Chapter Thirty-Four: Truly Not Short of Money

Chi Sui understood now: Chia’s eagerness to learn was genuine, but his lack of culinary talent was equally authentic.

Though the kitchen pan had been scrubbed clean after its recent ordeal, it still felt wrong to Chi Sui. After a moment of internal struggle, she opted to bring out the oven instead; she didn't want to use that frying pan again for the time being. She simply whisked together eggs and milk, stirred in some peeled corn kernels, and placed the mixture into molds before sliding them into the oven. By the time they finished baking, the two little ones would likely be awake.

Once the molds were inside, Chi Sui began to zone out. She loved using these quiet gaps in cooking to clear her mind; it was a way for her to rest. But before she could drift off for long, Chia, who had been observing from the side, leaned in.

"Rancher Chi Sui, what are you making?"

Chi Sui tilted her head to glance at him and pointed to the semi-finished product in the oven. "A simple dessert. You saw the process; do you think you can remember it?"

Chia scratched his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "I did see it all, but should I say I remember it or that I don't?"

"Huh?"

"It’s just that most people don't like others watching them cook. A good recipe is valuable and often a person's primary way of making a living. But don't worry, Rancher Chi Sui, I can pay you for it."

Hearing this, Chi Sui finally realized what he meant. She laughed and said, "No need. If you remember it, just say you remember it. It’s just a simple dessert, not some major secret recipe. Besides, even if you watched a complex recipe, you wouldn't be able to replicate it anyway. So, it’s fine. Feel free to learn whatever you like while you're at the ranch; I won't hide my cooking from others."

Chia was visibly thrilled. "Really? That’s too kind. Should I pay you something anyway?"

Paying again? Chi Sui noticed that Chia had mentioned money several times throughout the day. "Paying again—are you really that loaded?" she asked, genuinely curious.

Chia laughed, flashing his bright white teeth. "I suppose so. My family has built up a bit of wealth. Has Rancher Chi Sui heard of the Tuyun Bookstore?"

"Tuyun?" The name felt familiar, but she couldn't quite place it.

"Yes, Tuyun. There’s one in Fufeng Town now, right at the foot of the mountain."

Chi Sui was stunned. "Is that your family's business?"

"Yes, my family mostly runs small businesses. Tuyun Bookstore is currently all over Purple Island; it’s fairly well-known."

So it was a chain store. Looking at Chia’s ever-present smile, Chi Sui suddenly found it a bit blinding.

"What kind of books do you carry?"

Chia pulled a card from somewhere and handed it to her. "Mostly published recipes, and we collaborate with newspaper offices for news and magazines. This is our membership card. If you want to buy books in the future, you can get a twenty percent discount."

Silently staring at the card, Chi Sui felt a surge of complex emotions. The commerce on the Sky Island was truly prosperous.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. If you ever want to write a book or publish your recipes, you can come to me."

Chi Sui nodded. Not knowing what else to say, she pointed to the ingredients on the table. "You remembered it all—want to give it a try?"

"May I?" Chia asked, pleasantly surprised.

"You may, but don't take ingredients from your pack. Use what's on the table."

"Oh... alright." Chia was a bit disappointed he couldn't use his own supplies, but he set to work without hesitation.

Very quickly, Chi Sui knew exactly what she had to say:

"Stir in one direction! Wait!"

"When did I ever add shiitake mushrooms? Put those down!"

"What kind of innovation is this? You can't even walk yet, and you're trying to run? Drop my dried shrimp!"

After these few outbursts, Chi Sui felt energized, her voice rising unintentionally. The two little ones, awakened by the noise, came over rubbing their eyes. One climbed onto her shoulder while the other flew to the top of her head, turning her into a living perch.

"Sui Sui, who is he?"

Chi Sui thought for a moment before answering. "The ranch's new pooper-scooper."

"And what about you?"

"I've been promoted!"

Of course, the promotion was just a joke. Looking at the mess Chia was about to shove into the oven, Chi Sui averted her eyes and said, "You’re eating that portion yourself."

She would never betray her own tongue and stomach. She had discovered a new bad habit of Chia’s: he refused to follow recipes and insisted on adding random ingredients. The end result could only be described as a disaster. If she ever wanted to open a restaurant on the ranch, she would either need to find a new sous-chef or fix this habit of his.

Chi Sui shook her head. She wasn't sure if letting Chia stay was the right choice, but she decided to treat it as a way to earn some extra coin.

Once she took the baked dessert out and signaled the two little ones to the table, she turned to call Mr. Stone inside. Instead, she felt herself being lifted by the collar.

Chi Sui: ?

The grip shifted to a horizontal hold, and Mr. Stone flapped his wings, taking off. Noticing her bewildered expression, he explained, "I went to check that cave earlier. I have a general idea of what's inside. We're going in together."

Chi Sui trusted Mr. Stone; she knew he wouldn't lead her into danger. But thinking of the freshly baked treats, she couldn't help but ask, "Can't we eat lunch first? We've been busy for so long."

Time had slipped away while she was talking to Chia. By the time the corn-milk bake was done, it was already noon. Momo and Luoluo had gotten their rest, but Mr. Stone, who had been working non-stop since yesterday, hadn't paused for a second. Chi Sui decided that both she and Mr. Stone were worthy of the title "Chosen Worker of the Powder-Ring Bees."

"It should be over quickly. We'll eat when we get back."

The cave wasn't far from the ranch's main gate. Under Mr. Stone's speed, Chi Sui had barely been able to keep her eyes open against the wind before they arrived. The entrance was blocked by several large boulders, and the area was cordoned off with hemp rope. A wooden sign stood nearby:

*Danger Ahead. No Entry.*

Summoning her courage, Chi Sui stepped into the cleared area, and a low wailing sound reached her ears. It sounded like the wind, yet also like someone crying. Hearing it in person, coupled with the desolate surroundings, made her skin crawl with goosebumps.

"What is that sound?"

Mr. Stone smiled and extended his forelimbs to push the boulders blocking the entrance. "If I’m not mistaken, it’s a small, light-sensitive monster. You'll see once we're inside. They’re... actually quite interesting."