Chapter 13: The Main Profession

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"Of course there's no more food. Brother Chen is exhausted and can hardly stand; he's about to collapse."

"That's right, over a hundred dishes—no one could handle that. Chen's health wasn't good to begin with. How could I forget? What a mistake. You stay here and don't let anyone in; I'll go send off the guests."

In the main hall, Xi Jiu stood on a chair and announced loudly, "Dear customers, we've run out of all our ingredients for today. Thank you all for your patronage, but please, it's time to head home."

Upon hearing this, the crowd packed into the hall became disgruntled.

"Are you kidding me? I finally squeezed in here, and now you tell me there's no food?"

"Yeah, I've been waiting for an hour, and now you just say there's nothing left?"

"I don't believe you. Bring out the master chef—I want to ask him myself if there's any food left."

"Yeah, bring out the master chef!"

"Bring him out!"

Xi Jiu looked at the customers, their voices united, with a grim expression. He sighed, gritted his teeth, and said, "I'll say it again: we're out of dishes, and the master chef is completely exhausted and has gone to rest. If you keep this up, are you trying to work him to death?"

...

An hour later.

"It's finally quiet. Damn, I'm exhausted," Xi Jiu said, collapsing onto the floor. "This can't go on. I need to raise prices and limit the number of guests, or I won't make it—and Chen definitely won't."

"Exactly. Chen's health is weak as it is. If we push him too hard, we'll be to blame," Hu Daniu chimed in.

"Where's Chen?" Xi Jiu asked.

"I just checked on him. He's really worn out and already gone to bed," Hu Daniu replied.

"Right," Xi Jiu nodded, his expression grave. "Old Hu, after tonight's commotion, there's no way we can keep Chen's status as a master chef a secret anymore. Our little place is too small to keep someone like him."

"No way at all. I bet people from big hotels will be lining up to recruit Chen first thing tomorrow. What, you really think your little restaurant can keep someone like him?" Hu Daniu laughed.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to. Just look—tonight's earnings are equivalent to a whole month's usual take. Prices went up fiftyfold and still so many people came. The profit is incredible," Xi Jiu sighed.

"Forget it. You can't keep Chen, and even if he wanted to stay, can you guarantee your restaurant's safety? I think the major establishments have already set their sights on him. Even if Chen is grateful to you and wants to stay, those powers will find ways to make him leave. They wouldn't dare offend a master chef, but shutting down your little place would be easy for them. Boss, know your limits."

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"Ah... it's hard to accept," Xi Jiu finally sighed deeply, resigned.

Chen Yun, lying in bed, was not asleep; instead, he stared at his attribute panel, deep in thought.

While cooking tonight, he had received several system notifications. But he was so busy, he hadn't had time to pay attention. Now, finally free, he could look at them.

"Player Chen Yun has cooked 128 dishes today, gaining 64 experience points."

"Player Chen Yun has gained 167 fame points today."

"Player Chen Yun has cooked 10 times, activating the 'Rookie Chef' title."

Rookie Chef Title: When cooking, there is a 1% chance to increase a dish's quality by one level.

"Player Chen Yun has cooked 100 times, activating the 'Novice Chef' title. This title cannot coexist with the Rookie Chef title."

Novice Chef Title: When cooking, there is a 2% chance to increase a dish's quality by one level.

"Player Chen Yun has cooked 10 times, Strength +1."

"Player Chen Yun has cooked 100 times, Strength +1."

"Player Chen Yun's Stir-fried Cucumber triggered the Novice Chef title effect. Quality increased by one level, now a Blue Consumable."

Stir-fried Cucumber: Blue Consumable. When used by players or cultivator-type NPCs, restores 50 HP, 50 MP, Constitution +2. When used by monsters, there is a chance to trigger evolution. Usable one time.

A blue consumable? Chen Yun was stunned, then smiled. With so many orders tonight, he had no idea which lucky guest had gotten that plate of stir-fried cucumber.

"The earlier parts make sense, but what does it mean that monsters have a chance to evolve after eating my food? Could a monster really evolve from eating my dish? That's ridiculous. And a 2% chance? That's way too low—it's pure luck," Chen Yun muttered as he looked at his attribute panel.

"Looks like every two dishes give one experience point. I'll need to cook 72 more to level up."

"Also, why did my fame increase so much? Were there really 167 people here today?"

"No, judging by the noise outside, there were far more than that. So... it must be that 167 people actually ate my food and were impressed enough for the system to award me fame points."

"If that's the case... damn it, how many dishes would I have to make to reach 100 million fame points? I'd have to cook until I drop!"

"And experience points—two dishes for one point. How many would I need to cook to reach level 100? No wonder it's a main quest—it's insanely hard."

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"No, I can't rely on cooking alone to level up. In games, the main way to level is by fighting monsters and doing quests. I need to see if that's possible in real life too."

With this thought, Chen Yun couldn't stay in bed any longer. He opened the door and went out to the courtyard. By the light there, he finally spotted an ant after quite a while, and stomped down on it.

"Player Chen Yun attacks the ant. Ant HP -1."

Chen Yun stared in disbelief as the ant crawled away from under his foot, leisurely making its way along. A thousand grasshoppers seemed to leap through his mind.

What the hell? Are you kidding me? I can't even kill an ant?

Looking at the stats above the ant's head, Chen Yun nearly coughed up blood.

Ant: Level 1 Monster. HP 9/10. Attack 0-2, Defense 0-2...

Damn it, my stats aren't even as good as a measly ant's. This system is a scam!

Furious, Chen Yun stomped on the ant nine more times, finally crushing the object of his frustration.

"Player Chen Yun has killed a Level 1 Ant, gained 1 experience point, obtained 1 copper coin, and received the equipment 'Ant Soldier's Sword.' The equipment has been automatically placed in your inventory."

Wait, equipment dropped? Chen Yun perked up, quickly checking his inventory for the Ant Soldier's Sword.

Ant Soldier's Sword: White-grade equipment. Attack 0-2. Class requirement: Main class must be a sword user. Level requirement: 1. Attribute requirement: Strength 1. Durability 10/10.

Seeing the sword's stats, Chen Yun was baffled. Everything else was clear, but what did "main class: sword user" mean? He'd wondered about the main class when looking at his attribute panel before, and seeing it again here made him ponder.

Main class... main class... Suddenly, Chen Yun's eyes lit up. Was the main class what the system meant by the combat professions in games? Warrior? Mage? Archer? Gunner?

"That must be it. In games, equipment always has class requirements—warriors use swords, mages use staffs, gunners use guns, and no one can use another class's weapon. So if I don't have a main class, I can't use this sword?" Thinking this, Chen Yun silently thought, "Take out Ant Soldier's Sword."

"Player Chen Yun's main class not activated. Main class is not sword user. Unable to equip Ant Soldier's Sword."

With a clatter, the sword fell from Chen Yun's hand to the ground.

Just as I thought!