Tokyo Sound

"It's just 200 yen of dried tofu, you're asking for too much." Yin Ze was speechless. He was making cold dried tofu, which was something that anyone with hands could do.

"Okay, now you are talking to me more and more arrogantly. I admit that this place has suppressed me and I cannot fully display my urban elite, but it is only for these few days. Junior, don't you think about the days after you go back?" Sakura Eiji said viciously. He was making mashed potatoes, which was obviously a super-advanced level that required the use of flames.

"Could it be that uncle is too sensitive?"

"When you are in a dangerous place, you should be cautious. Junior, I believe you should have realized by now that you and I are the only allies here who share the same goal of survival, so we must not fight among ourselves." Sakura Eiji said earnestly, "Only by advancing and retreating together can we get through the difficulties."

"what do you mean?"

"Just like now, we all have to make side dishes, and no one can cook better than anyone else, because this way there will always be someone who has to face criticism. It's better to have both good and bad, this is what we call sharing hardships!" Sakura Eiji said firmly.

"...Uncle, your mashed potatoes are ruined?" Yin Ze showed a knowing expression.

"How ridiculous! I made it strictly according to the tutorial, and I also communicated with Edamori secretly via text messages. I got valuable professor-level advice from her. How could it go wrong?!" Sakura Eiji shouted.

Indeed, Master Yin nodded, ashamed of his malicious speculation. It was just mashed potatoes. With his uncle's talent of wearing a Rolex and driving a Mercedes, there was no reason why he couldn't handle it. Moreover, there was a senior and virtuous housewife who gave advice and suggested some key techniques. Even if it wasn't so delicious, it would never be a failure.

Alas, I am alone, lonely and helpless.

"I understand what uncle meant. You said that because you think my side dishes are far inferior to yours. It turns out that you are not asking me to cooperate with you, but you are telling me openly that you will cooperate with me and be inferior." Yin Ze sighed, "Uncle is still a kind man."

"You finally understand my painstaking efforts." Sakura Eiji was stunned for a moment, then nodded in approval with satisfaction.

The two of them were talking and laughing happily, and for a moment the kitchen was filled with the light of humanitarianism and the righteous atmosphere of humanistic care.

Another period of time passed.

Sakura Eiji looked at the mashed potatoes in the bowl that had been stirred into a thick, paste-like state.

It smells good, let's try it.

The middle-aged man tried a small spoonful, and then his eyebrows twisted, his nose tilted to one side, and it was as if a sauce shop had opened between his lips and teeth, and salty, sour, and spicy flavors all rolled out.

Yin Ze noticed the movement and looked over curiously.

——? !

Sakura Eiji is indeed a person who can remain calm even when his private money is discovered. He is a talented person who is worshipping the president. He can adjust his expression to the other extreme in almost one breath. He is seen smiling like a spring breeze, and lingering for a long time with his teeth smacking. That look is like when he was a child, he spent a lot of money to buy a piece of pineapple ice cream after school. He was full of achievement and happiness, and the children in the same class who were going home were crying with envy.

Seeing this, Yin Ze, who was still diligently trying and failing, showed an envious expression, "Congratulations to uncle for making such a great gourmet. It's a pity that the food is so delicious, but you have to cooperate with me to make it taste bad. I am really ashamed..."

"Hey, don't say that." Sakura Eiji waved his hand, his heroic spirit soaring to the sky, "We don't need to be polite, it's strange. By the way, this side dish has been shipped out of the factory, it's very fresh and hot, I'll send it to Zhisen first, let her have the first bite."

"It should be." Yin Ze agreed.

The middle-aged man turned around and left the small kitchen with mashed potatoes. The moment he stepped through the door frame, his face immediately turned from spring to winter, and he became gloomy and his heart was filled with shock.

No, it's impossible. I followed the procedure strictly. How could it be like this? Everything else is fine, but why is there a spicy taste for no reason?! Did I accidentally discover a new chemical combination?

Sakura Eiji hurried to the big kitchen. There were few people in the countryside but a lot of land, so the houses were big. His mother's house even had two cooking areas, one for burning wood and one for burning gas. It was well known that firewood cooking was more fragrant, so the main force for dinner was in the big kitchen, and only two weaklings who were not expected were arranged to fend for themselves at the border.

At this time, in the big kitchen, the father-in-law, who had just been scolded by his wife, was squatting behind the wood stove with a low profile, preparing to light the fire. The mother-in-law was kindly leading her daughter and granddaughter to wash and process the vegetables they had just picked.

Sakura Eiji leaned his upper body in from the doorway and winked and waved at his wife like a spy.

"What are you doing here?" Sakura Edamori walked over curiously.

"Try it." Sakura Eiji went straight to the point and respectfully served the mashed potatoes with both hands.

Sakura Edamori tried a spoonful, and then her pretty face twisted together. She looked at her husband with respect and awe, "How did you make it taste like this? Mashed potatoes can have this flavor, I never dreamed..."

"It wasn't me, it was my junior who did it."

Sakura Eiji is an old entrepreneur who can fabricate facts with ease without even raising an eyebrow.

"Let's not talk about my other merits, but I do have some self-awareness. What I made is cold bean curd, okay?"

"It wasn't you who did it? Then why did you send me a text message asking me about precautions?" Sakura Edamori was stunned.

"I'm asking on behalf of my junior. I see he's a little embarrassed." Sakura Eiji smiled sincerely.

"Oh, that's good. You used to want to make things difficult for others, but now you know how to think about others." Sakura Edamori smiled happily, "That's right, this is what elders should do."

"Haha." The middle-aged man smirked and asked quickly, "Then how can this be improved?"

"This is beyond my imagination." Sakura Edamori hesitated, "I didn't expect that such an excellent Xiaowu would be so bad at cooking."

"Hmph, there's no perfect person in the world. Isn't it normal for him to have shortcomings? You're still overestimating him." Sakura Eiji couldn't help but say.

"It's better to say that I feel more at ease knowing that there are things he is not good at." Sakura Edamori sighed, "If he really does everything perfectly and takes care of everything, then how stressful it would be for people to be with him. He should show his vulnerable side occasionally and accept the support of other partners, so that life can continue. After all, the Chinese character '人' is made up of two simple strokes supporting each other."

How can such mashed potatoes get such positive reviews? Is there any law?

The middle-aged man was speechless.

"That's what we say, but how can we improve it?" Sakura Eiji asked.

"Let's make it again and reduce the ratio of the seasonings. It should be a little better." Sakura Edamori thought about it.

"Just a little, but not enough."

"It's almost enough. What do you want a child to do when he first starts? No one will say anything about him." Sakura Edamori comforted him, "Just like Ayane doing things over there, her grandmother kept praising her. The most important thing is that the elders saw the filial piety and understanding of the children."

But the question is, was this something I did?

The middle-aged man was somewhat distraught, holding the failed work and went back dejectedly.

On the other hand, Master Yin, who was deeply touched by the uncle's kindness and didn't want to be a hindrance, fell into deep thought. He was thinking whether he should also find an off-site assistant. So he initiated a video call with the little girl upstairs and had a one-on-one private lesson.

Asamiya Kazuki has made great contributions to someone's diet all year round, and teaches the skills of killing fish from time to time. She has a deep understanding of the student's personal habits and temperament. Under such circumstances, the teaching quality is top-notch and the teaching results are immediate. Even on the basis of dried tofu, peanuts are added, and it has evolved into peanuts mixed with dried tofu, which is not only a sublimation of cooking methods, but also an ultimate sublimation from an exquisite single product to a satisfying double product.

"Wonderful, wonderful."

Yin Ze is trying the food with chopsticks. Both peanuts and dried tofu are ingredients that become more fragrant the more you chew them. The combination of the two, the fragrance of tofu and the crispness of peanuts, bursts out strongly in your mouth, just like a limited card pool with a higher probability of special events, tempting you to take another chopstick and enjoy it again.

Teacher Asamiya Kazuki, who watched the entire production process, was still teaching.

"You cut the tofu too big. It's easier to taste it if you cut it like peanuts. Also, you need to moisten the seasoning with cold oil first to prevent the hot oil from getting too hot and burning the chili powder when it's fried—"

"OKOK." But Master Jie Ao Yin, who was immersed in his rapid progress in cooking, just nodded perfunctorily, "When I come back, I will make another dish specially for you. Is that okay?"

"No way, I have very high standards." Asamiya Kazuki pouted in the video.

Taking advantage of the joy of the improvement in realm, we chatted about study for a while. Then, somehow, the video call was disconnected.

It seems that my little sister's grades have not been very ideal recently. It's time to reuse that set of heavyweight exam materials, Yin Ze thought to himself.

At this moment.

Sakura Eiji, who had been out for a while, came back with a sad expression.

"Uncle." Yin Ze said happily, "You don't have to be so depressed. You don't have to force yourself to accommodate me. We can enjoy the glory together!"

Ok?

Sakura Eiji moved closer in confusion, then listened to someone's explanation, then looked at the plate of side dishes that was emitting a faint glow, then took a bite, then took three steps back in horror.

The middle-aged man raised his head and looked straight into the handsome face.

I was just listening to Zhisen's talk about the paradox that disadvantages equal advantages, but when I came back, there was a huge reversal. I am speechless.

Fortunately, this child is already my own, otherwise he would become a big trouble in the future!

"This, this is really great, um..." Sakura Eiji realized that the situation was becoming increasingly hopeless, his face changed, and his scalp began to numb.

The middle-aged man chewed and found it very fragrant, so he took another chopstick. It tasted spicy and fresh, with a rich taste. It was refreshing and appetizing, very enjoyable, and had a lingering fragrance. Although it was not a hard dish, it fulfilled all the duties of a side dish. I could already imagine the generous scene of taking a bite of the dish and a sip of wine.

Wait a moment.

Mr. Bank Card's whole body paused and his pupils shrank.

Snacks to go with wine——?

Judging from the way my father-in-law broke bricks and tiles today, he is still able to fight, but he is getting older after all. He even said that he would quit drinking. With his temperament, I believe he will not go back on his word, so he should really not be the same as before.

In fact, when the son-in-law realized this, he was desperate. He clearly realized that there was a piece of his heart that was forever missing and could never be found again. But when the family got together, it was probably okay to just have a symbolic drink. By then, even if the father-in-law just wet his lips, it would be considered that he had drunk with him, and he only needed to drink the whole cup to be better than his father-in-law.

Even though he knew that this was just pitiful self-consolation, the middle-aged man still couldn't stop his heart from trembling.

Even though I know it's just a dream, I'm still obsessed with it.

Moreover, in this way, the importance of the junior students who are relied upon is greatly reduced, and it can even be said that the alliance can be dissolved.

Obsession began to take root and grow wildly, and the breath of darkness began to spread. Sakura Eiji's face was hidden in the deep mist, as if he was staring into the abyss, paying the price with his noble soul.

"Junior, the big kitchen is very busy, why don't you go over there and help with the stove?" The middle-aged man was silent for a long time, then spoke in a deep voice.

"Sure, I'm quite experienced at burning firewood." Yin Ze agreed naturally. Back when he was in the production team, he was also quite good at making fire.

"Well, then you go first, I'll take care of everything here."

"Ok."

The kind young man then left.

The middle-aged man looked down at the exquisite dish, struggled a little, and finally muttered to himself.

"My junior, don't blame me for being mean... When you can reach my level twenty years ago, I will do my best to make it up to you."

I just want to have a dream.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John Chapter 1

The middle-aged man who made a deal with the devil fell.

So I don’t know, everything is destined, everything is settled.

Chapter 125: A Clear Conscience

It was getting dark and the sun was setting in the west.

There are not so many flooding neon lights in the countryside, only lights that are gradually lighting up in each household.

The old mansion of the Chiba family was also bustling with activity. After being busy for most of the day, some people were already eager to eat meat, especially the farm meals made by themselves, which had a special appeal.

Since the old man had lived in Hong Kong, where Chinese and Western cultures converge, in addition to Japanese home-cooked meals, there are also several hard dishes that are not found in ordinary Japanese families. Apart from anything else, someone has been drooling over the turkey and can't wait to release the power of the original sin of gluttony.

Chiba Jinsui was the family pillar in the previous version after all, so he had the reasonable right to wait for his meal. He meticulously waited for the meal to be served, stroking his snow-white beard. Chiba Noo was sitting next to him, and Sakura and Aunt Edamori were arranging the plates and handing chopsticks to serve the rice.

Beef tofu rolls with bonito sauce, steamed red fish, tempura fried shrimp, mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork with green peppers, the much-anticipated stove-fired chicken, Hokkaido rice... the large dining table is filled with the steam of delicious food, and the freshly-cooked dishes are sparkling and the aroma is appetizing.

The rich aroma of the old ingredients and bean paste mixed with the aroma of the stir-fried chili peppers has driven the soul of the Sichuan and Chongqing kid crazy. He almost wants to tear off the shackles called etiquette, use chopsticks to accurately clamp the cut chicken thighs, first bite through the slightly burnt and chewy chicken skin, then taste the tender, hot and juicy chicken, and feel the beauty of being alive——

After all, that was the chicken that I killed with my own hands, so I had to eat a few more bites of it.

Yin Ze suppressed the temptation of original sin, sat upright obediently, and faced with the rice that Sakura-classmate scooped specially for him, he said modestly, "Thank you, it's not enough, please add some more."

"Hey, stop wandering around. You've been busy all afternoon. Sit down and eat first. There are not so many rules in my house." Chiba Jinsui greeted.

Yin Ze was excited when he heard this. He felt that he liked the old man more and more. He had already adjusted the chopsticks to the best angle, waiting for the old man to take the first bite, and then he would chopsticks out like a dragon.

"Huh? Where's Eiji?" Chiba Noo asked, looking at the empty seat.

"My uncle seems to be still in the kitchen. He said he wanted to pack some side dishes for us." Yin Ze said truthfully.

"What a mess! Forget it, let's get started." Chiba Jinsui didn't care.

Immediately afterwards, the voice arrived before the person, and a magnetic baritone floated into the living room.

"Don't worry, father, the son-in-law is here——"

Yin Ze looked back and saw a middle-aged man in a neat suit, shiny shoes, a neatly tied tie, and a calm, retro, slicked-back hairstyle. He held his head high, his eyebrows sharp, his eyes bright, and his Rolex watch inadvertently revealed in his steps.

If he wasn't holding two plates of food, indicating his identity as a waiter, he would have looked like a middle-aged charming male star walking through a red carpet full of flashing lights, enjoying the screams of middle-aged and elderly fans, and accepting a film academy award.

"Now that you're here, please sit down." Chiba Jinsui was not at all surprised by his son-in-law's ceremonial appearance. He just said it simply.

"This is a gift from my junior and I. Although it's not perfect, it's sincere." Sakura Eiji placed the plate of food flat on the place where his father-in-law was, "Please taste it, father—"

Chiba Zhensui looked at the two stainless steel basins upside down on the dinner plates somewhat speechlessly. He guessed that his son-in-law wanted to get the table lids from high-end restaurants, but he didn't have that stuff in his hometown, so he temporarily used two basins as a substitute.

"I just talked about it this afternoon, but I didn't expect you guys to actually do it." Qianye Zhensui thought for a moment, "In that case, let me taste your hard work first."

Sakura Eiji imitated the waiters in famous restaurants, performing gentlemanly etiquette first and then opening the stainless steel basin.

"Dear family members, please bear witness!"

Chiba Zhensui was dazzled by the reflection of the stainless steel basin.

On the snow-white porcelain plate, a portion of mashed potatoes and a portion of cold bean curd and peanuts were arranged quite delicately, using both graphics and geometry, with just the right amount of white space. The sauce also showed off authentic Spencer's handwriting on the plate, which was extremely elegant and gorgeous. This food, which cost less than 1000 yen, was packaged later and became a banquet dish for the economic summit.

Yin Ze was standing by and was amazed. He didn't expect his words to come true. His uncle had been a professional waiter for more than 20 years. He didn't learn a single trick of cooking, but he actually mastered the art of serving dishes. He was convinced by this. He also understood the high value of switching to the design industry despite graduating from the Department of Methodology.

"What's written on this weird scribble?" Qianye Zhensui couldn't understand the chic font that was the same as the Coca-Cola logo, so he just frowned and asked.

“It’s the name of the dish and the person who made it.”