RSDH CH58

The couple bickered as soon as they got out of bed, and the livestream watched the excitement joyfully.

While washing up in the bathroom, Duan Xingye thought about how they left the perfectly good big bed untouched, preferring to squeeze together on the small sofa all night.

He shook his head, lowering his body to rinse the foam off his face.

Last night, it was as if everyone’s IQ went offline.

At the hour mark, the guests gathered in the downstairs restaurant for breakfast.

Sanxian rice noodles, pig trotter rice noodles, dry mixed duck sauce noodles, xiaolongbao, tofu pudding, cured meat… all local specialties.

After breakfast, the program team issued task cards.

Jiang Li took over and read aloud: “Today, let’s experience the local characteristic cultural festival, the Hucang Festival. On this day, everyone eats a full meal, eats Gai Mianzi meat (pork belly), competes in rice transplanting, and losers get shut in a pig cage (figuratively/punishment), praying for a good harvest in the year with lively celebration. Therefore, next, please split up into groups. One party goes to help the villagers transport seedlings, and one party stays to cook lunch for the other.”

The local traditional Hucang Festival was held in June. It was almost April now; the program team came early and rented a farmland where rice transplanting was in progress locally.

As for the specific division of labor for guests, the program team had arranged it in advance. In the Lü Ye Shu Huai group, the one staying to cook was Duan Xingye.

Duan Xingye protested sarcastically: “Is this reasonable?”

Bullet comments:

“Haha, production team being inhuman daily.”

“This is setting up obstacles for Teacher Duan.”

“Can see stir-fried hot pot again!”

However, during program recording, individual protests were useless.

Duan Xingye sat on the chair, kicking Cheng Duzhou with his toe: “What to eat?”

Old Xu reminded: “You two cannot communicate about what dishes to cook for lunch.”

The production team seemed to have more tricks up their sleeves.

Cheng Duzhou looked at Duan Xingye: “I love whatever you make.”

Duan Xingye raised his eyebrows, looking triumphant: “That’s a must. People who don’t cook have the nerve to complain?”

Unknown if he deliberately misinterpreted Cheng Duzhou’s meaning.

Cheng Duzhou faced the person proud up to the sky, his deep eyes showing a few degrees of indulgent helplessness.

Staff came over at this time to guide the guests to the village warehouse.

The remaining four, Duan Xingye, Jiang Li, Wu Enqi, and Tao Ziyi, went to the kitchen built in the backyard.

The director finally told them the rules: “Next, everyone only needs to make one dish. After serving it on the table, your husbands will taste it. They will choose their favorite dish, and the votes obtained will be converted into points.”

No wonder the production team didn’t let guests communicate about what to cook for lunch before. The four people cooking were equivalent to participating anonymously, while the other half were judges.

Because points were involved, everyone prepared to use their signature skills.

Except for Duan Xingye and Wu Enqi.

Wu Enqi relied on Wu Hao last time at the picnic; she had no signature skills.

And Duan Xingye was even more absolute. Besides stir-fried hot pot, the skill of cooking didn’t exist in his attribute panel.

Jiang Li and Tao Ziyi had already started taking action, going to the vegetable garden behind to select ingredients. If not available, they would go to the village entrance to buy.

Wu Enqi scratched her head, thinking of a way.

Duan Xingye sat on a small chair by the wall, staring blankly without moving.

Bullet comments:

“Teacher Duan knows nothing; won’t just slack off (let it rot), right?”

“Teacher Duan wants to do everything best; must be thinking of a way to get the most votes.”

“Stir-fry hot pot! Nothing to hesitate about!”

“If stir-frying hot pot, obviously everyone knows Teacher Duan made it. Others have to help their partners, definitely won’t choose this dish. But Teacher Duan can still get one vote from President Cheng.”

But the audience didn’t know Duan Xingye wasn’t thinking about how to win.

He reached out to Old Xu: “Give me the phone.”

Old Xu’s first reaction was whether Duan Xingye would contact Cheng Duzhou to tip him off. But on second thought, Cheng Duzhou didn’t have a phone and couldn’t be contacted, so he gave Duan Xingye’s phone to him.

The first thing Duan Xingye did after getting the phone was open Bilibili and search for “Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs.”

Bullet comments understood immediately:

“Learning and selling on the spot!”

“Family members, who still remembers it was mentioned in the first episode’s island tour that President Cheng’s favorite food is sweet and sour pork ribs!”

“So Teacher Duan is going to cook for President Cheng personally! Shipped it! This is his first time challenging home cooking!”

“Wifey always dislikes President Cheng daily, but is so good to President Cheng in private.”

“Sweet and sour pork ribs are a bit difficult; can Teacher Duan succeed?”

The production team didn’t stipulate that one couldn’t learn and make on the spot.

Therefore, while others were preparing in full swing, Duan Xingye still sat under the wall, hands tucked in, watching videos.

Among the food production videos on Bilibili, there were many daily operation streams, specifying spoons of ingredients in detail.

Duan Xingye selected two videos with many views, compared steps, noted key points, and also read feedback in bullet comments and the comments section, planning a rough process in his mind.

Ten minutes later, he turned off the phone and set off to purchase ingredients.

Old Xu’s camera followed.

After buying the necessary things and returning, Duan Xingye rinsed his pair of snow-white hands clean, dried them, put on cooking gloves, put a pile of ribs into the basket to rinse, then put them in cold water, threw in tied scallions, a few slices of ginger, poured a circle of cooking wine, covered the pot and let it boil.

During this period, he poured sauce into a bowl methodically, very carefully. One spoon stipulated meant one spoon, not a bit more, not a bit less. The audience was amused by his focused gaze staring at the pouring soy sauce, feeling Duan Xingye was doing scientific research in a laboratory, wishing to use a dropper for seasoning.

“Wifey looks so cute being serious!”

“Baby, seasoning doesn’t need to be that precise.”

“Trust me, as long as dishes are cooked with heart, the taste won’t be bad!”

After Duan Xingye finished mixing a bowl of sauce, he lifted the pot lid, skimmed off the floating foam on top with a ladle, boiled a little longer until no dirty stuff came out of the baby ribs, then poured them out and soaked them in cold water.

Someone in the livestream who knew how to cook started educating: Doing this makes the ribs not dry/tough oh~

To prevent oil from splashing everywhere after turning on the fire, Duan Xingye used kitchen paper to dry the moisture on the baby ribs as much as possible. But when frying in the oil pan, splashing oil was still unavoidable.

However, Duan Xingye had already put another layer of plastic bag on his hands in advance, so no pressure. The ribs emitted a barbecue aroma in the hot smoke. After confirming both sides showed a dark color, which was the golden yellow mentioned in the video, he took them out for later use.

Duan Xingye’s techniques in various steps were very unfamiliar, but his movements were unhurried and methodical. At a glance, his train of thought was very clear. Watching him cook felt like watching a food channel program. The person was so eye-pleasing; the main theme was watchability.

The first step was to fry sugar color (caramelize sugar).

Duan Xingye put exactly six rock sugars in the pot, stirred with a spatula, seeing the rock sugar melt, gradually forming liquid. But after stirring and bubbling, a huge change happened in an instant. White smoke and a burnt smell quickly rose from the pot.

Duan Xingye turned off the fire immediately, scooped up a layer of sugar syrup with the spatula to look; already turned black.

Bullet comments:

“Use low heat!”

“Frying sugar color requires experience; one slip and it capsizes.”

“Sugar color is just for coloring; doesn’t matter if you have it or not actually.”

Duan Xingye just frowned slightly, muttering: “Can it be done or not…”

Then he rinsed the pot clean crisply and started the second attempt.

Until the third time, he fried a qualified sugar color. Taking advantage of it not burning, he poured the fried ribs into the pot to stir-fry, turning to medium heat. At this time, no need to worry about oil splashing out.

After stir-frying each piece of rib into a honey-coated dark color, Duan Xingye poured a circle of sauce into the pot, sprinkled exactly five preserved plums, threw in star anise and leaves, poured in half a pot of boiling water, and closed the lid. Half the success achieved.

Although Duan Xingye looked effortless, nearly half an hour had passed. The ribs had to be stewed for at least forty minutes before serving.

Many viewers began to swallow saliva: The unavoidable gourmet series in every episode.

Duan Xingye sat on a chair aside to rest a while. He took out his phone to watch the video by the way, checking if there were any missed steps.

Right at this moment, noisy human voices came from afar.

Duan Xingye looked up, seeing Cheng Duzhou at a glance among the crowds of people.

Because Cheng Duzhou was the tallest, growing most clearly, walking in the fields holding several bundles of seedlings.

Duan Xingye glanced at the steaming pot, then at Cheng Duzhou in the distance. In his mind, he involuntarily outlined Cheng Duzhou’s surprised look when eating the sweet and sour pork ribs he made, his heart becoming warm.

In the backyard mixed with various food aromas, a flavor of expectation was added quietly.

Cheng Duzhou focused on the road ahead, not noticing the backyard at a distance. Suddenly, a dark head popped up behind him.

Duan Xingye’s gaze moved slightly, seeing clearly.

It was a boy between adolescence and youth, wearing a Tujia characteristic black cloth cross-collar shirt. Sleeves and pant legs were wide; complex patterns were embroidered on the collar and edge of the placket. Head held high talking to Cheng Duzhou. That face was also very three-dimensional and clear. Due to wind and sun exposure, his skin was very dark, glowing with healthy luster. Crucially, his eyes were very bright when looking at people, not hiding his admiration at all.

Cheng Duzhou had to turn his head from the other side to look at the person talking to him, so Duan Xingye couldn’t see his expression.

But the boy’s expression was even more surprised, grinning cheerfully.

Duan Xingye watched the group of people pass through the fields ahead, the light in his dark eyes gradually sinking.

Going to help out and harvesting a handsome little fanboy.

As expected of an internationally famous Movie Emperor.

Actually, if Cheng Duzhou looked to the right, he could see the backyard where recording was taking place.

But he just didn’t, showing how focused he was chatting with the handsome boy.

Duan Xingye lowered his head, continuing to watch the video with hands tucked in. Watched for a long time without blinking.

Suddenly.

He moved, reaching for the phone, bringing up the WeChat interface, clicking the chat box with Cheng Duzhou, modifying the remark.

[Twice-Married Man]

Duan Xingye turned off the phone, got up, went to the stove to look after the sweet and sour pork ribs in the pot. When picking up the spatula to stir, he had lost the initial freshness.

…

Cheng Duzhou walked on the road to the rice field, the kid behind him chattering.

The program team selected several villagers to help guests transplant rice seedlings together, experiencing the Hucang Festival.

Twenty-year-old Ba Sha was among them. Heard he begged grandpa and grandma in the village to be selected to participate in the program recording.

Just now in the warehouse, as soon as he saw Cheng Duzhou, Ba Sha’s eyes lit up. After approaching Cheng Duzhou, the first sentence was asking in substandard Mandarin: “Why didn’t Teacher Duan come?”

“…” Cheng Duzhou glanced at him and said, “He has other tasks.”

Ba Sha smiled until his eyes disappeared: “Can see Teacher Duan in the afternoon, right?”

“Mn.” Cheng Duzhou’s tone became a bit lazy. He looked at the young lad like seeing a Tujia branch of Xie Hang, somewhat unwelcome.

Unfortunately, Ba Sha was tactless, unable to tell. He asked Cheng Duzhou about Duan Xingye endlessly along the way.

Cheng Duzhou sped up halfway. Ba Sha fell behind. Also because the field path ahead was narrow, he couldn’t catch up to walk side by side.

But Ba Sha still stretched his neck enthusiastically forward and said, “President Cheng, before you leave, can I ask for Teacher Duan’s autograph?”

Cheng Duzhou licked the corner of his lips and said, “You should ask him, not me.”

Ba Sha smiled shyly: “Afraid of being nervous and saying wrong things, hope you can help me.”

Cheng Duzhou turned back, smiling yet not smiling: “You like Duan Xingye that much?”

Ba Sha hugged the seedlings tightly, dark skin faintly revealing red, yet really not obvious: “I’ve liked him for many years, just think he looks good…”

Under the somewhat intense sunlight, Cheng Duzhou smiled very shallowly, but his black eyes revealed no emotion, turning back.

Ba Sha was still rambling: “…Talented, sings well, I like all his songs…”

But all ignored by Cheng Duzhou.

Ordinary fans would put Duan Xingye’s good singing first; this one directly said good-looking.

Cheng Duzhou discovered Duan Xingye attracted the likes of some energetic little wolf dogs very much.

Near twelve o’clock, the dishes of Duan Xingye and Jiang Li’s group of four were all ready.

Passing by, Tao Ziyi specially glanced at the dish Duan Xingye made, intending to mock, but upon looking, surprise flashed across his eyes.

A plate of sweet and sour pork ribs came out of the pot, bright in color, rich in sauce, sprinkled with white sesame seeds for decoration, looking quite decent.

Tao Ziyi looked at Duan Xingye suspiciously.

Really can’t cook?

Don’t tell me he’s faking a persona.

Staff served the four dishes on silver platters.

The other four guests finished work in the fields and were already sitting by the table.

Since Duan Xingye walked in from the door, Cheng Duzhou kept looking at him.

As if not having seen enough after being separated for two or three hours.

Duan Xingye just glanced lightly past Cheng Duzhou without stopping.

Cheng Duzhou felt he hit a closed door again, guessing Duan Xingye was flustered while cooking and got very annoyed, so appearing in a bad mood.

Before he could think more, the director asked staff to lift the four silver covers.

Steamed fish, old duck soup, sweet and sour pork ribs, and a plate of green vegetables and tofu were lined up on the table.

Cheng Duzhou’s gaze lingered on the last plate of green vegetables and tofu for a few seconds.

Tofu shattered, vegetable leaves fried scorchingly yellow; a dish with no appetite at a glance.

He sighed very lightly in his heart.

The director said, “We won’t tell you who made which dish. Please taste in turn, evaluate fairly and objectively, then choose the dish you think is the most delicious.”

Husbands picked up chopsticks. Starting from the first dish, after tasting, gave corresponding evaluations.

The first two home-cooked dishes were good, but couldn’t distinguish who made them.

Arriving at the third dish, Xiao Jiahui put a piece of baby rib in his mouth. His eyebrows raised slightly. Compared to tasting previous dishes, this was a relatively large feedback.

Rib meat stewed very soft, melting in the mouth. Bone removed with a light push. Flavor intensity appropriate, salty and delicious. Tasting later, there was also the sweet and sour taste of preserved plum enhancing freshness, stimulating saliva secretion, very appetizing.

“This is good.” Xiao Jiahui gave a pertinent evaluation, looking at others beside him.

Wu Hao also nodded.

Huang Liang finished one piece, even taking an extra piece.

Bullet comments:

“Teacher Duan getting everyone’s recognition for first time cooking, so awesome!”

“Don’t understand, right? Cooking skills are engraved in the genes of Sichuan-Chongqing men.”

“President Cheng eating dishes made by wifey personally, must be broken with happiness.”

Seeing the reaction of the other three, Duan Xingye felt confident. Then his triumphant gaze glanced at Cheng Duzhou intentionally or unintentionally.

Cheng Duzhou received Duan Xingye’s gaze. After tasting a small piece very reservedly, he licked the sauce, said nothing, and stopped looking at that plate of sweet and sour pork ribs, gaze turning to stare at the next plate of green vegetables and tofu.

Duan Xingye pursed his lips, fingers twisting the hem of his clothes.

What meaning?

Not delicious?

Audience surprised: Isn’t sweet and sour pork ribs President Cheng’s favorite? Why no reaction at all?

Just when everyone thought the situation shouldn’t be like this, the four people at the table moved chopsticks toward the last dish.

Xiao Jiahui tasted a mouthful, expression immediately hard to describe.

Salty as if committing murder.

Just a handful of salt sprinkled in clear soup and white water. Tofu tasted like tofu, green vegetables tasted like green vegetables, seasoning was seasoning. Everyone mixed together, living their own lives.

Wu Hao and Huang Liang also showed similar expressions.

But knowing the person who cooked was on the scene, everyone said nothing, just smiled awkwardly, then nodded perfunctorily, determined in their hearts never to touch that dish again.

Then at this time, Cheng Duzhou picked up green vegetables and tofu for the second time, stuffing it into his mouth.

The other three looked at him with shocked eyes.

How to endure torture?

Cheng Duzhou pressed the corner of his lips with a tissue and said, “This dish is delicious, retaining the original taste of ingredients. Haven’t eaten such original ecological green vegetables and tofu for a long time.”

Others: “…”

High EQ speech.

Duan Xingye pursed his lips tighter, twisting his hem wrinkled.

Really a local dog, only worthy of eating some green vegetables and leaves.

Only Wu Enqi was slightly excited, face full of red light.

Bullet comments surprised:

“No way? President Cheng likes it so plain? But looking at others’ expressions, this dish isn’t great.”

Soon, someone saw the clue.

“President Cheng doesn’t think this dish is made by Teacher Duan, right!”

“Right oh! President Cheng doesn’t know Teacher Duan can cook yet, so assumes the worst tasting one is made by Teacher Duan.”

“Laughing until cramping. Thought it was made by wifey, so praising blindly with closed eyes, acting so hard, hahahaha!”

“He really cherishes Teacher Duan’s labor results, I’m crying to death, although that dish wasn’t made by Teacher Duan.”

“President Cheng follow your heart! Choose what you think is most delicious later!”

Director spoke: “Please make your choice.”

Xiao Jiahui and Huang Liang both pointed to sweet and sour pork ribs without hesitation. Because Jiang Li and Tao Ziyi both knew how to cook, they thought it was delicious on one hand, and bet this dish was made by their partner on the other.

Simultaneously, Cheng Duzhou also pointed directly at the green vegetables and tofu in front of him.

Duan Xingye was so angry his face tightened.

Bullet comments laughed wildly:

“President Cheng you are done for!”

“Teacher Duan learned from videos for a long time for you.”

“Ahhh can’t wait to see the moment President Cheng knows the truth!”

Only Wu Hao in the whole venue hesitated, finally also choosing green vegetables and tofu.

He knew the first three dishes were too complex, not something Wu Enqi could master. Only the last green vegetables and tofu was possible.

Cheng Duzhou looked at Wu Hao, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Wu Hao cast a grateful look at him instead.

Holding back laughter, the director said, “Everyone please take a seat at the table, then move the dish you made in front of you.”

Duan Xingye’s small face showed no emotion, sitting next to Cheng Duzhou.

“Hard work cooking.” Cheng Duzhou held Duan Xingye’s hand.

Duan Xingye withdrew it without giving face.

Cheng Duzhou thought for a moment, picked up a porcelain spoon, scooped a spoonful of green vegetables and tofu, and said, “I really like this dish.”

— “Thank you President Cheng!”

Wu Enqi trotted over, picked up the green vegetables and tofu, smiling with squinted eyes, saying to Cheng Duzhou: “I’ll take it away first, bring it to you later ha!”

“…”

The spoon Cheng Duzhou picked up stopped in mid-air.

Face cold, Duan Xingye dragged the sweet and sour pork ribs over, slamming it on the table.

Clang!

The plate bottom spun twice, spilling some sauce, stopping in front of him.

“…………”

The livestream was filled with “Hahaha” all over the screen.

Cheng Duzhou glanced at Duan Xingye, silently put down the spoon, picked up a bottle of mineral water on the ground, turned his head, and guzzled it fiercely.

Fuck.

Salty to death.

__

Author’s Note:

President Cheng happy: I love whatever wifey makes.

Teacher Duan: Open your dog eyes and look clearly!