Gourmet Captive (Please Follow-up Reading)

In the narrow, dim stairwell.

Fang Cheng carried the Gas Tank in one hand and climbed the steps with vigorous strides.

Zhou Xiumei clasped her hands before her, head lowered and eyes downcast, carrying two bags as she followed behind him.

Inside were Fang Cheng's changed clothes and pants, along with still-warm buns and soy milk.

When the two reached the landing at the turn on the fifth floor.

Fang Cheng set the Gas Tank down, then switched it to his left hand and continued carrying it.

Seeing this, Zhou Xiumei hurried forward and said:

"Brother Cheng, how about taking a rest first? Don't overexert yourself."

Fang Cheng let out a soft breath and shook his head.

12 points of strength, 20 points of constitution.

Carrying a Gas Tank up to the ninth floor was still a relatively easy task.

It was nowhere near as strenuous as doing a hundred Push-Ups in a row. Why would he need to rest?

But thinking back to a month ago, he had still needed to carry it on his shoulder, resting for half a minute after every floor.

He had undoubtedly improved far too much since then.

Perhaps sensing that there was too little conversation between them, Zhou Xiumei muttered to herself:

"That Big Brother just now was really greedy. He asked for twice the usual price, yet he wouldn't even take money that was right there to be earned..."

Fang Cheng glanced back at her and smiled.

"That's how shrewd businessmen are. He was certain you wouldn't be able to carry it up yourself."

Zhou Xiumei smiled faintly as well, but unconsciously shifted her gaze away.

Ever since that night, when she had helped Fang Cheng apply medicine to the injuries on his back.

Whenever the two met, Zhou Xiumei always seemed somewhat awkward.

Soon, they reached the ninth floor.

Zhou Xiumei pushed open the half-closed Iron Gate with force.

A hoarse, weak voice came from inside.

"Xiumei, did you get the gas delivered?"

"Brother Cheng helped bring it up."

Zhou Xiumei entered first, quickly crouching down to hand Fang Cheng a pair of slippers.

"Grandma Zhou."

Fang Cheng followed her inside, changing his shoes as he greeted her.

Grandma Zhou had kind facial features and smiled as she nodded, though her hearing seemed somewhat poor.

There was no one else in the house. Uncle Zhou was probably handling a case at the police station, while Auntie He and Zhou Xiumei's younger brother seemed to have gone out for something.

Fang Cheng did not ask further. Carrying the Gas Tank, he headed into the kitchen.

In just a minute or two, he reconnected the hose and tightened the valve.

"Brother Cheng, have some water. I added honey..."

Zhou Xiumei carefully held a cup of hot water in both hands as she walked over.

"No need. I've got pork rib soup simmering at my place, so I need to get back and keep an eye on it."

Fang Cheng waved to decline, then asked, "By the way, where's my bag?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xiumei's cheeks flushed red. She answered softly:

"I've already soaked your clothes in water..."

Fang Cheng could not help but freeze for a moment.

"Anyway... I was just about to do laundry too, so I washed yours while I was at it."

Biting her lips, she added another explanation.

Fang Cheng could only take the bag containing breakfast.

"Then... thank you."

Zhou Xiumei lowered her head and gave a quiet "Mm."

A shy blush slowly spread across her cheeks, even reddening the tips of her ears.

Seeing that the atmosphere was becoming a little awkward, Fang Cheng changed the subject and politely invited her:

"I've prepared quite a few dishes at my place. How about you and Grandma don't cook at noon and come over to have something?"

Hearing this, Zhou Xiumei hurriedly shook her head.

Fang Cheng gave a faint smile.

You don't believe in my cooking, do you?

When he got home, he took out his key and opened the door.

All of a sudden, a slightly pungent burnt aroma drifted over.

Fang Cheng sniffed, and his expression changed instantly.

"Damn it, I cooked it for too long!"

In the kitchen, cooking fumes curled upward.

The gas stove spat blue flames, licking the bottom of the wok. The oil was at just the right temperature.

Chop chop chop chop—

The chopped garlic sprouts and chicken breast were poured into the wok, instantly erupting with a sizzling sound.

Fang Cheng used his wrist to shake the wok handle, making the meat and vegetables tumble rapidly through the hot oil as he stir-fried them as evenly as possible.

Before long, a fresh and tender plate of Garlic Sprouts Fried Chicken Breast was ready.

As he plated it, Prompt Information emerged on the panel.

You skillfully tossed the wok and completed a satisfactory stir-fried dish. Cooking experience +1

Fang Cheng's lips curled up. He was quite pleased with his own cooking.

"Tossing the wok" was one of the most basic and important skills for Xia Country chefs, placing extreme demands on the flexibility and steadiness of one's wrist.

With this move alone, it wouldn't be too much to apply for a chef's job and call himself an outstanding Lan Xiang graduate, would it?

Cooking Lv0 (96/100)

Looking at the Progress Bar displayed on the panel, Fang Cheng nodded slightly.

This life skill was about to Level Up without him even realizing it.

Ever since he had accidentally unlocked "Cooking" while making food, he had never specifically studied recipes or practiced knife skills.

At first, simply frying rice or pan-frying an egg made his daily experience shoot upward.

With every point of experience gained, he became increasingly skilled at stir-frying and chopping vegetables, while his sense of heat control grew ever more precise.

However, once the Progress Bar passed fifty points, its experience gain gradually slowed, much like his other skills.

The panel evaluated and scored every dish he completed.

At minimum, it gave zero points. At most, one.

This lavish feast he had carefully prepared only gave him one point of experience.

Fang Cheng looked it over.

Three dishes and a soup, with both meat and vegetables. The presentation was actually pretty good.

Other than the "soup," which had turned into several pieces of slightly Charred Black ribs, it was all edible, at least.

"It's fine."

Fang Cheng Shook His Head with a faint smile. He was in a good frame of mind now.

He had to cook for himself every day anyway, so leveling up the skill would come naturally.

Carrying over the cooked chicken breast and serving himself a large bowl of rice, Fang Cheng sat down at the dining table.

He then turned on the TV and lowered his head to feast amid the Background Sound of the noon news.

Although he was currently working out, he still preferred stir-fried dishes with plenty of homely flavor.

Especially lately, when his Training Volume had been relatively high and his appetite had increased considerably—nearly four or five times what it had been before he started exercising.

If he ate nothing but bland, watery food, his body might endure it, but his stomach and intestines would not.

Fang Cheng was trying to build muscle, not lose weight.

At the very least, he had to ensure he got the oil and salt from one stir-fried meal every day.

"This station reports that, through the joint efforts of all city departments and the National Guard in organizing emergency response operations, the fire in the Western Mountains has been completely extinguished, the explosion hazard has been promptly eliminated, and the relevant personnel have been effectively rescued..."

"Starting at 6 p.m. today, the alert status in West Pass District will be lifted in stages. Only certain areas of the Western Mountains will remain under long-term lockdown. For your safety, all citizens are advised to take note..."

The news anchor's smooth voice echoed through the room.

Fang Cheng raised his head, chewing bits of meat in his mouth.

He looked at the footage of the Western Mountains on the screen, where the Scene appeared to have returned to peace.

After staring for a while and getting a basic grasp of the news, he served himself a second bowl of rice and swept through the remaining chicken breast and other dishes.

By the time he served himself a fourth bowl, barely anything remained in the three plates.

Fang Cheng looked at the only remaining "rib soup."

After thinking it over, he decided he shouldn't waste food and picked out a rib that still looked reasonably appetizing before putting it into his mouth.

Although the rib soup had been Cooked Into something that looked like pan-fried ribs.

But it seemed to have a unique flavor when eaten.

Fang Cheng chewed slowly, finally gnawing a piece of rib clean.

Suddenly, the Panel Before One's Eyes lit up.

Several Prompt Information messages actually Emerged.

You have practiced your skills diligently to a certain degree, allowing you to endure food ordinary people cannot tolerate. You have comprehended that every ingredient has its own value.

Unlocked Skill: Gourmet lv0 (0/100)

"What does this mean?"

With rice still in his mouth, Fang Cheng's lips parted slightly and did not close for A While.