Chinese cuisine, like Chinese culture, has a long and rich history. In fact, these dishes are also a part of what constitutes Chinese culture.
Did the unique regional cultures give rise to a wide variety of dishes? Or did the distinctive flavors of dishes from various regions give birth to colorful regional cultures?
The two are intertwined and become one. In any case, the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation have never confined themselves to a bland food list.
If Sakazuki were to cook the eight famous major cuisines of China one by one for Robin and Gion, it is estimated that he could do it for a year without repetition.
However, Sakazuki discovered a heart-wrenching problem – he was not a graduate of the New Oriental Culinary Institute, nor was he a top chef from a five-star hotel or Michelin-starred restaurant.
Compared to Onigumo, who enters the kitchen like a battlefield, and Jonathan, who is accustomed to making dark cuisine, Sakazuki only has a slight advantage.
Speaking of which, he is simply a disgrace to the large group of transmigrators.
Which of those transmigrators isn't equipped with a cooking specialty? Or they might have one signature dish: Kung Pao Chicken that traverses the land, from the set of Naruto next door to the infinite worlds.
But, he will be facing a little girl whose taste buds have been spoiled by the Navy Headquarters' senior chef, Jessica, and a large pink-haired rabbit who often runs over to mooch meals.
Who is Jessica? During her time as the senior chef at Navy Headquarters, she basically crushed the spirits of the other Headquarters chefs with the same license, a truly top-tier expert.
A culinary king who chatted and laughed with Vinsmoke Sanji, the future chef of the Baratie and the personal chef of the Pirate King, competing on equal footing.
From the Four Seas to the various routes of the Grand Line, due to the separation of sea conditions and climates, the diversity of delicacies on the various islands alone is enough to rival Chinese cuisine.
Now, counting his signature home-style dishes, Sakazuki suddenly realized that apart from Kung Pao Chicken and Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork, which have been done to death by countless transmigrators.
The other few stew and braised dishes he can make have very specific requirements for ingredients.
A pot of fragrant Ginkgo Stewed Chicken would be a good choice, and Marinford does have a ginkgo tree, planted by his superior, Sengoku, when he was young. It just bloomed, and it would take at least a month or two to get the foul-smelling fruit.
Bamboo Shoots Braised with Beef is considered a specialty dish, right? But there is a shortage of bamboo shoots, and as for Lotus Root Stewed with Pork Ribs, he has yet to find any trace of lotus flowers at Headquarters.
He can't just serve them a pot of Pork Stewed with Vermicelli and then pour soy sauce into it, can he?
To satisfy the taste buds of the little glutton and be original enough to make a lasting impression on them is as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Just as Sakazuki was in a dilemma, the fox from his house, bearing a high black market bounty on his head, returned to Marineford.
"Report, Vice Admiral Sakazuki! Lindeman has successfully completed the mission! Awaiting instructions!" The slender eyes were still narrowed into an arc, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, making it impossible to fathom his inner thoughts.
This fox, known as the [Deceiver], stood upright at the door.
There were no words of praise, no tempting rewards.
Sakazuki walked over, bent down, and gave this comrade of normal height a bear hug.
"Welcome home, my brother."
Onigumo had already told every Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral he knew about Lindeman's heroic act of disregarding his personal safety and infiltrating enemy lines to complete the mission.
But only Sakazuki, who had acted alongside this thin soldier, truly understood the risks he had taken.
Every step was like treading on thin ice, every calculation was on a tightrope.
The perfect cooperation between the two successfully made Kaido deeply convinced, but behind this success was Lindeman's decade of meticulousness and Sakazuki's careful planning.
Sakazuki now recalls the battle of Fish-Man Island and still feels lucky. If the early stages of the situation on Fish-Man Island had not been handled harmoniously, if not for this guy in front of him who smiled like a fox who stole a chicken, if not for Kuzan and Gion's decisive abandonment of the ship to support...
One wrong step would have resulted in a complete loss.
"By the way, Vice Admiral Sakazuki, during my year and a half in the New World accompanying Vice Admiral Borsalino on patrols of many islands, I brought back some local specialties for you and Onigumo." Lindeman took out a bunch of souvenirs from his backpack.
Sakazuki glanced at this guy who seemed a little carried away, and criticized him lightly: "I asked you to learn strategy and skills from Borsalino, but you've become more and more of a people person."
He wasn't against this kind of gift. Objectively speaking, in terms of monetary value, the local products Lindeman gave him weren't really worth much.
Their friendship, forged through life-and-death situations, if someone said that the fox was offering a bribe, Sakazuki would probably send that person to bathe in magma.
These souvenirs were more of Lindeman's thoughtfulness, a gesture of care for his comrades, superiors, and brothers, Sakazuki and Onigumo.
At this moment, Sakazuki really couldn't find any reason to blame him.
But the moral bottom line in the heart of the transmigrator was unwilling to waver in the slightest. Power can make people intoxicated. Therefore, facing more of the weak, countless people who master power become abusers in their pursuit of quick revenge.
Authority can make people lose their way. Unknowingly, the original intention is forgotten.
Therefore, even knowing Lindeman's absolute kindness, Sakazuki was unwilling to go against his original intention.
His iron-blooded toughness was shown to his enemies: pirates, thugs, and villains, in the form of relentless pursuit and violence.
His iron-blooded toughness was shown to his companions: comrades, superiors, and subordinates, in the form of a meticulous work style and impartial law enforcement.
But his true iron-blooded ruthlessness was directed at himself.
There are many people who can be ruthless enough to control others, but very few who can be ruthless enough to control themselves.
Sakazuki took out a stack of Berries from his pocket and stuffed them into Lindeman's pocket: "I appreciate the thought, and I'll buy the items at their original price, consider it me buying it from you."
The fox, who had made a name for himself in the New World, smiled: "You're still the same."
The corner of the mouth of the leader of the Navy Headquarters' hawks also rarely raised in a small arc: "That's why I am Sakazuki."
"I heard you also managed to get a Devil Fruit?" Sakazuki casually opened a package of souvenirs and gestured to his adjutant.
Lindeman did not answer Sakazuki's words, but just disappeared in front of him.
"Although I heard that monkey talk about it," Sakazuki's tone was full of admiration, "but after seeing it with my own eyes, I understand how suitable the ability of your fruit is for intelligence work."
The leader of the legion picked up the local product in his hand and suddenly narrowed his eyes. It was a large bag of bright red peppers.
A flash of inspiration flashed in his mind, and Sakazuki couldn't help but pat his head in annoyance.
He had also been intimidated by Jessica's hundred skills in the kitchen, thinking about how to amaze the two, but he forgot that the most important thing about eating is the feeling of reunion with family and friends.
"Vice Admiral? What is it?" The fox asked with a smile.
Sakazuki weighed the weight of the bag, it was about a few kilograms: "Onigumo's souvenirs are the same?"
The Brigadier General, who couldn't keep up with the train of thought, looked a little confused: "Yes, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Sakazuki said confidently, "Tell Onigumo that the bag of peppers in his souvenirs is mine. In exchange, I'll invite you two to Gion's house for dinner tonight!"
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"So, you two were invited by Sakazuki to dinner?" Gion raised her eyebrows and blocked the door.
She thought that this dinner was a warm gathering exclusively for them, but who knew that a silver-haired fox and a brown-haired spider would jump out halfway, carrying bottles and cans, claiming to be invited to dinner.
The big pink rabbit was full of displeasure, and wanted to give them a sword slash each to make them go away, but considering that if Sakazuki, that wooden head, really opened his mouth, then as the hostess, wouldn't it be very rude?
The conflicted Gion was a little unhappy: "Who else did he invite?"
"It seems... just us two," Lindeman said cautiously, with a strong desire to survive. He really had a psychological shadow of this female swordsman who had once knocked him to the ground with a sword, snatched his lunch box, and then dragged him like a dead dog to the door of Vice Admiral Borsalino's house.
Onigumo was still expressionless, but the constantly and uneasily coiling hair behind him betrayed him.
The task he received back then was to stall the "Flying Dragon", and Onigumo, who even used the warm man plan, failed in front of this pink rabbit.
"Come in." Gion thought for a moment, then stepped aside to make way for most of the passage.
The two were as if they had been granted amnesty, and flashed into the room at almost the fastest speed of their lives.
"Eh? Big Brother Fox? Big Brother Onigumo?" Robin, who was sitting on the sofa reading, cheered. She hadn't seen these two for a long time. Looking at these two old acquaintances, the girl was a little puzzled: "Is Sakazuki still busy tonight?"
"The Vice Admiral said he would be a little late tonight." Onigumo put down the bag in his hand and placed the bottles and cans in it on the dining table.
"Oyster sauce, sesame oil, vinegar," the girl's fingertips slid over these seasonings one by one, and she raised her chin slightly: "Sister Gion, it seems I guessed right! Sakazuki's cooking skills are on par with Jonathan's. He wouldn't be thinking of using just these three seasonings to make a table full of dishes, would he?"
"Who knows," Gion laughed, "As long as he made it, I'll love it."
Onigumo and Lindeman looked at each other. Why is it that the meal hasn't even started, and they already feel vaguely full?
Onigumo's senses were the most acute. He frowned and asked the fox beside him: "Do you smell anything? It's a bit pungent."
Lindeman thought Onigumo was joking with him about Gion. "Of course, this whiff of... wait, it really is a bit pungent..."
Now, not only did he smell it, but Gion and Robin also turned their heads towards the door.
At the door of the female swordsman's dormitory, someone arrived carrying a pot.