer doubted the young lady’s truly remarkable skills.

In the front yard, the county magistrate had arrived.

County Magistrate Yang Jiarong was about the same age as Officer Xu, around forty, slightly plump, and looked quite amiable.

As soon as he entered the Xu residence, the aroma in the alley grew stronger. He couldn’t help but ask, “Officer Xu, did you hire a new chef?”

Officer Xu replied, “Today, I invited you, sir, and recently learned of a new chef with excellent skills, so I invited her to try.”

Yang Jiarong nodded, not asking further. The aroma was enticing, but the taste remained to be seen.

In the back kitchen, knowing the county magistrate had arrived, Madam Xiang instructed the servants to bring the dishes to the front hall.

Xu Qinyu finished stir-frying the last two dishes, yam slices with wood ear mushrooms and stir-fried shrimp with water chestnuts. She also prepared the tangy and spicy soup.

Once the servants took the dishes to the front, she plated the stir-fries and soup. Lastly, she made a steamed meat dish for Xi Ge’er, using eggs and pork tenderloin. The tenderloin was minced and mixed with two eggs, a bit of salt, and pepper, then steamed for fifteen minutes. It was fresh and tender, perfect for children.

All the dishes were served hot.

The county magistrate was most intrigued by the charcoal-grilled lamb ribs, a dish he had never seen before.

A servant briefly introduced the dish, mentioning that it was meant to be eaten by hand.

Officer Xu’s eldest son was also at the table.

The three of them each took a rib, and the crispy, tender meat, combined with the seasoning, was incredibly flavorful. The meat easily separated from the bone with a gentle pull.

Having tasted Young Lady Xu’s cooking before, Xu Kongmu found this new dish even more impressive.

County Magistrate Yang Jiarong praised, “What excellent craftsmanship!” He was from Jiangzhou, a region known for its rich cuisine. Even there, he had never tasted such a delicious dish. Officer Xu had truly put in the effort to find such a skilled chef in this southwestern border town.

Yang Jiarong initially wanted to ask about the chef’s background, thinking of inviting her to cook at the county office regularly. However, he stopped himself, remembering his plump daughter who struggled with her weight. If this talented chef cooked at the county office, his daughter would find it even harder to control her appetite and might gain more weight. He had tried to help his daughter lose weight, but it was difficult. Despite several attempts, she always ended up eating more and gaining weight. In the end, he and his wife had given up.

Thinking of this, Yang Jiarong sighed. This banquet was the most enjoyable meal he had ever had, leaving him completely satisfied. However, he didn’t dare tell his family, fearing his daughter would pester Xu Kongmu’s daughter for more food. The two girls were good friends and often played together.

Meanwhile, Xu Qinyu hadn’t finished her work when Madam Xiang brought over two small ingots, each weighing five taels, making a total of ten taels.

Xu Qinyu accepted them and thanked Madam Xiang before leaving with Fourth Brother.

Xu Yunlan reluctantly saw them off. Although she couldn’t cook, she loved watching the young lady cook, finding it a form of enjoyment.

Before Xu Qinyu left, Xu Yunlan couldn’t help but ask for her address, hoping to be friends and go out together in the future.