klisemfg Chapter 22: Fooling a Crippled Chef
Chapter 22: Fooling a Crippled Chef
Chapter Twenty-Two: Fooling a Crippled Chef
In the palace of Yunxuan Kingdom, there lived a beloved little princess named Cheng Ruyi. She was clever and quick-witted, and had a great interest in food.
That day, the Imperial Kitchen was filled with an enticing aroma of fresh, spicy, and numbing flavors—a hot pot meticulously prepared by Cheng Ruyi. She had already sliced tender beef into thin slices, cooked them in the pot for a few minutes, then quickly scooped them out and handed them to the head chef of the Imperial Kitchen.
The chef took the beef, put it in his mouth, and chewed. His eyes instantly lit up, and he murmured, "Mmm~ Little princess, this is so fragrant and delicious! The meat is tender and juicy, the broth is rich and flavorful, and there's even a warm, spicy sensation that stimulates the taste buds. What kind of food is this? Why is it so amazing?"
Cheng Ruyi smiled sweetly and replied, "Grandpa Chef, this is called hot pot, and the spicy stuff is called chili peppers. Chili peppers are the soul of hot pot; they make it more fragrant, spicy, and satisfying! Hot pot is also easy to make. All you need is a ready-made hot pot broth, add water, bring it to a boil, add the ingredients, and you're ready to eat!" (*^w^*)
Then, Cheng Ruyi blinked her large, bright eyes and said with a sly smile, "Grandpa Chef, you're getting old, and you can't be a chef forever. How about we make a deal? You help me find someone to make the hot pot broth, and I'll give you a share, okay? From now on, I'll give you 20% of the profits, and the rest will go to Yunxuan Kingdom."
The elderly imperial chef stared in astonishment at the infant before him, a realization dawning on him. He had initially thought the courtiers' praise of the little princess was merely flattery, a way to cultivate a certain image. But now, he had to believe that this infant was no ordinary child.
Σ(っ °Д °；)っ
He decided to cling to this powerful figure and solemnly replied, "It is my good fortune that the little princess values my skills. I will serve the little princess with utmost devotion and responsibility!" (＞?＜)☆
Cheng Ruyi smiled and said, "Grandpa Chef, it's a deal! We'll sell hot pot together and earn lots and lots of silver! I'll also make other delicacies in the future, and we'll research and develop them together to earn even more silver." (*^w^*)
The elderly imperial chef's eyes lit up upon hearing this; what chef doesn't love fresh food? He exclaimed excitedly, "This old servant is thrice blessed to have gained the little princess's approval and will dedicate the rest of my life to culinary research and development! This old servant will certainly not disappoint the little princess!" ＼(☆o☆)／
"It's a deal, Grandpa Chef! I'll come find you sometime and teach you how to make fried chicken. It's a dish with soul! Hehe (o﹃o)!" Cheng Ruyi said softly to the elderly imperial chef. (?w?)
After a while, Cheng Ruyi added a piece of pig's blood and chopped large intestine to the pot. Once it was almost cooked, she took it out and handed it to the elderly imperial chef to taste.
The elderly imperial chef's understanding was once again refreshed. In the past, no one dared to eat this kind of ingredient, but today, following the little princess, he was able to taste a novel ingredient.
Finally, Cheng Ruyi added the fried instant noodles. After cooking for about three minutes, she scooped them out and handed them to the elderly imperial chef, saying, "Grandpa Chef, this is like a soul. Try it and tell me how much silver this food can sell for!"
The elderly imperial chef couldn't stop eating after tasting it. The smooth, chewy texture of the noodles was irresistible. As he ate, he muttered, "Little princess, what is this? It's so delicious! It smells so good! The addition of the seasoning powder has elevated the texture of the noodles even further. My taste buds are so satisfied! What is this, little princess?" Σ(っ °Д °；)っ
Cheng Ruyi replied softly, "This is called instant noodles! Just add boiling water, sprinkle on the seasoning, and you can eat it in three minutes. It's very convenient!"
"While this item isn't as valuable as hot pot, with these seasoning powders, it can still fetch three to five taels of silver among the wealthy. For ordinary people, I suggest eight hundred copper coins to one tael of silver!" the elderly imperial chef said.
Cheng Ruyi coaxed, "Then let's do it this way, Grandpa Chef. I'll give you 10% of this instant noodles! Because it's cheaper than hot pot, and the process is simpler. Besides, I don't just want to sell these instant noodles; I also have some I need for a big purpose. In short, Grandpa Chef, you definitely won't regret your decision today! So, the share is a little small, but if we need a large quantity later, you can help me find someone to make them! After we sell them, you can also get a lot of money! For now, I'll give you 10%, and if it sells well later, we can increase it to 20%!"
(?w?) ……
The elderly imperial chef exclaimed excitedly, "This old servant will serve the little princess with utmost devotion, even unto death!" ＼(☆o☆)／
Upon discovering that the elderly imperial chef had been successfully brainwashed, Cheng Ruyi smiled with satisfaction. She thought to herself, "No businessman is without guile! Sorry, Grandpa Chef! If sales become a hit, I'll definitely give you a bonus! For now, I'll set your share to be a little lower!"
(?w?) ……
After brainwashing the elderly imperial chef, Cheng Ruyi happily invited him, "Grandpa Chef, later today, you, my father, mother, brother, and I will enjoy a hot pot together! Then I'll tell my father about what we just discussed! What do you think? Then we can sign a contract! You call it a pact! What do you think, Grandpa Chef?!" (?＞?＜?)
"This old servant will obey the young princess's every command! Thank you for your grace, young princess! Long live the princess!" The elderly imperial chef bowed respectfully. (=^▽^=)
At the dining table, everyone enjoyed the delicious hot pot, their laughter filling the air. Cheng Ruyi told her father, mother, and brother about her plan with the elderly imperial chef, receiving their support and encouragement.
From then on, Cheng Ruyi and the elderly imperial chef worked together to bring hot pot and instant noodles to the market, where they were well-received and sought after. Their culinary business flourished, bringing new vitality and prosperity to the Yunxuan Kingdom.