Tadokoro Megumi swallowed. She turned her gaze to another dish, the Straw Raincoat Cucumber.
The green cucumber was covered with delicate knife scales, a shape that could only be achieved with profound knife skills.
The end was even carved into the shape of a dragon's head, adorned with red chili peppers and black sauce, like a sleeping green oriental dragon, noble, majestic, and exuding a hint of solemnity.
"I'll begin," Tadokoro Megumi picked up her chopsticks. When she picked up a slice of cucumber, her first impression was how thin it was, as thin as a cicada's wing. She could even see a blurry image through it from one side to the other.
She couldn't help but reach out her chopsticks again, gently prodding the Straw Raincoat Cucumber in front of her.
She discovered that the thickness of each slice was almost identical.
Regardless of the taste, just this knife skill alone meant that this young man in front of her surpassed everyone she knew.
Even the Tootsuki Elite Ten might not be able to compare.
She put the cucumber slice into her mouth and bit down gently, her expression instantly changing. The crispness, spiciness, and sweetness continuously echoed in her mouth.
As she continued to chew and swallow, the sweetness and refreshing taste penetrated deep into her mind, as if she were in a peaceful and harmonious mountain village.
Seeing that the two of them had already started eating, Liu Ming, of course, wouldn't just watch.
He picked up a string of pork intestines and put it into his mouth.
Fresh, tender, and crisp, with a spicy kick, the pork intestines had absorbed the aroma of the accompanying vegetables, making them fragrant, soft, and smooth, perfect with rice or wine.
He stood up, went to the wine cabinet, and took out a bottle of red wine. It was just ordinary red wine, but it didn't matter; having wine with the dishes was enough.
His appetite was stimulated, and he couldn't help but take another bite of the pork intestines. His taste buds instantly exploded with a hot, numbing, and spicy sensation, constantly intertwining.
Then, taking a sip of wine, it was simply more and more addictive, more and more satisfying.
"Xiao Ming, I want to drink too, I want to drink too!" Tohru didn't know what Liu Ming was drinking, but seeing him drink with such relish, Tohru also wanted to try.
"Try a little first, I don't know if you'll like it," Liu Ming only poured a tiny bit for Tohru, about two sips.
"You're underage, so don't drink," he said, turning to Tadokoro Megumi.
"Mm," Tadokoro Megumi nodded.
Tohru tilted her head back and took a big gulp, then her face changed. She suppressed the urge to spit it out, and swallowed it with a bitter expression.
"It doesn't taste good at all, it tastes weird," Tohru said with a bitter face.
"Red wine just tastes like that. If you're not used to it, then don't drink it. Just eat the food. These dishes today were made especially for you. You cleaned the restaurant spotless, you really helped me a lot," Liu Ming said, praising her.
"Tohru is very capable. Feel free to leave things to me if you need anything," Tohru said, her cheeks full, her voice a little muffled.
"Yes, yes, yes. Then I'll rely on you, Tohru, from now on," Liu Ming praised her without reservation.
Tohru's mood instantly became very good, and she patted her chest in assurance.
Each of the four dishes here was incredibly delicious. In fact, excessively delicious. At least, she had never eaten such delicious food before. To what extent had this clearly young man's cooking skills reached?
If he could teach her, could she also become this amazing?
The meal lasted a full hour.
After eating and drinking to their fill, Tadokoro Megumi voluntarily took on the task of washing dishes.
As for Tohru, she had eaten too much and was slumped in a chair like a lazy fish, occasionally touching her belly, which looked about three months pregnant.
"Seriously, you didn't have to eat it all. Couldn't you have saved some for tomorrow? Even if it's overnight, it's still edible," Liu Ming said, rolling his eyes at Tohru.
"How could I? Tomorrow has its own portion; what's for today must be eaten today. Actually, this tiny bit isn't enough at all. If I just revert to my dragon form, I can digest it all in an instant," Tohru said proudly.
"No, please don't do that. If you turn into a dragon, I can't afford to keep you," Liu Ming said, waving his hands repeatedly.
"Um, I've already washed the dishes," Tadokoro Megumi said, standing not far from Liu Ming, her voice still as soft as ever.
"Oh, really? I'm so sorry. You're a guest, yet I made you help," Liu Ming said.
"It's nothing, and I really enjoyed my meal tonight," Tadokoro Megumi said, clasping her hands and twiddling her thumbs, occasionally glancing at Liu Ming.
Liu Ming felt a bit unnerved by her gaze, so he had to ask, "Is something wrong? If it's too late and you want to stay the night, that's fine. There's a spare room on the second floor, but you'll have to tidy it yourself."
"No, it's not that, I, I, I…" Tadokoro Megumi seemed to make up her mind and suddenly bowed.
"Shop owner, please teach me how to cook."