Chapter 7

The next morning, Li Hehua washed up, hastily ate some coarse rice porridge, and set out again.

Today, she planned to visit another village to inquire about upcoming wedding feasts.

Following the road out of her village, Li Hehua headed west toward a cluster of densely packed houses—clearly a larger settlement.

After walking for over an hour, she finally reached the village. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she found a shady spot to rest. She needed to let her sweat dry and catch her breath before approaching anyone; appearing disheveled and drenched in sweat would make a poor impression.

After resting for a while, she tidied her clothes and entered the village.

Villagers eyed her curiously, whispering among themselves. She didn’t need to hear their words to know they were discussing her figure.

Pretending not to notice, Li Hehua plastered on her brightest smile and walked up to a middle-aged woman. “Big Sister,” she said cheerfully, “I’d like to ask you something. Is anyone in your village planning a wedding feast?”

The woman sized her up from head to toe. “Why do you want to know? Do you have business here?”

Li Hehua inwardly sighed. This woman’s eyes are like a scanner… What does it matter to her? Still, she smiled and replied honestly, “Big Sister, I’m a professional chef. I’m not working at my old place anymore, and I’m looking to cater banquets in villages within a ten-mile radius. That’s why I came to ask.”

The woman looked her over again, clearly skeptical. Her expression said, “You? A chef?”

Li Hehua chuckled. “I know I don’t look the part, do I? But I really am a chef, and no one’s ever complained about my cooking. Just look at this figure—years of good food, I couldn’t help it. The better I cook, the fatter I get.”

That got a laugh out of the woman, and her suspicion softened. “You’ve come at the right time. Old Wang’s family is preparing for a wedding. You can go ask them.”

Li Hehua’s eyes lit up. “Really, Dajie? Would you mind taking me there? I’d be so grateful.”

In this era, villagers were simple folks who loved a good spectacle. Now that a plump woman was claiming to be a chef offering to cater a banquet, they gathered around, curious.

When Li Hehua mentioned going to Old Wang’s house, their interest grew. Several people even offered to take her there.

The middle-aged woman waved her hand. “Come with me. I’ll take you.”

Li Hehua quickly thanked her. “Thank you so much, Dajie. You’re really kind.”

The woman beamed at the compliment and led the way. After a short walk, they arrived at Old Wang’s house. She stepped into the courtyard and called out, “Old Wang! Are you home?”

“Yes, yes! Coming!” a voice responded from inside.

An elderly man soon emerged—it was Old Wang himself.

“Aunt Cao, what brings you here?”

The woman gestured to Li Hehua. “Your family’s preparing for a wedding, right? This young woman says she’s a chef and wants to cook for your banquet.”

Old Wang’s gaze landed on Li Hehua, suspicion flickering in his eyes. “Aunt Cao, we’ve already hired Old Zhou from Hexi Village. We don’t need another chef.”

Li Hehua knew this was a polite rejection, but she wasn’t ready to give up. She stepped forward with a warm smile. “Uncle, my name is Li Hehua. I’m a chef, and my cooking has never been complained about. Since your family is celebrating, the food will be a reflection of your hospitality. Wouldn’t a delicious feast bring great honor?”

Her words hit the mark. For celebrations, a well-prepared banquet was a matter of pride. Even poor households spared no expense when it came to wedding feasts.

Old Wang replied, “Of course we’re taking it seriously. We’ve hired the best feast cook around. Everyone knows Old Zhou’s skills.”

What he didn’t say aloud was, How could a young woman like you compare to a chef with decades of experience?

Li Hehua sensed his doubt, but didn’t take offense. “Uncle, I’m sure your cook is skilled. But I believe my skills are just as good. Why not let me prove it? I’ll make a dish for you to try. If you don’t like it, I’ll leave without a fuss.”

Her offer stirred a buzz among the villagers.

“She’s got guts! Could she really be that good?”

“Old Zhou’s been cooking banquets for decades. Can she really compare?”

“Well, she did say we could taste it first. Maybe she’s got something special.”

Someone called out, “Old Wang, let her try! It’s almost lunchtime anyway. Free food!”

The crowd chimed in with agreement.

Old Wang’s family came out. A young man tugged his father’s sleeve. “Dad, let her try. If it’s no good, we’ll still have Old Zhou. But if she’s better, we should hire her.”

Seeing how interested everyone was, Old Wang relented. “Alright, you can try. But let’s be clear—this is just a free sample. We’re not paying you.”

Li Hehua smiled. “Of course not. I just want you to taste my cooking.”

Old Wang nodded. “Come with me. I caught a fish this morning. Use that.”

Li Hehua followed him into the kitchen, her heart pounding with excitement. Curious villagers crowded around. The kitchen couldn’t fit everyone, so some peeked in through the windows.

A freshly cleaned black carp sat on the counter—perfect for suan cai yu (pickled fish in sour broth).

“Uncle Wang, do you have any pickled cabbage? Could I have a bowl?”

“Sure,” he said, then told his wife to fetch some.

Li Hehua got to work. First, she sliced the thickest part of the fish into fillets, then separated the head, tail, and ribs to use for the broth. She marinated the fillets in egg white and cooking wine.

While the fish marinated, she prepared the aromatics: ginger, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chilies. She stir-fried them in hot oil, then added the fish bones and deglazed with more wine. An enticing aroma began to fill the kitchen.

The villagers watched curiously. Fish was usually braised or stewed. Why was she filleting it? And why did she need pickled cabbage?

Aunt Wang couldn’t help but ask, “Girl, what are you making? I’ve never seen this before.”

Li Hehua replied, “I’m making suan cai yu. Most people don’t know how to make it.”

The villagers assumed it was her signature recipe and were even more intrigued.

Once the fish bones were cooked, she poured in boiling water and added the pickled cabbage. When the broth was ready, she removed the bones and carefully blanched the fish fillets in the soup until they turned white. She topped it with dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, cilantro, and hot oil. The dish was done.

The aroma was overwhelming. People outside the kitchen were practically drooling.

“Smells incredible!” someone exclaimed. “Better than anything Old Zhou ever made!”

Old Wang, who had been skeptical, was now eager. “Can we eat now?”

Li Hehua nodded. “Yes, please try it.”

The Wang family grabbed chopsticks and dug in. Old Wang took the first bite and paused, eyes widening slightly before he quickly looked away and continued eating. The others followed, soon engrossed in the meal.

The onlookers stared. Why weren’t they saying anything? Was it bad? Or was it so good they couldn’t speak?

Aunt Cao finally called out, “Hey, Old Wang! Say something already!”

Old Wang swallowed. “It’s too delicious. I’ve never had fish like this before.”

His younger son chimed in, “It’s the best dish I’ve ever eaten.”

The crowd gasped. Was it really that good?

One bold neighbor licked his lips. “Old Wang, could I have a bite? My mouth’s gone dry from watching!”

The Wang family ignored him completely, their chopsticks moving in a blur. In no time, the entire pot of suan cai yu was gone, not even a shred of pickled cabbage left.

Old Wang wiped his mouth. “Sorry, it’s all gone.”

The crowd groaned, but there was nothing they could do.

Li Hehua finally stepped forward with a smile. “So? Do you think I’m qualified to cook for your banquet?”

Old Wang’s earlier aloofness had vanished. He enthusiastically gave Li Hehua a thumbs-up. “Impressive! Your cooking skills are truly exceptional. I’d be honored if you’d prepare the banquet for my family.”

Li Hehua smiled

Aunt Wang spoke up, “How do you usually charge? Such excellent cooking must come at a price. We wouldn’t be able to afford it if it’s too expensive.”

Li Hehua replied, “I’ll charge the same as Old Zhou. Whatever he charges, I’ll match.”

The Wang family beamed with relief. Old Wang declared, “Excellent! Then it’s settled. We’ll pay you according to Old Zhou’s rates—five wen per table.”

“How many tables will you need?” Li Hehua asked.

Old Wang held up a clenched fist. “Ten tables.”

Fifty wen in total—a fair price. Li Hehua agreed. “Then it’s settled. I’ll arrive early on the day of the banquet.”

After finalizing the details and providing a list of ingredients for the Wang family to purchase, Li Hehua returned home at noon.