My Husband, a Marshal: Conquering the Stars with My Culinary Arts-Chapter 576 - 194: Campus Culture and Art Festival - Part 3

Special situations require special treatment, and this arrangement was the best for Du Xixi.

The opening ceremony was just a series of speeches from one leader after another, with students clapping in between, occasionally responding with a few words. This was something Du Xixi was used to on Blue Star, and after watching for a while, she felt her eyelids grow heavy. Even though she intended to watch the live broadcast seriously, she accidentally dozed off, wrapped in a blanket.

Du Xixi slept until the opening ceremony was almost over. She groggily opened her eyes, and once she was a bit more awake, she looked up to see the live broadcast she had ignored for over an hour. There, among the large group of students, several were visibly swaying side to side, unable to stand properly.

But this was normal. After seeing this, Du Xixi merely remarked, "All students under heaven are like this," and then heard something that piqued her interest: "Next, let’s welcome our specially invited judges for this Art Festival! They are — His Majesty Toso from the Toso Empire, the Iron-eating Beast from the Iron-eating Beast Empire, and our Blue Star Empire’s Minister of the Military! They will use the utmost diligence to select the final winner of our campus Cultural Art Festival!"

As the announcement ended, two individuals and one beast appeared on the platform. They had been sitting backstage, and upon walking out, they instantly caught everyone’s attention.

Du Xixi raised her eyebrows, surprised that among the three "judges," two were acquaintances of hers.

There was no need to mention the Iron-eating Beast; Du Xixi was on friendly terms with him. She had previously taken two adult Iron-eating Beasts as disciples, teaching them many culinary recipes and helping them build the Iron-eating Beast Empire on the Primitive Planet.

The Iron-eating Beast Empire, in exchange for three Energy Stone veins, had acquired two Primitive Planets from the Blue Star Empire. Now it was reportedly thriving, with increasingly good relations with the Blue Star Empire.

Even though Du Xixi hadn’t seen much of the Iron-eating Beasts at home, the Iron-eating Beast himself respected her greatly. Knowing that she liked the fluffy, black and white balls made of Iron-eating Beast fur, he personally selected the cleanest fur and made several balls to send to Du Xixi.

Now, the Ke Family’s store of Iron-eating Beast fur balls filled several boxes. Not only did Du Xixi enjoy them, but also Yiyi and Er Er would occasionally grab one or two to cuddle.

Who wouldn’t love the adorable and genuine Iron-eating Beasts? At least, Du Xixi certainly did.

Aside from the Iron-eating Beast, the other person Du Xixi knew was the Minister of the Military, who had been responsible for investigating when Yiyi and Er Er were subjected to "Needle Grinding."

Although their acquaintance was not for the happiest of reasons, Du Xixi greatly admired and respected the Minister of the Military as a seasoned general. When organizing some snacks for Ke Lian to put in the Space Button, Du Xixi made sure to prepare an extra portion for the Minister of the Military, asked Ke Lian to deliver it personally.

The snacks weren’t much, just something to snack on during leisure time, without much value beyond Du Xixi and 2569’s labor costs, the total cost was negligible.

So Du Xixi and Ke Lian felt perfectly comfortable giving them, with no worry of being accused of bribery; it was simply a gesture of friendly relations.

Du Xixi didn’t even look at the unheard-of "His Majesty Toso," focusing her gaze on the Iron-eating Beast and the Minister of the Military. Suddenly, she clicked her tongue lightly and couldn’t help but laugh.

Although she knew the Iron-eating Beast and the Minister of the Military were serious by nature and would definitely choose based on facts when making decisions, Du Xixi looked at the situation and felt the Food Department seemed to have a sudden large advantage.

With two-thirds of the judges being Du Xixi’s "connections," even if they were making fair choices, Du Xixi worried they might subconsciously favor her, and thus the Food Department.

The Food Department wasn’t particularly concerned about glory; they’d naturally be pleased to win. But gaining first place solely due to her connections with two judges would make Du Xixi feel like their victory was undeserved, leaving her feeling embarrassed.

Du Xixi’s fingertips gently tapped the table. The broadcast was starting to disperse, which meant that the campus Cultural Art Festival was officially beginning. Du Xixi frowned slightly in concern, casting one last glance at the three judges stepping off the stage.

Alas, in the end, she was just overthinking things. What if the Food Department didn’t win first? What if they did, but rightfully so? Du Xixi took several deep breaths, gradually pushing the matter to the back of her mind, deciding not to let herself worry unnecessarily. But once He Yuan and the others returned, this issue no longer troubled Du Xixi at all.

"Xixi, did you watch the live stream? The identities of these three mysterious judges are so significant! Our Blue Star University really went all out!" He Yuan ran excitedly by Du Xixi’s side, shaking her hand, "Even though these three judges don’t have the final say, winning any of their choices would make our Food Department feel amazing!"