Chapter 33: The Daisy Badge

The ten-minute wait passed in the blink of an eye.

Qin Lang retrieved the lotus pastries from the refrigerator. With the sealed side facing down, he used a knife to make three incisions on the top, dividing each pastry into six petals. The depth of these incisions had to penetrate the filling, while the length required precise control. If the cuts were too short, the pastry would not bloom fully when fried; if they were too long, the petals would break off during the frying process, ruining the overall presentation. Mastering this required trial and error to build personal experience.

He heated the frying oil to a medium temperature. Placing the lotus pastry on a slotted spoon with the scored side facing up, he lowered it into the oil. As it fried, he used a ladle to scoop up the hot oil and drizzle it directly over the center of the incisions to encourage the petals to unfold. Amidst the sizzling of the wok and the constant bubbling of the oil, the scored sections began to unfurl like a blossoming bud.

Danbao’s eyes widened in tandem with the blooming petals, and saliva began to pool at the corner of its mouth, unbidden. As the pastry layers peeled back, the jujube paste was exposed to the heat, releasing an intense, sweet aroma that mingled with the distinct fragrance of the fried crust, like petals adorning a flower bud. In the hot oil, the lotus pastries blossomed, layer upon distinct layer.

The lotus pastries were ready.

No sooner had Qin Lang lifted the first pastry from the oil to drain it than Danbao, unable to contain itself any longer, lunged forward and took a massive bite.

"Crunch!"

The crust, which had blossomed like flower petals, was crispy and fragrant. The jujube paste not only added a vibrant color but also infused the pastry with a rich, complex flavor that elevated the dish. With that single bite, Danbao’s eyes went wide.

"Gulu!"

"I'll give you two, no more than that," Qin Lang chuckled. He finished frying the remaining pastries and carried them out of the kitchen. Danbao, having swallowed the first one whole, looked as though it were still craving more, and scrambled to follow its Spirit Chef.

As Qin Lang emerged, Song Hui, Cao Dongdong, and Zhao Qian, who were waiting outside, fell silent, their faces filled with anticipation. This anticipation only intensified once they saw the dessert he brought out.

"It’s not egg yolk pastry?" Cao Dongdong and Zhao Qian exclaimed in unison.

"This is a lotus pastry," Qin Lang said with a smile, turning to Song Hui. "Please, enjoy."

"Thank you," Song Hui replied with a nod, taking a deep breath.

While the egg yolk pastries had been round and endearing, their appearance was relatively simple. In contrast, the lotus pastries were exquisite. Each one looked like a real lotus flower, and for a moment, Song Hui—who had seen a wide variety of desserts—almost felt it a pity to eat them.

She carefully picked one up and took a bite. Although the crispy petals had been deep-fried, they did not feel greasy. The subtle natural sweetness within was like a siren’s call, impossible to resist, perfectly showcasing the unique charm of carbohydrates. The jujube paste filling was sweet without being cloying, its distinct flavor complementing the crispy petals like the final touch on a masterpiece, breathing soul into the dessert. Combined with its delicate, artistic appearance, it perfectly embodied the refinement of fine confectionery.

Song Hui could not find a single flaw to critique. As she swallowed the bite, a satisfied smile spread across her face, and the look she gave Qin Lang was filled with unconcealed admiration.

"This lotus pastry is also worthy of a Daisy Badge." As she spoke, she produced the badge she had prepared and handed it to him.

"Thank you, Ms. Song Hui." Qin Lang smiled and accepted it with care. While the second Gourmet Badge was not as significant as the first, he found the act of collecting them quite enjoyable. Besides... Qin Lang looked down at the badge, which was engraved with a daisy pattern. He felt that in terms of design and aesthetics, this badge was actually superior to the Fish Scale Badge he had received earlier. It was well-deserving of being a token designed by a Floral Gourmet.

"Congratulations on earning your second Gourmet Badge," Zhao Qian said with a grin, before changing the subject. "So, can we eat now?"

"Go ahead, please," Song Hui said with a laugh, distributing the pastries to the already salivating Cao Dongdong and Zhao Qian. "Everyone, have a taste."

Amidst the cheers, Zhao Qian and Cao Dongdong each held an exquisite lotus pastry, and even Bubu managed to snag one.

"This crust..." Cao Dongdong took a bite, his eyes brightening. "The method for creating the layers seems different from the egg yolk pastry, doesn't it?"

"There are fewer layers, but the definition of each layer is much clearer."

Qin Lang glanced at Cao Dongdong in surprise. He had suspected earlier that the young man had a natural talent for pastry making—a "quick study"—but that feeling was even stronger now. To be able to distinguish the difference in lamination techniques after just one bite? Could this guy be a hidden genius of the dough-work world?

"It is different," Qin Lang said, not withholding his knowledge. "The lamination for the lotus pastry is also a 'small pouch' technique, but it relies on folding..." He proceeded to explain the differences, causing Cao Dongdong’s eyes to light up with a sudden realization.

Although Song Hui did not specialize in lamination, her broad experience in dessert making meant that she also gained a great deal from the explanation. Only Zhao Qian, who knew nothing about pastry techniques, remained blissfully ignorant, deciding that the best course of action was simply to eat another lotus pastry.

Once all the pastries were finished, Song Hui smiled and produced three admission tickets, handing them to the trio.

"These are VIP tickets to the Tianhua Flower Expo. With these, you can enter at any time throughout the duration of the event, with no limit on the number of visits." She added, "Consider this a small token of my gratitude for your help in recovering the flowers. Please, don't be modest—do accept them."

Surprise lit up the faces of Qin Lang and his companions once more. An event of this scale was not to be missed. With the expo fast approaching, Song Hui, as one of the organizers, was incredibly busy; the fact that she had found the time to conduct the Gourmet assessment was already a testament to her dedication. The three of them were well aware of this. After securing the tickets, they chose not to linger and impose further, politely bidding her farewell.

Upon leaving the Daisy Garden, Cao Dongdong parted ways with Qin Lang and Zhao Qian, hailing a taxi and rushing toward the Spirit Chef Association. Qin Lang and his companion understood this urgency well. Earning a Gourmet Badge meant one could go to the Association to activate their first Star Meridian, qualifying them to birth a Food Spirit. Who could contain their excitement at such a moment?

The two of them shared a smile and headed home together. It was a fortuitous encounter; Qin Lang was still a novice regarding the training and combat of Food Spirits, while Zhao Qian had already traveled to several cities with Bubu and could be considered a somewhat experienced Spirit Chef. Chatting and exchanging advice along the way, they eventually reached their respective homes and parted ways.