Xie Yuqing, when he spoke like that, it was generally difficult to pass muster with him.
Originally, Xie Yuqing was very strict about his dishes. Food that others found decent could very well be garbage in his mouth, utterly worthless.
If he became even more stringent with you, then it would be basically impossible to get through.
How high did one's culinary skills need to be to satisfy him?
The customers present all showed looks of worry, feeling that Mingyue Zhai was in dire straits this time. Even if Bian Ru's cooking skills were good and he could create delicious cuisine, it would be very difficult to impress Xie Yuqing.
"Alas, Mingyue Zhai made a mistake. They shouldn't have gone against Old Xie. Now they're in a difficult position."
"Old Xie is already angry. It's extremely difficult to satisfy him."
"Mingyue Zhai is facing one difficulty after another. I think it will be very hard for Mingyue Zhai to pass this test today."
Hardly anyone had high hopes for Mingyue Zhai.
Su Wanran's face was also full of worry; she actually lacked confidence.
However, Lu Ming remained remarkably calm.
"Old Xie, please have a seat."
Lu Ming cleaned a table spotlessly and had Xie Yuqing sit down. Then, Lu Ming gestured for Xie Yuqing to extend a hand.
Xie Yuqing was taken aback. "What for?"
Lu Ming smiled. "To check your body. I need to know your current physical condition to better select dishes suitable for you, and to prescribe the right remedy."
"Alright."
Xie Yuqing extended his hand, and Lu Ming took his pulse. In just over ten seconds, Lu Ming had a clear understanding.
"Although Old Xie is advanced in age, his body is quite healthy. Many young men aren't as robust as you. It's just that Old Xie has a fiery temper and excessive internal heat, leading to some 'internal fire'. Alright, then I'll prepare some dishes to clear that heat for Old Xie, to make him feel refreshed."
Hearing Lu Ming's words, Xie Yuqing was a little surprised.
Setting aside other matters, just being able to assess Xie Yuqing's physical condition within ten-odd seconds was remarkable, something many top expert doctors couldn't achieve.
Xie Yuqing had indeed been experiencing some 'internal fire' recently, accompanied by a slight mouth ulcer.
In fact, he hadn't had much appetite lately, and everything he ate felt uncomfortable.
In such a state, it wasn't really suitable to sample fine cuisine. Even a 10-point dish might only taste like 7 points in his mouth.
This was something Lu Ming had taken into account.
Lu Ming meticulously selected some dishes and also had extremely strict proportions for the seasonings. It felt less like selecting ingredients and more like preparing medicine.
The proportions, quantities, and types could not be wrong.
After selecting everything, Lu Ming handed the ingredients to Bian Ru and said, "From now on, it's all up to you. Remember, Xie Yuqing has a strong internal heat and a mouth ulcer. When you cook, avoid oil and spiciness; something cooling would be best."
Were the requirements too many?
The surrounding chefs rolled their eyes, indicating they couldn't do it.
With the ingredients and seasonings confirmed, what else could be done?
Looking at the selected ingredients, one could almost guess what dishes would be made.
It was precisely at such times that the difference between masters and ordinary people became evident. Lu Ming believed Bian Ru was a master, which was why he was given such a difficult task.
Bian Ru did not disappoint Lu Ming. He calmly looked at the ingredients before him, showing no complaints whatsoever. Instead, he seemed somewhat excited!
This was the nature of a master; the greater the difficulty, the more excited they became.
Confronting challenges head-on!
The thrill of solving problems and achieving victory was something ordinary people could not experience.
Next, Bian Ru's series of actions astonished everyone.
He perfectly utilized the ingredients provided by Lu Ming, strictly adhering to Lu Ming's instructions. He also employed many special techniques for handling the ingredients, creating three dishes and one soup – one meat dish and two vegetable dishes – in a short period.
When the dishes were served, everyone was so surprised they couldn't close their mouths.
Honestly, if they were given these ingredients, they couldn't even make a single dish, let alone three dishes and a soup.
The meal was laid out, and the aroma was intoxicating.
Hu Ziming couldn't help but step forward, sniffing deeply.
Delicious!
Despite his poor character, Hu Ziming's culinary skills were exceptionally refined, and he understood quality.
Just by smelling it, he knew these three dishes and one soup were no ordinary fare.
Absolute masterpieces!
Hu Ziming secretly thought, "As expected of my senior brother. After so many years without cooking, his skill hasn't regressed at all; instead, it has greatly improved. Remarkable."
In fact, Bian Ru was devoted to his culinary arts.
Though he had been confined to a mental hospital for these years, he had ample time to research cooking.
All his time was spent studying culinary arts.
So, after a few years, he hadn't regressed; he had improved significantly compared to before.
This was the quality of a master!
Likewise.
Xie Yuqing was also a connoisseur. After smelling the aroma, he knew Bian Ru's skill was extraordinary.
"Fragrant and exceptionally delicious."
"Not bad."
Although Xie Yuqing was arrogant, he was meticulous when it came to food.
Good was good.
Bad was bad.
He wouldn't falsify or distort the truth.
Xie Yuqing picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly. Due to his mouth ulcer, eating was quite uncomfortable for him.
But strangely, as Xie Yuqing ate, he felt his entire mouth become incredibly refreshed. The pain in his mouth, which should have been present, vanished almost instantly!
This was the combined effort of Lu Ming and Bian Ru.
Lu Ming selected ingredients suitable for Xie Yuqing's constitution, and Bian Ru prepared them with a cooling flavor. The combination made this dish the most suitable for Xie Yuqing to eat.
To be precise, this dish was most suitable for Xie Yuqing at this exact moment.
When Xie Yuqing's mouth ulcer healed, it might not be as suitable.
This was the charm of 'food as medicine.'
Always suitable for the present you!
"Delicious, so delicious."
Xie Yuqing could no longer control his chopsticks, continuously picking up pieces of meat and putting them into his mouth, eating heartily, and finishing a bowl of rice alongside!
His voracious appetite showed that Xie Yuqing truly loved to eat.
After the meat dish came the vegetable dishes, followed by two bowls of soup.
As a gourmet, Xie Yuqing should have maintained his image, only tasting a few bites of each dish and not overeating.
But now, he paid no attention to his image, eating with large mouthfuls.
The sounds of chewing could be heard constantly.
It was evident that he genuinely loved to eat.
Bian Ru's culinary skills and Lu Ming's medical knowledge, in their exquisite cooperation, had created such a rich and healing feast!
After eating.
Xie Yuqing leaned back comfortably in his chair, feeling thoroughly refreshed and utterly satisfied.
"It's been a long time."
"I haven't eaten such delicious food in a very long time."
"This dish belongs in heaven; rarely can it be found in the mortal world!"