Chapter 18: Is the Detector Broken?

--What is the streamer doing? Is this... really happening?
--If I’m not mistaken... that looks like natural food.
--No way, is this person crazy? Eating long-eared beasts? Don’t they know eating too much can cause a mental breakdown?

Chen Jiajiao saw the scene as well and immediately called Hua Yun via interstellar communication.

“Yun Yun, what are you doing?” Chen Jiajiao was nearly frantic. Since when did her friend get so bold?

“Ah, Jiajiao? What’s up?” To be honest, Hua Yun really wished she could eat with her friends. Eating alone was dull, though certainly better than nutrient fluid.

“Are you planning to eat long-eared beasts?” Jiajiao’s voice came through Hua Yun’s earpiece.

Only then did Hua Yun realize she was still live streaming—she’d been so engrossed she forgot.

“You know, everyone in the stream is freaking out. Don’t you know those animals aren’t safe to eat? Eating too much can easily cause mental instability.”

“If you want to eat them, just tell me! I can send some over.” The Chen family raised quite a few edible beasts; she occasionally ate them herself.

“No, Jiajiao, I’m fine.” Hua Yun glanced at the scrolling comments in the stream, noticing the viewer count was still rising.

“Wait, Jiajiao.” Hua Yun moved the camera closer and showed, “This is my lunch today: stir-fried long-eared beast.”

--Streamer, don’t eat that! It will damage your mental health if you overdo it!

Seeing many warnings, Hua Yun stood up and took out a detector. “This doesn’t harm the body or mental health, everyone can relax.”

She placed the meat on the detector, and soon a report appeared on the stream. Then she put some cabbage sprouts on it as well. “This is fine too.”

--What? It’s fine? Has the detector broken?
--Two years ago, someone got stranded on a barren planet, had no nutrient fluid, ate the local beasts, and went crazy ever since.
--I suggest the streamer get a new detector!

Hua Yun frowned slightly. She had discovered that her own mental energy could be tested, and the parts not rejected by her mental energy could be measured by instruments without issue.

“This is the latest detector issued by our academy; there’s no problem.” Hua Yun paused, “Actually, these beasts, when properly prepared, have their dangerous elements effectively removed. Even if some remain, the high heat reduces them to negligible levels, similar to nutrient fluids.”

She felt that the culinary culture gap in this world was severe. In her previous life, toxic substances could be made safe through proper processing, making them edible.

The main unsafe elements and irritants in interstellar animals are primarily in their blood, heads, and internal organs. Of course, different animals require different treatments.

--The streamer is so confident—I’m looking forward to seeing her mental breakdown~
--What kind of sick mindset is that? Enjoying watching others suffer?
--Plants academy students don’t have common sense; why can’t we watch her fail?
--The streamer tested herself and found no problems.
--Though I’m skeptical, I want to believe her—not for anything else, but because I want to taste those legendary dishes!!!

“I’ve always loved Blue Star cuisine and have been studying it. I found that with the right preparation, unsafe factors can be removed, and with proper cooking, delicious dishes can be made.” Hua Yun explained.

“As for what you said about the detector malfunctioning...” She picked an unknown plant outside, placed it on the detector, and soon the results came back.

“See? The detector still picks up inhibitory energy in this plant,” Hua Yun said.

--So the streamer really has a way to remove the harmful parts?

“I’ll eat first and talk to you all later.” If she didn’t eat now, the food would get cold.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Hua Yun ate heartily, taking bite after bite of rice and vegetables. Luckily, she had finally managed to buy some rice after queuing.

A few days ago, she had even planted some herself. With the help of her plant powers, they would mature in about a month, so she wouldn’t have to worry about staple food in the future—the queues were just too slow.

--What to do? The streamer’s eating looks so delicious. Can we have a taste-sharing stream?
--I want that too.
Night Wanderer: Why do I suddenly want to eat?

Chen Jiajiao watched Hua Yun eat with big bites, swallowed hard, and couldn’t help sending her a message.

Jiajiao: Yun Yun, is it tasty?

Unfortunately, Hua Yun didn’t notice and quietly finished her meal. There was only enough food for herself anyway.

After finishing, she noticed the viewer count had increased quite a bit.

So... no matter the world, the allure of good food is irresistible!

But... taste-sharing? It’s not impossible. It could attract more viewers and be a chance to spread Blue Star culture.

Besides developing the barren planet, Hua Yun suddenly found another interest.

“I can do taste-sharing, but it’ll have to be next time,” Hua Yun said. “This stream ends here. See you next time. Follow me and check my profile to see the next stream’s schedule.”

With that, she ended the stream.

The moment Hua Yun’s stream ended, Chen Jiajiao sent her a video.

Interstellar videos differed from modern ones—the images floated in space, with a more three-dimensional feel.

“Yun Yun, are you okay? That... long-eared beast meat—is it really edible?” Jiajiao frowned at Hua Yun and asked.

“Of course, Jiajiao. Do I look like someone who’d mess around? I’ve tried it many times these past days, tested it thoroughly, and felt no discomfort.”

In fact, absorbing the soil’s inhibitory energy seemed to strengthen her plant powers.

Jiajiao studied Hua Yun carefully, then smiled. “That’s good. But is it tasty?” Her round eyes were full of curiosity.

“So-so. Better than nutrient fluid,” Hua Yun said. The seasoning was limited. She had been searching the star network’s corners for many plant seeds and planned to grow them somewhere. Every beginning is hard, but it would get better gradually.

“Then... can I try some?” Jiajiao was craving it after watching and suddenly found the nutrient fluid in her space pod unappetizing.

“You can. I have a practical class in a couple of days; I should be back then. I want to ask the dean and others about some things too,” Hua Yun said, seeing Jiajiao’s eager look, “If you can’t wait, I can send some over, but it probably won’t taste as good as freshly made.”

“Great, great!” Jiajiao visibly brightened with happiness.