Yelan left Xinyue Kiosk. Instead of returning directly home to rest, he strolled toward a nearby Bookshop.
"a bite of liyue"... he silently pondered the title.
Ningguang's seemingly casual teasing had indeed cast a small stone into his heart. A cookbook capable of leading the trends of Liyue's top restaurants, yet its author remained outside his vast intelligence network—this was a detail worth pondering.
After a little inquiry, he learned where the book was sold and easily found Sanyu Bookstore.
Standing at the entrance of the Bookshop, Yelan's eyes flickered slightly. Here again. The works of that mysterious "Lovia" had also spread from this place.
He walked into the Bookshop. Seeing the promotion for the book at the entrance and the steady stream of customers (including many buyers for restaurants or private chefs), Yelan's eyes moved slightly.
However, he maintained that lazy yet detached demeanor, directly asking the Shop Assistant for "a bite of liyue."
"You've asked the right person, guest!" the Shop Assistant introduced enthusiastically. "This set has been very popular lately. It's divided into two volumes, 'Part One' and 'Part Two.' It's written by a great chef named 'Housewife Cook,' and the content is all-encompassing and absolutely exquisite!"
This pen name sounded simple and unpretentious, even carrying a hint of self-deprecation.
Yelan readily bought both volumes. While paying, he asked the Shop Assistant as if nonchalantly, "The author of this book sounds a bit mysterious. Did they also submit it anonymously, like Mr. Lovia?"
The Shop Assistant was busy but seemed accustomed to such inquiries, putting on a practiced smile. "Yes, guest. These writers are all hidden masters, mysterious and elusive. Even the manager hasn't seen the person themselves."
As expected.
Yelan wasn't surprised. There were many writers in Liyue who valued privacy; Zhenyu was an example.
Holding the two simply bound books, he left Sanyu Bookstore and found a quiet private room in a nearby teahouse, preparing to read.
He first opened "a bite of liyue, Part One."
The preface was written in elegant language, conveying a sincere love for Liyue's cuisine.
Continuing to the main text, from "boiled cabbage in clear broth" to "Wenxin Tofu," and then to various meats and home-cooked dishes, the description of each dish was meticulous, with sophisticated techniques and clear concepts.
Especially the extraction of the "essence" of cooking, which truly revealed the author's profound culinary insights and writing skills.
Although Yelan didn't have much interest in cooking itself, he appreciated any "craft" done with complete devotion. The author of this book clearly had deep mastery and passion for the culinary arts, far from being an ordinary person.
"Solid foundation, unique insights," he judged in his heart. "But... that's all."
An excellent cookbook might be worth the pursuit of Xinyue Kiosk's chefs, but it wasn't enough to cause him excessive alarm or curiosity. He began to feel that he might be being too sensitive; it seemed Ningguang's teasing was for nothing.
Out of an intelligence officer's habit, he still picked up "a bite of liyue, part two" with a bit of listlessness.
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