Su Ci walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, which was filled with a rich assortment of fruits, vegetables, and meats.
These were all fresh foods purchased by the property management company in the afternoon, and their quality was definitely up to standard.
Su Ci rolled up her sleeves, set aside what was needed for tomorrow's breakfast, and took out everything else.
Becoming an Ancient Martial Artist increases daily energy intake requirements by several orders of magnitude to steadily improve strength. Additionally, if a family is wealthy enough, they also add medicinal herbs to their meals to supplement blood and qi, speeding up the cultivation process.
In her past life, Su Ci had lived alone for a long time and didn't have the heart to spend money on hiring a housekeeper to prepare meals. She also had a passion for gourmet food, so she had developed decent cooking and knife skills. While they couldn't compare to professional chefs, they were enough to meet her needs.
As for the original owner of this body, she also rarely ate out. Usually, Jiang Su took care of her daily life, and she would help out while Jiang Su cooked, so she knew a little bit.
After washing and cutting the various ingredients, Su Ci arranged them into different categories on plates, completing the preparation work.
The kitchen was fully equipped with all kinds of utensils, allowing several dishes to be cooked simultaneously, which saved a lot of time.
Based on the number of people and their needs, Su Ci planned to make five dishes and one soup.
For the pork rib soup, she blanched the ribs with green onions and ginger slices, skimmed off the foam, rinsed them, and put them into a clay pot with red dates and Chinese yam... and... Su Ci took an exquisite gift box from the counter. Resting on the yellow brocade inside was a piece of Ginseng the thickness of an index finger, tied with red thread and speckled with white spots.
This Ginseng wasn't as old as a hundred-year-old one, but it was enough to sustain a dying person for a while.
Of course, if she wanted to use a hundred-year-old one, she could certainly take one out.
However, at their current cultivation level, they wouldn't be able to fully absorb the benefits of hundred-year-old medicinal herbs, so it would be somewhat wasteful.
She carefully took out the Ginseng and placed the whole root into the pot to simmer on high heat. This ensured the full medicinal properties of the Ginseng were preserved. For an Ancient Martial Artist, this was the moment the soup truly gained its soul.
To balance the flavors, Su Ci thoughtfully added a little honey.
After it boiled, she turned the heat down to a low simmer.
As for the other dishes, there was pan-seared steak, which Su Ci thoughtfully cut into small pieces after cooking for easier eating before drizzling it with sauce; a dish of braised pork belly that looked fatty and succulent; a steamed sea bass; a honey-glazed roasted chicken; and a vegetable salad for a balanced meal.
To make the dishes look more high-end, Su Ci didn't forget about the plating and color coordination.
This wasn't the result of her efforts alone; Jiang Su and Wanting had already showered and were helping her out.
Looking at the dishes that excelled in color, aroma, and taste, Jiang Su gave Su Ci a thumbs up: "Wow, it smells so good! As expected of Miss, even your cooking is superb. If I'd known, I would've had you cook for me long ago."
Wanting remarked with sincere admiration, "Just looking at the presentation and smelling the aroma, it's no less impressive than a five-star restaurant."
To be honest, most children from wealthy families, including herself, had never lifted a finger in the kitchen. If the food they made was even presentable, it was considered good. Su Ci's ability to reach this level truly deserved praise.
Hearing their words, Su Ci felt a bit embarrassed. Whether in her past life or as the original owner of this body, this was the first time she had cooked for others.
"Give it a taste and see if it's to your liking."
Jiang Su and the other girl were very supportive, taking two pairs of chopsticks from the cupboard, one for each of them.
Jiang Su picked up a piece of braised pork belly and brought it to her mouth. The meat had a bright, enticing luster, with layers of fat and lean meat coated in a thick sauce. She popped it into her mouth.
The flavor of the braised pork bloomed in her mouth. She closed her eyes to savor this rare delicacy (mainly because it was made by the Eldest Miss, which was worth a like).
There was a hint of anticipation and nervousness in Su Ci's eyes. Her throat moved as she swallowed, and her breathing slowed; she was a bit worried about whether her cooking would suit their tastes.
Jiang Su slowly opened her eyes and commented, "This braised pork is fatty but not greasy, lean but not tough. It's soft and tender with a gelatinous smoothness, and the balance of salty and sweet is perfect. It's amazing."
Then she hugged Su Ci from behind, resting her head on Su Ci's shoulder. "Miss, how about you cook for me for the rest of my life?"
Having received a satisfying review, Su Ci's heart settled quite a bit. She pulled out a tissue and pressed it against Jiang Su's mouth. "Your Miss still needs to make money!"
Jiang Su took the tissue and wiped her oily lips, looking a bit disappointed at those words.
Does this mean I won't have the chance to taste Miss's cooking in the future?
Then I must eat my fill today.
Su Ci added, "When I have time, I definitely will."
The disappointment that hadn't even fully set in vanished with a smile. She gave Su Ci a loud peck on the cheek. "Yay!"
After the surprise attack at the mall at noon, Su Ci accepted it more naturally this time. Then she watched as Wanting picked up a piece of steamed sea bass and put it in her mouth. "These dishes were made according to my and Sister Su's tastes. If they don't suit you, I can make some adjustments now."
"No need, the taste is excellent. This steamed sea bass is tender and smooth, with a fresh and delicious aroma. It's top-tier among anything I've ever eaten."
After saying that, Wanting glanced at Su Ci, then at Jiang Su.
Closing her eyes, she decided to follow the local custom and gave Su Ci another loud peck on her other cheek.
This kiss was a bit oily, but Su Ci didn't mind.
Getting their approval for her cooking, her heart finally settled. If it hadn't suited their tastes, it would have been a waste of food.
Handing Wanting a tissue as well, Su Ci took a spice jar from the kitchen counter. Inside was powder made from aged Lingzhi. She sprinkled it evenly over the five dishes, its effect being the same as the Ginseng. "Get ready, we're eating soon."
The dishes had just been brought to the dining table.
"Ding-dong!"
The doorbell rang from outside.
"Coming!"
Jiang Su called out and went to open the door. Seeing that the visitor was Qin Shiyao, who was carrying a suitcase, she said, "Welcome, Miss Qin."
She took the luggage from Qin Shiyao's hand and placed a pair of slippers specifically prepared for Qin Shiyao on the floor from the shoe rack.
Even as an Inspector, Qin Shiyao couldn't help but look a bit constrained as she put on the slippers and walked in.
Su Ci also adopted the demeanor of a proper host. She stood up with a warm smile and extended an invitation, "Welcome, Miss Qin. Thank you for staying with us. I've just finished making dinner; would you like to have some?"