Liu Gaoming didn't dare challenge Xiaobai publicly after the host refuted him, but Xiaobai's ingredients made him feel jealousy.
"Xiaobai, just ignore him. He just envies you. What are you going to make? Let me help." Fang Weixuan left it behind, came to Gu Bai, and expected what they would taste later.
Gu Bai accepted his help directly. "Dig a shallow pit, and find us some clods and firewood."
"I know where to get the clods. But what is the pit for? And what do you mean firewood?" Fang Weixuan asked several questions.
Gu Bai was stunned.
"The firewood is some branches that are slightly dry to be burned. The pit is made so that the firewood could burn fully. Also, we should burn the clods evenly red so that we can braise sweet potatoes later," Gu Bai explained in detail in case Fang Weixuan didn't get him.
Gu Bai was helpless to realize how little people in the interstellar era had known about ingredients. Even the kids on Earth knew these common senses. But here, such knowledge was required to be publicized.
He had further understood how serious the cultural dislocation was in this era.
The long and rich Cerngon food culture was envious and desired by all countries, even on Earth. But now, it became history in this universe. It might take them more human resources and efforts to find them back.
Although Gu Bai himself was like dirt in this world, he was willing to do his best to help trace back to history.
"Alright, I'm on it." Fang Weixuan didn't ask why the sweet potato should be braised. Anything Xiaobai made was brilliant. All he had to do was to watch him make it later.
After Fang Weixuan went for the firewoods, Gu Bai carefully took care of the pheasant, washed its internal organs, and put it aside. Then he cut the chicken into pieces for preparation. Next, he washed the mushrooms he had picked and cut them into proper shapes.
The cooking started. Firstly, he put a wok on the integrated stove with water inside. Secondly, he put the chicken inside the boiling water, scalded them briefly, and skimmed the blood scum on the surface. Thirdly, he washed the wok, dried it before adding oil, and then fried it with scallion, gingers, and garlic. Next, he added the chicken into the wok and kept frying. Finally, he added some sugar and then added water.
When the water was boiled, he poured the water and chicken into a saucepan, added the mushrooms, and kept boiling it over medium heat.
Although the cultural dislocation was severe here, Gu Bai had to admit that the facilities were rich and convenient. The temperature system had helped them control the fire more precisely.
"Xiaobai, do you think these will work?" Fang Weixuan ran over with a bunch of firewood in his arms.
Gu Bai put down the things in his hand, checked if the branches were dry enough, and nodded.
"Then I'll go dig the pit now. Where do you prefer?" Fang Weixuan asked again.
He was very interested in the Braised Sweet Potatoes as well. After all, no one had ever done that before.
Gu Bai looked around and found a suitable place not far away. "There would do."
Despite all these rich facilities and functions, some delicacies would only taste good when they were made in the most primitive way.
[Although I heard Xiaobai's explanation just now, will it work if he uses the clods to braise them? Aren't they supposed to be dirty?]
[I can't imagine how it would like. Why does Xiaobai seem to know everything? My idol is the best!]
[Guys, I have to say this. Although I'm a big fan of Xiaobai, I can't accept anything made in that way. That's gross.]
[I knew this day was coming. See? He only knew how to win over the public's attention regardless of the basic sanitary standards. He only dares to do this because nobody dies of tasting things in the Second World. I bet he doesn't dare to do this in the real world!]
[I don't like him from the beginning. Can't he just follow the old fashion way and do his cooking? Why does he have to make something special? Let's forget if it's appropriate for him to do so. Didn't it occur to you guys whether the sweet potato he claimed he had found was eatable? Will it bring any harm to the human body? I've read through all the ingredients the Plant Research Institute has issued in the past, but they have never mentioned anything like that. How dare they cook such things for us?]
[I agree. What is he up to by cooking something even the Plant Research Institute hasn't issued yet?]
[Easy, guys. Even if sweet potato is not on the list, it doesn't mean it isn't edible.]
[Are you a soul fan of Bai Xiaobai? Or should I say you are one of the water armies who is here to boost his ability? I admire you for defending him even at this time.]
[Although this is in the Second World and we won't eat anything for real, our spirit might get hurt if that's not edible. That's too much to lose. Doesn't it sound serious? You guys are so devoted to being curious and asking for eating it.]
Suddenly, the comments all changed. Some anti-fans came from nowhere and took the chance to slander Gu Bai. Even his fans couldn't help doubting if the anti-fans were right about this, not to mention the passers-by.
The leader of the anti-fans was satisfied with the mess she had caused. She had been trying to smear Gu Bai since the beginning of the contest, but the latter had been doing well, and the judges thought highly of him, which left her no chance to make it.
The sudden game finally brought her a chance to do it.
Gu Bai should be blamed for looking for ingredients out of the list and planning to make food with it. Now that he offered this opportunity, the woman believed she had to do what she did best.
Therefore, the anti-fans spared no effort to stir up the audience, especially the passers-by, who were not very familiar with Gu Bai, and made quite a mess.
Su Yang and Luo Qigang paid attention to the live broadcast all the time and frowned. When the latter was about to silence the woman and ban her account, Su Yang stopped him.
"The more you ban their accounts, the bigger they will make the mess. By then, you won't bring Xiaobai anything but lead the passers-by to change their attitude toward him. Let's wait. I have a feeling that Xiaobai is going to surprise us. It's going to be a big one." Su Yang stared intently at the live broadcast when saying that.
Luo Qigang didn't contact the manager but frowned deeper as he watched more comments.
None of this affected Gu Bai. Instead, he continued to follow his plan in an orderly manner.
According to Gu Bai's request, Fang Weixuan stacked the clods high and burned the branches until they turned red. Then he extinguished them and threw the sweet potatoes into the pit with the branches as a cover. He only needed more time for them to be braised.
"Don't worry about it. It's time you make your dishes," Gu Bai said.
Although Fang Weixuan claimed he was there to help Gu Bai, he was still a contestant required to complete his mission.
Gu Bai picked up the remaining sweet potatoes, peeled them, and then cubed them into different shapes. Next, he dried them with the kitchen paper, added oil to the pot, and put the potatoes in until the oil was heated. Then he simmered low heat medium and burnt them on both sides before removing them for later use.
After that, he cleaned the pot, refilled it with water and sugar, and burned them until the mixed thing became the caramel color, and the bubbles were tiny and dense. Then he added the fried sweet potatoes into the pot and kept frying. When the sugar water covered them all over, he removed them from the pot.
Gu Bai had mainly got a large number of sweet potatoes and mushrooms today, which encouraged him to find them in the real world.
When he finished the Hot Candied Sweet Potatoes, Fang Weixuan had finished his dishes as well. He ran to Gu Bai and asked expectantly, "Are the sweet potatoes cooked? Are they edible now?"
The faint fragrance had lured him to eat. They smelled so good and tempting that they filled him with expectation.
He had to taste it even if people from the Plant Research Institute came out and told him it was not eatable.
[That smells so good. What is Xiaobai making? It's so yellowish, as if there is a layer of glaze on it. The smell and the appearance look so good. I want to try it!]
[I can't wait to eat them. How will the sponsors let them hold the live streams in the real world so that we can try some? Isn't it torture that we can only see them?]
[Didn't I just tell you guys the sweet potatoes were not eatable? Why are you still taking the risk to eat it? Did Bai Xiaobai cast a spell on you or something? Or did he pay you to do so? Tell us, guys, so that we can earn money as well!]
[I'm also a little worried, too. After all, the Plant Research Institute hasn't told us if it's edible. How does he know the answer? What if anything happens afterward?]
[As long as he continues to take first place, get money and reputation, and win a bunch of fans who will defend him, why does he care what will happen to us? He wins a lot from this.]
[How do you know it's not eatable? Did the Plant Research Institute say anything about it being not eatable? You anti-fans are here to mislead the passers-by!]
[Wow, look, Bai Xiaobai's real fans can't wait to defend him. What did he give you guys to let you do so much for him? Tell us what it is, and we'll join you to win the same.]
[No matter what other people think, I believe in Xiaobai. I will wait to see how you guys embarrass yourselves.]
[Really? Are you sure you are not talking about yourself?]
The real fans and the anti-fans had been one word against another. If they were confronting each other for real, there was no doubt they would have a real fight.
The passers-by looked at the two sides while watching how Gu Bai made Braised Sweet Potatoes and the Hot Candied Sweet Potatoes.
Just when the quarrel came to a point, Gu Bai led Fang Weixuan to dig out the Braised Sweet Potatoes.
The clods were no longer heated and changed back to their original color. Gu Bai used a branch to remove the clods and exposed the peeled sweet potato, which looked red inside. The scent was covered before, but now, the unique fragrance had attacked all their noses, including the anti-fans and the real fans.
The rich fragrance attracted the attention of the other contestants. The host couldn't help swallowing and subconsciously walked towards Gu Bai.
"Xiaobai, what is this?" The host looked at the sweet potato in the hands of Gu Bai and Fang Weixuan. It was a very inconspicuous thing that looked dirty, but it smelled so good. That didn't make any sense!
"This is a sweet potato, also known as Ipomoea batatas." Gu Bai broke it in two, exposed the golden fruit inside, and handed one to Meng Bingyan.
Meng Bingyan took the sweet potato, feeling like the fragrance was more intense than before. Before his brain could react, his hand seemed to have his own consciousness and sent the sweet potato to his mouth.
It was soft, sweet, with a bit of glutinous. The taste and texture were so good that he couldn't help finishing it in a few bites. Then he couldn't take his eyes off the other half in Gu Bai's hand.
Gu Bai smirked and instinctively gave another half to him.
"You can take it as the main food. But you will feel full if you eat too much," Gu Bai reminded him with a smile.
"That's not a problem in the Second World," Meng Bingyan said while eating.
"Xiaobai, Xiaobai, I want one, too!" Fang Weixuan couldn't wait to eat it when Meng Bingyan tasted it. And now, watching Meng Bingyan enjoying it happily, he couldn't control his saliva.
Gu Bai replied, "You don't have to ask."
They had braised a total of five. Without the one the host had eaten, there were still four left. Even if Fang Weixuan ate them all, they still had Stewed Chicken with Mushrooms and the Hot Candied Sweet Potatoes to eat later. After all, they wouldn't have to worry about getting full in the Second World.
Fang Weixuan was friendly enough to leave Gu Bai two as well.
When they enjoyed Braised Sweet Potatoes, Gu Bai went over and filled the bowls and plates with Stewed Chicken with Mushrooms and the Hot Candied Sweet Potatoes. Combined with the two dishes and one soup made by Fang Weixuan, they had five in total.
"It's time to eat," Gu Bai said to the two people who were still eating potatoes.
"All right." Fang Weixuan stuffed the remaining sweet potato into his mouth immediately. What a pity he couldn't eat them for real, so his stomach felt nothing. It would be great if he could eat it in real life.
He hoped that the staff in the Plant Research Institute could work out where the sweet potatoes were and cultivate more. Then they could buy and eat them.
"May I join you?" Meng Bingyan asked embarrassedly. The dishes were too good to be rejected. Considering he had used up his courage to ask for this, Gu Bai and Fang Weixuan agreed and offered him a pair of chopsticks.
Alas… He thought he was thick-skinned enough in showbiz, but it looked like he should work harder on that skill.
[Mr. Meng, isn't that too much what you ask for? I want to join them, too!]
[Braised Sweet Potatoes smell so good!!!]
[The sponsors have gone too far to let us watch without holding any live broadcast in the real world. If you don't change, I'll go watch the Gourmet Contest held by Apple Television! Move, and let me try his dishes!]
[Where are the anti-fans? Did they go missing? Are't you guys embarrassed?]
[Hahaha, I believe they are too awkward to say anything right now. As I expected, Xiaobai's dishes never fail me. See? Even Mr. Meng couldn't help asking to join them. I'll see how the anti-fans will defend themselves.]
[I'm envious of Mr. Meng, and I'm jealous of Fang Weixuan every day. Xiaobai, look at me. I'm a loyal fan of yours. Please show me your love and give me something to eat.]
[Will you join me to continue to bombard Xiaobai's Facebook and ask him to open the live stream in the real world?]
[I'm in! I won't stop until Xiaobai compromises!]
[I'm here, guys.]
[I want to know which planet Xiaobai is on. Wish I can go to his home and eat and drink everything he makes.]
The moment instantly showed a new path to Xiaobai's fans.