ebookland Chapter 722 The Contemporary God of Cookery
Chapter 722 The Contemporary God of Cookery
Seeing Lin Bufan getting carried away, Hu Youyu opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, but ultimately didn't interrupt him. Only after Lin Bufan stopped talking did Hu Youyu awkwardly laugh and say, "Brother Lin! You...you're a 'resurrectionist' who specializes in curing terminal illnesses? And you're researching mechs and flying cars? That's quite funny..."
Lin Bufan sighed helplessly: "Old Hu, although our Yunmiao Village has beautiful scenery and sweet air, and is considered to be in a secluded corner, it's not that isolated from the world, is it? It's been so long, haven't you seen any videos about flying cars online? Haven't you heard of the reverse clock that can extend lifespan? Haven't you seen people discussing the special medicine for treating Alzheimer's disease? And those mechs that are tens of meters tall, so cool and awesome?"
Even if you don't know any of this, you must have caught a glimpse of my handsome and distinctive face on the news, short video platforms, or in newspapers and magazines, right?
If you haven't even seen this before, you're really going too far!
Although Hu Youyu felt that Lin Bufan's words were nonsense, his expression was so sincere that he didn't know what to say for a moment. Just as he and Ma Qiushan were looking at each other, Nana, who had been listening quietly, suddenly exclaimed "Ah!" and raised her head sharply, her eyes wide open. She pointed at Lin Bufan, her voice rising eight octaves with surprise: "President Lin! You're President Lin! No wonder you looked a little familiar from the beginning! It's you!"
As she spoke, she quickly pulled her phone out of her back pocket, her fingers swiping rapidly across the screen. Seeing this, Hu Youyu and Ma Qiushan leaned closer, puzzled.
"Nana, what's going on? You really know him?" Hu Youyu asked curiously.
"Look!" Nana turned her phone screen toward Hu Youyu and Ma Qiushan. It showed an encyclopedia entry about "new generation entrepreneur Lin Bufan," accompanied by an official photo of Lin Bufan. Although he was wearing a formal suit, the look in his eyes and his slightly roguish smile were no different from the casually dressed guy in front of them who was eating skewers.
Nana excitedly launched into a science lesson: "It's all over the internet already! Lin Bufan, founder and CTO of Xiaobaizi Technology! He's the one who drove that flying car that went viral online a while ago! And that super popular time-reversing device that makes people younger is also their company's product! Oh, and that special drug for treating Alzheimer's disease called Yiqing, it's been reported in the news, they say it's a groundbreaking breakthrough! And... I think there was a really amazing mecha demonstration video before... My God, I never imagined that those legendary figures in the news would actually be sitting in our yard eating barbecue!"
Nana became more and more excited as she spoke, her eyes filled with amazement and disbelief as she looked at Lin Bufan, as if she were examining a character who had stepped out of a science fiction movie.
Hu Youyu stared at the irrefutable evidence on his phone screen, then looked up at Lin Bufan, who was innocently munching on a chicken wing. His mouth gaped open, wide enough to fit an egg, and after a long while, he stammered, "No...no...Brother Lin, ah no, President Lin! You...you're such a big shot, how...how did you end up in our little temple? And...and stay in this ordinary little courtyard?"
Although Ma Qiushan maintained his seated posture, his fingers, which had been turning the prayer beads, completely stopped. His eyes, which seemed to have seen through the world, now revealed a profound shock. At the same time, Ma Qiushan began to fantasize in his heart whether this was Heaven giving him an opportunity, sending such a scoundrel as Lin Bufan—ah, oops… a great Buddha—to his side!
Lin Bufan finished the last bite of his chicken wing, slowly wiped his mouth and hands, and gave the three of them a bright yet somewhat matter-of-fact smile: "Didn't I just say that I'm a pure love warrior charging for love? Of course, I'm here to follow in the footsteps of love! As for those identities..."
"They're all just empty titles, fleeting clouds. Here, I'm just Lin Bufan, my neighbor in room number 5, an ordinary tourist who might have a big appetite. Please don't treat me differently because of those titles..."
As if afraid that everyone might not remember, Lin Bufan emphasized again: "Remember, don't treat me differently. I'm just an ordinary handsome guy!"
Hearing Lin Bufan's deliberate emphasis, Hu Youyu, Ma Qiushan, and Nana exchanged bewildered glances, unsure how to react. The courtyard was so quiet that only the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze and the sound of Lin Bufan chewing his food could be heard.
Just then, footsteps came from the stairwell. Chen Nanxing, wearing a light jacket, came downstairs. She rubbed her eyes, her voice still soft from just waking up: "What are you talking about so noisily? I could vaguely hear the noise from upstairs."
As soon as Lin Bufan saw Chen Nanxing, he immediately stood up, his face instantly changing to a smile full of ingratiation and flattery. He took a few steps forward, naturally took her hand, and led her to the bench where he had just been sitting: "Nanxing, why did you get up? Come sit here." As he spoke, he carefully brushed away non-existent dust from the bench with his hand.
Chen Nanxing found Lin Bufan's excessive enthusiasm amusing. He obediently sat down, then rubbed his stomach and said somewhat embarrassedly, "I woke up hungry in the middle of the night. The barbecue downstairs smelled so good, so I came down to check it out... You guys don't mind if I get some, right?"
"Not at all! Of course not!" Hu Youyu immediately greeted her warmly, picking up a skewer of grilled chicken wings and handing it over: "Come on, Nanxing, try this, it's delicious!"
Seeing Chen Nanxing reach for the roasted chicken wings Hu Youyu offered, Lin Bufan immediately stopped him, snatched the wings from his own mouth, and mumbled, "Hey, how can I let you eat this junk food that's so oily and salty so late at night? It's bad for your health! Wait here, I'll go to the kitchen and get you something warm and delicious, it'll be quick!"
After saying that, Lin Bufan turned around and quickly walked into the communal kitchen in the courtyard.
Hu Youyu, holding up his empty hand, exchanged bewildered glances with Ma Qiushan and Nana. Hu Youyu lowered his voice, his expression strange: "Nana… this President Lin, is he really the big shot online… the one who created flying cars and mechs? I feel… something's off about this?"
Nana couldn't help but chuckle, glancing towards the kitchen and whispering, "Didn't I tell you? He's just an ordinary handsome guy, and I told you not to treat him differently!"
Hu Youyu said with an incredulous look, "You believe that?"
Nana nodded, and said with a bit of a fangirl, "But he's so handsome!"
Hu Youyu: "..."
Ma Qiushan, his fingers twirling prayer beads, gazed intently at the light emanating from the kitchen and slowly said, “The greatest form is formless, the greatest sound is silent. A true master does not reveal his true nature; one who reveals his true nature is not a true master. This child… is indeed no ordinary person who can be saved.”
Before long, an indescribably enticing aroma wafted from the kitchen, forcefully dispelling the barbecue smoke that had filled the yard. It was a complex savory fragrance, carrying the rich flavor of broth and the aroma of certain fresh spices, making one's mouth water and unconsciously conjuring up a picture in one's mind of a steaming bowl of delicious food with rich broth and plenty of ingredients.
Lin Bufan walked out carrying a large white porcelain bowl filled with rice noodles. The milky white broth was garnished with bright green scallions and cilantro, and a few tempting slices of char siu pork and a soft-boiled egg were half-submerged in the soup. It looked simple and unpretentious, but the aroma made everyone present unconsciously swallow.
"Come on, Nanxing, try my bowl of Fan Ye's Pure Love Immortal Powder!" Lin Bufan placed the bowl on the wooden table in front of Chen Nanxing, handed her chopsticks, and looked on with anticipation.
Chen Nanxing was already drooling over the aroma. She took the chopsticks, thanked them, and carefully picked up a mouthful of rice noodles, blew on it, and put it in her mouth. The next second, her eyes lit up, and a look of surprise and satisfaction appeared on her face. She didn't even have time to speak, and just ate faster. The slurping sound of the rice noodles was the best praise for how delicious it was.
Watching Chen Nanxing eat so heartily, Hu Youyu's Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. He couldn't help but ask, "Nanxing, how's the food...?"
Amidst his busy schedule, Chen Nanxing looked up, nodded vigorously, and mumbled in praise, "Mmm...it's so delicious! The soup is especially flavorful, and the noodles are smooth and chewy. It's better than any rice noodles I've ever had before!"
Although Nana and Ma Qiushan didn't speak, their eyes were fixed on the bowl. The aroma in the air and their quiet swallowing betrayed their inner desire.
Feeling a little embarrassed by their stares, Chen Nanxing put down his chopsticks and tentatively asked, "Um...it tastes really good, would you like to try some?"
"No, no!" Hu Youyu quickly waved his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on the bowl of noodles. "We're just looking, we're not hungry, really!" Nana also shook her head with a smile, but her smile seemed a little forced. Ma Qiushan simply closed his eyes and silently recited scriptures, but the slight twitching of his nostrils betrayed his unsettled state of mind.
Lin Bufan found it amusing to see the three of them looking so conflicted and tormented, so he slowly said, "There's still a lot left in the pot in the kitchen. If you want some, go get some yourself, but you'll have to wash the dishes."
As soon as Lin Bufan finished speaking, the three people who had just said they weren't hungry jumped up from their chairs almost simultaneously!
Hu Youyu took the lead: "And why didn't you say so earlier!" Nana followed closely behind, and Ma Qiushan, no longer bothering with his chanting, walked twice as fast as usual. The three of them rushed into the kitchen in a hurry.
A short while later, the three of them emerged, each carrying a large bowl identical to Lin Bufan's, filled with rice noodles, their faces beaming with satisfaction and anticipation. They returned to the table and sat down, eagerly beginning to enjoy the noodles.
"Mmm! This is so delicious!" Hu Youyu wolfed down several mouthfuls, breathing out hot air as he scalded the food, but he didn't want to stop. He exclaimed indistinctly, "President Lin! I never expected that someone as big as you could cook!"
Nana ate relatively elegantly, but the amazement in her eyes was undisguised: "Being able to cook isn't the point; there are plenty of people who can cook. The key is that it tastes so good. Not everyone can do that!"
Even the usually composed Ma Qiushan, after savoring the dish, couldn't help but put down his chopsticks, clasp his hands together, nod slightly to the air, and exclaim in a refined manner, "The Analects says, 'One should not be too particular about the fineness of food, nor too particular about the delicacy of its preparation.' Today, having tasted Mr. Lin's bowl of 'Immortal Noodles,' I realize that the ancients were indeed right. The soup is rich yet not greasy, the noodles are smooth yet chewy, and all the flavors blend together perfectly. After finishing a bowl, I feel completely relaxed, all my worries vanish, and I almost feel as if I have glimpsed the Great Dao and ascended to immortality. Excellent, excellent!"
Hearing the praise from the group, Lin Bufan raised an eyebrow smugly, stroked a non-existent beard with his hand, and asked with feigned confusion, "When I introduced myself earlier, didn't I mention that I'm the contemporary God of Cookery?"
Hu Youyu swallowed the food in her mouth with difficulty, frowning as she tried to recall: "Really? I don't remember..."
Nana hesitated and shook her head: "I don't remember... I don't think so?"
Ma Qiushan focused intently on slurping his rice noodles, only waving his hand occasionally to indicate that Lin Bufan had indeed not said that!
"Never mind, none of that matters!" Lin Bufan waved his hand dismissively, picked up a skewer of cold grilled mushrooms and took a bite: "I know a lot of things and have quite a few impressive identities. You'll gradually find out more about them in the future."
Hu Youyu and the other two couldn't help but exchange a glance!
If they had been somewhat skeptical of Lin Bufan's long list of astonishing "titles" just now, thinking he might be bragging or joking, then at this moment, the bowl of "divine noodles" that could be described as the ultimate in flavor completely tilted the scales in their hearts.
Because in their view, Lin Bufan might really have the strength of a contemporary God of Cookery!
Judging from this glimpse, Lin Bufan's seemingly absurd identities—music king, tech giant, and divine doctor—might actually be true!
Lin Bufan leaned back in his simple little chair, taking in the mixture of shock, admiration, and disbelief on their faces. He felt incredibly smug, his smile practically reaching his ears. He swayed leisurely, about to say a few more Versailles-related words, when he turned his head and caught a glimpse of the stairs out of the corner of his eye. He jumped in fright, nearly tumbling off his chair.
At the top of the stairs, a person had silently appeared.
It was a girl, wearing a loose white dress that almost reached her ankles, its style so simple it was almost plain. Her long, black hair was unkempt, draped messily over her shoulders, almost obscuring most of her face. She stood there quietly, seemingly blending into the dim light and shadow of the courtyard, without making a sound, like a ghost that had suddenly appeared.
"A ghost!" Lin Bufan was startled and almost jumped up from his chair, pointing at the stairwell and exclaiming in surprise.
His shout startled Hu Youyu, Nana, Ma Qiushan, and Chen Nanxing, who were engrossed in their meal. The four of them turned to look in the direction Lin Bufan was pointing.