It is said that this Jack Collins once publicly demonstrated his legendary skill of slicing up an ox with a single stroke, separating bone from flesh, which shook the entire culinary world of the capital. That’s how he got his nickname. William Carter never expected that he would actually meet the man himself.

“So, young friend, you’ve heard of this little reputation of mine…”

Henry Collins stroked his goatee and smiled proudly, exactly the reaction he wanted: “I can tell, young friend, you were born for this profession. However, after several generations, I’m afraid your family’s culinary skills can no longer be passed down. But if you’re interested in learning the culinary arts… I would teach you everything I know, holding nothing back.”

Learning to cook is like learning martial arts; to truly pass on the mantle, a master must seek out a worthy disciple. And the master must even provide food, lodging, and guidance in life’s major matters—such disciples are called “inner circle” disciples.

With Henry Collins’s status, countless people want to become his apprentice. But in the culinary world, it’s easy to learn but hard to master, and talent is crucial. Knife skills and fire control can be honed through hard work, but a natural sensitivity to ingredients and the ability to distinguish flavors can’t be gained through effort alone—it all depends on whether the gods have blessed you with that gift.

To put it plainly, becoming a good chef isn’t hard; with enough effort, anyone can do it. But to become a top chef, even a culinary god, you first need a gifted palate—something you’re born with and can’t force.

In Henry Collins’s eyes, William Carter was a genius with a gifted palate, so he was tempted. After hearing about his family background, he was truly moved to take him as a disciple. What he didn’t expect was that the disciple he had his eye on was actually a true culinary god himself. When it came to teaching, who knew who would be teaching whom…

Chapter Eight: [Competition at the Fried Noodle Stall]

“Sorry, Mr. Collins, I’m just too lazy a person—how could I join such a demanding profession?”

William Carter refused, without even thinking, this opportunity that so many people would kill for and dream about. Still, he politely gave his phone number to Henry Collins: “If Mr. Collins comes to Chudu again, you must contact me and let me show you some hospitality.”

Before Henry Collins could respond, William Carter added, “We’ve finished eating and have a movie to catch, so we won’t keep you any longer…” With that, he called the waiter to settle the bill, grabbed the still unsatisfied Grace Bennett, and left the restaurant, leaving Old Man Collins sitting there in a daze.

The great special-class chef, the culinary titan Jack Collins, finally opened his mouth to take on a disciple, only to be directly refused? Henry Collins’s face flushed red, then white, and it took him a while to recover: “You little rascal, giving this old man no face at all? Fine, I’m not giving up on you. Just you wait…”

…

After leaving the old place, Grace Bennett kept looking William Carter up and down, with a look like he was about to hit on him.

“What are you looking at? There’s nothing on my face. If you want to look, go home and look at your own ‘flower’…”

William Carter glared at him, knowing full well that after today, the chubby guy would have plenty to talk about. Next time he saw the guys, who knows how animatedly he’d recount today’s events.

“It’s just weird, man. What did you take today? After just two bites of meat, you could say so much? Even made a big shot like Jack Collins from the culinary world beg to take you as his apprentice?”

Grace Bennett clicked his tongue in amazement. “And you even turned him down? Bro, if Second Sis finds out about this…”

The “Second Sis” he mentioned was, of course, William Carter’s sister Jenny Carter, who went to France to impress foreigners—the only one in the Zhou family who could be considered to have inherited the family trade, though only as a pseudo-chef.

Jenny Carter was truly passionate about cooking, but her talent was limited. After two years struggling in culinary school, she barely got a level-two chef’s certificate. She tried several times to apprentice with famous chefs, but after tasting her dishes, they refused her outright, not even bothering to comment. Her skills just couldn’t cut it in China, so she had to go abroad to fool foreigners who didn’t know any better.

If she found out that William Carter actually turned down Jack Collins, it would be a miracle if she didn’t go crazy on the spot. She’d definitely buy a plane ticket home immediately, force William Carter to kneel and become an apprentice, and try to get a little benefit for herself in the process.

“Don’t talk nonsense. If you dare tell my Second Sis about this, as for your ‘flower’… hmm, if I remember right, someone said he was on a business trip last month, but actually went to a certain resort hotel on South Island…”

Grace Bennett shivered: “Bro, what I just said was all drunken talk. Yeah, I’m really drunk, need to go home and rest. If you want to see a movie, go by yourself, I won’t keep you company.”

“Drunk? Are you sure you’re okay to go alone, want me to take you home?” William Carter chuckled.

“No need, no need, I’m a battle-tested drinker, this is nothing.” Grace Bennett straightened up, showing he was perfectly fine, then hailed a taxi and slipped away.

After Grace Bennett left, William Carter didn’t rush to get a cab either. A hundred steps after a meal, live to ninety-nine. Tonight wasn’t too hot, the cool breeze and moonlight were like water, and he felt like taking a walk.