Chapter 252: Let Me Give You a Kiss
"You're asking questions before eating? Ask after we finish." Zhang Yang let out an awkward laugh.
"No. You're eating for free, and it's such a rich meal. Asking you one question isn't too much, right, Aunt Xu?"
She even called for backup. Zhang Yang looked at He Zhen. His future mother-in-law must've been bribed by Lin Yin in the kitchen, because she actually nodded in agreement. "It's fine, Xiao Zhang. Just play along."
Zhang Yang was helpless and nodded. "Alright, ask then."
"Good!" Lin Yin pointed her chopsticks at four dishes on the table and said with a smile, "There are four dishes here. Aunt Xu, Dantong, Danying, and I each made one. You taste them, then rank them from best to worst."
Damn—she was trying to kill him. Zhang Yang understood instantly. This was revenge. Because three of the four dishes were made by his mother-in-law and two sisters-in-law. Ranking them meant asking for death.
Saying anyone's dish is bad would be a crime.
"Yes, brother-in-law, taste and comment." Xu Danying chimed in. Zhang Yang glanced at her—so this is how you repay your brother-in-law? Completely unaware he's walking on thin ice?
"Brother-in-law, I agree too." Xu Dantong raised her hand. This was a group attack.
Zhang Yang looked at Xu Maogen, then at Lin Yue, hesitating. "Why not ask the two uncles? They're the real experts."
"Them? Old Xu knows our cooking too well—it's no fun. And Old Lin knows his daughter's cooking even better. Only you haven't tasted our dishes before, so you're the perfect judge." He Zhen smiled.
Zhang Yang was speechless. Fine, eat then. What's with all this trouble? He looked at Xu Danlu for help, but she still had that half-smiling expression. No rescue.
Alright then, he would use the system. As long as he knew who made what—
The problem would be solved.
But when he asked the Nuwa System, it actually wanted five points per dish. To know who cooked each dish, he needed fifteen points.
Which meant the equivalent of five times XXOO.
Too expensive. Over Zhang Yang's dead body. Maybe for two points, he'd consider it.
Then he'd have to guess. With his current ability, he should manage.
He looked at the four dishes: Stewed Pig Trotters with Codonopsis, Stir-Fried Lobster, Steamed Emperor Fish, Crispy Chicken.
After one look, Zhang Yang had an idea. Stewed pig trotters—usually only middle-aged women had the patience to make it. So likely from his mother-in-law. He tasted a bite.
The juices were rich, the skin melted in his mouth. Very appetizing.
The stir-fried lobster was perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
Just smelling it made the fingers itch. The steamed fish—tender, fresh, and perfectly salted.
No fishiness at all. The crispy chicken was crunchy when biting into it.
The chicken inside was half-crisp, half-tender—truly the work of a chef.
Damn, were these really cooked by them?
Zhang Yang was speechless. These tasted like dishes made by top chefs. After weeks of eating strange food made by him and Danlu, they finally hired Sister Wang and Sister Qing as cooks. But even their cooking couldn't compare to these four dishes.
"Well? Do you have the results?" All four women asked at once. They weren't competing, but everyone still wanted their cooking acknowledged.
Zhang Yang looked at them. He already had it figured out. Stewed trotters—mother-in-law. Crispy chicken—likely Danying. Lobster—Dantong, who loved seafood. Steamed fish—Lin Yin, the star who had to watch her calories.
"All very good—delicious. Easily star-chef level." Zhang Yang gave a thumbs up.
"We know that. You didn't need to say it." Lin Yin smiled. "Which one is the best? Which is the worst? Say it."
"Do I have to say it?"
"You have to."
"If I get it wrong, don't blame me."
"We won't!"
Zhang Yang heard the four unified voices—determined, but impossible to trust.
"Alright. Best dish—stewed pig trotters. Oily but not greasy, melts in the mouth." He glanced at He Zhen, who indeed looked delighted. Good guess.
"Stir-fried lobster—juicy and perfectly cooked—third place." He glanced at Dantong, who pouted but wasn't too upset.
Now between crispy chicken and steamed fish. No way he could offend Lin Yin again. The crispy chicken was great, but Danying was the safest sacrifice.
"The steamed emperor fish is smooth, not greasy, no fishiness—chef level. Second place." Lin Yin smiled—barely.
"And the crispy chicken?" Xu Maogen asked curiously.
"Crispy chicken… haha…" Zhang Yang winked at Danying—don't blame me.
"It's good, maybe seventy points. But the meat is a bit oily, and see—inside, there's still some blood. Still, good effort. Needs progress next time."
"So it's last place?" Danying frowned.
"Mm." Zhang Yang nodded. Even if you frown, someone has to take last place.
"Zhang Yang!" Lin Yin shot up instantly. Danlu hurriedly pulled her back.
"What do you mean 'blood inside'? What's 'oily'?!"
"Uh…" Zhang Yang looked around. Everyone except Xu Maogen wore an expression of pity.
Damn—did he guess wrong? Impossible. Why was a superstar cooking crispy chicken?
His phone rang—saving his life. It was a special number. Tang Qiqi.
"Zhang Yang, I need you." Tang Qiqi said coldly.
"Need me?" Zhang Yang froze—he'd forgotten she was still at home. And after what he did last night… she was a walking time bomb. "What is it?"
"I need you. Why ask so much?"
Zhang Yang nodded. "Okay, give me twenty minutes. I'm outside."
"Hurry." She hung up immediately.
"Uh… Uncle, Aunt, sorry. I have something urgent. Please enjoy your meal." A perfect excuse to escape Lin Yin's wrath.
"Wait." Lin Yin frowned, still angry. "You haven't explained why my crispy chicken was supposedly bad."
"It's great. Very great." Zhang Yang glanced at the time. He couldn't stay.
"Don't brush me off! Explain or I won't let you go!"
"Fine—I was wrong. Your crispy chicken is the best. I'm leaving. Bye." Zhang Yang grabbed his coat and fled.
"You—!" Lin Yin was truly furious. She chased him to the door. Everyone looked stunned. Luckily, Xu Danlu said, "They just have a small misunderstanding. Let them talk it out."
Zhang Yang heard that and instantly realized Danlu wasn't rescuing him. She must've discovered his lie about dating Lin Yin.
"Uh, Sister Lin Yin…" Zhang Yang grinned awkwardly. "I mean it—your crispy chicken was…" He checked inside—no one listening—then whispered, "actually the best. I swear."
"Too late. I know you're trying to fix it. Didn't you say it was bad? Unless you make a better crispy chicken than mine, you're not leaving. And remember—I have lots of fans. If I get angry, I might say you once tried to peek at me showering…"
"Peeking at you showering? When did I ever do that?" Zhang Yang nearly cried. Seeing her gripping his coat furiously, he believed she might actually make such a claim.
"You tell me."
"Fine, fine! Big superstar, I'm scared of you. Tell me what you want."
"Unless you cook a crispy chicken better than mine…"
"Damn… alright, I promise." He had no choice. The system had advanced cooking skills anyway.
"But what if mine is better than yours?"
"Then our grudge is settled."
"Fine—but then you also have to agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
Zhang Yang looked at her, thought for a moment, and said, "Give me a kiss."
"You—"
"Agree or don't—it's up to you." Zhang Yang pretended to leave, knowing she probably wouldn't accept.