"Selling the recipe?" Po was stunned, his furry paws still holding the pose from when he was introducing his noodles.
He blinked, his round head unable to process the thought for a moment.
Selling the recipe? His dad's secret sauce recipe? You could sell this stuff?
In his entire life, he had always considered this recipe more precious than any martial arts manual in the Jade Palace. It was his goose dad's life's work, a family legacy, a treasure to be passed down to him—an heirloom.
How could an heirloom be sold for money?
"Not for sale!"
Po's answer came out instantly, crisp and clear, carrying an unquestionable pride. He puffed out his chest, causing the towel he was using as a makeshift apron to stretch even tighter.
"This is my dad's secret recipe, one of a kind in the whole World! It's meant to be passed down from generation to generation! How could I sell it?"
He spoke with righteous indignation, as if Boss Guan Gu had made some kind of blasphemous suggestion.
Jusaburo Sekiya didn't get angry at being refused; instead, a glimmer of appreciation flashed in his eyes.
As a chef, he understood this dedication and respect for one's craft better than anyone. This spirit was even rarer than the recipe itself.
Po watched the boss remain silent and thought he might have spoken too harshly. He scratched his head, his tone softening:
"But—if you really want to learn, Boss, I can teach you! It's just a bit complicated. You have to sauté onions slowly to bring out the sweetness, keep the heat just right, and use a mix of two kinds of bean paste…"
He didn't think of this as a trade secret at all; he was sharing it as enthusiastically as he would teach the villagers in the Valley of Peace how to knead dough.
"Stop!"
Jusaburo Sekiya interrupted him in time. Looking at the naive, rambling panda before him, he already had a new plan in mind.
Buying the recipe was a secondary strategy; keeping the chef who knew how to make the recipe was the superior strategy.
"Po, right?"
Boss Guan Gu's expression became amiable, very much like the villagers in the Valley of Peace who wanted to take pictures with Po.
"You just said you were homeless?"
"Uh, yeah."
Po nodded, his ears drooping slightly.
"I don't know how I got here, and I can't go back."
"Then, would you be willing to stay here and work?"
"Work?" Po's ears perked up again.
"Yes."
Boss Guan Gu pointed at the stove in front of Po, then at the dining area outside, his eyes flashing with the shrewdness of a businessman.
"Right here in our shop, making your Zha Jiang Mian. I'll pay you a salary, and include room and board."
"Room and board! Does that mean I can eat until I'm full?"
"Of course, and you can eat as much as you want!"
These words were like a golden light, instantly striking Po's soul.
His small eyes beneath those dark circles lit up fiercely, even brighter than when he heard "five ants" earlier.
He remembered the warm bowl of rice in tea from last night, the ingredients in the fridge he hadn't had time to savor, and then looked down at his own round belly.
A place to live, and endless delicious food—wasn't this a panda's paradise?
"I'm willing! I'm willing!" Po nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, afraid the boss would change his mind.
"Awesome!"
Yuna was even more excited than Po himself. She jumped up, grabbed Po's arm, and shook it excitedly.
"Dad, you're so wise! We'll have a panda chef in our shop from now on! This will definitely become the hottest shop in New York!"
Jusaburo Sekiya smiled triumphantly and casually ruffled his daughter's hair. He could already see the long queues forming at the shop's entrance and the media competing to report on the spectacle.
Shirou Emiya stood to the side, watching this dramatic scene and sighing silently.
How did things turn out like this? He just wanted to work a quiet job.
Now, his daily work routine was about to include a giant panda from another World who could cook and eat a lot.
"Shirou,"
Boss Guan Gu turned to him with an irrepressible smile on his face.
"I'll leave Po to you from now on. You're both young, and you're both—er, the same kind, so talk more. Teach him the shop's rules and some common sense about modern society."
Shirou Emiya nodded expressionlessly. The so-called "same kind" probably meant "non-normal humans."
"Got it! To celebrate finding a new job and to thank you for taking me in, Boss!"
Po was full of energy now. He picked up a large ladle, stirred the pot, and announced grandiosely.
"For breakfast today, I'll treat everyone to my secret sauce Zha Jiang Mian! There's plenty for everyone to get full!"
"Oh!" Yuna was the first to cheer in response.
Boss Guan Gu also nodded with a smile: "Good, then I'll have to properly taste my new employee's craft."
Po immediately sprang into action. His massive body moved with unexpected agility in the not-so-spacious kitchen.
Kneading dough, pulling noodles, boiling them, and pouring the sauce—his movements were fluid and full of a unique rhythm.
Shirou Emiya watched him, watching those furry paws skillfully flick the noodles into beautiful arcs in the air, watching the pure, heartfelt happiness on his face.
The direction this World was heading was becoming increasingly incomprehensible.
Soon, three bowls of steaming, fragrant Zha Jiang Mian were placed on the small table in the back kitchen.
Jusaburo Sekiya picked up his chopsticks. This time, it wasn't just a cursory taste, but a real enjoyment.
He carefully mixed the noodles and sauce, took a big mouthful, and squinted in satisfaction.
Yuna was eating until her little face was flushed, her mouth covered in sauce, but she didn't forget to give Po a thumbs up: "Po, you're amazing! This is even better than the sushi Dad makes!"
"Hey, hey, Yuna—" Boss Guan Gu protested, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Po was overjoyed by the compliment and waved a paw: "If it's good, eat more! There's more in the pot!"
Shirou Emiya ate his noodles quietly. He had to admit that the standard of this bowl of noodles was enough to be a signature dish at any high-end Chinese restaurant.
It was a kind of unpretentious yet deeply skilled deliciousness. It didn't rely on complex plating or rare ingredients, using only the most basic noodles, meat, and sauce to build an incredibly solid and delicious World.
This panda's talent for cooking was perhaps no less than his talent for martial arts.
After a lively breakfast, Boss Guan Gu went to prepare for opening the shop with satisfaction, while Yuna acted like a little sidekick, pestering Po with questions, from the scenery of the Valley of Peace to gossip about the Furious Five.
Only Po and Shirou Emiya remained in the kitchen.
"Shirou!" Po leaned over, a hint of curiosity on his round face, "Um—what is a salary? Is it copper coins?"
Shirou Emiya paused while washing the dishes.
He turned his head, looked at Po's clear and bewildered eyes, and suddenly felt his head start to ache again.
It seemed that teaching this Dragon Warrior to adapt to modern society would be a long and arduous task.
"It's not copper coins." He replied concisely.
"It's a kind of paper that you can use to exchange for anything you want. For example, buns."
"Exchange for buns!" Po's eyes lit up again instantly.
"Yeah, lots and lots of buns." Shirou added.
"Awesome!" Po patted his belly excitedly, making a dull thud.
"I'm going to work hard, earn lots and lots of salary, and then buy all the buns in New York!"
Shirou Emiya watched his ambitious appearance, turned around silently, and continued washing the dishes.
Amidst the sound of running water, the corners of his mouth seemed to twitch upward, but it was too fast to catch.
Perhaps, this kind of daily life wasn't too bad.