Chapter 550, Everyone, Don’t Win!
Soon, Yu Xia’s fish-flavored shredded pork was served.
The dish was colorful, aromatic, and appetizing, perfectly seasoned, making everyone watching drool.
“Very well, the judges’ demonstration has come to a perfect end.”
Long Huan pointed to the sky: “Next, the competition officially begins! The time is set for two hours!”
“Let’s cheer, girls, for the chance to take down Young Master Sang!”
With that, she couldn’t hold herself back and took a big bite of the dish Yu Xia had prepared.
Sang Zhe, who had listened to the whole thing, couldn’t help but twitch his mouth and turned to ask, “Seriously, who came up with this totally cringeworthy competition?”
“That would be Senior Sister Shi,” Zhang Xiaoying replied with an interested expression. “I don’t know why she suddenly wanted to play this game, but it feels like it’s going to be quite fun.”
Senior Sister Shi, huh? Sang Zhe blinked.
Now that he thought about it, it was probably Shi Qingyan who initially became friends with Xu Hongyi.
…What a surprise. That typically aloof and quiet Senior Sister Shi would take the initiative to make friends.
Sang Zhe discreetly glanced at Shi Qingyan.
Shi Qingyan seemed to sense it, lowered her head slightly, avoiding his gaze.
——
——
The competition officially started.
Cooking, while it can generally be done according to a fixed recipe to achieve a similar taste, does have those rare cooking disasters.
Usually, those who struggle are the ones who don’t often cook and have poor hands-on skills.
For example, Si Jingzhu and Hua Jianglian.
The moment the competition began, the two exchanged a look that sparked a fiery tension between them.
“Don’t worry,” Si Jingzhu said seriously, patting her chest. “I’m very self-aware. My goal today is simply not to come in last.”
“Ha? Why are you looking at me when you say that?” Hua Jianglian shot back angrily. “Do you think I’d be last?”
Si Jingzhu flashed a cheeky, annoying grin: “Well~ You’re the type who wouldn’t even open your mouth to eat unless Sang Zhe personally served you. You wouldn’t claim you can cook, would you?”
“Well, so what? Aren’t you the one who hides in your room every day and won’t come out for dinner unless you’re called a dozen times? Do you think you can cook?!”
The two stared each other down, rolled up their sleeves, and began washing the vegetables.
Of course.
From their clumsy and awkward washing technique, it was clear they were both equally hopeless.
……
“How do you control the heat with the firewood?”
Bai Ming stared at the stove, troubled.
“Ugh… this is a hassle,” she muttered to herself. “Looks like it’s time for the R&D department to hurry up and invent something like a gas stove or an induction cooker.”
“Oh, let me take care of the fire.”
While she was fretting, Tang Yubbing had already come over, lightly raising her hand, and the stove’s flame gently ignited.
“You’re still in confinement. If it feels hard, I can help you out.”
“Yubbing, you’re too kind…” Bai Ming felt a bit awkward but turned her head to realize Tang Yubbing’s dish was nearly done, leaving her momentarily stunned.
“Huh? You’ve already finished, Yubbing?”
“This?” Tang Yubbing scratched her head, chuckling. “I’ve mostly been working alone and, when I occasionally got tired of the cafeteria food, I’d cook myself, so I have a bit of a foundation.”
“Is that so…” Bai Ming looked at the fragrant pot of food, her expression envious.
“But, I’m still only at the basics,” Tang Yubbing sighed, leaning her head. “Honestly, the taste of what I make can’t compare to what Little Ying or Aunt Yu makes.”
“I’m following the recipe too…” she murmured quietly.
Bai Ming blinked and immediately rolled up her sleeves: “Alright, let’s improve it together!”
“Really? That’s great.”
In stark contrast to the harmonious scene with the two, on the other side, Gu Yingmian and Huo Ningxue hadn’t moved at all.
Both sat quietly in front of the stove, saying nothing.
The atmosphere was a bit tense.
“Why isn’t Gu Palace Master making a move?”
“Isn’t Your Majesty still not started?”
“I’m waiting for the attendant to start the fire.”
“I’m waiting for my student to get the stove going.”
The two exchanged glances, falling silent again, as if whoever moved first would lose.
“If I may say,” Huo Ningxue deliberately spoke softly, “Gu Palace Master has practiced seclusion for many years and has barely touched any earthly tasks; surely, you cannot manage a menial task like this?”
“Your Majesty, you jest.” Gu Yingmian smiled, “You enjoy a life of luxury; you probably haven’t even set foot in the royal kitchen. Do you think you can cook?”
“I was once impoverished in my youth; I’ve even eaten the hay in the horse trough. How could cooking be difficult for me?”
“Then, Your Majesty, do you know what the first step in cooking is?”
Huo Ningxue thought for a moment and said, “Opening the lid on the platter.”
Gu Yingmian: “…”
It was clear that Huo Ningxue’s entire understanding of cooking began with the attendants bringing out dishes.
Seeing Gu Yingmian’s teasing expression, Huo Ningxue huffed: “Hmph, if Gu Palace Master knows, why are you still just staring at me?”
“Of course I know.”
Gu Yingmian smiled lightly, delicate fingers pointing at the stove: “The first step in cooking is, of course, to start the fire—”
In the next moment, a fierce flame suddenly engulfed the firewood in the stove.
Gu Yingmian: “…”
“Uh. The fire got too big. Let’s try again.”
She rearranged the firewood and ignited it again.
Boom!
The firewood was instantly consumed by flames once more.
Gu Yingmian: “…”
Meanwhile, Yan Rouwan watched the heated competition at the other tables and couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Is the point of this contest really to teach everyone how to cook?”
“Why do I feel like if it continues like this, they might end up fighting?”
“Why worry?” Shi Qingyan said, skillfully adding the sliced meat to the pan while replying. “There’s definitely a fiery competition from those four tables on the left, but there’s also this lively scene on the right.”
Yan Rouwan shifted her gaze to the right.
…It really was lively.
In a physical sense.
“Ahhh!”
Another plume of thick smoke rose, leaving Meng Qiyan with a face as black as coal, crying softly, “Why is there so much smoke again?”
“Why is starting a fire so difficult… ugh.”
“This is bad; I’m definitely going to come in last again. I finally had a chance to hog Sang Zhe all to myself…”
Wiping the grime off her face, Meng Qiyan suddenly became resolute.
“Calm down. There’s still a chance.”
“Even if I can’t cook, as long as I prevent others from succeeding, I still have a shot at victory.”
“At worst, I’ll blow them up!” With that, she too rolled up her sleeves.
Just ready to draw her sword and smash the pots at other tables.
Yan Rouwan: “…Is this what you meant by no worries?”
Shi Qingyan: “…It should be, right… probably.”
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