Xiao Yichen recalled that the woman he had taken out the most was Ji Lingxue. Could it be that Ding Sifang was talking about her
Maid? Ji Lingxue would be so angry if she heard what Ding Sifang said.
Seeing that Xiao Yichen didn't answer, Ding Sifang smiled and turned to walk into the training ground. The prince who had arrived earlier smiled and greeted him. Ji Mingyang happily ran to Xiao Yichen and said, "Brother-in-law, I really support you."
Xiao Yichen raised his eyebrows and waited for Ji Mingyang to continue.
Ji Mingyang shook the note in his hand and said, "I will divide all my belongings, one thousand taels of silver, into two halves, one half to Wangshan Tower and the other half to my sister's Qingfeng Yashe. Brother-in-law, do you think I will win?"
Xiao Yichen touched his nose. He trusted the cooking skills of the chef from Wangshan Tower. As for Qingfeng Yashe, the cook had her hand cut and naturally could not come to participate in the competition. Ji Lingxue had promised him not to participate in these, so the possibility of winning was very low.
Not wanting to dampen Ji Mingyang's high spirits, Xiao Yichen patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "Come on, believe in yourself, believe in your sister."
Ji Mingyang nodded vigorously and made a cheering gesture. As a judge of this cooking competition, he would give Qingfeng Yashe some slack.
Almost all the chefs were present. Xiao Yichen also invited two judges, one was a highly respected imperial tutor, and the other was a top imperial chef in the palace, in order to ensure that the selection was fair and just.
At this time, a scholar in blue clothes hurriedly ran in at the entrance of the training ground. The guard stopped him and asked, "The seats inside are full, you can stay outside."
The scholar in green shirt lowered his head and rummaged through his sleeves, took out a sign and handed it to the guard blocking the road. He adjusted his hat which was tilted a little, and then said, "I am not a spectator. I am the cook of Qingfeng Yashe, the cook participating in the cooking competition."
The guard looked up and down at the thin body of the scholar in green shirt, and twitched his mouth. "You look like a scholar, why are you pretending to be a cook? Can you cook? You are not here to cause trouble."
The scholar in green rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to fight, "How can you look down on me? I said I'm a participating chef, are you going to let me in or not?"
The noise at the door naturally alarmed Xiao Yichen, who was sitting on the high platform. Just as he was about to get up to take a look, Ji Mingyang volunteered, "Brother-in-law, just let me take a look at this little thing."
Ji Mingyang skipped to the entrance of the training ground. Halfway through, he thought about his image. He brushed off the nonexistent dust on his body, slowed down his pace, and assumed the posture of a judge. "Ahem, what's all the commotion about?"
The guard recognized Ji Mingyang, who had been following Xiao Yichen for the past few days, and said politely, "Sir, someone is causing trouble here. I will drag him away right away!" As he said that, he stepped forward, grabbed the blue-shirted scholar's hand and dragged him out.
The moment the blue-shirted scholar saw Ji Mingyang appear, his eyes lit up and he said, "Mingyang, Mingyang, it's me, it's me..."
Ji Mingyang turned his head and looked at the scholar in blue. It would have been fine if he hadn't looked at him, but when he did, his eyes almost popped out. The scholar in blue was not his beloved sister Ji Lingxue. He almost didn't recognize her in this outfit.
Ji Lingxue broke free from the guard's hand, ran to Ji Mingyang, patted his shoulder and said, "Why are you standing there? Take me in, the game is about to start."
Ji Mingyang turned his head and glanced at Xiao Yichen, then looked at Ji Lingxue and lowered his voice and asked, "Why are you here at this time?"
Ji Lingxue touched her nose. If she had arrived earlier and was recognized by Xiao Yichen, she would have no chance of continuing to participate in the competition. She had clearly arrived on time, but was tripped by these two guards.
When Ji Mingyang thought about the bet he had placed on Ji Lingxue, his heart ached. This money couldn't be wasted. Even if Ji Lingxue came to play for a while, he would have to go in and cook a dish before leaving.
No matter what Ji Mingyang thought, he did it. He took Ji Lingxue's hand and strode forward, lowering his voice and saying, "My sister, you must win. I have put all my wealth on you."
There is a cook with a table in the training ground, on which are placed ingredients, pots, pans, and bowls. The cook brings his own knives. As soon as you enter the field, you can hear the sounds of cutting vegetables and pots and pans colliding.
After Ji Mingyang brought Ji Lingxue to the last table, he turned around and slipped back to the judges' seat. Ji Lingxue looked at the ingredients on the table: a cabbage, a few radishes, a scallion, and seasonings all scattered on the table. It was obvious that someone had just taken away the ingredients that should have been on the table.
Ji Lingxue shook her head. It was impossible to kick her out of the competition like this. She picked up the cabbage and peeled off the outermost leaves, leaving the tenderest part inside.
On the high platform, Xiao Yichen looked at Ji Mingyang, who had come back with a guilty conscience, and said, "The competition has already started, why did you let him in?"
He just glanced at the back of the scholar in green from a distance and thought he looked familiar, but he didn't pay much attention to it. But now, seeing that Ji Mingyang's attitude towards him was a little different, he couldn't help but look at the table of the scholar in green a few more times. The other party was washing vegetables seriously with his head down, and his face was still not visible.
Ji Mingyang coughed guiltily and said, "Ahem, it's rare for them to come to participate in the competition, so let her cook a dish. There's still some time before the end of the competition." As he said that, he raised his hand and pointed at the slowly burning incense sticks in the small incense burner in front of Xiao Yichen.
Xiao Yichen nodded. Well, since they were already inside, let's see what dishes this late scholar in blue could cook in the short time left.
Ji Lingxue took out two bottles of seasoning from her sleeve, took out a small kitchen knife wrapped in cloth, turned to the next table and got some garlic, preserved eggs and red peppers. After washing the whole cabbage and draining the water, she took a knife and cut it into four cloves, cut the preserved eggs and red peppers into dices, minced the garlic and set aside, added oil to a hot pan, and when the oil is hot, add the minced garlic and stir-fry until slightly golden.
Add a bowl of water and put the seasonings I brought directly into the pot. Thanks to Mo Xiang's reminder, I made some thick soup last night, seasoned it, cooled it, froze it into oil and put it in a bottle. Otherwise, if I was late today and didn't have enough time, I would definitely lose.
Bring to a boil over high heat. Once the thick soup seasoning oil is completely dissolved in the soup, add the chopped baby cabbage and preserved eggs. Cook until the vegetables are soft. Remove the baby cabbage and serve on a plate.
Leave a little oil in the pot, pour in the fried garlic, ginger, preserved eggs, and ham and stir-fry over low heat until fragrant. At this time, pour half a spoonful of broth into the pot, wait for the soup to boil, then season, pour in the preserved eggs and red pepper, simmer the soup over low heat, and sprinkle a little oil on the soup before serving, so that the dish will be brighter.
"time up!"
Ji Lingxue had just finished serving the dishes when a maid soon came with a tray and took the dishes in front of her to the judges' table for the four big guys to taste.
Ji Lingxue was full of confidence. Although the dishes she cooked were a little ordinary, they were delicious.
After a quarter of an hour of waiting, the etiquette officer announced the shortlisted dishes, which included duck soup from Deqinglou, Kung Pao chicken from Wangshanlou, and finally cabbage soup from Qingfeng Yashe.
Ji Lingxue breathed a sigh of relief, this level was finally passed.
The maid walked up to Ji Lingxue, bowed, and said, "You are the cook of Qingfeng Yashe, right? The prince wants to see you."
Ji Lingxue frowned, lowered her head, wiped the ash from the pot on her face, and followed the maid forward with her head lowered.
Xiao Yichen looked Ji Lingxue up and down. Her pale face made Xiao Yichen lose interest. He asked a few questions about the recipe of cabbage soup. After Ji Lingxue answered one by one, he waved his hand and asked her to leave.
When lunch time comes, the small stalls outside the parade ground become very busy, especially those selling steamed buns and tofu pudding. Many people are too lazy to leave their seats in the parade ground, so they ask the vendors to pack the steamed buns and send them in.
Ji Lingxue found a corner under a tree and ate the cakes in her sleeve while enjoying the cool breeze. Suddenly, her vision darkened. Ji Lingxue looked up and saw Ji Mingyang standing in front of her with a bowl of soy milk and smiling happily.
Ji Lingxue patted the grass beside her and said, "Sit down. It's so tiring to stand."
Ji Mingyang sat down on the haystack, "Sister, what happened to your face? Do you want me to find some water to wipe it off?"
Ji Lingxue shook her head and said, "No, I just like it so plain and simple!"
Ji Mingyang twitched his lips and looked down at the pumpkin pie in Ji Lingxue's hand, "I was really scared this morning, I was afraid that you wouldn't pass." My five hundred taels of silver were wasted.
Ji Lingxue smiled and said, "Thank you for letting me into the competition. You are indeed my good brother." Then she patted Ji Mingyang's shoulder.
Ji Mingyang pouted in disgust, "Your hands are full of oil, how dare you rub it all over me..." As he spoke, he leaned back, and the bowl of soy milk in his hand tilted, and the soy milk flowed down Ji Mingyang's robe.
“Ah! My clothes... Ouch..." Ji Mingyang screamed, jumped up on the spot like a rabbit, and in a blink of an eye ran into the crowd and disappeared.
Ji Lingxue stood there and watched Ji Mingyang's back, unable to smile bitterly.
"Are you the cook of Qingfeng Yashe?" A puzzled yet familiar voice came from behind.
Ji Lingxue turned her head and met Ding Sifang's resolute face, and Ding Sifang handed her a handkerchief.
Ji Lingxue took it with a smile, "Thank you, General." But I didn't touch his face in my hands. He was afraid that he would accidentally meet Xiao Yichen and would be scolded. It's not that she was afraid that Xiao Yichen would be recognized as his true identity in public.
Ding Sifang said: "Aren't you going to wipe your face?"
Ji Lingxue smiled and said, "I'll wipe it off later, thank you."
Ding Sifang said: "Have we met before?"
Ji Lingxue nodded, "General, you are famous and renowned. Every time you return triumphantly, I can see you at the city gate."
Ji Lingxue thought: It's been a month since we met in the palace, it can't be that there is still such a deep impression on me, right? "
Ding Sifang nodded. Perhaps it was normal that he had really taken a quick glance there. Otherwise, why would it feel so familiar
Ding Sifang added: "You are young, but your cooking skills are really good. My mansion is in need of a cook. I will give you a monthly salary of 100 taels. Would you consider it?"
Ji Lingxue frowned, "Thank you for your kindness, General. I am doing fine in Qingfeng Yashe and don't want to move for the time being."
Seeing Ji Lingxue's firm attitude, Ding Sifang did not force it. He nodded and turned to leave.
At this time, the cook of Deqing Building came towards Ji Lingxue, sized her up with his arms folded. There was a feud between Deqing Building and Qingfeng Yashe, so the cook looked at Ji Lingxue with an unfriendly look.
(End of this chapter)