The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 227 The Second Food Spirit
As the pork belly was stir-fried until the oil was rendered, Qin Lang continued to stir-fry it while adding fermented soybean paste, ginger slices, and fermented black beans, speaking softly.

“There was a time when I didn’t go home for more than two years, and I was always working in other places.”

"When I got home, my mom made me a plate of twice-cooked pork. She watched me eat while scolding me, saying..."

Qin Lang paused at this point.

"She said even meat knows to be cooked twice, so why don't I know to go home?"

His voice lowered.

"I later learned that she had been diagnosed with a very serious illness at that time."

"But because I've been very busy, she kept it from me, afraid that I would neglect my own affairs because of her."

"By the time I found out, it was too late."

"Gulu..."

A sad expression involuntarily appeared on Danbao's little face.

It sensed its master chef's low spirits and could only rub against him to offer its comfort.

Qin Lang used one hand to rub Danbao, indicating that he was alright.

Having released his pent-up emotions, Qin Lang fell silent and continued cooking.

Sauté the pork belly until thoroughly cooked to allow the flavors to penetrate completely, then add cooking wine, a spoonful of sugar, and chopped chili peppers.

After the aroma is released, add the chopped green garlic and stir-fry until just cooked. Pour a little rice vinegar into the pan from the side.

These familiar steps gave him a fleeting illusion that he was not in the Food Spirit World, but in the familiar kitchen of his home on Earth.

Gradually, as the cooking process drew to a close, light slowly appeared around Qin Lang.

The light was soft and subtle, enveloping him as if draping him in a veil of light, and the brightest part of that veil was none other than the second star vein—the Tianxuan Star Vein—located between Qin Lang's eyebrows.

Qin Lang was completely unaware of all this. He skillfully added rice vinegar and stir-fried the pork until fragrant, and a fresh plate of twice-cooked pork, which had been cooked countless times, was ready to serve.

The next instant, the burning sensation between his brows startled him.

This is…

Before Qin Lang could react, a tremendous suction force swept over his entire body, as if all the power in his body was being greedily absorbed by the Tianxuan Star Vein.

The second Food Spirit... is about to be born?!
-
"Grandpa, Grandma, try the new dish I've come up with!"

Zhao Qian smiled and brought the dishes she had prepared to Zhao Chuan and Liu Suyun.

The two elderly people smiled and picked up their chopsticks to taste the food. Soon, they couldn't help but give Zhao Qian a thumbs up, saying, "Delicious, really delicious."

"Qianqian's cooking skills have improved even more than before," Liu Suyun said with a smile. "It seems you and Qin Lang have gained quite a lot from your trip."

"Yeah, this guy is really good at cooking." Zhao Qian said with a smile, resting her chin on her hand. "By the way, you guys didn't know, did you? Qin Lang won the Tianhua Prefecture Youth Cooking Competition!"

"Really?" Zhao Chuan's eyes widened.

"Of course it's true! Not only that, we even saw the legendary creature in Bailushan City!" Zhao Qian said with a smile as she recounted the various interesting things that happened during their trip to the stunned elderly couple.

"Qin Lang is a real hidden talent," Zhao Chuan said, stroking his beard with a serious expression. "Looks like I'll have to mooch a few more meals from him."

He had a feeling that if he didn't freeload a few more meals now, he might not be able to afford them later.

"You old rascal," Liu Suyun glared at Zhao Chuan, "all you ever do is eat, eat, eat."

“Speaking of which…” Liu Suyun glanced at Qin Lang, “Little Qin just got back today, and I bet he hasn’t even cleaned the house yet. Why don’t we invite him over for dinner?”

Speaking of this, Zhao Qian couldn't help but roll her eyes. "I told you, he said he wanted to go to his house to see his baby."

"I wonder what this guy has been hiding at home..."

"Clang-crack-"

A clear sound came from Qin Lang's house, causing the expressions of Zhao Qian and her family of three to change simultaneously.

"I'll go take a look!" Zhao Qian quickly got up, pushed open the door, and ran towards Qin Lang's house.

"Tuk-tuk-tuk-"

After a series of urgent knocks, the door was opened.

Seeing Danbao open the door, Zhao Qian couldn't help but speak. "Danbao, Qin Lang, he..."

Halfway through her sentence, Zhao Qian had already spotted Qin Lang sitting in the living room.

In front of Qin Lang was another Food Spirit, its head buried in its brilliance.

It was a round, brown food spirit with a tail like a meatball, long ears like red and green chili peppers on its head, and a pair of large, equally red and green eyes.

Above the head of the food spirit was a floating transparent bubble. Inside the bubble, a ball of light green light gathered into the shape of a small chili pepper, occasionally changing from light green to red, and then back to light green.

That is…

Zhao Qian blankly took out her phone and scanned it.

"drop--"

[Type: Spirit Eater]

[Level: Lv1]

【Taste attribute: fresh】

Elemental Attribute: Spirit

[Culinary Techniques: Speeding Up Cooking]

[Combat Skills (excluding self-learned combat skills): (Mental) Fearful Gaze]

[Experience Value: 0/100]

Upon hearing the sudden sound of the spirit-scanning device, Qin Lang and the spirit that had been engrossed in its work both looked up and gazed in their direction.

"Why are you here?" Qin Lang asked, somewhat surprised.

"I heard some noise over here, so I came to check it out," Zhao Qian said, pointing to the Food Spirit that had lowered its head again to show off its food.

"Your second food spirit?"

"If there isn't a third Spirit Chef here, this is probably it." Qin Lang's gaze returned to the little guy, a hint of helpless exasperation in his eyes.

The second time.

Like Egg Baby, his second Food Spirit was also born in this unexpected way, giving him a pleasant surprise.

But no matter what...

He finally got a second Food Spirit.

Is twice-cooked pork the origin of this dish...?

Qin Lang's gaze fell on the little guy's big ears, one red and one green.

Red peppers are red chili peppers, and green peppers are green chili peppers.

However, he had scanned this little guy earlier than Zhao Qian. This food spirit, which clearly had the characteristics of a chili pepper, had the elemental attribute of umami.

Noticing Qin Lang's gaze, the little guy, who had finished the last bit of side dish on his plate, looked up.

"Chapter?"

Their eyes met, and Qin Lang smiled.

"From now on, I'll call you Lala."

"Chapter!" Lala could also feel the close connection between herself and Qin Lang, and nodded excitedly.

"Gurgle~" Egg Baby curiously came closer, looking at its newborn companion with affection in its eyes, but also a bit nervous about the unknown.

Until a warm hand gently covered its body.

"This is Egg Baby. From now on, the three of us will be companions."

"Chaka?" Lala looked Egg Baby up and down, her gaze finally settling on Egg Baby's big tail.

To Qin Lang and Zhao Qian's astonishment, Lala opened her mouth, revealing two small tiger teeth, and "woof!" bit down on Danbao's tail.

"Gurgle...gurgle?!"

(End of this chapter)