The dish before him was presented in an inverted semi-circular shape, with steam rising in wisps that faintly carried the sweet fragrance of rice wine, though not overpowering. This was because the outer layer, wrapped in glutinous rice flour, had undergone fermentation in a jar, making it stickier and locking in the aroma within.

Marquis Weiyuan used his chopsticks to peel away the outer layer of glutinous rice and a unique scent immediately wafted up, taking him by surprise. Even the crowd gathered around began to stir with restless excitement. The fragrance was overwhelming, combining the aromas of wine, herbs, master stock, and meat, with a subtle hint of light soy sauce. The layers of scents blended seamlessly, deepening everyone’s craving for the dish rather than causing any confusion.

What defines a gourmet dish? A dish that excels in color, aroma, and taste is a gourmet dish. Lin Dan’s creation might have looked unremarkable and smelled ordinary at first, but once the glutinous rice was peeled back and the tightly sealed aroma was released, the dish seemed to come alive with a soul of its own.

The jade-green slices of meat soaked in master stock had turned slightly red at the thinner edges, resembling delicate flower petals. The fat within the meat was slowly being expelled by the heat, seeping into the shiny brown glutinous rice, causing the two ingredients to cling tightly together, with the flavor permeating both.

Marquis Weiyuan picked up a piece of the meat wrapped in glutinous rice and took a bite, his eyes widening in astonishment. The meat had indeed absorbed the wine, as Lin Dan had described. With just one bite, it was as if he had drunk a cup of wine and the rich aroma filled his mouth. This meat was not just an ingredient but also a vessel for the wine, full of tender, marinated meatiness and a hint of soy sauce, making for an incredibly rich flavor. The glutinous rice on the outside was equally unique in taste, having been half-fermented and softer and sweeter than regular glutinous rice flour.

The blend of sweet, salty, savory, and fermented flavors filled his mouth, yet none could mask the increasingly strong wine aroma. As the food slid down his throat, there was no burning sensation from the alcohol, only a warm feeling in his stomach…… Such an extraordinary feat, and Lin Dan had truly accomplished it. She had transformed wine into food with her skillful hands and the taste was simply marvelous. Marquis Weiyuan couldn’t help but glance at her, then reached for the cold bean sprouts.

The bean sprouts had also been soaked in sweet rice wine, mixed with a bit of Sichuan pepper and sesame oil. When bitten, the stems released a plant-scented wine, refreshing and crisp.

Marquis Weiyuan usually drank wine with every meal, often filling his stomach with alcohol after just a few bites of food before falling into a deep sleep. The emperor had ordered him to return to the capital to recuperate, yet he only grew thinner. Now, seeing him willingly sit down and calmly enjoy a meal, with a seemingly good appetite, his subordinates couldn’t help but show delighted expressions.

He ate with elegance, but not slowly, and in no time, half of the steamed meat and rice dish was gone, and the plate of bean sprouts was nearly empty, save for a bit of sauce. The other diners watched him intently, swallowing their saliva. Damn, Shopkeeper Lin’s culinary skills were simply too good. They had thought her braised meat was the epitome of flavor, but this steamed meat was even more fragrant. Just smelling and seeing it without tasting was the cruelest torture in the world.

“Gulp, gulp—” Sounds of people swallowing echoed through the hall. Though others might not have heard, Marquis Weiyuan’s keen senses caught every bit. He glanced up at his subordinates, who were trying hard to appear serious, and then turned to Lin Dan. “Prepare a plate of steamed meat for each of my men.”

“Apologies, Marquis, but I only brewed one jar of Yanglin Fei and there was only one piece of meat, which you’ve just finished.” Lin Dan said, spreading her hands helplessly.

“A wine cellar should be stocked with rows upon rows of jars, but you only brew one at a time? How could you be so stingy?” Marquis Weiyuan’s face grew stern, though his tone softened considerably.

“With respect, Marquis, I’m a cook, not a brewer. I brew wine out of interest, not to sell it.” Lin Dan replied calmly and courteously.

Marquis Weiyuan squint his eyes. Seeing no trace of fear on the other party’s face, he found himself at a loss. This meal had been too delicious and suited his palate so well that he couldn’t help but want to eat it again, and again…… and countless times more. He couldn’t afford to offend the cook.

“Fine, fine. Give each of them a pound of master stock meat. Surely you have that?”

“Yes, I do. What would Big Brothers like to eat? I have braised pig trotters, pig ears, pork belly, chicken, duck…… For vegetarians, I have tofu, lotus root slices, beans…… There are many flavors too— five-spice, peppery and spicy, sour and spicy, sweet……” Lin Dan patiently attended to the group of guards. A moment ago, they had all been fierce and intimidating, but now they were smiling brightly, rushing to the door to peer into the clay pots with eager expressions.

Only then did Tang Cheng leave Lin Dan’s side, walking over to sit across from Marquis Weiyuan, where he nonchalantly picked up his chopsticks and began to take food for himself.

Marquis Weiyuan quickly blocked his chopsticks and sneered, “Get your own.”

Tang Cheng ignored him and tried from another angle to grab some food. Marquis Weiyuan continued to block him and the two of them ended up dueling with their chopsticks as if they were swords, exchanging dozens of rounds. The fight grew more intense until they were nearly ready to roll up their sleeves and brawl.

Amid her busyness, Lin Dan called out, “Glutinous rice is sticky and hard to digest. Don’t eat too much in the morning, Marquis. Half a plate is enough, or you might get a stomachache later.”

Marquis Weiyuan’s stomach had long been ravaged by alcohol. When it wasn’t hurting, he seemed fine, but when it flared up, it was like being cut by knives and cold sweat would pour down his forehead in unbearable pain. Her words made him pause, and by the time he realized it, Tang Cheng had already taken the rest of the steamed meat.

“Brat—” He slammed his chopsticks onto the table with force and then slowly rolled up his sleeves. But just at that moment, Lin Dan walked over, holding a bowl of porridge and a small dish of red and white cubes, and gently said, “If you’re still hungry, have some porridge. It’s best to eat porridge in the morning.”

This porridge wasn’t ordinary. It had been simmered overnight in a milky broth, with tender chicken and pork knuckles cooked until they were soft and savory. It was also mixed with finely chopped shepherd’s purse leaves, adding a touch of green to the white porridge and making it look visually appealing. The smell was exceptionally fragrant.

Tang Cheng’s triumphant mood instantly deflated. He spoke in a low voice, “Hurry up and eat. That is Zhigeng, said to be created by Peng Zu and reputed as the best porridge in the world. It’s very nourishing for the stomach.”

Marquis Weiyuan’s stern expression softened slightly. He took a sip of the porridge while it was still hot and his eyes immediately brightened. He had to admit that having a bowl of hot, rich porridge in the morning felt like a cleansing experience for his long-suffering body.

“What’s this? It has a strong smell of wine.” He pointed to the small dish beside him with his chopsticks. The entire family of Marquis Yongding were gourmets. If there was an unfamiliar dish, asking them was always the right move.

Tang Cheng indeed knew. “That is fermented bean curd, also soaked in wine.”

Marquis Weiyuan tasted a small piece and was instantly captivated by its unique flavor. Accompanied by the fermented bean curd, he quickly finished the bowl of porridge, looking utterly satisfied. His guards, too, were eating with oily mouths, constantly giving thumbs up and praising Shopkeeper Lin’s culinary skills.

Three-quarters of an hour later, Marquis Weiyuan placed a pure gold ingot on the table and led his group of guards away, completely satisfied. Halfway down the road, as if remembering something, he turned back and caught the small hooligans who had quietly fled, pressed them in front of Hometown Dishes Restaurant’s door, and viciously broke their legs.

“Shopkeeper Lin, look, I’ve taken care of these little flies for you. Now, about that jar of Yanglin Fei—”

Before Marquis Weiyuan could finish his sentence, Lin Dan regretfully spread her hands. “That jar of wine needs at least another six months to be ready. Taking it out now, not even three months old, has already ruined it. If the Marquis wants to drink it, you’ll have to wait another six months.”

Marquis Weiyuan’s gentle and kind expression stiffened slightly. He ground his teeth while staring at Lin Dan but eventually realized he could do nothing about her. He had no choice but to shout to his guards, “Let’s go, follow me to exterminate the bandits!” If it weren’t for those bandits recklessly ruining things, how could he have been suppressed by a young woman?

Lin Dan shook her head with a mix of amusement and helplessness, then walked back into the shop to continue cooking noodles, ignoring the hooligans lying on the ground. Though she seemed gentle and mild-mannered, it was as if she lacked certain emotions as she showed no compassion for these people. Tang Cheng had a few men carry the hooligans away to avoid disrupting the shop’s business.

“Lin Dan, this belongs to your father.” He took out a yellowed book from his pocket and explained, “Even if Marquis Weiyuan hadn’t mentioned it, I intended to tell you the truth today. From the moment I saw you, I recognized you.” It was Lin Dan who had taught him that a person’s character was far more important than their abilities, which had plunged him into deep regret and self-reproach. So even after ten years had passed, he had never forgotten this stubborn young woman. He had always wanted to know if she was doing well and how far she could go after refusing everyone’s help.

The fact proved that Lin Dan could go far, even farther than he had imagined.

“Thank you, Young Master.” Lin Dan accepted the book and flipped through it, discovering it was a cookbook— specifically the latter half of Yan Family’s Cookbook that her father had added to years ago.

Tang Cheng explained, “Yan Langqing asked me to hand that over to you. She took the first sixty pages of Yan Family’s Cookbook and has never made any of the dishes your father created. That is your father’s relic, so it rightfully belongs to you.”

“She’s never made any of my father’s dishes?” Lin Dan repeated, her smile turning cold.

Tang Cheng found her smile strange and was about to inquire further when Madam Qin approached, hesitating as she spoke, “Shopkeeper Lin, you mentioned earlier that you would make a bowl of Qianzhou-style braised meat. Does that still count?” Everyone else had been scared away by Marquis Weiyuan, but she had bravely stayed for the sake of a good meal.

“Yes, of course. Please wait a moment.” The moment Lin Dan faced a customer, she put away her cold smile and reverted to her gentle and patient self as Shopkeeper Lin.

Madam Qin stole a glance at Tang Cheng, feeling a bit apprehensive. She recognized this man too. He was the heir of Marquis Yongding, recently victorious in battle and now reassigned to the Ministry of War by the emperor. His sister was also the emperor’s most favored noble consort, and without an empress above her, she held immense power.

This restaurant was truly remarkable and constantly visited by important figures. Fortunately, Madam Qin hadn’t made an enemy of Shopkeeper Lin. Just as she thought this, a man and a woman, who appeared to be siblings based on their similar features, walked through the door, followed by several servants. Coincidentally, Madam Qin recognized the man and couldn’t help but shiver.

Shopkeeper Lin’s place was indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Yet another person of immense power had arrived!