Uneasy daily life

“I remember Soubu High School being a key school, right?” Sakuta Azusagawa said. “I didn’t expect there to be a home economics class as well.”

"Yes, but not many. In previous home economics classes, the teacher always gave us a set recipe, and my protests were repeatedly ignored, so I could only make slight modifications. The final exam is different; we're free to create, and students have time to choose and buy ingredients. I can already see the dawn of victory, the lone throne, and a bunch of mediocre people who can only retreat before me..."

Bai Ying gazed into the distance, looking at the bottles of local specialty seasonings, confident of victory.

……

……

"Is this your reason for storing biological weapons in the activity room?"

Yukino Yukinoshita tilted her head, looking at the row of bottles and jars in the drawer of the conference table.

"This is a secret weapon. Even ordinary bread can be made more appetizing with this topping. Don't believe me? Hachiman, hand over your yakisoba bread and let the Chief of Staff give it a good smear!"

The white figure looked expectantly at Hachiman Hikigaya.

Yukino Yukinoshita raised her chin with a serious expression: "I'm also very curious about the changes that Hachiman mushroom undergoes in Chinese seasonings. It's a very interesting experiment."

"I'm full, I don't need a snack for now." Hachiman Hikigaya said casually, pretending to be engrossed in his book. "It's the last cooking class of the semester, and it's a pairing of two classes, so it just so happens to be Class A and Class J's turn, right?"

"Yes." Yukino Yukinoshita was in a good mood.

Bai Ying said with lingering fear, "Luckily, I wasn't in the same group as Class F."

Yui Yuigahama seemed to have been called out: "I... I'm still trying my best!"

"Scientific research shows that when a person emphasizes that they are working hard, it is basically to cover up their failures."

"What kind of scientific research is this?!"

"Speaking of all those cooking classes..." Bai Ying said meaningfully, "You wouldn't happen to be the kind of chef who's all about 'my friends and I are really good,' would you?"

Yui Yuigahama: "I'm only in charge of washing dishes and cleaning, the division of labor is clear... What about Yuki and Hachiman?!"

The chef, somewhat embarrassed, changed the subject.

"Just make something simple, it's not like it's anything too difficult," Hachiman Hikigaya said succinctly.

As for team formation, as someone who's always the extra person in group activities, I'm used to it.

Bai Ying commented, "It's not like you're just being perfunctory by cooking for your sister, my subordinate."

Yukino Yukinoshita said, "I have no intention of being perfunctory; I simply want to complete the teacher's task."

I usually cook for myself and live alone, so the cooking classes were relatively easy. They were the kind of cooking classes that ordinary students took a bit of fun with, so I don't remember anything particularly special about them.

Bai Ying commented, "Very good. You can form a rally chef team with Yui Yuigahama. One of you is pulling, and the other is being pulled. Perfect."

"And what about Haku-kun?" Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes brightened slightly as she chuckled. "Does Haku-kun also cook alone?"

Bai Ying said leisurely, "How could that be? Without an audience and diners, how can a chef's skills be demonstrated? I usually get a few people to cheer for me."

"Applause?" Yui Yuigahama asked blankly, "How do you applaud when you're cooking?"

Hachiman Hikigaya hit the nail on the head: "They're probably the kind of people who have little interest in cooking class and just want to coast through it, right? Since the club president is willing to take on the task, they're naturally happy to agree."

"Hmph, not only that, my cooking even impressed the teacher!" Bai Ying said proudly. "Excuse me for being frank, but these are just ordinary Japanese home-style recipes, nothing special. I even creatively customized the recipes for cooking class..."

Yui Yuigahama exclaimed in shock, "Shiro, you didn't cut up that...that fatty intestine in the cooking class, did you?"

Hachiman Hikigaya calmly said, "Are you stupid? The ingredients for the cooking class were prepared in advance. And if the club president really does that, it will definitely be a sensational story that's no less exciting than a public performance. It'll be hard for us not to know."

"What did Haku-kun do?" Yukino Yukinoshita guessed. "Did he bring chili seasoning and stir-fry chili sauce in class?"

"There's no creativity at all, and the teacher won't allow it."

Bai Ying rested her chin on her hands, exuding an air of unparalleled arrogance: "In the first class, the teacher assigned grilled saury, which I felt lacked artistry, so I made braised saury instead. Unfortunately, because I wasn't familiar with saury and didn't know to remove the intestines, the finished product had a bitter taste, a slight flaw. In the second class, the teacher assigned sushi, providing ingredients like rice and seaweed, so I made seaweed fried rice on the spot. In the third class, the teacher assigned fried pork cutlet, and the thought of getting free lard made me excitedly changed it into meatball and vegetable soup. It's a pity there was no pork belly; at least braised pork belly would have been a must..."

Bai Ying sighed, "The biggest pain point in home cooking is using too much oil. Do you know the struggle of having to slowly fry braised pork over low heat to render the fat?"

Yui Yuigahama: "I don't understand."

Hachiman Hikigaya: "I don't want to understand."

Yukino Yukinoshita: "Shiro-kun's expressive abilities go beyond this, don't they?"

Bai Ying pondered for a moment and gave an example: "Hmm... In winter, wearing one more layer of clothing is too hot, and wearing one less layer is too cold."

"Mom will definitely make me wear an extra layer."

Yui Yuigahama retorted.

Hachiman Hikigaya proudly declared, "Komachi will let me wear an extra layer."

The activity room was filled with the usual chatter, the topics always jumping around.

Yukino Yukinoshita was thinking about tomorrow's cooking class.

You can prepare in advance.

Chapter 46 Who plotted against me?

The spacious cooking classroom can accommodate two classes of students.

The white-clad figure carried a large bag in her left hand and a small bag in her right, attracting the attention of some students who hadn't prepared in advance.

At the front, the cooking teacher adjusted his glasses and began his address: "Labor is essential. Even if many of you are just playing around, it means that cooking brings you enjoyment, which is a good thing. Work in groups of three. I will grade you based on your performance in class. Whatever dish you make, that will be your lunch. You will have to experience the joys and sorrows of labor for yourselves."

"Your grades from cooking class won't be recorded in your academic record, but I will keep your performance in mind."

Incidentally, the cooking teacher is also the math teacher, and his words carry a real weight.

Bai Ying didn't care. She casually and cheerfully placed the various seasonings in her bag on the counter, including a small bottle of strong liquor.

The culinary instructor's gaze pierced this troublemaker who had left a deep impression on her: "Bai, what dish are you planning to make?"

The students in Class A were very interested, while the students in Class J, who were taking a cooking class with Bai Ying for the first time, were puzzled—why was this performer being noticed by the cooking teacher?

The figure in white stood upright, arms crossed, displaying the demeanor of a master chef: "Chinese cuisine."

The cooking instructor wasn't surprised; the other student had already demonstrated 'top-tier skills' in previous cooking classes.

Whether it's her skillful cooking or her creative spirit.

"First, put all the seasonings in your dish that will give it a pungent taste in."

The culinary instructor cautiously said, "Stir-frying and similar techniques are strictly prohibited. I don't want to see flames shooting several meters high out of the wok."

Students: "?"

Bai Ying exclaimed in surprise, "How did the teacher know I was going to make spicy stir-fried pig intestines?!"

Students: "Hiss—!"

Do Chinese people eat everything?

"My salary as a cooking instructor isn't for nothing. I've also learned some Chinese cuisine, but you're strictly forbidden from using any kind of high-heat cooking techniques," the cooking instructor said solemnly. "I don't expect you to cook in the style of Japanese cuisine, but keep it simple and make some home-style dishes."

"Stir-fried pork liver, stir-fried pork kidney, and stir-fried chicken giblets are all very common dishes."

"You'd better... never mind..." the cooking teacher said, then changed her tune, "If you don't make something with a strong smell to disturb others, you won't have the confidence to get a high score?"

"How can a chef who can't even tolerate interference from others get a high score?"

The white figure spoke eloquently.

"Cooking classes cultivate your hands-on skills and practical thinking, but we don't expect to produce any professional chefs."

The cooking teacher used her adult authority: "If you insist on doing things your own way, then stop here. I'll give you full marks, go and rest over there."

"Fine, if you don't want to stir-fry it, then don't..."

"Also, put away any chili peppers or other pungent-smelling things!"

"hateful."

Bai Ying clicked his tongue, the other dishes weren't impressive enough, lacking in menacing aura.

"Then form your own groups, prepare the ingredients, and be quick and back. Don't make me call to urge you. I need to see everyone in the classroom within twenty minutes."

The cooking instructor started the timer.

The students in the cooking class scattered excitedly, some of whom had prepared ingredients in advance and had already placed them on the cooking table.

The entire cooking classroom became noisy and chaotic.

"White Shadow! Let's work together to finish the cooking class!"

Angelina came closer, her face full of obedience and seriousness, clearly following instructions.

"Your left eye says 'I'm clinging to your coattails,' your right eye says 'Help me,' and you keep saying 'I'm slacking off.' Are you a chef from the Rally Sect?" Bai Ying looked at the various spices and seasonings she had brought and couldn't help but sigh. "Since the most delicious recipe is banned, I might as well make a pineapple pizza."

"Gurgle—!" Angelina exclaimed in surprise, whispering, "I can still help wash and chop the vegetables..."

"Bai Jun, who can knead dough into a stone, might make a pizza that's bulletproof."

Yukino's voice drifted in, tinged with a hint of teasing: "Was it the time you taught Yuihama how to bake cookies? Shiro-kun looked up how to make cookies on his phone right there."

Looking back now, I realize I didn't lose unjustly. I misjudged the key issue, which led to my loss on my first commission.

“I never imagined that a moment of competition would lead Yuihama down the path of a deadly chef…” The white figure’s face was heavy, but then it brightened up again. “Let’s not talk about her killing people with her cooking skills. I’ve already prepared the ingredients in advance—let’s all work together and finish the exam!”

Bai Ying rummaged through the items, tossed a package wrapped in several plastic bags onto the counter, and ordered, "Too long to read. Since you volunteered, then you can wash it."

Angelina curiously peeked inside, but couldn't see what was wrapped in the thick plastic bag. She poked it with her hand and felt something soft through the plastic. So, while reaching to untie the plastic bag, she asked curiously, "Sir, what's this?"

“I prepared the food myself, so I won’t bother helping you.” Yukino Yukinoshita took a step back without changing her expression. “Anshin-in, hold your breath… Haku-kun might have brought pig intestines.”

"Hmm?" Angelina tilted her head in confusion, but had already deftly untied the plastic bag. Then her pupils dilated in shock, and she subconsciously gasped.

A damp, fishy, ​​and familiar smell wafted out.

Do I need to wash this?

"Gu——!"

Angelina collapsed.

The culinary instructor walked over and glanced at it, finding the pig intestines incredibly fresh.

I underestimated this troublemaker—I should have specifically asked him to make Mapo Tofu! The kind without chili peppers!

"Remember to taste it first after you make it."

The cooking teacher nodded and walked over to the other students.

Bai Ying brought out another bag. This time, the ingredients were normal: a whole chicken that had been gutted and had its heart and lungs removed.

Angelina stubbornly raised her hand and said, "White Shadow, I can give this a try!"

"This is a chicken to be stewed. I've already prepared it by rubbing it with salt to remove the blood and cleaning it to remove the fishy smell. You keep an eye on the heat."

Bai Ying took a pot, filled it with about half a pot of cold water, put the whole chicken in, casually tossed in two slices of ginger and a slice of angelica root, and said, "Bring it to a boil over high heat, skim off any remaining foam with a spoon, and after the water has boiled for a while, add a few slices of astragalus and codonopsis..."

"Wait!" Angelina struggled to keep up with the train of thought. "How long is 'boiling for a while'? How many slices are there? What is Astragalus membranaceus?"

"This problem mainly relies on intuition. How big is the chicken? How much water is there? I'll divide the ingredients, and you just need to time it. Stewing soup is the least technical thing; it only requires patience."

Bai Ying buried her head in the pig intestines that made people want to run away.

Yukino Yukinoshita put on an apron and took out a small amount of ingredients, but a wide variety of them. Seeing this, she couldn't help but ask, "The teacher said that recipes with strong smells and spicy flavors are forbidden. What are you planning to make, Haku-kun?"

Have you heard of the eight major cuisines?

"Is Bai Jun specializing in Sichuan cuisine?"

"I'll also be cooking Cantonese dishes passed down from my mom. This time, the family chicken soup is Cantonese—so what if it's off-limits to chili peppers and heavy seasonings? This time, I'll just make braised pork intestines! Smash it!"

Yukino Yukinoshita hesitated and said, "I remember... Nine-Turned Intestines is a Shandong dish?"

Bai Ying exclaimed in surprise, "You actually know? I get it. You're a bit too early to think you can win me over with your stomach. I'm not bragging, but my stomach can handle both boiled water and cabbage, and it can also handle mass-produced industrial food. Whether it's cheap saccharin or high-end spices, it accepts them all without question. I can't even control myself."

Yukino Yukinoshita wasn't flustered; instead, she felt a tension, as if she'd discovered a blind spot. She asked suspiciously, "You know how to cook Shandong cuisine?"

Bai Ying: "It's alright. I may have seen a pig run, but I've certainly eaten pork. So-called cooking classes are just beginner classes. Beginners try new recipes, and that's perfectly fine. It's only natural for beginners to try new recipes."

Yukino Yukinoshita silently distanced herself, lowered her head to prepare her own meal, and struggled in her heart about whether the idea of ​​exchanging dishes with Shiro-kun later would be a suicide mission.

"Wow, so much stuff..." Angelina asked curiously, "What is Yukinoshita planning to do?"

"Kaiseki cuisine".