A Smile Upon Meeting, One Thousand Likes

Chen Xu felt that the matters of this world were truly absurd.

He had sent Lin Qi off on his "final journey," and now he had to "see him off" again. Did the Lin family ever consider that he was the one who killed Lin Qi?

Chen Xu accepted the invitation delivered by the Lin family steward, stating that he would certainly attend the wake tomorrow.

Afterward, he received the second and third waves of guests that morning.

First, Xu Wenyuan came over, chatted with him for a few moments, and arranged to go to the Lin family's wake together tomorrow.

After Xu Wenyuan left, Wang Mochuan arrived.

Wang Mochuan came not only to arrange to go to the Lin family's wake with him tomorrow, like Xu Wenyuan, but also to ask him, "Brother Chen, will you be participating in this year's Courtyard Examination?"

Chen Xu didn't understand the meaning behind the question, but he didn't hide anything, directly replying, "Of course, I will participate. Brother Wang also knows that with my background, I shouldn't miss any examination."

He said this, but Chen Xu had actually missed three already.

Such repeated missed opportunities would inevitably discourage anyone, yet as he mentioned the past, Chen Xu's tone was surprisingly casual and relaxed.

Wang Mochuan couldn't help but feel admiration. He apologized for his past distance from Chen Xu, saying, "I'm sorry, Brother Chen. In the past, due to some baseless rumors, I always misunderstood you to some extent. It was my foolishness; I truly shouldn't have been like that."

Wang Mochuan already possessed the Xiucai scholar title, and he was seven or eight years older than Chen Xu, placing him in the true elder brother tier within the County School.

For someone of his standing to repeatedly apologize to Chen Xu showed his sincerity.

Chen Xu invited Wang Mochuan to sit in the kitchen and served him a bowl of congee. Raising the bowl, he said, "Brother Wang, the past is the past; why dwell on it? My family is humble, and I have neither tea nor wine to offer. Let this bowl of congee serve as both. Shall we drink this congee together and share a smile?"

Who ever proposed sharing a smile over congee?

Wang Mochuan hesitated for a moment before finally picking up the bowl.

Chen Xu proactively clinked his bowl against Wang Mochuan's. Unwilling to refuse further, Wang Mochuan quickly brought the congee to his lips.

Upon tasting it, he exclaimed, "Fragrant, sweet, smooth, like jade paste and nectar! I... I have never tasted such delicious congee in my life. It's even better than the exquisite congee from the Zhonggu Zhuanyu Tower in Yunjiang Prefecture!"

After praising it, Wang Mochuan paused for a moment.

Then he looked at Chen Xu, and Chen Xu looked back at him.

Holding their congee bowls, the two of them indeed shared a smile.

Wang Mochuan burst into hearty laughter, any previous awkwardness vanishing completely. He praised again, "Truly excellent congee!" Then he asked, "Brother Chen, where did you get this congee? How is it so delicious?"

[Likes +1 +1 +1...]

A string of likes popped up. Chen Xu immediately sensed through the Cauldron Scripture that Wang Mochuan's daily like limit was a staggering 30! This was even higher than that of the two Rat Demons. It was truly unbelievable.

At the same time, the various data on Chen Xu's Cauldron Scripture were rapidly changing.

[Cumulative Likes: 895] [Cumulative Likes: 916] [Cumulative Likes: 922] ...

It was clear that Granny Lai's pancakes had begun to be sold.

No, that wasn't all.

Also, on South Market Street, the incident of the beast-creation sorcery from last night had begun to ferment. The deeds of the unknown "hero" were starting to spread through the marketplace. Be it directly or indirectly, the number of beings praising Chen Xu, the [Demon Who Cooks People with Fire], was clearly increasing. Naturally, Chen Xu's like count began to rise rapidly.

As he drew closer to a thousand likes, Chen Xu suppressed his excitement and instead treated Wang Mochuan with even greater earnestness. Wang Mochuan was someone who carried a limit of thirty likes; now that he had come to his doorstep, why would he let all thirty of those likes go unclaimed?

Chen Xu told Wang Mochuan, "Brother Wang, this congee is made from five types of grains. First, I soak them in cool water overnight, then use a strong fire to quickly bring the five grains to a boil until they bloom, and then turn it to a low simmer..."

He narrated the process of making the five-grain congee in a very rhythmic and engaging manner.

Wang Mochuan initially thought he had misheard. When he realized the congee was indeed made by Chen Xu himself, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "You, Brother Chen, you cooked the congee yourself?"

Chen Xu retorted, "Isn't it obvious?"

"Obvious?" Wang Mochuan echoed.

After his retort, he finally realized that it was indeed very obvious. Wang Mochuan gave a wry smile, "I apologize again, Brother Chen. I was prejudiced once more."

As he said this, his gaze towards Chen Xu couldn't help but carry a hint of subtle pity.

Wang Mochuan thought that the only reason Chen Xu would cook for himself was poverty.

But at first, even though Chen Xu was clearly poor, Wang Mochuan felt that no matter how poor someone was, they should still be able to hire help for daily chores and cooking.

After all, what scholar washes their own hands to cook?

Thinking this, Wang Mochuan frowned slightly and said, "Brother Chen, do you not have any family members who can come to the county town to take care of you?"

Chen Xu replied, "My family is busy with farming and cannot leave the land easily. Besides, I have hands and feet of my own. I'm just studying, not completely incapacitated and needing constant care."

As he spoke, Chen Xu smiled and said, "Brother Wang, do you think I cook for myself because my family is poor?

To be honest, Brother Wang, while my family isn't wealthy, we aren't lacking the money to hire a helper. Moreover, I earn some income from copying books and writing stories, so I can afford to study."

At this point, Chen Xu wanted to lay the groundwork for the large sum of money he had recently acquired.

After all, money in hand should be spent; if it's just kept hidden, it's useless, no different from a miserly good-for-nothing.

Secondly, Chen Xu continued, "The main reason I cook for myself is a recent realization from my studies.

The Sages often compare governing a country to preparing a fine dish, and a wise man once said that the greatest flavor in life is simple joy.

As junior scholars, it's difficult for us to directly connect the principles of the world with the myriad flavors. Therefore, I devised a simple method.

By cooking myself, I can experience the balance of 'yielding and firm' and the 'civil and military' arts through the gentle and vigorous heat.

I can understand what it means to 'diminish and grow' versus 'overcook and burn,' and grasp what 'just right' truly is."

Having said that, he added another bowl of porridge for Wang Mochuan and asked him, "Brother Wang, please taste it again carefully. Does the flavor of this porridge have rich layers?"

As Wang Mochuan listened to Chen Xu speak, he was initially somewhat unconvinced, but as he listened, his expression gradually became serious, and a look of deep thought appeared on his face.

When Chen Xu invited him to have another bowl of porridge, Wang Mochuan indeed picked up the bowl and took a small sip first.

He held the porridge in his mouth, savoring it for a moment, and couldn't help but praise it, "It's sweet, and what's rare is that it's sweet without being cloying, thick without being sticky. Is this what 'just right' means? Truly excellent porridge!"

[Likes +1 +1 +1...]

Chen Xu smiled as he looked at the accumulating likes on his celestial book panel, which were getting closer and closer to 1000.