45: Cooking skills? I'm pretty good at it...

The next morning, at 8:15, Chen Fang had already arrived at the village chief's courtyard.

The village chief's courtyard was very large, with bluestone slabs on the ground, suggesting that gatherings were often held there.

On the table at the main entrance were fresh ingredients: vegetables just picked from the fields, fish and shrimp caught from the stream, and even crayfish brought by the production team.

Beside the long table, a little girl, just over a meter tall, was helping to arrange the ingredients on the table.

Just as Chen Fang was about to go take a look, a familiar figure walked out of the fire pit house next to him. It was Uncle Liu, his accompanying villager.

Chen Fang greeted him, "Uncle Liu, good morning. Why are the ingredients placed outside the door?"

Uncle Liu walked over with a smile, "Teacher Chen, good morning. The director said that the ingredients are placed outside because the village chief's kitchen has limited space. Putting them outside makes enough room for filming and also helps set the atmosphere at the beginning."

Chen Fang nodded, then looked at the little girl helping to wipe stools not far away. "Dr. Liu, who is that child?"

"She's my neighbor's child, named Zhenzhen. Her parents work out of town. I asked the director if we should add a child to eat with us. The director agreed. Don't let her age fool you; she's very sensible and even helps her grandmother cook at home. She felt awkward doing nothing, so she helped with some chores."

"Okay, then you go ahead and be busy. I'll go find the director first."

"Go quickly." Uncle Liu hurried away.

Chen Fang found the director, and following the director's instructions, walked to the osmanthus tree in the corner. There was a wooden table here, with four wicker chairs beside it. He pulled out the leftmost one and sat down.

Just a minute after he sat down, Zhao Jin also walked in and sat on the chair next to him. She rested her hands on the edge of the wicker chair and poked his arm. "Chen Fang."

"What do you want?" Chen Fang glanced at her.

After they got familiar, she didn't even call him 'brother' when she needed something.

And she was quite bold; daring to touch him before the cameras were even rolling? He really didn't know what to say about her.

Zhao Jin continued to ask with a smile, "Can you cook?"

The four of them would not only be making Xiangxi specialty dishes with the villagers later but also six non-Xiangxi dishes to entertain the villagers.

She pondered for a moment; Chen Fang was probably the most likely to know how to cook. Perhaps he was her big leg for today!

"I'm alright."

Zhao Jin grabbed the armrests of the wicker chair with both hands, raised an eyebrow, and the corners of her mouth turned slightly upward. "I knew it! What's your specific skill level?"

Zhao Jin looked at Chen Fang expectantly, only to see him tilt his head slightly. "I'm good at burning a..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jin's eyes lit up.

Sure enough! He really knew a lot... Before she could finish her thought, she heard Chen Fang utter three words—"good kitchen."

Zhao Jin blinked.

Good at burning a... good kitchen?!

Huh?

She thought he was a king, but he turned out to be a bronze.

"Hmph."

Zhao Jin snorted and folded her arms, facing the table.

Chen Fang raised an eyebrow, "Aren't you being a bit much, big sis? I've traded so much food with you, is this attitude appropriate? 'Hmph'? What can you cook?"

"At least I don't burn down kitchens."

"Like what?"

Zhao Jin fiddled with her fingers, her gaze wandering, "Boiled fish with chili oil, braised pork... when I'm on my game, they're perfect in color, aroma, and taste!"

Chen Fang heard her voice go up half a pitch and understood. "Got it, normal performance means forfeiting color, aroma, and taste."

"..."

[Zhao Jin negative emotion value +166]

Chen Fang shook his head slightly.

Seriously, she asked me, and now she's upset with herself.

Chen Fang "kindly" comforted her, "It's okay, I believe you can definitely order good takeout."

[Zhao Jin negative emotion value +166]

Chen Fang continued to comfort her, "Honestly, I don't believe you don't know which places are good."

[Zhao Jin negative emotion value +66]

She sighed softly, "I don't know."

Chen Fang turned his head and saw her looking down, a little dejected.

He suddenly realized, she has to control her diet, right? How miserable.

"It's okay, if you want to eat something next time, you can call me."

Zhao Jin looked at him, her gaze a bit complex, "And then?"

Chen Fang smiled faintly, "I'll go eat it and tell you about its color, aroma, and taste."

[Zhao Jin negative emotion value +333!]

To stabilize their precarious friendship, Chen Fang quickly added, "My point is, that way you won't have to step on any landmines, right?"

"..."

Zhao Jin folded her arms and glared at him. In her mind, she mentally picked him up and slammed him hard onto the ground. Take care of yourself!

Chen Fang estimated there was still half an hour left. He opened his phone, wanting to check today's news, when a magnificent broadcast suddenly echoed in his mind.

[Xie Yunxuan negative emotion value +22]

[Xie Yunxuan negative emotion value +22]

...

Chen Fang looked towards the main entrance. Xie Yunxuan was walking over with a smile on his face.

Little Xie, this guy, really is always quietly doing good deeds.

He only consumes himself, never others, keeping the sadness to himself and giving smiles to others.

Darn it, why can't the production team arrange for the three of them to share a room!

Chen Fang smiled brightly, "Teacher Xie, good morning!"

[Xie Yunxuan negative emotion value +266!]

Xie Yunxuan sat on the fourth chair, furthest from Chen Fang, but the four chairs were arranged in a semicircle, so he could see him with just a glance. But his butt had already landed, and he couldn't change seats again.

Xie Yunxuan said with a professional fake smile, "Congratulations, Brother Chen. Yesterday, 'one meat and one vegetable' topped the weekly new song charts on all four major music websites."

"Oh? Really? I thought Sun Han's would be first."

Xie Yunxuan said with a forced smile, "His was first at the beginning, but you surpassed him during the morning rush hour, and he didn't catch up by night."

[Xie Yunxuan negative emotion value +66.]

Chen Fang sighed inwardly.

So clear? Did the points-obsessed guy stay up all night staring at the charts?

Always focusing energy on others, competing fiercely with them, doesn't he realize it actually hinders his own progress?

He really wanted to quote something from Yang Jiang to him: No matter what stage of life you reach, there are people below looking up at you, and people above looking down at you. You feel inferior when you look up, and smug when you look down. Only when you are level can you see your true self.

But forget it. What if he told him, and he had an epiphany? Where would he get negative emotion points then?

Let go of the urge to help, respect others' destinies. These things one must figure out for oneself.

So, Chen Fang simply added fuel to the fire, resting his hands on the chair armrests and sighing, "Our generation was still amazing. I remember my song also ranked first on the new song chart back then."

[Xie Yunxuan negative emotion value +166]

Chen Fang was even happier. Talking to Xie Yunxuan, this thoughtless and unhappy guy, was always a joy.

Xie Yunxuan was even more unhappy. (⊙︿⊙) Every time he saw Chen Fang, he recalled his repeated failures and the need to earnestly seek guidance with a scholar's spirit, which was truly uncomfortable.

Zhao Jin's gaze swayed between the two.

As an actress, she was good at observing others' expressions.

Chen Fang's smile was very sincere; he was indeed a sincere guy.

Xie Yunxuan was clearly putting on a brave face, like the kind of guy who would report a classmate for good grades without any real evidence.

Hmm, probably very unethical. Stay away from him.