The Grand Banquet of Heroes

Xiao Yao smiled and said, “Of course I’m going to cook for you myself. You’ve helped me so much; I have to show my gratitude in a grand way.”

“It is rather grand. For someone like you, Young Master Xiao, to personally cook a few dishes—why, that’s even rarer than inviting someone to a five-star restaurant for a lavish meal,” Sang Qingye thought to herself with a trace of secret delight.

Although she was determined to keep her distance from Xiao Yao and not develop any improper feelings, having such an outstanding man cook for her was naturally something to be pleased and a little proud about.

After Xiao Yao left, Sang Qingye couldn’t wait to start her livestream, eager to share her excitement with all her viewers.

Xiao Yao was now extremely popular in Qingye’s streaming channel. Whether it was for his looks or his wealth, whether out of envy or jealousy, every mention of him sparked a flurry of discussion.

When Sang Qingye announced during the livestream that the distinguished Young Master Xiao was going to cook for her himself, her male viewers immediately declared that the rich playboy must be up to no good and warned her to beware of food poisoning. The female viewers, on the other hand, were green with envy, wishing they could take her place.

As Xiao Yao entered the kitchen, he first surveyed the available ingredients, considering which dishes to prepare.

He glanced around and discovered, to his surprise, that there were even roe deer legs and wild rabbit among the supplies.

“Dahai, you really have all sorts of ingredients in here—there’s nothing you don’t have,” Xiao Yao exclaimed.

Qin Dahai was a short, chubby man with a simple, honest demeanor and not much for words. He scratched the back of his head, slightly embarrassed, and said, “Now that our restaurant, Xunwei Zhai, has become an internet sensation, Manager Zhou asked me to come up with some visually appealing new dishes. You know how much I enjoy experimenting, so I stocked up on a variety of ingredients. When I have free time, I try out new recipes. I’m actually quite frugal with my experiments—even if a dish doesn’t turn out well, we never waste it; everyone loves eating them.”

Xiao Yao quickly reassured him, “I’m not blaming you at all. And you don’t have to be so stingy. Innovation in cuisine, just like in science, comes at a price—it’s the cost of progress. If you need anything for your culinary experiments, just tell procurement. I’ll fully support you.”

“I just like experimenting with new dishes, but I worry about wastage. With your support, I feel much more at ease,” Qin Dahai replied with a grin.

“I’m planning to cook a few dishes myself today. You can watch and learn—if you get the hang of it, we’ll have some signature dishes for Xunwei Zhai,” Xiao Yao said, intending to use the opportunity to teach Qin Dahai a thing or two.

Qin Dahai looked at him in surprise. “That confident? Did you study under a master during your trip to the capital?”

Having been roommates with Xiao Yao for a while, Qin Dahai was familiar with his cooking skills—not quite as good as his own, but still respectable. Now, hearing Xiao Yao’s confident tone, his curiosity was piqued.

“You could say that. I’m more than qualified to teach you now. You’ll see soon enough.”

As Xiao Yao spoke, he began to prepare the ingredients. Seeing him take out roe deer leg and start slicing rabbit meat, Qin Dahai asked curiously, “What dish are you planning to make?”

“Have you ever read ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes’?”

“Of course I have! I graduated from junior high, after all—not exactly illiterate.”

“I’m going to make a few dishes mentioned in ‘The Legend of the Condor Heroes.’ The one I’m preparing now is called ‘Whose Jade Flute Is That, Listening to the Falling Plum Blossoms,’” Xiao Yao replied offhandedly.

“I know that dish!” Qin Dahai perked up. “But wasn’t that just a fictional creation in the novel? Can it really be made in real life?”

“Of course it can. In fact, as early as the 1970s, Hong Kong held a ‘Legend of the Condor Heroes Feast.’ Although, in my opinion, the results weren’t very successful, many have made the attempt.”

Xiao Yao then shared some knowledge about the Condor Heroes Feast.

The “Condor Heroes Feast” was first developed in the 1970s by Yung Kee Restaurant and the food critic Chua Lam, who collaborated on the menu. To date, four establishments in Hong Kong have hosted the feast.

The most famous version of the menu features eight dishes.

Among these eight, “Moonlit Night on the Twenty-Four Bridges” and “Good Match Soup” are directly mentioned in the novel, with their preparation faithfully recreated. The remaining six are inspired by the book and given creative twists. These are named: “Mastery of All Directions,” “Five Delicacies as Agile as Swimming Dragons,” “Qigong’s Lotus-Scented Beggar’s Chicken,” “Three Friends Gather in Winter,” “Mandarin Duck Brocade Handkerchiefs Longing to Fly,” and “Peach Blossom Dew with Orchid Fragrance.”

After this brief introduction, Xiao Yao continued, “The dish I’m making now is ‘Whose Jade Flute Is That, Listening to the Falling Plum Blossoms.’ Its preparation is simple, but making it well is extremely difficult. Since the novel’s publication, countless master chefs and gourmets have tried to recreate it, but none have truly succeeded.”

The method for “Whose Jade Flute Is That, Listening to the Falling Plum Blossoms” is not complicated. The dish combines lamb rump, pig’s ear, veal kidney, roe deer leg, and rabbit meat into a bowl of grilled meat strips. Each type of meat offers a unique flavor when chewed alone, and each pair of meats yields a different taste combination. With five types of meat, there are twenty-five possible pairings, echoing the five-petal pattern of plum blossoms. The meat strips are shaped like little flutes, hence the dish’s poetic name.

While the method appears straightforward, it is nearly impossible to achieve the effect described in the novel, where each bite reveals a new flavor—rich and tender, crisp and refreshing, a symphony of tastes and textures.

Many have tried to replicate this dish, but all have fallen short of the ideal, never quite reaching the heights described in the story.

Yet Xiao Yao managed to turn the impossible into reality, presenting the dish in its original, authentic glory.

Watching Xiao Yao’s effortless, graceful movements, Qin Dahai could hardly believe his eyes! Xiao Yao’s cooking was always good, but not better than his own. Now, however, his knife skills were simply breathtaking, and every move was a pleasure to behold.

When the dish was plated, Qin Dahai couldn’t wait to sample the extra portion of grilled meat strips.

After just one bite, he was utterly conquered by the flavors. His face was one of pure rapture as he exclaimed, “This is absolutely delicious! I’ve never tasted anything so unforgettable in my life!”

Xiao Yao reminded him, “Think carefully about the key points I just explained. From now on, this dish will be our restaurant’s signature.”