Erina's Change of Heart

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"Congratulations to the host for successfully receiving the sign-in reward: the recipe for Yangchun noodles and the special recipe for Galaxy noodles."

The origin of Yangchun noodles can be traced back to the late Qing Dynasty. At that time, Shanghai was a commercial port that attracted many merchants from the north and south. The different regional noodle cultures blended and clashed, forming the unique Shanghai noodle cuisine.

Yangchun noodles were born in this context. It is said that about 200 years ago, in a small noodle shop in Shanghai, there was a noodle chef named Yang. One day, while making noodles, he had a sudden idea to make the noodles thinner and the broth more delicious by using fresh chicken soup. After cooking, the noodles were smooth and tasty, and the broth was incredibly flavorful, attracting many diners.

People kept asking about the name of this noodle dish, and Master Yang thought for a moment and replied, "Today is as sunny and warm as spring, so I'll call it Yangchun noodles." Since then, Yangchun noodles have become a legend in Shanghai.

...

The cooking method for Yangchun noodles seems simple but involves several techniques. First, high-quality flour is selected, and the dough is meticulously kneaded and pulled to give the noodles a chewy and smooth texture. The broth is made from fresh chicken soup or stock, with the main garnishes being fresh vegetables like scallions, which enhance the flavor and balance the richness.

In Shanghai, Yangchun noodles are not just a simple dish but a cultural symbol. They witness the historical changes and lifestyle of the people in Shanghai, carrying their love and pursuit of delicious food. In bustling Shanghai, from high-end restaurants to street stalls, you can almost always find Yangchun noodles. When night falls, and the city lights up, people gather around tables, enjoying the refreshing Yangchun noodles, feeling the warmth of home and the city's prosperity.

...

Then there are the Galaxy noodles.

In the original story of "Cooking Master Boy," this is a dish that "prays for the eternal love of two people." After completing their work in Kunming, Liu Mao Xing and his group headed to Lugu Lake. On their way, they passed a place called Xinghan Village, where an old lady caught them and punished them by making them work at Xinghan House. During this time, they disrupted a wedding to help a friend and specially made this dish.

Based on the original comments from the diners, it can be deduced that the noodles resembling the Milky Way are made from squid ink noodles, with pearl powder creating a shimmering effect.

...

At 2 a.m., the tavern closed.

Although it was rare for Erina and her mother to meet again and have a lot to say and talk about, and even though Hisako, who had been dismissed as Erina's secretary due to the Totsuki coup, cherished this time with Erina, both Mana and Hisako did not have much time to catch up with Erina when they left. After all, this was not a farewell, and they could visit Erina at the tavern whenever they missed her.

...

Late at night!

Just as Zane was about to sleep, he heard intermittent crying from the next room. Realizing what was happening, Zane got up and went to the next room, calling out, "Erina, are you still awake?"

The door opened, and Erina, with tearful eyes, saw Zane and suddenly threw herself into his arms, holding on tightly for a long time.

It was unclear how much time had passed before Erina's emotions calmed down a bit. She stared blankly at Zane and, with a hoarse voice, asked, "Aren't you going to ask what happened?"

Zane looked down at her and asked, "What happened?"

"No sincerity! Do I have to say it for you to ask?"

Erina huffed, but her tone suggested her mood had improved. Zane remained silent, knowing that asking too much would not help. He believed she would speak when ready.

"My father..."

"I dreamed of my father again, and I'm scared!"

"When I found out that he orchestrated a coup to overthrow my grandfather, I was filled with despair."

"But when I learned that he, right after taking power, wanted to establish a new organization, the Central Gourmet Institute, to impose his culinary ideology on all Totsuki students, making them cook according to his will..."

"I was furious, but I felt powerless!"

In the end, Erina clenched her fists, her eyes full of unwillingness.

...

At first, Erina's mindset was similar to Azami's, believing she was "absolutely right." After all, she possessed the God's Tongue ability, which aligned with Azami's philosophy. There was no need for "creation," only learning the "absolutely correct" methods from the Elite Ten and the Central Gourmet Institute.

In essence, the so-called "Central Gourmet Institute" was built on this idea. Erina was a key figure because her God's Tongue could identify the "absolutely correct" choices, meaning there was "no wrong" in her cooking. Simply put, the correct answer was always one.

However, after meeting Zane, Erina realized that the so-called correct answer could be more than one. For a chef, creation might be the most important thing. Breaking the idea of a single correct answer with creativity is the foundation of Totsuki Academy's existence.

...

With the end of the academy festival, Azami's policies began to take effect, causing significant changes within Totsuki Academy. The most important change was the elimination of many small groups. Now, the only place students could learn new recipes was in class.

At the same time, the sudden reforms caused considerable dissatisfaction among some people. However, those who were unhappy had only one way to fight back: Shokugeki (food wars). But now, the entire Shokugeki management was controlled by Eizan.

As a result, those who dared to resist had only one outcome: losing.

...

"Soma, for this dish, you must use an entire bottle of red wine during the beef braising process. It's noted in the recipe."

In class, the new instructor noticed Soma Yukihira used only half a bottle of red wine and criticized him for not following the recipe properly.

Soma looked up and said, "I've always used 500 ml of red wine when braising beef."

"Instructor, although braising beef with red wine allows the flavors to penetrate and blend, creating an amazing taste, if the amount of red wine isn't controlled properly, it can have the opposite effect."

"First, the meat can become acidic, making it taste sour."

"Second, the wine's aroma can overpower the beef's flavor, affecting the dish's overall taste."

...

"Hmph! You have no right to question the recipe."

"This recipe was decided by our Central Gourmet Institute. Its authority is absolute and unquestionable. If you dare to change it, you'll have to redo the dish."

"Otherwise, I'll mark your dish as unqualified."

Despite Soma's explanation, the instructor was even more annoyed.

"Unqualified?"

"Doesn't the recipe allow for any discussion?"

Hearing this, Soma's stubbornness flared up. He continued to make his red wine beef stew according to his own method.

...

An hour later, Soma's red wine beef stew was ready!

When it was served, the large pieces of beef were soaking in a black-gray thick sauce, with some large potatoes and carrots randomly placed around it. The dish looked rough and unrefined.

One could say that the dish lacked any sense of presentation.

"Try it. I believe this red wine beef stew won't be much worse than the recipe provided by your Central Gourmet Institute!"

Soma's eyes revealed confidence as he spoke calmly.

"Don't be so smug. No matter how good your dish is, it's still non-standard. I still have the right to mark it as unqualified!"

Although the instructor said this, he still had to taste it.

So, the instructor took a piece of beef and began to taste it carefully.

...

As he took a bite, the meat effortlessly fell apart along the grain, each strand infused with the rich aroma of red wine. The robust texture of the meat and the slightly acidic wine flavor provided an unusual satisfaction. The instructor savored the gradually unfolding rich taste of the beef in his mouth.

Finally, under Soma's watchful eye, the instructor finished the entire plate of red wine beef stew. Even the leftover sauce was mixed with mashed potatoes and eaten clean.

The flavor was surprisingly good. The meat was elastic, tender, and flavorful, with vegetables absorbing the rich taste of the sauce.

At that moment, the instructor felt unexpectedly calm and relaxed.

...

"The sugar in the red wine affects the dish's flavor."

"Dry red wine, having the lowest sugar content among all red wines, is the best choice."

"In other words, for red wine beef stew, you should use dry red wine, especially French Pinot Noir, instead of semi-dry wine."

"Although the main ingredients of this dish are beef and red wine, additional vegetables are often added."

"Traditionally, sautéing salty fatty pork, mushrooms, and pearl onions until light brown, then adding them in the final stage of cooking the red wine beef, is the right way."

"Of course, common carrots can also be added."

Watching the instructor eat all his cooking, Soma smiled slightly.

...

The cooking class ended.

Soma received an A grade as usual.

Although the instructor was reluctant, the fact was that Soma's dish was better than the recipe from the Central Gourmet Institute. Moreover, it was clear that with his skills, Soma could make a dish more delicious than others, even by following the recipe exactly.

In fact, he could perfect every

 step of the cooking process.

...

"Classes are becoming more boring!"

"My dad sent me to Totsuki to broaden my horizons, not to stay cooped up in the small Yukihira Diner."

"But now, Totsuki Academy is more like a cage!"

Leaving the kitchen, Soma remembered his father's words and sighed.

"Sigh, it's over."

"The Regional Cuisine Research Society has been abolished."

In the dormitory, Megumi sighed.

She clearly disliked Azami's actions. After all, she had enjoyed being part of the Regional Cuisine Research Society, where she learned a lot about regional dishes.

"Yes, even our Wild Game Cuisine Research Society is gone!"

"Megumi, what should we do now?"

Yuuki, with her hair in a bun, shared Megumi's sentiment.

Then she had an idea and whispered in Megumi's ear, "How about we secretly form a new one and carry out activities in private?"

...

Yuuki thought that since all culinary clubs were banned, why not form a secret research society? This would enrich their extracurricular time.

"Megumi, that's too risky. Don't underestimate the people from the Central Gourmet Institute."

Megumi shook her head, "Didn't you see what happened to Tetsuya Koyama? He tried to restore the Kabayaki Research Society secretly and got expelled!"

"How miserable! When will this end?"

Yuuki knew her idea was naive and sighed.

...

Among the current Elite Ten, five openly supported Azami.

Of the remaining five, one was the missing Erina Nakiri.

The other four were not necessarily on the same side. Yuuki and the others were not optimistic about the future. No one expected the new Director Azami to be able to oust three Elite Ten: Fuyumi Mizuhara, Satoshi Isshiki, and Terunori Kuga, in one day.

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