Uncle Zhou

Biodata

Background / History

Supporting Chen An’s Cooking

Uncle Zhou was already an experienced kitchen worker when Chen An began visiting to pick vegetables, help with chores, and prepare his own food. Recognizing the child’s interest, he let Chen An use the small stove in the back courtyard while other staff handled communal meals. He regularly offered Chen An cooking pointers 1.

On the day Chen An awakened his Martial Souls, Uncle Zhou went to check that he had eaten lunch and discovered his Yangzhou Fried Rice. Although he agreed to try only a bite, he finished an entire bowl and immediately requested another. That evening, he prepared the rice, shrimp, eggs, firewood, and utensils in advance, becoming Chen An’s assistant rather than his instructor 1 2.

Expanding the Small Kitchen

As sect leaders and disciples began eating Chen An’s meals, Uncle Zhou helped organize ingredients, staffing, and seating. Ning Fengzhi instructed him to supply whatever Chen An needed at the sect’s expense, while Gu Rong specifically told him not to let Chen An buy seasonings with his pocket money anymore 13.

When another expansion was proposed, Uncle Zhou identified an unused rear burner that could be restored. After the disciples cleared it and found a wok, he tested the cleaned firebox. This expansion added seven diners, bringing the regular group to twenty 18.

He continued running meals whenever Chen An left for shopping, academy visits, or Soul Ring hunts. Before hunting trips, he reminded Chen An to bring sufficient dry provisions; afterward, he had hot meals ready for the returning party 20 28 34 44 47.

Guests and Gatherings

Uncle Zhou accommodated Xue Qinghe’s two guards by reserving extra pork and rice without delaying the regular diners’ meals. He arranged their seating and helped ensure that both guests and kitchen workers received their portions 54 55.

After Chen An reached level thirty-four, Uncle Zhou insisted on making dinner himself and would not even let him wash vegetables. He served stir-fried duck eggs with shiitake mushrooms and greens soup, giving Chen An a rare evening away from cooking 56.

For the gathering following the sect’s Martial Soul Awakening ceremony, Uncle Zhou used Ning Rongrong’s headcount to calculate supplies. He coordinated the ordinary rice and dishes alongside Chen An’s Salted Duck, then helped carry and serve the finished platters 58 59.

Personality

Uncle Zhou is protective of Chen An without dismissing his competence. He prioritizes the child’s cultivation over everyone’s appetite, reassures him that the kitchen can function during his absences, and encourages him to concentrate on academy lessons rather than hurry back to cook. He also intervenes when Chen An puts chores ahead of eating or resting 4 34 41 51 56.

His enthusiasm for good food frequently becomes comic. He ignores Ning Rongrong’s protests while eating his first bowl of fried rice, then later tells Chen Chuan to slow down while eating almost as quickly himself. Nevertheless, he does not let that enthusiasm override practical responsibilities: disciples must eat proper breakfasts, cart escorts must sleep before traveling, and visitors cannot crowd the stove 1 4 32 45 49.

He remains willing to criticize Chen An’s cooking. If seasoning or frying falls short, he tells him to taste the next batch before serving it rather than offering automatic praise 56.

Abilities & Skills

Cooking and Ingredient Preparation

Uncle Zhou has years of kitchen experience and can independently handle meals when Chen An is unavailable 1 12 28.

• Prepares rice, chopped ingredients, shrimp, and cooking stations ahead of service 2 4 27.
• Assists with heat control and slow preparations, including the red bean paste for Ning Rongrong’s birthday rice 35.
• Prepares complete meals himself, including the dinner following Chen An’s level-thirty-four breakthrough 56.
• Checks cooking quality and prompts Chen An to correct mistakes before serving further batches 56.

Purchasing and Supply Management

He regularly arranges supplies and knows where to obtain dried goods and seasonings 12.

• Gives Chen An a shop address and a list of existing supplies to prevent unnecessary purchases 12.
• Adjusts rice quantities to account for the disciples’ appetites and their habit of mixing sauces into extra bowls 15.
• Arranges suitable skin-on pork belly for Twice-Cooked Pork and lets Chen An inspect the delivery before it is carried inside 52 53.
• Calculates feast requirements from attendance lists, available rice, and vegetables 58.

Kitchen Coordination

Uncle Zhou balances communal meals, Chen An’s small stove, and diners returning at different times 13 34 55.

• Directs helpers toward deliveries, table setting, ingredient sorting, and cleanup 10 40 45.
• Keeps food warm for late arrivals and asks for advance notice so portions can be reserved 50 51 54.
• Supports Chen An’s limits on BB Popcorn requests rather than promising servings on his behalf 32.
• Maintains hygiene rules, including requiring cart escorts to wash before eating 50.

Relationships

• Chen An — Young cook whom he first advised and later assisted. He supplies ingredients, covers absences, saves meals, and protects Chen An’s time for cultivation and rest 1 2 34 56.
• Chen Chuan — Fellow kitchen worker whom he directs to deliver ingredients; they also share preparation, stove-tending, and cleanup duties 4 6 57.
• Ning Rongrong — Familiar visitor to the small kitchen. He recognizes her arrival as a cue to set out a bowl, teases her about Chen An’s birthday preparations, and saves her remaining eight-treasure rice 23 35.
• Ning Fengzhi — Sect master who authorizes kitchen expansion and instructs him to charge Chen An’s cooking expenses to the sect 13 18.
• Fang Ming — Regular diner and helper whom he frequently teases and redirects toward chores. Fang Ming acknowledges that Uncle Zhou looks after the disciples even when Chen An is away 28 30 40 54.
• Han Cheng and Zhao Hai — Disciples who help with supplies and kitchen work. He reserves their meals during escort duties and warns Han Cheng not to exhaust himself with chores before traveling 49 50 51.

Notable Quotes

“Xiao An's cultivation comes first. We'll eat it again when he returns.” 4

“All right, I'll scoop it out. You've got cooking to do tomorrow. Go back and sleep.” 35

“It's usually so hard to get you to take one meal off. Today, we finally have a reason.” 56