The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 45: Chapter 44: Reward in Hand

Qin Yue warmly linked arms with her in-law, guiding them to the dining room.

When the Guan couple stepped inside, they saw the dining table filled with a plethora of dishes and bowls, with an overwhelming aroma filling the air, exuding a cozy, homey feeling.

”We weren’t sure what you usually like to eat, so we specially hired a chef from Qianlima. If there’s anything else you’d like, feel free to ask the chef to make more...”

As Qin Yue spoke, she approached the dining table and was taken aback at the sight of the table setting, her words stuck in her throat.

On the luxurious Italian imported dining table, there were plain white round bowls and plates.

The bowls were filled to the brim, and the dishes on the plates were piled up like little mountains.

This, this...

Qin Yue suddenly turned to Fu Yu, shock and disbelief in her voice, ”This, what is this?”

Fu Yu smiled confidently, ”Oh, this feast is called the ’Eight Plates and Eight Bowls Feast.’ Since you specifically mentioned that tonight’s guests are Manchu descendants with traditional family customs, I prepared a table of Manchu specialty dishes.”

Qin Yue: ”...”

Fu Yu continued, ”However, since frog meat isn’t very good this season, we temporarily replaced it with fried meatballs, making a minor change in the menu.”

Qin Yue widened her eyes, ”I say, Chef Fu, your... ”

Fu Yu earnestly added, ”Rest assured, all the other dishes were prepared according to the most standard Eight Plates and Eight Bowls Feast!”

Qin Yue thought to herself, no matter how well you explain it, it still looks like a farm-to-table meal?!

Chef Fu, what on earth did you prepare???

How can such dishes like pig slaughter stew and stir-fried intestines be served to guests!!!

The Guan Family had already approached the dining table.

Mrs. Guan glanced at the dishes, a bit surprised, then smiled and thanked, ”You’ve gone to so much trouble.”

Qin Yue’s gentle face almost froze, and she quickly explained, ”Oh, no, you’re too polite. I just wanted to treat you well, didn’t expect the chef to... ”

Father Guan turned to his daughter, his face stern, ”Tiantian, come here, I need to ask you something!”

As soon as Father Guan spoke, the atmosphere in the room became tense.

Everyone turned to look.

Guan Tiantian appeared embarrassed, ”Dad... what do you want to ask me?”

Father Guan, ”You suggested this feast tonight, right?”

Guan Tiantian: ”?! ”

Qin Yue gave Fu Yu a look of frustration: What did you prepare here? I repeatedly stressed the importance of arranging this well, even ensuring the ingredients were prepared in advance. Those hairy crabs and lobsters, aren’t they appealing? Yet you made this table of dishes?!

Watching the family feast about to collapse, Qin Yue couldn’t help but blame Liu Yici.

Her best friend also isn’t trustworthy, what kind of people are they introducing!

Now it’s over, the in-laws are angry, will this marriage still go through?

Father Guan lamented, ”Tiantian, your mother and I came today just to meet the in-laws, have a good time, and enjoy a casual family meal. How could you be so inconsiderate?”

Guan Tiantian couldn’t speak, looking at the table of food, incredibly shocked.

Her father was blaming her for making demands to her future mother-in-law.

He believed this feast was what she told her future mother-in-law to prepare, thinking she was being inconsiderate and demanding.

After all, these Eight Plates and Eight Bowls aren’t something an ordinary restaurant can casually prepare, and the chef arranging this feast was specially hired from outside by the Qin Family.

Her father worried the Qin Family would overthink and have a bad impression of their family.

Moreover, the Guan Family has always valued etiquette, never making demands on their first visit to someone’s home.

Guan Tiantian hurriedly denied, ”Dad... I didn’t, I didn’t arrange this feast, really. If you don’t believe me, ask Auntie, I didn’t mention this at all!”

Father Guan didn’t believe it, this Eight Plates and Eight Bowls isn’t something ordinary folks have even heard of.

If not for Guan Tiantian, how could the in-laws think of such a thing?

Guan Tiantian almost felt like kneeling down to declare her innocence.

Father Guan turned to Qin Yue, apologetically and gratefully saying, ”In-law, I’m really sorry, it’s all because Tiantian is inconsiderate. This feast couldn’t have been easy to arrange, right? Sigh, this child, really...”

Qin Yue: ”!”

Mrs. Guan also said, ”Such an authentic Eight Plates and Eight Bowls, it must be difficult to hire the chef, you’ve gone to great lengths.”

Qin Yue: ”...”

Qin Yue was momentarily stunned, then understood.

This so-called Eight Plates and Eight Bowls Feast was indeed the kind of cuisine the Guan Family enjoyed.

Her mind suddenly overflowed with warmth and relief.

She quickly and warmly invited the Guan Family to sit down, saying politely, ”We’re almost family, no need to be so formal.”

The Guan family of three sat down, as did Qin Yue and her son.

”Please try it, I’ve never witnessed this ’Eight Plates and Eight Bowls Feast’ before, I’m not sure how authentic the taste is either.”

Faced with the enthusiastic Qin Yue, the Guan couple exchanged a glance, feeling quite impressed.

Regardless of whether this meal was their daughter’s suggestion, the other party’s willingness to go to such lengths to prepare it clearly demonstrated sincerity.

Mrs. Guan picked up a piece of cucumber from the cold dish of dry tofu, cucumber slices, and wood ear mushrooms, and put it in her mouth.

This dish was the most refreshing appetizer among the cold dishes, crispy as she chewed, each piece mixed with walnut oil, a burst of fragrance filling her mouth.

Mrs. Guan couldn’t remember how long it had been since she last had such authentic dry tofu and cucumber salad with wood ear mushrooms.

This was exactly the taste she remembered!

Except for the two times she had eaten this taste in Old City Village of Hetuala City in Fushun, she couldn’t find it anywhere else!!

Finally tasting the long-missed flavor, Mrs. Guan felt excited and moved.

Swallowing the food, she picked up another slice of Ah Ma’s Sacred Pork.

The large chunk of golden pork was stewed until soft, rich and fragrant, melting in the mouth, with a fatty texture that wasn’t greasy, and lean but not tough.

Mrs. Guan praised, ”This Eight Plates and Eight Bowls Feast is so authentic, it’s been so many years since I’ve had such delicious Ah Ma’s Sacred Pork.”

Mrs. Guan turned to Qin Yue and sincerely said, ”In-law, really, thank you so much, this meal is so precious and delicious!”

Qin Yue instinctively looked at her son.

They couldn’t help but exchange glances, seeing the astonishment in each other’s eyes!

No wonder Liu Yici repeatedly recommended this young Chef Fu, praising his culinary skills as comparable to a Michelin Restaurant chef.

Qin Yue now completely believed it.

This Chef Fu indeed had some skills.

It was clearly a simple farm-style meal, yet it caught the Guan Family’s eye.

Unable to hide her pride and joy, Qin Yue smiled and said, ”Oh, you’re too kind. If you want to eat this again, you can always have the chef come back.”

After saying this, Qin Yue turned to Fu Yu, nodding satisfactorily.

[Ding! NPC Wealthy Woman Liu Yici’s task: Successfully complete a delicious family feast. Reward: 100 RMB, Liu Yici’s favorability +5, Task experience +10]

[Ding! NPC Wealthy Woman Qin Yue’s task: Successfully complete a feast satisfying the in-laws. Reward: 200 RMB, a traditional family feast recipe, Cooking skill +10, task experience +20]

The next second, the phone vibrated twice.

Cash has been credited.

Fu Yu’s lips curled slightly upward.

The rewards were successfully received, not bad!