"What's wrong?"
"Do you lack confidence in yourself?"
Seeing Megumi, who was already preparing for the worst, Zane couldn't help but smile.
He had already given her the answers to the test in advance. All she had to do was follow her own methods, and she would definitely pass the assessment of the first class!
However, she still felt as lost as the original character.
"I have confidence."
"But... you still have to face reality!"
"I entered the advanced department with the lowest scores. Even if I don't get expelled in the first class, I am destined to be eliminated quickly."
As she said this, Megumi sighed deeply.
Then she quickly took a few sips of the herbal tea, releasing some of the pressure on herself.
"..."
"Megumi."
"Even if you fail now, no one will question you!"
"At least in my heart, the path you are insisting on is definitely right."
"Whether it's bad luck or lack of understanding from others, as long as you maintain that sincerity, and the love for cooking deep in your heart, I believe any difficulty will not defeat you."
"Indeed."
"In the fiercely competitive Totsuki."
"For someone like you with poor grades, it will be very difficult to break through your own barriers."
"And even if you do, there will still be a long and arduous road ahead."
"But for you, the most precious thing is not your appearance, not your family background, and not some strange personality or talent, but the gentleness that overflows from your heart!"
"This, perhaps, will be your strongest weapon for standing in the Totsuki Academy."
After glancing at Megumi, Zane couldn't help but say some philosophical words to guide her.
Everyone has their own life. Some people's lives are more tortuous, while others are smoother.
Many things are difficult to change from the beginning. But as long as you persist, perhaps the wrong choices you initially made will prove to be right in the end.
Moreover, this unique life experience will be a valuable treasure!
"Really?"
"Chef, do you think someone like me, with poor grades..."
"If I continue to work hard, will I still achieve something?"
"Yes, I have the highest expectations for you!"
Startled, Megumi, after hearing this, seemed to be inspired: "Thank you for believing in me. I... I will not give up on myself. I will definitely work hard until the end."
At that moment, she did not yet know the impact that the conversation that night would have on her entire future!
Only when, in the future, she successfully becomes one of the top ten figures of the Totsuki Academy, and starts leading the academy together with Erina, Soma, and many other geniuses, will she fully understand!
...
At night.
The gentle moonlight and twinkling stars made the night sky serene.
Later, some customers came to the tavern.
Among these customers were Sonoka from the neighboring Shunkatei restaurant and her friend Taki!
"Two of you!"
"What would you like to eat at the tavern?"
Seeing them, Zane warmly greeted them.
"Sonoka!"
"What would you like to eat?"
After entering, Sonoka, upon seeing Zane, blushed slightly.
Then she quickly turned to Taki and asked, "Can you make Valencia seafood rice?"
Taki, with a fierce look in her eyes fixed on Zane, asked out of curiosity, "Seafood rice?"
"You should be able to, right?"
"Okay, then two portions of Valencia seafood rice."
Taki responded without hesitation.
"OK."
"Please wait."
After Zane finished speaking, he went back to the kitchen to prepare Valencia seafood rice!
...
When it comes to Spanish cuisine, many people will immediately think of: seafood rice. For beginners who know a little Spanish, it seems that no one can say "La paella" (seafood rice).
Looking at both eastern and western cuisines, most of the formation of excellent dishes can be attributed to the coming together and parting of ingredients.
Many great dishes either amaze people, or make them regret not tasting it sooner. But only Valencia seafood rice has a strong exotic flavor and an unforgettable taste experience!
Although there is no historical evidence to prove how Valencia seafood rice originated, it can be confirmed that more than 200 years ago, Valencia seafood rice was already very popular.
At that time, workers would gather at noon, mix leftover dishes with rice, and cook them over an open fire.
Therefore, initially, seafood was not among the ingredients in the seafood rice.
Later, the food-loving Valencians continuously developed a variety of rice dishes containing different ingredients, such as vegetable rice, fish rice, seafood rice, etc.
The development of the times has made seafood-based dishes increasingly popular.
As a result, various mixed rice dishes have gradually evolved into seafood rice.
...
Squid.
Tiger prawns.
White shrimp.
Scallops.
Clams.
Yellow croaker fish.
Kelp.
Spring onions, ginger, garlic.
Red bell pepper.
Long green pepper.
Also, short-grain rice, white wine, white onions, tomatoes, olive oil, saffron, parsley, and so on.
After preparing these ingredients, Zane took out a very large shallow pan.
The reason for using this type of pan is that the essence of seafood rice lies in the crispy and aromatic layer of crust on the bottom and sides of the pan.
Therefore, the pan walls should be short, and the area should be large, with a thin layer of rice, to produce as much crust as possible!
Then, using kitchen scissors, he removed the scales from the yellow croaker fish, and then removed the gills and innards.
Next, he carved a "cross" on the fish head with a slicing knife, peeled off the skin, and discarded it.
Peeled and deveined the tiger prawns, leaving the heads and shells, and cleaned the squid.
Boiled a pot of water to a rolling boil, added the scallops.
Not exceeding 15 seconds, they were ladled out when they slightly opened their shells and spat out a lot of bubbles. Then, half of the shell was broken off, and any fiber in the soft body was trimmed. The clams were treated similarly, put in boiling water, removed when they opened, and half of the shell was broken off.
He fried the yellow croaker fish in a shallow pan over medium heat for three minutes, added olive oil, and placed the yellow croaker fish.
Maintaining a medium heat, but the pan had to be heated sufficiently.
He then simmered the seafood soup, added the small yellow croaker fish and the stir-fried ingredients to a stew pot, then added two pieces of kelp, poured in hot water, brought to a boil over high heat, and simmered over low heat.
"I underestimated the owner of this tavern."
"I didn't expect him to prepare Valencia seafood rice, which is so uncommon, so well!"
At that moment, watching the busy Zane, Taki couldn't help but fall into contemplation.
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