Chapter 51: The Inside Story?

Xiang Ruanxiang continued, "The judging panel consists of my sister, myself, and three members of the production team. We will present you with a food-related topic, and you will have one hour to complete it. If you exceed the time limit, it means you have to admit defeat."

"Whoever gets the most votes will be the winner, okay?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "Okay."

Shen Ruowan frowned almost imperceptibly and said, "Actress Xiang, what if you and your sister show favoritism later?" Shen Qingtang promised to help the other party treat her infertility. What if the other party uses this opportunity to curry favor?

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ruanxiang twitched her lips in exasperation. Was she really the kind of person who couldn't distinguish between public and private matters? However, in front of the camera, she simply smiled faintly and asked, "So, what do you want?"

Shen Ruowan touched her chin and said, "The judges selected from the program team must be appointed by me; only then can it be considered fair."

“That’s right, that’s right.” Shen Ruoqi crossed her arms and chimed in.

The assistant director was speechless upon hearing this. Just how little faith did the other party have in their character, fearing they might pull strings for Sister Chen?

Shen Qingtang blinked slightly and answered before anyone else could speak, "Of course." Since it's a competition, the fairer the better.

Shen Ruowan's eyes lit up as she chose the three staff members who had been following her. She had heard from others that all three of them were her fans.

Viewers in the live stream had mixed opinions about Shen Ruowan's behavior.

[Hilarious! It's just a small cooking competition, why make such a big fuss?]

[Exactly, I think she's afraid of losing to Sister Chen.]

After all, Sister Shen's cooking skills are genuine.

[This petty and narrow-minded behavior is actually from a top-tier popular actress. Only Sister Shen is so magnanimous.]

[She's a celebrity, so naturally she'll bully her ordinary cousin without restraint.]

...Some of Shen Ruowan's fans also came to her defense.

Since it's a cooking competition, shouldn't fairness be the priority?

[It's just a few different people; could there really be something fishy going on?]

[If you ask me, this is where Sister Wan's wisdom lies.]

[Sister Xiaowan must have been bullied by the production team, otherwise why would she make such a request?]

[Add one, I feel so sorry for Sister Xiaowan]

......

Because all three groups of guests were filming in a country cottage, the number of viewers watching the live stream kept soaring.

The newly formed judging panel went into the room and discussed for a while. Finally, they spoke to Ruan Xiang, "We've reached an agreement. You can cook us a fish dish. The production team will provide you with mandarin fish later." After speaking, she paused and looked at Shen Qingtang and Shen Ruowan, asking, "Is that alright?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of joy appeared in Shen Ruowan's eyes. In fact, she was very skilled at cooking fish, whether steamed, boiled, fried, or stir-fried, she was proficient in all of them, and she even had her own "secret recipe" for cooking fish. It could be said that this challenge was right up her alley, so she blurted out without hesitation, "No problem."

Standing to the side, Shen Qinglan overheard the cooking competition theme and heard Shen Ruoqi cheer, "Big sister is the best at cooking fish!" A hint of anxiety flashed across her face. She pursed her lips and looked at Shen Qingtang, saying, "Sister, how about we change the theme?"

Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "No need." She patted Shen Qinglan's shoulder and looked her in the eye with concern, saying, "Don't you trust my cooking skills?"

“I…” Recalling the dishes that had conquered her taste buds and made her swallow her saliva, she felt a little more confident and nodded, “Sister, I believe in your cooking skills.”

Shen Qingtang smiled secretly, looked in the direction of Xiang Ruanxiang, and nodded to indicate, "I'm fine with it too."

Upon hearing these words, the viewers in the live stream immediately began to discuss them.

Oh no, I remember Shen Ruowan is especially good at cooking fish, and she was even praised by a national-level chef.

[Add one, especially that squirrel-shaped mandarin fish; the one I made last time was absolutely delicious, with perfect color, aroma, and taste!]

I've heard that even some big hotels often mess up this dish.

Maintaining a crispy texture while still allowing the fish to retain its natural flavor is truly challenging.

In my opinion, Shen Ruowan will definitely make Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish again this time.

......

Upon seeing this, some people in the live stream began to subtly predict the worst.

【This squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is Shen Ruowan's specialty; there's no way Sister Shen can beat her】

Yes, it's better to admit defeat now than to lose too badly later.

[We are cousins, so it’s not that hard to admit defeat]

Some people, after being praised for too long, become so arrogant that they forget their true abilities.

...

Since the premiere of "My Sisters", Shen Qingtang has actually gained a lot of fans, but because she is low-key by nature and does not have a Weibo account, it is not obvious.

This is because she performed so brilliantly on the variety show that she left a deep impression. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also skilled in medicine and cooking. Her dazzling brilliance even overshadowed the other celebrities on the show.

It is said that fans follow their idols' lead, and Shen Qingtang's fans also wanted to maintain their usual low-key attitude, but some people's words became increasingly harsh, and they all refuted them.

This message is for your very idol.

[The match hasn't even started yet, what are you shouting about?]

Exactly! I've heard the saying, "Pride comes before a fall."

[Hahaha, pride comes before a fall! My sister is absolutely right!]

...

Putting aside the chaotic online arguments in the live stream, some people did indeed guess Shen Ruowan's thoughts correctly.

When she heard that the theme was to cook fish, and that the production team had even bought mandarin fish, a strong idea immediately came to her mind.

She wants to make squirrel-shaped mandarin fish!

She wanted to make Shen Qingtang lose in a very embarrassing way.

Having made up her mind, she immediately turned her attention to the mandarin fish that the production team had bought and kept in the tank. They weighed about five or six pounds each. Because they were bought from local fish farmers, the fish looked lively and energetic, splashing around in the tank.

She was quick and nimble, picking out the one that was bouncing the most and scooping it up. The production team provided a full range of ingredients and seasonings, and if needed, they could ask the production team to run errands for her.

With a smug expression on her face, she methodically carried out the steps of cleaning and scaling the fish, thinking to herself: She's definitely going to win this cooking competition today!

Unlike Shen Ruowan's enthusiastic work, Shen Qingtang calmly asked Shen Qinglan for her opinion: "Qinglan, what kind of fish do you like? I'll make it for you."

Her expression was calm, as if she wasn't competing with anyone, but rather preparing an ordinary lunch and seeking her family's opinions.

Shen Qinglan automatically interpreted this as the other person asking her what kind of fish she should cook to increase her chances of winning.

She touched her forehead, a little embarrassed, and said, "I don't usually eat fish." Therefore, she couldn't offer any advice on this. She paused for two seconds before suggesting, "Sister, why don't you do what you're good at?"

Shen Qingtang replied calmly, "I'm good at both cooking methods." Then she continued, "You don't eat fish much, is it because of the bones?"

Shen Qinglan nodded and said, "That's right." She had once choked on a fish bone, and ever since then, she would only try a little bit of grilled fish and never touch any other fish.

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "I understand."

"I know... What exactly does my eldest sister know?" Shen Qinglan scratched her head, feeling utterly perplexed.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingtang had already caught a mandarin fish and started cutting it.

Compared to other types of fish, mandarin fish has particularly obvious advantages: fewer bones and delicate flesh, making it a popular choice for many people.

The viewers in the live stream couldn't figure out how Shen Qingtang was going to cook the fish, but they were amazed by her knife skills.

The cleaver in the other person's hand seemed to transform into a precise scalpel in an operating room. In a blur, a complete fish bone was pulled out in the next second, along with the few remaining fish bones on the fish.

[Sister Chen is so cool! She just made a couple of gestures and pulled the fishbone out!]

[Waaaaah, I'm suddenly so envious of Shen Qinglan! She said she doesn't like eating fish because of the bones, and Sister Shen removed them for her!]

This is such a spoiling attitude towards his younger sister!

Suddenly I feel like I need an older sister like that.

[No matter how the final taste turns out, I think it has already scored full marks in my heart]

This dish embodies the flavor of family love.

......

After Shen Qingtang revealed this skill, everyone was stunned and became even more eager to see what she would do next.

But to everyone's surprise, the other party immediately started boiling water, chopped some scallion ends and ginger pieces, and a piece of black stuff, and steamed it along with the fish when the water boiled.

【Seriously? I've been looking forward to this for so long, and all I get is steamed fish in plain water?】

This is so technically easy!

[Should I add soy sauce after steaming? Even my kitchen-illiterate mom knows how to do that.]

Sigh, it seems my expectations were too high.

Look, the fried fish that Shen Ruowan made looks pretty good.

Wow, this looks so delicious! I can't believe how beautiful it would be if it were drizzled with tomato sauce.

......

Shen Ruowan had almost finished half of her dish. She glanced at Shen Qingtang with a smug look on her face. This dish was one of her specialties, and with her in excellent condition today, she had made it even better than usual. The whole courtyard was filled with the aroma of freshly fried fish.

Shen Ruoqi swallowed hard and kept praising, "Sister, how long until your squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is ready? I can't wait. Can I try it for you first?"

Shen Ruowan smiled and said, "Not yet, I need to adjust the tomato sauce." At this moment, she had one last step left: to evenly coat the prepared sauce on top.

Don't underestimate this step. The reason why squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is named this is because the curled arc of the fish meat covered with sauce looks like a squirrel's tail from a distance, which is very beautiful.

If she fails at the last step, her appeal in terms of "sexiness" will be greatly diminished, and she absolutely cannot allow herself to make such a mistake.

Fortunately, she was blessed by heaven, and her performance in this move was unexpectedly perfect.

Shen Ruowan's squirrel-shaped mandarin fish was so successful that many viewers in the live stream placed their bets on her.

This squirrel-shaped mandarin fish looks delicious; it's just as good as a chef's dish.

[Exactly! I think Shen Qingtang is doomed to lose.]

I've said it before, our Sister Wan's cooking skills are the best!

[There are only ten minutes left. Is Shen Qingtang's fish ready yet?]

[Hehe, let me be clear from the start: no matter how good her steamed fish tastes, it's just not technically sophisticated, and it can't compare to Sister Xiaowan at all.]

Exactly! If you ask me, they should open up the voting process so we can also participate.

......

Shen Qinglan stood not far away, constantly glancing at the comments in the live stream. Faced with these pessimistic remarks, she looked somewhat displeased.

She pursed her lips, feeling quite unhappy. Shen Qingtang, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected by the comments, even taking out a watering can from the house and leisurely watering the flowers while waiting.

Seeing this, Xiang Ruanxiang and Xiang Ying exchanged a glance and couldn't help but say, "Doctor Shen has such a good mental fortitude."

Xiang Ying nodded and said, "Yes." A thought automatically came to mind: No wonder she's President Qin's girlfriend.

With only five minutes left in the game, Shen Qingtang opened the lid of the steamed fish pot at the assistant director's final prompt.

In the white mist, the fish seemed to come alive, floating in the air for a while before finally landing on the plate.

The viewers in the live stream were stunned by what they saw, and the barrage of comments poured in like a tidal wave.

Am I seeing things? How can fish fly in water vapor?

Could it be that the fish has become a spirit and turned into a dragon?

[A real-life carp leaping over the dragon gate? ??? I almost doubted my eyes.]

Did all three million viewers in the live stream misjudge the situation like I did?

[I suspect this is special effects!]

[Wake up, upstairs! This is a live stream. Besides, where can you find special effects this realistic?]

Could this fish have been a dragon in its past life?

...For a moment, the live stream was filled with all sorts of wild speculations, and no one paid any attention to the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish that Shen Ruowan had just made.

The judges were also filled with curiosity when they saw this.

The assistant director rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn't seeing things, and asked, "Sister Chen, what just happened? How did the fish fly up?"

"Yes, Qinglan, what exactly happened?" Xiang Ruanxiang asked curiously, and the others also pricked up their ears to listen to Shen Qingtang's question.

Some astute individuals noticed that Shen Qingtang hadn't actually prepared any soy sauce to add for flavoring.

Listening to everyone's words, Shen Qingtang calmly said, "Because I added pre-seasoned kelp inside the fish's belly."

"When kelp is heated, it expands and travels through the fish meat, ensuring that every part of the fish is flavorful, which creates the illusion that the fish is flying."

Xiang Ying stroked her chin and said, "So that's how it is." She smiled and praised, "You really have a brilliant idea. You've made such a magical use of such a small piece of kelp." It not only has practical value but also considerable visual appeal.

After hearing this revelation, the viewers in the live stream were all amazed.

Sister Chen is so smart!

That's right!

I never expected kelp to be used like this.

Besides "awesome," I can't say anything else.

I'm so impressed I could kowtow!

It must be said that Shen Ruowan lost completely when it came to "beauty".

......

On the other side, Shen Ruowan also realized the tragic situation, her face turning as black as charcoal. Although Shen Ruoqi thought that Shen Qingtang's steamed fish was indeed more fun, she still reluctantly comforted her, saying, "Sister, these people are just short-sighted and were fooled by Shen Qingtang's little tricks. But don't worry, the taste of what you make will definitely be the best."

Shen Ruowan took a deep breath and forced a smile, saying, "Of course." But when she said this, her tone was far less confident than before.

A squirrel fish and a steamed fish were presented to the judges respectively.

To ensure fairness, the judges rinsed their mouths after tasting each dish.

Because Shen Ruowan finished first, the five people ate the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish she made first. Shen Ruowan swallowed nervously, but when she saw the others nodding and relaxing after they had eaten, she instantly felt relieved.

Soon, the others started eating the steamed fish that Shen Qingtang had made.

A minute later, the entire jury voted for Shen Qingtang.

Shen Ruowan simply couldn't accept this outcome.

She asked, "Why is this? I won't even get a single vote. This is blatant fraud, a complete shady deal."

Shen Ruowan's fans in the live stream immediately started making a fuss.

[666, they've stopped acting altogether, what is this if not a cover-up?]

My heart aches for Sister Wan; even such delicious squirrel-shaped mandarin fish couldn't beat Shen Qingtang.

[To be honest, the production team is just bullying the weak and fearing the strong! Isn't it because they think someone is Qin Guanlan's girlfriend?]

[That's right, that's right, look how badly they bullied our little Wan!]

The production team has really gone too far; what else could this be but a script?

[If you don't give us a reason, we're rushing to the recording site right now!]

Yes, the person upstairs is right!

All we want is fairness.

......

Of course, others refuted this, arguing that the production team couldn't possibly have such an obvious behind-the-scenes manipulation, and that it was all just the fans' imaginations and speculations. However, such arguments were simply not convincing.

Seeing Shen Ruowan's agitated state, the assistant director quickly stood up to calm her down, saying, "Sister Xiaowan, our voting is absolutely based on the principles of fairness and openness."

Others chimed in, "That's what we did too."

Shen Ruoqi crossed her arms and sneered, "Fairness? You call casting all the votes for Shen Qingtang fair? That's ridiculous."

Xiang Ruanxiang's forehead veins throbbed involuntarily. As a fellow female celebrity, she knew how difficult it was to make it this far, yet some people didn't appreciate the hardships they had endured.

Therefore, she was unwilling to save face for the other party and bluntly said, "Because your squirrel-shaped mandarin fish is incomparable to Shen Qingtang's steamed fish."

This statement won the agreement of the other judges.

"Exactly, it's like heaven and earth."

"Sister Shen's steamed fish is absolutely delicious."

"I'm a seasoned gourmand, my sense of taste is never wrong."

......

Hearing what everyone was saying, Shen Ruowan's face turned deathly pale, and she kept saying, "Impossible," "This is absolutely impossible."

Fortunately, the assistant director had the foresight to leave a third of the steamed fish for everyone to taste. He looked at her coldly and said, "Sister Xiaowan, since you don't trust our judges' decision, why don't you try it yourself?"

Shen Ruowan unceremoniously snatched the chopsticks from the director's assistant and picked up a piece of fish. The bright sunlight dazzled her, and she realized that the piece of fish she had picked up was extremely thin, like a cicada's wing.

Perhaps because she had removed the fish bones, she didn't need to chew at all when she put it in her mouth; it melted instantly. The tender, natural flavor of the fish blended perfectly with the subtle seasoning, creating an incredibly delicious taste. In a daze, she felt as if she had become a fish, swimming freely underwater.

She bit her lip, somewhat unwillingly tasting her squirrel-shaped mandarin fish. It could be said that her performance was as good as usual, still on point. However, after eating Shen Qingtang's steamed fish, she suddenly felt that her dish was too sweet and greasy.

She had to admit that the judges' assessment was correct.

These two dishes are truly worlds apart.

She lowered her head in despair, her heart breaking, and whispered, "I really did lose."

"How could that be?" Shen Ruoqi said hurriedly, then took the lead in judging and began to taste the two. After comparing them, she was stunned for a moment and said, "Shen Qingtang's is indeed tastier."

The viewers in the live stream who already supported Shen Qingtang were overjoyed.

I told you Sister Shen's cooking skills are pretty good!

Thinking back to how arrogant Shen Ruowan was before, I almost died laughing.

When Shen Ruowan first tried to create a "goddess of cooking" persona, I had a feeling it would backfire, and sure enough, it did.

[Tsk tsk, these female celebrities don't actually know how to cook; it's just a persona.]

Exactly! What's that saying again? True gold fears no fire.

......

Shen Ruowan lost this round in a really ugly way. Not only did she lack cooking skills, but she also lost her character. The trip that was originally planned to last a day was cut short by half a day.

On the way back, Shen Ruoqi still got carsick and lay uncomfortably in the back seat.

Suddenly, she noticed a tear glistening in Shen Ruowan's eye and said incredulously, "Sister, why are you crying? It's just losing a cooking competition!"

Shen Ruowan shook her head and said, "Ruoqi, you don't understand. I lost, I lost completely." She no longer had the ability to impress her grandfather or surpass Shen Qingtang.

She will not receive any shares in the Shen Group, and the position of president of the Shen Group is also destined not to be hers.

Shen Ruoqi touched the back of her head, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Are the consequences really that serious?"

Shen Ruowan nodded and said, "Yes." But soon a sinister smile appeared on her lips and she said, "But I won't let Shen Qingtang get away with it either. I'll make her suffer."