Chapter 61: Sang Qingye's Friend

"Boss, Miss Sang, the wine has finished breathing. Shall I pour it for you now?" Zhou Xiaobai approached, carrying the decanted wine.

"Go ahead. The 1982 Lafite has a nice flavor. Would you like a glass yourself?" Xiao Yao asked casually.

"I'll have a chance another time. I won't intrude today." When the boss was in a good mood, Zhou Xiaobai dared to joke with him, but she would never disrupt him when he was wooing a lady. She had that much discernment.

After Zhou Xiaobai left, Sang Qingye said, "At last, I get to taste the legendary 1982 Lafite. Thank you, Young Master Xiao."

"If you have time, come by more often. There will be even more new dishes waiting for you to try. Besides the 1982 Lafite, I also have 1982 Latour, 1982 Haut-Brion, 1982 Margaux, 1982 Mouton Rothschild, and so on. If you enjoy wine, you'll have the chance to savor them all."

"Only the wealthy could have such temptations for wine lovers! Luckily, I'm not one," Sang Qingye said with a playful wink. "But of course, if given the chance, I'd be delighted to taste your precious collection."

"Today is our first lunch together since we met. Thank you for all the promotion you've given my little restaurant these past days. Cheers!" Xiao Yao took a deep breath of the wine's aroma, elegantly swirled his glass, gestured to Sang Qingye, and took the first sip.

"To eat dishes you've cooked yourself and to taste the legendary 1982 Lafite—coming to Xunwei Zhai for a livestream was absolutely worth it. No need for formalities; now I want to savor this and see what the 1982 Lafite truly tastes like."

Although Sang Qingye had never tasted the 1982 Lafite, as a food streamer, she had a fair understanding of wine.

Château Lafite is located in the village of Pauillac in Medoc, belonging to the mysterious trillion-dollar Rothschild family. It was ranked Premier Cru Classé in the 1855 classification, and its wine was once hailed as "the king's wine." The Rothschild family emblem is five broken arrows, symbolizing "brotherly unity is as strong as steel," and this mark appears on the packaging of the family's wine brands.

The total production of the 1982 Lafite was around 200,000 bottles, making it one of the most renowned wines in the local market.

As a gourmet streamer, Sang Qingye was naturally very curious about this wine. Now, finally tasting it herself, she felt truly excited.

She took a deep breath of its aroma.

At first, the fragrance of this wine was not very pronounced. With patience and time, it gradually released a rich and pleasant scent reminiscent of a cigar box. Its fruit flavor evolved from a tight blackcurrant to a softer wild strawberry, mingling with aromas of cedar and licorice.

Lifting her glass, she took a small sip, letting the wine linger on her tongue before swallowing.

The aftertaste carried a hint of menthol. The style wasn't particularly concentrated or robust, but each mouthful revealed something new. This, perhaps, was the hallmark of Château Lafite's wine.

The two savored the wine worth seventy to eighty thousand yuan, enjoying Xiao Yao's personally prepared Hero's Banquet, chatting and laughing in a warm, relaxed atmosphere.

After the meal, Sang Qingye patted her stomach and said, "Compared to this bottle of 1982 Lafite, I actually find your Hero's Banquet even more tempting. The Lafite is famous, yes, but after tasting it, I think it's just alright—far below my expectations."

"But your Hero's Banquet is different. Every dish is truly delicious. If one could afford it, to eat like this is real enjoyment," Sang Qingye remarked sincerely.

"Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to set such high prices."

"You really aren't modest at all."

"Those with true skill have no need for modesty."

As they spoke, a voice suddenly sounded beside Sang Qingye. "Qingye, I knew you'd still be here. I rushed over, afraid you'd leave."

Sang Qingye turned to see her loyal fan and real-life best friend, Gu Weiwei. "You really came? Why are you so free today?"

"Qingye, let me introduce you to my friends: He Jiayi and Zhao Weidong."

After the introductions, Gu Weiwei continued, "I'm hosting today and was fretting over which restaurant to pick. When I saw you livestreaming the Hero's Banquet, I didn't hesitate and came straight over."

"I said during the stream, didn't I? Their Hero's Banquet hasn't officially launched yet. You're a bit too eager," Sang Qingye said helplessly.

Gu Weiwei turned to Xiao Yao, greeting him with familiarity. "Young Master Xiao, I'm Qingye's loyal fan and best friend. To be honest, I'm here to mooch a meal. Qingye's Hero's Banquet stream made my mouth water. I knew I don't have Qingye's kind of pull, but if you're not willing to cook for me, I'd be happy just to taste some leftover soup from the banquet. You wouldn't begrudge me even the soup, would you?"

Gu Weiwei looked to be in her twenties. Though her beauty didn't quite match Sang Qingye's, she was still striking. She was straightforward and energetic, and Xiao Yao found her rather likable.

"You make yourself sound so pitiful—how could I refuse? My customers don't get such treatment, but Qingye's friends must." Since Gu Weiwei was Sang Qingye's best friend, Xiao Yao couldn't possibly say no.

"I'll have the staff clear the table. I'll cook quickly, so you'll only need to wait a moment." After calling over the staff, Xiao Yao left to prepare.

For Sang Qingye's friends, Xiao Yao wasn't as meticulous, choosing a few simple and quick dishes. They were soon ready.

He prepared four dishes and a soup: Double Poultry with Cabbage, Bamboo Shoots with Shrimp, Jade Fish Balls, Dragon Well Tea Chicken, and Good Match Soup.

Of course, the portions were generous—enough for three or four people.

When the dishes were served, Gu Weiwei exclaimed, "You really cook fast! Qingye was right—every dish is like a perfect work of art, making it hard to start eating."

"It's just that your prices are ruthless—five to ten thousand per person for each set. You'd better quote me the prices for these dishes so I can see if I've brought enough money," Gu Weiwei said, making it clear she wasn't here for a free meal.

PS: Thanks to Mo Kan Yan Qian for the generous rewards!