"Alright."
"Chef Ye, no need to be modest!"
"What's most important now is solving the eating problems for me and Mana-sama. We came here specifically for the food at your restaurant."
Noticing the slightly tense atmosphere, Anne quickly stepped forward with a light laugh.
"What would you two like to eat?"
Ye Chen responded.
"Hmm... let me think first."
"Since Mana-sama hasn't eaten for a long time, we hope you can prepare some light, health-preserving dishes."
After some consideration, Anne spoke truthfully.
"In that case, how about some Rainbow Medicinal Congee to nourish her body?"
"Agreed!"
Anne nodded.
...
The Chinese Cancer Association had once recommended a "Rainbow Diet," which Ye Chen found quite interesting.
It classifies fruits and vegetables into green, red, orange-yellow, purple-black, and white categories, believing each color contains different nutrients and corresponding health benefits, showing good effects in preventing chronic diseases and reducing tumor risks.
For example:
Red ingredients like carrots, red bell peppers, hawthorn berries, tomatoes, watermelon, red dates, strawberries, cherries, and red beans...
All help with blood production and appetite stimulation.
From a traditional Chinese medicine perspective:
Prolonged fasting leads to physical weakness primarily because the body cannot obtain sufficient energy and nutrients.
This affects normal metabolism, organ functions, and the balance of bodily systems.
Therefore:
Scientifically proportioned medicinal herbs and ingredients can be combined to exert nourishing effects.
Hence, Ye Chen considered using Rainbow Medicinal Congee to help Nakiri Mana regulate her nearly exhausted, frail body.
...
To prepare a bowl of Rainbow Medicinal Congee that could satisfy the God Tongue,
Ye Chen carefully selected ingredients including brown rice, mung beans, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, black glutinous rice, barley, buckwheat, shiitake mushrooms, and seaweed.
Each ingredient was quite ordinary, available at any grocery market.
Yet they all carried nature's gifts, containing unique nutritional values.
After washing and drying each ingredient individually, Ye Chen carefully fed them into a grinder.
With the machine's hum,
Various ingredients gradually transformed into fine powder, completing a magnificent metamorphosis.
These powders not only retained all the nutrients of the original ingredients but were also easier to digest and absorb. Whether for weak elderly people or children with delicate stomachs, they could enjoy this healthy delicacy without any burden!
Worth mentioning is that this Rainbow Medicinal Congee completely avoided any additives.
Clearly,
In this era full of temptations,
Ye Chen could still uphold health principles, using the most natural ingredients to create the most "pure" flavors.
...
Cook sago, pandan leaves, and rainbow-colored powder in water for 15 minutes.
Stir continuously during cooking.
Add rock sugar.
Simmer over low heat for another 5 minutes.
When the rainbow rice becomes semi-transparent, turn off the heat, add a few dried longan slices to the pot, then cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
After serving, add evaporated milk before enjoying.
...
Behold,
The bowl of Rainbow Medicinal Congee placed before them steamed warmly.
The gently rising steam resembled dreamlike mist, softly swirling around the bowl's rim.
Moreover,
Within the steam...
There was also a faint, elusive sweetness and medicinal aroma.
Threads of it drifted into the nostrils, tantalizing the taste buds, making one unable to resist the urge to uncover its secrets.
Under the gentle glow of the lights, the bowl of congee emitted a mysterious, shimmering radiance.
It wasn't as dazzling as the blazing sun, nor as cold and lonely as moonlight. Instead, it carried a warm and soft texture, like the stars in the night sky!
Every grain of rice.
Every piece of ingredient.
Glistened and sparkled under this light.
As if imbued with life, they radiated vibrant vitality.
Nakiri Mana leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed intently on the bowl of congee, her eyes filled with doubt and curiosity.
She reached out, wanting to gently touch the rim of the bowl and feel the temperature of this strange glow.
However.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the bowl.
The Rainbow Medicinal Congee suddenly burst into a brilliant light, like a supernova exploding, releasing a dazzling rainbow-colored radiance.
Red, yellow, green, black, white, purple, and orange—seven colors of light instantly illuminated the small restaurant!
So much so that everyone hurriedly covered their eyes.
...
Nakiri Mana.
Was startled by this sudden turn of events.
Her body trembled violently, and she quickly used her free hand—the one not hooked to an IV drip—to cover her eyes, trying to block the blinding light.
At the same time, her face was filled with shock and confusion, her lips trembling slightly as she couldn't help but exclaim:
"What's going on?"
"How... how can congee possibly glow?"
After a long while.
The light gradually faded.
The small restaurant returned to its previous tranquility, and Nakiri Mana slowly lowered her hand, opened her bright eyes, and looked at the bowl of congee again.
At this moment, the Rainbow Medicinal Congee had returned to its calm state.
Still steaming.
Still emitting a faint aroma.
As if the bizarre scene that had just occurred was nothing but a dream!
But Nakiri Mana knew it wasn't a dream. That strange rainbow-colored light had been deeply imprinted in her mind, becoming an unsolvable mystery.
...
"Mana-sama."
"The Jewel Meat I saw last time."
"Also emitted a strong light, just like tonight's bowl of congee."
Even though she had already witnessed such a glowing phenomenon before, Anne couldn't help but feel shocked when it happened right before her eyes again.
Then, after collecting herself, she explained to Mana.
"Is that so?"
"It seems there are indeed many hidden secrets about you!"
Nakiri Mana was stunned for a moment before turning her gaze to Ye Chen, speaking in a very calm tone.
"Congee should be eaten while it's hot."
"Otherwise, it won't taste as good when it cools down."
Ye Chen, however, shrugged, deliberately avoiding the topic.
...
Afterward.
Nakiri Mana couldn't help but take a deep breath.
After all, the absurd glowing spectacle had given her quite a fright.
After making an effort to calm herself down, Mana finally reached out again, carefully picking up the bowl of Rainbow Medicinal Congee.
This time.
Nothing startled her anymore.
Instead, she examined the mysterious Rainbow Medicinal Congee with a sense of reverence and curiosity.
Everyone knew that behind this bowl of congee, there must be a hidden secret unknown to all.
And she decided to use the power of the God Tongue to uncover this secret, to explore the truth behind that radiance.
"I'll dig in!"
Finally, Nakiri Mana began preparing to taste.