Chapter 59

[Ji Ruochu] rolled her eyes again, seemingly unimpressed.

Haha, her eye roll was so cute and mischievous! If I was there in person, I'd definitely run over to pick her up and nibble on her. How can she be so adorable!

[Xu Chuan] had such bad luck, getting the cold shoulder from five cute babies in just a few seconds.

[Xu Chuan]: Nowadays, money is really hard to earn!

In the end, [Ji Ruochu] successfully completed the challenge with 12 fathead fish.

Seeing the few remaining fathead fish on the plate, the production crew finally breathed a huge sigh of relief. Fortunately there were still some left to continue the game.

In that short time, the rankings on the dads' side changed again, with [Fan Jin]'s order of play changing from second last to second.

So when the new round started, copying [Ji Ruochu]'s method, the few little ones did quite well.

By the time it was [Ji Ruochu]'s turn, there were only 10 fathead fish left on the playing field, all spread apart.

And the current rankings of fathead fish caught by the little ones were:

[Fan Jin]: 9

[Geng Zhenzhen]: 9

[Ji Ruochu]: 9

[Mao Ziqing]: 7

[Lin Xindi]: 6

That meant as long as [Ji Ruochu] could catch 5 fish this round, even if [Fan Jin] caught the remaining 5, she would still come in first place for finishing the fastest.

Of course, this analysis was done by the adults on site. They didn't think a four year old would consider all these factors.

So when [Ji Ruochu] stood there nonchalantly, casually fiddling with her fishing rod, no one sensed the seriousness of the situation.

Splash.

Not even two seconds after the start of timing, [Ji Ruochu]'s pudgy little hand on the fishing rod successfully hooked a fathead fish that happened to poke its head out.

Everyone: !!

[Is this just coincidence with such precision?]

[Laughing to death, [Ji Ruochu]'s eyes popped wide open, probably just by coincidence.]

Splash.

[?! Is the probability really that high?]

[It only looks difficult, actually as long as you grasp the timing and the rising and falling rules of the prop fish heads, catching them is not that hard.]

[But can a four year old really grasp that timing?]

Splash. With these continuous splashing sounds, [Ji Ruochu] had already caught three fathead fish.

At this time, a seemingly reasonable explanation floated across the bullet screen comments:

[I think it should be muscle memory, look the intervals between those three fish are about the same. After catching the first one, [Ji Ruochu] probably memorized the shape of the fish head at that timing. That means, although she doesn't know how to grasp the timing, she remembers when the changes happened just now, so she has that muscle memory.]

[Wow! Sounds so awesome! Nothing less expected from [Ji Ruochu]! ]

Compared to the audience's astonishment, the general director at the very back suddenly stiffened up. Seeing the little one's fishing rod about to move towards the fourth fish, he hurriedly signaled to the props team.

Then the next second, the fish bait on [Ji Ruochu]'s line that was about to enter the fish's mouth brushed past the fathead and missed again. [Ji Ruochu]: ......

[Hmmmm....is it my misconception, or did the speed of the rotating disk get faster?]

[Haha, [Ji Ruochu] rolled her eyes again, guess it's not a misconception. The director is cheating again!]

[To be honest, I'm very curious what kind of expression is on the directors' faces now? Panicking?]

[Report: Over there, [Fan Hongru] caught 3 more small fish, now ranked first. After this round ends, [Fan Jin] will go first for the challenge.]

[The problem is with this speed even the adults can't catch anything. Even if he goes first for the challenge, it'd be useless right?]

Splash.

Amidst the lively bullet screen comments, [Ji Ruochu] had already caught her fourth fathead fish.

Directors: !!

[Haha, this kid is so funny, catching one and then deliberately glancing at the camera, is she showing off to us?]

[Reasonable suspicion, behind the camera is the directors' group.]

[That makes sense.]

[Makes sense +1.]

"There are 20 seconds left," [Xu Chuan] announced, trying not to laugh.

Only he clearly knew that from the increased speed to the little one catching her fourth fish, only 15 seconds had passed. That meant, if the little one steadily performed, victory was already at hand.

So could this four and a half year old milk baby really take the crown?

The answer seemed to be yes, because—

Splash.

When the sound of the fifth fathead closing its mouth rang out, the production team was already shocked speechless.

"Ten, nine..."

[Xu Chuan] pretended not to see the general director frozen in place. He started conscientiously counting down, while [Ji Ruochu]'s hand was about to let go from the fishing rod.

As long as she let go, that fathead fish would be pulled up by the standing fishing rod.

By then, the game could directly announce the end. But what no one expected was—

"Don't wanna play anymore~"

As if tired, the little one suddenly threw a tantrum, pulling the fishing rod out from the ground.

And at that time, the previously closed mouth fathead fish had opened its mouth again, shrinking back into the slot, the bait also falling out along with the rotating disk.

"Time's up!" Phew~

At that moment, [Xu Chuan] clearly heard the production team members breathe a sigh of relief.

"Whoops!" [Fan Jin] was even more anxious than [Ji Ruochu], "Little sister [Ji Ruochu], you already caught it just now!"

[Ji Ruochu] blinked blankly, gave an obedient "Oh", looking completely indifferent, as if it was only natural, "But I'm tired!"

Seeing this, [Fan Jin] could only regretfully hand [Ji Ruochu] her milk bottle to let her drink some honey water and rest a bit.

Sitting steadily at the back, the general director smiled, Tired huh, being tired is good...

No one knew, as the little one lowered her head to suckle on the honey water, she was thinking:

Look how anxious I made the general director, his forehead is sweating.

Getting on in years, not easy on him either, I'll magnanimously give him some leeway, it's just a few more rounds, no big deal.

Thinking this, her clever fox eyes curved into smiles.

In that fleeting glance, a hint of craftiness flashed by, too fast for the camera to even capture.

"Alright, since the competition has entered the intense finals, with the difficulty increased again, the third round will be in the form of a quiz to compete."

A quiz?

The few little ones who could barely recognize words all tilted their heads in unison, their faces filled with "Are you serious?"

"Don't worry, the questions won't be too difficult. Mainly testing how much the babies know about their dads. One point for each correct answer.

There are 5 questions total. After the quiz ends, the baby with the highest score will win today's big prize—Milk Hotpot Fish!"

"What's that?" The little ones clueless about this dish asked in puzzlement.

"Is it stewing fish in milk?"

As soon as this guess came out, all the children frowned in disgust: Eww!

[Xu Chuan] quickly explained the history of this dish to the children and the livestream audience, holding back his laughter:

"Milk hotpot fish is a classic famous dish of the Shaanxi intangible cultural heritage cuisine called ‘Official Shaanxi Cuisine’.

Its history can be traced back to over 1300 years ago during the reign of Emperor Tang Zhongzong. It is known for its milk white soup color, creamy yellow soup surface, thick soup, and fragrant and delicious soup flavor."

After speaking, seeing the four confused little ones still not getting it and [Ji Ruochu] who clearly didn't understand but started nodding anyway, he changed to a more straightforward explanation:

"That means, this milk hotpot fish doesn't use milk to stew the fish. Calling it 'milk' refers to how white the fish soup turns out, similar to the color of milk.

And its eating method is also quite special. When eating, sprinkle cilantro and white pepper powder into the hotpot, fish out pieces of fish meat and dip in ginger vinegar sauce to eat.

After eating half, add more milk soup to the hotpot along with spinach, tofu, radish, vermicelli noodles etc to turn it into an ingredient hotpot meal."

"So..." [Mao Ziqing] tentatively guessed, "It's a hotpot?"

[Xu Chuan]: ...Can think of it that way.

Then, wanting to excite the little ones' spirit, the production team deliberately lifted the lid and mischievously fanned it with a fan. A whiff of the fish aroma drifted in the wind.

"Ahhh!!"

The little ones' noses twitched as their eyes lit up.

"Smells so good~~~"

"Wanna eat~"

......