The middle-aged man chuckled and lifted his chin slightly. “If I win,” he said confidently, “you’ll have to buy me double the amount of wine at home.”
His rival smirked, full of confidence, certain of his victory.
Meanwhile, Xu Ying was not idle. She had already finalized the banquet menu with the Gu family—eight dishes in total, carefully balanced between meat and vegetarian. Given the times, extravagance was out of the question; wastefulness even more so. But Xu Ying’s selection was clever and thoughtful, perfectly fitting the occasion.
When Gu’s mother saw the menu, she couldn’t hide her satisfaction. This girl—she was reliable.
Soon, the first round of cold dishes appeared, accompanied by a plate of crispy fried peanuts. While Xu Ying bustled around the kitchen preparing the rest—mushroom stewed chicken soup and a fragrant eight-treasure rice—the aroma drifting through the air made everyone’s stomachs rumble in anticipation.
By eleven o’clock, the cold dishes were laid out, and the guests eagerly began eating. One table sat twelve people; with ten tables altogether, the crowd was lively, and the peanuts disappeared almost instantly.
Inside Xu Ying’s mind, the system rang joyfully:
【Congratulations, host. Favorability +1, +1, +1…】
【Congratulations, host. Favorability reached 200 points. You have unlocked: first-level mushroom abalone, second-level fried vegetarian meatballs, a bag of rice and noodles, and a random bag of poison.】
Xu Ying’s eyes lit up. Mushroom abalone! A dish perfect for a wedding banquet—it looked luxurious but wasn’t wasteful. And vegetarian meatballs that tasted just like the real thing—these were treasures for her to unlock at this moment.
As dish after dish emerged from Xu Ying’s hands, the middle-aged man’s eyes widened, and his face lit up with excitement. “You’ve lost,” he smirked to his rival.
But the rival snorted. “Don’t be so sure. Smell alone isn’t everything—taste is what matters.”
Laughing, the middle-aged man strode toward Xu Ying. This time, his gaze was no longer dismissive, nor did he dare underestimate the young girl standing calmly before the stove. “Girl, mind if we have a taste?”
Xu Ying raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on her lips. “Sure,” she said, her voice calm, “but you’ll need to take your own bowls.”
She was particular about cleanliness; she didn’t want saliva mixing with the communal dishes—after all, that would be disrespectful to the other diners.
Hearing her agreement, the middle-aged man’s face broke into a grateful smile. “Thank you, girl. Uncle Chen was a bit rude just now. I shouldn’t have looked down on you.”
He scratched his head sheepishly. “I just thought… you don’t have calluses on your hands. Usually, people who handle kitchen knives and spatulas daily have rough hands, so I assumed you were bluffing. I’m sorry, girl.”
Xu Ying wasn’t heartless. Seeing his sincere apology, she laughed softly. “It’s fine, Uncle Chen. Maybe I just have talent. Believe it or not, I don’t spend much time in the kitchen. But when it comes to cooking… it’s like I was born to do it. I just need to watch once or twice, and I can figure it out.”
Uncle Chen was momentarily speechless. This little girl! He filled a bowl with trembling hands and took a bite—and for a long moment, he stood frozen, utterly stunned.
“Old Sun, you’ve lost,” Uncle Chen called over, his voice full of wonder. “Come taste it. This is no ordinary cooking—it’s on par with, no, even better than Chef Ge!”
Old Sun, his rival, scoffed, arms crossed. “Chen, you worked hard to win this bet—now you’re going to spout flattery?”
Before he could finish, Uncle Chen stuffed a piece of chicken into his mouth.
Old Sun chewed once, twice—then his expression shifted. His brows lifted, his eyes sparkled, and with a soundless gulp, he swallowed. For a moment, he was lost for words, then a grin broke across his face. “Ah, I didn’t expect to lose two bottles of wine today.”
Even as he enjoyed the food, Old Sun’s mind churned. Chef Ge—he was from a line of imperial chefs. But this girl? Where did she come from?
Curiosity finally got the better of him, and Old Sun wandered over, pressing Xu Ying for answers. But her light-hearted explanation—“Maybe I just have talent. I rarely cook, but when I see it done once, I can copy it”—nearly made Old Sun collapse from frustration.
Still fuming, Old Sun snuck back to the table and scooped up a few more bites of Xu Ying’s dishes.
Meanwhile, the guests began eating the banquet’s cold dishes. Many were accustomed to fine food and meat, so they had started off nonchalantly.
But as Xu Ying’s hot dishes emerged, the room transformed.
“Why is this meat so delicious?!” someone exclaimed.
“The chicken soup—oh, heavens—it’s incredible! How much have you drunk? Leave some for us!”
“I only had a little!” one guest insisted, though guilt flickered across his face.
Even Gu Murao, who had tasted Xu Ying’s food before, was once again completely captivated. Guests who usually maintained impeccable table manners now devoured every drop of soup, even sopping it up with steamed buns, throwing all restraint aside.
At the head of the room, Father Gu finally finished his tasks and walked over to the director of the state-owned hotel, wine glass in hand. “Director Hong, how was the meal?”
Director Hong, thoroughly satisfied, smiled broadly. He had meant to ask about the chef, but before he could speak, Father Gu leaned in with a knowing smile. “Doctor Gu, the food you served today was extraordinary. If Chef Ge hadn’t been on duty, I would have thought you hired him!”
Father Gu chuckled. “No, no. We hired several chefs, but a few of the main dishes were prepared by a young girl.”
“Oh? A girl with such cooking skills at her age—remarkable,” Director Hong said, raising his glass.
Then, sensing an opportunity, Father Gu casually added, “I heard you’re hiring chefs at the restaurant?”
Director Hong immediately understood. As a shrewd old fox, he caught the hint without another word.
Father Gu felt a little awkward—it was his first time ever asking a favor.
But Director Hong smiled easily. “That girl has excellent skills—perfect for a state-owned restaurant. Ask her to prepare; she can report for work the day after tomorrow.”
Relieved, Father Gu smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Director Hong. If you ever need anything at the hospital, come find me.”
Of course, Director Hong thought wryly, who would deliberately run to a hospital? But he understood the weight of the words—Father Gu now owed him a personal favor.
What a lucky girl, Director Hong mused. She had just cooked her way into a promising future and even earned herself a powerful connection.
In the kitchen, Xu Ying was still bustling when Father Gu hurried in. “Yingying, once you’re done, come to the front. I’ve arranged with Director Hong—you’ll start work at the state-owned restaurant the day after tomorrow.”
Joy sparked in Xu Ying’s eyes. “Thank you, Uncle Gu!”
She understood how rare and precious this opportunity was, especially in these times.
Father Gu gave a satisfied nod. “I’ll leave it to you then!”
When Xu Ying finished the last dish, she quickly removed her chef’s hat, patted down her clothes, and rushed toward the banquet hall.
“Yingying, over here!” Father Gu called.
Xu Ying hurried over, a bright smile on her face as she faced the kindly middle-aged man. “Uncle Gu, this must be Director Hong from the state-owned restaurant. I’ve heard of him—today, seeing him in person, he truly looks like a leader who’s close to the people.”
Director Hong’s eyes crinkled with laughter. Who doesn’t enjoy a little flattery? Beaming, he said, “So you’re the young chef! You’re impressive, young lady—talent and luck both on your side. Be ready to report the day after tomorrow.”
And just like that, Xu Ying’s life had taken another leap forward—all through the delicious magic of her hands.