Chapter Twenty-One: Ice Crystal Soft Jade

Chi Sui watched the behind-the-scenes sparring among the judges with great interest. If it weren't for the lack of decorum, she would have been tempted to ask the gentleman who made the cupcakes for some sunflower seeds to snack on.

The first three contestants had clearly pushed the judges' expectations to an all-time low. By the time the fourth contestant stepped up with his honey bread, all four judges were finally willing to give it a taste.

It was during this round that Chi Sui heard the most professional critique yet.

Byron: "For me, this bread is far too sweet. Perhaps it was baked too long and became rather tough; anyone eating it would need strong teeth. Regardless, congratulations, this dish has earned a half-star."

Cecil: "As Mr. Byron said, you overbaked it, and the heat was too high. Now that it has cooled, it is quite difficult to chew, but all in all, it is acceptable."

Mayor Duke: "I actually quite like it. I wonder if you would consider opening a bakery in Windbell Town?"

Guildmaster Carl: "It is a bit hard, but there are some towns that favor this kind of long-lasting bread. If you are interested in selling it, you may come to the Merchants' Guild."

One had to admit, the Mayor of Windbell Town and the Guildmaster fit Chi Sui’s stereotypical impressions of those roles perfectly.

Chi Sui looked toward the audience area and, as expected, saw Mayor Ella waiting anxiously beside Mr. Shi. Seeing that the Mayor was watching her, Chi Sui quickly waved to reassure her.

The subsequent contestants performed with consistent quality, and the judges’ grim expressions finally eased. Soon, the rancher Chi Sui had been paying attention to approached the judges' table.

Maeve was the first of the ranchers to step up. Her station had been the closest to Chi Sui’s; the moment she finished, a rich, creamy scent had wafted over. From the moment she smelled it, Chi Sui knew Maeve’s evaluation would be nothing short of stellar.

"I believe everyone is familiar with this contestant: Rancher Maeve from Bagpipe Town. At last year’s Harvest Festival in Wind City, Maeve took the championship with her herb soup—I’m sure you’ve all seen it in the papers. What kind of surprise will she bring us today? Let us look forward to the dessert brought to us by Rancher Maeve: Goat Milk Mousse."

The portion presented to the judges was small, with snow-white cubes arranged irregularly on the plate, possessing a strange, delicate beauty.

Then, a cool, clear voice spoke: "This is a mousse made from the goat milk of my ranch. Please, everyone, have a taste."

Although she had been closest to Maeve, this was the first time Chi Sui had heard her speak. While cooking, Chi Sui had been watching; Maeve and her Flash-Gold Sheep worked in such perfect harmony that she knew exactly what to do with a single gesture. Just watching them cook had been a pleasure.

At the judges' table, Byron was the first to pick up a piece and place it in his mouth.

The mousse melted upon contact, the sweetness of the goat milk filling his entire palate.

After tasting it, Byron remained silent for a long time. Cecil, who had been waiting for him to comment first, grew impatient and picked up a piece as well.

"A truly excellent flavor. This is my first time eating this kind of mousse. With this texture, Rancher Maeve’s dish is definitely over one star; the exact certification will depend on Mr. Byron." After saying this, Cecil glanced at the still-silent Byron.

Byron nodded and sighed, "The younger generation is truly formidable. Rancher Maeve, you must only be in your twenties, yes?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question about her age, Maeve hesitated before answering, "Yes, I am twenty-five this year."

"I have eaten mousse before at the Yellow Stone Ranch in Wind City, but it was made with cow’s milk. That rancher has been famous for a long time, and the mousse he created reached three stars."

"Since then, I have never tasted anything similar. I have longed for it for a long time, and Rancher Maeve’s dish today has truly brought back the memory of that flavor." Byron paused, then continued:

"To achieve this texture with goat milk is no small feat. This dish has reached two stars. I never expected you to be as skilled with desserts as you are with soups. Especially at such a young age—I believe it won’t be long before I get to taste a three-star dish created by you."

Hearing this, a smile broke across Maeve’s usually expressionless face. "Thank you."

Hearing that it was a two-star dish, Duke and Carl scrambled to grab pieces from the plate.

"Delicious."

"I love it." Realizing he had lost his composure, Carl swallowed and added, "Rancher Maeve, will you be making this dessert in the future? If you intend to sell it, would you be willing to accept a procurement order from our Merchants' Guild?"

"Of course. How much do you need?"

"If you can guarantee this quality, let’s start with 100 servings, and after that..."

Just like that, they were talking business?

Chi Sui watched from below, amused. She had expected to hear more praise for Maeve, but she hadn't expected it to turn into a business negotiation the moment the Guildmaster spoke. It was no wonder these ranchers loved participating in competitions; this was where the real money was.

Soon, Maeve stepped down, having secured her order, but her entry remained on the judges' table. Unless something better appeared, that goat milk mousse would remain until the end.

The contestant who followed Maeve did not have the same luck as the honey bread baker. Because of the excellent work that preceded him, his honey sponge cake was subjected to various sharp-tongued critiques from the judges, and he was nearly in tears by the time he stepped off the stage.

In Chi Sui's opinion, that honey sponge cake was objectively much better than the burnt bread, yet that contestant had received words of encouragement to keep trying. It went to show that timing and luck were just as important in the competition.

So far, the only ones left to present were Chi Sui and the rancher from Warm Wind Town. According to the order of the bells, Chi Sui was the very last.

"Coming up next is Rancher Malik from Warm Wind Town. Although his ranch has only been open for two years, he achieved great results at last year’s Winter Celebration. This is his second time competing. Let us focus our attention on the work he has brought us. We shall let Rancher Malik introduce the name of the dish himself."

The host’s voice remained passionate, but Chi Sui’s eyes were fixed on the clay pot Malik was carrying.

It was made from ground soybeans—could it be tofu?

After placing the clay pot steadily on the table, Malik spoke slowly, "This dish of mine is a recipe I acquired when I went to study on Green Island a few years ago. Though the preparation is complex, the taste is truly delicious."

As he finished speaking, Malik opened the clay pot, and a rush of cold air immediately wafted out.

"It has a lovely name: Icy Crystal Soft Jade."

This unique name clearly piqued the curiosity of the four judges. The pot was somewhat deep, so all four of them stood up to peer inside.

Chi Sui, who had been craning her neck in curiosity from the back, suddenly found herself unable to see anything at all. The four judges’ frames completely blocked her line of sight, leaving no angle for her to peek.

Chi Sui: "..."

How frustrating.