Chapter 307 The Allure of Food

"And that, scallop and vermicelli casserole, wow, it's so fresh, fragrant and delicious, you should try it."

"And that braised pork ribs... I couldn't resist sneaking a bite, and I've never had such delicious pork ribs in my life!"

While praising him, Zhou Qiao served Zhou Sihai food, and in the blink of an eye, the plate was piled high with dishes.

"Alright, alright, I can grab it myself." Zhou Sihai said with a headache, "Don't say anything more, it's making your grandpa's brain explode."

Zhou Qiao stuck out her tongue: "Okay, I won't say anything, then you eat quickly."

The old man glanced at Kong Wange, then at Zhou Qiao, and, adhering to the principle that good food is no crime, picked up his chopsticks.

He took a bite of the sea bass, and his eyes immediately lit up.

Cooking fish well is truly a skill; if not handled properly, it will be fishy, ​​and if the heat is not right, it will affect the taste. How long to steam, what seasonings to add, how much to add, and the steps to remove the fishy smell are all important.

My granddaughter usually cooks, but it's all home-style dishes. She cooks the same few dishes over and over again, and the amount of seasoning varies, so her cooking skills are very inconsistent.

If we encounter a dish that's even slightly difficult, we just give up.

At this moment, as he tasted this long-awaited sea bass, an inexplicable sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart, causing him to let out a long sigh.

"How is it? Not bad, right?" Zhou Qiao asked with a smile.

Zhou Sihai opened his eyes and realized he had gone a bit too far. He cleared his throat and pretended to be calm: "Well, it's so-so. I'll try something else."

He then took another bite of the scallop and vermicelli casserole, which tasted excellent, especially with the addition of minced garlic. The spicy and savory flavor was so intense that it sent shivers down his spine. He couldn't resist picking up another one and ate four or five scallops in one go before turning his attention to the braised pork ribs next to him.

The braised pork ribs tasted different each time.

The meat is tender and smooth, and every bite is soaked in the broth. It is also coated with a layer of delicate sesame seeds, which complement each other and give the taste buds a great sense of satisfaction.

When Zhou Sihai ate this bite of meat, he was even overwhelmed with a feeling of having no regrets in this life.

For the next period of time, Zhou Sihai only focused on eating and didn't say a word else.

Kong Wange and Zhou Qiao saw this, exchanged a glance, and revealed a reassured expression.

Sure enough, half an hour later, there was very little food left on the table. Zhou Sihai put away his chopsticks, sat down on the stool, and let out a satisfied burp.

Kong Wange smiled and stepped forward: "Uncle Zhou, how was the meal? Are you satisfied?"

Zhou Sihai, with his eyes closed, hummed in agreement: "It'll do."

In fact, it was more than just passable; this meal was arguably the most satisfying he had ever had since entering the Imperial Academy.

He just couldn't make any promises too confidently, lest the brat trick him.

After all, you're obligated to someone who feeds you.

Kong Wange handed him a glass of water at the right moment: "Uncle Zhou, this is water made with hawthorn and honey. It helps with digestion and cuts through the greasiness. Would you like some?"

Zhou Sihai slightly opened his eyes and glanced at Kong Wange.

A moment later, he reached out and took it.

The hawthorn honey water had a refreshing, sweet and sour taste. Zhou Sihai smacked his lips and looked at her, "You also added jasmine?"

Kong Wange nodded and smiled, "Qiaoqiao said that your stomach is not very good and you can't eat anything too sour. I was afraid that just adding honey would be too sweet, so I added some jasmine powder to neutralize the spiciness of hawthorn. Jasmine itself can also relieve depression and regulate qi, and can also promote digestion."

Zhou Sihai glanced at her without saying a word, then finished the cup of tea a moment later and put it on the table.

With a soft "click," Kong Wange's heart skipped a beat.

Zhou Qiao, standing next to him, was equally nervous, her big eyes fixed on the old man.

Zhou Sihai glanced at Kong Wange, then at Zhou Qiao, and after a long while, he snorted coldly: "Alright, where's your task sheet? Give it to me."

Is this to give her academic credits?

Hearing this, Kong Wange's smile finally eased a lot. Indeed, good food wins people's hearts!

Instead of handing the grade sheet to Zhou Sihai, she sat up straight and said with a determined look in her eyes, "Uncle Zhou, I don't need you to give me credits. I want you to do me another favor, is that alright?"

Zhou Sihai paused slightly, then said with a raised tone, "Oh, I knew it. It's not like I could ask you to go to so much trouble just for a few credits. So, what's the favor?"

The tension that had just subsided was beginning to resurface, and Kong Wange said with an awkward smile, "I want you to help me identify a type of poison."

As soon as the words were spoken, the air fell silent.

A few seconds later, just as Zhou Qiao was hesitating whether to break the deadlock, Zhou Sihai suddenly spoke up.

The relaxed and carefree look in his eyes during dinner vanished, replaced by a sharp edge. His piercing gaze fixed on Kong Wange: "You little devil, I can give you the credits, but I'm afraid I can't help you with this. This old man's medical skills are meager; you'd better find someone more capable."

Zhou Qiao pouted and said, "Grandpa, don't be modest, please help Sister Kong."

Zhou Hai glanced at Zhou Qiao coldly on Thursday.

Zhou Qiao didn't dare to speak.

Kong Wange looked directly at Zhou Sihai and calmly said, "Uncle Zhou, Master Qin... he was poisoned by the Hundred Insect Powder, right? Although my understanding of poisons is not profound, I know that this kind of poison is very difficult to cure. However, I saw that your technique of using acupuncture to suppress the poison was very skillful, which made me judge that your research on poisons must be quite advanced, so I dared to ask you to help me identify it..."

This was the story she had just discussed with Qiaoqiao in the kitchen.

The old man didn't want his identity as a poison doctor to be known, so she only spoke of her speculations and didn't mention the matter of being a poison doctor.

To dispel Zhou Sihai's doubts, Kong Wange took a deep breath and continued, "To be honest, besides you, I have also asked many other people for help, but unfortunately, none of them have yielded any results. The person who was poisoned is a very good friend of mine, and I don't want to give up any opportunity to find out the truth, so please take a look. Even if you can't figure it out, it doesn't matter."

Kong Wange didn't want to publicize her investigation into the drug, so she only said that her friend had been poisoned and didn't reveal the truth.

After she finished speaking, Zhou Sihai remained silent, but his expression softened somewhat.

Seeing this, Zhou Qiao, who was standing nearby, boldly chimed in, "Grandpa, please help Sister Kong identify it. Look how many dishes she cooked for you today. She deserves credit for her hard work, even if she didn't do anything special. Besides, Sister Kong has consulted so many experts who couldn't figure out the poison. Don't you want to see her?"

These words really hit Zhou Sihai right.

His entire life's interests have revolved around drugs, and Zhou Qiao's provocation has really piqued his interest.

Zhou Sihai's gaze swept over Kong Wange, and after a while, he relaxed and returned to his usual unserious state: "Hmph, for Qiao'er's sake, tell me what you know, but I can't guarantee that I know it all."

After Zhou Sihai finished speaking, Kong Wange breathed a sigh of relief and then told Zhou Sihai what her mother looked like when she saw her.