Chapter 48: Chapter 48: The Inspiration behind Food Fight
Translator: 549690339
Adding it all up, a week had already passed since Dan Bao’s birth.
But this was the first time Qin Lang had heard Dan Bao cry out in such a pitiful manner.
So much so that his heart tightened, and overlooking his orange selection, he stood up and ran towards the river without hesitation.
However, the next moment, upon seeing Dan Bao’s predicament, a look of worry froze on Qin Lang’s face.
Looking at Dan Bao, continuously spewing fire towards its own tail, his face filled with bewilderment.
“…Dan Bao?”
“Gudong…”
It hurts…
Dan Bao sadly stopped moving, looking earnestly at Qin Lang, the yolk of its small face filled with grievance.
As the fire subsided, Qin Lang finally noticed a crab clinging to Dan Bao’s tail. Despite being cooked by the fire, changing its shell to a red hue, the cooked crab’s claw was still tightly clenching onto Dan Bao’s big tail.
Dan Bao’s originally large tail seemed to have visibly swollen by a ring’s worth.
Quickly stepping forward and delicately prying open the crab’s claw and tossing it aside, Qin Lang cradled Dan Bao, struggling between anger and amusement, gently rubbing its tail. “How did you get yourself caught by a crab?”
“Gudong, gudong…lulu…”
Dan Bao gazed at its evidently swollen tail, tearfully recounting what had just happened.
Listening to this, Qin Lang finally understood.
Of course, even though Dan Bao was a Food Spirit, it had just came into existence recently, and mentally spoke more like a child, hence it would be curious about many things.
As a creature it had never seen before, Dan Bao wasn’t aware that the crab’s claws would cause pain when it clenched onto something. It got too close, which is why it ended up in this predicament.
“In the future, when you see something you’re not familiar with, don’t get too close,” said Qin Lang, consoling Dan Bao in a helpless tone. He then took out a healing ointment used for Food Spirits from his medical bag, squeezing a bit out and spreading it evenly over Dan Bao’s inflicted area.
As Food Spirits often have to engage in fights, injuries are inevitable.
Normally, the best way to treat a wounded Food Spirit is to keep it in a Star Vein for recuperation.
However, Qin Lang had discovered early on that Dan Bao didn’t seem to like being in the Star Vein, preferring to stay by his side.
Thus, he prepared some healing ointment.
This healing ointment was a shimmering transparent gel, slightly greenish in color. Upon application to Dan Bao’s injured tail, the shiny particles would quickly seep into the injured area, visibly speeding up healing.
Soon, Dan Bao’s tail had completely returned to its original state.
Feeling no more pain from the prior injury, and rather a cooling comfort from the healing ointment, Dan Bao rapidly regained its vitality.
It once again approached the roasted crab on the ground, glaring at it fiercely.
It was this fiend, that had clenched onto its tail with its claw.
Looking at the pouting Dan Bao, Qin Lang couldn’t help but chuckle, “It’s alright, we can cook a few crabs to vent our anger.”
“Gudong?”
Dan Bao turned its head, a look of surprise on its face.
This ugly creature, could it be eaten?
“Of course, if prepared properly, crabs can be very delicious,” said Qin Lang. He stopped Dan Bao from trying to bite the roasted crab, “This one won’t do, it’s been burnt by your fire.”
“Young man, do you still want these oranges or not?”
Perhaps it was because Qin Lang had been gone for too long, the elderly man couldn’t help but call out loudly.
“Yes! I’m coming!”
Qin Lang quickly responded, and ran back to the old man.
Halfway there, a spark suddenly flashed across Qin Lang’s mind.
Crab… oranges…
In an instant, he thought about the Food Fight against Tang Xie tomorrow afternoon.
The theme of the Food Fight was ‘exquisite*.
And a dish prepared using crab and orange, could perfectly meet this requirement.
“Old man, could you weigh my selection?” Qin Lang suppressed his internal thoughts and spoke up.
“I’ve already weighed them for you.” The old man chuckled, “rounding off, it’s fifty-two yuan.”
“Here you go.”
After paying, Qin Lang took a bag of heavy oranges from the man’s hand.
Watching the old man trudge off with the goods, Qin Lang cheerfully tousled Dan Bao’s head.
“Dan Bao, you did a good job.”
“Gudu lu?”
Dan Bao cocked its head in confusion.
When did it do something good?
“I’ve thought of the dish for tomorrow’s Food Fight.” Qin Lang laughed mysteriously, then peeled an orange and tore off a slice, handing it to Dan Bao, “Here’s your reward.”
“Ah-”
“Gulu!”
Dan Bao happily took the orange from Qin Lang and tossed it into his mouth. After a few bites, it displayed a satisfied expression.
The oranges grown by the old man were indeed delicious.
After the picnic, Qin Lang and Dan Bao tidied up their things and went to the Starlight Restaurant to cook today’s special dish before dinner service time.
Back at home, the duo practiced the dish they were preparing for tomorrow’s Food Fight several times and then went to bed early.
Time flew by, and the agreed upon time for the Food Fight on the second day soon arrived.
After finishing the steamed bass he cooked for lunch service, Qin Lang bid his farewells to Uncle Luo Hui and rushed off to the Spirit Chef Association with Dan Bao.
Seeing Qin Lang, Tang Xie, who had arrived at the Food Fight venue early, got up and quickly walked over, his eyes burning with competitiveness.
“I’m looking forward to our Food Fight.”
During the previous challenge at Zhen Niu Pavilion, he had lost to Qin Lang.
Even though it was a Food Recommender challenge and the win or loss didn’t matter much, a loss was still a loss.
He was a very competitive person. Now that he had suffered a defeat, he had to win back his honor squarely.
Despite the requirement for the Food Fight being somewhat unexpected, he had put a lot of effort into continuous practice during these two days and was fully prepared for this fight.
This time, he would not lose!
“I feel the same,” Qin Lang nodded seriously.
Dan Bao and he were not taking their opponent lightly. They had practiced the dish they were going to make today three times the previous night!
Dan Bao agreed, nodding its head.
It had tasted the delicious food Qin Lang prepared yesterday.
It was a flavor it had never tasted before.
Even more importantly, it got to eat crab meat. It could finally get its revenge!
Seeing the judges entering and taking their seats one by one, the two men stopped talking and quickly walked to the Competitive Standard Kitchen designated for them by their nameplates.
Just like before, their Food Fight would be decided by the votes of five junior judges.
“I’m Huang Shu, the head judge for this Food Fight,” the woman leading the judges looked at both men, “The main judge and the deputy judge have the same weight. The main judge just takes on more hosting duties.”
“This Food Fight has a limited food theme. The theme is ‘exquisite’.”
“Spiritual chefs, based on your understanding of the topic, please cook the corresponding dishes.”
“After both sides have submitted their ingredients for inspection and they have been delivered to your respective kitchens, according to the junior Food Fight rules, the total cooking time should not exceed two hours,” Huang Shu stated calmly, “Let the timing begin.”
The screen in front of the judges’ seats started the countdown.
Without hesitation, Qin Lang and Tang Xie entered their respective kitchens.
The Food Fight began!
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