Chapter 72 Lin Xiuxiu

“Boss Yun?” Yuan Peng looked at Yun Xuan, who was staring intently at Lin Xiuxiu, feeling somewhat awkward.

“Sorry, did you make all this?” Yun Xuan came back to himself and glanced at Lin Xiuxiu.

“Yes... Enjoy your meal.” Lin Xiuxiu, blushing, set down the soup and scurried back to her room.

“What a pity,” Yun Xuan sighed as he sat down.

“Boss Yun, Xiuxiu is still young, she’s not suitable for you,” Yuan Peng said, unsure how to respond—the difference between Yun Xuan’s status and theirs was immense.

“Hm? I meant it’s a pity about her cooking skills,” Yun Xuan looked at Yuan Peng in confusion. Why was he suddenly talking about suitability? Such a thought hadn’t crossed his mind at all.

“Uh...” Seeing the confusion on Yun Xuan’s face, Yuan Peng felt bewildered. Had he misunderstood?

“Boss Yun, the contract is finalized.” Lin Shitou pushed open the door and entered.

“Uncle Lin, I have a job to offer. I wonder if your daughter would be interested,” Yun Xuan said with a smile, having tasted Lin Xiuxiu’s dishes.

“A job? For Xiuxiu?” Lin Shitou was utterly confused—offering a job after just a glance? Could it be he’d taken a liking to Xiuxiu?

“Her culinary skills are impressive. By the standards of the Culinary Management Association, she’s at the level of a two-star chef. If she joins my restaurant to train, she could become a three-star chef within three years, earning at least two hundred thousand a year,” Yun Xuan put down his chopsticks, speaking earnestly.

“What?” Lin Shitou’s mouth fell open. Two hundred thousand a year? Even Yuan Peng, with his work, barely made over thirty thousand a year, yet Xiuxiu could earn two hundred thousand?

“It seems you don’t fully appreciate her talent. Let me use the kitchen for a moment,” Yun Xuan said with a wry smile, shaking his head as he headed into the kitchen.

Lin Shitou and Yuan Peng exchanged bewildered glances, unable to fathom Yun Xuan’s meaning.

Inside Lin Xiuxiu’s room, she was watching TV, which was broadcasting the preliminary round of the Star-Moon Cup being held in Fangyu City.

“What should I do after I graduate...” Lin Xiuxiu murmured. She was now in her last year of junior high, and her grades weren’t good. Cooking was her only talent. But chefs were mostly men, and as a girl, she’d never considered working in a big hotel, especially since she didn’t even have a chef’s certificate.

“And now, I announce the winner of the Star-Moon Cup preliminary round is... Yun Xuan, with his signature dish, ‘Hope’.” The voice from the TV snapped Lin Xiuxiu back to attention.

With a soft “plop,” the snack in her hand fell to the table as she saw the cup’s winner on TV.

“It’s him!” Lin Xiuxiu looked toward the window. That young man who’d just been here—he was the winner of the Star-Moon Cup preliminaries?

She quickly searched his name on her phone, and her eyes widened at the results.

“First place in the Star-Moon Cup!”

...

Less than half an hour later, Yun Xuan emerged from the kitchen carrying two dishes, each covered by an upturned bowl.

“Let me introduce myself: I am a four-star chef,” Yun Xuan said as he lifted the bowls.

“Uh...” Lin Shitou and Yuan Peng stared at the two beautifully presented dishes before them, at a loss for words.

“Please, try them, Uncle Lin, Uncle Yuan,” Yun Xuan said with a smile.

He had prepared braised pork and pork chops.

The two men gulped in unison—the aroma alone was enough to tell them these dishes were extraordinary.

Lin Shitou picked up a piece of braised pork and placed it in his mouth.

“Delicious! Even better than Xiuxiu’s braised pork! And not greasy at all!” Lin Shitou exclaimed, perhaps tasting the best food he’d ever eaten.

Yuan Peng tried the pork chop. One bite, and the crispy exterior gave way to a flavor that made him want to devour the whole thing.

“May I try some?” Lin Xiuxiu had already come out, drawn by the scent. With her keen sense of smell, she knew instantly that this was a flavor far beyond her own skill.

“Yes,” Yun Xuan replied, clearly satisfied that Lin Xiuxiu had taken the bait.

After tasting both dishes, Lin Xiuxiu put down her chopsticks.

“The braised pork is cooked to perfection—just a minute more and it would be too soft, a minute less and it would be greasy. And is there seafood in the pork chop?” she asked Yun Xuan.

“That’s right—crab and a blend of spices,” Yun Xuan replied, pulling a small packet of spice powder from his pocket, sealed in a transparent plastic bag.

“You’re amazing, Teacher Yun Xuan,” Lin Xiuxiu said admiringly. He was first in the Star-Moon Cup for painting, and now his cooking far surpassed her imagination—truly, geniuses existed in this world.

“No, you’re even more impressive. To have honed your skills to the level of a two-star chef in a place like this—you’re a true prodigy,” Yun Xuan shook his head.

“Two-star chef?” Lin Xiuxiu was puzzled.

...

Half an hour later, Yun Xuan had explained to the three of them about the Culinary Management Association and the star rating system for chefs.

Lin Xiuxiu searched for more information, only to discover how fascinating the world of chefs truly was.

“There’s a female chef at our restaurant, from overseas, currently a two-star chef as well, though she has more experience and broader culinary knowledge than you,” Yun Xuan said, showing Lin Xiuxiu the profile of Xuanxue Restaurant on his phone.

“She’s so beautiful,” Lin Xiuxiu gasped, looking at Alice in amazement. She’d never imagined there could be such skilled female chefs, and so young as well.

“If you join our restaurant now, you can be taught by a four-star female chef—she’s extremely knowledgeable and is one of my protégés. I can offer you a salary of one hundred thousand a year, with one month of training before officially starting, plus room and board. Do you accept?” Yun Xuan looked at Lin Xiuxiu—he didn’t want such talent to slip away.

Lin Xiuxiu looked at Lin Shitou.

“You’re grown up now, Xiuxiu. You need to make your own decisions. In a few years, you’ll be married. Don’t look to me—if you want to be a chef, we support you,” Lin Shitou said, grinning as he smoked. He wouldn’t refuse such a wonderful opportunity, but the choice was still up to Lin Xiuxiu.

“I accept, Boss Yun,” Lin Xiuxiu breathed a sigh of relief. She genuinely loved cooking.

...

After reviewing the contract, afternoon had arrived. Lin Shitou invited Yun Xuan to stay overnight and teach Lin Xiuxiu more about cooking.

Yun Xuan considered it and agreed, spending the afternoon fishing with Lin Xiuxiu.

The river was a bit chilly, and the fish here were only about as thick as two fingers, never longer than ten centimeters.

Yun Xuan fetched a folding knife and spices from his motorcycle, then returned to the riverbank to grill fish with Lin Xiuxiu, teaching her about blending spices as they ate.

Of course, he didn’t forget to call Yun Xun’er.

When Yun Xun’er heard about his plans for a plantation, she approved, but she couldn’t resist giving him a lecture about the villa.

“Mixing spices can enhance the flavors, and even swapping the order in which you add them can make a difference... So, you still have much to learn,” Yun Xuan said, munching on grilled fish as he spoke to Lin Xiuxiu.

“Mm, Yun Xuan, could you draw me?” Lin Xiuxiu asked softly.

After much urging from Yun Xuan, she’d finally dropped the “Boss” and started calling him by name.

“Draw you? That I can do,” Yun Xuan said, a little surprised, gazing at Lin Xiuxiu.

“Xiuxiu...” A boy’s voice sounded from behind her.

(P.S.: The real main storyline will be revealed in three chapters, and the collection quest will begin. Can't I get a single recommendation vote?)