Food: Senior year internship, you take over the university cafeteria

Chapter 52 School Fishing Competition?

Wang Sheng picked up a firmer piece of fish back meat, which was equally flavorful.

The system's formidable technical prowess was on full display.

The cooking time is precise and meticulous, ensuring the fish is fully cooked yet tender, locking in all its freshness and flavor.

The sauce has the perfect consistency, achieving a "firm and glossy" texture. Every drop is a concentrated essence, firmly adhering to the fish. The seasoning is perfectly balanced; adding or subtracting even a touch would ruin it.

"Senior! That's amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

After recovering slightly from the shock of the delicious food, the fishing boy was so excited he almost jumped for joy. Pointing at the plate, he babbled incoherently, "This fish—it's alive! It's ten thousand times better than any fish I've ever caught! No, a hundred thousand times better! This cooking—it's superb! Even state banquets would pale in comparison!"

As he shouted, he quickly stuffed another large piece of fish into his mouth, adding indistinctly, "Worth it! It's totally worth it! What's so great about a cat stealing fish?"

"For my senior to make it look like this, that cat must be a lucky charm! Like a gold ingot, right? From now on, it'll be my lucky star! I have to make offerings to it!"

"Slow down." Wang Sheng chuckled, a sense of accomplishment welling up inside him. Five-star skill + top-quality ingredients + system enhancement, the effect was indeed explosive.

Just then—

"cough."

A deliberately soft cough suddenly rang out at the door of the control room.

Wang Sheng and the fishing boy who was engrossed in eating turned their heads at the same time.

Principal Zhou Mingyuan was already standing quietly by the door, his hands casually behind his back. His face held a subtle, inquisitive look, his gaze sharp as a hawk's. He first swept over the male students fishing, their faces filled with unbridled gluttony, and finally focused precisely on the plate of glistening, domineeringly fragrant braised carp.

The male student fishing froze, as if struck by lightning, and instantly forgot to chew the fish meat stuffed in his mouth.

The chopsticks in my hand fell onto the counter with a "clatter," the crisp sound particularly jarring in the suddenly deathly silent space.

"The principal?!"

He swallowed the food in his mouth with difficulty: "I—I—this fish—"

He spoke incoherently, his finger unconsciously pointing at the plate, then retracting as if electrocuted, his face ashen. Fishing at Mirror Moon Lake —

If this is classified as disrupting the campus environment, the punishment will be lenient!

Zhou Mingyuan didn't look at the boy fishing. His gaze slowly rose from the carp and landed on Wang Sheng's face, with a questioning look.

Wang Sheng's mind raced, but his expression remained calm. He stepped forward and said frankly, "Principal Zhou, this student is investigating the ecology of the fish on campus. This one," he pointed to the plate, "was brought here as a gift by Yuanbao, the stray cat we just took in. I helped clean it. The other one is still in the bucket; it's clean." He gestured to the bucket in the corner.

The fishing boy, overjoyed at being granted a pardon, nodded frantically like a chicken pecking at rice: "Yes, yes, yes! Principal! It was—it was an accident! The cat carried it!"

I—I promise I will—”

Zhou Mingyuan raised his hand to stop the fishing boy's stammering promise.

He stepped forward slowly, his gaze returning to the plate of fish. The bright red sauce shimmered with an amber luster under the light, its powerful aroma a blend of caramel, soy sauce, and spicy and sour notes, wafting into his nostrils. Even with his strong willpower, his Adam's apple involuntarily bobbed slightly.

"Fish from Mirror Moon Lake?"

His voice was unreadable, but his gaze sharpened as he turned to the boy fishing. "Do many people at school know about this?"

The boy fishing felt a chill run down his spine, cold sweat breaking out on his scalp. He forced a response: "Reporting—reporting to the principal! Our fishing association has—has reported it! Under the guise of 'ecological balance research'—occasionally—"

Just a few! Really, really not many! The water quality is good, the fish grow fast, so we're being very careful!

He quickly added, as if afraid the principal wouldn't believe him, "Only—only a few seasoned enthusiasts know! It definitely didn't spread! Senior Wang, this was an accident!"

Zhou Mingyuan didn't speak, his gaze returning to the plate of fish, and remained silent for a few seconds.

The silence felt like an invisible pressure, making it almost impossible for the fishing boy to breathe.

"Oh?" Zhou Mingyuan finally spoke again, his tone seemingly softening slightly, with a hint of amusement. "Ecological balance research? That's a rather unique reason."

He stopped looking at the fishing boys and instead said to Wang Sheng, "Wang Sheng, would you mind if this old man tried a bite of this research material? The aroma is truly enticing."

Wang Sheng immediately handed over a pair of clean chopsticks: "Please, Principal."

The boy fishing dared not breathe, nervously watching the principal extend his chopsticks.

Avoiding the spot where the fishing boy had touched, she precisely picked up a piece of fish back meat covered in a thick sauce. The fish meat was snow-white, soaked in red oil, trembling as if it had gathered all the essence of the aroma.

Zhou Mingyuan put the fish into his mouth and chewed it carefully.

Time seemed to stand still.

The next second, his deep and steady eyes suddenly lit up!

His eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

The slightly crispy and chewy outer layer of the fish, coated in sauce, combined with the unparalleled tenderness and juiciness inside, instantly captivated the taste buds.

Then came the overwhelming, layered complex flavors—the fresh, spicy, salty, and fragrant aroma of fermented broad bean paste and pickled peppers was like a galloping horse, the slight sourness of aged vinegar was like a nimble rein gently pulling, the gentle sweetness of white sugar was like a warm spring breeze, and the aroma of fat from the diced pork belly and the fresh sweetness of the fish itself were like the solid earth, firmly supporting all the wild flavors.

Powerful! Rich! Balanced! Exquisitely perfect!

Zhou Mingyuan swallowed slowly, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He didn't comment immediately, but instead picked up another small piece of fish, which was covered in sauce and crispy pork belly cubes, and put it in his mouth again, closing his eyes to savor it.

This time, the seriousness on his face completely melted away, replaced by a pure, blissful enjoyment of the delicious food, with even a faint, satisfied smile playing on his lips.

The boy fishing was on tenterhooks, watching anxiously as the principal's expression changed.

Finally, Zhou Mingyuan opened his eyes and put down his chopsticks.

His gaze swept over the fisherman who was so nervous he was almost suffocating, then over the composed Wang Sheng, and finally settled on the plate of dry-fried carp, which was half gone but still radiant.

"Um----"

He drew out the last syllable, and just a second before the fishing boy's heart was about to stop, he abruptly changed the subject, revealing a barely perceptible smile and even greater interest.

"The fish is excellent, and the cooking is superb. This byproduct of ecological research has an unexpectedly delicious flavor."

The boy fishing felt his heart sink back down, his legs went weak, and he almost lost his balance.

"It seems our Mirror Moon Lake is truly a place where hidden talents reside. Not only does it raise fish, but it has also nurtured quite a few researchers?" Zhou Mingyuan's tone became more relaxed as he glanced at the fishing boys. "Since so many students have the enthusiasm for 'research'—"

He paused, and an idea quickly took shape under the influence of the rich fish aroma, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

"Instead of letting everyone 'study secretly,' the school should provide a platform."

Zhou Mingyuan raised his voice, with a decisive air, "The Logistics Department will take the lead, and your Fishing Association will cooperate. Next month, at the Jingyue Lake waterfront platform, we'll hold the first Jinling University Campus Ecological Fishing Competition! Open and aboveboard! Quotas, rules, and the handling of catches—everything will be standardized! As for the fish we catch—"

He looked at Wang Sheng, his smile deepening, filled with undeniable expectation.

"Wang Sheng, your culinary skills are evident to all. We'll set up a makeshift stove right there and cook your catch on the spot!"

Let all the students experience the latest findings of this ecological research! How about it?