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Tiqie Xianzuowen ignored Eriina's low cry.
"Far Moon? I'm not going."
A voice suddenly interjected.
Old man, Eriina, and Xianzuowen all looked over. Xia Yu spoke with a matter-of-fact tone, "Far Moon is the hell for chefs. I prefer a more laid-back life, so old man, just leave the shop to me!"
He had figured it out, the old man was going back home.
In fact, a few days ago when Shinohara Shigetaro came over, some details in their conversation clued Xia Yu in, and he had already speculated.
He didn't ask much about the old man's departure. Although a little reluctant, he wasn't as panicked or confused as other sixteen-year-olds might be. Before entering this parallel time-space, Xia Yu was already an independent adult.
The old man leaving actually made him a bit excited.
Could he finally try running a small cooking shop? Xia Yu looked forward to seeing how far he could go with the help of the God of Cooking System.
"Hell for chefs?"
"That's not wrong. Far Moon's philosophy is all about competition."
Tiqie Helinai looked at Xia Yu with disdain in her eyes, "Are you afraid of competition? Chefs with poor skills should be eliminated. Not everyone has the right to continue on the culinary path. The incompetent should recognize their limitations and face reality."
Xia Yu felt a vein throb on his forehead.
Though he was aware of the Divine Tongue's personality from anime and manga, experiencing it in real life was a whole other level of frustration.
"Girl, can you stop being so overbearing and just talk?"
"The incompetent?" Xia Yu shrugged, not intending to argue with this young lady.
For now, his culinary skills were just starting, and he certainly couldn't compare to the Divine Tongue who had already secured a seat among the top ten at Far Moon Middle School. But looking at it from a developmental perspective, Xia Yu was sure he'd catch up soon and even make those geniuses at Far Moon take notice. Who said attending Far Moon was the only way to succeed?
"Not satisfied with my assessment?"
Tiqie Helinai's pretty face darkened slightly.
"It's as if you think I have to accept your assessment... Who do you think you are..." Xia Yu chuckled.
"You, you..." Tiqie Eriina stood up abruptly, her face flushed with anger.
She was the top student at Far Moon Middle School and was moving up to the high school after the summer vacation. During her time in middle school, no student or teacher had dared to openly defy her.
In response to the Divine Tongue's evaluations, the incompetent and commoners should be trembling and bowing their heads in acknowledgment.
But Xia Yu's indifferent attitude inexplicably ignited a nameless fury in her heart.
"Eriina!"
Tiqie Xianzuowen sternly interrupted their argument, leaving the Divine Tongue with an unwilling expression as she bit her lower lip and knelt down.
Xia Yu wasn't planning to linger and waste time, so he poured each of the two old men another cup of tea, bowed slightly, and retreated from the room, disappearing into the kitchen.
Not long after, the old man and Xianzuowen, who were conversing, suddenly set down their teacups.
From the kitchen behind them came a wafting aroma.
Tiqie Eriina had already noticed the scent and sniffed her nose, muttering softly, "Chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, five-spice powder, fermented black beans, doubanjiang... Is this Sichuan cuisine?"
The pungent spicy aroma made Tiqie Eriina frown, her expression indicating displeasure.
As expected.
Commoners are just commoners, lacking manners.
To cook such eye-watering spicy dishes while there are still guests at home, isn't he trying to drive the guests away?
"Is it mapo tofu?" Xianzuowen asked with curiosity.
"He's been experimenting with new dishes these past few days. Saying it's mapo tofu isn't wrong, but it's an improved version with an incredible new flavor," the old man said casually.
"An improved mapo tofu?"
After a brief silence, Xianzuowen suddenly asked, "May I taste it? To be honest, I'm quite interested in your grandson's culinary skills, Mr. Xia Qing."
Beside him, Tiqie Eriina looked shocked.
When had the Far Moon Commander, the leader of Japanese cuisine, ever shown such interest in a commoner's cooking?
"Sure." The old man maintained his impassive expression and turned towards the kitchen, raising his voice, "Bring out the mapo tofu you just made."
"..."
Xia Yu had just finished preparing a plate of magical mapo tofu and was silently frustrated with the system's 70 rating, planning to argue with the system when he heard the old man's voice.
The Far Moon Commander and the Divine Tongue wanted to taste his cooking?
He was both surprised and a little excited.
These two, one being a culinary Demon King and the other the Divine Tongue, could provide invaluable guidance. He could identify a lot of the missing details in his cooking process.
"This one's good enough."
"A 70-point rating is the highest I've gotten these past few days. There's not much of the ingredients left; trying again won't likely yield a higher score."
So, Xia Yu picked up two pairs of clean chopsticks, carried the steaming hot magical mapo tofu, and walked out of the kitchen.
"Please, enjoy!"
Placing the dish on a low table, Xia Yu didn't just toss the chopsticks onto it. He thoughtfully brought a wooden chopstick rest, setting the chopsticks on it, above the table surface.
This little detail didn't go unnoticed. Tiqie Xianzuowen couldn't help but nod, "Mr. Xia Qing, your grandson already understands how to serve guests. I believe the little shop won't decline in his hands."
Hmph.
Tiqie Eriina, however, turned her head away.
The freshly cooked magical mapo tofu appeared vibrant, with jade-like tofu blocks arranged within the bright red chili oil, topped with a layer of something resembling minced meat sauce, and sprinkled with green scallions.
In terms of "color" and "aroma," this dish was impeccable.
Only the taste remained unknown...
Tiqie Eriina's curiosity rose, yet she hadn't realized her gaze was locked onto the dish, stubbornly turning her head in defiance.
Smelling the rich aroma, Xianzuowen couldn't resist picking up the chopsticks, grabbing a piece of white jade tofu covered in spicy sauce and minced soybeans, and putting it into his mouth.
The first sensation was heat.
But then, a strong, stimulating spiciness and numbness spread across his tongue, washing his entire palate with the flavor and causing saliva to rapidly secrete.
The heat and spiciness complemented each other, and with just one bite, Xianzuowen's brow began to glisten with sweat.
Second bite, third bite, fourth bite...
Tiqie Eriina was stunned, watching her grandfather wolf down the food, and quietly swallowed her saliva.
Could it really be that delicious?
After a while, Xianzuowen set down the chopsticks, sitting cross-legged with his arms crossed, and mysteriously, his upper garment inexplicably parted, revealing a strong, robust bronze upper body.
"This is..." Tiqie Eriina's pupils contracted.
"Clothing Burst!"
Xia Yu internally exclaimed.
What the heck!
A dish rated only 70 by the system actually caused the Food Demon King's clothes to burst?
At that moment, Xia Yu seriously doubted the Food War Spirit plot.
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(PS: Please recommend and bookmark!)
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