Ch. 4 ~ Xue's Cooking Instruction
Mito: Wok ready, cooking utensils ready...
Mito: Phew...
Mito: (Iroha-chan has come over to play before, but Xue-chan and the rest coming... I'm kinda nervous)
Mito: (... I can't be going timid here. I've become friends with Hikari-chan, too. Even Mito should be growing...!)
Mito: (... More than anything, to be able to make... Delicious fried rice for Iroha-chan)
Mito: ... Ah.
Miro: Welcome, everyone.
Iroha: We're coming in~!
Iroha: Oh, right, is it alright if we don't greet your family?
Mito: Grandpa and Grandma aren't here right now, so you don't have to worry about it.
Kamira: Maan~ Every time I see it, it's su~ch a charming restaurant.
And being here before the place opens feels like we've made a reservation! This is so cool!
Hikari: Are those pasted on the wall the menu? They all look so tasty~
I'll have to come and eat when you're open!
Xue: Shiromaru, I bought the ingredients.
Can I put them here?
Mito: Y, yeah!
Mito: Thank you for buying everything, Xue-chan... I'll pay you back now.
Xue: Thanks for your business.
Mito: Just like you told me... I cooked the rice and chilled it.
That makes it crumble more easily, right?
Xue: Yup. Looks like you've prepared everything.
Then let's get started.
Iroha: Is there anything we could help with?
Xue: No need.
I'm teaching Shiromaru, so you guys just sit somewhere and wait.
Hikari: Okaaaay~♪
Iroha: Now then, let us watch from afar, so as to avoid getting in the way of those two.
Iroha: Haah~ I can't wait for it to be finished.
Hikari: Right~
Hm~huhum~
Kamira: Hikarin, you're kinda really happy today, aren't you?
Hikari: Eh!?
I'm surprised you noticed, Kamira-chan.
Kamira: You've been smiling like crazy and humming to yourself, anyone'd know.
Are you happy 'cause you get to eat those two's fried rice?
Hikari: That too~ But it's a different reason!
Iroha: What is it?
Hikari: Xue is my friend, and Mito-chan is also my friend, you see?
Having my friends get along makes me happy~ Is what I was thinking!
Hikari: Deepening bonds through cooking! Expanding the circle of friends!
It feels so youthful, it's great~
Kamira: Aha, plain and simple, I see.
Hikari: Ehehe... Back when I just came to Tokyo, there wasn't anyone I could really talk with.
Being able to be noisy like this is fun.
Iroha: Moving to Tokyo...
Iroha: That's right, let's all make some noise today!
Kamira: We already mess around plenty at Denki's practice.
Before you know it, it's all otaku talk, and so on.
Hikari: Is that so?
That's nice, Denki... I want to see it!
Xue: About the seasonings, I've prepared everything except the shaoxing wine.
I'll be using your soy sauce and salt.
Xue: From the right, broad bean paste, sichuan peppers, and the ingredients for Chinese dashi.
Then there's garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and the like.
Mito: Heh... So that's the secret to the tingling spice.
Xue: I'll show you an example, so help me out.
Mito: O, okay.
Xue: First prepare the ingredients like the green onions and char siu by cutting them up.
Shiromaru, you're on it.
Mito: Alright!
Xue: Meanwhile, heat up the wok and melt the lard.
Then prepare a beaten egg in the meantime.
Mito: Why do you use lard?
Xue: It adds more sweetness than regular oil and gives it a better flavor. So, once the lard is melted, add the sichuan peppers and aromatics so their fragrance is added to the oil.
Mito: Heh... So the sichuan peppers are granulated.
Xue: Let's leave the amount about here. If you use too much, it won't just be a "tingling" spice.
Okay, hand over the egg.
Mito: Ah, I'm still cutting the ingredients...
Wait... Just a bit.
Xue: Nope, stop your hands and get the egg first.
Hurry up. The aromatics are burning!
Mito: Awawa, sorry...!
Mito: Here.
Xue: Speed is important in Chinese cooking.
If you can't finish cutting while cooking, prepare the ingredients beforehand.
Mito: I was just watching, but I spaced out and slowed down.
Sorry...
Xue: Okay, the egg has fluffed up. Put the rice in before it's fully cooked.
Mix it while spreading the rice gently with the ladle.
Mito: Woah...
Xue: While shaking the wok appropriately—
Make sure the moisture has evaporated and it's become scattered—
Mito: ...!
Xue: Then, pop the ingredients in— The broad bean paste—
Keep the fire on high the whole time— And keep the wok moving—
Mito: ...!?
Xue: Sprinkle in some salt to adjust the flavor—
And to finish, line the pan with a bit of soy sauce and dissolved Chinese dashi——
Xue: — Okay, all done!
Mito: (— X, xue-chan...
All her movements were so fast...!!)