C3 Fragrance Eggfried Rice

Upon his arrival, he noticed a sizable crowd had already formed both inside and outside the village chief's courtyard.

Lee Xiaoying was waiting outside. Spotting him, she hurried over with a warm greeting.

"Binn, you made it! Everyone's inside the courtyard. Let me show you around."

The villagers cast curious glances at Du Binn, whispering among themselves, yet none approached him for a chat.

Inside the courtyard, Du Binn and Xiaoying grabbed a pair of wooden stools to sit on. Observing the scene, it was clear that the competition was fierce.

There was Madam Wang, who ran the village's small store, Lee Dazhuang, who hauled grain to the town in the west, and the Zhou Ergou couple, known for their flock of over a hundred chickens...

They all jostled for position around Village Head Lee. Unsure of what entrepreneurship entailed but aware it involved money, they were eager to make their case. The prospect of raising chickens was inflated to the scale of a multimillion-dollar venture.

"Village Head, I need support too. I'm looking to purchase some new furniture for my restaurant and give it a fresh coat of paint," Du Binn interjected, once the others had said their piece.

His comment was met with disdainful looks from the crowd.

Madam Wang scoffed, "Does your rundown restaurant even warrant a renovation?"

"Every village has a restaurant. Do you really think a renovation will draw crowds to yours? Charging thousands for a bowl of porridge, you must think we're all fools. If you're trying to swindle money, just be upfront about it."

Zhou Ergou's wife rolled her eyes dismissively. They had been the biggest investors last year, losing a staggering hundred thousand yuan—enough to buy tens of thousands of chicks.

Ignoring their scorn, Du Binn turned to Village Head Lee. "Uncle Lee, just yesterday I sold two bowls of porridge and made over ten thousand yuan. I'm confident we'll see a steady increase in customers soon."

"Once I renovate, more diners will come, and with the extra income, I'll be able to settle everyone's debts."

Widow Wang spat on the ground in response to his optimism.

"Xiao Binn, don't take offense at my bluntness, but you were a university graduate. If you'd stayed in the city, you might've made enough money to pay us back by now."

"Now you've got a restaurant with just two dishes on the menu, each costing over a thousand yuan. How many people can actually afford that? You're young and already dreaming of raking in over ten thousand yuan a month. Time to snap out of it."

Widow Wang's words hung in the air, followed by a chorus of sighs from the onlookers.

They all echoed the same sentiment, urging Du Binn to head home and save himself the embarrassment.

"Enough, everyone be quiet. I've made my decision—Du Binn is the one we're going to support."

Village Head Lee's voice boomed, turning the previously hushed conversations into a loud buzz.

"Why him?"

"Why does he get it? I don't agree with this." A large head emerged from the back of the crowd.

"Village Head Lee, why choose him over me?"

Zhao Tian, the newcomer, also ran a restaurant in the village.

His prices were reasonable, and the villagers preferred his place for their gatherings.

Village Head Lee did have a bias. He had once implored Du Binn's father to help the villagers, and he had carried a sense of guilt towards Du Binn ever since.

Seeing Zhao Tian step forward, Village Head Lee retorted, "What do you know? His place is a farm-style restaurant that draws in big clients. You work yourself to the bone all year in the village and barely make anything. You don't need the support fund."

Yet, Zhao Tian remained defiant.

"What does he know about cooking? He thinks setting high prices makes his menu sophisticated? I'm not buying it."

Village Head Lee was in a bind.

"If you want me to stay quiet, then let's have a cook-off. If his cooking impresses me, I'll concede."

Village Head Lee glanced at Du Binn, troubled.

He was aware that his overprotection of Du Binn had to be justified; Du Binn needed to showcase his culinary skills or they'd never hear the end of it.

"Fine, I'll take you on."

As Village Head Lee wrestled with the situation, Du Binn rose to his feet.

Zhao Tian chuckled, "Good, what will we compete in? Let everyone here be the judge. If my dish tastes better, you'll hand over the support fund. But if yours is superior, then it rightfully belongs to you."

"Alright," Du Binn agreed without hesitation.

The village head's courtyard had a stove, and in no time, everyone had the ingredients ready for the two competitors.

Zhao Tian, the village chef, boasted culinary skills beyond reproach. His specialty? A savory steamed pork dish. He coated the seasoned meat in flour and fried it in sizzling oil until each piece tumbled to a golden-brown perfection. The aroma was intoxicating, and the color, a feast for the eyes. The crowd was thoroughly impressed.

Turning to Du Binn, they found him standing with his arms crossed, prompting a collective murmur of concern.

Lee Xiaoying, growing impatient, prodded Du Binn to pick up the pace. "Do you have any leftover rice from last night? I need some," Du Binn asked her.

Confused, Xiaoying replied, "I do, but what do you want with leftover rice?"

"I'm making Egg Fried Rice."

Her mouth agape, Xiaoying exclaimed, "Binn, you've lost your mind!"

She couldn't fathom how a simple bowl of Egg Fried Rice could compete, yet she couldn't deny Du Binn's request.

Meanwhile, Zhao Tian had finished prepping the side dishes and was about to blend in the seasoning sauce. That's when Du Binn sprang into action, selecting the Golden Egg Fried Rice recipe from his system.

He swiftly cracked the eggs, separating whites from yolks, and whisked the yolks. His other hand was busy too, fluffing up the leftover rice before drizzling it with the egg yolk.

Once every grain was coated, he finely chopped carrots and cucumbers with a fluidity that drew cheers from the onlookers.

Zhao Tian was already stir-frying the pork, adding the sauce and side dishes to the mix, the aroma enveloping the space.

The dish was a symphony of scent and flavor, making everyone believe Zhao Tian had the win in the bag.

But Du Binn's Egg Fried Rice was reaching its crescendo. He swirled the egg whites in the pan, swiftly scattering them before scooping them out. Then came the rice, now cloaked in egg yolk, followed by a vigorous stir-fry with the side dishes. The pot's contents burst into vibrant color, signaling the final touch to his creation.

Du Binn skillfully poured the whipped egg whites into the pan.

Once served, the dish was a feast for the senses, boasting a perfect blend of color, aroma, and flavor.

The select few invited to sample the dish were esteemed elders of the village. At Zhao Tian's, they each took a bite and nodded approvingly, lavishing praise upon the dish.

Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the dish was delectably fragrant. This time, Zhao Tian had outdone himself, surpassing all his previous culinary efforts.

Lee Xiaoying watched with growing concern. In the selection of ingredients alone, Du Binn was already at a considerable disadvantage. It seemed certain that his Egg Fried Rice would fall short in this competition.