Chapter 21

Amidst the chatter of the crowd, Shen Cui remained calm, displaying a demeanor of indifference to both praise and criticism.

It’s said that you can’t judge a person solely by their appearance or attire; their eyes and demeanor reveal their true nature.

Seeing her like this, Lao Buyu couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. He wondered if she was indeed hiding her true abilities. Perhaps this woman was a hidden master chef.

Looking at Mu Er Pang’s figure, despite Qingzhu Academy boosting local trade, most people here lived relatively well. But it’s rare to see someone as plump and sturdy as him.

How could he sustain such a business for so long without any capital investment? It was partly due to his clever strategy, his mastery of various cooking techniques, but most importantly, his cautious nature. He never let his ego get the best of him. Whenever things seemed dicey, he would back off.

That’s how he managed to make money here without any surprises.

The more Lao Buyu thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. He thought, maybe it’s better to call off this competition. After all, he didn’t really need the extra money.

Then Shen Cui uttered the words, “It’s not about making it tasty, it’s about making it awful.”

The onlookers were more anxious than the two participants themselves.

“Sister, are you out of your mind? Even if you want to try something new, it doesn’t have to be like this.”

“Yeah, not everyone can cook delicious food, but making something terrible? Anyone can do that.”

“Exactly, this silly woman. How terrible can food even get?”

Amidst the cacophony of advice from the crowd, even Mu Er Pang’s expression changed.

His thoughts were different from others. He remembered the last time he endured the stench and finished that plate of stinky tofu. Though the taste returned to normal after swallowing it, his brain had forgotten the common flavor over time, but his body remembered the discomfort caused by the intense smell.

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Mu Er Pang’s face turned pale. He gently tugged at Shen Cui’s sleeve and shivered as he said, “Mother, please, don’t. Otherwise…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence, too frightened to continue.

Seeing her son showing fear, Lao Buyu saw no reason to hesitate further.

Indeed, he had overthought things.

He chuckled and glanced at Mu Er Pang, saying, “Child, this is a competition agreed upon between me and your mother. Though it’s for your sake, it’s an agreement between adults. You shouldn’t interfere.”

Shen Cui reached out to pat Mu Er Pang’s back to comfort him. With a smile, she said, “Teacher Lao has agreed.”

Lao Buyu nodded and asked about the rules. Would they be cooking the same dish, or would they each showcase their own skills?

Shen Cui shrugged indifferently, “I only need to prepare my own ingredients. The rest is up to your arrangement.”

Lao Buyu pondered for a moment, then said, “Alright, let’s do it this way. We’ll each prepare our ingredients. And while we’re at it, I’ll tidy up the kitchen at home. Let’s meet back here in two hours.”

Thus, the rules of the competition were set.

Once they left Lao’s house, Shen Cui looked at her pitiful son and asked, “Why don’t you go back to your grandmother’s house for now? I’ll come get you after I’m done here.”

Mu Er Pang’s face hadn’t recovered yet, but he immediately shook his head. His voice was shaky but determined, “No, I know Mother is doing this for me. I want to be with her.”

With little time to spare, Shen Cui didn’t dwell on it further.

Shen Cui asked Mu Er Pang to wait at the street corner while she headed to the market. She spent a few coins to buy a small basket, which she carried on her arm to avoid drawing attention.

When nobody was paying attention to her, Shen Cui purchased the ingredients needed for stinky tofu from the system’s marketplace: tofu, oil, and seasoning. Spending 30 shopping points to exchange for three years of free education from a renowned chef was definitely a worthwhile deal, so Shen Cui felt especially generous this time.

In the past, whenever she spent shopping points to improve her cooking skills, the system would usually commend her. But today, the system remained silent, sticking to its decision to stay dormant.

As the agreed time approached, Shen Cui returned to Lao Buyu’s house with Mu Er Pang.

To Shen Cui’s surprise, while Lao Buyu was gambling earlier, there were only a dozen or so people watching. But now, the crowd had doubled, packing the small house to capacity.

There’s a saying: “Listen to advice when you’ve eaten your fill.” Most people understood the hidden agenda behind such gatherings and chose not to get involved.

Anyone daring to challenge Lao Buyu now either possessed genuine skills, like the individual who gambled with dice earlier—a reputed master who hadn’t lost in years—or they were simply stubborn fools.

The onlookers had seen their fair share of peculiar individuals, but witnessing someone act foolishly was an irresistible spectacle.

Just like the others, the newcomers couldn’t help but regard Shen Cui with puzzled expressions, as if she were a fool.

Lao Buyu had been waiting at the door for quite some time, fearing that this last deal before leaving the county might be disrupted by someone. So, before anyone could approach Shen Cui, he approached her with a smile, gesturing for her to enter. “Madam, please come inside. Everything is ready,” he said.

Lao Buyu, a bachelor with no shortage of money, hadn’t used his kitchen in a while, leaving it covered in cobwebs and dust.

In just a short while, Lao Buyu tidied up the kitchen simplistically, making it at least suitable for use without worrying about the food being harmful to anyone’s health.

Since there was only one stove, they had to take turns cooking.

Lao Buyu wasn’t one to take advantage. He let Shen Cui decide who would go first.

Shen Cui gestured for him to start first. After all, the steps for making stinky tofu were simple and could be done in fifteen minutes. Besides, if she went first, Lao Buyu might not even get a chance to cook, and she didn’t want him to accuse her of unfairness later.

Lao Buyu didn’t say much either. He washed his hands and took down a piece of dried meat from the rafters. It had been a gift from someone before the New Year, but he had forgotten about it, leaving it to harden like a rock, with its surface turning black.

Surprisingly, this forgotten item turned out to be useful and brought him a new source of income, making the most out of what he had.

Feeling relaxed, Lao Buyu worked swiftly. He deliberately cut the dried meat against the grain into large pieces and tossed them into the pan without adding any oil, then stir-fried them over high heat.

After a vigorous stir-fry, the dried meat quickly emitted a burnt aroma, sticking to the iron skillet.

As Lao Buyu neared the end of cooking, he didn’t bother checking what specific spices were in the nearby jars. He casually grabbed a handful and sprinkled them into the pan.

These spices were left by the previous homeowner, and since Lao Buyu was preparing to leave the county after this, he had no qualms about using them generously.

Without bothering to mix the spices evenly, he simply scooped the charred meat out of the pan.

Once he finished, the bystanders couldn’t help but comment. One remarked, “This Lao Fu’s disregard for dignity is truly astonishing. He said he would bring his own ingredients, but he’s already won with that old dried meat he’s had lying around for who knows how many days.”

Another chimed in, “Well, let’s not worry about it. We’ve given our advice. If that woman doesn’t listen, she’ll have to face the consequences.”

Despite the disdainful gazes of the crowd, Lao Buyu remained calm and composed, inviting Shen Cui into the kitchen without any hint of embarrassment.

Shen Cui calmly placed her basket of ingredients on the stove.

The spectators were eager to see if she had any tricks up her sleeve, craning their necks to get a better view.

But to their disappointment, the three items Shen Cui took out seemed rather ordinary.

The middle-aged man who had spoken openly and bravely to Shen Cui earlier remained, despite her disregard for his advice. Although he felt frustrated that she hadn’t listened to him, he couldn’t help but speak up again, saying, “Lao Fu, as the saying goes, even a skilled cook can’t make a meal without ingredients. You’ve used up all the spices in your house. What will this young lady use?”

Making terrible food naturally required spices. By using up all the spices, Lao Buyu had ensured that even if Shen Cui cooked something without them, it couldn’t possibly be worse than his dish overloaded with salt and sugar.

Suddenly realizing this oversight, Lao Buyu pretended to have just remembered, saying, “Oh dear, what to do? Madam said to bring our own ingredients, and I suppose spices fall under that category.”

The crowd erupted into murmurs. Just as Shen Cui glanced up, she noticed Lao Buyu’s qualification points, shining above his head.

He was precariously close to the passing line for the “Select Master Chef” task. If his charm decreased any further, she would have to find someone else.

So, Shen Cui immediately spoke up, “Lao Fu’s right. Since it’s meant to be self-prepared, I don’t need to use his spices.”