Outside, the snow falls in thick, feathery flakes, while couples meander blissfully in the delightful weather.
In this uniquely charming little town, on the southern bank, there lies an unremarkable two-bedroom apartment, where its owner, Zhao Shen, currently bears a countenance of despair.
Gazing at the sole inheritance left by his father—a mere fifty-five point eight square meters—he feels a melancholic longing, yet finds solace in the presence of this modest nest. His thoughts, however, begin to wander further afield.
...
Lush hills and fields unfold a scene of rustic beauty.
"Child, your father was a man of ill fortune; I, a white-haired parent bidding farewell to a black-haired child, and our culinary lineage ends with you after nine generations of sole inheritance!"
An elder and a youth stand amidst this picturesque landscape; the elder lacks a full head of silver hair, his scalp exposed and yellowed, with gray streaks that betray countless worries in his twilight years.
The youth appears delicate and frail, hardly resembling a cook.
With a slight curl of his lips, he scoffs, "A culinary lineage? Nowadays, reheating a dish is done in the microwave; who remembers the intricacies of roasting rice on paper? Despite your influence on my culinary skills, I remain utterly incompetent."
Even lifting a brick becomes an arduous task for him.
...
A sudden vibration from his abdomen prompts him to retrieve his phone, revealing a message that reads: "Zhao Shen, do not come tomorrow. I am in need of an experienced chef. While you possess knowledge in every aspect, your inability to discern the seasoning of a dish renders you useless to me."
Unconsciously, he tightens his grip, overwhelmed by his grandfather's words; his left fingertips dig painfully into his palm.
Yet, this pain pales in comparison to the sorrow in his heart.
Indeed, life has played a cruel jest on him; the illustrious culinary family, which flourished during his father's generation, met its demise when his father was diagnosed with liver cancer at the age of forty, exhausting the family fortune before his untimely death.
And he, a prodigious talent, possesses an extraordinary memory for recipes, effortlessly comprehending the workings of every dish at a glance.
Yet, he is devoid of taste.
"Grandfather, I will strive diligently; you need not worry."
Feeling the weight of the elder's expectations, Zhao Shen's heart aches even deeper.
This is not a melodrama; he has no promising future. He is a failure, and the culinary legacy will wither under his stewardship!
...
His stomach growls; a kettle of hot water and a bucket of instant noodles sit untouched, the seasoning packets still sealed.
The flavors of sweet, sour, and spicy hold no meaning, and ultimately, Zhao Shen grows too apathetic to even tear open the seasoning packets.
"Ding-dong, Mr. Zhao, your simulation life game pod has arrived. May I inquire if you are at home?"
In 20xx, the real-world industry has been utterly depleted, with salons, beauty parlors, and shopping malls populating the streets.
The virtual internet has emerged as the second most promising industry after real estate, and Zhao Shen does not wish to miss this opportunity.
...
"Beep, detecting host's mental stability; no mental disorders found. Commencing binding process... binding successful."
"Beep, extraordinary talent detected; granting host the secondary profession: Culinary Master!"
An electronic voice resonates in Zhao Shen's mind, and he is soon transported to another realm: the simulation of life!
"Culinary Master?" Zhao Shen feels a sense of bewilderment.
"I have never heard of such a profession!"
The world of simulation is vast, encompassing elements of fantasy, martial arts, urban life, science fiction, and more, yet he has never encountered anyone who has attained the status of Culinary Master.
...
"The host need not ponder excessively; all secondary professions are generated based on the system's assessment of your innate talent. You are unique!"
Talent? What a farce; he lacks taste altogether, let alone the culinary skills he has yet to explore.
"Initiating the first task of the Culinary Master profession: cook rice."
As he gazes at the throngs of people around him, Zhao Shen finds himself unceremoniously thrust into the world of simulation.
Character: Zhao Shen
Level: 1
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Physical Fitness: D (SSS, SS, S, A, B, C, D)
Health Points: 100
Magic Points: 100
Physical Attack: 10
Magical Attack: 0
Physical Defense: 10
Magical Defense: 10
Movement Speed: 1
Crit Rate: 1%
Distributable Attributes: 0
Saturation: 100
Skills: Cooking
Culinary Talent: Culinary Master (highest level)
Task [Cooking]: Create rice that is flavorful, aromatic, and visually appealing, and sell 100 portions for 88 gold pieces each. (One purchase limit per person per day; automatically binds upon sale.)
...
Gazing at the lengthy data, Zhao Shen feels discontent with his physical fitness rating, yet it is an undeniable truth—no matter how much he eats, he cannot gain weight. However, seeing his culinary talent brings him a modicum of pride.
There is a flicker of joy, as if his dreams have finally found validation.
Faced with the hopeful gazes around him, his culinary skills may finally see the light of day; simulation life is his second chance!
Calming his excited emotions and channeling them into motivation, for dreams must be realized through effort.
He opens his backpack, revealing two items resting quietly inside.
[Meicheng Rice]: My beloved rice, enduring centuries of wind and rain without changing, still retaining its unique flavor! Meicheng rice is unparalleled, a tribute of its own. (Quest item; non-tradeable, non-destructible, non-droppable.)
[Culinary Master Iron Wok]: An iron wok passed down through generations of culinary masters. Its material is unknown—non-stick, rust-proof, and leak-proof! (Quest item; non-tradeable, non-destructible, non-droppable.)
...
"This is merely a large black pot; even if it has darkened, one cannot discern its quality!" Zhao Shen laments, perplexed at the notion of cooking.
"I, the Culinary Master, am reduced to starting with cooking rice? This is an absurd over-exaggeration!" Zhao Shen cannot help but inquire.
Task prompt: "Culinary Masters must begin with the basics; only by mastering fundamental skills can one ascend to greater heights."
"Surely, one should start with cooking dishes? Cooking rice is hardly remarkable! Even a cold appetizer would suffice!" Zhao Shen persists in his resistance.
Task prompt: "Culinary Masters must begin with the basics; only by mastering fundamental skills can one ascend to greater heights."
"Curse this absurdity!" Zhao Shen mutters in frustration.
Task prompt: "Culinary Masters must begin with the basics; only by mastering fundamental skills can one ascend to greater heights."
...
Relinquishing his struggle with the task system, he resolves to begin with cooking rice. Yet, the price of 88 gold pieces seems ludicrous.
It is essential to note that in simulation life, 1 gold piece equals 1 RMB! A direct one-to-one exchange rate.
How is one to cook rice worth 88 RMB? Zhao Shen wracks his brain, suddenly recalling a recipe his grandfather once mentioned for dragon's saliva rice, although he has never attempted it!
His grandfather had learned it from ancestral texts.
Legend has it that Qin Shi Huang sought the secret to immortality and experimented with bizarre culinary methods.
Among these, the rice was cooked with the addition of breast milk, following an intricate eighteen-step process with six distinct heat levels—any single condition unfulfilled renders it ineffective!