The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 155 Cooking Competition?

Seeing Yu Zaozao about to pounce on him, Qin Lang couldn't help but take two steps back.

"What...what do you want with me?"

"What else could we do? Plain noodles, of course!" Yu Zaozao exclaimed excitedly, her expression resentful. "Boss Qin, you're not being fair!"

"I came here because I heard so much about you, wanting to try your fried rice, but you switched to plain noodles. Fine, plain noodles it is, but on the third day you just stopped setting up your stall altogether!" She clutched her chest in anguish as she said this.

"Do you know how devastating this is for a 17-year-old girl in the prime of her youth?"

"Do you know how I've survived these past few days without your delicious food?"

"Boss Qin, when can you go back to setting up your stall?"

"I'm sorry..." Qin Lang smiled awkwardly, "I wasn't originally setting up a stall to make money; I just happened to be there and wanted to experience life."

"So, I probably won't be setting up a stall anymore."

"Huh?!" Yu Zaozao's expression grew even more pained. "Don't tell me this. Tell my fans in my live stream."

"Do you know how many fans travel all the way from other places to Bailushan City just to taste your plain noodles?"

As she spoke, Yu Zaozao took out her phone to watch the live comments and handed it to Qin Lang.

As she said, countless voices of condemnation were rolling across the screen at that moment.

Even though the "Happy Party" amusement park has many other delicious foods, it can never make up for the regret of not being able to try Yangchun noodles!

Qin Lang's lips twitched slightly, while Zhao Qian and Cao Dongdong behind him secretly entered the live stream on their phones, chuckling to themselves.

It's really not easy to see Qin Lang get humiliated like this.

"Ahem, so Yu Zaozao, what brings you to Danju City?" Qin Lang abruptly changed the subject. "To taste the tangerines too?"

Yu Zaozao glanced at Qin Lang speechlessly.

This girl's way of changing the subject is really clumsy, but oh well, what can I do when she's the super understanding anchor Yu Zaozao?
“Tasting the tangerines is only part of the reason,” Yu Zaozao shook her head. “The more important reason is actually the Tianhua Prefecture Youth Cooking Competition that will be held in Danju City soon.”

"This is a grand event that gathers the young generation of spirit chefs from all over Huazhou, a triennial event!" Yu Zaozao said, puffing out her meager A cups. "As a well-known food streamer on Niconico, of course I have to be there to broadcast it live!"

Ignoring Yu Zaozao's self-proclaimed status as a "famous food blogger," Qin Lang raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but look at Zhao Qian and Cao Dongdong beside him.

"Tianhua Prefecture Youth Cooking Competition?"

Why hasn't he heard of this?

"I haven't paid much attention to it." Zhao Qian shrugged. "Cooking competitions are only for watching, not for eating. It's better to watch the battle competitions than to watch others cook."

Okay... this is so Zhao Qian.

Qin Lang turned to look at Cao Dongdong beside him.

"You know my cooking skills from before," Cao Dongdong shrugged. "How could I possibly be qualified to pay attention to this kind of competition?"

Okay...that makes a lot of sense.

After going around in circles, Qin Lang looked at Yu Zaozao again and asked, "Could you tell me about this cooking competition?"

"Of course, no problem!" Yu Zaozao chuckled. "The Tianhua Prefecture Youth Cooking Competition is a platform for young people to exchange and compete in cooking skills, held every three years by the Tianhua Prefecture Royal Chef Association."

"Anyone who loves cooking can apply, not just the Royal Chef. The only restriction is that you must be under twenty years old."

"Oh, right!" Yu Zaozao seemed to have thought of something and suddenly looked at Qin Lang and the other two, "Are you three old enough?"

"If there are enough, why don't the three of you sign up too!"

Yu Zaozao had tasted all the food Qin Lang and the other two made when they were setting up their stalls. Qin Lang was even able to easily make the food from other stall owners taste better, which showed that his cooking skills were very high.

Perhaps they can achieve a good ranking.

Originally, Yu Zaozao only planned to livestream from the audience during the competition. However, if Qin Lang and the others could also participate... she could livestream their matches and even interview them in the livestream, which would definitely be more attractive!
The plan goes through!
Yu Zaozao's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and she couldn't resist adding more stakes.

"The Spirit Chef Association attaches great importance to this competition. As long as you can get into the top sixteen, there will be a considerable amount of prize money. If you can get into the top three, there will even be extremely high-grade ingredients as a reward!"

"I think her name was... something like Jane?"

"Rare ingredients?!" Qin Lang and the other two exclaimed at the same time.

"Yes, yes, yes!" Yu Zaozao nodded. "That's it. I'm not too sure about the exact reward amount."

So, do you want to sign up?
-

"Report!"

Lomi punched the air hard and exclaimed excitedly, "I definitely have to sign up for this cooking competition!"

"Lomi, calm down!" Liu Chuang broke out in a cold sweat. "We're from the Rare Animal Hunting Team!"

"If my identity is discovered in public, that would be..."

“No way!” Lomi’s eyes gleamed. “Don’t forget my makeup skills.”

"Don't show your face. I'm confident I won't be recognized if I put on makeup by myself. Even if I stand in front of Qin Lang, he won't recognize me!"

"If you can get into the top sixteen, you'll get a prize!" Lomi patted Liu Chuang on the shoulder. "Do you want to eat today's food again?"

"If we don't have any income, things might get even worse in a few days."

“This…” Liu Chuang hesitated.

“You know my cooking skills.” Lomi snorted, a hint of confidence in her eyes. “I have a chance even if I’m in the top three.”

"When the rare ingredients are awarded, we'll hand them over to the organization..."

"It's perfectly acceptable to exchange it for a new reward!"

Hearing this, the last trace of hesitation in Liu Chuang's eyes vanished. He nodded emphatically and stomped his foot hard. "Let's do it!"

"Wow--"

A scream came from under the tree as the branches and leaves rustled.

"Which rude person threw oranges down from the tree?!"

"Run!"
-

"We've arrived at the hotel!"

Looking at the Tianzhou Hotel in front of him, Cao Dongdong stretched with satisfaction, "I'm going to sleep until I naturally wake up!"

"Sleep, sleep, all you ever do is sleep." Zhao Qian rolled her eyes, then looked at Qin Lang, "Are we really going to participate in the cooking competition?"

"Go ahead!" Before Qin Lang could speak, Cao Dongdong waved his hand dismissively, "Even someone like me who only knows how to make desserts dares to go, what are you afraid of?"

"At worst, it's all about participation."

"Dongdong is right." Qin Lang smiled. "Don't be nervous. Just think of it as going to sample other people's food. Doesn't that make you feel much better?"

"That's true!" Zhao Qian's eyes lit up. "Then let's rest for the night and go to the Royal Spirit Chef Association to register tomorrow? We can also register for travel while we're at it."

"Okay." Qin Lang nodded.

After a long and arduous journey, the three of them arrived in Danju City exhausted. After receiving their room keys, they went back to their respective rooms.

Lying on the hotel bed, Qin Lang slowly closed his eyes.

Now, let him see the reward for completing the eighth painting.

(End of this chapter)