Chapter 32 — The System Shop's Kitchen

Lin Fan stood in the center of the newly shifted kitchen, the quiet hum of spatial magic still lingering in the air. Hovering directly before him was the translucent, golden interface of the System, displaying a newly unlocked tab labeled [System Shop: Kitchen Equipment Division]. With a quick tap of his index finger, he opened the directory. The interface expanded into an impressive grid of glowing icons, presenting an array of specialized culinary tools designed for high-volume commercial cooking.

He scrolled through the catalog, taking in the details of every piece: heavy cast-iron woks forged with extra-thick heat-retention bases, massive dual-handled soup pots, multi-tiered stainless steel and bamboo steamers, thick mahogany cutting boards, polished marble rolling boards, mechanical dough mixers with gear-driven cranks, heavily insulated brick and iron baking ovens, dedicated skewer racks, heavy granite mortars and pestles, fine-gear spice grinders, airtight steel food storage containers, polished wooden serving trays, high-capacity spirit-stone rice cookers, and heavy brass noodle presses.

Lin Fan let out a quiet breath of genuine relief. After dealing with celestial teapots capable of withstanding divine lightning and dining chairs forged from spirit wood, he had half-expected the System to sell him mythical artifacts like the 'Heaven-Slicing Cleaver' or the 'Nine-Abyssal Soul Wok.' Fortunately, the System explicitly clarified that these items were not divine treasures or magical weapons. They were simply ultra-high-quality professional equipment—built for incredible durability, perfect weight balance, and optimal thermal distribution. They were the exact kind of heavy-duty tools a master chef in a five-star commercial establishment would dream of owning, capable of enduring endless hours of rigorous daily use without warping, chipping, or wearing down.

Then, Lin Fan’s eyes drifted toward the numeric values listed beside each item, and his peaceful composure vanished. He staggered back a step, grabbing the marble prep table for balance as his jaw nearly hit the stone floor.

"Ten thousand points for an iron wok?!" he hissed under his breath, squinting closely at the numbers to ensure his eyes weren't deceiving him. "Eighteen thousand for a commercial steamer? Are these adjustment knobs forged from solid gold? This isn't a supply store, it's highway robbery!"

While the items weren't priced at impossible amounts, attempting to purchase the entire catalog in one go would utterly decimate his financial reserves. He took a deep breath, forcing his modern business instincts to take control, and opened his master ledger to review his total accumulated Hospitality Points.

Thanks to the recent surge in customer traffic—spurred by Xiao Yu’s flawless floor management, the welcoming warmth of his sisters, and the peaceful environment that had replaced Crimson’s former intimidation—his point balance had grown substantially. The steady stream of satisfied cultivators and local mortals paying their tabs had built a very healthy reserve in his shop account.

He certainly had enough capital to make a major investment, but blindly buying every single specialized tool without an established food menu was poor management.

"Phase one," Lin Fan muttered, rubbing his chin as he carefully selected specific items from the list. "We build a foundational food menu first. Get the essential core operational, generate consistent daily revenue, and then reinvest in the specialized equipment down the road."

He systematically selected the absolute necessities required for a basic culinary setup: a heavy cast-iron wok, a large stainless-steel cooking pot, a multi-tiered commercial steamer, a heavy iron baking oven, an expansive food preparation station, a granite spice grinder, a high-efficiency rice cooker, and several large storage containers.

He tapped the final confirmation prompt. A significant chunk of his hard-earned Hospitality Points vanished from his balance, but before he could mourn the cost, the air inside the kitchen vibrated with a warm, golden resonance.

Clang! Heavy thump!

In a bright burst of warm light, the chosen equipment materialized across the room with precision. The heavy cast-iron wok settled into its burner ring over the bronze hearth. The multi-tiered steamer anchored itself over the steam vent, its latches gleaming under the overhead lights. The heavy baking oven locked firmly into the far stone wall with a solid thud. Polished granite grinders, stainless steel pots, and airtight storage containers settled onto the smooth marble counters, instantly transforming the empty space into a fully functional commercial kitchen.

The room smelled crisp of fresh timber, cool granite, and polished metal, radiating the functional energy of a busy workplace ready for service. Lin Fan walked around the central island, running a hand over the smooth rim of the new wok and testing its rock-solid stability.

The System interface flashed green with a crisp chime:

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[System Alert: Kitchen Equipment Installed.]

Lin Fan looked around the room proudly, dusting off his hands with a satisfied grin. "Alright, equipment is locked and loaded. Now what do I actually cook?"

Ting!

The floating interface shimmered instantly, displaying a glowing parchment menu:

[Recommended Initial Menu: 12 Dishes]

Lin Fan leaned in closer to read the text. The System had provided a curated selection of familiar, comforting dishes designed to appeal to both hardworking mortals and weary cultivators:

1. Golden Egg Fried Rice

2. Savory Vegetable Fried Rice

3. Hand-Pulled Stir-Fried Noodles

4. Slow-Braised Pork Belly

5. Crispy Herb Roast Chicken

6. Hearty Wild Vegetable Soup

7. Rich Marrow Meat Soup

8. Fluffy Steamed Buns

9. Garlic Stir-Fried Greens

10. Steamed Meat & Vegetable Dumplings

11. Freshly Baked Hearth Bread

12. Sweet Honey Pastry Dessert

Just reading through the list made Lin Fan’s mouth water. It was a comforting, hearty menu, featuring dishes that could easily satisfy a quick lunch rush or a lingering evening dinner. The System even included basic culinary guides that adapted standard Earth recipes to utilize the natural energy of local grains and herbs native to the Azure Origin World.

However, the moment he stepped over to inspect the newly installed storage containers, reality hit him.

He lifted the heavy lid of the first container; it was completely empty. He pulled open the doors of the cold preservation units, only to find frosty mist and bare stone shelves. Aside from a few sacks of high-grade wheat flour Sect Master Lu had brought for pastries, there was virtually no food in the entire house.

"Right..." Lin Fan sighed, resting his hands on his hips. "You can have the most advanced kitchen in the realm, but without raw ingredients, you're just heating up empty air."

He could buy raw ingredients in bulk from the local merchants in the city's central market, but Lin Fan had already done the math. The market merchants, knowing fresh meat, poultry, and rare herbs were in high demand among cultivator households, charged absurdly inflated prices. Purchasing all his raw meats, fish, and spices from market traders would destroy his profit margins before he even served his first plate of fried rice. He needed a direct, reliable, and cost-effective supply line.

Deciding to consult his team, Lin Fan pushed open the double doors and called his staff into the kitchen.

Within moments, the room filled up. Sect Master Lu hurried in first, wiping flour-dusted hands on his apron and gaping in awe at the glistening woks and heavy baking ovens. Scartail and his Dishwasher Guild stepped in right behind him, scanning the heavy metal pots with gruff, approving nods. Finally, Crimson drifted into the room like a silent shadow, his ruby-red eyes taking in the upgraded facility with calm efficiency.

Lin Fan stood before them. "Team, our floor operations are running smoothly, and our kitchen facilities are fully upgraded. We're ready to expand into serving real food. However, we have a major logistical problem: we have no raw ingredients."

He paused, looking across the assembled group with a calculated gaze. "Buying meat, poultry, fish, and herbs from the city merchants will ruin our profits. So, I have one simple question for all of you... Who among you is the strongest?"

The moment the question left his lips, there was no hesitation whatsoever. Sect Master Lu, Scartail, and the former bandits instantly turned their heads in unison and stared straight at Crimson.

Crimson, who was standing quietly near the back wall with his arms folded neatly across his chest, blinked. He slowly looked to his left, then to his right, meeting the gaze of a dozen people staring intently at him. His stoic, usually unreadable expression twitched with a tiny, subtle flicker of confusion.

"Why are you all looking at me?" Crimson asked, his cold, smooth voice breaking the silence.

"Because you can flatten a mountain peak with a flick of your wrist, sir," Scartail muttered under his breath, quietly shuffling half a step back behind Iron Bear's massive frame.

Lin Fan smiled warmly, clapping his hands together. "Congratulations, Crimson. As of right now, you are officially appointed as our new Head of Supply Chain and Ingredient Procurement Manager."

Crimson tilted his head slightly, processing the corporate title. "Ingredient... Procurement Manager?"

"Precisely," Lin Fan said, pulling out a fresh parchment and quickly scribbling a list. "Your task is simple. You are heading into the surrounding mountain ranges and wild forests outside the city to source raw materials for our new menu."

He handed the parchment to him. Crimson took the paper, his red eyes scanning the lines with intense, analytical focus.

"Meat, wild game, poultry, mountain cattle, fresh river fish, aromatic herbs, wild garlic, peppercorns, and whatever edible, non-toxic spices you can find," Lin Fan instructed.

Crimson took the assignment with absolute, terrifying seriousness. He folded the paper neatly into his sleeve and looked up, his red eyes locking onto Lin Fan's. "How much volume is required?"

"Oh, nothing crazy," Lin Fan replied casually. "Just enough for a few days."

Crimson gave a single, sharp nod. "Understood. Direct procurement shall commence immediately."

Without another word, Crimson turned on his heel, his dark robes billowing around him as he strode purposefully out the rear door toward the outer wilderness beyond the city walls.

Sect Master Lu stared at the closing door, then looked at Lin Fan with a nervous bead of sweat on his cheek. "Shopkeeper... did you just unleash an ancient, peak-tier demon lord onto the mountain wildlife to hunt river fish and gather wild garlic?"

Lin Fan dusted off his hands with a satisfied grin, completely oblivious to the impending ecological catastrophe. "Hey, efficiency is efficiency, Lu. Now let me check these rice cookers."