After spending a night in his room on a hard bed, he cracked his back as he moved into the dining hall. Already there seated was Lin Er and his family and surprisingly his mother, his mother's relationship with the Lin family was not exactly fantastic, it was all parts of being the mother of the wastrel of the family, the black sheep's mom.
Her relationship with the real Lin Dong was bad as well, she always blamed him for his behaviour and it caused her a lot of problems even being bullied. After the disappearance of her husband and her son becoming the way he is, she became resentful of her situation often feeling the world is going against her.
But today it was a different atmosphere, his mother was sitting at the table eating a meal with his uncle, although his mother did seem a little bit weary and anxious. Her free hand grabbing her dress underneath the table, while she timidly reached for food across the table.
Zhu Jiao walked in and found a seat beside her and started to sample the offerings on the table. He picked up his chopsticks and put a piece of food in his mouth before it turned into a frown.
"What is this!? Why is it so tasteless?"
His mother opened her mouth wanting to stop Zhu Jiao, but stopped herself, she hasn't earned the right to discipline him, ever since she gave up talking to him and leaving him to his own devices.
Lin Er looked at Zhu Jiao, as he quickly put a piece of food in his mouth as well after chewing a bit and swallowing the food, he replied.
"This… isn't to your liking?"
Zhu Jiao looked at his uncle and shook his head. He had an inner monologue about the food he had just eaten.
"What exactly is this dish? It's so bland! It tastes like someone made dough and boiled it in water!"
Lin Er quickly turned to look at the servants.
"Did the chefs make the dough boiled in water differently today? It does taste more bland than usual."
Zhu Jiao choked on his water and started coughing.
"Did you say dough boiled in water? Who makes something like that? What is this other dish here?"
"Sir, that is just water." The servant replied.
"Damn it, what kind of breakfast is this! I need to speak to the chefs immediately! right now!"
Zhu Jiao immediately dashed off and yeeted himself out of the hall and into the kitchen. Pushing open the door he immediately looked at all the chefs.
"Oh Cooking god! You have returned! How will you bless us today!"
The Chefs immediately surrounded Zhu Jiao as they started to pat him on the back and shoulders, hoping that by doing so they may get the blessings of the gods.
"Enough! Whose recipe was the Dough in water I had this morning?" Zhu Jiao shrugged off the wandering hands as he continued to speak.
"Chef God sir, this is a recipe that every household knows about! We've been eating this since the beginning of time, it not only gives you energy but it's easy for digestion as well."
A chef that was in front of him wiped his hands on his apron as he answered Zhu Jiao.
"It's good that it is a practical food, but where is the enjoyment in life if you just eat this everyday!? You, heat up some oil again! You, get me soybeans lots of it. You! Follow me to my room, I need to take something.It's time to show you another recipe."
Zhu Jiao said as he rolled up his sleeves and walked to his room with one of the chefs.
The rest of the chefs got excited as they were ready to watch the Cooking God pass another recipe to them.
"Another recipe? Let's get ready! Who's taking note?"
Zhu Jiao went into his room and opened his infinite storage, entering it and bringing out a stone mill. It wasn't one that is of huge proportions but one that was still heavy, to Zhu Jiao, the weight was negligible, but in order to not expose his abilities he lifted the stone mill together with the chef as they lugged it into the kitchen.
Showing up with the stone mill, the chefs looked at him eagerly, waiting for him to say something.
"I think he's going to make flour!"
"No! Why would he make flour? We already have flour!"
"Then what else would he be doing with that mill?"
"Bring the soya beans here"
Zhu Jiao commanded as he stood in front of the mill. He poured the soya beans into the opening at the top and asked the chef to spin the mill while another continued to pour more beans in. A few minutes later a white liquid collected at the bottom of the mill in a bucket.
"This… is this … magic?"
The head chef looked at Zhu Jiao with his eyes wide open, his body gradually losing it's inhibition as he stumbled forward wanting to pick up the soy milk.
"How can someone get milk out of beans, this is inconceivable! How does one consume this …."
"Head Chef! Get away from the soy milk and come over here! One of you, heat up the soy milk and put it in a bowl! Head chef! See this dough, stretch it and put it in the hot oil and let it expand. After it turns golden brown take it out and let it rest."
Zhu Jiao used a swift movement, immediately taking out the fried dough stick and placing it on the wire mesh rack, the oil dripping down onto a tray catching the oil.
"Head Chef, taste it, remember the taste and remember the steps! I expect this to be served everyday from now on!"
The head Chef picked up the dough stick and put it in his mouth, the crisp skin of the dough stick crumbled gently revealing a chewy texture underneath. His hot breath released a thin fog as he breathed out gently.
"This is… the texture, it's crispy yet chewy. It was soaked in oil, but it isn't extremely oily."
The head chef reached for the bowl and took a sip of the soymilk, the warm soy milk filled his mouth as it warmed up both his body and his heart. The head chef stood in front of the bowl of soy milk and shook his head.
"Try dipping it into the soy milk and eating it." Zhu Jiao said, looking at the head chef with a slight smile on his face.
The head chef, taking the dough stick already in his hand and dipped it into the soy milk, careful not to drip even one drop. Directing it into his mouth, the combination of the crispy and chewy dough stick and the light tasting soy milk exploded with flavour in his mouth.
The head chef after experiencing such a taste started to reach for his clothes in an attempt to take it off.