Chapter 17: The Terrible Price
Huff—
After polishing off a large plate of rich, flavorful beef stew, the
round-faced girl wiped her lips, then blinked in surprise. She turned to look
around and asked, "Wait... those hooligans are gone?"
"They left while you were busy eating," Xia Yu replied, stretching his arms
with satisfaction. Though the system only rated his Burgundy red wine beef stew
at 60 points, he personally found the meal fulfilling.
After all, it was the first Western dish he had prepared since arriving in
this world.
His past life's research, combined with the muscle memory of wielding a
knife from the age of three in this life, finally brought him a rare sense of
calm. That dish grounded him, offering the security he'd been subconsciously
seeking.
"They didn't even try to blackmail the restaurant?" the girl asked
incredulously.
Xia Yu shrugged. "After tasting my food, anyone with a shred of sense would
back off. If they had persisted and the Gourmet Association got involved,
they'd be the ones in real trouble."
The conversation flowed in smooth Mandarin. The round-faced girl, despite
being in Japan, didn't bat an eye at the mention of the Japanese Gourmet
Association. She simply nodded solemnly in understanding.
Then, the other girl—the one with goddess-like elegance—tilted her head and
asked softly, "You're Chinese?"
"Of course. I'm Chinese through and through," Xia Yu replied. "Even if I've
spent elementary, middle school, and soon high school here in Japan, Im still a
Chinese. Can't you tell from my textbook-standard Mandarin?"
He grinned.
"Waiter, check please," he called, intending to return to the shop and
continue researching recipes.
A server quickly came over and bowed deeply. "Sir, Madam Kasumigaoka has
instructed that your meal is complimentary."
"…Madam Kasumigaoka?"
Xia Yu blinked and looked around. Only then did he notice a poised housewife
standing behind the cashier counter. Her back was straight, her figure elegant,
and she exuded the refined charm of a mature woman.
After a brief explanation from the waitress, things clicked.
So Kasumigaoka Hideki wasn't just the head chef—he was also the owner of the
Starlight Revolving Western Restaurant. He'd even purchased the entire
building on the shopping street, which included the shop. Quite the affluent
investor.
A few moments later, Madam Kasumigaoka approached Xia Yu directly and bowed
repeatedly. Her beautiful, composed face was filled with gratitude and a hint
of helplessness.
"Although my husband once attended Totsuki, this is his first official
culinary job. It's also the first time he's been head chef at a restaurant.
Before this, he hadn't picked up a knife in over twenty years…"
Xia Yu nodded slowly.
That explains everything.
No wonder Kasumigaoka was nearly broken by a handful of hooligans. The man
simply lacked practical experience.
Still, investing in a restaurant and personally returning to the kitchen
spoke volumes. Kasumigaoka Hideki clearly had a deep-seated passion for
cooking. Even after being expelled from Totsuki two decades ago, his skills
hadn't rusted—in fact, he had surpassed the level of a student and stepped onto
the path of a true chef. That alone was impressive.
Expelled from Totsuki... it must have been during one of their brutal
elimination rounds. Some people lose their will to fight and never step into a
professional kitchen again. But others—like Kasumigaoka Hideki—quietly sharpen
their skills, carrying their love for cooking like a flame that refuses to die.
As for talent?
Xia Yu scoffed inwardly at the word.
Most people hadn't even qualified to talk about talent yet. Before that,
what truly mattered were the fundamentals: persistence and effort.
And in Kasumigaoka Hideki, he saw a man with potential worth believing in.
Under the grateful gazes of the Kasumigaoka couple, the waitstaff, and even
the kitchen assistants, Xia Yu finally stepped out of the Starlight
Revolving Western Restaurant.
Not only did he earn a lifetime free meal card, but somehow, he also picked
up two new tails.
"Why are you following me?"
Xia Yu glanced over his shoulder, hands stuffed casually into his pockets.
"We need a food guide! You know the area, right?" the round-faced girl said,
flashing a charming smile. "How about 10,000 yen per day?"
Xia Yu gave her a deadpan look. "Miss, do I look that naive to you?"
"Even if I worked eight hours, that's only 1,250 yen an hour. Haven't you
heard? Just recently, low-income workers in Tokyo were demanding a minimum wage
of 1,500 yen per hour…"
The girl's face turned red from embarrassment.
"Besides, being a tour guide is exhausting. I already help out at my
family's shop. If the old man finds out I ran off to be a child laborer, he'd
flay me alive."
"Your family owns a shop?" the girl asked, perking up. "What kind?"
"…A Chinese restaurant," Xia Yu muttered, instantly regretting his honesty.
Predictably, her eyes lit up. "Chinese restaurant?! Is it good? We're still
hungry. Take us there—please!"
"Seriously? How much can you two eat…"
And so, when he returned to the shop, the long-quiet Chinese restaurant
unexpectedly welcomed two new customers.
The old man was still in the backyard resting. Xia Yu changed into a clean
chef's uniform and walked to the kitchen counter.
He pointed toward the left wall. "Menu's over there. Prices too. Take your
time."
The round-faced girl looked around. "The outside looks run-down, but inside…
it's got that classic, antique vibe. I'm excited!"
She dragged her friend to the wooden boards nailed neatly on the left wall.
Each was inscribed with the name of a dish in flowing traditional calligraphy,
with a price marked underneath.
Today's Special Menu:
·
Sichuan Cuisine: Boiled Fish,
Husband and Wife Lung Slices, Kung Pao Chicken
·
Cantonese Cuisine: Taro Pork
Belly, Braised Beef Brisket with Radish, Lotus Leaf Omelet
·
Shandong Cuisine: Nine-turn
Large Intestine, First-class Tofu, Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin
·
Suzhou Cuisine: Dongpo Pork,
Yangzhou Fried Rice, Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish
The dishes sounded mouthwatering, a lineup of classic, time-tested Chinese
cuisine.
But as the two girls squinted at the prices, their expressions froze.
·
Boiled Fish: 4,000 yen
·
Taro Pork Belly: 3,500 yen
·
Dongpo Pork: 3,500 yen
And the cheapest?
·
Yangzhou Fried Rice: 3,000 yen
The round-faced girl gasped. "Three thousand yen... for fried rice?!
That's daylight robbery!"
In modern exchange rates, 1,000 yen was roughly 60 RMB. So 3,000 yen meant
over 180 RMB—for a plate of rice.
In contrast, a fast-food meal in Tokyo for the average worker typically cost
400–800 yen, around 20–50 yuan.
At Xia Yu's Chinese restaurant, one dish was equivalent to an entire day's
food expenses for a regular person.
Extremely expensive didn't even begin to cover it.
"What, still want to eat?" Xia Yu leaned on the counter with folded arms,
watching their shocked faces with mild amusement.
He'd already expected this.
Realistically, with the level of skill both he and his father had, there was
no reason the restaurant should be this empty.
The real problem? Pricing.
Xia Yu had complained countless times about the ridiculous prices, calling
it a scam. But the old man would just give a lazy grunt and say nothing more.
And that was that.
Less customers meant less work.
The old man liked it that way.