Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Pocket Pancakes and Pork Knuckle

Looking at the tall man wearing a police badge in front of him, Chen Shuzheng’s face darkened.

Indeed, Old Master Chen had great dominance in the industry. It could be said that when Chen Yuncong stomped his foot, the entire domestic catering industry trembled.

But could he still control the police station?

When Chen Ran was in kindergarten, Chen Shuzheng had hinted to other family members to pressure the Morning Star Kindergarten.

But he didn’t expect that the small principal bore all that pressure alone.

For a place like a kindergarten, causing some trouble or raising the price of vegetables a little was the limit. Doing more would truly harm their karma.

But with the police station? He didn’t even dare to raise vegetable prices!

He still wanted to say a harsh word to Chen Ran: “Chen Ran, you better think carefully!”

Having lost this competition, Chen Shuzheng knew that the Chen Restaurant would never officially be under his control again.

He dared not protest to Chen Boduan, nor to Chen Yuncong, only daring to shout in front of Chen Ran: “You can’t do this forever...”

The uncle of the Chen family beside him sharply pulled Chen Shuzheng back, stopping him from saying the next sentence.

Wang Changhai was the deputy director of Qiaotou Police Station. Although the station was small, he was still a level-two police commissioner.

“Didn’t expect you to be so arrogant? Forever? Saying that in front of me? Looks like cracking down on gangs and evil is indeed necessary.”

Hearing Wang Changhai starting to get serious, the eldest uncle of the Chen family there quickly held Chen Shuzheng down, nodding and smiling apologetically.

“Don’t take it to heart, he’s just frustrated from losing… At his age, suddenly losing to his niece is hard to take, just angry words. Don’t mind it,” the Chen family uncle apologized while tugging Chen Shuzheng hard, “Say sorry now!”

Wang Qing’an smiled and gently pulled Chen Ran over to stand in front of Wang Changhai, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder, helping her stand straight.

Since chefs tend to have strong hands, when Chen Shuzheng was pulled hard by the Chen family uncle, he staggered and nearly fell in front of Wang Changhai and Chen Ran.

Wang Changhai sneered, “You were just so full of spirit, but now being so polite—I’m not used to receiving this.”

Chen Shuzheng lowered his head. The Chen family uncle poked him again in the lower back, and several Chen family members came over to smooth things over.

“Don’t take it personally, Zheng Ge has always had a proud face, can’t stand losing, he didn’t mean it against you...”

“He’ll definitely complain when he goes back! How can he talk like that? We’re all law-abiding citizens!”

Chen Shuzheng was held down by several hands. Gritting his teeth, he raised his head and apologized.

“Sorry, I was just speaking nonsense earlier.”

His face showed a defeated air; veins bulging on his temples.

“It’s my skill that’s lacking, there’s nothing more to say…”

In his mind, he was already imagining what would come next: the Chen Restaurant family would surely replace him with someone else to manage, his shares would be diluted… and his status in the family would plummet.

From Chen Ran, it was clear how the Chen family treated useless people—with even less mercy than how they treated garbage.

The Chen family members, fearing he would say more, hurriedly pulled him away. Only Chen Yijin lagged behind, seemingly wanting to say something to Chen Ran, but was also pulled away by the Chen family uncle.

Ms. Wang snorted lightly through her nose, turned Chen Ran towards her, and formally introduced both sides."Deputy Director Wang Changhai, you can just call me Uncle Wang," Ms. Wang had already introduced Chen Ran to Wang Changhai. "Aren't you about to resign from the kindergarten soon? Are you satisfied with this job position?"

Wang Changhai changed his tone from earlier with Chen Shuzheng, speaking softly and gently, as if afraid to scare the young girl: "So, how about it? Are you willing? Our Qiaotou Road Police Station is newly built. The kitchen and cafeteria are new too. It’s just that since it’s just been built, there are fewer staff, but you can call anyone in the station anytime!"

If really necessary, he joked, they could even have him ride a tricycle to buy groceries together with the girl.

The kindergarten principal also came over, warmly shaking Ms. Wang’s hand: "Luckily you’re here. I was worried about Ranran, but I didn’t expect you’d already have it all settled!"

Going to the police station was undoubtedly a good choice!

Not only did it sound like the benefits were decent, but it could also temporarily intimidate the Chen family.

Ms. Wang pulled Chen Ran aside to give her detailed advice: "Although Director Wang spoke politely, you can’t act like it’s your own home over there. Try to get closer to people. The Qiaotou Road Police Station isn’t too far from the Chen ancestral residence, so if anything happens in the future… it might be able to help you."

Before this, Chen Ran hadn’t had much contact with Ms. Wang. In fact, their interactions had mostly been through the lion’s head dish.

Listening to Ms. Wang’s gentle voice, Chen Ran felt her slip a small item into her hand.

Chen Ran quickly withdrew her hand: "You’ve already helped so much!"

Ms. Wang raised an eyebrow and insisted, shoving the item back into her hand: "Take a look first, it’s not anything expensive."

Chen Ran picked it up—it was a small porcelain jar.

"I know a very skilled Chinese medicine doctor who makes their own ointments. I heard from the kindergarten principal that you practice your knife skills every night? Rub your wrists and shoulders yourself, don’t leave any problems behind. This can reduce swelling and bruising, and prevent lingering pain."

While Ms. Wang was speaking, Qiu Xian quickly came over: "Chen Ran, it’s already so hard to eat your dishes at the kindergarten now. What will you do when you go to the police station?"

Zhu Chenchen also looked at her eagerly: "Ranran, I also..."

Ms. Feng Meng impatiently pulled her away: "You eat in the back kitchen every day."

She looked at Chen Ran with a hint of hope: "If Qian Rui still won’t eat, we can take him to find you... right?"

The kindergarten principal saw everyone crowding around Chen Ran and hurried to separate them: "Alright, alright, all good things must come to an end. If there’s a chance in the future, Ranran will definitely open a big restaurant. We’ll eat then."

They continued chatting for a while longer and even came over to take photos with Chen Ran. The principal, worried about disrupting the kindergarten’s normal work, finally put on a stern face and sent everyone away.

Suddenly, Chen Ran remembered something: "System, what about my mission rewards?"

Where was her kitchen knife? And what about the money from her first-stage mission reward? What if a large sum suddenly appeared—would anyone investigate her?

This time the system responded quickly.

【Rewards will be issued in a manner consistent with human world logic. Please purchase a lottery ticket within one month.】

What?

Chen Ran didn’t expect that the one million yuan would be given as a lottery prize, but that actually made more sense.

Still, thinking about really having to give that scumbag father one million yuan made her uncomfortable.

Better buy it later… every day counts!

She went to the staff lounge to pack her clothes. While tidying up, Zhu Chenchen suddenly slipped in.

"Ranran!"

Chen Ran was already used to this little glutton who sneaked food everywhere. Without turning around, she asked, "What is it? Did you see the lion’s head I saved for you? Not enough?"She reached out and patted Zhu Chenchen’s head: "What else do you want to eat? I can make you another meal tonight."

"I still want the ribs we had today! And it’d be best if you could make those peanuts from last time, so fragrant, and some refreshing broccoli… and maybe some soup too…"

Zhu Chenchen couldn’t help but list a bunch of dishes, then suddenly remembered her main reason for coming.

She pulled a knife out of her bag!

Chen Ran was startled, but she immediately recalled the system’s earlier statement that “rewards will be issued according to human world logic.” Could this be the system’s reward knife?

She asked the system silently: “If the mission isn’t completed, will it not give me this kitchen knife?”

【It would be an ordinary kitchen knife】

Seeing Chen Ran’s surprised expression, Zhu Chenchen quickly explained: "Ranran, this kitchen knife is really good! A long time ago, when that knife peddler came, my grandma exchanged it for a bag of flour!"

A bag of flour? Wasn’t that too precious? That sounded like a long time ago when a bag of flour was very different from now.

Chen Ran hesitated, but Zhu Chenchen shoved the knife into her hand.

"Ranran, this kitchen knife is just wasting space at my house. My mom secretly took it to a treasure appraisal livestream before; they said that knife peddler was a fraud… but I think this kitchen knife is really sharp, you should try it!"

Chen Ran took the knife from Zhu Chenchen and swung it once in her hand.

Very handy.

She swung it twice, then had an idea and opened the system panel.

Sure enough, the item slot was unlocked!

【Mystic Iron Kitchen Knife: One of the Chen Family Chef God’s relics, never rusts, never wears down】

【Special effect: To be unlocked】

Chen Ran grit her teeth… every system mission was a chain—unlock one, then unlock the next!

But this knife really was handy.

For the last meal of the night, Chen Ran cooked the dishes Zhu Chenchen requested, and packed a few lunchboxes for her parents.

Yuan Guozhong also independently cooked two dishes. Chen Ran corrected some of his cooking mistakes, then secretly went to observe the restaurant.

Very good, the sour plum ribs really worked!

The kids at Qimingxing Kindergarten were eating happily. Qian Rui was eating heartily too. Sitting opposite Zhu Kuangkuang, watching the two kids eat made one wish they could eat a big bowl themselves.

Only then did Chen Ran feel relieved.

She was leaving the kindergarten!

The rented house had already been vacated yesterday. Chen Ran didn’t have many extra things with her. Ms. Wang was already waiting outside, ready to drive Chen Ran to Qiaotou Road Police Station.

Chen Ran put her luggage in the trunk and handed a big box to Ms. Wang.

Ms. Wang frowned and scolded: "What are you still giving me? Your most important thing now is to take care of yourself…"

Chen Ran cut her off with a smile: "It’s the food I made!"

She also made an extra portion of sour plum ribs and lion’s head meatballs for Ms. Wang. Ms. Wang’s two daughters at home could count as people she cared about, right?Ms. Wang accepted it promptly, her tone changing quickly: "...Then I’ll accept it!"

Qiaotou Road Police Station was a bit far from Qimingxing Kindergarten, about an hour’s drive.

However, the dormitory prepared for Chen Ran here was really new! The dorm was a double room; the other bed belonged to an enthusiastic female police officer who had already helped tidy up the bed before Chen Ran arrived.

“The mattress is made up for you, the bedding set is standardized by our station—I think the quality is decent. If you want to change it, I can help you now. The water heater’s ready; want to take a shower?”

Ms. Wang stood at the door, smiling warmly at the two girls of similar age. Chen Ran immediately noticed the other girl also had signs of fitness, and they had already started talking about working out.

Chen Ran said little and promptly turned to go home. Every time she ate lion’s head meatballs, she remembered her sister who had escaped from home with her. Today, she had also brought her sister here!

The two of them ate the lion’s head Chen Ran made together and had a little drink.

Chen Ran only had time to wave goodbye to Ms. Wang before being drawn in by the female officer’s words.

“What? Human traffickers?”

The young female officer, Liu Shihan, sounded very angry as she explained, “This is a case aided by police from another region. There are three children who might have been brought here.”

“Did they catch them?”

The officer shook her head: “No, but they got intel and think these kids might be handed over to a human trafficker here, then sold off. Everyone in the station went out to investigate; only I stayed on duty here, and I was here to pick you up.”

Seeing Chen Ran silent, she worried Chen Ran was frightened by the situation and spoke to comfort her.

“Don’t worry, such things rarely happen here. Actually, grassroots police rarely deal with serious cases. Mostly, it’s family dispute mediation or finding people.”

She pointed at herself to give an example: “Today I went out on four calls—one early morning call about renovations, two scrap collectors fighting, and a kid reporting a case about catching an adult... The busiest is actually the household registration department, they have endless paperwork.”

“But today, everyone’s worried about the kids. The chief sent people out like fishing in the sea to watch for traffickers.”

After talking for a while, Chen Ran slowly understood more about grassroots police work.

It was indeed different from what she had known before.

Seeing Chen Ran silent, Liu Shihan couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong? Worried? Don’t worry, except for cooking, they definitely won’t ask you to do anything else. The chief said if there’s anything, we can help you! We even cleaned the kitchen for you today.”

Chen Ran wasn’t worried about that; she was just thinking about how to cook well.

“No, I was just thinking, since everyone’s so busy with calls, is their diet irregular? Besides regular meals, should we prepare some easy-to-eat staple foods that aren’t too afraid of getting cold and can be reheated?”

“Otherwise, like you said just now, they rush out on calls without eating. If they could carry a steamed bun or something, wouldn’t that be much better?”

Liu Shihan paused, then smiled.

The temporary cook the chief mentioned really turned out to be a great chef!

After saying this, Chen Ran started to zone out, even when Liu Shihan handed her some milk, she absentmindedly bit open the package before drinking.

—The system issued another mission.

【Random Mission: Before the troops move, secure the supplies】

【The police at the station can’t maintain regular meals for a long time, prepare some wraps for them】

【Mission requirement: Number of wraps eaten 0/10,000】

【Mission reward: Unlock hidden effect for wrap recipe】Along with the mission came a recipe for wraps.

Chen Ran silently complained in her mind, so besides dealing with “red cases,” she also had to learn “white cases,” huh? [Note 1]

However, wraps really were a very suitable staple dish!

No need to specially prepare fillings, just wrap some vegetables and eat. The dough could be prepared in advance, and just pan-fried for two minutes before eating—still warm.

She praised the system: “You thought this through well, and this time you even prepaid the recipe. I can start making it tomorrow!”

There were so many variations for wraps!

So, the next day, Chen Ran got up early.

Although the Chen family had a few “white case” cooks, their general approach to training the next generation was still “red case.”

Before this, Chen Ran had only made steamed buns a few times.

Luckily, the system-prepaid recipe came with proficiency, or else she really would have worried about failing this time.

But this time, the system was really generous—the wrap recipe included more than ten types of dough!

There were thin pancakes, oily pancakes, hot water dough, half-hot water dough, pan-fried, baked. Chen Ran picked one—a pocket wrap.

Wraps tend to leak fillings at the end; pocket wraps didn’t have that problem.

She skillfully kneaded and rested the dough, making a hundred dough rounds at once, then began preparing the fillings.

The best match for wraps was naturally braised dishes!

Logically, since she was cooking for the entire police station alone, she would need to go buy groceries. However, the enthusiastic police officers had already filled the fridge yesterday.

She picked two large frozen pork knuckles from inside, grabbed eggs and tofu skin, preparing to braise them.

That should... be enough? After all, this newly built small police station only had six people total.

She expertly braised several dishes, cooked a pot of millet porridge, then tied a sandbag on her wrist and started cutting potato strips.

Besides the braised dishes, she planned to make a sour and spicy shredded potato dish, and a stir-fried mixed vegetable dish—should be sufficient.

While cutting, someone suddenly came in.

So early?

Chen Ran looked out at the sky in surprise; it was just starting to lighten.

She was used to waking early to make breakfast, but why were the police at the station arriving so early?

“Oh, is this our station’s new cook?”

The few people who entered wore slightly wrinkled uniforms, their faces pale gray, yawning as they spoke.

Chen Ran recalled what Liu Shihan said yesterday and was a bit surprised—had they been searching all night?

She couldn’t help asking, “Did you catch the traffickers?”

The last person to come in was Wang Changhai. He looked at the table of food and frowned a little: “There are only a few people here at the station, just make simple food, no need to come so early!”

He admitted Chen Ran’s cooking was indeed tasty. But he hadn’t accepted this young girl for the sake of a few months of good meals.After hearing Wang Qing’an’s words, he still planned to look out for the young girl.

But she got up at four to cook—so who was really looking out for whom?

Chen Ran didn’t mind. The whole police station was up late searching for people, so her getting up to make some food was only natural.

She glanced at the millet porridge: “It’s nothing, I went to bed early yesterday.”

The others had already gathered around to watch the cook prepare the dishes.

Another middle-aged policeman smiled: “Ah, finally no more eating bread. Our station can’t even order takeout, eating bread every day, it’s bitter in my mouth!”

“Hao-ge, at least you get to eat a meal your wife cooks when you get home. Look at the rest of us singles—our faces are turning green from hunger!”

Hao-ge’s face darkened at the mention of his wife: “I only get home in the middle of the night every day. How could I ask my wife to keep food for me? A few days ago she bought rice herself because no one would deliver it, and her arm got strained... No wonder people say I’m useless, no one ever sees me.”

“As long as your wife supports you, it’s fine. When you get time off, take her out to have some fun! Anyway, the nephew’s already in college.”

The atmosphere got a bit awkward, so Wang Changhai quickly changed the topic.

He walked over and looked at the two neat rows of small dough balls on the cutting board, asking Chen Ran: “What are you making?”

“Some wraps!”

Chen Ran gave a strong stir and poured the sour and spicy shredded potatoes she’d just stir-fried into a bowl.

“I heard from Sister Shihan yesterday that the station often gets so busy they miss meals, and these days they’re still investigating those traffickers. I thought I’d prepare some wraps, so if they miss meals, they can just take a wrap with them.”

She pointed at the two dishes she just cooked: “These dishes go well with rice, but they also work wrapped in the dough. I’ll wrap the dough balls in cling film and put them in the fridge. When you want to eat, just pan-fry them for a minute or two.”

“But I didn’t expect you all to come so early today. The braised meat still needs some time, so for now you can just wrap these two dishes to fill your stomach, okay?”

Wang Changhai had been eyeing the shredded potatoes for a while!

“Make me one with shredded potatoes!”

He was from the Northeast, where it was common to wrap shredded potatoes in wraps. “Add some scallions inside too, I remember telling these guys to buy some yesterday.”

“Got it!”

Chen Ran lifted the cling film, took out several dough rounds, and turned on the electric griddle.

The kitchen was indeed well equipped, with all kinds of utensils. This commercial electric griddle could cook four pocket wraps at once.

After brushing oil and feeling the temperature with her hand, Chen Ran put all four dough rounds into the pan.

Pocket wraps, as the name suggests, were shaped like pockets, with a hollow center for fillings.

However, this system recipe was quite particular. These pocket wraps weren’t made by spreading oil inside to create space, as Chen Ran had initially expected.

The dough was semi-fermented, relying on heat to expand the air inside, eventually puffing up into hollow pocket wraps.

Therefore, the optimal way to cook these wraps was baking for even heating. But this canteen had no oven—after all, most Chinese kitchens didn’t use ovens.

Still, pan-frying worked too!

Wang Changhai watched Chen Ran’s moves in amazement. The young girl quickly shaped the dough into rounds, then with a quick roll and flick of the rolling pin, she tossed the dough straight into the pan!

Before he could fully catch the motion, all four wraps were already in the pan.Next came Chen Ran’s moment to shine.

To ensure the wraps cooked evenly, each one had to be constantly turned. Normally, using hands would be fastest, but since the kitchen had no gloves, Chen Ran used a pair of chopsticks to turn them.

The tips of the chopsticks precisely and skillfully lifted the edge of a wrap, then with a flick, the wrap spun around.

Using both chopsticks, she deftly manipulated all four wraps spinning smoothly on the griddle.

Slowly, all four wraps puffed up like four plump little balloons.

Chen Ran added a bit more oil.

By now, the pan was very hot, and the added oil quickly released the aroma of the dough. The previously soft and pale wraps instantly developed a golden crispy crust.

This was the magic of these wraps!

If the wraps remained soft like before, when taken out of the pan, the whole pocket would collapse. But with the high heat setting the outer crust quickly, the wraps turned out like hollow baked sesame flatbreads.

Four pocket wraps came off the griddle!

Chen Ran gently tapped one with the spatula, splitting it open. She added shredded scallions and then piled on the sour and spicy shredded potatoes, setting it aside.

“Wait a moment before eating, it’s hot!”

She was a cook, her hands covered in thick calluses, so she wasn’t afraid of the heat. But ordinary people wouldn’t handle it so well.

“What do you guys like to put in your wraps?”

“I’ll have the stir-fried mixed veggies!”

“I want shredded potatoes too, I want to try the captain’s taste.”

Chen Ran’s stir-fried mixed veggies were chives, bean sprouts, vermicelli, and eggs cooked together. The vermicelli had been soaked and darkened with dark soy sauce, mixed with the fresh green chives and white bean sprouts, making it especially tempting.

She made four wraps in one go, wrapped them in cling film, and served each person a bowl of millet porridge.

Wang Changhai couldn’t wait any longer!

He grabbed a pocket wrap and took a big bite.

Crispy! Fragrant!

The wrap’s outer crust was flaky, instantly breaking into countless crumbs in his mouth, but inside the dough was soft and chewy, giving off the purest wheat aroma.

After staying up and searching all night, what comforts the soul the most at a time like this?

It has to be carbs!

The sour and spicy shredded potatoes inside were also a carb bomb, but their texture was crisp. The combination of two different carb textures made each bite deeply satisfying to his previously growling stomach.

At that moment, taking a gentle sip of millet porridge…

“Ah, this is the life!”

With the wrap eaten and the warm porridge soothingly flowing down the throat to the stomach, Wang Changhai felt his whole body relax, stretching out comfortably.

Not just him, the others who ate the wraps also voiced their admiration.“That’s great! How did you cook the stir-fried mixed veggies? The chives are cooked perfectly! I hate soggy chives, but these have no raw spicy taste at all, and the texture is so good!”

“Delicious! This wrap smells amazing. I feel like I could eat several even without any filling!”

Chen Ran was already cooking the next batch of wraps. While the second batch was coming off the griddle, she timed it perfectly and opened the braised meat pot.

An indescribable aroma suddenly burst out from the pot!

If carbs soothe an empty stomach, then this irresistible meaty aroma was the best reward!

The plump pork knuckle was scooped out by Chen Ran and placed on the cutting board, every bit of fat trembling, even splitting in two from the force of the drop.

It was hard to imagine how amazing it would taste once in the mouth, a pork knuckle that split open just from being set down.

“Oh my god, hurry up, give me a piece! I’m about to faint, I’m delirious!”

“Smells amazing! My next wrap is definitely going to have this pork knuckle!”

Just as Chen Ran was about to slice the pork knuckle, a noise came from outside the door.

Wang Changhai turned to see it was Xiao Song from the station.

Song Yifan had just passed the civil service exam last year. His major was finance, but he was assigned to Qiaotoulu Police Station.

The jurisdiction of Qiaotoulu station was mostly construction sites in a once desolate suburb. Because of recent development, with many sites and roaming migrant workers hard to manage, this station was established here.

A top finance graduate like him assigned to such a place, constantly out on patrol, naturally felt frustrated and unfulfilled.

He came from a family with some money. Since the station couldn’t order any takeout, he was the only one who hired errand runners to buy food in the city and deliver it daily.

“Xiao Song, come eat something?”

Song Yifan was very reluctant. After searching for traffickers all night yesterday, he just wanted a good meal.

He had heard a few days ago that the station might hire a cook, but in such a rundown place, what kind of cook could they get?

But since the deputy captain mentioned it, he couldn’t say no.

“Alright… just half a bowl of porridge for me. My stomach isn’t great after staying up late.”

Just to be polite to the captain, he took a sip of porridge and planned to order two dishes via an errand runner.

Song Yifan walked over, and Chen Ran served him a bowl of thick, soft millet porridge.

He took it with both hands, but his eyes couldn’t leave the plump, trembling pork knuckle on the cutting board.

So fragrant!

Just smelling it made him want to gulp down three bowls of millet porridge. Let alone having that pork knuckle with it.

On the side, Hao Ge was already eating—a crispy pocket wrap stuffed with a large piece of pork knuckle. He specifically asked for the skin-on part; the rich pork skin melted instantly in his mouth when bitten.

Combined with the crispy wrap crust…

Song Yifan stood aside, even hearing the crisp snap as the wrap was bitten open.

Xiao Song was in awe!

Seeing the pork knuckle almost gone between these people, he quickly changed his mind:

“My appetite suddenly improved! Give me three wraps: one with shredded potatoes, one with stir-fried mixed veggies, and one with pork knuckle!”Isn’t he just slapping his own face? Where did this miraculous cook come from?!