Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

Yan Xian's face turned even uglier, and seeing everyone's reactions, he was almost in tears.

Having lived for so many years, this was the first time he had ever encountered such an embarrassing situation.

This is a group of famous scholars and literati; they should be enjoying the fragrance of flowers, the chirping of birds, and the sound of zithers while composing poems in the peach grove.

But now I have to smell this stinky odor.

This smell is absolutely destructive to any atmosphere!

Grandpa Yan was still looking around, sniffing the air, trying to find the source of the stench.

Yan Xian couldn't bear to look. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and stammered, "Grandpa, I bought... one hundred portions..."

"...Stinky tofu..."

???

"What is that??" Old Master Yan felt like his ears were broken.

"Stinky tofu," Yan Xian repeated.

Old Master Yan frowned even more, his expression filled with confusion.

What is stinky tofu?

"Didn't I tell you to buy the Four Delicacies Soup?"

"Madam Shen has switched to selling stinky tofu..."

Old Master Yan's eyes widened even more. What did he mean by "switching to selling stinky tofu"?

Why sell this stinky stuff when you can just sell the perfectly good Four Delicacies Soup?

Lady Shen has gone mad.

"Madam Shen said that this thing smells bad but tastes delicious..." Yan Xian explained in a low voice, he was terrified at the moment.

I had a feeling that the old man was angry, really angry.

"Smells bad but tastes good...smells bad but tastes good..." Old Master Yan murmured.

But inside, I couldn't help but cry: If it smells bad, then it's not elegant!

Ah—his Four Delicacies Soup!

"Old Master Yan, where is that refined thing you mentioned? Let everyone see it quickly." Someone couldn't help but cover their nose and run over to urge him.

They genuinely wanted to see just how "refined" something truly was.

"Yeah, let everyone see this. This place doesn't feel safe anymore. After you've seen your fancy stuff, let's all head out."

Some people have already reached their breaking point.

Zhongli also came over and said, "Hurry up and bring out the Four Delicacies Soup so everyone can see it."

Grandpa Yan stood there, frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.

Does he really not want to take it? If he does, it'll probably smell even worse!

Good heavens, how did things turn out like this?

"Master, this is Madam Shen's new product. With Madam Shen's skills..." Yan Xian whispered, trying to persuade her.

The veins on Old Master Yan's forehead throbbed. He gritted his teeth, steeled his resolve, and ordered, "Take it!"

He'd already said it, and there were so many people around; he couldn't very well sheepishly admit he didn't have it.

Moreover, Yan Xian had already brought things with him.

Anyway... that's it. What's common is also elegant!

Old Master Yan simply gave up.

Upon hearing this, Yan Xian breathed a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and hurriedly ordered his servants to take down the hundred portions of stinky tofu from the carriage.

"Ugh! Why does the stench smell even stronger?" Zhongli exclaimed first. "Hey? Where's the Four Beauties Soup? What's in this oil paper package? It looks so greasy."

Old Master Yan declared confidently, "This oil-paper package contains today's delicacy—stinky tofu!"

"What? Stinky tofu? This smell isn't from your stinky tofu, is it??" Zhong Li was so shocked that his mouth dropped open.

We had clearly agreed to use Four Delicacies Soup to celebrate today, but how did it turn into Stinky Tofu?

Qin Muzhi frowned slightly, his gaze towards Old Master Yan filled with skepticism: "Stinky tofu?"

"Yes! Stinky tofu smells terrible but tastes delicious—extremely stinky, yet incredibly refined!"

Old Master Yan said this with a heavy heart.

He then turned to Yan Xian and instructed, "Quickly, distribute this stinky tofu to everyone, let everyone taste it, savor it, and experience the elegance of stinky tofu."

"It would be even better if some renowned scholar could compose a poem for it."

As he spoke, an awkward smile crept onto his lips.

Yan Xian nodded repeatedly and quickly distributed the stinky tofu to everyone.

One person can get three servings of stinky tofu!

The scholars had interesting expressions. They all frowned at the stinky tofu, full of doubt, and some even wanted to throw it away, but they didn't dare to offend Old Master Yan.

So they all stood frozen in the spring breeze, holding their stinky tofu.

"Quick, try it, try it!"

Old Master Yan also brought a portion, but the smell was so overpowering that he didn't dare put it in his mouth.

After a long pause, someone finally couldn't help but raise a question:

"This stuff smells so bad, could it have gone bad?"

"Yeah, it smells awful! Is it really edible? Don't lie to us!"

"Old Yan, are you trying to mess with us? Can you really eat that much? Why don't you demonstrate first?"

"Yes, Mr. Yan, please demonstrate!"

"....,.."

In an instant, Old Master Yan was lifted up by the crowd.

He got this stuff; if he lets others eat it, he can't refuse to eat it himself.

It felt like being roasted over a fire.

After a long while, he finally mustered up the courage to pick up a piece and slowly put it in his mouth.

That smell still lingers in my nose.

Surprisingly, the tofu didn't smell bad when you tasted it.

The first sensation is the spiciness of the chili oil, like a needle piercing straight onto the tip of your tongue.

Then comes the pungent aroma of garlic, bursting forth and irresistibly drawing all attention.

Surprisingly, Old Master Yan thought it was not bad.

He couldn't help but bite down with his teeth.

The bubbly outer shell bursts open between your lips and teeth, releasing the aroma of roasted beans, the salty fragrance of sauce, and the sweetness of rapeseed oil.

The shell broke, and my tongue touched the tofu core inside.

It's soft and tender, like a baby's cheek; it melts in your mouth with just a touch of your tongue, no chewing required.

At this moment, the tofu's sweet flavor emerges, a simple and honest taste.

With a few gentle chews, the spicy red oil, crispy outer shell, and tender tofu core all come together, and even the unique smell of stinky tofu transforms into a pleasant aroma.

A fragrance that I can't quite describe.

Old Master Yan was shocked and stood there dumbfounded.

Having lived to such an old age, he had never eaten anything like this before.

It smells awful, but it tastes incredibly delicious!

It's absolutely astonishing.

"Oh dear, if it really stinks, don't eat it. Just spit it out. Don't torture yourself," Zhongli couldn't help but say from the side.

He thought that the stinky tofu was too awful and smelly, which was why Old Master Yan was staring blankly.

I felt extremely regretful.

Four Delicacies Soup was so good, why did they change it to stinky tofu?

But the next moment, it was Zhong Li's turn to be stunned.

Grandpa Yan didn't say a word, just kept stuffing pieces of stinky tofu into his mouth without stopping.

It was as if he hadn't eaten for eight or ten days.

That appearance was so extreme that even calling him a reincarnated starving ghost was an understatement.

Zhong Li stared wide-eyed, inwardly thinking:

Old man Yan Shu is really pushing himself too hard!

Just to save face, you keep stuffing that stinky stuff into your mouth?

This is absolutely terrible!