Free Web NovelChapter 54: Chapter 54 Paluda and Special Effects
"I wonder if I have enough ingredients," Chen Ze was a bit troubled, deciding to make Paluda on a whim, not remembering if he had previously bought the ingredients for Paluda.
"Milk... I have that, thankfully I bought some," Chen Ze said as he leafed through the recipe book while sizing up his refrigerator.
"Coconut milk? I don’t think I bought that..." Chen Ze searched his refrigerator but indeed found none.
Things like French dried bread were even more out of the question, which was a bit disheartening for Chen Ze. He was very eager to make Paluda, but without ingredients, there was nothing he could do.
"Looks like I’ll just have to go buy them later," Chen Ze scratched his head and then checked his phone again, still no signal.
Chen Ze felt quite dejected, with no explanation for the signal issue, at the very least his previous speculation was wrong.
However, looking at Sebastian and Riesel eating outside, Chen Ze’s mood brightened a bit.
"Sebastian, did you bring that thing I asked you to?" Riesel, satisfied, patted his belly, feeling full with the spicy cuisine filling his stomach.
"Are you referring to this?" Sebastian pulled a small sphere from his chest and placed it on the table.
Chen Ze curiously examined it, the small ball looked unique, resembling a metal object, yet Chen Ze could smell a hint of plants.
Riesel took it, glanced at it, and nodded in satisfaction. He hadn’t brought any food with him today and was relying on this object to settle the bill.
"Manager!" Chen Ze responded to the call and came outside.
"This is the payment for the meal," Riesel handed the small ball to Chen Ze.
"What is this?" Chen Ze was a bit confused; only after touching it did he realize the ball was warm, and it felt like touching water at 40 degrees Celsius.
"It’s a spice from our land, we always add a bit when eating barbecue," Riesel explained.
Chen Ze’s interest was piqued; he remembered a bird person who had come to the restaurant before, mentioning that the barbecue was too bland.
What did otherworld barbecue taste like? Chen Ze was very curious to find out.
"Riesel, on this trip back to Dragon Island, Yivela said she was going to forcibly take you," Sebastian said with a teasing smile, enjoying watching his old friend be put on the spot.
"Don’t worry, Yivela can’t beat me," Riesel said with a scoff. He was an Ancient Dragon, after all, and Yivela hadn’t even entered the realm of Ancient Dragons.
Riesel afraid? That was a joke.
Watching Riesel and Sebastian walk away, Chen Ze beckoned Betty to do the dishes, then took the small ball to the kitchen, planning to try out this novel spice.
After cutting a few slices of beef, Chen Ze simply pan-fried them— he didn’t have the time to drag out the barbecue grill just for a few slices of beef.
Watching the beef slowly change color in the oil, Chen Ze felt very peaceful inside.
Soon after, Chen Ze took out the slices of beef and rolled the small ball over them.
The fully cooked beef was now speckled with light silver spots; Chen Ze placed the ball into a small bowl, picked up a slice of beef with his chopsticks, and slowly chewed it.
It was somewhat like cumin, but a bit sourer than cumin.
Chen Ze was somewhat disappointed, as the seasoning wasn’t very good. He thought it would be better to use cumin directly instead of this spice, and moreover, cumin wasn’t sour.
Chen Ze shook his head, deciding not to use this spice for a while. He would consider bringing it out again after he went to culinary school and had some new ideas.
"Betty, keep watch over the restaurant. If customers come, have them wait a bit," Chen Ze put on his hoodie and gave Betty a few instructions before quickly leaving. He needed to take advantage of the supermarket still being open and buy the missing ingredients for Paluda.
"Alright, Manager,"
Before long, Chen Ze returned carrying several large bags.
"Betty, there are customers..." Chen Ze lifted his head and saw two small children already sitting inside his shop.
The clothes on the children were very tattered, and even from several meters away, Chen Ze could smell a sour stench emanating from them.
Chen Ze sized up the two children who appeared to be customers. They were barefoot, their feet stained, and the skin that showed was grimy.
"Beggars? Or street children?" Chen Ze made a basic assessment.
They couldn’t possibly be from Earth, Chen Ze was confident of that. If there were creatures from other worlds in the shop, then no customer from Earth would be able to open the door.
The main reason for his conclusion was that these two children were whispering something to Betty, and Chen Ze couldn’t understand a word.
Ignoring Betty, who was trying to speak to him, Chen Ze went straight to the kitchen, touched Arcane Wisdom, and then turned his head back to look at Betty.
"Manager, they are customers who came in after you left," Betty quickly repeated what she had just said. freewebnøvel.coɱ
Chen Ze looked again at the two young customers, a boy, and a girl with blond hair and faces covered with dirt. The girl seemed to be in good spirits, but the boy was the epitome of gauntness.
Confronted by Chen Ze’s gaze, the girl timidly began, "Respected noble sir, it has snowed where we are from and it’s terribly cold... If we stay outside, my brother and I will die. Please, show us mercy and let us stay one night!"
Indeed, they were street children, Chen Ze affirmed his thought.
Looking at the siblings, Chen Ze silently tied on his bandana.
"Stay one night? Of course, you can, but you’ll need to pay for your lodging with labor, and no, I am not some noble sir," Chen Ze shook his head and headed back into the kitchen.
The weather had turned cold, and he felt these two little ones might take an interest in Paluda.
Chen Ze quickly followed the recipe’s steps and made a serving of Paluda.
[You have made a barely acceptable Paluda, your drink-making experience has increased by 3 points]
Chen Ze shrugged his shoulders, not minding, and continued to make this new beverage.
[You have made an ordinary Paluda, your drink-making experience has increased by 5 points]
Chen Ze nodded in satisfaction. He knew he shouldn’t make a mistake, and he was somewhat aware of why the previous Paluda was only barely acceptable.
After all, Paluda was a drink best served chilled; Chen Ze had forcefully made it into a hot beverage, which wouldn’t achieve the best effect.
"Whatever," Chen Ze shook his head, placed the ordinary Paluda into the fridge, and decided to give it to Betty later.
Chen Ze then made another steaming serving of Paluda and brought it out along with the previous one.
"Have something to drink first to warm yourselves up," Facing the surprised gazes of the two street children, Chen Ze placed the two servings of Paluda in front of them.
[The barely acceptable Paluda has gained a temporary effect]
[The perfect Paluda (exclusive to the Nafi Siblings)]
Chen Ze’s eyes widened.
