C3 Soninlaw Zhang Zhen
"No, I just cook at home," Zhang Zhen explained nonchalantly. "My wife mentioned this place a few times, so I thought I'd come and try it out, see if I could replicate the dishes at home." Despite his casual tone, Gray Rabbit was anything but calm.
If it became known that he could deduce a recipe just by tasting it, he'd surely be blacklisted by every restaurant out there. The unique flavor is, after all, a restaurant's most prized secret!
The water friends were oblivious to the implications, and upon hearing Zhang Zhen's remarks, they responded with envy, flooding the chat with messages of mock indignation.
"Dog food falls from the sky when you sit at home!" "Mr. Ten Seconds is so sweet. I wish I could be his wife!" "Would the person above kindly put away their three-centimeter chicken ~" Gray Rabbit's eyes were glued to the scene, as she tried to commit every detail to memory. Paying half the bill for a glimpse at the recipes was a steal!
Then, something caught her eye.
"Uncle, why is there no wine listed on your menu?" The dish was called Drunk Goose, which implied it should be cooked with alcohol to add a rich, aromatic quality. Yet, the menu listed every ingredient, even the secret sauce, but conspicuously omitted the wine.
Zhang Zhen chuckled and produced a small bottle from his pocket. A sharp scent of alcohol wafted through the air as he quickly sprinkled some onto the Drunk Goose, then capped the bottle and tucked it away like a precious gem.
"The raw flavor of Qingdao beer is too harsh; this wine is the key—Immortal Inebriation, my father-in-law's drink of choice." No sooner had he spoken than a misty steam rose from the Drunk Goose, the aroma of wine and meat mingling together, tantalizing every cell in Gray Rabbit's body.
The scent alone convinced Gray Rabbit that this dish was truly a heavenly delight!
Throwing caution to the wind, Gray Rabbit disregarded the no-eating rule. Amid the astonished looks from the water friends, she once again picked up a piece of goose meat and placed it in her mouth.
"Achoo!" Despite the time that had passed since the dish was served, seemingly on the verge of cooling, Zhang Zhen's touch had miraculously kept it as warm as if it had just come out of the pot.
Regarding the flavor...
Gray Rabbit's non-stop chopsticks said it all!
After an intense hour of devouring the meal, Gray Rabbit demonstrated her capacity as a competitive eater. Satiated with food and drink, Zhang Zhen had already presented the payment QR code, passing the bill to her.
"The total is 6,300 yuan. You just need to transfer 3,100 yuan to me." It was then that Gray Rabbit remembered the concept of going Dutch.
"No need for that, this meal's on me." Having enjoyed the feast and boosted her popularity, Gray Rabbit transferred the full 6,300 yuan without hesitation. Zhang Zhen accepted it without further comment, pocketed his phone, and prepared to take his leave.
Once the live stream ended, she examined the bill in her hands and her eyes widened in surprise.
At the bottom, Zhang Zhen's phone number was written, with the middle four digits replaced by symbols for privacy.
After a moment of contemplation, a slight smile formed on Gray Rabbit's lips as she carefully tucked the receipt into her bag.
"Zhang Zhen, huh? We'll meet again..." Meanwhile, after a two-hour subway ride and a five-kilometer walk, Zhang Zhen, covered in dust, finally reached his destination.
He had arrived at the Linjiang Villa District, home to Changnan City's most affluent and influential residents. Women and elderly ladies strolled through the European-style gardens, their sleepwear alone worth a fortune. In this setting, Zhang Zhen's plain attire stood out awkwardly.
At Building 16 in Zone B, Zhang Zhen was about to use his key card when a woman with a broom preemptively unlocked the door for him.
"Young Master," she greeted him with deference, prompting a flicker of surprise in Zhang Zhen's eyes.
"Aunt Mei, I thought you weren't supposed to worry about the cleaning here?" "If she doesn't, does that mean I should?" From the courtyard steps, a dignified middle-aged man in a Tang suit glared at Zhang Zhen, his arm entwined with that of an elegant woman.
"Dad, Mom..." Realizing the situation, Zhang Zhen braced himself and quickly ascended the steps.
"Don't call us mom and dad. Just look at yourself, dressed like a beggar. Do you even resemble a son-in-law of the Mo family?" "I got two suits for fifty yuan. They're comfortable and offer better value than those designer brands..." Zhang Zhen murmured in response. The middle-aged man's anger boiled over, and he launched into a tirade of insults.
"Value for money? Since you joined the Mo family, you've never lacked anything. How can you even begin to compare yourself to others? Other men are either high-ranking officials or successful entrepreneurs, adept at earning money and adept at dealing with affairs. And you? You can't manage a single respectable task. Those who know you're the Mo family's son-in-law might think you're doing alright, but to the uninformed, you might as well be a male servant we've hired!" Zhang Zhen bowed his head, saying nothing. This kind of treatment was all too familiar to him.
The middle-aged man was so worked up he nearly choked. His wife quickly came to his aid, patting his back until he caught his breath and resumed his grievances.
"Of course, if you were capable, you wouldn't be in this position. We had no expectations to begin with. You're disabled, penniless, and without any connections. You were destined to be a lifelong bachelor until our Mo family took you in and even arranged a marriage for you. We only hoped you'd give us a grandchild to continue the family lineage..." "But it's been three years, and there's not a sign of pregnancy from Qingge. How can you be so utterly useless?" "I need a son-in-law, not a cook or a servant. Here's the ultimatum: within two months, Qingge must be expecting, or else the Mo family has no use for a burden like you!" With that, the middle-aged man stormed back into the house, while the woman approached Zhang Zhen, her face etched with sorrow, offering words of comfort.
"That's just how your dad is, with a sharp tongue. Try not to take it to heart." "I understand. It's my shortcoming," Zhang Zhen sighed, his face devoid of anger, maintaining a calm and benign demeanor despite the humiliation.
"However, you really need to be more attentive about having children. We've brought you some Deer Antler Sea Serpent Wine, which is renowned for its kidney-nourishing and vitality-boosting properties. It's said to be very effective. You should have a glass every night..." Ultimately, his mother-in-law seemed convinced that the issue lay with Zhang Zhen.
Zhang Zhen had no desire to offer an explanation as the image of that cold, stunning face came to mind.
"On our wedding night, you'll sleep at the head of the bed, and I'll sleep at the foot. It's fifty thousand a month, paid a year upfront." Mo Qingge tossed a card with 600,000 yuan at Zhang Zhen, who caught it with a smile and settled at the foot of the bed.
During his three years of marriage to the Mo family, Zhang Zhen hadn't so much as held Mo Qingge's hand, much less conceived a child with her.
Zhang Zhen harbored no resentment, nor did he publicize their arrangement. If he were in Mo Qingge's shoes, he wouldn't respect someone as ineffectual as himself either.
The thirty-nine steel nails had saved Zhang Zhen's life, but at the same time, they had sealed his fate...
In his room, Zhang Zhen shook his head, dismissing the chaotic thoughts, and turned on his computer. He took a deep breath and began transcribing today's recipes.
His focus was unwavering, but his hands shook and sweat beaded on his forehead, making the task seem all the more arduous.
Eventually, he lifted his hands, inhaled deeply, and gazed at the document on his desk with a contented smile.
"Steamed bun, I've completed the Chef's Ultimate Guide for you!" The small document listed 108 specialty dishes, capturing the essence of China's eight major culinary traditions—an absolute classic in the world of cooking.
"Ding dong! Life Template: Culinary Skills (Chinese Cuisine) has been perfected, proofread, and is now being recorded..." Suddenly, a mechanical electronic sound echoed in Zhang Zhen's ears. His chest heated up as a red-hot pellet, embedded in his flesh, sprouted numerous tendrils that rooted deep within his body.
"Collector privileges activated, Water Blue Civilization locked, catalog number E5174! Culinary Skills (Chinese Cuisine) integration successful, grade D+. Reward: Broken Wings Knife Technique, Meteoric Iron Chef's Knife!"
