[Liem levels a mild look Gen’s way as he yanks the window further open and leans in to survey the food being prepared by the various participants. Even just sticking his head inside the room makes the scent of cooking meat, noodles, and garlic far more apparent.]

Cooking is a vital skill for independent living, [he points out.] I don’t think learning new recipes is a waste of time.

[Normally he would agree that a young man like Gen probably doesn’t need to know much about cooking, at least if he intends to stay with his family. But he knows from experience that living on your own can make eating a chore if you only know how to cook one thing.

Not that eating isn’t normally a chore for Liem regardless. He’s assuming Gen doesn’t have that experience, though. Actually, he seems far more interested in the prospect of eating food right now than he does in the idea of cooking it.]

Also, I agreed to teach a class as a sort of barter for attending a healers’ lesson the other day—so here I am.

[Personally, Liem thinks Springstar’s reliance on barter is a little backwards for such a metropolitan settlement, but he has to admit it’s more convenient for new arrivals like him without much in the way of money.]