A Culinary Heartfelt Gesture

The princes held no affection for him; preparations had to be made swiftly, for their time was short, and any further delay would only disadvantage Du Chao Gong. He could not rely on Chu An remaining foolish forever; if Chu An were to awaken, the lives of those private troops would be difficult to preserve.

With this thought, lunch was served. This foolish Chu An had completely ruined his appetite. Du Chao Gong glanced indifferently at today's dishes, but then unexpectedly paused.

The reason was none other than this: compared to previous meals, these dishes, though ordinary in appearance, boasted vibrant colors, meticulously prepared ingredients, harmonious combinations, and an intoxicating aroma that greatly stimulated the appetite. Even the extremely discerning Du Chao Gong could find no fault, save for their simple presentation.

Du Chao Gong already had an answer in his heart. He picked up his chopsticks, randomly selected a piece of meat, and tasted it. It was indescribably tender and smooth, precisely the flavor the youth preferred. If eaten with side dishes, it might be slightly bland, yet it offered layers upon layers of rich flavor.

For the first time, he ate more than half; for the first time, he understood what it meant for food to be truly delicious. Not only his stomach, but even his soul felt comforted.

Chu Feng Qi lowered his eyes, gazing somewhat blankly at the teacup with a few floating flower petals. He had prepared digestive tea, fearing Du Chao Gong might not eat much, so he had not immediately brought it over.

Beside him, Chef Guo also waited anxiously, fearing Du Chao Gong's displeasure might lead to a furious outburst.

While waiting, Chef Guo recalled the sight of Chu Feng Qi rushing over that morning with several papers, his expression serious.

Those papers were densely covered with writing, recording recipes, his own insights, and unique ideas.

Initially, the chef paid little attention, but upon reviewing them, he was startled and amazed, and promptly prepared a sample dish. When Chu Feng Qi personally cooked, the youth used precise and bold ingredients, adding his own thoughts. The finished product was indeed incredibly delicious, truly demonstrating the qualities of an excellent chef.

Only basic skills, such as knife work, were still lacking. To give this eager and obedient child an opportunity, Chef Guo directly allowed him to cook for Du Chao Gong. To have one's first lesson served at the dining table was indeed a rare occurrence.

Now, only the result remained. If Du Chao Gong was pleased, Chu Feng Qi would joyfully rush to offer tea; if not, he would continue to strive.

The leftover dishes had been cleared away. Though each dish was small, almost all of it had been consumed, a rather favorable outcome.

Chef Guo knew how serious Chu Feng Qi had been. The youth's overflowing enthusiasm even made him feel a sense of awe. He felt no envy regarding the disparity between them, only that this achievement would be a great encouragement for the youth, well-deserved for his efforts.