Old Shadows of the Republican Era (4)

After checking all the ingredients, Jiang Weiguo took out two potatoes, cut off a small piece of cured pork, and picked three relatively fresh green peppers. Jiang Feng guessed that he was planning to make shredded potatoes and stir-fried green peppers with cured pork.

Eleven-year-old Jiang Weiguo's cooking was not yet as good as Jiang Feng's.

His knife skills were decent, likely thanks to helping Jiang Chengde with prep work every day, but his Heat Control and seasoning were much worse. Even Jiang Feng could tell that he had added too much salt to the spicy shredded potatoes. On top of that, the potatoes were not very fresh, so the texture could not possibly be very good.

The stir-fried green peppers with cured pork were even less promising. The cured pork itself had not been properly preserved, while the green peppers had lost their moisture and shriveled up, their seeds already dry. One could imagine how the dish would taste.

Both dishes were ordinary home-style fare and not difficult to cook. Steward Wang had demanded at least three dishes and a soup, so after thinking for a moment, Jiang Weiguo took out the only Napa Cabbage from the cabinet.

The outer leaves of the Napa Cabbage had completely wilted. Jiang Weiguo peeled off several layers before reaching leaves that still retained a little moisture. They were not fresh either, but they were barely edible.

He peeled off several leaves, cut them into sections, and stir-fried them plain.

A plain stir-fried Napa Cabbage with an unappealing appearance came out of the wok.

Jiang Feng felt that if not for Lord Huang in first class refusing to eat fish, Jiang Weiguo's dishes would not have been so plain and monotonous. Fish were the most abundant thing in the river. Jiang Feng saw at least two large tubs of fresh fish in the corner, still flopping about.

The soup was peppery hot soup. Flour, wood ear mushrooms, kelp, cured pork, and the completely dried-out Napa Cabbage leaves he had peeled off earlier were all chopped up and tossed into the pot. Then came salt, Chili Powder, sesame oil, and soy sauce. Jiang Feng also saw Jiang Weiguo add a small handful of spices. Everything was stewed together in one pot, to the point where it was almost impossible to tell what ingredients were inside. It smelled wonderful and was the best-executed of the dishes.

The soup was thick and steaming. Jiang Weiguo went out to find Steward Wang, only to discover that no one was outside. Remembering that Steward Wang had said to go next door if he needed help, he turned and headed there.

The room next door was also a kitchen, slightly larger than the one Jiang Weiguo had been using, perhaps because it contained two large pots. One held a thick gruel, while the other held porridge with far more water than rice. The rice soup served to those in the lower decks for all three meals presumably came from that pot.

There were two people inside: a somewhat plump middle-aged woman and a girl who looked somewhat like her, probably her daughter.

When the middle-aged woman saw Jiang Weiguo enter, she froze for a moment, then quickly came to herself and asked with a smile, "You're the new cook Steward Wang found, aren't you? Wait a moment. My gruel isn't done yet. Once it is, I'll come help you."

Since fleeing the disaster, this was the first time Jiang Weiguo had encountered such a friendly stranger. His voice unconsciously softened. "No, Auntie, I wanted to ask where Steward Wang is. My dishes are ready."

Upon hearing that she would not need to help, the plump woman's smile became even warmer. "Wait here. I'll go find Steward Wang for you."

Before long, the plump woman returned with Steward Wang, followed by two other people.

As she passed the small kitchen, the plump woman sneaked a glance inside and asked Jiang Weiguo, "Little Jiang, what did you make? It smells so good."

"Auntie Li, don't ask what you shouldn't ask." Steward Wang warned sharply. Auntie Li was clearly not afraid of him. She rolled her eyes at him and went back inside to continue cooking the gruel.

A huge pot of gruel had not been stirred once in ten minutes. Jiang Feng guessed that the bottom had probably already burned.

The two people who had come with Steward Wang went into the small kitchen to carry out the dishes, while they themselves went into Auntie Li's kitchen to carry out the food. Whether he was worried that Lord Huang would blame him if Jiang Weiguo's cooking was poor or for some other reason, Steward Wang told Jiang Weiguo to come along as well.

First class was on the third floor, with guards stationed outside. Steward Wang told Jiang Weiguo to wait at the door, then entered with the two people carrying the dishes. Curious, Jiang Feng followed Steward Wang inside.

First class was spacious, comparable in standard to a presidential suite in later times. Lord Huang's servants and family were all inside. He sat on the sofa reading, while his wife sewed buttons beside him.

"County Magistrate Huang, the ship's original cook fell ill and died. We replaced him with a new one today. I don't know whether the dishes suit your taste," Steward Wang said respectfully.

Jiang Feng could not help studying this official. At first, he had thought Steward Wang calling him "Lord" was merely a polite form of address, but he really was an official. Even a county magistrate had abandoned his post to flee to Shanghai. One could only imagine how severe the disaster in the north had become.

County Magistrate Huang looked to be in his fifties, somewhat portly and bearded. Only after hearing Steward Wang speak did he reluctantly raise his eyes and glance at him. "Dead is dead. His cooking was bad too. Useless."

"You're right." Steward Wang smiled obsequiously and wisely retreated to a corner.

The maid beside Madam Huang began setting the dishes. Though the setting was crude, with only three dishes and one soup, and only a single maid, the ceremony was no less elaborate. Anyone unaware of the circumstances might have thought they were some royal or noble household.

Lord Huang first tasted the plain stir-fried Napa Cabbage. He said nothing, but his expression showed that he was not satisfied. Then he tasted the shredded potatoes.

"Not bad. Better than the previous one," Lord Huang said.

Lord Huang was clearly rather pleased with the shredded potatoes, while his wife preferred lighter flavors. After eating only a few bites of Napa Cabbage and a few mouthfuls of rice, she said she was full and stopped eating.

Perhaps because of the shredded potatoes, or perhaps because he simply had a large appetite, Lord Huang ate three full bowls of rice before stopping. He signaled with his eyes for the maid to ladle him some soup.

The maid was quick-witted. She ladled him less than half a bowl of soup and set it steadily before him.

Lord Huang took a sip.

"Where did you find this cook?" Lord Huang asked as he set down the bowl.

"A kitchen helper from Tai Feng Lou," Steward Wang answered.

"What a joke. Would a kitchen helper from Tai Feng Lou come here to work as a cook for you?" Lord Huang laughed, his expression showing emotion for the first time.

Seeing Lord Huang laugh, Steward Wang smiled even more broadly, though his voice was lower. "My lord is truly perceptive. He's just a child of around ten. He probably did odd jobs at Tai Feng Lou for a few days and then claimed to be one of their kitchen helpers. I wonder if Lord Huang is satisfied with him?"

"How many days until we reach Magic City?" Lord Huang asked.

"Five days. At most five days."

"Keep him. His cooking is good. Reward him." Lord Huang raised his hand, and the maid handed Steward Wang two silver dollars.

That could be considered a huge sum of money.

Steward Wang beamed, compliments spilling out of his mouth as though they cost nothing. "Lord Huang, you are truly kindhearted and generous. I thank you on that boy's behalf. He must have accumulated so much fortune in his previous life to receive the chance to cook this meal for you today. Being able to cook for you is already his honor, and now he has received your reward as well. His ancestors must be sending up smoke from their graves."

Lord Huang found Steward Wang too noisy and told him to leave.

Steward Wang stuffed the silver dollars into his close-fitting inner garment.

Jiang Weiguo was still waiting at the door. It was already autumn, and he wore only a single layer of clothing. After standing in the river wind for nearly an hour, his hands and feet had gone somewhat numb. When he saw Steward Wang emerge, he hurried forward.

"Your dishes were good. Lord Huang rewarded you." Steward Wang tossed him three copper coins.

Jiang Weiguo hurriedly caught them.

Having pocketed Jiang Weiguo's two silver dollars, Steward Wang was in an excellent mood. Jiang Weiguo looked much more pleasing to him as well. "Go eat in Auntie Li's kitchen later. Have as much gruel as you want. I'll also give you an extra white-flour bun—four in total. During the day, you can stay in the kitchen. You won't need to worry when you go back at night either. If anyone steals your things, I'll stand up for you."

"Thank you, Steward Wang," Jiang Weiguo said hurriedly. In truth, with his build, those gaunt weaklings in the ship's cabins might not necessarily have been able to rob him.

Seeing how sensible he was, Steward Wang nodded in satisfaction and left.

Jiang Weiguo quickly headed toward the kitchen.