Culinary Expert

Chapter 13: Double-Yolk Egg?

A Golden Egg? Bai Xiaobai had just finished making the Supreme Tea Eggs. Click, click. High heels tapped against the marble floor, producing a rhythmic clacking sound—like the most beautiful melody—causing the busy Bai Xiaobai to look up involuntarily. Outside the shop door, a stunning beauty in a black-and-white dress, carrying a rose-red handbag, stepped inside. Fair skin, delicate features, and sensual red lips. She was undeniably one of the city’s top beauties! Bai Xiaobai had just finished the Supreme Tea-Eggs he was working on, so he flashed his signature smile and stepped out to greet her. Zhu Yufei glanced around the shop and found it a bit strange. Typically, restaurants display their menus and price lists on a prominent wall so customers can order as soon as they walk in, but this place didn’t have a single color-printed menu. After Zhu Yufei chose a seat, she parted her sexy, full lips slightly. “Owner, do you have a menu here?” “Here’s the thing—we don’t have any other dishes. For now, we’re only selling the ‘Supreme Tea-Egg,’” Bai Xiaobai replied. As soon as Zhu Yufei heard they only sold the ‘Supreme Tea-Egg,’ she stood up and turned to leave. The reason was simple. Although she had a small appetite, she’d been busy all day and was now physically and mentally exhausted, just waiting for some delicious food to nourish and satisfy her—a single little tea-eggs simply wouldn’t be enough to fill her stomach. Another sure thing slipped away! Bai Xiaobai watched the beautiful woman’s retreating figure, feeling a little disappointed. Unexpectedly, less than two seconds after Bai Xiaobai felt that disappointment, the beautiful woman from earlier miraculously turned back. What’s going on? This was the first time a customer had left and then come back! Little did Bai Xiaobai know that Zhu Yufei had long since become utterly captivated by a rich, intoxicating aroma. That aroma came from the “Supreme” tea-eggs in Bai Xiaobai’s pot. The delicate aroma of black tea mingling with the eggs slowly wafted into Zhu Yufei’s nostrils. Zhu Yufei swallowed hard—she really, really wanted to eat one. She was a bit different from other girls. She never gave those brainless Korean dramas a second glance. As for jewelry, she wasn’t the least bit swayed by it. But in one respect, she was just like the vast majority of girls: she had a passion for good food. Stinky tofu and stinky mandarin fish—delicacies that most girls find hard to stomach—were, in Zhu Yufei’s eyes, culinary masterpieces. Driven by her passion for food, Zhu Yufei turned back. “Sir, I’ll have one of those ‘Supreme’ tea-eggs, please.” “Sure, fifty yuan each.” “Fifty yuan each?” Zhu Yufei turned pale with shock at the price and nearly lost her balance in her high heels. Oh my! This shop owner must be out of his mind! Fifty yuan for a single tea-egged egg? Does he think I’m an idiot? Zhu Yufei stood up again, this time with complete resolve. Over the years, due to her passion for fine dining, Zhu Yufei had spent a fortune on food. But charging fifty yuan for a single tea-egged egg was truly unheard of. It’s just too bizarre. No wonder this place is so empty—not a single customer in sight. No wonder the shop dares not post a price list—they’re probably afraid of getting fined. No wonder… Zhu Yufei’s black high heels came to a halt at the doorway once more; she just couldn’t bring herself to step outside. She was torn again. She really wanted to leave, but the aroma was simply too tempting to resist. Deep inside Zhu Yufei, a little gluttonous devil was screaming at the top of its lungs “Don’t you dare walk out of here!” It would be a sin to miss out on such an exquisite delicacy. I absolutely have to try the tea-leaf eggs here. Turn back now. In the end, Zhu Yufei couldn’t overcome the little gluttonous devil inside her. The melodious click of her high heels echoed as she turned back once more. The second time she’d turned back! Gritting her teeth, Zhu Yufei began to haggle: “Sir, your price is a bit steep. Could you knock a little off?” Having just switched jobs, she was a bit short on cash. Lately, she’d been surviving on fast food—three meat dishes and one vegetable—and even skipped her favorite desserts whenever possible. Faced with a beautiful woman haggling over the price, Bai Xiaobai’s inner world was now… in turmoil. But the system, abandoning its usual cold, electronic tone, began acting like a jealous child, bombarding Bai Xiaobai’s mind with a barrage of messages. [Host, you must not give a discount. The deafening sound continued to bombard his mind. Bai Xiaobai instantly felt a wave of exasperation wash over him. The System usually acted like a cool, aloof guy, but right now it was throwing a tantrum like a little girl. He seriously wondered if the system even had a gender… Bai Xiaobai paused for a moment, then said earnestly to Zhu Yufei, “Sorry, beautiful, here’s the thing: the tea eggs at our shop are made with top-quality ingredients, so the cost is already high—that’s why we can’t offer a discount.” When dealing with beautiful women, Bai Xiaobai always took the time to explain things patiently. Zhu Yufei said, slightly disappointed, “I see.” This wasn’t the first time Zhu Yufei had asked for a discount. In the past, some Restaurant owners, unable to resist her delicate features and sweet voice, not only gave her a discount on her meal but also sent her off with a can of Jiadabao. It never failed—she never expected to be turned down today. Although the rejection was a bit embarrassing, driven by her passion for good food, Zhu Yufei thought for a few seconds and finally made up her mind. “Boss, I’ll have one then,” Zhu Yufei said, her red lips parting slightly in a voice that was exceptionally soft and sweet; she didn’t plan to keep haggling over the price. “Sure, please have a seat. Just a moment.” Bai Xiaobai was bursting with energy, as if he’d been injected with adrenaline, and dashed back to the kitchen to prepare the tea eggs. Bai Xiaobai moved with lightning speed, quickly returning with a white porcelain bowl filled with Supreme Tea Eggs, which he gently placed on the table in front of Zhu Yufei. “Enjoy your meal.” “Thank you,” Zhu Yufei replied politely. The tea eggs were incredibly fragrant and still piping hot, having just been lifted from the pot. Ignoring the heat, Zhu Yufei picked one up, blowing on it as she peeled it. The “Supreme” tea eggs didn’t stick to the shell at all. Once peeled, the brown-veined egg white was flawless, without a single blemish—it looked just like a delicate work of art. Zhu Yufei took a gentle bite—a habit she’d had for years. To maintain her ladylike image, no matter how small the bite, she always took it in several small mouthfuls. She never expected that just one small bite… Zhu Yufei’s delicate features immediately lit up with a stunning radiance. As a foodie, she’d always thought she’d tasted countless delicacies since childhood, but this seemingly ordinary tea-leaf egg today was truly extraordinary. It was simply too delicious! She never imagined there could be a tea-flavored egg this delicious in the world. The aroma of tea, the fragrance of the egg, and the savory sauce blended perfectly, creating an unprecedented, absolute delight. The savory sauce first awakened every one of her taste buds. Immediately afterward, the rich aroma of the egg surged forth, enveloping each and every taste bud. The rich aroma of black tea had completely eliminated the egg’s heavy, fishy odor! All that remained was an alluring fragrance. Zhu Yufei closed her eyes and instantly felt as though every breath she exhaled was as fragrant as orchids; it was as if she were no longer in the city, but instead immersed in a mountain of tea gardens. The fatigue from a day of internship work was instantly swept away. All that remained was the exquisite flavor on her taste buds. As a gentle breeze brushed across her face, Zhu Yufei couldn’t help but lick her upper lip with her tongue, her face radiating utter contentment. “Is this tea… Qimen black tea?” Zhu Yufei continued to describe with her eyes closed, “The eggs are top-grade free-range eggs, and this sauce… sea salt, rock sugar, black plums, dark soy sauce… Bai Xiaobai was truly amazed. The beautiful woman before him was a true connoisseur—with just a single bite, she had identified most of the ingredients in the Supreme Tea-Egg. Watching Zhu Yufei’s expression as she savored the deliciousness of the Supreme Tea-Egg, Bai Xiaobai felt as if he could hear the background music from *Little Chef of China*—the sound of judges closing their eyes in utter satisfaction after tasting the dishes prepared by the young chef. While Bai Xiaobai was marveling, Zhu Yufei couldn’t help but marvel inwardly as well. This is the kind of food that brings happiness. To miss out on it is a regret. No! It’s practically a major loss. I might regret it for the rest of my life. Thank goodness I didn’t leave just now. As Zhu Yufei ate the fragrant, incredibly delicious Supreme Tea-Egg, a hint of sadness flashed through her mind. Mom, I miss you again. I’m thinking about the dishes you used to make. Zhu Yufei didn’t know why—it was clearly a completely unrelated matter—but after eating this delicious Supreme Tea-Egg, she was reminded of the home-cooked meals her mother used to make. Zhu Yufei grew up in a divorced family. When she was very young, her father abandoned her and her mother to run off with another woman. From a young age, Zhu Yufei and her mother relied solely on each other. Her mother was a professional executive chef with exceptional culinary skills. Having inherited her mother’s talent, Zhu Yufei had a “golden palate.” Through constant exposure, she could recreate any dish her mother made simply by seeing it once and tasting it once. She had always thought she would become a top-tier chef one day. But ten years ago, an accident cut her off from a career in cooking entirely. A severe explosion occurred in the kitchen of the hotel where Zhu Yufei’s mother worked, caused by a gas leak. The accident sparked a massive fire that burned down most of the hotel. Zhu Yufei’s mother suffered severe burns in the fire and died in the hospital after rescue efforts proved unsuccessful. Seeing her mother covered in burns left Zhu Yufei with a deep fear of fire, and she developed a strange condition as a result. Whenever she sees even a slightly large open flame, she trembles with fear and dares not go near it. Failing the fire-handling test meant that becoming a professional chef was virtually impossible. Although she couldn’t become a professional chef, Zhu Yufei’s pursuit of top-tier cuisine has remained unwavering over the years. This small tea-eggs right in front of her held the taste of happiness, reminding her of long-forgotten memories from over a decade ago. It was simply unbelievable. After reminiscing, Zhu Yufei opened her eyes again and steadied her emotions. Not caring about her appearance, she devoured the remaining half of the Supreme Tea-Egg in just two bites. As she ate the tea-egg, she suddenly realized it actually had a second yolk. Two yolks? Is this a double-yolk egg? Almost as soon as Zhu Yufei marveled at the double yolks, the system’s electronic voice rang out in Bai Xiaobai’s mind [Congratulations, Host! A double-yolk egg has appeared! Please select “Smash the Golden Egg”! ]