Present

"Sis, Do you have the internet on your phone?"

"Eh. What? Do you not know what that competition is about? Last year, only semi-professionals and experienced people made it. This year is going to be even more difficult."

Wei Ying pouted, completely disarming Wen Qing. "Okay. Look up the information. You will realize the reality right away."

What Wei Ying found encouraged him even more. The first prize included $30,000 plus a contract with the Papa Jin brand to market a recipe. The second was only $20,000—third place 10,000. But anyway, for each week that he resisted (it lasted six weeks), he would receive 1,500 dollars. If he made it until week four, it was enough to pay her brother's expenses and tuition. Even if it made it to week three, it would have been worth it.

The page had videos from the previous finale, a man in his 20s with delicate features and a serene face, and his opponent, a boy with a wicked smile and almost his age. The challenge was his creations. Wei Ying smiled upon seeing the selections.

The first prepared fresh macaroni in tomato sauce containing a small amount of minced beef or bound with a mixture of raw egg and grated cheese. It was topped with sheep's brains and accompanied by an artichoke salad and wine. On the other hand, the other took sweet corn and condensed milk to liquefy them later, while in a pan, he sautéed ground meat, onions, tomato paste, a vegetable salad, and beer.

There are no restrictions on the type of cuisine or ingredients—enough for him.

The program's format did not seem difficult to handle either. For this year, the municipality of a local town wanted to increase tourism and record the show there. So the contestants had to get all their ingredients in the town's shops, farms, rivers, lakes, or forests. Perfect.

The show's idea was to revitalize the town. However, they could only stay in town during the recording day to avoid cheating.

But they didn't say anything about the forest, the lake, the rivers, or the farms. Wei Ying thought.

"Ah-Qing. It's decided. I'm going to participate".

*****************

The last two people to leave the supermarket were two young men. One was about 20 years old, with blue eyes and a calm face. The other was much younger, ten or twelve years old at most. He did not resemble the older one, mainly because of the seriousness of the tall one and the joy of the little one.

When leaving the shopping center, the tallest one automatically walked to a fountain with some benches. Still, he remembered that the fountain had been demolished years ago to put a hateful advertising sign. So, he returned his steps to where his partner was waiting for him.

Upon returning to the house. The smallest began to cook while the largest arranged the provisions. For some reason, the sound of knives and the squeak in the pan made LanZhan feel happy. Trying to demonstrate his skills, the youngest cut a piece of the meat in the pan and passed it to the older one. Lan Zhan accepted it and closed his eyes for an instant. He opened them and said, "The pepper is fine, but you added too much butter to the sauce. That makes it lose some of the consistency. Concentrate more next time."

The boy lowered his head but smiled and said, "Brother Lan. Are you going to participate in this year's competition?" 

The young man sighed. "Those are the wishes of the family. This time, things are different. The sponsors are Jin, and the town where the event will be filmed is our ancestral home. In addition, the clan from the lake area will come, and there will be several outsiders ".

"Xichen will not participate?" asked the young boy.

Ah-Zhan shook his head. "He is too busy with the family restaurant."

The two continued with their tasks and began their dinner quietly and calmly.

Elsewhere, dinner was not calm.

"Dad, but why should we both go? What if someone tries to do something to my sister?" rebuked the annoyed young man when he heard his father's decision.

"At first, I was thinking of sending you alone. However, she insists it is time to demonstrate her capabilities and not depend on the family. It will be fine. If we rent a place for both of you, you can take care of her."

Jiang Cheng frowned and ran away into the garden. His sister came out after him. The moon was visible that day, so he gazed at it to calm himself down. Instead, he began to feel sleepy until he felt light footsteps. He would recognize those steps even if he forgot everything else, especially since he could smell spices and pork.

"You didn't finish your dinner," said the young woman, passing him the bowl of soup and chopsticks.

"It's okay. It's just that I'm worried," answered Jiang Cheng. His sharp-featured face was set in a serious expression.

Jiang Yangli patted his shoulder; her gentle blue eyes were locked in his purple eyes. 

"Everything will be fine. We will help our parents and put the family name up high."

The two hugged and continued to gaze at the moon.

/******************************

When Wen Qing and Wei Ying decided to take turns observing Wen Ning's condition, they played rock-paper-scissors, and Wei Ying took the second shift. Then, when Wei Ying was about to leave the hospital on his way home, two young men entered the emergency room. The slimmest had a wound on his leg. It looked like a cut. The other was a little taller, with a face that could belong to a young Arab prince.

Inadvertently, Wei Ying was already helping to carry the wounded man. So they left him in a chair while the doctors treated him. Then, Wei Ying went for sodas for the two men, and they thanked him.

"Gege. I'm so sorry," said the little prince.

"Take it easy. Sang Lang, It's my bad luck. But It seems that you will have to take care of everything for now," said the wounded man, smiling.

"Leave everything in my hands," said the other, holding his hands.

Feeling out of place, Wei Ying walked away from them without saying anything and returned home.

*********************

Lan Zhan sent him to sleep after ensuring that little Ah-Yuan had finished his duties. Shortly after, the department's phone rang, and when he answered, a deep and raspy voice greeted him, "Hello. Lan Zhan, I don't know if you remember me, I am ..."

Ah, Zhan identified the voice immediately. How could he forget the voice of the person who taught him so many things? "Master, how can I help you?"

"I need to ask you a favor. One of my students has disappeared. I think he went to your city and may try to contact you. I have sent you a photo by mail. I will go there in a week because I cannot leave my boys alone. But if you see him these days, tell him, "The man paused for a moment. Tell him I'm very sorry and want him to return. "

"Understood."

"Thanks"

Lan Zhan checked his mail. The young man in the photo was beautiful, second only to his childhood friend, but he had wavy, long hair.

He sighed as he thought how many years had passed since they had seen each other.

"Ah-Ying. I hope you're okay," and went to sleep.