Chapter 32: Medicinal Cheif
"It was my mistake. Let’s get to know each other properly. I am Song Changsheng. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhu," Song Changsheng said seriously, cupping his hands.
"So, Fellow Daoist Song is willing to be friends with me?"
"Fellow Daoist Zhu has a chivalrous heart, standing up for someone you've never met before. To know you is my good fortune," Song Changsheng replied.
Toward those with goodwill, Song Changsheng was always willing to make friends. After all, in life, more friends are better than more enemies.
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Song, you overpraise me. I simply couldn’t bear to see that man tricking and cheating everywhere.
Meeting you today feels like meeting an old friend. If you have time, why don’t we find a place to have a drink?" Zhu Yiqun said modestly, though inwardly he was overjoyed.
Song Changsheng had almost finished browsing the market anyway. Hearing this, he nodded and said, "Very well. I’ve heard that the Yushi Restaurant in Drifting Cloud Market has excellent culinary skills. Why don’t we go there and test them?"
"Hahaha, excellent. Please, after you, Fellow Daoist Song," Zhu Yiqun readily agreed. Since he had suggested drinking together, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to choose the place, it would seem too forward, given they weren’t that close yet...
Yushi Restaurant was a thriving establishment. Its owner didn’t belong to any power within Ling Province or even within the Great Qi cultivation world.
It was a chain restaurant spanning multiple countries, with incredibly deep backing. It was said that even in the most chaotic places, once you entered a Yushi Restaurant, no one would dare touch you.
Over time, dining at Yushi Restaurant became a symbol of status.
Song Changsheng chose this place both to show respect and to guard against any ill intentions.
Friendship was one thing, but proper vigilance was still necessary.
"Two guests, how many of you are there, and what would you like?" As soon as they walked in, a smiling waiter greeted them enthusiastically, polite without being obsequious, with perfect manners.
Song Changsheng looked around. Though the first floor was spacious, it was a bit noisy, not the kind of environment he liked. He said to the waiter, "Do you have any private rooms left? One by the window, please, and bring us some of your signature wine and dishes."
The waiter nodded immediately. "Certainly. Gentlemen, please follow me."
He led them to a private room named "Lan." After pouring tea, he said, "Your wine and dishes will be here shortly. Please be patient."
"Thank you." Song Changsheng politely gave him two spirit stones as a tip.
After the waiter left, Song Changsheng invited Zhu Yiqun to sit and asked, "May I ask which sect Fellow Daoist Zhu hails from?"
Zhu Yiqun smiled and said, "I’m a loose cultivator, not comparable to you, Fellow Daoist Song."
Song Changsheng found this somewhat surprising. Zhu appeared about his age, yet Song couldn’t see through his cultivation level, suggesting he was quite powerful.
If he really was a loose cultivator, then his talent was astounding.
Though aware of Song Changsheng’s doubts, Zhu Yiqun didn’t intend to explain. Instead, he pointed to the gourd at Song’s waist and said, "Fellow Daoist Song, I smell wine. You’re carrying good liquor."
Song Changsheng was taken aback, then removed the treasure gourd from his waist. "You have a sharp nose, Fellow Daoist Zhu, to notice even that."
Zhu Yiqun laughed heartily. After draining his teacup, he placed it in front of Song and said, "Not only do I have a keen nose, I also have a discerning eye. The first time I saw you outside the market, I knew you were someone worth befriending.
Now that I smell this wine, I’m even more certain. You love good wine, and I love good food, we’re a perfect match."
"Hahaha, so you’ve been eyeing my spirit wine all along?"
Song Changsheng joked, then uncorked the gourd and filled both cups. Instantly, a fragrant aroma permeated the private room.
Zhu Yiqun’s eyes lit up. He gently sniffed the cup, took a small sip, then closed his eyes. After a moment, he licked his lips and said, "This wine is smooth and mellow, not harsh at all, with a lingering aftertaste. Excellent wine, truly excellent."
With that, he downed the entire cup, a look of deep satisfaction on his face.
Song Changsheng poured him another cup and said with a smile, "This spirit wine was brewed by my mother. If not for our connection, I wouldn’t have brought it out."
"Is that so? Then I’ll be sure to drink more." Zhu Yiqun tilted his head back and drained the cup.
The two began drinking together.
Before long, the waiter brought out the dishes.
A small plate of dried meat, a steamed spirit fish, and several small dishes both meat and vegetarian.
As soon as they were placed on the table, the aroma of the food immediately overpowered the scent of the wine.
"Yushi Restaurant truly lives up to its name, color, aroma, taste, everything is perfect. The ingredients and seasonings are all excellent-quality spirit materials," Zhu Yiqun said with satisfaction.
"You say you’re a gourmet, Fellow Daoist Zhu. Where would you rank Yushi’s food in your experience?" Song Changsheng asked as he sipped his wine.
Zhu Yiqun smiled confidently. "Among the food I’ve tasted, Yushi can rank in the top five. But if we count everything I know of, it drops out of the top fifty."
Song Changsheng picked up a piece of fish. Upon tasting it, he was amazed by the delicious flavor. Hearing Zhu’s words, he asked skeptically, "Yushi only in the top five? You’ve had four better than this?"
"Of course. Though three of them you wouldn’t know," Zhu Yiqun said confidently.
"Which means there’s one I do know?" Song Changsheng frowned in thought, no one in Ling Province surpassed Yushi, as far as he knew.
Seeing him frown in contemplation, Zhu Yiqun grinned mischievously and pointed to himself with a chubby finger. "It’s me, Fellow Daoist Song. Do you know me or not?"
"You? Aren’t you a gourmet? You can cook too?" Song Changsheng looked at him skeptically. In the cultivation world, cooking skills implied being a spirit chef with ranked abilities, not just knowing how to flip a wok.
"Fellow Daoist Song, that’s narrow thinking. How can a true gourmet not know how to cook? As humble as I am, I am a top-grade first-rank medicinal chef." Zhu Yiqun said seriously, cupping his hands.
Now Song Changsheng was truly astonished. Medicinal chef was an exceptionally rare profession, second only to swordsmiths in scarcity. He hadn’t expected this chubby man to possess such skill.
"Seems you still don’t believe me. Then I must show a little something."
Zhu Yiqun pulled a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve. He uncorked it and sprinkled some yellow-brown powder on the dried meat, proudly saying, "This is my own special seasoning. Not to brag, but whatever the dish, add a bit of this and the flavor will definitely improve. Fellow Daoist Song, please try it."
Still a bit skeptical, Song Changsheng cautiously picked up a piece of dried meat. After discreetly checking that it was safe, he popped it into his mouth.
With a few chews, his pupils suddenly dilated...
(Chapter End)