The treatment concluded, Ling Tian withdrew the silver needles and wiped the sweat from his brow.
The Li family wished to keep him for dinner, but Ling Tian declined as Boss Jin had already arranged a meal.
The two drove to the outskirts of the city, where old houses dating back decades stood.
They entered a rundown establishment by the roadside.
The restaurant was small, with twenty small tables. Though it wasn't mealtime yet, it was already packed.
The restaurant's signboard read: Lao Ba Jia Private Kitchen.
"This is where I made my fortune, the first restaurant I opened.
Even now, the prices haven't increased much, and the portions are generous and affordable. I don't expect this place to make money; it's about staying true to my roots," Jin Lao Ba explained to Ling Tian as he led him inside.
They walked directly through the kitchen, and to Ling Tian's surprise, despite the restaurant's modest size, its kitchen was as large as those in many grand hotels.
Jin Lao Ba explained that his chefs underwent training here before joining his establishments.
The two arrived at a small room next to the kitchen, furnished with a round table.
"This is my private room, reserved for my most esteemed guests.
Later, I'll personally cook a few exquisite dishes for you!"
"Excellent, I'll be looking forward to it. It seems I'm in for a treat," Ling Tian said with delight.
Jin Lao Ba changed his clothes and began to cook. Through the window, Ling Tian could see him skillfully wielding his wok.
Despite his pampered lifestyle, Jin Lao Ba's demeanor transformed completely once he entered the kitchen.
Before long, eight dishes and a soup were served.
The ingredients were ordinary, not particularly rare or expensive, but the moment Ling Tian picked up his chopsticks, he could tell that the skill involved was far beyond that of an average chef.
The two clinked glasses, eating and chatting happily.
As they were eating, Jin Lao Ba's phone suddenly rang. He apologized and stepped out to take the call. When he returned, Ling Tian noticed a change in his mood.
His brow furrowed intermittently, and he appeared troubled.
"Brother Jin, what's wrong?"
"Alas, our head chef at the main branch of Jin Man Lou has resigned!" Jin Lao Ba sighed.
"He's just a chef; can't you just hire another one?" Ling Tian asked curiously.
"Brother, you don't understand. A chef is the soul of a restaurant.
Especially in high-end dining, without a renowned chef, your business will quickly decline.
The one poached was a national-level master chef. You can't find such top-tier chefs even with money.
This year has been particularly unlucky; we've lost three top chefs already..."
"It's just one restaurant; it can't be that serious."
"Brother, this industry is much deeper than you think. High-end dining yields the highest profits in the catering industry. My single high-end restaurant's profit can match that of over ten mid-to-low-end establishments.
More importantly, for a chain restaurant group like ours, these high-end restaurants are our brand. If the flagship store can't compete, it will quickly be overtaken by rivals."
"Is a top-tier chef absolutely necessary? If the chef isn't quite up to par, but the dishes have unique characteristics, wouldn't that suffice?" Ling Tian inquired.
"Unique dishes are something everyone is doing across the country; diners have lost their novelty.
Moreover, if your chef's skills are lacking, even with unique dishes, customers might not return. Without repeat customers, you can't make money."
Suddenly, an idea struck Ling Tian.
"Brother, what do you think about medicinal cuisine restaurants?
Medicinal cuisine has a history of thousands of years. Long-term consumption is beneficial for both body and mind, and it can nourish the body."
"Don't mention it. That's old news.
Medicinal cuisine was quite popular a few years ago, with many such restaurants popping up like mushrooms after rain. Later, they all went out of business.
The reason was poor taste and insignificant effects; it was just a gimmick," Jin Lao Ba said dejectedly.
Ling Tian smiled and patted Jin Lao Ba's shoulder.
"Brother, I have some medicinal cuisine recipes that originated from the imperial palace.
These recipes, when consumed regularly, can improve one's constitution. Even after just one or two servings, you can feel their effects.
Are you interested?"
"Is it reliable?" Jin Lao Ba asked hesitantly. He had developed a fear of anything related to imperial recipes, as he had nearly been harmed by them.
"Absolutely reliable!"
Some of the recipes Ling Tian possessed were indeed from the imperial palace, but the majority came from ancient texts.
Ling Tian's third master had modified these recipes for auxiliary therapeutic purposes.
Seeing Jin Lao Ba's predicament, Ling Tian thought of these medicinal cuisine recipes.
Observing Jin Lao Ba's continued hesitation, Ling Tian smiled and said,
"How about this: let's go to the pharmacy now. I'll prepare a few prescriptions for you, and then you can cook a meal according to them to experience it yourself."
"Alright, let's do it!" Jin Lao Ba trusted Ling Tian unconditionally at this point.
The two immediately drove to the main branch of Bai Cao Tang and purchased nearly a hundred types of Chinese medicinal herbs.
Ling Tian divided the herbs into categories, ground them into powder, and packaged them in small non-woven bags.
He also wrote instructions indicating which dishes each medicinal powder was suitable for.
By the time they finished, it was evening. Ling Tian called Wang Bingxia to inform her that he wouldn't be returning.
The two returned to Jin Lao Ba's restaurant. Jin Lao Ba instructed his chefs to prepare the medicinal cuisine according to Ling Tian's recipes.
Soon, over a dozen dishes were laid out on the table. Jin Lao Ba also invited several chefs from the restaurant, and they all gathered around the table to sample the dishes.
To Jin Lao Ba's surprise, these medicinal dishes tasted quite good.
Many medicinal dishes on the market had an overpowering medicinal flavor that masked the taste of the ingredients, which is why they were not popular with diners.
However, Ling Tian's medicinal cuisine recipes highlighted the flavors of one to two medicinal herbs in each dish.
The flavors of these herbs were skillfully combined with the ingredients, resulting in a unique taste.
Jin Lao Ba's eyes lit up. Regardless of the medicinal effects, the taste alone was worth pursuing.
As they ate, everyone began to feel the effects. After just a few bites of several dishes, they felt a change in their bodies.
Especially in winter, after consuming a few dishes, their bodies felt warm, and they didn't feel cold even without thick outerwear.
The next morning, when Jin Lao Ba woke up, he felt revitalized and full of energy.