EBE Chapter 122 Gaining Appreciation
Chapter 122 Gaining Appreciation
Master Chen smiled and waved his hands, his eyes full of pride. "It's just a trifle, but this fish requires the selection of fresh ingredients, delicate knife skills, and precise control of the heat. The slightest mistake can make a world of difference in the taste."
Everyone chatted at once, the atmosphere seemingly lively but turbulent. Everyone hoped to stand out, yet was wary of others. Yet, amidst the fawning, they seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding, deftly avoiding Cheng Yuntao as if she were invisible.
Occasionally, someone would glance at her with a bit of disdain and pity. Obviously, deep down, they all believed that Cheng Yuntao's wild vegetable dumplings were too shabby and would not be worthy of Boss Ji's attention. They were not even bothered to give her perfunctory praise.
Cheng Yuntao watched the chefs complimenting each other, feeling the hypocrisy was utter. They'd been fighting over the ingredients they wanted just moments before, only to suddenly pretend nothing had happened. They were masters of face-switching. She stood in a corner of the kitchen, arms folded, a calm expression on her face. She gazed out the window into the distance, silently pondering the taste of the wild vegetable nests and the various possibilities that might arise after Boss Ji tasted them.
……
Ji Yanchuan sat in a spacious, brightly lit hall. The table was filled with exquisitely presented, fragrant dishes. Those signature dishes, the chefs had put so much effort into creating, now seemed mediocre to him. He held his silver chopsticks and savored each one. With each bite, his brows furrowed slightly, and he felt a deep sense of disappointment.
These dishes were exactly the same as those prepared by the previous chefs who applied for the job. They were either a luxurious accumulation of delicacies from land and sea, or mechanical reproductions of popular dishes. There was nothing new about them and they were completely unable to stimulate his taste buds which had long been spoiled by delicious food.
Mu Qingfeng observed the expressions on the side and sighed inwardly. He had known this would be the result.
Ji Yanchuan put down his chopsticks and turned to look at Mu Qingfeng with a hint of impatience in his eyes: "Is that all? Are there any other dishes? I heard that a fierce cook came today. What dishes did she make? Has it been served yet?"
Hearing Ji Yanchuan's question, Mu Qingfeng hurriedly stepped forward, bowing slightly, with a look of fear and humility on his face, and quickly replied, "My Lord, there is another dish, but this one... has ordinary ingredients and a crude appearance. I thought it might not please you, so I didn't dare to present it right away."
As Mu Qingfeng spoke, he secretly glanced at Ji Yanchuan's face, wondering in his heart whether the boss would blame him for acting on his own initiative.
He had previously thought that the wild vegetable dumplings made by Cheng Yuntao were plain and simple, and were too shabby and crude compared to the delicacies on the table, so he had no intention of presenting them. He never expected that his master would actually take the initiative to ask about it.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yanchuan raised his eyebrows slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. "Bring it up." He waved his hand, his tone calm but unquestionable. Mu Qingfeng didn't dare to delay any further and quickly signaled for his servants to bring the wild vegetable nests made by Cheng Yuntao to the table.
When the earthenware dish of wild vegetable nests was finally brought to the table, Ji Yanchuan's eyes, which had been somewhat weary, suddenly brightened with a sense of wonder. His gaze fell on the simple nests, but his thoughts drifted away, his mind reeling back to his hardscrabble days before he became wealthy.
At that time, his family was poor and had insufficient food to eat. Being able to eat a steaming hot pot of wild vegetables was a rare delicacy. The desire for food in difficult circumstances and the satisfaction after getting it are still deeply engraved in his mind.
With a little anticipation, Ji Yanchuan picked up a wild vegetable nest and put it into his mouth. As soon as he bit it, his taste buds were instantly activated and his surprise was beyond words.
The first thing he tasted was the uniquely refreshing aroma of wild vegetables, followed by the rich flavors of the filling, layer upon layer. The spicy aroma of leeks, the tenderness of eggs, and the richness of pork belly blended together, paired with the rusticity of the wild vegetables, creating an incredibly delicious flavor. The taste had both the roughness of the wilds and the delicateness of carefully blended ingredients, instantly transporting him back to the past while also giving him a whole new taste sensation.
Ji Yanchuan couldn't help but pick up another one and savored it carefully. Before he knew it, he had eaten several in one breath.
Mu Qingfeng watched on, stunned, his jaw nearly dropping. In his memory, his master usually only tasted a few delicacies from a table full of delicacies, lacking any interest. It had been a long time since he had devoured a dish so voraciously and enjoyed it so thoroughly.
He couldn't help but wonder what was the charm of this seemingly ordinary wild vegetable nest that could attract Boss Ji, a discerning palate accustomed to delicacies from land and sea, so much?
Mu Qingfeng quietly took a few steps closer, his eyes fixed on the still steaming wild vegetable nest, trying to find the secret behind its simple appearance. But no matter how he looked at it, it still looked ordinary, just a mixture of wild vegetables and flour, with some homemade fillings. There was really nothing special about it.
But his master couldn't fake his relish, so Mu Qingfeng was filled with doubts, mixed with curiosity and admiration for Cheng Yuntao. In the kitchen of the Ji Mansion, famous chefs from all over the country came to showcase their skills, trying their best to win the favor of Boss Ji, but most of them returned empty-handed. Unexpectedly, this humble wild vegetable nest would stand out and become a sensation.
After the whole plate of wild vegetable dumplings was completely devoured, Ji Yanchuan put down his chopsticks and leaned back in his chair contentedly, his eyes slightly narrowed, as if still immersed in the wonderful taste of the wild vegetable dumplings. After a moment, he regained his composure and noticed Mu Qingfeng's inquiring gaze. The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up, and he said with a hint of aftertaste, "This wild vegetable dumplings may seem simple, but they actually hold a lot of secrets."
"Go and bring the cook up here. I want to see her in person." Ji Yanchuan's voice was filled with interest and anticipation. Mu Qingfeng responded hurriedly and walked quickly towards the kitchen.
At this moment in the kitchen, all the chefs pretended to be calm on the surface, but their hearts were actually in turmoil. They were all secretly hoping that they would be the lucky one who could stand out and be appreciated by Boss Ji.
When Mu Qingfeng appeared at the door, everyone instantly perked up and their eyes were all focused on him.
Mu Qingfeng had a stern expression and looked businesslike. He then raised his voice and said, "The person who just made the vegetable dumplings, come out for a moment." As soon as these words came out, the kitchen seemed to explode. Everyone was stunned at first, and then burst into an exclamation of disbelief.
"What? Wild vegetable nest? How is that possible!"