She had been teaching them cooking basics over the past few days, so this time she insisted they help.
"Everyone gathers ingredients!" she ordered. "Meat, herbs, vegetables—go!"
They scattered like excited children. When they returned, Xin Yi divided them into groups. "Okay! Each group will prepare one dish!"
She walked them through it. Seasoning the meat. Heating stones to the right temperature. Timing everything properly.
And of course, some disasters happened.
"WHY IS IT BLACK?!" one Tiger male wailed, staring at his charred meat.
"You left it on the stone too long!"
"But it smelled good!"
"BURNING ALWAYS SMELLS GOOD AT FIRST!"
Another group somehow managed to over-season their meat to the point it was inedible.
"How much salt did you use?!"
"...All of it?"
"WHY?!"
But slowly, gradually, some groups actually succeeded. The meat was cooked properly. Seasoned well. Delicious.
