Sludge suction system

As they followed Master Yan into the mansion, a magnificent painting unfolded before their eyes. The carved beams and painted rafters gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight. In the well-arranged courtyards, pavilions and towers were half-hidden among lush greenery, and the artificial hills and ponds shimmered with light, where koi fish frolicked happily—a veritable paradise. Master Yan, looking hurried, gave a few brief instructions, and then the steward led everyone to their lodgings before quickly departing to attend to various matters.

Fang Xiaobei was filled with anticipation for the upcoming challenge. As soon as she returned to her room and closed the door, she pulled Xia Zhi to sit at the table, intently studying the menu. Her brows were furrowed, her eyes gleaming with thought, and her tone was somewhat urgent: "Xia Zhi, you know very well that these Western Region merchants come from different places, with all sorts of peculiar tastes. We need to showcase the rich heritage of Central Plains cuisine while also precisely catering to their dietary habits. After much thought, I've decided to modify the 'Golden Thread Jade Plate Emerald Soup' that Master Yan praised so highly. What do you think?" Xia Zhi blinked her bright eyes, then nodded slightly in agreement, saying, "This..." "Brilliant idea!" I thought, adding some chopped nuts, a favorite of people from the Western Regions, would not only instantly enrich the texture but also add a touch of exoticism. As for me, I plan to create several sweet pastries, cleverly replacing the sweetness of honey with the tangy sweetness of dried fruit, making the sweetness refreshing and not cloying, perfectly suited to their sweet tooth." The two chatted animatedly, their pens scribbling and drawing on paper, recording every flash of inspiration.

Meanwhile, in a secluded and dark corner deep within the courtyard, Ye Keke and Gao He, like two wolves lurking in the shadows, were plotting a chilling scheme. Ye Keke painstakingly gathered a pile of radishes and pumpkins of various shapes and sizes, then squatted down in a corner of the yard, meticulously carving them as if no one else was around. Her movements were as skillful as a seasoned craftsman; the knife moved swiftly across the ingredients like a nimble paintbrush, and soon, lifelike birds and vibrant flowers began to take shape. A smug and malicious smile curved her lips as she muttered to herself, "Hmph, once I put these exquisite carvings on the table, the style of this banquet will instantly be elevated several levels. Let's see how Fang Xiaobei will manage to steal the spotlight then; she'll only be my foil."

Meanwhile, Gao He found a secluded corner in the kitchen and began sharpening his knife. He gripped the handle firmly with both hands, picked up a piece of marbled pork belly, and with swift, precise strokes, sliced ​​the meat into paper-thin pieces, almost transparent in the light streaming through the window, gleaming enticingly. His face was full of arrogance, his chin slightly raised, as he confidently muttered, "My knife skills are unparalleled. This banquet wouldn't be the same without me. Everyone, especially Fang Xiaobei, will have to know how formidable I am, and what it means to be inferior."

But the two men's malicious intentions went far beyond that. Ye Keke's eyes darted around like a cunning viper as she approached Gao He, her voice as cold as ice: "Gao He, to completely humiliate Fang Xiaobei, this little trick won't do. We need to use the most ruthless method. I've gone to great lengths to find out that the people of the Western Regions have an absolute taboo regarding food. They firmly believe that if blood gets into food, it's a great disrespect to the gods and guests, and will bring disaster. When they're plating the food, I'll find the right moment, secretly make a small cut on my fingertip with a knife, wait for the blood to seep out, and then quickly smear it into her main dish. I'll then carefully conceal it so that the Western Region merchants will think she intentionally desecrated the food. That would be a huge sin; she'll never be able to recover in the culinary world." Gao He's heart skipped a beat, a look of fear and hesitation flashing across his face. After all, this method was far too insidious. But the flames of jealousy were already burning fiercely in his heart, consuming his conscience. He gritted his teeth and nodded fiercely: "Okay, let's do it this way. Your trick is ruthless and vicious! Also, when I'm helping her hand over the seasonings, I'll switch the key spice she's going to use with a powder made from a poisonous herb that only grows deep in the remote deserts of the Western Regions and has an extremely strange and pungent smell. Just a tiny amount of that stuff can cause people to vomit, have diarrhea, dehydrate, and faint. Not only will it ruin one of her dishes, but it will also turn the whole banquet upside down, making everyone point fingers at her. Let's see how arrogant and smug she can be then!" The two looked at each other and let out a chilling, sinister laugh.

"Master, I just struggled to climb onto Ye Keke's roof! And then, I heard them plotting a terrible plan!" Xiao Zha gestured wildly and kept shouting.

Seeing this, Fang Xiaobei temporarily put down the cookbook she treasured and looked at Xiaozha with a puzzled expression, asking, "What kind of plan is it? Stop keeping me in suspense!"

Little Zha sprang to his feet with a somersault and ran to Fang Xiaobei, whispering, "Host, you have no idea! They're planning to tamper with the banquet! They want to use bloodstains, which are the most taboo thing for us Western Region people, to slander you and make everyone think you've offended the gods. Not only that, they're also planning to secretly replace your carefully prepared spices with highly poisonous datura from the Western Regions, to make people hallucinate and lose their minds!" With that, Little Zha angrily waved his two little paws, expressing his anger and dissatisfaction with those people.

After listening, Fang Xiaobei frowned slightly and pondered for a moment. Then, a barely perceptible smile appeared on her lips as she calmly said, "In that case, let's proceed according to the original plan. However, these guys are so cunning and treacherous, we absolutely cannot let them go so easily! Xiao Zha, come here quickly..." Fang Xiaobei leaned close to Xiao Zha and whispered a few words in its ear.

After hearing this, Xiao Zha's eyes widened in admiration, and he nodded repeatedly, praising, "Wow, you are truly wise and powerful, Master! Don't worry, leave this to me, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Before he finished speaking, Xiao Zha shot up to the roof beam like an arrow, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

As dawn broke, soft light streamed through the carved window lattice and fell upon Fang Xiaobei's bed. She had just slowly woken up when she heard an urgent knocking on the door.

"Xiao Bei, wake up!" It was Xia Zhi's voice, filled with excitement and urgency.

Fang Xiaobei quickly got up, slipped on her shoes, and opened the door. She saw that Xia Zhi was already dressed and her hair was neatly tied up. The little dog, Xiao Baozi, was obediently following at her feet.

"What's wrong, Xia Zhi?" Fang Xiaobei asked sleepily.

“We need to get ready for the ingredients early today. These Western Region merchants have very discerning palates. I’m thinking of going to the market to find the freshest and most authentic ingredients, especially the spinach for the improved version of ‘Golden Thread Jade Plate Emerald Soup.’ We need to pick the tenderest ones, still covered in morning dew. If we’re any later, they’ll all be gone!” Xia Zhi spoke quickly, her eyes sparkling.

Fang Xiaobei instantly snapped out of her daze and nodded in agreement, "You're right, let's hurry!"

After a quick wash, the two hurriedly left with their little dumpling. Along the way, Xia Zhi chattered away like a cheerful little bird, talking about her ingredient-buying experiences: "We still need to see if we can find any of those Western Region spices; maybe they can add a new flavor to our pastries..." Fang Xiaobei listened with a smile, her heart filled with anticipation for this challenge. The two figures gradually disappeared into the bustling market.