That night--

Edo, Koishikawa Kohinagayanagi Town, Test Guard Hall——

"Here comes the soba noodles!"

Genzaburo Inoue walked into the living room with a big smile on his face, holding a large basin of freshly baked soba noodles that were still emitting translucent heat.

The living room was filled with joyful air.

Qingdeng and others, who had just taken a shower and put on fresh and clean clothes, were already seated in their respective seats.

After Gensaburo Inoue entered the living room, they all cast expectant glances at the pot of freshly cooked buckwheat noodles in his arms.

"Oh! Nian Yue Buckwheat! It's finally here!"

Harada sucked hard.

"Uncle Yuan! Please serve me more noodles!"

Harada pushed his bowl in front of Inoue.

"No need to worry, no need to worry."

Inoue said cheerfully.

"There are plenty of buckwheat noodles, so you can feel free to eat them! Ah, but don't eat them secretly. Before the master finishes his New Year's speech, be patient."

Inoue took everyone's bowls and filled everyone's bowls with skillful techniques.

Eating soba noodles on New Year's Eve - this is one of Japan's special folk customs.

Soba noodles served on New Year's Eve are commonly called "New Year's Soba".

There are many reasons why we eat soba noodles on New Year’s Eve.

First, the soba noodles are long and thin, symbolizing longevity.

Secondly, in the traditional Japanese concept, soba noodles are a very healthy food that can remove the five poisons.

Third, buckwheat noodles are relatively soft and easy to cut. Therefore, eating buckwheat noodles during the Chinese New Year has the meaning of "cutting off all the worries of the past."

After working hard all day, Qingdeng and others were already hungry.

Everyone opened their eyes, eagerly looking at the soba noodles in their respective bowls, always ready to launch a "large-scale offensive" against the noodles in front of them.

However, although everyone was very hungry now, everyone showed considerable restraint at this time.

They all turned their heads in the same direction uniformly, focusing all their attention on Zhousuke who was sitting on the main seat.

Although no one spoke a word, their piercing eyes had already conveyed a precise and oppressive message to Zhou Su:

Master/Mr. Kondo, hurry up and give your New Year's speech! If you have anything to say, just say it quickly!

Zhousuke, sensing everyone's "enthusiasm", laughed a few times.

Then, he cleared his throat as expected and stood up with the Tusu wine.

Influenced by the profound influence of Chinese civilization, Japanese people also drink Tusu wine during the New Year, which symbolizes avoiding the plague.

"Everyone!"

Zhousuke's eyes scanned the faces of everyone present.

"I don't want to say anything too complicated or too complicated."

"In the past year, this sword hall and I are really grateful for your care!"

After saying that, Zhou Zhu bent down hard and quickly, and made a 90-degree deep bow to Qingdeng and others in front of him.

"In the past year, a lot of things happened... When I think back on it now, I find it incredible and dreamy!"

"Looking back at today one year ago, the people who gathered in the Imperial Guard Hall to celebrate the New Year were only me, my wife, Yong, Souji, Yuan, and Suisan, a total of only 6 people."

"And now, there are so many new faces in front of me!"

"I think about a year ago, when my sword training hall was a small swordsmanship hall with a little reputation in Edo, and was called the 'Taro Dojo' by countless people."

"Nowadays, my trial defense hall is no longer as lonely as it used to be! The population is getting more and more prosperous!"

"To be honest, compared with the past days, my current life is really like a dream to me."

"I can be where I am today, and the Imperial Guard Hall can be where it is today, all thanks to your support and help!"

"In the new year, I hope you can give me your advice!"

"At the same time, I also wish you all peace and joy in the new year!"

After the last syllable fell, Zhousuke made another standard deep bow at a 90-degree right angle to Qingto and others in front.

Qingdeng and others immediately bowed and returned the favor.

"Okay! Everyone use your chopsticks!"

Zhouzhu smiled happily and sat back down in his original position.

"To be honest, I've been hungry for a long time! I'll start first!"

Before he could say anything, Shusuke picked up the soba noodles on his dining table and slurped the noodles "Ahhhhhh".

With Zhou Zhu, the head of the family, taking the lead, the next thing would be a matter of course.

"I'm starting!"*N

The words "I'm starting" shouted in unison converged into a joyful and lively atmosphere that permeated the air of the trial hall, pushing to the climax.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of "suck, suck, suck," and "swish, swish, swish" sounded one after another.

As soon as the first bite of noodles entered his mouth, Qingden's eyes immediately shone.

The moment the light yellow noodles are put into your mouth, the rich umami flavor spreads from the tip of your tongue to the entire mouth.

The noodles are soft and slightly sticky, with just the right saltiness. They have a good texture and are very chewy.

With every bite, the unique sweet flavor of the flour spreads in your mouth. The unique flavor is wrapped in the rich noodle soup. The aroma of the noodles and the deliciousness of the noodle soup blend together and complement each other.

Before the noodles were finished, Qingdeng grabbed the Tusu wine by his legs and took a swig.

The spicy taste was like firecrackers exploding in the mouth, which lifted Qingdeng's spirits.

The strong taste of food mixed with the excitement of the cum sprayed across Qingdeng's throat, and Qingden felt a sense of pleasure running through his body.

Qingden is not the only person who has similar feelings.

Looking at the expressions of everyone present, you will find that everyone is now devouring food with gleaming eyes.

Even Saito, who was slow and unhurried no matter what he did, couldn't even raise his eyes at the moment, wishing he had an extra hand to help with the noodles.

“Delicious! Delicious! So delicious!”

Harada finished a large bowl of noodles in less than half a minute, and went to serve the noodles again. He was very happy.

"This soba noodles is so delicious! Uncle Yuan, where did you buy this noodles? After eating this noodles, I feel like I can dream about Mount Fuji, eggplants and flying eagles tonight!"

Mount Fuji, eggplant, flying eagle - this is a popular allusion from the Edo period.

Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan. It is homophonic to "nothing" and carries the meaning of immortality and peace.

The word "flying eagle" has the same pronunciation as "high", which means "flying high" means the king of birds.

Eggplant was a not particularly cheap food in the Edo period, and at the same time, it was homophonic with "成事".

Therefore, the proverb "One Fuji, Two Eagles and Three Eggplants" was born.

It is said that dreaming of these three things in the first dream of the new year means that there will be good omens in the coming year.

Inoue chuckled:

"I didn't buy these noodles at the market. The boss made these noodles with her own hands."

As soon as Inoue finished speaking, everyone on the scene, except for Kondo and Hijikata, several old acquaintances of the Souji, focused their attention on the Souji.

"Okita."

Nagakura looked at Souji in disbelief.

"This noodle...was made by you yourself?"

Suddenly being stared at by so many people with shocked eyes, the usually carefree Souji showed a rare shy expression.

She put down the bowls and chopsticks in her hands, placed her two small hands on the hakama of her legs, and nervously grasped the fabric of her clothes with her fingers.

"Well, I made this, how about it? Is it to your liking?"

"too delicious!"

Harada shouted loudly.

"Okita, the noodles you make are so delicious! They are much better than the noodles I eat when I go out to restaurants!"

Nagakura followed Harada and handed over the compliment:

"Okita, I think you can try to open a noodle shop in the future. With your skills, you will definitely make a lot of money, and you will never have to worry about food and drink again in your life."

Saito, who has always been taciturn and never spoke when he could, now spoke up:
To be continued...