Shen Yuanshan lifted the lid and peeked inside, only to find a bowl of plain hot water with a few leaves of cabbage floating on top. For a moment, he froze in disbelief. This soup is way too simple! Is that all this guy can do?

“Wow, boss, your soup is so plain and basic! Even I can make this!”

Qiao Lu, upon seeing the bowl of soup, couldn’t hide her disappointment. They had skipped the chance to attend their idol’s concert for this, only to be served what seemed like hot water and cabbage.

Shen Yan, on the other hand, remained silent. She seemed unsurprised, having already judged that Qin Feng was too young, and his restaurant was located in such a remote area.

Noticing their reactions, Qin Feng smiled faintly and motioned for them to taste it. This Boiling Vegetable Soup wasn’t just a simple dish; it represented the pinnacle of Sichuan cuisine, embodying its cultural and culinary heights. Its brilliance wasn’t something its humble appearance could convey.

Shen Yuanshan, intrigued by Qin Feng’s steady confidence, scooped up a spoonful and sipped. The next moment, his whole body jolted as if struck by lightning, and he closed his eyes slowly, savoring the flavor.

Shen Yan took a taste herself, and her eyes widened in shock. What she thought was plain hot water turned out to be a rich broth. The moment it touched her tongue, an explosion of intense flavors hit, as if a hundred distinct tastes intertwined at once.

She picked up a piece of cabbage, took a bite, and found it equally exquisite—delicate and refreshing. She immediately fell in love with it.

“This is amazing! So delicious! The cabbage is just incredible!”

By this point, Qiao Lu was too excited to speak and devoured the entire bowl of soup in one go.

“Boss, I, Xiao Wen, have never admired anyone in my life. From now on, you’re my idol! Do you have more? I want another bowl!”

Xiao Wen looked at Qin Feng, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

But Qin Feng waved his hand. This Boiling Vegetable Soup was a culinary masterpiece, something ordinary people rarely had the chance to taste. Seeing them gulp it down like water didn’t do justice to its true essence.

Noticing this, both Qiao Lu and Xiao Wen showed a hint of regret in their expressions.

Just then, Shen Yan noticed tears welling up in her grandfather’s eyes and hurriedly asked, “Grandpa, are you okay?”

Shen Yuanshan shook his head and softly replied, “This is the best soup I’ve ever had in my life. The most delicious cabbage I’ve ever eaten. It made me experience the essence of life itself. You’re still young and might not fully understand this feeling.”

With that, he continued sipping the soup slowly, taking over ten minutes to finish it.

“The essence of life? What kind of realization is that?”

Shen Yan looked puzzled.

“This cabbage tastes so good because it’s unassuming yet absorbs a hundred flavors. It embodies the highest principles of our culture: emptiness, which accommodates all, and simplicity, which births countless possibilities. This Boiling Vegetable Soup reflects the profound beauty of simplicity and the extraordinary within the ordinary.”

As Qin Feng explained, he grew visibly passionate. This dish wasn’t just food; it was the epitome of Sichuan cuisine, the pinnacle of clear broths served at grand state banquets. It was about savoring not just the taste but the philosophy and artistry behind it.

Shen Yuanshan nodded repeatedly as he listened, the soup leaving an indelible impression on him. To have tasted this dish in his lifetime meant he had no regrets.

At this moment, Qiao Lu chimed in, “Boss, your cabbage soup is so incredible! Can you teach me how to make it? I’d love to try making it at home.”

Hearing this, Qin Feng chuckled and replied, “I don’t mind teaching you, but let me ask you this: can you dedicate an entire day to making it? If you can, I’ll teach you.”

“What? It takes a whole day to make this soup? No way! Isn’t it just adding some seasonings and tossing in cabbage?”

Qiao Lu was visibly shocked. A whole day to make cabbage soup?

“If you can pull that off, I’ll bow to you as my master,” Qin Feng teased with a smirk.

Qiao Lu stuck out her tongue, realizing that something so seemingly ordinary could take such effort.

By now, Shen Yuanshan was even more curious about the dish’s intricacy and voiced his confusion. “Qin Xiaoyou, this soup looks like clear broth but tastes rich, like it has meat flavors. Yet it’s crystal clear without even a speck of oil. How is that possible?”

“I used a dozen ingredients, including old hens and ducks, simmering them for seven hours while meticulously skimming impurities and oil. Then, I used finely minced chicken breast and pork tenderloin to ‘sweep’ the soup three times to remove even the tiniest particles. Finally, I simmered it on low heat for another four hours. That’s why it’s as clear as water,” Qin Feng explained in detail.

Hearing this, Shen Yuanshan finally understood.

“So complicated? Forget it, I don’t have the patience for that,” Qiao Lu muttered, immediately abandoning any thoughts of learning.

“The cabbage must have its secrets too, right? It’s so flavorful that it can’t just be ordinary cabbage,” Shen Yan remarked, her preference clearly leaning towards the vegetable.

Qin Feng nodded. “The cabbage is prepared using only its tender core. To enhance flavor absorption, I poke a thousand tiny holes in each leaf with a toothpick. After blanching them, I let the cabbage soak in the broth briefly before steaming it with the soup poured over.”

“This sounds more like a scientific experiment than cooking!” Xiao Wen sighed in amazement. Being able to taste this dish felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

After resting for a bit, Shen Yuanshan stood up, walked over to Qin Feng, and bowed. “Qin Xiaoyou, thanks to you, I’ve experienced this heavenly delicacy. As a token of my gratitude, I’ll personally craft the knife set you requested for free.”

“Oh no, please don’t! As a chef, my greatest honor is seeing my guests enjoy their meals,” Qin Feng replied with equal politeness. Though he was a world-renowned chef, he always remembered that a chef’s purpose was to make people happy with their food.

“When will you be introducing your next dish? I’m already looking forward to it,” Shen Yuanshan eagerly asked, already excited for more.

“I release a new dish every Friday. You’re welcome to drop by then,” Qin Feng replied.

“Rest assured, I’ll definitely come! Missing out would be a lifelong regret. Hahaha!”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shen Yuanshan took his leave.

“Boss, let me help clean up! We’d feel bad if we didn’t do something after enjoying your soup,” Qiao Lu offered.

But Qin Feng firmly refused. “No need. No outsiders are allowed in my kitchen. You should head back—it’s getting late.”

“Alright then, we’ll be off,” Qiao Lu agreed, not wanting to push it. This boss is so mysterious—he won’t even let anyone into his kitchen!