Is the beginning of a catastrophe? The little farm cook is raising a family with a full warehouse.

Ji Yanchuan looked calm, raised his eyebrows slightly, and responded slowly: "Thank you for the kindness of Mr. Shen, I'm just an ordinary cook. It's better not to hold on to too high hopes, otherwise you will end up disappointed."

Shen Linfeng chuckled, put down his teacup, and tapped the table lightly with his fingers: "Why do you have to belittle Yan Chuan? Anyone who can catch your eye can't be bad. Are you afraid that I will poach this talent?"

He teased half-jokingly, making it hard to tell what he was thinking.

Ji Yanchuan's expression did not change. He just glanced at Shen Linfeng calmly and said calmly, "If Young Master Shen really has this intention, then it depends on Miss Cheng's own wishes. I never force others to stay."

He knew in his heart that Shen Linfeng was not simply trying to poach people, and there might be other motives behind it. However, even he could not understand why Cheng Yuntao, a little cook, would attract the other party's attention.

Could it be that the two of them had a feud before?

"Haha, Yan Chuan is really open-minded." Shen Linfeng laughed loudly, and his laughter echoed in the side hall. "However, whether this Miss Cheng can pass my test is still uncertain. If the dishes she cooks are not to my liking, even if she has great skills, I will not appreciate her."

……

In the kitchen on the other side, when the time was almost up, Cheng Yuntao lifted the lid of the pot, and a burst of hot air mixed with fragrance blew towards her. She squinted her eyes slightly. It was a unique aroma that was a blend of the mellowness of sour water, the freshness of bitter vegetable moss, the sour and sweet taste of tomatoes, and the sweetness of brown sugar.

She picked up the spoon, slowly put it into the pot, and stirred it gently a few times to allow the various ingredients and seasonings to fully blend. After stirring, she added a little seasoning to enhance the flavor, then picked up the utensils and carefully served the sour braised vegetables in the pot.

Finally, take the chopped chili and coriander, sprinkle them evenly on the pickled vegetables, and you're done.

Cheng Yuntao calmed down, then walked quickly to the kitchen door, called the servant waiting on the side, and said in a clear voice: "Please move this dish to the side hall for the banquet. Be gentle and don't spill the soup." The servant nodded quickly, carefully picked up the plate, and walked steadily towards the side hall.

After arranging the serving of the dishes, Cheng Yuntao looked at another attendant and said, "Go and invite Boss Ji and Master Shen to come and taste the food. Tell them that the dishes are ready."

After receiving the order, the attendant left in a hurry.

Ji Yanchuan and Shen Linfeng were talking when they heard the servant's announcement and they both stood up at the same time.

"Go and have a look!"

As soon as he said that, Shen Linfeng took big strides and walked through the corridor of Ji Mansion very familiarly. His steps were hurried, and the hem of his clothes fluttered with his movements. Soon, Ji Yanchuan, the formal host, was left behind by him.

Mu Qingfeng had already returned after delivering the message. When he saw this scene, he frowned and a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes. In his heart, Shen Linfeng's behavior was really rude, but before he could express his dissatisfaction, he was stopped by Ji Yanchuan with a look.

Ji Yanchuan shook his head slightly, signaling Mu Qingfeng not to take it to heart.

Mu Qingfeng understood Ji Yanchuan's meaning. Although he was unwilling, he quietly stepped aside, adjusted his expression, and resumed his usual respectful appearance.

As soon as he entered the side hall, Shen Linfeng walked straight to the table, his eyes fixed on the plate of pickled vegetables. The steaming hot air, wrapped in a rich aroma, hit him in the face. The sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy flavors blended together, yet each layer was distinct.

Shen Linfeng took a deep breath, a hint of surprise on his face, "This smell is quite tempting."

"But..." Shen Linfeng changed the subject, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, and said with a hint of sarcasm, "This dish looks so ordinary, and all the ingredients are simple. Can it really be delicious?"

Without waiting for Cheng Yuntao to explain, Ji Yanchuan came to her rescue.

His expression was calm, but his tone was filled with unquestionable certainty: "Second Young Master Shen, you'll know whether it can meet your requirements after trying it. The secret of delicious food lies not in the rarity of the ingredients, but in the care and skills of the cook." As he spoke, he raised his hand to signal the waiter to hand over the tableware.

The servant understood and quickly set the clean dishes in place.

Shen Linfeng was skeptical. He reached out his chopsticks and picked up a piece of pork ribs wrapped in rich broth. The ribs were attractive in color, and the broth slowly dripped down the tip of the chopsticks. He put the ribs into his mouth and took a light bite. The tender meat instantly spread between his teeth.

In an instant, sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and fresh flavors intertwined and collided on the tip of his tongue, yet miraculously reached a balance.

The mellow sour aroma of sauerkraut hits the taste buds first, followed by the sweetness of brown sugar slowly seeping out. The refreshing bitterness of dandelion moss just neutralizes the sweetness. The hotness of chili pepper ignites the passion on the tip of the tongue, while diced tomatoes and coriander add a refreshing layer to this complex taste.

Shen Linfeng was amazed by the dish. After a moment's pause, he took another bite, as if to confirm his thoughts. It was surprisingly delicious. His eyes were filled with disbelief, and his originally scrutinizing gaze became hesitant.

Seeing that he didn't say anything for a long time and just savored the food, Cheng Yuntao's tense heart relaxed a lot, and a smile of relief unconsciously appeared on her face.

I thought the matter was over, but I never expected that Shen Linfeng would attack again.

Shen Linfeng put down his chopsticks, raised his head, and looked straight at Cheng Yuntao: "It's not difficult to make the three flavors of sour, sweet and spicy delicious, but it's the bitterness that makes people not get tired of it. It's really amazing."

He paused slightly, a playful smile curling up the corners of his mouth. "I'm curious if you can surprise me again. I hope you can make another bitter dish, but it can't be a clichéd bitterness, but a bitterness that I don't expect."

Cheng Yuntao cursed inwardly, "He's still here!" She was still rushing home from get off work! Compared to someone as difficult as Shen Linfeng, Ji Yanchuan seemed much easier to deal with.

She frowned slightly, her mind quickly thinking about various ingredients and cooking methods.

It is not easy to make bitter ingredients delicious, and it is even more difficult to make them unconventional. However, the unyielding spirit in her bones was instantly ignited, and she looked up at Shen Linfeng.

"Since Master Shen has made this request, I cannot guarantee that I will satisfy you, but I will definitely try my best."

Ji Yanchuan wanted to stop this matter at first. He knew very well that Shen Linfeng's difficulties had exceeded the normal range. Cheng Yuntao was an ordinary cook, and it was really unfair for her to suffer these for no reason.

But now that things have developed to this point, looking at Cheng Yuntao's fighting spirit, he, as a bystander, actually felt a bit of anticipation and wanted to see what kind of unique dish Cheng Yuntao could make.