Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots
Chapter 1213 - 122 Concubine’s Son (First Watch)

Chapter 1213: 122 Concubine’s Son (First Watch)

The list was laid out horizontally so that everyone could see the characters clearly, which meant each name was written quite large and distinctly. The whole list was nearly five meters long.

After much struggle to get to the far right, Tian Xuan already had her hands over her eyes, too scared to look, muttering, "I’m surely ranked after the tenth place. Why did you bring me to the front! I don’t want to see, I’ll be devastated!"

Lin Yuan shook her head with a smile and tugged at Lin Wei, who was equally nervous and dared not look up, giving her an encouraging smile.

Lin Wei pursed her lips and took a deep breath, finally mustering the courage to look at the list.

Xiao Linshuang also began to softly read out the names on the list, "Chen Leyao, Wu Hanyu, Lin, Lin Wei!"

With an exclamation, Xiao Linshuang grabbed Lin Wei’s arm forcefully and jumped up excitedly, "Second Sister, Second Sister, you are on it! You are on it!"

Lin Wei, having seen her own name as well, burst into an excited smile with her face flushed, also hugging Xiao Linshuang and Xiao He’s arms, joyously jumping up and down.

Hearing their shouts, Tian Xuan, who had been covering her eyes, also looked up in astonishment, exclaiming, "Oh my! Lin Wei, you’re actually ranked third! You are incredible! Hey, Luo Sangu, Tian Xuan! I’m fifth, I’m fifth!"

Tian Xuan, in disbelief, raised her arm high pointing at the name on the list, her eyebrows lifted in excitement, "I’m fifth this year; I’ve improved again, improved again!"

Watching the four of them hugging and shouting loudly, Lin Yuan couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.

Suddenly, Lin Yuan felt a chill down her back and sensed someone watching her. Turning around, she indeed saw a young woman glaring at her with almond-shaped eyes, fiercely intense.

No, to be precise, she was staring at the jubilant Lin Wei and Tian Xuan.

Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, instantly guessing the woman’s intentions; presumably, her name was not on the list, which is why she envied Lin Wei and Tian Xuan who had made it onto the list.

Although feeling some pity for the woman who had not been selected, it was irrational to glare at others with such venom. If she had the capability, she should practice well and get selected like Tian Xuan!

Unapologetically, Lin Yuan rolled her eyes at the woman and led Lin Wei and the others into the Red Smoke Pavilion. Those who were selected needed to verify their identity at the Red Smoke Pavilion and receive a small wooden token, which would be inscribed with their competition number. On the day of the finals, the second of February, contestants would draw lots based on the number on their wooden token, and compete at the corresponding table number.

This random arrangement was designed to prevent any chance of cheating among the competitors.

There were several spots for identity verification, and Lin Yuan’s group seemed to be early, casually picking a young girl to start the process.

Lin Yuan had nothing to do, so she leisurely observed the people in the room, saw that she recognized hardly anyone, and walked off to look at the embroidered goods.

Lin Wei was particularly excited, her hand trembling slightly as she signed her name. Tian Xuan, for some reason, had just been moved to tears with excitement, yet upon entering the Red Smoke Pavilion, she became distracted, her eyes restlessly darting here and there, looking so bewildered that one might think it was her first visit to the Red Smoke Pavilion.

The identity verification was quick, and both of them, holding their wooden tokens, were overjoyed. Lin Yuan took the opportunity to remind them, "Did you see the surnames of the top two competitors? That’s right, Chen, Wu, no need to think, those two must be from Jiangnan. You two, don’t take it lightly; the hardest part is yet to come."

As soon as this was mentioned, Tian Xuan’s spirits immediately dropped, "Weiwei is third, her chances of being chosen are high, but what about me? I am fifth, and then there’s the fourth-ranked Luo Sangu, and I remember her, she was fourth last year, barely different from the third. She must have improved this year, so does that mean my chances of being chosen are virtually nil?"

Hearing her say this, Lin Wei also felt uneasy, realizing that this Luo Sangu, despite her inconspicuous name, actually possessed formidable strength; she couldn’t afford to be slack either.

And then there was that miss from the Chen family...

Thinking of something, Lin Wei bit her lip, her small hands tightly clutching the little wooden token in her hand.

"Young master, here is the list you requested." The young shop assistant handed the list to Chen Ruochu with a grin, wiping away the sweat from having been squeezed by the crowd.

Chen Ruochu took the list, then tossed a silver piece back to the young assistant, who was so delighted that he kept saying nice things, still happy even as he walked far away.

Watching the young assistant’s joyous demeanor, Chen Ruochu showed no reaction on his face. Wealth can truly command spirits, the ancients never deceived me.

Unfolding the list and seeing the first name, a cold smile formed on Chen Ruochu’s lips. As he continued to read, the smile deepened.

Inside the elegant room, Chen Leyao had lost count of how many times she had stood by the window, pulling herself up to look down. Lady Jiang’s eyebrows knitted slightly as she called her daughter back to the table to sit properly again.

"Yaoyao, you can relax. With your skills, you will be at least in first place."

Chen Leyao let out a small laugh, saying, "Mother, if I am going to be first, then it’s hardly ’at least’."

Although smiling, a proud look crossed Chen Leyao’s face: "This double-sided embroidery is a unique skill of our Jiangnan. Mother specially found someone to teach your daughter. I am confident that I will be able to dazzle the people of Red Smoke Pavilion!"

That’s exactly the point.

Lady Jiang looked at her only daughter affectionately, nodding and saying, "Exactly, so just relax and wait."

Chen Leyao pursed her lips, about to speak when she heard the door open, and Chen Ruochu came in with a slip of paper.

"Is it the list?" Although extremely anxious in her heart, Chen Leyao managed to suppress her emotions in front of her concubine’s brother.

Chen Ruochu glanced at her indifferently, placed the list on the table, and then returned to the window, seemingly casually watching the bustling crowd outside.

Chen Leyao couldn’t wait to grab the list, and indeed, she saw her own name prominently at the top. She was so excited that she huddled next to Lady Jiang, exclaiming, "Mother, look, I really am in first place! Mother, you are so amazing!"

Lady Jiang saw the name on the list as well, her faint crow’s feet deepening slightly as she responded with a smile, "It’s not that mother is amazing, it’s clearly you who are amazing."

Proudly patting her daughter’s hand, Lady Jiang looked back down at the list and saw the second name, her brows furrowing: "Wu Hanyu? She managed to come in second?!"

Hearing Lady Jiang say this, Chen Leyao also looked down and indeed saw Wu Hanyu’s name written beneath her own. She was too elated before and had not noticed.

"She’s participating too?" Chen Leyao’s elegant eyebrows knit tightly, and she couldn’t help but say annoyedly: "What kind of embroidery can this Wu Hanyu do? She’s nothing but an embroidered pillow!"