Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 2

Is this the legendary system? Rebirth comes with such perks! Of course, I’ll accept it without hesitation, Zhao Xiaojing thought excitedly.

With just a thought, the panel automatically selected “Yes.”

[Limited-Time Task: Use available ingredients to create a dish so delicious that the kids next door will be envious. This task refreshes at midnight, and failure is an option if not completed. Do you wish to accept the task?]

[Yes/No]

Make a dish that makes kids cry for more with what’s in the house? Zhao Xiaojing was stunned. If she had any gourmet ingredients, why would she be buying discounted fried dough sticks and sweet potato fries from the supermarket?

Before she could process it, the system chimed again.

[Task countdown: ten seconds. If not accepted, it will be considered forfeited.]

[Ten, nine, eight…]

Accept, accept, accept! Zhao Xiaojing shouted in panic. How could she abandon a task after finally getting the system?

The system page immediately changed to show the task progress countdown.

[Task Progress: Make Kids Envious (0/1)]

[Task Countdown: 04:32:06]

[04:32:05]

…

Zhao Xiaojing breathed a sigh of relief; thankfully, the task was still on.

This system works fast, without giving a second to think! Do you have a grudge against the kids next door? Why make them envious?

She continued browsing while complaining.

“System, did you mention a novice gift pack earlier?”

[Switching to backpack page…]

[Limited-Time Luxury Novice Gift Pack x1, please choose to claim it.]

“Claim.”

[Congratulations on acquiring Master Knife Skills x1, Body Strengthener (10% Boost Type) x1, Initial System Coins x500, Electric Tricycle for Stalls x1]

[Master Knife Skills automatically applied; other items can be used at your discretion.]

[System Shop unlocked. Use system coins to purchase corresponding items.]

A pleasant warmth washed over her, filling Zhao Xiaojing’s mind with countless knife skills and experiences. These felt familiar, as if she’d always known them.

Practice makes perfect! Zhao Xiaojing eagerly prepared to put her knife skills to the test.

Rummaging through her supplies, she found only some dough sticks, sweet potatoes, plain noodles, and two sausages. Without hesitation, she chose the sausages.

After peeling them, she contemplated the knife skills in her mind and swiftly sliced one into wheat ear patterns and the other into lattice patterns, taking only 20 seconds.

Amazed, Zhao Xiaojing gently pulled the lattice-cut sausage apart, revealing evenly sized sections connected beautifully from end to end without breaking.

“Fantastic! Amazing!”

“Even if I can’t find a job, I could work as a prep cook and earn money!”

Hmm? Sausages? Sausages! She found a way to complete the task. Zhao Xiaojing remembered how her ungrateful children used to crave street-fried starch sausages.

Glancing at the time, 19:30, she realized the kids next door would soon return from playing in the sand.

She grabbed a frying pan, poured enough oil to cover the bottom, and heated it until small bubbles formed. Then she added the first wheat ear-patterned sausage and carefully placed the lattice-patterned one to avoid sticking.

While the second sausage set in the pan, she mixed half a spoon of chili powder, one spoon of cumin powder, a third of a spoon of sugar, two spoons of sesame seeds, and one spoon of five-spice powder in a small bowl.

By then, the oil sizzled around the sausages, creating a fragrant aroma. She flipped them continuously to ensure even browning on all sides.

She scooped a spoonful of bubbling oil and poured it over the spices, releasing their fragrance instantly.

Adding a drop of oyster sauce and a bit of sweet bean paste to the bowl, she stirred until well combined.

Quickly opening the wooden door of the rental room revealed an iron gate with bars outside.

Peeking at the neighbor’s place, Zhao Xiaojing saw both their doors wide open and sat back contentedly.

The rental room was tiny, but from outside the iron gate, one could see everything inside clearly. Her frying pan was right by the door, easily visible from the outside.

From downstairs came the sound of footsteps and childish chatter. Zhao Xiaojing perked up. She took out a plate, placed the already fried wheat ear-patterned sausage on it, and carefully skewered it with chopsticks. She leisurely brushed it with the sauce using a brush.

“Biu biu biu, bibi! Watch my carrot sword defeat you, T-Rex~”

“Our classmate Zhu Yuyu came out with a swoosh that day, green and slippery!”

“Werwerwerwer~ werwerwer~ all brave~~ huh, what’s that smell?”

Another burst of footsteps echoed as two children pressed against the iron gate, peering inside.

Zhao Xiaojing glanced sideways at them and continued turning the sausage in the pan, ensuring it sizzled with bubbles. She meticulously brushed the sauce on the fried sausage outside.

The sauce trickled down the crispy surface of the sausage, sticking to cumin and sesame seeds. It transformed into layers of enticing reddish-brown.

Thanks to the wheat ear cut, the sausage took on a blossoming shape after frying. The grooves held ample sauce.

“Gulp…” The two children swallowed hard, staring intently at the sausage in Zhao Xiaojing’s hand, their faces pressed firmly against the bars.

Taking a big bite of the sausage, she exaggeratedly savored it. With the intricate cuts, even the bitten parts looked appetizing with their golden yellow edges.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming home and hanging on someone else’s door?”

The neighbor uncle opened his door long ago but hadn’t seen his child return. Seeing them clinging to someone else’s door, he awkwardly grabbed one by the collar.

“Hurry back! Duoduo, you too, go upstairs! Your mom’s waiting for you!”

He tugged at them, stretching their clothes but barely moving them from the door.

Zhao Xiaojing fished out the second sausage, fried to perfection inside and out. The lattice pattern looked even more delicate after frying. Even the uncle paused at its sight.

Frying a sausage brought out such beauty! Why did it look so tempting and different from street-fried starch sausages?!

Gurgle…

“Daddy, I want some!! I want some!!!” The child clung tightly to the iron gate, swallowing and shouting loudly.

“I’ll fry you some at home; don’t embarrass us!” The uncle snapped out of it and continued pulling at his child. Realizing they wouldn’t budge, he crouched to pry their fingers off the bars.

“I want this one! I want this one!” The child stomped in place, voice rising sharply.