Chapter 174 - 173: Awaiting the Honored Guest
At this moment, even though it was not completely dark, the red lanterns outside the door and in the yard had already been lit.
Only a crack of the kitchen door was open. Chen Afu looked through the slit and saw a man in a black cloak leading the way. On his left shoulder perched Qi Qi and on the right, Hui Hui. He must be the affable and bird-loving Marquis Chu. Behind him were two men, the one in a dark blue cloak was Chu Lingxuan, leading Chen Dabao by the hand. The other man in a cyan cloak was holding Chu Hanyan, who was wrapped in a red cloak. This man must be Mr. Chu.
Chen Ming, Alu, Manager Luo father and son, Zeng Shuang, and others followed behind.
Chen Afu guessed that they should have settled down and started drinking, so he began to stir-fry garlic sprouts with twice-cooked pork. After it was ready, he took the mutton wrapped in scallions and the simmered beef with radish that had been kept warm in the pot, filled it into the dishes, and with Zeng Xiaoqing, carried it to serve them in the hall.
There were two maids standing at the door. Seeing them coming, they quickly opened the door and lifted the door curtain.
Inside the hall, four candles were lit and two charcoal braziers were burning, making it warm and bright.
An old man around sixty was seated at the head of the table. He had a rosy complexion, a gentle expression, and was dressed in a dark red cotton satin jacket with grey fur trim, he didn’t look like a formal Marquis at all. To his left sat a man in his thirties, looking handsome and dignified, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, and a faint beard. He looked a lot like Chu Lingxuan, and was dressed in a golden-bordered navy blue cotton-jacket with floral and bird patterns. Chen Dabao was seated next to him. Chu Lingxuan, dressed in a brown jacquard brocade cotton jacket, sat on the right. Chu Hanyan was next to him. Chen Ming and Alu were seated at the foot of the table, across from the old Marquis.
Manager Luo and others were serving from behind.
Chen Ming had finally been invited to sit at the table, surely invited by the Chu family members.
Chen Afu first placed the mutton wrapped in scallions and simmered beef on the table, then added the stir-fried garlic sprouts with twice-cooked pork. She smiled and said, "Although stir-fried garlic sprouts with twice-cooked pork is a common home-style dish, it’s one of my specialties. I hope the Marquis and the two gentlemen will find it to their liking?"