章節 43: Chapter 43: The Aggressiveness of the Heart of Cooking
編輯: Dragon Boat Translation
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Ten minutes.
When the steamer emitted billowing white steam, Sen Tian Makoto also presented her creation on the kitchen counter.
Despite the small size of Xia's shop, the kitchen had all the essentials. Sen Tian Makoto opened the oven, and a fresh aroma, distinctly different from Chinese cuisine, wafted out, quickly filling the entire room.
"Please enjoy—"
Taking out several golden-brown egg cakes from the pastry mold, she neatly arranged them on a white plate, smiling invitingly for everyone to partake.
An Ya and Mu Xiaoyue were also drawn to the kitchen by the enticing aroma.
"Oh no, my cookies!"
Mu Xiaoyue spotted the dark cookie pieces on the surface of the egg cakes and immediately puffed up her cheeks in displeasure.
Before putting the tray into the oven, Sen Tian Makoto had specifically borrowed a bag of chocolate cookies from Mu Xiaoyue, who carried them as snacks in her little purse. It seemed that when Sen Tian Makoto entered the shop, she had noticed Mu Xiaoyue idling in the corner, sneaking bites.
"Egg cakes?"
Xia Yu didn't have any comment and didn't mock the dessert for its simplicity and commonality.
He picked up a piece.
Since it was freshly baked, the golden-brown egg cake was still quite hot.
The surface had a slightly crispy crust with very little oil.
The dark chocolate cookie bits were scattered over the pastry, not particularly delicately.
Sen Tian Makoto's hopeful eyes were fixed on him.
Taking a gentle bite, the rich aroma of eggs initially dominated; as he chewed, the sweetness of the pastry dissolved in his mouth. Soon after, the slight bitterness of the chocolate cookie pieces subdued the sweetness, preventing it from becoming too cloying.
After slowly finishing a piece of the egg cake, Xia Yu silently asked the system,
"What score does it get?"
"Fifty points."
The system replied mechanically.
Xia Yu was not disappointed; on the contrary, he was unexpectedly impressed.
His kitchen, after all, was not that of a professional pastry shop. Many ingredients and baking tools were lacking. Yet in such unfavorable conditions, Sen Tian Makoto had casually made a relatively traditional egg cake that received a high score of fifty from the system!
Sixty points was the passing mark, the standard for a Far Moon High School student. If one could stabilize their dish at this score, they wouldn't have to worry about failing and dropping out.
Seventy points qualified one to astonish the Far Moon Commander. If stabilized at this level, one could excel in Far Moon High School.
Ninety points, even if it wasn't dazzling, a dish at this score would have the quality of a "deadly move."
Sen Tian Makoto's foundation was much stronger. Back when he first experimented with the magical mapo tofu, he racked up a history of scores in the tens and single digits, making Xia Yu sweat. That dark culinary mess probably wasn't even fit for pigs.
"How is it?"
Unaware of Xia Yu's thoughts, the girl gathered her courage to ask when she saw him silent.
"Just so-so." Xia Yu's reply dimmed Sen Tian Makoto's eyes.
"If given better conditions, could you make it better?" Xia Yu inquired right after.
Sen Tian Makoto frowned, troubled, "The ultimate egg cake is more or less like this. You can swap the chocolate cookie pieces for other flavorings according to the customer's taste, but the flavor won't have a qualitative leap."
"Did you add olive oil during mixing?"
"Yes, a little secret to enhance the taste; otherwise, the cake would be dry when eaten..."
While the two of them engaged in conversation, Mu Xiaoyue discreetly pulled her friend over and secretly sampled a few egg cakes on the side, unable to suppress moans of delight from how tasty they were.
"My goodness, these egg cakes are 'just so-so'?"
After polishing off the pieces on the kitchen table, Mu Xiaoyue, still unsatisfied, glared at Xia Yu.
Although she couldn't understand Japanese, she deduced from Xia Yu's body language that he was dissatisfied with the classic egg cakes.
"These are definitely the best egg cakes I've ever eaten!" Mu Xiaoyue emphasized, heatedly.
Xia Yu rolled his eyes, translating her words verbatim for Sen Tian Makoto.
"Arigato."
Sen Tian Makoto immediately bowed with delight.
"No need, no need, thank you for your hospitality." Mu Xiaoyue waved her hands hastily.
"Wait a moment, the dumplings are ready. I'll have breakfast first; feel free to join."
Xia Yu glanced at the steaming steamer enveloped in white mist, turned off the gas stove valve, and lifted the top lid. It was as if a magical door had been opened, and an enticing aroma overwhelmed them, making the three women's eyes light up.
"What about mine, what about mine..."
Mu Xiaoyue immediately restrained her earlier ferocity and came over persistently inquiring.
"Haven't you already eaten the egg cakes?"
Xia Yu walked out of the kitchen with a three-layered steamer, and Mu Xiaoyue followed like a little tail, wagging like a begging puppy. Observing the foodie drooling and teary-eyed made him chuckle, "Where's the tea I prepared earlier, bring it over first—"
Thus, what was originally a meal for one ended up becoming a four-person feast.
Huff, huff.
The freshly steamed buns were very hot. Mu Xiaoyue, quick with her chopsticks, snatched one, blew on it, and promptly took a bite, causing some juice to squirt out.
Though she screamed from the heat, she continued chewing and swallowing the food with determination, tears welling in her eyes—not clear whether from being burned or overwhelmed by the flavors.
Gulp.
Eyeing the steam basket filled with shiny, golden dumplings, overflowing with meaty juices, Sen Tian Makoto discreetly swallowed, suddenly feeling hungry. Even though she had eaten breakfast before leaving.
"Try one."
Xia Yu held out his chopsticks to offer her one, then took another for himself.
Sen Tian Makoto slipped the now less-hot dumpling into her mouth.
Delicious!
Incredibly delicious!
As her teeth bit down, juice squirted out, and her beautiful eyes widened, momentarily dazed.
"Yu's culinary skills have become terrifying!" Swallowing the food, with the warmth still coursing through her, Sen Tian Makoto murmured silently. As a chef with aspirations of becoming a professional, she was keenly aware of the vast gap in culinary skills between herself and the creator of these dumplings.
Her mind went blank upon tasting it, unable to even analyze.
"Let me try another one!"
This time, Sen Tian Makoto moved her chopsticks, nibbling off a corner to savor the flavors diligently.
Still blank!
It felt as though her thoughts ceased while tasting!
Sen Tian Makoto was on the verge of a meltdown. What on earth was this?!
A single taste left her dumbfounded?
At this moment, Xia Yu looked up, "When eating, one should let go and enjoy the food."
He pointed to the other side, where Sen Tian Makoto saw an unusually quiet atmosphere in the room. The two women from China were engrossed, eyes closed, reveling in the happiness brought by the food, their faces adorned with genuine smiles.
"Cooking is something that brings happiness to people," Xia Yu smiled. "Enjoy it when you should."
After mastering the "Heart of Cooking" (beginner) talent, he had started to gain the ability to influence diners' emotions. Of course, this influence was accomplished through cooking. Cooking was the chef's weapon.
With Sen Tian Makoto's culinary skills, clearly, she couldn't withstand the powerful spiritual invasion of the "Heart of Cooking."
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