Divine Skill, Astonishing the Crowd

"Can you even do it?" the middle-aged man asked.

"Made on the spot. I wouldn't take on porcelain work without diamond tools. How many portions do you want?" Qin Fen raised an eyebrow confidently.

"Good, made on the spot. Then I'll see just how well you do. I want two portions. Little brother, just for that bearing of yours, even if it doesn't turn out well, I'll still pay today."

Seeing the cleared-out space, the diners around them immediately grew excited. This was something new today—made on the spot!

"Looks like this kid has some skills. Working on the spot isn't like being in the kitchen. Without real ability, no one would dare."

"That's what I think too."

Listening to the discussions around them, the apprentices broke out in cold sweats. Brother Qin, you have to hold on. This was your first time in the bridal sedan chair.

He Wen looked at Qin Fen, sweat covering his face. This was bad. Wasn't this just screwing himself over?

Sun Yating watched Qin Fen walk toward the table and broke out in an even colder sweat. Words spoken were water spilled—there had still been time to salvage things earlier, but now it was too late to say anything. If he embarrassed himself, Qin Fen would probably find it hard to stay here. His coworkers would definitely look down on him. What should she do? What could she do?

At that moment, everyone's eyes were focused on Qin Fen. He was like a favored star standing beneath the spotlight on a stage.

Qin Fen stopped and took a breath. He had expended quite a bit of energy that morning, so he secretly took out the half piece of root from yesterday from his trouser pocket, put it in his mouth, and bit off a piece. Sun Yating, watching from afar, frowned.

After swallowing the old ginseng, Qin Fen's closed eyes snapped open. He flexed his hands and brought a knife down on the winter melon. A flash of cold light streaked through the air, splitting the half-grown winter melon cleanly in two. He turned them upside down, held a knife in each hand, and flicked his wrists. Two flashes of cold light glinted in his palms, leaving a fan-shaped trail in the air.

"Good." The middle-aged man quietly watched Qin Fen. Such knife work was rare; one could tell from the opening move alone that he was an expert.

Swish, swish, swish. Qin Fen entered that state of neither joy nor sorrow. His hands moved rapidly, the two small knives flitting like agile butterflies as they continuously peeled away thin strips of green melon skin.

Watching Qin Fen's hands dance, his head turning left one moment and right the next, the apprentices who had seen it before once again broke out in cold sweats. Dual-Mindedness—they were seeing Dual-Mindedness again!

"H-how is that possible?" The middle-aged man stared, dumbstruck. The shock of seeing it for the first time was enough to make anyone's eyes pop out.

At this point, Qin Fen was doing far more than simply using Dual-Mindedness. Both hands were carving simultaneously, making two Winter Melon Bowls in perfect sync.

This was even more terrifyingly difficult than carving with one hand while mincing meat with the other.

"No way. He's carving with both hands at once!" a customer cried out.

"Shut up. Watch if you want to watch—why are you yelling? Don't disturb him. Can't you see that he's not only carving simultaneously, but carving both pieces in reverse?"

"Is he even human? The amount of calculation involved is off the charts."

"This is my first time seeing it too. Dual-Mindedness—this is Dual-Mindedness. It's incredible! And he's reverse-carving with both hands at once. My God, he could apply for Guinness World Records."

For a moment, everyone was stunned once more, staring blankly at Qin Fen. Listening to the chatter around them, the apprentices knew these people did not understand the difference. This was not Dual-Mindedness. This was using multiple minds at once. Carving with both hands was difficult enough, and he was doing it in reverse while simultaneously designing the patterns in his head. The sheer difficulty was practically miraculous.

Even more terrifying were Qin Fen's calculating ability and his composure.

"My God, the designs on the two Winter Melon Bowls are different!" a female customer shrieked, covering her mouth.

"One has flowers, insects, birds, and beasts, while the other has the Four Beauties Picture! Holy shit, brother, just for this skill alone, even if you can't recreate that flavor from last time, even if it isn't edible, we'll forgive you. You're incredible."

"That's right, little brother. Just watching you carve today has made it worthwhile. Whether I get to eat it doesn't matter anymore," the middle-aged man said loudly. A miracle—this was a true folk master from China, a genuine expert hidden among ordinary people! What an extraordinary man.

Second by second, time passed. The surrounding crowd, initially shocked, gradually fell silent because the customers had gone numb and had nothing left to say. This guy was simply a monster.

Qin Fen clapped his hands, and the two small knives landed on the table. He removed the lids, moved the winter melons aside, and once again began mincing meat with both hands. The rapid thud-thud-thud sounded as though it were striking their hearts, leaving them completely disoriented.

With a swish, he set up two cutting boards. Qin Fen still used both hands, this time peeling shrimp one-handed with each.

His five fingers moved like nimble tentacles, swiftly removing the shells. Then Qin Fen deveined the shrimp individually with both hands.

He still stir-fried the ingredients and seasonings with both hands at the same time.

The two flames reflected off Qin Fen's face, Light and Shadow flickering in the firelight.

With a slap, he placed the ingredients into the winter melons, set them in the steamer, and began the final step.

Only then did Qin Fen finally stop and wipe the sweat from his forehead.

The moment he looked up, thunderous applause erupted all around him.

"Excellent, brother. I don't usually admire anyone, but today I'll write the character for 'convinced' for you."

"Too amazing."

"My eyes were practically dazzled just now, especially during the carving. It was simply divine."

"Haha, little brother, you've got skills. Boss, the bill. Forget the Winter Melon Bowl—I'm happy today," the middle-aged man said cheerfully, all his earlier displeasure gone without a trace.

"Alright." Sun Yating smiled as well. Looking at Qin Fen, she suddenly felt her heartbeat quicken. That persistence, that seriousness, that hermit-like figure deeply attracted her. Qin Fen, what kind of person are you?

"Wait." Qin Fen called out, and everyone looked over. "Big brother, this needs to simmer for a while. If you think I'm reliable, wait a little longer and taste my cooking."

"Haha, since you've put it that way, I don't mind waiting a little. Fine."

In the blink of an eye, Qin Fen took the Winter Melon Bowls out. Looking at the artwork-like carvings, the middle-aged man hesitated instead. He and his wife quietly gazed at the two different carvings, still savoring the shock from earlier.

"Please."

As soon as Qin Fen spoke, the two lifted the winter melon lids. A rich, sweet fragrance burst forth and spread throughout the entire hall.

"This? It seems different from what I've had before." The middle-aged man looked at Qin Fen.

"An ancient secret recipe."

"Haha, is that so? Then I have to try it." He scooped up a spoonful and tasted it, his eyes widening sharply. "Good, good! Refreshing and sweet, without losing the ingredients' original flavor. Not only is the color clearer and fresher than before, but the taste leaves a natural sweetness on the palate. What a Winter Melon Bowl. Little brother, I'm convinced."

"Boss, I want one too."

"Boss, bring us three Winter Melon Bowls."

"We want some too. That aroma—my God, just smelling it makes me want to eat. What a fresh, clean scent."

"What do you know? This is called returning to simplicity. This is the fragrance winter melon should give off. Boss, I want one too."

Watching the reactions around him, Wang Wei's face darkened as if he had eaten shit. Damn it, Qin Fen really was an expert.