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Fame brings fear, just like fattening pigs.
The sudden popularity of Xia's shop in the online ACG community probably attracted some attention from the culinary world too.
Hozoi Midori's Food Duel seemed a bit sudden, but the more Xia Yu thought about it, the more it felt like a reflection of fame and influence.
If Xia's shop was still as lifeless as before, not opening even once a month, Hozoi Midori might have never known that there was a Chinese cuisine restaurant in Tokyo.
So, Hozoi Midori was just the beginning. More challenges from the culinary world were sure to follow. In his heart, Xia Yu was quietly preparing to face all kinds of Food Duels.
For now, he needed to tame this imposing woman first. Xia Yu didn't quite like her overly assertive eyes.
This was his first battle. Considering the system's cruel failure conditions, he couldn't afford to lose!
Xia Yu thought for a moment and then said, "Should we notify the IGO professional review panel?"
"No need, this is a private Food Duel. It would take time for the IGO panel to arrive," Hozoi Midori waved it off.
"Then what are the terms of the Food Duel?" Xia Yu squinted slightly.
"If you lose, close your shop for a year."
Hozoi Midori said coldly, "Also, stop flaunting the authentic Chinese cuisine sign to deceive people. Otherwise, when you reopen in a year, I'll be back! The reputation of Chinese cuisine must not be tarnished!"
Upon hearing this, Xia Yu was taken aback, and the coldness in his eyes slightly subsided.
In District 11, many operators of Chinese cuisine restaurants, including locals, were selling something different under the guise of authenticity.
Those inauthentic Chinese dishes, at best, were local adaptations called "innovations"; unpleasantly, they couldn't capture the true taste at all.
Undoubtedly, those "innovations" distorted the original flavors of the cuisine, giving people strange impressions of Chinese food.
It was rare and admirable that Hozoi Midori would defend Chinese cuisine so fervently.
Being fond of her actions, Xia Yu didn't intend to trouble her with harsh Food Duel conditions.
"Alright!"
"If I manage to win, then for the next year, you'll be the assistant chef at my shop," Xia Yu's smile tilted slightly upward.
His wager with Tiqie Helinai had similar terms.
There was no choice; the kitchen was too short-staffed. But they couldn't just hire anyone as an assistant chef. First, he wouldn't be at ease with someone whose cooking skills were poor; they would just get in the way and delay his cooking efficiency. Second, the kitchen was already narrow; one or two assistants couldn't just be idle—they had to be helpful.
Actually, Xia Yu favored Hozoi Midori a bit more.
After all, Hozoi Midori had been trained in cooking by her father from a young age, growing up in the Hozoi Building kitchen. She was very skilled in various Chinese cuisines, and with her strong physique and impressive arm strength, she could take over a male chef's role and possessed the qualifications to be the head chef.
In contrast, Tiqie Helinai was more suited to a high-end western restaurant's kitchen; even if Xia Yu won the wager, he didn't trust an arrogant girl to avoid daily bickering with him in the kitchen.
Therefore, regarding this Food Duel, Xia Yu was determined to win. He had many reasons to come out victorious.
"An assistant chef for a year?"
Without hesitation, Hozoi Midori agreed confidently, "I accept!"
"Then the conditions of the Food Duel are set, and the theme is Chinese cuisine!" Xia Yu declared.
"We'll taste each other's dishes and score them accordingly!" Hozoi Midori said.
Without a professional review panel present, the terms of the Food Duel were essentially a gentleman's agreement spoken aloud.
Xia Yu led Hozoi Midori into the kitchen.
He pointed to the modified stoves, "There are two large woks, just enough!"
Then pointed to the counter, "There's enough space here for two people to process ingredients simultaneously."
"The ingredients are stored in the refrigerators," Xia Yu pointed outside, where two large refrigerators were placed outside the kitchen in the stairwell.
Hozoi Midori surveyed the narrow kitchen, and her slight disdain lessened somewhat.
Professional!
Setting aside the pots and pans, on the racks were various knives—Chinese, Japanese, and Western styles; each style had two chef's knives. However, Chinese knives were the most abundant, featuring traditional square knives, oddly designed bone-cutting knives, and several special knives that Hozoi Midori couldn't recognize.
By just looking at the knives, one could tell if a kitchen was professional. Knives are a chef's most important tool; some chefs, when traveling, often take a dozen of their preferred and commonly used knives.
In critical situations, like Food Duels, chefs wouldn't use unfamiliar knives.
Hozoi Midori also brought her own chef's knives. She took them out from her bag, washed the cutting board and tools, and began selecting ingredients.
An Ya, Mu Xiaoyue, and Sen Tian Makoto seized the opportunity to slip into the kitchen.
"Yu!"
Mu Xiaoyue poked his waist, glancing at the purple-haired girl selecting ingredients in the stairwell, eyes full of concern, "Are you really going to have a Food Duel with her? She seems to be a Far Moon student..."
"She is from Far Moon and one of the top students there," Xia Yu replied.
"Ah..."
"Ah, what? No confidence in me?"
"But she is an IGO One-star Chef. You have to give it your all!" Mu Xiaoyue tightened her face.
"Of course! That's respect!"
Xia Yu took a deep breath, nodded to the equally nervous Sen Tian Makoto watching him, and turned to select ingredients.
Hozoi Midori paused in front of the meat refrigerator.
Resting her chin in thought, she shifted from her previous assertiveness to caution.
A Food Duel was a dangerous game. She couldn't lose nor did she want to. Especially after seeing Xia's shop's professional kitchen, Hozoi Midori faintly sensed she was up against something formidable.
So, she had to give it her all!
Bang!
Having decided what to make, Hozoi Midori opened the cabinet with no more hesitation and retrieved some slices of ham.
Next were eggs, pineapple, and curry.
The ingredients were simple and not heavy oil or meat dishes. After taking the ingredients, still no sign of Xia Yu, she couldn't help but shake her head disappointedly, "…Hasn't decided on a dish to challenge me yet?"
Back in the kitchen, Hozoi Midori was startled.
"He..."
Xia Yu was already busy at the kitchen counter. In front of him was a basket with cleaned spinach, Qingjiang vegetables, and a piece of green onion, all gleaming with water droplets.
Compared to her, Xia Yu hadn't taken any ham, entirely vegetarian.
"What dish is he planning to make?" Hozoi Midori couldn't help but wonder.
At this moment, Xia Yu glanced over and noticed her ingredients, "Eggs, pineapple, curry, ham… Hey, are you making Pineapple Curry Fried Rice?"
With a stern face, Hozoi Midori didn't answer, though inside she felt a bit unsettled that her dish was revealed.
"What a coincidence, I'm making fried rice too."
"But don't worry, there's enough leftover rice from last night for us!" Xia Yu smiled slightly.
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