"Benefactor Chu's culinary skills are truly divine."
Chu Yang said modestly, "Master, you flatter me. They are nothing more than trivial tricks."
Sun Wukong laughed heartily beside them. "Master, I, Old Sun, told you long ago that Brother Chu Yang's cooking is the best under heaven! With him cooking for us from now on, we're in for a treat!"
Xuanzang nodded, the smile on his face growing even brighter.
"Excellent, excellent. Having Benefactor Chu travel with us is truly this humble monk's good fortune."
Chu Yang secretly smiled. The first step had succeeded.
Next, he only needed to slowly, little by little, mix in real meat...
Over the following days, Chu Yang made all kinds of "mock meat dishes" for Tang Monk every day.
Vegetarian Braised Pork, Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, Vegetarian Kung Pao Chicken, Vegetarian Dongpo Pork Knuckle...
Every dish looked and tasted just like the real thing, complete in color, aroma, and flavor, earning endless praise from Tang Monk.
"Benefactor Chu, what are you making today?"
Whenever mealtime came, Tang Monk would ask eagerly.
This greatly surprised Sun Wukong.
He had never seen Tang Monk look forward to a meal like this. In the past, eating had merely been about filling his stomach. What enjoyment was there to speak of?
"Master has changed," Sun Wukong quietly said to Chu Yang. "He used to wolf down his food, but now he's like I, Old Sun—he savors every meal."
Chu Yang smiled faintly. "That means Master is starting to appreciate life. That's a good thing."
Sun Wukong scratched his head. "I, Old Sun, don't really understand, but what you say sounds right."
And so, half a month passed.
Tang Monk had become completely accustomed to the "mock meat dishes" Chu Yang made, and he ate several bowls