Chapter Forty: Have You Ever Seen "The God of Cookery"?

Delicious beyond words!

Lin Erli couldn’t care less about the shrimp juice on his son’s face; instinctively, he covered his own mouth, as a surge of flavor exploded on his tongue, stimulating every taste bud so intensely that he felt as if he’d slipped into a dreamlike state.

In the film, Goosehead once remarked, “I’ve never tasted anything so fresh and original—the beef’s savory notes and the mantis shrimp’s sweetness blend perfectly, even surpassing ‘Mouse Grouper.’ It’s more poetic than my first love; just like raising my head to gaze at the bright moon and lowering it to think of home. What a poem! What a poem!”

Of course, the movie exaggerated, but the flavor Chen Feng created was truly outstanding. Each wave of exquisite taste sent Lin Erli’s taste buds into rapture, making his body sway uncontrollably with delight.

It took him quite a while to recover, feeling somewhat embarrassed by his own momentary loss of composure, but the taste was simply too unforgettable.

It wasn’t just Lin Erli—even Chen Feng himself was amazed by his creation. The moment the juicy beef ball burst in his mouth, he was deeply shaken. For the first time, he realized that food could be this delicious.

No wonder this recipe was recorded in the Celestial Court’s compendium; the outcome was astounding.

The only slight shortcoming, he thought, was that he’d used a rolling pin to pound the beef. If he’d used a jujube wood club, the flavor would have been even better.

“My god, Chen Feng, I never imagined your cooking skills were this incredible. Juicy Beef Balls—you actually made them! How did you do it?” After devouring the last beef ball, Lin Hang licked his lips, clearly wanting more.

Fang Yue’s gaze was also fixed on Chen Feng, her beautiful eyes full of astonishment.

“I was just tinkering around and stumbled upon it, that’s all!” Chen Feng replied offhandedly, careful never to reveal his true abilities.

“Chen Feng, if you became a chef, I’m sure you’d be the best in the country!” Lin Erli wiped his mouth, a broad smile spreading across his face.

“If the opportunity arises, I’ll consider it,” Chen Feng said with a faint smile.

Night had fallen, and Chen Feng didn’t linger; he took Fang Yue’s hand and left the Celestial Pinnacle Restaurant. By now, the place was in absolute chaos. Even in the main hall, the rich aroma of Juicy Beef Balls still lingered in the air.

“No way! Why was there none left for me? I have to have a serving! Where’s the chef? Bring him out, have him make another batch for me!”

“I want one too! Are you kidding? Am I short on money? Tell him to get out here and make more for us—I can pay!”

Hearing the commotion, Chen Feng knew better than to stay. He quickly pulled Fang Yue along and slipped out of the restaurant.

When he opened his Grand Extraction System, Chen Feng was surprised to find that his achievement points had increased by twelve. Fewer than twenty people had tasted his Juicy Beef Balls, yet he’d gained twelve points from them. This was a pleasant surprise—playing basketball, he’d entertained nearly a hundred people but only gained thirty-some points; yet with just one dish, he’d earned twelve, and the number was still climbing.

“It seems I should consider a future in the culinary world,” Chen Feng murmured to himself, then hurried away with Fang Yue.

Shortly after Chen Feng left, a phone call reached Xiao Yu.

At that moment, Xiao Yu had just disembarked from a flight from Donghai and was seated in a car, eyes closed in a relaxed manner. Despite her languid appearance, she exuded an innate nobility that could not be concealed.

When her phone rang, she opened her eyes and glanced at the caller—slightly surprised. It was a call from the general manager of Celestial Pinnacle Restaurant, Fang Lan. Though not highly educated, Fang Lan was reliable and had worked alongside Xiao Yu for some time, proving to be highly skilled. Xiao Yu had entrusted her with the restaurant without concern.

Why was Fang Lan calling her now?

Xiao Yu’s elegant brows furrowed slightly as she pressed the answer button.

“Miss,” Fang Lan’s polite voice echoed in Xiao Yu’s ear—a form of address reserved for Xiao Yu’s most trusted confidantes.

“What is it?” Xiao Yu asked calmly and unhurriedly.

“There was a bit of an issue at Celestial Pinnacle today,” Fang Lan said with a wry smile. “Some of our guests were dissatisfied.”

“Dissatisfied?” Xiao Yu’s voice chilled. “Fang Lan, we’ve worked together a long time. You know how to handle such matters, don’t you?”

“It’s not like that, Miss!” Fang Lan said quickly. “The issue wasn’t on our end. Today, your friend Mr. Lin brought some guests to dine with us. One of his friends wanted to cook in our kitchen—and he made a dish himself!”

“Oh?” Xiao Yu’s delicate nose let out a soft sound. “So what? That’s not uncommon, is it?”

“It’s not that simple,” Fang Lan replied, still with a bitter smile. “The crucial thing is, the dish he made was so delicious that the aroma filled the restaurant and attracted all the other diners. Now everyone is clamoring to try it!”

That piqued Xiao Yu’s interest; she had never encountered such a situation before. She quickly gathered her thoughts. “So, you’re saying someone cooked a meal in Celestial Pinnacle and attracted all the guests?”

“Yes!” Fang Lan said in admiration. “Miss, I found it unbelievable myself. I tasted the dish, and I have to admit—it’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten!”

“Oh?” Xiao Yu’s curiosity grew. “What dish was it? Does it have a name?”

“Miss, have you seen ‘God of Cookery’?” Fang Lan asked cautiously.

“‘God of Cookery’?” Xiao Yu frowned, puzzled by the question. “I’ve seen it, but it was a long time ago. My memory’s a bit hazy. Why do you ask?”

“The dish was called Juicy Beef Balls,” Fang Lan swallowed before continuing. “Miss, you wouldn’t believe it—the method was exactly like in the movie: pounding the beef with a wooden stick, mixing in various seasonings, and when cooked, the beef balls literally bounced!”

Fang Lan was almost incoherent, leaving Xiao Yu frowning slightly before she asked, “So now all the guests want to try this dish?”

“Yes, they do!” Fang Lan replied quickly. “But, Miss, the chef has already disappeared. I’ve managed to calm the guests, but I don’t have Mr. Lin’s contact information. Could you reach out to him?”

“All right, I understand!” Xiao Yu nodded. “You’ve done well—I’ll take care of it.”

She hung up and immediately dialed another number. Soon, Lin Erli’s voice came through: “Director Xiao? What a surprise to hear from you!”

“Mr. Lin, your friend gave quite a performance at my restaurant today—the place is still in an uproar. How could I not call you?” Xiao Yu’s tone was polite and gentle, almost fragile.

This woman had long since mastered the art of business—firm when needed, gentle when appropriate.

Hearing this, Lin Erli laughed heartily. “Director Xiao, what are you saying? Honestly, I didn’t expect my friend to have such extraordinary skills. I’m still savoring those beef balls!”

Xiao Yu laughed as well and quickly said, “Mr. Lin, could you perhaps introduce me to your friend? As you know, I’m in the restaurant business, and talents like him are hard to find. Could you share his phone number with me?”

Such talent was rare, and Xiao Yu was determined to secure Chen Feng’s contact information first.

“Uh...” Lin Erli hesitated, sounding a little awkward.

“What is it, Mr. Lin?” Xiao Yu asked. Their relationship wasn’t especially close, but they’d met and chatted before; there was no conflict of interest between them. In fact, she’d even introduced clients to him. There was no reason for him to hesitate over a phone number.

“Director Xiao, I’m afraid I don’t have his number. He’s my son’s classmate. I’ll ask my son for it.”

Unfortunately for Xiao Yu, Lin Hang didn’t know Chen Feng’s number either. In fact, Chen Feng didn’t even have a phone—his had been confiscated by Sun Minghai. Originally, Chen Feng had only used his phone to browse risqué magazines in his spare time, and as for making calls, he barely used that function.

Now that he had the Grand Extraction System, Chen Feng devoted all his energy to it, losing interest in those magazines and forgetting to reclaim his phone from Sun Minghai. His current life was far more exciting.

Upon learning this, Xiao Yu was a bit disappointed, but she quickly said, “Mr. Lin, I’ll be in Donghai for a few days. When I return, I’ll trouble you to introduce me to him.”

“No problem at all!” Lin Erli replied cheerfully.

(Note: “Mouse Grouper” is a type of fish, not an actual mouse. Its flesh is tender and exceptionally tasty, making it a prized, high-end seafood both for viewing and eating, and its market price is very high.)