Reborn in Japan as a Chef God-Chapter 71 - Shop Upgrade
71: Chapter 71: Shop Upgrade
71 -71: Shop Upgrade
Unbeknownst to them, a large plate of Bursting Flame Return-fried Meat was devoured by Feng Zhizi and Midori with the speed of a gusting wind.
Both were sweating profusely, but their faces showed pure enjoyment, as if they didn’t mind the explosive spice and flames in the food at all.
When the deliciousness overwhelmed the spice and fire, enjoying the food became a masochistic pleasure, painful yet joyful.
“So, what do you think?
Compared to those high-end restaurants, where does my cooking fall short?” Xia Yu asked, arms crossed, observing the real estate queen whose face was flushed with intoxication.
Gulp.
Feng Zhizi swallowed noticeably, reminiscing about the dish.
She slightly lowered her head, clenched her delicate fists, and said grudgingly, “Your cooking is…delicious.”
“Then do you think, with my skills, I have the right to keep this restaurant running?” Xia Yu asked with a smile.
Feng Zhizi’s lips quivered, and finally her shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Yes…”
“Louder!”
“Yes!” Feng Zhizi shouted angrily, “Why, with such fantastic skills, do you still hide in this rundown and remote shopping street?
Wouldn’t it be great to apply as a head chef for a gourmet group?
I guarantee you would earn an annual salary of over a million US dollars anywhere you go, plus have a professional kitchen and team at your disposal!”
Her aggrieved tone made Xia Yu pause.
Then he more or less understood her intentions.
She still refused to give up.
If force didn’t work, she tried a softer approach.
“Because this is my family’s restaurant,” Xia Yu shrugged, “I’m not overly ambitious.
Just inheriting the family business and keeping it afloat will do.”
Of course, these words were deliberately provocative.
Feng Zhizi trembled with anger.
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“Boss.” Two black-suited bodyguards supported her from behind.
“Let’s go—”
Biting her lip, Feng Zhizi, still unwilling to give up as she left, pulled out a mint-scented business card from her lady’s wallet and placed it on the kitchen counter, “If you change your mind, you’re welcome to contact me anytime.”
Xia Yu watched as she was helped by the bodyguards and squeezed through the crowd to leave.
He scratched his face, wondering if his approach had been too aggressive.
Eating was just the beginning.
The lingering intense spice and heat would make Feng Zhizi Yako feel like chewing wax when eating other food over the next two to three days.
If she couldn’t handle the spice due to her constitution, the fiery aftermath would last for a while.
Task completed, culinary level increased to lv14.
The Chef God System still considered him a One-star Chef, which puzzled Xia Yu.
Reiko Lina said he had culinary skills comparable to the current First Master of Far Moon, and Xia Yu didn’t think she was flattering him.
After successfully researching the recipe for “Bursting Flame Return-fried Meat,” he had a hunch that it would replace the previous recipe-less “Miracle Comet Fried Rice” as his ultimate trump card dish.
So, having made such a powerful dish, the fact that the system still only ranked him as a mere One-star Chef seemed quite unscientific.
So, after the crowd dispersed, he instructed Midori to clean the kitchen.
Xia Yu found a secluded corner, pondering the direction for upgrading the restaurant while consulting the system on the culinary rating issue.
“The system’s culinary rating changes according to the host’s professional gastronomic institution rating in the real world upon completing promotion tasks,” the system replied mechanically.
That made sense!
Xia Yu suddenly realized.
“Looks like I need to head to the IGO Tokyo headquarters for a promotion assessment soon.”
“To improve the culinary rating, the restaurant rating must also be raised.
Completing those two two-star breakthrough tasks will reward ‘Fierce Bull Green Dragon Slash’ and 10 Talent Points.”
Stroking his chin in thought, Xia Yu retracted his musings and focused on the equally urgent restaurant upgrade.
Having conquered Feng Zhizi Yako with gourmet food, the system awarded him a free upgrade.
But the upgrade wasn’t comprehensive; he could only choose one item among storefront/kitchen/courtyard/living quarters/ingredient storage.
Xia Yu didn’t have much of a dilemma.
Feng Zhizi’s words still echoed clearly in his ears:
“…Customers prefer to dine in upscale, stylish, open-space restaurants, listening to soothing piano or violin music quietly, rather than crammed into a narrow shop, sweating, enduring strange smells in the air…”
The dining environment at Xia’s shop, with a critical eye, clearly had too many problems.
The space was narrow.
Ventilation wasn’t good enough.
Decorations were somewhat outdated too.
So, after a little thought, Xia Yu decided to use this upgrade on the ‘storefront’ option.
“Request accepted,” the system’s voice rang in his head, “The storefront upgrade will start immediately and take three days.
Please close temporarily.”
During the upgrade, he could indulge in some leisure time and rest for a few days.
After the morning wave of customers dispersed past noon, those who had witnessed Xia Yu’s cooking process up close enthusiastically discussed the fiery stir-fry scene.
Some even secretly filmed videos, planning to show off on Twitter to friends who had missed it.
The departing customers didn’t realize that right after they left, Xia Yu followed and posted a freshly written notice on the restaurant door:
“Closed for renovation for three days.
Please understand.”
After posting the notice, Xia Yu closed the door tightly on his way back into the shop.
He headed towards the kitchen but almost bumped into Reiko Lina.
“You haven’t left yet?” Xia Yu noticed her only then.
“I’ve had some thoughts about the aftertaste of Shuangjiang Tofu…” Reiko Lina couldn’t hide her excitement.
“Oh?”
“Adjust the spices!” Reiko Lina suggested, “Mapo Tofu has many seasonings.
I’d recommend adjusting the Sichuan pepper powder so that the aftertaste of Shuangjiang Tofu blends into the dish.
Completely removing it is impossible.”
“Sichuan pepper powder is just one of many seasonings in Mapo Tofu,” Xia Yu shook his head.
“Besides Sichuan pepper powder, there’s dried chili, prickly ash, douchi, tianmian sauce, doubanjiang…
altering one ingredient affects all, requiring appropriate changes to the entire recipe.
It’s not that easy.”
Yet, Xia Yu still reached out and carefully accepted the modification plan Reiko Lina handed over.
“I can use it for reference.”
“But what I make next might not be Magic Mapo Tofu,” Xia Yu smiled slightly, recalling another famous tofu dish from “Cooking Master Boy,” the Great Magic Panda Mapo Tofu.
To fully recreate the dish, he’d have to work hard to earn Fame Points and buy the recipe from the Chef God Store.
Evening.
A group of customers gathered at Xia’s shop entrance.
“Closed today?”
“Read it carefully; it’s closed for three days!”
Several customers let out a disgruntled groan, “After having their cooking, other Chinese cuisines are just inedible.
If they’re closed for three days, I have nowhere to eat.”
“I love Chinese food too.
Any other places you’d recommend going to?”
Customers exchanged ideas.
Not far from the door, Shuigu Jun and Ren Xue, both wearing masks, exchanged glances, full of helplessness.
“Not open!” Shuigu Jun spread his hands.
Ren Xue pouted, saying in a huff, “Let’s go for an upscale buffet in Ginza then!”
“Sure—” Shuigu Jun responded, but couldn’t help looking back at the tightly closed restaurant door as they left, sighing in disappointment in his heart.
Buffets were nowhere as tasty as this restaurant’s food.
Even if pricey, being delicious was enough.
“Wait!”
Ren Xue, who had just proposed going for the upscale buffet, suddenly stopped, walked silently towards the shop with a tense expression, and knocked loudly on Xia’s Restaurant’s door.
Shuigu Jun was stunned, quickly stepping forward to dissuade, “This is too rude…”
