Ma Hua now obeyed Lin Zhen without question.
As long as Lin Zhen arranged it, Ma Hua never asked why. Whatever he was told to do, he did.
So long as Lin Zhen did not approve, Silly Zhu could use both soft and hard tactics and still get nothing out of Ma Hua.
Silly Zhu made a fool of himself and went back to chatting with Yi Zhonghai.
Lin Zhen did not ride his bicycle. He walked with Ma Hua, talking as they went.
He learned that Ma Hua had gained quite a decent understanding of cooking during this time.
Silly Zhu had indeed kept his promise after losing. He had not held anything back and had taught Ma Hua everything.
It was just that the time had been too short, and Ma Hua had only learned so much.
Lin Zhen said, "Ma Hua, it seems Silly Zhu hasn't hidden anything about the dishes he makes in the cafeteria from you. Good. As for cooking, you haven't even fully learned his Tan family cuisine yet, so there's no need for me to teach you new dishes. Teaching you a few dishes now would be like giving you a few big fish beside a pond. It would be better to teach you how to weave a net and catch fish yourself. Understand?"
Ma Hua nodded, half understanding. "Master, you mean I should figure it out on my own? Discover the essence of cooking myself?"
Lin Zhen shook his head. "I'm teaching you how to weave nets and catch fish, not simply giving you fish."
"Uh..."
"Forget it. Don't dwell on that. Just learn whatever I teach you."
"Yes, Master!"
Lin Zhen sighed inwardly. Ma Hua's aptitude really was rather average.
Then again, if Ma Hua had been especially perceptive and understood