Chapter 13: Fraud (1/2)
Chapter 13: Fraud
Translator: Sparrow TranslationsEditor: Sparrow Translations
”Aiya, none of your Fire Plume Chickens can pass, look at here, then here… it’s all blackened, don’t you know it’s burnt? You have to separate the chicken from the heat with a piece of bamboo! How can you even think of earning that gold when you don’t even know this?” Mrs Li exclaimed with glee, her hands wrapped around a golden-brown roasted Fire Plume Chicken, pointing out the mistakes of each villager.
”I bet the gold ingot will belong to Mrs Li this time!” Village Chief Meng Bai nodded, taking a glance at Mrs Li’s roasted chicken.
Li Huer’s backside still ached, but still managed to continue grinning gleefully, siding with his mother.
The well-built Li Zhuangshi stood smiling by the side. He had seen almost all of the Fire Plume Chickens at the village square, and noticed that only his Li family’s chicken was ”perfect”.
On the other hand, Qin Xuelian had to borrow a chicken, hence was slightly late. As such, she was unable to roast the Fire Plume Chicken using Mrs Li’s method of roasting the chicken slowly using indirect heat, resulting in a small burn mark on her chicken.
”Sister Xuelian, your roasted Fire Plume Chicken obviously isn’t going to pass…” Mrs Li rattled on, making her way towards Qin Xuelian’s side.
”Whether it’s good or not, isn’t for you to judge!” Qin Xuelian retorted, not convinced.
”Ha ha ha… Sister Xuelian, your chicken might be roasted better than the rest, but you can forget about the gold. Better for you to think about how you are going to repay the money for this Fire Plume Chicken!” Mrs Li gleefully replied.
”Slow down, slow down, one person at a time!” The soldiers standing guard around Lolita commanded, directing the chaotic crowd.
Lolita herself was slowing savouring a tiny bite of each chicken. Despite enjoying herself initially, the burnt and unpalatable chickens eventually caused her to lose her appetite.
Even those which looked decent on the outside were totally bland and tasteless to her.
”Missus, please try the chicken I roasted. You won’t regret it!”
Mrs Li’s turn had finally arrived. Without hesitation, Mrs Li lifted up her roasted Fire Plum Chicken and fished out a small delicate piece of bamboo.
”Ka Cha!” The Fire Plum Chicken’s stomach was sliced open in one swift motion.
Immediately, a savory bamboo aroma wafted out from the Fire Plum Chicken, lingering on the stage.
”Missus, this is the bamboo-infused roasted chicken I specially made!” Mrs Li introduced happily.
”Wow, she actually hid bamboo leaves in the chicken’s stomach!”
”Mrs Li’s move is indeed ingenious!”
”Why didn’t she tell us about this idea?”
Upon witnessing this scene, the villagers began to exclaim.
”Next!” Lolita took one glance, softly waved her hand and closed back her eyes.
”Huh?” Mrs Li was at a complete loss.
The villagers queuing below were similarly unable to comprehend the situation. What was happening? Bamboo-infused roasted chicken! How could it be that the daughter of the Divine Constabulary wasn’t even interested to try a bite, and immediately asked for the next person in line?
”Missus, please, try a bite…” Mrs Li pleaded, unsatisfied with the outcome.
”What garbage! Missus already ordered the next in line, you better quickly get off this stage! Bamboo infused roasted chicken? What a pointless addition to the recipe!” The soldier standing guard at the side immediately began to drive off Mrs Li from the stage.
”A pointless addition? What do you mean?” Mrs Li frowned, confused, as she reluctantly made her way back into the crowd, disappointment written all over her face.
What was wrong? No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t understand why…
One by one, the remaining Fire Plume Chickens were brought on stage, then sent back down. Eventually, it was Qin Xuelian’s turn, who stood at the very end of the queue.
Qin Xuelian carefully carried up the Fire Plume Chicken, holding it gingerly and gently placing it in front of Lolita.