C13 A Country Bumpkin

A sour note suddenly pierced the air. Lin Yu, busy prepping ingredients, stiffened for a moment. His nose twitched as he mused aloud, "Is there a sour scent in the air?"

He shot Lin Linger a glance. "Ling Er, could you check the kitchen to see if a mouse has knocked over our vinegar jar?"

Lin Linger replied, puzzled, "Brother, we don't have a vinegar jar at home."

It dawned on Lin Yu that he wasn't on Earth, where many references would be lost on others. A wave of melancholy washed over him, but his hands continued their graceful dance, seamlessly wielding the knife Huofeng had provided to portion the Red Jade Chicken.

Lin Yu carefully trimmed away some of the fattier sections, aiming for a lighter, more refreshing dish.

His technique was fundamental, yet Nalan Zhan, Qin Caiyun, and the newly arrived Situ Deng watched in stunned silence. To them, chicken was always cooked whole; the concept of eating it in parts was foreign.

"This... this..." Situ Deng struggled to find words. Had an elderly chef been at work, he might have chalked it up to experience. But seeing Lin Yu, a young man barely in his twenties, a silent rage began to smolder within him.

Was it Lin Yu's cooking that had caused Nalan Ziyan to vomit? The image of Nalan Ziyan's reaction fanned the flames of Situ Deng's ire, culminating in a contemptuous snort. "Hmph, can't even cook a chicken properly?"

"Is this the chef who can get Ziyan to eat? Seems like a fluke to me," Situ Deng remarked to Nalan Zhan. "Master Hou, I've studied with numerous culinary masters and encountered a variety of innovative dishes, but never have I seen a whole chicken divided for consumption."

In this world, chefs were far from lowly; their craft was considered quite cunning. And while chicken was a common ingredient, it was always treated simply. Past chefs hadn't ventured beyond the traditional, focusing their creativity on other fare.

So, the norm was to cook a whole chicken, with leftovers simply discarded.

Nalan Zhan furrowed his brow, well aware of Situ Deng's dissatisfaction with Lin Yu. Situ Deng had invested considerable effort over the years to get Nalan Ziyan to eat, only to watch Lin Yu ultimately claim the triumph.

Situ Deng's point was valid, though. What chef would cut the chicken into so many pieces? But questioning Lin Yu outright could come off as disrespectful. And what if Lin Yu truly was a once-in-a-lifetime culinary prodigy?

Speaking without thinking could earn Lin Yu's ire, a risk Nalan Zhan might take lightly for himself, but not when it came to Nalan Ziyan, who had only been eating Lin Yu's cooking for years. Offending Lin Yu was not an option.

Lin Yu's hands momentarily stilled as he coated two chicken legs in flour, then rolled a seafood ingredient resembling an oyster in the flour before dipping it in egg wash for a second coat. He performed each step openly, under the watchful eyes of all present.

Given the cramped quarters of the Lin family kitchen, and with the task of cooking for the Marquis and his wife, Lin Yu couldn't afford to be secretive. Despite the Southwest Marquis's renown, he had no shortage of enemies, and for all they knew, Lin Yu could be a spy.

Knowing he wasn't a spy but unable to easily explain, Lin Yu opted to set up a makeshift stove outside.

The Southwest Marquis Mansion's servants were nothing if not efficient, but Lin Yu couldn't help feeling envious of their use of Spirit Stone fragments as fuel to hasten the meal for Nalan Zhan and Qin Caiyun. Such extravagance was staggering.

Spirit Stone fragments, once polished, became Spirit Coins—ten of which equaled one Spirit Stone. Just for fuel, the cooking had consumed dozens of fragments.

"Even in another world, poverty seems to constrain my imagination," Lin Yu sighed to himself. His eyes landed on Situ Deng nearby, and after a moment's thought, he addressed him, "Young Master, do you take issue with me?"

The oil had just hit the pan, and Lin Yu found himself with a moment to spare, eager to have a word with the man who had been eyeing him since he walked in the door.

While Lin Yu was busy with the ingredients, he couldn't shake the feeling of being scrutinized under a magnifying glass, an uncomfortable sensation that he later realized stemmed from Situ Deng's hostility. The irony was, he didn't even know who Situ Deng was.

What was Situ Deng's deal, anyway?

Situ Deng turned his head away with a haughty snort, "You're just a country bumpkin who doesn't even know how to cook a chicken. I have no qualms with you. You're beneath my notice."

His words dripped with the disdain of a noble condescending to a commoner. It wasn't just Lin Yu who felt the sting; even Nalan Zhan, a Marquis who had clawed his way up from the bottom, felt a twinge of discomfort. He cautioned, "Situ Deng, try to temper your words."

Qin Caiyun, ever the diplomat, smiled and interjected, "My lord, Young Master Situ is still young. A bit of hot-headedness is to be expected. We shouldn't be too harsh on him, considering he has Ziyan's best interests at heart."

Despite Situ Deng's years of effort without success in getting Nalan Ziyan to eat, Qin Caiyun had taken note of his dedication and was quite pleased with him. Even though Situ Deng could be overbearing, she saw these as minor flaws.

Nalan Zhan, brow furrowed, warned, "Let's not provoke Alchemist Lin."

He had his doubts about Lin Yu, whose methods, though fluid, were unlike anything he'd seen before. Nalan Zhan had witnessed many chefs at work, but Lin Yu was an enigma.

Yet Lin Yu was their last hope, and if he truly had the skill, Nalan Zhan had no desire to upset him. Culinary masters were known for their peculiar temperaments, after all.

Qin Caiyun chuckled, "Alchemist Lin is not only talented but also has a good nature. I doubt he'll take Young Master Situ's words to heart... Besides, a little rivalry among the youth is quite normal."

Seeing Nalan Zhan's displeasure, Situ Deng had felt a flicker of panic, but Qin Caiyun's consistent support bolstered his confidence. Puffing up with pride, he declared, "The lady speaks the truth. I will certainly prove myself with my culinary prowess!"

"Ziyan only has a taste for the meals I prepare. The previous incident was nothing more than a fluke! And even if it wasn't, it would merely be a stroke of luck. Ziyan would never deign to eat food prepared by some country bumpkin!" Situ Deng declared, dismissively labeling Lin Yu as nothing more than a rural peasant.

Lin Yu couldn't help but furrow his brow in response...