Chapter 963

As an active member of the Track and Field Force, Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui was always very serious about her training and club activities, so it was normal to have such temporary arrangements occasionally.

"Okay, then we'll go over and prepare first; just come find us in the home economics classroom after you finish training." Natsume Chikage expressed his understanding.

"Mm-hmm! I'll be as quick as I can!" Classmate Classmate Tengyuan Kui nodded forcefully, then waved her hand and jogged toward the gymnasium.

Subsequently.

The three of them split up.

Natsume Chikage first left the school gate to go to the supermarket next to the school to buy ingredients.

Considering it was his first attempt and he might fail, he bought extra of every ingredient.

As for Xuecun Lingyin and Xiyuanji Qilai, they first went to the teachers' office to greet the teacher on duty and Xiao Jing-sensei of the home economics class again, confirming the permission to use the classroom.

Then, they got the key to the home economics classroom from Xiao Jing-sensei.

The two of them arrived at the home economics classroom a step ahead.

When Natsume Chikage arrived at the home economics classroom carrying several large bags of ingredients and pushed the door open.

He discovered that the two beautiful young ladies, Xuecun Lingyin and Xiyuanji Qilai, had already changed into the spare light-colored aprons with small floral patterns from the home economics classroom.

The apron strings were tied into delicate bows behind them, outlining the girls' slender waists.

At this moment, they were standing side by side in front of a cooking table, leaning forward slightly, their heads together, studying the copy of the "Late Night Diner Notes" spread out on the table very carefully.

The two were so engrossed in their discussion that they didn't notice Natsume Chikage's arrival at first.

It wasn't until Natsume Chikage placed the heavy shopping bags in his hand on an empty cooking table nearby, making a soft "thud" sound.

That the two looked up at the same time, following the sound.

Xuecun Lingyin looked at the shopping bags filled to the brim by Natsume Chikage's feet, with even green onion leaves and tofu boxes peeking out, and a hint of surprise appeared on her cold face.

"Why did you buy so much?"

Natsume Chikage explained while taking the ingredients out of the bags one by one and arranging them neatly on the cooking table, his tone carrying a slight helplessness and pragmatism.

"No matter what, this is our first time trying to make 'mapo tofu,' and it's to reach a standard that that picky old craftsman will approve of."

"There will always be a possibility of making mistakes, flavor deviations, or procedural errors… preparing more ingredients and trying a few more times is always good."

He looked at the two and smiled.

"If there are any successful or near-successful finished products left over in the end, you two can take them to practice, or take them home for your family to taste; it won't be a waste."

Xiyuanji Qilai looked at the dazzling array of fresh and vibrant ingredients on the table, especially the bright red bean paste and the Sichuan peppercorns emitting a unique fragrance, and a knowing and approving smile appeared on her face.

"That's true, Natsume-kun is very thoughtful."

She picked up a small bag of Sichuan peppercorns, sniffed it gently at the tip of her nose, wrinkled her nose slightly from the stimulation of the strong spicy fragrance, but felt it was very interesting.

Xuecun Lingyin rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, revealing a section of her fair and slender forearms.

"In that case, let's start now."

Xiyuanji Qilai also looked full of energy and eager to try.

"Mm-hmm, let's start!"

Natsume Chikage nodded.

"But since I'm the one who will be going to make mapo tofu for that old craftsman later, how about you two help me as assistants for this first production?"

Hearing this, neither of them refused.

"Mm."

"I have no problem with that."

After getting their replies.

Natsume Chikage nodded slightly, then followed the recipe in the "Late Night Diner Notes" and began to divide the work.

Xuecun Lingyin and Xiyuanji Qilai prepared the vegetables, the two walked to the sink to start washing the ingredients, while Natsume Chikage washed the pot and handled some basic preparations.

During the process.

Natsume Chikage kept an eye on the two girls, glancing at them from the corner of his eye from time to time.

Although Xiyuanji Qilai looked like a young lady from a wealthy family, the kind who looked dazed and cute, she was clearly the type of girl who could handle both the parlor and the kitchen.

She had no problems with culinary skills and knife work; when cutting green onions, the knife went up and down, and the onion segments were neat and uniform.

Xuecun Lingyin, on the other hand, caused a small commotion.

When cutting the tofu, the accuracy was off, the tofu cubes were of different sizes, and some almost fell apart.

When pouring the seasoning out of the packaging bag, she also spilled quite a bit, and white powder was scattered on the cooking table.

Also because Natsume Chikage was watching, these small problems were naturally solved quickly.

Soon.

After preparing the vegetables, the two girls naturally had nothing to do, washed their hands, and stood aside, and it was Natsume Chikage's turn to step up.

Natsume Chikage didn't hesitate, put on an apron, and started working.

Also because he registered the special equipment "Late Night Diner Notes."

It could increase culinary skills by 100%.

And he could instantly learn all the recipes inside, so he could perfectly make the mapo tofu in the recipe, basically without any difference from the owner of this "note."

Even in some cases, it was even better.

Therefore.

When he made mapo tofu, everything looked very smooth and fluid, as if he were a master who cooked often.

Heating the pot, adding oil, stir-frying the bean paste, the red oil slowly separating, every movement was clean and neat, without a trace of excess.

Seeing this, the two girls stood aside and watched intently, feeling surprised that Natsume Chikage's cooking skills were actually so good?

Just now, he did it so smoothly that it was impossible to tell that he didn't cook at home and basically let his younger sister do the cooking.

Under Natsume Chikage's handling.

The smell of the fragrant mapo tofu slowly floated in this home economics classroom, the spicy and fresh fragrance intertwined, making people's mouths water.

【Mapo tofu production successful, flavor increased by 40%!】

After hearing this news, Natsume Chikage smiled with relief, his eyebrows relaxed, and he scooped up the mapo tofu and served it in three small bowls.

After dividing it.

Natsume Chikage didn't start eating, but just looked at the two girls and handed the chopsticks to them.

"You guys try the taste."

He didn't eat first, actually because he was the one who cooked, so he should let the diners evaluate the taste.

The two girls on the side couldn't help but swallow their saliva, their throats rolling slightly.

Xiyuanji Qilai picked up the chopsticks, eager to try, her fingers exerting slight force because of anticipation:

"Mm-hmm, let's try it!"

She picked up a piece and blew on it gently.

Xuecun Lingyin looked at this mapo tofu with a very good appearance, the tofu cubes wrapped in red and bright oil, dotted with emerald green onion flowers, and was slightly silent:

"I'll… try it too."

Saying that.

The two started to taste, putting the tofu into their mouths.

The moment the smooth and tender tofu entered their mouths, the two widened their eyes, their pupils shrank slightly, and they felt the taste was super great!

Spicy, fresh, fragrant, smooth, various layers exploded on the tip of the tongue.

Xiyuanji Qilai didn't spare any words, excitedly, her eyes shining amazingly:

"So delicious, better than any mapo tofu I've ever eaten. I feel like the mapo tofu you made, Natsume-kun, could be sold in a shop!"

After she finished speaking, she couldn't wait to pick up the second piece.

"Lingyin, don't you think so?"

Xuecun Lingyin, who was eating several mouthfuls in a row, heard this, and her face turned slightly red, her ear roots were dyed pink, she immediately stopped eating, her chopsticks hung in mid-air, her face returned to a cold appearance, coughed, and cleared her throat.

"It's okay."

Hearing the two's good evaluation, Natsume Chikage was also in a good mood.

Then he also tasted it simply, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, the taste was really great.

The tofu was smooth and tender, the sauce was rich, and the spiciness was just right.

But regarding this.

He was not surprised.

After all, he had special equipment that increased flavor.

Plus the improvement of culinary skills and the perfect learning of the recipes inside. ===== CHAPTER 964 =====