At that time, because my family was poor, I was sent to..." I was most willing to become an apprentice at a restaurant, and my master was the head chef there. To learn the culinary skills I longed for, I worked incredibly hard, trying to please everyone in the restaurant. Our restaurant, called Qixiang, was one of the most famous in the Qilu Empire. Seeing that I was quite diligent, my master began teaching me some basic cooking techniques. I wasn't particularly bright, but I was very hardworking. As they say, diligence can compensate for lack of talent, and through tireless effort, three years later, I finally rose from a handyman to a prep cook. One day, my master called me to a quiet place and told me that to master cooking, diligence alone wasn't enough; you also needed insight and to feel the essence of the food you were making.
Cooking wasn't a simple job. It was a profound art. He taught me eight words to accomplish: ten years of practicing cooking, ten years of understanding cooking. I still remember those eight words to this day. Through continuous effort and comprehension, at the age of twenty-three, my culinary skills finally reached mastery. However, my master passed away that year due to illness. I always kept his eight-word instruction firmly in mind. Therefore, I gave up the opportunity to inherit my master's position at the Qi Xiang Restaurant, resigned from all my posts, took my cleaver, and with my meager savings, embarked on my own journey. I wanted to travel all over Yangon, to learn the culinary arts of every country and every region."
As he said this, Chambers' eyes shone brightly, as if he had returned to his former glory. He sighed, "Ten years, another ten years—ten years that truly allowed me to grasp the essence of culinary art. During these ten years, I traveled to almost every famous restaurant, exchanging techniques with the head chefs of each establishment. Through my own reflection and understanding, I finally created my own unique skills. Later, because my culinary skills reached a level of unparalleled artistry, I was nicknamed the 'Ghost Chef.' In five consecutive Culinary God Competitions, I achieved a glorious five-time champion. My dishes became a symbol of the time, and the imperial palaces of five great empires extended olive branches to me, hoping I would serve as their chief chef. However, I always..." I always felt my culinary skills weren't refined enough, so I continued to explore, hoping to elevate them to a higher level. The feeling of progressing through constant exploration is wonderful, especially the sense of accomplishment I feel when I create a truly exceptional dish—it's incomparable. I've dedicated my life to cooking, and even at forty-seven, I remained unmarried."
At this point, Chambers paused, looked at Ronnie who was listening intently, smiled slightly, and said, "You wouldn't believe it, would you? This old man has a glorious side."
Ronnie paused, though Chambers spoke calmly. His keen senses betrayed a deep sorrow in the old man's voice. "Grandpa, what happened next? What became of you?"
Chambers smiled bitterly. "Later, to be honest, I really don't want to recall what happened then, but now I have to. When I was forty-seven, it was a major turning point in my life, the year I fell from grace. Perhaps because I had never experienced love in my forty-plus years of life, that..." That year, I fell madly in love with a woman. She was so beautiful, so lively and cheerful; every movement, every smile, made my heart flutter. She was only twenty-four then, twice my age, but I still fell for her without hesitation. She was also a chef, but a completely different kind of chef from me, specializing in delicate pastries. She worked as a pastry chef at a restaurant—the one I frequented the most. After much deliberation, I decided to express my feelings to her, though I didn't expect her to reciprocate. "I can accept it, but I still want to express my true feelings."
Ronnie asked, "Did she accept it?"
Chambers shook his head and said, "She didn't say yes or no. After hearing my expression of feelings, she made a condition. She wants to have a cooking competition with me. If I win, she will marry me; if I lose, I must retire from the culinary world, and all my reputation will belong to her."
Ronnie frowned, a strange expression appearing on his handsome face. "Grandpa, I think you've been used by her." "Right. She knew you were the best chef and still dared to make such a request, so she must have been quite confident. Besides, she clearly had ulterior motives for making such a request; why would she genuinely want to marry you?"
Chambers laughed. "What a clever girl. Yes, I was indeed used by her, but at that time I was blinded by emotion and didn't think much before agreeing. After all, years at the pinnacle of the culinary world had instilled in me a strange arrogance. Back then, I hadn't competed in cooking for a long time because no one would dare challenge me." Even in a culinary competition, I was merely a judge. Since she wanted to compete against me in what I excelled at, I naturally had no reason to refuse. Thus began a competition I can never forget."
After a pause, Chambers continued, "To truly convince her, I decided to prepare my six most renowned dishes. We invited eighteen of the most famous chefs in the culinary world to judge us. My culinary skills have reached a level of perfection; those six complex dishes were completed in just one hour, a testament to my years of understanding and mastery of the art." I was extremely satisfied with the dishes I made; they almost seemed alive. But strangely, she hadn't touched the pile of ingredients. When I finished my six dishes and looked at her, she said, "You made so much; I'll only make one dish, a masterpiece.