"Once the filling reaches this stage, add a bit of diced carrots and shelled green peas. Since they need to be blanched before adding, they should be put in last. The purpose of adding these two is to enhance the color, as well as to increase the texture and flavor. You can also substitute them with other ingredients according to your preference."
As Dylan spoke, he mixed the shrimp dumpling filling in the basin evenly again.
Then, he picked up a shrimp dumpling wrapper from the side and placed it in his palm, "When wrapping, the oiled side faces out, and the non-oiled side faces in. After placing the filling inside, just pinch pleats in one direction."
Dylan demonstrated with great skill, wrapping a shrimp dumpling in just one or two seconds.
"This is how it looks after being wrapped. Once steamed, its skin will become crystal clear, which is why shrimp dumplings in Cantonese dim sum are also known as crystal shrimp dumplings."
He briefly displayed the shrimp dumpling before placing it on the table. Seeing their bewildered expressions, Dylan demonstrated a few more times before speeding up, wrapping all the remaining shrimp dumplings.
He opened the steamer, which had been preheated with boiling water, and took off the top steamer tray. Thinly sliced carrots were spread directly onto the steamer tray, the shrimp dumplings were placed on the carrot slices, the lid was closed, and they were steamed for four minutes.
"Tsukasa-kun, you don't need to hurry. The shrimp dumplings will be ready in four minutes. You can continue after tasting them."
Seeing Eishi Tsukasa about to start preparing, Dylan interrupted him.
"Alright, I understand."
Eishi Tsukasa nodded, put down his ingredients, and stood quietly beside Dylan, his gaze fixed on the steamer.
"I wonder what it will taste like~ But with the ingredients Dylan Sensei prepared, it should be incredibly delicious no matter what! Ahh!! Isn't it ready yet? I can't take it anymore!"
Rindo Kobayashi stood in front of the steamer, her face ecstatic as she sniffed the aroma, muttering to herself, her voice full of longing.
As the temperature gradually rose, the shrimp dumplings emitted a faint wheaten fragrance. Though ordinary, it made one reluctant to move away.
"Indeed, with such exquisite cooking, the final product must be astonishing. At the very least, it will be a work of Five-Star Special Grade or higher!"
Satoshi Isshiki's voice rang out. The few skills Dylan had displayed had completely won him over. People always admire the strong, and he was no exception.
If the other person was only slightly stronger, he would feel unconvinced and want to surpass them. But if he was completely outmatched, he would only be thoroughly convinced, removing himself from the ranks of those who would compete, euphemistically stating, "We're not of the same generation; it's not appropriate to compare."
As time passed, the aroma in the air became more and more distinct. There was no obvious dominant scent, only the faint fragrance of wheat starch. Dylan closed his eyes, sensing the changes in aroma. When a hint of shrimp fragrance emerged, he decisively reached out and opened the steamer.
In an instant, a large amount of steam billowed out, enveloping the kitchen in a white mist that slowly dissipated after more than ten seconds. The dish inside the steamer was revealed at this moment.
"This is..."
Looking at the shrimp dumplings, Eishi Tsukasa's initially indifferent expression twisted slightly, his mouth agape in shock.
"A 'Flowing Light' level dish!"
Satoshi Isshiki swallowed hard, voicing what everyone present was thinking. As members of Tōtsuki's Elite Ten and inheritors of culinary families, they naturally recognized 'Flowing Light' cuisine and understood the level of skill required to produce it.
They had watched Dylan's cooking process from start to finish. Apart from his techniques being slightly more advanced, the rest were conventional cooking steps, handled with extreme precision. That's right! It was because every step was handled with extreme precision! That's why the dish reached the 'Flowing Light' level. As the saying goes, when there's no room for further improvement, that's the peak!
In that instant, a flash of inspiration struck Satoshi Isshiki. He clenched his fists, a bold idea forming in his mind. If he went back and polished a dish to the extreme, could he make it reach the 'Flowing Light' level?
"Have a taste."
Looking at Rindo Kobayashi, who was practically leaning half her body over, gazing at the steamer with desire, Dylan found it amusing and handed her a pair of chopsticks.
"I don't need such cumbersome things!"
Without taking the chopsticks, Rindo Kobayashi grabbed a shrimp dumpling and stuffed it into her mouth.
The freshly steamed shrimp dumplings were crystal clear, shaped like crescent moons, looking like crystals and revealing the ingredients inside. Although they didn't emit an intense aroma during steaming, the moment her teeth made contact, breaking the dumpling skin, the astonishing flavor hidden within burst forth.
Her clothes rustled loudly. Even in the enclosed kitchen, it felt as if a current of air had rushed in from outside, impacting the young woman's taste buds and simultaneously affecting her clothes.
"Delicious!"
Rindo Kobayashi couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. The moment she bit down, the tender, juicy, and springy texture of the shrimp meat blossomed in her mouth, perfectly fusing with the rich aroma of the pork fat. It retained the fresh sweetness of the shrimp while adding a rich complexity to the filling!
The crispness of the diced bamboo shoots and the spiciness of the minced ginger and scallions intertwined, adding a unique new flavor. At the same time, the addition of soy sauce, lard, and umami sauce made the flavor even more mellow and rich, the savory aroma lingering endlessly. The sesame oil added at the end was the masterstroke. Just a few drops made the aroma of the shrimp dumpling filling even richer, elevating its complexity. Closing her eyes to savor it, the phrase "endlessly evocative" was no exaggeration!
"Ah~"
Her face flushed red, Rindo Kobayashi let out an incredibly alluring sigh, her body trembling slightly, her eyes even more dazed. This feeling was like swimming freely in the ocean, discovering a paradise-like forest suddenly appearing beneath the sea. Pigs ran around, lush bamboo grew, and there was an acre of scallion fields. Countless shrimps swam in mid-air around her, searching for food. And at this moment, she was among these shrimps. The shrimps discovered her, continuously burrowing towards her body, kissing every part of her, making her unable to suppress a low moan.
"Fresh, fragrant, tender, smooth, crisp—various textures overlap, forming an inseparable relationship. What an exquisitely perfect combination!"
At the same time, Eishi Tsukasa also walked up, picked up a shrimp dumpling, and put it in his mouth, closing his eyes to savor it carefully. Various flavors emerged in his mind, constantly bombarding his brain like meteors, giving him an exceptionally intense taste experience.
"What an astonishing work! With just simple cooking, a dish can produce a 'Flowing Light,' achieving something countless senior chefs could not!"
Satoshi Isshiki exclaimed with envy after a long moment. It was truly hard to imagine that such an amazing work could be made so effortlessly.
Before meeting Dylan, he had always thought that to cook a glowing or even 'Flowing Light' level dish, one must use a recipe with sufficient creativity. He never expected that ordinary, common dishes could also be cooked to a 'Flowing Light' level! But on careful thought, it was normal. If common dishes weren't delicious enough, they wouldn't have been passed down for thousands of years and still not been eliminated!
"Alright, the rest is up to you. Following my method, as long as there are no major mistakes, with your skills, you should be able to create a special-grade dish. Go and feel it. There's only one thing you need to remember: dominate them, don't just satisfy their desires."
As he spoke, Dylan looked at Eishi Tsukasa, simultaneously stepping away from the cooking station, leaving him space.
"Dominate..."
Hearing Dylan's words, Eishi Tsukasa muttered to himself, looking at the numerous ingredients. At this moment, it felt as if whispers were reaching his ears. He could hear them with absolute clarity. He heard the ingredients whispering, begging him, telling him the cooking methods they desired.
"Please stir-fry me."
"Please make me into dumpling filling."
"Please render me into lard."
"I don't want any changes, please just mix me directly into rice, let me and Miss Soy Sauce be as close as lovers~"
"Please..."
Various voices swirled in his ears, sounding incredibly complex, causing Eishi Tsukasa to frown, his hand movements involuntarily pausing. Finally, he simply closed his eyes, reached out his hand, and a kitchen knife appeared. The voices in his ears grew louder until he could no longer distinguish who was speaking. Only one voice remained in his mind: "Please make me into shrimp dumplings!"
After hearing the voice from an unknown ingredient, Eishi Tsukasa opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them. Immediately after, Satoshi Isshiki and Rindo Kobayashi saw him move quickly. Following Dylan's previous steps, although his speed was much slower, his movements were clean and decisive, clearly reaching his limit.
However, as his speed increased, problems also revealed themselves to Dylan. His knife skills lacked some refinement, and his techniques for kneading the filling and wrapping the shrimp dumplings had a certain degree of flaws. But for a student, this was already very impressive.
If there were no comparison, Satoshi Isshiki and Rindo Kobayashi would definitely exclaim: "Eishi Tsukasa's culinary skills have improved again." But with Dylan having previously demonstrated even more formidable cooking techniques, the two felt no surprise. They merely sighed inwardly: "Indeed, handling every ingredient with meticulous care is not an easy task. Even this very famous genius can only process the ingredients to this extent; there's still an immense gap to meticulous precision."
Soon, ten minutes passed. Dylan silently counted down, judging the cooking time of the shrimp dumplings in the steamer, while also observing Eishi Tsukasa's actions to see if he could open the steamer in time.
Finally... "You were more than ten seconds late opening the steamer. This will make the skin too soft, and the texture will be somewhat lacking. Pay attention next time."
Watching Eishi Tsukasa move to open the steamer lid, Dylan's voice sounded. He then looked at the steamer.
The shrimp dumplings were crystal clear, with thin skins and generous fillings, emitting a rich, complex aroma. As the steamer was opened, the fragrance instantly filled the entire kitchen.
"It smells so good, even more enticing than Dylan Sensei's shrimp dumplings..."
Sensing the aroma, Rindo Kobayashi couldn't help but exclaim, "However, although it smells enticing, it doesn't have that fatal attraction like Dylan Sensei's shrimp dumplings!"
Thinking about the sensation Dylan's cooking gave her, Rindo Kobayashi added a further explanation. Dylan's shrimp dumplings didn't have a very enticing aroma, but upon smelling them, there was an inexplicable attraction, making one unwilling to leave even in death. As for the one before them now, although the aroma was incredibly enticing, if one suppressed the desire in their heart, they could still control themselves. The difference between the two was like heaven and earth. None of the few people present were fools; they still possessed basic judgment of cuisine.
"The taste is acceptable; it has already touched the standard of a special-grade. The proportion between ingredients is well-handled. It would be even better if you added 5 more grams of pork fat and 1 gram less of lard. You listened well to the voice of the ingredients and did not act according to their original desires, but instead orchestrated them, ensuring your own ideas remained dominant."
Savoring the deliciousness, Dylan couldn't help but praise.
"However, the control over various details is average. The force used when beating the shrimp was too little, resulting in insufficient binding. Too little umami sauce was added to the pork fat, causing its 'greasy' taste to skyrocket. These are some of the more obvious problems."
After the praise came an analysis of the shortcomings. This was what he, as a teacher, should do most. Constant praise would only make students arrogant and complacent.
"I see, so there were still so many shortcomings..."
"Please let me try again! Dylan Sensei."
Hearing Dylan's analysis and comparing the taste of their shrimp dumplings, Eishi Tsukasa pondered for a moment, then looked up at him with an eager expression.
"There isn't much time right now, and I can't let you waste it. You can make them yourself when you go back; these ingredients can be bought at the market. Next, this is my stage. You all just wait on the side. However, after eating my cooking, it's not acceptable not to put in corresponding labor. I hope you consider this carefully before tasting."
Stepping up to the cooking station, Dylan shooed Eishi Tsukasa away, not letting him continue, as that would be wasting his time. He had already taught the method; the rest was up to Eishi Tsukasa himself. Cooking was not something that could be mastered overnight; it required a vast amount of time. Practicing once more or once less here wouldn't make much difference.
"I understand, Dylan Sensei."
Hearing Dylan's words, Eishi Tsukasa suppressed the strong desire to cook within him, bowed slightly, and spoke respectfully to him. He could still distinguish the importance between cooking back home and watching Dylan cook now.
He would go and observe classes in the elementary division then; Dylan Sensei probably wouldn't mind his presence. However, he truly envied this year's elementary division. With Dylan around, the students advancing to the high school division next year would probably be terrifyingly strong. After all, they would have survived under this man's tutelage. But, this was just right! Once his two senpais graduated, he would have no opponents left in Tōtsuki. It was a good thing for Dylan to cultivate some competitors for him. He enjoyed culinary duels, especially with skilled individuals. Weak people weren't worthy of him wielding his culinary tools, so he needed strong opponents!
"Mm. You're here. Find a place to rest."
As he spoke, Dylan looked towards the doorway and then walked over.
At this moment, Kikuchi Sonoka appeared outside, carrying large and small bags of ingredients. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and body, her clothes outlining her curves. While Eishi Tsukasa was cooking earlier, Kikuchi Sonoka had sent Dylan a message saying she had arrived, so he had asked her to bring some ingredients up. He hadn't expected Kikuchi Sonoka to have both hands completely full. Although the hotel had an elevator, it was still a considerable distance from the warehouse to his place. This girl was really working hard.
"Okay, Dylan Sensei. Tsukasa, Rindo, and Isshiki, you're all here too. Long time no see."
Watching Dylan proactively take the ingredient bags from her hands, Kikuchi Sonoka showed a sweet smile, feeling warm inside. Then she looked at the other people in the kitchen, Kikuchi Sonoka's expression was somewhat surprised. Clearly, she hadn't expected Dylan to know other Elite Ten members, and three of them at that.
"Damn it, I'm not the only one!"
Kikuchi Sonoka thought with considerable annoyance. But thinking about it carefully, it seemed normal. With Dylan's culinary skills, he would be a respected figure wherever he went. It was perfectly normal for Elite Ten members to want to be close to him! Rather, if they didn't want to be close to him, then their heads must be broken.
"Long time no see, Kikuchi-senpai! By the way, have you returned from Hokkaido? I thought you were going to continue traveling."
Seeing Kikuchi Sonoka, Rindo Kobayashi's expression was also somewhat surprised. She then walked over in a few quick steps and greeted her warmly, looking like they had a good relationship.
"I won't be leaving for now. After all, my best teacher is here."
Kikuchi Sonoka said as she reached out and hugged Dylan's arm, pressing her ample bosom against him, her voice filled with an ambiguous emotion. At the same time, she tilted her head up, looking softly at Dylan's face, and Dylan also lowered his head, his gaze meeting hers, which made her heart rate suddenly accelerate.
"I see."
Looking at their intimate posture, Rindo Kobayashi's face showed a thoughtful expression. She then nudged Dylan's waist with her elbow.
"I didn't realize Dylan Sensei was quite the charmer, to have actually won over Kikuchi-senpai. You know, she was the unattainable flower of the school; so many people confessed to her, and she didn't even spare them a glance."
Seeing Dylan look over, Rindo Kobayashi said with a slightly teasing tone, completely oblivious to the fact that Kikuchi Sonoka's ears had turned completely red.
"That's not it, we're not in that kind of relationship, at least not now."
Kikuchi Sonoka retorted in a small voice, simultaneously glancing at Dylan's reaction. Seeing no change in his expression, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
"You can't use the term 'won over'; that's a bit disrespectful to Sonoka. She's a very good girl; to be honest, I quite like her."
Feeling the astonishing softness from his arm, and being able to see a patch of snowy white by slightly lowering his head, Dylan couldn't help but sigh at the beauty of the world in his heart, then said to Rindo Kobayashi in a serious tone.
_____
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