Chapter 129 Missing You
Lin Yao composed herself and followed the other chefs forward one by one, placing the dishes steadily on the long table in front of the judges' table.
She could clearly feel a gentle gaze fixed on her, lingering there. She looked up and returned a polite smile, and the person whose gaze was being looked away nodded in acknowledgment.
Xu Zhiheng, who should have been waiting in the capital for the New Year, appeared below the arena. After receiving the news, he rushed to Lin'an Prefecture, arriving in Lin'an and heading straight to the arena.
The noise of the crowd seemed to be blocked out, and he could only see the slender figure standing at the very end.
Seeing her arrange the dishes, his heart finally eased a little, but when he turned his gaze, he saw Wei Qiyu sitting on the judges' table.
He felt uneasy.
On the stage, Prefect Wen sat in the main seat, while Wei Qiyu sat to the side, seemingly just a noble lady who had come to enjoy the food on a whim.
Lord Wen picked up his chopsticks and first reached for the dish on the far left, "May You Have Abundance Every Year." This dish was made by the chef of Wangjianglou Restaurant in the west of the city. Fresh sea bass was steamed and then drizzled with an amber-colored secret sauce. The fish eyes were bulging and the flesh was snow-white. The presentation was indeed exquisite.
Lord Wen picked up a piece of fish. It was tender but slightly bland. The savory sauce hadn't fully penetrated the flesh. He chewed it a couple of times, put down his chopsticks, and nodded slightly: "The fish is still fresh, and the sauce is well-seasoned, but the flavor is a bit bland."
However, the magistrate disagreed. He was a native of Jiangnan and highly praised the refined style of local cuisine: "Your Excellency is mistaken. Jiangnan cuisine emphasizes the original flavor. This perch comes from Taihu Lake, and its flesh is naturally tender and sweet. If it is covered with heavy sauce, it will lose its essence."
As he spoke, Lord Zhou picked up a piece of fish, deliberately avoiding the thicker parts of the sauce, and savored the fish itself. He then added, "Look at this fish, steamed just right, you can see the moisture glistening between the fibers when you pick it up with your chopsticks. This is the highest level of steamed fish. The sauce is just a garnish; it's all about that subtle salty and savory flavor that makes the fish's freshness stand out even more. After eating so much oily and meaty food during the holidays, this kind of light and fresh flavor is the best way to cleanse the palate and refresh the palate."
As soon as he said this, several local gentry and dignitaries immediately nodded in agreement.
Sitting to the side, Wei Qiyu also took a sip of tea and said softly, "Lord Zhou is right. The elegance of Jiangnan cuisine lies in its perfect balance of flavors. Although this dish is not as strong as northern cuisine, it has the gentle charm of Jiangnan New Year's celebrations."
Lord Wen did not argue upon hearing this, but stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "It seems I was being too attached to the northern tastes."
The head chef of Wangjiang Tower, who had been crestfallen because of the prefect's comments, straightened his back and showed a grateful expression when he saw the vice magistrate defend him.
Next, the yamen runners served the second dish, Braised Chicken with Garlic, a signature dish of Fu Lai Ju Restaurant in the east of the city. The chicken was cut into even pieces, coated in a golden garlic sauce, and garnished with bright green scallions.
Lord Wen tasted a piece and raised an eyebrow slightly: "The garlic flavor is rich, and the chicken is stewed until tender and flavorful. It is a qualified home-style main dish."
Chef Li's face flushed red. These scholars' words were truly impeccable. They were subtly implying that his dishes were only good for everyday cooking, and not good enough for anything more sophisticated.
The third dish, Jadeite Rolls, had just been served when it caught the attention of the judges.
This dish was made by the chef of Jingxinzhai. The bright green spinach leaves were wrapped around fillings such as shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and shrimp, and arranged on the plate like layers of jade. It was also garnished with carved carrots.
Lord Wen picked up a piece and took a small bite. The freshness of the spinach blended perfectly with the savory aroma of the filling. A hint of approval appeared in his eyes: "This dish is quite ingenious. Using vegetables to wrap the filling helps to cut through the richness. It looks elegant and pleasing to the eye. However, if you could use fresh shrimp from Taihu Lake, the flavor would be even better."
The surrounding officials nodded in agreement.
When the fourth dish, Eight Treasure Gourd Duck, was served, the audience gasped in surprise.
Eight-Treasure Gourd Duck is made by deboning a whole duck and stuffing it with eight kinds of fillings, including glutinous rice, lotus seeds, red dates, and walnuts. It is shaped into a small gourd and brushed with honey, giving it a bright red and appealing color.
This is the chef's masterpiece at Juxianlou.
Lord Wen tasted a spoonful and nodded repeatedly: "The deboning technique is skillful, the filling is well-matched, sweet but not greasy, and the duck meat is tender. It is a dish made with great skill! Serving this dish to guests at the New Year's banquet will not only make a good impression but also bring good fortune. Excellent!"
Lord Zhou, who was standing nearby, also picked up a piece. After chewing it, his eyes were full of praise. He chimed in, "Lord Wen is absolutely right. The glutinous rice is soft and sticky, the fruit is sweet and refreshing, and it complements the freshness of the duck meat perfectly. There is no greasiness at all."
The two officials praised him in succession, and the head chef of Juxianlou breathed a sigh of relief, his face revealing undisguised pride.
The Eight Treasure Gourd Duck was the first dish to amaze everyone, and the chef, who had just been criticized, couldn't help but cast envious glances at it.
The audience cheered and applauded, with many whispering that they wanted to go to Juxianlou to try this famous dish.
This is the effect many participating restaurants hoped for. If their dishes could win the praise of the officials, they could attract ordinary people to their restaurants. After all, these were the highest-ranking officials in Lin'an Prefecture. What good food hadn't they tasted? If the officials said it was delicious, it couldn't be too bad.
As more and more dishes were served, Lin Yao couldn't help but feel nervous.
After tasting and commenting, the bailiffs finally presented Lin Yao's ram's head skewer to the referee.
The delicate fragrance of lotus leaves mingled with the aroma of meat, creating a flavor completely different from the previous dishes.
Wei Qiyu's gaze fell on the golden meat roll, and he couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.
That day at Baiwei City, she knew that Lin Yao's cooking skills were quite good, but this roasted mutton head skewers was a signature dish of Fanlou Restaurant in the capital. How could this young cook know how to make it?
Lord Wen picked up a mutton head skewer, bit through the outer skin with his teeth, and heard a soft cracking sound. The crispy outer shell split open, and the mutton inside, with the fruity aroma of dried tangerine peel, overflowed.
He chewed slowly, and surprise gradually appeared in his eyes.
Before being transferred to Lin'an, he had served in the capital for many years. He had eaten mutton head skewers at Fanlou several times. This dish in front of him was not only no less delicious, but the fruity aroma of tangerine peel also cleverly neutralized the greasiness, adding another layer of flavor.
"This mutton has absolutely no gamey smell, and it gets more fragrant the more you chew it. The outer batter is also coated just right, not too thick or too thin!" Lord Wen put down his chopsticks, his tone full of praise.
The local gentry and dignitaries nearby also started eating, and for a time, the judging panel was filled with praise.
Wei Qiyu also took one. When she put it in her mouth, the crispy outer skin and the tender mutton and the aroma of dried tangerine peel layered on her tongue. Her almond-shaped eyes curved slightly, and her gaze towards Lin Yao showed more appreciation and eagerness.
After all the dishes had been tasted, Lord Wen and the judges discussed in hushed tones, occasionally pointing at the chefs on the stage, while the audience below held their breath, waiting for the results.
Although Lin Yao's face showed no change, her heart was in her throat, and even her palms were covered in fine beads of sweat.
A moment later, the yamen runner in charge of announcing the results announced loudly: "After deliberation and voting by all the judges, there are three people who have advanced to the finals of this selection competition: Chef Li from Juxianlou, Chef Chen from Jingxinzhai, and Chef Lin from Baiweicheng."
Upon hearing the result, Lin Yao breathed a sigh of relief, and then a bright smile bloomed on her face.
Xu Zhiheng, sitting in the audience, felt incredibly proud. He clapped his hands loudly like a sea lion, his eyes fixed on the slender figure on the stage, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.
"The final will be held here again at 9:00 AM the day after tomorrow. The winner will represent Lin'an Prefecture in the selection competition in the capital!" After the yamen runner announced the follow-up arrangements, he declared the selection competition over.
Lin Yao followed the other chefs off the stage, her heart filled with joy. She just wanted to find Su Niang and Wang Xiaoyu immediately and tell them the good news.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, as if sensing something, she paused and looked back.
In the crowd, Xu Zhiheng, dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit, with a bit of stubble on his travel-worn face, was looking at her with a smile in his eyes.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Lin Yao lifted the hem of her skirt, weaved through the crowd, and ran quickly toward him.
Xu Zhiheng stood there, watching her arrive like a butterfly in spring, full of vitality and joy, her clothes fluttering gently as she ran.
Lin Yao stopped in front of him, slightly out of breath, her cheeks flushed from running.
Looking at the familiar face before her, she suddenly realized the questions that had been nagging at her for days.
Those things about his identity, the distance between the two of them, and all the uncertainties about the future.
The moment she instinctively ran towards him, her body had already given her the most sincere answer.
Xu Zhiheng's gaze fell on the stray hairs on Lin Yao's forehead that had become disheveled from running.
A few strands of hair clung to her flushed cheeks, adding a touch of innocent charm.
His heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing her forehead and tucking her stray hair behind her ear.
The moment their fingertips touched her warm skin, they both paused slightly.
Lin Yao's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she didn't instinctively back away as usual. Instead, she looked up at him, her eyes reflecting his image.
This subtle reaction filled Xu Zhiheng with joy, and the fatigue from days of travel and the trepidation of the reunion vanished: "You ran so fast, your hair is all messed up."
Lin Yao's cheeks flushed even more, and she gently looked away: "Why did you suddenly come back?"
Xu Zhiheng withdrew his hand, but couldn't bear to look away: "With the affairs of the court temporarily settled, I was thinking of coming back. Later, I heard that His Majesty was going to select chefs from various prefectures to go to the capital to compete. I guessed that you would not miss this opportunity, so I rushed back as fast as I could, just to see what wonderful dishes you had made this time."
He paused, his gaze falling on her reddened earlobes, and added, "I'd like to see you more."
Lin Yao's heart softened as if it had been warmed by water. Just as she was about to say something, a clear and melodious female voice suddenly came from behind her, with a hint of a smile: "General Xu, that's not true. Didn't you rush back because I came to Lin'an?"
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