NOVEL WEB Chapter 188: Chapter 188
The hot broth bubbled in the large iron pot, its rich aroma rising with the white steam.
The girls in the shop, drawn by the smell, unconsciously gathered around, staring at the dish in the pot while swallowing their saliva.
"Boss, is this a new dish?"
"No, it's just a simple tofu with meat, the same one I made for you the day before yesterday."
"But the tofu we had last time wasn't nearly this fragrant."
"Perhaps it's because my cooking skills have improved a little bit."
"!"
At this moment, Shenhe returned from escorting Yaoyao back from Yujing Terrace, only to find several passersby standing outside their shop.
She walked over, intending to tell them that the shop now closed at five o'clock, when she caught a whiff of the enticing food aroma wafting from inside.
At the same time, Shenhe heard the sound of people frantically swallowing their saliva – it was coming from the passersby.
"What dish is being cooked in there?"
"I've never smelled anything this fragrant before, it's even more tempting than the most expensive dishes at the Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk!"
"Is this a newly opened restaurant?"
"No, it's a beverage shop. I come here every day!"
"Such excellent culinary skills and they're not running a restaurant? If they opened one, I'd come every day too!"
...
After listening for a while, Shenhe realized they had been attracted by the aroma of the boss's dinner.
She walked over and pushed open the shop door under the envious gazes of the onlookers.
An even richer food aroma immediately wafted out from the shop.
The passersby started swallowing their saliva more frequently, trying to peek inside to see what was being cooked.
But they only saw Shenhe coldly closing the door.
Sigh.
The passersby looked disappointed.
"Brother, let's go eat at Liuli Pavilion, my treat tonight."
"Why go to Liuli Pavilion? Let's go to Wanmin Restaurant, they won the Liyue Chef Championship this year."
"Haven't you heard? The champion chef left to travel the world."
"Huh?"
"Forget about Wanmin Restaurant, there's a mantou shop nearby. Why don't we buy some steamed buns and stand here enjoying the aroma while we eat? Wouldn't that be nice?"
"...?"
Inside the shop, Shenhe walked into the kitchen and, smelling the mouthwatering aroma, couldn't help but secretly swallow her saliva.
Why was the boss's cooking so much more fragrant than usual tonight?
"Boss, I'm back."
"Ah, welcome back. Everyone can start bringing out the dishes now, let's eat."
"Okay!"
"Boss, Granny invited us to have dinner at her house on Thursday."
"Alright."
Finally, the invitation for granny Ping's birthday had arrived.
During the meal, the girls once again experienced that life-questioning feeling they had when they first tasted the boss's cooking.
This time, the feeling was even more intense, and they spent even longer in their daze.
They finally managed to return to their senses from the shocking world of flavors.
"This is way too delicious, Boss!"
"So good!"
"My body has become dependent on the boss."
"Mine too!"
"If you enjoy it, please eat more."
"Yes, yes!"
Diona finished two bowls of rice, which was her limit, feeling a bit stuffed.
She secretly glanced at the others: Senior Zhu Zi was already on her third bowl, Senior Qiqi was on her second bowl like her, and Senior Shenhe was on her fourth bowl.
As for Senior Chi Yu, her stomach seemed to be connected to another dimension. According to Senior Zhu Zi, ever since Chi Yu joined, there had never been any leftover food in the shop.
And being a ghost, no matter how much she ate, she wouldn't gain weight.
Diona touched her own stomach, looking a bit worried.
The boss's cooking was simply too delicious; she couldn't control her portions at all. If she kept eating until she was this full at every meal, she would surely turn into a fat cat.
That wouldn't do!
Maybe she should ask the boss for weight-loss massages like Senior Zhu Zi?
Just 800 Mora, and it felt good too...
But that kind of thing...
Diona sat in her chair, lost in thought, her little face growing red.
--
At Yujing Terrace.
The two Adepti returned to Madame Ping's home after spending the afternoon strolling through the streets.
Madame Ping was sitting at the entrance chatting with Yaoyao, who had just returned, listening to her happily talk about her part-time job at the shop.
"Uncle! You're back!"
"Yes, and Yaoyao is back too."
"That's right! Our shop closes at 5 now, very early!"
Yaoyao thoughtfully ran inside to bring out two chairs.
The two Adepti were touched by this, but when they thought about their precious little one's future "phoenix pursuing the dragon" situation, they felt a bit uncomfortable again.
To think that someone as sweet and adorable as Yaoyao would end up being the one to pursue!
Madame Ping picked up the food box beside her and opened it, offering it to her two friends.
"Here, have some snacks."
"Aren't these the same snacks we had at the shop this afternoon?"
"Yes, these snacks are quite tasty. I was just about to ask which shop they were bought from."
"They weren't bought! Big Brother made them himself!"
"That Boss Xia made these?"
"Yes!"
The two Adepti looked at the dorayaki in their hands, suddenly losing their appetite.
Ping found it strange: "Why aren't you eating?"
"We just ate our fill at Wanmin Restaurant, can't eat anymore right now."
"Same here."
"Well, save them for later then. How was business at Wanmin Restaurant today?"
"Very good. We went early, otherwise we would have had to wait. The customers were saying that Xiangling won the Chef Championship title recently?"
"Yes."
"I never expected her culinary skills to improve so rapidly..."
"Xiangling has natural talent in cooking, but her winning the championship this year was largely thanks to Mr. Xia's guidance."
"Mr. Xia? The Boss Xia from that beverage shop?"
"Yes, you've tasted these snacks, so you should be able to tell Mr. Xia's culinary skill level. He used to frequently visit Wanmin Restaurant, and that's how he got to know Xiangling. Probably out of appreciation for her talent, he would give her pointers every time he ate there, telling her how to improve her dishes. Xiangling benefited greatly from this. In fact, her championship dish was actually created by Mr. Xia for her at the last minute."
"So that's how it was..."
"Before Xiangling left for her travels, she told me seriously that she wanted to both continue Wanmin Restaurant's tradition and create dishes that would satisfy Mr. Xia. That child has always been ambitious, especially when it comes to cooking. I could tell she has made Mr. Xia her goal to pursue."
"..."
The two Adepti exchanged glances, suddenly getting an ominous feeling.
"Madam! Yaoyao!"
A familiar voice called out from nearby.
"Adeptus Mountain Shaper! Adeptus Moon Carver! You're here too!"
The two Adepti turned their heads, saw who it was, and nodded with a smile.
"Ah, Yanfei. We just arrived this afternoon."
"You came quite early this year. I remember last year you arrived just the day before Granny's birthday."
"Yes, it's a bit earlier. How's your work going?"
"Quite busy!"
"Your parents too, leaving you alone here with Ping while they go off traveling..."
"Haha, let them be. Oh? These snacks smell so good, are they made by Mr. Xia?"
"Yes! Big Brother made them!"
"Mmm! Delicious! Mr. Xia's cooking skills are truly beyond reproach!"
Ping stood up with a smile: "Well, now that Yanfei is back, we should have dinner. You two who've already eaten can stay out here."
Soon, only the two Adepti remained sitting at the entrance, silently looking at each other.
Adeptus Moon Carver couldn't help but speak: "Why didn't you let me divine earlier?"
"Then divine Xiangling's situation."
"Fine, you asked for it."
"..."
Adeptus Moon Carver took out several old Mora coins and cast them.
"How is it?"
"...Invalid reading."
"...Try divining Yanfei's situation."
"...Also invalid."
The two Adepti fell into a long silence.
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