C12 It Looked Very Expensive

"Hold on a moment."

As the Marquis couple prepared to depart, Lin Yu abruptly raised his voice, halting their exit. Nalan Zhan turned, a look of confusion crossing his face as he inquired, "Is there something else you need, Doctor Lin? I have pressing matters to attend to..."

With a confident gleam in his eye, Lin Yu smiled and tilted his head up slightly, declaring, "I must be forthright with you, my lord—I cannot and would not deceive you. Truth be told, I am but a quack!"

Lin Linger suddenly burst into a fit of coughing, as if something had caught in her throat. She knew her brother's medical talents were lacking, but to hear him label himself a quack—and with such pride—was baffling.

'Brother, since when is being a quack a point of pride?'

Lin Linger wasn't the only one perplexed; Nalan Zhan and Qin Caiyun had never encountered anyone quite like him. Exchanging glances, they silently communicated their shared thought: "Could this young man be touched in the head? His demeanor is rather unsettling."

Realizing his choice of words might have been amiss, Lin Yu hastily gestured with his hands, clarifying, "What I mean to say is that being a doctor is merely a cover. My true calling... is that of a chef."

As he spoke, Lin Yu flashed a broad grin, showcasing a row of pearly whites and a smile that radiated what he believed to be boundless confidence. "Now you understand why I insisted on your staying, don't you? Whatever dish you desire, I can prepare it..."

At that moment, Lin Yu's reasoning was straightforward. If the Marquis couple had sought out a chef, they were undoubtedly epicures, and to a food lover, nothing was more alluring than a delectable meal.

He may not have been a celebrated chef in his past life, but he had watched his fair share of cooking shows. In a world where culinary methods were lackluster, reigning supreme with his cooking prowess seemed all too easy—particularly with the Southwest Marquis and his wife showing such intrigue in his culinary skills.

Lin Yu's smile shone brightly. Who would have guessed that his initial foray into this world would be marked by a simple dish of chicken stewed with mushrooms? Yet, as he reveled in his success, a flicker of doubt crossed his mind.

"Is my chicken stewed with mushrooms truly that remarkable? Enough to draw the attention of the Earl and his wife? And who exactly is that girl from this afternoon? She couldn't possibly be the fabled young master of the Marquis Mansion, could she?" Lin Yu found himself brimming with an endless stream of questions.

Upon hearing Lin Yu's declaration, Nalan Zhan's pupils narrowed, his voice grave as he warned, "Lin Yu, you should realize the gravity of failing me—the repercussions would be severe..."

He could deduce at once that Lin Yu, having deliberately referred to himself as a "chef," must be the enigmatic cook Qingluan had spoken of earlier, the one who could satiate the young lady's appetite. Yet, Nalan Zhan found it hard to reconcile this with Lin Yu's youthful visage and the external gossip he'd heard.

Qin Caiyun, on the other hand, was visibly upset. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she thought of her daughter's years-long ordeal, unable to stomach even a single grain of rice. She tugged at Nalan Zhan, chastising him, "You brute, what are you blathering about?"

She inhaled deeply, her expression softening into a warm smile. "If Alchemist Lin truly is a chef, then he may just be the one we've been searching for... But we're not in need of just any chef. Could you perhaps give us a small demonstration?"

A demonstration?

Lin Yu was indeed eager to showcase his skills, but a glance around the nearly barren kitchen and his meager funds made him hesitate. Surely he couldn't serve the Marquis and his wife a dish of wild greens? His face betrayed his dilemma.

Misinterpreting his hesitation, Qin Caiyun called out, "Huofeng."

A woman with a striking figure appeared at the edge of the courtyard, clad in the intricate robes of a Magic Arts Master. Lin Yu immediately noticed the three moons and seven stars embroidered on her garment—identical to those on Qingluan's attire from earlier in the day, marking her as a third-tier, seventh-level Magic Arts Master.

Lin Linger watched from the sidelines, her eyes filled with admiration. A Magic Arts Master of such caliber could be her instructor at Heavenly Cloud Academy, yet here in the Southwest Marquis Mansion, she appeared to be merely a higher-ranking servant.

"Fetch some Spirit Stones and gather some ingredients," Qin Caiyun instructed. Then, gesturing towards the five hundred Spirit Stones on the table, she added with an encouraging smile, "If Alchemist Lin can impress us, all these Spirit Stones will be his."

Lin Yu had initially only wanted to pick up some ingredients, but the sight of Spirit Stones on the table quickened his breath. His mind raced, yet he managed to keep his composure, saying with a hint of nonchalance, "Madam, this merely covers the cost of the chicken and mushroom stew from earlier today."

Qin Caiyun cast a curious glance at Lin Yu. His intentions were clear: he was angling for a better deal. She found it amusing – despite his obvious excitement, he was still consciously maintaining his bargaining stance.

"Alchemist Lin isn't as straightforward as he seems," Qin Caiyun noted to Nalan Zhan, her face betraying nothing. Catching her cue, Nalan Zhan chuckled, "If you can prepare a dish that meets our expectations, rest assured, we will reward you generously."

Having achieved his aim, Lin Yu allowed himself a broad smile. "If Master Hou and Madam have put it that way, I'll take you at your word. You won't be disappointed with the ingredients I've selected."

Soon after, Huofeng arrived with the ingredients. Lin Yu's eyes widened at the sight of the lavish spread – not just rare delicacies, but also a variety of fresh, seasonal vegetables, still glistening with dew as though freshly harvested.

Is this how the wealthy dine?

The Red Jade Chicken alone was worth a small fortune, at least several dozen Spirit Stones – more than an average family's monthly budget for food and clothing. And yet, its exceptional quality – tender, succulent meat with a unique aroma – made it a prized ingredient.

Even so, the Red Jade Chicken wasn't the most luxurious item there. Lin Yu's gaze settled on a seafood resembling an oyster, but with a jewel-like, purple-red hue, signaling its exorbitant value.

These ingredients had one thing in common – their opulence was evident at first glance.

Lin Yu surveyed the selection, unfamiliar with many items, but confident that his culinary expertise from his past life would suffice to impress the Marquis and his wife. He pointed to the Red Jade Chicken and the purple-red seafood, declaring, "These two will do nicely."

"Additionally, I'll need some flour and cooking oil—I'm planning to fry this up." Su Ye requested a few seasonings as well, and Huofeng promptly set off to get everything ready. However, just as Lin Yu was gearing up to start, an unexpected figure materialized outside the courtyard.

"I'm quite curious to witness which master has the skill to entice Ziyan to eat..."