Getting Started as a Cook

A few minutes later, the Pokémon came out of the cottage one after another.

Bounsweet swayed dizzily, spinning around as though drunk.

Minccino's little face was deathly pale, clearly shaken by the experience.

The two Celebi floated in the air, whispering to each other and occasionally letting out silvery laughter.

"Looks like everyone's had enough fun, right?" Tong Hua crouched down and gently steadied Bounsweet, who was still spinning.

With an "Ama," the little Pokémon slumped onto the ground, spirals swirling in those eyes.

Turtwig crawled slowly over to his feet and rubbed a head against his trouser leg.

Only Miltank remained inside the Pokémon Cottage, apparently very pleased with the new home.

"Just hang up the sign, and we're all done!"

Tong Hua fitted two wooden boards together and wrote on them with a charcoal pencil.

"Miltank's home. Fierce bovine inside. Enter with caution!"

After that, Tong Hua carried the milking machine and metal milk can to the cottage entrance.

"From now on, you'll live here on your own. It'd be even better if you could milk yourself."

"Milu~"

Miltank poked a head through the gate and nodded vigorously.

Afterward, Tong Hua repaired several damaged sections of fencing around the pasture, using up all the boards he had prepared.

He stored the remaining logs together in an unused barn, ready to take out and process whenever he needed them.

Once everything was done, Tong Hua let out a long breath.

The ranch had a new facility: the Pokémon Cottage!

He had finally accomplished the goal he had set for himself. Fairy Tale Ranch had taken another small step forward.

At five in the afternoon, it was time to prepare dinner again.

"Coming up with a menu has to be the most mentally taxing job in the world..."

Tong Hua returned to the cabin with the Pokémon, fetching a bucket of water along the way. Standing in the kitchen, he began pondering the most important question of the day.

What should they have for dinner?

After all, this was no ordinary dinner.

This was the crucial dinner that would determine whether Tong Hua could unlock the Cook class! If he succeeded, it would be a truly meaningful meal.

There weren't many store-bought ingredients left at home, just some meat and the spring wild greens he had casually picked that day. Fortunately, he still had plenty of seasonings.

"I should go shopping again tomorrow... In that case, let's just make three dishes and a soup!"

After eating foreign cuisine for so many days, Tong Hua felt like trying some Huaxia home cooking for the first time in ages.

"A cold vegetable salad, steamed rice, stir-fried greens, stir-fried sliced meat, egg drop soup..."

The more Tong Hua thought about it, the more his mouth watered.

He quickly rolled up his sleeves, took several ceramic bowls out of the cupboard, and set them on the counter with a clatter.

Sunlight slanted through the wooden window, filling the room with light.

Minccino hopped curiously onto the kitchen counter, freshly washed paws poking at the jars and bottles of seasonings.

As always, cooking began with rinsing the rice.

Tong Hua scooped two measures of white rice into a wooden basin. Tiny eddies formed as he poured in clean water.

He carefully rubbed the grains between his hands, removing the dust from their surfaces.

Turtwig crawled slowly over and helped pour the rice-rinsing water into the water jar outside.

It was all meant for watering the crops. While it wasn't as nutritious as Bounsweet's sweat, it was better than nothing.

Firewood crackled in the stove as Tong Hua adjusted the fire with iron tongs. Wisps of cooking smoke began rising from the cabin's chimney again.

Steam gradually rose from the steamer, and the fragrance of rice mingled with the scent of pinewood throughout the kitchen.

The two Celebi floated above the steam, spinning as though dancing and stirring the mist into spirals.

"Next up, cold bracken salad."

The mountain bracken he had picked beside the stream still glistened with water droplets, bright green on the cutting board.

The kitchen knife rose and fell in a crisp rhythm, and the chopped wild greens piled into a little mound in the ceramic basin.

Suddenly remembering something, Tong Hua turned and took a jar of chili powder from the cupboard.

The instant he opened it, the scent drifting out made Minccino give a tiny sneeze.

As soon as the wok heated up, oil met iron with a sizzling hiss.

Thin slices of smoked meat curled at the edges, turning golden as flecks of oil crackled and spat.

The noise frightened Bounsweet into hiding behind Tong Hua's legs, though curiosity still prompted a peek upward.

The most time-consuming part was mixing the sauce.

Tong Hua crouched in front of the storage cupboard and rummaged around, finally finding the jar of honey he had bought earlier.

Amber honey swirled with fragrant vinegar in the bowl, gradually dissolving into a clear, glossy sauce.

Tong Hua stirred with all his strength. His wrist ached even more than it had while he was woodworking.

With the sauce ready, Tong Hua turned to making the soup.

Golden egg ribbons swirled through the boiling soup. With a slight flick of his wrist, Tong Hua poured the beaten egg into fine strands.

Finally, he scattered a handful of tender green scallions over it, and a cloud of savory steam rushed into his face.

After all his bustling in the kitchen, he managed to finish before darkness fully fell.

Tong Hua lit an oil lamp, and the cabin's dining table was laden with food.

The pearly rice steamed, bright red chili oil dotted the cold bracken salad, the smoked meat gleamed with oil, and the greens were as vivid as jade.

Luckily, the Pokémon helped carry all the dishes over. Everyone sat around the table, each with a bowl of food suited to them.

Standing in the kitchen, Tong Hua wiped the sweat from his forehead and suddenly noticed a little wildflower on the edge of the stove. He had no idea who had left it there.

Smiling, he tucked the flower behind his ear. A familiar panel suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[Meals successfully enjoyed ten times!]

[Achievement unlocked: Getting Started as a Cook]

"Finally..."

Tong Hua was visibly excited. His guess had been right after all.

Still, it seemed to have been slightly off.

"Not cooking successfully ten times, but having the food enjoyed ten times?"

Tong Hua thought back over the past few days. Apart from the two meals of dried noodles he had eaten on the day he first arrived in this world, his cooking had probably always been enjoyed.

After all, dried noodles really were hard to make delicious...

With a thought, Tong Hua summoned his class panel and casually grasped the handle of a nearby frying pan. His class immediately changed from Unclassed to Cook.

[Cook: Level 11]

[Status: None]

[Experience: 1520/7430]

[Class skills: Craft, Processing, High-Speed Craft]

Like Woodcarver, Cook was a production class with the two passive skills Craft and Processing.

They increased crafting power and craftsmanship respectively. From Tong Hua's experience over the past few days, their greatest benefit was making his body automatically choose the best course of action while he worked.

It was like being on autopilot. Even without his conscious involvement, his body would move on its own.

"What's this High-Speed Craft?"

Tong Hua looked at the last entry in the skill list, and a detailed explanation immediately appeared in his mind.

"Hmm... High-Speed Craft. So that's it. Consume a large amount of stamina to improve processing efficiency and greatly advance processing progress.

"Huh, it's an active skill. I remember this move had a chance of failing in the game. I wonder how it works in real life."

Rubbing his chin, Tong Hua recalled his gaming experience from his previous life. The ultimate goal of the game's crafting system had been to fill both the progress and quality bars before running out of stamina.

In reality, that meant making a finished product of the highest possible quality. So far, none of the products Tong Hua had made using various processing methods had exceeded C grade.

He had always assumed this was due to the quality limits of the materials he used.

But in the game, even low-grade materials could be processed into high-quality finished products.

By that logic, what he lacked had to be those skills that existed only in the game!

That was the conclusion Tong Hua eventually reached.

"If I use High-Speed Craft, maybe I could turn even dried noodles into a high-quality dish?"

Tong Hua couldn't help frowning at his own words. Still, it really was possible...

While Tong Hua was lost in thought, a sudden commotion came from the living room behind him.

"Labi?" The pink Celebi flew over to check on Tong Hua.

"Ah, coming, coming!"

Only then did Tong Hua snap out of his thoughts. He quickly untied his apron and headed for the dining table.

The Pokémon were already waiting eagerly for him.

Bounsweet's little paws clung to the edge of the table, eyes fixed on the cold bracken salad...

Minccino hugged a little bowl, stealing occasional glances at the stir-fried meat...

Even the normally composed Turtwig couldn't resist stretching out a neck to sniff the fragrant rice.

The green Celebi was having the hardest time waiting. Earlier, a stolen bite had been spotted by the pink Celebi.

Delicious food sat right before their eyes, yet they could only endure the wait. It was nothing short of torture...

"Sorry, sorry! Sorry for the wait!" Tong Hua sat down with a smile and picked up his chopsticks. "Let's eat!"

The moment he finished speaking, the Pokémon cheered and dug in.

Once again, the cabin filled with laughter and happy voices.