Chapter 20: Astonishing Beyond Compare

The young man’s gaze was unnervingly calm. It was a calmness born from absolute confidence, as if what was about to unfold was not a critical banquet tied to the Lin family’s reputation, but something as simple as eating or drinking water.

“Just wait,” Master Wang said slowly. “I want to see what tricks he’s hiding. If he messes this up… hmph!”

…

Inside the kitchen.

Unlike the noise and suspicion outside, the kitchen was so quiet that only Chen Yu’s breathing could be heard.

He did not rush to act but closed his eyes and swiftly ran through the evening’s menu and every step in his mind, like a fast-forwarded film.

Boiled cabbage with broth, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, Dragon and Phoenix Delight…

And one molecular gastronomy dish he decided to add on a whim.

The culinary level in this world was still stuck at a “just edible” primitive stage.

So he would give these self-important “high society” folks a lesson they would never forget.

He would show them what real “food” truly meant.

Suddenly, Chen Yu opened his eyes.

A sharp light flashed in them.

He moved.

His hand reached for the set of Damascus steel knives and took out the longest mulberry knife.

With his left hand, he picked up a piece of tender white tofu, and with a flick of his right wrist, the hefty-looking mulberry knife felt as light as a feather in his hand.

“Chop chop chop chop chop—”

A burst of rhythmic, rain-like chopping filled the spacious kitchen!

His speed was beyond extreme, the knife’s movements blurring into a continuous streak of light.

Outside in the lounge, the complaining chefs fell silent instantly.

Everyone pricked up their ears, expressions shifting from disdain to astonished disbelief.

As chefs, they knew this sound all too well.

This was… knife work?

But how was this possible?

That speed and rhythm… even Master Wang himself could never achieve such mastery at his peak! This was beyond human limits!

Master Wang’s hand holding his cigarette trembled slightly.

In his thirty years of experience, he had never heard a knife sound so terrifying!

This was no longer chopping—it was a magnificent symphony performed with a blade!

“Gulp.”

Someone swallowed nervously.

Everyone held their breath, listening intently to the almost hypnotic sound from the kitchen.

…

Inside the kitchen, Chen Yu was completely unaware of the outside world.

He was utterly immersed in his own realm.

In just a few seconds, the rain-like chopping ceased abruptly.

He stopped.

On the cutting board before him, the once-square block of tofu remained intact, as if nothing had happened.

Chen Yu gently placed the tofu into a bowl of clear water.

A miracle occurred.

The tofu dispersed in the water like a dandelion puff!

Countless strands of tofu finer than hair floated gently, each distinct and dense, resembling a blooming white chrysanthemum.

Wensi tofu!

A renowned Huaiyang delicacy that demands exquisite knife skills!

Moreover, he had cut a type of tofu known as glucono delta-lactone tofu, which was several times more difficult than traditional wensi tofu.

This tofu was incredibly delicate; a slight misstep would reduce it to mush.

Yet, within seconds, he had sliced it into thousands of even, slender threads!

This was no longer merely “culinary skill.”

This was “the Way.”

The great way of the blade!

Had Master Wang and the others witnessed this, they might have knelt on the spot in reverence.

Yet Chen Yu’s face bore no trace of pride.

To him, this was merely a warm-up.

He set the finely cut wensi tofu aside and resumed preparing other ingredients.

His movements flowed like water, devoid of any excess, each step as precise as a textbook.

Washing, slicing, matching, marinating…

Time ticked by, second by second.

Outside, Master Wang and the others endured a long, agonizing wait.

After that formidable knife sound, the kitchen fell silent.

But the quieter it became, the more uneasy they felt.

The unknown was the most terrifying.

“Master, that kid… did he blow up the kitchen?” a young chef whispered.

“Silence!” Master Wang snapped, though his eyes betrayed his unease.

Just then.

An indescribably overpowering aroma, utterly dominant, wafted silently from the crack beneath the kitchen door.

It was not a single scent.

Rather, a complex, deeply layered fragrance seemingly alive!

First came a rich, caramelized meaty aroma, like prime pork belly sizzling in a pan until both sides turned golden.

Then followed a mellow, intoxicating wine scent, as if aged Huadiao wine had been poured sizzlingly along the pan’s edge, instantly releasing its fragrance under high heat, perfectly blending with the meat and spices.

“Gulp… gulp…”

In the lounge, the sound of swallowing echoed repeatedly.

The cigarette in Master Wang’s hand dropped to the floor unnoticed.

His eyes widened like copper bells as he fixed his gaze on the tightly closed kitchen door, his nostrils flaring uncontrollably, desperate to capture more of the soul-stirring aroma.

What was this?

What dish was being prepared?

Having cooked for thirty years, he prided himself on his intimate knowledge of all kinds of aromas.

But this scent…

He had never smelled anything like it!

It was overwhelmingly fragrant!

So fragrant it defied reason!

So fragrant it made one’s scalp tingle, mouth water, and stomach feel as if countless tiny hands were scratching inside.

He longed to burst in right then and there, even if it was just to snatch a piece of burnt meat crust from the pan.

“Ma… Master…” an apprentice’s trembling voice broke the silence. “I… I’m so hungry…”

He was not alone.

Everyone present felt as if they were about to starve!

Though they had just finished their work meal, this aroma made them feel they could devour an entire ox!

This domineering fragrance quickly spread throughout the entire annex.

Not only the chefs but even servants and drivers resting in other rooms were roused by the sudden scent.

“Oh my God! What is that smell?”

“It’s so delicious! Is someone sneaking food in the kitchen?”

“I can’t take it anymore, my mouth’s watering…”

More and more people followed the aroma, gathering outside the kitchen door. Each stretched their necks, eyes wild and hungry like ravenous wolves.

Meanwhile, in the study on the second floor of the main building,

Nian Nian sat at a large rosewood desk, holding a hefty book richly illustrated, titled The World’s Unsolved Mysteries.