Chapter 153 - 153: Apricot Fragrance
Early the following morning, Qin Lang left the hotel with his two Food Spirits.
To reach their destination, they first needed to take a public bus across half of Bai Lu Mountain City, and then take a cable car up the mountain from the other side.
On the way to the bus station, the two Food Spirits attracted quite a bit of attention from passersby.
Because at this moment, their appearances were somewhat peculiar.
Around Dan Bao, five steel balls irregularly circled under the control of Thought Waves, each following a different flight trajectory.
Spicy, on the other hand, was repeatedly attempting to bite the steel balls.
It appeared to be some sort of play, but in reality, it was a special training that Qin Lang had come up with on the spot for the two Food Spirits.
The multiple steel balls were used to train Dan Bao’s ability to control Thought Waves while being distracted.
And Spicy’s attempts to latch onto the steel balls was a form of exercising its Lucky Bite Mark.
On the way to visit Mrs. Yunqi, they didn’t forget to train the two Food Spirits.
A true master of time management.
A few hours later, riding a cable car to the side of Bai Lu Mountain, Qin Lang saw a rumored garden filled with ginkgo trees.
Perhaps due to the colder temperature halfway up the mountain, the ginkgo leaves, which should have gradually turned yellow only after October, had already completely turned into a golden hue.
In the vast snow, the golden ginkgo forest stood as the most beautiful adornment; even the snow that had accumulated on the branches felt incredibly beautiful.
As Qin Lang approached, the sight of numerous white elves shuttling among the woods entered his view. Their figures disappeared in the snow, elusive to the eyes.
These slender white deer were a species unique to Bai Lu Mountain.
Qin Lang stopped in front of a wooden sign that read “Luxing Garden.”
The two obedient Food Spirits accompanying him also temporarily halted their respective training.
Luxing Garden, they had arrived.
Through the iron gate, a detached wooden house hidden among the ginkgo trees could be seen.
Thinking that a Second-Level Food Recommender, on the same level as Mr. Li Yuantu, resided in there, Qin Lang’s expression couldn’t help but become a little serious.
He rang the doorbell and then waited at the door.
“Ding dong
The doorbell startled a white deer not far away.
It turned its head to glance at Qin Lang, then hopped a few steps and disappeared into the depths of the forest.
But after a short while, it turned around and returned in the direction of Qin Lang.
Next to the white deer now was a woman in a white dress.
Her linen-colored hair was plaited and hung over one shoulder. The end of her hair was draped across her chest, intertwining with the decorations on her dress. In her hand, she held a bamboo basket that seemed to contain something.
She looked up in Qin Lang’s direction, then began to walk towards him, step by step.
Qin Lang recognized her at a glance. The woman was the Second-Level Food Recommender of Bai Lu Mountain City, who he had previously looked up — the vice president of the Bai Lu Mountain City Spirit Chef Association, Mrs. Yunqi.
“Hello, Mrs. Yunqi, I’m from Dongxia City, and I’d like to try and pass your Food Recommender assessment.” As soon as she opened the iron gate, Qin Lang politely stated his intention.
“A Second-Level Food Recommender Badge.”
Yunqi’s voice was very pleasant, like the clear sound of a bubbling spring.
“Here it is.” Already prepared, Qin Lang took out his Distant Light Badge and handed it to her.
Having briefly examined the badge, Yunqi returned it to Qin Lang,”Follow me.”
Qin Lang followed closely behind Yunqi, but a look of surprise soon flashed across his face.
He had originally thought that Yunqi would lead him to the wooden house, asking him to cook dishes according to her requirements.
However, after walking a few steps, Qin Lang realized that their destination was the ginkgo woods.
The white deer that had previously been following Yunqi was now walking not far from Qin Lang.
It didn’t seem to be scared. On the contrary, it was curiously staring at Qin Lang.
Dan Bao and Spicy approached it curiously, attempting to communicate with it.
“Gulu Gudoo-”
“Chaka Baka~”
“Yo~”
It’s unclear whether they can understand each other, but from the way the white deer actively reaches out its head and allows the two food spirits to rub its grey antlers, it seems like a friendly communication.
Even Qin Lang can’t help but turn to look.
There have always been rumors in Bai Lu Mountain City that the white deer from Bai Lu Mountain are human-like, thus they have been regarded as sprites.
Now it seems, the rumors might not be false.
“Can you climb trees?”
Suddenly, Mrs. Yunqi asked, pulling Qin Lang back from his thoughts.
He turns his head to look at Mrs. Yunqi’s back, “Yes.”
“Good.” Mrs. Yunqi stops and hands the basket she’s holding to Qin Lang, “Then, help me pick some Gingko fruits.”
Qin Lang takes the basket, lifts the cloth covering it, only to find it filled with Gongko fruits.
The round, slightly yellowish fruits seemed quite cute.
The basket wasn’t full of Gingko fruits, perhaps Mrs. Yunqi was picking them before Qin Lang arrived.
Now that Qin Lang was here, this job was passed onto him.
Carrying the basket to the nearest Gingko tree, Qin Lang touches the robust tree trunk.
It’s clear, these Gingko trees have seen many years, and the lush branches and spotted bark tell their own stories.
The Gingko fruits within reach have been carefully picked off, only the unreachable branches were laden with the fruits.
With the help from the Food Spirits’ thought wave, the picking process is significantly accelerated.
Meanwhile, Spicy could fly to the places that Qin Lang could not reach, and send string upon string of Gingko fruits to him.
With the busy work of the human and the spirits, the large bamboo basket was soon filled and heavy.
“Mrs. Yunqi, they’re picked.”
“Follow me.” Mrs. Yunqi turns and walks towards the cabin.
Qin Lang jumps down with the basket and quickly follows.
As the cabin door opens, a warm flow of air mixed with the scent of books flows out from inside, driving away the outdoor wind and snow.
Qin Lang curiously surveys everything in the house, his eyes quickly drawn to the wall-to-wall bookshelf full of various books.
His predecessor loved reading, so Qin Lang’s house is filled with all kinds of books.
However, compared to what’s in front of him, those were mere novelties.
“Just put the basket on the tea table.”
“Alright.”
Qin Lang snaps back to reality, placing the bamboo basket on the tea table.
Mrs. Yunqi sits in a chair, pours herself a cup of tea, and then looks at Qin Lang.
Seeing Qin Lang’s gaze on the book-filled shelf, she doesn’t seem surprised.
“My second-level Food Recommender’s exam criteria isn’t high, but isn’t exactly easy either.” She continues slowly, “You need to cook a dish I’m satisfied with, one of the ingredients in the dish should be the Gingko fruits you just picked.”
“Aside from that, there’s no requirement for what other ingredients you can use, however…”
Qin Lang listens attentively.
He knows this “however” is probably the crux of the challenge.
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