Chapter 538: Reimu's Evaluation, Reimu's Little Scheme
Yakumo Yukari found herself trapped in an incredibly complex mood. That man had just casually downed the very same cup of medicinal wine she had been drinking from. She knew perfectly well that pouring half-consumed alcohol back into the main vat was out of the question, especially since this was a restaurant and not her own home. Throwing it away would be a tragic waste of good liquor, and the lingering scent would be far too strong to ignore.
Yet, she never expected Ren to actually drink it himself. Her mind was a swirling mess of utter confusion. If she brought it up, she knew exactly how Ren would respond. He would just give her that dry, practical look and state that throwing it away was wasteful, pouring it back was inappropriate, and dumping it into the pickle jars would ruin the brine since pickles did not require medicinal wine.
Yakumo Ran and the others clearly were not overthinking the situation. Yukari glanced at them, suddenly feeling like an absolute idiot for getting so worked up over an indirect kiss. She took a slow, steadying breath and forced herself to resume eating.
However, halfway through her meal, a sudden wave of defeat washed over Yukari. One look at Ren confirmed that she was completely outmatched by this infuriatingly pragmatic man. Seeking an easier target, she silently shifted her gaze to Ran, who had been quietly devouring her portion of mala chicken without uttering a single word this entire time.
The next moment, the sinful little hand made its move. Ran was happily enjoying her meal, lost in the spicy bliss of the chicken, when an extra pair of chopsticks suddenly invaded her peripheral vision. She stiffly turned her head to the side.
Yukari calmly met Ran's gaze. The two yokai remained perfectly still for a few agonizing seconds. Then, without breaking eye contact, Yukari smoothly plucked a choice piece of chicken from the plate and popped it into her mouth.
Ran felt her heart shatter into pieces. Her precious dish had been violated by this sinful hand once again. But a small, comforting thought managed to soothe her grief. At least it was not her favorite fried tofu. She could accept this minor loss.
Yukari gave a slight shiver as the flavors hit her tongue. This dish was surprisingly potent.
Mala chicken and steamed pork with rice powder were classic Chinese dishes, existing as delicious and relatively straightforward culinary staples. They were exactly as their names suggested. Mala chicken was defined entirely by its numbing spice and rich poultry flavor.
Because of this, mala chicken possessed a unique characteristic that set it apart from other dishes. It carried a mellow, lingering spiciness. This deep, rich flavor profile could only be experienced through highly specific preparation methods.
The concept behind mala chicken was deceptively simple because it was served as a cold dish. Cold dishes were generally easier to prepare, but their main drawback was a lack of volatile, aromatic heat. Without steam to carry the scent, they required a heavy, complex blend of spices and ingredients to force the flavors directly into the palate.
The process began with a whole chicken or a large chicken leg. It was carefully deboned while leaving the skin perfectly intact, then tossed into a pot to boil alongside a generous handful of Sichuan peppercorns. Once cooked through, it was steamed, immediately plunged into a bath of ice water to shock the meat, and finally stored in the refrigerator.
This dish took the concept of cold cooking to its absolute extreme. It was boiled in cold water, steamed, soaked in ice water, and refrigerated from start to finish. It was a highly unconventional method, but this rigorous temperature control gave the meat an unmatched texture and a tight, springy elasticity.
Then came the most complex step, one that was simultaneously simple and punishingly difficult. Preparing the sauce. It required a precise balance of bird's eye chilies, oyster sauce, aged balsamic vinegar, fragrant Sichuan peppercorn oil, and a myriad of other seasonings. When a massive bowl of this rich, spicy, numbing, and mellow sauce was poured over the chilled, boneless chicken, the true charm of the cold dish was fully realized.
Cold dishes did not have the luxury of spreading their aroma across a dining room. They relied entirely on their visual appeal. And aside from those who absolutely could not tolerate spicy food, who could possibly resist a bowl of glistening chicken, generously coated in green Sichuan peppercorns, freshly chopped scallions, and fiery red bird's eye chilies clinging to the smooth skin?
With a single bite, the chilled chicken delivered an exceptionally amazing texture. The flavor extracted from the meat as it was chewed was entirely elevated by the essence of the sauce itself. This addictive, mouth-watering sensation was the soul of mala chicken.
Whether it was the springy, smooth chicken skin, the tender meat beneath it, or the mala sauce itself, every component was a rare delicacy.
The final product was numbingly mellow, perfectly salty, and incredibly fresh. It offered a soft, tender chew that was both refreshing and deeply satisfying. Even though the dish remained cold and intensely numbing from the first bite to the last, nothing could mask its delicious essence. After all, mala chicken had one more crucial advantage that made it the ultimate comfort food.
There were no bones to spit out. The most agonizing part of eating in this world was fighting for the meat. Peeling shrimp, shelling nuts, picking out tiny fish bones, and the absolute worst offender, having to spit out sharp fragments of bone while eating chicken.
Mala chicken completely bypassed this struggle. Diners could fully enjoy the smooth, tender meat, completely surrender to the excitement of their taste buds being ignited by the spicy flavor, and devour the dish in massive, satisfying mouthfuls without ever worrying about a stray bone.
After taking another bite, Ran was about to offer a compliment, but she quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. She did not dare to speak. If she opened her mouth to praise the food, she was terrified the others would swarm in and divide the rest of her plate!
As a result, her mala chicken was indeed divided, but fortunately, she only lost that single piece. Ran was not a stingy person by nature. She was just afraid that if someone else tasted it, they would realize how good it was and half the plate would vanish in an instant. Under normal circumstances, she would be more than happy to share.
Yukari chewed thoughtfully for a moment, a bright smile spreading across her face. "What an amazing dish. This mala chicken is absolutely perfect with alcohol. Hey! Ran! Why aren't you saying anything? So you were just sitting here drinking all by yourself. Hurry, hurry! Let's drink together!"
Ran nodded repeatedly, keeping her mouth firmly shut.
Yukari laughed softly. "I really have discovered an interesting place!"
"I discovered it," Yuuka Kazami corrected softly, her tone serene but firm.
"Well, well, I was the first one to actually see this door," Yukari countered smoothly. "But I had pressing matters to attend to and went out, so I didn't open it right away. Otherwise, I would have been the first one sitting in here! And if that had happened, this shop would already be packed full of yokai!"
Reimu shot her a grumpy look. "Don't talk as if you're planning to move all of Gensokyo in here..."
"I didn't say that. It's just perfect for casual drinking parties and things like that. It's incredibly convenient, and very safe. Mr. Shopkeeper is clearly very capable."
Reimu paused, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? I didn't realize the great Yakumo Yukari was capable of boasting about someone else."
"I... I am not! Besides, there aren't that many customers today anyway, and I still want to see the continuation of that world full of pirates and Marines."
"What pirates?" Reimu asked, tilting her head.
"Just pirates! This shop isn't only connected to Gensokyo. There are doors leading to other worlds too!"
"Oh! That's truly incredible." Reimu's eyes widened slightly. "It feels like this place is an alternative Gensokyo!"
Yuuka and Ran were equally stunned by the revelation. Yukari tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Pretty much... everything about this place is amazing, that's all... Eh?! A customer is here!"
Reimu immediately turned her head toward the glowing door, a spark of expectation in her eyes. She was incredibly curious about customers from another world. More, maybe she could finally meet some wealthy, devout believers to trick into making massive offerings to her shrine.
Before Ren could even react to the chime of the door, a pair of incredibly long legs stepped into the restaurant. Reimu stared in shock. The newcomer was ridiculously tall!
The girl bypassed the dining area entirely, running directly and accurately behind Ren before throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. Lucifer, who was standing nearby, was completely stunned by the sudden display of affection.
Ren let out a long, long sigh. "Be a little more reserved, you girl."
"But I haven't seen Mr. Ren in a whole month!"
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