Meteor Garden 2018 Episode 13 Recap
> Meteor Garden 2018 Recaps
Chef Zhuang delivered a voiceover, emphasizing that while side dishes are not the main food, they enhance the main dish, making it unforgettable. She stressed that mastering the essence of cooking would lead to success in the culinary world, but only through diligent, continuous practice. She promised to record her lifetime's knowledge for Shancai to learn from, but strictly forbade slacking off. The next morning, Shancai prepared several dishes, giving them elegant names inspired by Tang poetry.
Daoming Si was the first to taste them, declaring all of them delicious. However, Chef Zhuang pressed him for constructive criticism, prompting him to reluctantly suggest improvements for the "Shepherd Boy Points to Apricot Flower Village" and "The Moon Sets and Crows Caw, Frost Fills the Sky" dishes. Daoming Si particularly praised a chicken dish called "Familiar Swallow Returning," which Chef Zhuang also noted as having a very high standard.
Chef Zhuang then cautioned Shancai against becoming complacent, urging her to remain diligent and cautious in her culinary pursuits. Later, Shancai brought sesame balls to school for Li Zhen and Chen Qinghe. Her newly acquired "ladylike demeanor," meticulously taught by Chef Zhuang, startled her friends. Shancai spoke in a formal, poetic manner, even giving the simple sesame balls an elaborate name, "Dong Xiaowan's Round and Smooth and in Her Prime, The Fragrance of Youth is Overwhelming."
Her friends found her stiff and robotic, suggesting she was overdoing it. Shancai explained that Chef Zhuang insisted on consistent ladylike conduct, both in life and during the competition, to ensure natural elegance. Tian Ye approached Shancai, questioning her participation in the Chinese Cuisine Campus Cooking Competition. He revealed that Zhou Caina, a formidable contestant and the daughter of the Zhou Group's real estate magnate, was his father's choice for his fiancée.
Tian Ye described Caina as beautiful, elegant, and highly accomplished, having been shortlisted for the French Le Cordon Bleu competition. He advised Shancai to withdraw, believing Caina would undoubtedly win and that Shancai would only embarrass herself. He admitted Caina entered the competition to prove their shared interest in cooking, but confessed he didn't like Caina and that Shancai was the one he liked. Overwhelmed by Caina's impressive background, Shancai contemplated withdrawing from the competition.
She attempted to secretly leave the Daoming residence with her luggage, only to find Daoming Si waiting at the door. He immediately saw through her attempt to escape and expressed his disappointment, calling her a coward and stating this wasn't the Shancai he knew. Shancai retorted, feeling misunderstood, reminding him that he wouldn't understand the immense pressure she was under, having always had an easy life, and that she merely wished to avoid disappointing everyone. Daoming Si's demeanor softened.
He urged her not to concern herself with others' opinions and to trust in her own abilities, assuring her there was always a chance to win. He led her to his room, suggesting she rest to alleviate her stress and prevent overthinking. In his room, Shancai's initial nervousness dissipated as they began playing cards. She playfully accused him of cheating when he won, but ultimately accepted her loss, allowing him to draw a pig on her face as a forfeit.
Shancai expressed frustration at his consistent wins, prompting Daoming Si to ask why she was so competitive in games but lacked the same fighting spirit for the cooking competition. He then reassured her that he believed in her, urging her to believe in herself as well. They continued playing games until late, eventually falling asleep together.
Daoming Si awoke first and, seeing the drawings on Shancai's face, couldn't resist taking numerous photos before developing and displaying them on his wall, finding her utterly adorable. Meanwhile, a butler, finding Shancai's suitcase in the hallway and unable to locate her, reported her missing to Chef Zhuang, who then discovered Shancai sleeping peacefully in Daoming Si's room. Later, F4 discussed Shancai's progress. Daoming Si confidently declared Shancai superior to Caina, dismissing his friends' admiration for Caina's beauty.
Chef Zhuang admitted to concerns about Shancai mastering the profound depths of Chinese cuisine so quickly. However, she also acknowledged Shancai's increased drive and significant improvement since Daoming Si's encouragement. Shancai presented a new take on her chicken dish, now called "Swallows Return," featuring both sweet and sour and orange flavors. Chef Zhuang was thoroughly impressed, noting Shancai’s innovative approach and the delicious result, declaring her ready for the competition.
Shancai explained her inspiration came from her mother's sweet and sour ribs and the healthy aspects of oranges. Tian Ye met Shancai again to apologize for discouraging her from competing. He confessed his ongoing feelings for her, acknowledging that Daoming Si was now in her life. He wished her happiness as a friend. Shancai, in turn, acknowledged Daoming Si's unique and supportive presence, admitting that his energy gave her courage even when she wanted to escape.
Shancai returned home to share the news about the cooking competition with her parents. They enthusiastically supported her, boosting her confidence. Her mother proudly declared her home cooking to be the best, jokingly adding that Chef Zhuang's professional skills couldn't compare. The Chinese Cuisine Campus Cooking Competition officially commenced, broadcast live on Tencent NOW Live. Esteemed judges, including Ms. Xiaowen, Mr. Zhang Jinbao, Mr. Wu Lihua, and Ms. Tang Jingmei, were introduced.
Ten finalists, including Zhou Caina from the University of California, Xu Meixin from Sun Yat-sen University, and Li Fangru from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, were vying for a million-yuan prize. Shancai's introduction was a bit awkward, but her parents and F4, especially Daoming Si, loudly cheered for her from the audience. Backstage, some contestants murmured about Shancai being "rustic." Zhou Caina approached Shancai, introduced herself, and mentioned Tian Ye.
She stated her preference for unique opponents like Shancai over "show-offs." Daoming Si, watching from the audience, remained confident in Shancai, despite his friends admiring Caina. The first round tasked contestants with preparing a slow-stewed dish and a quick-fried dish within two hours, with four eliminations. Contestants quickly began their precise knife work. Zhou Caina prepared "Fire-Eye Divine Duck," a health-preserving duck dish, while Shancai prepared braised lion head meatballs. As their slow-stewed dishes simmered, they moved on to quick-frying.
Shancai created "Crystal Shrimp," and Zhou Caina prepared a spicy fried crab. After the judges tasted all the dishes, Dai Jingjing, Gao Xinting, Zhao Xiaoyang, and Lin Wenjiao were eliminated. Shancai successfully advanced. Her friends celebrated her advancement, marveling at her transformation into a skilled chef. The second round was a dim sum challenge, requiring contestants to choose a flower as a central element for a visually appealing and delicious creation within one hour, leading to two more eliminations.
Zhou Caina presented her "Lotus Pastry," which garnered unanimous praise from the judges for its delicate, flower-like appearance, crispy texture, and sweet taste. She humbly attributed the pastry's fragrance to the natural scent of lotus. Shancai, in contrast, presented "Dong Tang," a dish whose plain appearance was criticized by a judge as "dull gray" or "murky yellow," despite its excellent taste.
In her explanation, Shancai eloquently renamed her dish and shared the poignant love story behind it: it was created by Dong Xiaowan, a famous ancient cook, for her ailing husband, Mao Pijiang, symbolizing enduring love and care. The judges were deeply moved by the story and impressed by Shancai's profound knowledge of culinary history, especially for such a rarely made dish. The host then announced that Zhou Caina, Rosy, and Lingxi had advanced to the final "Sino-Western Showdown," with the last finalist to be announced, hinting at a surprising choice.
