Chapter 3: The Unsettling Scent

“Tch! You brat...”

Just as Cao Dongdong was about to say something, Qin Lang decisively pressed the hang-up button.

Gazing at the list of recommended food critics on his phone, Qin Lang’s eyes finally settled on the image of a lean, stern-faced elderly man.

First-tier food critic: Zhou Qing.

Among the seven first-tier food critics in Dongxia City, he was the most senior. Online reviews described him as rigid and strict.

It was said that he was the toughest food critic to win over in Dongxia City.

But precisely because of this, it was unlikely he would stoop to collude with someone like Pang Long.

Perhaps, this would be an excellent choice.

Checking the time, Qin Lang closed his phone and rose to head toward the kitchen.

It was time to prepare lunch.

He had found a piece of high-quality beef at the morning market and planned to simply make braised beef with potatoes, accompanied by lettuce with oyster sauce.

One meat dish, one vegetable dish, balanced and nutritious.

After rinsing the rice and setting it to cook, Qin Lang took out the beef and placed it on the cutting board. In mere seconds, he sliced it into perfectly shaped cubes.

Fresh beef was much harder to cut than frozen, but under Qin Lang’s knife, each piece was square and uniform, differing not even by a fraction.

An excellent chef often harbored a hint of perfectionism.

He dropped the beef into cold water, adding scallions, ginger, and cooking wine, then brought it to a boil over high heat.

While waiting for the water to boil, Qin Lang did not idle; he peeled and chopped potatoes and prepared spices such as tsaoko, cinnamon, and star anise.

By the time the preparations were complete, a pure aroma of beef was already wafting from the pot.

The beef, rolling in the boiling water, had gradually changed from bright red to a grayish color with traces of red.

Sniffing the air, Qin Lang nodded in satisfaction, took a large spoon, and skillfully skimmed off the foam, then lifted the beef out and set the blanching broth aside in a large bowl.

He heated oil in the wok, added the prepared spices and blanched beef, stir-frying until the beef was coated in a beautiful light brown layer. The Maillard reaction intensified with the addition of spices and the high heat, accelerating the beef’s aroma to fill the small kitchen.

“The range hood’s performance is mediocre,” Qin Lang remarked, glancing at the fan above the stove working hard.

He poured the blanching broth back into the wok, added scallion segments, light soy sauce, oyster sauce, and yellow rock sugar, brought it to a boil, then lowered the heat.

Potatoes went in next, followed by 45 minutes of simmering.

Qin Lang’s eyes flicked to the other stove beside him.

By the time the braised beef with potatoes was done, the second dish should also be ready.

-----------------

Meanwhile, in Room 502.

“Old Zhao, dinner’s ready!”

Zhao Chuan’s wife, Liu Suyun, placed the carefully cooked dishes on the dining table and called out after setting the bowls and chopsticks.

“Coming, coming!”

Zhao Chuan emerged from the room with a broad smile, his gaze immediately fixed on the bowl of richly stewed beef soup garnished with a sprinkling of scallions at the center of the table. “The dish’s not even out of the pot yet, but the aroma of beef has already got me craving it.”

Zhao Chuan loved beef most, but aging had diminished his chewing ability.

Liu Suyun’s beef stew had simmered for hours; the once chewy beef had become tender enough to melt in the mouth, with its essence thoroughly infused into the broth. Zhao Chuan adored this dish all the more.

“Your nose is too sharp,” Liu Suyun teased, pointing at the bowls on the table. “Serve yourself.”

“Alright, alright,” Zhao Chuan said as he began to take some soup. “I just saw Xiao Qin; he asked if the rent could be deferred for a month.”

“Oh!” Liu Suyun’s expression turned concerned. “What did you say?”

“Of course, I agreed,” Zhao Chuan replied quickly. “I even invited him over for dinner, but he declined.”

“Xiao Qin’s learning to cook, so naturally, he’d prefer to do it himself,” Liu Suyun nodded in understanding. “That’s normal.”

“But his cooking skills…” Zhao Chuan hesitated.

“Everyone improves slowly,” Liu Suyun smiled. “Enough about that. Come try the soup I made today.”

“I feel like my cooking’s gotten better!”

“I think so too,” Zhao Chuan agreed emphatically, inhaling deeply. “The rich aroma of this beef is even more enticing than any I’ve smelled before, and there’s a hint of potato scent as well.”

Hmm?

Liu Suyun paused. “Wait a minute!”

“I didn’t put potatoes in today.”

“No potatoes? That’s impossible!” Zhao Chuan looked incredulous, sniffing the air vigorously. “There’s definitely potatoes!”

“Let me taste it!”

He lifted the bowl of beef stew, scooped a spoonful, blew on it, and tasted it.

In the next moment, Zhao Chuan froze.

“How is it? I told you I didn’t put in potatoes!” Liu Suyun laughed, watching him. “You praised your nose just now, so how did you detect potato scent?”

Zhao Chuan remained silent, quietly scooping a second spoonful and tasting it.

Something was off…

Very off.

The flavor of the stew in his hand was nothing like the stunningly rich beef aroma he had just smelled.

He sniffed hard, trying to catch the source of that special fragrance that seemed to drift in from nowhere, and suddenly the beef stew he usually loved didn’t smell nearly as fragrant anymore.

-----------------

“Suyun, don’t you smell something?”

“I had a bit of a cold yesterday,” Liu Suyun glanced at Zhao Chuan. “What on earth is going on?”

Zhao Chuan said nothing, setting down his bowl and standing up with his hands behind his back, occasionally sniffing deeply as he followed the trail of the peculiar aroma.

Soon, he reached the kitchen and looked toward the open kitchen window.

That scent...

It was coming from outside!

Unconsciously, the aroma grew stronger and richer. Standing by the window, Zhao Chuan felt as if he were immersed in a sea of fragrance.

He took a deep breath, grasped the window frame, and tremulously leaned his head out, quickly fixing his gaze on another window nearby.

That was...

The kitchen of Room 501!

“Old Zhao!!!”

A shrill scream pierced the air. Then Zhao Chuan felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist, yanking him forcefully away from the window.

Liu Suyun stood there with a scowl fixed on Zhao Chuan.

“You’re getting on in years—what are you doing climbing windows?”

Pulled down, Zhao Chuan rubbed his chin, ignoring his wife’s scolding. Thinking of his recent discovery, he muttered to himself.

That aroma...

Could it really be coming from Qin Lang’s kitchen?

Impossible, right?

Well, whether possible or not, he’d just have to go see for himself.

“Suyun, I’m heading out for a bit,” Zhao Chuan waved to his wife and turned to leave.

Liu Suyun: ...

She gave a forced smile, picked up the broom nearby, eyes flashing fiercely.

“I worked so hard to make you dinner, and you’re going out?”

“Old man, I think you’re asking for a beating!”

“Ah? Ah! Suyun, I’m sorry!”