Food Wars, my food not only glows!

　As they spoke, Tadokoro Mieko glanced at Shiroyuki beside Tadokoro Megumi, her eyes filled with curiosity. Of course, she knew who he was, but since it was her daughter's first time visiting the family, it was natural for her to introduce him.

　"Bai Yuan, your son-in-law."

　It wasn't Tadokoro Megumi who said this, but Shirobuchi, who introduced himself. As he spoke, he handed the gift he was carrying to Tadokoro Mieko.

　Just to be on the safe side, in addition to the gifts he asked Tadokoro Megumi to buy, he also bought two wild ginseng roots and a bag of cordyceps.

　These are all things that are very presentable when meeting elders. Normally, just one of them would be very precious, but now he has brought out several of them.

　"Oh, you're already here, why bring a gift? It's cold outside, come in quickly."

　Seeing the gift Bai Yuan handed over, Tadokoro Mieko's eyes turned into crescent moons. She then bent down to help take the shoes from the entrance and placed them in front of them.

　"It smells so good, Mom! What delicious food have you prepared?"

　The rich fragrance brought a look of enjoyment to the girl's face; her nose twitched slightly. She quickly changed into slippers and went into the living room, where she saw...

　The dishes on the table.

　"It's fish offal stew! That's great! I love this the most. Teacher Bai Yuan, you should try some too. My mom's cooking is excellent!"

　Watching the fish stew bubbling on the induction cooker, Tadokoro Megumi swallowed almost imperceptibly, a look of longing on her face.

　The aroma was so intensely rich that it was impossible to look away.

　"Fish offal stew? That's a pretty down-to-earth name."

　Upon hearing Tadokoro Megumi's words, Shiro also came up, sniffed at the pot in front of him, and then smelled a rich seafood aroma.

　"This is a local specialty food; please be sure to try it!"

　Mieko Tadokoro entered the living room behind Shirobuchi and saw that he seemed quite interested in the iron pot in front of him, so she smiled and started talking.

　"I'll try it, but it's supposed to be a fish offal stew, but it actually has shrimp and crab, and I even saw squid in it..."

　Looking at the iron pot in front of him, Bai Yuan muttered a complaint under his breath, then sat down next to Tadokoro Megumi and took the chopsticks that Tadokoro Mieko handed him.

　"That's right, you must be wondering why this is called fish offal stew instead of seafood stew!"

　This story begins many years ago. In the past, this town was very poor. Because of its coastal location, fishermen would go out to sea to fish every day. Thanks to the unique climate, the local fishery resources were abundant, and they would have a harvest almost every day.

　Such a large quantity of fish could not be consumed by a small town alone, so people at the time chose to export them and expand the fishing market.

　There were also various problems with exporting fish. In the early years, the town had only dirt roads, and the fish had to be transported by large trucks that required refrigeration, so it was difficult to get the fresh fish out.

　If they are forcibly transported out, they will be almost completely damaged by the time they arrive at their destination, or the cost will be exorbitantly high, which does not align with the town's goal of making a profit.

　So, the townspeople brainstormed and finally decided to process the fish into dried fish, salted fish, and other secondary processed foods for sale, which would have a longer shelf life.

　After selling off the valuable parts of the fish, all that's left are some unwanted fish scraps, which are then carelessly thrown into the trash can.

　There was once a little beggar who was very hungry but had no money for food. So he spent his time collecting and cleaning the unwanted fish scraps, got some salt, lit a fire by the river, and stewed them in a large pot. He later discovered that they were incredibly delicious.

　Time flies, and the little beggar became a famous chef in town, and the fish offal stew was also popularized by him!

　This impoverished town gradually prospered by selling fish, and with his and other chefs' efforts, the dish was gradually expanded to include other seafood, creating a variety of flavorful fish stews.

　To commemorate the person who originally invented this dish, even if more and more seafood are added later, it can only be called fish offal stew.

　As Shirai scooped fish offal into a bowl, preparing to savor it, Tadokoro Mieko began to explain the origins of the fish offal stew.

　When Bai Yuan heard that the inventor of it was just a beggar, he looked thoughtful.

　Even a beggar can study food and eventually become a top-notch chef. Such perseverance is admirable, and it seems that he could succeed no matter what he does.

　"Actually, my mother's statement is just a rather idealized romantic story."

　The reason this dish retains the name "Fish Offal Stew" is mainly because fish offal is an indispensable element of this dish.

　In the past, chefs would put fish heads, tails, fins, swim bladders, roe, and milt into a pot and make a flavorful broth by combining them in the right proportions. The taste of this broth could only be achieved with fish offal, making it very unique.

　The most amazing thing about this soup base is that it makes the seafood added to it taste delicious, including shrimp, crab, squid and other seafood.

　This is why fish stew is usually paired with some non-fish ingredients, because the combination makes it taste even better.

　However, because fish offal needs to be the dominant ingredient in a stew, only a large quantity of fish offal that can influence the flavor of the other ingredients can qualify as a fish offal stew!

　Seeing that Bai Yuan was interested in the fish stew, Tadokoro Megumi tasted it with a happy expression and turned to talk to him.

　Don't underestimate this simple stew. Over the decades or even centuries, it has become quite sophisticated, requiring consideration of every detail.

　"Fish offal is gathered together in one pot and stewed, its fresh aroma filling the courtyard with spring."

　After listening to Tadokoro Megumi's story, Hakugen became interested and couldn't help but raise his head to recite a line of poetry. Then he put the fish offal in the spoon into his mouth to taste it.

　The fish is tender and smooth, melting in your mouth with a gentle touch, carrying the salty freshness of the ocean and the rich flavor of stewing. The shrimp is firm and bouncy, sweet with a hint of spiciness. The crab meat is distinct and flavorful, its delicious juices bursting in your mouth...

　With this spoonful, one can taste the flavors of various seafood. Bai Yuan closed his eyes, gradually breaking down the flavors in his mouth until they finally vanished into nothingness.

　Is the focus on the fish offal?

　After savoring the last bit of flavor, Bai Yuan opened his eyes, picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of soup, and put it in his mouth. He murmured as he savored the rich, complex umami flavor.

　It is fish offal, but not just fish offal; to be precise, it is not the offal of a single fish.

　Crucian carp, common carp, snakehead fish, bighead carp, grass carp, etc... Although they are not the same type of fish, they are included in this mixed dish.

　Each ingredient's unique flavor infuses the soup, which is why it's so delicious.

　This small pot of mixed fish stew contains the essence of several, or even a dozen, kinds of fish, bringing out the full flavor of the fish.

　This technique is similar to the fancy grilled fish he had eaten at Nakiri's house before, both emphasizing the fusion of flavors from the same ingredient.

　He also used this to develop the Sansheng fish slice.

　However, compared to the flavor of layering three types of fish meat together, the mixed fish stew in front of me has a much richer and more complex flavor profile.

　"There's a subtle freshness and sweetness in it, and judging from the color of the broth right now, this fish offal stew must have had tomatoes added."

　Bai Yuan put down his spoon and tasted the key to the perfect fusion of fish offal: tomatoes. This stew contained a lot of tomatoes.

　"You can even taste that! That's right, this is a specialty of our Zhuang Huiyuan restaurant, a tomato-flavored fish offal stew, which makes the flavor even richer."

　As she spoke, she picked up a tomato from the counter and pressed it directly against her face, giving Shirabuchi a gentle smile.

　"Tomatoes are rich in fruit acids and lycopene. These components not only enhance the acidity and freshness of dishes, but also complement the umami of fish offal, making the overall flavor more complex."

　Mieko Tadokoro continued to explain with a smile that this was their Zhuang Huiyuan's secret recipe, and the final product tasted different from those in other shops.

　"Tomatoes...wouldn't it have a different flavor if we used mushrooms, potatoes, or carrots?"

　Upon hearing Mieko Tadokoro's voice, Shiro didn't reply. Instead, he continued to savor the fish offal stew, and this thought suddenly popped into his mind.

　Right now, he's made a decision: after today's events, he'll use the kitchen to experiment, and maybe he can take the taste of Xiaohui's favorite dishes to the next level.

　Seeing Tadokoro Megumi eating with a blissful expression, a gentle look flashed across Shiro's face. He then scooped up another bowl of fish offal stew and began to enjoy it heartily.

　Beside her, Mieko Tadokoro's smile grew even brighter as she saw that Shirobuchi and Megumi Tadokoro liked her cooking; she was genuinely happy.

　At the dinner table, the three chatted casually. During this time, Bai Yuan learned about Tadokoro Megumi's background and felt a pang of sympathy for her.

　Tadokoro lost her father at a very young age. Fortunately, he left behind the Shōeen Garden before his death, which gave them a means to make a living. Otherwise, let alone enrolling in Totsuki Academy, it would be hard to say whether they could even survive.

　After all, it is already difficult for housewives to find new jobs, let alone when they have a child to take care of.

　Chapter 222 The Great Crisis at Zhuang Huiyuan!

　"Don't worry, I'll take good care of Xiaohui!"

　After hearing about Tadokoro Megumi's life story from childhood to adulthood, Bai Yuan couldn't help but feel a ripple in his heart.

　No wonder the townspeople treated Tadokoro Megumi with such care, like their own daughter. Besides her inherently good nature, this was probably another factor...

　She lost her father at a young age.

　"I've heard a lot about you from Xiaohui. It was you who encouraged her at Totsuki Academy that kept her going until now."

　It's fair to say that without you, Xiaohui wouldn't be as outstanding as she is today. For that, I must thank you sincerely.

　As Tadokoro Mieko spoke, she suddenly sat up straight and respectfully performed a Shi-shu-zuo (a ritualistic bow) towards Hakugen.

　This is not a courtesy to the son-in-law, but a sign of respect for him as a teacher.

　Many people in the town went to watch the competition, and Tadokoro Mieko heard the news immediately that Tadokoro Megumi had won first place in the summer selection.

　From an average student to a champion at a prestigious culinary school, Bai Yuan's help was indispensable.

　Otherwise, no matter how great the progress, it wouldn't be like this, leaving people speechless with admiration.

　“I just did what I could, and any teacher would have done the same. More importantly, it was Xiaohui’s own hard work. Only through persistent efforts could she get to where she is today.”

　Bai Yuan waved his hand. He hadn't done much; he just had her come to him every day for lessons and taught her some basic cooking knowledge.

　"No, not just anyone can do that! Only Teacher Bai Yuan, only you!"

　Tadokoro Megumi suddenly shook her head seriously, her eyes flashing with a different kind of emotion—a suppressed but restrained love.

　"For so long, only you have appreciated me, given me confidence and courage, and taught me how to cook. I owe a great deal to you, Teacher Bai Yuan, for my achievements today!"

　Thinking of everything Bai Yuan had done for her, Tadokoro Megumi felt a surge of warmth in her heart. The next moment, she couldn't help but open her arms and hug him, unwilling to let go for a long time.

　"Xiao Hui really relies on Xiao Bai."

　"Tadokoro Mieko said with a smile. After our conversation, she had changed her address for Shiro Awakening from "Shiro Awakening" to "Little Shiro," a term of endearment that clearly showed she had accepted him and truly regarded him as her son-in-law.

　"Speaking of which, why is there not a single customer in the store? It should be lunchtime now, right? Usually, everyone would be out at this time."

　With her mother watching, Tadokoro Megumi let go of Shirobuchi's hand after a short while of tenderness, and then looked around.

　At this moment, the spacious hall was deserted, with only the three of them dining. This was the first time she had ever seen such a scene.

　Normally at this time, the hall wouldn't be so crowded.

　The room was full, but there were at least seven or eight guests.

　Thanks to the town's vigorous development of tourism, which uses its beautiful scenery as a selling point, a large number of tourists have been attracted to the town, and the Tadokori family's inn business has become increasingly prosperous. During the peak tourist season, the rooms are even fully booked.

　But now...

　It's autumn vacation time, and although it's not peak tourist season, quite a few tourists have still come. How could the largest hotel in town be completely empty? That's highly unusual!

　“This…” Tadokoro Mieko hesitated, but quickly made up her mind and said, “Actually, a new chain hotel opened across from us. Because it’s backed by a big company, the prices are cheap, and there are professional chefs in charge of meals, so all the guests have been attracted there.”

　At this point, a strong sense of resentment appeared on Mieko Tadokoro's face.

　She had been running this business for so many years, only to be easily defeated by a newly opened chain hotel, without even the slightest ability to put up a fight.

　If it weren't for the occasional visits from regular customers, she would probably have suffered heavy losses these past few months. Even so, the daily deficit still puts her under immense pressure.

　If things continue like this, it won't be long before Zhuang Huiyuan goes bankrupt, the land will be bought up at a low price, and she will lose this place completely.

　But if she forced herself to continue, the daily losses would become unbearable for her...

　"Have you thought it through? Twenty million yen, and I'll buy your hotel! Don't try to drag this out any longer. Let's stop here. The longer we drag this out, the lower the price will go!" A boastful voice came from the doorway.

　Upon hearing the shouts outside, Tadokoro Mieko's expression changed, and Tadokoro Megumi also nervously leaned against Shiroyuki, her eyes fixed on the direction from which the sound came.

　"Oh, is this lunch? I thought it would be some fancy cuisine, but it's just another seafood stew. No wonder no customers want to come."

　I really don't know what you people are thinking, just randomly stewing so much high-end seafood and calling it 'fusion'? It's laughable!

　The newcomer was a man who was 1.8 meters tall, wearing a sharp suit and sunglasses. He was muscular and looked very imposing.

　He held a document in his hand; a quick glance revealed it to be a "Real Estate Transfer Contract," along with the words he had spoken upon arrival. Clearly, he was there to pressure Tadokoro Mieko into selling the hotel.

　"No matter what, I will never sell the hotel to you! Forget about it!" Tadokoro Mieko stared at the man in the suit and said, word by word.

　Another crucial reason the hotel went out of business was that the man spread rumors claiming that the hotel was overcharging tourists. Many unsuspecting tourists, to avoid trouble, opted for the chain hotel across the street.

　"I really don't know what the point of you persisting is. This hotel has been around for quite a while, hasn't it? Old things like this will eventually be phased out. While it still has some value, you should sell it quickly!"

　I've already hired a construction team; they'll definitely transform this into a world-class hotel, capable of accommodating hundreds of guests at a time.

　The man stepped forward disdainfully, looked around, and seemed to want to further coerce Tadokoro Mieko into signing the contract, but was stopped by Shirabuchi, who was watching from the sidelines.

　“To continue pressuring him would be ungentlemanly,” Bai Yuan said coldly.

　"Who are you? This is none of your business. Get out of here! Otherwise, I guarantee you'll regret showing up here today."

　Faced with Bai Yuan's sudden appearance, the man frowned, his words filled with a threatening tone.

　The main reason he dared to go to the house alone and act so arrogantly was that he knew there were no men in the Tadokoro family, and the few staff members were all elderly people.

　However, Bai Yuan's appearance in the hall and his attempt to stop him made him realize that things were not so simple.

　"Fool, I'm not attacking you because I'm well-mannered, not because I'm easy to bully." Before Bai Yuan finished speaking, he had already grabbed the man's collar, slammed him to the ground, and dislocated his arm. The man immediately let out a pig-like scream.

　"Aaaaah! How dare you treat me like this! Do you know who I am? If you offend me, you're all doomed!" the man screamed in agony.