What does Master Level filling feel like?
In Qin Huai’s imagination, the moment the filling advanced from Advanced level to Master Level, he should feel something shattering in his chest. Then a warm current would start from the heart, flowing throughout the body, rushing to his head, making him feel as if his governor and conception vessels were unblocked and he felt fully relaxed, as if aided by divine power.
At least, it should be like that moment of enlightenment for the protagonists in TV dramas, where after a flash of cheap special effects white light, the protagonist, who had their eyes tightly shut, suddenly opens them with a firm gaze. Scenes flash through their mind, and under the blessing of reminiscence, they finally have a flash of insight.
Not a single feeling, Qin Huai didn’t even know he’d reached Master Level filling before opening the game panel.
Judging by the experience bar, at the moment the filling reached Master Level, Qin Huai was probably holding a basin and vigorously mixing the meat filling.
Qin Huai looked at the meat filling in front of him.
If his skill upgraded while he was mixing the meat filling, was this plate of meat filling prepared with Master Level filling or Advanced level filling?
Qin Huai could feel that he had improved a lot over this time, not only in filling skills but also had deeper insight into soaking starch water, yet he didn’t know how much Master Level filling would enhance the filling.
Does Master Level filling without a feeling of enlightenment really offer much enhancement?
He would know by trying.
Qin Huai began to prepare a new bowl of meat filling.
Following exactly the same steps as before.
Soaking starch water.
Preparing the filling.
There did seem to be a different feeling; every step felt more effortless.
More confident, completely confident that he wouldn’t mess up. As he prepared the filling, he chatted with someone nearby about some gossip regarding a certain someone’s son suddenly quitting his job to return to the countryside to farm because he was harassed by his former boss, who was also male, and didn’t mess up at all.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, when the Old Secretary was telling Qin Huai this gossip, Qin Huai was too engrossed, and his hand shook when sprinkling salt, leading to the meat filling being sent to Granny Qin for her to cook meatball soup.
Now, Qin Huai is very confident that such things won’t happen.
No matter how explosive the gossip, he won’t mess up.
The filling preparation was completed.
Qin Huai wrapped a few tangyuan and put them in the pot to cook.
[Four Happiness Glutinous Rice Balls A-grade]
After 8 days, Qin Huai had once again cooked A-grade Four Happiness Glutinous Rice Balls!
At this moment, Qin Huai felt relieved all over, no longer seeing everything as tangyuan.
He also didn’t want to make tangyuan anymore.
At such a moment, what tangyuan should he be making? Of course, he should be calling the respected Master Cao to report this good news!
Qin Huai took a picture of the prepared meat filling and sent it to Cao Guixiang, adding: Master Cao, please take a look at how my meat filling turned out today.
No more Longevity Noodles, no more Four Happiness Glutinous Rice Balls, Qin Huai walked out of the kitchen with his phone, found the sunniest spot in the yard, grabbed a chair, and sat down to bask in the sun.
In the meantime, while basking in the sun and scrolling through his social media feed, he awaited a response from Cao Guixiang.
At the same time, Cao Guixiang, who was chatting with her old sisters in the park, was staring at the magnified image on her phone through her reading glasses.
During these 8 days, Qin Huai and Cao Guixiang hadn’t exchanged much dialogue.
After all, they weren’t very familiar with each other. Qin Huai didn’t have many questions to ask. He was simply obsessively practicing his skills and only occasionally sharing some insights about soaking starch water with Cao Guixiang.
Cao Guixiang knew Qin Huai had a lot of talent.
As a chef, being able to endure hardship was one thing, having insight was another, and being talented was yet another.
Many times, a chef’s talent is actually about their palate. A good palate can make a chef’s journey significantly more efficient. The rumors that a top chef could taste someone’s secret recipe in one bite have been circulating in the culinary world for years and aren’t all false.
And insight, more so, refers to breakthroughs at bottlenecks.
Ordinary people without a protagonist’s system can’t see levels or skill meters; they can only improve themselves through day-in and day-out, tedious, and exhaustive practice.
This improvement sometimes occurs rapidly, sometimes slowly, and sometimes not at all.
Just like immortal cultivation, one can train diligently at small ranks, but achieving major realms requires enlightenment.
Those with poor insight may be stuck at a tier without a breakthrough for a lifetime. Those with good insight may not even feel the tiers and keep breaking through.
In Cao Guixiang’s view, Qin Huai is a chef that combines talent, insight, and the ability to endure hardship.
He might not enjoy enduring hardship, but he can endure it.
With such a chef, having such a peculiar cooking learning experience, nothing that happens would surprise Cao Guixiang.
Before seeing the picture of the meat filling sent by Qin Huai, Cao Guixiang always felt this way.
Cao Guixiang suspected that the prescription of her reading glasses might not be sufficient, otherwise it was difficult to explain why the meat filling sent by Qin Huai was so beautiful.
Well-handled meat filling is indeed beautiful. This doesn’t only refer to knife skills; seasoning, mixing, and other aspects of handling can also make meat filling look nice.
When Cao Guixiang was still learning to cook, meat that was marinated and handled well didn’t need to be cooked. Her master could tell just by looking at it if there were any issues.
"Guixiang, what are you so absorbed in? Is it a message from your grandson or your niece?" a friend chatting with Cao Guixiang jokingly asked.
Cao Guixiang adjusted her glasses: "It’s a message from a young man I just met a couple of days ago, asking me to look at the meat filling he prepared."
Hearing this, the friend didn’t ask further. Cao Guixiang’s cooking skills are well-known in her circle of friends; whenever someone encounters a cooking problem, they love to message her for advice.
Looking at the meat filling, Cao Guixiang suddenly regretted not having met Qin Huai when he was a child and not visiting Qiu County ten years ago to see the Sanmalu Children’s Welfare Institute.
If she had known Qin Huai back then, even if she didn’t adopt him as a son, taking him on as a disciple would have been great.
Starting young with basic skills to become a meat chef—what a great disciple this would be. Cao Guixiang couldn’t imagine how refreshed she would feel now.
Qin Huai wouldn’t be like now, with such pronounced strengths and weaknesses. He could prepare such beautiful meat filling but couldn’t chop an adequate minced meat with a knife.
After some thought, Cao Guixiang didn’t reply to Qin Huai first but called Zhang Chu.
Zhang Chu answered almost instantly.
"Guixiang, what’s up? Is there something at home you need to buy? I’m just next to the supermarket."
"Wood." Cao Guixiang said.
"What?" Zhang Chu thought he misheard her.
"Didn’t you agree to make some molds for free for Xiao Qin? Using the best wood, did you buy it?"
Zhang Chu scratched his head in confusion: "This wood... is it urgent? Isn’t Xiao Qin still in the countryside for the New Year? When he’s back and has time, I think there’s still plenty of time to discuss which molds and specify the wood?"
"Order more; when you get home tonight, I’ll tell you exactly what to make for Xiao Qin. The key is to make six good cutting boards," Cao Guixiang said seriously. "Xiao Qin’s knife skills are too poor; he needs to practice."
"Tomorrow morning, when you buy groceries, I need to find a few suitable knives for Xiao Qin."
Zhang Chu: ... Why is his wife suddenly so attentive to Qin Huai?
Did Qin Huai give Four Happiness glutinous rice again?
Zhang Chu didn’t understand, but nodded: "Alright."
Ending the call, Cao Guixiang replied to Qin Huai without mentioning the meat filling in the photo.
Cao Guixiang: Xiao Qin, when are you free to come to my house for a meal? Also, let Old Zhang discuss the mold matters with you.
Qin Huai: After the Lantern Festival, the sixteenth day of the first lunar month is fine.
Cao Guixiang: Okay, then let’s set it for the sixteenth at noon ∩_∩
Seeing the message from Cao Guixiang, Qin Huai felt a bit strange, thinking maybe his meat filling wasn’t worth Cao Guixiang typing a few words to comment on.
On second thought, Qin Huai felt indeed it wasn’t worth it. A casual meat filling by Cao Guixiang could already achieve master level filling effects. In her eyes, the meat filling he just sent could barely count as passable.
Indeed, there are always people better out there. Just when he thought Huang Shengli’s cooking was top-notch, there were people much better than Huang Shengli.
There are masters among the people, and having the six of Zhiwei Restaurant call him Master Qin was no real feat. He still had a lot of room for improvement.
Originally planning to relax for a few days, Qin Huai decided to take just one day off. Rest today, make glutinous rice dumplings tomorrow morning, rest in the afternoon, and enjoy the Lantern Festival.
Then, on the sixteenth, head straight to the city to set the molds and conclude the Qin Family Village’s special Lunar New Year Four Happiness glutinous rice dumpling delivery.
Qin Huai contentedly took another look at the meat filling he photographed, feeling such good meat filling shouldn’t be wasted without showing it off.
He silently sent the meat filling to Zheng Da, Huang Shengli, Zheng Siyuan, Dong Shi, and Tan Wei’an.
Zheng Siyuan was the fastest to reply.
Qin Huai guessed his pastry shop had probably reopened; Little Zheng Master had returned to his leisurely life, selling a batch of pastries at a time.
Now he was likely selling pastries, hence the quick reply.
Zheng Siyuan: Aren’t you home for the New Year?
Zheng Siyuan: Did your imaginary game system issue a new task?
Zheng Siyuan: How did you manage it?
Zheng Siyuan: Isn’t there a culinary master in your village?
Zheng Siyuan: Do you have a video? Send me a video to see.
Zheng Siyuan: When are you coming back to Huishan City? I’ll come to find you.
Zheng Siyuan: I want to taste what the current Four Happiness glutinous rice is like.