"Master, are you really planning to teach me the cooking method for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?"
Tadokoro Megumi didn't know how to describe her feelings at the moment. Was it excitement, thrill, or apprehension?
As a famous Chinese state banquet dish, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is quite renowned in the culinary world. She had once learned about the general method, but that alone was enough to make her stop; it was simply too difficult to make it well.
"I do have that idea, but you must be mentally prepared. That dish is not easy to cook; it requires a great many steps, even to the point of being tedious. If even one aspect goes wrong, it's possible to ruin an entire pot of soup. As my assistant, you must work hard."
"Yes, I will work hard," Tadokoro Megumi clenched her hands into fists, cheering herself on.
Although she was a little nervous at the moment, it was much better than when Liu Ming first met her.
Her entire demeanor showed a lot more confidence.
"Even though this dish is very difficult to make, once you master it, your cooking skills will definitely take a big leap forward.
Because it involves many cooking techniques and skills, including steaming, stewing, braising, boiling, simmering, heat control, knife skills, and flavor blending. When you master these, it will be hard for your cooking skills not to improve."
"Yes, Master," Tadokoro Megumi's eyes sparkled.
"Very good, that's the serious attitude I want. So now, let's start with soaking the ingredients."
Since it was already past business hours, Liu Ming wasn't worried about someone ordering a dish and interrupting their work.
He meticulously guided Tadokoro Megumi, explaining the pros and cons of each ingredient and the details to pay attention to when cooking, regardless of whether Tadokoro Megumi remembered it all, pouring out everything he could think of.
However, fortunately, Tadokoro Megumi truly had a talent for cooking. Even if she didn't fully understand some things, she still kept them in her heart.
She believed that one day she would fully master them.
Thus, one willing to teach and one willing to learn, working together, they quickly completed the preliminary preparation of the ingredients.
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"Teacher Liu, I'm here again." Around 12 PM, Natsuno Kirihime, who hadn't been seen for a long time, appeared in the restaurant.
"Oh, I haven't seen you for days. I thought you moved back. Also, I'm not writing anymore, just call me by my name."
Liu Ming had practically handed the kitchen over to Tadokoro Megumi. Unless someone ordered a special dish, he would leisurely hold Kanna and watch children's animation in the hall together.
"Inspiration struck before, so I stayed home writing. I finally finished today; it's a great work. I'll send you a copy when it's published. I came specifically to treat myself today. How come your restaurant doesn't have delivery service? I can't eat it at home even if I want to," Natsuno Kirihime complained.
"Insufficient staff," Liu Ming said calmly.
"Small business, can't afford to hire," Liu Ming said seriously.
Natsuno Kirihime was truly exasperated with him. A single dish cost several thousand yen, and that was the minimum; some even cost tens of thousands, while special dishes could be as high as one hundred thousand. Yet, he still had the nerve to say it was a small business.
"These are all minor matters. What do you want to eat today? My disciple is cooking today, so try it and see how it tastes."
Liu Ming took Kanna's small hand and waved it at Natsuno Kirihime.
"Megumi's food is also very delicious," Kanna said cutely, looking up.
"Then I must give it a good try. One steamed turbot, one coriander tofu fish head soup, and I'll reserve the Mystical Mapo Tofu for the evening."
Every time she mentioned Mystical Mapo Tofu, a blush would inevitably appear on her pretty face.
Even so, she couldn't help but want to taste it again.
"Alright, since you're a regular, I won't entertain you. Just find a seat yourself."
Liu Ming didn't think too much of it, waving his hand to let her find a seat herself.
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At the same time, not far from the restaurant, four people were walking in the shopping street.
"Wow, it's even more bustling than I imagined," Takanashi Miyu exclaimed, looking at the crowds and the tall buildings around them.
"Yes, in a big city like this, shopping must be very convenient," Takanashi Sora nodded in agreement.
"You're too naive. The apartment I live in is still far from here,"
Yuta pointed to the distant railway, saying calmly.
"What? We still have to take the subway?" Sora and Miyu couldn't help but exclaim. They had already taken the subway for over an hour and still had more to go.
Yuta scratched his head awkwardly. He didn't want to either, but renting a house in the suburbs was cheaper.
"Haha, let's go have lunch first," Yuta suggested, knowing that everyone was already very tired.
After eating, everyone should feel more energetic.
"Great, Uncle, lunch, lunch!" Takanashi Xiao Hina happily raised her hands.
However, finding a suitable restaurant during this peak dining hour was not so easy. After searching for over half an hour, places were either full or too expensive.
Just as the group was feeling disappointed, a Chinese Restaurant appeared before them.
Holding onto their last hope, Yuta led the three into the restaurant.