19 Cooking

Song Jia felt full when she finished the instant noodles. She stood up and took out a can of soda in the refrigerator, opened it and took a sip.

"You know that's not healthy for you.." Crystal reminded her.

"Mn.. Still good though.." Song Jia shrugged.

"Maybe. But it won't benefit your cultivation." Crystal looked at the can in disdain.

Song Jia threw her head back. "What can I do? This tastes better than what's outside.."

"Why not cook your own food or make your own drink? Using ingredients that won't be bad for your body.." Crystal held the packet of the instant noodles between her fingers and kept shaking her head in disapproval.

"And how should I do that? This world is way too backwards. Apart from the use of spiritual energy that is.." She took another sip of the soda and burped.

"That's so unladylike!" Crystal puffed her cheeks and placed her fists on her hips.

"Who cares.. It's only us here.." Song Jia rolled her eyes.

"You've become strange since the merge.." Crystal narrowed her eyes on her.

"Strange.. Tss.. you're the strange one.."

She grabbed the packet of the noodles from Crystal and turned it over, reading the ingredients on its back.

Then she rummaged through the pantry and took out some items, placing it all on the kitchen island.

"Are you going to cook again?" Crystal raised an eyebrow, staring at Song Jia's abdomen and wondered where the food went.

"Yup!"

"..."

She grabbed the bottle of lye water and mixed it with warm water. She then added it to the flour, mixing and squishing the dough into a ball. She then placed it on a bowl and covered it with a damp towel so the dough does not dry out. She then looked at the clock and made a mental note to leave it be for half an hour.

"Are you making bread?" Crystal became curious now.

"Nope. You'll see.. Hehe.. I wonder if I can sell this outside.." Song Jia thought about it as she waited. Although she's the granddaughter of a General, from her past life, she liked the feeling of being able to carry one's own money.

Of course, it doesn't hurt to have more money.

After half an hour, she took out the dough from the bowl and started kneading it for 3 minutes. She flattened the dough and fed it through the pasta machine. Lucky for her, the kitchen had all the equipment she needed. It saved her time and effort, otherwise, she would have done it manually like those expert chefs. It looked like her culinary training paid off. It was only supposed to be for her disguise when she was out on a mission as Luna. But her cooking got better after that. It was even better than that of a restaurant.

She cut the dough into strands with the machine. She brought a large part of water to boil then added the noodles, cooking for a minute once it boiled. After a minute has passed, she then drained and rinsed the noodles under cold water.

She sliced some mushrooms, minced some garlic, grated some ginger, and rinsed some spinach.

She took out a wok and placed it on the stove, setting on medium heat. She then added the oil, garlic and ginger for about a minute, added the mushrooms and sauteed for another minute.

"I wonder if they had their own chef back then.." Song Jia commented as she poured some vegetable broth from a carton to the pot and also a cup of water. Once it started boiling, she added the noodles and spinach until it wilted. Turning the heat down to low, she cracked a few eggs into the broth until the whites were cooked and the yolk was still runny.

By the time she transferred the soup into bowls and topped it with hot sauce and sliced green onions, Crystal was already drooling.

"Do you want some?" She smiled at Crystal, amused at her reaction.

"Yes please!" She accepted without hesitation and started slurping on the food. "See! I told you it'll taste better!"

"Hmmm.. It'll need more effort and time if I do sell it.. Still, this is a good start..next time, I can even add some meat.."

The more she thought of selling it, the more she found other issues. Such as manpower, building and capital.

She sighed. "I guess I have to earn more money first.. Before I start my own business.."

She needed to earn money using her own skills and without needing manpower or money.

'Hmm… what else could be turned into profit..'

She kept thinking, looking around her to find an idea.

"Ah! I got it.. I could refine some pills and elixirs!" The more she thought about it, the more she thought it was plausible.

"Hmm.. Anyway, I'll think about it more. I gotta go for now.."

She left the Spirit Artifact and went back to her room. She then went to Lu Ping's room and saw her brushing her hair.

"Miss Jia! What can I do for you?" She bowed to her.

"Could you lie on the bed for me please?"

Lu Ping stared dumbfoundedly at her.

"Miss?!" She wondered if her mistress took her disguise so seriously that she even convinced herself.

"Hurry up.. I'll do acupuncture on you then I'll go back to my room.."

"Acu-what?" Lu Ping hasn't heard of the term before.

"I'll do a medical procedure on you using needles. It'll help you with cultivation.."

She was shell-shocked when she heard her mistress's words.

'Since when did Miss Jia know how to do medical procedures? Doesn't she only like to read novels?'

She didn't have a clear idea of what's going on. However, since she had taken an oath to be loyal to her, she submitted herself to Song Jia.

She went to her bed and laid down.

"Just relax.."

Lu Ping nodded, closing her eyes. She didn't want to see what she'd do.

However, the excruciating pain that she was expecting was barely there. There was a slight discomfort but it was not too painful that she would howl because of it.

After Song Jia finished the procedure, she withdrew the needles. "Get some sleep now.."

Lu Ping felt lighter and her senses were sharper. 'Did it work then?'

"Thank you, Miss Jia." She kowtowed to her.

Song Jia waved her hand. "Yah.. yah.. This little is nothing.. Alright. I'll see you tomorrow.."

She left Lu Ping's room and went back to hers. She then went back to the Spirit Artifact and had a shower.

Humming a tune as she lathered body wash on the bath sponge, she was delighted to have this space only for her. She didn't have to wait for someone to prepare her bath. She could also use her hygiene products freely here. And most of all, she could sleep on a soft bed and pillow and cover herself with a warm blanket. She fell asleep almost immediately. The bed outside was barely used.

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