Chapter 23: The Second Stove

"Move."

Xiao Lan stepped aside just as Lin Yuan carried a hot pot past her.

He set it beside the Spirit-Assisted Kitchen Stove and immediately reached for another pan.

From the dining hall, Su Mei called another order.

Xiao Lan glanced toward the doorway.

"That’s four waiting."

"I know."

The expanded kitchen had solved their lack of space.

It hadn’t solved everything.

There was room for two people to work comfortably now, but almost every cooked dish still depended on a single stove.

Xiao Lan could prepare ingredients while Lin Yuan cooked, or take over the stove while he handled something else, but they couldn’t both cook at the same time.

Another order came from outside.

Xiao Lan looked at the stove.

"We need another one."

Lin Yuan moved a pot away from the flame.

"I was thinking the same thing."

"Good."

She picked up the next bowl.

"I was worried you’d expand the kitchen again."

Lin Yuan looked at her.

"I’m not calling Master Han."

"Then we’re safe."

They returned to work.

The lunch rush lasted until well into the afternoon.

By the time the dining hall quieted, Lin Yuan had made his decision.

A familiar wagon was parked outside.

The broad-faced merchant had arrived that morning with the tavern’s regular supplies and was preparing to leave.

Lin Yuan found him beside the wagon.

"Can you bring me a stove?"

The merchant looked up.

"What kind?"

"A kitchen stove. Metal. Large enough for regular cooking."

"Anything special?"

"No."

The merchant nodded.

"Four days."

"That fast?"

"I’m coming back anyway."

"For Qiao Ren?"

"He’s ready to start building."

The merchant pointed toward the wooden stakes beside the road.

"Apparently staring at empty dirt for too long makes him nervous."

Lin Yuan glanced at the marked plot.

"Bring the stove."

The merchant named a price.

Lin Yuan frowned.

"That’s more than I expected."

"You wanted metal."

"I wanted a stove."

"A metal stove."

Lin Yuan looked at him for a moment.

"Bring it."

The merchant smiled.

"I knew you’d understand."

"I didn’t say the price was good."

"You still agreed."

Unfortunately, he had a point.

Four days later, two wagons appeared on the road.

Qiao Ren sat on the first.

The broad-faced merchant drove the second.

Several hired workers traveled with them, along with timber, stone, roof tiles, and other construction materials.

Xiao Lan looked through the dining hall window.

"He’s actually building it."

"He said he would."

"People say a lot of things."

Lin Yuan glanced at her.

"You sound disappointed that he kept his word."

"I’m impressed."

Outside, Qiao Ren was already directing the unloading.

Workers carried materials toward the plot beside the road.

The merchant entered the tavern.

"Your stove is here."

Lin Yuan followed him outside.

A heavy metal stove occupied the back of the second wagon.

It was plain, solid, and larger than the one he had expected.

Lin Yuan checked it before paying.

"Good enough."

The merchant stared at him.

"That’s all?"

"What else do you want?"

"A compliment."

"You delivered a stove."

"A very good stove."

"I paid for a very good stove."

The merchant shook his head.

"Master Han was right about you."

Lin Yuan ignored that.

Getting the stove inside required several people.

Once it reached the expanded kitchen, a worker secured it onto a prepared stone base and connected its smoke vent to the kitchen flue.

By the time they finished, it stood beside the original Spirit-Assisted Kitchen Stove as part of the kitchen itself.

Xiao Lan looked between them.

"Now this is better."

"Tomorrow we’ll see."

"Why tomorrow?"

"Because lunch is almost over."

Xiao Lan looked disappointed.

Apparently she had wanted another rush.

Lin Yuan was willing to wait.

Outside, Qiao Ren’s workers began digging the foundation for the shop.

Lin Yuan didn’t involve himself.

Qiao Ren had hired the workers, purchased the materials, and chosen the design.

The only thing Lin Yuan had provided was the land.

By evening, the first section of the foundation had already been prepared.

Inside the tavern, the new stove had spent several hours heating water and handling a few simple dishes.

It worked well enough.

After the last customers finished eating, Lin Yuan remained in the kitchen.

The new stove stood cold beside the enhanced one.

He focused on it.

The Territory Core responded.

Kitchen Stove

Condition: New

Quality: Ordinary

Permanent Structure Detected

Enhancement Available

Lin Yuan selected the enhancement.

Enhancement Cost: 5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones

The price was the same as the first stove.

That made sense. The stove was ordinary, and the available enhancement was the same.

Lin Yuan confirmed.

5 Low-Grade Spirit Stones Consumed

A faint light passed through the metal.

The surface became smoother. The fitted sections tightened, and the fire chamber changed subtly beneath the Core’s influence.

The panel updated.

Spirit-Assisted Kitchen Stove

Quality: Low Spirit Grade

Heat Control

Fuel Efficiency

Clean Flame

Lin Yuan dismissed the panel.

Two identical stoves now stood side by side.

That was all he needed.

The next morning gave them their first real test.

Seven tables filled before breakfast was halfway over.

Lin Yuan worked at one stove while Xiao Lan handled the other.

"More heat," he said.

Xiao Lan adjusted the flame.

It responded immediately.

Her hand stopped.

She lowered it.

The flame weakened just as smoothly.

Xiao Lan looked at the stove, then at Lin Yuan.

"This wasn’t like this yesterday."

"No."

"Do I get an explanation?"

"Not during breakfast."

Before she could answer, Su Mei called from the dining hall.

"Two bowls of noodles! One without meat!"

Xiao Lan turned back to the stove.

"This conversation isn’t finished."

Lin Yuan placed another pan over the flame.

"Your noodles."

"I know."

For the next hour, neither of them had time to talk about it.

The difference was immediate.

Xiao Lan handled noodles, soup, and simpler dishes without waiting for Lin Yuan to finish.

Lin Yuan took the dishes that needed more attention.

When one stove was occupied, the other remained available.

Orders moved out of the kitchen steadily.

Su Mei entered carrying several empty bowls.

"Table four said their food came quickly today."

Xiao Lan looked pleased.

"Tell them it was me."

Lin Yuan glanced over.

"Who cooked their food?"

Xiao Lan thought for a moment.

"You."

Su Mei walked away before either of them could continue.

Xiao Lan returned to her pot.

"Next table is mine."

Lin Yuan let her have it.

Near noon, the rush finally eased.

Lin Yuan removed a finished dish from the stove and lowered the flame.

Through the kitchen window, movement beside the road caught his attention.

Qiao Ren’s workers had made noticeable progress.

The foundation was taking shape, and the first wooden supports had been raised.

Four days ago, wooden stakes had marked an empty plot.

Now the outline of a small shop was beginning to appear.

"Owner Lin."

He looked back.

Xiao Lan was holding out another order.

Lin Yuan took it and turned toward the two stoves.

Both flames were already burning.