siheyuan: I transmigrated into love in courtyard

I stepped into the steel mill kitchen, arriving exactly on time. Not early, not late—just enough to show discipline without standing out.

As expected, Shazhu was nowhere to be seen. That lazy fool never arrived on time, yet no one dared to question him because of his reputation. Despite only having professional-level cooking skills, people still praised him as if he were a master chef.

It was ridiculous.

Shazhu wasn't a true culinary genius. He was just competent, nothing more. But because he was the highest-ranking chef in the factory, people exaggerated his abilities. He had skill, yes, but it wasn't extraordinary.

Yet, in this world, appearances mattered more than reality.

If Shazhu could gain recognition with just professional-level cooking, then what would happen when I, someone with Master-Level Cooking Skills, stepped into the spotlight?

The thought made me smirk.

For now, though, I kept my expression neutral and focused on my surroundings.

The Kitchen Staff

I scanned the room as I walked in.

Ma Hua was already there, scrubbing utensils. Shazhu's most loyal apprentice.

He wasn't particularly skilled, but his blind loyalty to Shazhu made him dangerous. He would never betray his master, and if I openly challenged Shazhu, Ma Hua would be my first obstacle.

Then there was Liu Lan.

She was a kitchen helper, responsible for cleaning and assisting with prep work. Married, but her husband was a gambling addict who barely paid her any attention.

What made her interesting was her secret affair with Deputy Director Li Haide.

It was obvious. I had seen the way Li Haide looked at her, how she subtly responded. The stolen glances, the quick smiles—there was something there.

I took a moment to observe her properly.

She was beautiful.

If Qin Huairu was a perfect 10 in terms of beauty, then Liu Lan was an 8.5—just slightly below in terms of facial charm.

However, her body was a perfect 10.

She was curvy, well-proportioned, and naturally seductive. In this era, where food was scarce, having a full, healthy figure was rare. No wonder Li Haide was drawn to her.

"Morning, Ma Hua. Morning, Sister Liu," I greeted them casually.

Ma Hua grunted, barely acknowledging me. As expected, he only cared about Shazhu.

Liu Lan, on the other hand, gave me a quick glance before smiling slightly. "You're on time as always, Lin Feng. Not like that lazy boss of yours."

I smirked but didn't comment. There was no need to speak badly about Shazhu yet—not until the time was right.

Starting My Work

I went to my station and started my daily routine—chopping vegetables, washing ingredients, and preparing side dishes.

This was all I had ever been allowed to do.

Three years of mindless, repetitive tasks. Shazhu never taught me anything beyond the basics.

But today?

Everything changed.

As I was finishing up a batch of cabbage, I suddenly heard a sharp "Ding!" in my mind.

[Sign-In Complete!]

Location: Steel Mill Kitchen

Reward: Master-Level Cooking Skills

My hands froze for a second. Then—knowledge flooded into my mind.

Techniques. Knife mastery. Heat control. Ingredient selection.

Everything.

I could now instinctively tell the exact temperature needed for perfect stir-frying. I could perfectly balance flavors with just a glance at the ingredients.

This was real mastery.

The kind of skill that Shazhu, with his mediocre professional-level techniques, could never reach.

I looked down at my hands. Even the way I held my knife felt different—more natural, more precise.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. This wasn't the time to show off.

If I suddenly started cooking like a master chef, people would become suspicious. I needed to be smart about this.

For now, I would pretend to be the same weak apprentice. I would observe, plan, and strike at the right moment.