Chapter 10

Old Fourth saw He Chubi standing stiffly on the steps, his expression changing unpredictably, and couldn't help but feel a bit afraid.

He glanced at the still-shaken Fourth and the group of servants, wondering if his rabies vaccine research plan could really gain the family's approval and their support.

At that moment, in front of the kitchen stove, Chef Mei, whose face was blackened by the smoke, let out a big belch and stared blankly at the sixteenth or seventeenth plate of scrambled eggs he had just cooked, his expression on the verge of collapse.

"What's missing? I followed the Third Young Master's method exactly, so why aren't these eggs fluffy at all, and the texture just doesn't match..."

Cheng Ji, looking at the nearly empty egg basket, also let out a belch and reminded Chef Mei helplessly.

"Brother Mei, why don't we try again tomorrow? I can't eat any more today..." Although the scrambled eggs tasted good, he was already full.

"..."

In the carriage, Yuan Tiangang shook his head repeatedly, still finding it hard to believe.

"This guy is really crazy, coming up with such a ridiculous idea. In all my years, I've never heard of a poison having thoughts. Besides, the patient is a human, not a rabbit..."

Yuan Tiangang kept criticizing, but noticed that Sun Simiao was silent with his eyes closed, so he asked, "Brother Sun, what are you doing?"

"Upon careful consideration, I think that although Third Young Master Cheng's words may seem incoherent, the things he described have some merit."

Yuan Tiangang laughed. "Brother Sun, don't forget, he's a madman."

"True, but the way he treated Fang Jun's wound was meaningful," Sun Simiao didn't argue with Yuan Tiangang.

"Perhaps the method of reducing toxicity is worth a try."

"Brother Sun, be cautious. Don't let that young man's crazy talk mislead you. I've never seen a mad rabbit in my life."

"I also think rabbits are unreliable, but if we use live dogs, perhaps..."

In the end, neither could convince the other. After much thought, Sun Simiao returned to his residence and sent a Taoist boy to find some experienced hunters.

ooxx##

When he returned to the house, Cheng Chubi saw Uncle Ji and Chef Mei waiting at the door, looking a bit dazed. "Uncle Ji, Chef Mei, what are you two doing here?"

Chef Mei, whose face was blackened by the smoke, bowed with a look of shame. "I have seen the Third Young Master's culinary skills, which far surpass mine. I apologize for my previous disrespectful words."

"No problem, this is..." Cheng Chubi waved his hand, his gaze falling on the food box next to Chef Mei.

"These are the scrambled eggs Chef Mei made, specially brought for the Third Young Master to taste." Cheng Ji opened the food box and served a plate of scrambled eggs.

Chef Mei bowed with a look of shame.

"I have already cooked nearly twenty plates of scrambled eggs today, following the Third Young Master's method and procedures, but I always feel something is missing... So I asked Manager Cheng to bring me to meet the Third Young Master, hoping for your guidance."

Cheng Chubi glanced at the plate and immediately saw the problem. Since the other party was so polite and passionate about cooking, Cheng Chubi decided to give him some face and picked up the chopsticks to taste it.

"Still edible, but the eggs are too dense and not fluffy enough. How did you stir the eggs?"

Chef Mei was taken aback. "Is there a specific way to stir eggs?"

"Of course, there is a lot to it. Your stirring speed and force are not enough, and the time is too short."

"Go back to the kitchen and stir the eggs in one direction for thirty breaths, then cook them and see the difference."

"Understood, I will do it right away." Chef Mei bowed respectfully and hurried off. Cheng Ji looked at the plate of scrambled eggs, about to take it away.

Old Fourth quickly rushed over. "No, put it down. Brother Three, aren't you going to eat it? If not, I'll eat it."

"..."

After a short while, Chef Mei returned with a plate of scrambled eggs, his face excited. "Third Young Master, I've cooked them. Please take a look."

This time, Cheng Chubi finally found them edible. "Hmm, not bad, but the heat is still a bit too high, making the eggs a bit old, but they are still edible."

"Is there anything else I did wrong?" Chef Mei was now bowing and begging for guidance.

"The main issue is the cooking utensils and stove, as well as the fuel." Cheng Chubi, eating the edible scrambled eggs, smiled confidently.

"Otherwise, we could use stir-frying, quick-frying, sautéing, and other cooking techniques to create dishes you've never tasted before... Old Fourth, your saliva is about to drip on me, step back."

"Brother Three, really? Better than scrambled eggs?" Old Fourth quickly wiped the saliva from his mouth, his eyes shining.

"Pretty much, but we need to modify the cooking utensils in our house first. When the time comes, I'll cook it myself and let you taste it."

"By the way, Uncle Ji, do you know if there are any spices similar to Sichuan pepper in Chang'an? If so, please buy some."

"Third Young Master, rest assured, I will go and buy them myself," Cheng Ji nodded in agreement.

Chef Mei and Cheng Ji left the room. After a few steps, Chef Mei stopped and looked at Cheng Ji. "Brother Cheng, I want to change our previous contract."

"What do you mean?" Cheng Ji's face suddenly turned serious, and he forced a smile. "Are you trying to leave the Lu Guogong's residence after learning some skills from our Third Young Master?"

"No, no, no, Brother Cheng, you misunderstand. After learning from the Third Young Master, I realize my previous arrogance in cooking was like a frog in a well. So, I am willing to extend the three-year contract to five years. If Brother Cheng thinks it's not enough, we can negotiate."

"Wait, let me ask our Third Young Master first." Cheng Ji didn't expect Chef Mei to extend the contract just because of a plate of scrambled eggs. However, since it involved the Third Young Master, he, as a manager, couldn't make the decision alone.

"No problem, hehe, I hope Brother Cheng can speak well of me to the Third Young Master."

Hearing that his brother had returned, Cheng Chubi went to the front hall and saw Cheng Chumo, with a bruised face, sitting on the couch.

Cheng Chubi was stunned. "Brother, what happened to you?"

Cheng Chumo laughed, but the pain from the corner of his mouth made him gasp.

"It's just a minor injury. Today, I encountered Zhang Shenwei from the Guogong Zhang Liang's family. That guy dared to insult you, so I gave him a good beating. He'll be in bed for at least ten to fifteen days."

Looking at his brother with a black eye, Cheng Chubi felt both moved and a bit amused. "Thank you, Brother, for standing up for me."

Cheng Chumo patted Cheng Chubi's shoulder heartily and laughed. "We are brothers, blood is thicker than water, no need for thanks."

"By the way, Brother, I have something to ask you today..."

Before Cheng Chubi could finish, he heard footsteps and the sound of his father returning, so he quickly went out to greet him.

Cheng Chubi saw Cheng Yaojin, with a face as black as a pot and a murderous aura, striding in.