Chapter 3

The system's voice sounded: "This system only provides restaurant renovation, not including areas outside the restaurant."

Mag habitually stroked his chin with his right hand, looking at the dilapidated stairs and the dark second floor, thinking of the bed covered with a little straw he had seen earlier. He couldn't stay here tonight; he couldn't let his precious daughter suffer anymore. He had to improve their living conditions tonight.

Moreover, he didn't feel much hostility from the system. The so-called punishment was more about supervising him to study cooking diligently and complete the chef task as soon as possible.

If that's the case... Mag's eyes twinkled, and he said in a nonchalant tone, "System, I think your statement is incorrect. I provided the entire small building for the restaurant, so you should renovate it as a whole. I can't accept a restaurant with an inconsistent style. Moreover, if the second floor isn't reinforced, a brick might fall and kill a customer, which would be a big problem. If it doesn't kill them, it would be even more troublesome. I might be killed by someone who can't be killed by a brick. What's the point of learning to cook and becoming a chef then? You figure it out."

The system fell silent, as if thinking. After a while, the system's voice sounded again: "Given the high level of danger of the building, the system has decided to rebuild the small building and renovate it. Please confirm the renovation style."

Mag was secretly delighted. Indeed, the system could be negotiated with. It would be no fun if he let it lead him around by the nose. However, he maintained a calm demeanor on the surface.

The restaurant's renovation style was already decided, and the second floor's style was chosen to be similar to his previous home, low-key, luxurious, and comfortable. The second floor had three rooms, a toilet, and a bathroom. He chose a light pink style for Amy's room and confirmed it with the system.

The system's voice sounded: "The reconstruction and renovation will take thirty seconds. Please leave the room. The countdown will start in one minute..."

Thirty seconds! Mag was taken aback, but hearing the sixty-second countdown, he hurriedly moved slowly towards the door, struggling to step over the threshold and turn to close the door. It was already dark outside.

"Father, are you here to pick up Amy?" Amy's soft and cute voice came from behind.

Mag turned around. Amy was holding two large, yellowish-brown pancakes, looking up at him with long lashes fluttering, her face full of joy and excitement. Her father had never come out to pick her up before, but today he seemed to have come down to the door specially.

"Yes, I'm here to pick up Xiao Mi, and I'm going to perform a magic trick for you." Mag smiled, squatted down, and gently hugged Amy.

"Magic trick?" Amy looked up at Mag with some confusion, but her eyes soon lit up. "Is it magic? Can Father make a lot of delicious food?"

"Um, yes. Father will turn this into a beautiful big house and a beautiful restaurant. From now on, I'll make a lot of delicious food for you every day." Mag said softly. Indeed, she was a little foodie.

"Really?" Amy's mouth opened slightly, seemingly unable to believe it.

"Close your eyes and count down from thirty." Mag nodded with a smile.

"Thirty, twenty-nine..." Amy obediently closed her eyes and started counting.

Mag looked at Amy with a gentle gaze, listening to her soft voice counting down. The ground was slightly shaking, and there were occasional sounds of things falling behind him, but he didn't look back.

The countdown of thirty seconds passed in a flash.

Amy opened her eyes, her face full of anticipation.

"Let's take a look at our new home." Mag took the two sweet and crispy pancakes from Amy, held her hand, and stood up, turning to look at the small building with some anticipation.

A warm beam of light shone from the doorway, illuminating the two figures standing there.

"Wow~~" Amy's mouth opened wide, staring at the suddenly transformed house, which looked like a palace under the lights, gilded and magnificent. She turned to look at Mag happily. "Father, did you really make this? It's as beautiful as a crystal palace! And there are glowing stones! Father is so amazing!"

"Yes, this will be our new home, and it will also be a restaurant." Mag nodded with a smile. Indeed, being admired by his little girl felt better than anything.

It was still a two-story building, but it had transformed from a rickety wooden house into a two-story European-style villa. The side facing the square had floor-to-ceiling windows, and from the outside, one could see the restaurant illuminated by European crystal chandeliers, comfortable and stylish.

However, the previous shaking seemed to have caused some minor disturbances. Mag held Amy's hand and pushed the door open, saying, "Let's go home first. Father will explain everything later."

"Okay, Father is the best!" Amy rubbed her head against Mag's hand and happily jumped into the house.

Mag turned off the lights outside and, as they entered, a bearded dwarf staggered out of a nearby house, looking around drunkenly and muttering, "Which stupid troll is dancing here again! Damn, can't even sleep..." He then walked back and slammed the door.

"Father... is this really our home?" Amy stopped at the door, looking at the magnificent restaurant, still unable to believe it.

She had never seen such a beautiful house before. The floor was smooth and flat, the chandeliers were as brilliant as crystals, and the new tables and chairs were neatly arranged. On the tables were elegant cutlery boxes. Inside was a tall counter, and behind it was another room, but she couldn't see what was inside.

"Of course." Mag nodded with a smile and waved his hand. "This is our new home. The first floor can be a restaurant, and the second floor is where we live..."

"Great!" Before Mag could finish, Amy had already run out, spreading her arms and running around the restaurant. She then sat at a table at the back and waved at Mag. "Father, let's sit here and eat the sweet and crispy pancakes. Xiao Mi is hungry."

"Okay." Mag smiled, indeed, eating was the most important thing.

The system's voice sounded again: "Task completed: Own a restaurant. Due to the host's additional request to renovate areas outside the restaurant, the reward for this task is canceled. New task: Learn the first dish—Yangzhou Fried Rice. Task time: three days. When the host is ready, they can click to enter the Chef Trial Arena for the trial. Reward for this task: +0.5 physical attributes. Penalty for failure: -0.5 physical attributes."

Mag stopped in his tracks. A door suddenly appeared in his mind, with four golden words: "Yangzhou Fried Rice." It must be the so-called Chef Trial Arena.

Of course, what Mag was more concerned about was the reward for success. His most urgent need was to improve his physical condition. In his current state, he couldn't even hold a cleaver steadily, let alone cook. He didn't expect the system to arrange a task to enhance his physical attributes so quickly, and he felt a surge of excitement.

Although he didn't know what level +0.5 physical attributes would reach, the system wouldn't deceive him. It's just Yangzhou Fried Rice; how difficult could a bowl of fried rice be?

Back in Yangzhou, he had tried several authentic Yangzhou Fried Rice dishes. He had criticized them harshly, but to be honest, the taste was quite good. One old-established restaurant even closed for a while after his review, but such incidents were common, and he didn't pay much attention to them.

"Father?" Amy looked at Mag, who was standing there in a daze, with some confusion.

"Coming!" Mag quickly suppressed the impulse to push that door and sat opposite Amy, handing her one of the pancakes. He smiled and said, "Come, let's try the sweet and crispy pancakes that Xiao Mi likes the most."

Mag carefully examined the sweet and crispy pancake. It was about the size of an adult's palm, one centimeter thick, and seemed to be made by wrapping corn, mung beans, potatoes, and other coarse grains in flour and baking them in a charcoal oven. It felt like a rough tile in his hand.

"Mm-hmm." Amy held the pancake with both hands, opened her small mouth, and took a bite, making a crisp sound. She then happily chewed, like a little hamster, looking very cute and enjoying it.

"Is it that delicious?" Mag was a bit skeptical, but seeing Amy eat made him hungry. He couldn't resist picking up a pancake and taking a big bite, chewing a few times, and then he was stunned.

"Is this a baked tile? Did I bite my teeth or the pancake? It cuts my mouth when crushed, and it gets stuck in my throat when I try to swallow. This can be used for poisoning! How can it sell hundreds a day! The culinary culture in this world must be quite barren! No, it's stuck in my throat!" Mag rolled his eyes, threw the pancake on the table, and ran to the kitchen sink, holding his throat.