The drive towards the Silver Leaf Academy was short. Now that the blizzard finally stopped and the roads were clear, the classes and work resumed. On her husband’s insistence, Lu Xinyi told Fu Shuren to drive slowly and pay attention to the road. She could tell that the accident years ago had somewhat left a trauma on Shen Yi.
Her thoughts then drifted to the unknown favor Shen Jinxiu asked her mother. It was unfortunate that she couldn’t remember anything about meeting Shen Yi and his uncle and what her mother did after Shen Jinxiu’s death. The pain of losing Shen Jinxiu must have pushed Sun Mingai to her insanity, blaming her mother whom she’d hated the most for his death.
“Miss Lu, something in your mind? Is there something we could help you with?” Zhang Qing asked. It wasn’t hard for her to read their mistress’s mood. After meeting Sun Ruying, there must be more questions that confused Lu Xinyi.
Shen Yi told her that favor was the reason why his uncle wanted to meet Sun Meixiu that day. Something the man didn’t think he could delay. However, he wasn’t able to find out what it was. This was one of the reasons why Shen Yi hated Sun Mingai aside from the fact that the woman instigated Lu Sibai and Sun Meixiu’s death.
Lu Xinyi shook her head. Her mother had barely said anything about her family, let alone her friendship with the previous Shen young master. What made her think that she could easily find the answer when her husband, who had more resources than her, couldn’t solve the mystery?
The home she grew up with Tian Lingyu had been acquired by Sun Mingai by force, and there was no way her mother’s belongings weren’t burned by that woman. If there was something left, it must be still in her mother’s villa.
“Zhang Qing, I want you to go to my mother’s villa while we’re inside Silver Leaf. I want you to check her belongings and find anything that was dated 20xx, the year when Shen Jinxiu died. My mother could have left something in her possession that was intended for Shen Jinxiu.”
Lu Xinyi decided to see if it’ll give her a lead. Whatever the favor was it must be really important for Shen Yi’s uncle.
“As you wish, Miss Lu.”
—
When Lu Xinyi arrived at Silver Leaf, Tian Lingyu and Huang Shenghao escorted her to the headmistress’s office. The two men left as soon as she stepped inside. There, she found Han Yixin and her mentor waiting for her arrival, with Han Zhiling seating behind her desk with hands clasped in front of her.
“Miss Lu, Han Yixin, since the two of you will represent our academy for the upcoming World Patisserie Challenge, the board of directors decided to exempt you to join the nomination for Interschool Culinary Competition. However, to train your palette, we’ve agreed to let you become judges for the selections.
“With Chef He’s guidance, the two of you will blindly taste-test each dish your schoolmates will prepare today. I’ll expect the two of you to learn and pick up new skills. You didn’t need to worry about holding your opinions.” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
Lu Xinyi had already expected that she and Han Yixin wouldn’t participate, but for them to be the judges of their schoolmates’ entry dishes? It was out of the question. She raised a brow towards her mentor in suspicion.
When she saw the end of his mouth curling up, she knew by then that she was correct.
Actually, it was He Haotian’s idea to let the two women preside the selection as special judges especially Lu Xinyi. Silver Leaf Academy was lacking the opportunity to further improve his apprentice’s palette. By having her taste-test the dishes, it would give her experience on different cuisine.
Han Zhiling passed two copies of documents to Lu Xinyi and Han Yixin.
“These are the criteria and themes to be used for today’s selections. The junior and senior students will have to make two different cuisines for you to criticize. To be fair, Lingyu and Shenghao have no idea what they are going to cook today. Only the three of you and that academy staff who prepared the stage are aware of this.”
After discussing the criteria and what to expect from both cuisines with He Haotian, the three left the headmistress’s office and went to the battle arena and found everyone waiting to start. The audience area wasn’t as crowded during a cooking battle for a place for the Cream of the Crop. Today, the only spectators were the students from short courses.
“Welcome, everyone!” Huo Meili was once again the emcee for today’s selection. “Today, the remaining junior and senior students from Silver Leaf’s special class will compete to earn the spot to represent our school at the Interschool Culinary Competition. This selection will not only test your skills but see what you’ve learned so far from the academy.
“Each division will feature a different cuisine. For today’s theme, the juniors’ theme will be Vietnamese cuisine. The five junior students with the best plates deemed worthy of our three judges will move on to the next round. Judged by two-star Michelin chef, He Haotian, and your fellow schoolmates, Lu Xinyi and Han Yixin; let’s see which student has what it takes to make it to the end and crowned worthy to represent our academy!”
He Haotian stepped up the stage with Lu Xinyi and Han Yixin standing behind him. In contrast to his excited and smiling face, his apprentice had her infamous RBF plastered on her face again.
“Students, are you ready?!” Huo Meili asked, lifting her microphone to the expecting students.
“Yeah!” All of the junior students including the Tang twins, Ye Xieren, and Yan Chen were there to participate.
“Fantastic! Now that’s what I want to hear! It’s time for us to see what you’ve learned so far. Compared to other cuisines, Vietnamese cuisine has a great combination of the raw and the cooked, the sweet and the sour. This might be a little challenging for all of you since your entrance exams, but please do your best!” the emcee continued to cheer on.
“Unlike the previous cooking battles, all of you are only asked to make two individual dishes in three hours. The first is the classic pho, and the other one is to make a deliciously silky sweet treat called Banh flan. Our judges will have a blind test to give everyone a chance to compete fairly.
“Please, students, go to your kitchen counters and start cooking as the time starts now!”
