Could these spots be given away?

Ning Fengzhi still had some matters to discuss. Chen Xin and Gu Rong did not linger; after drinking their tea, they went to the Front Hall together.

Chen An took Rongrong back to the Kitchen.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw Zhao Hai squatting outside the cooking room, holding half a bowl of rice and eating with utterly wilted spirits.

"You're back?"

Once he saw who it was, Zhao Hai shot to his feet, nearly spilling the rice in his bowl.

"Just got back. What, Uncle Zhou's cooking wasn't good?"

"No, no."

Zhao Hai hurriedly shook his head, then looked behind him.

"Xiao An, have you eaten?"

"Not yet. Just in time to make some more sweet and sour pork tenderloin."

The moment he said that, Zhao Hai put down his bowl.

"I'll get the meat."

With that, he headed into the cooking room, all traces of his earlier listlessness gone.

Before long, Fang Ming and the others came over from the front as well. Xu Cheng was even still chewing, clearly having rushed over halfway through his meal when he heard the news.

Chen An found the sight rather funny.

"Didn't I tell you not to wait?"

"We weren't waiting. We're eating, aren't we?"

Zhao Hai spoke with perfect confidence. Lu Yuan had already wiped down the chopping board and took the pork tenderloin Uncle Zhou brought over.

They were holding their rice bowls, after all. No one could say they hadn't been eating.

Chen An said nothing more. After washing his hands, he picked up the kitchen knife and got to work.

The Dragon-Transforming Pot turned into a wok and was set on the stove. He cut the tenderloin into even strips, worked in the seasoning, coated them in batter, and lowered them into the hot oil in batches. Once the strips had set, he scooped them out to drain, heated the oil again, and returned them to the wok for a second fry.

This time, they did not need long. As soon as the thin outer crust turned crisp, he scooped them out.

Chen An opened the newly bought vinegar and tasted its acidity before mixing a fresh sweet and sour sauce. Once the sauce had simmered until thick and glossy, he tipped in the fried pork strips and tossed them a few times, coating them evenly in a bright red glaze.

As the sweet and tangy aroma spread, Zhao Hai instinctively reached for a plate, only to see Chen An set aside a portion first.

"This is for my two grandpas and Uncle Ning."

Hearing that, Zhao Hai obediently withdrew his hand.

He would not dare set his sights on that portion.

Uncle Zhou found a food carrier, packed the dishes and rice, and added an extra bowl and pair of chopsticks. Chen An had not eaten yet; they could hardly have him run back hungry after delivering the food.

Putting the food carrier into his belt, Chen An told Rongrong to eat first, then left the courtyard.

Inside the Front Hall, Ning Fengzhi had just put away several documents on the table when he saw Chen An walk in.

"Xiao An, looking for your Grandpa Sword?"

"I brought you a meal."

As Chen An spoke, he took out the food carrier. Gu Rong, beside him, immediately laughed.

"Fengzhi, you have me to thank for today's meal."

"I bought the belt."

Chen Xin made the quiet remark and reached out to take the food carrier.

Gu Rong glanced at him but did not argue, clearing the empty table beside them first. Talk was talk; the meal could not be held up.

Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi rose with a smile as well.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony today."

The three sat down. Chen An served himself a bowl of rice before joining them.

After being out all day, he had long since grown hungry. While frying the meat earlier, hearing those fellows behind him constantly swallowing had made him want to pick up a couple of strips to taste himself.

Only after a few bites did Ning Fengzhi ask how their outing had gone.

Chen An gave a brief account. When he mentioned buying seasonings, something came to mind.

"Uncle Ning, you can send some more people over to eat tomorrow."

At those words, Ning Fengzhi's chopsticks paused slightly.

"You can make more now?"

"Yes. It's not as strenuous as it was at the start. With Uncle Zhou and the others helping prepare the ingredients, I'd like to try adding another ten people."

Chen An had thought about this long ago.

There seemed to be quite a few people eating here now, but it was always the same few faces. No matter how many extra bowls they ate, he still only received that same handful of positive reviews.

He wanted to make more dishes, but he had not accumulated enough positive reviews for sweet and sour pork tenderloin yet, and new recipes would not fall into his lap by themselves.

When he had first obtained his Soul Ring, cooking several batches in a row had indeed been strenuous. Now his constitution grew stronger by the day, and he was becoming more adept at using his Martial Soul. Since he could make more, there was naturally no need to keep feeding only those few mouths.

Ning Fengzhi did not agree immediately upon hearing this, instead looking at Chen Xin first.

Chen Xin had been keeping an eye on Chen An's cultivation these past few days and knew he was not pushing himself beyond his limits, but he still spoke.

"Add six first. Do that for a few days, then see whether it tires you out."

"That works too."

Chen An agreed readily. Six more people meant eighteen positive reviews over the course of a day, already a considerable number.

Ning Fengzhi nodded.

"Then I'll choose a few who are diligent in their daily cultivation. Just make your usual meals. There's no need to prepare popcorn separately."

"You're not making more of that?"

Gu Rong asked casually.

"We'll discuss that once Xiao An can manage it. The Soul Power used for cooking can be recovered through rest, but we can't disregard the cultivation time it takes up."

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi looked at Chen An again.

"If you want to go out in the future, go out as usual. There's no need to stay in the Kitchen for their sake. With so many people in the sect, surely missing a single meal of yours won't leave them unable to handle their own affairs."

Chen An nodded with a smile.

That certainly saved him some trouble. With those words from Uncle Ning, he would not have to explain himself to everyone individually when he went out in the future.

As for what would happen if they missed a meal...

Remembering Zhao Hai squatting outside the cooking room earlier, he decided not to say anything.

After the meal, Ning Fengzhi sent someone to fetch Uncle Zhou and asked about the Kitchen's staffing and supplies.

Uncle Zhou initially thought something had been wrong with the meal they had just delivered. Only after hearing him out did he learn that the sect master intended to send a few more people over to eat.

"We have enough hands. Someone handles the meals out front, Chen Chuan works with Xiao An, and I can manage my side as well."

"Good. Whatever Xiao An needs for his cooking, prepare it all for him. Charge the expenses to the sect."

After Ning Fengzhi finished, Gu Rong added from beside him.

"Don't let him buy seasonings with his own pocket money anymore. The lot of us have eaten there plenty, yet we're still making him pay out of his own pocket. What kind of conduct is that?"

Uncle Zhou hurriedly agreed.

Chen An, however, felt a little embarrassed. He had only picked up a few things while browsing the shops today. Who knew Grandpa Bone would take it to heart?

Still, having someone pay for his purchases in the future was naturally a good thing.

If he saved up more money, he could buy something else for his two grandpas the next time he went out.

With the matter settled, Uncle Zhou carried the empty food carrier back to the Kitchen with Chen An.

Fang Ming and the others had not left yet. They had wiped the stove spotless and even brought over the firewood for tomorrow morning. Now they sat in the courtyard chatting.

Upon learning that six more people would be coming tomorrow, Zhao Hai could no longer sit still.

"Six?"

"The sect master decided. They'll come tomorrow morning."

Uncle Zhou replied with a smile. Zhao Hai opened his mouth, taking a long while to squeeze out a response.

"Then isn't this place going to be a bit cramped?"

"We'll just bring over another table."

"But with more people, cooking will be hard on Xiao An."

"That's why we're adding six first, not ten."

Well, then. They had already taken Xiao An into consideration.

Zhao Hai had nothing left to say, but Xu Cheng could not help glancing at him.

After a meal a couple of days ago, this fellow had even asked him whether they should invite another couple of brothers over.

Now that people really were coming, why was he suddenly worrying about Xiao An?

So back then, he had just been having fun at Xu Cheng's expense.

"This is the sect master's arrangement. If you're worried about tiring Xiao An out, you can always go back to eating out front tomorrow."

Fang Ming made the remark unhurriedly.

Hearing that, Zhao Hai immediately glared at him.

"Why should I go back?"

"Aren't you worried about Xiao An?"

"Can't I just do more work?"

With that, Zhao Hai was already on his feet, heading straight toward the front.

"What are you going to do?"

"Move a table!"

Six people-who knew whether any of them would have hands as quick as Lu Yuan's? If he did not show more initiative, how many bites would he get to eat in the future?

Watching him leave, Xu Cheng felt rather reflective.

Fortunately, he had come early. Had he been another couple of days late, once those six spots were filled, getting in probably would not have been so easy.

But just as that thought arose, he heard Fang Ming speak again.

"Xu Cheng, you're still coming tomorrow morning, right?"

"Of course."

"I mean, if something comes up and you can't make it, let us know beforehand. There's a senior brother of mine-I could ask Xiao An whether he could come over for a meal..."

"Nothing's coming up."

Xu Cheng cut him off without a second thought.

"I have absolutely nothing to do tomorrow morning."

Only then did he understand. So that was what Fang Ming had been after when he tried to persuade Zhao Hai to give up his seat.

He had not even digested this meal yet, and someone already had their eye on his bowl for tomorrow morning?