Chapter Twenty-Six: Tofu of Literary Inspiration

Although the Leek Duck carried the negative buff of "Alchemy" on its culinary path, its knife skills were nothing short of impressive. Heath discovered a block of tofu in Sakaki's refrigerator, which immediately brought to mind a challenging dish from his previous life in China—Wensi Tofu.

Heath had first encountered Wensi Tofu while watching "A Bite of China." After seeing it, he became deeply fascinated by this dish, which demanded extraordinary knife skills. He tried making it himself, but he had to admit that a natural talent was required for cooking. No matter how many times he attempted it, Heath always ended up with tofu soup. Later, with grit and practice, he finally managed to produce a passable Wensi Tofu. Yet, achieving the exquisite result shown on television—where the tofu bloomed in water like a chrysanthemum—remained out of reach.

But the Leek Duck could do it. Heath admired its innate talent for knife work, so he decided to let it try slicing Wensi Tofu. If it succeeded, then all the recipes demanding intricate knife skills would be within reach.

"Leek?" The Leek Duck looked at Heath in confusion, seemingly unsure why it had been summoned.

"Leek Duck, look, this is a bamboo stalk. Can you carve it into the shape of a knife?" Heath picked up a bamboo tube from the kitchen and handed it to the Leek Duck. He didn't quite understand why there was bamboo in the kitchen, but he was pleased nonetheless.

"Leek!" The Leek Duck nodded confidently. With a few swift movements using its own leek, it carved the bamboo into a knife that looked quite sharp.

"Leek Duck, can you use this bamboo knife to cut the tofu into extremely fine threads without breaking its integrity?" This was the crucial test. Heath looked at the Leek Duck and asked seriously. If it could manage this, it would be wonderful. Otherwise, Heath planned to do it himself.

"Leek?" The Leek Duck eyed the tofu, then stretched out its wing to prod the tofu for firmness.

Heath immediately tapped the Leek Duck's wing with his chopsticks and shot it a glare. This creature had forgotten once again—he had told it that, as a chef, it was best not to touch ingredients directly with its own hands, a rule made especially for the Leek Duck, since its wings were covered in feathers.

True, in his previous life, platforms like TikTok were full of so-called fly restaurants and internet-famous eateries, where owners were said to ignore hygiene yet produce flavors better than five-star establishments.

Heath believed that some chefs might indeed reach the culinary heights of five-star restaurants, but those who flaunted their disregard for cleanliness were just spouting nonsense in his eyes. A chef’s most basic responsibility was to maintain the kitchen’s and restaurant’s hygiene. If they couldn't guarantee that, they had no business being a chef. Heath always believed that chefs ought to serve healthy, delicious food to their guests, not use their skills as an excuse for filthiness or as a gimmick to denigrate others. Chefs who ignored hygiene standards had no place in his kitchen.

The Leek Duck tucked its wing back with a wounded look, then cut off a small piece of tofu, set it aside, and only then used its wing to feel the texture. Afterward, it nodded with renewed confidence.

"Here, slice this block of tofu. Try not to let it fall apart—keep it as intact as possible. And remember to use the bamboo knife," Heath said, satisfied. With Wensi Tofu underway, he turned to preparing the other ingredients required for the dish.

Ordinarily, Wensi Tofu called for cooked ham and similar ingredients, but in the world of Pokémon, ham was nowhere to be found. Though Heath had tried curing his own, it wasn’t ready yet. He had to substitute with other ingredients for now. Once the Leek Duck finished slicing, Heath carefully scooped up the tofu with a kitchen knife and set it aside for later use.

He had to admit, the Leek Duck’s knife skills were truly outstanding. With its help, Heath’s cooking speed had improved significantly, and in no time, he had a sumptuous dinner ready, which he brought out for Sakaki and Sabrina.

"Oh, this all looks wonderful! What dishes are these?" Sakaki asked with great interest, curiosity lighting his face.

"This is Wensi Tofu, this is Yiliang Roast Duck, here is Sweet and Sour Lotus Cabbage, and finally, Curry Chicken," Heath said, pointing to the dishes on the table and giving a brief introduction.

The Leek Duck stood beside Heath, swallowing constantly, which piqued Sakaki’s curiosity. He glanced at the Leek Duck and asked why Heath had brought it out.

Heath hurried to explain—the Leek Duck had assisted in preparing the meal, so he had brought it along to meet the guests. Sakaki burst out laughing, slapping his thigh with a hearty, genuine laugh. It was clear he was in excellent spirits.

"You, little Heath—everyone else travels with their Pokémon to collect badges and challenge the Quartz League, aspiring to become great trainers. How did things turn out so differently with you?" Sakaki laughed so hard that tears came to his eyes. He wiped them away and looked at Heath.

"Well... I suppose it's because cooking is my real pursuit," Heath replied with a smile. He could travel too, but while others journeyed to collect badges, he chose to travel in search of ingredients, taking his Pokémon to see the scenery along the way. For Heath, that was a way of life.

Sakaki generously paid him a full one thousand League coins for the meal, and Heath accepted without hesitation—a step closer to funding his journey.

After leaving Sakaki’s house, Heath patted the Leek Duck on the head. The Leek Duck, however, looked unhappy, its face full of grievance and frustration. Heath found it both amusing and exasperating—this fellow was still brooding over not being allowed to handle the roast duck earlier.

"When cooking for guests, you have to be at your best. If you’re not skilled enough yet, it’s not suitable for you to help. That’s why I didn’t let you do it," Heath explained with a cheerful grin.

The Leek Duck turned away, still looking disgruntled.

"Alright... Let’s go buy groceries. I’ll get... one duck for you to practice on!" Heath gritted his teeth—a single duck cost dozens of coins, and his heart ached at the expense.

The Leek Duck still wouldn’t look at him, but it raised its wing and made a 'two.'

"Hiss... Fine, two it is." Heath clutched his wallet in pain.