Peerless Divine Doctor in the City of Flowers -
Chapter 346: Qi Qi, You’re Not Being Honest
Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Qi Qi, You’re Not Being Honest
"Miao Border Thirteen Extremes!"
It was the first time Lin Fan heard this name, and he couldn’t help but frown.
"Heavenly Master, could you have heard wrong?"
"My nose has never failed me. Although it’s the flavor I tasted more than seventy years ago, it’s this distinct aroma that I can never forget in all my life."
The old Heavenly Master took his seat at the head of the table with a meticulous air.
"That was the first time I went to the Miao Region when I was pursuing a traitor. I distinctly remember that day; it was drizzling. After dealing with the traitor and as I prepared to leave, I caught this scent in a forest. I followed the aroma and found its source in a village which was the stronghold of the Five Poison Sect. It happened to be the day the Five Poison Goddess was seeking a suitor, so they used this secret seasoning to cook. That’s how I ended up staying in that village for a month, and I also came to know the Goddess."
"More than seventy years ago!"
Lin Fan was utterly dumbfounded.
Everyone knew that the old Heavenly Master was already over a hundred years old.
But due to the Taoist taboo, one must never inquire about someone’s age.
He could only let the matter rest.
"Indeed, more than a decade later, I had the fortune to pass by that village again. I had intended to satisfy my palate, but to my dismay, the entire village had been burned down. I inquired around, and it seemed that due to martial world grudges, the Five Poison Sect was completely annihilated by their enemies. And so, the scent had been lost forever. Never did I expect that after so many years, I would still have the chance to taste the flavor of the Miao Border Thirteen Extremes."
The old Heavenly Master stroked his beard, reminiscing about the events of those years.
Meanwhile, Lin Fan was massaging his chin, glancing towards the kitchen not far away.
"The dishes are here!"
Before long, Zhao Jiaqi, who had returned ahead of the rest, was already bringing in a plate of vegetarian dishes.
The aroma in the room instantly grew richer.
The old Heavenly Master couldn’t resist any longer, picking up his chopsticks and placing a piece in his mouth.
"This is it, the flavor is just right, neither overcooked nor undercooked, the texture is perfect. The only regret is that these vegetables were picked last night; they lack the dew of the morning, or they would have tasted even better."
Indeed, the old Heavenly Master’s innate love for food allowed him to discern the essence of the dish with just one bite.
Zhou Weimin, sitting beside him, couldn’t help but put his thumb up.
"I’ve always thought the Heavenly Master’s Taoist cultivation was unparalleled, but who would have thought he’s also a true gourmet, easily identifying the quality of the dish like this. That’s quite impressive."
"What’s so impressive about that? If you live long enough, you’ll come to know many things others don’t. That’s why everyone wants to live forever."
Having said this, the old Heavenly Master had already finished off the dishes in front of him as if a gust of wind had swept through leaves.
After fasting for several months, his appetite had greatly increased.
After all, it’s not easy to enjoy a meal of his favorite dishes.
Picky as he was, he preferred fasting over settling for less.
Perhaps this is the limit for a gourmet.
"So that’s how it is. I must learn more from the Heavenly Master and strive to live a longer life," Zhou Weimin said with a smile, looking at the Heavenly Master.
With his favorite food in front of him, his spirits were high.
"The dishes are here, this is a broth I made myself, using herbs I personally picked. Heavenly Master, please taste and see how it is?" Zhao Jiaqi said with a smile as she brought in two more dishes.
"This tofu is a bit old, if it had been bought an hour earlier it would have been better."
"This vegetable has been treated with pesticides and fertilizers, lacking a layer in taste."
"These black fungus aren’t from the North; they’re imported, and unfortunately, they don’t have quite the right color, and the drying time was a bit short. Such fungus, once meant to be eaten, should be soaked overnight in mountain spring water to bring out their best."
"The cooking time for this dish isn’t enough, delaying for three more minutes before taking it off the heat would have allowed it to absorb the wok’s essence and make it tastier."
"This cold dish is quite good, but the biggest taboo in making a cold dish is using too much chicken essence. Although it adds a savory taste, it overshadows the natural freshness and the quality of the sesame oil is not up to par. Next time, using real sesame oil would be even better."
As soon as each dish entered the old Heavenly Master’s mouth,
he could immediately point out its strengths and weaknesses.
"You truly are a gourmet!"
Li Qiqi, who had brought in the dish, looked at the old Heavenly Master with surprise on her face.
She hadn’t expected that such minor flaws would be discerned by him.
"I wouldn’t say I’m a gourmet. I’m just a bit particular. However, young girl, your cooking skills are already quite formidable. At least in my lifetime, you’re skilled enough to be in my top fifty."
The old Heavenly Master smiled at Li Qiqi.
Being able to receive his comments was already an honor.
"Ah... only in the top fifty... does that mean I still have a lot of room for improvement?"
Li Qiqi scratched her head, feeling a bit disappointed.
She was not satisfied with this ranking.
"Young girl, being in the top fifty is already very impressive. After all, in the past hundred years, I’ve sampled the cooking of innumerable renowned chefs. Your cooking is dominant in flavor, but if we talk about knife skills, heat control, and pairing, it wouldn’t even make it into the top thousand. So I have to say that the Miao Border Thirteen Extremes are truly formidable. Even someone like me, who has tasted the finest foods of the world, can’t discern what spices you’ve used."
The old Heavenly Master chuckled as he picked up a piece of green vegetable and said, "However, the Miao Border Thirteen Extremes are the perfect complement to meat dishes. This spread of vegetables is missing its essence."
"Old sir, you... Can you eat meat?"
Li Qiqi looked at the old Heavenly Master’s attire in surprise.
Even though she didn’t know who he was,
she recognized his Taoist outfit.
"Of course. There’s no joy in fine dining without meat. However, I do have four taboos: dog meat, snakehead murrel, wild goose, and beef. As for the rest, the more, the merrier. Still, I have to say, not many dishes make me pick up my chopsticks, and the freshness of the ingredients is a priority."
Mr. Zhang smiled at Li Qiqi.
"Well then, how about you stay over at my place tonight? I will go out and buy the finest ingredients right now. We can have another feast in the evening. If you’re free, feel free to stay here long-term; I’ll cook different dishes for you every day."
Li Qiqi was indeed clever and astute.
From the seating arrangement of Lin Fan and Zhou Weimin, she could tell that he held an extraordinary status.
"Wouldn’t that trouble you?"
The old Heavenly Master smiled at Li Qiqi.
He naturally couldn’t resist such a charming and likable girl.
"What trouble? They say a woman dresses to please the one she likes. If the old sir enjoys eating my cooking, we can consider ourselves kindred spirits. It’s an honor I couldn’t even beg for. If you’re willing, you can stay for a lifetime."
Li Qiqi’s smile was sincere, and her words were as sweet as honey.
Making someone as venerable as Lin Fan happy, someone who Lin Fan himself respected, would surely bring Lin Fan more joy.
Finally feeling like she was in her element was no easy feat.
"Good, then I’ll stay. I really want to taste your cooking and give you some pointers, as a way to repay the Five Poison Sect for the meal I received that day!"
Mr. Zhang’s words made Li Qiqi suddenly pause.
She hadn’t expected her true colors to be revealed so suddenly.
Instinctively, she glanced at Lin Fan.
In the exchange of looks, she could also discern the meaning in Lin Fan’s eyes.
Oh no!
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