Culinary Expert

Chapter 1: The Arrival of the Gourmet System

On the second floor of an ordinary restaurant on Chaotianmen Street in Jianghai City. It wasn’t quite daylight yet. Bai Xiaobai, a model youth, was sprawled out on the bed in the shape of the Chinese character “大.” “The early bird catches the worm, the early bird catches the worm…” The alarm clock on the nightstand kept ringing nonstop. Bai Xiaobai squinted, rolled over, and smacked the top of the alarm clock hard with the palm of his hand. Just as he was about to curse, he suddenly remembered that today was a special day—he couldn’t swear. Kicking off the covers and shuffling over in his slippers, Bai Xiaobai hurriedly brushed his teeth and washed his face before heading down to the kitchen on the first floor to get to work. The little black dog at his feet kept circling around Bai Xiaobai. Taking advantage of a moment when he wasn’t looking, it snatched up a piece of prime pork lying nearby and was about to eat it. “Xiao Hei, wait… you can’t have that one.” By the time Bai Xiaobai said this, it was already too late. The little black dog had already licked the pork several times with its long tongue, then looked up at him with pitiful eyes. “Never mind, go ahead and eat it,” Bai Xiaobai sighed helplessly; he had actually been planning to save that piece of meat for sweet-and-sour spare ribs at lunch. After all, today was his birthday, so he might as well celebrate Xiao Hei’s birthday too. The little black dog used to be a stray. A few years ago, starving and on the verge of death, he collapsed in front of the restaurant run by Bai Xiaobai’s parents. The couple took pity on him and adopted him. But good people don’t live long. A few years ago, Bai Xiaobai’s parents both died in a serious traffic accident. The couple didn’t leave much in savings; they only left Bai Xiaobai this restaurant—neither too big nor too small—on a quiet side street in the city. The building has two floors: the second floor is living quarters, and the first floor is the restaurant. Bai Xiaobai runs the restaurant all by himself. So he’s the owner, the chef, and the cashier—he even handles the cleaning all by himself. Logically speaking, given that he wears so many hats, gets up early, works hard, and isn’t lazy, Bai Xiaobai’s restaurant should be doing quite well. But in reality, the restaurant’s income has always been quite meager. A row of bustling new commercial streets has sprung up in front of Chaotianmen Street, filled with a dazzling array of food shops too numerous to count—so no one would go out of their way to find this remote little shop on the corner. On top of that, Bai Xiaobai isn’t a professional chef; he just watched his parents cook since he was a child, imitating what he saw and picking up only the basics. In the mornings, she sells things like tea-eggs, seasoned noodles, and rice noodles. For lunch and dinner, she serves egg fried rice and some ordinary home-style stir-fries—she doesn’t really have any signature dishes. The restaurant industry is fiercely competitive to begin with, and the shop has consistently struggled to break even, often operating at a loss. Bai Xiaobai has gritted her teeth and persevered these past few years. After all, running his own shop meant he didn’t have to kowtow to a boss for a fixed salary; he could enjoy the freedom to “soar as high as the sky allows and swim as far as the sea permits.” Clatter… clatter… Bai Xiaobai was washing various ingredients in the sink as usual when, out of nowhere, a crisp electronic sound suddenly rang out. [Ding-dong, system installing…] Bai Xiaobai jumped in surprise—had his phone been infected with another scam ad again? He pulled out his phone to check, only to find the screen was black, with no activity at all. Could it be that after dreaming of Zhou Gong last night, his body had been drained of energy, leaving even his brain unable to function properly? Bai Xiaobai splashed some cold water on his face to clear his head. Just then, the cool, electronic voice echoed in his mind again. 【Ding-dong, system installation complete. Congratulations on becoming the host. 】 Now Xiaobai was certain he wasn’t losing his mind—there really was a voice. But he looked around. In the cramped kitchen, aside from himself and Xiao Hei, there was no one else. 【Host, there’s no need to look for it—the system has already been installed in your brain. 】 “How did you get into my brain? What do you want?” Bai Xiaobai touched his head in fear. Could this be some kind of virus system trying to use him as a human guinea pig? 【Host, this system is the latest high-tech development from Planet X. It’s hidden only within your consciousness and won’t cause any physical strain—please rest assured. 】 Upon hearing this, Bai Xiaobai’s heart gradually settled, and he asked, “What kind of system are you?” 【Host, I am the Top-Tier Gourmet System. I will help you become a top-tier culinary master. 】 “A master chef?” Bai Xiaobai was taken aback at first, but inside, his mind was already racing. Could a stroke of luck—the kind that only happens in novels—really be happening to him? 【Host, the system needs to check your physical condition. Please relax. 】 Beep, beep, beep… A series of sounds resembling an electric current followed. Bai Xiaobai immediately felt every muscle in his body tremble, but the sensation was very subtle—like being massaged by a massage device—and quite pleasant. 【Scan complete. The host is in excellent health and meets the health standards for a Master Chef. Below is the host’s Gold Card profile. Please review it for any errors. If there are any, the system needs to correct them promptly. 】 As soon as the system’s voice finished, Bai Xiaobai immediately felt a huge golden card fly into his mind, bearing his personal information. Name: Bai Xiaobai Goal: To become a top-tier culinary master versed in both Eastern and Western cuisines. Gender: Male Age: 22 Ethnicity: Han (Earth Human) Items: None Special Move: None Experience: None Physical Condition: Locked Mastered Dishes: None Culinary Talent: ? Current Culinary System Level: Xiaobai Remarks: Blank After reviewing his profile, Bai Xiaobai asked, “System, why is ‘Experience’ listed here? Special Moves? Are you sure these aren’t the kind used for fighting? And wait—what on earth is this ‘System Level’? Why is it my name?” Bai Xiaobai fired off several questions in a row. 【The System Host’s current level is “Xiaobai.” You’ll need to work hard; the next level is “Dabai.” 】 “Xiaobai” and “Dabai” are actually levels? Bai Xiaobai broke out in a cold sweat. “System, can you teach me about cooking now?” Bai Xiaobai couldn’t wait any longer. 【To become a master chef, the host must first own their own restaurant. 】 “System, this restaurant is already mine,” Bai Xiaobai declared proudly, patting his chest. 【System scanning... please wait... 】 Bai Xiaobai was a bit speechless—the restaurant was right in front of him, yet the system still needed to scan it. About twenty seconds later. 【System scan complete. Host, your restaurant has all the necessary permits and meets the prerequisites to become a Master Chef. You may proceed to the next step: decorating the restaurant…】 “System, my restaurant is brand new—I don’t need to redecorate it, do I?” Bai Xiaobai immediately interrupted the system’s electronic voice. 【The restaurant’s decor must meet the Culinary System’s standards to create gourmet dishes. As a low-level Host, you cannot object. Please close your eyes—no peeking. 】 She had expected the system to make her work herself to the bone buying renovation materials and hiring contractors, but unexpectedly, the system turned out to be quite considerate—all she had to do was close her eyes. Although she wasn’t keen on the system randomly remodeling her restaurant, she figured, “Fine, let’s just do the renovation.” After all, the system was providing it for free, so she wouldn’t have to spend her own hard-earned money. Bai Xiaobai closed her eyes contentedly. 【Host, the renovation is complete. You may open your eyes now. 】 “That fast?” Bai Xiaobai thought she’d have to wait a long time, but it turned out to be almost the blink of an eye—the speed was downright terrifying. 【The renovation cost a total of 30,000 RMB, which has been paid via the host’s bank card. 】 “Holy crap!” Bai Xiaobai nearly spat blood on the spot when he heard that. “Wasn’t the renovation supposed to be free from the system?” 【Host, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. 】 Almost the instant the system’s electronic voice finished speaking, Bai Xiaobai’s phone received a text message notifying him of a bank transfer. “……” How on earth did this system do that? It actually knew his bank card password. Bai Xiaobai nearly spat blood a second time. But he quickly pushed the 30,000 RMB incident to the back of his mind, because the familiar restaurant before him had undergone a complete transformation. Was this still the restaurant his parents had left him? Bai Xiaobai stared in disbelief at the interior décor; if it weren’t for Xiao Hei at his feet, he would’ve thought he’d suddenly teleported somewhere else. All four walls of the restaurant were covered in brand-new, warm-toned wallpaper, making the space look exceptionally clean and tidy. The system had relocated the kitchen to the very center of the restaurant; because it was separated by thick glass, it actually took up less floor space. A dozen or so tables were arranged in a staggered pattern around the glass-enclosed kitchen, each equipped with four chairs. Both the tables and chairs were natural wood tones, giving the space a particularly fresh and elegant feel. Bai Xiaobai wasn’t sure what material the tables and chairs were made of, but he could even smell a faint, refreshing scent of wood. In addition to the major changes in the restaurant’s exterior decor, the kitchen’s interior has also been completely transformed. A row of neat, modern built-in cabinets catches the eye against the light coffee-colored marble countertops. The countertops are lined with a variety of kitchen appliances, a refrigerator, and all sorts of cooking utensils—all brand new. The 30,000 RMB was absolutely worth every penny. Bai Xiaobai silently ran a quick calculation in his head. The new kitchen appliances alone totaled nearly 20,000 RMB, and the flooring and ceiling materials were all eco-friendly—not to mention the dining table and chairs out front and the shop’s expensive renovation costs. When you put it that way, the System had practically given her a fire-sale discount. Most importantly, it saved her time and effort—no need to deal with labor—and the entire transformation happened almost in the blink of an eye. Goodness gracious, this is like my ancestors’ graves are smoking with joy! This kind of good fortune, the sort you only see in novels, has actually happened to me. Just as Bai Xiaobai was admiring the brand-new shop and marveling at it, the System’s electronic voice rang out. 【Everything is ready. The Host may now begin learning how to make the D-level dish, the Supreme Tea Egg. 】 (This is my first time writing a food-themed story—I’m a newbie with a new work. If you like it, please show your support. )