Chapter 199: The Hidden Sheep

Translator: 549690339

“Oh? The dish Qin Lang is preparing is called ‘Fish Belly Hidden Lamb’?”

Xi Chen’s gaze shifted to Zhao Wenchang at his side, her expression taking on a tentative curiosity, “Have you tasted it before?”

“Yes! It’s the most delicious dish I’ve ever had!”

Zhao Wenchang declared earnestly.

The Food Recommenders neither agreed nor disagreed with this statement.

They could see that Zhao Wenchang was a recent recruit to the Spirit Chefs, so it wasn’t unusual for a novice to find Qin Lang’s dishes the most delicious given his limited exposure.

On the other hand, Xi Chen seemed interested, smiling at Zhao Wenchang, “You seem very familiar with Qin Lang, how long has he been in Qingyang City?”

“He’s been here for five days.” Zhao Wenchang answered honestly.

“Has he demonstrated any other culinary skills since arriving in Qingyang City?” Xi Chen continued to press on.

Mr. Zong Nian and other three Food Recommenders visibly perked up, choosing to sit back and observe.

In the test process, it’s a good thing to have more understanding of the person being tested.

Although the past experiences of Food Recommenders can be checked through Spirit Chef Badges, this only includes their record in Association sanctioned Food Fights, Spirit Battles and competition history.

“Yes, he has.” Zhao Wenchang nodded.

Though he was not sure why Ms. Xi Chen was interested in these details, Zhao Wenchang had a vague feeling that it might help Qin Lang, so he openly admitted, “Qin Lang came to Qingyang City because I asked him to help my family’s noodle shop.”

“Noodle shop?” Xi Chen blinked in surprise.

Jiang Zhan, who had been silent by her side, chuckled, “Is it Zhao’s Noodle House? I occasionally go there for breakfast, I’m quite familiar with your father.”

“Yes, it is.” Zhao Wenchang nodded, briefly explaining the grudge between his family’s noodle shop and Liu’s Noodle House.

“Liu’s Noodle House sent Jihe to the competition. In desperation, I had to ask Qin Lang for help, hoping he would represent Zhao’s Noodle House in the contest.”

“Jihe?” Xi Chen turned to look at the others.

The three First-Level Food Recommenders, were also the judges of the city-level cooking competition where Jihe was named the champion. This was determined by them and the other First-Level Food Recommenders.

Moreover, Mr. Zong Nian was the one who presented the award to Jihe.

The cooking competition in Qingyang City took place half a month ago. The four of them were familiar with Jihe.

They didn’t expect a casual inquiry to involve the newly-crowned city-level cooking champion.

A contest between Jihe and Qin Lang, huh…

For this Food Fight which was not recorded in the Spirit Chef’s experience, the four Food Recommenders simultaneously became interested.

“Jihe is quite proficient in making noodles.” Xi Chen’s mind flashed a vision of the Clear River Pufferfish Noodles made by Jihe, “Who won in the end?”

“Qin Lang won three to two!” Zhao Wenchang confessed, puffing up his chest with pride.

Even till this day, when Zhao Wenchang thought about how Qin Lang had helped secure victory for his family’s noodle house, he still felt a surge of excitement.

“Hmm?” Xi Chen’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the other Food Recommenders also showed surprise.

Jihe lost in a noodle competition?

“Did Jihe serve his Clear River Pufferfish Noodles?” Li Yunxi suddenly asked, “If not, he might have been careless.”

The other Food Recommenders nodded slightly, obviously thinking that this explanation was more reasonable.

Perhaps Jihe, unaware of Qin Lang’s true capabilities, didn’t fully utilize his skills in their contest?

“No, Jihe served his Clear River Pufferfish Noodles! But he still didn’t win against Qin Lang’s crab roe soup dumplings!” Zhao Wenchang shook his head.

“Qin Lang has previously demonstrated his skill in noodle dishes in a Food Fight.” Mr. Zong Nian, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.

He was referring to the Food Fight in Bai Lu Mountain City where Qin Lang used Scallion Oil Noodles to compete against Liu Tianchen. Because it was conducted within the Association, that Food Fight was recorded.

“I didn’t expect Qin Lang to be so good at noodle dishes.” Xi Chen laughed, “But even though his skills in noodle dishes are so high and the combination of noodles and mutton is obviously higher, he didn’t choose to test with Xu Fang who is with noodle dishes…”

“Does he think his seafood and wild specialties are stronger?”

“You’ve got me intrigued about Qin Lang’s dish, the Fish Belly Hidden Lamb.” Jiang Zhan cheerfully glances in the direction of the kitchen.

“The name itself is quite interesting, isn’t it?”

Qin Lang seasons the diced ingredients with salt and cooking wine and stir-fries them. Then, he moves onto the next step.

Filling.

‘Fish Belly Hidden Lamb’ refers to stuffing mutton inside a fish’s belly and then cooking them together.

Such a dish is referred to as a two-in-one dish.

The deboned carp is like a pocket with a zipper. Qin Lang’s task is to stuff the stir-fried diced ingredients inside it.

After removing the scallion and ginger used for marinating, Qin Lang patiently starts the stuffing process with a spoon.

Although it’s called ’fish belly’, the deboned carp’s spine and back also have spaces. Thus, the actual area available for stuffing is greater than imagined.

The carp’s body swells gradually as the stir-fried diced ingredients completely fill its inside.

“Gurgle-”

“Chuckle-”

The two pets look eagerly at the leftover diced ingredients after the stuffing is completed, swallowing their saliva uncontrollably.

Seeing their greedy expressions, Qin Lang smiles helplessly, “You two can share it.”

Getting the permission, the two pets cheerfully pounce on the leftovers. Just having the unfinished diced ingredients from the cooking process has them appear extremely satisfied.

“I exchanged extra ingredients for the Fish Belly Hidden Lamb. I’ll cook it for you when you go back tonight.” Qin Lang announces this good news while two pets are cheering. He then takes out some pork caul fat and tightly wraps the entire carp in it.

The pig caul fat helps shape the fish and gives it flavor when it melts during the subsequent baking process. The fat permeates into the fish, adding a new aroma and further enhancing the taste just enough.

Once the carp is wrapped with pig caul fat, Qin Lang takes kitchen aluminium foil to wrap the carp in another layer and places it on a baking tray.

Finally, it’s put into the oven.

“Chuckle!”

My turn!

After greedily finishing off the final big mouthful, LaLa flies toward Qin Lang, preparing for the final acceleration process.

After setting the oven temperature to 190 degrees Celsius, Qin Lang pats LaLa.

“Half an hour.”

LaLa nods its head in understanding. Then, an invisible force surges from its body and envelops the Fish Belly Hidden Lamb in the oven, wrapped in layers of aluminium foil.

Soon, the half-hour acceleration is complete.

As Qin Lang once again opens the oven, a strong aroma that even the layers of foil cannot block, wafts out from the oven.

The aroma includes the rich fragrance of pork fat and the freshness of fish. It also faintly carries the unique taste of mutton and the lively flavor of shiitake mushrooms and bamboo shoots.

Qin Lang puts on gloves and carefully takes out the Fish Belly Hidden Lamb and places it on a plate. He uses a small knife to unwrap the foil, revealing the golden roasted carp inside.

The overwhelming aroma makes one person and two spirits swallow their saliva simultaneously.

Fish Belly Hidden Lamb, completed!

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Content for this chapter’s egg at the end:

[Fish Belly Hidden Lamb]