Chapter 674: Chapter 673: Blowing Wind

“How’s this?”

Xia Yu looked at Zhu Qing, who was sweating from eating.

“Delicious!”

“With your Lin Chef’s taste, help me appraise it in detail and tell me where there’s room for improvement!” Xia Yu glanced at the system message he had just received—

“The completion of this dish is 98%, not meeting the task requirements. Please continue to strive.”

On the table, a large ceramic plate was conspicuously stacked with black and white tofu cubes.

Beside the stand, some green bamboo leaves were stained with sauce.

This was the new version of the Great Magic Panda Tofu, practiced early in the morning. The white tofu was purchased directly from the system as “Shuangjiang Tofu,” while the black tofu was homemade by Xia Yu, named “Mutated Frost Descent Tofu.”

The white tofu had beautiful snowflake patterns, and at first glance, the black tofu was very dark. Still, upon close observation, one could see dark layers interspersed among the tofu. Xia Yu called these layers sugar patterns!

And this was also the unique flavor of the black “Big Tuna Belly Soybeans” and black “Shuangjiang Tofu.”

After a while, Zhu Qing put down his spoon and found a napkin to wipe his mouth and sweat.

“Balance!”

Zhu Qing’s appraisal had just one keyword, “If you can make this dish more balanced, it will naturally reach a state of harmony and completion!”

“Balance?”

With a playful smile at the corners of his mouth, Zhu Qing looked at him. “Have you considered the ‘Soul Suppressing Bun’ and practiced it multiple times? Didn’t you grasp the essence of balance?”

Xia Yu lowered his head to look at the black and white tofu, his face slightly trembling.

Black and white!

His vision blurred slightly, and in the plate, there seemed to be a faint image of a Tai Chi Yin-Yang diagram.

The white “Qi” tended to be stable, but the black “Qi” was rough and untamable, Xia Yu thought to himself, “Indeed, the sugar flavor of the black beans is too prominent!”

Just like taming “Shuangjiang Tofu” to blend into the magical Mapo tofu recipe.

Now, to integrate two types of tofu with completely different characteristics and flavors into the “Great Magic Panda Tofu” recipe, the difficulty had increased geometrically. However, Xia Yu was full of confidence. He, who had improved the magical Mapo tofu recipe and was now advancing on the path of Lin Chef, had his cooking skills advanced by several dimensions.

“I’ll practice at most two more times, and reaching 100% completion won’t be a problem!”

Xia Yu was satisfied with the progress.

…

He momentarily set aside recipe improvement and manga matters.

The “School Festival” was of utmost concern to Xia Yu.

Thump, thump, thump!

In the morning, at Far Moon School’s administration building, a group of students ran along the corridor and rushed into the lobby.

“Huff! Huff! Huff!”

The head of the school’s news department, a second-year female student named Ootani Akiko, wore glasses and a braided hairstyle. Usually quiet, she excitedly gathered a group of her team around a young instructor lounging on a sofa.

Flanked on either side of the instructor were three Ten Outstanding Chiefs, responsible for the “School Festival” Execution Committee—Kobayakawa Ryodan, Nikunokuni Ningning, and Tiqie Helinai.

Click, click, click…

It started with a barrage of flash photography.

Ootani Akiko’s palms were sweaty as she sat on the sofa next to the young instructor and handed him a microphone. Several records of the news department held pens, their faces tense, ready to record the interview and later compile the transcript to be published in the latest edition of Far Moon School’s newspaper.

“Instructor Xia, has the lineup for the ‘School Festival’ Execution Committee been confirmed?”

“Indeed, as you can see, I personally serve as the Executive Chairman. Behind me are the three Executive Committee members I appointed, all of whom you know, so no further introduction is needed.”

“Last golden September, in the forty-third ‘Far Moon Autumn Selection’ you personally served as Executive Chairman, it was a resounding success, unprecedented in both enthusiasm and influence, receiving unanimous praise from the culinary world…”

“Can you talk more specifically about your execution plan for this ‘School Festival’ and your personal expectations?”

A pair of eyes in the room stared at him.

Including Kobayakawa Ryodan, Nikunokuni Ningning, and Tiqie Eriina, all had a look of curiosity in their eyes.

This morning, when Far Moon’s official website and Twitter announced the executive head of this ‘School Festival,’ the whole school must have been buzzing, and when Xia Yu personally phoned to appoint them to this hall, the three were still bewildered.

“Plan? Expectations?”

Xia Yu calmly, showing his white teeth to the camera, said, “First about the expectations—I intend to give my utmost effort to transform this ‘School Festival’ into Far Moon’s most prestigious golden calling card. ‘Autumn Selection’ is a competitive event for students, but the ‘School Festival’ is different. It’s open to the general public, and it can be considered a major culinary festival hosted by Far Moon. But unlike other food festivals outside, you, the students, are the protagonists of this grand event!”

“So, display your talents to your heart’s content—”

The hall went quiet for a while.

News department head Ootani Akiko said, “What about the specific execution plan?”

“My plan is as follows…”

…

“Ding!”

At noon, between the teaching buildings, the bell signaling the end of class rang.

In the freshman English classroom of the high school section, the teacher called out to the students as they were about to leave their seats, saying, “Before class ends, I want to remind you again, as you all know, this year’s ‘School Festival’ is just around the corner. Only those who get permission can open mock shops at the school festival. Everyone can apply alone or in a team. If you are interested in opening a shop, please get the application form and submit it as soon as possible!”

“Got it!”

The students responded, they were just rushing to leave their seats when the classroom’s speaker suddenly transmitted a sizzling sound, followed by the breathless voice of the school broadcaster:

“Here’s a special news break at midday!”

“‘School Festival’ executive, Instructor Xia, recently had an interview with the news department. Detailed text and video interviews are available on the news department’s Twitter page, and the latest edition of the school’s special publication is also being urgently printed. Please actively read Instructor Xia’s speech! Let’s cheer for the School Festival!”

Boom.

A chorus of exclamations erupted in the classroom, and similar scenes unfolded in other classrooms. Xingping Chuangzhen, who had just been planning to look for lunch, was confused.

It was not long before a chatter covered his ears.

“Wow, the most powerful ‘School Festival’ is starting from this edition? Instructor Xia’s gaze is so intense!”

“‘Turn the School Festival into Far Moon’s golden calling card’?”

“That’s not the point! Look at the specific execution plan. This ‘School Festival’s’ shop ranking actually has two systems, one for the Ten Outstanding Chiefs and another for other students, each having awards for the top 3!”

“My goodness!”

The students whispered in shock.

“The top prize for both Ten Outstanding Chiefs and regular student rankings is actually a real restaurant space? Gosh, winning a top store in Xia’s Shopping Street with three years of rent waived, and all other fees covered by the shopping street. Instructor Xia is personally covering the renovation costs… This, this is like being handed a restaurant to manage! Not just some mock shop at the School Festival.”

Students with average family circumstances, upon seeing the content of the interview, were utterly fervent.

Within Tokyo, to open a restaurant with decent style, the initial capital required is not something regular students can afford, especially since Xia’s Shopping Street’s location and reputation are like a dream. If there were a professional media survey on the best places to start a restaurant aimed at culinary elites soon, Xia’s Shopping Street would undoubtedly top the list!

Indeed, not just regular students were agitated.

“A restaurant in the shopping street!”

Somewhere on the campus, the Ten Outstanding Chiefs’ leader, the ‘Table White Knight’ Si Yingshi, gripped his phone, his eyes burning with eagerness.

Thinking of the renowned alumni who had made their mark there, each a predecessor.

“That is where my future restaurant castle awaits, where I shall stand firm!”