In the kitchen.
Since Li Wei had thrown in chili peppers as though they cost nothing, the system's assessment was:
[A serving of Mapo Tofu with excessive Sichuan peppercorns and excellent flavor]
This was an incredible dish that spice lovers would adore, and even those who couldn't handle spice would grit their teeth to eat!
The vivid red Mapo Tofu (B-grade) sat before Li Wei, and he took a bite with his chopsticks.
The tofu, blanched in boiling water, held its shape, while the salt water had removed its beany taste. The minced beef, stir-fried with chili bean paste and cooking wine, was savory and fragrant.
His first impression was heat, followed by spice-but it was delicious!
Eating Mapo Tofu (B-grade) for the first time could permanently raise a Pokémon's Special Attack slightly.
Although Li Wei had the constitution of a Super New Trainer, he wasn't a Pokémon, so it had no effect on him.
Subsequent servings could raise Special Attack for a short time.
He wondered whether it would work on people with psychic powers, thinking of Sabrina and Caitlin.
Li Wei's daily allotment for making Mapo Tofu had also changed to (1/6).
Looking at this serving of Mapo Tofu (B-grade),
Li Wei couldn't help having some strange ideas.
Other people feed their Pokémon Special Attack boosters during matches.
I feed mine Mapo Tofu?
In the middle of a Pokémon battle, I'd shout, "Hold on a second!" and then bring out a plate of Mapo Tofu?
If they get hungry during a battle, there's nothing wrong with having a bite, right?
That was just too ridiculous.
To Li Wei, the most impressive thing about the system's Special Cuisine Pokédex
was its ability to turn simple ingredients into dishes that improved Pokémon's abilities.
That was clearly something only chefs of Master Tier or higher could do, using specific ingredients to prepare special dishes.
But Li Wei wasn't one.
Smoked Apricorn Juice was understandable. Apricorns were Berries and naturally helped restore stamina.
But the ingredients in Mapo Tofu had absolutely nothing to do with improving Pokémon's abilities.
Who would believe that making a plate of Mapo Tofu could raise a Pokémon's Special Attack?!
Yet the special cuisine had done it.
Doesn't that mean I could open a Pokémon restaurant?
Have a plate of Mapo Tofu and a glass of Smoked Apricorn Juice,
then a serving of crab roe lion's head meatballs.
Finish with a Crispy Apple for dessert...
The Pokémon's abilities would improve as they ate.
That sounds pretty promising...
Still, that would have to wait until the Breeding Center was running smoothly. His main task right now was getting it off the ground.
His Special Cuisine Pokédex still had too few recipes. Surely he needed at least ten or twenty special dishes?
That evening.
Li Wei's new dish, Mapo Tofu, inspired both love and hate in everyone. He used up all five remaining servings in one go.
Every Pokémon present got a share.
To go with the Mapo Tofu, Li Wei also specially stir-fried a base for Red Oil Hot Pot-an extra-spicy one.
Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers visibly covered the surface, constantly releasing fragrance and heat as the broth boiled.
It felt as though even the clear-broth pot beside it had caught fire.
Fragrant, spicy, and numbing enough to make their scalps tingle.
This was a flavor that took no prisoners.
"My head feelsh like it's buzzing."
"Dayou, your lips look like sausages!"
"Holy shit, Pichu used Flamethrower!"
Jigglypuff had merely caught a whiff,
yet its legs were already trembling, and it was ready to flee.
"Jiggly~" o(╥﹏╥)o
(Did I do something wrong?)
(I'll never do it again~)
Mizuki couldn't help swallowing.
"Here, Xiao Rou, have some duck intestines. They're delicious."
"Thank you, Mizuki."
"Shiyin, you're still growing. Eat some more."
"I am, I am!" Shiyin ate the meatballs she had fished out of the Red Oil Hot Pot, crying all the while.
Li Wei had asked Metagross to help pound the mixture for beef balls, fish balls, and all sorts of other meatballs.
Though Metagross had nearly demolished the kitchen trying to prove to Li Wei how much it had improved...
Ever seen someone use Hammer Arm to pound beef for meatballs?
Li Wei had.
Li Wei was dumbfounded by the sight and couldn't help advising, "If it's too spicy, just eat from the clear broth."
Shiyin clenched her fists. "No, I want the red broth!"
Dayou was even more outrageous. He had eight cases of Moomoo Milk beside him, and he opened two cans for Shiyin, setting them in front of her.
"Eat up! We're drinking this stuff by the case!"
Other people get drunk on booze, and you get drunk on milk?!
Pay some attention to those sausage lips of yours!
Li Wei also received everyone's enthusiastic hospitality.
"Boss, try this."
"Li Wei, here, here!"
"Son, this quail egg is delicious!"
Comrade Leon's fatherly love nearly moved Li Wei to tears-until he bit into the quail egg and found that it hadn't absorbed any flavor...
This thing hasn't absorbed any flavor at all!
(╯°Д°)╯︵ ┻━┻
So his dad had discovered that the quail egg was bland, but couldn't waste it or put it back, and had dumped it on him instead.
Hah. Men.
Li Wei could handle spice, and he was already planning to get more chili peppers to plant in his backyard.
If necessary, putting up a greenhouse wasn't out of the question.
"Ono, you can't handle spice, right? How about I help you out..."
Since the food in the pot was still cooking, Dayou had his eye on the marbled beef in Ono's bowl, peppercorns and all.
"No, I can do this!"
Ono wore the expression of a man marching to his death.
Dayou could only drool regretfully.
"How can something as delicious as Red Oil Hot Pot exist in this world?!"
"Roaaar!!!"
Dayou and Incineroar were blazing with enthusiasm.
"Dayou's fired up again!"
Lucario and Arcanine, who could handle spice, enjoyed every bite of whatever they ate.
Metagross could handle spice, but only a little.
As for Drakloak... it was stunned.
Drakloak decided to stick with the sweet version of Kung Pao Chicken Li Wei had made especially for it, since it liked sweet food.
Dragapult was equally baffled.
But the scene couldn't help reminding Dragapult of the first time Meria had eaten spicy food.
(This place is pretty interesting.)
Eating spicy food was pure delight; the aftermath was a funeral pyre.
The next day, apart from Li Wei and Comrade Wen Hui, who had exercised restraint, everyone was clinging to their toilets for dear life.
Fortunately, every dorm room had its own toilet. Things had also been relatively quiet lately, so they could consider it a little time off.
"Have some warm milk. If it gets too bad, you'll need to go to the hospital."
Li Wei, Lucario, and the others delivered the heated milk to each room.
Dayou's face had gone rather pale.
"Thank you so much..."
After drinking the warm milk, Dayou felt a little better.
Remembering how Dayou had behaved yesterday, Li Wei teased him. "Still want more?"
"Yes!"
"..."
All right, I concede defeat.
"Call me if it gets too bad. I'll take you to the hospital."
Dayou shakily made an OK sign.
"Don't worry."
Elsewhere,
a tall, slender blonde woman in a black trench coat stood unbowed against the fierce wind.
"I'm almost there."
"I'm really sorry. I can't get away right now, so I'll have to leave this to you."
The blonde woman couldn't help smiling.
"It's all right. It's for Feebas, after all."
Amid the clouds, Garchomp tore through the mist like a supersonic fighter jet, flying toward the Eastern Suburbs of Jubilife City...
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