Cooking from the Heart

After adjusting the flavors, he added the root vegetables to the pot, poured in water, placed the meat on top, and sprinkled in the sugar.

He covered the pot and once the stew started to boil, he added the remaining seasonings.

He simmered it with a lid, making sure it cooked slowly.

"I wonder when meat and potatoes became a household dish..."

Next, he made a stew with daikon radish and chicken wings.

The bone in the chicken was always better for extracting flavor.

With two large pots of stew simmering, Shen Xinghui felt a sense of satisfaction as the dishes slowly cooked.

As the liquid in the stew reduced slightly, Shen Xinghui turned off the heat to let it cool.

It was during this cooling process that the flavors would truly soak in.

In the meantime, he decided to make another vegetable dish.

He chopped small potatoes and stir-fried them with seasonings.

Using butter added a rich depth to the flavor.

He also prepared a meat dish.

Since he had bought chicken, he decided to make fried chicken.

He seasoned the chicken with salt and lemon juice, then marinated it in ginger, garlic, mirin, and soy sauce.

After dipping it in beaten egg and coating it in flour, he fried the pieces until golden.

As he worked, he couldn't help but reminisce about his time living alone.

Well, back then he hadn't cooked in such large quantities, but now it felt like he was preparing a communal meal for a group.

"It looks delicious," Ignatius commented, suddenly speaking from behind him.

A hand reached out and grabbed a piece of fried chicken.

Without hesitation, Ignatius popped it into his mouth.

"Isn't it too hot?" Shen Xinghui asked, noticing the steam rising from the chicken.

"It's delicious."

"Really?" Shen Xinghui asked, his relief evident as a smile spread across his face.

If these simple home-cooked meals could make someone happy, he was more than willing to cook as much as needed.

"Is this potato dish too?"

Ignatius asked as he sampled the next dish, clearly enjoying it.

The only issue was that Shen Xinghui was starting to get the sense that Ignatius's casual snacking could easily turn into a full meal.

"No, no, you can't just eat it all. This is for tomorrow's meals," Shen Xinghui gently scolded.

"Ah, right. But it's really good." Ignatius grinned. "Xinghui, if you can't find a good job in the capital, how about becoming my cook?"

"Me, a cook?"

The job Ignatius had suggested sounded tempting.

Shen Xinghui wasn't one to seek luxury, and as long as he could eat, he was content.

Working for this kind, considerate person seemed better than struggling in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar job.

However, then again, it would feel like he was relying too much on this person's goodwill.

How far was he willing to depend on Ignatius's kindness?

If he didn't become independent and start earning his own living, he would be lost the moment Ignatius wasn't around.

"Well, I'll just keep it in mind as an option."

"You don't need to be so reserved. As Rank A Adventurer, managing my health is important, and most of the time, I live on the road. I could use someone to look after meals, but the problem is, I'm terrible at it. The people at the inns or taverns I frequent make food for me and send it along."

Ignatius chuckled bitterly, but Shen Xinghui gave a half-smile.

For someone whose job relied on his physical condition, not taking care of himself properly was a problem.

"Well, as long as I'm with you, I'll cook."

"Ah, that would be a great help."

Ignatius ruffled Shen Xinghui's hair affectionately.

Given their height difference, it was probably easy for him to do so.

After that, Shen Xinghui continued to cook, making various side dishes, rice balls, and sandwiches.

He let the food cool first before packing it into portable containers and stuffing them into his waist pouch.

By the time the inn started to getting busy in the evening, he was relieved to have everything prepared.

That evening, as Shen Xinghui was eating dinner at the inn, Mr. Bruno came over with a smile and presented him with a glass of alcohol.

Mr. Bruno had asked to taste the food Shen Xinghui had made, and upon trying it, he was impressed and even wrote down the recipe.

This was apparently his way of thanking him.

"With this, Ignatius doesn't have to worry about meals anymore. I'm so relieved."

"Ah, I'm just as happy. It's reassuring to have such a talented cook."

"I'm not that great. The dishes I make are just simple home-cooked meals."

Shen Xinghui thought back to the recipes his grandmother had taught him.

She had always shared everything she knew and left him with the recipes.

Those were some of his few precious memories.

"Where did you learn how to cook all this?"

"My grandmother taught me. I helped her out when I was little, and that's when I got interested."

"Your... grandmother?"

Ignatius looked a little puzzled.

Could it be that in this world, it's uncommon to live with one's grandparents?

"Did you lose your parents?" Ignatius asked, his tone more serious.

"Huh? No, I think they're still alive. My parents divorced when I was little, and I was raised by my father. But he was a workaholic, and eventually, he neglected me. So, I ended up being raised by my paternal grandparents. They were kind, good people."

It was a story that didn't really matter to Shen Xinghui anymore.

His relationship with his parents was distant, and it had been that way for as long as he could remember.

In fact, he might even dislike being interfered with by them now.

After all, his grandparents had been so kind to him.

However, Ignatius's eyes grew softer with concern, and even Mr. Bruno seemed to share that sentiment.

Shen Xinghui who is not fond of overly sentimental conversations, laughed heartily to break the mood.

"Don't worry about it. Since things have always been this way, I don't really feel any connection to my parents. Anyway, my family is my grandparents. They taught me how to cook, sew, do laundry, and clean. My grandfather worked, so he supported me and made sure I went to a good school. He even saved up some money for me. They're both gone now, but I was really happy growing up with them."