Meteor Garden 2018 Episode 14 Recap
> Meteor Garden 2018 Recap
The second round of the Chinese Culinary Campus Cooking Competition concluded with the announcement of the four finalists. Following a brief discussion by the judges, Zhou Caina, Luo Qini, and Ling Chenxi were named. To everyone's surprise, Dong Shancai was the final contestant to qualify, causing Daoming Si to erupt in cheers, shouting her name and praising her. Meizuo also cheered loudly, acknowledging Shancai's success with the "Dong Tang" dessert.
Backstage during the break, some eliminated contestants complained about Shancai, questioning if she had bribed the judges. Zhou Caina stepped in to defend her, stating that putting others down would not elevate their own status. Shortly after, F4 arrived to show their support. Meizuo offered Zhou Caina a hot drink and introduced himself. Daoming Si was encouraged by his friends to speak to Shancai, but despite his earlier excitement, he became visibly nervous.
He awkwardly mumbled some encouragement, telling her she had done well and should strive for more achievements, much to the amusement of F4. Shancai, however, smiled in response. The final round commenced with a challenging task: contestants had 45 minutes to prepare a signature hometown dish. Zhuang expressed concern, knowing the complex dishes Shancai had learned would take far longer.
Backstage, Meizuo also voiced doubts, seeing how unsettled Shancai looked as she struggled to choose ingredients, her basket remaining empty while others swiftly began cooking. From the audience, Daoming Si shouted encouragement, urging Shancai to act. Huaze Lei, however, warned him that his impulsiveness might only make her more anxious. Ignoring the advice, Daoming Si rushed towards the backstage area, but security guards blocked his entry. Undeterred, he wrote "100" on an advertising board and held it up.
Shancai misunderstood, thinking he was reminding her of the one-million-yuan debt her family owed. With her mind still blank, Daoming Si then yelled through the glass, urging her to find her fighting spirit. This resonated with Shancai, who declared her determination to win. Inspired, she finally selected two pineapples as her main ingredients. Meanwhile, Zhou Caina confidently created a Wenchang chicken dish.
The judges were highly impressed, particularly by her ability to prepare a dish that typically requires three hours in just 45 minutes, which she achieved by making a fast-cooked broth with chicken parts and vegetables. They also lauded her exceptional knife skills, which Caina attributed to her practice making dishes like Kung Pao Chicken from leftover chicken frames during her studies abroad. For her dish, Shancai presented "Eight Treasure Spicy Sauce Noodles."
The audience reacted with surprise, finding the dish too common for a prestigious competition. When asked by the judges about her choice, Shancai, who identified as a Shanghai native, explained that the dish brought her comfort and appetite, especially when she was ill. Despite other contestants creating complex "grand dishes," she believed that any dish, whether simple or elaborate, could withstand scrutiny if it possessed good taste and unique characteristics.
A judge then inquired about a special flavor, leading Shancai to confirm she had added pineapple. When pressed for her inspiration, Shancai vaguely replied, "life experience." However, her friends in F4 quickly deduced that Daoming Si's "pineapple head" hairstyle was the true muse. Daoming Si jokingly boasted about his ability to inspire her, a remark that earned him teasing from Meizuo and Huaze Lei, who acknowledged the power of "true love." The judges then announced the final results.
Zhou Caina was declared the champion for her "flawless" Wenchang chicken, a decision Daoming Si sullenly protested. Caina delivered a confident acceptance speech, expressing her belief that dreams come true with sufficient effort. Unexpectedly, the judges announced a special award, including a 500,000 yuan prize, for a contestant who demonstrated perseverance and outstanding performance. This award went to Dong Shancai, much to the delight of Daoming Si and F4, who erupted in cheers.
During her acceptance speech, an emotional Shancai thanked her mentors, her friends, and particularly one person who had "always encouraged, supported, and silently contributed" to her journey. She looked directly at Daoming Si as she expressed her gratitude, acknowledging that without him, she would not have had the confidence to embrace the challenge.
Back home, Shancai's parents celebrated, eagerly answering phone calls from people wanting to order the now-famous "Dong Shancai Chinese Cuisine Campus Special Award Eight Treasure Spicy Sauce Noodles," which they declared their new signature dish. That evening, Zhuang hosted a celebration at her home for Shancai's success. Shancai prepared her special Eight Treasure Spicy Sauce Noodles for everyone.
Daoming Si, initially hesitant despite being the inspiration, tasted the noodles and was pleasantly surprised, remarking that they were "a little spicy but really good" and paired perfectly with red wine. His friends also praised the dish, noting how the pineapple perfectly balanced the flavors. As Shancai raised a toast, thanking everyone for their support and the experience, she couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves under Daoming Si's intense gaze.
Daoming Si then attempted to pull Shancai aside, but when F4 and Zhuang offered to leave them, he insisted on speaking in front of everyone. He boldly asked Shancai to spend the upcoming festival with him the next day. Embarrassed, Shancai tried to make it a group outing, but Meizuo, Ximen, and Huaze Lei quickly manufactured elaborate excuses about prior engagements with people like Ella, Serena, and Hebe.
Daoming Si, relishing the moment, pointed out that he was the only one available, leaving Shancai no choice but to agree. To alleviate her awkwardness, Shancai quickly drank her glass of wine, despite Zhuang's warning about its potency, and soon passed out. Shancai woke up the next morning to find herself at home, with her parents excitedly showing her the new packaging for their family restaurant, "Dong's Private Kitchen," featuring her prize-winning Eight Treasure Spicy Sauce Noodles.
They even included a rather "ugly" photo of Shancai as an anti-counterfeiting mark. Her parents then enlisted her to film a humorous, exaggerated advertisement for the dish, claiming it could boost appetite, memory, and even academic performance. Just as Shancai was leaving for her date with Daoming Si, she literally bumped into a young boy named Xiaolong.
He handed her a note from his mother, Mrs. Wang, explaining that she had to work overtime and asking Shancai's mother to look after him. Since Shancai's parents were busy, Shancai reluctantly brought Xiaolong along. Daoming Si was immediately annoyed, complaining about Shancai's tardiness and calling Xiaolong a "little brat." Xiaolong, however, boldly criticized Daoming Si's "ungentlemanly" behavior and introduced himself. Shancai defended Xiaolong and suggested they take him to the zoo, recalling his desire to visit.
Despite Daoming Si's initial reluctance and complaints about the distance, he found himself gradually warming up to Xiaolong as they explored the zoo, eventually joining in their childish excitement over monkeys and even sharing facts about goats.
