Seeing Mo Hua's smile, Master Chen and the others couldn't help but feel happy too.
Master Chen couldn't resist praising, "Young friend, you're truly remarkable. I've lived for most of my life, yet it's the first time I've seen such a young cultivator like you able to draw arrays."
Mo Hua felt a bit embarrassed by the praise and replied shyly, "Master Chen, let's see if the stove with the array can be used first."
Master Chen beckoned, and with the help of several strong apprentices, they reassembled the stove. They threw in a few spirit stones, and soon flames ignited inside the stove.
Master Chen nodded, saying, "No problem. Apart from being a bit smaller, this stove is no different from those expensive ones forged at the restaurants. In fact, this fire is even more vigorous."
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief. Later, Master Chen instructed Dazhu and the other disciples to deliver the stove to Mo Hua's home.
After discussing with his parents, Mo Hua finally decided to open the eatery in their own home.
Firstly, it was convenient, and secondly, the storefronts near the market were too expensive. It was originally a small business, and if they spent a lot on renting a storefront and ended up losing money, it would truly devastate the family.
Moreover, although Mo Hua's neighborhood was mostly inhabited by poor scattered cultivators, it was close to the main road with a considerable flow of people, making it especially lively during festivals. As long as the food was good, there would be no problem selling it.
Mo Hua's house was relatively small, with just two rooms and a living room, and a small courtyard outside. This was the basic layout of a cultivation residence for Qi refining cultivators, suitable for a family of three but not enough for an eatery.
Mo Shan consulted with a few neighbors and rented their courtyards by paying a monthly fee in spirit stones. He also enlisted the help of friends from the Monster Hunt Team to transform a kitchen and connect several courtyards together. This created a large open space in the courtyard where tables and chairs could be placed for dining and relaxation.
The stove was a bit too big to fit into a storage bag, so Dazhu and the disciples carried it to Mo Hua's home. When they arrived, Mo Shan and his wife were still tidying up the courtyard, digging and building walls, making the courtyard look a bit messy.
Dazhu and the others didn't hesitate to help install the stove. Afterward, they sat down, had a cup of tea, and then took their leave.
Although Mo Hua had promised confidently before, and his actions had always been reassuring, seeing him actually commission the forging of a stove, and now with the stove right in front of them, Mo Shan and his wife still found it hard to believe.
Liu Ruhua touched the stove and said, "It looks similar to those stoves in the big restaurants, just smaller. But it's obviously more sturdy and finely crafted. It must have cost quite a few spirit stones."
"I helped Master Chen repair the array in the refining furnace, and he gave me a fifty percent discount. Also, the array in this stove was drawn by me, so it didn't cost too many spirit stones," Mo Hua said proudly.
Liu Ruhua and Mo Shan looked at each other. They knew Mo Hua had some talent in arrays, but they never expected that he could not only repair arrays for others but also draw arrays on spiritual tools by himself.
Liu Ruhua pulled Mo Hua into her arms and praised, "My child, you're truly amazing!"
Mo Shan also looked at his son with pride shining in his eyes.
Originally, they had worried about Mo Hua's physical weakness, but now seeing his talent in arrays, they knew that even if he couldn't cultivate his body, relying solely on arrays could be enough to make a living. Moreover, he wouldn't have to risk his life fighting demonic beasts like his father did. Naturally, this was the best outcome for them.
"Mom, let me tell you how to use the stove," Mo Hua said, taking Liu Ruhua's hand and explaining the usage of the stove, the amount of spirit stones needed, and how to control the fire. These were actually not difficult, and Liu Ruhua understood after hearing it once.
Liu Ruhua then used the stove to cook dinner—a pot of plain rice porridge, simple vegetables, and soft white steamed buns—simple yet delicious.
Eating the meal cooked by his mother, Mo Hua was deeply moved, especially since most of the recent meals at home were cooked by Mo Shan, and the difference in taste was self-evident.
Mo Hua spoke frankly, "Mom, the food you cook is so much tastier than what Dad makes!"
"You little rascal!" Mo Shan teased, ruffling Mo Hua's hair. Seeing the smile on his wife's face, he couldn't help but laugh along.
After finishing their meal, Liu Ruhua asked, "Opening an eatery is a good idea, but what should we sell?"
Mo Shan and Liu Ruhua both looked at Mo Hua.
Facing his parents' gaze, Mo Hua said confidently, "Beef!"
Mo Shan paused for a moment, frowning. "But where will we get beef? Meat infused with spiritual energy is very expensive, and we can't afford it. Besides, the nearby area is mostly scattered cultivators, and they wouldn't buy beef even if we could make it."
Mo Hua suggested, "Dad, didn't you kill wild bulls before? We can use that meat."
"Wild bull meat... It's too tough and dry. No one would want to eat it."
"In that case, stew it for two days and nights. Even the toughest meat should tenderize with enough time. As long as it's stewed long enough, it should taste good."
"Two days and nights..." Mo Shan couldn't help but glance at the stove. "So, you forged this stove not only so your mother could cook without using spiritual power but also to stew meat..."
"Yeah!" Mo Hua nodded.
"Will that work?" Mo Shan hesitated.
"It will," Liu Ruhua's eyes lit up. "Meat infused with spiritual energy tastes tender and fresh. It doesn't need to be stewed for too long; otherwise, it loses its spiritual energy. But such meat is expensive, beyond the reach of families like ours."
"Non-spirit-infused meat, although cheaper, is tough and requires long cooking times. Ordinary scattered cultivators can afford it, but they don't have the means to cook it properly, so they rarely eat it."
"With this stove, we can stew affordable yet delicious meat. Even ordinary scattered cultivators can afford it."
Mo Shan nodded and added, "But stewing for two days and nights will require quite a few spirit stones just to fuel the fire."
Mo Hua counted on his fingers and said, "It should take around ten spirit stones, but one batch of stewed meat can yield a lot. If we sell it, we shouldn't lose money."
"Alright, I'll try stewing a pot in the next couple of days and then calculate the costs," Liu Ruhua decided.
Mo Shan nodded, "I'll go get some wild bull meat. We've run out at home, but Old Zhao should have some left. If this meat sells, it will give us a market for the meat from hunting demonic beasts in the future, making life a bit easier for everyone."
With that said, it was getting late, so Liu Ruhua urged Mo Hua to go to bed quickly.
As Mo Hua got up, he suddenly thought of a question and asked, "Mom, theoretically, forging a stove isn't too difficult, so why do we rarely see ordinary scattered cultivators using one?"
"Silly child," Liu Ruhua touched Mo Hua's face, smiling wryly.
"Setting aside the art of forging, if the array on the stove isn't drawn by yourself and you have to hire another array master, how many spirit stones do you think that would cost?"
"Becoming an array master is difficult. Once they achieve that, they naturally aim higher, using their family and sect to draw more advanced arrays and earn more spirit stones. They wouldn't bother with us poor scattered cultivators."
"It's not just array masters; it's the same for all cultivators. When people aim for higher positions, they don't look down..."
Mo Hua felt complicated emotions and couldn't find the words to respond.
(End of the Chapter)