Chapter 435: Chapter 347: Timing Is Everything—Everyone Gets a Taste!

As they talked, Lucas couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.

His pupils had completely transformed into the shape of durians. He didn’t care about the many eyes watching him, grabbing a palm-sized piece of golden durian flesh and stuffing it into his mouth.

In front of everyone, the plump durian flesh really melted in Lucas’s mouth like ice cream.

He didn’t even need to chew; a gentle press of his lips made the golden flesh sink significantly, revealing the hidden brown seed inside.

"Ah... this is the taste, so refreshing!"

A circle of durian-colored pulp residue was left around his lips, looking quite similar to mango sauce.

He didn’t care about his image, his tongue scraped around up and down, left and right, determined not to waste anything.

In just a few bites, the palm-sized piece of flesh was devoured clean.

"John, do you guys recycle these seeds? How long does it take to grow into a tree that bears fruit?"

"We don’t, are you dreaming?"

John waved his hand, his eyes full of disdain, and said: "It takes at least four to five years to grow durian trees that bear fruit. It’s colder here, so it’ll take even longer. If you’re willing to stay here and take care of it yourself, then go ahead."

"Uh, well, then forget it."

Upon hearing that it would take five to six years to bear fruit, Lucas shook his head regretfully, tossing the seed back into the food box, losing interest instantly.

His eyes naturally turned to the remaining six boxes of durian flesh on the table, his throat moved, and he looked unsatisfied.

"Is it really that tasty?"

Seeing him eat so deliciously, Nagishiro Sho and Raphael seemed tempted.

The surrounding diners were interested when they learned Lin Chen was not setting up a stall but exchanging culinary cultures with two chefs.

"Can I taste this durian? Just a small piece."

"The dishes from chefs competing must be different, right? Well, we’re just idle, can we take a look?"

Most of the tourists coming to the farm to pick ingredients are checking out in the afternoon, and want to get some fresh fruit for snacks back at the hotel, so no one is in a hurry.

It’s a holiday, enjoy the freedom.

Witnessing Michelin chefs exchanging culinary culture in the open air is a show money can’t buy!

"Try! Anyone who wants to try can!"

Lucas didn’t expect that a piece of durian flesh he had eaten would spark strong curiosity among foreigners and promptly realized the business opportunity, quickly setting up the camera for filming.

In front of the lens, he picked up two boxes of durian meat, carefully divided it into small pieces, and inserted toothpicks for easy tasting.

Raphael and Nagishiro Sho walked up, ready to grab.

"Pop—"

Lucas slapped their hands away, glaring.

"These are for tourists to taste. You two are chefs, can’t you have some self-respect? One box each, eat it all, no picky eating!"

"You want me to eat a whole piece??"

"Nani!?"

The two were dumbfounded.

What’s wrong with being a chef, can’t chefs be picky eaters?

This is naked occupational discrimination!!!

Lucas gave them no time to hesitate, forcefully stuffing two boxes of fuller flesh into their arms.

The strong durian aroma hit Raphael, making his eyes roll back, suddenly recalling the bloody pig brain from before, his stomach churned fiercely.

Troubled, he took several deep breaths, trying to quickly adapt to the smell.

"Sakura man, you go first. You’re closer to Great Xia, your tastes should be similar, I’ll wait a bit."

"What’s similar, huh?" Nagishiro Sho immediately cursed, "This is a tropical fruit, a specialty around Thailand, our latitude is almost near Bear Country!"

Despite the curse, he knew he couldn’t escape today and wasn’t planning to. After all, so many eyes were watching.

Whether out of a chef’s professional ethics or a head chef’s stance, he had to eat the entire durian piece.

"Lin, didn’t you say you wanted to try it before? How about having a break and eating the rest?"

Lin Chen nodded humorously without exposing their trick, cleaned his hands, walked over, and without hesitation, grabbed the durian and stuffed it into his mouth.

He was as quick as Lucas, like a vacuum cleaner, swallowing the whole durian piece in seconds.

"??"

"Finished eating? So fast!!"

Nagishiro Sho broke into a cold sweat.

He wanted to buffer himself while Lin Chen ate durian, getting mentally prepared.

But there was no reaction, Lin Chen finished in three to four seconds!

"What’s fast, that’s called efficiency, understand value?"

Lin Chen, like Lucas, tossed the seed into his food box, leaving the empty box on the table for reuse later.

The two stood side by side, eyes shining with humor.

Just quietly stared at the two without urging them.

Even Lin Chen personally demonstrated, and the tourists who were already somewhat interested hesitated no more, each stepping forward to grab a toothpick and sniff the small piece of durian flesh on it.

Almost everyone did the same thing, furrowing their brows, but ultimately chose to swallow it in one go.

"Hmm?!"

A sweetness as rich as honey instantly blossoms on the tongue.

Completely different from the smell, there wasn’t a hint of stink, just a rather peculiar fruit aroma.

"I wonder if the smell was too awful, and that’s why I find the taste bearable?"

"Yeah, it’s bearable when eaten, but this taste is still a bit strange; I can’t accept it."

"So this is what durian tastes like, interesting."

"Can I try another piece? It seems not bad."

Seventy percent of the tourists lost the curious glint in their eyes after tasting it, silently discarded the toothpick, with a few turning away to spit it out.

Only a small number of tourists weren’t deterred by durian’s pungent smell and curious taste, instead eagerly asking for another serving.

Luckily, Lucas and Lin Chen didn’t get enough; without hesitation, they joined forces to pry open a second durian to divide the spoils.

As even the tourists tasted it, the two head chefs wouldn’t dare to linger any longer and immediately tackled the fruit with determination, stuffing it into their mouths.

The flesh may look like it has a layer of matte skin on the surface, appearing somewhat firm, but when held, you realize how soft it is, much like freshly fermented dough—press a little and a handprint appears.

The flesh melts in the mouth, the matte skin feels similar to the skin that floats on the surface of heated whole milk, while the soft flesh inside resembles ice cream in texture, dense and sweet.

The most magical thing is, it’s truly not smelly at all when eaten!

Raphael’s originally furrowed brows gradually smoothed out, staring in amazement at the durian flesh with a bite taken from it.

"A miraculous taste, oh my god, both stimulating and smooth, with a creamy texture that’s dense, the sweetness proportion is perfect, though the smell is somewhat hard to accept."

"Indeed." Nagishiro Sho nodded in agreement, "With such uniquely smelling items, they do require an adaptation period, just like when truffles were first discovered, that gasoline scent wasn’t very popular."

"But now, it’s one of the world’s most valuable top delicacies, loved and pursued by gourmet enthusiasts worldwide."

"I seem to understand why this thing is popular in Great Xia. The culinary skills of Great Xia combined with durian’s unique properties can indeed create addictive desserts."

Both being seasoned head chefs, they naturally wouldn’t subjectively evaluate whether a food is tasty but rather analyze it with market prospects in mind.

Even though the taste of durian is somewhat strange, both compelled themselves to eat it relentlessly.

Only by quickly adapting to this taste can they fully unlock the possibilities of durian.

"Hey, what tasty treat are you guys eating... Ugh!"

As the durian feast commenced at the food cart, Boss Magna emerged from the entrance carrying two heavy bags.

Seeing them eat something, Magna’s eyes lit up and he quickened his pace, waving to greet everyone.

The next second, however, he smelled that terrifying stench, his face changed drastically as he pinched his nose and bent over to dry heave.

"!"

Raphael and Nagishiro Sho both turned their heads simultaneously, flashes of brilliance erupted in their eyes.

No communication needed, not even eye contact was required.

Raphael dashed over, with Nagishiro Sho grabbing a box of freshly opened durian flesh from the table and closely following.

As Magna stood up straight, yet to react and taking deep breaths, he felt something cold like room-temperature butter stuffed into his mouth.

Instinctively, he pressed his lips, and a peculiar taste mixed with sweet flavor spread over.

"???"

"What did you stuff into my mouth?!"

Tasting the sweetness, he didn’t have much reaction, continuing to smack his lips as if savoring the sweetness.

"It’s a fruit, reportedly highly nutritious, nicknamed the queen of fruits, and high-priced. You arrived just at the right moment!"

Raphael wrapped an arm around his shoulder, blocking his retreat, while Nagishiro Sho smiled and forced more durian flesh into his mouth.

"This is good stuff, eat more, don’t waste it~"

"Ugh! Ugh ugh!!"

After struggling, finally managing to swallow what’s in his mouth, Magna was left dazed, staring at the unfamiliar face close by.

"Um, may I ask who this gentleman is?"

Raphael paused, then laughed awkwardly.

"Hello, I’m Raphael, the chef at Lin’s previous restaurant, and a collaborator with Chef Marchello."

"Have we met before?"

"To my knowledge... it seems it’s our first time?"

"Then you’re a bit too enthusiastic, aren’t you?"

Magna licked the strange sweet residue at the corner of his mouth and gazed at the arm resting on his left shoulder.

"Uh..."