Chapter 994: Pregnancy Diet Cooking and Enhanced Night Stall

"Knife skills are an indispensable part of cooking, but compared to seasoning and heat control, knife skills are the one at the very bottom."

"What I'm teaching you today is seasoning. Although this belongs to a standardized, replicable part, you must not be careless or fail to study seriously because of that."

Broly looked at Arato Hisako pacing before him, feeling she was more like a teacher than Nakiri Erina.

Wearing pink-rimmed round glasses, holding a copy of the Totsuki Academy Middle School Seasoning Textbook, she gave the student a show of authority before teaching.

"Yes, I understand, Teacher Arato."

"Good, then let us first enter the most basic theoretical curriculum: before seasoning, first recognize the common types of seasonings and their main functions————"

Nakiri Erina poked her head into the Cooking Room doorway, looking a bit like a golden-haired groundhog. Although she had handed full authority over today's lesson teaching Broly seasoning to Arato Hisako, sitting in the Office she still couldn't help feeling a prickling anxiety in her heart.

And this feeling was just like having sent one's own child into school, worrying whether the teachers at school would take good care of one's own child.

"Seasonings are divided into major categories by flavor type, and the commonly seen flavor types are divided into salty, sweet, sour, umami, fragrant, and spicy."

"Salty is the chief of a hundred flavors. Representatives are salt, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, miso. Main functions are setting the base flavor, enhancing umami, adding color."

"Sweet is the secondary assistant. Representative seasonings are white sugar, rock sugar, honey, sweet rice wine, brown sugar. Main functions are enhancing umami, neutralizing sour and salty, adding color and luster."

"Sour is the appetite-opening ingredient. Representative seasonings are divided into aged vinegar, fragrant vinegar, rice vinegar, white vinegar, yuzu vinegar, etc. Functions are cutting greasiness, removing fishiness, stimulating appetite."

"Umami and salty are a bit similar, but salty is the basic threshold of having flavor, while umami is the bonus for deliciousness. Salty directly stimulates taste buds via salt content; umami amplifies the ingredients' original flavor via amino acids and nucleotides."

"These two are often confused, but in taste mechanism, source, and culinary function, they are completely different things."

"And the representative seasonings for umami: MSG is primary, next is chicken essence, then dashi (clear soup simmered from kelp and katsuobushi), oyster sauce, fish sauce, etc. Main function is simply to elevate the ingredients' original flavor."

"Fragrant, as the literal meaning, refers to flavors beyond the cooking's main ingredients. For example scallion ginger garlic, for example Sichuan peppercorn star anise cinnamon, cilantro parsley — these all count. Main functions are removing fishiness, adding fragrance, supplementing layers of flavor."

"Among them, cilantro needs special attention. Its scent mainly comes from aldehyde compounds, and some people's genes are highly sensitive to aldehyde compounds, causing this group to be unable to taste cilantro's fresh fragrance. To them, cilantro's flavor is actually more like soapy water."

"And besides olfactory genes, there are also taste bitter receptor genes, which make this type of person's taste buds more prone to tasting the bitterness within cilantro. Olfactory soapy taste plus gustatory bitterness — no matter how the dish is cooked, as long as cilantro is added, it's directly ruined."

Arato Hisako kept a straight face, solemnly emphasizing that whether or not to add cilantro depends entirely on the eater's taste and smell, on whether they are sensitive to this seasoning called cilantro.

If sensitive, it is absolutely, absolutely forbidden to add, no matter whether this thing is considered a fragrance-enhancing seasoning for the general public.

"So-called cooking must not only consider whether the dish is delicious, but also consider the diner's own condition when eating the dish."

"For example, take a person who just woke up from a hangover. If you make some big fish and big meat, comparatively greasy dishes for them to eat, that belongs to an unsuitable situation."

"Even if the dish is more delicious, it will make people feel burdened. At this time, one should make some light dishes suitable for hangover sufferers————"

"I see."

Broly understood, and raised his hand again.

"Teacher Arato, I want to ask a question."

"Student Broly, what question, you ask."

Arato Hisako had already fully entered the teacher identity, raised her hand to adjust her pink glasses frame from the side and said o

"If the diner is not a person who just woke from a hangover, but a pregnant woman with poor appetite, what dishes should we make for them to eat?"

Regarding caring for his own wife, Broly was serious.

"Pregnant women's poor appetite is a normal physiological reaction caused by soaring hormone levels in the body and heightened smell sensitivity. Generally by twelve weeks of pregnancy it can recover to normal."

"During this phase, one can choose some appetite-stimulating, light, easily digestible dishes. For example tomato egg braised noodles, sour spicy king oyster mushroom,"

"Fresh sour radish soup and the like."

"Additionally, have the pregnant woman eat less per meal but more meals. However, this is already not content a pure seasoning class would teach, but belongs to nutrition science content."

Arato Hisako didn't know why Broly would be interested in dishes suitable for pregnant women, but still seriously answered the Saiyan youth's question.

"Can I learn in advance?"

"Is there someone pregnant at your home?"

"Yes, and not just one."

"How many weeks pregnant are they?"

"Hmm, there are ones within 12 weeks, and also ones beyond 12 weeks."

Facing Arato Hisako's inquiry, Broly answered seriously.

And Arato Hisako, because of his answer, dispelled the guess that he had gotten someone else's belly big, only thinking it was his older sister or other relatives at home who were pregnant.

"Alright, then after the seasoning class ends, I'll additionally teach you this part about pregnancy diet dishes————"

Although Arato Hisako had not specialized in this aspect of cooking, as the heir of a Chinese Medicine Culinary Family skilled in medicinal cuisine, she also had ample theoretical knowledge on this aspect.

After all, in the future, the Erina-sama she serves also has the possibility of combining with other males and conceiving a child.

【At that time————】

Thinking of this, Arato Hisako violently shook her head.

【Joking. Erina-sama is so pure, how can she be defiled by the opposite sex? Pregnancy, this kind of thing, absolutely cannot be allowed. Erina-sama belongs to me!】

The girl shouted in her heart; on the surface she bit her lip, a look of grinding her teeth.

"Teacher Arato, Teacher Arato————"

Broly called her several times before letting this secretary assistant miss, who had a bit of yuri tendency and held possessive desire for Nakiri Erina, come back to her senses.

"Where were we?"

"You said after teaching me the seasoning class, you would teach me dishes suitable for pregnant women to eat."

"Oh, right, then we continue."

Nakiri Erina didn't know what the two people in the Cooking Room, the teacher and the taught, were thinking in their hearts. She only saw one teaching not badly, one learning not badly, nodded satisfied, walked back to her own Office, sat on the Chair, wanted to handle some Elite Ten affairs, but discovered today there wasn't anything needing handling.

Thought a bit, this blonde girl picked up the tablet on the desk, searched for dishes suitable for pregnant women to eat: "Hisako's specialty should be Chinese-Japanese style pregnant women dishes, then I'll find some Western style ones suitable for pregnant women to eat————"

Greek yogurt mixed with nuts and berries, avocado whole wheat toast sandwich, citrus quinoa salad, smoked salmon chicken roll————

When the seasoning class hastily ended, and Broly was being taught Chinese-Japanese style dishes suitable for pregnant women by Arato Hisako, Nakiri Erina, having finished searching, pretended to come inspect the teaching, walked over and said: "Dishes suitable for pregnant women, huh. I also know some here. You want to learn?"

"Mm, want to."

Broly nodded.

"Since you want to learn so badly, I'll reluctantly teach you anyway. It's not like I have anything better to do."

Nakiri Erina brushed her hair back as she spoke, preemptively cutting off her little secretary's possible question about whether she had nothing else to do.

"The sweet-and-sour texture of Greek yogurt mixed with nuts and berries can effectively suppress nausea while replenishing calcium and essential fatty acids."

"Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, and whole wheat bread provides slow-release carbohydrates, keeping you full without causing drastic blood sugar spikes."

"Quinoa is called a superfood, containing complete protein and folic acid. Paired with a refreshing citrus salad, it can stimulate the appetite of pregnant women with poor appetites."

"Western pregnancies place great emphasis on DHA supplementation, but pregnant women who dislike fishiness often can't eat cooked deep-sea fish. So, smoked salmon or cooked chicken breast is usually rolled with cucumber strips in a thin pancake, eaten with yogurt sauce—"

Broly held a small notebook, carefully recording the key points of each dish, and then practiced making some dishes himself, preparing them for the two to taste.

"Mm, the taste is passable."

After receiving from Nakiri Erina's mouth a surface evaluation of "passable," which actually meant "delicious" by ordinary standards,

another day had passed.

"Miss Nakiri, Instructor Arato, thank you very much for your guidance today~"

Broly bowed sincerely to thank the two, then took his leave and departed from the Sixth Cooking Building.

"Hisako, who in Broly's family is pregnant?"

After the sturdy youth left, Nakiri Erina suddenly asked her little secretary.

"I don't know."

Hisako Arato shook her head in reply.

"Could it be his girlfriend?"

"Probably not. After all, judging by what he said, there should be more than one pregnant woman in his family."

"He's quite a caring guy—"

Nakiri Erina looked at the dusk campus scenery outside the window and involuntarily said with a sigh, her expression seeming both lost and somewhat envious.

"Lady Erina, if you ever have a partner and become pregnant with their child, I will serve you well during your pregnancy!"

Hisako Arato, who knew her young lady's family situation, looked on with some heartache and couldn't help but say.

Hearing this, Nakiri Erina snapped her head back, looking shocked at her childhood-friend secretary: "I have a partner and I'm pregnant? Hisako, what on earth are you talking about?!"

The blonde girl's face turned bright red. Such words were far too advanced for her, who was only sixteen and had never dated.

"It's a matter of time, Lady Erina. You can't possibly never date a man, never marry and have children, right?!"

"Ugh, even if you're right, but saying now that you want to serve me while I'm pregnant—isn't this said a bit too early?"

"I haven't even dated anyone until now!"

"Then date someone."

"Date who? I don't have any opposite-sex friends around me!"

As someone with a keen sense of taste, Nakiri Erina found very few people her age who could stand beside her, let alone opposite-sex ones among them—basically none.

"Isn't there one—"

"Where?"

Hisako Arato didn't answer, instead looking out the window. Broly just happened to be leaving on his small tricycle.

Nakiri Erina followed her gaze and also saw Broly's figure, her expression instantly turning subtle.

To be honest, he was indeed the closest opposite-sex person to her. He had a good figure, decent looks, and a temper that didn't go against her.

What was more coincidental was that the shoujo manga Nakiri Erina had been reading recently featured a male and female lead with a huge height difference in a romance, and she immediately projected herself into it.

【Nakiri Erina, Happiness Value increased—】

【Nakiri Erina, Happiness Value decreased—】

Broly, riding his small tricycle and still planning to set up his night market stall tonight: "???"

Indeed, sometimes the capture target's mood was as changeable as the weather, rising and falling so much that one didn't know why.

After watching Nakiri Erina's happiness value fluctuate up and down for a while, Broly simply turned off the Crystal Palace Panel.

This world was quite peaceful and ordinary. The other person's happiness value fluctuations were probably related to their temporary mood; surely they hadn't encountered any danger.

In front of the Teaching Building yesterday, Broly met Soma Yukihira, and besides him, the others from Polar Star Dormitory also came along.

After hearing yesterday that Broly treated them to pufferfish sashimi, spending all his living expenses and having to set up a night market stall to earn money, these people volunteered to help.

A group of people—some brought charcoal stoves, some carried oil—each looked like they were rubbing their hands together, ready to show off their skills at the night market stall.

"By the way, can our little night stall fit so many of us?"

Broly couldn't help but ask.

"Uh, it should fit."

Soma Yukihira was also not too sure.

But since they had all agreed to go together, it wouldn't be right to send them back now.

A group from Polar Star Dormitory left Totsuki Academy in a grand procession, heading for Night Market Street.

Under the stunned gazes of several night market stall owners, they unloaded some newly added kitchen equipment from the handcart and set up three operating stalls at the booth.

"Are you planning to add barbecue and fried tempura to your merchandise?"

"Yes, both are common, convenient street foods you can eat while walking."

"Besides that, we also have drinks. Sir stall owner, would you like a cup of amazake?"

Sakaki Ryouko had an Alcohol Manager Qualification. She held a bottle of self-brewed, non-alcoholic fermented drink and recommended it with a question.

"Uh, then one cup." After the Yakisoba boss bought a cup and finished it, he found the taste very pure. After thinking, he asked, "Are you all students of Totsuki Academy?"

"Yes, we are. We all came specially tonight to help a friend!"

Aoki Daigo answered while he and Sato Shoji moved the deep fryer onto the shelf. These were all public kitchenware borrowed from Auntie Fumio at Polar Star Dormitory, requiring an additional rental fee.

Soma Yukihira picked up yesterday's small whiteboard, directly erased the writing on it, and wrote【Polar Star Night Stall】on it again.

"Satoshi, why was the sign changed?"

"Because the dishes being sold tonight do not belong to my family's restaurant's cooking, but belong to our Polar Star Dormitory everyone's cooking."

The red-haired youth's manner made Isshiki Satoshi laugh softly.

"Everyone, cook seriously tonight, don't lose face for our Polar Star Dormitory outside!"

He raised his hand, but instead greeted everyone.

"Oh!"

Everyone responded; although the stall was still crude, their aura was stronger.

The surrounding stalls, those snack stall owners who saw it, only felt pressure sweeping over them.

Can our own stall still survive on this night market street?