Chapter Ninety: A Feast in an Age of Splendor, Part Two

In the past, although Zhen Xiaoyan loved to eat, her tastes were simple, and she was not very fussy. If she had been picky, she would not have grown so plump back then.

Because of that, her cooking grew better and better, for the simpler the dish, the more clearly a person’s skill could shine.

But things were different now. The special ingredients she had rarely used before were now needed. She had set her heart on making only the most delicious dishes, the ones she had never tasted before.

And the best proof of that was this: whenever she cooked, she would always mutter to herself, "This is too greasy; Ye Lang does not like it." "This is too stimulating; it will not be good for him." "This flavor is still lacking; no good."

"You still do not know who we came here with, do you?" the crowd said with smiles and confidence. They had heard something of the situation as well, but everyone knew that as long as Ye Lang was there, getting Zhen Xiaoyan to cook was the easiest thing in the world.

Everyone knew that Ye Lang and Zhen Xiaoyan had a special relationship. Though not lovers, at the very least neither of them seemed to think otherwise, and no one else could sense such an atmosphere either.

If it had been anyone else, people might have suspected some hidden flirtation, but with Ye Lang, no one would have doubted it. It was a very strange thing.

And whether there was flirtation or not, one thing everyone knew for certain was that Zhen Xiaoyan was Ye Lang’s cook, and that every day she prepared food for him.

Now that Ye Lang had come over, it simply spared Zhen Xiaoyan one step: delivering the meal.

"No matter who you are," the waiter said coldly, but at that moment the entire tavern suddenly erupted.

It was not because of Ye Lang and the others arriving, for at that point not many people had noticed them yet. It was only because a strip of red cloth had been raised in the dining hall, with the name of a dish written upon it.

"Oh, the young lady has just made a dish for a guest. If you are lucky, and generous enough, you may get to eat it," the waiter immediately corrected himself.

That red cloth had been specially made for Zhen Xiaoyan’s dishes. Whenever one of her dishes was brought out, it would be raised.

This was done so that people would know and be ready to fight for the dish.

Zhen Xiaoyan would never prepare more than two dishes a day for guests, and so every appearance of her food would trigger a frenzy of competition.

"Mixed Treasure Tofu, starting price: one silver coin!"

The waiter called out directly, not at all surprised that the price was so low. He knew this was only the starting bid; the final price would absolutely be dozens of times higher, perhaps even hundreds.

And as for the starting price, a reputable inn would naturally calculate it by cost.

"One gold coin."

Someone immediately raised it a hundredfold, without the slightest hesitation, and that was only a warm-up.

Nonsense. Only one gold coin. To this crowd, it was nothing more than a drop in the bucket. Normally, a single dish would already cost that much, let alone one they were all eager to seize.

"Ten gold coins."

"Twenty."

"I bid one hundred gold coins."

A voice spoke softly.

"Tch, only a hundred? I bid—"

Before the next words could even be said, the hundred-gold offer, though generous, was still far from the limit. At the very least, those present did not think so. They could still double the price.

And such a dish was already an outrageous price. Its cost was not even one silver coin.

Truth be told, just by the taste of Zhen Xiaoyan’s cooking, it did not seem as though it should reach such a sky-high price. But now that she had become famous, the matter was entirely different.

"What do you mean, 'you' and 'you'? Why are you not bidding? If you will not bid, then I will."

The others found the man’s reaction a little odd, but paid it no mind and prepared to continue bidding.

"I bid—"

"What are you doing? If you want to bid, then bid. Why are you dragging me along?"

Just as one man was about to make his offer, he was pulled back by the one who had spoken earlier.

"First look at who just made the bid!"

"Whoever it is makes no difference. Even if the emperor himself came, I would not give him any face!"

The man spoke with great bravado.

But the moment he saw who had bid, he blurted out at once, "Damn it, why is it this guy! Looks like I’m not eating Zhen Xiaoyan’s cooking today."

"Why would he come here?"

"Damn, someone must have called him over. I’ll deal with that bastard later."

When everyone realized what was happening, they began murmuring among themselves, guessing at the reason. And with remarkable readiness, they all abandoned the bidding. No one was willing to compete with him.

Because he was no other than Ye Lang, the Thirteenth Young Master.

"Thirteenth Young Master, you eat Zhen Xiaoyan’s cooking every day. Why are you still spending money to steal it from us?" someone said helplessly.

"I like spending money."

Ye Lang smiled and answered very straightforwardly.

"We know, we all know."

That answer needed no asking; everyone already understood. He was an eccentric spendthrift. As long as there was money to be spent, he never let the opportunity slip by.

And to offend such a wastrel over a single dish? No one present would be willing.

Ah, let it go to him.

"Thirteenth Young Master, please enjoy your meal! My apologies for not recognizing you just now. For a guest like you, the young lady will surely prepare an entire table of dishes for you!" The waiter brought out the Mixed Treasure Tofu, and his expression had already changed into one of obsequious humility, no longer carrying even a trace of the arrogance from before.

"I’ll tell the young lady you’ve arrived right away." With that, the waiter turned to leave.

"No need to trouble her. We are only here for a meal and will be leaving soon. Just let her attend to her own business," Ye Lang immediately stopped him. "Bring us whatever signature dishes you have."

"Very well, understood!" the waiter answered.

I’m so foolish. The Thirteenth Young Master eats the young lady’s cooking every day, so of course he wants to change his palate. Why should I still let the young lady make him another meal?

Not only the waiter thought this way, many others did as well. Ye Lang could eat Zhen Xiaoyan’s dishes every day, so naturally he would not need her to make something special just for him. A change of taste would be good too.

Only, if you did not want to eat it anyway, then why did you steal our dish?

"Xiao Lang, I didn’t expect it, but you’re quite gentle," his cousin said with a faint smile, offering a remark that left some of the others slightly puzzled.

"Eat your food."

Ye Lang ignored his cousin, lifted his chopsticks, and ate with relish from the Mixed Treasure Tofu. This only made those around him, who had wanted a taste of the dish, even more envious.

"I’ll try it too. Since it’s being described so wonderfully, it must be delicious."

His cousin also picked up her chopsticks and took a taste.

"Delicious. Truly a delicacy beyond the mortal world!"

She praised it, though her praise seemed somewhat restrained, which left some of the people present dissatisfied.

"Mm-hm."

Ye Lang did not notice anything amiss. He only nodded and kept eating.

"Slow down. Look at you, so eager, as if no one were going to fight you for it."

His cousin took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped away the sauce that had accidentally stained his face, smiling as she spoke.

"Later, I’ll take you to eat something even better."

Something even better? Was she saying this was not good enough? Who was this woman, to say even such a dish was insufficient?

Then again, anyone who could be with the Thirteenth Young Master could hardly be ordinary. Perhaps she had already tasted finer things. After all, no one here would yet believe that Zhen Xiaoyan’s cooking was truly the best in all the world.

At the very least, everyone knew of a few people whose culinary skill, in the public imagination, surely surpassed Zhen Xiaoyan’s. But those people were not ones ordinary folk could easily reach; they were legends, vague and elusive.

Whereas Zhen Xiaoyan was tangible, a living, breathing person one could actually touch.

Very soon, everyone understood that there was a reason his cousin had spoken with reserve in praising Zhen Xiaoyan, and that small reason was not his cousin at all, but Zhen Xiaoyan herself.

For Zhen Xiaoyan had come out from within, just as she always did, walking with her head lowered toward the outside without greeting anyone, because she feared people might ask her to do something.

Of course, she was not afraid of the work itself. She was not someone who disliked trouble, and she liked helping others. What she feared was wasting time. That would be...

"Miss, are you leaving?"

"Mm. I’m done. See you tomorrow."

"Miss Xiaoyan, could you also stir-fry a dish for us?"

"I’m sorry, but I do not cook for others. I’m in a hurry. You can order the dishes here; they won’t be worse than mine." Zhen Xiaoyan spoke very modestly, continuing to lower her head as she walked on. She seemed quite used to this sort of situation.

"You may not cook for others, but surely you can cook for him, can’t you?" Those who had come with Ye Lang wanted to borrow his influence and bring him into the conversation.

But Zhen Xiaoyan had not noticed Ye Lang’s presence. She only thought it was some bored person imagining they deserved special treatment. She did not even look toward Ye Lang’s side.

"I’m sorry, I’m in a hurry." Zhen Xiaoyan quickened her steps toward the door.

"Miss Xiaoyan, look at him before you say that!" someone called out with a smile.

"Oh, I looked!" Zhen Xiaoyan glanced over, but at that moment Ye Lang was lowering his head and eating. She apparently did not recognize him and continued walking.

And just like that, to everyone’s surprise, she walked out the door.

"Damn it, why can’t you stop beating around the bush and just tell her Thirteenth Young Master is here?" After a moment, when everyone recovered, they immediately shouted angrily at the man. Yes, if they had said it directly, Zhen Xiaoyan would have absolutely stayed to cook for Ye Lang.

"What? Hurry up and serve the food! That dish is almost gone!" Ye Lang remained completely unaware of what was happening, only urging them to bring the next dishes faster before lowering his head and continuing to eat.

Seeing this, the crowd lost even the heart to complain. They all knew the Thirteenth Young Master’s temperament.