Hearing Ayaka's explanation, Feng Yi couldn't help but sigh with relief that 'Tsubaki' wasn't truly 'alive'. If she were, she might have been scared stiff upon seeing the gift.
"Actually, according to you, as long as it's not Inazuman cuisine, it's foreign cuisine, right? If that's the case, I could teach you a few Liyue dishes..."
Feng Yi said, hands on her hips.
"C-can you? Really? Feng Yi, you're a lifesaver! I'll thank you properly!"
Kamisato Ayaka was overjoyed. She had been a bit silly, not realizing she had a Genshin Impact traveler right beside her, someone who would surely know about things from other nations.
"Then what kind of foreign food is suitable for giving as a gift?"
Kamisato Ayaka looked at Feng Yi, eagerly awaiting her answer.
Feng Yi mused. She knew how to cook many Liyue dishes, but when it came to gifting, appearance and preservation were key.
Appearance aside, since the cooking wouldn't be done face-to-face, there would be some delay before the recipient got the food. If it were a typical soup dish, it might get soggy and lose a lot of flavor by the time it arrived.
Considering these factors, Feng Yi ultimately chose: Crystal Shrimp!
This dish was a signature of Wanmin Restaurant and a traditional Liyue dim sum.
The filling consisted of whole, plump shrimp. The glistening pink hue was subtly visible through the translucent wrapper. Each bite was delightfully springy and tender.
The wrapper was as crystal clear as glass – perfect for presentation!
When eaten, it felt like fresh shrimp were dancing on the tongue – delicious too!
Even more importantly, Crystal Shrimp could be kept in a steamer, using the enclosed high heat and steam to maintain its peak deliciousness.
It was truly the ultimate choice for both home and travel, and for gifting!
"Crystal Shrimp? That dish sounds very difficult, Feng Yi. Can I really learn it in such a short time?"
Kamisato Ayaka's confidence faltered, recalling her earlier performance.
"Don't worry, with my guidance, you'll definitely succeed!"
Of course, Feng Yi didn't say the rest of the sentence: 'Except for Hu Tao and the Raiden Shogun...'
Half an hour later, Kichin Anya had finished cooking but Feng Yi and Miss Kamisato were nowhere to be seen.
She kept the food warm in the pot and went to find them in her backyard.
Kichin Anya was surprised to find Feng Yi and Miss Kamisato making food.
Flour dust had smudged their faces, and they were helping each other wipe it off, their gazes, their actions, the atmosphere...
Kichin Anya found a melon from the kitchen, eating it as she watched Feng Yi and Miss Kamisato's intimate interaction.
From time to time, she let out an uncontrollable "auntie" smile.
About twenty minutes later, Feng Yi and Miss Kamisato finished their cooking. Kichin Anya discarded the remaining melon rind and took a deep breath to compose herself.
Once she felt her state had returned to normal, she slowly walked over.
"Esteemed guest, and Miss Kamisato, the food is ready. If you don't eat it soon, it won't taste as good!"
Kichin Anya approached them with a smile.
"We are truly sorry, Proprietor Kichin. Feng Yi was teaching me how to make Liyue dim sum, which took some time. We hope you don't mind!"
Kamisato Ayaka wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve, a look of apology on her face.
"Is this Miss Kamisato's cooking? May I have the honor of tasting it?"
Kichin Anya saw Feng Yi open the steamer, revealing the crystal-clear delicacy amidst the rising steam.
It looked like steamed buns, but the wrapper of this dish was incredibly thin.
It was incredibly appetizing, and Kichin Anya couldn't resist wanting to try it.
"Feng Yi..."
Hearing Kichin Anya's request, Kamisato Ayaka turned to Feng Yi for her opinion.
"Of course, consider it a culinary exchange. We can share our dishes with each other."
Feng Yi smiled and nodded. The essence of delicious food lies in sharing.
"That's wonderful! Please wait for me, I'll go get the food I made, and we can all exchange and taste!"
Kichin Anya was overjoyed, quickly saying goodbye before rushing back to the shop to fetch her prepared dishes.
"Feng Yi, thank you!"
Kamisato Ayaka smiled sweetly, thanking Feng Yi for teaching her to cook and for her willingness to share.
"Just saying it with words is not very sincere, is it?"
Saying that, Feng Yi pointed to her cheek.
Kamisato Ayaka immediately understood Feng Yi's intention. Her pretty face flushed, she closed her eyes and pecked Feng Yi on the cheek. Then, she nervously looked around. Seeing that the proprietor Kichin hadn't returned yet, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Come, let's exchange tastes!"
A few minutes later, Kichin Anya arrived, carrying several dishes on a tray.
After tasting the Crystal Shrimp made by Feng Yi and Kamisato Ayaka, Kichin Anya was astounded. She never expected Miss Kamisato's culinary skills to be so good; the shrimp filling was fresh and delicious, making her eyes light up.
Feng Yi also took this opportunity to taste Proprietor Kichin's cooking. Although the presentation needed improvement, the taste was undeniable. It was much like Liyue's Wanmin Restaurant, where only the flavor of the dishes mattered.
Kamisato Ayaka also tasted her own Crystal Shrimp, finding it hard to believe such a delicious dish came from her own hands. While Feng Yi's help was indispensable, she had personally handled every step from kneading the dough. The thought that Feng Yi would so selflessly impart such a delicious dish to her moved Kamisato Ayaka deeply.
After the tasting, Kamisato Ayaka returned to the kitchen. This time, she asked Feng Yi not to help, wanting to rely entirely on her own abilities to make this Crystal Shrimp for 'Tsubaki'. Kamisato Ayaka had a good talent. Although the Crystal Shrimp she made later were slightly less impressive in appearance than the ones Feng Yi had helped with, they were still very successful dishes.
Kamisato Ayaka packed the food, bid farewell to Proprietor Kichin, and headed to the Kura Saki store to pick up clothes. Because it was a food-sharing event where everyone tasted each other's dishes, Kichin Anya refused to accept payment from Kamisato Ayaka. Passing by Kura Saki and collecting the packed kimono, the preparations were mostly complete.
On the way to the final destination, as they got closer, Kamisato Ayaka became increasingly nervous.
"Feng Yi, regarding my mother's friend 'Tsubaki', I... I've made a preliminary guess. I believe 'Tsubaki' might be a 'Fox Deity's messenger.' I've never heard my mother mention such a friend before. She's so mysterious, she must be a reclusive master whom one rarely meets, right?"
To ease her nervousness, Kamisato Ayaka initiated conversation, trying to distract herself.
Feng Yi: Ayaka, you're overthinking things...