Food Wars!: Delicious Food of the Heavens

The afternoon sun shines on people, making them feel lazy and unconsciously sleepy.

The next second, a gentle breeze blew by, caressing my face and bringing a refreshing coolness, along with the fresh scent of various vegetables from the fields.

In this atmosphere, everyone chatted happily.

Once everyone had rested enough and the fatigue from their work had vanished, the people of Polaris Dormitory packed up their things, picked some vegetables from the fields, and returned to Polaris Dormitory.

"It still feels amazing!"

Yoshino Yuuki recalled the classroom experience that Tadokoro Megumi had just described by the farmland, and her heart was filled with unease.

"To make vegetarian dishes taste and feel like meat—if Xiaohui didn't say it herself, and the person who made this dish wasn't Lin Yujun, it's really hard to believe!"

"Yes, it is indeed hard to imagine."

Ryoko Sakaki chimed in, "No matter what kind of vegetable it is, it's very different from meat in terms of both texture and taste."

"How exactly do you make it look so real that it's indistinguishable from real meat?"

During a casual chat in the fields, everyone learned from Megumi Tadokoro that Lin Yu had made the dish "Crystal Sweet and Sour Pork with Tofu" in a class a few days ago. They were all amazed by Lin Yu's ingenious idea, but more than that, they were curious and found it hard to believe.

"Really? You don't trust my skills that much?" Lin Yu laughed.

"Hehe, it's not that we don't believe you, Lin Yu-jun. It's just that we've never seen you before, so it's a bit hard to believe!" Yoshino Yuuki suddenly leaned closer to Lin Yu and said with a grin.

"Why don't you show us what you've got and give us a taste of your skills?"

Looking at the girl in front of him with a playful smile, Lin Yu could sense a hint of ill intent in her ingratiating smile.

"Isn't that your real purpose?"

Lin Yu flicked his finger on the other person's forehead. "Even if you're using me as free labor, you can't just use me once and then use me a second time, can you?"

Yoshino Yuuki staggered back several steps in pain, clutching her forehead and saying with a wronged expression.

"Waaah, Lin Yujun, you've really misunderstood me!"

"Is that really who I am in your heart?"

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Yeah! What else?"

"Lin Yujun! How could you miss me like that? Waaah, you've gone too far!"

"Lin Yujun, I protest! This is slander! Do you know what this means for a girl?"

Lin Yu silently watched the quirky girl in front of him, who was putting on a dramatic performance all by herself.

Lin Yu found it somewhat amusing and asked, "What does it mean?"

"It means my reputation is ruined! Do you know how big of a deal that is for a girl?"

Lin Yu continued to play along, "So?"

"Lin Yu-jun, don't look at me like that! I'm serious, this really has a big impact on girls, really!" Yoshino Yuuki said seriously, her eyes wide as she glared at Lin Yu.

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow. "So? What do you want me to do?"

"Of course it's to compensate me! You know that...?"

Yoshino Yuuki kept chattering away, her mouth never stopping like a machine gun.

Watching the girl keep lingering in front of him, listening to her endless rambling and rambling on about random things, Lin Yu finally got annoyed, rolled his eyes, and said, "If you don't tell me, I'm leaving."

"No! I forgive you, okay?!"

Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Yoshino Yuuki panicked and rushed forward to grab his arm.

A few seconds later, Yoshino Yuuki seemed to realize that her quick forgiveness was somewhat embarrassing, like surrendering. Feeling a little ashamed, she immediately changed her tune, trying to be defiant:

"However, I can't forgive you so easily, unless..."

"Um?"

"Unless you make me one of those 'mock meat' dishes you just mentioned, I won't forgive you!"

Lin Yu rolled her eyes at her. "So, you rambled on and on about all sorts of random things, and in the end, it was all for this purpose?"

"To put it bluntly, you still don't believe me, do you?"

"Hehe, no, I already said it's not that I don't believe you." Yoshino Yuuki maintained her usual shamelessness, continuing with a playful grin, "It's just that we're all really curious!"

"I just can't do anything with you guys!" Lin Yu sighed, rolling up his sleeves. "Fine, what can I do? I'm in a good mood today."

"Great!"

Yoshino Yuuki immediately jumped for joy.

"Yuuki, well done!"

"Great! Now we can eat Lin Yu's new dishes again!"

The people in Polaris Dormitory cheered with joy when they saw that Yoshino Yuuki's "plan" had succeeded.

As everyone excitedly ushered Lin Yu into the kitchen, eager for him to demonstrate his "mock meat" skills, broaden their horizons, and satisfy their curiosity,...

The kitchen was spotless, a task Lin Yu and Tadokoro Megumi had specially cleaned when they left at noon.

But when they opened the refrigerator and saw that it was empty, with only a few scattered ingredients left, the happy expressions on everyone's faces immediately vanished.

"We're doomed!"

Lin Yu slapped his forehead, only then realizing that he hadn't bought much food for lunch. When he and Tadokoro Megumi were cooking lunch for everyone, they were so focused on making more variety that they cooked a lot of rice and filled the dumplings with plenty of fillings, leaving almost no ingredients left.

"Oh, how are we supposed to cook this? We don't have many ingredients..."

Yoshino Yuuki came closer, looked at the refrigerator with only a few ingredients left, and her face immediately fell. She looked gloomy and unhappy.

Cooking is a very complex thing. While the chef's skills are important, good ingredients and seasonings are equally indispensable.

Asking Lin Yu to cook with such simple ingredients was something even Yoshino Yuuki herself felt was making things difficult for him.

"They didn't go far at all. Looks like I'll have to try Lin Yu-kun's cooking another time." Isshiki Satoshi, who had also noticed the scene in the refrigerator, stepped in to help. "That's perfect, we can look forward to it."

Yoshino Yuuki pouted, "But I'm really curious about what the 'mock meat' that Megumi mentioned tastes like!"

"Using vegetarian ingredients to mimic meat—that sounds intriguing, the kind of intriguing that makes you itch to get rid of it!"

"If I don't get to eat this, I won't be able to sleep tonight!"

Isshiki Satoshi frowned slightly, and when she spoke again, her tone was more serious, "Yuuki, don't act like that. You're making things difficult for Lin Yu-jun!"

"As a fellow member of the Polaris Dormitory, this is wrong!"

"All right."

Yoshino Yuuki clearly knew that her actions were inappropriate. Although she still had a reluctant expression on her face, she still responded and decided to put her hopes on next time.

Seeing the disappointment on Yoshino Yuuki's face, Lin Yu suddenly felt a pang of pity.

"Actually, it's not that difficult."

Lin Yu took out two pieces of tofu from the refrigerator, which were ingredients that hadn't been used when making rice balls before.

"Moreover, the feeling of wanting to eat something today will definitely not be the same feeling tomorrow."

"Besides, how can cooking be such an inconvenient thing?" Lin Yu's tone was calm, revealing an indescribable confidence.

"Simple ingredients sometimes allow for a better assessment of the chef's skill level, don't they?"

Lin Yu weighed the two pieces of tofu in his hands, smelled them, and even broke off a small piece and put it in his mouth to taste it. His expression was very calm, and he was obviously not troubled by the simplicity of the ingredients.

"I used tofu when I cooked in class last time, and I'll use tofu again this time. There's nothing wrong with that."

Seeing Lin Yu's confidence, Isshiki Satoshi immediately became interested. "We have the main ingredient, but we can't just make do with the side dishes, can we?"

Lin Yu's tone was very casual, "Just look around in the kitchen, use whatever you find."

After searching through the refrigerator and cupboards, Lin Yu took out a can of tuna, two potatoes, a small onion, a few eggs, and a few cloves of garlic.

Lin Yu placed a bunch of ingredients he had randomly picked on the stove.

"I've already decided what I'm going to do."

Lin Yu suddenly turned his head and looked at Soma Yukihira at the back of the crowd. "This inspiration came from Yukihira-kun."

"Huh? Me? Did I say anything?" Soma Yukihira scratched his head, feeling completely bewildered.

Lin Yu looked around, seeing the expectant looks in everyone's eyes, stretched his limbs, and said directly:

"Don't worry, it'll be quick."

Set up a pot, light a fire, and boil a large pot of water.

Once the water boiled, Lin Yu picked up a peeler and quickly peeled the potatoes, cut them into small pieces, and put them into the boiling water to cook until soft.

Lin Yu scooped out the potato chunks and, while they were still hot, put them into a large bowl.

Then, Lin Yu took the tuna meat out of the can, drained the broth, and poured it into a large basin.

Next came the tofu, which was also placed into the bowl along with the others, the movements rough yet efficient.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Yu quickly added salt, black pepper, soy sauce, cooking wine and other seasonings to flavor the dish.

Upon reaching this point, Lin Yu stopped, carefully washed his hands, then took a deep breath and plunged his hands directly into the basin. Despite the scalding temperature of the potatoes inside, he used all his strength to frantically stir and beat them.

In less than a minute, the ingredients in the bowl were transformed into a bowl of silky smooth tofu puree.

Seemingly dissatisfied with the consistency, Lin Yu added some potato starch to increase the stickiness. He then continued stirring until it felt right to the touch before stopping.

Lin Yu heated the oil in a wok, adding a large amount of cooking oil. He then stood by the wok, quietly waiting for the oil to heat up.

Not long after, Lin Yu reached out and scooped up a handful of oil from the air above the pan. The heat transferred to his hand, making it hot enough to burn his hand.

Lin Yu knew that the oil temperature was sufficient.

Roll the tofu paste into a ball in your hands, then toss it back and forth between your hands to expel air and increase its firmness.

After being pounded and kneaded, the tofu cakes, which had already taken on a pancake shape, were first coated with a thin layer of starch by Lin Yu, then dipped in a layer of egg liquid, then coated with another thin layer of starch, and then placed in water and gently shaken to allow the surface of the tofu cakes to absorb moisture.

When Lin Yu coated the tofu cake with a thick layer of flour for the third time, the moisture on the surface of the tofu cake caused it to become wet and scaly.

This layer of scale-like coating will be the deciding factor in the final taste of the dish.

Lin Yu placed the tofu cakes, which had been coated with flour three times, into the oil. With a "whoosh," the hot oil boiled, and the tofu cakes made a cheerful sound in the oil.

Lin Yu didn't relax. At the same time, he turned on another stove, put a soup pot on it, poured the broth from the canned tuna into the pot, added white sugar, wine, soy sauce, chopped garlic and onion, turned on high heat, and started to simmer the broth.

When the soup started to boil, Lin Yu poured the bowl of egg mixture into the pot and covered it with the lid.

"Is this a deep-fried tofu patty?"

"For some reason, when I look at Lin Yu's operation steps, I feel that I have seen it before. It seems very familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is."

"I feel the same way!"

Under the curious gazes of everyone in the kitchen, the tofu cakes in the oil pan quickly turned a golden color.

Lin Yu smelled the aroma of oil wafting from the oil pan, listened carefully to the sizzling sound of the oil, and focused intently on the changes in the color and texture of the tofu cakes inside the pan.

The moment the tofu cakes, bubbling in the hot oil, reached their perfect doneness, Lin Yu, who had been holding his breath, suddenly made a move. With lightning speed and swift action, he scooped the tofu cakes out of the oil.

"Perfect!"

Lin Yu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with satisfaction.

When the tofu cakes were ready, the sauce simmering in the pot next to them was also ready.

Lin Yu lifted the lid of the pot, and instantly, a burst of fragrant steam wafted out.

The umami of tuna, the richness of garlic, the sweetness of onions, and the delicate aroma of eggs—a pot of incredibly simple ingredients, yet stewed to create a pot of unparalleled delicious sauce.

Lin Yu smiled, picked up the soup pot, and poured the thickened sauce over the golden and crispy fried tofu cakes.

In an instant, a simple and fresh aroma wafted through the air, drawing everyone to take a sniff.

"【Fried Pork Chop with Tofu】, please enjoy!"

Lin Yu brought the dishes to the table, and everyone immediately gathered around.

"It's done so quickly? It hasn't even been ten minutes!" someone couldn't help but exclaim.

"Something made in such a short time seems far too rushed. Can it even taste good?"

"But it smells so good!"

"You still don't trust Lin Yu's cooking skills? If you're worried, then don't eat it. That way, you can save enough for one more person."

"Why should I eat it?!"

Isshiki Satoshi stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face, his expression somewhat serious. "Onions, garlic, eggs—such simple ingredients, yet they can be simmered into such a rich and tempting broth? The aroma alone gives me a sense of peace."

"What's wrong? Are you still being modest, trying to decide who gets to eat first?"

Lin Yu washed his hands and, seeing everyone still gathered around the plate admiring it, couldn't help but tease them.

"Don't be modest. If we wait any longer, the taste will be greatly diminished if the temperature drops."

Upon hearing this, Isshiki Satoshi was the first to move. "In that case, I'll be the first to try. I'll start!"

Megumi Isshiki extended her chopsticks, the tips of which gently touched the surface of the tofu cake, producing a crisp "crackling" sound.

"So crispy!"

Isshiki Satoshi had intentionally observed the details of Lin Yu's movements when he was coating the starch, and knew that Lin Yu had coated the starch three times, and had dipped it in egg liquid once and water once.

Feeling the texture of the chopsticks against her fingers, and experiencing their crispness, Isshiki Satoshi couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.

"Is it just a simple coating technique that gives tofu such a crispy exterior? Or is the frying temperature and time also crucial? Are there other factors to consider?"

Isshiki continued to apply force with her chopsticks, not much, but the tips of the chopsticks fell down easily, cutting the tofu cake open like a knife.

"The inside is so soft!"

Before Isshiki could even sigh, fragrant steam rose from the crack in the tofu cake, and a rich, fresh aroma wafted over, as if it had a mind of its own, and went straight into his nose.

"Gurgle—"

Isshiki Satoshi subconsciously swallowed, then picked up a piece of tofu cake and slowly put it into his mouth.

"So crispy!"

"No, it's so soft!"

"Still not right, it should have a rich, savory aroma!"

The moment the dish touched his mouth, the crispy exterior, the tender interior, and the rich, savory sauce created a delightful interplay of sensations that tantalized Isshiki Satoshi's taste buds.

With her teeth down, she chewed gently, not daring to use too much force.

As the teeth fell, cutting open the tofu, the next moment, scalding hot juice was squeezed out from inside the tofu cake, carrying the simple and elegant original flavor of the tofu, blending with the sauce made from onions and eggs, like waves of umami. Two unparalleled umami flavors were alternating, washing over Isshiki Satoshi's mouth again and again.

"Isshiki-senpai, how does it taste?"

Seeing that Isshiki Satoshi hadn't spoken for a long time, the members of Polar Star Dormitory became a little anxious and couldn't help but speak up.

"Isshiki-senpai, why aren't you saying anything?"

"As expected, although Lin Yu's cooking skills are excellent, is it still too rushed to prepare such simple ingredients in such a short time?"

"Could it really be a disaster?"

"Shut your mouth, if you can't speak, then don't speak! Nobody thinks you're mute."

"Yeah, maybe Isshiki-senpai just thinks it tastes good?"

"Yes, it's delicious."

Isshiki Satoshi answered the questions from the Polar Star Dormitory members, then looked at Lin Yu with a solemn expression, but his eyes were filled with emotion. "Such simple ingredients, such a short time, such simple techniques, yet you can make such delicious food. Although it is simple and unpretentious, it is so touching."

"Lin Yujun, you're so touching!"

This feeling is like that of a small shop near my hometown that I used to frequent when I was a child. Although the dishes served were not necessarily amazing delicacies, the owner was always very kind, and the taste of the dishes was very ordinary, but it was the kind of simple and delicious food.

It is so simple that people would never think of it in their daily lives.

But these emotions and memories don't fade with time. Once you taste something similar again, the memories will automatically surface from the depths of your heart. The emotions in your heart will surge up like a flood that has burst its banks, catching you off guard.

"It's delicious!"

"Although it's simple, it's precisely this simple and ordinary flavor that makes it so delicious!"

Isshiki Satoshi felt so moved that he almost cried.

The members of Polaris Dormitory were also taken aback by Isshiki Satoshi's words.

"Wow! Is Ishiki-senpai's evaluation that high?"

"Isn't this just fried tofu?"

"This looks so intriguing! I want to try it too!"

Everyone's curiosity was piqued. Isshiki Satoshi gave up his seat, and the members of the Polar Star Dormitory rushed forward. Several pairs of chopsticks reached for the golden, crispy, and steaming tofu cakes on the plate.

"Wow! It's so hot! But it tastes so good!"

"The tofu is so tender."

"The outer shell is so crispy!"

"What do you know? This sauce is absolutely amazing! Such a casually made sauce, yet it's so incredibly delicious."

"No wonder I felt a sense of déjà vu watching Lin Yujun's movements and steps. Now it dawned on me—it's exactly the same as making fried pork cutlets!"

"Wow, this is amazing! I knew it was made of tofu, but it's not only delicious, it even tastes a bit like meat!"

Everyone savored the fried tofu cakes, feeling the rich, hot juices flowing in their mouths.

The simple, delicious flavor that had moved Isshiki Satoshi just now was now immersing everyone in the Polar Star Dormitory in its simple, delicious taste.

......

"Lin Yujun".

As the atmosphere around the dining table became lively, Isshiki Satoshi suddenly looked at Lin Yu, his eyes filled with an indescribable emotion.

"Um?"

Lin Yu felt a little uneasy under Isshiki Satoshi's gaze.

"What's wrong?"

Isshiki Satoshi smiled. "It's nothing, I just suddenly realized how wonderful it is to have a new member like you join the Polar Star Dormitory!"

Isshiki Satoshi reminisced about the rice balls she had eaten at noon, which were filled with three different fillings and prepared using two different methods: [smoked] and [charcoal-grilled]. She also savored the plate of [tofu fried pork cutlet] she had just tasted, and recalled the conversation between Lin Yu and the people from Polar Star Dormitory in the farmland earlier that day.

Thinking of all this, Isshiki Satoshi couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

"Smoked meat, wild game, fermentation, and nowadays, mock meat dishes."

"I just realized today that you seem to know an extraordinary amount of things! And it spans different fields. You can talk about almost anything, even..."

Isshiki Satoshi paused for a moment, "It's no longer as simple as just having a few words."

"Although I haven't personally witnessed you cook in other areas, judging from this tofu and pork chop dish, your skill level in areas like smoking, game, and fermentation is probably quite high, isn't it?"

"It's not that exaggerated, I only have a little bit of understanding."

Lin Yu pinched two fingers together and said with a grin, "It really is only a tiny bit."

"Moreover, my knowledge is the kind that's 'general' rather than 'specialized'. If you ask me about theoretical knowledge, I can talk a lot about it, but my practical skills are just average."

"I don't believe it."

Isshiki Satoshi gave a helpless smile and pointed to the plate of tofu and pork cutlet that was being snatched up by everyone.

"You call this average?"

Lin Yu smiled sheepishly, "Hehe, you should at least be a little humble."

"Lin Yujun, this isn't modesty, it's excessive modesty."

Where?

"Lin Yu-jun, I can tell." Isshiki Satoshi looked directly into Lin Yu's eyes. "Your words are very humble, but I can see it in your eyes."

"Your humble words are just a facade; beneath that humility lies an extremely proud heart!"

Lin Yu suddenly fell silent, and after a long while, he slowly sighed, looked directly at Isshiki Satoshi, and said calmly:

"Isshiki-senpai, you've really misunderstood me."

"Okay, then I won't say anything."

Hearing Lin Yu say this, Isshiki Satoshi knew that he was changing the subject. Clearly, he could tell that Lin Yu did not want to talk too much about this matter.

The perceptive Isshiki Satoshi immediately realized that Lin Yu was unwilling to bring up his past.

"Okay, although I don't know why you don't want to talk about these things."

"However, Lin Yujun, on behalf of myself, on behalf of Polaris Dormitory, and on behalf of everyone in Polaris Dormitory, I welcome you."

Isshiki Satoshi stood up, a gentle smile on his face, and extended his right hand.

"I sincerely hope you have a happy student life at Polaris Dormitory!"

Looking at Isshiki Satoshi's outstretched hand, Lin Yu felt a mix of emotions and stood there stunned for a moment.

After a long while, he finally came to his senses, slowly reached out, and shook hands with Isshiki Satoshi.

"Yes, that's what I hope for too."

"Everyone in Polaris Dormitory, including Isshiki-senpai, are wonderful people. I believe I will have an unforgettable time there!"