Chapter 30
Chapter 30 Episode 015 Cooking Class
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Due to Flossie Wright’s unexpected injury, she wasn’t able to participate in training, hence, Abram Phillips granted her a few days off to recover.
Though she was injured, not doing anything at all clearly didn’t align with the proactive atmosphere in the forces. So, the night Flossie arrived at the dormitory with her crutches, apart from the expected inquiries from her mates, she received a notice from the deputy class leader—she would be helping out in the cooking class these few days.
"Cooking?" Flossie was somewhat puzzled.
The rotation of helping out in the cooking class was an ongoing tradition. Even though it hadn’t been Flossie’s turn yet, she did have some understanding of the matter. Concerning the quality of dishes and the training performance of the new soldiers, people with cooking experience or outstanding performance in training were usually chosen to help.
"Yep, that’s correct," confirmed the deputy class leader seriously, before explaining, "The new soldier team’s cooking class is lacking in manpower; the class leader said since you’re free, you could take up whatever tasks that allow you to sit."
Flossie didn’t quite expect that but still nodded in agreement with the deputy class leader.
However, before she turned around, Janice Wood, whose face was full of curiosity, came up and innocently asked her, "Well, Flossie, have you ever cooked before?"
Upon hearing Janice Wood’s question, the others in the dormitory also shifted their attention, quite eager to know Flossie’s answer. Throughout these two months, Flossie had never revealed her identity, but from her behaviors, it was clear that she was a well-off family’s pampered child. So they were quite curious about whether someone like Flossie could cook.
"No," Flossie replied quite bluntly and calmly.
"Uh," Janice Wood didn’t expect such a decisive response from Flossie, and touched her nose awkwardly before trying to shift the topic, "Then, do you know that after cooking, you’ll have to write an 800-word reflection?"
Flossie’s steps faltered, her gaze swept across the room, and immediately those who were curiously staring at her turned away busying themselves as though they didn’t know a thing.
After a pause, Flossie hobbled towards her closet with her crutches and coldly replied to Janice Wood, "I don’t know."
Janice Wood blinked in confusion, she felt a strong sense of irritation emanating from Flossie somehow.
The dawn of the following day was a bit hazy.
The reveille hadn’t sounded off yet, and the entire training camp was incredibly silent. The occasional chirping of crickets created an interspersed rhythm in the tranquility of the early morning, merging seamlessly with the dimly lit surroundings.
"Knock, knock, knock."
Flossie Wright, with the aid of her crutches, arrived at the kitchen door and after pausing to knock, she adhered to regulation and announced, "Reporting in! Flossie Wright from the Second Squadron, Third Platoon, arriving for cooking duties!"
Suddenly, the entire mess hall fell into silence for a few seconds; the startling voice echoed through the quiet canteen, nearly scaring the men washing vegetables into dropping their greens.
The time was still early, not yet the peak of activity for the cooking class. Most members hadn’t woken up yet, only the cooking class leader, deputy leader, and one janitor were present at that moment. They stared at the sudden appearance of the female soldier with conflicted expressions.
"You’re the injured one who came to help with the cooking?" The cooking class leader was quick to react, he was slightly slim but seemed quite energetic.
Flossie answered rigidly.
"Hey, don’t be so uptight. You can completely relax here, our kitchen staff is very warm and friendly..." The deputy leader, who was washing vegetables, flashed a sincere smile and added, "Consider these next few days as a way for you to focus on healing. Just relax as much as you can."
Flossie’s attitude and booming voice remained consistent.
Instantly, visible signs of frustration appeared on the faces of the three men in the mess hall.
Luckily, the kitchen’s crew were pretty good-natured. Perhaps they sympathized with Flossie’s injury or felt compassion for her after hearing about the hardships she must have undergone while under Drake Easton’s supervision, but in any case, the assignments assigned to her were completely relaxing. The deputy leader even fetched her a stool while she was washing vegetables, treating her at a VIP level.
"Reporting to the class leader, I’ve finished washing the vegetables."
Flossie learned quickly and although she never cooked before, her hands were skilled. After watching the deputy leader wash the vegetables once, she quickly grasped the knack for it and washed at quite a nice speed.
Hearing Flossie saying "reporting", the cooking class leader felt a splitting headache. He couldn’t help but scorn Drake Easton’s strict ways. A good soldier leader should pay attention to their methods of instruction. How could he teach his soldiers to be so rigid?
"They’re washed. Deputy, do a check. "The class leader, who was busy kneading dough for Steamed Buns, dismissively responded, while looking at Flossie, "Do you want to take a break?"
"...No need."
Flossie tugged up the corner of her lips and winced. It seemed like her acting was too successful; she had become a VIP member of the mess hall who was fully attended to.
"Hmm," the class leader pondered and finally seemed to find a task suitable for Flossie, "How about....you boil some eggs first."
After a slight hesitation, Flossie eventually gave a straightforward nod, "Okay."
As it was the easiest ingredient to cook within the kitchen, even Flossie who hadn’t cooked before understood the task of boiling eggs. After asking for the location of the eggs and the pot used to boil them, she started working despite her hobbling steps. Meanwhile, the gradually crowding kitchen barely bothered her. It seemed as though a silent agreement had been reached regarding Flossie’s preferential treatment.
Thus, when Drake Easton, who had whimsically decided to check on Flossie’s work progress, just arrived at the kitchen entrance, he saw Flossie alone, guarding her pot motionless. Compared to the bustling cooking class members, the doing-nothing Flossie appeared particularly conspicuous.
At that moment, Drake Easton’s face darkened.
"Flossie Wright!"
Drake Easton yelled fiercely, the loud voice instantly filled the entire mess hall, scaring everyone into shivering.
Among everyone present, only Flossie was the quickest to respond and also the most composed.
Suppressing the rage in his eyes, Drake Easton stormed into the kitchen furiously, while the soldiers around subconsciously gave way to him.
He stopped abruptly when he arrived in front of Flossie and asked sternly, "What have you done all morning?"
— End of Chapter 30 —