Food Wars, My Dishes Don't Just Shine

"Do not believe!"

Hearing Bai Yuan's pale explanation, Nakiri Alice couldn't help but let out a coquettish cry, then snuggled into his arms and cuddled, drawing circles on her chest with her fingers.

She wouldn't get angry over such trivial matters, but she would use them to pretend to be angry and get her partner to coax her, which would also help improve the relationship between the couple.

Behind her followed another girl with orange hair and an amazing figure, none other than Erina Nakiri.

At this moment, Erina Nakiri looked at Hisako Shirato, who was busy in the kitchen, with a strange emotion on her face, and then sat down next to Shirabuchi.

She was aware of Alice Nakiri and Shiro's playful fight, but she seriously doubted whether the two would start kissing if she weren't around.

After learning about sex from some picture books, she understood the things between men and women. While secretly cursing them for their lack of restraint, she couldn't help but peek.

"Didn't this guy never sit next to Bai Yuan before to avoid suspicion? And he looks preoccupied, what's he thinking about?"

Sensing Erina Nakiri's state, Alice Nakiri was somewhat surprised.

Although the other person likes Bai Yuan, they love him very restrainedly, afraid of being talked about, so they rarely show him any affection.

But now she's sitting right next to Bai Yuan, making that face—is she trying to get Bai Yuan to comfort her?

However, Alice Nakiri was not flustered, because her target was Shirabuchi's open thighs, so she sat down gracefully in front of Erina.

Her back rested against Bai Yuan's chest, her delicate little feet dangling slightly in mid-air—something she often did when she was a child.

The girl became engrossed in watching the television screen in no time.

She really enjoyed this feeling, with Bai Yuan by her side, savoring the peaceful afternoons. This kind of life was truly wonderful.

Beside her, Erina Nakiri's expression was subtle. She was also leaning against Shirai, but she was far less bold than Alice Nakiri.

Looking at the two figures overlapping, something strange popped into Erina Nakiri's mind, and then she glanced away at the television.

"Teacher Bai Yuan, we've arrived!"

"Everyone, find a seat. Hisako is cooking in the kitchen; it won't be long before we can eat."

Just then, there was another noise at the door, and several figures walked in from outside. Looking towards the door, they were surprised to find that it was Tadokoro Megumi and the others who had come.

Because they often visited Bai Yuan's house, their slippers were always kept at home. They would skillfully change into the slippers and come to the living room, and they were already used to this scene.

They took their seats one by one. Some watched TV, some crossed their legs, some slumped in their chairs, and some played on their phones. This was one of the few times they could relax.

Inside the kitchen, Hisako Niito was busy at work. In front of her were several steamers, emitting a faint fragrance, and next to her were two large pots of rice.

If you're going to do it, do it for everyone; that's their rule here.

Before long, the meal was ready. Hisako Shinoto came to the door and called out. Immediately, someone came over to help her take the food out and place it on the dining table.

"I wanted to try this when we were in the moonlight earlier, I can't wait!"

Looking at the medicinal steamed chicken in front of her, Yoshino Yuuki's face was full of anticipation.

Ignoring the heat, they hurriedly removed the lotus leaves wrapping the chicken, revealing a steaming little hen inside.

The chicken had a slightly yellowish color and an enticing aroma. As soon as it appeared, everyone present swallowed hard, and then they began to eat it with great relish.

Because it's a steamed dish, it's very moist inside. With one bite, the rich juices flow down the corners of your lips, and everyone's face is filled with enjoyment.

"The overall flavor is harmonious, and the medicinal herbs used are very suitable for chicken, which brings out the deliciousness of the chicken. However, there are also some disharmonious parts."

You need to adjust the ratio of lotus leaves to chicken. The fragrance of lotus leaves is certainly a highlight of this dish, but too many lotus leaves will mask the flavor of the chicken itself. The leaves should be just big enough to wrap the chicken.

The proportions of seasonings such as salt, cooking wine, light soy sauce, and sesame oil also need to be considered.

Medicinal cuisine emphasizes the original flavor of the ingredients, using medicinal herbs to enhance the freshness of the chicken. The seasoning should be light, and you added too much. Reducing the amount by about a quarter would achieve a premium two-star rating.

Then there are the medicinal herbs. Their compatibility isn't a big problem, but the proportions are a significant issue.

Increase the amount of red dates by half, and reduce the amount of angelica and astragalus by a quarter. This should make it a dish that shines, for this chicken.

Each problem requires a specific analysis; different types of chicken require different preparation methods. The chicken's growth time, breed, weight at maturity, and freshness all form the theoretical basis for the subsequent ingredient combinations.

Since the competition was over, Bai Yuan no longer held back and began to talk at length about the shortcomings of the medicinal steamed chicken in front of him.

Hearing his rambling, Hisako Shinto went from being serious at first, to having her mouth slightly open, and then rubbing her head, her eyes glazed over, and a pained expression on her face.

"Master, please stop reciting it. I perfected it step by step!"

"Specific problems require specific analysis, which is why ordinary people who know the recipe cannot immediately become master chefs."

Only through persistent honing of skills can you create truly top-notch cuisine. Keep up the good work, young lady.

He patted Hisako Shinoto on the shoulder as encouragement, reminding her that one must keep moving forward on the path of cooking to reap rewards.

Those who witnessed this scene, recalling what Bai Yuan had just said, had thoughtful expressions on their faces.

Although Shirai was speaking to Hisako Shinto, the principle is universal: only by accumulating enough experience can one become a renowned chef.

"Jingle Bell"

Just then, a phone rang, and Hisako Shinoto and Megumi Tadokoro both took out their phones and answered the call.

"Well, okay, I see."

"I see, thank you."

After putting down their phones, Hisako Shinoto and Megumi Tadokoro turned their heads at the same time, looked at each other, and showed complicated expressions on their faces.

"what happened?"

Nearby, Yoshino Yuuki was a little confused by what she saw, then shook Tadokoro Megumi's arm with a hint of curiosity on her face.

"The opponent in the semi-finals."

"It's Hisako."

"It's Xiaohui."

The sound coming from the two of them caused a moment of pause in the atmosphere. Everyone first looked at Hisako Shinto, then at Megumi Tadokoro, their expressions subtle.

"To think they'd meet in the semifinals! This is outrageous! The organizers must have done this on purpose!"

Yoshino Yuuki puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction and complained without any restraint, "They actually made their people kill each other! That's too cruel!"

"The order of the matches is all randomly drawn, there is no question of it being intentional."

That's what I say, but I'm still really annoyed!

Erina Nakiri's voice rang out, correcting the errors in Yuuki Yoshino's words.

A look of helplessness also appeared on her face. It's not a good thing for comrades to fight each other. No matter who wins or loses, it's a blow to the other side.

"This way, at least one person can make it to the finals, which is not necessarily a bad thing for us."

Besides, we usually cook together, so we're all familiar with each other's cooking styles. Let's treat this as a regular cooking competition and give it our all!

Bai Yuan's voice rang out. He didn't have any particular thoughts about it; on the contrary, he thought it was a good thing, as at least one person was guaranteed a top-two finish.

"Teacher Bai Yuan is right. At least one person can advance to the top two. Let's give it our all and have a competition that leaves no regrets."

Hisako Niito nodded first and spoke to Megumi Tadokoro.

"Well, that's what I thought too!"

Tadokoro Megumi nodded as well, then glanced at Shiroyuki not far away and saw that he looked encouraging. She then spoke confidently to Hisako Shinoto.

For a moment, their eyes met, no longer as they had before, but filled with a fierce confrontation, clearly both wanting to be the final winner.

"Alright, the semi-finals aren't until three days from now, let's have lunch first."

Seeing this, Bai Yuan clapped his hands and told them to sit down and eat.

With the arrival of Zhou Tai and others, the summer selection process became much more intense. The original week of preparation time for the participants was reduced to three days.

"Ah."

Hisako Niito and Megumi Tadokoro nodded simultaneously, and then each took their seats.

However, compared to before, the two were clearly distracted now. Bai Yuan didn't say anything, as he couldn't force them to be intimate.

Hakubuchi was also curious about who would win between Hisako Shirato and Megumi Tadokoro, since their strengths were roughly equal.

After lunch, we would normally have cooking practice, but today happened to be a day off, so everyone went back to the living room after lunch.

"Let's finish with a movie today. Those who want to go home and rest can go home now."

In the villa's living room, Bai Yuan sat on the sofa, adjusting a movie while speaking to the girls around him, but no one stood up.

"Watching movies together is more fun; it's a bit boring if you go home."

Yoshino Yuuki sat on the sofa, her black stockings removed at some point, her legs propped up on the coffee table, her face flushed with excitement.

"Indeed, watching movies is more fun when you watch them with others; you don't get the same feeling when you watch them alone."

Ryoko Sakaki nodded in agreement. She preferred watching movies in a small space with the lights off rather than being alone in her room.

This is why in high school classrooms, when the teacher shows a movie during evening class, everyone cheers excitedly.

"So, like before?"

"Okay, horror movie, let's go!"

Alice Nakiri excitedly raised her hand in agreement. At that moment, her little feet were propped up on Shirayuu's legs, and the surrounding darkness gave her room to do something naughty.

"Then let's get started."

Ignoring the mischievous Alice Nakiri, Shirai quickly selected a video, then reached out and grabbed her foot, playing with it like a toy.

Chapter 203 Yangzhou Fried Rice, Status of All Parties

"OK..."

As Bai Yuan increased the pressure on her hands, the girl made a slightly restrained sound, and her eyes became unfocused and dazed.

Because there were people around, Alice Nakiri covered her mouth tightly, making her voice stuck in her throat, only passing between the two of them.

Feeling the tickling sensation in her feet, the girl felt a tingling sensation all over her body, and her pretty face turned exceptionally red.

"Brother Bai Yuan is wicked!"

With her pearly teeth slightly biting her lower lip, Alice Nakiri closed her eyes, her breathing becoming heavy.

After closing her eyes, her sense of touch became more sensitive, and it seemed that she was touching other places besides her hands, which made her heart beat even faster.

Fortunately, there were many people around, so Bai Yuan's movements were very small. She could only clearly feel her stockings being removed and then put into her pocket.

And then...