The servers come out from the kitchen with large bowls. Before they placed the bowl, they cleared the tables and replaced used bowls with clean ones.
Seeing the pink soup, Fu Wenli asked one of the servers, "Comrade, what is this dish?"
The young server smiled and replied, "Comrade, this is dessert. It’s called fruit soup, made with mixed fruits, honey, and milk powder. Since it’s served chilled, we recommend women avoid eating too much of it. This will be the last dish. Please enjoy."
Hearing that it was the last dish, everyone was momentarily stunned. In hot weather, appetites usually diminished, but today, they had unknowingly eaten far more than usual despite the heat and heavy dishes.
Father Pan touched his stomach and realized he was about 70% full. The fruit soup was just the right finish.
Amazed by the arrangement, he wondered if the portions had been carefully calculated or if it was simply a happy coincidence. Either way, this was the best banquet he had ever attended.
Reflecting on the rare and expensive ingredients and the exquisite flavors, he felt his gift for the bride was far too modest. The banquet alone had to have cost more than the red envelope he had prepared. Most of the guests from influential backgrounds thought the same thing.
Because of today’s banquet, some military and political officials had already made plans to pull Pan Chiyan and Pan Chimu to their side. Taking all factors into consideration, building a good relationship with talented and resourceful young people is a good choice for them.
In the kitchen, Lu Jueyu and Li Chenmo finally were able to take a break and sighed in relief.
As the head chef, Lu Jueyu had stayed in the kitchen throughout the banquet, ensuring the dishes were served correctly and that servers were briefed about each dish to answer guests’ questions and prevent any incident due to the guests’ allergic reactions.
After the fruit soup was served, Lu Jueyu emerged from the kitchen and smiled at everyone while saying, "Thank you all for your hard work. I have prepared two tables of food for you. It may not taste as good as it did when hot, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless."
When the servers heard this, they smiled, and one of them said, "Sister-in-law, we are grateful that you prepared our portions. After all, we have been paid to help with today’s wedding banquet. So even if you didn’t prepare a meal for us, we would have no complaints."
Lu Jueyu shook her head and replied, "How could that be? Everyone has been working tirelessly for almost two hours. This meal is my family’s way of thanking you."
Hearing her words, the servers felt their hard work was worthwhile. Although they were paid only two yuan, the gesture of being included in the feast warmed their hearts.
With so many hands at work, the cleanup was finished in two hours. Since she had promised the neighbors they could take home leftovers, Jueyu let them bring their own pots or bowls to fill with the dishes they preferred.
Most wanted the skewers, but unfortunately, those had been perfectly portioned, leaving none left. Since there were other options, they happily took whatever was available. Jueyu thanked them warmly as they departed which increased their good impression of the Li family.
Once the kitchen was empty, she quickly stored all the clean utensils in her space and gathered everything she had taken out earlier. The jars and pots that remained unwashed would be handled later by her husband after they entered the space tonight.
After ensuring nothing was left behind, she finally left the kitchen to find her husband. She assumed everyone else had gone home since the sun was already setting on the horizon.
Unexpectedly, when she reached the hall, she saw the Pan family and her family were chatting with a group of distinguished-looking guests. The women wore elegant qipaos, while the men were dressed in either Western suits or military uniforms.
As soon as Mother Pan noticed her, she walked over with a warm smile. Taking Jueyu’s hand, she said, "Jueyu, thank you so much for today. You must be exhausted after working so hard."
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