Chapter 312: The Poorest Spirit Monster

After entrusting the heavy responsibilities of the Three-Diced Bao and Fermented Rice Diced Diced Baozi to Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan, Qin Huai began slicing radishes.

Having not seriously sliced radishes for two days, Qin Huai did not feel his knife skills had stagnated or even declined as noticeably as last time, but they were still affected.

The first twenty minutes felt off.

As a head chef who could not describe specific operations and could only say, "You know this feeling, right?" Qin Huai placed great importance on intuition.

He believed intuition was a miraculous thing.

When intuition struck, everything seemed divinely assisted; when it was absent, even with standardized procedures, flawless execution, and every detail controlled, the desired result remained out of reach.

Qin Huai sliced radishes while facing his phone camera, cutting as he sought that feeling.

"What's wrong, Xiao Qin? You seem distracted. Too tired from your business trip to City A and don't want to slice radishes? If you're truly exhausted, slice less; half an hour is enough," Cao Gui said with a smile.

Cao Gui was kneading dough.

Not dumpling dough, but bun dough. Cao Gui planned to improve her family's breakfast by making a batch of Northern-style Large Meat Buns, a type she theoretically should be very skilled at.

In reality, Cao Gui possessed a solid foundation in pastry work, and a good one at that. She was not a pure savory chef like Zang Mu or Tong Tong Deyan; perhaps due to the era, when Cao Gui had apprenticed to learn the trade, she had learned a bit of everything.

In her words, the Beiping chef circle back then had become extremely competitive due to a certain overachieving senior. That senior had competed fiercely in both savory and pastry arts, in both Lu and Cantonese cuisines, eventually becoming a master who integrated the strengths of a hundred schools.

Driven by this senior, distinguished chefs like Cao Gui's master would have felt ashamed to move in those circles without knowing techniques from various traditions, so when Cao Gui apprenticed, she too learned a little of everything alongside her master.

Buns, steamed buns, and fried sauce noodles—these daily snacks were all things Cao Gui knew something about.

However, in recent years, Cao Gui had basically stopped making snacks, and her pastry skills had grown quite rusty. She had long since retired from being a chef, usually cooking only simple home dishes for her family. Given the time it took to make buns or steamed buns to freeze in the refrigerator for morning steaming, she might as well just buy a serving of rice noodle rolls at the breakfast shop near the community gate.

Recently, perhaps due to spending more time with Qin Huai, whenever he practiced his knife skills on video call, Cao Gui had to keep chatting with him to distract him. Qin Huai's life was very monotonous, consisting only of snacks, customers, his sister, and friends. Having talked so much about snacks, Cao Gui suddenly felt an itch to pick up the pastry skills she had abandoned years ago and practice them again.

At this moment, Qin Huai had to make a very vicious remark.

Even though Cao Gui was not a pastry chef and had rarely made snacks for many years, the dough she kneaded was still incredibly beautiful—even more beautiful than Pei Xing's.

Pei Xing, don't listen; that was a negative review.

"I'm not tired, Master Cao. I just feel I haven't quite found my rhythm yet," Qin Huai explained. "When I hold the knife, I always feel uncomfortable; cutting this way feels wrong, applying force that way feels wrong. It took several adjustments before it felt right."

"You just haven't practiced enough to form muscle memory, which is why you feel uncomfortable here and wrong there," Cao Gui said with a laugh. "Many beginners have this problem; they always want to get things perfect in one go, not realizing that some things rely on enlightenment, some on practice, and some on both enlightenment and practice."

"Xiao Qin, last time you told me that often when you teach people, you can't quite explain things clearly. You say it's about 'feeling,' about 'strength,' about 'clever force,' but you can't come up with specific adjectives. That is also the reason."

"Things that rely on enlightenment cannot be taught."

"Take knife skills as an example. Last time you asked me how much longer you needed to slice radishes, and I didn't know. You asked me what state the radish needs to be in to be considered 'good,' and I couldn't explain that clearly either."

"Is slicing radish pieces so thin they are like cicada wings and translucent considered good? Of course it is."

"Is slicing radish strips of identical thickness and length, which when spread out look like shredded radish but can be reassembled into a whole radish, considered good? I think so too."

"Is dicing them into square cubes small enough to be stacked like building blocks considered good? It sounds like there's no problem with that."

"But is practicing knife skills just about achieving these things? Do savory chefs practice knife skills merely to cut beautiful radish slices, uniform radish strips, or nice radish cubes? Can't machines do these things? If machines can easily achieve them, then why do chefs spend years or even decades, rising early and working late, day and night, practicing their knife skills?"

"Because machines are dead, but dishes are alive."

"When you truly cook a dish, when your skills have truly reached a high level and your enlightenment is sufficient, you will know what kind of ingredients you need. You will know what thickness of radish slice, what length of radish strip, and what size of radish cube you require."

"Only when you have reached a sufficient level will you truly realize the importance of knife skills as a fundamental skill for both savory and pastry cooking. Although you have only just begun practicing knife skills, you already clearly understand their importance in your heart; otherwise, you wouldn't have specifically chosen helpers with good knife skills when selecting your staff."

"Sometimes being unable to articulate it and only saying 'feeling' is not a bad thing. Being able to say the word 'feeling' means you have already sensed it. If the listener does not understand those two words, it means they have not yet touched the feeling they need to touch. There are many head chefs who cannot teach their apprentices well, and even more who lack the words. When I was learning to cook, some masters simply could not explain anything and could only force their apprentices to practice endlessly, yet without exception, they were all good masters."

Just as Qin Huai was pondering deeply, even wondering in his heart whether Zheng Da's poverty of language was because he was too enlightened, too full of intuition, and thus unable to explain anything—that he wasn't clumsy with words but simply too genius—Cao Gui's gentle tone suddenly turned stern. It was as if one second she was smilingly asking how your lunch was and whether your clothes were warm enough, and the next she was a stern head teacher glaring at you for rolling up your trouser legs.

"Daydreaming again! Listen to me, yes, but while your ears listen, your brain must not wander. Your attention is not fully on the cutting board; if your hand movements hadn't just stopped, you would have already cut your own hand twice by now."

"It seems this business trip has affected you a bit. I really should find you a strict master to watch over you every day."

Qin Huai:...

Qin Huai said helplessly, "Master Cao, you're baiting me again!"

Cao Gui said with a smile, "All is fair in love and war."

"Since you've stopped moving your hands anyway, come quickly and see how this dough I've kneaded turned out. By the way, isn't the pixel quality on this phone rather poor? I think your phone's pixels are quite good. What brand is your phone? Send me the brand name; I'll have my son get me a new one in a couple of days."

Qin Huai hurried over to show Cao Gui the dough she had just finished kneading.

At several cooking stations farther away from Qin Huai, Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan was diligently acting as Master Xiao Zheng, safeguarding the snacks for this afternoon and evening.

Barring any accidents, tonight the name of Master Xiao Zheng would once again spread throughout the entire diner circle of the Clouds Canteen.

Pei Xing and Li Hua were secretly watching Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan make snacks.

Neither of them was blind or foolish; they could tell at a glance that Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan's skill level was very high, specifically the high standard of formal professional training: standardized movements, regulated procedures, and precise attention to detail.

In such moments, failing to seize the time to watch a bit more and secretly learn a trick or two would be a disservice to themselves.

"I have a question." Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan gently pinched a piece of freshly proofed dough, looking somewhat puzzledly at Qin Huai, who was attending an online class in the distance. "Has Qin Huai been attending online classes like this all along recently?"

When Qin Huai was attending online classes, no one in the kitchen would disturb him; moreover, they would deliberately stay far away from him, clearing out a vacuum zone around him.

Doing this was not only to avoid disturbing Qin Huai but also to ensure they could not hear exactly what he and his online teacher were saying, thereby avoiding accidental theft of techniques.

Pei Xing and Li Hua knew this basic propriety; they had heard Qin Huai say that Master Cao, who taught him, was highly skilled, and that Master Cao's willingness to teach Qin Huai did not mean she was willing to teach others.

In the kitchen, you could secretly learn a trick or two by watching others' movements, but you absolutely could not, lacking all sense, crowd around openly to eavesdrop when a head chef was personally teaching an apprentice.

This was extremely malicious behavior regarding stealing techniques; a few decades ago, such actions would have been despised by peers.

"It seems so." Pei Xing did not understand why Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan was asking this. "We heard Master Qin mention that the Master Cao teaching him appears to be an old master who has been retired for many years and is from the same place as Master Qin. Master Qin met Master Cao during the New Year; Master Cao felt Master Qin's knife skills were too poor, so she took time out of her schedule to teach him."

Finally, Pei Xing did not forget to add, "Master Cao is truly an enthusiastic person."

Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan nodded and continued asking, "Then has Qin Huai's knife skill improved significantly?"

This was a question Pei Xing and Li Hua found difficult to answer. Although Qin Huai practiced knife skills every day, he basically was not responsible for cutting and preparation during his actual shifts. At Pei Xing and Li Hua's level, they could only see that Qin Huai's knife skills had improved, and the progress was quite obvious, but it was still progress at a beginner's level. As for the specific intricacies, such as whether his practice method was correct, how standard his knife-holding posture was, or whether this progress was outstanding for someone of Qin Huai's age, neither of them could say.

Pei Xing hemmed and hawed for a long time, unable to answer, until finally Li Hua, who was relatively better at knife skills, said, "The way Master Xiao Qin holds the knife is completely different from before."

The implication was that Qin Huai had dissipated his cultivation and started training from scratch.

Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan was somewhat surprised.

But he did not say much; he simply nodded, continued making snacks, and only after finishing the current batches did he wash his hands, go to the changing room to get his phone, and send a message to his biological father, Zheng Da.

Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan: Investigated clearly. Qin Huai's knife skill master is a female senior who has been retired for many years. They met during the New Year; cherishing his talent and having time, she guides Qin Huai's knife skills every day.

Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan: Very professional. She corrected Qin Huai's knife grip and started training from the basics. Dad, you don't need to worry that Qin Huai encountered an unreliable master and is practicing blindly.

Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan: I think this Master Cao is much more reliable than you; at the very least, she is willing to spend several hours every day on online classes to supervise Qin Huai's knife skill practice.

Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan: You don't need to worry unnecessarily all day long. With Master Cao here, there will be no problem with Qin Huai's knife skills.

Zheng Da, who was still vacationing in Sanya and had not returned, replied instantly.

Zheng Da: What do you mean "much more reliable than me"? Can another master be found in this world who understands Xiao Qin better than I do? No matter how reliable that Master Cao is, she is merely a savory chef. Xiao Qin is a pastry chef; he needs a professional pastry chef like me to provide him with professional guidance.

Zheng Da: Although it is highly probable that Xiao Qin will not take me as his master, I will forever be Xiao Qin's Master Zheng, and moreover, the first Master Zheng.

Zheng Da: Investigate further and report back.

Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan: Busy. No investigation, no report.

After sending the last message, Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan put his phone back in the locker and returned to the kitchen to continue working.

Zheng Da, who had sent three more messages but had yet to receive a response from his son:...

This unfilial son!

Not only is he not taking the blind date seriously, but he is also not performing his duties as a war correspondent properly; he goes on strike immediately after gathering a little intelligence.

Unable to find anyone to vent to for the moment, Zheng Da could only call his dearest senior brother, Huang Huang Huang Shengli, to complain.

While drinking tea, Huang Huang Huang Shengli listened rather perfunctorily to his junior brother's complaints, then asked the soul-searching question: "Didn't you give up and lie flat, not wanting to be Xiao Qin's master anymore?"

Zheng Da: "... Isn't it just that Qin Huai is going to be featured in 'Known Flavors' again?"

"Although he refused, Xu Cheng actually permanently reserved a section in 'Known Flavors' for him. This is a treatment that even I... I don't have!"

At the end of his words, Huang Huang Huang Shengli heard nothing but thick jealousy, pure jealousy, ultimate jealousy.

Huang Huang Huang Shengli laughed heartily: "Doesn't this just prove you have no chance? Xiao Qin has already surpassed his master."

Zheng Da:...

Zheng Da angrily hung up the phone.

On the other side, Qin Huai, still slicing radishes, did not know that Zheng Zheng Zheng Siyuan had already finished his duty as a war correspondent and gone on strike; he was currently chatting while slicing radishes as usual.

As he cut, a game notification sound suddenly rang in his mind.

"Ding. Congratulations, Player, for completing the main quest 【King of Single Items】. Quest rewards obtained: Popularity Traffic +1000, 【A Dream Sequence of An Youyou】."

Qin Huai froze instantly.

?

??

???

Whose dream sequence?

An Youyou?!

Qin Huai subconsciously looked back. Looking at An Youyou, who was happily frying radish cake, he felt that whether looking left or right, thinking carefully, or analyzing calmly, she did not seem like a spirit monster at all.

Could there be such a normal spirit monster?

Compared to An Youyou, Chen Gong was indeed a spirit monster.

No.

As a spirit monster, An Youyou was mixing far too miserably; she was even working for herself.

Compared to An Youyou, Qu Jing could be considered a wealthy and successful spirit monster.

Seeing Qin Huai suddenly freeze, Cao Gui asked, "What's wrong, Xiao Qin?"

Qin Huai came to his senses: "Uh... Master Cao, sorry, I need to go to the restroom first."

Having said this, Qin Huai slipped away, leaving Cao Gui to smile helplessly.

Qin Huai dashed into the restroom, opened a stall, closed the door, and locked it all in one smooth motion. At light speed, he opened the game panel to check the bestiary.

Another new bestiary entry had been unlocked.

The Pokédex column is now clearly displayed (8/12).

Name: An Youyou

Species: Unknown

Status: Awakening in progress

Memories: 1/?

Dishes: None

Gifts: None

The status was still "Awakening in progress."

Qin Huai thought for a moment, decided the restroom was safe, and figured that waiting for an auspicious day was no better than acting on impulse, so he chose to view An Youyou's memories right there in the restroom.

It had been a long time since he last viewed memories.

The author couldn't write Chen Gong's memories and gave up.

Qin Huai clicked on 【A Segment of An Youyou's Dream】 and selected Yes.

【Loading dream—】

(End of Chapter)