"As you all know the plan for today, and since we have a lot of dishes, I won’t be doing a tutorial. We’ll just get straight to the cooking. I’ve already prepped the ingredients in advance, but if there’s a particular dish you really want to learn how to make, you can leave a message in the comments section, and I’ll do a detailed tutorial next time!"

"Without further ado, let’s get started!"

First up was the steamed sea bass. Since the fish was already prepped, this dish was actually very simple to make. She chopped the aromatics, stuffed them into the sea bass’s mouth and belly to remove any fishiness, poured in some soy sauce and a special sauce, and then placed the fish directly into the steamer.

Taking various factors into account, Jiang Qiuqiu steamed four fish.

While the fish was steaming, she started on other things: blanching pork ribs, blanching small shrimp, and chopping chicken. Jiang Qiuqiu handled the complicated steps in an orderly and methodical fashion.

Viewers could only see her hands, a blur of motion. Every piece of equipment on the stove was being put to use, with none left idle.

The bullet comments were flooded with praise from fans.

[This is so satisfying to watch!]

[And to think Juju was worried we wouldn’t watch the whole thing! This is so interesting!]

[I could watch this all day!]

To stay focused, Jiang Qiuqiu had turned off her bullet comment display.

Soon, after about fifteen to twenty minutes, the clean, fresh aroma of the sea bass was the first thing to capture everyone’s attention.

Jiang Qiuqiu moved the fish into a thermal container, then began to stew the pork ribs. One after another, the aromas in the live stream grew richer, and the number of dishes in the thermal container increased.

It was as if she had magical hands. Ordinary ingredients passed through them and were transformed, bursting with an indescribable deliciousness.

When the Gugu Beast’s trotters were first cut and set aside, they looked a bit intimidating. But after passing through Juju’s hands, the pale trotters were quickly transformed into a tempting, glossy brown. Stewed under high pressure, the tendons and gelatin on them became slightly translucent. With soybeans dotted throughout and a thick, viscous sauce, one look was enough to whet anyone’s appetite.

She started with the meat dishes. By the time she had finished them all, it was almost 6:00.

It was getting close to the time for New Year’s Eve dinner, so Jiang Qiuqiu sped up and finished all the vegetable dishes as well. By then, it was already 7:10.

Most of the people in the bullet comments were praising how incredibly skilled Jiang Qiuqiu was.

[Juju is so amazing!]

[Sob... the aroma is overwhelming!]

[Can we get tickets and come in to eat now?!]

Mo Si sat to the side. It had been five hours and ten minutes. ’Even Qiuqiu has to be tired by now,’ he thought.

"Almost done! Once I’ve entered all the dishes into the system, you all can enter your IDs. The virtual restaurant will be open for entry after 7:50, and service will begin promptly at 8:00."

This time, as she registered the dishes, Jiang Qiuqiu brought out a few she had prepared the day before.

The braised Gugu meat was a regular feature. Everyone loved it, but after seeing it so many times, it wasn’t as eye-catching as something new.

[What’s in the big jar?]

Some things, the longer they’re hidden away, the more fragrant they become.

The jar had been sealed for the better part of the day. It contained something that was already the epitome of savory deliciousness, and after being stored like this, the moment the lid was opened, its aroma completely overpowered every other scent in the live stream.

It was, without a doubt, worthy of being the star of today’s banquet.

Even Jiang Qiuqiu herself couldn’t help but take a deep breath. In front of their screens, countless fans naturally found it even harder to suppress their primal instincts.

[I feel like I’m dreaming I’m a kid again.]

[?? How?]

[You’re dreaming you’re a kid again in this live stream?]

[Because the only other time I couldn’t stop myself from drooling like this was when I was a kid.]

[...]

’Perhaps, for this one night, everyone was a child again, haha.’