Farming Games are All About Grinding

"Grilled fish?"

"Grilled fish!"

Unlike Ding, who sounded surprised, Tang Qingying's response was filled with anticipation.

Awesome!

Finally, she could eat Han Qiwu's grilled fish again!

"Alright, let me make a call." Guo Fugui's interest was piqued as well. "The kitchen over there has a self-cooking section. Perfect for us to go and learn a thing or two."

"Sure, sure!" Tang Qingying rolled up her sleeves dramatically and said with a grin, "Helper No.1, Tang Qingying, reporting for duty!"

Before long, the group arrived at the kitchen's self-cooking section. The head chef from earlier was already waiting, and on the countertop lay a partially filleted alligator gar.

"Brother Guo, is our chef's cooking not to your liking?" The manager standing next to the chef came over and asked.

Guo Fugui waved his hand dismissively, "No, no, nothing like that. My little brother here got inspired and wants to try cooking something himself. Just keep an eye on us, if you don't mind."

The chef heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing that. He'd encountered these self-cooking enthusiasts before. No matter how good a dish you make, they insist on eating their own version. With more people like this, the self-cooking section had naturally gained popularity.

Understanding this, the chef offered, "Want me to help debone the fish?"

"No need, I'll do it myself." Han Qiwu smiled, grabbing an apron and tying it around his waist. Next, he reached for the knife rack and began selecting a knife.

Off to the side, Ding chuckled, "Old Han, you sure about this? Don't end up leaving poisonous bits in there."

Hearing this, Tang Qingying instantly chimed in, "Ding, haven't you ever eaten with Han Qiwu before? His knife skills are top-notch."

"Knife skills?" Doubt was written all over Ding's small eyes.

The next second, he understood.

Han Qiwu picked out a long filleting knife, then ran his hands over the alligator gar's belly a few times.

Then, the blade danced!

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Under his precise control, pieces of cleanly filleted fish flew onto the nearby plate, not a single organ touched.

The seamless execution left the head chef stunned.

Where did this expert come from??

The manager stood frozen as well.

No wonder the guy insisted on cooking himself—he had some serious skills up his sleeve!

Standing at the side, Ding couldn't help but exclaim, "What the hell? Are we filming a movie here? Kitchen King Showdown?"

Tang Qingying, seeing everyone's shock, felt a flutter of pride. "This is just the start. Wait until you taste how good it is!"

After finishing the filleting, Han Qiwu expertly rinsed the pieces under running water, checking them once more. He turned to the chef with a smile, "Take a look. This should be fine, right?"

"No problem, no problem. Please continue." The chef waved his hands fervently; the filleting job was leagues better than what he could do.

Taking the fish back, Han Qiwu seasoned it lightly to marinate for a bit. While waiting, he prepped the ingredients needed for grilled fish—bean sprouts, tofu skins, lettuce, konjac, and more. He also whipped up a spicy base oil on the side.

Once marinated, the fish steaks were placed on the grill and cooked until crispy and golden brown. Then, they were transferred to a charcoal pot, covered with the spicy oil and a variety of ingredients, and simmered together until the add-ins were done.

The fragrance of the sizzling grilled fish, paired with the vegetables below, was so appetizing it made everyone's stomachs growl.

Han Qiwu took off his apron, lifted the scorching-hot tray with one hand, and turned with a smile, "Done! Let's head back and eat."

"Bro, doesn't your hand burn?" Ding curiously glanced at Han Qiwu's hand.

"Nah, got calluses. It's common for chefs. Let's go." Han Qiwu deliberately avoided walking past Tang Qingying and headed toward the private room.

Ding gave the chef an admiring glance before following behind Han Qiwu.

The chef muttered, "…Don't look at me. I can't do that. Who the hell picks up trays bare-handed."

Tang Qingying, already full of vim and vigor, eagerly tailed Han Qiwu. As they walked, she kept asking which dishes to start with. She hadn't eaten enough earlier—now she could finally indulge properly.

As for Guo Fugui, who was bringing up the rear, he couldn't hide his amazement if he tried.

This kid's a prodigy.

Why is Ding such a disaster in comparison?

Back in the private room, Han Qiwu placed the tray closer to Tang Qingying and said, "Alright, no need to wait for the others. Dig in before the drool puddles on the table."

"Mm-hmm! Brother Guo's family here, no worries." Tang Qingying nodded fervently, grabbed a piece of fish, and began eating eagerly.

Seeing Tang Qingying so eager to eat a dish he'd made, Han Qiwu couldn't help but smile, feeling a surge of satisfaction. He picked up a piece for himself and started tasting it.

The marinated alligator gar was tender yet firm, the texture dramatically improved. The grilling technique disrupted the natural fibers, giving it a unique bite. The spicy, fragrant seasoning amplified its flavor, transforming this fish steak into a top-tier masterpiece.

Not long after, Ding and Guo Fugui returned, noses twitching at the aroma. Without saying a word, they grabbed pieces of fish the moment they stepped inside.

"So good! This doesn't even taste like the same fish as those meatballs!" Tang Qingying exclaimed between bites, giving a big thumbs-up.

This—this was the kind of gourmet dish she'd been craving!

No matter how good anyone else's cooking was, it couldn't compare!

"Dude, your grilled fish is off the charts! Who taught you? I want to learn too!" Ding was starting to feel like he didn't know this old friend of his anymore.

What was the deal? Just two months of gardening...

And now he was a completely different person!

Han Qiwu just smiled without answering. He picked up some bean sprouts with his chopsticks and placed them into Tang Qingying's bowl. "Eat some veggies."

"That's not even veggies," Tang Qingying pouted, but obediently ate the bean sprouts anyway.

Ding and Guo Fugui exchanged a helpless glance at this sight and resigned themselves to eating the grilled fish Han Qiwu had just served up. Or was it dog food?

An hour later, everyone was stuffed to their limit.

Tang Qingying sneaked a hand to her little belly, thinking she'd need to exercise when she got home. This meal had been too satisfying. Little did she know, Han Qiwu saw the gesture.

With a grin, Han Qiwu pulled out his phone and sent her a message on WeChat, "Later, I'll teach you a set of fitness exercises. Follow it, and you'll definitely keep in shape."

"No way! I'm fine being chubby. Chubby is cute!" Tang Qingying replied with a playful "bleh" emoji.

Han Qiwu responded, "Chubby is indeed cute, but being chubby might lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or high blood sugar. If that happens, you won't be able to eat a lot of delicious food. And you might even develop fatty liver or gout. That means no more seafood—lobster, abalone, tuna, etc., all gone."

"Where's the workout plan? Send it NOW!!!" Tang Qingying repeated this sentence three times in a row.

All for Han Qiwu's cooking!

Let's do this!