Chapter 28: Quite a Skill
No matter their age or gender, everyone enjoys hearing pleasant words, including Feng Ke, who was before her now.
Having been praised so highly by Qiao Qingyun, Shun Ji’an was a bit bewildered and raised his cup to drink with her. “So, little beauty, what is it you wish to discuss with me?”
“Of course, I’d like to borrow some people from you. I haven’t had much to do these days, but Young Master Feng, please don’t sell me out! If you tell the Crown Prince I’m out and he comes to catch me, your money will be lost!”
“My money?”
At that moment, Feng Ke still hadn’t grasped what Qiao Qingyun was getting at.
The woman gave a sly grin. “Because I plan to use Young Master Feng’s money to launch the first step, so—”
“What!”
Feng Ke was utterly astonished. Who was he, after all?
He was someone who valued money as much as his life!
Running a restaurant cost no small amount of silver. Hearing such a request, Feng Ke hesitated…
Qiao Qingyun knew how to read a person’s mood and immediately saw Feng Ke’s reluctance. She smiled, “If Young Master Feng is unwilling, then how about we sign a guarantee? In two months, I promise your income will break a million. How’s that?”
“A million? Little beauty, you may be lovely, but too many wild claims will twist your tongue.”
Feng Ke clearly didn’t believe in Qiao Qingyun’s abilities.
But Qiao Qingyun was not one to be trifled with!
Who did he take her for? She rolled up her sleeves, ready to prove herself.
“You don’t believe me? Come with me.”
With that, Qiao Qingyun grabbed Feng Ke’s arm and started to drag him outside. Her boldness made Qingluo silently light incense for Feng Ke in her heart.
This was the end.
The three followed closely, and at Qiao Qingyun’s request, the waiter quickly found them a kitchen to pause in. They watched as Qiao Qingyun strode inside, and without so much as blinking, scooped up a squid!
“Hey! What are you doing? That’s for squeezing ink for decoration!”
Feng Ke was anxious; it was so difficult to get hold of such ingredients nowadays.
Qiao Qingyun burst out laughing. “Ha! You think this is only good for squeezing ink? You’ll never taste four dishes in your life!”
With that, she grabbed a nearby kitchen knife and began to peel the squid, making Zhong Shi tense. “Miss, please tell me how you plan to prepare it. Let me do it, so you won’t hurt yourself.”
As he spoke, Feng Ke suddenly noticed Zhong Shi. He hadn’t seen him before—when had a man appeared at Qiao Qingyun’s side?
“It’s fine.”
Qiao Qingyun deftly peeled the squid, quickly removing its teeth and some of the ink inside, then sliced it. She cut crosshatch patterns into the squid, careful not to slice all the way through, leaving a thin membrane intact.
Next, she found some flour, cracked two eggs into it, and added water, mixing it all into a batter to coat the squid.
She moved to the frying pan, checked the heat, tossed in a bit of batter.
With a sizzling sound, it quickly turned golden.
Qiao Qingyun smirked, and under their gaze, tossed the squid right in!
“My goodness! My oil!”
Feng Ke couldn’t stop her in time; he thought, this is a disaster…
This batch of oil was wasted…
But the next second, a wave of fragrance wafted over. Qiao Qingyun swiftly pulled the fried squid from the pan, sprinkled it with fine salt, chili powder, and cumin, cut it into dozens of pieces, and set it before Feng Ke.
“Deep-fried Giant Squid! Try a piece, all of you.”
Qiao Qingyun beckoned, and Zhong Shi and the others hurried forward, following Feng Ke’s lead and taking a bite.
Just as they expected some sort of culinary disaster, the sensation on their taste buds was like a dance party!
The feeling made Shun Ji’an fall in love with the flavor!
“My goodness! You really have some skill!”
Feng Ke looked at Qiao Qingyun in disbelief, hurried over to a bucket full of squid, glanced at the batter and the oil, then gave Qiao Qingyun a thumbs up.
“This is amazing!”
“Miss, you’re incredible! It’s delicious!”
Qingluo was astonished and quickly began to praise Qiao Qingyun.
She had never noticed before that Qiao Qingyun was so full of hidden talent—no wonder she could maintain her composure no matter the situation!
“Take what’s left out, offer it to some of the wealthier guests, and ask how they feel about it.”
Qiao Qingyun turned to the waiter, then washed her hands. Soon, her fair hands were clean again.
“Hm…”
She looked around but couldn’t find anything to wipe her hands with. Turning, she smiled and came up to Zhong Shi, waving her damp hands before him.
“May I borrow your clothing for a moment?”
“Please, Miss, go ahead.”
Though he hadn’t praised her earlier, his admiration for Qiao Qingyun was already heartfelt!
Qiao Qingyun rubbed her hands on Zhong Shi’s clothes until they were dry. “Thank you.”
Hong Ying’s eyes widened in disbelief at the scene!
Was everyone mad? Had the world lost its mind?
Her brother hated getting his clothes dirty most of all—so why…
“Little beauty! If you’d told me earlier, I would’ve lent you mine!”
Feng Ke struck a flamboyant pose, smiling at Qiao Qingyun, only to receive a scornful glance in return. “Keep dreaming.”
He was about to say more when Qiao Qingyun heard hurried footsteps behind her. Soon, the waiter rushed in, sweating profusely, his tray nearly empty.
“What’s the matter?”
Feng Ke frowned, thinking there might be trouble.
The waiter gasped for breath, looking at Qiao Qingyun. “Young Master, you may need to make more of this. The guests outside are clamoring to know what dish it is and are willing to pay any price!”
“What?”
Feng Ke’s joy was boundless; he looked at Qiao Qingyun as if she were a money tree.
The woman shivered, instinctively hiding behind Zhong Shi. “Don’t come near me! Be careful or I’ll have Zhong Shi punch you—hit you till you’re dead!”
Her self-proclaimed threat only made Feng Ke roar with laughter. “Alright, alright, now we can talk about cooperation.”
Feng Ke was a businessman, and he knew exactly when to act.
At the very least, he needed a complete change of opinion about Qiao Qingyun!
Hearing talk of cooperation, Qiao Qingyun dusted the flour from her clothes and stepped out from behind Zhong Shi.
“Ahem!”