CHAPTER 607: EPISODE 323 WHO IS YOUR TEACHER_2

Alright, the question she feared the most was being asked.

When she first arrived at Fire Knife Village, Hua Ermother noticed that she had transformed from a girl who couldn’t even boil water properly into a highly skilled chef. She was convinced that this skill had been coerced out of her by Hua Dashan’s abuse, and she cursed Hua Dashan thoroughly, calling him names. At that time, Hua Xiaomai didn’t admit it directly, but she didn’t deny it either, planning to quietly let the matter slide.

Hua Ermother’s cooking skills were a mess, and it was easy to deceive her, but in front of someone with meticulous thoughts, it wasn’t so simple to cover up. The question of "who did you learn from" had been asked by Meng Yuhuai several times, and each time she responded with lies and evasions. Knowing full well that she was talking nonsense, but since she insisted it was the truth, Meng Yuhuai was at a loss and let her be. So today...

Hua Xiaomai subconsciously wanted to repeat her old ruse, saying she had received guidance from some hidden expert in her hometown, but before she could speak, she saw Wang Tonghe already smiling knowingly, tapping a finger on her face.

"Girl, think carefully before you speak. If you spout nonsense, I won’t agree to it, nor will I accept it," he said.

...This old gentleman’s probing was indeed difficult to deal with!

"I..."

Hua Xiaomai glanced at Wang Zhanrui and Master Tan, noticing a hint of curiosity on both their faces. Then she looked at Zhou Yunyun, who seemed even more eager, and couldn’t help but feel both amused and embarrassed.

"It’s complicated to explain. I fear that even if I told you, you might not believe it," she said straightforwardly, tired of sparring with Wang Tonghe, "After all, I’m merely earning a living through my interest. I never used my culinary skills to harm anyone. Is it important whom I learned from?"

A hint of disappointment crossed Wang Tonghe’s face, but soon he burst out laughing.

"You make a good point, girl. It was presumptuous of me," he said, leaning casually against the stove, "It doesn’t matter who you learned from. In the food and drink industry, what truly matters is making delicious dishes. As long as you are honest and upright, no matter where your skills come from, the paths converge. If you don’t want to say, then I won’t ask anymore. However—"

He smiled again, and for some reason, his face showed a touch of childlike mischief: "Do you know why I think there’s something odd about you?"

Hua Xiaomai shook her head.

Wang Tonghe then briskly made his way back to the lobby and brought the bowl of noodles back in.

"To boast a little, even though I am now living as a hermit in the mountains, more than a decade ago, I was also a noted figure in the culinary world. Chefs from all over followed me ardently. I might not claim to know all the slightly famous ones, but I have heard of eight or nine out of ten and know something about their cooking techniques," he said.

He picked out a razor clam from the bowl and held it up to Hua Xiaomai’s eyes, "This razor clam of yours, it’s dried seafood that you bought, right? Did you first soak it in cold water and then simmer it for a long time until it swelled up to this size? I have lived for so many years and have never seen this method before. To me, this is truly a first! From one glimpse, I can tell that your cooking habits differ greatly from the common practices in the culinary world nowadays. Considering your age, if you hadn’t been guided by a master, even if you were extraordinarily talented, how could you have come up with these methods out of thin air?"

Hua Xiaomai didn’t know how to reply, so she simply smiled faintly.

"Let it be, let it be. Everyone has secrets they don’t wish others to know. I won’t ask anymore." Wang Tonghe didn’t press her and waved his hand, "Zhanrui has been learning cooking from me for many years and possesses quite some insight. Even he praises your abilities. I was very curious to see for myself what a girl in her teens could be capable of. Now I think about it, it’s better to save the effort than to ask all sorts of questions only to be brushed off with your replies. Tell me, girl, would you like to make a couple more dishes to let me see your skills?"

"...Sure."

Hua Xiaomai hesitated just a moment, then agreed heartily, pointing to the basket of vegetables in the corner: "Ever since I learned that Master Wang’s father is the renowned Divine Chef known throughout the land, I’ve longed for your guidance. Since you are interested today, I will make a clumsy attempt in your presence. What would you like me to prepare?"

"Let’s find a quiet place and talk things over slowly!" Wang Tonghe laughed heartily, waving his hand as if the wrinkles on his face had stretched out.

...

To avoid disturbing the business, that afternoon, Hua Xiaomai and Wang Tonghe found a secluded spot in the garden, built a stove on the spot, cooked a meal, and discussed. The more they talked, the more they found they had in common.

Hua Xiaomai’s culinary skills were learned in a past era. Although the essence of cooking is inherited, it has undergone many improvements over thousands of years to become more rational. Wang Tonghe watched in awe but indeed did not ask about her origins again, amazed by the novel cooking methods he saw, his interest piqued. He even cooked two dishes himself, achieving the peak of perfection in color, aroma, and taste, leaving Hua Xiaomai speechless in admiration.

No wonder this old man was so revered. With his culinary skills, he wouldn’t just be a leader in this current era but even if he went a few hundred years into the future, he was bound to become a trendsetter in the industry!

The two of them talked from the afternoon until evening. Apart from Meng Yuhuai coming over once, holding Little Walnut and scolding for a bit, no one else disturbed them. Even after closing time, they still felt the conversation was unfinished.

There are no walls in the world that don’t leak. The news of Wang Tonghe’s appearance at Daoxiang Garden in Fire Knife Village quickly spread far and wide. People came in waves wanting to catch a glimpse of the Divine Chef.

At first, it was just a steady stream of people from Fuzhe County, but before long, even the Provincial City got wind of the news. Not only did the common people flock there, but even the peers who owned restaurants and diners came running over, filled with curiosity and astonishment. They couldn’t help but wonder what was so special about Daoxiang Garden that it had drawn the reclusive Master Wang out of hiding.

Hua Xiaomai reaped the benefits brought by Wang Tonghe. Thanks to him, the business of Daoxiang Garden climbed another step within a few days, becoming the hottest eatery in the entire Tong’an Prefecture. Day in and day out, the place was bustling with activity to the point where the threshold was nearly worn down.

It didn’t take long for rumors to start circulating in the city, claiming that the female owner of Daoxiang Garden’s cooking was so exquisite because she was the only direct disciple of Wang Tonghe. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian to cast your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)