Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Lin tapped on the table, waiting for the dish from Fat Octopus Elder while glancing around at the restaurant's decorations. He noticed a phrase on one side of the wall in Noodle Shop.
"Gurikumon, eat the chef's mood."
The tone of Fat Octopus Elder was not like that; if one could express their mood through food, it would require exceptional culinary skills. Even Lin, at this moment, could not guarantee that every meal he prepared would convey a taste of mood.
As time passed, a faint aroma wafted from the kitchen, and the pervasive Gurikumon made the three who hadn't eaten feel increasingly hungry.
Finally, the plump octopus elder approached with a tray. He walked slowly, his steps still unsteady, and the enticing aroma beckoned to the three, making their throats twitch in anticipation.
When the tray was set down, they couldn't wait to dig in, resembling hungry wolves!
Since it was breakfast, the elder had prepared something simple: a large wooden bowl filled with brown Thick Soup, which seemed to be a culinary style of their race that Lin couldn't comprehend.
Next to the wooden bowl were several plates of crispy noodles that looked like butter cakes, emitting a fruity aroma that Lin had never encountered before.
"I hope Edible is happy."
The plump octopus elder made a gentlemanly gesture by placing his hand on his chest. Lin recognized this as a sincere respect from chefs towards their guests.
The elder's every movement spoke of his past as a great chef; at least he held a significant position.
After completing his gesture, the elder slowly stepped back. Lin and the others could no longer hold back and eagerly picked up wooden bowls to scoop soup from the large wooden bowl.
The soup was exceptionally thick; when the large spoon was dipped in, it felt like entering syrup. Gently stirring revealed that there were still ingredients at the bottom of the bowl.
The Thick Soup contained many tofu-like chunks. This substance resembled "tofu pudding," but Lin knew it wasn't; it carried a faint bitter aroma reminiscent of coffee. This was definitely not tofu pudding.
From the perspective of ordinary Azure Planet People, this might be considered a dark dish. Both its appearance and the bitter aroma make it hard to associate with gourmet food.
As reflected by Dream Source and Xing Shifang, the two eagerly took a sip of the soup, only to have their expressions turn strange, as if they had ingested poison.
Dream Source's face turned bright red as he struggled not to spit out the soup. How bad could it be?
"Don't eat it! It's too bitter; this soup is way too bitter!"
Dream Source waved his hand and rinsed his mouth with Clear Water, which was quite comical.
Lin merely smiled, glancing at Xing Shifang, who was nodding in agreement beside him. Calmly, he picked up a wooden spoon and scooped up some soup. However, unlike the other two, his spoon contained not only the brown Thick Soup but also some white ingredients.
As he brought a spoonful to his mouth, the initial taste was exceptionally bitter. Even Lindu couldn't help but frown. But soon, as he stirred with his tongue, the white ingredients began to take effect.
A refreshing sweetness started to wash away the bitterness. The flavor transitioned from bitter to sweet, highlighting the aroma of the white ingredients, which resembled some kind of fruit that Lin couldn't identify due to his lack of culinary knowledge and unfamiliarity with the ingredients.
He slowly tore off a piece of Crepe and savored it. This time, the sweet fruity flavor was even more pronounced, accompanied by the aroma of the Crepe, invigorating him.
Delicious! This peculiar technique was indeed impressive, bringing out the sweet flavor to near perfection!
Lin immediately followed this sequence of eating, his hands moving like a well-oiled machine as he continuously brought Thick Soup and Crepe to his mouth, leaving the other two in awe.
Dream Source and Xing Shifang soon realized that they had been eating incorrectly. They began to mimic Lin's method and try again.
Sure enough, they were instantly captivated by this unusual way of eating. Their earlier disdain vanished as their eyes lit up, devouring their food with gusto.
Watching the two still struggling to eat, Lin wiped his mouth with a napkin and let out a satisfied burp. After finishing his meal, however, Lin didn't feel particularly pleased; instead, he furrowed his brow and began to ponder.
During this breakfast, Lin discovered many things, and it was not just about the taste.
First, there was the meaning behind the dish. Judging by the style of decoration from Fat Octopus Elder at Gurikumon, it was clear that he was a person of high standards. With the impending closure of Noodle Shop, it was easy to deduce the significance of such a peculiar dish.
Bitterness represented his current mood, while the sweetness of the white ingredients in Thick Soup reflected his unwillingness to accept reality. Coupled with the sweetness of Crepe, it evoked memories of better times.
Anyone with a bit of culinary knowledge could guess his intention; he had indeed infused his emotions into the dish.
However, that was not the main point. What puzzled Lin even more was that this dish had several flaws. First, the combination of Thick Soup and the white ingredients was slightly undercooked. If it had been given a bit more time, it would have been perfect and would not have led to the awkward situation they initially faced.
With better cooking time, the sweet aroma of the white ingredients could have melded into Thick Soup, making it less bitter even without tasting the white ingredients.
Then there was the issue with the Crepe's preparation; the flavors were uneven. Lin noticed two different intensities of aroma from the two Crepes he tasted. Although this difference was subtle, it did not escape Lin's discerning palate.
Given Fat Old Man's culinary skills, such a situation should not have occurred. Basic flaws like this should not be present in a master chef's work. Could it be that he was distracted because of Noodle Shop's closure?
With many doubts in his mind, Lin could not hold back any longer. He stood up and approached the bar.
There sat the plump old octopus man, lost in thought on his swivel chair, staring at the bar counter where a bill and some pens lay.
"Ahem, Senior..."
Lin Qing cleared his throat and changed his address; acknowledging the old man's craftsmanship deserved a respectful title.
Fat Old Man snapped back to reality, glanced at Lin Yi, opened the bill, and said softly, "You're full now; that will be thirty-five thousand."
Thirty-five thousand? Wow! A bowl of foreign tofu pudding costs thirty-five thousand?
"But this dish is worth this price," Lin smacked his lips and said, "Senior, may I ask a question before settling the bill?"
"No discounts, no bargaining, no rounding down, thirty-five thousand!"
The old man's reaction made Lin cough. He quickly settled the bill and then asked, "Senior, could you tell me the reason for closing your restaurant?"
Such a good restaurant shouldn't just close down; that would be a pity.
"I'm old, and the restaurant's earnings aren't good. I can't even afford the rent. I can't open even once a month; how can I continue?"
"How could this happen?"
The old man's situation was indeed unfortunate. Lin immediately shared his interpretation of the dishes with him, including the flaws he noticed. He thought that addressing these issues might convince the Fat Old Man not to close the restaurant.
Lin's interpretation lit up the Fat Octopus Elder's eyes; to him, Lin was a kindred spirit!
Many people came here for the delicious dishes, but few understood what the old man was feeling today—mainly because no one cared.
Finding someone who understands is rare. This interpretation made the Fat Old Man feel like cooking a big meal to reward Lin.
There was a flame in his eyes, eager to try, but that flame only burned for a moment before his gaze gradually dimmed, followed by a long sigh.
Comment 0 Comment Count