A Qiu sighed deeply, his face a picture of misery. "My esteemed guests, you may not know, but my master's status is exceptionally noble, and his palate is very... refined (picky). He is exceedingly particular about food, demanding it to be both incredibly delicious and visually stunning. Ordinary fare... he dismisses (is difficult to please). We've already visited six large and small restaurants, and not a single one has been capable of hosting my master for a complete meal."
As A Qiu spoke, Prince Yu stood with his hands behind his back, arrogantly lifting his handsome face, his expression one of disdain for everyone, as if looking down his nose at the world.
"Is that so?" Bai Sheng furrowed her brows. "May I inquire if Prince Yu has any other residences in the county?"
"He does, but my master has grown tired of the meals prepared by the chefs at the manor, and wishes to try something novel. It's so hot, and he has little appetite..." A Qiu's face was filled with distress. The chefs in the manor were all selected from the palace, yet even they could not satisfy his master. He was at a loss for what to do.
So, he's a picky, obstinate, drama queen with an inflated ego, Bai Sheng chuckled inwardly. The real opportunity to latch onto a powerful figure has arrived!
"Brother Qiu, how about I personally prepare a meal for Prince Yu?" Bai Sheng stepped forward, recommending herself.
"Miss Bai can cook?" A Qiu's eyes lit up, but his expression fell again in the next second. "It's just that my master's taste is very, very... that way."
"Rest assured, I guarantee the meal I prepare will be particularly pleasing to His Highness Prince Yu. If Prince Yu dislikes it, I shall be beaten twenty large planks!" Bai Sheng declared with conviction.
"I... I can help Miss Bai," Wen Zhi Mo immediately offered his assistance.
The waiter and Third Uncle exchanged glances. Their young master had never even known what the kitchen door looked like; could he really help out?
Anyone who dares to guarantee twenty large planks for their cooking must be truly extraordinary. A Qiu glanced at Prince Yu, who nodded grudgingly. "We can give it a try. If it does not meet my expectations, you shall be beaten fifty large planks!"
"Fifty large planks?!" Bai Sheng and Wen Zhi Mo exclaimed in unison.
The cruel and heartless, dog-like Prince Yu! How could he bully their master like this! Lightning, Dark Cloud, and Downpour seethed with indignation.
They couldn't understand. Their master had the space and them; wasn't that already incredibly powerful? Did she still need to latch onto this dog-like Prince Yu's "big thigh"?
Hmph Hmph shook his pig head profoundly, sighing deeply. "You are all still too young; you do not understand your master's intentions.
The mortal world is far more complex than our animal lives. Master is still an unknown nobody, residing in Hong Shu Po, penniless and living a life of extreme hardship.
The extreme village bullies of Huang Sha Village could stir up trouble at any moment. Besides Huang Sha Village, there might be Green Sand Village, Black Sand Village, Red Sand Village in the future... and also the tiered bureaucracy, the imperial court, the unfathomable emperor, and the ubiquitous thugs, bandits, martial artists, refugees, and foreign enemies...
Any one of them with a twisted thought could plunge Master's family into trouble or danger. If Master can latch onto Prince Yu, this extremely influential figure, it will truly save a lot of trouble."
The three creatures seemed to understand a little. They had indeed thought too simply; the human world was truly complex.
If not for their master taking them in, they might have all died of thirst or starvation in this desert, let alone drinking this rare spiritual spring water.
All of them secretly resolved to do their utmost to help their master become a top-tier powerhouse in this complicated world, so that no one would dare to bully her!
A Qiu could only offer an awkward, silly smile to his idol, Bai Sheng. What else could he do? Prince Yu was his master, and he was Prince Yu's servant. How could a servant disobey his master?
"No problem!" Bai Sheng agreed immediately. Fortune favors the bold; how would she know if it wasn't attempted?
Anyway, fifty large planks would at most result in serious injuries, not death. She had spiritual spring water in her space; a little water and she'd be back on her feet.
Before heading to Prince Yu's manor, Bai Sheng and Wen Zhi Mo completed their transaction. Holding a thick stack of banknotes, Bai Sheng felt lightheaded and her heart pounded erratically.
Prince Yu's manor was only a few blocks away from Yuan Bao. On the way, Bai Sheng bought a red headscarf to cover her face when meeting Prince Yu.
Bai Sheng strongly suspected that the dramatic Prince Yu might have some psychological disorder, causing him to vomit when seeing things that unsettled him. Such peculiar psychological illnesses were often related to childhood experiences. She wondered what this drama queen had gone through as a child.
Upon arriving at Prince Yu's manor, Bai Sheng and Wen Zhi Mo were led into the kitchen.
The kitchen was indeed very large, with numerous wooden cabinets and shelves.
There were five to six cooks solely responsible for the cooking.
A Qiu lined them up and solemnly introduced Bai Sheng.
When the cooks heard that this dark-skinned young girl named Bai Sheng was here to cook for His Highness Prince Yu, and that they were to assist her, they all showed expressions of disdain.
These cooks were originally palace chefs with decades of experience in imperial cuisine. Now, they were being asked to assist a mere slip of a girl. This... was too demeaning!
Most crucially, they simply did not believe that this teenage girl could prepare a meal that would satisfy Prince Yu.
Bai Sheng asked them to bring out all the ingredients from the kitchen.
Seeing that A Qiu had not yet left, the cooks felt uncomfortable showing their displeasure towards the girl, so they coldly brought out all the usable ingredients and neatly arranged them on the long wooden counter.
Beef, lamb, fish, shrimp, mushrooms, vegetables, fruits... even ice! Truly, no matter how hard life was, the wealthy were never deprived!
A Qiu said that as long as she could prepare a satisfactory meal for his master, Miss Bai could use any ingredient in the kitchen.
Before leaving, A Qiu, still uneasy, cautioned Bai Sheng, saying that if she needed his help, she should not hesitate to ask.
Bai Sheng smiled. "Brother Qiu, please rest assured. Nothing is impossible in the world for those who set their minds to it. I will definitely prepare food that your master will be satisfied with!"
A Qiu's eyes suddenly brightened. "'Nothing is impossible in the world for those who set their minds to it.' What a wonderful saying!"
Another confused young man addicted to inspirational quotes. Bai Sheng didn't have time to chat with him and waved him out of the kitchen.
Bai Sheng politely inquired about Prince Yu's taste preferences for saltiness and blandness from the cooks. However, the cooks were all aloof and indifferent. Bai Sheng decided not to force the issue and would simply make something with a moderate flavor, which would not affect the taste.
But what dish should she make?
Simply stir-frying felt too ordinary, steaming and boiling took time and was monotonous. How about making hot pot? But it was the height of summer; setting up a charcoal brazier would be like roasting in the heat.
Bai Sheng gazed at the array of ingredients, her mind gradually forming a plan.
The first dish, cold cucumber salad!
Since it had been agreed that he would help Bai Sheng, Wen Zhi Mo had to stay in the kitchen. However, looking at the numerous and complex ingredients and various pots and pans in the kitchen, he was completely bewildered.
Who was he, where was he, and what was he supposed to do?
"Miss Bai, what... should I do?"
Bai Sheng looked up at him. "What can you do?"
Wen Zhi Mo's face showed embarrassment, but he couldn't lie at this moment. If he ruined the food Bai Sheng was making, they would receive fifty large planks. As a grown man, he could endure it, but Bai Sheng was so small and delicate... Bai Sheng was willing to help him, and he was already grateful; how could he drag her down again?