Chapter 9: The Ripping of the Clothes
Nakiri Senzaemon ignored Erina's whisper.
"Totsuki? I'm not going."
A voice suddenly interrupted.
The old man, Erina, and Senzaemon all looked over. Xia Yu said
matter-of-factly, "Totsuki is a hell for chefs. I prefer a relaxed and
leisurely life. So, old man, leave the shop to me!"
He also heard that the old man was going back to his country.
In fact, when Kanhara Masato came over a few days ago, Xia Yu heard some
details of his words and had already guessed the general idea.
He didn't ask much about the old man's departure. Although he was a little
reluctant, he wasn't as panicked and confused as other sixteen-year-olds.
Before arriving in this parallel world, Xia Yu had already been an adult with
independent abilities.
He was actually a little excited by the old man's departure.
Can I finally try running a small restaurant? Xia Yu was looking forward to
how far he could go with the help of the Kitchen God System.
"Chef's hell?"
"That's true. Totsuki's philosophy is competition."
Erina Nakiri looked at Xia Yu with disdain in her eyes. "Are you afraid
of competition? Chefs with poor skills should be eliminated. Not everyone is
qualified to go further on the road of cooking. The incompetent should be aware
of their incompetence and recognize themselves."
Veins popped on Xia Yu's forehead.
Although he knew Erina's personality from the anime and manga, experiencing
it in real life made it sting in a whole new way.
Girl, can we skip the Wu Jin act and talk like normal people?
"Incompetent?" Xia Yu shrugged, not intending to argue with the
young lady.
At present, his cooking skills were just starting out, and he was indeed not
on the same level as the "God's Tongue," who already held a seat
among Totsuki's top ten. But looking at it from a development perspective, Xia
Yu was confident he'd soon catch up—maybe even surpass her. Who said one had to
study at Totsuki to be considered successful?
"Not satisfied with my evaluation?"
Erina Nakiri's pretty face darkened.
"You talk like I have to accept your evaluation... Who are you,
exactly?" Xia Yu said with a smile.
"You, you..." Erina Nakiri stood up suddenly, face full of
indignation.
She was the head of Totsuki Middle School and would be promoted to the high
school after summer break. In her domain, whether teachers or students, no one
dared oppose her.
The incompetent and the commoners were supposed to tremble and accept the
judgment of the God's Tongue.
But for some reason, Xia Yu's calm indifference made Erina irrationally
angry.
"Erina!"
Nakiri Senzaemon interrupted her in a deep voice. God's Tongue looked
unwilling, bit her lower lip, and knelt down again.
Xia Yu didn't intend to waste more time. He poured tea for the two old men,
bowed slightly, then returned to the kitchen and disappeared.
Soon after, the old man and Senzaemon, who had resumed their conversation,
suddenly put down their teacups.
A rich aroma was drifting from the kitchen behind them.
Erina Nakiri had already caught the scent. She sniffed and murmured, "Chili
peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, five-spice powder, black bean sauce, bean paste…
Is this Sichuan cuisine?"
The pungent, spicy smell made her frown, her expression full of
dissatisfaction.
Of course.
Commoners were commoners—they didn't know etiquette.
Guests were visiting, yet he had the gall to prepare such a strong-smelling
chili dish? Wasn't that just trying to drive them away?
"Mapo tofu?" Nakiri Senzaemon asked curiously.
"He's been experimenting with new dishes these days. It's not wrong to
call it Mapo Tofu. But it's an improved version, with an incredible
flavor," the old man said lightly.
"Improved Mapo Tofu?"
Nakiri Senzaemon was quiet for a moment, then said, "Can I try it? To be
honest, I'm very interested in your grandson's cooking skills, Mr. Xia Qing."
Erina's eyes widened in disbelief.
The Director of Totsuki—one of the leader of the culinary
world—when had he ever shown interest in a commoner's cooking?
"Sure." The old man's expression remained calm. He turned toward
the kitchen and called out, "Bring out the Mapo Tofu you just made."
"…"
Xia Yu had just finished a plate of Magic Mapo Tofu and was grumbling over
the system's rating of 70. He'd been about to argue with it when he heard the
old man's call.
The Director of Totsuki and the God's Tongue want to try my
dish?
Surprised—yet a bit excited.
One of them was the Food Demon King; the other, the God's Tongue. If they
were willing to give a little feedback, he could identify all kinds of flaws in
his cooking.
"Let's go with this plate."
"70 is the highest score I've gotten in recent days. There aren't many
ingredients left anyway."
So, Xia Yu grabbed two pairs of clean chopsticks, picked up the steaming
Mapo Tofu, and walked out of the kitchen.
"Enjoy your meal!"
He set the dish on the low table. Instead of dropping the chopsticks onto
the table, he placed them neatly in a wooden holder beside it.
This subtle attention to detail didn't go unnoticed. Nakiri Senzaemon nodded
and said, "Mr. Xia Qing, your grandson already knows how to treat customers. I
believe your shop is in good hands."
Snort.
Erina turned her head away, unconvinced.
The freshly made Magic Mapo Tofu gleamed in vivid color. White tofu cubes
glistened like jade in a sea of red chili oil, topped with finely minced meat
and garnished with fresh green onions.
In terms of aroma and presentation, it was flawless.
But what about taste?
Erina was curious, though she stubbornly averted her eyes—even as her nose
leaned toward the dish.
Nakiri Senzaemon picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of tofu covered in
chili sauce and minced soy, and placed it in his mouth.
The first bite was hot.
Then came the burst of numbing spice and umami, exploding across the tongue.
His entire mouth was engulfed in flavor, saliva rushing forth.
Heat and spice danced together. By the second bite, beads of sweat dotted
his forehead.
Third bite. Fourth bite…
Erina watched in disbelief as her grandfather devoured the dish with gusto.
She quietly swallowed her own saliva.
Could it really be that good?
After a while, Nakiri Senzaemon set down his chopsticks, crossed his arms,
and—ripped open his upper robe, revealing a broad, muscular
chest.
"This is—!" Erina gasped.
"The clothes ripped!!"
Xia Yu cried inwardly.
Oh god.
A dish that the system only rated 70 had made the Food Demon King
explode out of his clothes?
At this moment, Xia Yu began to seriously question the accuracy of the
system's ratings...