Prodigal System in the Flourishing City

Chapter 8: Chapter 8 The Bankrupting Menu (Please Favorite, Please Recommend)

Back at the newly opened store, there was a person waiting at the entrance.

”Boss, where did you go?” A red-faced, thick-necked man in a chef’s uniform walked in and said to Lu Hongbin.

”Ah, Xu Yi, you’re here. I had some things to take care of. But from now on, you’re not only the head chef of this restaurant, but also the boss. You handle affairs here. Profits will be split fifty-fifty, if there are losses, they’re on me,” Lu Hongbin said with a smile.

”Boss? I...” Xu Yi was incredibly excited.

”That’s enough, you’ve followed me for so many years, since the very first restaurant. You deserve this,” Lu Hongbin patted Xu Yi’s shoulder.

”So, our family runs a restaurant, huh,” Lu Xiaobu scratched his head and asked.

”Uh...” Lu Hongbin was at a loss for words: ”You little wastrel, you don’t even know what our family business is?”

Lu Xiaobu: ”Hehe, I’m a wastrel, I only know how to squander money.”

Everyone was speechless: ”...”

Does this count as being self-aware?

”Alright, let’s have a happy day today. Xu Yi, make a couple of your specialties for our little squanderer here, let’s all have a bite,” Lu Hongbin said as he rubbed Lu Xiaobu’s head.

...

Moments later, the table was full of an array of twelve dishes, all of which were Xu Yi’s specialties, and he was still bringing more.

”That’s enough, Xu Yi, we can’t eat that much,” Lu Hongbin laughed.

”It’s fine, no worries, this one’s on me.”

Xu Yi was sweating profusely in the kitchen, but he was still cheerfully cooking.

”Qianmin, don’t be shy. We’re all family here,” Lu Hongbin called out.

”Thank you, Big Brother Lu.”

Wu Qianmin’s cheeks were a little red, and of course, she understood the meaning behind Lu family’s words, but she could only apologize. Although Lu Xiaobu did indeed make her rethink a bit today, she still didn’t want to pin her hopes on this little wastrel.

If it really came down to it, she would just return Lu Xiaobu’s mobile phone. Although reluctant, she wasn’t a gold-digger.

”Ah.” Lu Hongbin heaved a sigh. He understood but didn’t say anything.

He had already heard the news about Qianmin’s family moving, and although he wanted to keep them, he really couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Xiaobu, you got to step up!

...

”Xiaobu, eat,” Lu Hongbin looked at the disinterested Lu Xiaobu and asked with some concern, ”Is it not to your taste?”

”Yeah, it’s all meat and fish, don’t feel like eating it,” Lu Xiaobu said petulantly, this food is not wasteful enough.

”Young Master Bu, what do you want to eat? Just say it, I’ll make it,” Xu Yi immediately asked upon hearing this.

He knew all too well that pleasing Lu Hongbin was far less important than pleasing this little master, which would make his boss Lu Hongbin even happier.

”Boiled cabbage in clear broth,” said Lu Xiaobu.

”Boiled cabbage in clear broth? Boiled or steamed?” Xu Yi was perplexed.

Isn’t he supposed to be a wastrel? Why is he being so thrifty?

”Xiaobu, you?” Lu Hongbin was also confused: ”Did you get a stomach ache?”

Only Wu Qianmin patted her head, feeling that the boiled cabbage in clear broth mentioned by Lu Xiaobu was definitely not that simple.

Through the series of events today, she realized something, this wastrel was no longer the same one as before.

If squandering were an art, the Lu Xiaobu from before was merely accomplished, but today, he had certainly reached the pinnacle.

Indeed.

Xiaobu looked at their reactions and knew it, this world surely did not have this famous dish. Fortunately, he remembered.

”First, separately blanch an old hen, an old duck, the trotters of a top-quality ham, spare ribs, and dried scallops - all fresh goods - in boiling water to remove any blood and impurities. Fish them out, wash them clean, then put them together into the soup pot. Add a sufficient amount of water, ginger, and scallions, then cooking wine, as well as other ingredients that will enhance the soup’s deliciousness. Remember to switch to low heat so that it is just simmering without boiling, and slowly stew until the soup has extracted the essence of the flavors.”

”Puree the chicken breast meat, then use the cool broth to stir the puree until it’s the consistency of soy milk, and pour it into the boiling broth. At this point, a miraculous phenomenon will occur as the impurities in the soup vigorously latch onto the puréed meat.”

”After about 10 minutes, scoop out the spherical clumps and discard them. Repeat this process 2 to 3 times, until the soup is ’cleared’ and becomes as translucent as water.”

”Then select a high-quality Chinese cabbage, select the tender core leaves and stems, about the size of a fist, and carve it into an immaculate white lotus.”

”Finally, use a ladle to repeatedly pour the warm, strained broth over the Chinese cabbage until even the outermost stem can be easily pressed into and it’s fully softened.”

”Remember, it must not be boiled, but slowly scalded until it is cooked.” Xiaobu looked at Xu Yi: ”Do you understand?”

”I understand, but...” Xu Yi’s face was full of struggles, and in the end, he still said: ”Such extravagance!”

My heavens!

Whether it tastes good or not, let’s put that aside for the moment.

He had never seen such an extravagant recipe before; to use so many fresh ingredients just for a single Chinese cabbage?

Who on earth would come up with such an extravagant recipe?

And, is this considered eating lightly?

This seems even more opulent than having a feast of fish and meat.

”Indeed, I knew it, it couldn’t be that simple.” Wu Qianmin felt a headache coming on. Even eating a dish could be so wasteful, unbelievable!

Although Lu Hongbin and Lu Wenhao were also shocked, they had somewhat braced themselves for it and said nothing.

”Xu Yi, go and cook it,” Lu Hongbin said with a wry smile, ”Today, I will also taste this extravagant dish.”

”Alright,” Xu Yi went off to cook.

...

”Young Master Bu, this is what you asked for.” Xu Yi carefully presented a small porcelain bowl, then opened it, and at this moment, the expression on his face was indescribably weird.

”Uh...” Lu Hongbin looked at the simple dish in the bowl and couldn’t help but say, ”If I hadn’t known in advance about the huge expense, I would have thought it was really just several pieces of Chinese cabbage core soaked in water, not even a speck of oil to be seen.”

”Don’t just stand there, eat,” Xiaobu stretched out his chopsticks, picked up a piece of Chinese cabbage for both Lu Hongbin and Wu Qianmin, and then stuffed one into his own mouth and began to eat.

Seeing Xiaobu serve them, Lu Hongbin and Wu Qianmin revealed incredulous expressions on their faces.

’When did this spendthrift learn to be so considerate?’

Wu Qianmin looked at Xiaobu’s carefree expression and suddenly felt a sense of guilt: ’What will he do if I leave?’

Lu Hongbin looked at Wu Qianmin’s eyes, smiling but saying nothing—indeed, this little spendthrift had caught on, this move was something even Wenhao might not know.

While thinking, he placed the Chinese cabbage into his mouth.

Then,

”Uh! What the—!” His eyes suddenly widened!

”Lu brother?” Wu Qianmin, seeing Lu Hongbin’s stunned look, was somewhat confused.

Lu Hongbin didn’t speak but just pointed at the boiled cabbage, urging Wu Qianmin to try it.

”I’ll give it a try,” Wu Qianmin picked it up.

She actually didn’t want to eat it because she was a thrifty girl. She always felt a strange sense of guilt eating such luxurious food.

Then.