Chapter 100: Potato, Potato, This Is Shiitake Mushroom
Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Potato, Potato, This Is Shiitake Mushroom
"Potato, Potato, this is Tomato Shiitake. All clear on my end."
"..."
"Tofu, Tofu, this is Mushroom Winter Melon. I see them making a move."
"This is Chicken Feet. I see someone heading toward Pickled Chili Beef. Intercept."
"Beef here, copy that. Hey, Chicken Feet, let me get a bite of those feet. I’m starving."
"Get lost!"
A string of messages was sent out.
Hearing those names, the diners lifted their sleeves and took a deep whiff.
That’s right. These people were all undercover agents.
After Yang Jiang delivered the intelligence he had gathered to the Law Enforcement Team, someone reported the situation to Cang He Guang.
They hadn’t acted before because they were under orders to stand by.
But Cang, inspired by the situation, decided to take advantage of the chaos Lu Wu had stirred up these past few days to replace many of the gamblers inside.
Fervent gambling would generate "desire."
The appearance of this "desire" would be the perfect smokescreen, and Steward Zhu would never suspect that these people were all perfectly lucid.
They had indeed been afflicted and had Gambling Bugs in their bodies, but they all carried Amulet skewers and would take a sniff from time to time to refresh their minds.
As long as they timed it right, they could keep the Gambling Bugs alive but in a state where they wouldn’t affect their minds.
The bloodbaths Steward Zhu and his men saw on the casino floor were all just acts, planned in advance by these agents.
"Here, take another sniff."
Tomato Shiitake, blending in with the gamblers, whispered to the little bug inside his body.
’Eat up. Time to send you on your way.’
The bug: ’Ah, I’m seeing stars... so dizzy... time for sleepy-bye.’
’Good night...’
Shiitake felt the bug’s movements quiet down and raised an eyebrow, looking smug.
He called this move the "Skewer Hypnosis Technique," and it was very effective.
"I should’ve picked Pickled Chili Beef as my codename. Boss Lu’s cooking really makes my mouth water."
He muttered.
At the stall outside, the pickled chili beef was selling like hotcakes.
Just the thought of taking a bite, of his lips and teeth capturing the broth-soaked beef, of that sour and spicy flavor—it was enough to set him on fire.
Ah!
He was fired up.
"Pickled chili? Isn’t it supposed to be spicy beef?"
Just as his imagination had him swallowing his saliva, a hoarse voice sounded in his ear.
It was a... girl.
"Huh?"
Shiitake remembered this girl. They were at the same gambling table. She seemed to be one of tonight’s victims, muddle-headed from the bug’s influence.
He had planned to rescue her after the operation, but who would have thought that a glimmer of clarity had now appeared in her eyes?
"Isn’t it... spicy beef?"
Mumu asked, her face wooden.
Her head felt like it was about to explode. Countless voices were pulling at her, urging her to keep betting.
But her hand froze in mid-air.
What did she just hear?
’Boss Lu’s pickled chili beef!’
Mumu was furious!
You have to understand, the thing she wanted to eat most on this trip was the spicy beef from before. Even though she hadn’t gotten to eat it, she could picture the scene perfectly through One World Communication.
Tender, juicy beef, simmered through in the broth until it turned a light brown.
Thin slices of meat quivering on a bamboo skewer.
A secret sauce from Boss Lu would be evenly brushed over the meat, garnished with colorful flecks of chopped chili.
Then, she would tear the meat off with her teeth, bit by bit, the spicy broth enhancing the flavor of the beef.
That texture, that flavor—it was a direct hit to the soul.
Even just imagining it made Mumu feel as if her soul had ascended.
But now, the spicy beef was gone, replaced by pickled chili beef!
No, this can’t be!
Pickled chili beef is heresy!
Fueled by the rage of missing out on her beloved food, Mumu forcibly broke free from the Gambling Bug’s control and came to her senses.
What Gambling Bug could possibly compare to the craving for spicy beef that came from the depths of her soul?
’Don’t underestimate the bond between a foodie and her food, you bastards!’
She glared fiercely at the undercover agent, Shiitake, demanding an explanation.
"Ahem..."
Shiitake was so startled he almost turned into a dried shiitake.
’This girl is intense.’
"Boss Lu changed the broth base."
After checking to see that no one was paying attention to them, Shiitake quickly tried to placate her.
Seeing Mumu’s expression darken, Shiitake whispered.
"I think the pickled chili beef is pretty good too. Really, I’m not lying."
’If there were time, I’d have ordered at least ten or twenty skewers myself to satisfy the craving.’
"I’m not listening! I’m not listening!"
Mumu shook her head frantically.
All thoughts of gambling had vanished from her mind. All she wanted was to rush over and ask Boss Lu if she could bring back the spicy beef.
"Tian Tian! Right, there’s still Tian Tian."
Remembering her friend, she scanned the room and saw Tian Tian at the next table, placing a bet.
Her face filled with fury, she walked over and whispered something in Tian Tian’s ear. Shiitake then watched as the girl named Tian Tian also erupted in anger.
"What! My numbing-spicy broth is gone?"
"What’s this about a clear mushroom broth? I don’t want it! Clear broth is heresy!"
"Let’s go. We’re going to find Boss Lu."
Tian Tian had snapped out of it, too.
The two girls, bristling with rage, charged toward the casino entrance.
They were so fast that Shiitake couldn’t even try to stop them.
He opened his mouth, stunned as he watched the two powerhouses.
"This is Tomato Shiitake. I have a situation to report."
’Breaking free from the Gambling Bug’s control through sheer willpower... these people are incredible.’
The moment they left the casino, the two of them saw the stall, which was surrounded by a massive crowd.
Despite their anger, they were still rule-abiding and went to the back of the line to wait.
The sour and spicy aroma of pickled chili filled the entire street.
Just smelling it was enough to make one’s stomach grumble, urging the diners to hurry up and eat.
As the fragrance wafted over, the Gambling Bugs struggling against the two girls’ appetites began to twitch again.
The two bugs: ’SOB SOB SOB... I’m tainted!’
’It’s over... It’s all over for me, little buggy!’
Then, their legs kicked out, and they went to meet their ancestors.
With the Gambling Bugs’ influence completely gone, both of them felt a moment of disorientation before they realized what had happened to them.
"Something’s wrong."
"Very wrong."
They spoke in unison. Their eyes met, and everything was understood without a word.
"Maybe we should eat first, then report it," Tian Tian suggested.
"Good point. The casino is right here, it’s not going anywhere," Mumu affirmed.
And so, the two of them cast the strange experience in the casino to the back of their minds.
Right now, all they wanted was to get their spicy broth back.
But their anger didn’t last long, fading away amid the persistent, lingering aroma.
Especially with so many other diners around them eating skewers and sharing their thoughts.
"These pickled chili broth skewers are so good, I’m about to drink the whole bowl of broth."
"You don’t get it. The mushroom broth is the real masterpiece. It’s so savory my tongue is about to fall off."
"Huh? Does nobody else like the tomato broth? The tomato flavor is so rich! It’s sweet and sour, so delicious. I could go for another bowl."
...
As these comments and the constantly assaulting aroma flooded their senses, the expressions on the two girls’ faces gradually calmed.
"My heart tells me... it’s been moved."
"...What a coincidence. Mine too."
Their years of tacit understanding allowed them to know exactly what the other was thinking.
"Should we... give it a try?"
"Yeah, let’s try it."
’If you want something you can’t have, it just means you were fated to meet but not to be. We’re adults now; we have to learn to let go. Today, our destiny lies with the pickled chili beef.’
’Meaty meats, wait for us! Here we come!’