Chapter 28: A Professional in Handling Ingredients

"If you want to buy them, just pick whatever you like."

"Sigh, business has been dismal lately. This whole pot of roasted chestnuts hasn't sold yet."

"It’s not easy for a few customers to show up, and for them to be treated this poorly—honestly, this business isn't even worth the trouble!"

The old woman selling chestnuts sighed, her tone carrying a hint of resignation.

Chen Ye smiled inwardly. He had already realized that she was saying and doing these things on purpose, effectively preparing the ingredients for him.

He took three copper coins from his pocket, placed them on the old woman's pushcart, and then selected three of the larger "meat sculptures," slowly approaching them...

Throughout the entire process, the aura of fortune above his head remained stable. Rather than shifting in a negative direction, it was actually entwined with a faint blue light and a purple mist.

"Purple mist means I can receive help..."

"The blue light is related to creation..."

"Combining these two different types of fortune auras suggests that I might be able to obtain the old woman's authentic recipe for roasted chestnuts?"

Chen Ye continuously cataloged the colors and forms displayed by different auras, using them to gain experience and build a systematic knowledge base.

Currently, it appeared that beyond the eight basic colors, fortune auras exhibited varying shades and color interweaving. In certain special circumstances, the aura could even condense into specific patterns with symbolic meanings.

At first, the use of the [Eye of Fortune] talent had felt abstract.

But as Chen Ye’s understanding deepened, he gradually began to grasp the meaning expressed by the auras, as if he were mastering an entirely new language.

Looking around, Chen Ye’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, allowing him to see everything nearby.

He quickly found a thick hemp rope in a nearby abandoned shop and tied the three pieces of "meat" together tightly.

He hunched his body and hoisted them onto his back with effort.

"Huh..."

"It’s not as heavy as I imagined?"

Chen Ye was suddenly taken aback. He had assumed that these three large masses, which combined to more than three times the volume of his own body, would be nearly impossible for his thin, frail frame to carry.

In reality, there was weight, but it wasn't as burdensome as he had anticipated.

However... the rotting meat pressed against his back through his thin shirt, creating an icy, sticky, and sickeningly slick sensation. It felt as if a dark, giant insect were clinging to his back, secreting mysterious fluids, and the stench of decay grew even more pungent.

***

Yet, in order to continue on his path to becoming a "God of Cooking," Chen Ye had to pinch his nose and endure it all.

Besides, he was a wanderer by nature; his clothes were already tattered and torn, and he was accustomed to this old, filthy attire, so the discomfort of carrying the rotting meat felt slightly less intense.

"Grandma, where should we go to find a professional to process these ingredients?"

After packing the three pieces of rotten meat and hoisting them onto his back, Chen Ye turned to ask the chestnut-selling old woman.

"Follow me."

"The professional who processes ingredients is a lady with a rather unique appearance; we all call her 'Miss Squirrel-Fish'."

"Her shop is near No. 21 Stone Road, located on the left side of the east exit of Xining Alley."

"Although she suffers from a bit of dementia and is slow to react, she is kind-hearted and very diligent, staying in her shop day and night... Heh, as long as you have these raw, low-quality ingredients, or if you have a need to trade for ingredients, you can always go there to find her."

The old woman pushed her cart, leading the way while speaking to Chen Ye over her shoulder.

Though her pace seemed slow, she would occasionally and suddenly warp from an alley entrance to the alley's end.

Chen Ye sometimes couldn't even maintain his "wanderer" gait, needing to break into a light jog just to keep up, terrified of losing track of her.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled; given his experience, he found it difficult to determine what kind of characteristic ability this was.

Teleportation? Instantaneous movement? Time-based?

In short, the *Era of Weirdness* featured far too many types of characteristics, which were further divided into "Manifestations" and "Essences."

"Manifestations" referred to the outward expression of a characteristic, such as [Flash], which could allow one to traverse distances of tens, hundreds, or even thousands of meters in an instant.

But "Essence" referred to the category of the characteristic; even different categories could have similar "Manifestations."

For instance, based on the constant expansion of his Weirdness value, Chen Ye’s [Wanderer’s Boots] could theoretically achieve the effect of a [Flash].

However, the essence of the [Wanderer’s Boots] was "Displacement," which only served to increase movement speed and efficiency.

If a wall appeared in front of him, even if he had enough distance to cross it in one stride, he would still end up slamming his forehead into it and getting a massive bump.

But if it were a true [Flash], he would simply ignore the wall and appear on the other side.

Even if the "Manifestations" were the same, the difference in "Essence" led to vastly different practical applications.

Chen Ye couldn't yet tell what category the old woman belonged to—whether it was an identity, a profession, a characteristic item, or if she was simply utilizing the rules of the world...

***

In short, the world held infinite possibilities, and he became increasingly aware of the need to remain humble and cautious. Even as a beta tester, he had to constantly understand that there was an endless ocean of knowledge here.

Only by maintaining the heart of a humble apprentice could he navigate every step ahead!

"Heh, if that old woman were to say it, she’d probably go on again about how 'a true master forever retains the heart of an apprentice'..." Chen Ye mused to himself.

As he thought this, Chen Ye suddenly felt that his understanding of the meaning of being an "apprentice" triggered a sensation similar to when he practiced the *erhu*. His mind felt clear, enlightened, and sharp. In an instant, the entire world within his sight became lucid and bright.

Without realizing it, Chen Ye had bypassed most of the labyrinthine Xining Alley.

Ahead, a giant stone archway appeared, with stone lion sculptures standing on either side—it was grand and imposing.

It was the east gate of Xining Alley.

To the left of the entrance, only one small shop of about five square meters remained open, with a warm, dim light spilling out from the window.

"This is where Miss Squirrel-Fish is," the chestnut-selling old woman said as she pushed her cart forward.

She arrived at the wooden door, knocked politely three times, and raised her voice:

"Miss Squirrel-Fish, new business has arrived!"

*Creak!*

Soon, the wooden door slowly opened...

A figure as bloated as a ball of meat was slowly and forcibly squeezed out of the small doorway!

The figure that emerged from the room had fish gills on both sides of its face; one could vaguely distinguish human features like a nose, eyes, and a mouth... A long chin sagged until it nearly touched the ground, yet the lips could still close, and the neck was as long as a turtle's.

On the back of that two-meter-tall, giant-rat-like body grew dense scales!

Looking closely, the scales on the back were actually individual blood-colored finger bones, just like the hallucinations that had appeared when Chen Ye first stared at the old woman’s roasted chestnuts!

Those finger bones grew on her back like petals, swaying back and forth with each step like floating water weeds.

The moment Chen Ye’s gaze fell upon Miss Squirrel-Fish, a single thought flashed through his mind—

"Please tell me the stuff I usually eat isn't whatever that is on her back?"