"What's wrong?"
"Are you so lacking in confidence?"
Seeing Tadokoro Megumi already preparing for the worst, Sosuke couldn't help but laugh.
He had already given her the answers to the test questions in advance; she only needed to follow his method and she would definitely pass the first class's assessment!
Yet, she was still as dejected as she was in the original story.
"I have confidence."
"But… but I also have to face reality!"
"I got into the Advanced Division with the lowest score, so even if I don't get expelled in the first class, I'm destined to be eliminated quickly later on."
Saying this, Tadokoro Megumi sighed deeply.
Then, she hurriedly took a few sips of the flower tea, as if releasing some pressure.
…
"Tadokoro Megumi."
"Even if you fail now, no one will question you!"
"At least in my heart, the path you are pursuing is absolutely correct."
"Whether it's bad luck or no one understands you, as long as you always maintain that sincerity and that love for cooking, I believe no difficulty will ever defeat you."
"Indeed."
"In the brutally competitive Totsuki Academy."
"It's certainly very, very difficult for a laggard like you, who is lagging in grades, to overcome your mental barriers."
"And even if you do overcome them, there's still a long and arduous road ahead."
"But for you, the most precious thing is not your appearance, nor your family background, nor various strange personalities and talents, but the gentleness overflowing from your heart!"
"This, perhaps, will be your strongest weapon for establishing yourself in Totsuki."
Looking at Tadokoro Megumi, Sosuke couldn't help but speak some philosophical words to guide her.
Everyone has their own life; some are more winding, while others are more stable.
Many things cannot be changed at the beginning. But as long as one perseveres, perhaps what was once thought to be the wrong choice will turn out to be the right one in the end.
Moreover, this life experience, different from others, will be a valuable asset!
"Really?"
"Shopkeeper, do you really think a laggard like me…"
"Will also achieve something if I just keep working hard?"
"Yes, you are the person I am most optimistic about!"
The stunned Tadokoro Megumi, after hearing this, seemed to be encouraged: "Shopkeeper, thank you for thinking so highly of me. I… I won't give up on myself anymore; I will definitely work hard until the end."
At this moment, she still didn't know how much impact their conversation tonight would have on her entire future life!
It was only when she successfully became a Totsuki Elite Ten member in the future, and began to lead Totsuki Academy with many geniuses like Erina and Yukihira Soma, that she truly understood!
…
Night.
The soft moonlight and scattered stars made the night sky appear peaceful.
Subsequently, the Izakaya gradually received more customers.
And among these customers were Sonoka from the Spring Fruit Pavilion Restaurant next door, and her good friend Kakizaki Taki!
"Ladies!"
"What would you like to eat at the Izakaya?"
Seeing the two of them, Sosuke greeted them warmly and asked.
"Taki!"
"What do you want to eat?"
Sonoka, who had just entered, couldn't help but blush slightly after seeing Sosuke.
Immediately, she quickly turned her head and asked Kakizaki Taki beside her.
"Can you make Valencia Paella?"
Kakizaki Taki stared intently at Sosuke with her fierce gaze, then finally asked curiously.
"Paella?"
"Just a tiny bit?"
"Okay, then two servings of Valencia Paella."
Kakizaki Taki replied without hesitation.
"OK."
"Please wait a moment."
After Sosuke finished speaking, he returned to the cooking counter to prepare the Valencia Paella!
…
When it comes to Spanish cuisine.
Many people will blurt out: Paella.
And even beginners who know a little Spanish seem to all know how to say La paella (paella).
Looking at both East and West, the formation of most cuisines can be attributed to the gathering and separation of ingredients.
Many excellent dishes either amaze people or make them regret not discovering them sooner, but only Valencia Paella has a rich exotic flavor and an unforgettable taste experience!
Although there is no historical data to prove how Valencia Paella came to be.
One thing is certain: Valencia Paella was already very popular more than 200 years ago.
At that time, workers would gather at noon, mix leftovers and rice, and cook over an open fire.
Therefore, in the original paella, there were no seafood ingredients.
Later, the food-loving people of Valencia continuously developed various types of rice dishes containing different ingredients, such as: vegetable rice, fish rice, seafood paella, etc., with a rich variety.
Nowadays, with the development of the times, dishes with seafood as the main ingredient have become very popular.
Hence, various hodgepodge rice dishes gradually evolved into seafood paella.
…
Squid.
Tiger prawns.
White prawns.
Mussels.
Clams.
Small yellow croaker.
Kelp.
Scallions, ginger, garlic.
Red bell pepper.
Green bell pepper.
And short-grain rice, white wine, white onion, tomatoes, olive oil, saffron, parsley, and so on.
After preparing these ingredients, Sosuke took out a very large, shallow, flat-bottomed pan.
The reason for using this shape of pan is that the essence of paella is the crispy crust at the bottom and sides of the pan, which is fragrant and delicious.
Therefore, the pan walls must be short, and the pan area must be large, with the rice spread in a thin layer, so that as much crust as possible can be produced!
Then, using a pair of kitchen scissors, he scraped off the scales of the small yellow croaker, then removed the gills and internal organs.
Next, he used a slicing knife to make a "cross" incision on the fish head, peeled off the skin, and discarded it.
He peeled the tiger prawns and white prawns, removed the veins, keeping the heads and shells, and cleaned the squid.
He boiled a pot of water, keeping it at a rolling boil, and added the mussels.
He was careful not to exceed 15 seconds, removing them as soon as they foamed heavily and slightly opened their shells, then broke off half the shell and snipped off the byssus threads from the soft body. He did the same for the clams, putting them in boiling water, removing them when they opened, and breaking off half the shell.
He fried the small yellow croaker, placing the flat-bottomed pan on the stove, heating it over medium heat for three minutes, then pouring in olive oil and adding the small yellow croaker.
He used a medium-low heat, but the pan had to be hot enough.
He simmered the seafood broth, putting the small yellow croaker and the freshly stir-fried ingredients into a stew pot, then adding two pieces of kelp, pouring in hot water, bringing it to a boil over high heat, and then simmering it over low heat.
"I underestimated the Shopkeeper of this Izakaya."
"I didn't expect him to make such an obscure dish as Valencia Paella so well!"
At this moment, watching Sosuke busy at work, Kakizaki Taki couldn't help but fall into thought.
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