"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 151

 Xiao Yi Chen thought, Ji Ling Xue was the woman he brought out the most, could Ding Si Fang be speaking of her? A maid? If Ji Ling Xue heard Di Si Fang's words she would be infuriated.

Ding Si Fang saw Xiao Yi Chen didn't reply, he laughed, turning he entered the military ground, imperial uncle who had arrived earlier smiled and went to exchange a few words, Ji Ming Yang diligently returned to Xiao Yi Chen's side: "Brother-in-law, I support you a lot."

Xiao Yi Chen raised his eyebrow, waiting for Ji Ming Yang to continue.

Ji Ming Yang waved the piece of paper in his hand: "I placed my entire fortune, a thousand silvers, half of it I bet on Wangshan restaurant, the other half I placed on my older sister's Qingfengyashe, brother-in-law I'm going to win right?"

Xiao Yi Chen rubbed his nose, he trusted in his Wangshan restaurant's head chef, as for Qingfengyashe, that chef had injured her hand so couldn't participate in the competition, Ji Ling Xue promised him she wouldn't participate, the possibility of winning was very low.

Not wanting to affect Ji Ming Yang's high spirits, Xiao Yi Chen patter his shoulder, smiling: "Good luck, believe in yourself."

Ji Ming Yang firmly nodded and did a cheer up gesture. As a judge of this competition, he would support Qingfengyashe.

The chefs participating were basically all present, Xiao Yi Chen had invited two other judges, one was a great tutor of virtue and prestige, another was a first-rate chef from the palace to make this competition fair and honest.

At this moment a scholar in green rushed through the entrance of the military ground, a guard stopped him asking: "Each position has already been filled inside, you stand outside."

The scholar in green searched around in his sleeve and took out a token to show the guard in his way, correcting his slightly crooked hat, he then said: "I'm not a spectator, I'm the chef for Qingfengyashe, the chef participating in the competition."

The guard looked the slightly-built scholar up and down, lips twitching, "Your appearance is that of a scholar at first glance, why are you pretending to be a chef, can you cook, if you can't don't go in to cause trouble."

The scholar in green pushed up his sleeves, like he wanted to pick a fight, "How can you look down on me, I said I'm a chef in the competition, are you going to let me in or not!"

The commotion at the entrance naturally attracted the attention of Xiao Yi Chen sitting at the judges table on the platform, he was about to get up and take a look, Ji Ming Yang offered to go: "Brother-in-law, let me take a look at such a small thing." As he spoke Ji Ming Yang reached the entrance with a leap and a bound, half way he recalled his image, patting the non-existent dust from his clothes, he slowed down, assuming the attitude of a judge, "Cough, cough, what's the fuss?"

The guard recognised Ji Ming Yang who had been following Xiao Yi Chen around these last few days, courteously cupping his hand he said: "Lord, someone wants to cause trouble, this subordinate will chase them away!" As he spoke he dragged the scholar in green by the arm away.

The scholar in green's eyes shone when he saw Ji Ming Yang appear, waving his hand he said: "Ming Yang, Ming Yang, it's me, it's me..."

Ji Ming Yang turned his head to the scholar in green, he wasn't nervous when he looked but when he did his eyeballs nearly fell out, wasn't this scholar in green the older sister he thought about in his heart Ji Ling Xue, he almost didn't recognise her in that disguise.

Ji Ling Xue shrugged off the guard's hand, running to Ji Ming Yang and patting his shoulder: "Why are you distracted, quickly take me inside, the competition is about to begin."

Ji Ming Yang turned his head to glance at Xiao Yi Chen, then looking at Ji Ling Xue he said quietly: "Why did you come now?"

Ji Ling Xue rubbed her nose, if she came earlier, she couldn't think of continuing the competition if Xiao Yi Chen found out, she undoubtedly came at the last minute, but was halted by these two guards.

Ji Ming Yang thought about the bet he had placed on Ji Ling Xue, his heart jolted, he shouldn't go squandering his money, even if Ji Ling Xue came to play about, she should at least make a dish before leaving.

Ji Ming Yang did as he thought, pulling Ji Ling Xue's hand they entered, he said quietly: "My older sister, you must win, I placed all my money on you."

Each chef had their own table inside the military ground, ingredients and equipment were placed on them, knifes were brought along by the chefs, on entering there was the sound of chopping, pots and bowls clanking here and there.

Ji Ming Yang took Ji Ling Xue to the last table then slipped back to the judge's table, Ji Ling Xue looked at the ingredients on the table, a Chinese cabbage, several radishes, a bunch of spring onions, seasonings filled the table, it was clear someone had taken the ingredients that should have been on the table.

Ji Ling Xue shook her head, wanting to chase her out of the competition in this way, such poor thoughts. She picked up the cabbage peeling the outer leaves, leaving the most tender part inside.

At the judges table on the platform, Xiao Yi Chen looked at Ji Ming Yang who had returned looking like he had done something bad, "The competition already started, why did you let someone come in?"

Just now he had only seen a shadow of a scholar in green from afar, he thought he looked familiar, but didn't really pay much attention, now seeing Ji Ming Yang was behaving differently, he glanced at the scholar in green's table a few more times, the other person had his head lowered diligently washing vegetables, he still hadn't seen his face.

Ji Ming Yang coughed guiltily: "Cough, cough, well he came to participate, let him just make something, isn't there still some time before the competition ends." As he spoke he pointed at the slowly burning incense stick stuck in the small burner in front of Xiao Yi Chen.

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, never mind, he's entered already, let's see in the remaining time, what this scholar in green can make.

Ji Ling Xue took out two bottles of condiments from her sleeves, taking out a small vegetable knife wrapped in cloth, she turned to take some garlic and oil preserved eggs and red peppers from the table next to her, after the cabbage was washed and water dripped off, she picked up the knife cutting it into fours, the eggs and peppers were cut into cubes, the garlic was minced, putting oil into the hot pan, after the oil heated up she sautéed the minced garlic until it was a little golden.

Adding a bowl of water, she added the condiments she had brought into the pan, thankfully Mo Xiang had reminded her, last night she had made some soup seasonings then placed them into bottles when they cooled into oil form, otherwise she wouldn't have enough time today, she would lose.

Boiling over a high heat, the soup seasoning had completely dissolved into soup, next she added the cabbage and eggs, cooking them until tender, she took out the cabbage and placed them on a plate, there was still some oil left in the pan, she put in the sautéed garlic, ginger slices, eggs, ham, stir frying them under low heat.

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Then she poured half a spoon of clear soup into the pan, waiting for it to boil, then she put in the eggs, red peppers, simmering it on low heat, putting in a little oil before taking it off heat, the dish looked even more resonant.

"Time's up!"

Ji Ling Xue had just plated up, very soon a maid used a tray to carry the dish in front of her to the judge's table, the four judges tasted them.

Ji Ling Xue was filled with confidence, even though she had made a rather simple dish, but the importance was the flavour and taste.

A quarter of an hour went by, afterwards an official made the announcement of who had qualified, Deqing restaurant's duck soup, Wangshan restaurant's Kung Pao chicken, finally Qingfengyashe's cabbage soup was announced.

Ji Ling Xue let out a breath, she had passed this round.

The maid walked to Ji Ling Xue greeting and saying: "You're the chef for Qingfengyashe, prince Chen requests to see you."

Ji Ling Xue's face was filled with black lines, lowering her head she wiped some soot from under the pan onto her face, with her head down she followed the maid.

Xiao Yi Chen looked Ji Ling Xue over, a face covered in soot was of no interest to Xiao Yi Chen, asking a few things about how the cabbage soup was made, after Ji Ling Xue responded to them all, he waved his hand for her to leave.

When lunch time arrived, the booths around the military ground was very lively, those selling steamed buns and soft beancurd were the most popular, a lot of people were too lazy to leave their seats, so they got the sellers to pack them up and deliver to them.

Ji Ling Xue found shade under a tree in a corner and ate the pastries inside her sleeve while enjoying the breeze, suddenly a shadow appeared, Ji Ling Xue raised her head, Ji Ming Yang held a bowl of soy milk happily standing in front of her smiling.

Ji Ling Xue patting the grass beside her, "Sit down, it's tiring standing."

Ji Ming Yang's butt touched the grass, "Sister, what's with your face, do you want me to get you some water to clean up?"

Ji Ling Xue shook her head: "Don't, I like to be this simple and bare!"

Ji Yang Ming's lips twitched, looking at the pumpkin pastry in Ji Ling Xue's hand, "You really scared me this morning, I was afraid you wouldn't pass." My five hundred silvers would have been wasted.

Ji Ling Xue smiled: "I should thank you for letting me in to participate, as expected of my best younger brother." As she spoke she patted Ji Yang Ming's shoulder.

Ji Ming Yang curled his lips in distain: "Your hands are covered in oil, you feel no shame wiping it over me..." He leaned back as he spoke, the bowl of soy milk in his hand tilted, the soy milk he had bought spilt over Ji Ming Yang's gown.

"Ya! My clothes...ao..." Ji Ming Yang cried out, hopping up like a rabbit, in a flash he disappeared into the crowd.

Ji Ling Xue stood on the spot following Ji Ming Yang's shadow bitterly smiling.

"You're Qingfengyashe's chef?" A doubtful and familiar voice came from behind her.

Ji Ling Xue turned meeting Ding Si Fang's resolute face, Ding Si Fang handed her a handkerchief.

Ji Ling Xue smiled and took it, "Thank you general." Her hand however didn't touch her face, she was afraid she might bump into Xiao Yi Chen, she would rather avoid being told off, she wasn't afraid of Xiao Yi Chen but that it wouldn't be good for her to be recognised in such a crowded public place.

Di Si Fang said: "Aren't you going to wipe your face?"

Ji Ling Xue said: "I will later, thank you."

Ding Si Fang said: "Have we met before?"

Ji Ling Xue nodded, "General your military glory is spread far and wide, every time you return, I wait to see you at the city gates."

Ji Ling Xue said in her heart: A couple of months has passed since we saw each other in the palace, I couldn't have made such a deep impression?

Ding Si Fang nodded, it was also very normal for him to have seen him in passing somewhere, why else would he think he was so familiar.

Ding Si Fang said: "You look young, your cooking skills aren't bad, this general's residence just happens to be lacking a chef, this general will give you a monthly salary of one hundred silvers, will you consider it?"

Ji Ling Xue's forehead was covered in black lines, "Thank you for general's support, I'm doing very well at Qingfengyashe, I'm not thinking of leaving right now."

Ding Si Fang saw Ji Ling Xue was quite firm and didn't force her, nodding he left.

At this moment, Deqing restaurant's head chef headed towards Ji Ling Xue, crossing his arms he looked her up and down, Deqing restaurant and Qingfengyashe had history, even the chef's gaze on Ji Ling Xue wasn't very friendly.