Volume 1 Chapter 6: Can People of Future Generations Wield the Arts of Immortals?

Zhu Biao grew somewhat impatient, eager to learn more about the future from Jiang Lin. Before he could even voice his questions, a soft cooing sound reached his ears.

Zhu Xiongying came running over, clutching a Rubik’s Cube and rubbing his small belly. "Daddy, I’m so hungry~"

“Hungry? Then let’s head back to the palace for a meal!” Zhu Biao said, rising from the sofa.

Although he longed to inquire further about the future, he knew he would have to visit Jiang Lin another time.

Jiang Lin waved his hand. “I’m hungry too. Why don’t you all stay and eat together?”

With a smile, Jiang Lin leaned toward Zhu Xiongying and said playfully, “Little Xiongying, big brother will make you something delicious, okay?”

“Delicious?” Zhu Xiongying’s eyes lit up and he licked his lips eagerly.

“Yes, yes! Thank you, big brother!”

Jiang Lin was once again charmed by Zhu Xiongying’s adorable expression. He ruffled the boy’s hair gently and then got up to head toward the kitchen.

After a while, the kitchen echoed with the sounds of utensils clinking and sizzling.

Zhu Biao rose and followed Jiang Lin, hoping to lend a hand.

He saw Jiang Lin standing before the stove, holding a spatula and attentively stirring the vegetables in the pan.

This ordinary scene, common in the future world, astonished Zhu Biao once again.

What on earth was happening?

Why was there a fire on the stove?

There was no visible place for wood to be burned!

Could it be that people in the future had somehow mastered the ability to start fire with their bare hands?

Moreover, the large hole above the stove seemed to draw away all the smoke and fumes produced while cooking.

“This… this…” Zhu Biao was so amazed he could hardly form a coherent sentence.

Hearing the noise, Jiang Lin turned and saw Zhu Biao standing at the kitchen door.

“Master Jiang, I was almost fooled by you,” Zhu Biao said, entering the kitchen with a hint of reproach.

Jiang Lin was taken aback, stunned by the sudden accusation.

“Your Highness, what do you mean? I have never deceived you. Everything I’ve told you is the truth.”

“Don’t play dumb. You’re clearly an immortal descended to the mortal world!” Zhu Biao declared firmly, then began listing examples for Jiang Lin.

“Otherwise, how could the stove produce fire from nowhere? And why does that big hole suck away the cooking smoke? Just now, my lady told me the toilet can clean itself automatically.”

“Aren’t these the very magical arts only immortals possess?”

After hearing Zhu Biao’s words, Jiang Lin smiled helplessly and explained:

“Your Highness, the stove doesn’t create fire out of thin air. The gas stored in a liquefied gas tank is transported through a pipe to the stove, where it ignites.”

He then stepped aside slightly to reveal the liquefied gas tank.

“As for that big hole, in our future it’s called a range hood.”

“It’s designed based on the principles of aerodynamics and primarily serves three functions: creating negative pressure to suck in smoke, separating oil particles, and expelling the fumes.”

“The toilet works mainly on the principle of siphoning…”

Zhu Biao nodded vaguely, clearly not grasping the details.

In his mind, the people of the future seemed so powerful they could wield legendary immortal magic through these objects.

“In short, none of this has anything to do with immortal magic. These are all scientific principles discovered by scholars of the future.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao’s heart surged with excitement, fostering a newfound admiration for the world six centuries ahead.

He never imagined that by then, the Ming dynasty would be so robust!

This must surely be thanks to his father laying the foundation, his own and Xiongying’s talents, and the diligent governance of the future Ming emperors.

Feeling buoyant, Zhu Biao rolled up his sleeves and approached Jiang Lin.

“Master Jiang, let me assist you.”

“Then you can chop some scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers,” Jiang Lin said as he stirred the vegetables.

Zhu Biao looked down at the cutting board. He recognized the scallions, ginger, and garlic, but the chili peppers...

The vivid red color of the chilies was striking, making them look delicious and appetizing.

He sensed these would be the main ingredients for the next dish to be cooked.

Thinking this, his mouth began to water.

Without hesitation, he picked the largest, reddest chili and popped it into his mouth.

After chewing twice—

Suddenly—

The joy on Zhu Biao’s face twisted into agony, his cheeks flushed scarlet, and tears welled at the corners of his eyes.

“Ouch! It burns! My tongue hurts so much!”

Jiang Lin quickly stuffed a piece of sliced tomato into his mouth.

The cool, juicy burst instantly soothed the fiery pain, the sweet and sour flavor gradually easing the heat.

Zhu Biao’s eyes lit up. “Master Jiang, what is this? I’ve never tasted it before.”

“This is called a tomato, also known as a ‘western red fruit.’ Since Xiongying is still young and can’t handle spicy food, I prepared a tomato scrambled egg dish just for him.”

With that, Jiang Lin tossed the remaining tomatoes into the pan, stirred briefly, and covered the wok.

Then he returned to the cutting board and glanced somewhat helplessly at Zhu Biao.

“All right, Your Highness, why don’t you go set the table outside…”

“Okay… I don’t want to hold you up.”

Zhu Biao felt a bit embarrassed, clearly sensing the slight impatience in Jiang Lin’s tone, and left the kitchen.

Soon, the aroma of the meal wafted out from the kitchen.

“Dinner’s ready! Let’s eat~” Jiang Lin called out suddenly.

Zhu Biao and Lady Chang immediately understood and hurried to help carry the dishes to the table.

One by one, delicious dishes were laid out: tomato scrambled eggs, stir-fried shredded potatoes, fish-flavored shredded pork, caramelized sweet potatoes, and corn and pork rib soup—a four-dish one-soup feast.

The fragrant aromas made Zhu Xiongying drool with anticipation.

“Wow, the food smells amazing!”

“I’ve never eaten such delicious dishes in the palace before!”

Hearing this, Jiang Lin felt delighted and lifted Zhu Xiongying onto the dining chair.

Looking at the dishes, the boy swallowed hard, his craving fully awakened.

“Xiongying, big brother will put on a cartoon for you!”

Jiang Lin took out a projector and approached the table.

Zhu Xiongying’s innocent eyes filled with puzzlement.

“Big brother, what’s a cartoon?”

“A cartoon is something all children in our time love to watch.”

“Hmm… in Ming times, you can think of it like a shadow puppet show.”

“I love shadow puppetry!” Zhu Xiongying clapped happily.

The projector turned on, casting a beam of light that projected images onto the opposite wall.

Zhu Biao and Lady Chang were stunned by this future device called a projector, while Zhu Xiongying stared wide-eyed at the wall, his mouth forming an ‘O’ shape.

“Big brother, you’re amazing! You can perform magic!”

Seeing Zhu Xiongying’s astonished and adorable expression, Jiang Lin smiled affectionately.

Soon, he found a classic cartoon: The Calabash Brothers.

“Calabash brothers, calabash brothers, seven flowers on one vine, unafraid of wind and rain, la la la…”

As the theme song played, Zhu Xiongying’s attention was completely captured.

He even sang along, his body swaying to the cheerful rhythm.

Watching this scene, Zhu Biao and Lady Chang took a deep breath, marveling at how this device could project images and produce sound—it was truly miraculous.

At the same time, they admired the wisdom of future generations, who had reached a level comparable to the gods.

“Xiongying, try this tomato scrambled egg I made just for you.”

Zhu Biao said as he scooped some onto Zhu Xiongying’s bowl.

…