Chapter 151 - 120: Watching a Perfectionist Cook: A Different Kind of Flavor
Chapter 151: Chapter 120: Watching a Perfectionist Cook: A Different Kind of Flavor
Shu Yao also left a 50,000 Star Coin tip and exited the livestream room.
"Ah, don’t go..."
Churui was instantly crestfallen. She had wanted to chat with Mrs. Bao a little longer!
The third food streamer was a young man named Mao Ziang, who had a very distinct personality.
He had OCD.
When Shu Yao entered his livestream room under her impressive alias, she saw him weighing individual salt grains on an electronic scale.
Noticing the sudden flood of fans into his livestream room, Mao Ziang was distracted for a second. However, it didn’t affect him much, and he nonchalantly sprinkled the salt, which he had measured precisely to the milligram, into the stockpot.
He was also using small white fish as his main ingredient, imitating Mrs. Bao’s recipe.
For some reason, the milky-white fish soup he made was a rather pale color.
Only after the soup and the fish were separated did Shu Yao realize what was going on.
The obsessive-compulsive, in his quest to preserve the integrity of the ingredients, hadn’t even cut or mashed the fish. The extent of his excessive attention to detail was simply appalling!
First off, he was extreme when selecting his ingredients. Every single small white fish was the exact same size, with practically no difference in weight.
During the pan-frying step before boiling, he arranged the small white fish into a perfectly symmetrical flower shape. To preserve the shape and integrity when flipping it, he actually flipped the entire thing directly into a second pan of preheated oil.
When it was time to boil them, he was extremely careful adding the water so as not to disturb the ingredients.
Seeing that the fish had still fallen apart a bit after being cooked, Mao Ziang frowned in annoyance.
Shu Yao put a hand to her forehead. She was finding it hard to watch this level of obsessive compulsion.
Mao Ziang brushed a layer of oil onto a skillet and slowly transferred the small white fish, still in their flower-cluster shape, into it.
After searing one side, he inverted the fish into another pan to sear the other.
This whole procedure was mentally exhausting to watch.
Fortunately, the final dish, a product of his obsessive compulsion, was still quite beautiful to look at.
The fish cluster was seared to a golden brown, with almost no color difference between the two sides.
Looking slightly more satisfied, Mao Ziang plated the seared fish cluster. He set a small bowl of fish soup in the very center, adjusted it until it was perfectly positioned, and presented it to his fans.
The moment the four tasting slots opened, they were instantly snatched up.
Just then, a fan commented, "Mao Mao, why didn’t you give a designated tasting slot to Mrs. Bao!"
Several other fans chimed in to agree.
Mao Ziang looked a bit dazed.
’Who are they talking about?’
’Did Mrs. Bao come to my livestream?’
’How is that possible...’
At the fans’ repeated calls, Mrs. Bao finally spoke up.
Shu Yao: "Watching someone with OCD cook is its own unique experience."
Mao Ziang looked dazed for a moment, then became flustered. "I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. If you’d like, Mrs. Bao, I can make another one..."
Shu Yao quickly replied, "Please don’t go to the trouble."
Mao Ziang didn’t think it was a bother at all. He was just a little disappointed that Mrs. Bao wouldn’t get to taste his food this time.
"You’re very conscientious about your cooking, but you take it too far. It’s probably just part of your personality." Seeing how dejected he looked, Shu Yao added, "But it’s also what makes you unique. Very few streamers develop a style that’s truly their own.
"Your precise control over the ingredients is admirable. But you’re so focused on preserving the ingredients’ integrity that you’ve neglected the flavor. That’s why, even without tasting it, I know your fish soup is bland, and while your seared fish is crispy on the outside, the bones are too tough to eat.
"I have no doubt the dish you made is delicious, but I believe that with your skills, you could make it even better.
"Just rigidly following someone else’s recipe will only limit your own potential and prevent you from bringing out the ingredients’ inherent flavors to the fullest. So, you should use other recipes as a base and be bold enough to innovate in your own way."
Mao Ziang was deeply moved and said a heartfelt, "Thank you."
Mao Mao’s fans went wild.
"Mrs. Bao is so awesome! She’s the undisputed Food Recommendation Officer!"
"Finally, someone who gets our Mao Mao! And she’s a fellow streamer! And it’s Mrs. Bao!"
"I’m a die-hard Mao Mao fan and I swore I’d never follow another streamer! But I have to make an exception for Mrs. Bao!"
"Mao Mao, please forgive me for two-timing you!"
Shu Yao left another 50,000 Star Coin tip and departed from Mao Ziang’s livestream room.
’Mission complete.’
Shu Yao sent a private message to [KCourt Is A Little Spicy]: "Hey, spicy customer service rep, are you satisfied with the results?"
[KCourt Is A Little Spicy] first sent Mrs. Bao a string of thumbs-up emojis.
"You’re amazing, Mrs. Bao! As for the vote, there was a lot of opposition from the streamers at first. But after seeing the impact you’ve had since becoming the Food Recommendation Officer, more and more of them are supporting the platform’s new perk.
"Even the streamers who originally voted no have flipped their position in the forums, suggesting that the platform void the previous poll and hold a new one.
"Mrs. Bao, what day of the month would you like to have your unlimited tasting slots?"
Shu Yao checked the date. "Today’s April 29th. Let’s make it the 29th of every month from now on."
[Food Recommendation Officer Mrs. Bao] readily agreed, "In that case, we’re all set. The system needs to be upgraded for this, so your perk will take effect on the 29th of next month!"
Once things were confirmed on Mrs. Bao’s end, Ke Dancheng couldn’t wait to announce the good news to the public.
The fans were ecstatic, eagerly awaiting the 29th of the following month.
Soon enough, a fan realized something.
"Wait, what about February next year?"
Good question!
Because next year, February only has 28 days!!!
Most of the fans, however, said they were already more than satisfied.
"Having unlimited tasting slots, even if it’s only once a year, is already amazing!"
"The 29th is a great choice. It makes today an especially memorable date!"
"Mrs. Bao didn’t pick the 31st. All of you whose luck stinks should be thanking your lucky stars!"