22 Tai Shan's Seven Lotus Flower

When arriving home, the first thing that attracts Dilireba is the faint aroma from the kitchen. She hopped over to the kitchen. In the kitchen, Qi Weilan was mixing a bowl with a whisk while uncovering the plastic that is covering the large bowl, while doing all these she was also singing and listening to music on her phone.

"They said after I'm drunk

I didn't care about my image

Opening my arms and free myself

Calling my ex-girlfriend

Begging her to be together again

I pulled her hand

Dragging her to the direction of the KTV

Singing, 'Love you, don't leave me.' "

"Lan jie! I'm back!!!"

Without turning back, Qi Weilan already knows who is back and smiled.

"Xiao Di, there is fruit on the table eat it if you are hungry, the noodles would be ready soon. I'm making buns for dinner tonight."

"Okay!"

Dilireba sit at the table and begin to peel an orange while watching Qi Weilan work.

Soon, the dough for the bun is done.

"Xiao Di, come and help me."

Although Dilireba had no luck for cooking, surprisingly she had a tremendous talent for baking.

That year in high school....

…..

"Xiao Di! Valentine's coming soon who are you planning to give your chocolate to?"

Qi Weilan giggled and hugged Dilireba from the side as a playful smirk can be seen from her face.

Dilireba smiled helplessly and said, "To all my friends. I'm making chocolate this Saturday, want to make them with me?"

Qi Weilan then gave her a look. Dilireba pouted.

"Humph, Lan Jie don't look at me like that! Even though my cooking skills may not be good, that doesn't mean that my baking skills may be as bad! Humph!"

Qi Weilan laughed and said, "Alright, alright, I believe you."

Baking and cooking contains different concepts just like how Dilireba said, one may know how to be a professional culinary chef but not a pastry chef. Only by knowing how to bake and cook very well can one be awarded with the title of the kitchen's conqueror of the household. Each household can only have one conqueror and usually many family members compete for the title, especially when the family owns a restaurant and is competing it as an honor as the one who makes the best food.

Not surprisingly, Qi Weilan's grandmother is the best cook and Dilireba' grandmother is the best chef in their own household. Typically the title was between their own family but because the Qi family and Dilireba's family is so close to each other, Weilan's grandmother and Reba's grandmother is competing for the title of the kitchens conqueror.

But it is unfortunate that Dilireba didn't inherit her grandmother's talent in cooking, not even a tiny bit. Today's purpose to Dilireba's house was for the valentine's practice and the final battle for this year's title.

On the way to Dilireba's house…

"I don't know. Grandmother is better at cooking while Grandmother Qi was better at baking. Based on the results, they are pretty even. Last year, Grandmother had the title while the previous year before that, grandmother Qi had the title. Both of them are fighting fiercely every single year."

"Well, personally, I like when they are competing for the title since the food is always the best qualities, especially when they are going all out. I am really looking forward to the feast!"

And with that they speed up, well actually, Qi Weilan was dragging Dilireba forward for a few seconds before the run back home while Dilireba followed closely behind her.

Dilireba and Qi Weilan arrived at the front door and unlocked it.

"Nainai! Qi Nainai! We are home!"

"Reba? Welian? You girls are just in time. We are in the Kitchen. Your parents are away, so you are just in time to be this year's judge."

When they walked into the kitchen, there are many equipment and ingredients of varieties of different kinds all lay out on the table. From toaster to knives to measuring cups. From fruits to vegetables to seafood to meat.

The girls sat down on the judging table in which they would bring out once a year just for this event. They can't control their excitement and are practically jumping on their chair. After a few minutes, they calm down and get out the mysterious box. The box wasn't really anything special at first glance, but once Dilireba pressed a bottom near the 'keyhole'. Then it started flashing from red to purple to blue in different shades of color. Even though Dilireba and Qi Weilan had seen it so many times they couldn't help but be fascinated by it every year.

People said that when they found Dilireba, she was carrying it with her. Yes, Dilireba was adopted when she was young. Dilireba's parents Qin Yueyue and Wen Shao had found her sitting near the lake, giggling, during one of their travels and brought them back with them once confirming that she is alone. Qin Yueyue was made infertile due to an accident in her youth years and couldn't give birth. She was naturally fond of Dilireba ever since she first saw her. And when Dilireba was found playing near the lake, she had the 'box' with her which deemed as extraordinary and fascinating. And thus, the box had a very special value to Dilireba.

After a while, the 'box' started speaking. "Your highness, what was your command?"

Everyone weren't surprised at the way the box addressed Dilireba and thought it was just programmed that way.

"Thirteen, cooking topic drawing box just like last year."

"As you command."

The box then started shifting itself as strips of paper the exact same size started shuffling itself and went back into the box.

Dilireba stretched her hand and randomly selected the theme for this years competition.

"This year's theme is… Tai Shan's Seven-Lotus Flower."