Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　"If I could eat it just once more, no! Just one bite! I would pay any price for it!"

　The girl with a pure and innocent appearance pointed to her chest, her eyes filled with fervor as she looked at Bai Yuan. She stuck out her tongue as she spoke, her face full of ecstasy.

　"It's hard to imagine that such delicious food could be made with ingredients of that quality."

　My father always taught me that making a good dish starts with selecting the right ingredients, but now it seems his skills were really lacking.

　"Indeed, I've always believed that to make good food, you have to use good ingredients! Even slightly inferior ingredients will affect the quality of the dish, but now it seems..."

　…………

　Upon hearing Bai Yuan's words, the crowd, who had been indulging in their enjoyment, instantly snapped out of their reverie and surrounded him, talking incessantly with expressions of elation.

　Chapter 112 The Drunken Leah, Chicken Soup with Astragalus and Goji Berries

　"Your fathers were right."

　Making a good dish does indeed start with selecting the ingredients, a very simple truth that everyone recognizes.

　But this doesn't mean that inferior ingredients can't be used to make good dishes. The key lies in the chef's skill and ability to adapt the ingredients to the cooking process.

　As the surrounding sounds gradually subsided, Bai Yuan slowly began to speak.

　"Use the ingredients according to their properties? Indeed, as long as you cut off the bad parts of the ingredients, what's left is still good ingredients."

　"Although there will be fewer, the rest are still good. Some of the damaged surfaces do not affect the use, they just look bad."

　Bai Yuan's words fell silent as the trainees began to ponder their meaning. Did he mean that as long as the chef's skills were high, slightly inferior ingredients wouldn't have a significant impact?

　After all, aside from the spoiled parts, the ingredients were essentially good...

　"You are like these less-than-ideal ingredients. Although you are disliked, you have some redeeming qualities and are not completely rotten."

　Even the worst ingredients can be transformed into a top-notch delicacy if cooked properly; the same applies to people.

　Bai Yuan continued, his face full of seriousness.

　Talent is not something to be discussed unless you reach the top level.

　For basic things, if you can't learn them after one try, then practice them ten, a hundred, a thousand times! Until they become muscle memory, you'll learn them naturally.

　"It's getting late. Don't lie here after you've eaten. Go outside for a walk to help digest, and then go back to your rooms to rest."

　The cabins aren't very big, so it's not realistic to have a room for each person. You're not here to relax, so men and women will be separated, and ten people will share a room. Bedding and other necessities will be provided.

　I'll get up at cockcrow tomorrow morning to begin my morning training.

　Breakfast isn't served until after early training; I'm just praying I don't go hungry.

　Seeing the slightly moved expressions on the boys' faces, Bai Yuan took a bite of the tomato in his hand, turned around, waved, and walked in the other direction.

　"If even spoiled vegetables can be cooked up to be this delicious, then we're actually doing much better..."

　"Go to sleep, and then greet tomorrow's sunrise!"

　"Indeed, let those self-important geniuses see that even the worst of the bunch can be trampled underfoot!"

　After a brief silence as Bai Yuan walked away, someone suddenly spoke up.

　This was immediately followed by a chorus of agreement.

　Encouraged by Bai Yuan, everyone was in high spirits. They then found a room in the wooden house and slept there, ten people in one room.

　Because they knew they were there for special training, no one complained about the poor environment.

　And because he was extremely tired from training, he went back to his room, made up his bed, and crawled into bed. As soon as his head touched the pillow, he fell asleep.

　Whether it was a boy's or a girl's room, deafening snoring filled the air at that moment.

　·

　·

　"Boss Bai, you're finally back."

　Inside the room, Lia had changed into a kimono at some point and was sitting upright at a small table, with plates of exquisite dishes in front of her.

　Upon seeing Bai Yuan enter, he immediately greeted him with a smile and stood up to welcome him.

　"Where are the peanuts you fried?"

　Looking at the dishes on the table, Bai Yuan didn't see what he wanted, and asked Liya in confusion.

　"My cooking is not worthy of this table."

　Looking at the shimmering dish in front of her, and thinking of her own utterly ordinary plate of peanuts, Leah couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

　She had just felt that she had performed well and that she could satisfy Bai Yuan.

　But now, seeing him casually create large quantities of luminous dishes, he suddenly became somewhat insecure and therefore refused to show his own cooking to others.

　"What's this about being worthy or not? I just want to eat your peanuts, I really, really want them, please bring them up quickly."

　"All right..."

　Upon hearing Liya's words, Bai Yuan sat down opposite her and tapped the table as he spoke, asking her to bring out the peanuts he had prepared.

　Seeing Bai Yuan's reaction, Lia finally took out the peanuts she had hidden under the table.

　"Isn't this pretty good?"

　Seeing Liya hesitantly offer him some peanuts, Bai Yuan picked one up and popped it into his mouth, chewing it twice and making a crunchy sound.

　"But compared to this table of shimmering, dazzling dishes, it's utterly ordinary."

　Hearing Bai Yuan's words, Liya couldn't help but mutter to herself. She knew he was trying to comfort her, and although she was grateful, it really wasn't necessary.

　The difference between the dishes was like heaven and earth.

　"Don't worry about whether it glows or not, whether it shimmers or not, those are just appearances."

　The most important thing about cooking is the chef's heart—the heart that wants the customer to show happiness when they eat the food. If you have this thought, you are a truly great chef.

　Bai Yuan picked up the wine glass on the table, took a sip, and said with a slightly darkened gaze.

　He had drunk quite a bit outside and was already slightly tipsy. He actually quite liked this dizzy feeling.

　"Do you want him to have a happy expression when he eats the food? If you cook with that in mind, will it make him feel happy?"

　"I don't know, but I can feel the emotions you put into the dish, and you must have put a lot of thought into it."

　Hearing Liya's murmurs, Bai Yuan picked up another peanut, closed his eyes, and began to savor the experience.

　Crispy in texture and savory in flavor, the peanuts exude a strong aroma of liquor due to the addition of baijiu (Chinese white liquor), making them even more delicious when paired with alcohol.

　"Have a drink with me, Leah."

　Bai Yuan began, swirling his wine glass.

　"Yes, Boss Bai!"

　Upon hearing Bai Yuan's voice, Liya realized what was happening. She then looked at his empty wine glass, stood up slightly, and gracefully poured him a drink.

　She learned this a few days ago, and although the movements weren't perfect, they had a unique charm when paired with her delicate and adorable baby face.

　Bai Yuan was enjoying himself, but unfortunately the girl's figure wasn't very good. Even if she deliberately loosened her neckline, she couldn't show much allure. Instead, she gave off a naive and innocent feeling.

　This feeling is quite appealing.

　Bai Yuan at least liked her. He had seen many gentle, charming, and stunning women, but someone like Lia was rare in this world.

　She looks like a delicate porcelain doll.

　Time passed slowly, and with each glass of wine she drank, Leah's face flushed, and she looked slightly tipsy.

　"Boss Bai, I...I like you!"

　Sitting in Bai Yuan's arms, Lia's eyes were glazed over, and she could only utter this one sentence.

　I like you very much too.

　You're a little drunk, let me take you home to rest.

　As Bai Yuan spoke, he prepared to help Liya up and take her back to her room to rest, but the girl clung to him like a boneless water snake.

　"I'm not going back, let's sleep together."

　Her voice carried a hint of coquetry, but her eyes were half-closed in comfort.

　"Let's sleep together then, but you have to let go of me first, let me..."

　"I'll go get the bedding; we can't sleep under the open sky."

　"You're so cool, it feels so good to hug you. I'm so hot, I need to cool down, hiccup... so I can't let go."

　Lia spoke incoherently, her words completely disorganized, like a young child, clearly indicating that she was somewhat incoherent due to alcohol consumption.

　"I should have recorded it so you could hear what you said tomorrow. Luckily, you didn't go on a drunken rampage, which shows you're not a bad person."

　Bai Yuan sighed helplessly, lifted Liya up by her bottom, held her with one hand, and took out bedding from the closet with the other, then spread it out on the floor.

　After finishing all this, he turned off the room light and then crawled into bed.

　·

　·

　In the early morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window, Leah rubbed her slightly throbbing head and sat up alone from under the covers.

　The pain from the hangover left her clutching her head, unable to speak for a long time.

　When she came to her senses, she realized that her kimono was loose and baggy. She panicked and hurriedly checked herself.

　However, when she thought about how she had been drinking with Bai Yuan last night, her panic subsided like a receding tide.

　Instead, a faint sense of melancholy prevailed.

　Even after what I did yesterday, Bai Yuan remained unmoved. Judging from the sensations I felt, he only got a little bit of his kicks.

　Am I really that unattractive?

　Impossible. If that were the case, Bai Yuan wouldn't have resorted to violence. The faint strange sensations coming from several places on my body couldn't possibly be as simple as an accidental touch.

　"Because of that apprentice..."

　When the image of Bai Yuan's apprentice, whom she often mentioned when she was in the Dark Cuisine world, came to mind, a strange feeling arose in Lia's heart, and a bitter smile appeared on her face.

　The other person knew Boss Bai earlier than her, and had even saved his life. The title of "Lady of the Dark Cuisine World" should rightfully belong to her.

　Her words...

　"As for me, I'd be content just to be by Boss Bai's side!"

　Lia changed her clothes and quietly revealed her true feelings.

　·

　·

　"Hurry up, hurry up! Anyone who dares to stop for even a second will get a beating! Why are you all so weak? You haven't even swung the iron yet? How are you supposed to control a kitchen knife!"

　Watching the young men and women jogging slowly in the mountains and forests, practicing with two iron balls in their hands, Bai Yuan urged them on in a cold voice.

　For a chef, both strength and endurance are important.

　Yesterday, I had these guys practice flipping the wok. Besides honing their skills, it also helped them develop their strength.

　After a night of exercise, these guys' arms were sore to varying degrees, making them unsuitable for further weight training.

　But it wouldn't do to just sit around doing nothing, so Bai Yuan found a whip and started training their endurance. The best way to increase physical strength is to jog, a long-term aerobic exercise.

　"Don't stop! If you want to stop, wait until it's completely burned out!"

　"Yes, Professor Bai Yuan!"

　Seeing that the men and women behind him were moving slower and slower, almost walking, Bai Yuan frowned slightly and immediately brandished his whip to catch up.

　When the men saw him approaching and saw the long whip lashing down on them, they turned pale with fright and immediately sped up.

　"Boss Bai."

　Seeing this, Lia, who had changed her clothes and came out of the room, greeted him and then jogged over to his side.

　"Oh, you're awake."

　Perfect timing! I've been supervising them here all morning; the rest is up to you.

　If someone stops or slows down and you want to chase them with the whip, but they really can't keep going, let them stand and rest. Remember to find the right balance.