2. Departure to Liyue (5)
Gu Yue carefully inspected every corner of the restaurant. Even I, who boasted of thorough hygiene management, felt a bit uneasy.
Is there something wrong?
It was my first time running a restaurant, and when it came to hygiene management, I only knew the basics like ‘manage ingredients thoroughly and clean diligently.’ So, there was anxiety.
The thought that something I hadn’t considered might be caught in the hygiene inspection, a concern that beginners often have.
Fortunately, my anxiety didn’t become reality.
Instead, Gu Yue nodded with a satisfied expression and closed her eyes.
“You’re excellent. Ingredients, cooking utensils, and everything else are being managed thoroughly.”
Gu Yue’s gentle gestures had a peculiar charm that made people relax. As if my anxious heart was naturally relieved, I let out a sigh of relief at Gu Yue’s words.
Having heeded Tartaglia’s warning, there was a sense of satisfaction in managing things even more thoroughly, just in case.
It was almost an obsessive hygiene management, to the extent that if Pischl and Oz had known how thorough it was, they would have run away the moment the business closed.
But there was no other choice. Despite the Tibalt continent having hygiene concepts less developed than the modern world, hygiene-related issues were still the Achilles’ heel of any restaurant.
In such a situation, if my restaurant had been caught up in a hygiene inspection? Especially when it was the talk of the town across Mondstadt?
The favorable public opinion that existed a moment ago would turn around instantly, and the favorability towards ‘Mond’ that I had painstakingly built up would undoubtedly plummet.
In that case, the value of the ‘Mondstadt Wine’ I had contracted for could only decrease. Even if Tartaglia, who had already signed a purchase contract, came after me with a sword, there would be nothing to say.
It was a dreadful assumption. And thankfully, that assumption remained just that—an assumption. With gratitude for it being confined to a mere assumption, I spoke up.
“Well, that’s a relief. It’s worth thoroughly managing hygiene as usual.”
Ganyu had a faint smile. It seemed to convey that it was okay not to worry.
At that moment, a sudden thought occurred to me.
Come to think of it, lately I had been experimenting with recipes acquired in Liyue.
After the business ended, I could simply take out a few ingredients in the kitchen and cook. The post-processing was simple, and my body, tired from a day of manual labor, was a perfect experimental ground to keenly feel the effects of the dishes.
And now, with a new customer arriving, I felt the desire to treat them to one of the dishes I had recently experimented with.
It was truly an inexplicable, ordinary kindness. There was a part of me that wanted to boast quietly.
With that determination, I suggested to Ganyu, “Since you’re already here, would you like to have a meal before you leave? It’s getting late, and you might be hungry.”
Upon hearing this, Ganyu slightly widened her eyes in what seemed like surprise, then soon formed a faint smile of courtesy and spoke.
“Thank you for the offer, but it’s okay. Well then, I’ll take my leave….”
And that was the moment Ganyu took a step away.
A rustling sound echoed.
“Ah….”
A sorrowful voice flowed from Gamwoo’s lips. He seemed bewildered.
The sound of grumbling from the stomach was not mine. And since there were only the two of us here, it was clear whose stomach it was.
Gamwoo’s head drooped deeply. His face, now reddened, showed clearly through his blush-covered ears.
I felt embarrassed as well. Is this what they call ’empathy embarrassment’?
I averted my gaze and cleared my throat as if to say, “Well, something happened.”
“Um, it’s just using leftover ingredients, so you don’t need to feel burdened. It’s not a bribe, anyway; the restaurant is closing soon.”
Even with my comforting words, Gamwoo’s head remained bowed.
Only a faint voice emerged.
“…Well, then, just a little.”
I casually offered Gamwoo a seat. It was a considerate gesture, hoping to alleviate his embarrassment even a bit.
So, with his face still flushed, Gamwoo left alone. Now, I was alone in the kitchen.
I pondered on what dish to prepare. Seeing the fatigue in Gamwoo’s eyes, should I go for stamina-based cuisine?
But I quickly dismissed that choice. I wanted to treat him to Liyuean cuisine, and among the recipes I recently learned, there was no stamina-based dish that fit the bill.
To be precise, there were some, but they were dishes with the effect of ‘reduced stamina consumption.’ Not only was it difficult to notice the effect immediately, but it also wasn’t suitable for treating Gamwoo, who seemed to be heading home from work.
Might as well.
It was more fitting to treat him to a dish I wanted to serve. As my gaze wandered while contemplating, it settled on a dish that was the most outstanding among the recipes I obtained recently.
It was called ‘Roasted Meats,’ a dish of the highest grade.
It seemed to be inspired by Chinese hot pot, requiring four different ingredients, and the description of the dish was extravagant. It was truly a top-grade dish.
Originally, it would take a considerable amount of time and effort to make, but with the assistance of the ‘cooking’ function, the time could be significantly shortened.
I first laid out various ingredients and began chopping. Meat, shiitake mushrooms, crab, shrimp, and various other ingredients were finely diced, each piece bite-sized. Quickly, I blanched the prepared ingredients before their flavors could escape, and I boiled the broth.
Then, I placed the blanched ingredients in a dish, poured in the fragrant broth simmered with good alcohol, and began boiling it deeply in a steamer.
Originally, creating ‘Sunflower Broth’ required more than a day because the ingredients needed to be thoroughly boiled to blend their flavors and create a deep taste.
However, my ‘cooking’ function conveniently shortened that time significantly. In just a few minutes, a dish as if it had been steamed for over a day was ready.
The reason real Sunflower Broth is expensive is not only due to the ingredients but also because of the waiting time. Considering this, the ‘cooking’ function proved to be a remarkably convenient ability in various ways.
[Perfect]
[Delicious Sunflower Broth] x1
I took out the Sunflower Broth from the steamer. The fragrance of various ingredients spread out instantly.
The scents, which could potentially be chaotic, harmonized perfectly without one overpowering the others, thanks to each having a distinct character. It must be the result of the long steaming time.
Just smelling it made me feel healthier. It was not for nothing that people said it was a nourishing dish.
I neatly arranged the completed Sunflower Broth on a plate and headed alone towards the place. There, sitting calmly was Ms. Gamwoo, who seemed to have calmed down a bit, though her face was still slightly flushed.
She sensed my presence and, startled, avoided eye contact. Judging by her complexion, the embarrassment hadn’t completely subsided.
Her gaze returned to me when the scent of Sunflower Broth permeated the air.
A delightful fragrance filled the restaurant. As soon as she caught a whiff, Ms. Gamwoo turned her head, confirming the identity of the dish I brought.
As if already knowing what the dish was, a small gasp escaped Ms. Gamwoo’s lips.
“Ah….”
Her eyes widened. The dishes made with Sunflower Broth always consisted of luxurious ingredients. Utilizing the ‘cooking’ function added extra ingredients aside from those required for the dish.
Just by looking at it, there were premium ingredients like meat, abalone, shiitake mushrooms, and more. A variety of ingredients were neatly arranged, submerged in a broth that emitted a subtle glow.
As if captivated by the Sunflower Broth I made, Ms. Gamwoo’s gaze remained fixed. When the Sunflower Broth moved, so did Ms. Gamwoo’s pupils.
Sip, the sound of swallowing saliva.
Then, as if suddenly waking up, Gamwoo spoke in a bewildered voice.
“N-no way!”
“?
No, if it were before preparing the dish, I wouldn’t understand, but what’s the meaning of saying that now when everything is already laid out on the tray.
Is she startled because the food turned out fancier than expected? It seemed the most plausible explanation at the moment.
To reassure her, I smiled as if to say, “Don’t worry, there’s no need to be concerned. After all, I’m someone who will leave.”
In response to my answer, Gamwoo became even more bewildered, reaching out with a perplexed expression.
“N-no, it’s not that…”
“It’s just a small favor from me. Otherwise, is there a law in Liweol that dictates the rejection of the kindness offered by a stranger without reason?”
Under my repeated insistence, Miss Gamwoo had no choice but to gaze at the tray descending onto her dining table with a tearful face.
After a while, she let out a deep sigh.
“Sigh… I guess there’s no helping it.”
As she said that, she looked at the tray with a complicated gaze. A whirlwind of emotions – sad, happy, and painful – seemed to be swirling within her.
Could there be some special memories associated with it? I couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy about pressuring her with my insistence.
Gamwoo stared at the tray for a while and then delicately picked up a piece of abalone with her chopsticks. It was a slow and graceful movement.
Even after picking up the abalone, she hesitated for a while. She averted her gaze, then looked back at the abalone.
After much contemplation, she finally closed her eyes, decisively put the abalone into her mouth, and in the next moment, Gamwoo’s eyes widened significantly.
The abalone that had been simmered for a long time boasted a soft and delicate texture. As soon as it touched the teeth, it tore apart smoothly, along with a bouncy sensation. The aroma of various precious ingredients, combined with the scent of the alcohol used to boil the broth, filled the air and tickled the nose.
And as time passed, it wasn’t just the aroma, but the taste that came. A deep, profound taste, mixed with several luxurious flavors, created an indescribable and subtle savoriness that tantalized the tongue, riding on the rich juice of the abalone soaked in the broth.
It contained the delicacies of the mountains and the sea in one dish. It was so overwhelming that even the dignified sages couldn’t resist it, hence its name, “Sendojang” (仙跳牆).
Gamwoo trembled under the storm of flavors. Before she knew it, her eyes were closed, focusing all her senses on enjoying the taste.
A deep sense of happiness lingered on her face. Her face relaxed to the point where it seemed as if her tired expression from just a moment ago was a lie.
Seeing her reaction, I smiled with great satisfaction.
But it was when a few more minutes had passed that I felt something was off.
The speed of her chopsticks didn’t slow down. In fact, it felt like they were getting faster and faster.
My “cooking” function tends to make a portion that is slightly more generous. Even if it’s a serving for an adult man, it’s enough to satisfy their appetite. But the rate at which it was disappearing was too fast.
Normally, as a person becomes more satiated, their eating speed slows down. But Gamwoo’s speed was getting faster and faster.
It didn’t take even 10 minutes for a serving of Sendojang to disappear. Considering that Sendojang should be served slightly cooled after coming out hot, it was an astonishing speed.
Furthermore, Gamwoo seemed disappointed as she looked at the empty bowl. She absentmindedly sucked on her chopsticks. It was an unconscious action, but it revealed her honest desire.
After a brief silence, I had no choice but to open my mouth.
“…Should I bring you another serving?”
Gamwoo looked at me in surprise. Until now, she seemed to have forgotten about my presence, completely absorbed in her meal. And most likely, that was highly probable.
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Her face began to blush again. She lowered her head deeply. Her fingers fidgeted, revealing her embarrassment.
Should I refuse? I was about to jump to conclusions.
“…P-P-Please.”
It seemed that the temptation of Sendojang was even stronger than I had thought. To the point where the secretary in charge of the total administration of the Moon Sea Pavilion would feel embarrassed.
On that day, Gamwoo devoured four servings of ‘Seondo-jang.’