You Really Have Thought of Everything for Me

With lunchtime fast approaching, Zhao Hai actually refused to practice anymore.

Just moments ago, he had been desperate to drag someone into another couple of rounds. Now, the moment they finished, he was already heading out, without even bothering to brush the dirt off his clothes.

"Didn't you say you wanted another round?"

"This afternoon. We'll talk this afternoon."

Zhao Hai waved without looking back, quickening his steps to catch up with Fang Ming and Lu Yuan ahead.

He had finished all his morning practice. If he went another round now, who knew how long it would delay him?

It was time to go eat. Who had time for that?

But the three had barely gone any distance when the disciple behind them caught up.

"Perfect, I'm hungry too. Shall we head to the kitchen together?"

At that, Zhao Hai faltered, but Fang Ming spoke first with a smile.

"You go ahead. We've got something to do."

"What is it? Do it after lunch."

"There's no rush. We're not hungry yet."

The words had barely left his mouth when Zhao Hai's stomach growled.

Everyone's eyes landed on him at once. Zhao Hai's smile stiffened, and even Fang Ming couldn't help glancing at him.

Couldn't your stomach have waited a little longer?

But the words were already out there. Zhao Hai could only steel himself and nod.

"Right. Not hungry yet."

With that, he hurriedly dragged the other two away, afraid his stomach would undermine him again if they stayed any longer.

The disciple was left standing there, momentarily at a loss for words.

Your stomach growled that loudly, and you're telling me you're not hungry?

There really was something strange about those three today.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen's back courtyard, Chen An was in no hurry.

Someone had washed the breakfast dishes, someone had carried the firewood over, and Uncle Zhou had already helped steam the rice. With some time left before he needed to make lunch, he was playing cat's cradle with Ning Rongrong.

A thin string wound around their fingers. The little girl frowned at it for ages before finally finding the right spot and hooking it with a finger.

The string fell apart.

"That one doesn't count."

"You said that last time too."

Chen An was rather amused, but Ning Rongrong wasn't embarrassed at all. She simply stuffed the string back into his hands.

"I haven't learned it yet. One more time."

"All right, one last time. I'll play with you again after lunch and cultivation."

"Then don't forget."

"I won't."

This time, Chen An deliberately held his fingers a little looser. The little girl finally managed the transfer, and was still celebrating when three heads poked through the courtyard entrance.

"Xiao An."

Seeing Fang Ming and the others, Chen An paused, then glanced at the sky.

"Didn't I say to come at mealtime?"

"We came to see if you needed any help."

Fang Ming smiled as he spoke, while Zhao Hai nodded repeatedly. As for Lu Yuan, his gaze had already swept around the courtyard.

The wok wasn't set up, the fire wasn't lit, and even the bowls hadn't been brought out.

They certainly had come early.

How could Chen An not know what they were thinking? Still, coming early to help was a good thing, so he let them into the courtyard.

After greeting Ning Rongrong, Lu Yuan picked up the water bucket, while Zhao Hai went out front to find Uncle Zhou and ask what needed carrying.

Fang Ming was a step too late and could only start by wiping down the table and stools.

Ning Rongrong watched the three bustle about, her little face full of confusion.

"Didn't they already wash the dishes this morning?"

"That was this morning. They still need to eat lunch."

Chen An answered with a smile. The little girl nodded, only half understanding.

In any case, with someone helping with the chores, Chen An would have more time to play with her. That wasn't bad.

Before long, Uncle Zhou and Zhao Hai entered the back courtyard together. Rice, shrimp, and the ingredients that needed chopping were set out on the chopping board one after another.

Chen An put away the string and washed his hands. He was just about to light the fire when Chen Chuan beat him to the stove.

He couldn't let anyone else have this job. He was counting on sitting closer so he could smell the food the instant it was ready.

With everyone bustling about, Chen An found that there really was much less he needed to do himself today.

Uncle Zhou helped clean the shrimp, while Chen An used the kitchen knife to dice the ham and shiitake mushrooms finely. After preparing the seasonings, he could start frying.

The Dragon-Transforming Pot became a wok. Chen An cooked the shrimp and eggs in turn and set them aside, then fried the ham and mushrooms until fragrant before adding the cooled rice.

He pressed the clumps apart with his spatula, then flicked his wrist. Rice rose along the sides of the wok and fell back with the other ingredients. By the time he returned the shrimp and eggs to the wok, the aroma had spread everywhere.

Chen An glanced outside, only to discover that the fellows who had been working nonstop in the courtyard had all slowed down at once.

Lu Yuan was still holding an empty bucket, while Fang Ming's rag had stopped on the table. Both stared straight at him, not even bothering to hide it.

Done working already?

Weren't you all so eager just now?

"Wash your hands and get your bowls. It's almost ready."

At those words, all three instantly perked up.

"Okay, okay, okay."

"I'll get the bowls."

Zhao Hai answered and took just two steps before realizing Lu Yuan already had the bowls in his hands.

When had this fellow gotten those ready?

Chen Xin also arrived in the back courtyard before the meal. Seeing the disciples bustling about, he said little, asking Chen An only one question.

"Tired?"

"No. It's even easier than this morning."

That was the truth. There were fewer diners than at breakfast, but not a single helper was missing.

Chen Xin nodded, waiting until Chen An had finished frying all the rice before accepting his bowl.

Once again, lunch was polished off completely.

Fang Ming and the other two in particular had waited an hour that morning because of the Soul Skill test. Now they could eat straight from the wok, and their spoons barely stopped moving.

But after the meal, Chen An had only just stood up when Lu Yuan took the empty bowl from his hands.

"Xiao An, you rest."

"There isn't much. I'll clean up with you."

"No need. Don't you still have cultivation to do?"

Fang Ming chimed in, even having planned what Chen An should do next.

"Focus on cultivating this afternoon. Leave everything else to us."

"Exactly. You don't need to worry about these little things."

Zhao Hai said it so naturally that Chen An felt a little embarrassed.

"I'm putting you to far too much trouble."

"No trouble."

"None at all."

Each answer came faster than the last. Fang Ming even added with a smile,

"If you finish early, won't you be able to start dinner earlier too?"

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Hai looked at Fang Ming, and Lu Yuan turned with the bowls in his hands. As for Chen An, he couldn't hold back a laugh.

Well, then. All that talk about resting and cultivating, and they were thinking about dinner all along.

"You really have thought of everything for me."

Fang Ming gave a couple of awkward laughs, but with it out in the open, he stopped hiding it.

How much trouble could washing a few bowls and carrying some firewood be?

But if Xiao An wore himself out and cooked one less wokful for dinner, that would be a catastrophe.

Watching their reactions, Chen Xin couldn't help smiling either. In the end, he beckoned to Chen An.

"Let's go. Since someone's helping, let's finish your afternoon cultivation."

"All right."

Chen An nodded, but when he reached the entrance, he found Ning Rongrong following him too.

"Rongrong, go play for now."

"I'll wait for you. Didn't you say you'd play with me after cultivation?"

The little girl still remembered that string and insisted on going along.

Hearing that, Chen An could only take her hand.

Every last one of them certainly had a good memory.

Watching the three leave, Fang Ming and the others sped up their work. Once they finished cleaning, they still had to go back and complete their afternoon practice.

They had gotten lunch, but there was still dinner, wasn't there?

Chen An didn't worry about any of that anymore.

He cultivated with Chen Xin for a while that afternoon, then played with Ning Rongrong. By the time he returned to the kitchen toward evening, the ingredients on the chopping board were already prepared.

Chen Chuan had even lit the stove for him.

Life seemed to be getting more and more comfortable.

After dinner, Chen An went back and cultivated for another two hours, then washed up and drifted blissfully into sleep.

But while he slept comfortably, Zhao Hai tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep for ages.

If he'd known, he should have taken another helping from that last wokful tonight.

He'd thought he couldn't eat another bite, but how much time had passed? Why was he already thinking about it again?

Staring at the pitch-black sky outside his window, Zhao Hai couldn't help sighing.

"Why isn't it morning yet?"

Over the next two days, Fang Ming and the other two hardly missed a single meal.

They cultivated when they should and completed all their tasks, even more enthusiastically than before. But whenever mealtime came, the three refused to stay a moment longer, as though they had arranged it beforehand.

If anyone asked, they had something to do.

Asked again, they still had something to do.

As for what it was, each kept his lips sealed tighter than the last.

Xiao An had said only the three of them could come for now. If they brought someone else, what if he stopped letting them come too?

That was no joking matter.

So they could eat, but they absolutely had to watch their mouths.

They thought they were hiding it well, but everyone else found them increasingly strange.

They had something to do at the same time every day, always left together, and returned with glowing faces. Did that look like nothing was going on?

As for Chen An, his gains over the past few days were substantial too. His physique kept improving through the daily positive-review rewards. Now, even after frying several wokfuls in succession, his wrists no longer ached as easily as they had at first.

Ning Fengzhi visited once during that time to ask about the three disciples and observe how much cooking drained Chen An. He wasn't in a hurry to invite more people.

Chen An could first become more proficient with his Martial Soul, then gradually increase the numbers.

The child had only just obtained his first soul ring. He needed some time to adjust.

Chen Xin didn't come for every meal, and Gu Rong didn't stay in the kitchen when he had matters to attend to either. But Rongrong, Uncle Zhou, Chen Chuan, and those three disciples terrified of missing a meal made Chen An's little private kitchen a lively place.

Meal after meal, the positive reviews for Yangzhou Fried Rice finally approached the required total.

Another morning came. When Gu Rong arrived in the back courtyard holding Ning Rongrong's hand, Chen Xin was already seated at the table.

Looking at the bowls already set out, Gu Rong smiled.

"You're early today."

"You're not late yourself."

Chen Xin replied, then moved another stool outward to leave a place for Ning Rongrong.

The little girl settled into her familiar seat and looked eagerly toward the kitchen.

"Chen An, I'm hungry."

"Coming."

With the last wokful finished, Chen An put away the Dragon-Transforming Pot and wiped his hands with the damp cloth Chen Chuan handed him before sitting down.

Every seat around the table was occupied, but Fang Ming and the other two had no attention to spare for anyone else. They picked up their bowls and began eating.

There was little conversation in the courtyard during the meal, but the clinking of spoons against bowls never stopped.

Only when everyone began setting down their bowls did the system notifications sound in Chen An's ears.

[Yangzhou Fried Rice positive-review progress: 100/100.]

[New recipe unlocked: Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin.]

[Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin positive-review progress: 0/100.]

Seeing the notifications before him, Chen An was instantly delighted.

At last.

These past few days, it had been fried rice whether his eyes were open or shut. He liked it himself, but as a cook, who wouldn't want to make a few more dishes?

Soon, a new stream of information flooded his mind.

How to cut the tenderloin, how thick the batter should be, how to control the heat for the first frying and the second, and when to reduce the sweet-and-sour sauce-every step was perfectly clear.

After a moment's thought, Chen An already had a picture of the dish in his mind.

Strips of meat fried crisp outside and tender within, coated in a glossy red sweet-and-sour sauce-the first bite would bring a sweet, tangy taste, followed by the savory fragrance of the tender meat inside.

Naturally, it would be excellent with rice, too.

At the thought, even he began to crave it.

He would have Uncle Zhou get the tenderloin ready first, and they could try it at noon.

Uncle Zhou had just stood up when he heard Chen An call him back.

"Uncle Zhou, save some plain rice for lunch. Don't spread it all out to cool for fried rice."

"Hm? No fried rice for lunch?"

At those words, the others beside them immediately stopped what they were doing.

Zhao Hai had not even set his empty bowl down properly before he looked over.

No fried rice?

Everything had been perfectly fine, so why weren't they making it anymore?

"We'll switch things up and make Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin."

Chen An said it with a smile, and the eyes of those who had looked puzzled a moment ago instantly lit up.

Something new?

Ning Rongrong reacted fastest, hurriedly reaching out to catch Chen An's sleeve.

"Is it good?"

"It is. Sweet and tangy. You'll probably like it."

The little girl immediately broke into a smile. Beside her, Gu Rong was interested too and was just about to ask a couple of questions when he saw that the three disciples had already begun clearing up.

Some carried bowls while others wiped the table, moving considerably faster than before.

Fang Ming, though, made a point of checking once more before leaving.

"Xiao An, lunch will still be at the same time, right?"

"Yes."

"Good, good."

Only after getting a definite answer did the three feel reassured.

But once they were out of the courtyard, they exchanged glances, and their steps quickened in unison.

They had to hurry through this morning's work.

A new dish!

If they arrived late and missed even one bite, would they be able to sleep tonight?