The next morning, Hoshino Sora woke up early and arrived at Area C of the banquet hall to wait.
At this time, the scene was filled with complaints and wails, with grumbling everywhere. Some people were preparing ingredients for breakfast, some were collapsed asleep in front of their cooking stations from exhaustion, and others were full of energy and vitality.
Everyone's cooking stations were far apart, like independent small shops, with enough space in between for about ten people to pass through at once.
The spot Hoshino Sora drew happened to be in a corner of Area C, which wasn't actually great, but it was quiet and the space was particularly large, easily accommodating five or six people working simultaneously.
"Oh, what a coincidence, Erina, you also got assigned to a corner."
Looking at Erina Nakiri, who had arrived at the cooking station next to him at some unknown time and was preparing, Hoshino Sora smiled and raised his hand to greet her.
"Eh, mm, what a coincidence."
Erina Nakiri had already noticed Hoshino Sora preparing at the adjacent cooking station, but she was too shy to initiate a greeting. Now that he spoke first, she naturally wouldn't pretend not to see him.
"Is Alice here too?"
"What a coincidence, I'm right next to you! You can try my dish later, I experimented for five whole hours last night!"
During their conversation, Alice Nakiri's figure emerged from another cooking station, and a look of surprise appeared on the girl's face the moment she saw the boy.
Immediately, she disregarded her own preparations, opened the gate beside her cooking station, and jogged over to Hoshino Sora's station. With her hands behind her back, she proudly puffed out her chest and spoke enthusiastically.
"Alright, then I'll have to look forward to it."
Looking at the bulging chest in front of him, Hoshino Sora responded with a smile. He didn't know if this counted as a fated encounter, but both sisters of the Nakitiri Family were assigned next to him, making him look like he had a girl on each arm.
What kind of dish would she present?
Thinking of Alice Nakiri's predicament last night, Hoshino Sora also became curious about her dish. Combining Molecular Cuisine with flour could easily turn into Dark Cuisine.
"You'll know soon enough."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's response, Alice Nakiri smiled mysteriously, then quickly returned to her cooking station and began her pre-cooking preparations in an orderly manner.
Looking at Erina Nakiri, she had already completed her basic preparations. On the cutting board were pre-made puff pastry boxes, and she was currently filling them with ingredients.
"French quiche, perhaps?"
Looking at the ingredients on Erina Nakiri's table, Hoshino Sora asked, guessing. Through his observations during this period, he found that these people from Far Moon Academy were skilled in various cuisines except Chinese food.
Their main focus was on detail and elaborate presentation.
"It's impressive you can tell. To be precise, this is a modified French quiche."
Hearing Hoshino Sora's voice, Erina Nakiri immediately turned her head, reacting incredibly fast, making one wonder if she had been paying attention to him all along.
"A modified French quiche?"
"I'll send you a portion to try later. You probably haven't had breakfast yet, have you?"
"How could I have had time to eat?"
Seeing Hoshino Sora interested in her cooking, a subtle flicker of joy passed through Erina Nakiri's eyes, but she still feigned indifference on the surface, speaking very casually.
Because Alice Nakiri was too proactive with Hoshino Sora, she now felt very passive, as if everything she did was a step behind someone else.
This made her very upset!
"Everyone, are you ready to serve? Now, let's explain the qualifying conditions. First, let me introduce the judges."
During the preparation period, the large, dark screen in the center of Area C suddenly lit up. Dojima Gin's face appeared on the screen, holding a microphone and speaking with a resonant voice. At this moment, everyone in the venue turned their gaze towards him.
Mission Triggered: Prince of Tanghuoshao Appears
Mission Description: After several days of themed training, you have made some progress. The accommodation training will now have its final assessment: a 200-person breakfast buffet.
Mission Requirements: Achieve the highest sales revenue in the entire venue with the Tanghuoshao snack, and sell no less than 400 portions in total.
Mission Reward: 1500 Reputation Points
At the same time, the tightly closed doors of the restaurant slowly opened the moment Dojima Gin began introducing the judges. Several children squeezed through the crowd, rushing to be the first to enter the restaurant.
"They are the ingredient suppliers who collaborate with Yuanyue Resort and their families. They are responsible for judging this training camp every year. The theme 'Surprise-Filled Noodle Dishes' has already been given to them, so the judging will be very accurate.
Furthermore, within our Yuanyue Resort, employees from both the culinary and service departments will also participate in the judging."
Looking at the large number of guests pouring in and the Yuanyue Resort staff in work uniforms, everyone's expressions changed to some extent.
Some were very nervous, some were very excited, some were trembling with fear, and some had exaggerated smiles on their faces.
These guests did not move immediately after entering. Children were restrained by adults, and the elderly stood still. Everyone's gaze was fixed on the large screen in the center of the banquet hall.
"There are two qualifying standards: first, the ability to obtain creative approval from both production experts and on-site service experts; and second, the ability to supply over 200 portions of food within two hours from now.
Meeting both of these points qualifies you. Now, all judges at each station, please enjoy this wonderful moment of breakfast. The judging begins now!"
As Dojima Gin's words fell, the atmosphere in the venue instantly became extremely lively. Various sounds surged from all directions, accompanied by the dense sound of footsteps.
"Please try mine!"
"Please, try mine!"
"Sesame flatbread, super fragrant sesame flatbread!"
The originally spacious banquet hall was instantly filled with people. The most bustling area was directly in front of Erina Nakiri's cooking station, where an enticing aroma was currently emanating.
Shouts and cheers continued non-stop. Numerous student stalls closer to the entrance were already piled high with dishes, and the rich aroma of the food constantly attracted customers.
However, because it was a buffet, the customers coming and going were not in a hurry to choose, wandering around and hesitating to select the dish they most wanted to eat at the moment.
Some children, though, were itching to get their hands on the exquisite dishes on the cooking stations, running and grabbing as they went, accounting for most of the sales at the few cooking stations closer to the entrance.
This was also a characteristic of children.
"It's really lively!"
Looking at the customers coming and going, Hoshino Sora sincerely exclaimed, then bent down and took out all the enticingly fragrant Tanghuoshao from the oven, placing them on the serving counter.
At this moment, an elderly man with glasses, looking like an old scholar, stood in front of Erina Nakiri's cooking station, a look of bliss on his face. In his hand was a small plate with a freshly baked French quiche, a small corner of which had been cut off.
To be precise, it should be...
Erina-style French Quiche!
"What an elegant taste! The five-centimeter deep filling encompasses all the rich and varied flavors of French quiche. The texture is as delicate as steamed egg, and the shrimp are perfectly springy.
The chopped mushrooms and thick-cut bacon provide a satisfying chew, while potatoes and Swiss cheese give it a hearty feel. With every bite, the fragrance of the ocean spreads through the mouth.
It's like a perfectly synchronized symphony being performed in the oral cavity!
No, it's more than that. This taste is… nutmeg!? The pungency of nutmeg is perfectly balanced by the egg custard, harmonizing to create an exquisite, profound flavor!"
Although he didn't speak, the shocked expression on his face conveyed everything. Customers behind him, seeing such a scene, came forward to try it, and the moment they ate the dish, expressions of immense happiness appeared on their faces.
"I really can't compare."
Looking at Erina Nakiri's bustling stall, and then at his own, where not even a single customer was willing to stop.
Hoshino Sora smiled bitterly and shook his head. When he and Erina Nakiri stood together, he had already anticipated this outcome. How could street food compare to a queen-level dish?
However, was that truly the case?
The answer was undoubtedly no; at least, Hoshino Sora wasn't prepared to sit idly by.
"All in all, the first thing to do is attract the first customer."
Street food, whether in flavor or appearance, couldn't compare to the meticulously prepared dishes of Erina Nakiri, but it had its advantages, which was its quick serving speed.
"Little sister, come here for a moment. Would you like to try a Tanghuoshao that's crispy, fragrant, and sweet?"
Acutely noticing a little girl who was pushed aside by the crowd and looked a bit lost, Hoshino Sora smiled and waved to her, then placed the freshly baked Tanghuoshao, still steaming hot, onto the serving counter.
"How is this guy so skilled…?"
Sitting leisurely on a chair, watching Hoshino Sora use a 'creepy uncle' method to lure the little girl, Alice Nakiri couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, her eyes full of tenderness.
"I should open for business too."
Stretching languidly, Alice Nakiri muttered to herself. She had just walked around the venue and hadn't found many strong competitors. The three strongest individuals in Area C should all be here.
"Welcome to try, White Jade Four Seasons."
Placing bowls of clear, translucent white jade soup on the table, with four light, floating dumplings inside—tender green, fiery red, golden yellow, and snowy white—their appearance immediately attracted the attention of nearby girls.
"What a beautiful dish!"
"The presentation is so high-class!"
"Let's go take a look, it feels like it'll be delicious."
At a food stall, once one person appears, a wave of customers will follow. Just like Hoshino Sora now, as the little girl was drawn in, a group of customers gradually gathered around him.
"The crust is so crispy, and the layers of sweetness come in a continuous, powerful wave, what a wonderful feeling!"
As the Tanghuoshao entered her mouth, the incredibly rich texture instantly captivated the little girl. Her eyes sparkled with an unusual light, and her body trembled slightly.
That feeling, that feeling was like being in a turbulent, thousand-layered wave of brown sugar. Each layer tasted similar, yet each layer had a distinct difference.
"There are also walnuts, macadamia nuts, and melon seeds in this… what a taste!"
The little girl's voice held a hint of excitement. The nutty texture and crispiness were undoubtedly the perfect finishing touch for this sugar pastry. Large and small particles were embedded within the layers of flaky pastry, resembling tiny treasures!
"Sesame paste, brown sugar, white sugar, combined with many layers of dough – a very traditional Chinese snack, also served as breakfast in some places. But if that's all there was, it would just be a mediocre breakfast."
Hearing the little girl's innocent and energetic voice, the old scholar, who had been standing in front of Erina Nakiri's stall, slowly walked over. He looked at the row of sugar pastries displayed on the counter with a calm expression.
He had eaten sugar pastries before during his stay in the capital of China. They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and had a wonderful layered texture, but making them well was not easy.
At least, he had eaten from no less than ten shops that sold sugar pastries, but only one of them met his friend's standard, who said the taste was authentic. The others all had flaws, big or small.
For example, the brown sugar particles were too large, the dough was not proofed thoroughly enough, or the sugar pastry was overcooked, causing the sugar to burn and taste bitter. There were also some places that didn't brush soy sauce on the sugar pastry.
That would make the sugar pastry lose its sweet and savory flavor, and the color wouldn't look good either.
In short, there were all sorts of problems, and it was difficult to find an authentic one.
Looking at the sugar pastries on the plate in front of him, they were golden-brown all over, with a flaky exterior, emitting a rich brown sugar aroma. Just a slight sniff would reveal that sweet scent in the air.
"A thousand layers of crispiness, each layer distinct. It's amazing that with so many nuts added, it didn't break. A lot of effort must have gone into this."
Because making sugar pastry requires constant pressing and layering, few people dare to add hard ingredients like nuts inside, as this would destroy the pastry's layers.
However, in this sugar pastry, the nuts not only didn't destroy the layers but actually enhanced the texture and flavor.
"As long as the dough is made a little harder, increasing its elasticity to a certain extent, you can ensure that adding nuts won't destroy the original structure.
Of course, the nuts need to be chopped and roasted in advance, then sieved twice."
The first sieving removes large nut pieces, and the second sieving removes small nut pieces, ensuring that the nut pieces are of similar size. Only then can truly exquisite dishes be made.
"It smells so good! I can't take it anymore."
"There's even this way of making it, the brown sugar smells so fragrant."
"Give me one."
"Don't push, those in the back, I want one too!"
Seeing the blissful expressions of those who went first, the surrounding customers instantly couldn't stand it and rushed forward to pick up the sugar pastries from the display counter. The atmosphere was also heated up at this moment, forming a three-way standoff with Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri's stalls.
That's right, it was a three-way standoff.
At some point, Alice Nakiri's stall was also filled with customers, and a long line had formed in front of her cooking station. Everyone's face was beaming with happiness and an expression of disbelief.
Seeing this scene, Hoshino Sora's heart, which had been hanging, finally settled. He had underestimated Alice; no matter what, she was still the woman praised by Far Moon as the closest to the Elite Ten below the Elite Ten.
How could she not even pass such a small assessment!?
He was vigorously stretching the dough in his hands, the dough colliding violently with the cooking station, making noise. The sugar pastries in the oven were undergoing a transformation, and the frying pan next to it was also filled with sugar pastries.
He pinched off the prepared dough pieces one by one, threw them onto the cutting board, pressed and shaped them, then brushed them with soy sauce to enhance their color and flavor. Then, he picked up the sugar pastries fried in the pan and placed them on a baking sheet.
Middle rack of the oven, 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. After completing these steps, the previous batch of sugar pastries in the oven could be taken out. He picked them up with chopsticks, one by one, and placed them on a plate on the cooking counter.
At full throttle, Hoshino Sora could make 80 sugar pastries in 20 minutes. There were four ovens, each holding 20. Accounting for the time lost in between, this quantity was already his limit.
"Phew..."
Gently exhaling, Hoshino Sora looked relaxed. The unlimited stamina buff was perfectly demonstrated at this moment; even with high-intensity labor, he showed no signs of fatigue.
He turned his head to look at Erina Nakiri beside him. At this moment, her forehead was already covered with sweat, and her hair hung limply due to the moisture.
Clearly, the complicated cooking steps made Erina Nakiri very tired. Simultaneously operating 8 ovens, just the back and forth movement was enough to make her back sweat.
Not to mention the ingredient preparation, dish plating, and various other tasks that undoubtedly consumed a great deal of physical energy.
Compared to Erina Nakiri, Alice Nakiri on the other side seemed very relaxed.
Relying on high-tech machines, she stood in front of the cooking station the entire time, chatting with customers. The only physical exertion required was taking the dishes out of the machine and placing them on the display counter for selection.
Seeing Hoshino Sora's gaze, Alice Nakiri seemed to sense it and immediately smiled, gently waving in greeting. However, due to being too busy, she couldn't leave at the moment.
It's worth mentioning that the three people's stalls accounted for 30% of the total foot traffic in the venue, which was a booming business. Especially Erina Nakiri's side, where the line was extremely long.
Hoshino Sora honestly benefited from this, because Erina Nakiri's low efficiency led to her long line. As more people waited, more people became impatient, and they would eventually turn to his stall.
Firstly, because he was close. Secondly, because Hoshino Sora's popularity was not bad either. Thirdly, because he was efficient, and everyone who tasted his food gave excellent reviews.
The same situation applied to Alice Nakiri's stall. Although she was very relaxed, her cooking efficiency was not high either, as there was only one machine, producing only about thirty servings in ten minutes.
"What terrifying cooking speed! Watching him cook is like appreciating art."
"Isn't it? This student's movements are not at all sluggish; they're incredibly nimble. Watching him work is truly very stress-relieving. I've been watching for over ten minutes."
"6."
As the operating time increased, Hoshino Sora's proficiency in the cooking process reached a new level. His hands, stretching the dough and applying ingredients, were so fast they seemed to leave afterimages. To outsiders, this was undoubtedly an incredibly exciting cooking performance.
"Although it's just a small sugar pastry, to achieve such efficiency without any change in quality, his skill is evident."
In the monitoring room, Dojima Gin gave this evaluation of Hoshino Sora, who was incredibly skilled and had astonishing sales in Area C. Just his dough kneading and stretching techniques would take years of practice to achieve.
However, Hoshino Sora only practiced for one night.
In fact, even Hoshino Sora himself hadn't realized that, even without the system, his talent was extremely high. Even in Totsuki Academy, he could be called a genius.
"A little faster, a little more precise..."
As time passed, Hoshino Sora's precision and efficiency for the sugar pastry reached their limit. This also led many customers who originally planned to go to Erina Nakiri's stall to flow towards him.
"Hoshino Sora, 200 portions achieved."
At fifty minutes, this announcement was broadcast, causing Erina Nakiri, who was working, to look up, her eyes filled with intense unwillingness.
This guy's speed was simply too fast. Although it wasn't because his dish was more popular, but rather because of higher efficiency, losing was losing, there was nothing more to say.
She had only sold 181 portions of food so far. Although the difference between them was small, she was now so tired that even lifting her arms was difficult.
At this rate, she would at most complete 380 portions of food by the end of the two hours...
What a pity!
Turning to look at Hoshino Sora, who had let out a sigh of relief after hearing the broadcast and looked completely at ease, Erina Nakiri was full of confusion. Was this guy not tired at all? Was he a robot?
"Thank you for your patronage."
Without stopping his movements, he continued to serve dishes efficiently. Passing the assessment was just a bonus; Hoshino Sora's true goal was to complete the mission.
But for now, it's a sure thing that he can complete the task, after all, neither Erina nor Alice are as efficient as him.
However...
Two minutes later, an unexpected change occurred, and the broadcast sounded again.
"Yumeko Jabami, 200 portions achieved."
This time, Hoshino Sora was not the only one surprised; Erina Nakiri also opened her eyes wide. She was not unfamiliar with the name in the broadcast, after all, she was the one who recruited Yumeko.
But because Yumeko had not been very active since enrolling, Erina almost forgot about her, if not for today's broadcast...
Yumeko Jabami, a transfer student from the same batch as Hoshino Sora. Now that Yukihira Soma and Hoshino Sora are both active, there's no reason for Yumeko to remain silent, but Erina didn't expect Yumeko to stand out here.
"Yumeko Jabami, transfer student, extremely active in the Accommodation Training, showing a very high level of cooking skill."
"That's right, this girl makes honey pancakes, which are very popular among children, and adults usually take a portion to taste when they are with their children."
Looking at Yumeko Jabami, who was full of excitement on the screen, Dojima Gin's voice was steady as he looked at the information in his hand. Behind him stood the sous chef of Yuanyue Resort, who was also looking at the screen, pinching his chin.
"Alice Nakiri, Erina Nakiri, completed two hundred portions of dishes."
Another ten minutes passed, and Erina and Alice both completed two hundred portions of dishes simultaneously. At this time, Hoshino Sora's speed had reached its limit, and his entire movements were accompanied by afterimages.
This also led to a large crowd gathering in front of Hoshino Sora's stall. Most of them were men, who stood silently not far away with their hands behind their backs, holding sugar fire buns and occasionally taking a bite, but never taking their eyes off him.
Knead the dough, stretch the dough, apply the coating, roll the dough, continue to stretch the dough longer, fold it three times, roll it out, continue to roll it into a long strip, place it aside covered with plastic wrap to rest for 20 minutes to relax, take a piece of rested dough, roll it into a long strip and cut off portions, press to shape, brush with soy sauce and fry the side without soy sauce in a flat pan, after slightly coloring, put it into the oven, take out the previous batch of sugar fire buns and place them on the display stand, and so on for one round.
Yumeko Jabami's super active performance made him feel an unprecedented sense of crisis.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
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