Chapter 5: Zhou Qing, the Eater of Omens

"I feel like I've forgotten something..."

Inside the room, Qin Lang, who had been tidying up the scattered clothes to avoid leaving a bad impression on his landlord, stopped his movements and wore a pensive expression.

"That's it!"

His eyes lit up as he suddenly remembered the poorly functioning range hood in the kitchen.

Today he had made potato-stewed beef, where a lackluster hood was of little consequence. However, if he were to prepare dishes requiring heavy oil and salt in the future, a subpar range hood would significantly detract from the cooking experience.

"Since Grandpa Zhao is coming over, I should bring this up with him."

"It would be wonderful if Grandpa Zhao could help me fix it."

Putting down the clothes he hadn't finished organizing, Qin Lang walked quickly toward the kitchen.

***

"This taste..."

Zhao Chuan dipped his finger into the sauce, moving faster and faster. Eventually, he simply picked up the plate and drank directly from it.

The salty, savory flavor of the oyster sauce blended perfectly with the unique aroma of the minced garlic. Drinking the sauce straight might have been a bit cloying, but the lingering hint of sweetness from the lettuce acted like the final touch, removing the greasiness just right. Even drinking the sauce alone, Zhao Chuan felt immensely satisfied.

"Truly delicious..." Zhao Chuan sighed, only then belatedly remembering the purpose of his visit to Qin Lang's home.

His gaze immediately shifted to the bowl that had held the potato-stewed beef next to him.

If it wasn't the plate he just finished, then that peculiar, enticing aroma could only have come from the dish that had been in this bowl.

Qin Lang had used the sauce from the potato-stewed beef to mix with his rice, but since the meat had been stewed until it was completely tender and soft, the sauce was quite viscous.

At this moment, some dark brown sauce residue could still be seen on the inner walls of the large bowl, with a thin layer remaining at the bottom.

With an excited heart and trembling hands, Zhao Chuan lifted the bowl and brought his entire face up to it.

He took a deep sniff of the fragrance inside, and his eyes suddenly widened.

There was no mistake this time.

This was exactly the scent!

"By the way, Grandpa Zhao, the kitchen's..."

Qin Lang, who had walked quickly to the kitchen doorway, stopped abruptly, staring dumbfounded at Zhao Chuan.

From where he stood, it looked as if Zhao Chuan had buried his entire face into the large bowl of potato-stewed beef.

This...

Qin Lang couldn't help but swallow hard.

Did he... come at a bad time?

***

Hearing Qin Lang's voice, Zhao Chuan jerked his head up as if struck by electricity. Startled, his hand shook violently, and the large bowl slipped from his grasp.

He panicked and lunged to catch it, but his excessive force sent the bowl flying into the air, only for it to land with a "plop" upside down on his head.

"Grandpa Zhao!!!"

Qin Lang was shocked. He hurried forward to help Zhao Chuan remove the bowl, looking at the man whose face and head were splattered with the remaining sauce. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Are you hurt?"

"...No." Zhao Chuan shook his head, subconsciously licking the sauce that had dripped onto his lips. "Qin Lang, you have quite a lot of kitchen utensils here... how do you use them?"

The corner of Qin Lang's mouth twitched violently.

"Grandpa Zhao, why don't you go back and clean up first?"

"That... that's a good idea." Realizing the embarrassing scene, Zhao Chuan felt his old face flush. Not wanting to linger, he hurried out the door.

Once he left Qin Lang's house, Zhao Chuan licked his lips again, unable to stop himself from smacking them in appreciation.

Though he had lost face, it was well worth it.

With this thought, Zhao Chuan opened his own front door.

A moment later, a roar erupted from inside.

"You old rascal, take this!"

Vaguely hearing the shouts and screams from next door, Qin Lang couldn't help but shrink back.

It looked like Grandpa Zhao wouldn't be coming back over.

After quickly cleaning up the dishes in the kitchen, Qin Lang glanced at the range hood and sighed.

Forget it, he would talk to Grandpa Zhao about the range hood next time.

With nothing to do in the afternoon, Qin Lang decided to head straight to find the Food Critic, Zhou Qing.

This critic was likely the least influenced by Pang Long, and he hoped everything would go smoothly and that he would earn the man's approval.

One did not need an appointment for the Food Critic assessment; the addresses of all Food Critics were publicly listed on the Imperial Spirit Chef Association's official website.

One simply had to visit the critic's address and pass their test to receive the corresponding token—the Food Critic Badge.

After tidying up his appearance, Qin Lang followed the address he had found and soon arrived in front of a small villa with a garden.

Peering inside through the fence, Qin Lang took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell.

"Ding-dong—"

Following the chime, the door of the villa slowly opened.

Qin Lang braced himself, but his eyes flashed with disappointment when he saw who stepped out.

It was not Zhou Qing, but a middle-aged man.

Instead of opening the gate, the man looked at Qin Lang through the fence and asked, "Are you the chef here to visit the Food Critic Zhou Qing?"

***

"Yes," Qin Lang nodded. "My name is Qin Lang. I have come specifically to visit Mr. Zhou Qing, hoping to earn his approval."

"That won't be possible right now." The man shook his head. "I am his son. The weather is beautiful today, so he has gone fishing by the river."

Not at home?

Qin Lang frowned slightly. "May I ask when Mr. Zhou Qing will return?"

"Probably in four hours." The man glanced at Qin Lang. "If you are willing to wait, that's fine."

Wait four hours...

A thought flickered in Qin Lang's mind.

"Could you tell me where Mr. Zhou Qing is fishing?"

***

The Xiayun River was the only river within Dongxia City. At its widest point, it spanned over five hundred meters and was rich in aquatic resources.

It nourished Dongxia City and the surrounding towns, sustaining generations of people who lived there.

On a path without railings along the riverbank, an elderly man with a refined appearance and a straw hat sat on a small folding stool, watching his fishing rod in silence.

Suddenly, the float on the surface moved slightly.

The old man lifted his head sharply, a glint of sharpness appearing in his cloudy eyes.

The movement of the float became more pronounced, and the old man skillfully began to play the fish. Feeling the resistance on the other end of the line weaken, he waited for the perfect moment and gave a sharp tug.

"Splash—"

A carp leaped out of the water, sending ripples scattering in the sunlight.

"A four-pound carp." Lifting the line to weigh it, the old man unhooked the fish and tossed it into his keepnet, a smile touching his eyes.

However, the next moment, his smile vanished.

Looking at the young man sitting just two or three meters away, quietly holding his own fishing rod, a bewildered expression appeared on his face.

Where did this kid come from?

"Young man, you..."

"Shh!" Qin Lang raised an index finger to his lips in a "don't speak" gesture and lowered his voice.

"Don't scare my fish away."

The old man glanced at the position of the boy's float, then back at the boy, speechless.

You kid... are you fishing in the spot I baited?