Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 739 - 738: Choosing a Store Location

"Oh, you seem to have a rather optimistic outlook," Chen Nuo observed, looking at Sun Wukong. He was laughing so cheerfully now, but soon he might cry just as deeply, "So tell me, does making this dish really not count as punishment for you?"

"It’s not a punishment," Sun Wukong confidently replied.

"Seeing how certain you are, it seems like making this dish must be very easy for you," Chen Nuo said with a light smile. "Well, if that’s the case, why don’t you make two dishes then?"

"Master, I’m not bragging to you, but if you’re using cooking as a punishment, even if you ask me to make ten dishes, I still wouldn’t consider it a punishment," Sun Wukong said.

Then, as if something suddenly occurred to him, he asked, "Master, what is the dish you mentioned with mung bean sprouts and pork? Is it fried pork with bean sprouts?"

"This dish is called ’Silver-inlaid Sprouts,’" Chen Nuo said. "Originally, I thought having you make one plate of it would be enough, but since you’re eager to make ten dishes, I won’t stop you. Go ahead and make ten plates—that’s the real punishment. If you make even one less, it doesn’t count."

Sun Wukong was still unsure about the dish, but he knew one thing for certain: he was going to make it. So he thumped his chest, "Master, rest assured, this dish, I guarantee I can make it for you."

"Alright, with your word, it’s settled," Chen Nuo smiled.

Sun Wukong, looking at Chen Nuo’s expression and recalling their previous conversation, belatedly sensed something amiss.

His master had never explained how exactly to make the dish; it surely wasn’t as simple as stir-fried pork with bean sprouts. Otherwise, his master wouldn’t use it as a form of punishment. Could it be that the dish was difficult to make?

Then Sun Wukong dismissed the thought; it was just a dish after all. No matter how complicated, it could not be considered troublesome for him.

"So, Master, how is this dish actually made?" Sun Wukong asked.

"Now my disciple is going to make amends for all the wrongdoings he’s committed," he continued. "Since the master says that cooking counts as punishment, the disciple accepts it. I will go and cook now, but please, Master, teach me how to prepare this dish."

Chen Nuo nodded and smiled, "I was thinking of letting you rest and gather your energy for a while, but since you want to start now, I won’t delay any longer. Follow me to the kitchen, and I will teach you how to make it."

Sun Wukong then hurriedly followed Chen Nuo to the kitchen, eager to show his loyalty in front of Chen Nuo and to make up for his recent defiance.

Now that the master had taken on another disciple, he had to perform exceptionally well in front of the master; otherwise, if the master shifted his attention, it would truly be too late for him to compete for favor.

Chen Nuo took a bag of bean sprouts and a piece of pork from the storeroom, placed it on the cutting board, and began to describe the method for making Silver-inlaid Sprouts.

"Mince the pork, season with cooking wine to remove the gamey taste, salt to enhance the flavor. Trim the ends of the bean sprouts, leaving only the middle stem. Then, use copper wire to poke out the sprouts’ insides and stuff the minced pork inside little by little. Be careful not to break the sprouts. After preparing a plate’s worth of bean sprouts, cook them in broth or stir-fry them if you prefer."

Pointing at the two ingredients on the table, Chen Nuo instructed Sun Wukong, "A proper plate shouldn’t have less than two hundred sprouts. Since you intend to make ten dishes, that will be more than two thousand sprouts, remember not to break them, and the minced pork must fill them up."

As soon as Sun Wukong heard about stuffing the minced pork, he was stunned. He truly hadn’t anticipated that a single dish could be this complicated.

He now understood what his master meant by punishment and the warning against being hasty; his master’s words had indeed not been wrong—this was definitely a punishment.

"Master, I—I take back what I said. I’ll make one plate, just one plate, okay?"

Sun Wukong finally realized just how troublesome it was to make this dish and finally understood Chen Nuo’s good intentions, but to make ten plates of Silver-inlaid Sprouts, that would truly be an impossible task, even if one tried until the end of time.

Chen Nuo glanced at him indifferently, "I remember I told you before that making this is not a simple matter. I even asked you twice, what did you tell me?"

Sun Wukong hung his head, never having imagined that making Silver-inlaid Sprouts would be so troublesome. Initially, he thought it was just about stir-frying a dish, yet who would have thought that stir-frying could be such a hassle? It really wasn’t an easy task.

"You shouldn’t need me to show you the exact method; you do it yourself." Chen Nuo tilted his chin toward the chopping board, then left the kitchen.

Sun Wukong in the kitchen wanted to cry but had no tears; however, he had done wrong and had even boasted arrogantly, so he really couldn’t just say he wouldn’t do it anymore.

The fact was Sun Wukong had erred, and additionally, Silver-inlaid Sprouts was indeed a very troublesome dish to prepare, but the more troublesome the dish, the more effort was required.

It was likely that if this dish were made successfully, Sun Wukong’s culinary skills would surely improve. So although it was troublesome, making Silver-inlaid Sprouts was actually a backhanded compliment for Sun Wukong.

Chen Nuo, in fact, had already found a suitable location to open a restaurant before, a place with distinct seasons and vast space, exactly what Chen Nuo desired. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The place Chen Nuo was heading to was Mount Taihang.

Mount Taihang, no matter where, was just right for Chen Nuo; the distinctness of the seasons alone was enough to drive him to set up shop there.

Although he had been introduced to the Mountain God by Jin Zha before, they were still not very well acquainted.

This time, Chen Nuo brought several jars of Peach Blossom Wine to Mount Taihang, determined to clearly explain his plans to the Mountain God.

Upon arriving at Mount Taihang, it was winter at the time, with the snow falling thick and fast, covering the entire mountaintop in white. He went to the cave where Jin Zha had previously taken him, and the Mountain God was still asleep inside.

Since it was winter, all things were in order, preparing for the coming year. With fewer human activities, the Mountain God had much less to be busy with too, spending his days sleeping.

Arriving at the cave, Chen Nuo, out of politeness, did not directly enter but instead lifted the lid from the Peach Blossom Wine he was holding.

As soon as the lid was lifted, the scent of peach blossoms mixed with rich wine fragrance instantly spread across the mountaintop.

The Mountain God, who was in the midst of sleep, suddenly smelled this aroma and jolted awake. He followed the scent outside and saw Chen Nuo, who was waiting outside the cave.

"Chen, what brings you here?" the Mountain God asked, full of surprise, yet his eyes were fixed on the wine beside Chen Nuo without moving.

"I’ve come to ask a favor of you, this Peach Blossom Wine is just a small token of respect," said Chen Nuo with a smile.

The Mountain God swallowed hard, nearly losing his reason to the aroma of the wine but still remembered to inquire, "What favor? If I am able to help, I certainly will."

"No rush, I didn’t just bring wine, I also brought some fine dishes. It’s cold now, why not warm up with a couple of drinks first? As for the matter at hand, we can discuss it later, how about that?" Chen Nuo asked with a smile.

Both were no longer mortals and thus had no need to warm up, but neither pointed this out. Chen Nuo had a reason for seeking the Mountain God, deliberately using an excuse, while the Mountain God, for the sake of the wine, purposefully did not expose it.