# E18 - Calamity at the Chrysanthemum Tower
Source: [Crunchyroll](https://www.crunchyroll.com/watch/G4VUQ34P3/calamity-at-the-chrysanthemum-tower)
Translator:
Editor:
Timer:
QC:
(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
**[00:01] Meili**
It's true, Mao.
**[00:03] Mao**
That's not possible, Mei Li.
**[00:06] Meili**
He seemed to know a lot
about cooking ingredients.
**[00:09] Meili**
I bet he's the temporary head chef
at the Chrysanthemum Tower.
**[00:11] Shirou**
Yeah, right.
**[00:13] Shirou**
He's not Mao. That brat couldn't
possibly be the head chef.
**[00:16] Mao**
I'm the head chef.
**[00:18] Mao**
Beijing's Admiral Li decided that
until I returned from my training,
**[00:23] Mao**
the Chrysanthemum Tower would stay closed.
***SIGN*** Chrysanthemum Tower
**[00:34] Shirou**
The restaurant's open, Mao!
**[00:36] Shirou**
And it's bustling.
**[00:38] Mao**
That's not possible...
**[00:40] Keling**
Mao? Is that you, Mao?!
**[00:44] Mao**
Sis!
**[00:48] Mao**
Sis!
**[00:49] Keling**
Mao!
***SIGN*** True Cooking Master Boy
**[02:23] Mao**
I haven't been back in forever.
**[02:25] Mao**
It's been a year and a half.
**[02:27] Mao**
The inside of the shop
hasn't changed at all—
**[02:31] Mao**
Huh?
**[02:33] Mao**
You changed to an open kitchen?
**[02:37] Mao**
Sis, the shop was supposed to
be closed. Why is it open?
**[02:41] Mao**
Did something happen?
**[02:42] Keling**
Well, there's actually a reason
we had to open again...
**[02:48] Zhuqi**
I'm delighted, my beautiful lady!
**[02:50] Zhuqi**
You came to see me after all.
**[02:52] Meili**
Let go of me, you pervert!
**[02:54] Zhuqi**
You're no fun. I saved your life.
**[02:57] Mao**
Mei Li, is this guy...
**[03:02] Zhuqi**
Nice to meet you.
**[03:03] Zhuqi**
I've been temporarily put in charge of
the Chrysanthemum Tower's kitchen.
**[03:07] Zhuqi**
My name is Zhu Qui.
**[03:10] Zhuqi**
I can't believe I'm actually
meeting the boy who became
**[03:14] Zhuqi**
a world-famous Super Chef
at my age, Master Mao.
**[03:16] Zhuqi**
I'm overjoyed!
**[03:18] Mao**
N-Nice to meet you.
**[03:20] Mao**
*Who is this guy?*
**[03:22] Zhuqi**
I know! Let's hold a banquet tonight
to celebrate Mao's return.
**[03:29] Zhuqi**
All right. The shop is reserved for today.
***SIGN*** Reserved For the Day
**[03:32] Zhuqi**
*Scribble, scribble, scribble...*
**[03:33] Zhuqi**
Check this out!
***SIGN*** Chrysanthemum Tower Fried Dough Kung Pao Chicken Fish and Eggplant Mapo Tofu Twice Cooked Pork Roasted Wrapped Chicken Guaiwei Noodles Scorched Rice Oxtail Soup Longan Buns
**[03:36] Zhuqi**
For the seventy of you gathered here,
in honor of Master Mao,
**[03:39] Zhuqi**
I, Zhu Qi, shall prepare seven
servings of these ten dishes by myself
**[03:43] Zhuqi**
with all my heart and soul right
before your eyes!
**[03:48] Mao**
Seventy servings of ten dishes by himself?
**[03:51] Shirou**
He's showing off.
**[03:53] Keling**
I think he might be a little different
from the chefs you've met so far, Mao.
**[03:57] Mao**
What?
**[03:59] Zhuqi**
All right.
**[04:00] Man C**
Hey.
**[04:00] Man A**
We've been waiting!
**[04:01] Man B**
Looking good, Zhu Qi!
**[04:03] Mao**
Those are silver cooking chopsticks.
**[04:05] Shirou**
They're so long!
**[04:12] Zhuqi**
Here we go.
**[04:18] Zhuqi**
All right!
**[04:20] Shirou**
What?
**[04:21] Mao**
He's so dexterous!
**[04:24] Zhuqi**
Yes! Let's crank it up!
**[04:35] Zhuqi**
Yakisoba.
**[04:36] Zhuqi**
Fried dough.
**[04:37] Zhuqi**
Steamed buns.
**[04:38] Zhuqi**
Soup.
**[04:39] Shirou**
His technique's incredible!
**[04:41] Mao**
You're right.
**[04:43] Mao**
*That's not all, though...*
**[04:44] Zhuqi**
Kung Pao chicken, mapo tofu,
fish and eggplant, twice cooked pork...
**[04:47] Mao**
*His long chopsticks are full of joy,*
**[04:50] Mao**
* and create a beautiful*
* and comforting rhythm.*
**[04:52] Mao**
* It makes the customers start dancing,*
* caught in a whirlpool of pleasure.*
**[04:53] Zhuqi**
All right. Things are heating up.
**[04:57] Mao**
*This chef cooks in such a fun way.*
**[04:58] Shirou**
Wow. Looking good, buddy!
**[05:08] Shirou**
It's delicious!
**[05:10] Shirou**
They're all excellent dishes, Mao.
**[05:12] Mao**
Yeah.
**[05:14] Mao**
At first glance, it looks like he's
carelessly striking the pot as a stunt,
**[05:18] Mao**
but everything is cooked perfectly
with just the right amount of oil.
**[05:21] Zhuqi**
How's your injured foot?
**[05:23] Meili**
Stop staring at me!
**[05:26] Mao**
L-Listen, Zhu Qi...
**[05:29] Mao**
I've never seen a chef have
so much fun while he cooks.
**[05:32] Mao**
You're amazing, Zhu Qi.
**[05:34] Zhuqi**
Is that right?
**[05:38] Zhuqi**
Did it look like I was having fun to you?
**[05:44] Zhuqi**
I hate cooking.
**[05:47] Mao**
Huh?
**[05:59] Man V**
Hey, Zhu Qi. This is great.
**[06:01] Zhuqi**
Is it?
**[06:04] Zhuqi**
Mei Li, let's go check out the Leshan
Giant Buddha sometime. How 'bout it?
**[06:09] Meili**
What's wrong with you?!
**[06:10] Man C**
Mei Li, be careful.
**[06:10] Zhuqi**
Come on, Mei Li. It'll be fun.
**[06:13] Mao**
*He hates cooking?*
***SIGN*** Chrysanthemum Tower
**[06:22] Zhuqi**
Come on, Mei Li. The Chrysanthemum
Tower is closed today, anyway.
**[06:29] Zhuqi**
It's incredible. I promise
you won't regret it.
**[06:34] Meili**
I need to ask Mao, first.
**[06:36] Zhuqi**
Don't be ridiculous.
**[06:39] Zhuqi**
It's such a waste of your beauty
to stay cooped up inside.
**[06:42] Zhuqi**
You should dress yourself up
and put yourself out there.
**[06:47] Zhuqi**
Think about it.
**[06:48] Meili**
But...
**[06:50] Keling**
Mao.
**[06:52] Keling**
I'll leave a change of clothes for you here.
**[06:55] Mao**
Sis, the restaurant was supposed to
stay closed while I was gone.
**[06:59] Mao**
Why is it open?
**[07:01] Keling**
Oh, I forgot to tell you yesterday.
**[07:03] Keling**
It happened a month ago...
**[07:07] (Flashback) Keling**
What? We need to open shop immediately?
**[07:10] (Flashback) Luan**
That's right.
**[07:11] (Flashback) Luan**
Do it for Szechuan.
**[07:14] (Flashback) Luan**
Forty days from now, Prince Jiang
will be visiting from Beijing
**[07:18] (Flashback) Luan**
as part of a tour of the western border.
**[07:23] (Flashback) Luan**
We must entertain him with dishes
from the Chrysanthemum Tower,
**[07:26] (Flashback) Luan**
Szechuan's greatest state-run restaurant.
**[07:29] (Flashback) Luan**
If you can't do it, then the Chrysanthemum
Tower will be closed forever.
**[07:36] (Flashback) Keling**
It's such short notice, and Mao isn't around...
**[07:39] (Flashback) Keling**
What are we going to do?
**[07:40] Keling**
Just as I was at a complete loss...
**[07:42] (Flashback) Zhuqi**
Beautiful girls shouldn't worry so much.
**[07:47] (Flashback) Zhuqi**
This little chef would throw himself
in harm's way to help a beautiful girl.
**[07:53] Keling**
The confident young chef who showed
up out of nowhere was Zhu Qi.
**[07:58] Keling**
Though I was suspicious, I called
the official to test Zhu Qi's skills.
**[08:03] (Flashback) Luan**
He uses those silver chopsticks so skillfully.
**[08:07] (Flashback) Luan**
It's beautifully made and has all
the originality of Szechuan cuisine!
**[08:14] (Flashback) Luan**
Marvelous! This will do!
**[08:17] (Flashback) Luan**
Let's have him do it!
**[08:19] (Flashback) Zhuqi**
Cooking should be so fun
it makes your heart soar.
**[08:23] (Flashback) Zhuqi**
Just like love.
**[08:29] Keling**
In any case, we asked Zhu Qi
to temporarily serve as head chef
**[08:32] Keling**
until the prince's visit.
**[08:34] Keling**
He's quite popular for saving the Chrysanthemum
Tower and his exquisite flavors.
**[08:41] Mao**
Sis, where did Zhu Qi come from?
**[08:44] Keling**
He said he's from Inner Mongolia.
**[08:47] Keling**
He lost his parents, who were
also chefs, when he was young.
**[08:51] Keling**
Between his natural talent
and the way he cooks so joyfully,
**[08:56] Keling**
Zhu Qi is kind of like you, Mao.
**[09:00] Mao**
*Me and Zhu Qi?*
**[09:04] Zhuqi**
Come on, Mei Li.
**[09:04] Mao**
*But he...*
**[09:06] Zhuqi**
Mei Li, are you listening?
**[09:10] (Flashback) Zhuqi**
I hate cooking.
**[09:19] Mao**
Huh?
**[09:21] Meili**
Mao, I asked you to hold onto
that floral hairpin.
**[09:25] Mao**
That's odd.
**[09:27] Meili**
It's a keepsake from my mother.
**[09:29] Meili**
You take great care of your cookbooks,
but you don't care about my stuff.
**[09:35] Mao**
You haven't used it in months.
Why do you need it all of a sudden?
**[09:39] Meili**
Wh-Why does that matter?
**[09:42] Meili**
I just felt like wearing it...
**[09:50] (Flashback) Zhuqi**
You should dress yourself up
and put yourself out there.
**[09:54] Mao**
If it's that important, you
should've held onto it yourself.
**[10:05] Meili**
You jerk, Mao!
**[10:07] Meili**
Forget it!
**[10:09] Mao**
M-Mei Li!
**[10:20] Zhuqi**
Hey, that looks great on you.
**[10:23] Meili**
But I could never wear
something so expensive.
**[10:26] Zhuqi**
What are you talking about?
**[10:28] Zhuqi**
The highest quality products
look best on a beautiful girl!
**[10:32] Shirou**
Well, they do say even a plain girl
looks beautiful at the peak of her youth.
**[10:36] Meili**
Mind your own business.
**[10:41] Mao**
I've got to defend my pride as a Super Chef.
**[10:45] Shirou**
Why are you cooking
something so elaborate, Mao?
**[10:50] Mao**
I made Mei Li a little angry earlier.
**[10:53] Mao**
I'm making this as a sign of reconciliation.
**[10:55] Shirou**
Huh.
**[10:57] Mao**
Mei Li will be so surprised.
**[10:59] Mao**
She might even say, "Oh, wow!"
**[11:02] Meili**
Oh, wow!
**[11:05] Meili**
Rainbow mooncakes!
**[11:08] Zhuqi**
I made them for you, beautiful.
**[11:10] Zhuqi**
I know. Since you're from the
east where the moon rises,
**[11:13] Zhuqi**
I'll call you "Moon Empress."
**[11:14] Zhuqi**
As is the custom, I offer these
mooncakes to the moon goddess.
**[11:19] Zhuqi**
Let's eat these together
at the Leshan Giant Buddha.
**[11:25] Man A**
Zhu Qi, you jerk.
**[11:27] Zhuqi**
Huh?
**[11:27] Man A**
You move on girls
as quickly as you cook, huh?
**[11:31] Zhuqi**
Don't tease me.
**[11:32] Man B**
Be careful, Mei Li.
He's got a silver tongue.
**[11:36] Zhuqi**
Seriously, stop.
**[11:46] Shirou**
Looks like you're too late.
**[11:48] Zhuqi**
Come on, Mei Li.
**[11:50] Meili**
But...
**[11:52] Zhuqi**
Hold on tight.
**[11:54] Meili**
Wait a second, Zhu Qi.
**[11:56] Zhuqi**
I promise you won't regret it.
**[11:59] Meili**
What?
**[12:00] Zhuqi**
Hup!
**[12:04] Mao**
What?
**[12:18] Mao**
*No way. Mei Li...*
**[12:25] Zhuqi**
Impressive, right?
**[12:26] Zhuqi**
Its head is 13.3 meters tall, and
the whole thing is 64.5 meters tall.
**[12:31] Zhuqi**
It's the biggest Buddha in China.
**[12:33] Meili**
It must've taken a long time
to carve this into a cliff.
**[12:38] Zhuqi**
It took 90 years to sculpt
during the Tang dynasty.
**[12:41] Zhuqi**
I just looked that up earlier.
**[12:44] Zhuqi**
Have some of these.
**[12:49] Meili**
They're so good!
**[12:51] Zhuqi**
Broad beans, tomatoes, kabocha squash.
**[12:54] Zhuqi**
I mixed all kinds of stuff into the skins.
**[12:56] Meili**
Lotus seeds, coconut, rainbow bean jam...
**[13:00] Meili**
Not only are they delicious,
but they're varied and small,
**[13:02] Meili**
so you don't get tired of them.
**[13:03] Zhuqi**
Whether it's cooking or a date,
once you bore someone, it's over.
**[13:06] Meili**
A date? But, I...
**[13:09] Zhuqi**
Hey, Mei Li.
**[13:11] Zhuqi**
Why don't we go make another
rainbow-colored memory together?
**[13:14] Meili**
What?
**[13:24] Zhuqi**
We're here.
**[13:29] Meili**
Huh?
**[13:30] Meili**
What's supposed to be here?
**[13:36] Shirou**
I found Zhu Qi's white horse.
**[13:38] Shirou**
Looks like the two of them are here, boss.
**[13:42] Shirou**
This way.
**[13:50] Zhuqi**
Turn around on my signal.
**[13:52] Meili**
O-Okay...
**[13:54] Zhuqi**
Ready, and...
**[13:58] Meili**
There's a rainbow around our shadows.
**[14:01] Zhuqi**
This is the legendary Buddha's light.
**[14:03] Zhuqi**
They say it only appears
for highly compatible couples.
**[14:07] Meili**
It's so pretty...
**[14:18] Mao**
What?
**[14:49] Zhuqi**
Sorry about earlier, Mei Li.
**[14:53] Zhuqi**
But since the moment we met,
I've been serious about you.
***SIGN*** Chrysanthemum Tower
**[15:18] Mao**
Welcome back, Mei Li.
**[15:20] Mao**
You went to see the Leshan
Giant Buddha with Zhu Qi, huh?
**[15:23] Mao**
How was it?
**[15:25] Meili**
Yeah. It was fun.
**[15:29] Mao**
I'm sure it was.
**[15:30] Mao**
Zhu Qi is a fun guy.
**[15:33] Meili**
Listen, Mao. We went to
Mount Emei afterward, and...
**[15:39] Meili**
While we were there...
**[15:45] Meili**
While we were there,
Zhu Qi suddenly told me that he...
**[15:53] Meili**
He said he loves me.
**[15:55] Meili**
I'm sure he was joking, but since
it was so sudden, I was surprised.
**[16:00] Mao**
Really?
**[16:02] Mao**
Zhu Qi sure is assertive.
**[16:05] Mao**
I can't beat him.
**[16:07] Mao**
Maybe I'll have him teach me what to do
**[16:09] Mao**
for when I finally fall in love with a girl.
**[16:23] Meili**
I bought you something.
**[16:26] Meili**
Bean sprouts.
**[16:28] Meili**
Apparently they're quite rare.
**[16:30] Mao**
Bean sprouts? Let me see.
**[16:51] Mao**
What was that for?
**[17:00] Mao**
This pendant...
**[17:03] Mao**
This is the jade pendant I gave to Mei Li...
**[17:07] (Flashback) Meili**
Thank you, Mao! I'll cherish it!
**[17:11] (Flashback) Meili**
I'll think of this as part of you
and treasure it for life!
**[17:17] Mao**
*Does this mean...*
**[17:21] Mao**
*she's returning this?*
**[17:33] Mao**
*Mei Li. Mei Li.*
**[17:36] Mao**
I'd always just assumed.
**[17:47] Mao**
*That even if I didn't say anything,
you'd always stay with* me*!*
**[18:06] (Flashback) Kaiyou**
Sky Soaring Great Sage Zhu Qi.
**[18:08] (Flashback) Kaiyou**
Liu Maoxing holds the key to
acquiring the legendary utensils.
**[18:13] (Flashback) Kaiyou**
You must do whatever it takes
to drag him into the Underworld.
**[18:17] (Flashback) Kaiyou**
And to do that, you must crush his spirit.
**[18:29] Keling**
Mao, it's hard to believe
you made these dishes.
**[18:34] Keling**
Even my unrefined palette can tell.
**[18:39] Keling**
Isn't unleashing the eight
utensils your new goal?
**[18:43] Keling**
Pull yourself together.
**[18:45] Keling**
Fortunately, Zhu Qi has come
to the Chrysanthemum Tower.
**[18:48] Keling**
You don't need to worry anymore.
**[18:52] Zhuqi**
Yeah, you can rest easy now.
**[18:55] Mao**
Zhu Qi.
**[18:58] Zhuqi**
You don't need to worry
about the restaurant, Mao.
**[19:01] Zhuqi**
The customers keep pouring in,
and business is booming.
**[19:04] Zhuqi**
I'll make sure to properly
entertain the prince, too.
**[19:10] Mao**
You don't get it, Sis.
**[19:12] Mao**
Zhu Qi and I are opposites.
**[19:15] Mao**
After all, this guy hates cooking!
**[19:19] Mao**
I can't trust this clown to cook
for the prestige of Szechuan!
**[19:26] Mao**
I'll say this, Zhu Qi.
**[19:28] Mao**
*I'm* the one who inherited Master Bei's flavors.
The Chrysanthemum Tower is *my* restaurant!
**[19:32] Mao**
Now that I'm back, I'll cook for the prince!
**[19:38] Zhuqi**
I don't think so.
**[19:41] Zhuqi**
Does it really matter whether
I love or hate cooking?
**[19:46] Zhuqi**
All that matters is how
the final product tastes.
**[19:52] Zhuqi**
Besides, Mao, don't you think
you're being a bit too selfish?
**[19:57] Zhuqi**
You spend your time wandering aimlessly,
**[19:59] Zhuqi**
but now that you're back,
you're trying to take this job from me?
**[20:04] Mao**
What?!
**[20:05] Zhuqi**
That's enough of that. The country's best
Super Chef shouldn't lose his temper.
**[20:10] Zhuqi**
Or is there some *other*
reason you're angry with me?
**[20:20] Mao**
No! In any case, I can't
trust you to handle it!
**[20:27] Zhuqi**
Then we'll have to settle this
with a cooking contest.
**[20:31] Mao**
Bring it on.
**[20:33] Keling**
Mao...
**[20:35] Mao**
Your chopstick waving antics
can't beat me, Zhu Qi!
**[20:39] Zhuqi**
Oh, yeah? Then let me tell you this.
**[20:42] Zhuqi**
About your dishes, Mao...
**[20:45] Zhuqi**
Your Yuxiang shredded pork
contains too much ginger.
**[20:48] Zhuqi**
You forgot to put sesame oil
in your dandan noodles.
**[20:53] Zhuqi**
And your mapo noodles would taste better
**[20:56] Zhuqi**
with a single teaspoon of grated garlic.
**[21:00] Mao**
How... How did you know?
**[21:03] Mao**
You haven't even tasted them.
**[21:06] Zhuqi**
I have a warning for you.
**[21:10] Zhuqi**
Until you solve that mystery,
you'll never be able to defeat me.
**[21:23] Official A**
Did you hear the news?
**[21:25] Official B**
You mean the cooking contest
at the Chrysanthemum Tower?
**[21:28] Official A**
I thought that skilled young chef Zhu Qi
was going to cook for the prince.
**[21:33] Official A**
Apparently a second skilled young chef
has returned from Guangdong.
**[21:40] Fei**
Really? Who?
**[21:43] Official B**
They say he's a prodigy who became
the youngest Super Chef ever.
**[21:48] Official B**
His name is Liu Maoxing.
**[21:52] Fei**
*I see.*
**[21:54] Fei**
* So you've returned to*
* the Chrysanthemum Tower, Mao.*
***SIGN*** Next Time
***SIGN*** "The Feelings Entrusted to the Duck"
**[23:56] Narration**
*"The Feelings Entrusted
to the Duck."*