Ji Rongxia and Gu Tangjin completed a series of tasks at lightning speed: crushing another batch of fruit sugar, wrapping it, frying the second pan of pan-fried buns, rolling the glutinous rice balls, and setting up their stall. 

One seamless motion. After finishing their tasks, they exchanged a glance and couldn’t help but smile. Even after being married for so long, they still blushed easily.“Oh, right—System, are you still there?” Ji Rongxia suddenly remembered something. 

The Cooking God System responded: “Present. Does the Host have any further questions?”

“Are stones like this—ones that harm people—common? Could Xiao Yun still have one?” Earlier, he’d been so preoccupied with embarrassment he’d forgotten to ask. 

The Cooking God System answered: “Given the natural conditions of this minor world, the probability of finding such energy-rich stones is very low. She likely doesn’t have a second one, but there’s a very small chance she might.”

It sounded like a tongue twister, but Ji Rongxia understood: it might exist, but it probably didn’t.

“Got it.” Ji Rongxia felt much more at ease now.

Gu Tangjin watched him, his eyes asking what had happened earlier

.“I just asked if Xiao Yun had any more of these stones. Didn’t it say wearing this stone is harmful? I’m a bit worried about Xiao Yun. It said this kind is rare, so Xiao Yun probably doesn’t have a second one.”

Ji Rongxia thought to himself: Diao Daliang couldn’t possibly have such good luck finding more of these stones, could he?

After listening, Gu Tangjin asked, “But what if these stones appear in clusters? What if Diao Daliang picked up several stones from the same spot?”

Cooking God System: “…”

Ji Rongxia: “…”

Ji Rongxia quickly asked the system, “Could that happen?”

Cooking God System: The host’s companion makes such a compelling point that it can’t be refuted.

“It’s possible,” the Cooking God System replied hesitantly.

“We’ll figure this out gradually,” Gu Tangjin said, needing no answer from Ji Rongxia. His complex expression already revealed what the ‘little devil’ had said.

“Right! We could buy some needles and thread from their shop. Being nearby, it might spot if they have those stones. “Ji Rongxia finished speaking and then asked in his mind: ”Can you do it? Are you up for it?“

”System charging. I can scan objects within ten meters, or thirty feet. I should be able to detect the energy source.” The Cooking God System estimated the size of the Gu family’s courtyard. The little girl’s house probably wouldn’t be much larger. Barring any surprises, it should be scannable.

Ji Rongxia’s eyes lit up as he told Gu Tangjin, “It says it can see things within thirty feet.”

Gu Tangjin: “Then that’s settled. In a few days, we’ll go to the Diao family’s general store.”

Having agreed on this, they put the matter out of their minds.

They set the table, and Gu Chuncai and Yao Tianlan rose to join them.

Gu Chuncai took a bite of the spicy crumbly pancake and asked curiously, “What sauce is in this? It’s so fragrant and spicy.”

“I made it with cornelian cherry paste, crushed peanuts, and a sauce from stir-fried meat. Just a quick concoction,” Ji Rongxia replied, feeling a bit nervous.

Gu Chuncai glanced at Ji Rongxia, then looked at Gu Tangjin. Gu Tangjin met his father’s gaze without flinching. Ji Rongxia wondered if this explanation would fool his father.

Gu Chuncai didn’t press further, only saying, “It’s decent.”

These two kids always come up with tasty treats out of nowhere. They must be hiding something from us.

But Gu Chuncai assumed Tangjin and Xia-ger had created some novel dish and were keeping the recipe to themselves, which was why he felt uneasy.

But isn’t it common for cooks to guard their recipes?

Besides, he was pleased that Xia-ger had such talent.

Seeing that his father didn’t press further, Ji Rongxia breathed a sigh of relief. “Eat up, Father and Mother. You’ll like it—it’s very appetizing.”

Yao Tianlan also found today’s pancakes particularly tasty.

Today… Xia-ger, why don’t you try your hand at the stove? No need for anything complicated. If someone orders scrambled eggs, just give it a shot.” Gu Chuncai suddenly spoke up after finishing a flaky pancake.

Ji Rongxia’s newly settled nerves immediately shot back up. “Father, I’ve only been learning to cook for a short while. Isn’t it too soon to be put in charge of the stove?”

He wasn’t afraid of anything else, but he dreaded tarnishing the good reputation Gu Family Restaurant had built up over the years.

“Your skills aren’t bad now,” Gu Chuncai said. “Just stick to making scrambled eggs for now. Don’t try anything else.”

【Ding, Temporary Task: First Time as Head Chef.】

【Ding, Task Details: Sell twenty portions of scrambled eggs personally prepared by the host and receive genuine praise from at least ten customers.】

【Task Duration: Three days.】

【Rewards: Ten hatchable eggs, ten jin of non-hatchable eggs, Super Scrambled Eggs recipe.】

Ji Rongxia blinked rapidly.

He hurriedly asked internally, “What’s with this mission?”

“Host, stepping into the kitchen to cook is a crucial moment. Triggering a mission is perfectly normal. Previously, I lacked energy and could only activate minimal functions, so I couldn’t assign you corresponding tasks. Now that I have some energy, certain system features have automatically activated,” the Cooking God System explained.

Ji Rongxia thought to himself: There’s no way he would refuse this one.

Hatchable eggs!

They could build a chicken coop and raise chickens!

He wondered what kind of chickens the system would give them.

He took a deep breath and said, “Alright, Dad. I’ll try making scrambled eggs today.”

Yao Tianlan’s eyes crinkled with laughter at his words: “Xia-ger is so talented—he can even cook now! Take some food over to your in-laws today and share the good news with them. They’ll be delighted.”

She feared Xia-ger might be too nervous, so she suggested he visit his parents at the Ji family residence to ease his mind.

Ji Rongxia: “I was just saying this morning I should visit them. Mother really read my mind.”

Not nervous? Yeah, right.

Gu Tangjin sensed Ji Rongxia’s unease and reached out to clasp his hand.

Ji Rongxia gave Gu Tangjin a small, tight-lipped smile.

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

At the Diao household.

“Oh my! I knew the Xiucai and his family were well-off. You traded just a few stones for this huge bag of candy! Look how beautiful and translucent these candies are, with so many colors—I’ve never seen anything like them!” Yu Panlan exclaimed happily.

Diao Qiuyun, washing clothes, sighed helplessly, “Mother, you’ve said this several times already.”

Yu Panlan rolled up her sleeves and squatted beside her to wash clothes: “Isn’t your mother just happy?”

Shopkeeper Diao tentatively suggested, “Xiao Yun, why don’t you bring over that whole sack of stones and trade them all?”

“Father, those were given to me by my brother. Trading away a small bag might be fine, but trading them all away… that wouldn’t be right,” Diao Qiuyun said, raising her delicate eyebrows.

“What’s wrong with that? You don’t even play with them anymore. They just sit in your room. I never see you take them out. Are you afraid your brother will be angry with you? He wouldn’t be angry with you.” Shopkeeper Diao muttered.

These stones aren’t worth much silver anyway. If you can trade them for something, that’s good enough.

Xiucai and Xia-ger are rare finds. Once this opportunity is gone, it won’t come again.

“I know, but it still doesn’t feel right.” Diao Qiuyun found herself swayed by the suggestion.

“We wouldn’t trade them all. If Xia-ger likes them, we could just swap a few more for him to play with,” Yu Panlan suggested, her eyes twinkling.

Diao Qiuyun realized her mother had a point: “Then let’s see.”

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

The Ji family, at Jiutang Alley.

Madam Zhao, who lived across from Zhang Qijiang, was weaving a bamboo basket with Cheng Laofulang from next door to the Ji family. Spotting Ji Rongxia and Gu Tangjin approaching, both stopped their work. Madam Zhao immediately stood up, quickening her pace with a swaying gait until she slid right up to them.

“Xiucai Gu, Xia-ger, why have you returned? Did you receive a letter?” Madame Zhao asked, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling.

A letter? What letter?

Ji Rongxia was puzzled but didn’t ask. He simply smiled and said, “Yes, my husband and I came back to visit.”

Even if something had happened at home, he couldn’t ask Madam Zhao about it. Otherwise, before a cup of tea could be finished, the entire alley would know that he was unaware of trouble at his own home.

Madam Zhao chuckled upon hearing this. “The Qian family sending someone over is a blessing. Now that you’re married, having an extra pair of hands will lighten the load at home.”

The Qian family sent someone?!

Ji Rongxia grew even more puzzled, though he hid it well. Smiling, he tugged Gu Tangjin toward the door. “Mother, I’m home.”

Soon, the sound of footsteps echoed outside.

Hong Yuelian recognized Ji Rongxia and Gu Tangjin, quickly ushering them inside.

Ji Rongxia turned back to Madame Zhao: “I’ll go in first, Auntie Zhao.”

Madame Zhao peered inside several times, but the door had already closed. She could only return, feeling rather put out.

As soon as Ji Rongxia entered the courtyard, he spotted a somewhat familiar little girl and a ger.

Spotting him, the two grew a bit stiff.

“Hello, Xia-ger.”

“Xia-ger.”

“Ah, you must be Cao-ger and Xiao He from mthe Qian family?” Though still groggy, Ji Rongxia recognized them.

“Yes.” The girl nodded.

The small, slender ger beside her nodded too.

Then the conversation stalled.

Hong Yuelian quickly ushered Ji Rongxia and Gu Tangjin into the partitioned room off the main hall.

Qian Xuecheng had been sulking, but when he saw Ji Rongxia and Gu Tangjin enter, a forced smile finally appeared on his face.

“Brother-in-law, I brought you some taro and sesame glutinous rice balls, plus these crispy pancakes I made. They’re spicy and delicious, though they get a bit hard when cooled. Just steam them a bit before eating. There’s also some sugar—you can make sugar water to drink.” Ji Rongxia noticed Qian Xuecheng’s uneasy expression and quickly added with a smile.

”You, bringing back so much stuff like this. Don’t do it again in the future.“ Hong Yuelian shot a glance at Gu Tangjin.

Gu Tangjin replied, ”It’s only right. We saved up some silver from our stall.”

He implied they’d prepared the items themselves, using little of the communal funds.

Hearing this, Hong Yuelian finally dared to accept the gifts.

“Brother-in-law, what’s wrong? Look at those puffy eyelids.” Ji Rongxia pulled Gu Tangjin to sit beside Qian Xuecheng, where he obediently remained quiet.

Hong Yuelian sat down and explained, “Since your brother Cheng’er is expecting, I let your brother go with him to the Qian household. The Qians said our family has few members, so they want your brother and Cheng’er to bring Dashu back to be our apprentice. While he’s with us, his family will cover his food and other expenses.”

”What?” Ji Rongxia hadn’t expected this turn of events. Carpentry was their livelihood, and over the years, they’d finally built up a steady clientele. his brother wasn’t incapable of working—they truly didn’t need any apprentices!