Chapter Ten: The Dish Truly Shines

"Sizzle." Accompanied by the crisp sound of oil crackling, the rice wrapped in egg yolk was poured into the waiting iron wok. As the rice entered, a subtle fragrance began to spread, barely detectable to the average person, yet unmistakably clear to Zhuang Xiaoyuan. Her lips curled into a relaxed smile, confident that everything was proceeding just as planned.

With her left hand, Zhuang Xiaoyuan turned the flame up to its highest, grasped the handle of the wok, and took up the spatula with her right. She began to stir-fry the rice swiftly, flicking the wok upward with her left hand while pushing the rice forward with her right. The golden rice arced perfectly through the air before landing back in the wok. After four or five tosses, less than a minute had passed, and she turned off the stove.

In that brief minute, not a hint of aroma escaped, as though the flames had blocked the scent that should have wafted through the room; all that could be felt was the heat radiating from the fire.

She moved the wok away from the stove, tilting it so the plump grains of golden rice slid smoothly into the prepared platter. There was no need for the spatula—just a gentle tilt and the rice rolled effortlessly onto the plate, leaving not a single grain behind. As the last piece settled onto the platter, before anyone could get a good look, she covered the golden rice with a lustrous lid, trapping the aroma inside. Steam began to swirl within the confines of the cover, invisible to the naked eye.

After covering the rice, Zhuang Xiaoyuan carried the spatula to the sink and spent several minutes scrubbing the wok and spatula clean, returning them to their places. Only then did she carry the platter, still covered, to Feng Guoqing.

By now, a small folding table had been set up before Feng Guoqing, originally meant for staff breaks and snacks but now perfectly suited for tasting Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s culinary creation.

"Please, enjoy this unique dish from Chinese Master Chef—Golden Fried Rice." She placed the platter before Feng Guoqing, a subtle smile playing on her lips, and, surrounded by the curious kitchen staff, slowly unveiled the lid with her right hand.

As the cover lifted, a golden light emanated from within. Once the lid was fully removed, the surrounding cooks and helpers felt as though their vision was flooded with gold, their gaze drawn irresistibly to the fried rice on the plate. Bathed in golden radiance, the dish shone like the sun, asserting its dazzling presence.

"This is Golden Fried Rice." Feng Guoqing’s face was a picture of astonishment, unable to comprehend how a dish could possibly glow. Judging by the looks on the faces of the gathered cooks, the golden light was no illusion. It was neither science nor sorcery.

In truth, it was entirely scientific. The golden glow of Golden Fried Rice in the world of Chinese Master Chef remained a mystery to Zhuang Xiaoyuan, but the radiance of her own dish was deliberately crafted. With Erina Nakiri’s formidable culinary prowess, Zhuang Xiaoyuan managed to heat and cook the dish in under a minute, sealing it beneath the lid before the steam could escape.

As the steam filled the platter, she took time to wash the wok before presenting it, allowing the condensation to form. The moment the lid was lifted, the surrounding lights reflected off the golden haze rising from the rice, enhancing its luminous appearance. Combined with the rice’s inherent golden color, the dish seemed to radiate with culinary brilliance.

Though simple in explanation, achieving this effect was anything but. The timing was critical: to cook the rice evenly in such a short span without overheating or losing the aroma required precise control.

None of the onlookers knew these details, their eyes fixed on Feng Guoqing as he prepared to taste what seemed to them an almost magical, glowing dish.

Under their watchful gaze, Feng Guoqing calmly picked up a spoon and reached for the now fragrant rice.

With the first bite, he felt transported to a bustling town, surrounded by lively crowds. Passing uncles and aunties nodded and smiled at him, while chickens darted by, clucking merrily. The scent of rice, drifting from an unknown source, filled the town, as the slanting sun hinted that mealtime was near.

When Feng Guoqing finally returned from the culinary reverie, the plate before him was empty, not a grain left. "Excellent, truly delicious. Such vivid imagery in a dish—I felt as though I glimpsed another world. This is true flavor."

Having tasted such a dish, Feng Guoqing was completely at ease. He had trusted Zhuang Xiaoyuan before, but now, with concrete proof, his worries were truly laid to rest. Entrusting tonight’s meal to her would surely amaze the elite soldiers at the front.

In reality, human territories had shrunk drastically under the invasion of evil forces, leaving them confined within walled cities. The early battles had cost many talented individuals; specialties faded, and once advanced skills regressed sharply.

The culinary arts suffered similarly. Where once there had been numerous master chefs, now only three or four remained in an entire city. Should one falter, there was no replacement. Many top chefs perished in the initial conflicts, and without the means to defend themselves, few dared venture to the border towns, preferring the relative safety of the central metropolis.

With Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s extraordinary culinary abilities following her transformation, her dishes rivaled—even surpassed—the famed Divine Armored Chefs of the central city, protected by the Culinary God. Yet those warriors could bestow their abilities upon others, a skill Zhuang Xiaoyuan lacked. Her talents brought spiritual enjoyment but held little practical value.

Sighing with a hint of regret, Feng Guoqing shook off his thoughts and looked up at Zhuang Xiaoyuan. "Xiaoyuan, you’ll be chief chef today. If there are no objections, I hereby appoint you acting head chef of the main kitchen. Your pay will match that of a full chef."

"Yay, thank you, Uncle Feng. Ahem, ahem. W-well, of course!" Her awkward double-toned reply betrayed the lingering influence of her transformation. To act naturally, unaffected by the persona she had taken on, Zhuang Xiaoyuan still had a long road ahead.