Making Spicy Gluten Strips

"To hear Dugu Qing laugh heartily, all my efforts over the past three months have finally paid off."

Listening to Dugu Qing's clear and melodious laughter, Frieren closed her eyes with contentment.

"I don't believe it, I'll try."

Stark couldn't believe that the Emperor's Wine was really that bad. He opened the cap and took a big gulp. The sour and astringent taste went straight to his internal organs. He let out a cry, tears streaming down his face. He clutched his stomach in discomfort and was filled with regret.

"It looks absolutely awful!"

Fern shook the Emperor's Wine, then decisively put it down.

"Nobody expected this! Emperor's Wine is the most precious wine in the world, and these words were recorded in Elvish script on the inscription!"

Fasi has always regarded the language and writings left by the ancients as the truth of reality, believing in them devoutly, devoting all his time and resources to pursuing them, and pouring his youthful passion and beautiful imagination into them.

Who would have thought that people in ancient times could lie and joke? It's truly...

All that poetic inspiration was wasted! You bastard.

Fasi thought about how foolish he had been, missing out on so many other wonderful things... It was truly incomprehensible.

He moved all the Emperor's Wine out of the cellar and gave it away for free to the townspeople, as a warning to himself and to put an end to the two-hundred-year-old Emperor's Wine incident.

As night fell, nearby residents, hearing that the Emperor's Wine was being given away for free, flocked to the area, eager to taste the Emperor's Wine.

Is this Emperor's Wine?

"It tastes awful!"

"Brothers, stop praising Emperor's Wine. Throw it out before you leave."

"I'll go first, oh dear."

After tasting the wine with high expectations, everyone was greatly disappointed. Their expressions were gloomy, and they grumbled and left in a hurry with regret, never daring to believe rumors again.

Fasi handed over the agreed-upon gold coins to Frieren.

Dugu Qing, Frieren, Fern, Stark looked at the heartbroken drinker and felt that this outcome was not bad.

At least, we should no longer hear the rumor that Emperor's Wine is a good wine.

The world has lost some of its hypocrisy and gained more truth, returning to its original state, which is good.

The following day, the group continued their journey.

In the 30th year of the Xinshi Era, in the forest outside the territory of the Norm Trading Company Guild on the Northern Plateau.

Under a towering ancient tree, Fern took out a bread bag and distributed the dry, hard, stone-like gray bread to Stark and Frieren.

When Dugu Qing returned from her bath, she saw everyone eating bread, and a look of confusion immediately appeared between her brows.

Why are we eating this?! What happened to the fruits and vegetables we bought?!

"They're all gone!"

Fern looked at him helplessly and responded softly.

Frieren calmly reminded everyone that apart from the Bia Region, a grain-producing area, the rest of the Northern Plateau were barren land, and having dry bread to eat was already a blessing.

"This is so tragic! They look like refugees."

Stark hung his head dejectedly.

Fern secretly rejoiced that she had eaten a lot of delicious food in town, so eating a little bread now was no big deal.

Dugu Qing picked up the bread, took a bite, and thought it was pretty good. After eating so much meat and fish, it was good for her health to eat some bread occasionally to give her stomach a rest!

No need to lose weight anymore.

One week later, deep in the forest.

The group sat listlessly under the tree. Fern skillfully took out bread and distributed the dry, hard bread to everyone.

Stark and Frieren had been eating bread for a week straight. The sight of bread made them nauseous, and they could only chew it in small bites, unable to swallow it.

Dugu Qing was tired of eating bread, and he suddenly remembered that he had a lot of flour in his suitcase. He could use the gluten to make some Latiao!

Spicy Prince, Weilong Spicy Gluten Strips, Spicy Gluten, Fiery Beef Tendon...

These delicious snacks can be made with just flour, chili peppers, seasonings, and rapeseed oil; they're very simple.

Do what you want to do.

Dugu Qing opened the briefcase, took out the flour, put it in a bowl, kneaded it into a dough, and let it rest for thirty minutes.

Put the dough in water, repeatedly knead and wash it, changing the water several times to wash out the starch. Keep the starch water and make rice noodle rolls. What's left is gluten.

Dugu Qing tore the gluten into different shapes, steamed it over high heat, and then let it cool.

Add rapeseed oil to a wok, and stir-fry the strip-shaped gluten, cylindrical gluten, square gluten, and thin gluten in batches over low heat until dry.

Add chili powder, Sichuan peppercorn powder, cumin, white sesame seeds, salt, sugar, and other seasonings, stir-fry evenly to allow the flavors to meld.

Soon, the soft, smooth, and snow-white rice noodle rolls, and the fragrant, spicy, and bright red Latiao were all ready.

Frieren, Fern, Stark watched as Dugu Qing, as if by magic, placed one snack after another on the table. Their mouths gaped open, and their eyes fell incredulously on the bag of ordinary flour.

Who would have thought that ordinary flour could be transformed into such a delicious dish in Dugu Qing's hands? She truly has a pair of skillful hands, a work of art!

Whoever marries Dugu Qing in the future will be truly blessed.

The three of them, drawn by the delicious aroma in the air, couldn't resist picking up their chopsticks and savoring the treat.

The smooth and tender rice noodle rolls, coated in a rich and flavorful sauce, are delicious in every bite.

The spicy and chewy snack Latiao explode on your taste buds.

Everyone's eyes lit up, their appetites were whetted, and they transformed into fierce tigers, galloping forward with great gusto as they devoured the food.

In no time at all, he had eaten most of the Latiao on the plate.

"Dugu Qing, you are truly amazing."

"He's practically a reincarnation of the God of Cookery."

"Yes! I was completely desperate. I thought I'd be eating bread forever, until I died!"

"Thank you so much, thank you so much. I'll definitely give you a big gift for your birthday."

Fern, Frieren, Stark, their weariness vanished instantly, regained their vitality, and looked at Dugu Qing with beaming smiles and admiration in their eyes.

"I'm waiting, but eating too many Latiao is bad for your health, so you guys should also limit your intake!"

Dugu Qing sat on a rock, taking small bites of rice noodle rolls.

Stark picked up a Spicy Prince skewer and swallowed it in large gulps.

"What's there to restrain! In this wretched forest, besides Latiao, I can't find anything else to do."

Fern and Frieren picked up their chopsticks and started eating the Latiao.

"Eating too much will cause acne."

Dugu Qing earnestly reminded the three of them.

Fern and Frieren withdrew their hands as if electrocuted, while Stark triumphantly placed a plate of Latiao in front of him.

"Acne? What's there for men to be afraid of? Don't be a coward, just do it!"

The next day, the group emerged from the forest and a magnificent fortified city came into view.

That was the headquarters of the Norm Trading Company, a distribution center for goods in the Northern Plateau.

All sorts of supplies would pass through this place and be sent to various settlements.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Norm Trading Company effectively controlled the Northern Plateau, becoming a veritable uncrowned king.

The group passed through the checkpoints and revealed their identities.

Just as the receptionist was about to let them through, he suddenly noticed that Frieren was standing to the side and looked exactly like the legendary mage Frieren, the important figure the Chamber of Commerce was looking for. He hurriedly ran out to report to the guild master.