Chapter 36: The Weeping Mushroom

When Chi Sui returned to the ranch from the cave, she looked a bit more disheveled than when she had left. Her hair was windswept and messy, and her clothes were wrinkled from her own nervous clutching.

Lolo, who always rushed out to greet her at the slightest sound, was startled by her appearance. "Sui Sui, what happened? Did you get into a fight?"

Chi Sui immediately lowered her head, pretending to wipe away tears as she said, "Is it that obvious? I’m the one who got beaten up."

Mr. Stone, walking behind her, raised a forelimb and tapped her on the head, saying dryly, "It’s obvious now."

Seeing this, Lolo flew directly to the top of Chi Sui’s head, touched the spot where she had been tapped, and asked, "Does it hurt?"

Chi Sui shook her head and was about to speak when Lolo flew in front of Mr. Stone, hands on its hips, looking fierce. "How could you hit her?"

Mr. Stone, who had been expressionless, suddenly looked helpless and could only lower its forelimbs, listening to Lolo’s scolding.

Watching this scene, Chi Sui felt her already good mood improve even further. Ever since Lolo arrived at the ranch, it had become increasingly cheerful—perhaps this was its true personality all along.

Picking up Momo, who had pounced out from the house, Chi Sui waved at Qiya, who had come out at the noise, signaling for him to go inside first.

Once they were both indoors, Qiya stared at what Chi Sui was holding and asked, "Ranch Owner Chi, did you go to the cave nearby?"

"Huh?" Chi Sui, who had just placed the mushroom on the table, was stunned. "How could you tell?"

Qiya smiled and replied, "Influenced by my family, I’ve read quite a few botanical guides. What you’re holding is a Weeping Mushroom, isn't it?"

"These mushrooms usually grow in dark, damp corners and detest sunlight. Given how quickly you returned, the only place that fits is that cave."

"It’s just surprising that such a top-tier ingredient would appear in an ordinary cave. If the explorers find out, this place will likely become quite busy." Realizing he might have overstepped, he quickly added, "Don't worry, Ranch Owner Chi, I will never speak of this."

Chi Sui nodded and pointed at the mushroom. "Have you eaten it?"

Qiya almost nodded, but then seemed to recall something and quickly waved his hands. "I had the honor once. Although this ingredient is rare, my family has many similar ones. Please don't worry, I have no designs on it..."

Chi Sui looked at him strangely, wondering why he was suddenly flexing his wealth, and interrupted, "What are you thinking? Since you've eaten it, do you know how to prepare it?"

Chi Sui was very interested in the effects Mr. Stone had mentioned. Moreover, the reason she hadn't managed to create any three-star dishes was the lack of top-tier ingredients; now that she had one, how could she not want to try?

However, the appearance of the ingredient was so peculiar that she feared there might be culinary taboos. One wrong move, and she might end up meeting her grandfather in the afterlife—for instance, if it wasn't cooked properly.

Qiya tilted his head and thought for a while. "These top-tier ingredients are rarely seen, and recipes for three-star dishes are sold for astronomical prices. I only recall that the time I ate this mushroom, it was made into a soup."

Mushroom soup, then.

Chi Sui picked up the overly vibrant mushroom from the table and tossed it into the air. With her movement, the mushroom’s "mouth" twitched, emitting a low, wailing sound.

*So noisy.*

Chi Sui reached out and precisely covered its mouth once more.

Momo, perched on Chi Sui’s shoulder, leaned in curiously. "This mushroom looks so strange, but it actually smells quite good."

Chi Sui brought the mushroom close to her nose and sniffed, but couldn't detect any scent.

Qiya spoke up from the side, "That soup was prepared by a long-established ranch owner. I don't remember the taste clearly, but the aroma was very unique—a scent so thick and rich it felt almost tangible. Anyone who smelled it would shed tears."

Chi Sui was left with a head full of questions. A tangible scent? Tears upon smelling it? Did this mushroom have the properties of a chili pepper, causing one to choke?

Just then, Mr. Stone and Lolo entered the room. Sensing her hesitation, Mr. Stone said, "If you're curious, just try cooking it. A simple soup will suffice."

"Is one mushroom enough?"

"It's enough. This ingredient is incredibly potent."

Qiya echoed, "Indeed, I don't recall seeing many mushrooms in that soup."

Since they both said so, Chi Sui didn't dally and got straight to work. However, simply boiling it would lack technique, so she decided to show off a little.

She fried some eggs she had collected from the animal shed that morning until they were golden brown on both sides, then set them aside. She had Momo pick some green onions and garlic from the wooden crate by the door, which she washed and minced as aromatics.

Everything went smoothly until it came to cutting the mushroom. As soon as she brought the knife close, the Weeping Mushroom lived up to its name, wailing incessantly.

Perhaps it was the draft from her movement; Chi Sui set the knife down, steeled her nerves, and carefully approached again.

"Wuwuwu~"

She set it down and tried again.

"Wuwuwu~"

She set it down, switched to a smaller knife, and just as she lifted it—

"Wuwuwu!"

Chi Sui covered her ears, asking uncertainly, "Is it my imagination? Why is the crying getting louder?"

Mr. Stone stepped forward and, with a *thwack*, flattened the Weeping Mushroom on the cutting board with its hand. "Normal phenomenon. Just knock it unconscious before cutting."

Chi Sui held the knife, unable to believe her eyes. What kind of vegetable required being knocked unconscious before being cut?

Swallowing hard, she didn't hesitate to hand the knife to Qiya, who was observing and recording from the side. "I'll test your knife skills this time. You do the cutting."

Qiya was pleasantly surprised to take the handle. That morning, Chi Sui hadn't even let him touch her kitchen tools, let alone process such a top-tier ingredient. "Rest assured, I won't let you down."

Qiya, having acquired the Cooking skill, handled the knife with practiced ease. The flattened Weeping Mushroom no longer struggled, and as Qiya’s blade fell, a uniform slice of mushroom flesh was cut away.

A single droplet of water fell from the air, wetting the previously dry wooden cutting board.

Chi Sui looked up, confused, only to see that Qiya’s eyes were filled with tears, with droplets constantly sliding down his cheeks.

"You don't have to be that moved," Chi Sui said, unable to understand why he was crying over just cutting a vegetable.

Qiya shook his head while weeping, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "It’s not excitement. It’s the fumes from this thing."

Sure enough, Chi Sui looked down at Momo on her shoulder, who was also teary-eyed and secretly wiping its tears onto her clothes.

"Momo, stop that!"

So, this Weeping Mushroom was essentially the equivalent of an onion...