Chapter 645: The Album Recording Starts

First, bake at 200 degrees for about forty minutes. That’s just enough time to make the other dishes. After forty minutes, turn the temperature down to 160 degrees and continue baking for three hours. That will be just right to bake the spring chicken until it’s completely tender.

"Alright, you all can go relax now. I’ll call you when everything’s ready." Now that the other tasks were finished, he no longer needed help from Li Shiqing and the others. Shen Yibin began shooing them out of the kitchen. He then grabbed a knife and spatula and got to work. The clatter of pots and pans, mixed with a variety of tantalizing aromas, drifted out of the room, making the mouths of the girls waiting outside water in anticipation.

"Bin! Bin! What are you making today? Why does it smell so amazing?" After Shen Yibin had been busy for over an hour, a familiar voice suddenly sounded from outside. With a WHIR of wings, Cheeky flew in, already running his mouth. "Well, well, Bin. Did you finally realize how hard I, the great Cheeky, have been working these past few days and decide to make me a delicious treat? Hmm, you’re quite sensible after all. It seems my constant concern for you wasn’t a waste."

’Hey, who’s supposed to be concerned for whom here? Ever since you came to the store, I’ve been the one bending over backwards to get you good food, terrified you weren’t living well. And what do I get in return? You putting me down every single day! Is that how you show concern? I’m not a damn masochist!’ Shen Yibin rolled his eyes and completely ignored the creature.

"Bin, where did you learn to make new dishes this time?" Sun Qian walked in as well, sniffing the air. "Mmm, that smells like West Lake Vinegar Fish. Bin, did you go to Hangzhou?"

"Yeah, I just got back from a trip to Wuyi Mountain and West Lake. I brought back some tea for you all, it’s on the table. Go have some tea with Shi Qing and the others. I just need about ten more minutes in here!" Shen Yibin replied, expertly flipping the contents of his wok.

"Bin, what are you baking in that oven? It smells incredible! Hey! The great Cheeky is asking you a question! Why aren’t you answering?" Cheeky flew right up to the oven, sniffing incessantly. The aroma from the baked yellow mud, mixed with Monkey Wine, was almost too much for him to handle.

"It’s a secret. I’m not telling!" Shen Yibin had finally found the perfect way to get under the bird’s skin. He gave a sly chuckle and refused to elaborate. "Go wait outside. You’ll find out when it’s served."

"Don’t make too much. There’s already more than enough food for us. Bin, you just got back, don’t overdo it." As always, Sun Qian was the considerate one. After a few words of gentle persuasion, she managed to lead Cheeky out of the kitchen.

In no time, all the dishes except for the beggar’s chicken were ready. Shen Yibin emerged from the kitchen carrying a platter of West Lake Longjing Shrimp. "Come on, everyone, try this West Lake Longjing Shrimp! Let’s see how it compares to the Junshan Silver Needle Chicken Slices."

"You’ve worked hard, boss!" Li Shiqing hurried forward to take the platter. "Boss, you go sit down and rest. We can bring out the rest of the food!" With that, Xia Shixuan, Gao Shu, and Xie Nannan all ducked into the kitchen. By the time Shen Yibin had taken just two sips of tea, they had already brought out more than ten dishes, filling the table to the brim.

"Hey, Bin, what happened to that amazing smell from before? You’re not planning on hiding it to eat by yourself, are you?" Cheeky sniffed around the table but couldn’t find the source of that familiar, intoxicating aroma, and immediately started grumbling again.

"That one needs a little more time. For now, let’s eat these!" With a little coaxing from Sun Qian, the noisy creature finally quieted down, happily munching on a shrimp she had given him.

"Here, Hah’Er, let me pick out the bones for you." Li Shiqing picked up a piece of the West Lake Vinegar Fish, meticulously deboned it for Hah’Er, and placed it in his food bowl. Xia Shixuan and Gao Shu quickly followed suit, presenting boneless fish to Xiaoliu and Maphario. The Turtle Immortal, on the other hand, needed no such assistance. Having lived in Dongting Lake for hundreds of years, he had eaten more fish than all these people had seen in their entire lives combined. A few measly fish bones were hardly a challenge for him.

"Bin, whoever marries you is going to be the happiest woman in the world!" Having subsisted on takeout for the past few days, the girls were moved to tears as they once again tasted Shen Yibin’s cooking. They were practically ready to propose on the spot.

"Sigh, I bet Bin’s future wife will end up like Yang Yuhuan. With a husband like him at home, who could possibly watch their weight?" Xia Shixuan had just been talking about her diet, but now her chopsticks were moving faster than anyone else’s. She had already devoured three pieces of Dongpo Pork.

"Bin, when’s that last dish going to be ready? I’m saving room in my stomach especially for it." Now that he’d had a few bites to take the edge off his hunger, Cheeky started nagging again.

"Another half an hour. Be patient. It won’t be any good if it doesn’t cook long enough." Shen Yibin glanced at his watch. It was almost time.

A little less than half the food on the table remained. The girls weren’t completely full, but their chopsticks had noticeably slowed. Their eyes kept darting toward the kitchen, all of them having clearly saved some space to enjoy the special beggar’s chicken made with Monkey Wine.

"Alright, it’s ready!" Shen Yibin finally got up. He removed the large mud ball from the oven, carried it to the table, and cracked it open right in front of them. The instant the mud casing split, an incredibly rich aroma exploded outwards. The girls, who had just been enjoying a feast of delicacies like West Lake Vinegar Fish and West Lake Longjing Shrimp, all gulped simultaneously.

"It smells amazing!" They all craned their necks, chopsticks poised in their right hands, ready to strike.

"Alright, dig in!" Shen Yibin took the beggar’s chicken out of the broken casing and placed it on a clean platter. The words had barely left his mouth before a flurry of chopsticks descended like a downpour of rain.

"Hey, save some for me, Hah’Er, and Xiaoliu!" Shen Yibin hurriedly joined the scramble. Relying on the Swordsmanship he’d learned from Xiaoliu, he managed not to come away empty-handed, successfully snatching a piece for himself, Hah’Er, Xiaoliu, Maphario, and the Turtle Immortal.

The special beggar’s chicken, made with Monkey Wine, was truly incredible—even more delicious than the one Shen Yibin had eaten at a famous old restaurant by West Lake. It was so good that even the bones were fought over and gnawed clean.

"My diet these past few days has been a complete waste," Xia Shixuan sighed contentedly after they had cleaned up the dining table and kitchen. She lay blissfully on the sofa, rubbing her stomach. "But if it means I can eat beggar’s chicken this good, I’d be willing to gain five jin!" She was still savoring the memory of its delicious taste.

"Bin, make two just for me tomorrow, will you?" Cheeky, too, was very satisfied.

"Two of them? You’re not even as big as one of the chickens. You think you can finish two?" Shen Yibin didn’t bother humoring him and turned to Sun Qian instead. "How are the preparations for the new album coming along?"

"The staff and equipment are all set. We can start recording tomorrow!" Sun Qian answered.