Chapter 197: Challenge

Translator: 549690339

“It’s my first time participating in a fun competition.”

On the way back, Zhao Wenchang couldn’t help repeatedly looking at the third-place commemorative medal they had won, a silly smile playing on his face.

“It’s my second time.” Qin Lang yawned and stretched lazily. “It was relaxing, next I should focus my efforts on gearing up for Mr. Zong Nian’s test.”

“Oh yes!” Zhao Wenchang’s expression immediately turned serious. “I was so caught up in the fun competition, I completely forgot about such a crucial matter.”

“Will the Misty Adventure Race affect your preparation?” He looked at Qin Lang with a hint of worry.

“Worrying about it now is a bit too late, isn’t it?” Qin Lang said in amusement, patting Zhao Wenchang’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, I already have an idea of what dish to prepare for Mr. Zong Nian’s test.”

“So all that’s left to do now is practice, so I can bring out the best during the actual test.” After a brief pause, Qin Lang continued, “It shouldn’t take more than seven days to prepare. I should be ready to visit Mr Zong Nian in two days.”

“So soon?” Zhao Wenchang blinked in surprise.

If you knew that I didn’t even prepare before going for Ms. Yunqi’s examination, you wouldn’t be so surprised.

Qin Lang grumbled inwardly.

Soon, Zhao Wenchang’s attention quickly shifted from Qin Lang’s plan to visit again in two days, to another matter.

“You’ve already decided on the dish to present?” Zhao Wenchang swallowed and asked, “How about… I stay over to help taste-test?”

“Sure.” Qin Lang smiled, “But during the practice stage, I won’t be using the finest ingredients.”

For the real visit, he planned to use the ingredients he redeemed with his cooking competition points to improve his odds of passing.

Such ingredients should not be wasted during practice, otherwise even he would feel a pang of regret.

“I’m not picky!” Zhao Wenchang said without hesitation.

No matter the quality of the ingredients, the taste of a dish cooked by Qin Lang can never be bad!

Time flew and two days later arrived.

Early in the morning, Qin Lang brought along the ingredients he’d redeemed in advance with his cooking competition points, and met up with Zhao Wenchang to catch a ride to the Misty Mountain Villa.

He had already informed Mr. Zong Nian and the other three first-level Food Recommenders via email the day before about the time of his examination.

So, when they arrived at the Misty Mountain Villa once again, not only did they meet Mr. Zong Nian, but also Jiang Zhan, Li Yunxi and Xi Chen, the three Food Recommenders.

They specialize in mutton, seafood, and mountain delicacies respectively.

“Good day, Mr. Zong Nian, and to all three Food Recommenders.” Qin Lang greeted politely. Zhao Wenchang, who stood at his side, behaved as meek as a quail before these important figures.

Jiang Zhan, a genial old man smiled broadly at Qin Lang, his eyes finally resting upon the ingredients that Qin Lang brought with him.

“Highland Spotted Sheep from Song Sheng Province? And the finest lamb brain meat?”

Jiang Zhan, recognizing the lamb meat which required cooking competition points to exchange, laughed heartily. “I heard Mr. Zong Nian insisted that I should be one of the three you choose. It appears I’m in for a treat today.”

“I will do my best to cook it well.” Qin Lang nodded earnestly, expressing his determination.

“The fish is fine.”

Over at the side, Li Yunxi, who was on the quieter side in his middle years, focused his attention on the large carp brought by Qin Lang. After a brief comment, he remained silent.

“Only mushrooms and bamboo shoots…” Xi Chen sighed after seeing the mountain delicacies prepared by Qin Lang, and like magic, produced a pack of pale yellow mushrooms. “Would you like to try this new type of mushroom I recently discovered? It’s delicious!”

“I’ll definitely try it next time.” Qin Lang’s mouth twitched slightly as he politely declined.

He didn’t want to end up in the hospital before he even started cooking.

“Then give it your best shot. If your dish meets my standards… I’ll give you this pack!” Xi Chen offered the pack of mushrooms, a pained expression on his face.

Mr. Zong Nian and the other two first-level Food Recommenders barely managed to keep a straight face.

“Ahem.” Mr. Zong Nian coughed lightly, indicating that the conversation should end there.

He looked calmly at Qin Lang, “1 see you’re fully prepared for the test.”

“Yes.” Qin Lang’s expression turned serious, “I am ready.”

“Let’s begin then,” Mr. Zong Nian gestured towards the kitchen. “If you can prepare a dish that satisfies all three of them plus me, you will receive my second-level Food Recommender Badge of Misty Mountain.”

“If you fail, you will not be eligible to participate in my Food Recommender test for the next three months.”

“I understand.” Qin Lang took a deep breath, nodded slightly towards Mr. Zong Nian, and then, picking up the ingredients, made his way towards the kitchen.

Dan Bao and Spicy followed closely, expressions of seriousness etched across their small faces.

After Qin Lang entered the kitchen, Zhao Wenchang shifted his gaze back and resumed his silence.

He blinked when he saw the four experts take their seats, found a spot himself and quietly followed Wei Qiu’s lead in keeping silent.

I wonder if Qin Lang can pass the test…

He thought to himself, quickly affirming his thought.

He absolutely can!

Over the past two days, he had tasted several iterations of Qin Lang’s dish called Fish Belly Hidden Lamb, and it was prepared for this test.

Even with just the ordinary ingredients bought from the Food Material Market, the taste had astounded him. Now that premium ingredients from the points exchange were being used, the taste would undoubtedly be elevated to another level.

If such a dish failed to pass Mr. Zong Nian’s test, he couldn’t even imagine what kind of dish would.

Here’s to you, Qin Lang. Good luck!

Zhao Wenchang couldn’t help but direct his gaze towards the direction of the kitchen again, quietly cheering Qing Lang on in his heart.

“Are you two ready?”

Inside the kitchen, after setting the ingredients out, Qin Lang turned to the pair.

“Grunt!”

I’m ready!

“Cackle!”

Me too!

Reflecting on the practice sessions over the last two days with Qin Lang, the pair nodded in agreement.

After cooking the Fish Belly Hidden Lamb together several times, they’ve reached a high level of tacit collaboration to efficiently prepare the dish.

“Let’s get started then.” Qin Lang took a deep breath, grabbed the live wriggling carp from the water bag, stunned it with the back of the blade, and started preparing it.

Fish Belly Hidden Lamb, as the name suggests, was about stuffing mutton inside the belly of a fish.

The most important aspect of this dish was to debone the whole fish.

Only by successfully deboning the fish – removing the main bone and rib bones without damaging the outer flesh and without cutting open the belly, as well as removing the gills and guts, could the mutton then be filled into the carp.

Scaling the fish, removing the gills, puncturing the mouth to rotate and remove the innards, and finally inserting a long knife from the mouth of the fish to gradually separate the main bone.

Cutting the connection between the head and main bone at the gills and gently removing the main bone after breaking the tail end of the fish completed the deboning process.

The trio took a collective sigh of relief.

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