Chapter 9: First Level, Fast and Steady

Among the many courtyards of the Forging Shop, the treatment in the middle courtyard is relatively average, but the chef Sun Pangzi is much more comfortable than the heads of other courtyards.

These days, those who can keep a fat body are not ordinary people.

Three years of drought will not starve the cook to death, this sentence is not just talk.

More than a hundred people can live comfortably by just passing them around, not to mention that Pangzi Sun has the support of the second shopkeeper Sun Ding?

When Pangzi Sun called Li Yuan into the kitchen with a big spoon, the apprentices who were doing odd jobs looked at him in unison, with envy and jealousy.

However, seeing that he was ordered around, cutting vegetables and swinging the spoon all morning, they couldn't help but feel a little gloating.

"It's not easy to be a cook!"

In front of the big stove, Li Yuan was sweating profusely and felt a little sour.

These three big pots were bigger than the ones I had seen in the countryside in my previous life, at weddings and funerals. It was more like swinging a shovel than a spoon.

First, he cut three big pots of radishes and cabbages, and then he had to keep stirring in front of the three big pots. Even though he had gained some strength these days, he felt his arms were sore.

"You have some perseverance."

Fatty Sun leaned against the door frame: "Pay attention to stir evenly. The one on the left doesn't matter. The other two have to be more careful. If they are burnt, hmm..."

Among the several courtyards of the forging shop, only his shop didn't have helpers. It's not that the shop didn't send them, but he didn't want anyone to share his little profit.

Apprentices, of course, are different.

After watching for a while, Fatty Sun actually had an idea in his mind. After a warning, he picked up a knife and walked towards the small stove. His skillful knife skills attracted Li Yuan's attention.

But with just a glance, Fatty Sun had already drawn the curtain.

"The small stove of shopkeeper Cao..."

Although he didn't see anything, he could smell the smell coming from there, and Li Yuan felt his stomach moving, and he felt a little jealous.

That small stove was the foundation of Sun Pangzi's career. It only provided for the three shopkeepers in the backyard and their families. The best chicken, duck, fish and meat were plenty every meal, and the aroma was fragrant.

"It's really clear that there are different levels, and there is no hiding at all..."

Walking around the three big pots, Li Yuan was sweating profusely and sighed in his heart.

Not to mention the shopkeepers' small stoves, the three big pots in front of him were not the same. The left one was almost boiled with pure water, which was the pot they were going to eat. There was almost no oil or water, but the salt taste was very strong.

"Huh!"

Shaking his sore arms, Li Yuan took a deep breath. While trying the Ape Six Breathing Method, he also used the White Ape Posture's power-generating method.

The small cloth curtain blocked him, and naturally blocked Sun Pangzi.

"Zhuanggong, hammer method, breathing method... In addition to the fighting methods that have not been seen yet, these three must have something that can be connected..."

The smoke from the stove was everywhere, but Li Yuan's eyes were bright.

He changed his weapons every two days. On the first day in the kitchen, he naturally used the 'Bone Chopping Knife'. But even if he didn't control the 'Practice Hammer', the experience of the mastery-level cloak hammer method was gone, but what he learned was still there.

While Fatty Sun was away, Li Yuan was absent and thought about how to master the Ape Six Breathing Method.

This was like slacking off at work in the previous life. Three pots of food were quickly cooked and served. Fatty Sun carried the food boxes to the backyard as usual.

The job of serving food naturally fell on Li Yuan.

"Brother Li, you actually entered the kitchen? This is a good job, right?"

"Hmph! With Fatty Sun's habit of licking his asshole and sucking his fingers, he'll never get a single bit of fat!"

"I want to eat some meat, ah..."

...

When the meal is served, it is the busiest time in the middle courtyard, with apprentices and helpers from all courtyards swarming in, making it very lively.

Li Yuan's hands are very steady, and he did not learn from the canteen aunt in his previous life.

If you are not allowed to eat enough boiled vegetables and steamed buns without any fat, that will cause trouble.

The kitchen helper is not easy, judging from the first half of the day, he is more tired than other apprentices, but after noon, Li Yuan has the most sumptuous meal since he came to this life.

Two steamed buns, a steamed bun, a large bowl of boiled vegetables with half a bowl of fat meat, and two eggs!

"Three elements for growth, and still lack of milk!"

In the small courtyard, Li Yuan felt his saliva overflowing.

In the past month, apart from the minced meat he bought and the eggs his second brother sent him from time to time, he really had no oily food to eat.

So much so that now seeing two pieces of fat meat, his saliva secretion accelerated.

Seeing him like this, Fatty Sun nodded with satisfaction:

"Eat it."

Li Yuan rolled up his sleeves and gobbled it up, and the steamed bread dipped in the broth became a little sweeter.

After eating such a bowl of fat meat that he was too lazy to look at in his previous life, Li Yuan even felt a little satisfied.

"Thank you, chef."

Feeling Fatty Sun's eyes, Li Yuan wiped his mouth.

When the granary is full, you know etiquette, and when you have enough food and clothing, you know honor and disgrace. When you are so hungry that you are skin and bones, all honor and disgrace seem as light as clouds.

"Yeah."

Fatty Sun paced with his hands behind his back, looking at Li Yuan with a squint. The latter stood up and lowered his head, knowing that after eating the dates, the rules would follow.

"You are not a helper assigned by the shop, so your monthly salary will naturally be based on your previous salary. You still have to do other work!"

Fatty Sun was very satisfied with Li Yuan's attitude. After knocking, his tone softened a lot:

"We dare not say anything else. The kitchen doesn't need your money. As long as you abide by the rules and work hard, we can support you in less than two months!"

"Thank you, chef!"

Li Yuan showed gratitude and was determined in his heart.

This is enough.

...

...

Huh~

After late autumn, the weather turned cold. One night, the north wind blew, and Gaoliu County was covered in white.

Winter was bleak, but Chaiyufang had reached its busiest time of the year.

Under the tents made of coarse cloth, Chaiyufang and even charcoal sellers from nearby towns were shouting loudly.

An endless stream of pedestrians gathered from various urban areas, coming and going.

Among the necessities of life, firewood is the most important. It is an indispensable item for every household, especially in winter. It is difficult to survive without enough firewood.

In previous years, every household had prepared firewood early before the arrival of winter, but this year's heavy snow came too early, so it was even more lively than in previous years.

Even people from the inner city came here to buy.

With the popularity, there are naturally more vendors, and many fishermen also brought their last catch of the year to sell here.

"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Li. I will deliver it to your shop tomorrow morning!"

"Go slowly, Brother Li!"

"Brother Li, I still have more than a dozen fresh 'banghua fish', do you want them?"

...

In the East Market of Chaiyufang, a group of vendors gathered around a young man in thick linen clothes.

The boy looked fifteen or sixteen years old. Although he was not strong, his body was not worse than his peers. Although his skin color was slightly darker, his eyes were very bright, giving people a sense of shrewdness and competence.

This is naturally Li Yuan.

"Thank you all for your help. Today's shopping stops here."

Li Yuan bought a batch of fish and charcoal, and left despite the enthusiasm of the vendors.

Since he accidentally revealed his mathematical skills, Sun Pangzi took him to the work of purchasing in the Central Court. This time, he let him come here to buy by himself.

"The goods of the Chai Gang and the Yu Gang are complete and large in quantity, but the prices are also high. Buying in the scattered market can save 10% or 20%. Unfortunately, this is Sun Pangzi's plate, and he will be chopped if he reaches out."

Putting the silver back into his arms, Li Yuan was very careful. In winter, the Chai Yufang is full of people, and thefts happen from time to time.

Touching the fist-sized hammer on his waist, Li Yuan felt a little relieved.

"Standing and holding the hammer, I can now maintain the Ape Six Breathing Method throughout the whole process. I should be able to enter the door in these few days."

His root bone should be around average, but with the blessing of the mastery-level cloak hammer method, the progress of martial arts seems to be almost the same as that of the superior root bone. In more than a month, he has barely entered the door.

At this moment, under the thick linen clothes, his muscles and bones have become quite strong.

"Brother Li is here again?"

The street vendor saw Li Yuan and greeted him:

"We have some good goods here again. Do you see if Master Sun needs anything?"

Chaiyufang is big and small. There are only so many people buying from each store. Although Li Yuan does not come often, these stall owners recognize him.

"Master Sun asked me to buy food and charcoal. You..."

Li Yuan glanced at the stall. The stall owner sold a lot of things. There were spices, cured fish and cured meat. In addition, there were some odds and ends collected from unknown places.

"Oh? There are shoes?"

Li Yuan looked a little strange. It was a pair of black leather boots with two obvious holes on the instep.

Seeing the shoes, the stall owner looked unhappy: "Hey, this pair of broken shoes was picked up by Liu Laizi from the back street. He insisted on selling it to me. What's the matter?"

"The material is OK, but the hole is a little big."

Li Yuan flipped it casually, and a white light appeared in his eyes.

[Black Leather Liuhe Boots (First Level)]

[Boots made of six different kinds of leather, which can be barely called fine products because of the addition of 'Black Line Spirit Snake' leather...]

[Controlling requirements: complete limbs]

[Controlling effect: fast and agile (right)]

First-level shoes!

Li Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

In the past twenty days since he joined the kitchen, he has been out seven or eight times. He has walked almost all over Rongsheng District and Chaiyufang. He has found a large number of weapons that are not up to standard, but this is the first time he has seen up to standard.

"Alas."

The stall owner was indignant:

"The shoes are good shoes, but there is only one, and it is so broken. That bastard Liu Laizi insisted on selling it to me for one penny of silver. If you want it, take it for one penny of silver..."

I don't believe you!

Li Yuan shook his hand and threw the boots back to the stall.

These days, productivity is not high, and daily necessities are very valuable, but it is obviously impossible to sell a broken shoe for one penny of silver.

"One penny of silver, that's for others. If Brother Li wants it, then, take it for forty copper coins."

The stall owner looked distressed.

"If you say so, then keep it for yourself."

Li Yuan was a little tempted, but he still bargained:

"Look, Master Sun asked me to buy some spices. I was going to Rongsheng District to have a look, but I think the spices on your stall are okay..."

"Brother Li has a good eye. These are all top-grade spices!"

The stall owner was pleasantly surprised, and finally gave the broken shoe away as a gift.

Buzz!

In the dark space where the military talisman was located, on a small gray stone platform, there were weapons such as bone-cutting knives that were not of the first rank, and the broken boots also fell here.

"The first one is of the first rank!"

Looking up at the military talisman with only one star on it, Li Yuan had a headache again.

Thousands of pounds of pig iron, a hundred taels of silver, and one tael of gold, these are the conditions required for the military talisman to be promoted to the second rank. He dared not even think about it at the moment.

Poor!