Genshin Impact Simulation: Starting with Melsin's Friend

Chapter 367 Braised Pork with Vegetables in White Sauce - Barbara's Mildly Spicy Special Editio

As residents of the free city-state, the time between dinner and bedtime is the leisure time for most Mondstadt residents.

Take a walk, feed the cats, or perhaps enjoy a glass of dandelion wine at Angel's Gift and listen to the bard's off-key songs.

Aside from the Knights of Favonius who happened to be on duty at the city gate, this was probably the most relaxing moment of the day for everyone.

"Ugh... There are so many people... The reconnaissance failed."

Amber was so surprised by the long line in front of the deer hunters that she stuck out her tongue; even on tiptoe, she could only see a corner of the restaurant.

The chef, who was in charge of cooking, swung his spatula so fast it left afterimages, but still couldn't keep up with the speed at which the dishes were being served.

"Probably because tomorrow is a rest day."

Mu Feng shook his head helplessly. After all, freedom is freedom, but if he missed work because of a hangover, he might be fired the next day for stepping into the office with his left foot first.

However, this concern does not apply to rest days.

Being able to openly drink a whole glass of cider is something even a heavy drinker would be willing to do, even if it meant being knocked unconscious by five million Mora the moment they stepped out the door tomorrow!

On the topic of taking everything, including the pot.

However, it seems that it will be a long time before it's their turn, until the Primordial Ocean floods Teyvat.

Looking at the endless queue, the rabbit hair accessory on the girl's head drooped limply.

The greatest distance in the world is not from Mondstadt to Nordkalé, but the distance between two people with honey-glazed fried meat right in front of them but unable to eat it.

"Let's go to Mond Department Store and buy some bacon and bread. We'll just have sandwiches for dinner tonight."

Mu Feng suppressed a laugh and tugged at Amber's hand, pulling the eager little girl away from the crowd queuing in front of the deer hunters.

The girl puffed out her cheeks, smacked her lips, and waved her other empty fist. Just wait, she'll be back!

There were significantly fewer people in front of Mondstadt than at the Deer Hunters; the crowd was sparse, mostly people preparing for tomorrow's breakfast.

Although it carries the name of a department store, Mu Feng always harbored suspicions that its name was a form of false advertising.

Aside from items like cabbage and tomato sunset fruit that adventurers can find in wild treasure chests, the shop actually only carries a handful of other items such as bacon, sugar, and salt.

It is actually far from being a department store.

"Um, by the way, Brother Mufeng, can you really cook?"

Finally, Amber, who had stopped thinking about the honey-glazed carrot and pork stir-fry, came back to her senses and tugged at Mu Feng's sleeve, asking a new question.

Come to think of it, she seemed to have never seen Mu Feng cook.

Moreover, in her impression, nobles and other important figures generally did not cook for themselves.

“Fool Amber, nobles also have special cooking courses, and the assessment is no easier than swordsmanship.”

Mu Feng reached out and poked An Bo's soft cheek, but the little girl stuck out her tongue and giggled as she dodged away.

Okay, as long as it's not burnt toast with charcoal-burnt bacon and fried eggs, she'll be lenient.

However, when it comes to the cooking skills assessment, some less-than-pleasant memories from a year ago resurfaced in Mu Feng's mind.

The main subject of the assessment was Barbara, and I believe that everyone else in the family, except for him, should have a deep impression of it.

The topic of the assessment was quite ordinary: braised vegetables and meat in a white sauce.

The stew, simmered in cream, melts in your mouth, a relaxing experience akin to taking a milk bath.

This is the highest praise given to this stew in the recipe.

However, if the theme of the assessment is ordinary, then the main characters participating in the assessment are likely to be quite extraordinary.

Mu Feng felt regret whenever he thought about it, a deep, deep regret, because on the day of the food tasting, a group of merchants came from Liyue, and among their goods happened to be Jueyun Chili.

At first, he thought that Barbara bringing home a large bag of spicy peppers that day was just related to her spicy drinks.

But when the family was preparing to taste the food for Barbara that evening, and the little girl asked how spicy she wanted it, Mu Feng began to have a vague feeling that things were not going well.

He had a bad feeling, exchanged a glance with Qin sitting next to him, and silently moved to the edge of the chair.

Frey and Simon exchanged a glance, though they were also puzzled: when did braised meat become available with a spiciness option?

However, in order not to discourage their daughter, the two ultimately chose the mildest spicy option with politeness and caution.

For some reason, my ominous premonition has become even stronger.

Especially after watching Barbara humming a song as she poured a small bottle of unidentified red liquid into the milky white soup.

Knowing the inside story, Mu Feng suppressed the urge to turn and run away, and secretly whispered to Qin beside him.

Soon, Qin's expression also became somewhat subtle.

That must be tomato juice...right...right...?

In an eerie atmosphere, the braised vegetables and meat in white sauce, Barbara's special mild spicy version, officially graced the dining table.

Under the little girl's expectant gaze, Mu Feng swallowed hard and cautiously picked up the fork in front of him.

Great, the broth is milky white, there's no chili oil, and the star-shaped carrots are cute; it looks perfectly normal.

Did I see it wrong just now? Is it really tomato juice?

He and Qin exchanged a glance, and just to be on the safe side, they carefully selected two pieces of meat whose edges had not been stained with broth.

They haven't forgotten the lesson of spicy coffee and milk.

But Frey and Simon, unaware of the situation, were more direct. The moment the meat, soaked in broth, entered their mouths, their previously cheerful expressions froze on their faces.

Mu Feng immediately sensed something was wrong, but it was too late.

There's nothing wrong with bland vegetable and meat stew, and there's nothing wrong with mild spiciness, but actually, the "mild" in "mildly spicy" is actually dangerous.

That evening, news of food poisoning at the Gunnhildr family somehow spread, putting the Knights on high alert and almost leading to a cover-up of the entire area as if Hilde had been assassinated.

From that day on, Jueyun peppers were forbidden in the house.

Not only Jueyun peppers, but even regular chili peppers must be kept in strict quantities in the kitchen.

Cooking skills can be down-to-earth, but they should not be abject to the powerful and influential.

The braised meat should be offered to the audience, not sent away.

This directly resulted in Mu Feng being responsible for delivering Barbara's spicy drinks from then on.

Later, according to unreliable information from her father Simon, this was comparable to the time when Gynt put too much coffee flavoring in her pizza, causing the examiner to lose sleep for three whole days.

Looking at it this way, it seems that Mu Feng isn't so confident in his cooking skills anymore.

After all, his ability to pass the test smoothly seems to be secondary to his actual skills; in this respect, it was all thanks to the contrast provided by his peers.

But that shouldn't be the case; he should have been like that since childhood...

Mu Feng's expression suddenly shifted from reminiscence to bewilderment.

Wait, since childhood...

So...how was it again?

……