Zhu Ganlie's Arc

Chapter 1 of 1

Zhu Ganlie stood in his cramped kitchen, wiping flour from his hooves. The pig demon had one dream that burned in his heart—hosting the grandest Lunar New Year feast in the entire district. He wanted tables stretching down the street, overflowing with dumplings and braised pork. He wanted neighbors talking about his feast for years to come. But his tiny kitchen wouldn't work for a feast this size. Zhu needed space to practice cooking in large batches. He spent three days transforming an old storage building into a proper cooking space. Red lanterns hung from the rafters. Gold paper cutouts decorated the walls. Stoves lined one side, prep tables filled the center. The kitchen was ready for serious work. Zhu cooked from dawn until midnight, testing each recipe. He steamed hundreds of dumplings, learning the right fold. He braised pork belly until the meat fell apart. Sweet rice cakes stuck to the pan twice before he figured out the trick. His arms ached, but each dish improved. Soon he could cook enough food to feed the entire district. The final step was letting everyone know. Zhu painted a bright sign with bold characters announcing the feast. He carried it through the streets, showing it to every neighbor he passed. People stopped to read it, their eyes growing wide. The date was set. The district would gather for a meal they would never forget. Zhu's dream was about to become real.