Chapter 50: Chapter 50: The Fire Under the Stove, Worldly Folk

Late at night, the Fire and Smoke Kitchen maintained a constant brightness, as bright as daytime.

Chen Xu did not rush to cultivate this time, but instead opened his Gourmet Recipes page and chose to spend 80 Fireworks Value to unlock the recipe for the Five-Red Blood Nourishing Soup.

Speaking of which, the spiritual materials in his Fire and Smoke Kitchen have accumulated quite a bit by now, but Chen Xu hasn’t utilized all of them.

This is mainly because his Fireworks Value has always been insufficient, requiring careful selection under limited conditions.

The main material for the Five-Red Blood Nourishing Soup is the Blood Agar obtained from killing Lin Qi’s avatar, which primarily enhances Qi Blood.

Chen Xu is not lacking in Attribute Points or Qi Blood, and making the Five-Red Blood Nourishing Soup now serves another purpose.

He unlocked the recipe, washed the pot, and started a fire.

The Fire Control Skill moved as his mind willed, instantly triggering the energy of the firewood under the stove, producing a sizzling sound as moisture was drawn dry from the pot.

Chen Xu added a large amount of Jade Dew Spring Water, making the fire rapidly boil the water, then added various ingredients in sequence, and switched from Martial Fire to Soft Fire.

Throughout the process, he maintained a fine control over the flames—

He controlled the firewood under the stove, not his own Heart Fire.

Interestingly, controlling external firewood, supposedly “external fire,” should theoretically be simpler than his Heart Fire, which consumes his own Essence Qi.

After all, it doesn’t excessively consume his own energy.

But during practice, Chen Xu found controlling “external fire” to be harder than “Heart Fire.”

Chen Xu made a decision and immediately consumed 300 Fireworks Value, unlocking Fire Control Level 2.

[Fire Control Level 2 (1/1000)]

In an instant, various intricate and mysterious formulas exploded in his mind like sparks.

Chen Xu embraced the new formulas, feeling as though he opened a door to a completely new world.

Fire Control Level 1, internally observed Heart Fire.

Fire Control Level 2, burns and rises.

Like Chopping Wood Level 2, which has a Microscopic effect, Fire Control Level 2 also develops in a similar direction.

Summed up, it’s from inside to outside, from oneself to the world!

From being able to control oneself, to slightly being able to control things and Qi within ten meters around him.

Connecting oneself to the world, that’s Innate.

Chen Xu felt enlightened, increasingly finding the rhythm of cultivation.

Yes, it seemed like he wasn’t cultivating, but he was indeed cultivating.

To enter Dao through food, how can one only engage in bitter cultivation and distance from the kitchen?

Not only does refining spiritual food bring progress in cultivating the Food God Technique Scroll, but it also enhances his Fire Control Skill, Wind Summoning Skill, and other techniques.

[Fire Control Level 2 (3/1000)]

[Fire Control Level 2 (5/1000)]

…

[Food God Cultivation Technique Scroll Level 1 (16/100)]

[19/100]

…

After twelve hours passed, Chen Xu not only made thirty bowls of Five-Red Blood Nourishing Soup, but also advanced his cultivation to [Meridian Passage Early Stage 2.9%].

During this time, he increased his Essence, Qi, and Spirit by three points each.

Thanks to the growth in Tri-Attributes, his cultivation progress was obvious.

Packing Attribute Points for cultivation feels more convenient and satisfying than consuming any elixirs.

After finishing cultivation, Chen Xu silently sensed the growth of a thread of Innate Qi within him, and couldn’t help but say to himself: Nice!

The only pity is that his Fireworks Value is now down to [173] points.

This time, Chen Xu didn’t exhaust all his Fireworks Value in one go; instead, he planned to save it. On one hand, it can be used for emergencies, and he also wants to accumulate enough Fireworks Value to unlock the Water Drawing Technique next time.

The next day, at dawn, mundane details are not described.

Chen Xu packed several practical items and food, hired a horse-drawn carriage, and set off on his journey back to the village in the early morning.

Qihe Village, Xiao Wan Village.

The Chen Family welcomed several esteemed guests early in the morning.

It turned out that Chen Mother, Mrs. Luo, had arranged a match for her eldest son Chen Ping with a family that had sent people today.

According to local customs, the first stage of matchmaking between two families involves the matchmaker messaging and hinting.

If the girl is interested in moving forward, the female elder will personally visit the boy’s family home.

This is the second stage of matchmaking: the female elder personally inspects the boy’s family situation, population, customs, and various conditions.

If everything is satisfactory, they can proceed to the third stage of discussion.

Matters such as betrothal gifts and dowries will be the focus of this stage’s discussions.

Of course, the betrothal gifts are undoubtedly more important than the dowries.

“Your family, just these few rooms?”

In the courtyard of the Chen Family, a middle-aged woman in an ochre-colored cotton blouse circled a few times, then turned her head with a slight glance at Chen Mother, Mrs. Luo.

This was the mother of the girl that Mrs. Luo had arranged for Chen Ping, known as Aunt Qiu in the surrounding villages.

Aunt Qiu was an elongated-faced woman with fair skin, despite being middle-aged she still appeared slender, indicating her looks must have been good when younger.

Indeed, Aunt Qiu was known as the fairest rose in the nearby villages when she was younger.

Her daughter, renowned for beauty, is said to be more lovely and virtuous than Aunt Qiu was in her youth.

Mrs. Luo couldn’t afford to be perfunctory in finding a match for her eldest son, looking for only the best conditions—

Of course, it didn’t start that way.

Initially, Mrs. Luo only sought good character, temperament, and a fair appearance in a girl.

But after multiple setbacks, with every arrangement encountering issues or conflicts, only to have the matchmaker introduce girls that were terrible or from families with significant defects.

Mrs. Luo couldn’t tolerate it anymore, so she told the matchmaker not to bring anyone unless they were the best.

Thus the matchmaker introduced the Qiu Family to Mrs. Luo.

The matchmaker explained: “The girl is filial; a few years ago when the family’s old lady fell ill, the Qiu girl couldn’t bear seeing her parents labor in the fields while also caring for the elder, so she requested to stay home for a few more years.

She took care of the old lady for five years, and upon the passing last year, observed mourning for another year. Doesn’t that hold her back?

Oh, had it not been for a few year’s delay, the Qiu Family wouldn’t settle for seeking a groom in the countryside.

With the girl’s talent, any prosperous city family would take her.

No need to talk about calling servants; she wouldn’t suffer the hardship of wind and sun, working in the mud.

Madam Chen, would you agree?”

Listening to the matchmaker’s implicit disdain for her own family, although satisfied with Qiu girl’s conditions, Mrs. Luo couldn’t help but feel displeased.

But the matchmaker turned the conversation, saying, “Certainly, your family has a scholar, and who knows when he’ll accomplish something.

If Qiu girl marries him, perhaps she will benefit from the scholar’s prestige someday.

After all, the Qiu Family noticed your eldest because of this, right?

Dear sister, don’t mind my bluntness; it’s all in the hope for children’s future, don’t you agree?”

Having both positive and negative aspects expressed, Mrs. Luo became a bit enthusiastic.

On this day, when the Qiu Family came for the inspection, Mrs. Luo warmly entertained.

Unexpectedly, the visitor avoided idle talk, and instead immediately remarked, “Just these few rooms in your house?”

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