Jiang Qiuqiu plated the dishes with incredible speed.
She finished preparing all 20 bowls of Braised Pork with Preserved Greens in less than five minutes. The final small bowl held a half-full portion of chopped scallions.
The specks of green and white broke up the otherwise plain colors of the dish, elevating its visual appeal. But right now, nobody cared about how it looked.
Countless viewers suddenly spammed the chat, demanding that Jiang Qiuqiu hurry up and scan!
#Just make it ahead of time from now on! How about you just scan, scan, scan during the whole stream?#
#Ahh! I just imagined that! It sounds boring, but I bet it would tasteâso, so good!#
#Forget dreaming, can we just start the flash sale already?!#
"Of course."
Every flash sale was a mad scramble. There were plenty of portions available, but they didnât last long.
Even with nearly one hundred million portions available, they all vanished in the span of a few breaths.
Todayâs stream was a great success.
After wishing everyone a happy meal, Jiang Qiuqiu said, "I have something to take care of tonight, so Iâm going to end the stream a little early. Please, take your time and enjoy the food."
"Thanks for watching my stream, everyone. Iâll see you all again next Monday."
Unsurprisingly, Mo Si, from two walls away, had also managed to snag a portion of the aromatic, non-greasy Braised Pork with Preserved Greens.
He placed the data-portion on his table. In the interstellar era, technology had developed at a breakneck pace. Food replicated from a livestream and projected through a medium was already remarkably realistic. And since the terminal connected to a portion of the userâs spiritual power, people could vividly experience the delicious taste of the data food.
The stronger oneâs spiritual power, the more intense the perception of flavor.
For someone like Mo Si, eating this kind of food sent a tremor through his very core.
The slice of meat was delicate. When he picked it up with his chopsticks, it sagged under its own weight, so tender it looked as if it would fall apart at any moment.
Mo Si took a bite.
The aroma, the perfectly tender texture, the pleasant warmthâit all struck a chord deep within him.
Since it was made with pork belly, which has layers of fat and lean meat, Jiang Qiuqiu worried people might find it too rich on its own. So, each portion came with a side of white Rice.
Alternating between a bite of meat and a bite of Rice, he quickly finished all the pork.
âPandas donât eat weird preserved greens.â But he still had Rice and greens left. Mo Si hated being wasteful, so after a momentâs thought, he dumped the remaining Rice right in with the preserved greens.
He expected the texture to be odd, but thenâ
Mo Si lay sprawled on his large bed. He didnât bother with a blanket despite the winter chill, merely bundling himself in his cloak, his hat still hanging off his ears. He found himself thinking.
âIf the happiness from eating the data version is this overwhelming...â
â...what would it feel like to eat the real thing?â
âAnd how could mixing the Rice with the greens have created such a uniquely rich flavor?â
The complex flavors had him lost in recollection when an annoying knock sounded at his door again.
"Big Bro! Bro!"
"Are you in there? Are you asleep? Youâre asleep already? No way!"
"..."
"Whatâs wrong? Is your spiritual power acting up?"
"No!" Mo Chengyu pounded on the door. "Itâs that little chef goddess from next door! She brought us some food! Are you coming down to eat with us?"
"No."
"..."
Mo Chengyu: ???
"Big Bro, I told you to open your window this afternoon. Did you?"
"No."
"Youâre hopeless! Why not? Hurry up and come eat! I guarantee the second you come downstairs, that aroma will win you over. Zuo Kai and I both love it! Youâll love it too, I promise!"
"Iâm full."
"???"
âFine. If he doesnât want to eat, he doesnât have to. Would I even bother calling him if he wasnât my dear big brother?â
âHis loss! The man has no appreciation for good food!â Mo Chengyu stomped downstairs in a huff.
âNext time, even if he wants some, I wonât let him have any.â