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79. Chapter 79
Yu Antong opened the door to find, as expected, Xing Lixuan.
"Finished work?" Yu Antong stepped aside to let him in.
"Yes." Xing Lixuan held a box of milk in his hands, intended for Yu Annan.
"Brother Xing, you're here." Yu Annan approached to take the milk, "Have a seat, Brother Xing."
Xing Lixuan responded: "I won't stay. I'm here to pick up your brother."
"I'll be going then," Yu Antong said his goodbyes to his sister, "Call me if you need anything."
"Alright."
Yu Annan watched them leave and resumed watching "Master Chef".
It was the first time the contestants made these street snacks, and almost all of them had some flaws in their final products.
The most crucial aspect of the pastry Zhuang Zhouyang made was the preparation of its two layers of crust.
One layer was created using all-purpose flour, sugar, water, and lardâknown as the water-oil doughâwhile the other was formed using cake flour and lard, termed the oil dough.
After kneading, the dough is wrapped in plastic wrap and left to rest for twenty minutes. Subsequently, they are divided into smaller portions, with the water-oil dough enveloping the oil dough. This ensemble is then rolled into a tongue shape, coiled, and left to relax for ten minutes. The process is repeated, and after another rolling and coiling, the dough is covered and set aside for another ten minutes.
This double layering technique creates a multi-layered, flaky texture in the pastry, reminiscent of a mille-feuille, which is both crispy and rich in texture.
However, the time-consuming process meant that Zhuang Zhouyang had no chance for a redo.
One misstep would render the entire batch unusable.
Hence, while Zhuang Zhouyang was more cautious than the other contestants, he faltered slightly during the water-oil dough preparation, making it slightly too dry. This caused the final baked pastry to have a dry crust.
Yu Xingmin, on the other hand, stumbled on the shaping of his crystal pearl dumplings. Despite numerous attempts, he couldn't replicate the beautiful seashell shape seen in commercial offerings. Pressed for time, he had to settle for traditional dumplings, hoping to win over the judges with flavor.
Fu Fengxing fared better. While his knife skills were impeccable, especially when slicing beef, he struggled with recreating the secret spicy oil used for frying the beef. Despite only having a rough recipe, he tried his best to replicate the flavor after tasting the shop's version.
Yu Antong, however, nailed it, presenting a classic Guo Kui, both in taste and appearance.
"I love this level of spiciness in the beef. Paired with the Guo Kui, it's a delightful combination of bread and meat. Ha-ha."
"This pearl dumpling is unrecognizable. I'm hesitant to even give it a passing grade."
"The flavor is decent, but it can't be called a pearl dumpling anymore. As a regular dumpling, I'd rate it a 9, but as a pearl dumpling, it's an 8 for me."
"The pastry is a bit dry, affecting its texture. However, its appearance is quite accurate. Let's give it an 8.2."
...
After tasting and deliberation, the judges scored the dishes. The host announced the results after a quick calculation by the crew.
"Yu Antong scored an average of 9.48, Fu Fengxing 9.25, and Xie Wenchang 91.02. Congratulations to the top three for advancing closer to the title of Culinary God!"
Both Yu Antong and Fu Fengxing had consistently performed well throughout the competition, so their placements were expected. However, the real surprise was Xie Wenchang, whose performances had been middling, even ranking at the bottom in a few episodes.
"Who will claim the last spot in the Culinary God showdown?" The camera pans over the remaining contestants, teasing the audience's curiosity, only to cut to a commercial break.
Upon hearing her brother ranked first, Yu Annan lost interest in the rest of the announcements and went to get a drink of water.
Returning just in time to hear the host reveal,
"The fourth position goes to... Zhuang Zhouyang! Congratulations on reaching the national top four with an average score of 89.93!"
With Yu Xingmin eliminated, Yu Annan couldn't help but feel a slight joy.
Ever since she learned that Yu Xingmin was the head chef at her great-uncle's restaurant, Bai Fang Zhai, she had been concerned he might try to sabotage her brother during the competition. Now, with Yu Xingmin out of the picture, she finally felt at ease.
Given her great-uncle's ill-treatment towards her and her brother, she naturally wished him no success.
At this moment, Yu Qingnian was indeed having a rough time. He had reluctantly repaid all the money to Yu Antong, then suffered a significant financial loss due to a bad investment, forcing him to sell two of his branches.
He had hoped that the Culinary God competition would give Bai Fang Zhai a publicity boost, with his best chef, Yu Xingmin, potentially winning the title. But the unexpected participation of Yu Antong had thrown a wrench in his plans.
fqxsw.org (The domain remains unchanged in translation)
What surprised him even more was the exceptional culinary skills of Yu Antong. The 'Fairy Feast' truly flourished under his sole effort.
As the variety show aired, the Fairy Feast's business boomed, making him envious and resentful. At his most spiteful, he even considered sabotaging Yu Xingmin's appearance on the show to make Yu Antong a laughingstock. Just one slip-up could greatly tarnish the Fairy Feast's reputation.
But the thought of Yu Antong now being married to Xing Lixuan and the consequences of offending the Xing family was a risk Yu Qingnian didnât even dare to contemplate. The once-rival establishment, Juyinglou, which used to stand toe-to-toe with Baifangzhai, had now declined in Jiang City, serving as a stark reminder.
With a heavy heart, Yu Qingnian reluctantly abandoned those sinister plans.
Yu Xingmin not winning the championship was expected by Yu Qingnian, but when it became reality, his heart was filled with bitterness.
He couldn't stand seeing Baifangzhai on the brink of decline, the illustrious title of the Yu family's master chef fading into obscurity, and above all, his diminishing profits.
Those accustomed to lavish lifestyles couldnât bear the thought of facing their own downfall.
At this moment, Yu Qingnian was filled with regret. Had he treated Yu Antong better back then, would things have turned out differently?
If he hadn't harbored such ill intentions, and had not pushed Yu Antong into the Xing family, there would be no Fairy Feast. Instead, Baifangzhai would have flourished like the present-day Fairy Feast, and the Yu family could have revived their century-old glory as the esteemed culinary family.
Yu Qingnian covered his eyes, sighing deeply.
Yu Antong didnât care about Yu Qingnianâs thoughts. He blissfully indulged in a milk bath, feeling, even if just mentally, his skin getting smoother and softer.
He was in high spirits.
"Honey, come! Do I smell good?"
After his bath, Yu Antong lay on the bed, half-covered by a summer quilt, engrossed in his phone. As soon as Xing Lixuan emerged from his shower, Yu Antong put down his phone and beckoned to him with an eager and seductive look.
Xing Lixuan frowned, "No pajamas?"
With only a black summer quilt draped around his waist, Yu Antong's fair arms and legs were exposed. The contrast made it evident he hadnât put on pajamas.
"Why bother with that?" Yu Antong grinned mischievously, "We'll just take them off later anyway."
Xing Lixuan ignored him, heading to the wardrobe to don his own pajamas.
"What are you doing?" Yu Antong's smile vanished. He pounded the bed in frustration and, once Xing Lixuan got into bed, playfully lunged to bite him.
After biting, he huffed, "Tell me, am I not attractive to you anymore?"
"Stop messing around," Xing Lixuan held him, preventing a potential fall, "How many months pregnant is Xiaonian? You shouldnât be acting this way."
"Hmph," Yu Antong grumbled, but lay back down. Not two seconds later, he cooed, "But I miss you so much."
The implication behind the word âmissâ was clear.
"Darling, give me a kiss," Yu Antong tilted his head slightly, gazing at Xing Lixuan with his captivating, dewy eyes that seemed even more entrancing at that moment.
Xing Lixuan's throat tightened as he pulled him close, avoiding looking at his face, he murmured, "Darling, don't torture me like this."
Yu Antong and Xing Lixuan exchanged a few kisses, but it was like adding fuel to the fire, making them even more passionate.
"Enough, enough, let's sleep!" Yu Antong relented, "You too, no self-indulging. Save all that energy for me, for after our baby is born."
Xing Lixuan couldn't help but smile, "Shut up, you shameless little devil."
Needless to say, it has always been his; Xing Lixuan has been keeping score.
Unable to indulge in the pleasures of adulthood, Yu Antong focused on his business. Fu Xin told him the new factory's progress was ahead of schedule and would start production in two weeks.
Yu Antong said, "Alright, contact our suppliers and purchase the raw materials. Prioritize increasing the production of chili sauce. I'll also focus on developing new products during this period."
"Sure, I've already initiated discussions with the suppliers," Fu Xin is always thorough in his work.
Yu Antong first tried making a few new sauces. He then checked the customer reviews on Xianren Banquet's online store and found that many loved the beef fat hot pot. However, some who couldnât tolerate spicy food felt torn between their craving and the burning sensation.
A review of the hot pot base became likened to a tragic love story where two parties love each other but cannot be together.
Yu Antong found this amusing. He then developed a clear soup base for the hot pot. It could be bought separately or combined with the beef fat base for a yin-yang pot.
Before mass production in the new factory, a trial batch was produced to gauge customer feedback.
Xianren Banquet's update: "Breaking News! The boss is finally working! We're launching three new chili sauces, two hot pot bases, and four new dumpling fillings! Letâs give our boss a big hand! Check out the photos and links!"
Impatient_First_Commenter: "Why should we praise you? Let's see when the new factory starts producing large quantities!"
CharcoalRoastedCashew: "Haha, the first commenter is ruthless, but correct."
ChickenLegCraver: "Clicked on the new product link and placed my order first before leaving a comment. Proof that I'm smart."
DonkeyRolls: "I came a bit late! Everythingâs sold out! I'm devastated!"
NotSoPlainWhite: "I'm losing my touch. I'm not even first in grabbing food anymore."
ColaLoverXLarge: "Got four packs of dumplings, including my favorite three-flavor mix. Today is a good day!"
StuffedBread: "Couldn't get the dumplings wanted, but got the mushroom meat sauce. Perfect for pairing with vegetables and noodles!"
PanFriedPork: "Got the enoki mushroom meat sauce. I'm so happy. Even though I'm spending money, I feel like I've found a treasure."
FishNotVegetarian: "Oh my gosh! Thereâs a yin-yang hotpot base now! This is a godsend for spice lovers who can't handle the heat. I love you, Yu Antong!"
BeefNoodle: "Watch out! Xing Lixuan might ban you for that confession!"
NeverLate: "Why did everyone else get it and I didnât? There must be something wrong with my ID!"
MilkPudding: "I didn't get anything either. Stop showing off. I'm so jealous. I want to eat too!"
LanternShadowsBeef: "To the locals in Jiangcheng, please donât compete with us outsiders. You have physical stores; we can only buy online. Leave some for us, please."
Green Bean Cake: Even though you've praised me, it's not easy for us locals in Jiang City either. There are queues in stores, queues for takeout, it's hard to get a ready meal. So, not competing is out of the question.
Crispy Chicken: When it comes to Xianren Banquet, there are no favors, only speed matters!
Author's Note:
Netizen: Today is such a joyous day!
TongTong: I'm not happy.
Many thanks to the sweet angels who cast their dominating votes or nourished me with nutrients during the period from 2020-02-28 23:55:23 to 2020-02-29 23:56:30~
Angels who threw mines: 42003423, âvie 1;
Angels who provided nutrients: Long Drunk 43 bottles; âvie 30 bottles; Crane River 28 bottles; nora, 37979320, New Cat 10 bottles; Changing Nickname is Hard, Deer without a Melody, Zhang YaYa 5 bottles; yyyyght 3 bottles; 36966710, yBoy, Goat or Shrimp? 2 bottles; Lights of a Thousand Homes, ddd's Cat, Ying Jie, Be a Fruit Today 1 bottle;
I'm truly grateful for all your support! I will continue to work hard!
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