Sludge suction system

In the kitchen, everyone was busy at work, and dishes were being prepared one after another, each exquisitely plated and exuding a wonderful aroma. Fang Xiaobei was focused on finishing touches on the last main dish—"Golden Jade Plate Emerald Soup"—striving for perfection.

Ye Keke's eyes darted around, seizing the opportunity. She put on a seemingly warm smile, quickly walked to Fang Xiaobei's side, and said in a crisp voice, "Sister Xiaobei, you've been busy for so long, you must be exhausted! Let me help you with serving the last dish so you can take a break." Fang Xiaobei looked up, slightly surprised. Before she could respond, Ye Keke had already deftly picked up the carefully prepared main dish.

With her hands firmly on the tray, she moved with light, graceful steps, secretly calculating in her mind. Reaching the banquet hall entrance, Ye Keke, taking advantage of the crowd's inattention, quickly adjusted the angle of the dishes, making her previously meticulously crafted decorations more eye-catching, attempting to attract everyone's attention. Stepping into the hall, she deliberately raised the tray, allowing the aroma of the dishes to waft more freely, drawing the attention of the guests.

Outside the banquet hall, Ye Keke paused slightly, her eyes instantly turning sinister. She glanced around, making sure no one was watching, and swiftly pulled a pre-prepared sharp blade from her sleeve, concealing it in her palm. At that moment, the rising steam from the soup blurred her face, but couldn't conceal the chilling aura emanating from her. Ye Keke gritted her teeth, steeled her resolve, and lightly sliced ​​the tip of her index finger with the blade; a bead of crimson blood immediately seeped out. Enduring the pain, her trembling finger slowly smeared the most conspicuous spot on the rim of the plate. The glaring blood instantly blended into the emerald green sauce and the exquisite plating, resembling a ferocious blood snake. A barely perceptible smugness flashed across her face as she thought viciously: Now, those Western Region merchants will be furious. Fang Xiaobei's reputation is completely ruined. Let's see how she'll ever stand in the culinary world again.

Meanwhile, the desserts Xia Zhi had meticulously prepared for everyone also fell victim to this scheme. Gao He, who had always been jealous of Xia Zhi's culinary skills, took advantage of everyone's busyness to sneak over to the table where the desserts were displayed. He pulled out a paper packet from his pocket containing finely ground datura powder. His eyes were frantic yet ruthless as he quickly and evenly sprinkled the powder onto the desserts, feigning composure as he gently stirred it with his hand, trying to make sure the powder blended in seamlessly. He planned to embarrass the guests after they ate the desserts, thus putting Xia Zhi down.

Immediately afterward, Ye Keke quickly put away the razor blade, composed herself, and nonchalantly stepped into the living room, preparing to present this "carefully crafted" disaster to the table. Little did she know, a pair of eyes in the shadows had already seen her every move clearly. Meanwhile, Gao He in the kitchen nervously stared at the doorway, clutching a handkerchief tightly in his hand, his forehead covered in sweat. He eagerly awaited Ye Keke's "plan" to successfully execute and embarrass Fang Xiaobei in public, completely unaware that their little scheme had already been observed by Xiao Zha in the shadows, and a good show was about to begin.

As dusk settled, the banquet hall of the Yan residence was brightly lit, and the guests from the Western Regions, dressed in magnificent attire, took their seats in turn. They were of various skin colors, and their eyes sparkled with curiosity and anticipation for this feast in the Central Plains. They conversed softly in their unique languages, occasionally glancing around to admire the exquisite decorations in the hall.

The VIP at the head of the table stroked his beard, his gaze sweeping over the exquisite tableware. He nodded slightly, clearly quite pleased with the arrangement. The ladies chatted softly, their fingers gently touching the flowers on the table, their eyes filled with delight. The children were even more restless, their little eyes fixed on the kitchen, eager to taste the delicious food, their chatter adding a lively touch to the hall.

At this moment, Ye Keke, carrying the "Jadeite Soup on a Golden Plate" that she had tampered with, walked gracefully towards the main table with a fake smile on her face. Gao He was also standing to the side, secretly watching the dessert being served, his palms sweating. The two of them were full of confidence that their plan was about to succeed, little did they know that what awaited them was a completely unexpected situation.

Inside the banquet hall, the guests from the Western Regions had already taken their seats, their eyes eagerly scanning the table of delicacies, ready to feast.

Ye Keke, carrying the "Jadeite Soup in a Golden Thread Plate" that she had tampered with, forced herself to remain calm and walked gracefully towards the main table. Gao He, on the other hand, kept his eyes fixed on the dessert area, his fingers nervously clenching the hem of his clothes, eagerly anticipating the success of his "plan".

Just as Ye Keke was about to place the dishes on the table, Fang Xiaobei's clear voice suddenly rang out: "Wait!" This crisp and loud voice, like a bell startling a bird, instantly quieted the noisy banquet hall. Everyone was startled, and all eyes turned to her. Fang Xiaobei, with a smile on her face and confidence in her eyes, walked forward unhurriedly. She first gave a slight bow to the guests, her demeanor elegant and graceful. Then, she parted her lips and spoke in a melodious voice: "Distinguished guests, it is truly my honor to prepare this banquet for you all today. Before the dishes are served, I humbly ask you to be patient and allow me to say a few words." As she spoke, she exchanged a knowing glance with Xia Zhi, and the two quickly turned and went back to the kitchen.

In the blink of an eye, Fang Xiaobei steadily brought out an exquisite copper pot and placed it in the center of the table. The broth in the pot was bubbling and boiling, with a fragrant aroma. The bright red spicy broth and the mellow clear broth were clearly distinct. Around it were thinly sliced ​​meat, fresh vegetables and various handmade meatballs, which were dazzling to the eye.

At the same moment, Xia Zhi also presented a carefully prepared cold drink with both hands. In the transparent glass, the colorful fruit juice was frozen into an enticing shape, topped with a layer of milky white frosting, and garnished with fresh mint leaves. The visual impact alone was enough to dispel the summer heat. Fang Xiaobei smiled and explained to the guests, “Distinguished guests, the culinary culture of the Central Plains is profound and extensive. To provide you with a more unique and enjoyable experience, I have specially prepared this novelty – hot pot. As you can see, the red broth in this pot is fiery and passionate, just like our exuberant spirit; the clear broth is warm and mellow, like our reserved and inclusive nature. You can choose and cook the ingredients yourself according to your preference, quickly swishing them in the pot to taste their most authentic flavors, enjoying the freshness and delight. Paired with Xia Zhi’s carefully crafted cold drinks, the fruit juice jelly is refreshingly sweet, the creamy frosting is rich and creamy, and the mint leaves are refreshing and invigorating. They can not only relieve heat and dryness but also bring a unique refreshing comfort to your taste buds while you enjoy the hot and spicy flavors, helping you fully enjoy the delicious food. I hope you will like my thoughtfulness and enjoy this culinary feast.” The guests were initially taken aback, but then burst into enthusiastic applause and cheers, eager to try it out.

Ye Keke and Gao He stood there dumbfounded, their faces pale. They had not expected the situation to change so suddenly. Their carefully planned conspiracy was completely disrupted by this unexpected move. They could only stand aside, feeling frustrated and at a loss.

Fang Xiaobei and Xia Zhi exchanged a glance, their minds in sync, and quietly began their plan.

Fang Xiaobei first walked to the busy servants and whispered a few words. The servants understood and quickly adjusted the subsequent serving process. Then, she gracefully walked towards Master Yan, gave a slight bow, and said with a smile, "Master Yan, the success of today's banquet is entirely due to your prestige and support. Although everyone in the kitchen did their best, there were still some shortcomings in coordination. Xiaobei and Xia Zhi would like to make some improvements so that the guests can fully enjoy the delicious food and live up to your hospitality. What do you think?" Master Yan was concerned about the success of the banquet, and seeing that Fang Xiaobei's words made sense, he nodded with pleasure.

With permission granted, Fang Xiaobei turned around, her clear voice ringing out in the hall: "Everyone, there are many dishes, so let's adjust the order of serving them. Ye Keke, Gao He, please put these two carefully prepared dishes aside for now; they will be served later." Hearing this, the two were full of doubts, but dared not say anything and did as she was told.

Meanwhile, Xia Zhi moved discreetly between the tables, ensuring that every guest's wine glass was always full and the tableware was always fresh, while secretly keeping an eye on Ye Keke and Gao He's every move.

As the guests were drawn in by the newly served delicacies, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively, Fang Xiaobei gave Xia Zhi a wink. Xia Zhi immediately understood and quietly had someone bring the two tampered dishes to Ye Keke and Gao He. Fang Xiaobei then leaned down and said, "Ye Keke, Gao He, why don't you try Xia Zhi and my cooking!"