Various elegant dishes filled the large table, but in the center was a strikingly bold "Braised Shark's Fin," which not only added a bright touch to the otherwise delicate spread but also elevated the social value of the meal. Speaking of which, Magistrate Tao had set the price for this scholars' banquet at twenty Silver, but with three full tables of guests, this amount of Silver was certainly insufficient. The hosting restaurant would inevitably have to chip in a bit more. But well... to be able to create such a satisfactory feast of one's own making was also a joy in itself, wasn't it?
Busy until nearly noon, Hua Xiaomai finally managed to prepare all the dishes, took a deep breath, glanced over the stove with self-approval, and smilingly turned to Zhou Yunyun, saying, "Now, I will test you. Why did I insist on adding a dish of Braised Shark's Fin to this banquet? Don't you tell me it's just for prettiness, or I'll bop you!"
