August 16, the auspicious day of the zodiac. Easy to sacrifice, Nacai, enter the house, open the market, make cars, and meet relatives and friends.

On this day, it is the day when the Catering Division holds an internal election to participate in the Queen Mother's chrysanthemum banquet.

At the end of the day, Min Sishan, as usual, got up early to change clothes, folded the futon, and did not rush to the catering department, but took out a wooden tablet from the closet and gently placed it on the table.

A pair of hands touched the fire sickle in the dark, lit three sticks of sandalwood, and gently inserted them into the incense burner in front of the tablet.

In the smell of sandalwood, Min Sishan slowly knelt down on the futon, folded his hands on the tablet in front of him, and said reverently: "Master, the Queen Mother has made a decree that a chrysanthemum banquet will be held." Today is August 16, and it is the day for our catering department to inspect talents and select recipes. Please Master's Spirit in Heaven bless us for all the best and the best of the best. ”

After some prayers, Min Sishan leaned over and bowed to the tablet three times before slowly getting up.

Pushing open the door, in a burst of coolness, slightly wrapped the robe on his body, stepping on the deepest twilight before dawn, his eyes were faint, and he walked briskly all the way towards the catering department.

Approaching the dining room, you can see a cut of firefly light from a distance, faintly peeking through the room.

Gently pushed open the door, only to see a figure dressed in a palace maid's dress, her hair combed neatly, and she had already started to get busy earlier.

Min Sishan's eyes were hazy, and he couldn't help but think of many years ago, when he was like the girl in front of him.

"Mu Lan."

He couldn't help but call softly, causing the familiar figure in front of him to raise his head.

"Aunt Min, you're here."

Min Sishan silently hid a pity in his eyes, and said with concern: "Mu Lan, why did you come so early?" ”

Mu Lan put down the account book in her hand and smiled at Min Si Shan Yingying: "Aunt Min, the two loads of ingredients newly sent by the Internal Affairs Office yesterday have not yet been counted. I've just finished sorting it, and I'm done counting it right away. ”

Min Sishan walked closer, nodded slightly in the flickering candlelight, and took the account book handed over by Mu Lan.

I saw a delicate stroke on the volume, and every sum of ingredients and materials received by the catering department, as well as its ins and outs, were clearly recorded.

Min Sishan bowed slightly, and said very pleased: "Isn't it Lianxin who is doing the bookkeeping?" What, you've been helping her? ”

Mu Lan smiled slightly and said, "It's true that Lotus Core has always been doing it." It's just that recently, because the preparations for the chrysanthemum banquet are imminent, the ingredients and materials sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs have doubled, and Lianxin can't be busy alone, so I will help her in my spare time. ”

In fact, there is no need to listen to Mu Lan's explanation, Min Sishan also knows her intentions in his heart. As the head of a department, although he doesn't have to bow down to everything in the dining room, it doesn't mean that he is not good at observing.

There are a total of eighteen palace maids in the catering department, among this group of palace maids, who is good at what, what is not good at, who still has potential to be tapped, who can arrange to entrust the important task, although Min Sishan has never been silent, and will not be happy, but in the end, which has always been hard-working, which loves to play tricks, which is straightforward, which is bent and welcome, she has always been clear in her heart, and she knows it in her chest.

Lianxin Zaomu Lan entered the palace a year, this child is honest and loyal, and kind-hearted, but how to say it in understanding, in the end it is still a little worse. It's also a bit too timid and stubborn, and the temper is too straightforward.

Everything is entrusted to her to do, but it is absolutely serious and complete, but her mind is a little stupid and not so flexible. Teach one to do one, teach two to do two, never think too much about whether there can be two, three, four, not to mention the five, six, seven, that those who have a heart can realize.

Previously, he also told Chunhua to take her with him, but when he found that his talent was difficult to change, he only gave her some work that was not too complicated, but had to be serious and careful. For example, today's case, the ingredients and materials sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs are counted and recorded one by one every day.

The reason why Mu Lan wanted to come to the catering department early in the morning to do things must be because she felt that there were more ingredients and materials sent in the past few days, and she was afraid that Lianxin would make a mistake in confusion with so many things, so she deliberately wanted to help her.

Thinking of this, Min Sishan looked at Mu Lan's faint gaze, in addition to a layer of silent appreciation, he also unconsciously brought a layer of warm warmth, gently put down the account book, walked to the table, picked up scissors, cut off a section of the wick that burned into carbon black, turned the oil lamp on a little brighter, and said lightly to Mu Lan: "I remember these accounts well." That's hard work for you. Let's finish breakfast early. ”

Mu Lan replied seriously: "Auntie, don't worry, there is one more point, it's over, I'll go to breakfast later, thank you aunt for your concern." ”

Min Sishan had a lot of thoughts in his heart, and only smiled at Mu Lan and turned to leave.

At the moment, in the hall of the catering department, there was a solemn and solemn atmosphere.

All the palace maids stood in two teams according to their ranks, and greeted them with a slightly nervous expression.

Not long after, under the guidance of Lord Shanggong's smile on his face, two adults who had specially rushed from the Guanglu Temple Taiguan Office to supervise the work took the lead in taking their seats.

Han Shanggong also followed the two adults and sat outside the table formed by the long case.

The two little palace maids at the end of the team quietly went to the dining room, took the special eight treasures cake and the freshly brewed tea, and respectfully served them in front of several adults.

Han Shanggong greeted the two governors with a spring breeze on their faces: "The two adults have come from afar, and we have specially prepared the eight treasures cake made by the catering department for the two adults, and invite the two adults to taste it." ”

The Taiguan Commander led by Zhengzhong smiled slightly, and said, "The responsibility of the office, Lord Shanggong does not have to be polite. ”

After that, he took a piece of Bazhen cake from the plate, took a bite, chewed it carefully, bowed his head slightly, and said to the young man on the side: "It tastes good, you can also taste it." ”

He turned his head to Han Shanggong next to him and said: "Lord Shanggong, the eight treasures of your catering division, we are better than seeing it, and we are fortunate to taste it today, and it is indeed worthy of its reputation." The entrance is soft and glutinous, the taste is sweet, and under the careful tasting, there is also a slight hint of ginseng. I wonder what ingredients are used in your cakes? ”

When Han Shanggong heard this, he smiled and said, "Thanks to the praise of the adults, if the taste of the Eight Treasures Cake of our catering division is unique, then the eyesight and appreciation of the adults are even more extraordinary." Among the eight treasures of cakes, the most important ingredient is indeed Codonopsis. In addition, it is made of poria cocos, atractylodes, lentils, lotus seeds, barley, yam, and gourd, and then steamed with rice noodles, sugar, and rice noodles. ”

After that, he warmly invited the two adults to taste the Biluo tea in front of them.

After finishing speaking, in the midst of laughter, he turned to the side with a smile on his face and looked at Min Sishan who was accompanying him on the side.

Min Sishan lowered his voice behind him and said softly, "It's all ready, adults can start at any time." ”

Han Shanggong nodded slightly, exchanged a few words with the two supervisors, and saw that the two adults did not mean to speak in court, so he instructed Min Sishan: "Then let's start." ”

Min Sishan received the order, bowed and took two steps back, and nodded slightly towards Chunhua and Xia Qing, who were the leaders of the two teams of palace maids.

The two palace maids of the catering division immediately led two teams of neat and beautiful palace maids, like two beautiful fish with a sinuous posture, and Nana walked into the dining room in order.

Mu Lan was sandwiched in the slowly marching team, and the long-standing thought in her heart silently steamed in her chest.

"Mother, wait for my good news."