Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Grand Banquet of Manchu and Han
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Manchu-Han Imperial Feast
The employees stared at each other in disbelief, frozen in place.
“The Manchu-Han Imperial Feast? Did I hear that right?” Liu Xiaoyan asked.
Zhang Da Chui looked bewildered and shook his head. “I have no idea.”
Everyone else seemed equally stunned, unable to believe their ears.
Shi Bai, exasperated, turned back and repeated himself, “That’s right, it’s the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast—the very one Empress Dowager Cixi used to eat. Manchu, Han, Imperial, Feast!”
The presidential suite instantly erupted.
“Damn! It’s real! Unbelievable!”
“I can’t believe I’m actually going to eat the legendary Manchu-Han Imperial Feast!”
“Am I dreaming?!”
“Hey, honey! Yes, I’m telling you, my boss is treating me to the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast!”
…
Shi Bai smiled faintly and led everyone downstairs to the restaurant.
The lobby manager, upon hearing Shi Bai’s request for the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, wasn’t particularly surprised; she was already familiar with Shi Bai’s extravagant ways. After all, someone who could open a company in the presidential suite was capable of anything.
The Manchu-Han Imperial Feast was a palace banquet during the Qing dynasty, showcasing both the unique qualities of court cuisine and the essence of regional flavors, highlighting the special characteristics of Manchu and Han dishes. Barbecue, hotpot, and shabu-shabu were essential, along with the hallmark techniques of Han cuisine—braising, frying, stir-frying, sautéing, roasting—all combined, making it a treasure of Chinese culinary culture and its highest expression.
The feast typically featured at least one hundred and eight dishes, with fifty-four from the south and fifty-four from the north, consumed over three days. Dishes ranged from savory to sweet, meat to vegetarian, with a wide variety of ingredients and meticulous preparation, encompassing everything from mountain delicacies to seafood.
The dishes were refined, the etiquette elaborate, and the feast formed a distinct, eye-catching style. Before seating, aromatic incense was presented, along with tea and hand bowls; the table was adorned with four fresh fruits, four dried fruits, four ornamental fruits, and four preserved fruits. After seating, cold dishes were served first, followed by hot stir-fried dishes, main courses, and sweets, each arriving in order. The feast consisted of six banquets, each named after famous imperial banquets of the Qing court.
A collection of renowned Manchu and Han dishes, seasonal seafood, rare mountain ingredients, and exotic meats—all told, the feast included one hundred ninety-six cold and hot dishes, one hundred twenty-four pastries and teas, totaling three hundred twenty offerings.
The meal was served with a complete set of pastel porcelain longevity tableware, complemented by silverware, creating an atmosphere of opulent elegance and dignified antiquity. Master musicians were specially invited to play classical music during the feast, carrying on the refined traditions, with strict and dignified etiquette, embodying traditional virtues and offering royal service, leaving guests reluctant to depart.
After the feast, one could truly appreciate the depth and sophistication of Chinese culinary arts, the profound origins of its food culture, and enjoy the ultimate in the spirit of all things.
Though the original feast was meant to be eaten over three days, this group polished it off in one—whatever couldn’t be finished was packed up, and the employees were utterly delighted.
“Oh dear! It’s all Shi Bai’s fault,” Liu Xiaoyan joked after the meal, reclining in her chair. “Now that we’ve eaten the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast, how are we supposed to appreciate ordinary food anymore?”
Everyone burst into laughter. Liu Dafeng said, “You’re such a character! Getting a good thing and still complaining! Next time the boss throws a party, he won’t invite you.”
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Liu Xiaoyan quickly protested, “No way! I’m counting on Shi Bai to take us around the world!”
The group erupted in laughter once more.
Shi Bai said, “Don’t worry. As long as you stick with me, I guarantee you’ll eat well and drink fine.”
The employees quickly applauded. “We’ll hold you to that!”
After the meal, everyone’s stomachs were round as balls. Even though they only had a bite of each dish, a hundred and eight dishes added up to a veritable mountain of food.
After the feast, everyone went home. Shi Bai lay in the bathroom of the presidential suite, calculating how he’d finish the task tomorrow.
The Manchu-Han Imperial Feast had cost a hundred thousand, leaving him with one hundred fifty thousand. The second volume of “Zhang Dog’s Adventures” was finished, and all he needed was to spend another hundred fifty thousand to publish it. The task of losing a million would then be complete.
He didn’t know what means the system would use to turn his defeat into victory, but once it happened, he would have his own million. Then, he could finally buy a home for himself and his parents, openly and proudly.
It had been his parents’ greatest dream in his previous life, and his own as well. He was determined to fulfill it with his own hands in this life.
Before long, the next day arrived. Shi Bai called the editor at the “Loved Loved” website. “Hello, our ‘Zhang Dog’s Adventures: Volume Two’ is finished, and we’d like to publish and promote it.”
“What? You have a second volume?” The voice on the other end was incredulous.
Liu Xiaoyan burst into laughter.
Shi Bai glanced at her and replied over the phone, “Yes! Same style as before, carrying on the previous approach.”
Hearing this, the editor nearly cursed. “Sir, are you serious? You want to publish this garbage? Where do you get your confidence? And pay for a front-page recommendation?”
Shi Bai was unfazed. “That’s not your concern. We just have that confidence.”
The employees smiled wryly—it was his confidence, not theirs.
The editor was so exasperated he laughed, “Have you not seen the comments? Ninety-nine percent negative! Ninety-nine! I’ve been in this business for years and never seen such spectacular numbers. You’ve really opened my eyes, you know?”
Shi Bai remained unmoved. “I know all that, but I’m still confident.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“In any case, we won’t publish the second volume. We don’t want to be cursed to death!” the editor declared.
“We’re offering another hundred fifty thousand,” Shi Bai said.
“…”
“…”
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“…”
“Another hundred fifty thousand! Boss, are you just burning money?” Liu Dafeng finally couldn’t hold back. Having grown up with hardship, he couldn’t stand seeing others waste money.
“Boss, honestly, we’re happy with the high salaries, but seeing you squander money like this pains me!”
“Exactly, Shi Bai!” the employees chorused.
“With so much money, there are so many good things we could do. Why mess around like this?”
“That’s right,” Liu Xiaoyan said, puffing out her chest. “If it were me, I’d open a clothing store!”
Wang Xiaodong said, “If it were me, I’d open an internet café!”
“I’d open a supermarket!”
“I’d open a bar!”
…
Shi Bai listened to their chatter for some time, his expression growing vacant, but soon he picked up the phone again. “Not a penny less—one hundred fifty thousand. I’ll transfer it right now.”
The employees nearly fainted. “Shi Bai, don’t!”
But Shi Bai insisted, smoothly transferring the money via the POS terminal.
The employees slumped, dejected, thinking, “He’s truly a spendthrift.”
The editor on the other end, upon receiving the money, was torn between laughter and tears. He had vowed not to publish the second volume, but the sum was too tempting.
Shaking his head, he picked up the phone again. “I’m truly defeated by you. No matter how your comic turns out, I must admit you’re a talent. Very well, ‘Zhang Dog’s Adventures: Volume Two’ will go up tomorrow, right next to Volume One.”
“Yes!” Shi Bai clenched his fist. “Thank you!”
A weary voice came from the other end, “Don’t thank me—thank your money.”
…
With everything settled, the million was completely spent. Shi Bai sat at the conference room table, anxiously awaiting the notice that the task was completed.
He had no idea when the money would arrive, nor what kind of ‘failure points’ he would be awarded this time.