Chapter 102 Even Green Peppers Can Be This Delicious—A Gateway to a New World!
“Sorry, I’ve never made mashed potatoes before, so I don’t have any good suggestions,” Lu Qin said honestly, shaking his head.
Zhong Shuyi’s dad pushed the plate towards his wife.
“Honey, you’ll have to eat this yourself.”
“Are you kidding me? I’m not eating that!”
Zhong Shuyi’s mom was disgusted herself. The strip-shaped, brownish mashed potatoes looked like something a constipated puppy might leave behind. Who could stomach that?
Meanwhile, Zhong Shuyi had already abandoned her parents and wandered over to Lu Xiyao’s table.
“Shuyi, do you want some?”
As a good friend, Lu Xiyao asked, noticing that Zhong Shuyi was clearly starving.
Zhong Shuyi nodded enthusiastically.
“Dad, can Shuyi eat with us?”
“Of course,” Lu Qin replied, serving Zhong Shuyi a bowl of rice.
“Thank you, Uncle Lu! You’re the best!”
Zhong Shuyi had long been mesmerized by the aroma of Lu Qin’s tomato and egg stir-fry. Ignoring her parents completely, she sat down and started devouring her meal.
Zhong Shuyi’s parents were dumbfounded. Was their child this quick to desert them? As Zhong Shuyi’s dad approached the table, hoping to mooch a bite, he realized the food was almost gone. Even his daughter was scraping the last bit of tomato and egg sauce onto her rice, savoring every bite.
Helpless, Zhong Shuyi’s dad resigned himself to hunger. A few other groups managed to cook one or two dishes and were quietly eating. However, the other twenty-something groups were left watching enviously, regretting not having learned to cook earlier.
When hunger strikes, one truly regrets their lack of skills in the kitchen. The kids began gravitating towards Lu Xiyao’s table. Normally, when Lu Xiyao brought her meals to kindergarten, her delicious food often left other kids drooling. Some were lucky enough to snag a bite or two of her mom’s twice-cooked pork or her dad’s tomato and egg stir-fry. Even a small taste was enough to make them scarf down their own rice.
Now that Lu Qin himself was present, the kids were more tempted than ever, their eyes glued to his table, practically drooling. Unfortunately, the last bit of tomato and egg stir-fry had already been mixed into rice for Zhong Shuyi.
In the kitchen, Chef Hu was frantically trying to prepare food as quickly as possible. The children and parents were starving, and the activity could quickly turn into chaos if hunger wasn’t addressed.
“Why don’t we eat the knife-cut noodles we made?”
“Are you sure those are knife-cut noodles and not ‘knife-hacked noodles’? The pot nearly choked on them!”
“Xiaofeng, let’s eat the pizza we made!”
“Dad, I’m not eating a frisbee!”
Finally, Chef Hu brought out a large pot of steamed rice.
The parents and kids cheered in relief.
“Everyone, you can start with rice. The dishes are still being prepared,” Chef Hu said, apologizing. “It’s just me today, and I can’t keep up. If any parents know how to cook, could you lend a hand in the kitchen?”
Just as three parents were about to step forward, a chorus of children shouted, “Lu Xiyao’s dad can cook! He’s amazing!”
“Let Uncle Lu make twice-cooked pork—it’s super fragrant!”
“He can make fried rice noodles too—so good!”
Lu Qin’s culinary skills were heavily hyped by the kids.
All eyes turned to him, some familiar with his reputation, others not, but all hopeful he’d step in.
Lu Qin smiled, ruffling Lu Xiyao’s hair.
“Are you all full? Should I make some more food?”
Both Shen Muyan and Lu Xiyao’s eyes lit up. They had already eaten two bowls of rice but were ready for more. Zhong Shuyi nodded eagerly as well.
Lu Qin headed into the kitchen.
Twenty Minutes Later, Chef Hu began serving dishes one after another—twice-cooked pork, tomato and egg stir-fry, spicy shredded potatoes, and stir-fried pork with green peppers.
“Lu Xiyao’s dad is a true master! Watching him cook is a pleasure, but learning from him? Impossible!”
Chef Hu had secretly tasted the dishes before serving them and was nearly tempted to grab a bowl of rice for himself. Years of professional restraint were the only thing that stopped him.
The food was just too ridiculously good. Even with a hundred years of practice, Chef Hu doubted he could match Lu Qin’s skills.
The rice had already been portioned out, with everyone holding a bowl, eagerly awaiting the dishes. The small tables were rearranged into one large communal table. Shen Muyan and Lu Xiyao were invited to sit, while everyone else stood—there simply wasn’t enough space for everyone to sit.
As the dishes were placed on the table, the tantalizing aroma intensified everyone’s hunger.
“Xiyao and her mom, please start,” someone suggested. After all, it was only polite to let the chef’s family begin.
The little one picked up a piece of stir-fried pork with green peppers and said, “Everyone, let’s eat together!”
Everyone was already drooling but managed to maintain some semblance of decorum, politely taking their share. Otherwise, the scene might have turned into a chaotic feast like at a countryside wedding.
Lu Qin’s dishes were simple home-style meals but better than any delicacy. The room fell silent as everyone focused on eating, mouths too busy to speak. Occasional murmurs of “Mmm, so good!” and enthusiastic thumbs-ups replaced words.
Shen Muyan and Lu Xiyao exchanged proud glances, their eyes shining. Lu Qin was truly incredible. Even picky eaters found themselves cured by his cooking. For the first time, some realized just how delicious green peppers could be—it was like discovering a whole new world.
Teachers Li and Zhang joined in, unable to resist the fragrant food. Even Chef Hu eventually grabbed some utensils, only to find that the large pot of rice was already empty. Many parents and kids were already on their second bowls.
“Chef, is there more rice?”
“Yes, yes, I’ll bring another pot right away.”
As more rice was served, Lu Qin whipped up six additional dishes—braised chicken, garlic duck, stir-fried three treasures, imperial chicken wings…
Even the simplest dishes became divine under Lu Qin’s hands. Parents and kids couldn’t help but cheer, overwhelmed by the flavors. Some joked they were ready to kneel in gratitude.
Even families with private chefs, like Zhong Shuyi’s, were astonished. Zhong Shuyi’s dad, a wealthy businessman who had long lost his appetite for food, found himself devouring a third bowl of rice. Normally, he barely nibbled at meals, but now he seemed capable of eating five bowls.
Zhong Shuyi’s mom was in the same boat, her taste buds completely captivated. She had already finished two bowls of rice, abandoning her usual slow, elegant dining habits.
The scene resembled a competitive eating contest. If someone walked in, they might have mistaken it for a food festival or a great feast competition.