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Xia Yu was in the kitchen, washing dishes.
After all, there weren't many customers in a day; he washed the dirty plates to avoid an eyesore.
Four sets of bowls and chopsticks, four small plates, and a large stainless steel pot—the whole kitchen still had the rich, spicy aroma lingering as he cleaned.
Whew.
Finishing up, he pulled out a paper towel to dry his hands. Xia Yu fished his phone out of his pocket, intending to call the old man, ask if he'd boarded the plane, and casually request various store documents.
Actually, opening a restaurant requires permits that are quite similar across countries.
In Japan, you first need to have the "Business Permit Application" and "Food Hygiene Manager Qualification" from the health department.
Second are documents from government agencies like the tax office, fire department, and employment stability bureau.
At least in the previous world, it wasn't easy for countrymen to open a shop in Japan. But in the current world, the Food Association seemed to have taken over some governmental functions. There weren't as many permits needed, and the hardest part was from the Food Association.
With a Food Association permit, everything else was easier.
"Beep... beep... beep..."
He dialed, but it was a busy tone with no signal. Xia Yu pursed his lips, "Looks like he boarded."
Hmm?
Suddenly sensing someone behind him, Xia Yu turned to see a blonde girl blocking the kitchen door with a half-smile, "Hey, Eriina, when did you start walking silently? Didn't have enough to eat?"
This time, the "Divine Tongue" didn't get angry at his teasing words; her violet eyes were calm.
"How did you make that glowing dish?" she asked, bluntly.
"With my hands."
"..."
Tiqie Eriina took a deep breath, nearly stomping in frustration, "I'm asking about the principle behind the glowing dish!"
"Principle?" Xia Yu thoughtfully stroked his chin, pretending to think, then suddenly said, "The principle... is that there is no principle!"
"What do you mean?" Tiqie Eriina was exasperated.
"You can't make it anyway."
Xia Yu waved his hand.
In reality, there wasn't any principle behind a glowing dish. According to the original story of "The Cooking God," only glowing dishes were considered good ones.
Applying this concept to the present world seemed to set incredibly high standards for chefs.
A magical Mapo tofu, which was a failed 70-point dish, could make the Far Moon Commander "tear his collar" and declare it delicious.
A glowing dish scoring over 90 points confounded Tiqie Eriina's "Divine Tongue."
In other words, a dish scoring 60 points as per the God of Cooking System was considered outstanding among students at Far Moon High School. Presenting a 90-point glowing dish in an official duel might easily crush any of the current top ten seats.
Of course, it had to be a theme like tofu or Chinese cuisine for Xia Yu to showcase the only ace up his sleeve—Magical Mapo Tofu.
If the theme were other Western or Japanese dishes, he would be at a loss, awaiting a complete defeat by the ten seats.
Reflecting seriously on his "cooking power," Xia Yu truly felt embarrassed.
Showing his trump card, he could banter with the ten seats, but for other dishes, like French or Japanese cuisine, he couldn't even match up to the ordinary students at Far Moon.
"I can't make it?"
This time, Tiqie Eriina was genuinely angry, glaring at him and gritting her teeth. "Why can't I make it? For any dish, there's nothing my Divine Tongue can't create!"
"..." Xia Yu rolled his eyes, at a loss for words with Tiqie Eriina's stubborn and strong-willed temperament.
Unable to explain, he couldn't say it was mysticism, right? Xia Yu simply ignored her pestering.
He bypassed the Divine Tongue, returned to the store, and then spotted Niho Fuyuka.
"Hi, Secretary!"
He greeted her, but the purple-red-haired girl was full of suspicion, "Who are you? Where's Lady Eriina..."
"This is my store!"
Xia Yu turned his thumb, pointing at the ground beneath his feet.
"Ah." At that moment, Niho Fuyuka also saw the Divine Tongue following him out, and she immediately bowed in apology, "Thank you for taking care of Lady Eriina."
As the Divine Tongue's secretary, she naturally knew the Divine Tongue's schedule.
A small shop that the Far Moon Commander and the Divine Tongue visited was certainly extraordinary.
In some sense, Niho Fuyuka was actually much smarter than her master, Tiqie Eriina.
"Yeah, yeah, she was under my care. Hurry up and take her away—" Xia Yu, in an unapologetic manner, pointed behind him to the blonde girl glaring at him like a ghost, "It's tough taking care of such a troublesome person, thank you, Secretary."
Niho Fuyuka was left dizzy by Xia Yu's overly familiar tone.
Secretary?
What's with that nickname...
"Hurry and leave; I didn't charge you for the meal," Xia Yu waved them off again, then turned and continued smilingly interacting with the two foreign girls.
Only when he communicated more with the beauties from the normal dimension did he feel this world was real.
"Lady Eriina!" Niho Fuyuka looked towards the Divine Tongue.
"Let's go—"
Tiqie Eriina bit her lip, turned, and walked away in a huff. However, at the store's entrance, she suddenly stopped. "You should come to Far Moon."
"Far Moon? I told you I'm not going. I want to run a real restaurant, not study."
"You're wasting your talent..." Tiqie Eriina was furious.
"Wasting talent? Chefs practice culinary skills day and night to satisfy all kinds of diners. Positive reviews are the true recognition for a chef. This is where I can realize my value."
After saying that, Xia Yu suddenly said, "How about we make a bet, Eriina?"
"A bet?"
"If, before the school term starts in April, my restaurant isn't packed with guests from 6 p.m. to midnight, I'll admit defeat, close the shop, and obediently go to Far Moon to join your team."
"Oh?" Tiqie Eriina's eyes lit up, "Are you sure?"
"Of course!"
"But in a bet, if you lose, how about you come to my restaurant and work as an assistant chef for a year?" Xia Yu said with a sly smile, which, to Niho Fuyuka, resembled a little fox's plot being successful.
"Assistant chef? No way, Lady Eriina, you can't agree to such a ridiculous bet!" Niho Fuyuka urgently advised.
"Eriina, it's a fair bet; if I lose, I'll spend my high school years at Far Moon. And if you lose, you'll only be an assistant in my little shop for a year. It's actually a loss for me!" Xia Yu spread his hands.
"Fine! I accept this bet!"
Tiqie Eriina agreed in a firm tone. "I don't believe a deserted little shop can be packed with guests in over half a month."
"I don't know what gives you such confidence, but it takes much more than cooking skills to run a restaurant!"
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