のこの態度からすると、熊男は上司なのだろう。
先程まで会っていた明とどちらが上なのだろうか?
そのあたりの事も華流ドラマオタクとしては気になるところだが、今はなによりもまずハラヘリ対策が先だ。
食堂の使い方は宮女のものと同じらしい。
はせっかくなのでここでのオススメを食べたくて、厨房にいた料理番に尋ねる。
「今日は肉団子の
そう答えたのはまだ若い、雨妹と変わらないくらいの成人したてであろう男だった。
湯の味付けは宮女の台所と違うのか、ぜひ食べ比べて
「今日は『当たり』のようだ。美味そうな匂いがする」
食堂に当たり外れというものがあるのだろうか?
「ここの料理番ってどういう人なんですか?」
宮女は集められた宮女から振り分けられるのだが、ここの場合はどういう人材が集まるのだろうか?
一番上の料理番は大ベテランのようだが、その下は頻繁に入れ替わるのだとか。
「その時にいる新入りの腕で美味さが分かれてな。
あれも当番の腕で味が左右されると聞いたことがある。
「でも、どうしてそんなやり方なんですか?」
兵に料理を仕込んでおかないと、遠征で干し肉と干し芋ばかりを齧ることになる」
さすがに新兵全員に経験させることはできないが、見込みがありそうな者を優先して引っぱってくるのだとか。
そんな話をしながら料理を貰い、二人で卓に着く。
さすが男所帯の食堂なだけあり、お勧めが肉々しい。
「やっぱり食堂によって違いがあるんですね」
「まあ、宮女の食堂とここは違いが大きいだろうな」
目をキラキラさせて料理に熱視線を向ける雨妹に、立勇が同意する。
まず、湯の肉団子があちらに比べて大きい。
作り手の手の大きさの違いなのだろう、丸ごと一個を口に入れると、それだけで口の中がパンパンになりそうだ。
立勇の方は一口で食べているのを見ながら、雨妹は箸で半分に割って口に入れる。
豪快な男料理かと思いきや、肉団子がフワフワで食感が良く、思わず頬を緩める。
秋になって夜風が冷えてきたので、湯の温かさが身体に優しい。
「飲み込んでから喋れ、喉に詰まらせるぞ」
一刻も早く感想を伝えたくなった雨妹に、立勇から指導が入る。
あちらの方が口に含んだ量は多かったはずなのに、もう飲み込んでいるとは、そちらこそきちんと噛んで食べているのだろうか?
ハラヘリ同士、煩いことは言いっこ無しにしようではないか。
次に包子を食べた雨妹が、幸せな気分に浸っていると。
「美味そうに食う娘っ子だなぁ」
先程の熊男がそう言いながら、雨妹たちの隣の卓にやってきた。
「太子付きと下っ端宮女たぁ、妙な取り合わせだな。
明を呼び捨てにしたということは、この熊男は明よりも上の立場なのかと思いつつ、雨妹は湯を食べるのを止めない。
温かい料理は温かいうちに食べるのが礼儀である。
Nevertheless, that bear man must be his superior, based on Li Yong's attitude.
Yui Mei wondered who had the higher position between him and Ming, whom they met just earlier.
She was curious about it, being the Chinese drama fanatic that she was, but right now, satisfying her hungry stomach took precedence.
The way they used the cafeteria was the same as the court ladies.
Yui Mei thought she might as well taste their specialty dish since she was already here. She went to the chef in the kitchen to inquire about it.
"I recommend the meatball soup for today."
A young guy who was not much older than Yui Mei answered. He was probably the same age as her and had just come of age.
Yui Mei wanted to compare the seasoning of the soup with the ones served to the court ladies, so she could tell Mei Na all about it.
"Today's a "hit", it seems. I can smell something delicious."
Was there such a thing as hit or miss in a 'cafeteria'?
"What kind of cook do you have here?"
The gathered court ladies were divided and assigned to their jobs. How about here? What kind of talents gathered in this place?
The head chef was a great veteran, but the people under him frequently changed.
"The taste changes depending on the skills of the newcomer. The veteran watches over him, so it won't taste bad, but it won't be delicious, either. But it seems we're in luck today."
It made sense. Yui Mei thought about the chefs in charge of preparing the sumo wrestler's meals. She heard that the taste of the dishes was also influenced by the skill of the person preparing them.
"But why do they have to do it that way?"
"It's part of the camping plan. If we don't train the soldiers to cook, then we won't have a choice but to gnaw on jerky and dried sweet potato during expeditions."
All the same, they wouldn't be able to let all the novices experience this, but they could give precedence to those who seemed to have the potential.
They got their meals while talking, then they went to a table and sat down.
As expected of an all male household, all the recommendations were about meat.
"Yeah, it really varies depending on the cafeteria, I guess."
"Well, the difference between the court ladies' dining hall must be pretty huge compared to here."
Li Yong agreed with Yui Mei, whose eyes were twinkling as she passionately stared at the dish before them.
The first difference was the size. The meatballs in the soup were huge compared to theirs.
Perhaps it was because of the difference in palm size, but it was so big that her mouth would be full to bursting if she were to eat it whole.
Yui Mei watched Li Yong stuff his mouth with a whole piece while she split hers in half.
She thought the dishes would be hearty because it was a dish geared towards men. Much to her surprise, the meatballs had a soft mouthfeel, and she unwittingly broke into a huge grin.
The nights were cold ever since the autumn season started, so the warmth of the soup soothed her body.
"Swallow first before you speak, you might choke on that."
Yui Mei had wanted to express her impression immediately, but she got a lesson from Li Yong instead.
He supposedly stuffed a lot more food in his mouth, but it seemed that he already swallowed them all -- did he even chew them properly?
Both of them were starved, so they shouldn't be nagging each other about such things.
Yui Mei ate the baozi next, and was immediately immersed in pure bliss.
"Wow, you're a girl who eats with such relish, huh."
The bearman from earlier said this as he sat down at the table next to Yui Mei's.
"The Crown Prince's attendant and a low-ranking court lady, huh. What a strange combo. How did you end up together?"
He casually said Ming's name, so he was probably somebody with a higher status than him; nevertheless, Yui Mei didn't stop eating her soup.
Eating warm food while it was still warm -- that was the proper etiquette, after all.
Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
百花宮のお掃除係～転生した新米宮女、後宮のお悩み解決します。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/housekeeper-of-the-hundred-blossom-palace/
Fantasy Romance Shoujo Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Ancient China Complex Family Relationships Different Social Status Female Protagonist Imperial Harem Love Interest Falls in Love First Reincarnated in Another World Royalty
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4104ev/
黒辺あゆみ