Chapter 19: The Heart of a Chef
After seeing off the two wobbling Chinese girls, Xia Yu returned to the kitchen, picked up the gleaming chef's knife, and stood there in thought for a long while.
He was confident in the two dishes he had just prepared—Sweet and Sour Pork and Squirrel Fish. After all, the system had given them a passing score of 60 points each.
But to the round-faced girl, a food blogger with over 600,000 followers on Weibo, his cooking was still miles behind his old man's Fuqi Feipian.
She had commented:
"Your dishes are tasty, no doubt. But how do I say it... they're just tasty. There are plenty of delicious dishes like these in China.
But that Fuqi Feipian—not only did it satisfy my stomach and tongue, it moved my heart. It sounds ridiculous, but that's exactly how it felt. The difference is like eating real food versus something magical. One is ordinary, the other feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
At the time, the sparkle in her eyes left Xia Yu baffled.
She didn't know that dish had been cooked by his old man. And when she accused him of slacking off on the last two dishes, he couldn't exactly defend himself. By the time she left, her gaze was full of regret, while Xia Yu could only swallow his bitterness in silence.
"Hit a wall?"
A rough voice suddenly came from behind.
"No way—!"
Xia Yu instantly recognized the voice. He raised his tone dramatically and rolled up his sleeves, showing off his toned arms. "I won't admit defeat!"
Then, his shoulders slumped as he turned around with a troubled expression. "Old man, tell me. What's the difference between your cooking and mine? I studied your manual seriously, step by step."
The old man said nothing. He spent a few quiet minutes preparing a plate of Fuqi Feipian, carefully mixing the offal with marinade, soy oil, chili flakes, and pepper powder. Then he set it on the counter.
"Eat."
He paused. "You've practiced knife skills long enough. Now that you're a proper apprentice, the answers you seek… are in the dish."
Xia Yu smacked his forehead.
He'd improved his cooking, yet never truly tasted his old man's food after leveling up.
Back then, he'd been a layman—only able to think, "Wow, delicious!" But now that his skills were improving rapidly, he was confident he could understand more. Taste deeper.
He picked up a pair of chopsticks, cautiously lifted a piece of beef tripe, and put it into his mouth.
Spices, chili, and pepper exploded on his tongue.
His expression shifted—shock, disbelief, then deep satisfaction. Just one bite, and he already felt full.
No—not physically. Spiritually.
He finally understood what the food blogger meant.
This wasn't just delicious.
This was… an emotional experience.
Even if you only took a bite, the rest of the day's meals would feel bland and hollow in comparison.
Overwhelming.
Xia Yu was stunned. Somehow, in that one dish, he felt the presence of the chef's soul.
In his previous world, he would've laughed at the idea of "magical cooking."
But here?
In this world?
The old man had manifested the heart of a chef through food. And Xia Yu couldn't help but feel awe.
He suddenly realized how foolish both he and his predecessor had been.
After eating the old man's food for over a decade, he was still stuck practicing basic knife skills. No enlightenment. No understanding. No wonder the old man never taught him anything deeper.
The old man must have once held hope.
But his previous self had been nothing but a block of wood.
That's why… he was left behind.
Ding!
System: Advanced Talent Unlocked—[Heart of the Chef]Condition: Reach Level 10 and become a One-Star Chef to unlock advanced level-ups via Talent Points.
Xia Yu blinked.
Heart of the Chef?
He opened the system panel. On the glowing talent tree, a new icon shimmered like a beacon on the upper tier.
The talent tree showed foundational branches—Knife Skills, Heat Control, Seasoning, Ingredient Recognition. Surrounding these were physical attributes like Strength, Agility, Focus, and Reflexes—considered basic in the world of chefs.
And then there was this:
[Heart of the Chef] (Advanced Talent):A chef is both artist and conductor. They stir emotions through flavor—making spice overwhelming, sweetness healing, and bitterness evoke long, soul-crushing journeys. In their hands, taste becomes a conduit for emotion, guiding the eater's tears and laughter.
"…Goddamn."
That was all Xia Yu could say.
Level 10, One-Star Chef. This talent must be activated. It's too powerful.
The old man left just as suddenly as he came.
Late into the night, Xia Yu opened the manual again, his thoughts renewed.
"System, how much of the old man's manual have I studied?"
Progress: 96%. Remaining: 4%.
"Then let's finish that tonight!"
The system quickly sorted his next tasks. Like a strict mentor, it coldly declared "Unqualified" whenever he made a mistake.
Xia Yu buried himself in learning.
He didn't notice the tall figure standing quietly outside the kitchen corner, watching him for a long time.
In the darkness, a pair of eyes gleamed, filled with relief and silent satisfaction.