Chapter 8

Qin Shaoyou gritted his teeth and firmly resisted the temptation: "Miss, shall we order some dishes first?"

Shangguan Wan'er was helpless. She could only say in a hesitant manner: "Prosperity and wealth? What is that?"

Qin Shaoyou replied: "Stir-fried cabbage."

"Good name... but... do you have any... um, dishes that don’t need to be cooked?"

Qin Shaoyou was utterly confused: "What do you mean by dishes that don’t need to be cooked?"

Shangguan Wan'er said: "Like grapes."

"..." Qin Shaoyou was taken aback. If you want to eat grapes, why did you come here? He shook his head: "No!"

"What about pears?"

"We don’t have those either."

"Then send someone to buy some from the street. I’ll eat that."

Qin Shaoyou felt hurt. Was it really necessary? After all, it was rare to have a customer, and she wanted him to go out and buy fruit to wash and serve her. Was she here to cause trouble?

Qin Shaoyou frowned and asked: "What do you mean, Miss?"

Shangguan Wan'er smiled gently, looking harmless: "Nothing, I just want to eat pears."

Conspiracy, this must be a conspiracy, surely sent by the Zhou family to mock him.

Qin Shaoyou was furious. He had never been so angry. You can insult my character, but you cannot insult my profession. You can seize my property, but you cannot kick me when I’m down.

This is too much!

Qin Shaoyou suppressed his anger and glared at Shangguan Wan'er: "Is eating my dishes more terrifying than being stabbed?"

In an instant, the bookish young man who was like a breath of spring turned into a fierce warrior.

Shangguan Wan'er was surprised. She had never seen a bookish young man with such unpredictable emotions. The few guards around her wanted to act, but she glanced at them, signaling them not to. Then she smiled and said: "I am always particular about cleanliness."

"Anything else?"

"I am a picky eater."

Qin Shaoyou was so angry that he trembled. This was a blatant provocation, a blatant provocation. It was an insult to the Qin family. Claiming to be particular about cleanliness was to defame the food at Ruchun Restaurant. Saying she was a picky eater was to say the food was not good. Without even tasting it, she made such a judgment. What else could this be but troublemaking? Zhou family, I won’t let this go!

Without a word, Qin Shaoyou grabbed Shangguan Wan'er’s wrist. He gripped it hard, leaving a faint mark on her snow-white wrist.

No one expected Qin Shaoyou to dare to attack. He grabbed Shangguan Wan'er’s pulse point, and the guards, concerned for her safety, were at a loss.

Shangguan Wan'er winced in pain and cried out. Just as she was about to retaliate, Qin Shaoyou dragged her and angrily said: "What grudge do we have? What enmity? Why defame Ruchun Restaurant’s reputation like this? If you think the food is dirty, I’ll show you the kitchen. Where is it dirty? If you can’t swallow it, I’ll show you what delicious food is..."

He dragged Shangguan Wan'er straight to the kitchen.

Shangguan Wan'er stumbled, feeling both embarrassed and angry. She twisted her ankle and tears welled up in her eyes. She bit her lip and said: "I twisted my ankle."

Qin Shaoyou laughed out loud: "Ha, demons and devils, do you think I can’t see through your schemes? No nonsense. If you defame my restaurant, you insult my honor and integrity. If I don’t open your eyes today, I’ll write my name backward."

Qin Shaoyou dragged Shangguan Wan'er directly to the kitchen, and the guards hurried to follow.

In the kitchen, Qin Shou heard the commotion and was shocked: "Cousin..."

Qin Shaoyou, once he got started, wouldn’t stop for anyone, even the Son of Heaven. He returned to his wild state and said in a tone that brooked no argument: "Help me, heat the pot."

Qin Shou clicked his tongue and hurried to add wood to the fire.

The kitchen was small and couldn’t accommodate many people. The guards couldn’t enter, but Qin Shaoyou still held Shangguan Wan'er, almost in a condescending tone: "Customer, what do you want to eat?"

Shangguan Wan'er was still shaken, her face slightly red, and she was breathing heavily, even making a nasal sound. She had grown up in the prime minister’s residence, wearing fine clothes and eating delicacies. Later, her father was implicated in a crime, and she was sent to the palace, but with Empress Wu Zetian’s protection, she had always been superior. She had never been treated like this. This ‘bookish young man’ didn’t treat her as a high-ranking official, nor did he show any chivalry. She found him both hateful and fearsome.

She was somewhat intimidated by Qin Shaoyou’s气势, but she tried to remain calm: "I... I don’t know..."

"Very well, if you don’t know, you’ll eat everything." Qin Shaoyou ignored her and said to Qin Shou: "Knife!"

Qin Shou took the kitchen knife and threw it to Qin Shaoyou. This was a special skill Qin Shaoyou had taught him. Qin Shaoyou stretched out his hand and caught the knife in mid-air.

The guards outside were about to rush in to subdue Qin Shaoyou, but they were intimidated by his skill. Shangguan Wan'er was very close to Qin Shaoyou, and if they rushed in and angered him, who could guarantee he wouldn’t lash out with the knife?

So the guards didn’t move, all of them frozen in place.

Then they heard Qin Shaoyou say: "Chinese cabbage."

A fresh Chinese cabbage was thrown to him, and Qin Shaoyou slapped it with the back of the knife, landing it on the cutting board. He was now in a state of complete focus, driven by a desire to prove himself. As soon as the cabbage landed, he started chopping.

Chinese cabbage is known as bok choy in modern times. Qin Shaoyou cut off the roots and left the leaves, slicing them into long strips.

*Chop chop chop chop chop chop chop...*

The sound was rapid and rhythmic, turning the act of chopping vegetables into a form of art.

Even Shangguan Wan'er, who had been furious, was drawn in. She had seen imperial chefs at work, and as the person responsible for arranging many banquets in the palace, she knew good cooking when she saw it. The best chefs in the palace were skilled with knives, but none of them could match Qin Shaoyou’s artistry.

Knife skills are a crucial part of Eastern cooking, directly affecting the taste and appearance of the dish. Qin Shaoyou’s knife skills were exceptional. In a short time, the cabbage was perfectly sliced. He then said: "Tofu."

Several pieces of tofu were placed on the knife, and with a few swift movements, they were cut into small, perfectly round balls, each the size of a glass marble, without any damage. It was a breathtaking display.

Qin Shaoyou didn’t rush to put the tofu in the pot. The water was already boiling, and he lifted the cabbage and dropped it into the pot. He then took a bowl, placed the tofu in it, drizzled oil, sprinkled salt, and chopped some scallions on top.

Shangguan Wan'er couldn’t help but ask: "Why not put the tofu in the pot?"

Qin Shaoyou glanced at her and said: "Silence, you have no right to speak here."

How domineering!

Shangguan Wan'er was furious, her shoulders trembling.

Qin Shaoyou, holding a long spoon, watched the heat, as if every moment and temperature was under his control. He was oblivious to Shangguan Wan'er’s resentment.

After a moment, the cabbage in the pot was cooked.

Qin Shaoyou poured the hot cabbage soup over the tofu. The hot soup and tofu made a sizzling sound, and a plume of steam rose.

The rich aroma of tofu and cabbage filled the kitchen. The tofu, like pearls, and the green cabbage, were a feast for the eyes, making Shangguan Wan'er’s mouth water.

Qin Shaoyou said calmly: "This is Pearl and Jade Soup. What do you think, Miss?"

"..." Shangguan Wan'er didn’t answer.

Qin Shaoyou smiled slightly, not minding, and instructed Qin Shou: "Bring the white porcelain bottle."

Qin Shou, without a word, brought a small white porcelain bottle to Qin Shaoyou. Qin Shaoyou opened the bottle, which contained a black powder.

Qin Shaoyou scooped a spoonful of the powder and sprinkled it over the Pearl and Jade Soup...

A rich aroma suddenly filled the air. This was no longer just the smell of the vegetables, but a unique fragrance that completely whetted Shangguan Wan'er’s appetite.

What Qin Shaoyou had added was chicken essence. Chicken essence is widely used in modern times, but it was unknown in the Great Zhou Dynasty. The process was simple: mushrooms, chicken, shrimp, and dried pork were cooked, roasted, and ground into a powder, mixed with scallion and ginger powder, and the result was a perfect blend.

This seemingly insignificant ingredient in modern times was a game-changer in the Great Zhou Dynasty. The only seasonings available were oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, a far cry from the variety in modern times.

Shangguan Wan'er was intrigued.

Qin Shaoyou pushed the bowl of Pearl and Jade Soup in front of her. The rich aroma made her mouth water.

Qin Shaoyou said bluntly: "Eat!"

"..." Shangguan Wan'er hesitated. She wanted to try it, as the soup’s appearance and aroma were irresistible, but she was annoyed by Qin Shaoyou’s rudeness. She was about to say, "How dare you?"

But she calmed down and thought about the rumors about Qin Shaoyou. If he were truly a good chef, why would his business be so quiet? Was he trying to deceive her with his showmanship?

So Shangguan Wan'er took a step back.

But Qin Shaoyou saw the disdain in her eyes and couldn’t help but sneer. He picked up the knife and slammed it into the cutting board with a loud *thud*. The blade stuck in the wood, trembling. He glared at Shangguan Wan'er: "Eat or not?"

Shangguan Wan'er, startled, instinctively said: "I’ll eat."

Who would have thought someone would be forced to eat soup with a knife?

But seeing Qin Shaoyou’s fierce expression, Shangguan Wan'er had to endure the humiliation. She watched Qin Shaoyou warily, afraid he might attack. She carefully scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it to cool it, and took a small sip.

"..."

Delicious...

A unique, fresh flavor filled her mouth, along with the rich, creamy taste of the tofu and cabbage. This flavor...

...

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