Chapter 409: Chapter 321: Be Careful When Eating Buns!

"Then we can’t just burst into someone else’s kitchen during their working hours and disturb their work, right? We’ll be thrown out by security!"

Nicole sighed in frustration, her gaze drifting to the man standing at the restaurant’s side entrance in a security uniform.

Although the man was munching on a big dumpling, his eyes were scanning the area back and forth, clearly maintaining order.

Gray was in an exceptionally good mood today.

Technically, he should still be working and not sneaking away for breakfast.

For some reason, he just wanted to see what the two new chefs were cooking, and then Lin Chen stopped him to help maintain order here.

He said that with more and more customers at the restaurant, security personnel were necessary, just in case anything happened... right?

Gray was more than happy to stay here and slack off, nodding in agreement right away.

Lin Chen is an executive at the hotel, so of course, he has the authority to deploy the logistics staff like them.

"Hey, this fried dumpling tastes really nice, kind of like a meat-filled bread."

While tearing into the soft large dumpling, he occasionally glanced at the food cart.

Don’t be fooled by the dumpling’s size; it’s actually hollow. For a man like him with a big appetite and strong build, especially after being hungry all night, eating it felt like nothing.

He’s already starting to consider asking his new buddy if he could save some food for him.

One is just not enough!

A few minutes later.

Nagishiro Sho, having just bought piping hot buns and chicken comb dumplings, left the queue and turned toward the side entrance of the restaurant.

His goal was clear, he wanted to enter the kitchen!

Gray obviously recognized him, knowing he’s a head chef equivalent to Michelin, and acquainted with Chef Lin, didn’t ask anything and pretended not to see him.

After all, his job here is just to maintain order; as long as no one causes trouble, he doesn’t need to do anything.

Usually, no one dares to cause trouble anyway.

While dealing with cuttlefish, Lin Chen’s ears perked up when he heard somewhat unfamiliar footsteps, instinctively lifting his head.

"Good morning."

Nagishiro Sho greeted him with a smile.

Before Lin Chen could speak, he quickly explained.

"I just helped Lucas shoot some videos outside, as a token of sincerity, please don’t mind, Mr. Lin."

"......"

This Japanese guy, learning to act first and report later?

Lin Chen had no particular opinions or views on Nagishiro Sho himself, simply seeing him as a fellow Asian chef who shares his love for food.

Whether it was helping President Wang with translation and testimony or using his reputation to promote, his intention was purely to learn more about Great Xia cuisine and its principles. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

If it were a kimchi chef coming, Lin Chen guaranteed he’d be kicked out without a second thought.

But this guy...

The saying goes, don’t hit a smiling person.

He’s showing goodwill, I can’t be too harsh myself.

"Mr. Nagishiro, you’re too kind. I’m currently trying to make handmade dumplings, I wonder if it’s popular in your Sakura cuisine?"

"Handmade dumplings?"

Nagishiro Sho relaxed a bit, raising his eyebrows, his gaze falling on the thick, white cuttlefish in his hand.

"You mean using this cuttlefish to make dumplings? What about other ingredients?"

"This."

Lin Chen pointed to a box of small orange flying fish roe on the cart beside him.

"I plan to add these to enhance the seafood flavor, along with some basic seasonings."

"Ah??"

Nagishiro Sho’s mouth slightly opened: "You mean using pure cuttlefish meat to make dumplings??"

In Sakura cuisine, although there are various chicken, fish, and beef dumplings, they’re made somewhat like Western cuisine, breaking down the meat and shaping it into balls.

Besides yakitori shops often making chicken dumplings, most restaurants don’t usually make these types of foods.

If anything, the dumplings Sakura people eat the most are octopus balls, essentially flour balls, totally unrelated to pure meat dumplings.

"Yes."

Seeing his reaction, Lin Chen roughly understood.

Is cuttlefish such a niche ingredient abroad?

When he makes it, would customers refrain from trying because they’ve never eaten it?

It’s really not overthinking; for picky foreigners, it’s quite normal.

"Luckily, I’m working with cuttlefish dumplings, easy to explain with squid, drawing internal organ dumplings would be a complete disaster."

As this thought popped into his mind, he suddenly remembered something and asked: "Mr. Nagishiro, you’ve been running a restaurant here in Romantic Country for quite a few years, right?"

"Yes, it has been a few years, and now thinking back, time really flies, I’m already in my thirties."

"I recall Sakura people also eat organ dishes, right?"

"That’s correct, but not as comprehensively as you Great Xia People, and the preparation is relatively simpler."

"Has Mr. Nagishiro ever tried offering organ dishes in his restaurant? For example, parts rarely used in Romantic Country restaurants, how did customers respond?"

"Hmm?"

Nagishiro Sho paused, instinctively taking a bite of the hot chicken comb dumpling and started searching through his memory.

"I think I tried a few times at first, but it didn’t go well, eventually I stopped using them."

"Plus, customers here are indeed quite picky regarding taste; many can’t accept the flavor and texture of organs."

"Is Mr. Lin considering trying organ dishes?"

His eyes sparkled, filled with anticipation.

"I’ve watched videos of Great Xia’s offal cuisine. It looks absolutely as good as dishes made with normal parts. I’ve always wanted to try it!"

"Uh... definitely, if there’s a chance!"

Lin Chen originally wanted to see if he could ask him for some valuable tips worth learning, but ended up digging himself a hole instead.

He just wouldn’t believe it; every country in Europe has its own offal cuisine, there must be guests who like to eat offal!

If it really doesn’t work, he might as well post a recruitment post online to gather diners interested in offal!

Yeah!

How did I not think of it earlier?

The thought of selling marinated offal at the primary school entrance flashed through his mind. Thinking back, the idea was really simple at the time. How did I end up selling that at the school entrance?

Once he finds time, he must redeem himself!

He decided to call the event the Offal Cooking Challenge!

Oh, and a bit of prize money for bait!

Maybe also offer three dinners as the grand prize?

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Just in time for the first comeback challenge which hadn’t been decided yet, he might as well strike while the iron is hot and host this offal challenge!

It definitely can’t be done in the next two days, as the event needs time for promotion, and interested guests need some buffer time to arrange their schedules.

Let’s tentatively set it for next week. There shouldn’t be any big issues.

When he roughly talked about this idea with Nagishiro Sho, he immediately piqued his interest.

"Sugoi, this idea is really good! If it works out well, I might try it myself."

"Why didn’t I think of this method?"

"Maybe it’s because we’re getting older?"

Lin Chen joked, "Staying in the same environment for a long time does dull your thinking. I was the same before, only coming up with these odd ideas after coming here."

"Getting... older?"

Nagishiro Sho’s face changed, turning somewhat pale, instinctively stepping back half a step.

Thinking it over, what Lin Chen said might really be at the core of the problem he was facing!

When he first came to Romantic Country, he would still want to try various exotic ingredients.

When did he start to gradually become devoid of inspiration?

Now he had even resorted to going to the neighboring town to seek out other chefs, even ones much younger than himself, to learn their skills.

And even after learning, he couldn’t utilize them!

Could it be...

Has he really grown old?

As his confidence was wavering, he suddenly remembered the discussion he’d had with Marchello and Raphael in the morning.

Marchello is a real Michelin three-star chef, while he doesn’t even have one star, so he’s merely decent at best.

With this comparison in mind, his mindset instantly regained some balance.

Lin Chen didn’t expect his offhand joke to affect the Sakura Chef so greatly.

From the moment he saw the slight change in his face, Lin Chen thought, oh no.

The people of Great Xia have a unique way of teasing, so foreigners who aren’t familiar with it might take it seriously.

"Um, uh, don’t take it to heart. It’s a unique chatting style of us Great Xia People, using jokes to ease the atmosphere, usually only with familiar friends."

"Friends?"

Nagishiro Sho smiled, also feeling relieved.

He had been worrying about how to build rapport, only to find he’d already been considered a friend.

Great Xia People really are friendly!

The toughest task of this trip was inexplicably accomplished, and Nagishiro Sho felt great. Feeling warmth from around his hand, he remembered there was a box of exquisite small buns in his bag.

Buns must be eaten while they’re hot!

He squeezed out a smile he considered friendly at Lin Chen, nodding while his hands busily pulled out a small steamed bun from the cardboard box, just about to put it in his mouth.

He paused for a second.

"Huh, feels like I’m forgetting something... what is it..."

"Whatever, it’s probably not important anyway."

"...Ahh!"

"Hot, hot, hot!!! Ahhh, my tongue!!"

Half an hour later.

When John and Magna returned to the kitchen with two bags of food, they immediately saw the man standing next to Lin Chen with swollen lips.

He looked quite familiar, but they just couldn’t recall who he was.

"And this is...?"

Nagishiro Sho awkwardly raised his hand to greet them with a twitch in his mouth corner.

"Hello, I’m Nagishiro Sho, who set up a stall at the Kite Festival last Sunday. I made the teppanyaki skewer."

"Oh~!"

"I remember now, it was you! Sakura Chef!"

"Yes, yes, that’s me."

"Chef, your lips... stung by a bee?"

"Uh..."

Nagishiro Sho scratched his cheek, somewhat embarrassedly pointing at the brown paper box in the bags they were carrying.

"Be careful when eating small buns!"