sinovels Chapter 9 It's actually edible!
Chapter 9 It's actually edible!
In the days following the meeting, Chen Mo's life quietly began to change.
At 7:30 in the morning, Chen Mo opened his eyes on time.
He picked up his phone from the bedside table and glanced at it; there were still ten minutes until the alarm went off.
This is the third consecutive day that he has woken up naturally before his alarm clock.
[Task completion progress: 3/5]
The system interface unfolded before him, reminding him of the progress of his "bravely get rid of your phone" mission.
Chen Mo sat up and stretched.
The sunlight outside the window was perfect, streaming through the gaps in the curtains and onto the floor.
He recalled the meeting the day before yesterday, and Minister Huang's last words, and a sense of anticipation inexplicably rose in his heart.
While washing up, Chen Mo deliberately stood in front of the mirror for a while longer.
As my attributes improved, I seemed to have changed in the mirror.
Her skin was fairer than before, her dark circles were much lighter, and her eyes looked less tired and lost.
"Appearance rating: 69.5..."
Chen Mo stroked his chin and chuckled, "Just 0.5 points away from 70. I wonder what 70 will be like?"
Get ready and head out.
Chen Mo didn't rush to catch the subway as usual, but slowed down to appreciate the city he had lived in for many years but rarely observed carefully.
Steam rises from the breakfast stalls on the street corner, elderly people exercise slowly practicing Tai Chi, and a few sparrows chirp in the roadside trees.
So this is what the world looks like in the morning.
As Chen Mo entered the company building, he noticed several colleagues chatting at the elevator entrance.
Seeing him approach, one of them greeted him with a smile, "Chen Mo, good morning!"
"Good morning," Chen Mo replied, somewhat surprised.
That person was Li Ping, the tester from Group Two. The two didn't usually communicate much.
But since the meeting, the attitude of the people in Group Two towards him has clearly changed.
In the elevator, another colleague struck up a conversation: "Chen Mo, I read the API documentation from yesterday. It was very clear. Thanks."
"Of course," Chen Mo replied simply.
The elevator doors opened, and everyone headed to their respective workstations.
As soon as Chen Mo sat down, Wang Qing came over, holding a box of cookies.
"Try it, I baked it myself." She placed the cookies on Chen Mo's table.
"Thanks."
Chen Mo didn't stand on ceremony, picked up a piece, took a bite, and smiled, "Hmm, it tastes good."
"That's right."
Wang Qing raised her chin smugly, then lowered her voice and said, "Manager Li took the day off today, saying there were family matters to attend to."
Chen Mo paused, nodded, and said nothing.
He knew that Supervisor Li's leave was mostly related to the last meeting, but since Minister Huang had already dealt with it, he didn't want to dwell on it anymore.
"Oh, right."
Wang Qing continued, "Have you noticed that fewer people are asking you for help these days?"
"Found it."
Chen Mo smiled and said, "That's good too. At least I can finally leave work on time every day."
"You earned that yourself."
Wang Qing said earnestly, "Everyone knows now that you're not the kind of person who can just turn down any job."
"That's for the best."
Chen Mo turned on his computer and began his workday.
At 10 a.m., Chen Mo had just finished writing a piece of code when his phone vibrated. It was a message from Zhong Yi.
Zhongyi: I've chosen a place to eat this weekend. It's a Sichuan restaurant, and I heard their boiled fish is especially delicious.
Zhongyi: [I've sent you the address. Is Saturday evening at 6:30 okay?]
Chen Mo opened the location she sent him; it wasn't far from his home, about a 20-minute subway ride.
Chen Mo: [Okay, see you then.]
After sending the message, he suddenly realized that he hadn't looked forward to a weekend like this in a long time.
In the past, he would either work overtime on weekends or stay at home scrolling through his phone, and he would try to decline invitations from friends whenever possible.
But now, he's actually starting to look forward to a dinner party with strangers.
……
At 5:30 p.m., Chen Mo turned off his computer on time.
"get off work?"
Wang Qing peeked out from the opposite workstation and said, "So punctual today?"
"The mission is complete."
Chen Mo packed his things, stood up, and asked, "Aren't you leaving?"
"I have to wait a bit longer; I haven't finished writing one test case yet."
Wang Qing sighed and said, "I envy you being able to leave work on time."
"Go ahead and slack off at work, see you tomorrow."
After saying that, Chen Mo picked up his backpack and walked out of the office.
Instead of going straight home, he went into a small supermarket near his company.
Since acquiring the cooking (beginner) skill, he has found himself developing a special interest in ingredients.
The system's reward wasn't just about stuffing recipes into his head; it was more like unlocking his sensory abilities regarding cooking.
Walking through the vegetable section of the supermarket, Chen Mo's eyes swept over the various ingredients on the shelves.
His brain would automatically conjure up the combinations of these ingredients, the key points of cooking, and even predict the texture and taste after cooking.
"Tomatoes, eggs, green peppers, potatoes..."
As Chen Mo made his selections, he thought to himself, "Tonight I'll make scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and some shredded potatoes with green peppers. Something simple, I'll give it a try."
When I checked out, the cashier was a young girl.
She looked at the groceries in Chen Mo's shopping basket and smiled in surprise, saying, "Handsome, you cook for yourself?"
"Okay, I'll give it a try." Chen Mo nodded.
"There aren't many guys who can cook these days."
As the girl scanned the QR code, she said, "Your girlfriend must be very happy."
Chen Mo paused for a moment, then laughed and said, "I don't have a girlfriend yet, so I'm making this for myself."
"That's even rarer."
The girl handed him the bag and smiled, "Take care, and welcome back next time."
As Chen Mo walked out of the supermarket carrying shopping bags, he suddenly felt that this kind of life wasn't so bad after all.
Buying groceries and cooking for yourself is simple, but it gives you a real sense of control.
Back home, Chen Mo put on an apron.
I just bought this yesterday. It's light blue and has the word "Chef" printed on it in big letters.
Although it looks a bit cringey, he likes it.
Based on what he knew, he first prepared the ingredients: cut the tomatoes into chunks, beat the eggs with a little salt, and shred the green peppers and potatoes and soak them in water.
Heat the pan, pour in the oil, then add the beaten eggs...
Although my movements are still a bit rusty, I know exactly what I'm doing.
"The eggs should be scrambled until tender, and the oil temperature should not be too high."
"Tomatoes taste better when they are cooked until they release their juices."
"Soaking shredded potatoes in water removes excess starch, making them crispier when stir-fried."
This knowledge seemed to have always existed in his memory; it was just being activated now.
Twenty minutes later, two dishes were served.
The scrambled eggs with tomatoes are brightly colored, the eggs are tender and smooth, and the tomatoes have a perfect balance of sweet and sour.
Although the knife skills for the shredded green peppers and potatoes were average, the texture was crisp and the saltiness was just right.
Chen Mo ladled out a bowl of rice and sat down at the dining table.
He first picked up a piece of shredded potato with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. After chewing it a few times, his eyes lit up.
"It's actually edible!"
……