Chapter 28

Li Xue quickly nodded. Seeing Zhang Tian looking so smug, she couldn’t help but sneer, “Showing off like that even if you’ve never eaten anything made by Qian Xiaomi—how ridiculous.”

Zhang Tian turned, glaring at her. “You say that like you’ve eaten it before.”

“Of course I have. Not only me, but Jianing has too, right?” Li Xue turned and winked playfully at Qian Jianing.

Qian Jianing stifled a laugh and nodded solemnly. “The dish I brought you today is called *Buddha Jumps Over the Wall*. I had it last night at Qian Xiaomi’s restaurant. It’s their signature dish, made with sea cucumber, abalone, scallops, fish lips and intestines, dried conpoy, and forty-five other ingredients. Even after sitting overnight, the aroma hits you the moment you open the container.”

Zhang Tian, embarrassed as Qian Jianing spoke so confidently, scoffed, “You talk like it’s true. Your mom’s not even working anymore. Where’d you get the money to eat at such an expensive place?”

Qian Jianing smiled slightly. “That’s exactly why she’s not working—it’s more profitable out there. After all, unlike your dad, she’s not satisfied receiving just over a hundred yuan per month.” She turned to Li Xue. “Do you know how much a single jar of *Buddha Jumps Over the Wall* costs?”

Li Xue shook her head in sync. “I’ve never had such a delicacy—I honestly can’t imagine.”

Qian Jianing smiled faintly. “Two hundred eighty yuan. I wonder if Zhang Tian’s father, a deputy factory director, would be willing to spend two months’ salary on one jar.”

Zhang Tian snapped defiantly, stretching her neck. “I’ll order it tonight!”

Qian Jianing grinned. “Alright, I’ll remember that—don’t forget your words.”

Zhang Tian, embarrassed and angry for being shown up by Qian Jianing, retorted, “You’re all talk. Who even knows if you’ve actually been there? If you had, why didn’t you say so earlier? You’re clearly lying.”

Qian Jianing chuckled softly and began reading English. Zhang Tian, seeing she was being ignored, huffed and turned away angrily. The other students were either studying intently, discussing this extremely expensive and magical restaurant, or turning to the richest kid in class, Li Rui, and asking, “Have you been there?”

Li Rui scratched his head. “Not yet. I’ll talk to my dad, maybe I’ll go this Sunday.”

After school, Qian Jianing didn’t go straight home. She detoured down a street lined with general goods stores to buy incense.

Incense comes in many qualities—some natural, some synthetic; some worth a fortune, others just a dime a bundle. Qian Jianing stood among the dazzling array of options, uncertain. “Which type should we buy?”

Treasure Bowl blinked and replied, “Just buy the regular kind. We’ll make up for quality with quantity.”

Qian Jianing sighed in relief. High-end incense wasn’t even sold in this kind of place—and the regular kind came in unlimited supply.

Just as she was about to enter a store, she saw a shop owner unloading a huge bundle of incense from a tricycle. She rushed over and asked, “How much for the whole bundle? I’ll take it all.”

The shop owner looked doubtfully at the young girl. “That whole bundle is ten yuan wholesale. Can you afford it?”

Pulling a ten-yuan note from her pocket, Qian Jianing waved it at him and added, “Do you have an incense burner? I need a big one!”

Under Qian Jianing’s directions, the shop owner and two assistants struggled to hoist a one-meter-wide incense burner onto the tricycle, sweating profusely. Qian Jianing handed over the money and jumped onto the back. “My home’s on East First Street—I’ll show you the way.”

East First Street wasn’t far, and the shop owner briskly pedaled the tricycle to her doorstep. He turned to her. “Little girl, go get an adult. I can’t carry this in by myself.”

But Qian Jianing hopped down, hoisted the sack over her shoulder, and effortlessly lifted the incense burner with her other hand, walking toward the front door. The shop owner stared, eyes wide. He knew better than most—this incense burner weighed at least two hundred jin, and even three people had struggled to move it!

Qian Jianing nudged open her front door with her toe and waved back with the burner in hand. “Thanks! I’ll come back to you next time I need incense!”

The shop owner was so stunned he nearly lost his soul. “Young lady, you best hurry inside—don’t drop that on your foot!”

Watching her disappear through the door, the shop owner wiped the sweat from his brow and exclaimed, “What a strong girl! Once she graduates, if she works on a construction site carrying bricks, she’s bound to earn a ton!”

Qian Jianing carried the items straight to her backyard. It wasn’t large, but it was tidy. Li Wanzhen had previously grown vegetables there, but lately she had no time due to her new business, so the plot had been left idle.

She set the incense burner in the center of the yard and fetched a bag of sorghum rice from the kitchen, pouring some in. Seeing no one else around, Treasure Bowl emerged from her consciousness, floating midair and giving instructions.

“Stick all the incense into the burner, then log into XianTao Web and enter the recharge page. Light it, and that’s it.”

Qian Jianing gazed at Treasure Bowl in admiration. “You guys really keep up with the times—even have a recharge service.”

“Of course. It takes too long to burn incense by hand.” Treasure Bowl puffed its chest proudly. “Us Immortal Realm folks have tech whizzes too.”

Jianing filled the burner with over a hundred bundles of incense, then followed instructions and tapped the recharge button. Treasure Bowl pointed at the burner, and all the incense ignited at once. Smoke billowed up and was quickly absorbed by a transparent floating screen above.

Ten minutes later, the incense had all burned out, leaving behind a half-full container of ash. A notification showed her balance had increased to 100 XianTao Coins.

Treasure Bowl gave its tiny butt a wiggle and retreated back into her consciousness. “Just make your purchases when you need them—delivery takes only a minute.”

With business hours approaching, Qian Jianing had no time to burn more incense. She hurried inside, freshened up, and changed into a clean white chef’s uniform to prepare for opening.

After dropping her bag off and greeting her family, Li Xue rushed straight to Qian Jianing’s place. She had visited last semester and knew Qian Jiafeng quite well. By then, Qian Jianing was already at the restaurant side prepping for business, so Qian Jiafeng unlocked the gate and led Li Xue over to her.

As she opened the door, Li Xue was greeted by a lush green interior and bright glass windows; behind them stood Qian Jianing in her chef’s uniform.

At that moment, Qian Jianing was carving a radish. One of that night’s tables was celebrating a wedding anniversary and had requested a dish symbolizing good fortune. The first symbols that came to Jianing’s mind were the traditional auspicious creatures—dragon and phoenix.

As she turned the knife along the white radish, delicate clouds took shape, soon giving rise to an ascending dragon facing a phoenix with outspread wings and upturned tail.

“Wow, that’s gorgeous! It’s like a work of art!” Li Xue’s eyes lit up. “When Zhang Tian said you opened a restaurant, I thought you just pan-fried a few dishes. I had no idea you had talent like this.”

Qian Jianing smiled, setting her work aside. Using the remaining radishes and pumpkins, she carved various birds, flowers, and animals, placing them decoratively on different plates. Once the prep station was tidied, she glanced at the clock on the wall and straightened her chef uniform in the reflection. “It’s about time. Jiafeng, go open the door.”

Li Xue, brimming with excitement, stood beside Qian Jianing fantasizing about Zhang Tian’s reaction when she came in. “Do you think her face will turn green?”

“Wow, this place is amazing.” Before Jianing could reply, Li Xue heard Zhang Tian’s excited voice. “So peaceful and elegant—whoever owns this place must be a cultivated soul.”

Li Xue barely suppressed her laughter as she eavesdropped on Zhang Tian gushing over the grapes, red dates, and even the fish tank.

“Mom, let me tell you something funny. My classmate Li Xue said she was coming here for dinner tonight—I don’t see her anywhere!” Zhang Tian’s voice was full of mockery. “She tails Qian Jianing every day—I don’t even get what’s so great about her. I find her really annoying.”

A middle-aged woman’s voice chimed in. “If you don’t like her, just ignore her. Qian Jianing’s mom doesn’t even have a job anymore. What kind of family is that? You can’t compare to her. Sweetie, when Director Wang’s family arrives, you better speak nicely. Your father’s promotion to deputy factory director hinges on his signature—tonight is crucial, you understand?”

Li Xue wrinkled her nose. “Now I get why Zhang Tian is so nasty—she learned it from her mom.”

Qian Jianing nodded in agreement, then seated Li Xue at a temporarily added two-person table and brought her a few plates of marinated appetizers. After waiting a while, Zhang Tian and her mother, seeing the Wang family hadn’t arrived, decided to rest inside.

The moment Zhang Tian stepped in, she saw Li Xue eating heartily at the small table. Her face froze—when had Li Xue come in? She had been outside the door for over ten minutes and hadn’t seen her!

Li Xue caught her dazed look and waved her chopsticks playfully. “You’re really late.”

Before Zhang Tian could respond, her mother beamed exaggeratedly. “Oh, you’re Tian Tian’s classmate? What’s your name? Came to eat alone?”

Li Xue smiled easily. “No one was home to cook tonight.”

Zhang Tian’s mother’s eyes lit up even more. “Your family must be doing very well—to eat alone at such a fancy place! Tian Tian, go sit and chat with your classmate?”

Zhang Tian tugged on her mother’s sleeve, face dark. “Mom, that’s Li Xue. She’s friends with Qian Jianing.”

Her mother froze, then quickly recovered with another enthusiastic smile. “Oh, that’s nothing! You both are so adorable, and from decent families too—you should totally be friends. I mean, Qian Jianing’s situation isn’t exactly on your level.”

Li Xue looked at Zhang Tian’s mother’s obsequious yet sharp face and sneered, “Exactly—Jianing isn’t on our level.”

Zhang Tian blurted out involuntarily, eyes wide—had they fallen out?

“No!” came a familiar voice from behind. Zhang Tian whipped around and saw Qian Jianing in her white chef’s uniform standing before her. “Welcome to my little restaurant. May I ask what table you reserved?”

Zhang Tian was utterly dumbfounded. Qian Jianing wearing a chef’s uniform? What was going on?

Li Xue finally felt vindicated. “The place you were gushing over? Jianing owns it. She’s the boss.”

Now even Zhang Tian’s mother looked uncomfortable. She glanced around at the immaculate kitchen and the high prices on the menu, momentarily speechless.

“Jianing, if I’d known this restaurant was yours, I’d have come to support you ages ago,” Zhang Tian’s mom said with an exaggeratedly warm smile, moving forward to grab Qian Jianing’s hand.

Qian Jianing stepped back slightly, keeping a polite smile. “Have all your party arrived? If so, please proceed to your private room.”

“Here they are!” Zhang Tian’s father appeared at the door, welcoming the Wang family while grinning from ear to ear. He respectfully greeted Qian Jianing, “Boss Qian, we reserved Table 3.”

“Table 3?” Qian Jianing pulled out a menu. “That’s the three-person meal reserved by Zhang Zhongding. But you’re six people.”

Zhang Tian’s father quickly explained, “It was booked by a friend, who gave the spot to me.”

Qian Jianing looked troubled. “My dinners are all prepared in advance based on reserved menus. With the current portions, it definitely won’t be enough.”

“Is there anything else we can order?” Zhang Tian’s father asked nervously. He had gone through considerable effort, even paid thirty yuan to buy this spot—tonight’s dinner could determine if he got promoted.

Qian Jianing glanced at Zhang Tian, then smiled. “Didn’t you say you wanted the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall that costs 280 yuan?”

Zhang Tian’s face turned green. Her mom only brought 200 yuan total—was she seriously going to order that dish? Watching Qian Jianing brush the characters for “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall” on the menu, her legs went weak.

“No! I didn’t! I’m not ordering that!”

Qian Jianing smiled knowingly. “Ah, I see—yes, it’s a bit pricey.” She crossed it off the menu.

Zhang Tian’s face cycled through green, red, and then bluish-purple—more dramatic than a Sichuan opera. If the dinner weren’t so important, she would’ve stormed out.

Qian Jianing looked directly at Zhang Tian’s father. “Since this is your first time, you may not know the rules. From Monday to Saturday, all dinner dishes are prepared per reservation. You can’t choose from the menu. I can only serve you based on the ingredients I have. The cost will be around 200 yuan. Is that acceptable?”

Zhang Tian’s father’s cheek twitched. He glanced at his wife, who nodded grimly. He finally exhaled. “Yes, 200 is acceptable. But what if the dishes aren’t to our taste?”

Before Qian Jianing could answer, Director Wang’s wife, Meng Xiumei, beamed. “That won’t be a problem. I’ve eaten here several times, and Xiaomi’s cooking never disappoints.”

Qian Jianing gave her a genuinely warm smile. “We have extra pork ribs today. I’ll make your favorite—plum-glazed short ribs.”

Meng Xiumei’s delight was obvious. “Oh, Xiaomi, you remember my taste!”

With a cute dimpled smile, Qian Jianing gestured. “Please proceed to Table 3.”

She returned to the kitchen to wash up and start cooking. Li Xue sat, chin in hands, eyes sparkling as she watched Qian Jianing through the glass. She saw her lift a wok, expertly tossing ingredients until each wing gleamed with glistening golden honey glaze.

Two white plates were placed on the prep counter. Qian Jianing plated the chicken wings, then walked past the screen and returned with a spotless new wok.

She served one plate of honey chicken wings to Table 1 and the other to Li Xue. “It’s your first time dining at my place—eat lots.”

Li Xue, now completely smitten, stared at Qian Jianing in adoration. “Jianing, you look *so* cool when you cook! I think I can smell your cooking through the glass!”

Qian Jianing smiled and turned to prepare the next dish—*Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious Harmony*.

She had already prepared the garnish. In went boneless chicken thighs sizzling in scallion oil. Over high heat, she stir-fried until 80% cooked, then poured in a ladle of oil along the pan’s edge. With a loud “whoosh,” flames shot up around the wok, erupting into a dazzling flare above its rim.

At this moment, Qian Jianing remained calm and composed, keeping her steady rhythm as she stirred. Just as Li Xue stood frozen with panic, unsure of what to do, Qian Jianing tapped the spoon on the edge of the wok, and miraculously, the flame went out.

Carrying the dish out of the kitchen, all the diners couldn’t help but turn their heads to glance at the beautifully crafted dragon and phoenix on the plate. Amid the guests’ eager anticipation, Qian Jianing placed the plate on Table No. 2. “Happy wedding anniversary! This is your first dish—’Dragon and Phoenix in Harmony.'”

The young woman, who had just been married for a year, blushed with excitement as she looked at the decorations on the plate. She gently touched the phoenix’s wing and timidly asked, “Can I take this decoration home after we finish eating?”

Qian Jianing nodded. “Of course. It’s part of the dish.”

At a nearby table, a customer couldn’t help but ask, “Boss Qian, could we have a dish like that too?”

Qian Jianing shook her head slightly, a bit apologetically. “You have to reserve it in advance.” Just as she finished speaking, she noticed a little girl at that table, around four or five years old, whose eyes had reddened with disappointment. “However, I carved a few extra flowers and small animals. I can gift one to this little one.”

The little girl immediately lifted her head, face still streaked with tears, but now breaking into a wide smile. “Thank you, big sister!”

Back in the kitchen, Qian Jianing made a plate of candied apples for the little girl, selecting a majestic tiger and a cute rabbit from her crafted decorations to place on the plate, which she then brought out to her.

Zhang Tian was wearing a perfunctory smile while chatting with Director Wang’s daughter. Her eyes, however, kept drifting toward Qian Jianing. She had just witnessed Qian Jianing’s dazzling culinary skills, tasted her divine cooking, and saw all the guests politely referring to her as Boss Qian…

Inwardly, Zhang Tian felt a bit sour. Why did everything Qian Jianing did seem so admirable? She looked better, studied more diligently, was more liked by teachers—even the talents and grace she showed now far exceeded her own. Zhang Tian once thought she might outweigh her in terms of family background, but to her surprise, Qian Jianing had secretly established such a highly profitable restaurant.

Thinking about what she had said earlier in the day, Zhang Tian couldn’t help blushing with embarrassment. Qian Jianing probably made more money in one night than her father earned in a year, and yet she had dared to flaunt her wealth in front of her. Recalling the meaningful smile Qian Jianing gave her that afternoon, she wanted to bury her head in the ground. She had never been this humiliated in her life.

“Dang dang dang…” The clock chimed right on the hour at 9 PM. Director Wang and his wife glanced at their watches and said with slight regret, “That’s it for today—it’s time for Boss Qian to close up.”

Zhang Tian muttered under her breath, “So fussy for a restaurant owner. Who cares about her rules?” But right after she spoke, she noticed that all the other diners had already stood up spontaneously and were lining up by the glass window to pay.

Tonight, Qian Jianing didn’t stay behind the window to take payments. Instead, she stepped out. “I have an announcement for everyone. Starting this Sunday, our restaurant will introduce a new line of dishes: Immortal Health Cuisine. These dishes are made with vegetables and meats I specially sourced from dedicated farms. The flavors will be a step above what you’re used to, and regular intake has health benefits as well. Interested guests are welcome to come try it on Sundays.”

“This set menu doesn’t sound cheap,” a man in his early thirties said with a hearty laugh, “Boss Qian, how about you give us a rough price so we know how much to bring? Nothing worse than seeing it and not being able to eat it!”

Qian Jianing gave him a sweet smile. “The new set menu comes in three tiers: 128 yuan, 188 yuan, and 288 yuan. The 128 yuan option includes one meat dish and four vegetable dishes. The 188 yuan set includes two meat dishes and five vegetables. The 288 yuan set features five meat and ten vegetable dishes. Dishes rotate weekly. If you have a large group or specific requests for quantity, you can reserve a premium set separately at a different price.”

Hearing those terrifyingly high prices, Zhang Tian had only one thought: Are they crazy? That expensive? Only an idiot would order it.

The man who had spoken earlier couldn’t help asking, “I think Boss Qian’s current dishes are already the pinnacle. I honestly can’t imagine what even better would taste like.”

His comment sparked more curiosity from the other patrons. They began asking one after another, “So just how different are these ingredients?”

Qian Jianing thought for a moment and then whispered to Treasure Bowl, “Could you lend me a cucumber? I’ll repay you when I restock.”

Treasure Bowl had never undermined Qian Jianing while she was promoting her business—in fact, it generously said, “I’ve already placed two cucumbers in your ingredient crate. Just return them after you repurchase.”

Qian Jianing looked up and smiled to all the patrons. “I can give you a taste.”

The vegetables from the Immortal Realm couldn’t be washed; contact with the tap water of the mortal world would only pollute them and diminish their pure flavor. Qian Jianing headed into the kitchen, retrieved the cucumber, laid it on the cutting board, and in swift, practiced motions, had a full plate of cucumber slices prepared in under thirty seconds.

Zhang Tian craned her neck to see, and when she noticed it was just a plate of cucumber slices, she laughed aloud. “Qian Jianing, you’re so stingy. Only one cucumber, and you had to slice it up to share?”

Qian Jianing glanced at her. “If you think one piece isn’t enough, you’re welcome to buy a whole cucumber. Since we’re classmates, I’ll cut you a deal—just ten yuan.”

Zhang Tian fell silent in embarrassment.

The man at the front of the line was close enough to catch the fresh scent wafting from the cucumber. He couldn’t resist reaching for a slice and popping it into his mouth. The cool crunch, the refreshing sweetness, and the invigorating aroma cleared his foggy, alcohol-clouded mind. As he swallowed, the taste of alcohol in his mouth vanished, leaving only the aftertaste of cucumber—a lingering, peaceful flavor.

His eyes lit up. He pulled several bills from his pocket. “I want to order!”

Qian Jianing responded with a calm smile. “We don’t take reservations. If you want it, come early and line up!”