Everyday Life Starting with Food Wars

"Hmm, we've almost found the problem." Chen Yuxing put the kitchen key on the counter and handed the takeout box to the proprietress. "These are some leftovers from when we finished cooking. They've only been out of the pot for a short time. You can try them later."

The proprietress paused for a moment, took the takeout box, and then opened it to take a look.

The aroma of wheat and seafood wafted out of the box, which contained four neatly arranged buns of different colors, their doughs glistening under the light.

"These steamed buns look so good," the proprietress couldn't help but praise. "What flavors are these four?"

"The green one is made with spinach, but the sauce inside might be a bit sour; the black one is made with sesame seeds and the sauce inside is bitter; the red one is made with carrots but it might be quite spicy because it contains chili peppers; the white one is just regular dough and it's a bit sweet because it contains sugar."

“Master Chen, if you opened a shop with your skills, you would definitely have a lot of customers.” The proprietress closed the box tightly, then looked up at Chen Yuxing. “To be honest, Master Chen, you look really young. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have imagined that you could have won over my husband, Lao Su.”

"Old Su mentioned it to me when he came back this afternoon, saying that you won the championship in this competition." The proprietress poured him a cup of hot tea.

Chen Yuxing took the teacup and took a sip. "It was just good luck."

"There's no such thing as good luck in this kind of competition; it's all about skill." The proprietress sighed. "When Lao Su came back, he kept saying that he didn't perform well in this competition and was eliminated in the second round."

"Master Su is too modest. His apprentice's cooking is very good. I'll probably be leaving tomorrow, so could you please say hello to Master Su for me?"

Chen Yuxing finished the last sip of tea and placed the cup on the table.

"Then I'll head back now. I'm really sorry to have bothered you so late."

"Not at all. You'll have to come to our house again sometime. You're a very important guest."

Chen Yuxing waved to the proprietress, pushed open the glass door, and walked out.

A cool breeze blew by at night.

Most of the shops outside were closed, with only a few streetlights still on.

The proprietress stood at the door watching his back turn as he turned the corner before closing the door.

She glanced down at the takeout box in her hand, hesitated for a moment, then picked it up and went into the kitchen.

She took out a clean pair of chopsticks from the cupboard, picked up a green bun, and tasted it.

The moment she took a bite, the first thing that rushed up was the sour taste. The sourness of lemon juice and aged vinegar instantly stimulated her entire mouth. Next came the taste of seafood. The freshness of halibut and shark fin was made even more vivid by the sourness.

The proprietress picked up the red one again. The filling contained bird's eye chili and red bean paste. When she bit into it, the spiciness was like a fire, making her sweat. But before the spiciness could completely dissipate, the sweetness of the shrimp and crab came over and enveloped the spiciness, turning it into an addictive warm sensation. The spicier it was, the more she wanted to eat, and she couldn't stop eating with her chopsticks.

The proprietress moved her chopsticks back and forth between several buns, but suddenly stopped when she was eating the last one.

She looked down at the last bun in the takeout box, thought for a moment, then took a picture with her phone and sent it to Su Youfu.

"Oh, you're really unlucky. Not long after you left, Chef Chen came to our restaurant to borrow the kitchen to test the dishes. He even made a super delicious steamed bun. It's a pity you can't eat it. It was really delicious. I ate it all without even realizing it."

After sending the message, the proprietress looked at her phone and suddenly laughed. Then she put the last bun back in the refrigerator.

……

The next morning, Chen Yuxing was woken up by his phone alarm when it was just getting light outside.

He pulled his phone out from under his pillow and glanced at the time. Half of his week-and-a-half vacation was already over, with about five days left.

It only takes about two hours to fly from Guangzhou to Hangzhou. I can spend two days there before returning to Yuanyue to report for duty.

With that thought in mind, Chen Yuxing packed his luggage, checked out of the hotel, and then called a car to head straight to Baiyun Airport.

……

On the seventh day of the holiday, by West Lake in Hangzhou.

Early in the morning, West Lake was already packed with people, with groups of elderly people and tourists from different places taking selfies and live-streaming.

Chen Yuxing searched for famous restaurants nearby and finally decided to go to Lou Wai Lou, a famous Hangzhou cuisine restaurant.

"Waiter, please give me a West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce, Longjing Shrimp, and a Dongpo Pork."

He sat down by the window on the second floor, enjoying the view while waiting for his food.

The dishes were served shortly afterward.

West Lake Vinegar Fish is bright red in color, with tender fish meat. The sweet and sour sauce is just right, which perfectly masks the muddy taste of the grass carp and brings out a fresh and delicious flavor similar to crab meat, making it a unique dish.

Longjing Shrimp is light and elegant, with white shrimp meat as white as jade, garnished with a few emerald green Longjing tea leaves. It has a refreshing aroma and the fragrance of tea blends perfectly with the sweetness of shrimp.

Dongpo pork also has a golden-red, glossy skin, and is rich but not greasy, soft and melt-in-your-mouth tender.

"This West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce doesn't seem as bad as people say; it's actually quite good."

Chen Yuxing savored these classic Jiangnan dishes, while also analyzing the cooking time and seasoning through his tongue.

"Hangzhou cuisine emphasizes the original flavor, pursues freshness in lightness and exquisite cooking skills. I feel that it is rare to see similar dishes in Far Moon."

Chen Yuxing looked thoughtfully at West Lake outside the window. "I feel like I could try to combine the advantages of these dishes to create my own dish when I get back. But never mind, I'll wait until I get back to Totsuki to see."

During his stay in Suzhou and Hangzhou, he spent his days wandering around, not only tasting a lot of local delicacies, but also visiting local attractions and shopping malls, seeing a lot of fun things, and buying many small gifts to bring back to everyone in the Polaris Lodge.

He didn't return to Tokyo with his luggage until the last two days of his vacation, still feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

When I returned to that familiar commercial street, Grandpa Tanaka was sitting in a deck chair at the street corner, basking in the sun.

"Hey, Ah Xing's back? You've been gone for quite a while, haven't you? Where did you go for fun?"

"I went to China to travel and see the sights."

"China is great, it's a wonderful place."

Grandpa Tanaka sat up from his recliner. "By the way, while you were away, that fat Okamoto guy came to your shop several times. I guess he's looking for you again."

"Okay, thank you, sir."

After Chen Yuxing called Okamoto Katsunori to explain that he was back, he opened the shop door and windows to ventilate the place. He was going to start classes in two days and was too lazy to open the shop for business these days. Although he said he would come back to work two days a week, he hadn't been back much since he went to Totsuki.

Chen Yuxing tidied up the shop a bit, then checked the unused seasonings and ingredients, threw away what needed to be thrown away, and wrote it down in his notebook to buy more later.

Katsunori Okamoto rushed to his shop less than half an hour after receiving the call.

"Chen Sang, you're finally back! You only stayed for one day and then disappeared again. Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?"

As soon as he entered the room, he searched for Chen Yuxing with a hint of resentment.

Chen Yuxing poked his head out from the kitchen, "I just went on a trip because I haven't been out to play for a long time. But I won't be staying for long this time. I have to go back soon as classes start at Totsuki."

Okamoto sighed. "Alright, then I guess I'll just have to keep waiting. By the way, did you learn any new dishes during your trip to China?"

"It's alright, I learned quite a bit." Chen Yuxing threw the rag into the sink. "I'll tell you in advance when I come back next time, so you can try my new dishes."

After Okamoto left reluctantly, Chen Yuxing tidied up the shop one last time, locked the doors and windows, grabbed his luggage bag, and went out.

The train ride from the shopping street to Totsuki Academy takes about forty minutes.

Chen Yuxing found a seat and sat down, looking out at the receding street scene. He then reviewed the events of the past few days, finding much benefit in both the Mahjong King Competition and the traditional profit-making practices of the restaurants in Suzhou and Hangzhou.

By the time Chen Yuxing returned to Totsuki Academy, it was already getting late.

The campus of Totsuki Academy was also quiet, with only a few students walking around. At this time, everyone was probably busy in the cafeteria or their respective research clubs.

As Chen Yuxing pondered this, he walked towards the Polaris Dormitory.

As soon as you push open the door of Polar Star Dormitory, a rich aroma of broth wafts out.

"It smells so good..."

Chen Yuxing sniffed, put his luggage down first, and then walked towards the kitchen following the aroma.

Before I even reached the door, I heard a loud argument coming from the kitchen.

"Dad! You didn't cook it properly! This broth should have been simmered for another ten minutes to fully release the seafood's flavor!"

"You brat, what do you know! If you simmer this soup for too long, the nutrients will be lost, and the seafood flavor will be masked by the bone broth! Get out of here and stop messing around!"

"Huh?! How come I don't understand! You old man, you're just stubborn!"

Chen Yuxing stood at the kitchen door, somewhat surprised to see the two people inside arguing fiercely over a pot of broth.

"Oh dear, can't you two just calm down for a bit? The soup already smells so good, what are you arguing about?"

Mrs. Wenxu's voice came from the side. She was holding a cup of tea and looked at the father and son arguing with some helplessness.

Chapter 53 Father-Son Showdown

The kitchen in Polaris Dormitory is bustling with activity right now.

Soma Yukihira and a middle-aged man with red hair stood facing each other at the two cooking counters, each on one side.

In front of Soma, something was simmering in a pot, bubbling with milky white bubbles and emitting a rich, savory aroma. Meanwhile, the middle-aged man was kneading dough, his hands constantly pushing, pressing, and folding it on the cutting board at lightning speed.

The rest of the Polar Star Dormitory members were also present: Yoshino Yuuki, Sakaki Ryoko, Tadokoro Megumi, Marui Zenji, Aoki Daigo, Sato Shoji, and Isshiki Satoshi. They all gathered around the cooking station, watching Yukihira Soma compete against the middle-aged man.

Chen Yuxing stood at the door, staring blankly at the red-haired middle-aged man. The back view looked familiar; he felt like he had seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't quite place it.

"Ah! Xing! You're finally back!" Yoshino Yuuki was the first to spot Chen Yuxing standing at the door. She immediately ran over and grabbed his arm, completely ignoring the life or death of Kamo-no-suke, whom she had been holding in her arms. "We were just discussing why you weren't back yet! But never mind that, come quick! The epic showdown is happening here!"

Yuuki's shout drew everyone's attention.

"Hey Xing, why are you only getting back now!" Aoki Daigo jumped out of the crowd and slapped Chen Yuxing on the back. "Let me tell you, a lot of big things have happened at Polaris Dormitory these past few days!"

"What's the big deal? Did you get caught by Granny Fumio having another party in Marui's room?" Chen Yuxing stumbled as he was slapped, putting down the large bag he was carrying.

"What? What party? You guys were having a party in your room behind my back?" Granny Wenxu turned around and stared at Daigo Aoki when she heard Chen Yuxing's words.

"Oh, Granny Fumio, that's not true. Don't listen to A-Xing's nonsense." Aoki Daigo scratched his head.

At that moment, Megumi Tadokoro also ran out from the crowd, carrying a plate of snacks in her hand.

"Welcome back, Xing!" Tadokoro Megumi jogged over and placed some snacks in front of Chen Yuxing. "I don't know you didn't eat anything when you came back, here are some snacks for you to try."

"Thank you, Xiaohui." Chen Yuxing smiled at Tadokoro Megumi and then picked up a piece of pastry to taste.

His gaze returned to the two people competing in the kitchen.

"That's Soshin-kun and his father having a cooking showdown."

Ryoko Sakaki stood to the side, holding a cup of tea, and explained to Chen Yuxing.

"Sōma's father? He looks familiar." Chen Yuxing's gaze fell on the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man who heard the voice turned around and saw Chen Yuxing. He greeted him with a hearty smile, "Oh? It's you, young man! Thank you so much for giving me directions at the airport."

"Hey! Dad, why do you know Xing?" Soma Yukihira stopped what he was doing and looked over with some confusion.

“I ran into him at the airport,” Chen Yuxing explained, then looked at everyone in the Polaris Dormitory, “So what’s the situation now?”

"It's like this..."

Tadokoro Megumi quietly recounted the whole story and the events of the past few days to Chen Yuxing.

After the residential training program ended, everyone went about their own business, including Soma Yukihira.

He took the opportunity to return to Violet Street, only to find that all the business on the street had been taken over by a fried chicken shop called "Mockbird House".

Then, Soma Yukihira wanted to revive the business in the shopping district. He developed "Sapphire Chicken Nuggets" and successfully defeated the Mozu-ya to win back customers. During this time, Soma's father, Joichiro Yukihira, also happened to return from abroad and helped Soma.

Then yesterday, when Soma Yukihira returned to Polaris Dormitory after resolving the issues in the shopping district, his father also came along.

It was only then that everyone was shocked to discover that Yukihira Soma's father had also been a resident of the Polar Star Dormitory, and was the second seat of the Elite Ten of Totsuki Academy, the legendary 'Shura' Saiba Joichiro, who was from the same era as Dojima Gin!

"The former second seat of the Elite Ten..." Chen Yuxing remembered that he had seen the name during the Food Wars.

"Yes!" Sato Shoji said excitedly, "Ah Hoshi, you're a day late! Last night, Joichiro-senpai cooked us a big meal, it was absolutely delicious!"

“Yes, every dish that Senior Joichiro made last night was magical, making you want to keep eating.” Marui Zenji pushed up his glasses. “Except for that culinary monstrosity—the snake meat…”

"This morning, Soma said he wanted to have his 491st cooking duel with Mr. Joichiro, so we're all here as judges," Isshiki Satoshi explained with a smile.

"I see." Chen Yuxing nodded and looked at the busy father and son. "Could we add one more judge? I'd like to try Soma and Joichiro's cooking when I get back."

“Of course, no problem!” Yukihira Joichiro readily agreed. “I’ve heard Dojima and the Commander-in-Chief mention you. A young chef who can earn their praise, I’m also looking forward to your evaluation.”

"Dad, don't underestimate me! I've been preparing for this for a long time!" Soma Yukihira shouted, somewhat unconvinced.

"Hahaha, then let me see how much you've improved these past few months, Soma." Yukihira Joichiro smiled confidently.

Both of them worked very quickly, turning off the fire almost simultaneously.

Soma Yukihira made a bowl of ramen. He first poured the prepared broth into a bowl, then added special soy sauce for seasoning. Next, he scooped out the cooked noodles and put them into the bowl, letting the broth completely submerge the noodles.

Finally, top with the prepared side dishes, such as char siu, soft-boiled egg, seaweed, and wood ear mushrooms.

"This is my 'Yukihira-ryu Rich Soy Sauce Broth Ramen' that I researched!"

Soma Yukihira divided the prepared noodles into several small bowls and handed them to the people in the Polaris Dormitory. "Please enjoy!"

Chen Yuxing looked at the bowl of ramen in front of him; it looked very good.