It's just cooking a dish, how did it become the main character in a game?

No, I absolutely cannot miss this opportunity!

The feeling of defeat lasted only a moment before Nanxu immediately rallied.

If he hadn't become an apprentice at Baiweilou, where would he have found such a high-quality leveling spot, and where would he have found another NPC who was easy to trigger quests with?

While it's not impossible to find them, it will inevitably waste a lot of precious time during the beginner phase!

Every second before the players arrive is incredibly precious. This is because it means the various opportunities they discovered in their past lives have yet to be triggered.

Once players arrive, due to the butterfly effect, who knows what opportunities might be taken away in advance?

Moreover, Baiweilou has an advantage that other large restaurants do not have: Luo Qinzhu is soft-hearted.

He'll have to leave this leveling spot sooner or later anyway. As long as he explains the reason clearly and plays the victim a bit, Luo Qinzhu definitely won't stop him.

In any other high-end restaurant, once you've become an apprentice, do you think you can leave easily? No way!

Therefore, Baiweilou is his best and only choice at the moment!

Thinking of this, Nan Xu's eyes hardened.

As a former top player, how can I be stopped at the first step towards the peak after being given a second chance at life?

He had to do everything perfectly!

Nan Xu stood up, his entire demeanor changed, and his eyes revealed a sharp edge.

"Chef Luo," his voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally firm, "please give me a chance."

"If you don't believe in my abilities, you can set me a test."

"I will... prove myself!"

Upon hearing Nan Xu's words, Luo Qinzhu opened her mouth in surprise.

How could this skinny boy, who clearly had no cooking experience, possess such an amazing aura?

After hesitating for a moment, she nodded:

"...Okay, I'll give you a chance."

"But... I am, after all, the acting head chef of the restaurant, and I have to be responsible to the customers. If your skills are not up to par, I will not let you pass under any circumstances, so you should be prepared."

Nan Xu's lips curled slightly: "I naturally know that. What is the test?"

Seeing that he remained calm and fearless, Luo Qinzhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His daring to be so arrogant meant that this young man did possess some skill.

In this way, the defeat shouldn't be too humiliating, thus preventing a blow to one's confidence.

"Come with me to the kitchen," she waved. "I'll tell you when we get there."

  

……

back kitchen.

Luo Qinzhu picked up a bamboo basket and selected a white radish from it: "The task is very simple. First, cut this radish into shreds of uniform size and thickness."

"Then, you make a sauce and prepare a cold radish salad. If the taste is barely acceptable, it's considered passable."

You have triggered the quest: "Luo Qinzhu's Test". Do you accept?

[Task Difficulty: Rank 9]

[Task Description: Luo Qinzhu, the acting head chef of Baiweilou Restaurant, wants to test your skills. Please independently prepare a qualified cold radish salad to successfully pass her test.]

[Task Reward: 1000 Experience Points, Status: Apprentice at Baiweilou, Favorability with Luo Qinzhu]

"No problem." Nan Xu nodded, accepting the task without hesitation. "I'm still recovering from a serious illness, can I cut a radish first to get used to the feel of holding a knife?"

"Can."

After receiving Luo Qinzhu's approval, Nan Xu rolled up his sleeves, picked out a kitchen knife of suitable weight, and began to chop the radish.

Luo Qinzhu's eyes lit up when she saw Nan Xu's knife-wielding posture and movements.

His posture was standard and his movements were clean and crisp; it was clear at a glance that he had practiced hard.

But soon, she frowned again.

Nanxu's posture was correct, but the shredded radish he cut was a terrible sight, as if... he had knowledge but no muscle memory.

But how is that possible?

Just then, a lean, middle-aged man dressed as a chef walked into the kitchen.

"Xiao Luo," Wang Yi greeted Luo Qinzhu with a smile, "Why are you still in the kitchen so late?"

Then, he noticed Nanxu slicing radish shreds next to the cutting board and asked in confusion:

"This kid... isn't he the patient you picked up? What's he doing cutting radishes here?"

Luo Qinzhu looked somewhat uneasy: "He...he wants to be an apprentice at Baiweilou, so I'm here to test his skills."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yi's expression changed.

He pointed to the mangled radish shreds left by Nan Xu's knife, a hint of reproach in his voice: "With knife skills like this, you still let him be an apprentice at Baiweilou?"

"Xiao Luo, I know that since your father left, the burden on your shoulders has become heavier and heavier, but you can't just put just anyone into Baiwei Restaurant because of that, can you?"

"If things continue like this, what will become of our Baiweilou Restaurant?"

Luo Qinzhu pursed her lips, her expression darkening slightly.

But soon, her expression returned to normal, and she patiently explained to Wang Yi, "Uncle Wang, I'm just letting him try. If he's not capable, I won't let him pass."

"Besides, I think he has some culinary skills, so it's not impossible for him to..."

"Thin arms and legs, not a single callus on your hands, what kind of culinary skills could you possibly have?" Wang Yi sneered, interrupting her. "I don't think there's even a need to try!"

"Xiao Luo, you're just too soft-hearted!"

With that, he strode towards Nan Xu: "It's alright, I'll be the bad guy. I'll chase this shameless brat away!"

Just then, Nan Xu finished cutting a radish for practice and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Just as he had expected, his brand-new hands still felt somewhat awkward to use.

However, after a period of adjustment, he has gradually gotten used to the feeling.

Plus……

[Knife Skill Proficiency +7 (Critical Hit!)]

[Knife Skill Proficiency +9 (Critical Hit!)]

[Knife Skill Proficiency +8 (Critical Hit!), your knife skill level has been raised to LV1!]

Seeing the lines of small characters appear in his field of vision, Nan Xu nodded in satisfaction.

With the memories of his previous life as a second-rank culinary immortal, he had already mastered the best posture for practicing knife skills, and his knife skills proficiency improved extremely quickly, with each strike consistently triggering a critical hit.

For a typical novice player, even consistently gaining proficiency with every hit is difficult, and critical hits are purely based on luck, only occasionally occurring when they have a stroke of genius.

He only cut one radish, and his knife skills had already improved from beginner to LV1. This is something that most players wouldn't even dare to dream of.

He was just about to cut the second radish when he heard a voice with an unfriendly tone:

"Kid, you can get lost now."

Nan Xu slowly raised her head and looked at the unfamiliar chef beside her.

Why?

"Why?" Wang Yi sneered. "Don't you even look at what kind of thing you've cut? Do I have to tell you why?"

"You've got it wrong," Nan Xu said calmly. "This isn't part of the test; it's just something I used for practice."

"So what? You cut this radish like this, how good can the next one be?" Wang Yi said disdainfully. "I'm telling you to get lost early for your own good, so you don't embarrass yourself."

At this moment, Luo Qinzhu stepped forward and gently dissuaded him:

"Uncle Wang, what's wrong with giving him another chance? I did tell him that he should practice by cutting a radish first, and besides, he's just recovered from a serious illness and needs to get back into the swing of things..."

"Xiao Luo, why are you siding with outsiders?" Wang Yi said with displeasure. "How can you let such a parasite who disrespects culinary skills infiltrate Baiweilou? Do you have any respect for your father's hard work?"

"I...I didn't..."

Luo Qinzhu was at a loss for words after being criticized like this.

She wanted to retort, but couldn't find the words, so she froze on the spot, her pretty face turning bright red.

Nan Xu watched from the side, almost laughing in exasperation.

Given Lao Deng's qualifications, the fact that he couldn't even become the acting head chef shows that he's not very capable.

Compared to his cooking skills, this guy is far more adept at using his seniority and manipulative tactics.

What's more, he even accused himself of disrespecting cooking skills?

A hint of coldness flashed in Nan Xu's eyes.

He possesses an unparalleled passion and enthusiasm for cooking, and has made unimaginable efforts for it.

How dare this kind of person question my respect for cooking skills?

"Thump!"

Nan Xu slammed the cleaver into the cutting board, his voice ringing out firmly:

"What you just said was an insult to a chef!"

"I challenge you to a culinary duel!"