CH 11

“What’s that smell?”

The little fish sitting on the side suddenly spoke. He was a merfolk, with a sense of smell many times more sensitive than Qing Shu and the assistant.

Indeed, Qing Shu and the assistant looked puzzled. “Do you smell something? We haven’t smelled anything.”

The little fish didn’t answer them. He closed his eyes and used every cell to capture the scent molecules in the air. After a few seconds, he spoke, “Such a strange smell, I’ve never smelled it before, but… it’s so fragrant! It smells so good!”

Upon hearing this, Qing Shu and the assistant hurriedly sniffed around. At that moment, Bai Xianzhi in the kitchen uncovered the pot, and the aroma of stuffed cabbage with pork and steamed egg with minced pork rushed out, straight into the noses of Qing Shu and the assistant.

“We smell it! It’s a bit salty, and seems to have a hint of egg flavor, but it’s not quite eggs. There’s also a very peculiar fragrance, in any case, it smells really good! So fragrant!”

Qing Shu swallowed her saliva and continued looking at the camera. “The fragrance seems to be coming from the kitchen. Could it be that the owner is cooking something delicious?”

Her gaze collided with that of the little fish and the assistant, and they all saw surprise in each other’s eyes.

Qing Shu: “Did the smell really come from the kitchen?”

Little Fish: “Definitely, my nose can’t be wrong!”

Assistant: “But… Can the owner of Three Thousand Food House cook something so delicious? Could it be that the illusion has already started?”

Qing Shu’s expression turned serious, and she gave a signal to the little fish, who understood and hummed softly.

In the live chat:

【It’s so intriguing! What kind of smell makes Xiao Shu and the little fish find it so fragrant? I really want to know!】

【The little fish started singing, and he’s singing in reverse. It seems like the little fish suspects that the owner is using illusions!】

【Definitely illusions! I’m a long-time fan of Xiao Shu, and after hundreds of live broadcasts, I’ve never seen her show such a blissful expression. Not even during her performance at the TimeMoon Hotel. Could the food at Three Thousand Food House be even better than TimeMoon Hotel’s?】

【Like! That’s a reasonable argument! I never expected the new owner of Three Thousand Food House to be this kind of person. Illusions are explicitly prohibited by the Temporal Management Bureau. We should call them right away!】

【It’s useless. Three Thousand Food House is located within a spatial rift, and the spatial rift is a lawless place. The Temporal Management Bureau doesn’t have the authority to intervene there!】

【Damn, the Divine Race is different indeed. They opened a restaurant in a spatial rift where no one can control them. I’ve decided to boycott Three Thousand Food House for life!】

【Definitely boycotting for life!】

【Boycotting for life +1】

【+2】

…

At this moment, Qing Shu couldn’t spare any attention for the live chat. Her mind was consumed by one thought: No way! It can’t be an illusion!

The ethereal voice of the little fish’s song echoed in her ears, and the scent at her nose didn’t disappear. Instead, it grew stronger and stronger.

So, Three Thousand Food House doesn’t use illusions? Is the food made by the owner really delicious?

How is that possible?

Qing Shu found it even harder to believe than if the owner had used illusions. Who didn’t know that the food at Three Thousand Food House was the worst? But now she was being told that the food at Three Thousand Food House was delicious. Who could believe that?

It was simply outrageous!

But the fragrance was right at her nose. The reality and her perception clashed to the extreme, to the point of complete contradiction.

No, this wasn’t yet a fact. The dishes hadn’t been served, and she hadn’t tasted them yet, so the taste of the dishes was still uncertain!

Just then, Bai Xianzhi walked out carrying a tray and placed a plate of stuffed cabbage with pork and steamed egg in front of the three of them. He spoke warmly, “Please enjoy, and two more dishes will be served shortly.”

As Bai Xianzhi’s figure disappeared at the kitchen door, Qing Shu, the little fish, and the assistant made surprisingly synchronized movements. They quickly picked up their chopsticks, swiftly picked up a stuffed cabbage roll, took a bite, and hot, delicious juices burst in their mouths.

“Huhuhuhuhu—” The three of them opened their mouths, fanning their hands near their mouths. Someone’s hand accidentally bumped into the camera, causing it to tilt and capture the entire table and the three of them. The viewers in the live chat saw their comical synchronized actions.

【Hahaha, after all this time, it’s the first time I’ve seen Xiao Shu mess up like this. That ferocious expression, simply… hahaha!】

【These three are too funny! Their actions are all the same. I think I’m watching a comedy show!】

【…Am I the only one who noticed that even when they were burned, they didn’t want to spit out what was in their mouths?】

【I noticed too. I still remember when Xiao Shu was burned by grilled meat at the TimeMoon Hotel. She spat it out immediately and told the viewers that the food was delicious but oral health and safety were more important…】

【…………】

【……………….】

【…So, in fact… this stuffed cabbage roll is even more delicious than the grilled meat at the TimeMoon Hotel!】

【!!!!!!!!】

【!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!】

【!!! How is that possible! That’s supposed to be the TimeMoon Hotel! That’s supposed to be Three Thousand Food House!!】

【It should be impossible, but look at Xiao Shu, the little fish, and the assistant’s expressions…】

The three people in the camera seemed to have recovered. They quickly swallowed the food in their mouths and couldn’t wait to take another bite. The scene repeated, and they exclaimed in delight, showing no signs of learning from their previous experience.

Online viewers: …………

【…Is the food at Three Thousand Food House really that delicious?】

【I don’t know if it’s good or not, but I know I’m getting hungry. I’m going to cook an egg right away!】

【Me too! These three are toxic. The food must be incredibly fragrant!】

【So, that’s the stuffed cabbage roll? It looks so delicious! Can I go to Three Thousand Food House this afternoon?】

【The little fish stopped singing. What if it’s an illusion?】

【Silly! Illusions can never deceive merfolk. Just look at the little fish’s expression, and you’ll know it’s definitely not an illusion!】

Immersed in the stuffed cabbage with pork, Qing Shu suddenly remembered something after eating two rolls. She quickly picked up the last remaining stuffed cabbage roll from the plate and placed it in front of the camera. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. “Hello, everyone! It’s Xiao Shu, who has eaten two stuffed cabbage rolls, coming back! Let’s take a close look at this stuffed cabbage with pork.”

“…The cabbage is cooked until soft, soaked in an unknown sauce. And this slightly dark thing, although it looks strange, has a slightly salty taste and an indescribable fragrance. I feel like I could just drink this sauce alone!”

“…Next, let’s see what’s inside,” Xiao Shu took a bite of the roll with excitement, enjoying the chewing and swallowing. “Everyone, take a look. Inside the cabbage, it’s filled with pork and some other vegetables. Just looking at the colors makes you feel hungry, and when you taste it, it’s absolutely stunning.”

“The first thing you notice is the texture of the pork, followed by a strong fragrance that Xiao Shu has never smelled before. It’s intense, but not unpleasant, and it directly hits my brain. Then, as I continue to chew, the other vegetable wrapped in the pork emerges. It’s crisp and adds a different yet perfect texture to the pork. I also encountered the slightly harder part of the cabbage, and it’s truly delicious!”

After finishing the roll on her chopsticks in a few bites, Qing Shu looked at the camera. “I have never encountered so many ingredients in one dish. Each ingredient has its own characteristics and they merge perfectly together. The moment it enters the mouth is a beautiful journey for the taste buds and the palate!”

In the live chat:

【Wuwuwu, please stop! You wicked person! I’m drooling all over the place!】

【Why did I see this when I’ve run out of pocket money?!!】

【Immediately! Right away! I need to go to Three Thousand Food House at warp speed!】

【Is this really stuffed cabbage with pork? After giving up pork and cabbage from Three Thousand Food House, I can have them again!】

【Who is this divine owner? They can make such delicious food!!】

【If pork and cabbage are this delicious, what about the other dish? How does it taste?】

Qing Shu turned the camera towards another dish on the table. Brown minced meat was spread over something tender and yellow. The sauce dripped from the minced meat onto the yellow item, arousing an inexplicable appetite. She leaned in and sniffed, “A salty and fragrant smell, with a hint of egg. I don’t know if it’s fried rice with egg or steamed egg, but regardless, I’ll taste it first.”

After speaking, Qing Shu picked up a spoon nearby and cautiously scooped from the middle. The tender and yellow thing with the aroma of egg lightly quivered on the spoon, while the brown minced meat was on the other end of the spoon. The two elements, originally distinct, merged together due to the dark sauce.

“I…” Qing Shu’s throat rolled, “will taste it.”

Before the word “taste” even faded away, the spoon was already in her mouth. Instantly, Qing Shu closed her eyes and sighed in front of the camera, “It’s so delicious! Smooth and tender, with the fragrance of eggs. With just a sip, it bursts open in the mouth and slides easily down the throat. The minced meat on top is also delicious, adding a place to chew in this smooth and tender dish. After a gentle chew, the minced meat also disperses. After swallowing, the flavors of meat and egg blend together in the mouth. It’s truly amazing!”

Qing Shu opened her eyes, unable to wait, and took another spoonful. The same went for the little fish and the assistant after Qing Shu’s second spoonful. They each took a spoonful of the steamed egg and brought it to their mouths. Thus, the scene of them competing for food appeared once again before the online viewers.

【Envious!! Why am I not there in person!!】

【Whimper! I want to eat it! Why did I see this when I’ve run out of pocket money!】

【Right now! Immediately! I need to go to Three Thousand Food House at warp speed!】

【Is it really that delicious? The food at Three Thousand Food House?】

【How can pork and cabbage be so delicious! What’s the other dish like? How does it taste? Want to eat!!”】

【”I really want to know what it tastes like. I’ve never seen something so soft and tender!”】

【”Crying out loud! I’m booking a ticket to the spatial rift right away. I must go to Three Thousand Food House today!!”】

【”I want to ask Xiao Shu if she needs an assistant. I’ll work without pay!”】

【”I’m different. I want Xiao Shu to ask the owner if Three Thousand Food House needs anyone, I don’t need a salary, just three meals provided!”】

【”Wow! The person above is scheming. Xiao Shu, please ask for me too!”】

In the midst of the food competition, Qing Shu saw these comments and her eyes lit up. In fact, she was also feeling a bit tempted.

1TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ”