"Paper pot?"
"Could it be to filter out some residual impurities from the ingredients?"
Erina pondered for a moment, frowning as she muttered, "Wouldn't a modern glazed clay pot be more effective?"
"Clay pots are made from sand and clay, and their rough, porous bodies allow water molecules to penetrate the ingredients.
"After boiling, they also retain heat very well, creating a thermal cycle inside the pot and easily forcing out impurities from the ingredients."
"Moreover, this kind of glazed clay pot..."
"...has its own waterproof glaze layer, which can better preserve the flavor and juices of the ingredients."
"I don't understand... I really don't understand Sosuke's thinking!"
...
"Sosuke, can I see the paper you're using first?"
Nakiri Mana, who had also noticed some issues, quickly looked up and asked, retracting her gaze.
Sosuke didn't answer directly but nodded, then took out a pre-folded paper pot and handed it to Mana.
"This kind of paper..."
Gently rubbing it a few times with her hand, feeling the texture and quality of the paper.
Nakiri Mana was instantly surprised, her mind grasping the situation: "As expected, the paper used isn't the A4 paper, napkins, or writing paper found on the market, but rather..."
"Ah, this kind of paper, I don't think I've ever seen it in my life!"
"Xuan paper, it's sized Xuan paper."
Sosuke explained.
"Xuan paper? Then... isn't that a special kind of paper from the Heavenly Dynasty?"
Nakiri Mana was stunned.
"Yes, Xuan paper has strong water absorption and permeability, making it ideal for paper pots."
"After all, the theory of paper pots is that the paper won't burn because there's water!"
"But theory is one thing, and control is another. You can't use paper that's too thick, nor can you fold too many layers. You also can't use glue to form the pot; it must be folded using origami techniques."
"Then, the paper's water absorption shouldn't be too strong, otherwise the soup will leak before the pot's bottom temperature rises."
"Secondly, the heat must be precise. You need to wait until the soup permeates the bottom of the paper pot and the paper fibers are fully saturated with water before lighting the fire. This way, the paper will stay at 100℃ and won't burn."
"All in all, paper pots demand high attention to detail. Chefs with weak micro-control abilities are not advised to use them!"
Upon hearing this, Nakiri Mana became visibly dejected.
What he said made a lot of sense, but just as he himself stated, actually controlling it in reality was very difficult.
"Even if Xuan paper has strong water absorption, wouldn't the efficiency of a paper pot be too low?"
"The heat can't be too high, leading to such a small contact surface. Even using chicken breast or something similar instead of raw shrimp balls, the residual impurities would be much more manageable than with a paper pot."
"Also, stewing it in a regular pot..."
"...and then filtering it with cheesecloth, wouldn't that work too?"
At this point, Nakiri Mana could no longer hide her inner annoyance and rolled her eyes at Sosuke in exasperation.
"A paper pot has its own unique advantages. You should hurry and taste it, or it won't be as good once it cools."
Sosuke clearly didn't want to explain too much to her on this matter.
Because he knew that some things couldn't be explained by mere words; only by letting her taste it herself could she fully understand what was going on!
...
"Alright, I'll dig in."
With that, the impatient Nakiri Mana used a small spoon to scoop out a mouthful of soup.
Under the faint light, the soup in the spoon shimmered, yet upon closer inspection, it was remarkably clear, truly without even a trace of residual impurities from the ingredients.
"No matter how noble the ingredients, after stewing, they will be greatly affected by their own inherent flavors."
"Even a pot made of Xuan paper, with its strong water absorption and filtering properties, and after multiple filtering processes, theoretically it should be impossible to achieve a nearly 100% clear state, right?"
After some thought, Nakiri Mana finally brought the entire spoonful of soup to her lips.
With a "slurp," that clear yet rich soup slid onto her tongue.
Then it traveled down her esophagus and into her body.
One mouthful of soup.
Without a doubt.
It contained the sweetness of various vegetables, the wildness of mushrooms, and the springiness of lobster.
Three flavors in one—no, it was a storm of flavors formed by multiple vegetables, mushrooms, and shrimp.
It was as if the golden dragon that had just soared through the clouds was carrying Nakiri Mana to roam beyond the heavens, even reaching the bottomless universe!
At the same time, the steaming heat from the pot blurred the scene, turning the Izakaya's interior and exterior into two separate worlds.
It's no exaggeration to say that even a tiny drop of soup was filled with infinite power, as if it concentrated the essence of all the world's vegetable ingredients, gradually intertwining, swirling, condensing, and sublimating in her mouth.
Ultimately, it made Nakiri Mana feel as if she had jumped into the world of hot pot, and this deliciousness instantly made her unable to stop.
Hmm, the feeling was...
It was like a mouse falling in love with rice, a cat falling in love with a mouse, and a weasel falling in love with a cat!
...
The ups and downs of life, nothing more than hot pot and wine.
Seafood and meat have always been the stars of hot pot, yet a hot pot without vegetables is equally incomplete.
Common seasonal vegetables not only cut through richness but also enrich the soup's flavor.
Bamboo pith, porcini mushrooms, shiitake, oyster mushrooms, soybean sprouts, and other vegetable ingredients—their flavors and textures constantly layered and deepened in her mouth, continuously challenging the limits of her God Tongue's taste buds.
The flavor of the entire Bao Shan Flying Dragon Pot dish was indeed intoxicating, lingering on her tongue like a rich dream, every bite an endless aftertaste.
Gradually, Nakiri Mana felt only warmth and freedom.
Even with her God Tongue ability, as she devoured the ingredients in the paper pot, the fog in her mind began to clear.
Finally, she entered a marvelous realm, where she saw a hot spring in a tranquil and beautiful environment, surrounded by gentle sounds of water and birdsong, with mist constantly filling the air.
The hot spring water, like the soup of the Bao Shan Flying Dragon Pot she had just tasted, was crystal clear and perfectly temperate.
Afterward, Nakiri Mana took off her kimono and immersed herself completely in the hot spring water.
In such an environment, she could temporarily forget the trivialities and pressures of life.
Especially that comfortable feeling, as if it permeated every pore into her body, allowing her muscles to relax and her tension and irritability to dissipate.
As time passed, the minerals in the water began to nourish her skin, making it feel very smooth.
"What's going on?"
"This feeling, no, no, no, why do I feel so weak all over, so... so... so comfortable!"
Finally, in reality, Nakiri Mana collapsed directly onto the table.
Her bright eyes suddenly rolled upwards, revealing completely lost "white eyes." After a long moment, she let out an infinitely satisfied sigh: "It's over, I can't resist it again!"
To be conquered by Sosuke, to have her body and mind captured by this cuisine, this feeling was truly:
Too wonderful!
...
Ultimately, in a state of complete unconsciousness, she ravenously devoured the food.
Before long, the entire large pot of vegetables and raw shrimp balls was eaten clean by her; she didn't even spare the last drop of clear soup, desperately licking it with her tongue.
"Huh?"
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