The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 164: The Preliminary Rounds Begin!
In the end, Qin Lang's prepared rice noodles successfully filled everyone's stomachs, with quite a few left over. He packed them up and handed them to Yuan Qi, instructing him to distribute them to the other staff members at the terraced fields.

After Yuan Qi solemnly assured him that the food would be delivered intact and that he would not steal any, Qin Lang watched him leave, then turned to look at the smiling Lu Suzhi.

"It's truly a blessing that you've all come here today," Lu Suzhi said with a touch of emotion and a smile.

Not only did it help everyone in the Fengshou Terraced Fields complete this year's rice harvest faster, but it also allowed them to enjoy such delicious food.

"We only helped out with a few small things." Qin Lang smiled and shook his head. Remembering the purpose of his visit, he casually pulled out a hand-drawn picture from his pocket. "Mr. Lu, have you ever seen a similar elf?"

"Hmm?" Lu Suzhi looked at Qin Lang's painting carefully, then shook his head. "If the staff finds an elf that looks like this in the Fengshou Terraces, they will definitely tell me immediately."

"This is the first time I've ever seen it before."

"Alright." Qin Lang put away the hand-drawn sketch with some disappointment.

He had hoped to find some clues about the ninth painting in the largest rice paddy in Danju City, but it now seemed that it wasn't so simple.

"Are you looking for it?" Lu Suzhi keenly sensed Qin Lang's disappointment. "If it's convenient, you can leave the painting here. I'll show it to the staff tomorrow, and if they find it, I'll contact you immediately."

This is a solution.

Qin Lang's eyes lit up, and he handed the hand-drawn sketch to the other party, saying, "Then I'll trouble Mr. Lu to keep an eye on this matter for me."

Lu Suzhi smiled and shook his head, "It's just a small favor."

It was getting late, so Qin Lang and his two companions didn't linger. They said goodbye and took a taxi back to their hotel.

On the way back, Cao Dongdong rested his chin on his hand, looking out the window with an envious expression on his face. "You two are not far from activating your second star vein."

When will I receive my five badges?

Although he had said he didn't care, Cao Dongdong was still a little disappointed that he was the only one of the three who hadn't received the Abundance Badge.

This sense of loss can only be somewhat alleviated by even getting a free meal!

Seeing Cao Dongdong's slightly sour expression, Qin Lang smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "When we get back to the hotel, I'll teach you how to make rice cake."

Eh?
Cao Dongdong's eyes lit up instantly, "A dessert made of rice?"

“That’s right.” Qin Lang nodded slightly. “After you learn it, you can try again with Mr. Lu Suzhi. If his assessment requirements haven’t changed, I think you should have a good chance of passing.”

"Good brother!" Cao Dongdong put his arm around Qin Lang's shoulder and then turned to look at the driver in the front seat.

"Twice the price, and get back to the hotel as fast as possible!"

"Okay!" the driver replied, stepping on the gas pedal to the floor.

Feeling the amazing push-back sensation and the rapidly receding night view outside the window, Zhao Qian, caught in the crossfire, let out a sharp explosion.

"Cao! Dong! Dong!"
-

"It's been steaming for half an hour, is it ready yet?"

Seeing Cao Dongdong's eager question, Qin Lang smiled and nodded.

Having received Qin Lang's approval, Cao Dongdong opened the steamer lid without hesitation. In the rising steam, the creamy white steamed cake puffed up, adorned with raisins, looking exceptionally tempting.

After Qin Lang cut the steamed cake into squares with a knife, Cao Dongdong, disregarding the heat, carefully picked up a piece while blowing on it, and his eyes lit up after taking a bite.

"Did I really make this?"

“Strictly speaking, this is something you made based on my instructions.” Qin Lang smiled, picked up another piece, took a bite, and nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with it. You can practice it some more when you get back.”

"Other ingredients can be added to the steamed cake, such as corn flour, buckwheat flour, etc. Raisins can also be replaced with red dates and other dried fruits to make steamed cakes with different flavors. The mold can also be changed."

After giving a brief suggestion, Qin Lang saw that Cao Dongdong had taken it to heart and looked thoughtful.

"The taste is indeed very good. It's somewhat similar to the sweet rice cake made by Mr. Lu Suzhi's wife, but it seems to be a bit more delicate." Zhao Qian, who was standing next to her, also tried a piece and then commented with great seriousness.

After finishing her review, she quickly grabbed four or five pieces and put them in a lunchbox. "I'm taking them home for a late-night snack!"

With that, she waved her hand and left with Bubu. "I'll go back and think about it some more."

Cao Dongdong grabbed a piece of steamed cake in each hand, eating as he shook his head and walked out of the room, seemingly having some ideas.

"These guys..." Qin Lang shook his head with a smile, but his expression changed slightly when he saw the plates that had been completely devoured.

"Gulu~"

Egg Baby's voice, tinged with a hint of resentment, rang out from the side.

What about its rice cake?
Qin Lang: “…”

Damn! Those two are such a pain!
After making another steamed cake for Danbao with the remaining ingredients, Qin Lang picked up his phone, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Although he received a brand new badge at the Harvest Terraces, he failed to achieve his original goal.

It will probably take some time to find clues to the ninth painting.

This made him want to try some other methods.

For example... the Yu Ling Chu forum that I used before.

But considering that the spirit in the ninth painting was very likely a rare spirit, Qin Lang hesitated.

When Qin Lang last sought help from the forum, he knew nothing about Zhen Ling.

But now he knows how precious Zhenling is.

The forum is full of Spirit Masters, and many of them know about rare spirits. However, if others discover a rare spirit, they may not share the news with them.

His posts might even indirectly help others obtain rare spirits, thus preventing him from ever completing his ninth painting challenge.

Thinking of this, Qin Lang slowly put his phone down.

He's only been searching for a day now; it's not time to ask for help from forums yet.

Let's talk about it when there's really no other way.

"Egg Baby, it's time for us to go to sleep."

"Glug glug~" Egg Baby looked longingly at the unfinished steamed cake on the plate.

"You can put it in the refrigerator and have it for breakfast tomorrow."

Should I have it for breakfast tomorrow?

Egg Baby's eyes lit up, and he nodded emphatically.

"Gulu!"
-

The next morning, Qin Lang and Dan Bao had just finished eating the freshly steamed rice cake for breakfast when there was a rapid knocking on the door.

The door opened, and standing outside were Cao Dongdong and Zhao Qian.

"Qin Lang, quickly check your preliminary round venue!"

Preliminary rounds divided into sessions?

Qin Lang was stunned for a moment before realizing that the registration for the Tianhua Prefecture Youth Cooking Competition had already closed.

According to the previous rules, after the registration deadline, the preliminary rounds for registered contestants will be announced on the official website, and the preliminary rounds will start simultaneously.

Thinking of this, Qin Lang quickly took out his phone and went to the official website.

"Let me see."

(End of this chapter)