As the clouds drifted by in the night sky, a Snack Street buzzed with life. Shops lined up one after another, and the constant flow of people attracted numerous street vendors. The air was filled with shouts and clamor, creating a lively atmosphere that drew in even more customers.
Thirty-year-old Wang Hao was one of them, though he wasn't a consumer, but a producer.
Wang Hao set up his own stir-fried noodle stall, selling stir-fried noodles every night in a fixed, relatively secluded corner of the street. His slightly plump body swayed gently as he stir-fried with his wok and ladle. His ordinary features, combined with the surrounding Cooking fumes, painted a vivid picture of everyday life.
There were only a few diners in front of his stall, which showed that while Wang Hao put effort into his Cooking, the results were likely mediocre, otherwise his business wouldn't be in such a state.
As Wang Hao plated the stir-fried noodles in front of him, a line of text appeared before his eyes:
"Congratulations, Cooking proficiency +1. Current proficiency: Beginner Cooking 98/100."
Wang Hao was already used to it and merely glanced at it before handing the stir-fried noodles to the customer.
This phenomenon had started yesterday. At first, Wang Hao thought he had some vision problem, but later, finding everything else normal, he didn't pay it much mind.
For two days, every time Wang Hao finished Cooking a portion of stir-fried noodles, this prompt would appear. Accumulated to now, he was only two portions away from maxing out this proficiency, and Wang Hao couldn't help but start to anticipate it.
If this had happened to Wang Hao when he was 20 and fresh out of school, he might have been too excited to sleep all night, as anyone could tell something extraordinary was happening.
However, Wang Hao, at thirty, having experienced the education of society, could view all of this calmly. No matter how powerful an ability, in the great dyeing vat of society, it was merely fabric to be dyed. To remain untainted by the mud was too difficult.
Wang Hao told himself that all he could do was stick to his original intention and try his best to 'not be swayed by external things or saddened by personal misfortunes.' Only then could the bitterness of life be less bitter.
Beneath Wang Hao's ordinary appearance lay a mature mindset far beyond his peers, which could be considered life's reward to him.
Pulling his thoughts back, Wang Hao began to tidy his stove, waiting for the next customer to arrive.
"Congratulations, Beginner Cooking proficiency +1. Current proficiency: Beginner Cooking 99/100."
"Congratulations, Beginner Cooking proficiency +1. Current proficiency: Beginner Cooking 100/100."
"Congratulations, Beginner Cooking has been upgraded to Intermediate Cooking Skill. Current proficiency: Intermediate Cooking Skill 0/1000."
After stir-frying two more portions for customers, Wang Hao finally received the prompt that Beginner Cooking had been upgraded to Intermediate Cooking Skill. Instantly, an inexplicable surge of information flooded Wang Hao's mind, causing him to frown involuntarily. However, this sensation came and went quickly.
Wang Hao only felt a refreshing coolness in his brain, a comfortable sensation that filled his mind. At the same time, Wang Hao also felt a lot of Cooking-related content appearing in his mind, which made him very surprised.
Seeing that there were no new customers at the moment, Wang Hao thought he would make a portion for himself to taste what stir-fried noodles made with Intermediate Cooking Skill tasted like.
No sooner said than done, Wang Hao habitually started heating the wok with oil, but his hand movements were unconsciously making subtle adjustments. Some detailed actions seemed to be instinctive, naturally coming into play.
This made Wang Hao realize the formidable power of Intermediate Cooking Skill once again and made him value his proficiency cheat even more.
"Congratulations, Intermediate Cooking Skill proficiency +1. Current proficiency: Intermediate Cooking Skill 1/1000."
As the stir-fried noodles were completed, a fragrant aroma wafted over. This portion of stir-fried noodles, whether in color or smell, was incomparable to what he had made before.
Wang Hao tried a bite, and his taste buds instantly exploded. This taste was comparable to that of a big restaurant. If Wang Hao's previous stir-fried noodles could score 60 points, barely edible, then this portion of stir-fried noodles in front of him would be at least 85 points, considered very delicious.
Wang Hao never expected that he, a non-professional vendor, could one day make such a meal, which was quite a pleasant surprise.
No sooner had he finished tasting his masterpiece than a customer came to order. Wang Hao dared not delay and began to get busy.
"Congratulations, Intermediate Cooking Skill proficiency +1. Current proficiency: Intermediate Cooking Skill 2/1000."
As the proficiency prompt appeared, Wang Hao held another fragrant portion of stir-fried noodles. After serving it to the customer, Wang Hao began to observe the customer's reaction, intentionally or unintentionally.
After all, it concerned the future of his business, so Wang Hao was still a little anxious.
He had been setting up his stall here for two months now. Wang Hao usually sold about fifty portions of stir-fried noodles a day, at ten yuan per portion, making his daily revenue around five hundred yuan.
After deducting costs such as ingredients, gas, and stall fees, he could earn about two hundred yuan a day, or six thousand yuan a month. His rent was two thousand a month, and he gave his sister Wang Lan two thousand for living expenses. After deducting other necessary monthly expenses, Wang Hao didn't have much money left each month, let alone saving tuition fees for his sister every year.
If this upgraded skill could increase his income, then he would truly be grateful.
Through Wang Hao's observation, when the customer took the first bite of stir-fried noodles, there was a clear, slight nod. From this, it was not difficult to see that this plate of Intermediate stir-fried noodles was undoubtedly a success.
Although it didn't reach the point of making the customer exclaim in praise, it did manage to make the customer's eyes light up.
Continuing to operate until midnight, Wang Hao, for the first time, sold out all the ingredients he had prepared for the day, selling twenty-five more portions than usual. His Intermediate Cooking Skill proficiency also reached 32/1000.
On his way home after closing the stall, Wang Hao was already thinking about whether he should prepare more ingredients when he bought them tomorrow morning. With today's momentum, he could surely sell at least a hundred portions tomorrow, Wang Hao mused happily.
Wang Hao's residence was not far from the Snack Street, a 20-minute walk away.
Wang Hao rented a small two-bedroom apartment. His sister Wang Lan would stay there when she was on holiday, so Wang Hao kept the room very tidy, making it not look like a messy old man's apartment.
Back home, Wang Hao tidied up casually, and it was already 1 AM, so he collapsed into bed. He had to go to the morning market early tomorrow to buy ingredients, and five hours of sleep were precious to him.
After a busy day, it was only at this time that Wang Hao could find a moment of peace. He was inherently a quiet person.
If not for the pressures of life, he probably would have ended up as a homebody, and this personality also led to Wang Hao not finding a partner even at thirty.
Now with the proficiency cheat, life seemed to have a glimmer of hope, and as Wang Hao slept, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curve upwards slightly.