Free Web NovelChapter 679: Chapter 607: Every Flavor Is Just Right
Chen Guomin furrowed his brows, staring intently at Wang Fan and Abraham. The desserts made by both of them used no embellishments, purely a contest of basic skills.
The simpler something is, the easier it is to determine a winner, and the simpler the procedure, the easier it is to judge its quality.
He believed Wang Fan had strong abilities, but to make it this simplistically? I don’t mind you making Osmanthus Cake, but at least add some purple sweet potato or date paste!
You’re using just the simplest rice flour and lotus root flour with osmanthus, and you think you can beat a Michelin chef?
Chen Guomin wasn’t lacking confidence in Wang Fan, rather it was in the simplest Osmanthus Cake that Wang Fan made.
Is such a basic dessert really suitable for a competition?
But as a judge, he was unable to communicate with Wang Fan at this point, and the competition was already halfway through, what difference would his words make now?
Forget it, trust the young man.
But if you can win this round, I’m really willing to consider taking you as a teacher!
Knowing one’s own limitations, Chen Guomin thought he couldn’t make an Osmanthus Cake that could beat an Opera Cake at knife-point.
Time passed, and the aroma of rice from the steamer grew more intense, Wang Fan’s demeanor instantly shifted from leisure to seriousness.
His nostrils flared slightly, catching even the slightest scent change.
"Click."
The steamer stopped, yet Wang Fan did not rush to open the lid, waiting silently for a moment.
Lifting the lid, the dense steam dispersed, and he carefully took out the mold tray, placing it on the workbench as gently as a feather landing on water.
Inside the plastic wrap, steam droplets formed that could drop onto the Osmanthus Cake below with the slightest tremor, which Wang Fan absolutely wouldn’t allow.
Pinching the corners of the plastic wrap, his gentle motion took it off before the droplets could react.
Fanning his hand lightly over the dessert, the rich rice fragrance and subtle steam contentedly greeted Wang Fan.
The broadcast presented to the audience next instigated a head-holding urge among them, while some exclaimed "Unbelievable!"
In Sync! Perfect Synchronization!
Abraham was edging the Opera Cake, while Wang Fan was doing the same with the Osmanthus Cake.
Their timing wasn’t just the same; even the knife placements and angles were identical!
To an outsider, it might seem like an illusion caused by some unusual mirror effect.
"What’s going on?"
"I feel like my eyes have failed me, someone poke me to check if I’m still here."
"Are these two putting on a mime show in front of me?"
"Is this Kakashi or Wang Kakashi?"
Even the three experienced judges were utterly bewildered.
In all their time, attending countless competitions, they had never witnessed a scene like this!
"Hehehehe..."
Watching the scene in the broadcast, only the students from Kainan University responded with innocent laughter and pure, joyous smiles.
"This Abraham is truly amazing, matching every step, even the timing is almost identical."
"It takes a Qianqian to notice even such a small habit of his."
"I’m telling you, Boss Wang is incredible. Even if others knew Abraham’s habit, could they control their pace to match his exactly?"
"Definitely not, I haven’t found a single dissonance in this synchronization, it’s really like looking into a mirror."
Professor Liu watched Wang Fan’s leisurely demeanor, only able to mutter "freakish" to himself.
Some people are born to succeed in one field and there are those rare few who intimidate others from pursuing the same.
Wang Fan is certainly that type.
"Absolute control of the body, extraordinary sense of smell, taste, and learning ability, a natural-born chef if not a police dog."
Zhuo Qianqian asked Professor Liu, somewhat puzzled, "Teacher, what is the purpose of this step? It seems like it doesn’t affect the judgment of the judges or the state of the opponents?"
Professor Liu smiled faintly: "The art of war values psychological warfare above direct siege; let the bullet fly a while."
Her gaze wasn’t fixed on Abraham, but on the remaining four shocked French contestants on camera.
The bullet wasn’t aimed at Abraham.
Abraham’s attention was entirely focused, unaware of the synchronized actions of Wang Fan beside him.
He simply looked up at Wang Fan and saw him looking back at him.
He smiled kindly at Wang Fan, recognizing a strong and worthy opponent to respect.
Wang Fan also smiled back at Abraham; a serious chef deserves respect too.
Durand and the other three French competitors felt a surge of thoughts, the mystical East, often demonized by the foreign press, filled their minds with tales of Eastern sorcery.
Despite logically dismissing such notions, what took place before them still stirred a ripple in their previously placid hearts.
This was the very effect Professor Liu desired.
She knew Wang Fan was under immense pressure; his loss would mean an end to any suspense in this dessert competition, as he would be teetering on the edge.
His opponents had a significant psychological advantage, and without imposing a similar psychological burden on them, how would it be fair competition?
This is what fair competition is!
Wang Fan had no understanding of these subtleties, but knowing his girlfriend and those from Kainan University wouldn’t harm him, he simply followed along as long as it didn’t affect his dessert making.
The fact that both desserts were completed at the same time was impressive enough, but that both were cut into identical shapes added to the spectacle!
The three judges, both amused and perplexed, had an unutterable exclamation caught in them.
As the victor of the previous match, Wang Fan retained the right to choose which dessert to taste first, and he unhesitatingly chose his own.
Felix, Chen Guomin, and Allen each received a piece of Osmanthus Cake.
The rectangular Osmanthus Cake had neat, sharp edges, its pure white surface adorned with golden osmanthus, arranged in a scattered yet elegant fashion, looking simple but with an inexplicable graceful charm.
The rich aroma of rice and the sweet scent of osmanthus wafted up, inducing a mouthwatering sensation.
But...
Could such a simple thing really taste good?
With these doubts, the three judges brought the Osmanthus Cake to their mouths and took a small bite.
"Hmm?"
The three judges let out a gasp simultaneously.
Staring in disbelief at the Osmanthus Cake, they took a big bite simultaneously.
"Hmm?!"
This exclamation was noticeably louder, their eyes wide with astonishment.
Such unexpected reactions left the audience bewildered.
"What are these three doing? It’s just Osmanthus Cake, I eat it every day, I never thought it was that good."
"If you don’t think it’s that good, why do you eat it daily?"
"It’s just a habit, and even if I like it, I wouldn’t exclaim in astonishment like that, they look so inexperienced."
Zhang Tao was also at a loss; today’s competition just felt wrong, surrounded by a thick sense of conspiracy.
Moreover, while it might have been surprising for the other two judges who haven’t had fine powder before, Chen Lao, as a master of Chinese desserts, why are you reacting in disbelief?
Were you also syncing with those two judges?
Chen Guomin was now eager to grab Wang Fan and ask how he made this Osmanthus Cake, as just a couple of gasps weren’t worth the disbelief.
Felix murmured to himself while eating: "Unbelievable! How did he do it? Such a small cake can be made so..."
"Exquisitely!"
Chen Guomin finished the sentence for Felix.
"As you can see, throughout the entire process of making this cake, Wang Fan’s actions were incredibly simple, yet this precisely highlighted his unparalleled skills. The taste of this Osmanthus Cake is subtly elegant, but its texture is astonishing."
As he spoke, he broke the Osmanthus Cake in his hand, displaying it to the camera, "Look, this Osmanthus Cake, the moment you taste it, you experience a perfect blend of elasticity, fineness, moisture, and softness. It’s the first time I’ve come across such a perfect textured dessert."
