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53 – a gold star chef
ON NOVEMBER 29, 2021 BY MOONCHILDKHZ
Jun Changxiao spent 300 taels of silver to eat a meal in Star Moon Pavilion. He did not feel pain as now that he was rich, even if you added a zero to the cost, he could still afford it.
“Sect Head, does our sect have cooking tools, like pots, saucepans, steamers, and so on?”
After they left the restaurant, Liu Wanshi suddenly thought to ask.
“Probably.”
Jun Changxiao was not sure.
Thinking about it, he first ate food cooked by Qingyang Village’s Aunt Wang. Then, after the Hundred Sects Recruitment, Li Qingyang was responsible for the cooking.
“People depend on food,” Liu Wanshi said earnestly. “There must be no ambiguity in eating. Let’s go to the market and buy some things.”
“Alright.”
Jun Changxiao went with her to the market and bought a lot of cooking appliances, as well as some ingredients and condiments.
Sect Head Jun was originally still a little doubtful, but when he saw Liu Wanshi’s expert decision-making and experienced air, immediately recognized that she truly understood the culinary arts.
“Does the sect have a vegetable garden?”
“No.”
“Does the sect have an animal pen?”
“No.”
“Does the sect have a fish pond?”
“No.”
Liu Wanshi stopped and blinked. “You don’t have this, you don’t have that. What does Sect Head and my martial brothers eat all day?”
“We sometimes eat rice and vegetables, sometimes we eat noodles.”
“Ah?” Liu Wanshi stared wide-eyed. She pursed her lips, saying, “Cultivators eat this type of thing all day, how can your bodies keep up? Not good, not good at all.”
She turned towards Jun Changxiao and shook her finger. “After returning to the sect, I’m going to improve your meals.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Qingyang, that child… If his food isn’t burnt or stuck to the pan, it’s too salty. If you can improve the food, you will have made great contributions.”
After a moment of thinking, Liu Wanshi said, “Let’s first buy vegetable oil and poultry before heading back.”
“Do not hesitate, I will pay.”
…
Outside Qingyang City, on a major road.
A carriage sped down the road. Sitting inside, Jun Changxiao wanted to cry but had no tears.
Flap, flap!
Several old hens flew up to the awning, feathers drifting down to land on his forehead.
Why was he not hiding?
The carriage was currently holding chickens, ducks, geese, lambs, and calves. The carriage wasn’t very large — there was nowhere to hide!
Liu Wanshi was hugging a small white rabbit, rubbing her face against its soft fur. “Sect Head, we can raise these poultry first.”
“Haha.”
Jun Changxiao laughed dryly before touching his forehead. It felt a little slimy and… fuck! That was definitely chicken shit!
…
Dusk approached.
Jun Changxiao brought Liu Wanshi and a flock of birds back with him.
However, upon arriving at the Ironbone Sect’s gates, he found a man with a bamboo hat standing there proudly.
Who was this person?
“Sect Head is back!”
Tian Qi rushed down the steps. He glanced at Liu Wanshi, looked at his sect leader, then pinched his nose. “Sect Head, did you also go to Qingyang Village to collect manure?”
“Collect your sister!” [1]
Jun Changxiao pointed to a pile of chickens. “Quickly call over some people and throw them all into the inner courtyard.”
“Yes, yes!”
Tian Qi hurriedly turned around to rush off.
“Wait a moment.” Jun Changxiao pointed towards the person at the entrance with a bamboo hat. “Who is that?”
Tian Qi whispered, “Sect Head, that person is called Ma Yongning. He’s a wandering swordsman who came to compare notes with you. Disciple already told him that you were not in the sect today, but he just stood there. He’s been standing there for almost four hours, so I think he’s fallen asleep.”
“Hu! Hu!”
Listening carefully, there was indeed the faint sound of snoring.
Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched. “He fell asleep standing up?”
“Go, go,” he waved his hand. “Go call people.”
“Yes.”
Tian Qi ran back inside the sect.
A little while later, some more disciples came running over and brought the poultry away. Even as they were rushing about, the wandering swordsman stood there as his snoring never stopped.
Jun Changxiao shook his head. “Dudu, let’s go in.”
“En.”
With light footsteps, Liu Wanshi happily walked inside.
When she saw the spacious outer courtyard, the jade decorations and delicate carvings of the Main Hall, she exclaimed, “Sect Head, our Ironbone Unyielding Sect is so fancy!”
…
Afterwards, Jun Changxiao first took a bath. Right as he sat on his throne, Li Qingyang and the other disciples came back from their missions.
Xiao Zuiji did not appear, but it was probably because he smelled like manure and went to take a bath.
“Sect Head, Little Huang has been found,” reported Su Xiaomo.
“Very good,” nodded Jun Changxiao.
Lu Qianqian was already by the doors. “If there is nothing else, I will leave first.”
“Wait a moment,” Jun Changxiao stopped her. “I went to Qingyang City today and brought back a girl. The inner courtyard is currently being overhauled so she will temporarily room with you.”
“A girl?” Lu Qianqian wrinkled her eyebrows.
Clang!
Suddenly, a three chi long sword was pulled out of its sheath and pointed at the neck of a person who came sneaking up from behind.
Liu Wanshi, who did not expect that the other party would suddenly draw her sword, started crying. “Elder sister… Don’t kill me… I just took a shower…”
“Qianqian,” Jun Changxiao hurried to say. “Put down your sword. She’s the girl I was just talking about.”
“Oh.” Lu Qianqian complied and sheathed her sword.
The originally crying Liu Wanshi immediately brightened. “Sister, you’re so pretty, just like a fairy!”
“Dudu,” Jun Changxiao beckoned. “Come over here.”
“En.”
Liu Wanshi walked into the Main Hall.
After taking a bath, she had changed into a loose long gown. With a fair face and still chubby cheeks, she looked even more cute.
Jun Changxiao introduced, “She is called Liu Wanshi, but you can call her Dudu. She will work in the Ironbone Sect’s kitchen… a gold star chef!”
Li Qingyang felt great happiness. Sect Head had found a chef, he finally didn’t have to prepare the food!
“Senior apprentice brothers,” Liu Wanshi bowed. “Please take care of me.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Dudu, let me introduce them. The one by the door is the senior disciple Lu Qianqian, this is second disciple Li Qingyang, beside him is third disciple Su Xiaomo…”
He introduced them one by one and Liu Wanshi bowed in turn, looking very polite.
After the introductions, Jun Changxiao said, “We are still repairing the inner courtyard, so you will room with Qianqian for now.”
“En.” Liu Wanshi nodded, smiling brightly.
Li Qingyang said, “Sect Head, it’s almost nighttime, shouldn’t we prepare food?”
Liu Wanshi lifted her hand, volunteering, “Let me!”
…
The kitchen was to the left of the Main Hall. Under Li Qingyang’s reconstruction, it was pretty decent.
Liu Wanshi put on an apron and grabbed a kitchen knife.
“Sect Head.” Watching from the side, Li Qingyang spoke in a low voice, “This Dudu is very young, can she really cook?”
Jun Changxiao replied, “Based on how he holds the blade, she must be better than you.”
Li Qingyang was a little hurt by his words.
Liu Wanshi was concentrating as she wielded the kitchen knife. The knife went shua shua shua, moving dizzyingly fast across the cutting board.
“An expert!” commented Jun Changxiao and Li Qingyang in unison.
Moments later, the knife had stopped moving. Liu Wanshi stabbed the knife into the cutting board, where the scallion, ginger, and garlic were all diced, sliced, and minced.
“Expert, a true expert!”
Jun Changxiao and Li Qingyang stared wide-eyed.
The scallion, ginger, and garlic were arranged nicely. They had been cut into pieces, but the slices were so fine that it was almost impossible to tell!
What excellent knifework!
Liu Wanshi started a fire. “It’s too late, so I will just cook some of the leftover rice for you.”
“Mhm,” nodded Jun Changxiao.
After the pan was hot, Liu Wanshi added oil, ginger, scallions, garlic, and other condiments before throwing in the rice. She then used a large spoon to stir-fry. The entire process was smooth and pleasing to the eye.
After a moment, the aroma of fried rice filled the kitchen.
Jun Changxiao and Li Qingyang breathed in and immediately exclaimed, “Really fragrant!”
[1] 你妹 (‘your sister’) is basically slang for ‘fuck you’