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

"Are you... sure... this thing is really edible?"

Mu Qingfeng pinched his nose, his eyes widened, and he stared at Cheng Yuntao in disbelief. His body leaned back slightly uncontrollably, and every inch of his muscle was resisting the smell of the plate of stinky tofu. It seemed that if he got any closer, he would be invaded by the smell.

Ji Yanchuan sat aside. He did not make exaggerated body movements like Mu Qingfeng. He just sat there quietly. However, his slightly furrowed brows and the doubt in his eyes showed his inner hesitation at the moment.

This plate of food with a strange smell was obviously beyond Ji Yanchuan's daily dietary knowledge.

Seeing this, Cheng Yuntao nodded hurriedly: "It's edible! Not only is it edible, it's delicious!"

"Stinky tofu smells so bad because it's soaked in a special way during production. Then, after being stored in a cool, dark place for a long time, its internal texture gradually changes. The soybeans are slowly dissolved by natural forces, and the fats and oils they contain gradually break down, producing a variety of unique aromas, most notably a sulfur-like scent."

"Although it smells pungent at first, after a period of transformation, the tofu becomes soft and fragrant. Just like pickles that become sour over time or fermented mash that becomes mellow, it relies on the harmonious power of time and nature, and is by no means a sign of decay."

Mu Qingfeng listened to Cheng Yuntao's explanation with his brows tightly knitted together, and the look in his eyes wavered between belief and doubt.

Ji Yanchuan's originally tense expression relaxed slightly, and the suspicion in his eyes faded a little. It was obvious that he had accepted this novel explanation to a certain extent.

Cheng Yuntao keenly caught the change in Ji Yanchuan, and a surge of joy surged in her heart. She leaned forward, stretched out her hand and pushed the plate of stinky tofu towards Ji Yanchuan, signaling him to taste it boldly.

Seeing Cheng Yuntao's actions, Mu Qingfeng strode forward, waving his hands, and urgently advised: "Master! You are sitting on a vast fortune, and you have all the delicacies in the world, from the mountains and the sea, which one is not available to you to choose from? Why bother trying this stinking and spoiled weird food?"

"You must think twice. Don't let your curiosity and novelty harm your body. What if something bad happens to you after eating it? What will you do?"

After saying that, he suddenly turned his head, his tone becoming somewhat hostile, and he shouted at Cheng Yuntao, "My master usually values ​​you so much and has great trust in you, but you come up with something like this to perfunctorily deal with him. It's truly disheartening and disappointing! What on earth are you thinking?"

Cheng Yuntao was startled by Mu Qingfeng's sudden and violent reaction, and took several steps back in panic.

Seeing this, Ji Yanchuan's originally relaxed expression instantly darkened again. A hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and he shouted, "Qingfeng, Miss Yuntao is a guest in our house, you must not be rude!"

"You step back first."

When Mu Qingfeng heard Ji Yanchuan's reprimand, he suddenly felt aggrieved. His lips moved, wanting to say something, but in the end he chose to obey the order.

"Yes……"

He lowered his head and stepped aside with heavy steps. After calming down, Mu Qingfeng secretly raised his eyes and stared at Cheng Yuntao with a sad look, silently accusing her of her "fault".

Although Cheng Yuntao felt a little nervous under Mu Qingfeng's gaze, she still gritted her teeth and continued to fight for the stinky tofu.

"The creations of nature possess their own mysteries, often blending opposites into one. For example, lotus flowers take root in the mud in summer yet bloom with fragrance, while plum blossoms in winter, despite the frost, bloom with splendor. The same is true with food: some pungent smells can be transformed into delicious flavors, revealing the ingenuity of nature."

"People in the waterside villages of southern China pickle fish. They select fresh fish, rub them with coarse salt, wrap them in lotus leaves, and bury them in earthenware jars. For the first few months, the fishy smell is so overwhelming that you cover your nose. But by the time the dog days of summer have steamed through and the cold of the coldest days has seeped in, the fish flesh becomes as smooth and tender as mutton fat, its flavor surpassing even mountain delicacies. Mountain folk make even more interesting fermented amaranth stems, leaving the green stems to mold and rot, their stench making passersby frown. But when served with freshly steamed corn rice, the musty stench reveals a unique flavor that whets the appetite. The herders of the northern grasslands also have an ingenious method for preserving milk. They pour fresh milk into leather bags and expose them to the sun and dew. At first, the sour smell is choking, but once it solidifies into a paste, a spoonful is dissolved in hot soup, and the milky fragrance seeps into your bones..."

"A freshly opened aged wine has a pungent, sour aroma, but upon sipping it, a lingering sweetness emerges. The withered branches of old trees in the mountains may have rotten bark, but within lies the vibrant life of mushrooms. The longer old ginseng remains buried in the earth, the drier and more wrinkled its bark becomes, but the medicinal properties within become even more potent. Many things cannot be judged simply by appearances, nor by a single criterion."

"So, Boss Ji, please give this stinky tofu a chance. Don't miss out on a delicious dish just because of your prejudice."

With Cheng Yuntao's persistent persuasion, Ji Yanchuan's doubts gradually disappeared, and were replaced by irrepressible curiosity. When he looked up at the plate of stinky tofu again, the strong smell didn't seem so unbearable anymore.

"Okay, then I'll try it and see what the unique flavor of this stinky tofu that Miss Yuntao praised so highly is."

Ji Yanchuan picked up a piece of stinky tofu covered with sauce and put it into his mouth. As soon as he bit through the crispy outer skin, the boiling hot soup overflowed into his mouth.

The skin is fried to a crispy, yet not hard, crumbs scatter across the tongue. The white tofu inside is quiveringly tender, melting with a sip. The salty, fragrant aroma, mixed with the spicy flavor, washes over you, like the drippings of bacon that's been hanging on the kitchen stove for three years, with a hint of the richness of fermented black beans. The sauce is thick and sticky, coating your tongue, yet tinged with the sour, crunchy flavor of minced garlic and pickled mustard greens. It takes two chews for the spicy flavor to rise up your throat, making your nose sweat.

This sudden rich taste instantly conquered Ji Yanchuan's taste buds, and his eyes were filled with shock and surprise. This unique taste was completely beyond his imagination. He had originally just wanted to try it, but he didn't expect to be completely convinced by this bite of stinky tofu.

After a brief moment of daze, Ji Yanchuan almost subconsciously picked up another piece of stinky tofu, put it in his mouth and savored it carefully, as if he wanted to firmly imprint this wonderful taste in his memory.

Mu Qingfeng, standing to the side, watched his master's actions with a heart full of surprise. He had originally thought that Ji Yanchuan's willingness to eat the first piece of stinky tofu was already the limit, after all, the taste was really daunting. But now, Ji Yanchuan not only ate it, but also stuffed another piece, which was really beyond his expectations.

His eyes moved back and forth between Ji Yanchuan and the plate of stinky tofu, his face full of disbelief.

Cheng Yuntao stood aside, with a smile on her lips and a look of confidence and understanding in her eyes, as if she had expected such a scene.