MG2018 - Compilation: One Shots

The Cooking Competition

Shancai fidgeted on stage, anxiously waiting for the judges to call her name. It was the final round: dessert. She had been sure about her dish, but now, looking at the elaborate dishes of her competitors, she worried about the simplicity of her dish.

"Dong Shancai." She took a deep breath and stepped forward to face the judges. She watched as her simple pastry dish was served to them, then they each examined it, sliced into it, and tasted it thoughtfully. Her heart thundered in her chest as she waited for them to say something.

Finally, one of the judges broke the silence. "This pastry that you've baked, it's a Husband Cake isn't it?" Shancai nodded, "Yes. It is made with fermented red bean curd, peanuts, sesame, five star anise, butter and salt." The judges looked at one another, then back at her. "Why would you cook us a pastry that is available in every bakery in China? Why would you choose this for this competition, especially at the final stage?" the head judge asked.

Shancai found herself sneaking a glance at Daoming Si. He looked worried, so she had to reassure him that she had made the right decision with her dish. That no matter what happened, she was proud of everything she had accomplished here.

She took a deep breath and turned back to the judges. "Yes, the Husband Cake is available in every bakery in China. And I think that is because of the story behind it," she watched as the audience seemed to sit up straighter in their seats, and this gave her the confidence to continue. "The story goes that there were childhood sweethearts who both came from poor families. The only way they could rise from that poverty was if the man could take the national examination given by the government. But he was so poor that he couldn't even afford to take the exam. So the woman decided to raise funds by baking this pastry, so that she could help him fulfill his dreams. She raised enough money that he was able to take that exam, and because he was so inspired by her love, he passed the exam with flying colors. I think that this simple pastry stands for values like hard work, sacrifice, faith in someone's ability, and love-- and all of these values stand the test of time, which is why we still enjoy this pastry today."

She bowed her head when she heard the spontaneous applause from the audience, and she hid her smile when she heard a familiar voice yell, "Go Shancai!" The head judge smiled at her and asked, "May I ask what inspired you to make this for us today?"

Shancai closed her eyes briefly, then she opened them and pulled herself to stand taller. "I know that I don't have the same pedigree as my other competitors. I am a simple girl from a modest family. But I stand here today, cooking for you, because I have someone who believes in me and my potential and ability. I think he even believes in me more than I believe in myself. He has opened doors for me, helped me and my family, and cares for me deeply. Yet he never asks for anything in return."

She sneaked a look at Daoming Si then, and saw that he was leaning back on his seat, dumbfounded. Shancai forced herself to continue. "So I baked this pastry for you today because, like the man for whom these pastries were created, I am inspired by his love and his faith in me, and I am grateful for everything." Then she turned to him and caught his eye across the room. "This is my Thank You to you, Daoming Si."

She blushed as everyone turned to him and began clapping, but her heart felt like singing when she saw him grinning at her from ear to ear. She smiled back at him, a wide smile that she couldn't keep off her face. She was vaguely aware of the judges that were discussing amongst themselves, but in this moment, that didn't matter to her. Because in this moment, she knew: she was falling just a little bit more for Daoming Si.