From the fifth day of the first lunar month to the thirteenth day of the first lunar month, in only nine days, Su Ling closed almost all the bad halls. In addition to rushing to make a hundred cold-scented pills and delivering them to Guo Baiyi, Guo Baiyi sent people to take them to the palace.
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The rest of the time, Su Ling stayed in the back kitchen of Duji Mutton Restaurant, either peeling sheep skins or slicing mutton, and was very busy.
As a result, Su Ling's whole body was filled with the smell of mutton. Even though he had not seen anyone for a long time, a strong smell of mutton hit his face.
It's really good.
Guo Baiyi sent three groups of people in succession, three in each group, but there were still not enough manpower. Su Ling had no choice but to send a few of the original clerks and soldiers here to help.
Fortunately, they were able to adapt to the change of status from pharmacy clerk to canteen clerk very quickly.
For nine days in a row, the upstairs and downstairs of Duji Mutton Restaurant were packed every day. Those who arrived late simply set up a few tables in front of the restaurant, braving the severe cold and having a great time eating hot-boiled meat. And those who arrived even later,
We stood and waited, moved the pony and sat and waited. In the end, there was no place to stand in the entire mutton restaurant.
Su Ling became both a father and a mother, taking charge of the front office and the kitchen. She ran out of mutton, so she had to lead people all over the city to look for sheep. No matter how big they were, they would die if they found them, and they would die if they died.
But on the 9th, this mutton became the most sought-after item in Longtai.
The mutton was finally supplied, but the wine was gone.
Fortunately, Guo Baiyi was a good drinker and contacted four major wine shops. After Su Ling tasted the wine, he was very satisfied with it, and then confirmed that all four of them were the wine suppliers of Duji Mutton Restaurant.
Su Ling also personally awarded each family a small plaque symbolizing the honorary wine supplier of Duji Mutton Restaurant.
The sign is a wooden sign carved overnight by Su Ling. As for the image, what the Pleasant Goat looks like is what this wooden sign looks like...
On the night of the 13th day of the first lunar month, after Su Ling waited for Du Ji's Mutton Restaurant to close, she pulled Du Heng over, made a jar of wine, and the two of them ate the meat and chatted.
What Su Ling means is that tomorrow we will close down and reorganize, and rationalize our business ideas. We can't just ignore the business and just make money.
Nowadays, diners are looking for freshness. Although they are constantly developing new dishes, the whole mutton restaurant is filled with fishy smell and smoke.
This was second to none. It was packed with diners all day long, and there were even temporary tables set up in front of the door. According to Su Ling's new word: the dining environment was really terrible.
Su Ling secretly thought that it was because there was no health, industrial and commercial city management. If there were such departments, I am afraid that this mutton restaurant would have been closed for rectification long ago, and the fines would be so bad that they would vomit blood...
Du Heng didn't have such a bright mind. He just scratched his head and said, "It's not good to have more people. Popularity means good business. If the business is good, you can make more money."
Su Ling rolled her eyes at him, and then she spoke earnestly and sincerely, translating the refined catering management concepts of later generations into words that Du Heng could understand.
Even so, Du Heng was confused and half-understood.
Su Ling finally said anxiously: "For example, if you have a stomachache, you have to go to the latrine!"
Du Heng nodded and said: "Of course...don't shit your pants..."
Su Ling rolled her eyes at him and said: "Nonsense, I really can't find a latrine. You can't find a place without people to solve the problem..."
Then he added: "But if you are asked to stay in the hut all day without coming out, would you be willing?"
Du Heng shook his head like a rattle and said, "That's not okay, it's too smelly..." Su Ling slapped her thigh and said, "Come on! That's why our current Duji Mutton Restaurant is like this hut.
....."
Du Heng laughed and said: "Su Ling, your analogy is not very good. We are in charge of food, but there are people in charge..."
"Hold it, don't laugh! I mean the environment..." "What is the environment..."
"...Oh, forget it, even if our restaurant is full of smells, people, and leftovers...it feels like a mess in a latrine..." Su Ling
He rolled his eyes and patiently explained.
"Whether you want to go to the latrine or not, you must go at that juncture. We can't even compare to the latrine. Now these people are just trying to be fresh. As time goes by, with our restaurant like this, there will probably be no more people coming." Su Ling said.
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Du Heng sighed, and then he understood a little bit: "It's just too messy and dirty, and the smell is strong, so what should I do? Just follow the refinement you said?"
Su Ling nodded and said: "Of course, refined catering service, and it must be high-quality!"
Du Heng shook his head and said: "I don't quite understand, just tell me what to do!"
"I...just calculated the maximum diners capacity of the restaurant...Forget it, you don't understand this stuff. The restaurant stipulates that only a number of tables can be eaten at the same time. One more table won't work. Even if there are
No one is allowed to enter an empty table. When someone leaves this round of diners, the next ones will fill in!" Su Ling said with a big head.
Du Heng shook his head and said: "Su Ling, I don't think it's right. People are here and there are empty tables in the restaurant. You can't just leave the tables empty and kick them out. Isn't this offending?"
Su Ling shook his head and said: "Maybe at first, but gradually they will get used to it, and they will find that this is responsible for them! The restaurant environment is better, it is no longer noisy, and the smell is not so strong, and eating is comfortable!
"
Du Heng thought for a while, nodded and said: "I am a rough man, you are quick-thinking, and I will listen to you! It's just that those who are waiting always come first, first served..."
Su Ling smiled and said: "You are using your brain. Isn't this the rest of our game? We need to reserve a table by arranging numbers!"
Du Heng nodded repeatedly and said: "Yes, yes! I am familiar with this charter..."
Su Ling added: "The staff can't be together for nothing. Except for the back cook who won't participate in the previous things, there are twenty people in total including you. You only need to collect the money, and by the way, you have to practice your accounting skills!"
Du Heng said hurriedly: "Don't worry about this. I know exactly what kind of food and how much it costs."
Not to mention, although Du Heng is clumsy, he is self-taught when it comes to calculating accounts, and he is actually a talent...
Su Ling nodded and said: "In addition to you, there are nine people in the restaurant downstairs. Four people greet the guests, order food, two people pass the food, two people stand in front of the door to greet the guests, and check the reservation number. There are nine people and four people upstairs.
The food is passed around and five people take orders. Except for the person who is passing the food and you, the rest of the people upstairs and downstairs are not busy anymore. They all go to help collect the dishes and clean up the leftovers in the restaurant every night before closing.
, they took turns cleaning the floor and tables!..."
Du Heng nodded and said, "It sounds like there are rules!"
Su Ling then waved his hand and said: "Let's do this for now, and then we'll see what happens!"
Du Heng then yawned again and again and took Su Ling back to the bad hall to sleep.
Su Ling suddenly thought of something again and said hurriedly: "By the way, the most important thing is, when lighting the shabu kettle, you must tell them to be careful. This restaurant and the entire Longtai house are almost all made of wood, so be careful.
If there is a leak, the restaurant will be small if it burns down. If it burns down one after another, we will only have one head. If we lose it, we will have nothing!"
Du Heng patted his chest and said, "Put it on me."
So on the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Du Ji Mutton Restaurant was closed for one day. Su Ling gathered everyone for a meeting and announced these things on the spot, repeatedly emphasizing fire prevention and other precautions.
Make sure that everyone remembers it and knows it well.
After rehearsing it a few more times, everyone dispersed.
Before leaving, Su Ling told everyone that tomorrow was the Lantern Festival, a day off, so there was no need for everyone to come.
Then everyone cheered.
At night, just as Su Ling was about to lie down, she heard a sound at the back door of the bad hall.
Du Heng ran to open the door and saw Xiao Cangshu in light blue clothes standing in front of the door with a smile.
Su Ling hurriedly pulled him to sit down and asked him why he had come at this time.
Xiao Cangshu smiled and asked him if the food his father sent for the first night was delicious.
Su Ling nodded.
Xiao Cangshu then turned to the topic.
It turned out to be the Lantern Festival, and his third brother Xiao Sishu was going to hold a Shangyuan Night Poetry Party in his house and invited Su Ling to attend.
Su Ling declined, saying that his little knowledge was just to fool people, and he didn't dare to show his shame.
How can Xiao Cangshu be willing to follow his advice, saying that "worry before the world's worries, and rejoice after the world's happiness" and "Dream Jiangnan" are deceiving people. Do educated people in the world still dare to write poems?
Su Ling had no other choice. He also wanted to meet Xiao Sishu, the third young master of Sikong Mansion who had heard of the talent but had never seen him, so he nodded in agreement.
Xiao Cangshu handed over the invitation and turned around.
Su Ling told Du Heng that he was going to Xiao Sishu's house for a meeting tomorrow night, and Liu Duheng could only look after the house alone.
Du Heng said: "Then what if you are in danger again if you are alone? Take me with you!"
Su Ling shook his head and said with a smile: "It's just a poetry meeting. It's not a fight. There's no danger. Besides, there are people everywhere who are shaking their heads and chanting poems. You won't be suffocated to death if you go there."
Du Heng then pursed his lips and said reluctantly: "We agreed to do everything together, but it's good for you, and you left me..."
Su Ling laughed loudly and hurriedly comforted him: "Let me go and have a look. If you are really bored, I will bring you some delicious food. Come back early!"
Du Heng nodded.
The next day.
Seeing that the sky was getting dark, Su Ling took the gifts she had prepared, packed them in two wooden boxes, and tied red flowers on each one, which looked pretty decent.
He then carried a wooden box in one hand and headed towards Xiao Sishu's house.
It was the first time for him to go to Xiao Sixu's house, so naturally he didn't know the way. But it was already dark, and it was the night of the Lantern Festival.
The weather is still good today. There is not a single cloud in the sky, and there is only a bright moon like a disk among the stars in the sky.
At this time, the bright moon has just risen in the east, filling the entire Longtai City with jade light.
Under the clear light of the full moon, the streets are lined with lanterns in full bloom, lanterns are swaying, and the snowy ground is full of tourists.
Su Ling knew that in that era, there was no such thing as lanterns in this period. Maybe this was due to time and space confusion?
Su Ling ignored the beautiful scenery of fireworks in front of him. He asked people about Xiao Sishu's mansion, but it turned out that everyone knew about it, and someone had already pointed the way to him.
Su Ling wandered all the way and finally arrived outside the gate of Xiao Sixu's house.
He looked around at Xiao Sishu's mansion.
Although it is not as lavish as Sikong Mansion, it occupies a large area. The two stone lions in front of the door are lifelike. The red lacquer door looks very noble.
There is a plaque hanging in the middle of the lintel. The word "Xiao Zhai" is written by Xiao Sishu himself.
There are two big red lanterns on the left and right of the door lintel, their red light is dense, reflecting the white snow on the ground.
There were already two people standing in front of the door, one tall and one short, both looking east and west, as if they were anxiously waiting for something.
Su Ling walked closer and saw that it was Xiao Cangshu and another young master.
This young man has a handsome face, handsome appearance, and a natural bookish air.
Su Ling thought it was Xiao Sixu.
In fact, these two people were just waiting for the guests in the main hall, but they didn't know why they went out today, and almost all the guests had arrived, but they left these people and came to the front door.
All the guests secretly thought that the person who could welcome the two young masters Sikong must be someone of high status.
Xiao Canshu saw Su Ling at a glance, took two hurried steps, came to Su Ling, bowed and said: "Brother Su is here!"
Xiao Sishu just walked over and bowed to Su Ling. Although his attitude could not be called modest, he was quite respectful.
Su Ling dared to return the courtesy to the two of them, and then smiled kindly and said: "I have heard that the third young master is talented and elegant, and today he is indeed worthy of his reputation!"
Xiao Sishu smiled lightly and said: "I heard that my little brother always praises Brother Su for his great talent and his good writing and poetry. I hope that Brother Su will show off his talent at the Shangyuan Poetry Conference!" Su Ling is busy and humble.
A few sentences.
The three of them chatted for a while, and Xiao Sishu had a pretty good impression of Xiao Sishu. He spoke and treated others appropriately, which made people feel comfortable.
Sishu Cangshu then accompanied Su Ling to the main hall, as if he was just waiting for Su Ling in front of the door.
The news had already reached the main hall.
The guests in the main hall were surprised when they heard that the two young masters Sikong had been standing outside the gate for a long time just to welcome this young man named Su Ling. They all thought to themselves that although Su Ling had "worry about the world first, worry about the world later"
But these two gentlemen can't be so condescending. They are condescending, but they are only doing this to him. It is unfair to favor one over the other.
Since ancient times, literati have looked down upon each other, and many of the guests' eyes were red, thinking about how to make Su Ling look embarrassed later.
How could Su Ling not know this, so he just smiled.
After doing the whole show, Su Ling actually reached out and put a hand on Xiao Sishu's shoulder in front of the hall full of guests.
Xiao Sishu was stunned for a moment, then smiled awkwardly, unable to dodge.
Su Ling's expression seemed to make the guests feel that he and Xiao Sixu had known each other for a long time.
Just like this, they walked shoulder to shoulder and walked into the hall under the strange looks of all the guests. Su Ling let go of Xiao Sishu and presented the gift, but it was two wooden boxes with red flowers tied on each.
Everyone looked at it curiously, thinking that since Su Ling was so highly praised by the third son of the Xiao family, the gift must be extraordinary and extremely valuable.
However, when the servants opened the wooden box, Xiao Sishu, Xiao Cangshu, and all the guests stood up to take a look, but no one thought of it.
In the middle of each wooden box lies a huge sheep's hoof.
On the other hand, the freshly braised lamb hooves look plump, tender and tasty, and the meat is fragrant.
It’s just that this thing really has nothing to do with the word expensive.
All the guests looked at her with disdain. They thought that something so valuable could be so vulgar.
Su Ling didn't care, and laughed and said: "This is the latest double-pepper lamb trotters developed by our Duji Mutton Restaurant. It is braised with pepper and Sichuan peppercorns. It is delicious!"
He raised his eyebrows again and said: "Limited edition, only one hundred copies per day..."
Xiao Sishu didn't feel that the gift was too light, but she really didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She ordered people to take it and put it in the kitchen.
Su Ling then said solemnly: "Su Ling has something that may cause trouble to the Third Young Master." Xiao Sishu was a little confused and asked hurriedly: "Brother Su, what's the matter? If you have any orders, I'll call a careful servant immediately.
manage."
Su Ling hurriedly waved her hands and said with a smile: "It's nothing important, but now I have some snacks that have been prepared to eat. I came in a hurry today, and I was busy braised sheep hooves all day long, so I haven't eaten anything yet...
....”
All the guests covered their faces and laughed, with contempt in their eyes.
Xiao Sishu choked first, coughed twice to cover up her embarrassment, and hurriedly asked Su Ling to take the first seat on the left, then whispered: "The taro crisps and candied fruits will be here soon!" After saying this, he called the servants to serve snacks.
The snacks were served, and Su Ling looked at them. They were really exquisite.
Su Ling was not polite. She grabbed one and ate it. She ate it with gusto, but it seemed a little dry. She picked up the tea and took a few sips before she was satisfied.
Xiao Sishu awkwardly nodded to the guests and said, "Please use it, please use it..." The guests then stood up and thanked her, and looked at Su Ling with even more disdainful expressions.
At this moment, there was a noise at the door.
Xiao Sishu frowned, but she knew who the master was. Then she smiled apologetically at the guests and said, "I'll go to the door to have a look, please don't wait."
Not long after Xiao Sishu went out, he brought in a handsome young scholar dressed in white.
Others didn't recognize who it was, but Su Ling did, and hurriedly lowered his head, not looking at her.
This person is none other than Xiao Yuanche’s daughter, Xiao Jingshu.
Xiao Jingshu dressed up as a man tonight, wearing a light yellow gown. Her hair was tied up with a yellow belt and she had a wooden hairpin pinned to her. As soon as she entered the main hall, she attracted everyone's attention.
This young man is also very handsome. His skin is as white as snow, his eyes are shining, his figure is slender, and his movements are naturally charming.
Xiao Jingshu just came to join in the fun today, and it would always be inconvenient if she dressed up as a woman.
Su Ling didn't want her to pay attention to him, not because of anything else. It was just that a while ago, this little girl always ran to the medical clinic, and relied on Su Ling to diagnose his pulse when she came there. The pulse diagnosis lasted for an hour, and she was fine before leaving.
Take a lot of cold fragrant pills.
Later, when Su Ling heard that he and she had come, her head was as big as a bucket, and the business of the mutton restaurant was really hard to get out of, so she began to hide from her.
That Xiao Jingshu had a very unruly temper. When he went to the bad hall and didn't see him, he caused a scene where one Buddha ascended to heaven and two Buddhas were born.
He also threatened to meet Su Ling and make him look good.
Originally, Su Ling thought that this little girl who couldn't afford to offend would definitely not come today, but unexpectedly she bumped into him here.
When Xiao Jingshu saw Su Ling, Su Ling quickly lowered his head with a guilty look on his face.
Xiao Jingshu didn't wait for Xiao Sishu's arrangement, and sat down next to Su Ling with great dignity. She looked Su Ling up and down with her eyes, and the corners of her mouth turned up, as if she was demonstrating.
Su Ling had no choice but to bury her head in eating the preserves. She didn't dare to raise her head.
Xiao Jingshu, however, had a very unruly temper. He stood up in a hurry, came to Su Ling, snatched the plate of candied fruits from his hand, raised her chin at him, and turned around to return to her seat.
He banged the candied fruit plate on the table, grabbed a few and ate them.
It made all the guests look at him with suspicion.
Xiao Sishu was even more embarrassed, secretly feeling that his sister was a bit too unruly, but in front of all the guests, he couldn't say anything else, so he coughed twice again, pointed to Xiao Jingshu and introduced to everyone: "This is
Brother Jie, whom I met when I was in Chongzhou, is also here today to participate in this grand event with you."
Everyone did not doubt that he was there, so they greeted Xiao Jingshu.
The guests have arrived.
Xiao Sishu introduced them one by one.
Su Ling saw some familiar faces, such as Gu Buyi. The little master Gu and Xiao Cangshu were sitting together, and they were quite familiar with each other. He also noticed Su Ling and nodded towards him with a smile. There was also that big squirter.
Zi Chao Heng!
This was something Su Ling didn't expect. This big brother planned to squirt all over the map. Last time he had a few squirts in Banan, and he might have felt that those people were not high enough, so this time he came to Longtai in Kyoto to squirt again.
Is it a success?
Chao Heng looked like he would not let strangers in, and he didn't like anyone he looked at. When others greeted him, he would nod his head if he felt it was pleasant, and wouldn't even look at the ones he didn't like.
If anyone dares to be dissatisfied, he will roll up his arms and start complaining.
In addition to these, Su Ling paid special attention to the young men the two families had just met. One was Zhong Yuan's son - Zhong Shu.
He is not very famous, but Su Ling knows who Zhong Yuan is. Judging from his age, Zhong Shu should be the eldest son.
Su Ling knew in her heart that Zhong Shu had an average reputation, but then he was a younger brother, and he was not a worry-free person.
The other one is Xu Wei, the son of Xu Wenruo. Xu Wei is probably the oldest among them. He has a thin beard under his chin and looks as steady as his father.
Except these two.
There was another guest who surprised Su Ling. He was actually a young man in brown clothes who was sitting with Xu Wei. This person was actually Kong Xiyan, the son of Dahonglu Kong Hechen.
Su Ling looked as if nothing had happened, but he knew in his heart. He could vaguely feel who these people represented behind him. Behind Zhong Shu should be Xiao Jianshu, and the big troll Chao Heng was naturally in his own group. Gu Buyi should be He
Xiao Cangshu is friendly, and there may be shadows of those in the palace behind Xu Wei and Kong Xiyan.
Everyone sat down, as if they were still waiting for someone.
Not long after, a servant suddenly came into the hall and reported: "Sir, the kings have arrived..." Xiao Sishu got up first and said to the guests: "Since the kings have arrived, please follow me out to greet them!"