Chapter Thirty-One: A New Style of Stir-Frying

"An increase of 160 in Eerie Value?" Chen Ye was secretly startled, feeling somewhat surprised by this result. He had assumed that the role-playing of a [Chef Apprentice] was merely in its initial phase, and he hadn't expected the growth in Eerie Value to be as rapid as it had been with the suona. Yet, not only had the growth rate not slowed down, but it had actually increased!

"I never imagined that practicing culinary arts would hold such great potential." Chen Ye's eyes lit up. This was only the beginning of his practice, which meant there was still plenty of room for improvement. He took a deep breath, then poured all his focus into his craft. An excellent apprentice should immerse their entire heart and mind in the learning process. As he continued to practice, Chen Ye gradually entered a state of serene focus, casting aside all distractions and concentrating entirely on the task at hand. In this moment, he felt his control over the heat in the furnace become even more refined. Even the slightest fluctuation in temperature, as the heat waves washed over him, could be sensed by his body, allowing him to regulate the flame with precision.

In this state, Chen Ye felt his efficiency surge once more. The ordinary spatula in his hand moved with increasing speed and force. After a short while, he was able to strike the "pinecones" with precision, attempting to hammer them into the shape of roasted chestnuts.

"My arm strength is actually increasing?" Chen Ye was surprised to discover a significant improvement in his physical power. With each strike of the spatula, a metallic clanging sound rang out, and the "pinecones" gradually began to collapse and compress in volume. This was a massive breakthrough! It meant that Chen Ye could now begin to alter the form of the ingredients, and with further progress, he would eventually be able to craft them into all sorts of shapes.

"It seems the traits of an apprentice are even stronger than I imagined!" Chen Ye mused to himself. It appeared that the apprentice trait not only reinforced its inherent attributes but also promoted the growth of other related ones. For instance, in the [Chef] trait, heat control and an understanding of ingredients were core attributes, but there were also secondary ones—like arm strength. A top-tier chef always possessed incredible arm strength to handle various iron pans and unlock new techniques for stir-frying. Therefore, Chen Ye was not only improving his culinary skills but also his physical strength, which could be directly applied to close-quarters combat.

Meanwhile, the increase in his Eerie Value rose from 160 to 170. This meant that the potential of the [Chef Apprentice] had only just begun to be tapped; there was a literal gold mine waiting to be excavated.

*Clang, clang, clang! Clang, clang, clang!* The sound of the rhythmic hammering grew heavier and more vigorous.

***

After his arm strength improved, every strike caused the roasted chestnuts to fly wildly within the pan. Due to the increased force, the impact on the ingredients was much greater; one wrong move and they would easily fly out.

"What should I do?" Chen Ye frowned slightly. Although his strength had increased, the "pinecones" were small to begin with. Under his full-force strikes, even after hitting the bottom of the pan, the recoil was enough to make them bounce right out. At this moment, the "pinecones" were churning and leaping in the furnace, requiring his full, undivided attention to prevent them from falling out. If he were to increase the force any further, it would be impossible to contain them.

However, the old woman who sold the chestnuts clearly possessed superior control. When she stir-fried the "pinecones," she didn't let them bounce even once, simply flattening them instantly. It looked effortless, but in practice, the difficulty was exceptionally high! Chen Ye did not yet possess such astonishing arm strength. But if he were to increase his intensity, he risked having the "pinecones" fly away. If they fell onto the dirty floor and became covered in muck, it would be a waste of good food, which might displease the old woman.

Because of this, Chen Ye had not dared to increase his force further. But to remain stagnant and unable to progress was something a person with a true apprentice's heart found difficult to accept.

"Wait!" A thought flashed through his mind. "If I increase the force and use sufficient reaction speed to swat the bouncing chestnuts back into the pan, wouldn't that work? Although it's much harder and requires extreme mobility as a foundation... I have the [Wanderer's Boots], which grant me incredible movement speed! I have exactly what I need!"

He took a deep breath, unleashed his full strength, and swung the spatula down hard onto a "pinecone." The impact sent it flying from the bottom of the pan, about to clear the rim—but at that exact moment, Chen Ye took a step, appearing on the other side as if he had teleported. He used the spatula to pin the chestnut down and forced it back into the bottom of the pan. The "pinecone," having suffered two violent impacts in quick succession, collapsed rapidly, shrinking in size until it was about as large as a roasted chestnut. The edges were still jagged and uneven, resembling an irregular building block.

"A bit ugly, isn't it..." Chen Ye’s mouth twitched. He was still adapting to this level of force, and his control wasn't perfect yet. The furnace fire was roaring, and the surfaces of the chestnuts were becoming golden and crisp. If he kept going, they would turn into coal!

***

That would make them inedible! Chen Ye quickly turned down the heat, added a few spices to the pan, and plated the dish. The resulting roasted chestnuts were fragrant, though admittedly a bit unsightly. The edges were irregular, and while one could barely make out the shape of a roasted chestnut, they were the type that even a stray dog wouldn't look at if thrown on the road.

Chen Ye reluctantly popped one into his mouth and chewed, his expression suddenly shifting to one of pleasant surprise. The taste wasn't perfect, but it had the distinct aroma of roasted chestnuts and was perfectly edible. A wave of warmth flowed from his stomach throughout his body. The restorative and satiety-inducing effects remained unchanged.

"I suppose that makes sense," he thought. "Mastering the appearance is a skill reserved for master chefs. I’m just a novice; even with the apprentice trait, there’s no way I could reach the level of a master on my first attempt. For ordinary people, food just needs to be heated to be eaten—who cares about the shape? But for an excellent apprentice, no matter the profession, one must have the drive to reach the peak. That is the qualification required for role-playing an apprentice."

Chen Ye reflected internally, and the feeling of digestion surged within him again. He didn't waste any time and immediately began his second attempt. Starting the fire, heating the pan, adding oil... the first three steps were now second nature. This time, Chen Ye chose to dump over a dozen "pinecones" into the pan at once, stir-frying them repeatedly! He increased his force significantly, using violent strikes from the start to shrink their volume. This way, he would have more time to control their shape before they were fully cooked.

*Clang, clang, clang!* The pinecones bounced about, looking as if they would fly out at any second. But now, Chen Ye could easily use his superior movement speed to swat any straying "pinecones" back into the pan. As his movements became increasingly fluid, he moved with the grace of a wandering traveler while wielding his spatula like a martial arts master.

The increase in his Eerie Value rose once again!

[Eerie Value +200!]
[Eerie Value +200!]