Addiction has always been hard to define clearly and sometimes leads to misunderstandings.
Addictions to drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol are relatively easy to understand.
But food is something we need to eat every day to survive, so if someone develops a "food addiction," does that mean they need to quit eating altogether?
Research has found that certain foods can indeed trigger the brain's reward circuit, leading to addiction.
With the booming food industry and capital investments, scientists have created many "scientific foods" through various combinations and artificial flavors.
These foods make many people crave them and even lose control over their eating behaviors, further impacting their daily lives!
...
For Mana, who possesses the God Tongue, common sweets, starchy foods, salty snacks, sugary drinks, and fatty foods can't make her addicted.
But ever since she was captivated by Zane's cooking, she's been "triggered."
She doesn't need to be hungry to want to eat.
When her symptoms are severe, she feels weak, feverish, sweaty, and flushed at night.
She tries hard to control herself, but it's often ineffective. The more she can't eat Zane's food, the more miserable she feels.
Once, she secretly bought many professional books on eating psychology to try to understand:
Why am I like this, and what can I do about it?
But these books didn't help. The only effective solution for her food addiction was frequently visiting the tavern and having Zane cook for her, relying on his food to pull her back to a normal life.
This way, she wouldn't think about binge eating for a while!
...
Licking her fingers, Mana finished the entire plate of Cloud Dragon Fried Shrimp, but she was still unsatisfied.
"After eating snapper sashimi and fried shrimp, are you still hungry?" Zane asked softly, cleaning up the plates and coming to her side.
"I'm full!"
Mana patted her stomach without hesitation.
"Your appetite is impressive. Not many women can eat as much as you do," Zane sighed, recalling all the dishes and portions Mana ordered every time she came to the tavern.
"I've been starving for days. How could I not eat my fill?" Mana's face turned slightly red as she gave Zane a reproachful look.
"Well, now that you're full, we're done for tonight. Anne, take care of the bill," Mana said, standing up and seeming eager to leave quickly.
"Yes!" Anne nodded, smiling as she paid the bill.
Finally, as the two women disappeared from view, the tavern returned to its lively atmosphere.
Many customers talked about the stunning "Strongest Transmission" scene and its protagonist, Mana!
Watching their receding figures, the light in Zane's eyes dimmed, turning into a deep, unfathomable pool.
"It seems her dependence on my cooking has grown even stronger."
"No wonder she activated a skill more powerful than Transmission Pulse when faced with the perfect version of Ice Snapper Mountain."
"Heh!"
"Interesting."
"The evolution speed of the God Tongue is indeed terrifying!"
...
As the black car drove through the deepening night, the scenery along the road under the streetlights appeared both dreamy and charming.
Finally, the car entered the city, where neon lights shone brightly in the night, with a steady flow of traffic and people rushing about, seemingly all hustling for their livelihoods.
At this moment, sitting in the car, Mana glanced out at the starry sky through the window, filled with emotions and expectations.
She knew she couldn't hold out any longer. If she had stayed at the tavern, she would've lost control and eaten more.
So, while she still had a shred of rationality, she decisively had Anne pay the bill and quickly "escaped."
"Sigh!"
"I still can't control it!"
Why do I act like I'm possessed by his cooking?
I just want to devour all his dishes.
Mana's thoughts were all over the place, and in the end, she could only mock herself.
From the first time she was captivated by Zane's cooking, she knew her fate had started to turn.
As a special executive officer of the WGO food organization, the ideals and new culinary era she had hoped for her whole life would be realized through Zane.
...
"Mana-sama, should we extend the plan to the whole of Japan?" Anne asked softly, noticing Mana's preoccupied look.
"Not yet. I'm a bit tired these days," Mana replied, rubbing her temples. She looked exhausted: "Have Sōma and the others dealt with the list of top restaurants and Totsuki graduates in Northern Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe?"
"Yes, now over 50% of the two-star restaurants have closed down due to the Midnight Chefs incident."
"And Totsuki graduates like Alice, Momo, and Rindo, along with people associated with Totsuki, have been dealt with one by one."
Anne nodded.
"Wait, how much did you say?"
"50%? Over half of the two-star restaurants are gone?"
Mana's eyes flashed, and she fell into deep thought.
"That's what worries me the most."
"Mana-sama, I don't mean to question your motives or intentions for supporting the Midnight Chefs."
"But you should understand the danger of raising a tiger. If you keep indulging them, they might become uncontrollable in the future!" Anne glanced at Mana with concern.
"What's there to fear? Those small fry can't shake the status of the WGO food organization."
"Besides, the current culinary world is decaying and hopeless. I've long intended to break this status quo."
Mana's eyes deepened, and her voice carried a hint of authority.
"How much longer?"
"The Midnight Chefs are eager to move into Japan, waiting for your command."
"Especially Sōma, with his exceptional talent, wants to crush graduates like Sonoka, Chihiro, and Satoshi, as well as culinary big shots like Haubi and Orie!"
Anne sighed, cautiously probing.
"No rush, let them wait a bit longer."
"Six months. In six months, we should be ready because I see another possibility in Zane."
"And I also want to know what Natsume is up to in North America, secretly gathering a bunch of Wall Street financial tycoons and establishing the Natsume Association."
Mana thought for a moment.
"Okay."
Anne fell silent.
...
Medicinal cuisine, simply put.
Is the combination of medicine and food, prepared according to traditional Chinese medicine theory, to make delicious dishes.
It means:
Many foods are both food and medicine!
Yes!
In short.
Medicine and food come from the same source.
Therefore, compared to other cuisines, medicinal cuisine is probably the hardest to master.
It requires the chef to be well-versed in traditional Chinese medicine, familiar with the functions of various medicinal materials, and knowledgeable about the combination of medicine and food.
Medicinal cuisine also emphasizes dialectical cooking, tailored to the individual's symptoms. For example:
The Yin-Yang theory in Chinese cuisine.
Under normal circumstances, Yin and Yang in the human body are in a delicate balance.
When the body declines and becomes unbalanced, various symptoms appear.
In these cases, the medicinal chef needs to choose the right medicinal dishes based on the symptoms to restore the body's Yin-Yang balance.
...
In ancient times.
People transitioned from eating raw food to cooked food, marking the development of medicinal cuisine.
According to "Zhou Li," the Zhou Dynasty had food doctors responsible for preparing the emperor's "six foods, six drinks, six dishes, hundreds of snacks, and hundreds of sauces" with the right flavors, temperatures, and quantities.
To protect the health of court officials and prepare suitable diets, a food official was even established.
As Erina's most loyal assistant, Hisako also had an identity known to few.
She came from a family specializing in medicinal cuisine, excelling at:
Medicinal cuisine!
At this moment, in a spacious, bright kitchen.
Hisako was preparing four kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs: Angelica, Chuanxiong, Wine Peony, and Rehmannia, each weighed at 15 grams, as mentioned in ancient recipes.
She washed the herbs and soaked them in a clay pot for 15 minutes.
The water level in the pot should be 3 centimeters above the herbs.
She brought the water to a boil over high heat and used chopsticks to stir the herbs for even heating.
After boiling, she reduced the heat and simmered for 10 minutes.
She extracted the liquid three times, pouring out the decoction each time but leaving a little in the pot.
She added fresh water and brought it to a boil again for the second and third extractions.
Lastly, she blanched the lamb in boiling water to remove blood foam and odor.
She placed the blanched lamb and ginger into a pot, brought it to a boil over high heat, skimmed off the foam, and simmered it slowly.
...
The so-called Four Substance Soup.
Originated from "Formulas of the Bureau of Imperial Medicine," a crucial formula for regulating blood, composed of four medicinal herbs:
Angelica.
Chuanxiong.
Peony.
Rehmannia.
The original formula used powdered ingredients boiled together, with Rehmannia steamed and dried nine times.
To enhance its blood-tonifying effect, Angelica and Rehmannia could be increased slightly, followed by Peony and the least of Chuanxiong.
Hisako's medicinal dish was based on the "Four Substance Drink" from the "General Records of Holy Universal Relief."
She added lamb and ginger, making the dish nourishing for the kidneys, promoting blood circulation, and enhancing skin health.
Regular consumption of this dish is excellent for the skin and can treat facial spots and freckles.
...
As time passed.
The soup in the pot gradually thickened, and the lamb became tender and
flavorful.
At this point, Hisako gently pierced the lamb with chopsticks to check for doneness.
When the lamb was easily penetrated, it meant the dish was almost ready.
In the final stage, she added a suitable amount of salt to enhance the flavor and nutritional value.
Finally, the Four Substance Lamb Soup was done.
She poured the lamb and soup into a large bowl, garnished it with chopped green onions, and presented a dish that was visually appealing and fragrant.
...
"Those lacking energy, replenish with flavor."
"Angelica nourishes and moves the blood, ginger dispels cold and moves the qi, lamb's rich and warm nature replenishes qi and generates blood, warming the body."
"Theoretically, this Four Substance Lamb Soup should be fine."
"Instead of analyzing, it's more practical to taste it myself."
Staring at the freshly made soup, Hisako fell into thought.
She tasted a bit, feeling each sip filled with medicinal benefits, while the lamb's aroma was rich and penetrating.
The lamb was tender and flavorful, and the herbs added a unique taste experience.
"Seems... quite good!"
Swallowing, Hisako's eyes lit up with excitement, unable to resist taking another bite.
...
As the main ingredient, the lamb's texture was crucial. After careful cooking, it was tender and flavorful.
A single bite revealed its delicate texture and unique aroma.
The four herbs' fresh scent, like a cool breeze, lightly brushed across her tongue.
Suddenly, it felt like an electric current surged through her, bringing a warm, comfortable sensation, making her whole body tingle with new energy.
Hisako was incredulous, wanting to shake off the strange feeling, but she couldn't move.
"Oh no, I... I can't hold it!"
Hisako's teeth clenched as her eyes filled with tears.
She underestimated the soup's effect, which refreshed her spirit and made her body hot and her heart race.
...
"Hisako, are you still up?"
Erina's voice suddenly came from behind.
Hisako turned with difficulty, trying to explain but finding herself speechless.
Seeing her motionless, Erina was puzzled and then noticed her flushed face, asking with concern, "Why is your face so red? Are you sick?"
She placed her hand on Hisako's forehead.
Hisako's heart skipped a beat and, with a loud moan, collapsed into Erina's arms, trembling.
"Ah... I can't take it anymore!"
Erina: (⊙o⊙)
Huh? What's going on?
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