Reborn in Japan as a Chef God
Chapter 176: The New Appointment

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: The New Appointment

The Food Duel was on Friday, and Xia Yu attended Far Moon normally on the following Saturday.

This class wasn’t in the teaching area but on the hill behind Far Moon. April was a great time for enjoying the early spring outdoors with over two hundred students scattered up and down the slope, gathering in groups with people they knew and quietly discussing the content of the lesson.

Students from first, second, and third year all attended this special elective course.

A group from Polar Star Dormitory gathered in front of a small grove, looking around.

"How can we have a class without bringing ingredients or cooking utensils, bringing only seasonings?" Yoshino Yuuki asked, her face full of confusion, "There are no cooking tools out in the wild!"

"Maybe they just want us to enjoy the outdoors..."

Tanaka Hikari said, sounding unsure of herself.

"Si Yingshi has arrived, but where’s Instructor Xia?" Xingping Chuangzhen was waiting for someone else.

"That’s right!"

When Xia Yu was mentioned, everyone from Polar Star Dormitory perked up.

Yoshino Yuuki tugged at Sen Tian Makoto’s sleeve and asked, "Makki, Instructor Xia just had a Food Duel last night. Is he taking a day off for this class?"

Sen Tian Makoto shook her head with the same look of bewilderment, "I don’t know."

Tiqie Mansion.

Xia Yu had just arrived at the gate of Far Moon School when Aoki Motota stopped him and brought him here.

This was his second visit to Tiqie Mansion, still the same tea house as last time. Xia Yu saw Tiqie Xianzuowen and Dojima Yin, who were discussing something. When they saw Xia Yu and Aoki Motota coming, they stopped talking immediately.

"Hey, General, I’ve brought him here," Aoki Motota said, standing in the courtyard and gesturing with his hand, "I’ll go back to class now."

Xia Yu had no choice but to sit on the tatami mat himself.

Dojima Yin said cheerfully: "Instructor Xia, I must also congratulate you on overcoming a strong opponent in a critical Food Duel. That Five-Star Chef is a graduate from Orlando International Culinary Academy."

Far Moon General had called him over, definitely for a reason, and Xia Yu responded calmly to Dojima Yin: "I prepared for the Food Duel for an entire week."

Nodding, Dojima Yin suddenly said, "You know next week is the fifth week of the semester, right?"

Xia Yu’s eyes twitched, and he immediately realized what it was about.

"Next week, the first-year students will begin a six-day and five-night residential training program. Instructor Xia, you are our Far Moon Guest Lecturer, and since IGO’s Instructor Aoki is occupied, he recommended you to serve as the examiner for this residential training," Dojima Yin said meaningfully, fixing his gaze on him, "Once you become an examiner, you hold in your hands the fate of all the students in the course... Should you shake your head, the ones who fail shall face expulsion!"

Ding.

Just as Xia Yu was inwardly complaining about Aoki Motota dumping all the dirty work on him, the system popped up with a task alert:

"[Far Moon’s Residential Training Program]."

"Prompt: Accept Far Moon’s appointment to become the examiner."

"Reward: 2 Free Talent Points."

A simple task with an equally simple requirement—just by accepting the appointment and returning after a week, he could easily earn 2 Talent Points.

But it wasn’t the task that was key, instead, through the task, Xia Yu saw the system’s intention—it wanted him to go.

"Mr. Dojima, I am a student myself. If I accompany them for the six-day and five-night residential training program, won’t I have to take a leave of absence too?" Xia Yu frowned.

Dojima Yin couldn’t help but laugh and said, "As long as you accept, IGO will handle it. Taking a leave isn’t a problem."

Xia Yu thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, I agree."

Mr. Dojima and Tiqie Xianzuowen exchanged glances, both revealing smiles.

While they were discussing matters, Xia Yu certainly hadn’t forgotten his role as an instructor. After putting on his shoes outside the tea parlor, a little maid hurried over, "Please excuse me, Instructor Xia, Miss Tiqie invites you over."

"Eriina is looking for me?"

Thinking back to the verbal agreement made the night before, Xia Yu followed the little maid.

All the way to a professional kitchen outside the Tiqie residence, Tiqie Eriina was waiting for him at the door, dressed in a pure white chef’s uniform, her tall figure accentuated by her clean and crisp ponytail, exuding a brisk aura.

"Take a look at my work."

Tiqie Eriina invited him into the kitchen and brought over a plate of red sausages, then looked at him with eyes full of expectation.

Xia Yu didn’t hesitate, picking up a pair of chopsticks from the tray, and after tasting one of the red sausages, he shook his head after a moment: "Wrong."

"What’s wrong with it?" Eriina asked, biting her lip.

"There are too many mistakes."

"The spice combination is off, and so is the cooking time," Xia Yu glanced at her, "You’re only making something that suits your ’Divine Tongue,’ to put it another way, this is your cooking, not my ’Flame Dragon Roll Fish Fin Sausage’."

Eriina’s pretty face turned a shade paler, but she retorted with dissatisfaction, "I just want to make the recipe my own!"

"It’s one thing to have that pride, but shouldn’t you fully research the original recipe before trying to improve it?" Xia Yu chuckled, "Without mastering the essence of the original recipe and rashly making changes... I certainly don’t regard this as my ’Flame Dragon Roll Fish Fin Sausage!’"

Bang!

A hint of annoyance appeared in her eyes as she heavily put the tray on the countertop, and it looked like her prideful temper was about to flare up. Xia Yu timely interjected, "Eriina, since you’re asking me for guidance with the recipe, at the very least, show the attitude of a student. Moreover, even leaving the recipe aside, I am legitimately a Far Moon Guest Lecturer..."

Realizing that time was tight, Xia Yu, with his back to her, waved his hand, "Let’s talk about this next time, I still have a class to teach, bye!"

"Wait—" An irritated voice called out to him from behind, but Xia Yu quickened his pace.

However, no sooner had he left the Tiqie residence than Eriina, having changed clothes, jogged after him and caught up with him, her chest heaving with her breath, and her eyes visibly filled with annoyance, yet she seemed to hold back from making a scene.

Like a cat on the verge of lashing out.

Xia Yu sat in the car prepared by the Tiqie family, and Tiqie Eriina also got in, closed the car door, and ordered the driver to head to the back mountain of the school.

"Eriina, are you also going to class?" Xia Yu asked, surprised.

After all, currently among the ’Ten Masters of Far Moon,’ except for Si Yingshi, who was an instructor, the others showed no intention of participating in special courses.

"Do you have an opinion?" Tiqie Eriina snapped, her voice slightly lower.

Knowing it was best not to provoke her at this moment, Xia Yu just shrugged.

The entire trip passed in silence. By the time Xia Yu arrived at the class location, he was already somewhat late. Si Yingshi and Aoki Motota had already started their teaching activities, with more than two hundred students scattered around searching for something.

"Yo—"

Xia Yu waved to Si Yingshi.

Seeing him, Si Yingshi smiled, "Instructor Xia, you’re finally here."

He then greeted Eriina, who was following behind Xia Yu, but his gaze carried a touch of curiosity.

"I suppose I can guess the content of the lecture," Xia Yu folded his arms, his face showing interest, "Using locally sourced materials and then employing the most natural methods to prepare the cuisine, right?"

"The theme is roughly spring, isn’t it?"

At these words, Si Yingshi paused, then resignedly said, "That’s exactly it."

He glanced over at Aoki Motota, who lay on a nearby slope dressed in a monk’s attire, fast asleep in the morning warmth of the sun, with a look of constipated misery, as if he had sorrows he couldn’t express.