Chapter Thirty-Four: Good wine, what a pity

  "Haha, it seems that not only do we like good food, but you've also been attracted by the aroma, haven't you?" Ye Hua said with a pleased expression. In his heart, he thought, usually little junior sister would tease this one and that one, today is truly heaven's blessing, letting me have the chance to tease you too.

  "Ah, we just came to watch Lingming cook, didn't expect his culinary skills to be so outstanding." Tiankui immediately explained. She wouldn't want her image in the general's mansion to become that of a foodie.

  "Lingming? Your friend, it turns out that among the friends of my junior sister, there is a chef with such exceptional skills. You didn't even introduce me to him, and I'm the one who loves good food the most." Ye Hua said casually, pretending to be nonchalant.

  Just as Tong Tian Huai was about to introduce Ling Ming and Ye Hua, he suddenly heard Ling Ming's transmission.

  "Don't reveal my identity as a Refiner, this was arranged by Elder Ling Xiao, have you forgotten?"

  Tian Kui looked at Sun Ming with a puzzled expression, thinking to herself that the elder seemed to have arranged it this way too, but out of trust in Sun Ming, she still panicked slightly.

  "This is Ling Ming, a highly skilled chef and also a Jindan stage cultivator. My masters, you all know that he has three great hobbies in his life: fine wine, fine food, and magical treasures. So when Master discovered Brother Ling Ming, he was shocked and invited him to visit our Ling Tian Sect as a guest, and at the same time satisfy his own desires for good food and drink." said Tian Kui.

  "Oh, I see! So, which sect does Ling Ming Shixiong come from?" Ye Hua asked.

  "Cough cough, Xiaomen Xiao Pai, I reckon you guys haven't heard of it either." Sun Ming said with an embarrassed expression.

  "Senior brother, you all go ahead, we also have to go and taste the delicious food." Tian Kui said with a look of disdain at Ye Hua, who was staring at Sun Ming with dissatisfaction.

  "Alright, let's go, everyone. It seems we won't be able to taste this delicious food." Ye Hua said to the group of people behind him.

  After watching Ye Hua lead a group of people walking up, Tian Kui finally couldn't help it and reached out to grab the dishes on the table.

  Yun Lei said with a black line on his forehead: "Sister, pay attention to your image, there are many people here."

  "The boss and I are familiar with each other, besides you and Sun Ming aren't outsiders." Tian Kui said while chewing on his food.

  Sun Ming and Yun Lei exchanged a smile, but didn't say anything. Instead, the boss of Tian Xiang Ju looked like he wanted to speak but hesitated.

  "Boss, just say what you have to say, this Lingming is a friend of both of us." Finally, Yunlei was the one who asked.

  "This humble person will change the name of Tianxiangju, but may I ask you a question?" asked the old boss in Chinese attire.

  "Boss, no need to change names, it was just a joke. What's the matter, you ask." Sun Ming replied.

  "I just watched your cooking techniques and the way you used ingredients, to be honest, I didn't see much difference from our chefs here. The only difference might be that you're using spiritual fire, but I guess the gap won't be too big. You see, the flames we use here are mostly released by some low-level crystal stones through array techniques, which is also a major feature of our Tian Xiang Ju."

  "Good grief, no wonder a meal costs two mid-grade crystal stones. It turns out they use crystal stones to start the fire when cooking. What a waste! How can I put it into words?" Sun Ming looked at the crystal stones being used as fuel and his greedy thoughts began to stir again. The more he looked, the more heartbroken he became, until he finally turned away in disgust.

  "I just want to ask, we all see that under the same conditions, why is there such a big difference between the dishes you make and those made by our chef here?" The boss finally asked this question.

  The chefs in the kitchen heard this and thought, "Ah, why is it that the same thing, made with the same craftsmanship, can have such a big difference?" (Author's note: "Nonsense, this is the protagonist treatment") Tiankui and Yunlei also looked at Sun Ming curiously, hoping he could give a satisfactory explanation.

  "This problem is not with me, but with you yourselves." Sun Ming gave a very puzzling answer.

  All the chefs looked at each other in confusion, and finally it was the boss who spoke up.

  "Please enlighten me, senior."

  As soon as Sun Ming heard it, he became a senior, and this title I like. Just when Sun Ming was smiling smugly and indulging in self-admiration, Tian Kui touched Sun Ming.

  "Come on, Líng Míng, you'd better explain it clearly, I didn't understand what you meant either."

  Sun Ming straightened up and said with a serious face.

  "With the same ingredients and the same method, why is there such a big difference in what you produce? You're puzzled, which is normal. I'd say the reason lies with yourselves. That you don't understand is also within my expectations."

  "Because you've forgotten what a chef's pursuit is, a chef isn't just someone who cooks, it's a profession that brings joy to people. What should a chef pursue? Bringing new joy to people constantly, pursuing higher craftsmanship, but it seems like all of you have already forgotten your own pursuits. Tian Xiang Ju, supposedly a very famous restaurant, but have you ever thought about where your fame comes from? Did it fall from the sky? No, it's something you've worked hard for."

  As Sun Ming said this, the boss and some chefs fell into reminiscence, recalling the days when they had just opened up, recalling those passionate workdays. Suddenly, they found that their current work lacked passion. Sun Ming continued to say.

  "After you've gained fame, you gradually become complacent. Every day, facing the numerous customers who come for your name, it's no longer serving them with passion, but just repeating the cooking procedures. Is this still called cooking?"

  Everyone was shocked when they heard this, and Sun Ming continued to speak.

  "There's no cooking without passion. If I'm not mistaken, your current business can't compare to what it was before."

  "Yes, although the customers are still coming in droves every day, it's far from what it used to be. In the past, there wouldn't be any empty seats, but today you've seen it for yourselves, haven't you? The number of empty seats on the third floor is unimaginable compared to before." The boss said dejectedly.

  "Why can I make such delicious food? It's because I know that cooking can bring happiness to people, whereas you're just going through the motions. Although we use the same ingredients, have you noticed the subtle differences? Remember to always maintain the passion you had when you first started doing something, or else you'll end up like you are now." said Sun Mingdao.

  "Thank you." The group of chefs surprisingly bowed their hands and paid respects to Sun Ming, leaving Tian Kui and Yun Lei speechless.

  "That's all I can say, it's up to you what to do next. We need to go back and have dinner now. Please help us carry these dishes, shopkeeper." said Sun Ming.

  "Hurry up, you, bring these dishes up and take out that bottle of Pear Blossom Rosy Dew from the warehouse. As a token of gratitude, this Pear Blossom Rosy Dew is on the house for you brothers." The shopkeeper said with a grateful face.

  "Li Luoxian wine? No way, boss! Last time my master begged you for it and you wouldn't sell it to him even after he spent the whole afternoon trying to persuade you. This change of heart is too sudden!" Yun Lei said with a face full of incredulity.

  "Lingming brothers, these few words are not something that can be compared to a bottle of Liuluo Xianyao. Moreover, good wine should be given to those who appreciate fine food and drink. Your master may like fine food and wine, but he doesn't understand either." The boss arrived.

  Tian Kui didn't say anything else, thinking to himself: "Master, I'm sorry for you. The things you've been thinking about for so many years are going to be drunk away by us disciples." A sly smile appeared on his face as he followed Sun Ming up to the third floor.

  Sun Ming sat down beside Tian Kui and watched as the boss poured some Pear Blossom Rosy Dew. He couldn't wait to pick up a cup that had just been filled and started drinking.

  What a feeling! It's as if a cloud is floating leisurely inside the body, gently cleansing the esophagus. Sun Ming couldn't help but let out a belch, and a cloud-like gas was sprayed out, surprisingly condensing without dispersing, slowly floating away into the air.

  Yun Lei and Tian Kui also started drinking in a similar manner, suddenly Sun Ming's side was filled with flying clouds, making Ye Hua burn with jealousy.

  "Boss, is there any more of this? Can I buy a few bottles to take back and drink?" Sun Ming asked with an unsatisfied expression.

  "It's all gone, just this one bottle left. I'm afraid there aren't many bottles left in the entire Zero Boundary Star either." The shopkeeper said with a look of disappointment.

  "Buy a bottle? Sun Ming, you're too rich, aren't you? This is Li Luo Xian Niang, and even ten high-quality spirit stones might not be enough to buy a cup." Tian Kui looked at Sun Ming with an expression of looking at a big spender.

  When Tian Kui said that, Sun Ming's face suddenly showed an extremely painful expression, and Yun Lei comforted him upon seeing it.

  "Ah, this kind of thing is originally hard to come by, we should be content with being able to drink a bottle."

  Sun Ming was indeed in great pain, but he had just swallowed so many top-grade crystal stones that it was a waste.

  "But I couldn't let those two find out that I'm stingy."

  "I'm substituting for Old Man Ling Xiao. Unfortunately, the thing he's been thinking about for so many years has been drunk by us." Sun Ming said with a painful expression.

  "I know you're kind-hearted, but we've already had a drink, so let's just forget it. I'm sure Master will not say anything to us either." said Tian Kui.

  Before Sun Ming could respond, a voice cut in, and it was Ye Hua.

  "This bright brother, can you also cook a meal for us?"

  Collect and recommend, help if you can, thank you all, Jian Ge thanks.