Chapter 24: A Sudden Crisis

The golden glow of the evening had just begun to settle over the city when Li Wei received a call that shifted the peaceful balance he had worked so hard to maintain. He was in the middle of preparing dinner for Xu Lian and Little Yue when his phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. Wiping his hands on a towel, Li Wei glanced at the screen. It was a call from Zhang Wei, his restaurant's main supplier.

"Zhang Wei?" he answered, his voice calm. It wasn't unusual for the supplier to call him with updates, but something about the timing felt off.

"Li Wei! Thank heavens you picked up," Zhang Wei's voice was unusually frantic. "There's a major problem with the delivery tomorrow. One of our trucks got into an accident, and the entire shipment of fresh produce for your restaurant... it's all gone."

Li Wei's heart skipped a beat. His restaurant, especially during the ongoing cultural festival, relied on those ingredients to meet the high standards of his ever-increasing customer base. Missing even one delivery could throw everything into disarray. The restaurant had earned a reputation for serving the finest, freshest ingredients. Not having what he needed meant risking everything.

"How bad is it?" Li Wei asked, his tone measured but tense. He could hear the worry creeping into his own voice, despite his efforts to stay calm.

"All the vegetables, seafood, and specialty ingredients you requested for tomorrow's event are ruined," Zhang Wei said, frustration evident in his voice. "We're trying to scramble, but there's no way we can get a replacement shipment to you on time. I'm really sorry, Li Wei."

Li Wei clenched his jaw, running a hand through his hair. The festival tomorrow was one of the biggest events he had catered for in months. Not only would it bring in significant revenue, but it was also an opportunity to elevate his restaurant's standing within the city's elite dining scene. A failure here could damage his reputation.

"I'll figure something out," Li Wei finally said. "Thanks for letting me know, Zhang Wei."

He ended the call and leaned against the counter, his mind racing. There wasn't much time. The festival was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and his restaurant was expected to present its most exquisite dishes, including some of the rare and delicate ingredients that were now gone.

Xu Lian entered the kitchen, noticing the tension on Li Wei's face. "Is everything okay?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Li Wei sighed, forcing a smile as he looked up at her. "We have a bit of a situation with the restaurant. One of our suppliers lost an entire shipment of ingredients for tomorrow's event."

Xu Lian frowned, walking over to him. "That's a big problem, isn't it? Can you find replacements?"

"I'm not sure. It's last minute, and those were specialty ingredients," Li Wei admitted. "I could try reaching out to a few other suppliers, but even if I manage to get some of the basics, it won't be the same."

Xu Lian took his hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You always find a way. If anyone can solve this, it's you."

Her words were comforting, but the weight of the situation still pressed heavily on Li Wei. This wasn't just about solving a simple logistical problem. The event was crucial to his restaurant's future, and failure wasn't an option.

As the gravity of the situation sank in, an idea flickered in the back of his mind. The Ultimate Family System—it had always provided him with the skills, money, and assets he needed to become the best father and husband. But it had also granted him the knowledge and expertise to elevate his cooking. Could the system help him now, in this crisis?

Li Wei closed his eyes, focusing inward. He hadn't called upon the system for such a direct solution before, but this was an emergency. With a deep breath, he activated the system's interface.

[Ultimate Family System Activated]

The familiar green panel appeared before his eyes, filled with its usual calm, emotionless tone.

[Current Task: Provide the best possible experience for your family and restaurant's patrons.]

[System Request: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the restaurant's success is at risk. Would you like to exchange experience points for a new skill or item?]

Li Wei didn't hesitate. "Yes," he said, his voice firm.

[5,000 experience points available. Would you like to redeem these for a rare ingredient supply or a temporary culinary boost?]

Li Wei pondered the options for a moment. The rare ingredient supply sounded like the perfect fix, but a temporary culinary boost would allow him to create extraordinary dishes with whatever ingredients he could find. He couldn't rely on luck to find the right produce this late, so a culinary boost might be the better choice.

"I'll take the culinary boost," Li Wei decided.

[5,000 experience points redeemed.]

[Congratulations! You have unlocked the 'Divine Chef's Intuition' skill, granting you the ability to transform ordinary ingredients into exquisite, high-tier dishes for a limited time.]

Li Wei felt a surge of warmth flow through him as the system's reward activated. His mind sharpened, and suddenly, he saw the possibilities in every ingredient. Even the simplest, most basic items could now be turned into masterpieces in his hands. He could feel the creativity coursing through him, and the stress from earlier seemed to melt away.

He opened his eyes, and Xu Lian was looking at him curiously. "Are you okay?" she asked, noticing the subtle change in his demeanor.

Li Wei smiled, feeling more confident than ever. "I'm fine. Better than fine, actually. I think I've got a plan."

The next morning, Li Wei wasted no time putting his new skill to the test. He had called in his staff early, and while they were scrambling to find replacement ingredients from local markets, Li Wei knew he could make magic happen with whatever they found.

Mei Lin, one of his most trusted sous chefs, arrived with a few crates of vegetables. "It's not the best selection, but it's the freshest we could get on short notice," she said, setting the crates down.

Li Wei nodded, examining the ingredients. To an untrained eye, they looked ordinary—cabbages, carrots, basic herbs, and some standard cuts of meat. But to him, thanks to his new skill, they were like a blank canvas, waiting to be transformed.

"We'll make it work," Li Wei said confidently. "Get everything prepped, and I'll handle the rest."

Mei Lin looked at him with a mix of curiosity and skepticism but nodded and got to work. The rest of the kitchen buzzed with activity as the team began preparing for the festival.

Li Wei moved quickly, his hands steady as he began chopping, sautéing, and seasoning with an expert touch. Every movement felt precise, instinctual, as if he could see the final dish before it was even plated. The flavors came together in ways he hadn't imagined before, elevating even the simplest ingredients into something extraordinary.

Hours passed, and soon, the first guests for the festival began arriving. The kitchen was running smoothly, the dishes coming out perfectly timed and flawlessly executed. Each plate that left the kitchen was met with gasps of delight and admiration from the guests.

By the end of the night, Li Wei's restaurant had not only met the high expectations but surpassed them. The reviews were glowing, and more than one high-profile guest had personally complimented Li Wei on the innovative dishes he had prepared.

As the last of the guests left and the restaurant staff began cleaning up, Li Wei leaned against the counter, exhausted but satisfied. Xu Lian appeared at his side, a proud smile on her face.

"You did it," she said softly. "You always find a way."

Li Wei smiled, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "I couldn't have done it without you."

The festival had been a success, but more than that, Li Wei had proven to himself once again that no matter the challenge, he could always find a way to protect his family's happiness and his restaurant's future.

And with the power of the system by his side, he knew that this was just the beginning.