"Wow... Crystal Shrimp, Spicy Shrimp, Grilled Tiger Fish, Lai Lai dish, Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish, Boiled Black-backed Perch... so lavish! Didn't you just bring all the signature dishes from Wanmin Restaurant?"
Yun Jin's eyes widened as she scanned the dishes Xiangling brought to the table. Today was a feast for her taste buds!
"The dishes aren't all here yet! Golden Shrimp Balls, Keqing, you should like this one..."
Xiangling chuckled and, with Guoba, brought over a few more plates.
"As for this 'Boiled White Cabbage,' it should meet Ningguang's standards. Try it while it's hot..."
Xiangling pushed a bowl of clear broth with a cabbage heart towards Ningguang.
Ningguang nodded. Just by smelling the rising aroma, she could tell this dish was not simple.
Ningguang scooped some of the broth from the Boiled White Cabbage into her own bowl, then used a small spoon to take a mouthful and taste it.
"This Boiled White Cabbage, at first glance, is just clear broth with no oil, but the aroma is rich and mellow, not greasy, and it refreshes the soul, surpassing countless delicacies!"
Ningguang immediately gave it the highest praise. The soup, though seemingly plain, showcased the chef's skill.
Among all the soups she had tasted, this was certainly one of the best.
"Try the cabbage in it next. This was inspired by Feng Yi!"
Xiangling had put a lot of effort into selecting the right cabbage heart.
She hoped it would satisfy Ningguang's palate.
"The soup... is mellow and elegant, clear to the bottom; the cabbage... is tender green in color, beautiful in form, giving a fresh and lively feeling at sight; its aroma is pleasant; and when eaten, it's tender and melts in the mouth, exceptionally delicious..."
Ningguang picked up a piece of cabbage, put it in her mouth, and closed her eyes, shutting out other senses to focus purely on taste.
After a few breaths, Ningguang's eyes suddenly opened, a sharp glint flashing within them. She declared this dish the best of the banquet!
"Ningguang, is it really that delicious?"
Yan Fei knew Ningguang to be a picky eater, so any dish that received such praise must be truly amazing.
Under Ningguang's half-smiling gaze, Yan Fei took a serving for herself to try.
*Slap!*
"Xiangling, you absolutely must put this dish on the Wanmin Restaurant menu! How will I live without it? Here's a deposit. Let me know if it's not enough!"
Yan Fei immediately took out a bag of Mora and placed it on the table, showing her support for the Boiled White Cabbage.
"Is it really that incredible? Let this veteran gourmand have a taste..."
Cloud Retainer, seeing Ningguang and Yan Fei's exaggerated reactions, decided she had to try it too.
"Hiss~ This flavor, it's marvelous! Indescribably marvelous! Xiangling, you absolutely must teach me how to make it!"
Cloud Retainer was about to express her opinion, only to find that Ningguang had already said what she wanted. She could only sum it up with "marvelous."
At that moment, Cloud Retainer suddenly felt an urge to compete with Granny Valla for a disciple.
Everyone joined the tasting, happily enjoying the lavish meal.
"Feng Yi, don't forget the top-tier ice cream you promised me!"
Guoba had quietly crept up to Feng Yi and tugged at his sleeve, reminding him.
"Don't worry, I'll get it for you right after dinner!"
Feng Yi patted Guoba's little head and smiled.
Guoba, having received Feng Yi's promise of a specific time, happily skipped away.
"Yuanbao, I need your help with something..."
Just then, Zhongli moved beside Yuanbao.
"Grandpa Zhongli, what do you need Yuanbao to help with?"
Yuanbao, holding a large chicken leg, looked at Zhongli quizzically.
"I have a friend who, like Guoba before, has a dim soul. I wonder if you could help him..."
Zhongli briefly explained Ruotuo Dragon King's current condition, looking anxiously at Yuanbao.
"But Yuanbao is just an ordinary child! Besides, splitting a life spark is very tiring. Yuanbao had to absorb energy from more than half a volcano to barely recover then. But it's not entirely impossible, unless..."
Yuanbao's small eyes darted around, revealing a sly look like a little fox.
"Unless what? Yuanbao, tell me. As long as I can do it, I promise!"
Zhongli smiled helplessly. Where did this girl learn such tactics? She was even playing hard to get.
"Unless Grandpa Zhongli gives me twenty of those Starfall Talismans and fifty fat rabbits as payment!"
Yuanbao counted on her fingers, detailing her conditions.
The Starfall Talismans were for her father, while the fat rabbits were for herself.
"How about this: fifty Starfall Talismans, a hundred fat rabbits, and a volcano as payment. What do you think, Yuanbao?"
Zhongli laughed heartily. He had been prepared to be fleeced, but he never expected Yuanbao to be so considerate!
Feeling a pang of guilt, he decided to bargain up the reward for Yuanbao.
As for the volcano, it was to help Yuanbao recover her energy.
"Deal!"
Yuanbao's eyes curved into crescent moons, a triumphant smile on her face.
Yuanbao: This is a huge profit!
With her limited perspective, Yuanbao's imagination was ultimately constrained by her poverty.
Such conditions were trivial for Zhongli.
Once Ruotuo Dragon King's consciousness recovered, the task of recharging the Starfall Talismans would fall to him.
Zhongli: Ruotuo, I helped you so much, it's not unreasonable for you to recharge a hundred Starfall Talismans for me, right?
Then, he could give fifty to Yuanbao and still earn fifty.
This was a win-win situation!
"Yuanbao, save me!"
Just as Yuanbao was gloating over her successful scheme and chuckling, Qiqi suddenly ran behind Yuanbao, asking for her help.
"Qiqi, as a zombie, the best choice is to reincarnate as soon as possible!"
Hu Tao said with a smile, rubbing her hands together with feigned concern.
"High temperatures, death, and fake smiles, I hate them!"
Qiqi hid behind Yuanbao, saying fearfully.
"Mother Hu Tao, Qiqi is Yuanbao's good friend, whether she's human or a zombie. Mother Hu Tao, please don't bully Qiqi, okay?"
Yuanbao, full of righteous indignation, stood in front of Hu Tao.
"Oh my, since Yuanbao is protecting you so much, I'll let it go this time!"
Hu Tao spread her hands. She was also concerned for Qiqi, but since the other party didn't appreciate it, she would let it be.
After the banquet, Feng Yi asked everyone to return to the hot spring pool for a bath while he went to get dessert.
Shenhe's eyes lit up at the mention of dessert, and she offered to go with him.
Feng Yi happily accepted. He had been wondering how to get the dessert into the women's bathhouse.
Since Shenhe offered to help, there would be no problem!
Upon entering the cold storage, Shenhe led Feng Yi to a secret room.
"Shenhe, why are you changing into a high-slit qipao?"