Master Xu was able to walk this far due to his solid foundation. His two assistant apprentices, who had followed him for a long time, had also learned a lot.
With their help, the two fish dishes were quickly prepared.
Luo Ge found a few small bowls and divided the dishes between them, trying a bite herself.
She narrowed her eyes slightly and nodded, confirming this was the right taste.
Gu Jinchen watched her with adoring eyes, his little wife resembling a soft kitten he wanted to cuddle.
"Master Xu, don't just stand there. You all should try these two dishes and see how they taste," Luo Ge urged, unaware of Gu Jinchen's doting gaze.
Master Xu and his assistants had already been tempted by the delicious aroma. At Luo Ge's words, they eagerly nodded and took a bite without delay.
In an instant, their eyes lit up. After tasting one dish, they hurriedly tried the other.
"Delicious!"
The two assistants couldn't stop, quickly polishing off their portions.
Master Xu also nodded in approval: "Tender and smooth, with a pleasant spiciness. The sour one is also very appetizing."
His eyes showed undisguised praise. He had never tried preparing fish in these ways before, usually opting for red-braising or steaming.
Seeing their enjoyment, Luo Ge smiled as well.
"Master Xu, how about we add these two dishes to the First Class Pavilion's menu?"
"Of course, that would be excellent."
He couldn't find fault with either dish. The novel flavors were sure to attract more customers to dine at their establishment.
"Then it's settled. Do you remember the steps from earlier, or is there anything unclear?"
"If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. You are now the pillar of our kitchen, and you will be responsible for all the dishes served here in the future."
Hearing Luo Ge's words, Master Xu was taken aback for a moment before reacting with a smile.
"Then I am grateful for your guidance, Madam. Rest assured, even outside the First Class Pavilion, these dishes will never be replicated elsewhere."
The two assistants, overhearing this, also made the same promise to Luo Ge.
"Yes, please trust us, Madam and Master."
Luo Ge nodded with a smile: "Good."
After their agreement, Luo Ge spent the rest of the day teaching them how to prepare the fish dishes.
Fortunately, Master Xu learned quickly. After a day's effort, the taste of his dishes was almost on par with Luo Ge's.
Luo Ge remembered that when she first mastered these dishes, it had taken her two days.
This demonstrated Master Xu's impressive culinary aptitude.
In addition to the two fish dishes, Luo Ge also added a chilled marinated egg dish.
The next day, the First Class Pavilion introduced these three new dishes.
They also offered a small complimentary snack of stir-fried peanuts for dine-in customers, a common marketing tactic in modern restaurants but not yet widespread at this time.
Heh, allowing Luo Ge and her establishment to gain an advantage.
With these new dishes, the wine tavern's business instantly became a sensation. With the free peanut snack, how could one not order some wine? It would be missing the point!
So thanks to this little perk, wine sales also increased significantly compared to before.
Originally understaffed, the booming business soon overwhelmed them.
Thus, they posted a recruitment notice as well.
Between serving customers and hiring staff, Luo Ge and her husband were kept incredibly busy during these days.
...After disappearing for a few days, Hu Jun finally resurfaced, bringing news from Lu Manager and others.
"Brother Chen, your wine tavern is truly thriving! It's much livelier than before."
Taking the opportunity to greet Hu Jun, they also took a break.
Observing the packed tables below, Hu Jun couldn't help but remark on the scene.
"With Sister-in-law managing the business, how could it not succeed?"
This brother-in-law hadn't changed a bit. If he didn't boast about his wife for a day, he felt uneasy.
Overhearing his words, Luo Ge's ears instantly turned red as she lightly pinched his palm in annoyance.
Hearing this, Hu Jun was stunned before bursting into hearty laughter.
"Yes, yes, Brother Chen is right. Sister-in-law is indeed formidable."
His words rang true. Luo Ge's ability was evident in how well she had managed the business.
However, Hu Jun hadn't expected his once-reserved brother to become such a husband who doted on his wife. It was quite surprising to him.
Nevertheless, seeing his friend's happiness, he was glad for Gu Jinchen.
"Oh, that's right. This is the two hundred taels those scoundrels took from you, plus compensation."
"They caused you a lot of trouble and loss that day, so I demanded more from them." Seeing their confusion, Hu Jun explained with a smile.
Hearing this, Gu Jinchen patted his shoulder: "Thank you for the trouble."
"What trouble between us old friends who have been through life and death together?" Hu Jun waved it off.
"In fact, I shouldn't accept your thanks, as I couldn't fully resolve the matter for you."
At these words, Gu Jinchen and Luo Ge exchanged a puzzled look before turning to Hu Jun.
