Nighttime, starry sky.
Like countless sparkling diamonds scattered across the deep night sky.
Erina's originally rosy cheeks had turned a soft peachy pink after a few drinks, resembling the blooming peach blossoms of early spring. Her clear, bright eyes were now covered with a thin layer of mist, appearing hazy.
Yes!
The power of alcohol was vividly on display on her. Erina tried to conceal her discomfort with a smile, but it was a weak attempt. Eventually, she had to admit defeat to the alcohol, acknowledging she was indeed "drunk."
...
"Ding-dong!"
"Host has successfully checked in."
"Ding-dong!"
"Congratulations to the host for receiving a brand new rice cooker, ten sea breams, 1000g of tofu, a recipe for 'Supreme Tofu,' and the special skill 'Silver Chopsticks Ten Pot Return.'"
The system's voice sounded again, and this time the rewards were beyond Zane's expectations.
The rice cooker he received was different from the ones on the market; it had a diamond-energy inner pot with diamond components, making it harder and more durable. The inner layer had a Maifan stone coating, making it non-stick and easy to clean. Whether cooking rice or dishes, it was easy to use and clean.
The pot also had convenient handles that were heat-resistant and easy to grip. It had many thoughtful features like a removable stainless steel lid that could be cleaned easily, ensuring no dirt was left in the crevices, making it more hygienic. Additionally, it had an embedded water collection box to collect excess steam, preventing the rice from becoming mushy and ensuring a better texture.
"Haha, such high-tech just for cooking rice," Zane chuckled, pleased with the rice cooker's features.
...
Shandong cuisine, also known as Lu cuisine, is one of the oldest culinary traditions in China. Influenced by the culture of its birthplace, Shandong cuisine emphasizes precision, health, and natural flavors, aligning with Confucius's philosophy of "food should not be coarse, and minced meat should not be haphazardly made."
On the surface, this means attention to detail, but it also implies complex procedures and processes. Indeed, most Shandong dishes incorporate various cooking techniques such as steaming, boiling, roasting, brewing, pan-frying, stir-frying, simmering, and more. The preparation of ingredients is as meticulous as in Cantonese cuisine, requiring great skill from chefs.
This is why many Shandong dishes are often seen at high-end banquets rather than everyday meals. Among these dishes, Supreme Tofu is a quintessential example. The traditional method involves peeling the tofu, filling it with minced ingredients like soaked shiitake mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, ham, dried scallops, sea cucumbers, pork, and fresh shrimp, then steaming it and preparing a sauce to top it off.
Reading the recipe alone might deter most people due to its complexity and the wide variety of ingredients needed. Therefore, many people are reluctant to cook this dish.
Although the tavern is relatively high-end, Zane has always focused on serving home-style dishes. However, this intricate dish holds a special significance for him. After all, a tavern needs a constant supply of new dishes and recipes to thrive.
...
The special skill "Silver Chopsticks Ten Pot Return" is another highlight. In the original "Cooking Master Boy," this was the unique skill of Zhu Qi, a member of the dark culinary world. As one of the Five Tiger Stars, Zhu Qi was a Mongolian boy who lost his parents early and was adopted by Kaiyu. He always used a pair of long silver chopsticks for cooking, and his culinary techniques were known for their elegance. Coupled with his super sense of smell, he handled ingredients with great precision.
"Who would've thought I'd get such a cooking skill?" Zane was thrilled with the unexpected reward from the system.
Cooking techniques like stir-frying, sautéing, quick-frying, deep-frying, and stewing are essential for any chef. Basic skills like marinating, battering, dusting, flipping, kneading, and stretching are also crucial. Therefore, the "Silver Chopsticks Ten Pot Return," which allows simultaneous cooking of ten dishes, is a powerful tool for any chef.
"I remember that Silver Chopsticks Ten Pot Return enables cooking ten dishes at once. This skill will be incredibly useful for the tavern's busy business."
Thinking about the rewards – the high-tech rice cooker, the Supreme Tofu recipe, and the new skill – Zane couldn't contain his excitement. These rewards would significantly enhance his culinary skills!
...
The next day at noon, Erina finally woke up. She walked out, holding her head, while Zane and Alice were having lunch.
"Oh my!"
"I feel like I slept forever," Erina said, frowning and rubbing her temples as she weakly sat down next to Zane.
Even though she was awake, her head felt heavy, as if it was filled with stones. She sat weakly on the couch, feeling the throbbing pain in her head.
"Erina, are you okay?" Alice asked, concerned.
"I'm fine. I guess my tolerance for alcohol is really low. I drank just a little and got so dizzy!" Erina said weakly.
Feeling guilty, Zane quickly rushed over. He took Erina's hand and rubbed his own hands together before placing them on her temples.
Instantly, Erina felt the pain in her head lessen. She leaned forward unconsciously, resting her head on Zane's stomach, feeling too comfortable to move.
...
At 7 PM, the tavern opened for the night.
The first customer was a girl with blue pigtails.
"Megumi?" Zane said, slightly surprised.
"Good evening, Mr. Zane," Megumi replied, blushing and standing awkwardly without finding a seat.
"Why are you just standing there? Find a seat," Zane said, smiling.
"Oh," Megumi quickly found a seat, still looking anxious.
From the moment he saw her, Zane noticed that Megumi seemed troubled. Her eyes were filled with deep worry, and her furrowed brows hinted at her distress.
"What's wrong?" Zane asked. "You look very upset."
"Mr. Zane, our Polar Star Dormitory was destroyed!" Megumi's eyes filled with confusion and helplessness, seeking solace.
Her pitiful expression and timid demeanor tugged at Zane's heart, making him want to comfort her.
...
"What? Destroyed?" Zane frowned. It seemed Satoshi had failed to defeat the Central Gourmet Society members.
"Yes! And soon we'll have the promotion exams," Megumi said. "I heard the exam content is different this time. We just need to review what we learned in class. But even so, I don't think I can pass!"
Under the warm yellow light, Megumi's figure seemed lonely. She stared blankly at Zane, seeking comfort, but every glance only deepened her sense of loss.
"I just created a new dish. Would you like to try it?" Zane asked with a faint smile.
"Sure!" Megumi was surprised. She thought Zane would offer comforting words, but instead, he suggested trying a dish. However, she realized she needed to face her troubles herself.
...
Maybe it was because of the recent events at Totsuki Academy that Megumi hadn't visited the tavern lately. But nothing had changed here – the business was still thriving, the customers were still enthusiastic, and the atmosphere was still warm and peaceful. The only difference was that Erina and Alice seemed to be living at the tavern again.
Zane returned to the kitchen and began preparing ingredients for Supreme Tofu – tofu, soaked shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, winter bamboo shoots, ham, dried scallops, sea cucumbers, pork, and fresh shrimp.
He quickly peeled and sliced the tofu, creating a cavity to fill with the minced ingredients, then covered it with a slice of tofu. The tofu blocks were placed in a sand pot with broth and seasonings, simmering for half an hour. After that, the tofu was dusted with flour, dipped in egg wash, and coated with flour again.
The pot was heated with oil, and the tofu was deep-fried until golden brown, then removed. The oil was reheated, and the tofu was fried again for half a minute to harden the outer shell.
Finally, Zane stir-fried garlic, dried chili, and abalone in the pot, added broth, and seasoned with salt, sugar, and wine. The tofu was simmered briefly before being transferred to a hot sand pot lined with onion slices and garnished with green onions.
The Supreme Tofu was ready!
...
"Wow, Supreme Tofu from China!" Megumi exclaimed, looking at the golden, crispy tofu blocks garnished with green onions, like little green elves in a golden field.
"It looks so appetizing!" Megumi covered her mouth in amazement.
Tofu is a common food, but well-made tofu can be tender, smooth, and elastic, suitable for various cooking methods. Megumi carefully picked up a piece of tofu, contemplating its texture.
The tofu was tender and smooth, perfectly cooked to retain its delicate texture while absorbing the flavors of the ingredients. It melted in her mouth, leaving a fresh, rich taste.
She was surprised but soon felt a sense of awe. The lingering taste in her mouth elevated her to a new culinary experience. She closed her eyes, savoring the flavors.
"I see, the Supreme Tofu is different from ordinary tofu dishes," Megumi murmured. "Using fish brain mixed with chicken broth gives it a rich flavor. Though it uses a lot of oil, it doesn't feel greasy, and it's very hot when eaten!"
"The cooking technique is precise, the tofu is tender and flavorful, and the combination of ingredients makes it taste amazing."
"Wait... what is this?"
Megumi opened her eyes in astonishment, her face filled with disbelief.
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