Chapter 28: An Idea
Chapter 28: An Idea
The next day, Mo Shan rushed back, looking flustered.
When Mo Shan arrived at Xinglintang, he was disheveled and covered in dirt, with a bandage wrapped around his arm where a demonic beast had torn into it, the blood soaking through. It seemed the demon-hunting squad had just finished a battle and he had rushed back without even tending to his wounds.
Only after hearing that his wife's life was no longer in danger did Mo Shan finally breathe a sigh of relief. After examining Liuruhua's condition, Old Man Feng also treated Mo Shan's arm injury.
A few days later, Liuruahua was discharged and returned home to recuperate. Following Old Man Feng's instructions, she was to maintain a light diet, avoid exertion, and take the spirit pills regularly. Similarly, she was not to use her spiritual energy for a month.
Mo Shan and his son stayed at home for a few days, but Liuruahua soon sent them away. Mo Shan, as the captain of the demon-hunting squad, had to lead his team to hunt demons, and Mo Hua, as a disciple of the sect, had to return to his cultivation and studies. They couldn't afford to fall behind.
Fortunately, Liuruahua's daily life wasn't affected too much, as long as she didn't use her spiritual energy.
Mo Shan could only ask the neighboring aunties to help look after her, and he would visit whenever he could. Mo Hua, too, would return home during his breaks and ask for leave from his instructors.
Instructor Yan was understanding and didn't make things difficult for Mo Hua. He only reminded him not to neglect his cultivation and sect duties.
A month later, Liuruahua's health had improved significantly. Although she still had to remain at home and refrain from activities that required the use of spiritual energy, lest she be plagued by incessant coughing, there were no other adverse effects.
Mo Hua finally felt relieved, but he noticed that his mother didn't seem very happy. Although she still smiled, her spirits were noticeably lower than before, and she often sat alone, lost in thought.
Mo Hua was worried but couldn't quite understand why, so he turned to his father for answers.
Mo Shan sighed and explained, "Your mother's wishes are simple. All she wants is to save up some spirit stones for you, so you can cultivate well, grow up, and eventually marry and start a family... But now that she can't use her spiritual energy, she feels helpless and incapable of doing anything, let alone earn spirit stones."
"After being busy for most of her life, suddenly being unable to do anything and feeling like she can't help you must be difficult for her..."
Mo Hua felt a knot in his throat. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Is there anything else Mother wants to do?"
"Anything else?"
"Yes, something she's interested in. Like alchemy, talismans, or formations, perhaps?"
Mo Shan considered this for a moment. "She may not be particularly fond of those things, but she does enjoy cooking. And I'm not just saying this because she's your mother—her cooking is the best in the entire neighborhood, and for miles around."
Mo Shan sighed again. "When your mother and I pledged our lives to each other and became cultivation partners, I boasted that I would open a restaurant for her so she could focus on creating delicious meals. But look at us now, after all these years. She's endured so much hardship with me, and I haven't kept my promise..."
Mo Hua could see the self-reproach in his father's eyes, but he knew it wasn't his father's fault.
Mo Shan's cultivation and mastery of the Dao were exceptional among the local demon hunters. For so many years, he had fought valiantly against demonic beasts, returning home bloodied after each battle. Despite his efforts, their finances remained tight.
The root of their struggles lay in the challenging lives of low-level cultivators. Just making ends meet was exhausting.
"Don't worry, Father," Mo Hua assured him. "I'll definitely help Mother open a grand restaurant someday!"
Mo Shan knew his son was trying to comfort him, and he patted Mo Hua's head affectionately. "Good."
However, he couldn't shake the worry that his wife would remain saddened by her inability to use her spiritual energy. Even becoming a culinary master required the use of spiritual energy, and without it, she wouldn't be able to practice her craft even if they opened a restaurant.
Thinking of his wife's melancholy, Mo Shan felt a pang of sorrow. He patted Mo Hua's shoulder. "When you have time, talk to your mother. Sometimes, you can cheer her up better than I can. Don't let her dwell on these things too much."
"Okay," Mo Hua nodded.
From then on, whenever Mo Hua had free time, he would keep his mother company. Liuruahua's mood did seem to improve, but when she was alone, her expression would turn forlorn once more.
"If only Mother could use her spiritual energy," Mo Hua thought, knowing that this was unlikely.
Illness strikes like a falling mountain, but recovery is slow like pulling silk. Especially in this case, where the illness had built up over many years. The only solution was gradual recuperation, and a full recovery might not be possible in a short time.
There were surely heavenly treasures and elixirs in the cultivation world that could cure her, and Old Man Feng had mentioned a few. But for a family like theirs, finding these remedies was impossible, and even if they could, they couldn't afford them.
Mo Hua could only let the matter drop.
Half a month later, the hottest month of the year arrived, and the ground baked under the scorching sun. Following tradition, the Tongxian Gate began its summer break, which would last for over a month.
Mo Shan would also spend extended periods at home during this time, only venturing out occasionally when his team discovered valuable demonic beasts. He would then return with some spirit stones or the pelts and hides of the beasts.
On one occasion, Mo Shan returned home after a few days away with a large package. When Mo Hua unwrapped it, he found a large bundle of tendon meat and exclaimed in surprise, "Father, what is this?"
"This is wild mountain beef. It has little spiritual energy and isn't worth much, but compared to other demonic beasts, the meat isn't too bad, and the gamey flavor is not too strong."
"The demon-hunting squad hasn't had much luck recently. We only caught this wild mountain cow, but when we tried to sell the meat, no one wanted it because it was too tough and chewy. So, we divided it among ourselves and brought it home to eat." Mo Shan explained.
Mo Hua asked uncertainly, "Father, are you going to cook this meat?"
Mo Shan ruffled Mo Hua's hair affectionately. "What's wrong? Do you think your father can't cook it well enough?"
Mo Hua smiled but remained silent.
At noon, Mo Shan prepared the beef, spending a lot of time stewing it. He served it in a large, open white porcelain bowl.
"Taste it and see how it is!"
The white porcelain bowl was filled with reddish-brown beef.
Liuruahua looked at the beef and put down her chopsticks. She only used a spoon to sip the soup slowly.
Mo Hua, on the other hand, picked up a piece of beef, put it in his mouth, and chewed a few times. His teeth felt sore, but the meat stubbornly refused to yield.
Embarrassed, Mo Hua spit out the meat politely and also picked up a spoon to sip the soup. He then praised, "The soup is good!"
Mo Shan glared at him, annoyed. "The soup is good because your mother seasoned it well, of course."
Liuruahua smiled shyly and said, "I know you meant well, but cooking isn't easy, even with spiritual power to speed up the cooking process. There's a lot to consider, like when to use high heat and when to use low heat, as well as when to add which seasonings and how much to use. It's quite intricate..."
Mo Hua's ears perked up at this, and he suddenly asked, "Then, if we cook it long enough, can this beef be tenderized?"
"In theory, yes," Liuruahua replied. "But that would require a cultivator to continuously use their spiritual power to fuel the stove fire for a day and night..."
"A regular cultivator probably couldn't do it, and those who could probably wouldn't be interested in such a boring task," Mo Shan added.
"What about using an array?" Mo Hua's eyes lit up with an idea.
"An array..." Liuruahua thought for a moment before answering, "I'm not sure about that, but I heard from the head chef of a large restaurant that some of the bigger establishments hire artifact refiners to refine their stoves and then hire array masters to set up arrays. That way, they can use spirit stones to fuel the stoves for extended periods, cooking ingredients for a long time without consuming a cultivator's spiritual power. However, hiring an array master is very expensive. Even that particular restaurant couldn't afford to build such a stove."
"I see..."
Mo Hua fell into deep thought.
Mo Shan also picked up a piece of beef, chewed a few times, and then conceded, "It is rather tough." He then swallowed it and forcibly refined it with his spiritual power.
That evening, Mo Hua practiced arrays on the remnant stele while thinking about the restaurant's situation.
The next day, instead of staying home to practice arrays, Mo Hua ventured out into the sweltering heat and headed straight for North Street.
The weather was oppressive, and he was soon drenched in sweat. Despite the heat, there were still a few small stalls on the street, their owners enduring the scorching sun to peddle their wares, though their voices lacked their usual enthusiasm.
Mo Hua arrived at North Street and located the largest restaurant, the Fulu Restaurant. He asked the manager, "Is your young master's surname An, and is he called An Xiaofu?"
The manager didn't look down on Mo Hua because of his plain clothes. Instead, he guessed that Mo Hua might be a close acquaintance of the young master due to his familiar tone, and so he politely replied, "Young master, you are correct. The young master is currently upstairs. Would you like me to inform him of your visit?"
Mo Hua was equally polite and replied, "Please trouble the manager to inform him that a fellow clan member with the surname Mo has come to see him regarding a matter."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
