Morning, Alice Nakiri's house.
"You haven't even started preparing the menu yet?"
Her voice carried a hint of surprise. Looking at Hoshino Sora, dressed in casual clothes and preparing for cooking, Erina Nakiri, who had been invited, couldn't help but complain.
"Aren't we preparing it now? If it were ready, we wouldn't have called you over for a taste test."
"Exactly, Erina, you idiot~"
Alice Nakiri walked in from the doorway, conveniently adding to the jab, a mocking expression on her face, and the word 'idiot' was pronounced in a particularly melodious way.
"What? It's already very late if you haven't prepared it by now, okay? And the one calling others an idiot is the idiot."
Hearing Alice Nakiri's words, Erina Nakiri puffed up her cheeks, quite displeased. How could someone just call her an idiot upon meeting? The one calling others an idiot is the idiot.
"Hmph."
"Well, stop arguing. Hisako, Xiao Hui, can you help me out?"
Looking at the two sisters, who were sparking fireworks the moment they met, Hoshino Sora's face was filled with helplessness. Their relationship had just improved a while ago, so why had it become like this again after some time apart?
"We're not arguing." * 2
At this moment, they showed an unexpected synchronicity. Hearing the two people speak in unison, Hoshino Sora's mouth twitched slightly, then he turned to look at the bewildered Tadokoro Megumi and Hisako Arato.
"Okay."
Whether it was his imagination or not, Hoshino Sora clearly felt that Hisako Arato's face was very red when she stepped forward, and she didn't dare to look him in the eye, clearly not having forgotten what he had done to her a while ago.
However, did she finally return to Erina's side?
Thinking of Hisako Arato's state when she left, which was a state of having no goal, Hoshino Sora said many comforting words to her, and finally even directly threatened her.
He said that if she didn't return to Erina's side, he would make a move on Erina, such as tying her to the bed in the middle of the night and doing all sorts of things, and even filming it and sending it to her.
It was also because of Hoshino Sora's threat that Hisako Arato truly made up her mind: she wanted to become stronger and then eternally guard Erina-sama's side!
At least, she couldn't let Erina-sama be bullied by this scoundrel!
"Then you two help me process these ingredients. Today, I'll just make three simple dishes for now, which is also my current tentative menu."
"What are you planning to make? Although I personally think your Mapo Tofu is better than Kuga-senpai's, he has a large team. In this situation, you should choose to avoid his edge.
I heard that you and Soma Yukihira opened your shops near the Chinese Cuisine Research Society. To be honest, I think it's very unwise. Kuga-senpai will steal the customers that should belong to you."
Stepping forward, Erina Nakiri looked at Hoshino Sora, who was heating the wok, and said. Frankly speaking, the Mapo Tofu Hoshino Sora made was superior to Kuga Terunori's.
However, opening a shop isn't just about having better food to attract more customers.
More accurately, assuming there are no major flaws in quality, the more efficient a person is, the higher their turnover.
"I'm going to make Sichuan Cuisine, to be precise, non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine! As for stealing customers, it's not certain who will steal whose customers then!"
Hoshino Sora didn't play coy and directly stated the dish he was going to make. Anyway, during the upcoming tasting, Erina and the others would know what dishes he was making.
"Non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine?!"
Hearing Hoshino Sora's voice, the girls repeated in unison, a question mark appearing in their minds. Sichuan Cuisine has always been known for its numbing and spicy flavors.
Non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine, they had never heard of that before.
"Sichuan Cuisine has always been known for its numbing and spicy flavors, and numbing and spicy are also the essence of Sichuan Cuisine. Although there are non-spicy Sichuan dishes, they completely fail to embody the characteristics of Sichuan Cuisine.
A relatively famous one is Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth, but I once tried it at a restaurant in Japan, and perhaps the chef's cooking skills weren't good, but the taste was particularly bad."
Frowning slightly, Erina Nakiri naturally knew that there were non-spicy Sichuan dishes in China, but compared to the rich and fragrant spicy dishes, would non-spicy Sichuan dishes really be popular?
"You don't understand this, do you? Haven't you heard an old saying, 'Sichuan Cuisine has two sides, the non-numbing, non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine you can't afford,' of course, this refers to ordinary people.
Spicy dishes don't require high-quality ingredients and are made to cater to the fast-paced lifestyle, so they are more common in 'mid-to-low-end consumption' small restaurants. However, non-numbing, non-oily, non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine is very particular and relatively niche, so the price will be more expensive and not suitable for mass consumption.
How exactly, just sit down and wait for me to cook a dish for you, and you'll know. It will definitely satisfy your little tongue."
Pushing Erina to the seat opposite Alice, you see how well-behaved Alice is at home. She never asks too many questions, it's just that he doesn't know when she took off her shoes, swinging her fair and tender feet in the air, occasionally wiggling her delicate toes.
She could almost be called a Hoshino Sora trap!
At least Hoshino Sora's gaze didn't move away from Alice Nakiri's plump feet after he turned around. How perfect they were! In his mind, those countless fragrant nights unconsciously emerged.
Damn it, the Moon Feast Festival is in a few days, so why are there only lewd thoughts in his head?! It's all Alice's fault, she really is a little temptress!
"Why did you take off your shoes?"
Erina Nakiri naturally noticed Alice Nakiri's actions and even more so Hoshino Sora's wolf-like, aggressive gaze, and immediately asked in a harsh tone.
"Why wear shoes at home? Besides, I can sit like this with my shoes off. Erina, why don't you try it too?"
Alice said as a matter of course, then crossed her legs on the sofa, leaving the middle wide open, which was very ungraceful.
"No way, this sitting posture is really too bad. The Nakitiri Family has never taught such a sitting posture, have they?"
Erina Nakiri said with some embarrassment. How could a girl display herself in such a sitting posture? It was truly lacking in etiquette! If outsiders saw it, there would surely be endless gossip.
"What does it matter? There are no outsiders here. Erina, you're too serious!"
Alice refuted Erina Nakiri's statement with puffed cheeks. Alice advocated for being casual in private, doing whatever was comfortable, and this had always been her approach.
"This is a matter of etiquette."
Erina Nakiri sat opposite Alice Nakiri, emphasizing her words slightly.
"Don't worry about etiquette issues, but this angle can indeed see your panties. You're not allowed to sit like this in front of other boys. Come and try my non-spicy Sichuan Cuisine."
Hoshino Sora brought the dish forward and couldn't help but make two comments upon hearing their conversation. Then he saw a small amount of black lace and immediately spoke up to remind her.
"I did it on purpose, silly. These are tonight's de-ci-sive-pan-ties~!"
Alice Nakiri deliberately dragged out the words in a special tone, her face showing an expression meant to entice men, making Hoshino Sora's heart beat faster.
"Alice!"
Seeing this, Erina Nakiri immediately shouted, her cheeks visibly reddening. Her mind also began to imagine their night's...
Ah ah ah! My CPU is burning!
"Cough cough, hurry and taste it, it won't be as good when it's cold."
"What is this... crispy rice?"
The rich aroma almost instantly drew Erina Nakiri in. Looking down, she saw a portion of fried crispy rice, with a steaming bowl of topping next to it.
Erina Nakiri's expression showed a hint of confusion as she looked at the dish.
She had eaten all kinds of Japanese delicacies since childhood, and with her God Tongue, she was often invited by famous restaurants to taste their cuisine, including many high-end foreign restaurants with many skilled foreign chefs.
However, China was different; truly skilled Chinese chefs were all in their homeland, and without personally going to China, Erina Nakiri found it difficult to taste truly delicious Chinese Cuisine.
This led to her having some misconceptions about Chinese Cuisine.
"This dish is called Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices), centered on the sizzling rice crust and a gravy made with pork slices, bamboo shoots, reed segments, and mushroom slices. You'll understand its flavor once you taste it."
Hoshino Sora said with a mysterious smile. He learned this dish from Master Mao, who told him many details, especially about the seasoning of the gravy.
The pork slices should be from the tenderloin, the most tender part of the pork, mixed with bamboo shoots, reed segments, and mushroom slices to create a slightly sweet and sour taste, thickened with a bright starch slurry, and then poured over the golden-crisp sizzling rice crust—
That flavor, that sound, it was simply a triple enjoyment for the eyes, ears, and nose.
Thinking of this, Hoshino Sora opened the lid of the gravy in front of everyone. The intense aroma instantly soared to its peak, and he then slowly poured the gravy from the bowl.
The hot gravy and the golden-crisp sizzling rice crust mingled and merged, a crackling sound echoed in everyone's ears, releasing an aroma several times richer than before.
In that instant, Erina felt her saliva uncontrollably gush out. The crackling sound of the gravy meeting the sizzling rice crust frantically stimulated her appetite.
Once her gaze locked onto the dish, she couldn't move it away. Tadokoro Megumi and Hisako also gathered around with their bowls and chopsticks, and Alice swallowed several times.
"Don't just stand there, hurry and eat."
Seeing everyone drooling but not moving their chopsticks, Hoshino Sora clapped his hands and said. The first person to pick up chopsticks was Erina, and everyone else was watching her reaction.
Delicious!
Without words, as the hot pork slices touched her tongue, a rich and Rich flavor bloomed on her tongue. Erina Nakiri stuck out her tongue like a puppy, fanning her hand in front of her face.
But even so, she had no intention of spitting out the food in her mouth. The flavor profile was somewhat like sweet and sour, but with some actual differences. The subtle sweet and sour taste was not as strong as imagined, but it left a lingering aftertaste, making one constantly smack their lips and savor it.
Seeing Erina Nakiri's reaction, Alice and the others could no longer sit still. In an instant, chopsticks, like combatants, squeezed into the basin containing the Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices).
Tadokoro Megumi picked up a bamboo shoot slice, Hisako picked up a mushroom slice, and Alice tasted the sizzling rice crust. The moment the sizzling rice crust shattered in her mouth and released its aroma, a blissful expression appeared on the girl's face.
"How is it? The taste didn't disappoint you, did it?"
Looking at the girls who simultaneously showed happy expressions, Hoshino Sora said proudly. He had practiced this dish for a long time and had been scolded countless times, so he remembered it exceptionally well.
The final precision of the dish was also very high.
"Let me try some too~"
As he spoke, Hoshino Sora picked up his chopsticks, just about to start, but the dish was already brought to his mouth.
It was Tadokoro Megumi. She had acted the moment he spoke, picking up a slice of meat with her chopsticks and bringing it over.
"Oh, Xiao Hui is so sly, I want to feed Sora-kun too!"
Seeing Hoshino Sora accept Tadokoro Megumi's feeding, Alice's face showed jealousy, then she pouted and also picked up a piece of sizzling rice crust, bringing it to his mouth.
Hoshino Sora naturally accepted all offerings, even slurping his chopsticks afterward.
"What is all this? Shameless!"
Looking at the two girls using their used chopsticks to give Hoshino Sora food, Erina's face flushed slightly as she quietly cursed, feeling a strange pang of sourness deep inside.
Looking at Hoshino Sora's handsome face, she also really wanted to try feeding him, but with so many people here, she just couldn't bring herself to do it...
"Huh? Isn't it normal for boyfriends and girlfriends to do this? Erina is so old-fashioned, you can tell she doesn't have a boyfriend, pfft pfft pfft."
Covering her mouth with her hand in a mocking expression, Alice Nakiri laughed without restraint, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. For some reason, seeing Erina's discomfited look felt so satisfying!
"Hmph, I have Hisako, that's enough."
Erina Nakiri shot Hoshino Sora a resentful glance, then huffed haughtily, reaching out to hug Hisako's arm beside her, her head tilted slightly.
"Erina-sama!"
Her body trembled as if startled. Feeling the warmth on her arm, Hisako spoke, somewhat flattered, her heart filled with sweet joy.
"Alright, I called you here to taste the dishes, so, does this dish suit your taste?"
Blinking his eyes, looking at Erina intimately cuddling with Hisako, Hoshino Sora was momentarily unsure who he should envy. So he pointed to the sizzling rice crust dish on the table and asked.
"I need to taste this again."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's words, Erina Nakiri refocused her attention on the dish on the table. The rich aroma lingered and swirled around her nostrils, frantically stimulating the diner's appetite.
What a magical dish.
Erina Nakiri thought so. Closing her eyes, a sense of impact immediately came from the depths of the dish. Tasting only the meat slices was single-layered, but if combined with bamboo shoots, mushroom slices, reed segments, and the sizzling rice crust...
The flavor in her mouth instantly became a sonata, multiple layers of taste intertwining and complementing each other, and due to the different textures, the changes produced were varied and truly superb!
Her thighs had unknowingly turned inward, Erina Nakiri's body trembled slightly, and her face turned crimson the moment the dish entered her stomach.
She had thought that after eating so much of Hoshino Sora's cooking, she would have some resistance, but in the end, when it truly came down to it, she still couldn't resist...
The strange sensation made her lightly rub her thighs, and waves of tingling numbness followed. A blush appeared on the girl's face, because of her God Tongue, her tongue and body were much more sensitive than others.
"Hmm, hmph, ooh..."
Even incomprehensible sounds escaped her lips, making everyone around her blush, especially Hisako, whose heart pounded uncontrollably at the sight of such a captivating Erina-sama.
Heart throbbing~ Heart throbbing.
"The sizzling rice crust is very crispy, a bit like sweet and sour but definitely not sweet and sour. The subtle sweet and sour taste is especially long-lasting. The bamboo shoots are crisp, the mushroom slices are rich and full-bodied, the pork slices are tender, and paired with the crispy sizzling rice crust, it's simply the most perfect combination!
Spiceless Sichuan Cuisine is so amazing, this can work!"
"How sly!"
"I want some too..."
Words of praise flowed unreservedly from her mouth. Erina Nakiri, holding her chopsticks, uncontrollably picked up the dish. Tasting a delicious dish was like bathing in a spring breeze.
The others, seeing the dish on the plate disappearing at light speed, also became unhappy and picked up their chopsticks to join the food-snatch contest.
Soon, a whole large plate of sizzling rice crust dish was swept clean, but the few of them didn't seem satisfied and all turned their gaze to Hoshino Sora.
Afterward, Hoshino Sora also made Snowflake Chicken Paste and Camphor Tea Sesame Duck Fillet, a total of three dishes.
Why only three dishes? Mainly because of the large customer flow, customers generally don't repeat, so there's no problem of getting tired of the food, making it feasible to offer the same dishes.
Secondly, making three dishes only requires preparing ingredients for three dishes, which is convenient, fast, and high-volume, and won't lead to a certain dish not being able to be cooked due to a shortage of a certain ingredient.
Finally, to improve taste and efficiency, cooking the same dish for a long time will certainly lead to a deeper understanding, and over time, both taste and efficiency will increase.
——————
The night before the Moon Feast Festival.
"Hoshino-kun, haven't you already decided on the dishes? Why are you still researching..."
Looking at Hoshino Sora, who had been in the kitchen from morning till night, Shiina Mahiru brought two cups of ginger tea, handing one to the young man, and gently asked.
"I want to try to increase the precision of the dishes as much as possible before the Moon Feast Festival. I've made Guo Ba Rou Pian (Sizzling Rice Crust with Pork Slices) quite a lot, but Snowflake Chicken Paste and Camphor Tea Sesame Duck Fillet are my first time making them, and there's a lot I don't understand."
"Come and taste it. How is it different from the past two days?"
Seeing a taste-tester arrive, Hoshino Sora placed a portion of Camphor Tea Sesame Duck Fillet in front of Shiina Mahiru. He still remembered Erina Nakiri's evaluation of this dish.
"The meat lacks moisture inside, the duck meat is too dry, it feels like a dish made just to get it done, not tasty."
Snowflake Chicken Paste received a similar evaluation. Both of these dishes were from the notes Xiang Ling gave him, and that day was also his first time making them; he hadn't practiced them much before.
For this, he even went down the mountain to Xiang Ling's restaurant to learn these two dishes for several days after that day.
His current skill had already achieved minor success.
"The meat is very tender, the kind that's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. When tasted, its meaty aroma and the dish's aroma are perfectly blended together. I think it's very delicious, making one feel like they can't stop eating."
Tasting the Camphor Tea Sesame Duck Fillet, Shiina Mahiru's face showed a blissful expression.
"Try this one too, Snowflake Chicken Paste."
Hoshino Sora said, quickly making another portion of Snowflake Chicken Paste using the previously prepared semi-finished ingredients, then placed it in front of Shiina Mahiru, waiting for her evaluation.
"It looks so light, trembling..."
As Hoshino Sora served the dish, the Snowflake Chicken Paste wobbled. It was topped with shredded ham, looking a bit like whipped egg whites, but upon closer inspection, one could clearly see the difference between the two.
Picking up the spoon with a nervous heart, she scooped a spoonful, then a second spoonful, a third spoonful...
"What a rich chicken flavor! Didn't you make this with tofu? It's so delicious, I feel like I can't stop!"
While quickly stuffing Snowflake Chicken Paste into her mouth, she spoke indistinctly. The deliciousness of the dish made Shiina Mahiru not want to waste a single moment. The extremely tender and smooth Snowflake Chicken Paste paired with the shredded ham garnish was simply a combination of softness and strength!
The saltiness brought by the ham perfectly compensated for the blandness of the Snowflake Chicken Paste. One bite was simply too satisfying!
"No, these are all real chicken meat."
"Debone chicken breast, pound it into a paste with the back of a knife, remove all sinews from the paste, and put it in a bowl.
First, dilute it with cold fresh broth, then add water starch, salt, MSG, and pepper, mix well, and finally add whipped egg whites and mix well. Place the wok over high heat.
Add lard and heat it, pour in the prepared chicken paste, stir-fry until cooked, transfer to a plate, sprinkle with ham crumbs, and it's done."
Hearing Shiina Mahiru's words, Hoshino Sora spoke voluminously, extending his hand and waving his fingers in the air, looking like an old scholar.
"Phew... I'm so full.
Cough cough, get some rest early tonight, we have to open the shop tomorrow."
In a blink of an eye, a portion of Snowflake Chicken Paste was eaten. Shiina Mahiru rubbed her slightly rounded belly with an awkward smile, then coughed twice, telling Hoshino Sora to go back and rest.
"I know, I'm going back to rest after I finish this dish. You should also rest well, it's probably going to be very busy tomorrow."
"Mm!"
Nodding seriously, Shiina Mahiru and Hoshino Sora tidied up the kitchen together. After finishing, they said goodbye to each other at the stairwell.
"Good night."
"Sweet dreams."
Looking at Shiina Mahiru's retreating figure, Hoshino Sora quickened his pace and soon returned to his room.
Since it was late, he didn't turn on the light. He took off his coat and clothes and burrowed into the quilt.
This burrowing was no big deal.
It was warm.
He reached out and touched it again.
It was soft.
"Sora, you're back."
Her voice carried a hint of laziness. Hoshino Sora pulled back the quilt, and by the moonlight, he saw a beautiful girl in pajamas, her navel partially exposed.
"Mashiro-nee, can you explain why you're in my bed?"
His eyes held a gaze as he looked at Shiina Mashiro, whose pajamas had slipped off her shoulder, revealing a large expanse of fair skin. Hoshino Sora was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Mm, because I missed Sora's embrace, so I came over."
Her voice revealed innocence, her expression was very pure. Seeing her like this, Hoshino Sora sighed softly, then burrowed back into the quilt.
"Come closer, Mashiro-nee."