mijobooks Chapter 189 Rie's Culinary Journey, Vision for the Future
Chapter 189 Rie's Culinary Journey, Vision for the Future
Chapter 189 Rie's Culinary Journey, Vision for the Future
The car turned into a narrow alley at the north exit of Ikebukuro. Unlike Yokohama Chinatown, which is brightly lit with neon signs and red lanterns, this place exudes a rustic, old-fashioned charm.
Kitahara Shin parked the car and led Miyazawa Rie into a small shop with a sign that read "Northeast Home-Style Cuisine".
The shop is small, with only four or five tables, and the air is filled with a strong aroma of stir-fried spices.
Welcome!
The middle-aged owner, busy in the kitchen, poked his head out and, upon seeing Kitahara Shin, his greasy face immediately broke into a wide smile: "Oh, Kitahara-san! What a rare guest!"
Kitahara Shin found a corner seat and sat down, smiling as he replied, "Boss, long time no see. I'll be troubling you today."
He spoke Chinese. His pronunciation was clear and articulate, with a distinct northern accent.
Rie Miyazawa, who was wiping her hands with a wet wipe, paused, staring at him with wide eyes: "You can speak Chinese?"
"What's so strange about that?"
Kitahara Shin handed her the menu, casually making up a story, "I studied a little kung fu before in order to understand kung fu movies."
Rie Miyazawa looked at him suspiciously. This guy was shrouded in mystery, like peeling an onion, one layer after another. Last time it was the zither, this time it's Chinese, who knows what he might build next?
"Boss, is what I asked you to prepare ready?" Kitahara Shin shouted towards the kitchen.
"Ready! All fresh from this morning!" the owner shouted from inside. "Really want to eat that? A lot of Japanese customers can't stand that stuff."
"It's okay, just follow the recipe I gave you. Stir-fry it dry, and add plenty of cumin and chili."
Rie Miyazawa listened to the two men talking rapidly in that unfamiliar language, unable to get a word in edgewise. She could only ask somewhat uneasily, "What are you talking about? What kind of creature is that?"
"It's nothing, just a specialty dish."
Kitahara Shin poured her a cup of barley tea and changed the subject: "Rie, have you thought about doing a variety show lately?"
"Variety show?"
Rie Miyazawa hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Should I be a guest?"
"No, it's the host."
Kitahara Shin tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "I've secured a late-night slot with Fuji TV. I have complete control over that time slot. I want to create a personal variety show tailored just for you."
Rie Miyazawa didn't show any surprise; instead, she frowned.
Nowadays, actresses, especially those like her who transitioned from a pure and innocent idol image, are usually very protective of their reputation. It's fine for them to appear on variety shows as guests and play games, but becoming a regular host feels somewhat "lower in status."
I know what you're worried about.
97
Kitahara Shin saw through her thoughts: "Your acting has indeed improved, but it's not enough. The audience's impression of you is still that of 'the pretty doll-like Rie Miyazawa.' You need an opportunity to break that fixed image."
"Break the mold?"
"Yes. We need to show the audience a more real, down-to-earth, even somewhat clumsy and timid Rie Miyazawa. This contrast is what attracts the most fans."
Rie Miyazawa bit her straw, hesitated for a moment, and said, "But—do I have that talent? I'm not good with words, and my reactions aren't fast either."
I think you do.
Kitahara Shin looked at her, his smile carrying a deeper meaning.
Just then, a strange, burnt aroma wafted out of the kitchen.
The flavor, a blend of oil, protein, and the aroma of chili and cumin, is extremely potent and instantly whets the appetite.
"Okay, the food is here."
Kitahara Shin smiled mysteriously. "Close your eyes first."
"What are they up to now?"
Rie Miyazawa muttered something, but obediently closed her eyes. She had an instinctive trust in Shin Kitahara; if it was his arrangement, it shouldn't—probably—won't harm her, right?
The sound of a plate hitting the table.
Open your mouth.
Kitahara Shin picked up a piece of food, blew on it to warm it up, and held it to her lips.
Rie Miyazawa's cheeks flushed slightly. This feeding gesture was too intimate, especially in this cramped, hole-in-the-wall restaurant. She slightly opened her mouth and bit down on it.
Crispy.
That was my first impression.
Immediately afterwards, teeth broke through the crispy outer shell, and a burst of scalding juice exploded in the mouth.
good smell.
It has a unique aroma from high-protein deep-frying, combined with the spiciness of cumin and chili, making it very unique. The texture is like eating a crispy on the outside and tender on the inside fried meatball, but with an added soft and chewy texture.
"Is it good?" Kitahara Shin's voice rang in my ears.
Rie Miyazawa chewed carefully a few times, swallowed, and nodded: "Mmm—it's quite delicious. The flavor is very unique. What kind of meat is this? Chicken cartilage? Or some kind of seafood?"
"You can open your eyes and take a look."
Rie Miyazawa slowly opened her eyes.
His gaze was focused on the dish in front of him.
Upon seeing this, she froze completely.
The plate was piled high with dark brown, segmented insects. They were fried until they shone with oil, and some even still had their original heads and legs clearly visible.
Those are silkworm pupae.
The air froze for three seconds.
"ah!!!"
A piercing scream nearly blew the roof off the small shop.
Rie Miyazawa sprang from her chair as if electrocuted, her face deathly pale, her whole body trembling, her hand pointing at the plate of food shaking: "You—you fed me what?! Bugs?! Those are bugs!!"
Looking at Kitahara Shin's smiling face, she instantly flew into a rage. Fear transformed into shame and anger; she lunged forward and rained blows on Kitahara Shin's shoulder: "Kitahara Shin! You bastard! You pervert! You actually made me eat this stuff! Ugh!"
"Calm down, calm down."
Kitahara Shin dodged while grabbing her wrist, explaining helplessly, "These are silkworm pupae, high in protein, and are considered a top-quality snack with alcohol in China. I ate some too."
"I don't care! You're just bullying me!"
Rie Miyazawa's eyes instantly reddened, large tears welling up in them; she was truly aggrieved: "You spoil Nanako so much, and you're so gentle with Izumi-nee and Akina-nee—but with me, you always make me either act like a madwoman or eat bugs! Are you a devil?!"
Seeing that she was about to cry, Kitahara Shin stopped dodging and took the opportunity to reach out and pull her into his arms.
He tightened his arms around her, holding her tightly.
"Let me go! I'm going to kill you! Waaah—"
Rie Miyazawa struggled desperately in his arms, like a mad kitten.
The shop owner was very perceptive. Seeing this, he silently put down the rag in his hand, turned off the lights in the shop, leaving only a dim wall lamp, and then quietly walked out the door to squat by the roadside and smoke.
The shop fell silent, with only Rie's intermittent sobs remaining.
Kitahara Shin pressed one hand against the back of her head and gently patted her back, letting her vent in his arms for a while.
He only let go of the person in his arms when the person stopped struggling and only occasionally sniffed.
He sat down again, picked up a silkworm pupa, put it in his mouth in front of Rie Miyazawa, crunched it with a "crunch," and ate it without changing his expression.
"Look, I ate some too. It's really not bad, right?"
Rie Miyazawa sniffed, glared at him with her red eyes, and gritted her teeth: "You have to finish it all! I won't forgive you if there's even one left!"
"Okay, okay, I'll eat it."
Kitahara Shin picked up another one, and while eating, said seriously, "Actually, this is the kind of program I want you to make."
"What?"
"Rie Miyazawa's World Food Adventures"
97
Kitahara Shin pointed to the silkworm pupae on the plate: "I want you to travel all over the world and eat foods that locals consider delicious but we find bizarre. Whether it's fried spiders, roasted bats, or these silkworm pupae."
Rie Miyazawa felt her stomach churning again. She glared at him fiercely and said, "Are you trying to make me miserable enough?"
"No."
Kitahara Shin looked at her earnestly: "Your reaction just now was the best way to create a good show."
"Today's audiences are tired of those aloof celebrities. They want to see you think something tastes delicious when you don't know what it is," then "break down" after learning the truth, and finally, "have to eat it with tears in your eyes for the sake of the mission."
"This contrast between your real, adorable, and somewhat pitiful personality will cause your popularity to explode in a short period of time."
Rie Miyazawa was stunned.
She looked at Kitahara Shin, then at the dish that sent chills down her spine.
"So after all that—you were still doing it for work."
She sat back down in her chair, somewhat deflated, and muttered something.
"It's for work, but it's also for your future."
Kitahara Shin pulled out a tissue and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Rie, this industry is cruel. You don't have Nanako's natural audience appeal, nor do you have Izumi's irreplaceable voice. If you don't want to be left behind, you have to be willing to go all out."
This statement struck a nerve with Rie Miyazawa.
Since breaking free from her mother's control, she has gained freedom, but she has also lost her sense of direction.
Watching Kitahara Shin run faster and faster, and seeing more and more outstanding women around him, her sense of crisis was actually heavier than anyone else's. She was afraid that one day, she wouldn't even have the right to stand beside him, and could only watch his back recede into the distance.
"I see."
Rie Miyazawa was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath, as if she had made some important decision.
She picked up her chopsticks, her hands still trembling slightly, but her eyes became resolute.
"I will do it."
She picked up a silkworm pupa, closed her eyes, and gave a look of resignation: "Anything you want me to do—I'll do it. I won't let you leave me behind."
Kitahara Shin couldn't help but laugh as he looked at her heroic sacrifice.
"Eat up. This is for the future."
One week later. Saga Prefecture, along the Ariake Sea coast.
The first episode of "Rie Miyazawa's Strange Food Journey," a new late-night variety show personally planned by Shin Kitahara, has been recorded.
Although it's a late-night show, the production standards are extremely high.
Rie Miyazawa, dressed in a fresh light-colored knit sweater, sat on the tatami mat in a souvenir shop. However, at this moment, the face of this "most beautiful girl in all of Japan" was as pale as paper.
On the exquisite wooden tray in front of her were several dark, dry things.
That's a specialty of Saga Prefecture: dried Valaspo.
If you didn't know it was food, you'd think it was a prop from a horror movie. It was completely black, like a dried-up corpse, with its head wide open, revealing sharp, long, and densely packed fangs. It had no eyes and looked like a grotesque miniature alien.
"Is this... is this a living thing?"
Rie Miyazawa stared at the terrifying fangs, her chopsticks trembling, her voice trembling with tears: "It has teeth! It's staring at me! This must be an alien! I can't—I really can't—"
The staff around her held their breath, no one urged her, everyone was waiting for her to make her own decision.
Rie Miyazawa took a deep breath.
Her hands were still trembling, and her eyes were filled with instinctive fear.
However, the image of that man's back appeared in her mind.
Shin Kitahara is making a meteoric rise in the entertainment industry. He's created ratings phenomenal hits, written bestselling books, and is about to move on to making movies and developing theatrical releases.
And what about yourself?
Aside from being "pretty" and "cute," if I don't break through this glass shell called "perfect idol," can I really keep up with him?
"I don't want to be left behind."
"I don't want to just be a protected vase."
"I want to prove to him that I can be just as daring, that I have the guts!"
This desire to become stronger and to walk alongside others overwhelmed the fear of the alien mummies at that moment.
Rie Miyazawa closed her eyes and clenched her teeth.
"Waaah————"
She let out a whimper like a startled animal, then suddenly grabbed the "alien stem" and, with a tragic and resolute air, shoved it into her mouth.
"Click."
A crisp chewing sound.
The camera gave a close-up shot.
That exquisitely beautiful face was contorted with fear, its eyelashes trembling, and tears still clinging to the corners of its eyes, creating a stark visual contrast with the hideous "monster" at the corner of its mouth.
One second, two seconds.
After chewing mechanically a few times.
Sudden.
Her furrowed brows relaxed.
His expression, which had initially been one of resignation to death, slowly turned into confusion, and then—surprise?
She opened her eyes, blinked her large eyes, and looked at the remaining half of the "alien" in her hand with some disbelief: "Huh?"
The concentrated flavor of the ocean explodes on the tongue, becoming more and more fragrant with each chew, just like top-quality grilled beef jerky or squid strips.
"It looks...delicious?"
She spoke cautiously to the camera, tears still glistening on her face, yet a genuine, slightly dazed smile appeared on her face: "Really! It's so fresh! It seems—it seems like it would go perfectly with beer?"
To confirm, she even picked up another piece, this time much more deftly, and ate it with relish.
"Cut! Perfect!"
The director's excited voice rang out.
It's Friday night, 1 a.m.
When this episode aired, the ratings curve showed an astonishing upward trend.
On the screen, the "most beautiful girl in all of Japan," who was usually aloof and always smiling and waving, was now being...
The dried fish was terrified, but bravely ate it to challenge itself, eventually turning into a gluttonous cat.
This huge contrast between the two instantly broke through the audience's psychological defenses.
Moreover, the business community has shown even more acute sensitivity.
The day after the program aired.
The phone lines of the local specialty products association in Saga Prefecture were ringing off the hook.
"Is there any stock of the 'alien' food that Rie-chan ate?"
"We want to order! It's the same style Rie wore!"
"Can you send it to Tokyo?"
This local specialty, which was originally difficult to sell due to its terrifying appearance and could only be consumed by locals, was snapped up overnight.
This even led to a doubling of tourism inquiries in Saga Prefecture.
GG merchants and tourism bureaus in various regions immediately sensed the potential for profit.
This is more than just a late-night prank show.
This is practically a local tourism brochure that can "turn stones into gold"!
If you let Rie Miyazawa take a bite, even the most terrifying local specialty can become a viral sensation!
Monday morning.
Fuji Television's GG Department.
"Chief! This is terrible!"
A subordinate rushed in carrying a stack of documents, his face beaming with excitement: "JR Tokai (railway company), JTB (Japan's largest travel agency), and tourism associations from several prefectures have all sent letters of intent for cooperation!"
"They want to sponsor 'The Culinary Journey'! They'll not only pay for it, but also cover all travel and accommodation expenses, just so Ms. Rie can have a meal of their local specialties!"
The production director looked at the price lists and gasped.
Late-night ratings: 12.5%.
The price per unit of GG has increased fivefold.
He slumped into his chair, utterly defeated.
I originally thought that Kitahara Shin was just trying to make his own artists famous, but I didn't expect that this guy would open up a completely new track - variety show e-commerce and local revitalization.
In this harsh winter of a bursting bubble economy and a depressed local tourism industry, Kitahara Shin's program was like a fire that burned through the market.
"This guy—not only understands ratings, but he also knows how to help local governments sell goods?"
The director shook his head and picked up the phone: "Tell Kitahara Architects that they can name their own terms for the contract renewal next season. We have to treat this cash cow like royalty."