《I Am A Gourmet: Just Eight And You Want Me To Start A Roadside Stall?》 Chapter 1 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°24 thousand dollars a square meter, floor area is 75 square meters¡­¡± ¡°40% down payment, 20 years of mortgage (240 periods).¡± ¡°The interest rate is 4.9%.¡± In the living room, a little boy was lying on the table, holding a pen and paper and seriously calculating a long string of numbers. After completing his final calculations, the little boy widened his eyes in shock. ¡°I have to pay back 7068 yuan a month!¡± ¡°But I¡¯m¡­ just an eight-year-old child!¡± The boy¡¯s name was Xu Le. He was a transmigrator. A few days ago, Xu Le was still an ordinary university student playing games in the dormitory. But now he has transmigrated to become a primary school student living in an ordinary family of Jingan Garden in Shanghai. His parents both worked as cooks. In pursuit of the true essence of culinary skills, the two of them had taken a plane to France for further culinary studies the day before. Hence, Xu Le and his three-year-old sister were the only ones left in the house. Xu Le still remembered his father¡¯s last words before he left. ¡°Son, you have already grown up. You should bear the responsibility of a man ¨C become financially independent, feed yourself and raise your sister!¡± At that time, Xu Le clenched his fists and nodded solemnly. After all, he was a college student who had transmigrated here. It should be easy for him to fill their stomachs. He was very confident about this. After his parents left, he tragically realized that his parents had left him and his sister a house, as well as a million-dollar mortgage loan. Xu Le had a mental breakdown instantly. ¡°I understand everything, but before you guys leave, pay the mortgage first!¡± He thought to himself. In other words, Xu Le was now bearing a heavy responsibility. Having to be financially independent, raise his sister and pay off the mortgage. Even an ordinary person would feel so pressured by such matters that they could not breathe. Not to mention an eight-year-old child. After Xu Le did his calculations, he realized that he had to pay 7,000 yuan a month for the mortgage. He became even more frustrated. The average salary in Shanghai was only about 10,000 yuan a month. He and his sister were just two mouths to feed. Eating for 2,000 yuan a month was not too much, right? Adding on the 1,000 yuan tuition fees for kindergarten and the 7,000 yuan mortgage. It was exactly 10,000 yuan. But he was only an eight-year-old child. Where could he find a job that would earn him 10,000 yuan a month? The Chinese law prohibits hiring child labor. Children under the age of sixteen are not allowed to engage in labor with paid income. Even if Xu Le wanted to work to earn money, no company would dare to hire him. Just as Xu Le was thinking, he heard a mechanical voice. ¡°Congratulations on awakening the [Strongest Master Chef System]!¡± Xu Le was stunned. Then, an ecstatic expression appeared on his face. As a transmigrator, he naturally knew what the system represented. His golden finger was finally here! After some research, Xu Le also understood the role of the system. Simply put, he could immerse his consciousness into the system space to train his culinary skills. The time flow was 365 times slower than the outside world. One day in the outside world was equivalent to one year in the system space. There were all kinds of ingredients and kitchenware in the system space for him to use. Apart from that, the system would release missions at irregular intervals. As long as he completed the mission, he could obtain Gourmet points or other special rewards. Gourmet points could be exchanged for recipes and cutlery in the System Shop. In other words. By using this system, even Xu Le, who had never cooked before, was confident that he could become a top chef! Soon, Xu Le heard the system notification again. ¡°Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Novice Gift Bag. Do you wish to open it?¡± ¡°Open,¡± Xu Le said silently. ¡°Congratulations to the host for obtaining [Oil Doused Noodle Recipe]!¡± In an instant, a large amount of information filled Xu Le¡¯s mind. It included the selection of ingredients, kneading the noodles, cooking the noodles, matching of ingredients, seasoning, and other steps. The recipe given to Xu Le by the system was based on the most authentic and perfect method. Furthermore, it was extremely detailed. It took Xu Le a few minutes to completely absorb all the information in his mind. ¡°It¡¯s just an ordinary oil doused noodle, but it has so many ways of cooking!¡± After reading everything, Xu Le was deeply shocked. From what he remembered, the oil doused noodle was a simple staple. All he had to do was to cook the noodles and pour some chili oil on it. But now, Xu Le¡¯s thoughts have completely changed. The Oil Doused Noodles was a specialty dish of China¡¯s Shaanxi region. It evolved from the ¡°gift noodles¡± of the Zhou Dynasty. After thousands of years of improvement by countless generations, the Oil Doused Noodles was no longer an ordinary bowl of noodles. Anyone could make a bowl of Oil Doused Noodles. However, if he wanted to make a bowl of authentic and delicious Oil Doused Noodles, he would have to learn a lot. After digesting the huge amount of information contained in the recipe, Xu Le could not wait to give it a try. At this moment, the system issued the first mission. ¡°Mission: Make the first dish and get the customers¡¯ approval.¡± ¡°Requirements: Customer satisfaction > 80 points.¡± ¡°Reward: [Small store push cart]!¡± Chapter 2 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Produce a dish and gain the approval of the customers?¡± ¡°Which means¡­¡± ¡°I have to make a bowl of oil doused noodles and gain Xu Tian¡¯s approval?¡± At this thought, Xu Le felt a headache coming on. Don¡¯t ever think that Xu Tian was easy to fool just because she was three years old. In reality, Xu Tian was very picky. Ever since they were young, every time they ate, their mother had to carry her to feed her. Furthermore, she would only eat a few mouthfuls before she wanted to escape from the dining table to watch her cartoon. More than that, what made Xu Le feel suffocated was¡­ Xu Tian didn¡¯t like noodles! It was almost impossible to make a bowl of Oil Doused Noodles to gain Xu Tian¡¯s approval. ¡°There¡¯s no choice¡­¡± Xu Le sighed and slowly walked into the kitchen. He¡¯d never cooked at home. He¡¯d barely even been in the kitchen. In fact¡­ he didn¡¯t even know what kitchenware he had at home. Xu Le rummaged through the kitchen and finally found a pot and a knife in the cupboard. ¡°I¡¯m glad you left me two kitchenware sets¡­¡± In Xu Le¡¯s opinion, this was a blessing in disguise. If there was no pot at home, Xu Le wouldn¡¯t know what to do. With the kitchenware, the next step was to look for ingredients. ¡°Chili noodles, handmade noodles, edible oil¡­¡± Xu Le took out a bunch of bottles from the kitchen cabinet and fridge. The good thing was that the ingredients for the oil doused noodles were very common and could be found at home. ¡°Everything has been going smoothly so far!¡± Xu Le¡¯s dark eyes lit up and he smiled innocently. From his point of view, the most difficult step in making the noodles was the ingredients! If he couldn¡¯t cook, he could learn in the system space. But if there were no ingredients¡­ He was not a magician. He could not conjure them directly. Xu Le ran from the kitchen to the bedroom excitedly, ready to show off his culinary skills. However, when he passed by the living room, Xu Le glanced at his sister and realized that Xu Tian was focused on watching cartoons. ¡°Watching ¡®Peppa Pig¡¯ again¡­¡± When he saw the two familiar pink pigs on the television screen, Xu Le quickened his steps. He knew that it was time for Xu Tian to eat after watching the cartoon. Although Xu Tian was not obedient when she ate, if she did not eat after watching the cartoon, she would be even less well-behaved! When that happened¡­ Xu Tian would directly transform into a little demoness. Xu Le would definitely not be able to tolerate it if she were to cry at home. Xu Le returned to his room and lay on his bed. He immersed himself in the system space. ¡­ It was a dark and chaotic space. A long table. There were all kinds of kitchen utensils. There were all kinds of knives, including deboning knives, slicing knives, serrated knives, adjustment knives, scale removal knives¡­ There were more than 20 of them scattered around. There were also various cooking utensils such as wok, frying pan, boiling pot, cutting board, kitchenware, blender, and so on. Xu Le, who had never cooked before, had never seen so many kitchen utensils. Xu Le stood rooted to the ground in shock. ¡°Luckily, I¡¯m only making a bowl of oil doused noodles.¡± Xu Le rejoiced. The [Oil Doused Noodles] in the novice¡¯s gift bag was really prepared for beginners. If the novice¡¯s gift bag rewarded dishes like Buddha jumps over the wall], Peking Duck, and Water Cabbage. Xu Le would not be able to complete the mission in at least half a year. ¡°The first step is to prepare the spices.¡± Xu Le strictly followed the recipe given to him by the system. After all, according to the system, this was the most perfect and authentic recipe for the Oil Doused Noodles. ¡°3 grams of cinnamon, 3 grams of aniseed, 10 grams of fennel, 10 grams of pepper, 2 grams of vanilla, 2 grams of cloves, 2 grams of white sesame, all mixed¡­¡± Xu Le took out a small weighing scale and began to weigh the ingredients carefully. Every step required precision. Many old chefs relied entirely on their hand sensitivity to season when they cooked. They knew exactly how much or how little they put in. However, Xu Le was a newbie in the kitchen, so it was better for him to weigh using a precise method. He took out all the condiments and placed them in a grinding machine. After grinding them into fine powder, Xu Le poured them all into an empty bowl and placed them aside. Next step was to cook noodles. Normally speaking, the noodles used to make the oil doused noodles should be the wide noodles from freshly kneaded dough. Only in this way could the chewy texture be ensured, allowing the customers to feel the wonderful feeling of the noodles gently bouncing between their teeth. However, Xu Le¡¯s house did not even have a chopping board for kneading dough. Besides, it would take at least 40 minutes to mix the dough and knead it¡­ He did not have enough time at all. ¡°Just replace it with handmade noodles from the supermarket then.¡± Xu Le could only choose the second best option. With a shake of the handmade noodles, the noodles completely scattered and then fell into the boiling pot. According to the cooking method described in the recipe. When the noodles floated up, he had to add a small amount of cold water and cover the pot lid. When it boiled again, he had to add some vegetables and cook them together until everything was cooked. With Xu Le¡¯s eight-year-old height, he could barely reach the stove. Fortunately, this was his system space. As he willed it, the stove immediately lowered to a suitable height for him to operate. After Xu Le completed all the steps seriously, he picked up a strand of noodles and ate it. ¡°Ugh¡ªIt¡¯s not cooked!¡± The noodles were completely raw. When he bit it off, he could feel the stiffness at the center. Xu Le¡¯s face became wrinkled and he quickly spat out the noodles in his mouth. ¡°Again!¡± Xu Le was not discouraged. Before he transmigrated, he was a university student from a prestigious university. How could he not be able to handle a bowl of oil doused noodles? He repeated all the steps again. This time, Xu Le deliberately cooked the noodles for another two to three minutes. In the end, the noodles were cooked. However, because it had been cooked for too long, the noodles became somewhat soft and mushy, completely losing its chewiness. It could be eaten, but with Xu Tian¡¯s picky taste buds¡­ she would definitely not be satisfied. ¡°Again!¡± Since this was the system space, there was no need to worry about wasting food. Xu Le tried five times in a row and finally found the trick. Boiling the noodles to the state of 90 percent cooked was the most perfect because he still had to douse them in oil afterwards. After being covered by boiling hot oil, the noodles would then reach a state of being completely cooked. Moreover, it would be the kind of perfect ripeness that was extremely chewy and tender! The steps that followed were relatively simple. He had to scoop the noodles into a big bowl and add salt, chicken essence, MSG, vinegar, soy sauce, and some onions and garlic. The coarse chili powder and fine chili powder were added in a ratio of seven to three. The spices that had been ground into powder were also added onto the top. He scooped up a large spoonful of hot vegetable seed oil from the pot and poured it evenly over the noodles. Whoosh¡ª When the chili powder, spice powder, and hot oil came into contact with each other, they produced a series of crackling sounds. It was as if some kind of marvelous chemical reaction had occurred, and dense bubbles and white smoke were emitting. At the same time, a spicy and savory smell rushed out of the bowl. It hit Xu Le¡¯s nose directly, teasing the glutton in his mind. For a moment, he felt a strong appetite. He immediately picked up the large bowl in front of him.. He couldn¡¯t help but want to taste it! Chapter 3 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le picked up a few strands of noodles with his chopsticks and placed them in his mouth, sucking them vigorously. The soft and tender noodles, along with the fragrance of the spicy oil, rushed into his mouth. He was caught off guard and choked on the spicy taste, causing him to cough a few times. The spiciness did not make one feel uncomfortable. The noodles used by Xu Le were made using flour mixed in a ratio of seven to three with the cone pepper and tabasco pepper. Together with the strong smell of garlic and onions, they were all mixed together. This experience was like layers of spiciness on top of one another. The texture of the noodles was almost perfect. Due to the fact that it was blended, the noodles were soft, smooth, and refreshing. After inhaling the noodles into his mouth, the first thing he felt was the spiciness and the fragrance of the oil, followed by the fragrance of scallions and garlic, then the fragrance of the condiments, followed by the chewy texture of the noodles, as well as the satisfaction brought by eating large mouthfuls of the noodles. All of these tastes were combined together, but it was not strange at all. On the contrary, it was teasing your taste buds wave after wave and in varying depth. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious!¡± After swallowing the noodles into his stomach, Xu Le looked at the bowl of oil doused noodles in front of him, as though it was glowing! It seemed that the [Strongest Master Chef System] was not lying. Even a cooking novice like Xu Le, who had never cooked before, could make such delicious dishes after repeated practice according to the system¡¯s recipe. Xu Le glanced at the time after successfully learning how to cook the noodles. He realized that he had been here for more than three hours. The most time-consuming step was actually recognizing the name of the spices and knowing the amount to use. After all, it was quite difficult to accurately find three grams of cloves and three grams of aniseed among the hundreds of bottles in front of him. The flow of time in the system space compared to the outside world was at a ratio of 1: 365. In other words, while Xu Le had spent more than three hours here, it was only half a minute outside. After exiting the system, Xu Le returned to his bedroom. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was¡­ 5:58 PM. ¡°Peppa Pig¡± would end at six o¡¯clock sharp. At that time, Xu Tian would definitely cry and ask for food. Sure enough, when Xu Le walked into the living room, the cartoon has just ended. Unwilling to give up, Xu Tian pressed the remote control buttons hard. After confirming that the cartoon was over, she pouted unhappily. Only then did she realize that she was hungry. ¡°Brother, I want to eat!¡± Xu Tian looked innocently at Xu Le with her big and pure-looking eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go cook now.¡± Xu Le patted his sister¡¯s head and said gently. ¡°Brother, what are we eating tonight?¡± ¡°Eat¡­¡± Xu Le hesitated. ¡°Eat¡­ noodles?¡± ¡°Noodles?¡± Xu Tian pouted sadly upon hearing this. ¡°Brother, I don¡¯t like noodles!¡± There was a thin layer of mist in her large eyes. She looked like she was about to cry. Seeing that Xu Tian was about to cry, Xu Le patted her shoulder in panic. After all, Xu Le had only transmigrated to this world a few days ago. As a university student in his previous life, how could he have any experience in raising children? If Xu Tian were to cry and throw a tantrum, Xu Le wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything. ¡°Tiantian, don¡¯t cry. You have never eaten the noodles that Big Brother is going to cook for you. It¡¯s delicious! You¡¯ll definitely like it!¡± ¡°Really?¡± A child¡¯s temper was just this unpredictable. When Xu Tian heard Xu Le¡¯s words, she was instantly curious. She used her small hands to push Xu Le¡¯s waist and said in anticipation, ¡°Then quickly cook for me!¡± ¡­ After finally settling down Xu Tian. Xu Le walked into the kitchen nervously. Although he had been training hard in the system space for more than three hours. But it still felt very different from cooking in real life. Strictly speaking, this was his first time cooking, so it was quite memorable. ¡°There¡¯s only one portion of handmade noodles at home.¡± After Xu Le washed his hands, he took out all the noodles. The portion of noodles was just enough for one meal for Xu Le and Xu Tian. In other words, Xu Le could not make the same mistake in the system space. He only had one chance. This bowl of Oil Doused Noodles had to succeed in one shot and gain Xu Tian¡¯s approval. Otherwise¡­ his mission would fail. Xu Le took a deep breath and calmed himself down. He must not be nervous during the process of cooking. ¡°Just do like in the system space. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Following the steps described in the recipe, he took out the cinnamon, aniseed, fennel, pepper, and other seasonings and ground them into powder. Then he started to cook the noodles. Xu Le stared at the water surface attentively. His right hand kept stirring the noodles in the pot to prevent them from sticking to the pot, while his left hand adjusted the heat at any time. Four minutes later, he added vegetables. After another two minutes, he took all of them out. Xu Le looked at the sparkling and translucent noodles in the bowl that were glistening with an alluring luster. He was instantly delighted. This was¡­ almost 90 percent cooked! Xu Le was more familiar with the following steps. He added various condiments, chili powder, scallions, and garlic and scooped up a spoonful of the slightly scalding vegetable seed oil to pour it evenly in the bowl. Whoosh¡ªWhoosh¡ª At the same time, white smoke rose from the oil. The delicious taste of the oil doused noodles appeared along with the small bubbles that were forming. ¡°Perfect!¡± Xu Le smiled in satisfaction. The oil doused noodles he made this time was even better than the one he made in the system space. He divided the noodles into one big and one small bowl. Xu Le could not help but feel nervous and uneasy. ¡°I wonder if Xu Tian finds it delicious¡­¡± Xu Le walked to the living room with two bowls and placed them on the dining table. ¡°Xu Tian, come and eat!¡± Just as Xu Le finished speaking, Xu Le¡¯s small figure had already skipped over. ¡°Brother, what did you make? Why does it smell so good?¡± Xu Tian sniffed hard, her face filled with anticipation. ¡°It¡¯s called oil doused noodles.¡± Xu Le explained as he picked up the bowl of noodles and placed it in front of Xu Tian. ¡°Hurry up and eat..¡± Chapter 4 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After Xu Le mixed the noodles in the small bowl, the fragrance became even stronger. The aroma of the chilli, oil, onion, garlic, and various other spices were all mixed together as it spread. When Xu Tian smelled this scent, she became even more hungry. ¡°I can eat it myself.¡± She picked up a small fork from the table and picked up a few strands of noodles while trembling. ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Le was a little surprised. Normally, Xu Tian would never eat obediently. Not only was she picky about food, she also needed her parents to feed her. And now¡­ Xu Tian was asking to eat herself? It was really unexpected, like the sun rising from the west. However, Xu Le thought about it carefully. After all, the dish on the table was made using a perfect recipe given by the [Strongest Master Chef System]. It was not surprising that it was so tempting. Xu Tian ate the noodles with a small fork. Almost at the same instant it entered her mouth. Xu Tian¡¯s eyes widened as she sucked the noodles into her mouth. ¡°Brother, these noodles are so delicious!¡± Xu Tian waved her little hands excitedly and knocked her fork against the side of the bowl, making a tinkling sound. ¡°It¡¯s just too spicy.¡± After swallowing, Xu Tian picked up the glass of milk beside her and took two sips. Then¡­ she dipped her head back into her bowl of rice and started gorging herself. Xu Le was pleased to see Xu Tian eating silently. After Mom and Dad left, Xu Le felt that there were two things that were the most troublesome. The first thing was to earn money to pay off the mortgage. The second thing was to take good care of his sister. If the only task was for him to live on himself, it would be a piece of cake. But paying off the mortgage and taking care of his sister was indeed a difficult task. At this moment, Xu Le suddenly heard a system notification. Ding! ¡°Congratulations to the host for completing the mission. Reward: [Small store push cart]!¡± A push cart appeared in Xu Le¡¯s system space. And it was the kind that Xu Le could take out at any time. ¡°Are carts so advanced nowadays?¡± Xu Le was shocked when he saw the push cart. On the small cart, there was a cooking pot, an iron plate, and a gas tank that could light a fire. There was a large amount of storage space below that could store all the prepared ingredients. A chopping board could be extended from the left side to be used for rolling the noodles or cut vegetables. There were also two small stools on the right side. When there were no customers, Xu Le could sit down and rest anytime. In short, such a push cart was like a mobile shop that could satisfy Xu Le¡¯s needs. ¡°As expected of something produced by the system. It¡¯s definitely not simple!¡± In his heart, Xu Le had already come up with a plan to set up his stall at the kindergarten Xu Tian attended. An eight-year-old child was going to set up a store by the roadside. Has anyone seen this before? None. Well, everyone would see it the next day. Xu Le had absolute confidence that with his current culinary skills, he would definitely be able to win over the taste buds of countless people. His business would definitely become very popular. While he was thinking, Xu Tian had already finished the entire bowl of oil doused noodles. ¡°Brother, your noodles are so delicious. Burp, they¡¯re even better than Daddy¡¯s! Burp!¡± Xu Tian¡¯s face was flushed red as she burped and spoke excitedly. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re full, hurry up and finish your homework before going to bed.¡± Xu Le patted his sister¡¯s head affectionately. After supervising his sister¡¯s homework, Xu Le sat by her bed and read her the fairy tale story ¡°Snow White¡± for 10 minutes. He only left the room softly after Xu Tian fell asleep. Xu Le returned to his room after washing the dishes. He planned to set up his stall at the entrance of the kindergarten the next morning. After Xu Tian finished her noodles, the system issued a second mission. [Mission Details: The host shall start his business and sell at least one portion to get the customers¡¯ approval.] [Mission Reward: Recipe for ¡°Kung Pao Chicken¡±] Xu Le was very confident about this mission. Based on the taste of his Oil Doused Noodles, he could even sell 10 or 100 servings, let alone one serving. ¡°Since tomorrow is the probation period, I shall prepare 30 portions.¡± Xu Le took out a notebook and recorded all the materials he needed. As time was tight that day, Xu Le used handmade noodles to make the noodles. Since he was going to set up his stall the next day, it would be best if he could knead the dough on the spot to produce the best taste. ¡°Five kilograms of flour, one kilogram of vegetables, a bag of salt, 500 grams of coarse chilli, 200 grams of fine chilli, 100 grams of various spices, two buckets of vegetable seed oil¡­¡± Xu Le recorded all the ingredients that he needed to purchase the next day in a small notebook before falling asleep. ¡­ The next day, at six in the morning. Xu Le woke up early and went to the market to buy everything he needed. Then he went home and woke Xu Tian up. ¡°Brother, why are you up so early today?¡± Xu Tian rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked listlessly. ¡°We¡¯re going to set up a stall outside the kindergarten to earn money today.¡± ¡°Set up a stall?¡± Xu Tian scratched her head. For a three-year-old like her, she still didn¡¯t know what setting up a stall meant. Xu Le brought his sister downstairs. The brand new push cart was already parked there. All the ingredients were arranged neatly, and there was a bright red signboard on the front¡ª¡±Authentic Oil Doused Noodles¡±. It was already 7:30 AM in the morning when he pushed the cart to the entrance of the kindergarten. The kindergarten classes started at nine o¡¯clock. Most of the teachers, students, and parents would come at around eight o¡¯clock. Since there were no customers yet, Xu Le decided to have a go first and make breakfast for Xu Tian. The noodle dough that had been prepared for 40 minutes were kneaded into a long strip and broken into balls of dough that were the size of a fist. The weight of each ball of dough was about 70 grams. After slowly rolling it, it became a cylindrical shape about 15 centimeters long. After flattening it and rolling out the dough with a rolling pin, he grabbed the two ends of the dough with both hands and pulled hard, turning it into a long, wide noodle. Next were the steps that Xu Le was familiar with. A few minutes later, the noodles were served. He sprinkled some condiments and poured a spoonful of boiling hot oil over it. Accompanied with the thick white smoke, the fragrance spread all over the street. ¡°Xu Tian, hurry up and eat.¡± Xu Le propped up a small table and placed a bowl of noodles in front of Xu Tian. ¡°Thank you, brother!¡± Xu Tian gobbled down the food, her face covered in red oil. At this moment. It was almost 8 AM and there were already parents sending their children to school. A chubby little boy walked past Xu Tian and sniffed hard. ¡°It smells so good!¡± ¡°Mommy, what¡¯s that smell?¡± The little boy looked at Xu Tian¡¯s bowl and his eyes widened at the bowl of fragrant and tasty-looking oil doused noodles. ¡°Mommy, I want to eat this too!¡± ¡°Sob¡ª¡± Under the temptation of the fragrance, the little boy burst into tears.. Chapter 5 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At 8 AM. At the entrance of Sunshine Kindergarten, there were already parents sending their children to school. ¡°Teacher Li, good morning!¡± A thin little boy bowed at the teacher walking past him. ¡°Hello, Sun Jian.¡± Ms. Li smiled in response. She had just graduated from the Institute of Education half a month ago and received a childhood education certificate. She was among the newest batch of teachers in the kindergarten. ¡°Why don¡¯t¡­ I just skip breakfast,¡± Ms. Lee muttered to herself. After becoming a kindergarten teacher, she had to interact with many people every day ¨C colleagues, parents, students¡­ Moreover, Ms. Li was just a 23-year-old girl. She valued her appearance and wanted to leave a good impression on everyone. So she decided to lose weight. ¡°An apple every morning, a serving of vegetable salad at noon, a portion of chicken breast, a box of yogurt and a tomato at night.¡± Ms. Li had persisted for two days on this diet plan. However, when she reached the entrance of the kindergarten, an alluring fragrance suddenly wafted over. ¡°What¡¯s that smell?¡± Teacher Li was slightly stunned. Then, she walked towards the source of the fragrance as if her legs were not listening to her. Soon, she saw a push cart shrouded in smoke. As for the figure in front of the cart, it looked rather young. Ms. Li took a closer look and realized that it was a child of eight or nine years old who was cooking skillfully. With great curiosity, Ms. Li walked to the trolley and saw Xu Le cooking noodles. Slam! Xu Le¡¯s two little hands grabbed the two ends of the noodles and pulled hard. Suddenly, he smacked it against the chopping board hard, producing a loud and crisp sound. White smoke billowed out of the boiling pot as he placed the noodles into the pot. A few minutes later, he scooped out the noodles from the pot and placed them into a large bowl. He sprinkled salt, MSG, spice powder, chilli, and finally added a spoonful of hot oil. Whoosh¡ª Amidst the bubbling of the hot oil, a fragrant aroma wafted over. Ms. Li widened her eyes in shock after smelling it. This was too fragrant! ¡®How about¡­ a bowl?¡¯ In an instant, Ms. Li¡¯s determination to lose weight was no longer as firm as before. That was because the bowl of oil doused noodles looked too delicious. Even though the stall owner was only a child of eight or nine years old, it didn¡¯t affect the fragrance of the noodles at all. Teacher Li could swear that this was definitely the most fragrant food she had ever smelled! If she did not taste it, she would regret it for the rest of her life. ¡°Hello, Teacher Li.¡± A timid voice came from beside her. Ms. Li turned around and realized that it was her class¡¯ student, Xu Tian. ¡°Xu Tian, you¡¯re here too¡­ Where are your parents? Aren¡¯t they here?¡± Xu Tian nodded. ¡°Dad and Mom went overseas. My brother brought me here.¡± She even pointed at Xu Le, who was cooking the noodles. ¡°This is your brother?¡± Ms. Li exclaimed in surprise. She had never expected that this little boy, who had been setting up a roadside stall to earn money, was actually the older brother of her student. ¡°Then as a teacher, I should support your brother¡¯s business.¡± A sweet smile blossomed on Ms. Li¡¯s face. Deep in her heart, Ms. Li continued to comfort himself. ¡°I am not giving up on losing weight, I am just supporting Xu Tian¡¯s brother¡¯s business¡­¡± Immediately, Ms. Li felt less guilty with these thoughts. ¡°Xu Tian¡¯s brother, give me a bowl of Oil Doused Noodles!¡± ¡°Alright, Teacher Li, please wait a moment!¡± Xu Le recognized Xu Tian¡¯s kindergarten teacher and immediately agreed. A few minutes later, a bowl of oil doused noodles that looked, smelled, and tasted good was served to Ms. Li. ¡°Teacher Li, please enjoy.¡± Looking at the big bowl of bright red and smooth noodles in front of her, Ms. Li¡¯s appetite was greatly aroused. The fragrance assailed her nostrils and rushed into her nose, stimulating her taste buds. At this time, how could she still be concerned about losing weight? She picked up her chopsticks and picked up a few strands of noodles to eat. Teacher Li¡¯s pupils suddenly dilated. It gave off a kind of hot and refreshing feeling and the noodles were smooth and chewy. The taste of spiciness had so much depth that it directly exploded in her mouth! All the flavors mixed together to form a taste that was like a feast! This bowl of Oil Doused Noodles was made using noodles kneaded by Xu Le on the spot. It was more delicious than the version the day before. Ms. Li couldn¡¯t care less about her image anymore. No one could resist temptation in front of a real delicacy. She continuously stuffed the noodles into her mouth. Very quickly, most of the noodles in the bowl were gone. ¡°Teacher, you can really eat¡­¡± Xu Tian frowned and said at the side. The girl who was eating noodles was completely different from the gentle and beautiful Teacher Li she remembered. Ms. Li could not even be bothered to reply and finished all the noodles in one go. Besides Ms. Li, there was also a chubby little boy eating noodles. He was the kid next door who had been crying because of his cravings. As he ate his noodles, there were two clear streaks of tears on his face. Not only this chubby little boy, even his mother was also squatting by the side of the road with a big bowl of noodles in her hands. At around 8 AM, more and more parents were sending their children to school. After smelling this irresistible fragrance, a long queue quickly formed in front of Xu Le¡¯s push cart. Many people usually patronized the other food stalls at the entrance of the kindergarten. Yet that day, all these customers gathered at Xu Le¡¯s push cart. The other food stall owners could only stare at this place with envious gazes. Even many people who had eaten breakfast could not help but queue up when they smelled the enticing smell. They wanted to have another bowl of fragrant and spicy Oil Doused Noodles. ¡°Little kid, give me a bowl of Oil Doused Noodles!¡± ¡°Boss, I want two bowls!¡± ¡°I want a bowl of Oil Doused Noodles, it smells so good!¡± ¡°How old are you, little kid? You¡¯re already setting up a stall. Sun Jian, look at him. He knows how to earn money to support his family, yet you¡¯re still clamoring to buy toys every day!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Soon, Xu Le¡¯s push cart was surrounded. Xu Le looked at the crowd and felt a headache. There were too many people¡­ I¡¯m just an eight-year-old child! Chapter 6 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Uncles and aunties, I really have to close my stall!¡± Xu Le shouted apologetically. At around eight o¡¯clock, there were some parents and kindergarten children gathered in front of his push cart, forming a long queue. Xu Le had originally thought that he would be able to pack up after the kindergarten classes started at nine o¡¯clock. However, after nine o¡¯clock, the number of people queuing did not decrease at all. Many people who passed by immediately came over when they saw an eight-year-old child setting up a stall to sell oil doused noodles. Furthermore, there were so many people queuing up. The ingredients that Xu Le had prepared were already used up. In order to taste Xu Le¡¯s cooking, these customers even bought a lot of ingredients from the nearby market. Noodles, chilli, spices, oil, vegetables¡­ The customers even prepared their own ingredients in order to try Xu Le¡¯s cooking. Xu Le had lived for two lifetimes and this was the first time he had seen such a situation. These people coming to eat had even brought their own ingredients! Just like that, Xu Le worked from eight to ten. After breakfast time, there were finally fewer customers. ¡°Uncles and aunties, I really have to close my stall!¡± Xu Le shouted. He really could not take it anymore. Even an adult would feel exhausted after being so busy in the push cart for a few hours. Not to mention an eight-year-old like him. However, Xu Le was very satisfied with the profits from this morning. From eight to ten, in the past two hours, he had sold a total of 115 bowls of Oil Doused Noodles. The price of a bowl of noodles was six yuan, so his total income was 690 yuan. Since it was the customers who prepared the ingredients themselves, Xu Le only spent 140 yuan as his total cost price. After taking this into account, Xu Le¡¯s net profit from setting up the stall reached 550 yuan! This was already quite a small fortune for Xu Le. If he could have such business every day¡­ Wouldn¡¯t he earn 16,000 yuan in a month? Thinking of this, Xu Le¡¯s eyes lit up. If that was the case, he seemed to have the ability to repay the mortgage! However, with the system in his hands, Xu Le¡¯s horizons would not be so shallow. He could not possibly keep selling noodles at the entrance of the kindergarten. On one hand, it was too exhausting for him. His eight-year-old body would definitely not be able to take it. On the other hand, if they kept selling oil doused noodles, these parents and children would definitely get sick of eating them over time. ¡°I need more recipes!¡± Xu Le¡¯s big eyes sparkled. His goal was, of course, to open a restaurant so that he could earn a stable and high income. At the very least¡­ he would have to open a small food stall. Xu Le was definitely not satisfied with such a push cart noodle shop. Apart from earning 550 yuan, Xu Le also earned an additional reward. That was from the completion of the system¡¯s mission. System reward: [Kung Bao Chicken Recipe]. Kung Pao Chicken was a traditional cuisine unique to both modern Chinese and foreign civilizations. It was recorded in both Shandong cuisine and Sichuan cuisine. At the same time, it was also categorized as a Beijing imperial cuisine, which was meant for the emperor in ancient times. Xu Le was very satisfied with the recipe. This was a very representative Chinese dish, and it was also a very homely dish. It was not difficult to prepare either. After closing the stall, Xu Le found an empty place and kept the cart in the system space. He immersed himself in his thoughts. Soon, the surroundings became chaotic. In front of Xu Le once again, the advanced kitchen counter that was well-equipped and filled with various kitchen utensils appeared. This time, the cuisine that Xu Le wanted to practice here was [Kung Pao Chicken]! The craftsmanship of this dish was not difficult. The ingredients required were also very simple. It was nothing more than chicken, peanuts, onions, ginger, garlic, pepper, dried chilli, chilli noodles, eggs, starch, and other common ingredients found at home. The first step was to soak the peanuts and peel the skin. Then, debone the chicken thigh, cut it into dice and marinate it. Finally, add room-temperature oil to the pan, and stir fry the peanuts over a small fire. After putting the chicken into the pan, quickly spread them. Then, add the prepared seasoning and stir fry over high heat until it is ready to be served. This was the general cooking method of Kung Pao Chicken. It seemed very simple, but there were countless details and points to pay attention to. Many a time, seemingly simple steps were not easy to do. Take the peanuts for example. It sounded very simple to add the peeled peanuts into a frying pan. However, he had to pay attention that the pan and oil had to be at room-temperature, as well as the timing to fry the peanuts. Even if he fried them for longer than 10 seconds, it would affect the crispy texture of the peanuts. It would become soft instead of crispy, and it would lose some flavor. If it was just a normal dish at home, he might not have to pay attention to so many details. However, Xu Le wanted to prepare the dishes to the best of his abilities. In any case, he had countless opportunities to practice in the system space. Even if he practiced here for an entire year, with the 365 times slower time flow, only a day would have passed in the outside world. Hence, Xu Le wanted to make every detail perfect. He wanted to make it better here and there. After the entire dish was cooked, the taste would then be much better. Xu Le still remembered a Hong Kong movie ¡°Culinary God¡± he had watched in his previous life. There was a line in it, saying, ¡°As long as you put your heart into it, everyone is a Culinary God.¡± Xu Le did not feel anything when he watched it at that time. However, now that he had really entered the cooking industry and even awakened the [Strongest Master Chef System], Xu Le finally understood what this sentence meant. Use your heart. It was the top priority of cooking. If the chef wasn¡¯t focused, he wouldn¡¯t be able to make such a delicious dish. ¡­ ¡°I wonder how this system space works¡­¡± Xu Le stood in front of the stove and exclaimed. He¡¯d actually not felt fatigued or tired at all while practising his culinary skills in this system space. He had been practicing here for a whole week. Kung Pao Chicken. He¡¯d done it at least 5000 times. He¡¯d also made at least 3000 bowls of oil doused noodles. Xu Le did not feel tired at all despite the terrifying workload. In fact, he felt even more refreshed than usual. ¡°It¡¯s amazing.¡± Besides marveling at the wonders of the system space, Xu Le could feel that the greatest improvement was his cooking skills. Regardless of the other dishes, Xu Le¡¯s skills had already reached an extremely high level just in terms of the ¡°Kung Pao Chicken¡± and ¡°Oil Doused Noodles¡±. After a few thousand repetitive practices, plus the perfect recipe given by the system. Even the chefs of five-star hotels couldn¡¯t compare to Xu Le¡¯s standard of preparing these two dishes. While a week had passed in the system space, only 40 minutes had passed in the real world. Although it was almost noon, the kindergarten provided daycare service. In other words, Xu Tian would eat and sleep in school in the afternoon. She would only return home after the afternoon classes ended. Just as Xu Le was about to go home, a familiar figure suddenly walked out of the kindergarten. ¡®Isn¡¯t this Teacher Li?¡¯ Chapter 7 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Hello, Teacher Li,¡± Xu Le greeted politely. ¡°Hello, Xu Le.¡± Ms. Li smiled warmly. ¡°How is my sister doing in school? Did she cause any trouble for the teachers?¡± Like other parents, Xu Le asked about Xu Tian¡¯s performance in school. ¡°Xu Tian performed very well and listened to her teacher well.¡± At the mention of Xu Tian, Ms. Li first praised her. Then, as if she suddenly remembered something, she added. ¡°Except that¡­ she¡¯s not very well-behaved when it comes to eating. But it¡¯s inevitable. After all, with her brother¡¯s superb culinary skills, I¡¯m sure our kindergarten food will be considerably less tasty.¡± Xu Le blushed when he heard what Teacher Li said. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. My sister, Xu Tian, has caused trouble for the teachers. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. This is our responsibility as teachers.¡± After a casual chat. Xu Le suddenly asked, ¡°Teacher Li, have you had lunch?¡± Upon hearing this question, Ms. Lin was first stunned. Then, she thought of the bowl of oil doused noodles that she had eaten in the morning. It could be said that this was the most delicious bowl of noodles she had eaten in her life. Even at the thought of it now, Teacher Li still felt a slight craving for it. ¡°Not¡­ yet.¡± Ms. Lee shook her head. According to her weight-loss plan, she could only eat a bowl of vegetable salad for lunch. ¡°Ms. Li, I have just studied about a new dish. If it¡¯s alright with you, you can try it first!¡± Xu Le said with a smile. After setting up the stall in the morning, Xu Le received a new mission from the system¡ª[The stall cannot be missing a staple food!] [Mission Details: Make a main dish and get the approval of the customers.] [Mission Reward: ¡°Tomato Egg Soup Recipe¡±] At this moment, Xu Le met Teacher Li. It was just the right time for her to taste the new main dish. Otherwise, he could only wait for Xu Tian to taste it after school. ¡°Sure!¡± Upon hearing this, Ms. Li¡¯s eyes lit up. She had long forgotten about her diet. Dieting? What diet? Was it more important than tasting Xu Le¡¯s new dish? Obviously not. ¡°I have all the kitchenware at home. What ingredients do you need? I¡¯ll take you to the supermarket to buy them now.¡± Teacher Li could not wait any longer. She patted Xu Le¡¯s little head and asked. Although Xu Le was not a kindergarten student, he appeared to be only eight years old. Standing in front of Teacher Li, he had only reached the height of her waist. The two of them walked together like a young mother leading her child to a supermarket. ¡°Five chicken legs, two eggs, two vegetables¡­¡± It was obvious that Ms. Li did not cook much. Standing next to the food rack, she seemed especially restrained, like a child who had made a mistake and didn¡¯t know what to do. In the end, Xu Le was like a little adult who bought all the ingredients needed to prepare lunch. When it was time to pay the bill, Ms. Li finally found an opportunity to take action. She hurriedly took out her phone and paid the bill. Xu Le was here to help her cook, and he was only a child. Of course, Teacher Li should be the one paying for this. According to Xu Le, although Ms. Li had just graduated, she was already married. Her husband seemed to be an architect of a nearby property company. Her house was located in a nearby neighborhood and they could reach it in ten minutes. ¡°Welcome to my home.¡± Xu Le looked around as he arrived at Ms. Li¡¯s house. The property prices in Shanghai were too high, so Ms. Li¡¯s house wasn¡¯t big. It was only about 60 square meters. But it felt very homely. Ms. Li¡¯s wedding photo was hung on the wall, and there were many pots of flowers on the cabinet. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go prepare the food first.¡± Xu Le informed her before walking into the kitchen. There was not much time for lunch anyway. He still needed to knead the dough and spread it. All these steps were very time-consuming. After entering the kitchen, Xu Le could clearly feel that his mood had improved a lot. He didn¡¯t know when it started. Xu Le seemed to be enjoying the feeling of cooking. With his superb culinary skills, he was able to turn some ordinary ingredients into something magical. After being stir-fried, deep fried, braised, boiled, or cooked, he was able to turn them into exquisite dishes that were both fragrant and delicious. This was¡­ the charm of cooking. It was like magic. Or rather, cooking itself was the magic of delicious food! First, he started from kneading the dough. Xu Le took out a small basin and added two kilograms of medium bran flour and six grams of salt. The purpose of adding salt was to fully stimulate the toughness of the dough and make the final product more elastic. After stirring it evenly, he added 460 grams of water. The water had to be added in a few times. While adding water, the flour had to be beaten into a cylindrical shape and then pressed into a ball. From beginning to end, Xu Le¡¯s eyes were fixed on the flour. The amount of water couldn¡¯t be too much or too little. Otherwise, it would affect the taste of the finished product. As Xu Le added the water for the last time, he squinted his eyes. He could tell that the ratio between the flour and water was near perfect. Xu Le had carried out this process countless times in the system space. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that this step was carved into his DNA. At this moment, Ms. Li walked into the kitchen, wanting to see how Xu Le could make such delicious dishes. Seeing the jade white dough in the small basin, Ms. Li opened her mouth wide in shock. She really didn¡¯t cook much. The few times she cooked, she has caused the kitchen to become a war zone that was full of mess. Hence, when she saw Xu Le¡¯s movements, her eyes were filled with envy. ¡°Xu Le, how did you knead the dough? Why can¡¯t I knead it properly every time?¡± Ms. Li finally couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore and asked. If she could learn a few tricks from Xu Le, she could cook a bowl of noodles to fill her stomach in the future. ¡°You must be patient when kneading the dough. You have to make the dough clean, hand clean, and basin clean!¡± As Xu Le spoke, he kneaded the dough in the small basin with his clean hands. He kept pressing, turning, rubbing¡­ ¡°By dough clean, it means that the dough must be as smooth as jade. It must be a complete ball without any flour falling out.¡± ¡°By hand and basin clean, it means that after kneading the dough, your hand should not be stained with flour and within the basin, other than the dough, there should be no remains left.¡± ¡°If these three points are not achieved, it means that the dough kneading is not good enough.¡± ¡°Either the ratio of the noodles is wrong or there is a problem with the kneading technique.¡± After Xu Le finished speaking, he looked up at Ms. Li. He realized that Ms. Li¡¯s face was full of blankness and confusion. It was as if she had just heard a¡­ historical essay or a non-understandable book. Xu Le sighed and said. ¡°Ms. Li, if you want to eat noodles in the future, you should buy a kneading machine.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s forget about kneading the dough yourself¡­¡± Chapter 8 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After the dough was kneaded, the next step was to leaven the dough. This was not a task about the skills, but about time. He applied a layer of soybean oil, sealed it with preservation film, and placed it there for half an hour. During this half an hour. What Xu Le wanted to prepare was ¡°Kung Pao Chicken¡±. Although Xu Le had already familiarized himself with making it 5000 times in the system space. However, this was his first time preparing this dish in real life after all. Moreover, he needed to gain the approval of the customers. Therefore, he was somewhat nervous. Ms. Li watched attentively from the side. She was not good at cooking, but if she could learn 50%¡­ no, even 30% from Xu Le, she would be satisfied. In reality, that was indeed the case. The Kung Pao Chicken that Xu Le made was the most perfect and authentic recipe rewarded by the system. Even in a five-star hotel, the Kung Pao Chicken might not taste better than Xu Le¡¯s. The only possibility was¡­ If it was made by some aristocratic family known for Sichuan cuisine or a descendant of a palace kitchen worker, they might be able to compete with Xu Le. Other than that, there was no point in comparing. ¡°First, add a bowl of Kung Pao sauce.¡± While Xu Le was cooking, he explained all his steps. As for how much Teacher Li could learn after watching it once, that would depend on her own talent. ¡°The ingredients for the Kung Pao sauce are 40 grams of soy sauce, 40 grams of vinegar, 40 grams of sugar, 40 grams of wine, 8 grams of dry starch, 3 grams of salt, and 15 grams of ginger water.¡± The scallions and ginger water needed to be made on the spot, but it was also very simple to prepare. He just needed to take some scallions, a piece of ginger, and add water before smashing them in the blender. As he spoke, Xu Le finished adding all the condiments. A bowl of bright red sauce had appeared in his hand. It looked like ketchup, but it had a completely different flavor. ¡°Then debone the chicken thigh!¡± Xu Le placed a few chicken thighs he bought from the supermarket on the chopping board. He took out a deboning knife and cut the drumstick at the joints before slicing it upwards. At the edge of the blade, flesh and blood separated. In less than ten seconds, the chicken thigh had been split into two parts. Chicken meat and bone. There were no broken bones stuck to the chicken meat. The bones were also clean and there was no trace of meat. ¡°Amazing!¡± Ms. Li¡¯s eyes widened. She could not even see it clearly. She only saw Xu Le move like this and then do that. Then, the chicken thigh was completely separated. Soon, the five chicken thighs were deboned. After the skin was removed, they were cut into small meat cubes that were one centimeter wide. The reason why he chose chicken thigh meat instead of chicken breast meat was to make it more tender and smooth. The chicken breast was too dry, so the taste was far inferior to the chicken thigh. ¡°Add 5 grams of salt, 2 grams of pepper, 10 grams of wine and mix it evenly.¡± ¡°Add another 3 grams of soy sauce and 20 grams of ginger water.¡± As Xu Le spoke, the condiments were poured into the bowls one by one as though there was magic. He no longer needed to weigh every seasoning he added. After making it a few thousand times, the timing of adding the condiments and the amount to add was perfectly captured by Xu Le. Even if he closed his eyes, he could do it accurately. ¡°Add half an egg white.¡± Half of the egg white was added to the bowl and Xu Le continued to stir it. ¡°Now, there¡¯s no need to add the egg white first. Instead, you should add the condiments first. The egg white is like clothes being put on the chicken. If you put on the clothes and add the condiments, you won¡¯t be able to taste it afterwards.¡± After Xu Le finished speaking, Teacher Li nodded her head in confusion. Not because she was too slow. Instead, it was because Xu Le¡¯s movements were too smooth and fast, not giving her any time to think. ¡°Add starch powder to seal the moisture.¡± ¡°Add pepper oil to seal the taste!¡± After a series of smooth operations, the five chicken thighs had changed drastically. ¡°Marinate the chicken for ten minutes.¡± ¡°During these ten minutes, we¡¯ll fry the peanuts first.¡± Xu Le turned around and walked to the stove. As he was really too short and the stove here could not be adjusted to his height like in the system space, Xu Le had no choice but to step on a small stool. Only then could he move around normally. ¡°Add the room-temperature oil into the pan. The most important thing to frying the peanuts is to soak them in low temperature oil.¡± ¡°Force all the moisture out of it.¡± Xu Le held the pan handle with his left hand and a big metal spatula with his right hand. He stirred the peanuts in the pan continuously. Soon, as the oil temperature rose, the fragrance of peanuts spread out. ¡°Now the peanuts are still sunk at the bottom. We¡¯re going to keep frying them until they float up.¡± This process lasted for a few minutes. After the peanuts slowly floated up, Xu Le picked up a ladle to scoop them up and strained them gently. ¡°Crack crack-¡± A crisp sound came from the strainer. Just from the sound, one could imagine how crispy the peanuts were. ¡°The detail about Kung Pao Chicken is its spiciness, freshness, and crispness.¡± ¡°And the fragrance and crispness comes from these peanuts!¡± Xu Le emptied the peanuts on the kitchen paper to absorb the oil. At this moment, the chicken that was marinated just now had already become flavourful.. Xu Le heated the pot to increase the temperature of the oil. He added pepper oil into the pot, and one could even see the bright red Sichuan peppers. ¡°This pepper is from Gansu Longnan¡¯s Da Hong Pao pepper. It¡¯s definitely numb and spicy!¡± Xu Le had bought this specially from the supermarket. In order to make a good dish, quality ingredients were indispensable. He added onions and garlic cloves into the Kung Pao sauce that he had just mixed. This dish had officially entered the stir-frying stage! ¡°To cook the Kung Pao Chicken, add some oil and use the method of frying in oil.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he gently slid all the marinated chicken into the pan and submerged them completely in the oil. Although it was called stir-frying, it was more like deep frying. ¡°Don¡¯t move yet. Let the chicken settle down.¡± 20 seconds later, the meat turned slightly yellow. Xu Le used a spoon to gently push the chicken and let it slowly move in the pan. He waited until the red color faded and the chicken turned yellow. This was already about 70% cooked. ¡°Now add some dried chilli, garlic, ginger, and a few spoonfuls of chilli powder.¡± The chilli powder was added here to improve the fragrance and color. After stir-frying everything evenly, he added spoonful after spoonful of the previously concocted Kung Pao sauce into the pan. ¡°For now, don¡¯t flip the meat. Wait until the sauce becomes thicker and slightly sticky¡­¡± As Xu Le spoke, he gripped the pan handle and started to stir-fry. He quickly added a spoonful of pepper oil and poured the fried peanuts into the pan. ¡°Next, stir-fry it under high heat!¡± He adjusted the stove to its maximum heat and began to skillfully stir-fry. Regardless of whether it was the pan or the spatula, he was extremely agile when using them. It was as if they were just like Xu Le¡¯s body, an extension of his limbs. At the same time, white smoke rose. Xu Le took a deep breath. The white smoke contained a spicy and fragrant smell that instantly stimulated one¡¯s appetite. This was the ¡°gas¡± that was very particular in Chinese food! From a scientific point of view, it was actually a burnt smell caused by the high temperature. It seemed illusory. But in reality. An excellent Chinese chef could perfectly control this so-called ¡°gas¡±. There was a world of difference between cooking a dish that produced the ¡°gas¡± and a dish without it. Hot, quick, dry, fragrant! Only by fulfilling these four points would the dish be considered a qualified one. After the stir-fry. Xu Le scooped a spoonful and tilted the pan. The food in the pan was served on the plate that he had prepared beforehand. A perfect Kung Pao Chicken. Ready to be served! Chapter 9 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Amazing¡­¡± Ms. Li was stunned. From her perspective, Xu Le was like performing magic when cooking. Just now, there were five chicken thighs and a plate of peanuts. They had turned into a delicious dish with a bright red color and a fragrant aroma. In less than ten minutes. The Kung Pao Chicken was completed and placed on the dining table. Upon smelling this spicy aroma, Ms. Li¡¯s appetite was greatly aroused. Her slender fingers tugged at the corner of her shirt, as she wished that she could start eating right now. However, this was only the main dish. He still needed to make the staple food. The dough had already been leavened. Xu Le took them out and pulled them into a wide cylindrical shape. Then came the steps that he had repeated countless times. Cooking the noodles, adding the condiments, and pouring the oil¡­ A few minutes later, the spicy and fragrant oil doused noodles were served on the table. Two dishes that looked red, spicy, and smelled fragrant aroused one¡¯s appetite, and they couldn¡¯t help but fill a large bowl. Both Kung Pao Chicken and Oil Doused Noodles belonged to Sichuan Cuisine. The unique characteristic of Sichuan Cuisine was that it could incorporate a wide range of ingredients to produce a mellow taste. It was known to use numb and spicy seasoning. In a more common way of saying it. It was right for the stomach! Under the stimulation of the extreme spiciness, one would salivate crazily, and their appetite would be roused to the extreme. This was not a healthy delicacy, but it was definitely something that could satisfy you. ¡°Dinner is finally ready!¡± Ms. Li sat at the table and rubbed her hands in anticipation. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t stand on ceremony.¡± Ms. Li couldn¡¯t wait any longer. She immediately picked up her chopsticks, picked up a strand of noodles, and put it into her mouth. The oil doused noodles that had just come out of the pan were boiling hot. After being doused with hot oil, it had become perfectly cooked. It was refreshing, elastic, and chewy. One could feel the toughness of the noodles in one bite, followed by the spiciness and freshness of the noodles. This kind of refreshing feeling rushed to the top of her head. Although the noodles were very hot, Ms. Li couldn¡¯t care less about it. She stuffed them into her mouth. This was the feeling! She had eaten a bowl of oil doused noodles at Xu Le¡¯s push cart this morning. The taste was unforgettable. ¡°Ah!¡± Ms. Li closed her eyes and let out a satisfied groan as she thoroughly enjoyed the taste. She sat beside Xu Le and hugged him tightly. She held the chopsticks in her right hand and stroked Xu Le¡¯s little head with her left. ¡°Xu Le, where did you learn how to cook?¡± ¡°I¡­ taught myself.¡± Xu Le was not lying. After all, the system was not human. No one taught him how to cook. ¡°You¡¯re awesome!¡± Teacher Li was not stingy with her praise. Xu Le was only eight years old. In Teacher Li¡¯s eyes, he was no different from those kindergarten students. They were all children. Hence, she hugged Xu Le the same way she treated the children in the kindergarten. However, Xu Le felt completely different. He was not a child. Before he transmigrated, Xu Le was a university student. He was a genuine adult. Meanwhile, Ms. Li was in her twenties and had just graduated. She was young, beautiful, and had a hot body. Xu Le, who was in his arms, had a strange feeling. At this moment, Xu Le also had a taste of the oil doused noodles. This morning, when he set up his stall at the entrance of the kindergarten, the oil doused noodles he made were already very delicious, so it attracted a large number of customers to gather around his push cart. But Xu Le¡¯s Oil Doused Noodles had become even better than before. This was thanks to his training in the system space. After thousands of practice sessions. This was the first time Xu Le had displayed his training results in the real world. It was really delicious! Even Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but enjoy the taste. Ms. Li, on the other hand, focused her attention on the Kung Pao Chicken. She had personally witnessed Xu Le cook this dish. It was like magic. From a pile of ingredients to a delicacy, the moment the gas emitted, an alluring smell filled the entire room. Ms. Li picked up a spoon and carefully scooped up a spoonful of Kung Pao Chicken. A few cubes of meat and a few peanuts. She stuffed it into her mouth. Crack! It was the crisp sound of peanuts being cracked open with her teeth. Crack! This was the sound of the soft yet crispy chicken meat after being stir-fried with oil. The chicken meat and peanuts became a perfect match in this dish. When the peanut oil was fried in oil, it made cracking sounds. When the chicken was fried in oil, it would emit a fragrant smell. Coupled with the right amount of condiments, the rich flavor of the Kung Pao sauce that Xu Le had concocted had already fused into the chicken and peanuts. When tasting it, it was a double enjoyment of taste and texture. It was only after the food had entered her mouth that Ms. Li truly felt what Xu Le had described as ¡°spicy, fresh, and crispy¡±. They had all been integrated into this dish. Just one bite was enough to make one unable to stop. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Delicious!¡± Teacher Li couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Then, feeling the spiciness, she opened her mouth and began to breathe rapidly. She was from Hunan and liked spicy food. After tasting such delicious spicy food, all the pores on her body had relaxed and she felt utterly comfortable. ¡°That was so refreshing.¡± Ms. Li took out a tissue and wiped the sweat off her face. At the same time, she stroked Xu Le¡¯s head and kissed him excitedly. Xu Le was also eating. However, being caressed by such a young and beautiful woman was truly a very strange feeling. Especially when¡­ he was just a child. ¡®Can¡¯t I even eat in peace!¡¯ ¡®Speaking of which¡­ Eat your food properly, can¡¯t you be less touchy?¡¯ Chapter 10 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°It¡¯s fu*king exhausting.¡± A man in a suit dragged his tired body slowly up the stairs. His name was Peng Yan, and he was a real estate architect. If Xu Le saw him, he should be able to recognize him as the male protagonist in Ms. Li¡¯s wedding photo. In other words, Peng Yan was Teacher Li¡¯s husband. ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡± Peng Yan stood at the door of his house. Just as he was about to take out his keys to open the door, he suddenly frowned because he heard a strange sound coming from the house. There was the sound of a woman, his wife Li Jing. There was no doubt about that. However, there seemed to be a man¡¯s voice. It was very soft and could only be heard by sticking close to the door. What Peng Yan was more concerned about was that he heard Li Jing panting and only a few words she said. Peng Yan could not help but clench his fists. By that time, Peng Yan had already lost his rationality. There was only one thought in his mind¡ªthere was another man at home! When he was at work, Li Jing actually brought another man home. Thinking about it, Peng Yan usually worked overtime in the office at this time in the afternoon. He only had time to go home that day after his project had ended. Before he had time to think, he pulled the key from his pocket and inserted it into the keyhole. Ching! The moment the lock turned, Peng Yan could no longer suppress the anger in his heart and directly pushed the door open. ¡°Li Jing, you!¡± After entering the living room, Peng Yan¡¯s angry roar stopped abruptly. There was only Li Jing and a young boy around eight or nine years old at home. They were eating. Peng Yan¡¯s face instantly flushed red. After seeing the Kung Pao Chicken and Oil Doused Noodles on the table, as long as he wasn¡¯t stupid, he could guess what had just happened. ¡°You guys are¡­ eating.¡± Peng Yan forced out a smile that was uglier than crying. ¡°Hello, Uncle!¡± Xu Le stood up and greeted him politely. ¡°Hello, little friend¡­¡± Peng Yan stuttered when he spoke. After all, the scene just now was really a little awkward. It was clearly Li Jing who was having a meal with the little kid, but Peng Yan misunderstood it as his wife having an affair. ¡°It smells so good¡­¡± A tempting spicy fragrance entered Peng Yan¡¯s nose, causing his body to tremble slightly. Saliva quickly accumulated in his mouth, causing him to feel the urge to eat. He once again turned his attention to the Kung Pao chicken and oil doused noodle on the table. ¡°Darling, did you make these two dishes yourself? Or did you order takeout?¡± Peng Yan asked doubtfully. After all, according to his understanding of Li Jing, although she was a good teacher, she was definitely not a good chef. Apart from cooking instant noodles, Li Jing knew almost nothing else. ¡°Xu Le made this,¡± Ms. Li answered with a smile. ¡°Xu Le?¡± Peng Yan was stunned at first. He tried to recall in his mind and realised that he did not seem to know someone called Xu Le. But soon, a shocking thought flashed in his mind. ¡°He is Xu Le?¡± Peng Yan pointed at Xu Le who was eating innocently and asked in surprise. ¡°Hello, Uncle. My name is Xu Le. I¡¯m eight years old today.¡± Xu Le put down his chopsticks and introduced himself cutely. ¡°You can cook at eight?¡± Peng Yan was still muttering. Li Jing asked expectantly, ¡°Do you want to eat some too?¡± Peng Yan hesitated slightly. After hesitating for a few seconds, he still nodded. While he went to the kitchen to get the cutlery, Mr. Li leaned over and whispered into Xu Le¡¯s ear, ¡°His job is a real estate architect. He¡¯s usually very busy with work. He has a 996 working system and often has to work overtime.¡± After saying that, Teacher Li realized that Xu Le was still a child. ¡°Do you understand what 996 means?¡± Xu Le shook his head in confusion. ¡°Uh¡­ 996 is the system where you start work at nine in the morning and end at nine in the evening and work six days a week,¡± Ms. Li explained quietly. ¡°Your Uncle Peng Yan usually eats irregularly, so he suffers from anorexia. Today is a good time to let him taste your cooking.¡± At this moment, Peng Yan walked out of the kitchen with a bowl and chopsticks. Teacher Li immediately stopped talking and started eating. However, Teacher Li and Xu Le¡¯s attention were still on Peng Yan. Even Xu Le was very curious. What kind of reaction would Uncle Peng, who was suffering from anorexia, have after eating his food? Peng Yan had a bowl of the remaining oil doused noodles. Peng Yan, who had been suffering from anorexia for some time, suddenly felt his appetite returning when he smelled the spicy fragrance. Anorexia was a serious psychological disorder. It was not that the patients did not want to eat, but because of some psychological problems, they over starve, refuse to eat, and even refuse to maintain their minimum weight. The rate of anorexia was low, but the death rate was very high. This kind of mental illness was difficult to treat, so about 10-20% of the patients would usually die. The mortality rate was even more terrible than the plague. Peng Yan had to go to the hospital every week for treatment. He would take medicine every night, but it never worked. Until just now¡­ After smelling the fragrance emitted from the Oil Doused Noodles and Kung Pao Chicken, Peng Yan actually had an appetite! People who didn¡¯t understand anorexia might think it was nothing. But Peng Yan himself knew that this was simply a miracle, a medical miracle! The smell of food alone had controlled his psychological problem to a certain extent. Peng Yan¡¯s hand that was holding the chopsticks was trembling. Having an appetite did not mean that his anorexia had been cured. After eating, there was a high possibility of vomiting or even diarrhea. Peng Yan picked up a piece of chicken and put it into his mouth. The first thing that entered his mouth was the fragrance and spiciness! He bit down lightly, and the crispy chicken meat exploded in his mouth. As it was from the chicken thigh, the meat was soft and juicy. His mouth was filled with the fragrance of spiciness and oil, giving his taste buds the greatest stimulation. ¡°Delicious!¡± Peng Yan¡¯s eyes lit up. Xu Le¡¯s dishes were both Sichuan cuisine, and Peng Yan happened to be from Sichuan. Therefore, to him, this was the taste of home! After feeling the stimulation of the spiciness, Peng Yan picked up a few strands of noodles and put them into his mouth. The bounciness of the noodles and its smoothness, coupled with the rich aroma of the oil further added to his appetite. It had been a few months since he had a proper meal. He usually relied on medication to suppress his psychological barrier towards food and needed to go to the hospital for nutritional injections every week. At that moment, the two home-cooked dishes in front of him evoked his memories of his hometown. These two dishes all tasted like home! In less than two minutes, Peng Yan had finished the entire big bowl of Oil Doused Noodles. Perhaps it was because of the spiciness, but the corners of his eyes were also wet.. Chapter 11 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios When Teacher Li saw Peng Yan finish the entire bowl of oil doused noodles, a surprised and gratified smile appeared on her face. Peng Yan was suffering from anorexia, which brought great pressure to their family. Long-term anorexia has caused his extreme weight loss, weak health, and even symptoms of anxiety and depression. It had also affected his normal life and work. Teacher Li saw this and felt pain in her heart, but she could not help. The death rate of anorexia sufferers was as high as 10%. It is a disorder that was difficult to treat. Surgery treatment would not work either. The country stipulated that the patient¡¯s medical history of anorexia had to be longer than three years before surgery could be carried out. Yet Xu Le¡¯s cooking actually allowed Peng Yan to eat in big mouthfuls. To Li Jing, this was a miracle. ¡°How is it?¡± Li Jing asked with concern when she saw Peng Yan finish the Oil Doused Noodles. ¡°Delicious!¡± Peng Yan patted his stomach in satisfaction and gave Xu Le a thumbs up. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious! At such a young age, his cooking skills have already reached such a high level!¡± ¡°These two Sichuan dishes are very authentic. They are similar to the ones I ate when my mother cooked for me when I was young.¡± Peng Yan said happily as he recalled these memories. Actually. The taste of good food alone could hardly ease his underlying psychological barriers. The main reason why he was cured of anorexia. It was these two authentic Sichuan cuisines that made him recall the taste of home. For every Chinese, the best food always came from their hometown. Specifically, it was the taste of their mother¡¯s cooking. That was because it was the first experience of a person¡¯s taste buds when they were young. It was engraved in the deepest part of their DNA and memories, and it was also the best memory. It was this kind of yearning that made Peng Yan put down his his resistance and break through his psychological barrier, allowing him to eat the entire bowl of Oil Doused Noodles. A psychological illness. It still had to rely on mental satisfaction to heal. ¡°Thank you, Xu Le!¡± Peng Yan walked over and hugged Xu Le tightly as he spun around. One could feel the joy in his heart from his expression. An excellent dish should not be limited to filling one¡¯s stomach. It should be able to satisfy and heal one¡¯s soul. All of a sudden, Xu Le heard a mechanical system notification. [Mission: The stall cannot only have staple food!] [Congratulations, host. Kung Pao Chicken has earned the customers¡¯ satisfaction. You are rewarded with ¡°Tomato Egg Soup Recipe¡±!] [Reward has been issued!] In his mind, information about cooking tomato egg soup instantly filled him. In other words, the dishes that Xu Le could cook included one staple food, one main dish, and one soup. ¡°Xu Le, you¡¯re too awesome!¡± Peng Yan placed Xu Le on the bench and praised him continuously. At the side, Li Jing patted his shoulder and said softly, ¡°You are not allowed to curse in front of children!¡± Peng Yan was in a good mood and nodded with a smile. His anorexia was like a dark cloud that covered his heart. It had finally dissipated that day. After the knot in his heart was resolved, coupled with medication, his anorexia should be relieved or even cured within a week. ¡°Xu Le, your Sichuan dish is really good. It tastes very good!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve eaten a lot of Sichuan dishes in restaurants, but none of them are as good as yours. In fact, they¡¯re far worse.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Xu Le put his hands on his hips and said proudly. What a joke! These recipes were all obtained from the system. How could ordinary restaurants compare to them? Li Jing added, ¡°Xu Le has been setting up a stall outside our school this morning. The queue was really long.¡± ¡°Set up a stall?¡± Peng Yan was slightly stunned when he heard that. At such a young age, it was indeed rare for him to set up a stall. Then, Peng Yan seemed to have recalled something important. He turned to Xu Le and asked seriously, ¡°Xu Le, are you setting up a stall because¡­ you¡¯re short of money?¡± Although he did not know why the other party asked this question, Xu Le still nodded honestly. ¡°Then I might really be able to help you¡­¡± Peng Yan muttered. ¡°Our company recently built a food street and it¡¯s not far from here. It¡¯s just opened now and there¡¯s a lot of human traffic.¡± ¡°If you¡¯d like, I can help you apply for a simple booth.¡± Xu Le¡¯s face lit up with joy when he heard the news. This was a timely help! Actually, he had the same thought before. However, without special channels, it was too troublesome to apply for a stall in a place like a food street. There were all sorts of procedures, and various layers of approval he needed to get, not to mention the high cost. At least it was not possible to be complete within a month. The matter that Peng Yan suddenly brought this up was exactly what Xu Le wanted. After all, he could not always set up a stall at the entrance of the kindergarten. He would definitely seek greater development in the future. Like opening a restaurant. Perhaps this stall at the food street was his first step to opening a shop. ¡°I can help you apply for a simple stall. The stall fee is 200 yuan a day. Is that okay?¡± Peng Yan asked. Xu Le was about to agree. The system¡¯s voice sounded again. [Ding! Host has triggered a random mission!] [Mission Details: Set up a food stall in the food street. Earn a daily revenue exceeding 5,000 yuan.] [Mission Reward: Gourmet Points*100] When he saw the system mission panel, especially the 100 gourmet points as the mission reward, Xu Le was pleasantly surprised. The difficulty of obtaining Gourmet Points was exceptionally high. It could only be obtained from system missions. The few missions that Xu Le had completed previously did not award any Gourmet points. This was the first time they were rewarded for this stall mission. ¡°100 Gourmet points!¡± Xu Le¡¯s heart was filled with passion. These 100 points could be exchanged for many good things in the System Shop, such as recipes, kitchenware, rare ingredients¡­ ¡°Sure!¡± Xu Le¡¯s eyes lit up as he agreed. Even without the system mission, he would have agreed. After all, this was a good opportunity to earn money. Setting up a stall at the entrance of the kindergarten was not a long-term solution. The kindergarten did not have a lot of customers, and the stall could only be opened in the morning and evening. He could only earn a few hundred yuan a day at most, which was not enough to satisfy Xu Le¡¯s expectations. But the newly opened Hongxing Food Street was different. Xu Le had only seen it on the local news last night. On the day the food street opened for business, it had attracted 185,000 daily customers. Xu Le had absolute confidence that with his superb culinary skills, he would definitely make a fortune on this street! Chapter 12 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After careful consideration, Xu Le chose the name of his stall based on a food documentary he had seen in his previous life¡ª ¡°Taste of China¡± This was the name of Xu Le¡¯s stall. Even after he left the food street to open a proper restaurant in the future, Xu Le still wanted to use this name. In this restaurant, your tongue can taste all kinds of delicacies from all over China. Xu Le had the ¡°Strongest Master Chef System¡±, so the recipe in the system was not restricted to any particular cuisine. There are eight major Chinese cuisines: Shandong, Sichuan, Cantonese, Jiangsu, Min, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Hui. Other than that, there were Hong Kong cuisine, Taiwan cuisine, and many other delicacies that were not included. Among the 9.6 million square kilometers land area of China, Xu Le was able to obtain a perfect recipe from the system for any type of cuisine. Hence, Xu Le¡¯s shop naturally couldn¡¯t be called ¡°authentic Oil Doused Noodles¡± or ¡°authentic Sichuan Cuisine¡±. Since the dishes included all the delicacies in China. Then why not just call it ¡°Taste of China¡±! ¡­ September 3, Saturday. Hongxing Food Street. Since it was the weekend, the food street was already packed with people. Everywhere one looked, there was a black mass of people, causing people to feel suffocated. However, this street was exceptionally lively. All the snacks from all over the world were gathered and sold here. All kinds of fragrances mixed together in the air, and the pleasant sounds of cooking utensils clashing filled the ears. Among the many shops, there was a small stall that had just opened. The stall wasn¡¯t big, only about five square meters. There was also a small table and four small stools. Xu Le dismantled his push cart and remodeled it into a new stove. A signboard was erected at the entrance of the stall¡ª¡±Taste of China¡±. Beside it was written¡ª Today¡¯s menu: 12 RMB for Oil Doused Noodles, 8 RMB for Tomato Egg Soup, 20 RMB for Kung Pao Chicken. Other than that, everything else was simple. Since it was Saturday, Xu Tian did not need to go to kindergarten. Hence, Xu Le brought her along. ¡°Hopefully there¡¯s a good start on the first day of business!¡± Xu Le stretched and prepared to start the day¡¯s work. In this busy food street, amidst the smoke, Xu Le¡¯s shop finally opened for business. ¡°It¡¯s the authentic Oil Doused Noodles. Don¡¯t miss it as you walk by!¡± Xu Le imitated some of the television dramas he had watched in his previous life and shouted at the passers-by. ¡°Tomato egg soup. If it¡¯s not good, it¡¯s free!¡± ¡°Kung Pao Chicken, definitely the best Kung Pao Chicken you¡¯ve ever tasted!¡± Xu Le had learned all of this shouting from the movies he watched. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s useful¡­¡± Xu Le was still muttering to himself. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I be embarrassed if it didn¡¯t work?¡± But Xu Le was obviously overthinking. It was very rare for an eight-year-old child to bring his three-year-old sister out to set up a stall. In the society, people would not be interested in things that they were used to. But if it was something they had never seen before¡­ Then they would be paying much attention to it! Seeing such a strange combination appearing on the food street, many pedestrians quickly came over to take a look. ¡°Hubby, look, there¡¯s a little kid selling food over there!¡± ¡°Taste of China? How dare they come up with such a resounding name?¡± ¡°They should be the children of the stall owner. How could they set up a stall at such a young age?¡± ¡°These two children are so good-looking. If only our children could be so cute in the future.¡± ¡°Oil doused noodles? Kung Pao chicken? Can a child¡¯s food be good?¡± ¡°How about¡­ a taste? It¡¯s not expensive, anyway.¡± ¡°¡­¡± More and more people gathered around and started to chatter among themselves. Xu Le was not disturbed at all. Although he had officially opened his shop, many ingredients were not prepared yet. It would take at least half an hour to start selling. He had to knead the dough¡­ They were all extremely familiar steps. However, Xu Le had prepared a lot of flour this time. It would be sufficient to prepare at least a few hundred bowls. Leavening the noodles required half an hour. During this time, Xu Le planned to make a pot of tomato egg soup. This was truly a very simple dish. After a day of training in the system space, Xu Le had already mastered it to a very high level. He chopped the corriander into pieces and diced the tomatoes. He boiled water in a pot and placed the tomatoes inside. Two to three minutes later, the tomatoes softened, and the taste of the tomatoes entered the water. At this moment, he needed to mix some starch. Xu Le took out an empty bowl. He added 60 grams of corn starch, 250 grams of water, and stirred them evenly. After all, he was opening a shop now, so he needed to prepare a huge amount. While cooking the soup, a gossipy lady started to interact with Xu Le. ¡°How old are you?¡± ¡°Where do you go to school?¡± ¡°What grade are you in?¡± ¡°Why did you come out to set up a stall?¡± ¡°What do parents do?¡± ¡°How much can you earn in a day?¡± ¡°Where did you learn how to cook?¡± The auntie¡¯s mouth was like a machine gun. She had all kinds of questions that was completely non-exhaustive. Xu Le didn¡¯t reply and just quietly cooked. From the start to the end, he kept his mouth tightly shut. Those who did not know would think that this child was a mute. Xu Le finally heaved a sigh of relief after the lady left. He knew these aunties too well. As long as he replied to her that day, this auntie would be able to find out about all eight generations of his ancestors. It would take at least an hour or two to send her away.. Chapter 13 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After mixing the starch, Xu Le slowly added it into the pot. When he poured it in, he left behind a little in the bowl so that he could adjust the texture of the soup. He would pour it in when he needed afterwards. As the temperature in the pot rose, many bubbles appeared on the somewhat thick tomato soup. Xu Le poured the twenty eggs that he had beaten into the bubbling water. The bubbling indicated that the temperature there was the highest. When mixed eggs were poured in, they would quickly solidify under the high temperature and become beautiful scattered egg. At the same time, Xu Le used his chopsticks to gently stir the scattered egg. The egg was like a string of cheese, turning into a thin and long string. As the chopsticks stirred, it spun continuously in the pot like an egg vortex. It was very beautiful. He added a few spoonfuls of salt and white pepper powder. Then, he added a few drops of sesame oil. The condiments of this dish were just that simple. After all, it was a very light-tasting soup dish. The chopped coriander was sprinkled inside. Instantly, the entire pot of tomato egg soup emitted a smell. The sweetness and sourness of the tomatoes, the fragrance of the eggs, and the spicy flavor of the white pepper were all perfect. Due to the addition of starch, the soup was slightly thick, allowing the scattered, which was as thin as a cicada¡¯s wing, to float at the top to ensure that the eggs could be eaten with each mouthful of the soup. Xu Le scooped out a bowl from the pot and took a sip. From the boiling tomato egg soup, a delicious taste rushed straight to his heart. ¡°This is the right taste.¡± A satisfied smile appeared on Xu Le¡¯s face. The taste of home was exactly what he wanted to make. In China, tomato egg soup was a common home-cooked dish. Especially in rural areas, many people would grow tomatoes and raise chickens. Sometimes, one would pick two tomatoes from the tree and collect two eggs from the chicken coop to make a pot of delicious tomato egg soup. When the children at home returned home in the evening after playing outside and smelled the fragrance, their appetite was immediately boosted and they could drink two bowls in one go. Therefore, to many people, this was really the taste of home. At the same time, this was also what Xu Le wanted to make. It did not need any high-end cooking techniques or exotic ingredients. All Xu Le wanted was to use simple tomatoes and eggs to make a bowl of soup that would make people reminisce. This was the greatest culinary skill to Xu Le. Of course, Xu Le¡¯s bowl of tomato egg soup was not simple either. Xu Le chose the best ingredients. He went to the market in the morning to pick fresh tomatoes. They were sweet enough and high moisture content. He also used farm eggs, which were also three times more expensive than ordinary eggs, but the taste was more fragrant and rich, and the taste produced could be upgraded to a whole new level. Although all these would increase the cost, Xu Le felt that it was worth it. ¡°The tomato egg soup is ready! Eight yuan for a bowl!¡± Xu Le shouted. The customers who had been waiting for a long time immediately raised their hands and shouted for a bowl. ¡°Little Boss, give me a bowl!¡± ¡°It smells so good. I¡¯ll buy two bowls!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy a bowl and take it away!¡± ¡°Mommy, I want to drink Brother¡¯s soup. Can you buy it for me?¡± A little boy who looked two years younger than Xu Le hugged his mother¡¯s thigh and pleaded coquettishly. ¡°A bowl, then.¡± His mother picked up his phone and scanned the QR code to pay. Then, she signaled Xu Le to bring her a bowl of tomato egg soup. Xu Le picked up a big soup ladle and stirred the pot. He scooped the soup out and placed it in an empty bowl. Not a drop was spilled. Not even a drop. The bowl of tomato egg soup was handed to the little boy¡¯s mother. ¡°The spoon is beside you. You can take it yourself.¡± Everyone immediately focused their attention on the little boy. No one knew if this bowl of tomato egg soup was good or not. Although it did smell good, the chef was only an eight-year-old boy. Could an eight-year-old make such delicious food? It was really hard to believe without tasting it personally¡­ Sitting down at a nearby table, the boy scooped up a spoonful of soup and blew on it gently before swallowing it. It was like everyone¡¯s innate talent. Before eating hot food, they would blow on it to cool it down. Of course, there was another smoother way¡ªsucking to cool down. Due to the fact that it had just come out of the pot, it was still boiling hot even after blowing a few times. After the little boy drank the tomato egg soup, his tongue kept moving in his mouth and he kept sucking in air to cool the food down. During this process, the soup rolled around in his mouth. The taste of tomato egg soup was left on the tip, the end and bottom of his tongue. After tasting the tomato egg soup, the boy¡¯s eyes lit up. Although the tomato egg soup was hot, the fragrance it contained made one feel refreshed. ¡°This is so delicious!¡± The little boy cheered loudly and tugged at his mother¡¯s sleeve. His mother leaned over suspiciously and scooped a spoonful of soup into her mouth. The fresh sweetness of the tomatoes and the mellow taste of the eggs instantly spread between her lips, teeth, and tongue. Although this bowl of tomato egg soup was light, it tasted extremely rich. Especially since Xu Le chose all kinds of high-quality ingredients, he completely unleashed the original taste of the ingredients. Coupled with his superb culinary skills, the final taste of the soup was rich in layers. ¡°Delicious!¡± The boy¡¯s mother had the same reaction as the boy. After tasting a mouthful, she was completely won over by the deliciousness of this bowl of tomato egg soup. ¡°Boss, please give me a bowl of tomato egg soup and a bowl of oil doused noodles!¡± The boy¡¯s mother shouted urgently, as if afraid that if she said it too late, the delicious taste would disappear. ¡°The tomato egg soup will be served to you first. You will have to wait for a while for the oil doused noodles.¡± Xu Le was all smiles. Perhaps it was every chef¡¯s dream to be able to produce food that could gain the approval of customers. Looking at the tightly packed customers in front of the stall, Xu Le estimated that¡­ his target of 5,000 yuan that day should not be a problem.. Chapter 14 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Hello, everyone. This is the newly-opened Hongxing food street. It is in the business center of Jing¡¯an District in Shanghai.¡± ¡°Today, I¡¯ll lead everyone to see what delicious and fun things there are here!¡± A pretty girl with a hot body was walking along the food street with a selfie stick. The passers-by all looked at her in surprise. Every few steps she took, someone would come up to take a photo with her. Some people would take out their phones and record a video of her. Her name was Qin Yun. She was a very popular social media influencer with more than 15 million fans. Usually, half of the time, she would broadcast her game live-stream. The other half of the time, she would leave her house and live-stream outdoors. At the same time, Qin Yun was also a foodie. Hence, she would often film some video clips of visiting food stalls. ¡°This is also the first time I am here. I wonder what delicacies there are.¡± ¡°But based on my years of hunting for food¡­ stores with long queues usually taste good.¡± Qin Yun smiled and revealed her small canine teeth, which was very cute. After walking for more than a hundred meters, a small store by the road attracted Qin Yun¡¯s attention. It was surrounded by a crowd, so one could barely see the signboard. ¡°Taste of China?¡± This name immediately aroused Qin Yun¡¯s curiosity. After all, this was a food street, not a high-end mall. Other shops had names such as ¡°Li Ji Roasted Pork Trotters¡± and ¡°Chongqing Mixed Noodles¡±. But this small shop had actually come up with such an abstract name and there were so many people queuing? There were at least dozens of people queuing up, and smoke drifted out from the crowded crowd. ¡°Let¡¯s go and see what delicious food this store has.¡± Qin Yun took her phone and walked over excitedly. She squeezed through the crowd and came to the front. Qin Yun was dumbfounded. The stall owner was actually an eight-year-old child? Were there no adults at all? Qin Yun looked around and only saw Xu Tian, Xu Le¡¯s younger sister. She was even younger and was sitting on a small stool seriously playing with toys. ¡°Little kid, are you the stall owner here?¡± Qin Yun asked curiously. ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Le looked up and saw a pretty big sister doing a live-stream on her phone. He took a closer look and realized that she looked familiar. He seemed to have seen her before when he was watching videos. ¡°Could she be a popular live-streamer?¡± Xu Le muttered to himself. At the same time, the number of comments on the live-stream also increased. When the audience saw that the stall owner was an eight-year-old child, their curiosity was piqued. ¡°Can an eight-year-old cook delicious food?¡± ¡°Host, give it a try. Tell us if it tastes good.¡± ¡°I think it should taste pretty good. Otherwise, why are there so many people queuing up here?¡± ¡°That might not be the case. Maybe it¡¯s just a publicity stunt. An eight-year-old chef is a perfect gimmick.¡± At this moment, an argument had already started in the broadcast room. Many audience members were urging Qin Yun to have a taste. Qin Yun also saw the comments, but she still wanted to learn more about the situation from Xu Le. ¡°Little kid, how old are you?¡± Qin Yun tried to make herself appear more approachable when she asked this question. Xu Le almost rolled his eyes. Why was everyone asking him this question? He had already been asked for at least ten times that day. Were these adults that curious about the age of children? However, seeing that the other party was a broadcaster and his food stall needed publicity, Xu Le still answered her. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ eight years old today!¡± ¡°You are already out setting up a stall at the age of eight years old.¡± Qin Yun was obviously surprised. Normally speaking, an eight-year-old child should have just started elementary school and should be watching cartoons and doing homework at home. Meanwhile, Xu Le, who was in front of her, had already started doing business at a young age. ¡°Little kid, why did you come out to set up a stall?¡± Qin Yun continued to ask. After hearing this question, Xu Le was like a deflated ball as he sighed helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s all because of life. There¡¯s no other way to repay the mortgage.¡± Xu Le sighed while he spoke, as though he was burdened by life. If this was said by a middle-aged man who was down and out, perhaps it would make everyone feel a little pitiful, making people sigh at the hardships of life. The effect was completely different when it came from an eight-year-old. When they heard Xu Le say that he was forced by life and wanted to earn money to repay the loan, the surrounding customers all laughed. Qin Yun was no exception. Of course, she did not believe Xu Le¡¯s words. However, she felt that this child was quite interesting. At such a young age, he probably didn¡¯t even know a few Chinese characters. Yet, he was able to put on an attitude as if he had seen through life. This strong contrast made people feel that he was very adorable. Xu Le sighed again and looked at Qin Yun with bitter eyes. He knew what these people were laughing about. These people must think that a child like him was trying to speak like an adult. However, Xu Le was telling the truth. Xu Le really had over a million yuan worth of mortgage to repay! There was also a younger sister who needed to be raised! He was not lying!!! On the other hand, when the customers and audience saw Xu Le¡¯s resentful gaze, they laughed even more happily, treating Xu Le like a cute child. The popularity of the live stream also soared. After all, it was very rare to see such a cute child who had set up a stall to earn money at such a young age. ¡°This little boy is too cute. Hahahaha.¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen through the realities of life at such a young age. How adorable.¡± ¡°Even my grandfather can¡¯t say such words.¡± ¡°Host, quickly have a taste. Does the child¡¯s cooking taste good?¡± Seeing that the audience in the live-stream was urging her, Qin Yun did not keep them in suspense anymore. She was also looking forward to Xu Le¡¯s cooking. Most importantly, as she stood there, she could smell the fragrance coming from the snack stall. She was already salivating. ¡°Little friend, please give me a serving of Oil Doused Noodles, Kung Pao Chicken and tomato egg soup!¡± Chapter 15 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Little friend, please give me a serving of Oil Doused Noodles, Kung Pao Chicken and tomato egg soup!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xu Le nodded. However, there were dozens of people queuing in front of Qin Yun, so she had to wait for a while. There were people around who recognized Qin Yun and wanted to take photos with her. So Xu Le also learnt that she was a popular broadcaster with 15 million fans. But this did not conflict with her having to queue. At Xu Le¡¯s stall, regardless how popular a broadcaster was, they did not have priority. All the customers were treated equally. They have to queue up. Qin Yun was not an arrogant person. She stood at the side and waited patiently. When someone wanted to take a photo with her, Qin Yun agreed in a friendly manner. She was very friendly to her fans. Xu Le had a good impression of her because of this. While waiting, Qin Yun aimed the camera at Xu Le, who was cooking. Xu Le held the pot handle in his left hand and the spatula in his right. The two kitchen utensils seemed to be glued to his hands, and he was able to use them extremely smoothly. As Xu Le started to stir-fry, the aroma of the Kung Pao Chicken wafted out. ¡°It smells so good!¡± Qin Yun shouted in surprise. Standing at the side and smelling the fragrance but not being able to eat it made one feel very uncomfortable. However, after observing Xu Le¡¯s cooking steps, one could tell that his culinary skills were definitely not that simple! Qin Yun had filmed quite a number of videos when visiting various stores in the past. She had also filmed the cooking scenes of some chefs. However, even the chefs in the famous restaurants didn¡¯t have the same familiarity as Xu Le. Most importantly, Xu Le would show a sense of confidence and enjoyment when he cooked. This was something that other chefs did not possess. After waiting anxiously for 20 minutes, it was finally Qin Yun¡¯s turn. A bowl of tomato egg soup, a bowl of oil doused noodles, and a plate of Kung Pao chicken. They were all handed to Qin Yun. ¡°Thank you!¡± Qin Yun said very politely. Then, she couldn¡¯t wait any longer and took a spoon to taste the tomato egg soup. In these 20 minutes, Qin Yun stood at the side and smelled the fragrance of the delicacies but could not eat them. It was simply torture. Qin Yun even joked humorously in front of her camera, ¡°If I have done anything wrong, please let the law punish me instead of letting me stand next to the children¡¯s food stall and smell the food.¡± Finally, the dishes she had ordered were here. Of course, Qin Yun was extremely excited. As soon as the tomato egg soup entered her mouth, her pupils immediately trembled because¡­ this bowl of soup was too delicious! Generally speaking, if one hadn¡¯t eaten a food for a long time, they would have higher expectations for it. When they actually ate it, they might end up feeling disappointed. But this bowl of tomato egg soup was different. The anticipation that Qin Yun had for it was already very high, but when it really entered her mouth¡­ This bowl of common tomato egg soup was far more delicious than her imagination. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious!¡± Qin Yun¡¯s eyes were shining. She was like a hungry wolf that had suddenly seen a piece of delicious beef. She was probably¡­ feeling that day. In less than half a minute, Qin Yun finished the big bowl of tomato egg soup. Xu Le frowned while he watched at the side. ¡®This big sister is so beautiful, why is she¡­ not demure at all?¡¯ However, her personality was still very likable to him. At least, she was very real in front of the camera. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious!¡± Qin Yun faced the camera and was not stingy with her praise. ¡°If there are any friends watching the live-stream who live in Shanghai, don¡¯t miss this little kid¡¯s food stall.¡± ¡°I especially recommend this tomato egg soup. It¡¯s so delicious! You¡¯ll regret it for life if you don¡¯t drink it!¡± ¡°Friends who live in Shanghai must come! I strongly recommend it!!!¡± ¡°Just look for the one that has the longest queue in the newly opened Hongxing Food Street!¡± Qin Yun was so excited that she could barely speak properly. She crazily recommended Xu Le¡¯s restaurant to the audience in the live-stream. If it was during normal times, the audience would definitely think that Qin Yun was advertising or had been sponsored. However, at this moment, the look of satisfaction and enjoyment on Qin Yun¡¯s face did not seem to be fake. This was true happiness from the bottom of her heart after tasting the delicacies! If it was a performance, then¡­ Qin Yun¡¯s acting skills were probably enough to win an Oscar award. Moreover, Qin Yun was famous for being realistic on the entire live-stream platform. Especially when she was filming a video of visiting a food stall, she would always say whatever she wanted to express her true thoughts. Hence, the audience in the live-stream could not help but drool when they saw Qin Yun giving such a high evaluation. Some Shanghai locals had already begun changing their clothes and shoes, wanting to experience it for themselves. After finishing the tomato egg soup, Qin Yun focused her attention on the Kung Pao chicken and Oil doused noodles. The two Sichuan dishes also looked very tempting! It was glistening with red oil. Even before she ate it, she could already smell the alluring fragrance coming from it. ¡°Let me try one strand first.¡± Qin Yun picked up a strand of noodles and put it into her mouth. She gently bit down on the chewy noodles, and the spicy and oil flavor of the noodles exploded in her mouth. ¡°This Oil Doused Noodles is also super delicious. It¡¯s not any worse than the tomato egg soup. Everyone, please order the tomato egg soup and Oil Doused Noodles!¡± Two minutes later, Qin Yun¡¯s words changed again. ¡°This Kung Pao Chicken is also super delicious! It¡¯s as delicious as the first two! Everyone must order it when they come! Everyone must have a taste!¡± There were only three dishes at Xu Le¡¯s stall. Yet Qin Yun recommended all three dishes, which were all of them. And it wasn¡¯t even bragging. Even through the camera¡¯s screen, the audience could feel how tempting the food was. After finishing all the delicacies on the table, Qin Yun then noticed that the number of viewers in her live-stream had reached more than four million. It was ranked seventh on the entire live broadcast platform! Qin Yun widened her mouth in shock. One had to know that those who could enter the top ten on the live-stream platform were basically some big stars or top internet celebrities with tens of millions of fans. Before this, the highest ranking of Qin Yun¡¯s live-stream was only about 40. While filming at food store that day, the popularity of her live-stream actually shot up to seventh! The number of viewers in the live stream room was 5 to 6 times more than usual! Chapter 16 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Qin Yun¡¯s live-stream shot into the top ten most popular broadcast. Actually, it was not that strange. On the live streaming platform, there were many influencers and internet celebrities who usually sang and danced. There were very few streamers like Qin Yun who were truly immersed in recording and reflecting the lives of the public. The content of Qin Yun¡¯s live-stream was in stark contrast to those online influencers. In addition, Xu Le was an eight-year-old child who had set up a stall by the roadside. It was quite obvious the kind of reaction it would garner. Hence, it was not strange that the live-stream would attract so many viewers. The popularity of the live-stream shot up to the top ten and became a recommendation of the platform. The contents of Qin Yun¡¯s live-stream was also edited by other people and became popular on the platform. There were even a few videos that had more than three million views. In half an hour, Qin Yun received more than a thousand private messages. They were all asking about where Xu Le¡¯s stall was located. ¡­ ¡°Little Boss, you¡¯ve already become famous online!¡± ¡°Little kid, you¡¯re a big star now!¡± ¡°They gave you a nickname¡ªthe eight-year-old Master Chef.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The people around them were all exchanging sentences in laughter as they reported the good news. It made Xu Le not know whether to laugh or cry. He was not surprised that he had become popular online. But these netizens¡­ how could they give people nicknames? Eight-year-old Master Chef? Xu Le blushed when he heard this nickname. Although his current culinary skills were indeed not bad, and these three signature dishes were all done to perfection. But if they really wanted to call him ¡®Master Chef¡¯¡­ it was still beyond him. After all, which Master Chef could only cook three dishes? However, Xu Le was confident in himself. With the help of the system and his hard work, there would be a day when he would really become the Master Chef and make this title live up to its name! Soon, in front of Xu Le¡¯s food stall. There were more and more customers. Many people only found this place after watching Qin Yun¡¯s live-stream. There was even a group of uncles and aunties, about ten of them. All of them had grey hair and were over sixty years old. They arrived at Xu Le¡¯s store together. ¡°Hi, Grandpa and Grandma. Do you guys want something to eat¡­¡± It was his first time receiving such a large group of elderly people and Xu Le was feeling a little nervous. ¡°Ten bowls of oil doused noodles and two plates of Kung Pao chicken.¡± The leading grandfather said. From his accent, it was obvious that he was from Sichuan. A few minutes later, all ten bowls of Oil doused noodles were ready. They were sprinkled with condiments and a large spoonful of boiling vegetable seed oil. Watching Xu Le¡¯s actions, the few elders nodded. Clearly, they felt that Xu Le¡¯s cooking technique was very authentic. All of them were from Sichuan and were living in Shanghai for various reasons. If you ask them if they missed their hometown, there is no doubt about their answer. The older a person was, the more they liked to reminisce. They would miss their hometown and the past. The few of them had just been enjoying the shade and playing chess in a nearby park when they suddenly heard that there was authentic and delicious Oil Doused Noodles being sold at a newly opened food street nearby, so they all rushed over. Their goal was very simple. They wanted to have a taste of their hometown. The grandpa¡¯s hands were trembling as he held the bowl of noodles. He had thought that the stall owner might be from his hometown in Sichuan Province, but when he arrived, he realized that the stall owner was just a cute eight-year-old kid. This made the grandpa slightly disappointed. Would an eight-year-old kid be able to make an authentic Oil Doused Noodles? However, after he took a bite, the Grandpa was first stunned, as if he was at a loss, but also a little disbelieving. But then, Grandpa¡¯s blurry eyes became moist. Although no tears fell, it was obvious that his eyes were brimming with tears. The other elders around him had similar reactions. They did not speak, nor did they use paper to wipe the tears from the corners of their eyes. They just lowered their heads and ate the noodles. They remained silent. As they lowered their heads to eat the bowl of Oil Doused Noodles. Everyone turned to look at them, including the live-stream camera in Qin Yun¡¯s hands. For a moment, the originally bustling food street became incomparably quiet. It was as if something had struck their hearts. The image of these elderly eating their noodles quietly with their heads lowered was deeply embedded in everyone¡¯s heart, like a painting. A painting that shot straight to the heart. ¡°Mom, what happened to these grandpas and grandmas?¡± A childish voice sounded. Soon, his mother bent down and whispered into his ear, ¡°These grandpas and grandmas are just missing their homes.¡± The child scratched his head as if he didn¡¯t quite understand what his mother meant. ¡°Do they miss home too? I thought I was the only one who wanted to go home when I was in school¡­¡± The little boy looked like he was only seven or eight years old. Clearly, he could not understand the emotions of the elders. However, the surrounding customers did not laugh at him. That¡¯s right. How could a child understand the feeling of missing the hometown? If the boy wanted to go home during school lessons, he just had to wait quietly for school to end. However, for various reasons, these elders who were far away from their hometown might never be able to return. Even if they were to step onto the same land again. However, the passage of time had changed everything around them. Things were the same, but the people have changed. Would their hometown really still be their hometown? They could return to their hometown, but they could not return to those years again. Xu Le silently watched as the elders finished their noodles. ¡°Thank you.¡± The leading grandfather looked at Xu Le and thanked him softly. ¡°You are a great cook. It¡¯s the most authentic¡­ oil doused noodles I¡¯ve had in years¡­ thank you.¡± Then, the grandpa took out a few crumpled notes from his pocket and handed them to Xu Le. The price of a bowl of noodles was 15 yuan, and a serving of Kung Pao Chicken was 20 yuan. It was a total of 190 yuan. ¡°Grandpa, you don¡¯t have to pay me.¡± Xu Le shook his head and did not accept it. But the old man was also very stubborn. He did not retract his hand that was holding the note. Xu Le had no choice but to take the money from the old man. But before the old man could react, he stuffed the money back into his grandfather¡¯s pocket. ¡°Grandpa, there¡¯s a lucky draw event at the opening of our restaurant today. A random customer can eat free of charge!¡± ¡°Grandpa, congratulations on winning the prize!¡± As he spoke, Xu Le made a face at the grandpa. The grandpa was stunned. This time, he did not insist on paying. Instead, he patted Xu Le¡¯s little head. ¡°Child, work hard. You must spread Sichuan Cuisine around the world.¡± ¡°Let the whole world have a taste of our Sichuan cuisine!¡± Chapter 17 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Jing¡¯an District, Wanda Mall. ¡°Mommy, I want to eat this!¡± The boy, who looked to be around 10-year-old, held his phone up to his mother. The video playing on the phone was Qin Yun¡¯s live-stream that was edited by someone. The content was about eight-year-old Xu Le stir-frying a Kung Pao Chicken. The video already had more than five million views and one million likes. ¡°It¡¯s at Hongxing Food Street. It¡¯s too far away from us, and there are so many people waiting in line. Let¡¯s not go!¡± His mom glanced at the address and immediately refused. ¡°No, no, no. The video said that this restaurant¡¯s Oil Doused Noodles is really delicious!¡± ¡°Chen Yu, why are you so disobedient? These videos are all lies.¡± ¡°I¡¯m instistent on going. It¡¯s my birthday today. Mom, you promised me that I can eat anything I want to eat!¡± The boy called Chen Yu said reluctantly. ¡°Aye¡­¡± His mom sighed. Calmly, she said to Chen Yu, ¡°Be good and listen to me. There are too many people queuing at these popullar stores. Let¡¯s not go. Today is your birthday. Mom will bring you to eat your favorite McDonald¡¯s, okay?¡± ¡°Oh no, I just want to eat this food in the video!¡± As they spoke, the little boy was on the verge of crying and throwing tantrum on the ground. In the end, his mother could not dissuade him and could only bring him to Hongxing Food Street. Like him, similar scenes were playing out in many parts of Shanghai. In front of Xu Le¡¯s food stall, there were many rows of customers who were attracted to come because of the live-stream. They surrounded the place so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through. ¡°Little kid, I want a serving of every dish!¡± ¡°Give me two servings of Oil Doused Noodles!¡± ¡°How old are you, kid?¡± ¡°Little Boss, your culinary skills are really good!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Amidst all the noise and excitement, there were still people asking Xu Le how old he was. ¡°Stop asking. Stop asking.¡± Xu Le¡¯s mind was upset by this question. He glanced at the signboard that read ¡°Taste of China¡± beside him and suddenly had an idea. Since everyone was asking about his age. Should he change the name of the restaurant to ¡°8-year-old cafeteria¡± the next time he moved? At least these people wouldn¡¯t keep asking him how old he was. ¡­ As time passed. Night fell, but the crowd in front of Xu Le¡¯s food stall did not reduce at all. When it was almost reaching night, there were even more customers than in the afternoon. However, the ingredients prepared by Xu Le wouldn¡¯t last that long. Moreover, Xu Tian could not rest too late. Hence, Xu Le chose to stop business around 10 pm. The surrounding customers gradually dispersed, leaving only a few scattered people taking videos. In just one day, Xu Le¡¯s food stall had become a hot topic on Weibo and was even known by the entire country. This was the speed of the internet. The American artist Andy Warhol once said this: ¡°In the future, everyone would have 15 minutes to become famous.¡± Xu Le knew that his 15 minutes were here now that he had become famous online. As Xu Le was packing his things, a slightly plump man in a white chef¡¯s uniform walked over. Xu Le looked up and saw that the man was wearing a chef¡¯s hat that was about 30 centimeters high. This kind of hat was known as a chef¡¯s hat. It was 29.5 centimeters long. Usually, only the head chef or the senior chef of a hotel would wear this kind of hat. So¡­ the man in front of him was most likely the head chef of a certain hotel? Even though he did not know why the other party had come here. However, this was Xu Le¡¯s first time meeting someone in the same industry, so he looked at him with interest. ¡°Hello, little friend.¡± The chef smiled as he greeted, ¡°My name is Zhang Tong. I am a chef.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± Xu Le nodded. ¡°I want to buy a bowl of oil doused noodles, a bowl of tomato egg soup, and a plate of Kung Pao chicken.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t make it anymore. There are no more ingredients.¡± Xu Le shook his head and refused. That was the truth. He had used up all the ingredients he had prepared that day. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Zhang Tong fell into deep thought. ¡°Little kid, do you have any other ingredients here? Anything is fine. I want to try it.¡± Zhang Tong asked sincerely. He only saw the video online in the evening. From the video, Zhang Tong could already tell that Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills were definitely not simple. He immediately thought of coming over to try it. But it was already 9 pm after work, and the traffic in Shanghai was very heavy. Hence, Xu Le was already preparing to pack up by the time he arrived. ¡°Make anything?¡± Xu Le scratched his head. Since the other party was from the same industry, Xu Le wanted to satisfy him as much as possible. But the ingredients¡­ he did not have any here. ¡°Do you want me to get some rice from next door and cook some Egg Fried Rice for you?¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows and asked tentatively. Although Xu Le didn¡¯t receive the recipe for Egg Fried Rice from the system, However, culinary skills for one dish could be applied to other dishes. While he was mastering other dishes, his understanding of ingredients also deepened. Moreover in his previous life, he had watched a video of a chef teaching how to cook Egg Fried Rice. Xu Le had also practiced in the system space for a while. Probably¡­ a few hundred times. Therefore, Xu Le was confident that his Egg Fried Rice was still presentable. ¡°Egg Fried Rice, sounds good!¡± Zhang Tong beamed. Egg Fried Rice was considered a main dish. The cooking method was very simple. It was so simple that even people who had never cooked before could succeed in one try. However, it was precisely from this simple dish that one could see the high standard of a chef. Senior chefs were able to make the ordinary Egg Fried Rice taste extraordinary and even innovate according to their own style. Therefore, it was very suitable for Zhang Tong to let Xu Le cook a bowl of Egg Fried Rice.. Chapter 18 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le borrowed a bowl of rice from the stall next door. Everyone knew the trick of cooking Egg Fried Rice, which was to use overnight rice. Since some of the moisture in the overnight rice had evaporated, the rice grain would become more discrete. It wouldn¡¯t stick to one another when it was stir-fried and would be more chewy when it was eaten. The leftover rice that Xu Le was using were already steamed by noon. It had been ten hours, so it had met the requirements. Apart from rice, Xu Le also prepared eggs. He also bought ham, dried scallop, prawns, green peas, fresh bamboo shoots, chicken thigh, and many other ingredients from the nearby convenience store. Each ingredient was placed in a separate bowl, lined up in a dazzling line. ¡°Do you need so many ingredients to make a fried rice?¡± Zhang Tong frowned. He didn¡¯t understand. The increase in the number of ingredients would increase the richness and taste of the entire dish. But while using large quantities of ingredients, their flavours and textures might clash. For example, ham was salty, shrimp was sweet, and mushrooms tasted fresh¡­ All of these flavors were delicious alone. But when all of them were mixed together, it was likely to show the effect of one plus one being less than two. Therefore, many excellent chefs knew one thing: You can¡¯t have too many ingredients. For example, a piece of high-quality beef only needed to be seasoned and pan fried to produce a good taste. If too many miscellaneous ingredients were added into the mix, it was very likely to be adding unnecessary details. Seeing Xu Le choose so many ingredients, Zhang Tong was a little doubtful. However, he still stood quietly by the side and watched. Start the fire! On the stove, there was a bright red flame. Xu Le turned on the fire to high heat and heated the entire pan. After the pan was heated, he poured room-temperature oil into it. Immediately after, Xu Le took out the ingredients that he had prepared and poured them into the pan, stir-frying them to producing a fragrance. First, he added ham, then the dried scallops, mushrooms, fresh bamboo shoots, and finally chicken thigh meat. Sizzle¡ª The moment the ingredients came into contact with the oil, a pleasant sound of frying was heard. All the ingredients in the pan were of high quality. As Xu Le stir-fried them, the color of the food became more and more alluring. The fragrance instantly spread and attracted the attention of many passersby. Xu Le stirred the ingredients gently, revealing the cooked color at the bottom. The sound of the ingredients being fried suddenly grew louder, and it was obvious that the number of ingredients was increasing rapidly. After stir-frying for two minutes, he stopped cooking the ingredients. They were almost 50% cooked. He would still need to fry them again the second time later on. Just then, Xu Le picked up the bowl of rice from the side. He skillfully added a the beaten egg into it. As the egg yolk fell into the rice, Xu Le used his hands to knead it, making every grain of rice perfectly merge with the egg yolk, presenting a bright golden color. The ordinary rice looked like a bowl of golden beans. Under the illumination of the street lamps at night, it emitted a golden luster. He poured the rice with the egg yolk into the pan and quickly stir-fried it! This step must be fast! Otherwise, the rice would stick to the pan or stick together. Under the rapid stir-frying, the rice was heated, and the egg yolk on the surface quickly solidified. ¡°It¡¯s a pity there¡¯s no chicken soup.¡± Xu Le sighed. If he could add a spoonful of chicken soup into the fried rice¡­ the fragrance of the chicken soup would be completely integrated into the fried rice, allowing the taste to reach a higher level. Sizzle¡ª An intense sound came from the pan, and the alluring sound spread out, drifting across half the street. All kinds of saltiness, fragrance, freshness and sweetness fused together, but it did not seem out of place. Zhang Tong¡¯s pupils suddenly contracted, revealing an extremely shocked expression. There were so many ingredients, yet Xu Le was able to handle them perfectly! Generally speaking, this could only be done by a chef who was extremely experienced. But¡­ Xu Le was only eight years old! How long could a eight-year-old child have cooked for? Half a year¡­ a year? And that was the maximum amount of time. However, it was precisely such a young and immature child that was able to process the ingredients to such an extreme. He knew all about what ingredients to add first and later, how many seconds apart should they be added. Zhang Tong had only seen such terrifying control over the food ingredients from his master. However, it was a skill built on his master¡¯s decades of experience. Was this child¡­ really a natural Master Chef? Under Zhang Tong¡¯s shocked gaze, Xu Le picked up another pot of oil and started boiling it. Then, he poured the freshly filtered eggs into the pot at a very unique frequency and gradually stirred them. As the egg stirred rapidly, it was first scattered, then began to spin like a small whirlpool, and pulled into thin strands. ¡°This is scattered egg!¡± Zhang Tong was shocked again. It was not easy to make scattered egg. And he used a very unique method. He didn¡¯t think¡­ the kid in front of him could even master this. He scooped out the egg shreds and poured them onto the fried rice. The golden fried rice looked like it had a golden crown on. Xu Le sniffed the fragrance coming from the pan and was very satisfied. Finally, he sprinkled a handful of onions. The egg fragrance and rice fragrance of the fried rice were stimulated. After stir-frying for a while, the egg shreds and rice wrapped around each other like exquisite works of art. Whoosh¡ª A handful of peas were thrown in, followed by a quick stir-fry! The peas should have a soft and tender texture, so it could not be fried for a long time. During the quick stir-frying, a steam was released, carrying the fragrance of various ingredients. He quickly sprinkled the second batch of scallions, added salt and seasoning, and added the already cooked shrimps and rice wine into the pan. He turned the fire to high heat and stir-fried for ten seconds. Then, the food was served perfectly! Xu Le quickly prepared a bowl and poured the golden rice grains with golden egg shreds into it. It had the color of gold. Along with a fragrant smell. Every grain of rice was full and chewy, as if it could be broken with a blow. All the other ingredients were perfectly embellished in the dish. Not only did the color of the dish become more vibrant, but it also allowed the aroma of different flavors to interweave with each other, presenting a richer taste experience. ¡°The fried rice is ready. Have a taste.¡± Xu Le placed the bowl of fried rice in front of Zhang Tong, who was dumbfounded. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to pay later.. This bowl of fried rice¡­ costs 99 yuan¡± Chapter 19 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Don¡¯t forget to pay later. This bowl of fried rice¡­ costs 99 yuan¡± Xu Le reminded in his child-like voice. Although it was not cheap, Xu Le really did not ask for too much. After all, there were so many ingredients, such as ham, prawns, and dried scallop. The cost price itself already added up to 30 to 40 yuan. The most important thing was the cooking method. The ingredients could be bought with money, but Xu Le used a special method to make this bowl of fried rice. If one missed it, they would not get another chance to taste it. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say that this bowl of fried rice was the one and only. Xu Le had absolute confidence. As long as Zhang Tong tasted it, he would feel that the money was worth it. Zhang Tong stared blankly at the bowl of fried rice. He didn¡¯t care about the price at all. In the eyes of a top chef like him, a single dish of fried rice could be sold for over 100 yuan. The cost price was only a small portion. More to the point, you¡¯re paying for the chef¡¯s cooking and creativity. After staring blankly for a few seconds, he picked up the spoon and scooped a spoonful into his mouth. ¡°Delicious!¡± Zhang Tong was speechless. At this moment, there was only one thought in his mind¡ªDelicious! This bowl of Egg Fried Rice was definitely the best Egg Fried Rice he had ever eaten. Without any pause, Zhang Tong finished the Egg Fried Rice in less than half a minute. Even after he finished eating, he looked at the empty bowl reluctantly. He seemed to feel a little regretful. Although the taste lasted for a short period, it was forever engraved in his DNA. He had previously thought that Xu Le had used too many ingredients. If they were all fried in the same pot, the taste might clash. However, when he started eating, Zhang Tong realized something. Xu Le had matched the ingredients to taste perfectly. The effect could even be described as magical. For example, if you ate the rice and ham, the flavor presented would be savory. If the next bite was rice, prawns, and scallops, the taste would be fresh and sweet. Zhang Tong¡¯s worry about the conflict between the taste of the ingredients did not happen at all. It was even to the extent that every single mouthful he ate had a completely different taste. Suddenly, a dish appeared in Zhang Tong¡¯s mind. That dish was what his master had told him about when he was learning how to cook. It was also Egg Fried Rice. The name of the dish was ¡°Golden Egg Fried Rice¡±! Although the name sounded ordinary, in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, the Golden Egg Fried Rice was a court dish. Only the imperial chefs of the court had passed it down for generations and specially made it for the emperor. Unfortunately, as time passed, the palace was no longer there. Not to mention the inheritance of the imperial chef¡¯s recipe. The cooking method of the Golden Egg Fried Rice had long disappeared over time. According to his master, the last time the Golden Egg Fried Rice appeared was when a chef of the Peace Hotel appeared in the Republic of China. In that case¡­ Zhang Tong was shocked. This lost dish was actually made by Xu Le, who was only eight years old. Could it be¡­ Xu Le was a descendant of the imperial chefs? Otherwise, how could he know to cook the Golden Egg Fried Rice? The more he thought about it, the more shocked Zhang Tong became. The only thing he was certain about was that this child was not simple! ¡°I, Zhang Tong, have learned something today.¡± Zhang Tong stood in front of the food stall and bowed respectfully to Xu Le who was just a little kid. This surprised Xu Le. However, Xu Le quickly asked with a suspicious look, ¡°You suddenly gave such a big bow¡­ Are you thinking of not paying?¡± Zhang Tong didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. After all, he was the head chef of a big hotel. How could he owe a child payment for food? Zhang Tong took out a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to Xu Le. He also handed Xu Le a name card. ¡°Let me introduce myself again. My name is Zhang Tong, and I¡¯m the head chef of the Heavenly Restaurant. If possible, I¡¯d like to invite you to join our hotel.¡± ¡°Heavenly Restaurant?¡± Xu Le blinked his big black eyes. Soon, he recalled. The Heavenly Restaurant seemed to be a famous restaurant in Shanghai. It was ranked in the top five among the top ten restaurants in Shanghai every year. It had been passed down for 124 years, and was considered a genuine century-old restaurant. Xu Le accepted the money and name card but did not agree to it. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Might as well.¡± Zhang Tong didn¡¯t continue to ask him. After all, he was only an eight-year-old kid. Even if he really came to their restaurant to cook, he could not be an official employee. Otherwise¡­ wouldn¡¯t their Heavenly Restaurant be hiring child labor? That would be illegal. ¡°Little chef, today¡¯s bowl of Egg Fried Rice has taught me a lot. You deserve that bow.¡± Zhang Tong said that from the bottom of his heart. Although he felt a little regretful that he didn¡¯t get to taste the Oil Doused Noodles and Kung Pao Chicken that day, this bowl of Golden Egg Fried Rice had completely convinced him. Just now, Zhang Tong even had the thought of becoming his disciple. It wasn¡¯t for anything else but for this bowl of Egg Fried Rice. If he could master it, the Heavenly Restaurant would have one more signature dish in the future, which would be of great help to the restaurant¡¯s ranking. After Zhang Tong left. Xu Le quietly cleaned up the shop and brought Xu Tian home. ¡°How tiring!¡± After Xu Tian fell asleep, Xu Le lay on the bed and felt his back aching. He had set up his stall for about five hours and had been cooking the whole time. This was an unbearable amount of work for an adult, let alone a child like Xu Le. But at the same time, Xu Le discovered another use of the system. He usually practiced cooking in the system space, which seemed to have improved his physical fitness. At the very least, his body was only a little tired after such high-intensity cooking. It was not to the extent that he could not take it. For Xu Le, this was enough. ¡°Let me calculate the turnover today!¡± Xu Le¡¯s eyes lit up at the thought of the booming business that day. He got up from the bed and checked his account balance. His Alipay had a balance of 3700 yuan, WeChat had a balance of 5400 yuan, and Xu Le also received more than 900 yuan in cash. All of them added up to about 10,000 yuan. ¡°Oh God¡­¡± Even Xu Le was shocked by this number. The requirement for the system mission was 5,000 yuan in revenue, and he had exceeded the requirement to complete the mission. He had even achieved twice the mission¡¯s target! [Congratulations, Host, you have completed the mission!] [100 gourmet points awarded!] The mechanical voice of the system sounded in Xu Le¡¯s ears. He looked at his system panel again and realized that the number behind his Gourmet points had changed from 0 to 100. Besides the cost, Xu Le had earned at least 5,000 yuan that day. In the food and beverage industry, earning half the amount was not a lot. After all, all of Xu Le¡¯s ingredients were carefully selected by him. The meat was selected from farm chickens, and the tomatoes were all fresh and juicy. All of these would increase the cost. ¡°Enough to pay off my mortgage.¡± Xu Le lay on the bed and smiled happily. He no longer had to worry about the rent. It was a huge burden that he had to bear.. Chapter 20 - Sichuan Pickled Vegetables! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Throughout the day, Xu Le did not look at his phone much. He only heard from customers that he had already become famous on the online media platform. But as for how popular Xu Le was, he really did not know. Xu Le opened the social media application. The first video that was played was about him. [An eight-year-old child sells 10,000 bowls of Oil Doused Noodles on the streets of Shanghai. People call him the Master Chef!] Xu Le was stunned after reading the caption. Selling 10,000 bowls of Oil Doused Noodles a day? Why didn¡¯t I know about it? Xu Le did not know whether to laugh or cry. He had to admit that these publicity accounts were too daring. As he scrolled down, there were still many videos of Xu Le. However, this time, it was the editing of Qin Yun¡¯s live-stream. It was the scene of her eating the Oil Doused Noodles. He scrolled down and saw a little boy lying on the ground in a shopping mall in Shanghai. He was crying as he wanted to go to Hongxing Food Street to eat noodles. He continued scrolling and found many videos related to Xu Le¡­ Xu Le flipped through seven to eight videos in a row. All of them were related to him. Xu Le took this opportunity to register a Weibo account and applied for a verified account from the official website. An account named ¡°8-year-old chef¡± appeared on the social media application. Not long after, some sharp-eyed netizens noticed Xu Le. In just half an hour, Xu Le¡¯s number of fans in the application had reached one million! At the same time, he received thousands of private messages. Some of them were asking about recipes, while the majority of them were asking if there were delivery services. Fans from all over the world wanted to try Xu Le¡¯s cooking. ¡°Food delivery?¡± Xu Le frowned and thought about it. For example, dishes like the Oil Doused Noodles and Kung Pao Chicken would not taste good when delivered. More importantly, there were already many customers in front of his food stall. The supply could not meet the demand. There was no need to use takeout to expand the sales. If he had to deliver takeouts¡­ A side dish seemed to be a good idea! Xu Le¡¯s eyes lit up at this thought. He immediately opened the system interface and his eyes quickly searched through it. Soon, Xu Le decided on a suitable target. ¡°Sichuan Pickled Vegetables!¡± Exchanging for the recipe for Sichuan Pickled Vegetables would require 30 gourmet points. Without hesitation, Xu Le chose to complete the transaction. In an instant, a large amount of information filled Xu Le¡¯s mind. There were all kinds of cooking methods for the Sichuan pickled vegetables. Among these pickled vegetables, Xu Le chose the most typical one, Old Vinegar Radish. ¡°It¡¯s another Sichuan dish again.¡± Xu Le lay on the bed and smiled bitterly. From the activation of the system until now, all the dishes he had obtained from the system were basically Sichuan dishes. Xu Le was about to become a Sichuan Cuisine chef. After a tiring day, Xu Le quickly fell asleep. ¡­ The next morning. Xu Le woke up early. Apart from setting up the stall, he had another important thing to do, which was to ferment the pickled vegetables. After arriving at the market, Xu Le bought ten transparent glass jars to ferment the pickled vegetables. The advantage of this glass jar was that it was aesthetic looking and its contents could be observed at any time. The downside was that it was less enclosed and was transparent to sunlight. After buying the glass jar, Xu Le went to the market to buy another 50 kilograms of radishes. Since he was fermenting pickled vegetables, he would definitely have to ferment more. Anyway, with Xu Le¡¯s current popularity, there was no need to worry about not being able to sell them. Soon, there was a problem that Xu Le faced. The 50 kilograms of radish¡­ He could not carry them back! He found a warm-hearted stall owner to help him move all 50 kilograms of radishes home. Of course, Xu Le also gave him a few dozen yuan as compensation. He had the radishes and jars. Then he could start making them. The first step in preparing the pickled vegetables was adding water. The authentic Sichuan pickled vegetables had to be prepared with cold water. It couldn¡¯t be raw water and couldn¡¯t be stained with any grease. During this period, the 50 kilograms of radishes that Xu Le bought were all cut into small pieces that were as thin as cicada wings. As there were too many radishes, Xu Le had to cut them for an hour before he was done. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare the spices.¡± Aniseed, fennel, pepper, cinnamon¡­ all sorts of spices were placed in a small gauze bag and distributed according to the proportions. He boiled the water, added dried pepper and ginger slices, and then put all the spices in. The cooking took five minutes. Then, the taste had merged together. After the condiments cooled down, Xu Le put all the radish skin inside and added salt. Xu Le chose to add red wine salt. Using the taste of red wine, he added a unique flavor to the Sichuan pickled vegetables. The red wine salt also needed to be made by himself. Then, he would add about 200 grams of the salt into each jar, followed by 20 grams of rock sugar and white wine until it covered the ingredients. Xu Le found a few bottles of Maotai wine left by his father in the warehouse. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a little too extravagant to make pickled vegetables with Maotai?¡± Xu Le¡¯s face was filled with conflict. After all, a bottle of Maotai wine cost more than a thousand yuan. However, Xu Le made up his mind. Anyway, it wasn¡¯t something he¡¯d paid for. It was something his father had left behind. To make the pickled vegetables taste better¡­ ¡°Daddy, I can only make you pay for it!¡± Gulp, gulp, gulp¡­ The Maotai wine was poured into the glass jars as if they were for free. He didn¡¯t stop until the ingredients were completely submerged. He added two types of vinegar in the ratio of 1: 1. This was the origin of the old vinegar radish¡¯s name. He closed the lid of the glass jar and sealed it with plastic wrap. He found the darkest corner of the house. Because he was using a glass jar, the pickled vegetables could not be exposed to the light at all, or else the fermentation would fail. ¡°I¡¯ve already prepared pickled vegetables for everyone. You can buy it online in three days!¡± Xu Le filmed a video and recorded the entire process of him fermenting the pickled vegetables. Half an hour after he uploaded it online, he received hundreds of thousands of likes. Right now, the title of an eight-year-old chef had already become popular throughout the country. Countless people wanted to try Xu Le¡¯s skills. In the afternoon. An article suddenly appeared on the Internet and went straight to the trending searches. It was also related to Xu Le. The person who wrote this article was a chef from a famous restaurant in Shanghai¡¯s Heavenly Restaurant. He also had more than 100,000 fans online. ¡®Analyzing the culinary skills of an eight-year-old chef.¡¯ Based on many videos online, he gave Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills a very professional review. ¡°Although Xu Le is only eight years old, there is no doubt that he has extremely high culinary skills.¡± ¡°The method of cooking the two Sichuan dishes is both professional and authentic. Although I have never tasted them personally, from the videos taken by the netizens, I would like to give a professional analysis.¡± ¡°First of all, Xu Le chose to knead the noodles on the spot to make the Oil Doused Noodles. He pulled the noodles to preserved the most authentic taste. He was also very particular about the selection of the seasoning. He added cone pepper and tabasco pepper in the ratio of 7: 3, making the spicy taste even better..¡± Chapter 21 - Cai Lans Acknowledgement! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios This article had a total of around two to three thousand words. In the later part, there was even the mention of the Golden Egg Fried Rice and acknowledgement towards Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills. After Xu Le finished reading the article. He instantly was sure that this article was written by the chef, Zhang Tong, whom he had met the day before. Xu Le blushed as he read the various praises in the article. This article garnered more than 10,000 reposts on Weibo. Being recognized by the chefs of the Heavenly Restaurant was equivalent to affirming Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills from a professional point of view. Therefore, the business at his food stall was even better than the day before. Xu Le, who had been busy the whole day, returned home and learnt a piece of heavy news. Hong Kong¡¯s God of Food Cai Lan had actually reposted Zhang Tong¡¯s article! One had to know what kind of great person Cai Lan was! Cai Lan, Jin Yong, Ni Kuang, and Huang Ji were also known as the four great talents of Hong Kong and were also known as the Gods of Food from Hong Kong. His food program was world-renowned. Cai Lan wasn¡¯t just a fan of food. He had reached a high level of skill in eating, he¡¯d even made a name for himself, forming a belief in eating, and had even written countless books to pass down all the delicious food. He had more than 20 million followers on Weibo and was a gourmet respected by the entire country. If one were to ask who was the most authoritative figure in the Chinese food industry. There would definitely be Cai Lan in the top 10. And he had forwarded Zhang Tong¡¯s article. This was undoubtedly a great recognition for Xu Le. The reputation of Xu Le¡¯s food store rose once again. From the initial exposure by an internet celebrity, he had unexpectedly become popular online. In just two days, Xu Le had first received the recognition of a professional chef from the Heavenly Restaurant, and then the recognition of Hong Kong¡¯s God of Food Cai Lan. On Monday, Xu Le¡¯s social media fans successfully surpassed four million. And there was another piece of good news. That was¡­ his Sichuan pickled vegetables [Old Vinegar Radish] were completed. Xu Le walked into the storeroom and took out the glass jars one by one. The moment the lid was opened, the aroma of alcohol, all the flavours of saltyness, spicyness, sourness, and the sweet radish filled the entire room. He picked out the radish and smashed it against a small box. Xu Le picked up a piece and tasted it. The first taste that entered his mouth was a pungent sour smell. Xu Le¡¯s little face instantly became wrinkled. However, after the sour taste passed, a spicy taste surged up his throat. Among the spicy taste, there was the spiciness of the chili, as well as the spiciness of the radish itself. They were all mixed together. Next was the third taste¡ªthe fragrance of the wine. Xu Le chose the best saut¨¦ed white wine in China, Maotai. One bottle cost more than a thousand yuan, so the smell of alcohol in the old vinegar radish was especially fragrant. After fermentation, the alcohol content had actually dissipated. No matter how much one ate, they would not get drunk. However, they could still feel the burning taste of white wine. ¡°Delicious.¡± After eating a piece of old vinegar radish, Xu Le smiled with satisfaction. This was simply the best choice for an appetizer. With a small plate of radish and a bowl of white rice, one could eat their fill. Xu Le quickly contacted the food delivery platform and placed the first takeaway product on the online food stall ¨C the Old Vinegar Radish. The price was 30 yuan for 200 grams. The price was slightly expensive, but Xu Le felt that it was completely reasonable. After all, other than him, no one else would use Maotai to make their old vinegar radishes. Xu Le uploaded the news of the product on his social media platform. Instantly, the comments section was filled with cheers. Many people who could not visit Xu Le¡¯s food stall for various reasons could now taste the Old Vinegar Radish through delivery. Xu Le even specially marked on the platform that this was the first batch of Sichuan pickled vegetables. There was a limit of 500 servings sold per day. In less than ten minutes, the limited 500 portions of Old Vinegar Radish were all snatched away. Looking at the screen that displayed the words ¡°sold out¡±, countless people hit their chests and stomped their feet, blaming themselves for being so slow. Unsurprisingly, a trend of people having old vinegar radishes in Shanghai was started. The traditional pickled vegetables that originated from Sichuan Province were given a brand new appearance in Shanghai thousands of kilometers away. ¡­ September 6th, Tuesday. After Xu Le sent Xu Tian to kindergarten, he went straight to Hongxing Food Street. He was surprised to see a delivery man standing at the entrance of his shop at eight in the morning. ¡°Is that the Master Chef?¡± The delivery man was pleasantly surprised to see Xu Le. ¡°I¡¯ve already been waiting here for more than an hour!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me Master Chef, just call me Xu Le.¡± Xu Le was a little ashamed when he heard this title. It was still too early for him to be called Master Chef. After some understanding. It was only then that Xu Le realized that the delivery man had come from Nanjing, the neighboring province. He received an order from a big client and came to Shanghai to buy a hundred boxes of the pickled vegetables. He took the high-speed rail for about an hour and had arrived at Xu Le¡¯s food stall at seven in the morning. Xu Le was touched by his actions. Xu Le was quite shocked to hear that someone had travelled across a province to buy his pickled vegetables. Normally, each customer could only buy ten servings of pickled vegetables. However, Xu Le decided to be lenient with the delivery man who had traveled hundreds of kilometers and sold him 100 portions. Holding a hundred servings of pickled vegetables, the delivery man was so touched that he almost cried. ¡°Thank you, little Master Chef!¡± Chapter 22 - Expanding the Menu—Mapo Tofu Rice! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios During this period of time, Xu Le¡¯s food stall was doing very well. He quickly earned the money to pay off the mortgage. Even the balance in his bank account had exceeded 20,000 yuan. ¡°Time to expand the menu.¡± Xu Le could clearly feel the limitations of his cooking skills. Until now, he had only learned the cooking methods of four dishes from the system. They were the Oil Doused Noodles, Kung Pao Chicken, Tomato Egg Soup, and Old Vinegar Radish. This was far from enough. In particular, if Xu Le wanted to progress in the takeaway market, the oil doused noodles would not be sufficient as the staple food. A delivery would take at least half an hour, or even longer. By the time it was delivered to the customer, the noodles would have already become soggy. ¡°The most suitable food for delivery is still rice.¡± After pondering for a moment, Xu Le decided to find a suitable rice dish from the System Shop. ¡°Rice with green pepper and fried meat¡­ Rice with potato shreds¡­ Mapo tofu rice¡­¡± After softly reading the names of the dishes, Xu Le¡¯s attention was attracted by the Mapo Tofu Rice. ¡°The Mapo Tofu Rice seems to be quite good.¡± The reason for choosing Mapo Tofu was also simple¡­ It¡¯s just that¡­ Xu Le wants to eat it. If he wanted to eat it, he would choose it. After exchanging the dish for 50 Gourmet points, a large amount of information flooded into Xu Le¡¯s mind. Xu Le was no longer a stranger to this feeling. After obtaining the recipe for the new dish, he directly entered the system space to start practicing. Mapo tofu was still a classic Sichuan dish, and a famous Sichuan dish at that. It had even been passed on overseas and earned a reputation in countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France. It had progressed from a simple home-cooked dish to a famous international dish. There was also a story about this dish. It was said that in 1862, next to the Chengdu Wanfu Bridge, there was a shop named ¡°Chen Xingsheng Rice Store¡±. The owner, Chen Chunfu, died early, so the small restaurant was run by the lady boss. Because the lady boss had pockmarks on her face, people called her ¡°Chen Mapo¡±. Mapo had a unique technique when it came to cooking tofu. The tofu that she cooked had an excellent color, fragrance, and taste. It was extraordinary and was loved by many. The tofu that she tried to create was known as ¡°Chen Mapo Tofu¡± and had been passed down until now. This was the origin of the famous Sichuan dish, Mapo Tofu. What Xu Le wanted to learn was exactly this unique cooking method. The specialty of the Mapo Tofu was its numbness, spicyness, hotness, fragrance, crispyness, tenderness, and freshness. The recipe that Xu Le exchanged from the System Shop particularly detailed these eight descriptions. The so-called numbness referred to the tofu that had to be sprinkled with a portion of pepper when it was served. It was best if the pepper was the Hanyuan pepper. Its spiciness was pure and it would burn the heart. Spicyness ¨C use the seeds of the Longtan Temple¡¯s Da Hong Pao pepper and chop it into fine powder that was fragrant and spicy. Hotness ¨C maintaining the temperature of the tofu when it was first taken out of the pot. One should eat it while it¡¯s hot because every bite that was taken later would reduce the taste of the freshly cooked tofu. Fragrance ¨C start the fire and serve it on the table immediately. You won¡¯t be able to smell the beans or the soaked tofu. All you can smell would be the fragrance that arouses your appetite. Crispyness: Pair the Mapo tofu with meat filling. The color of the meat would be golden yellow. All of them would be discrete pieces and crispy so that it would melt the moment it touches your teeth. Tenderness ¨C The tofu would be boiled first in the pot. The color would be like white jade, and the shape was angular. It would be as tender as a young girl¡¯s smooth skin and would shatter upon contact. Freshness ¨C All raw ingredients were fresh. Be it chilli peppers, onions, or tofu, they should all be top-grade quality so that there would be nothing to nitpick on. Liveliness ¨C When the tofu was served on the table, the garlic sprouts would be upright in the bowl, as if they had just grown out of the ground. However, when they taste it in their mouths, they don¡¯t have the slightest bit of rawness. Only by accomplishing these eight points could it be considered an authentic and perfect plate of ¡°Mapo Tofu¡±. After reading the recipe, Xu Le smiled bitterly. The difficulty of the dish this time seemed to be higher than before. It was basically impossible to reach an extremely high realm without at least two to three years of foundational skills. Fortunately, Xu Le had the system space. Under the time flow of 365 times slower, learning Mapo Tofu was not difficult. Soon, the surrounding space turned into a vast white fog. In front of Xu Le, an extremely familiar kitchen stove appeared. All the ingredients had been prepared. It was a piece of tofu and it had to be either gypsum tofu or marinated tofu. Then there were the top quality beef fillings and two fresh garlic sprouts. In fact, the authentic Mapo Tofu was made with pork fillings because the pork fillings had high oil content. But Xu Le improvised it and used beef fillings instead. The M9 standard wagyu beef used had rich snowflake texture and the meat was fresh and nutritious, while the fat content was no less than pork. Moreover, the texture was completely different. A high-grade beef with a large amount of soft fat would melt at 25 degrees Celsius, bringing about the texture of melting the moment it entered the mouth. ¡°Let¡¯s begin cooking!¡± It was time to try out the new dish again. Xu Le was completely excited. He placed the gypsum tofu on the chopping board. The tofu was as white as jade, and as soft and tender as a young girl¡¯s skin. Actually, if one wanted to be infinitely close to perfection, even this piece of tofu should be handmade. But in that case, the production cycle would be a little too long. Hence, Xu Le still chose the ready-made gypsum tofu as it wouldn¡¯t affect the taste much. Tap-tap-tap¡­ The sound of a kitchen knife hitting the chopping board could be heard. Xu Le had already cut the tofu into small pieces. He boiled a pot of clear water, added a small amount of salt, and blanched the tofu he had just cut. The main purpose of this step was to remove the bitterness of the tofu and also to solidify the protein inside. The process took about 20 seconds. It couldn¡¯t be too long, or it would affect the smooth texture of the tofu. The cooked tofu was placed aside. Xu Le heated the wok and poured some Hanyuan pepper into it before slowly baking it with a small fire. It was actually to release the spiciness of the pepper by heating it up. The baked pepper was set aside to dry. He poured out 100 grams of Bamboo County bean paste on the chopping board and chopped it into pieces with a knife. Xu Le held a kitchen knife in each of his left and right hands and thoroughly chopped the Bamboo County Bean Sauce into pieces. Every piece of chilli was chopped into powder, thoroughly releasing the spicy fragrance contained within. Then, he took out the dried tempeh, washed them clean, soaked them in water, and put them into the minced bean paste. Then he started mincing again! He minced them into small bits! The flavor of the tempeh blended with the paste. Xu Le took out the dried pepper granules and a rolling pin. That¡¯s right, it was a rolling pin. All the pepper granules were placed on a clean board and completely crushed with a rolling pin. Crack! Crack! A crisp sound was heard, and the pepper granules were quickly crushed into fine powder. This was also to better immerse the flavor into the tofu so that the spicy flavor could be infused into the tofu. The specialty of this Mapo Tofu was its strong taste. The oil content was high, and so was the taste of the ingredients, so that the dish would be great as a side! Chapter 23 - Testing a New Dish! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bang! A sound came from the stove, and a ball of azure flames was released. After the pot heated up slightly, Xu Le added some vegetable oil into it. The reason why he chose the vegetable seed oil was because it was thicker and could cling on the tofu better. Upon eating the dish, the oil fragrance would then overflow. After the vegetable seed oil was heated, he added the beef fillings for stir-frying. As Xu Le used the spatula to quickly flip the beef, the rich aroma of beef fat immediately wafted out and filled the entire system space. He added all the soybean paste that he had minced earlier and stir-fried it again! This process required thorough stir-frying. Stir-fry! Until it¡¯s fragrant! He added some scallions and ginger into the pot and stir-fried it evenly. By adding these small ingredients earlier, not only could it reduce the oil temperature in the pot, it could also help to improve the flavor. He sprinkled the chilli powder into the pot using the familiar proportion. With a ratio of seven to three, the cone pepper and tabasco pepper were added into the wok and stir-fried evenly, releasing their fragrance. Cone pepper was mainly used to enhance the fragrance while the tabasco pepper was used to increase the spiciness of the entire dish. He added yellow wine, soy sauce, vinegar, and water. After adding half a contained of water, he added some sugar and immediately the scent of freshness and spicyness was emitted. Perhaps many people would think that adding sugar to spicy dishes was a very contradictory action. However, in reality, a small spoonful of sugar would not add much sweetness to the entire dish. Instead, it would make the entire spicy dish even more delicious and increase the depth of flavors. Now, it was finally the turn of the protagonist of this dish. Xu Le placed the tofu that had been boiled by the side into the pot, soaking it in the bright red sauce. In order to make the taste of the entire dish more harmonious, Xu Le added half of the shredded pepper into the pot. The remaining half had to be added when it was ready to be served. ¡°Numbness¡± and ¡°spicyness¡± were the two main flavors of this dish, and both had to be highlighted. Gulp, gulp, gulp¡­ Bubbles formed in the pot and white smoke was coming out. Xu Le, who was standing in front of the pot, could clearly smell the spicy aroma wafting toward him, causing him to salivate. The next step was to thicken the gravy. But Xu Le was still standing in front of the pot, motionless. He seemed to be waiting for something. Many people could not produce any taste in their cooking because they were too anxious to start thickening the gravy once the liquid started boiling. The cooking time was too short and the taste of the food had yet to blend in. After thickening the gravy, it was as if the ingredients were wrapped in a thick layer of cloth. Of course, the taste would be less able to enter the food. Hence, Xu Le had to wait for the perfect opportunity. He focused his attention on the pot. A moment later, Xu Le scooped up some tofu with the spoon and realized that the rich sauce had adhered to it and was slowly sliding down. ¡°Now.¡± This meant that the tofu had been simmered to the point where it was ready. Even before the gravy was thickened, the sauce was already thick enough to hang on the wall. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Xu Le had already mixed the starch and added a spoonful into the pot. It would take three attempts to reach perfection. After stirring it slightly, Xu Le turned the fire to medium heat and added a second spoonful of the starch. Using a spoon, he gently stirred the tofu in the pot. One must not use too much force here. Once too much force was used on the soft and smooth tofu, it would very likely shatter. After the simmering, Xu Le added the sauce for the third time before the gravy was ready. The pot of Mapo Tofu had also reached its thickest state. Now was the perfect time to serve the food. Xu Le knew that he could not delay any further. He immediately sprinkled some green onions on the pot and poured them onto the plate! Then, he sprinkled the garlic sprouts onto the plate, turning them into a green decoration on the glossy dish. But even now, this dish was still not complete. The gravy already had a strong taste of pepper, but the surface of the tofu still lacked some color. Xu Le scattered the pepper granules that had yet to be ground evenly on the plate. A plate of spicy and fragrant [Mapo Tofu] was done! With huge anticipation, Xu Le scooped up a spoonful of white tofu. The tofu seemed to be empty and there was no resistance at all. There was a thick sauce on the tofu. The two seemed to be stuck together and could not be separated at all. This was the embodiment of cooking till the stage of integration. The white and tender tofu, the deep red chilli, the dark brown pepper powder, and the sticky gravy were all combined together and swallowed in one big mouthful! This experience could only be described with one word¡ª Awesome! ¡°If only I had a bowl of white rice.¡± Xu Le could already imagine a plate of Mapo Tofu and a bowl of fragrant white rice. One mouthful of tofu and one mouthful of rice. After one was 80% full, they could add another half a bowl of rice. Even though he had already finished eating the tofu, he could scoop out the gravy from the Mapo Tofu and pour it over the half bowl of rice. After mixing it with the tofu, it was even more fragrant than eating meat. This time, he ate until he was full and until both his body and mind were satisfied. He ate until his mouth was full of red oil and it was so spicy that he had no choice but to drink water. Then, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. This was a day that only gods could enjoy. However, Xu Le knew that his Mapo Tofu still had many flaws. The eight details of Mapo Tofu: numbness, spiciness, hotness, fragrance, crispyness, tenderness, freshness, and liveliness. Although he had accomplished them, he did not do it to perfection. For example, the numbing taste and spiciness were not enough. This was because Xu Le was not thorough enough when he chopped the bean paste. The meat filling wasn¡¯t crispy enough either. Since he had replaced the pork with beef, there should be some slight adjustments to the cooking method. Xu Le believed that the final product would be better if it was fried for another 20 seconds or so. There were also many small problems, including the fact that the tofu was not smooth enough and the taste was not fresh enough¡­ However, given that this was his first time making Mapo Tofu, Xu Le felt that it was quite good overall. Then, Xu Le started to try over and over again. This was the greatest advantage of the system space. What was the best way to improve his culinary skills? The answer was simple, and that was to keep practicing. He had to pay more attention to the details of each attempt and improve on his flaws. Every time, he improved a little. What about after a thousand times? What about after ten thousand times? With this thought in mind, Xu Le practiced in the system space for a month.. Chapter 24 - 6640 Repetition of Mapo Tofu! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Chapter 24: 6640 Repetition of Mapo Tofu! How many times could he make Mapo Tofu in a month? Xu Le used his actions to obtain an answer. 6640 times. Xu Le had many problems and insufficiencies when he first made Mapo Tofu. After a month of practice in the system space, his skills in making Mapo Tofu had reached perfection. The Mapo Tofu had reached the pinnacle of numbness, spiciness, hotness, fragrance, crispyness, tenderness, freshness, and liveliness. As soon as he took a bite, the smooth and hot tofu felt like it was going to explode in his mouth. It was mixed with a spicy and fragrant taste, instantly bringing his taste buds to its peak sensation. This was the true enjoyment on the tip of the tongue. A month had passed in the system space, but only two hours had passed in the real world. Xu Le had already finished studying the new dish. September 12th, Monday. Xu Le bought ingredients like flour, chicken thigh, and so on as usual. However, this time, there was an additional gypsum tofu among the ingredients he bought. If he wanted the taste of the Mapo Tofu to reach its extreme best, it would be best if he made the tofu by hand. But that would be too much work. Xu Le was alone, after all, and needed time to take care of his sister. He could not do everything himself. When he arrived at the food stall, Xu Le wrote the new dish [Mapo Tofu] on the signboard. The total number of dishes on the signboard also reached five. Oil doused noodles, Kung Pao chicken, tomato egg soup, old vinegar radish, Mapo Tofu rice. Soon, it was lunchtime. Although it was Monday, there was still an endless stream of pedestrians and customers on Hongxing Food Street. As the most popular food stall on this street, Xu Le¡¯s food stall naturally attracted the attention of countless people. ¡°Master Chef, did you add a new dish?¡± A customer asked in surprise. ¡°Yes,¡± Xu Le replied with a smile. This [Mapo Tofu] was not only edible, but it could also be delivered. After the Mapo Tofu was delivered to customers, although it wasn¡¯t as hot anymore, the spicy and fragrant taste wouldn¡¯t change at all. ¡°Give me a serving of it!¡± ¡°I want one too, and a bowl of tomato egg soup.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like to eat tofu. I still prefer to eat noodles. Give me a bowl of oil doused noodles and a bowl of tomato egg soup!¡± ¡°I want a serving of Mapo Tofu Rice!¡± The surrounding customers started to order their dishes one after another. Xu Le also started to get busy. The prepared tofu was boiled in a pot of water. The soybean paste and tempeh were chopped up, stir-fried in the pot with beef fillings. Xu Le handled all the steps smoothly. He had practiced this dish more than six thousand times in the system space. Even when he chopped the soybean paste into pieces, Xu Le knew what kind of knife technique could achieve the best effect ¨C whether the taste of the bean paste was better when he cut it vertically or horizontally. This Mapo Tofu dish was almost completed to its perfection by Xu Le. After all, he had been practicing in the system space for a month. He didn¡¯t take any break and was practising the whole time. He didn¡¯t need to eat nor sleep. He spent the 30 days all on perfecting one dish. This was already comparable to two to three years of effort for ordinary people. Coupled with the perfect recipe that Xu Le had exchanged from the system. No one in the whole of China would dare say that they could cook Mapo Tofu better than Xu Le. In less than ten minutes, a pot of fragrant Mapo Tofu was finished. Xu Le scooped up a big spoonful and poured it over the prepared white rice. This rice was also carefully selected by Xu Le. It was made from the five types of rice from Heilongjiang. The rice grains that were steamed were plump and tasted excellent. At that moment, a large spoonful of Mapo Tofu was poured onto the rice, covering it with a thick layer. The red gravy from the Mapo Tofu flowed down and soaked the rice. Let alone eating tofu, just this gravy and rice alone could make people eat several bowls. The minced meat and garlic sprouts served as embellishments. Due to the fact that the beef fillings had been fried once, all of the fat had been extracted, making it juicy but not greasy. The garlic sprouts had already been blanched and were sprinkled above. They looked like they had just grown out of the ground, but they did not leave any strange taste in the mouth. This bowl of rice was absolutely delicious! Soon, the surrounding customers were all served a bowl. As Xu Le only had a small food stall, there were insufficient seats, so the customers could only stand at the side and eat. But even so, they had no complaints. With the popularity of Xu Le¡¯s food stall, it was already very good to be able to reach their turn and buy a bowl. Why would they still bother about having to stand and eat? ¡°It¡¯s so delicious!¡± All the customers who had eaten this bowl of Mapo Tofu Rice all gave Xu Le a thumbs up. There was a mixture of fragrance from the savory, spicy and numbing taste and from the sauces. Combined with the discrete and grainy rice, it was quite enjoyable to eat. For many people, when they ate, they would mix the tofu and rice together. When all the flavors were combined together, the taste was unparalleled. Xu Le also posted the news of the food stall being able to deliver [Mapo Tofu Rice] on his social media account. In an extremely short period of time, the dish had directly shot up to the top ten of the popular rankings. And it was even number one on the Shanghai popularity rankings! On the food delivery platform, 300 servings of [Mapo Tofu Rice] were sold out in less than five minutes. Soon, Xu Le¡¯s food stall was filled with delivery men. Even with Xu Le¡¯s efficiency, it took him two hours to finish 500 servings of Mapo Tofu. After they were done packing, Xu Le felt a sense of accomplishment as he watched the delivery man put them into the delivery box and deliver them one by one. For a chef, what could be happier than watching his customers eat the food he made with contentment? Of course nothing was comparable. After the meal time was over, the Hongxing food street became much quieter. There were still some passersby visiting to take photos. Xu Le started clearing up the tables and cleaned the stove and pots. At this moment. Two uninvited guests arrived at the food stall. Xu Le looked up and saw that the other party was wearing a city enforcement officer uniform. The city enforcement officers¡­ what were they doing here? Chapter 25 - Capital Problem! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Chapter 25: Capital Problem! ¡°Hello, little Master Chef, there¡¯s no need to be nervous. We¡¯re from the city enforcement team.¡± The man in the city enforcement uniform smiled and said. Xu Le immediately felt shy when he heard the city enforcement officers call him ¡°Little Master Chef¡±. ¡°You can just call me Xu Le.¡± ¡°Okay, little¡­ Xu Le friend. We¡¯re here to make some law enforcement suggestions based on the city management rules.¡± This was also the first time the city enforcement officers were dealing with children at work, so they were slightly nervous. ¡°The business here is too good. There are many customers who don¡¯t have seats and can only eat by the roadside with their bowls. The number of people queuing often exceeds a hundred. It¡¯s too crowded for this food street, and it¡¯s very easy for traffic problems to arise.¡± Xu Le frowned after hearing the city enforcement officer¡¯s suggestion. The city enforcement officers were right. His food stall only had one table and four stools, and the number of customers that came every day could exceed a thousand people at times. If all of them crowded on this street, it would indeed affect the operation of the entire food street. ¡°Buddy Xu Le, based on our suggestion, it¡¯s best for you to open a proper store. It will be beneficial to your future development and reduce the pressure on the city management.¡± Xu Le fell into deep thought. The city enforcement officer¡¯s words were very clear. With his current business model, it was obviously not going to work. He had to rent a store. But renting a storefront meant spending money¡­ He still needed to rent a venue and renovate it. Even tens of thousand might not be enough. After the city enforcement officer left, Xu Le sat alone on the chair and fell into deep thought. When his parents left, they did not leave behind any savings. There were only a few thousand dollars in the bank account. Xu Le had been working hard for the past few days. His total income was about 40,000 yuan, but he still had to pay the rent at home. If he wanted to rent a storefront¡­ after Xu Le¡¯s rough calculations, it would take at least 200,000 yuan. Two hundred thousand¡­ Xu Le¡¯s face was filled with bitterness. Even if his business was booming now, it was still just a food stall after all. He was the only chef. Being able to earn a few thousand dollars a day was already the limit. If he wanted to save up 200,000, he would need a month or more. He was just a child, and the bank could not provide him with a loan. This time, the city enforcement officers had come here to give him some suggestions. But that might not be the case next time. What made Xu Le even more worried was that there would be hundreds and thousands of people crowding in front of his snack stall every day. What if there was a safety hazard? As a vendor, he had to take responsibility. ¡°F*ck, will I go to jail?¡± Xu Le suddenly felt nervous at this thought. The opening of a store was imminent, but¡­ how should he settle the issue of insufficient capital? Xu Le could not think of any good ideas. However, he could not waste any time. Xu Le sat in front of the food stall and immersed his consciousness into the system space to continue practicing his culinary skills. Xu Le understood that cooking was his greatest asset. As long as he had the culinary skills, he could never starve himself. ¡­ ¡°Little Master Chef? Little Master Chef?¡± Xu Le, who was practising his culinary skills in the system space, suddenly heard a voice from outside. And that voice¡­ sounded familiar? Xu Le left the system space curiously and slowly opened his eyes. What greeted his eyes was a slightly plump and honest-looking man in a white chef¡¯s uniform standing in front of the food stall. Wasn¡¯t this the Heavenly Restaurant¡¯s chef, Zhang Tong? Xu Le was quite fond of Chef Zhang. After all, after eating the Golden Egg Fried Rice cooked by him last time, he had written an article with several thousand words on Weibo. The whole article was praising Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills. The article was also forwarded by Cai Lan, the Hong Kong¡¯s Food God, causing Xu Le to become popular even in other fields. When Xu Le saw Zhang Tong at the snack stall, he thought that he was there to taste the new dish again. ¡°Great Chef Zhang, what would you like to eat this time?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t.¡± Zhang Tong hastily waved his hand and smiled embarrassedly. ¡°Little Master Chef, don¡¯t call me Great Chef. I can¡¯t afford to be called that.¡± Zhang Tong said that from the bottom of his heart. After eating the bowl of Egg Fried Rice, Zhang Tong deeply felt that his culinary skills were far inferior to Xu Le¡¯s. He even had the thought of becoming his disciple. ¡°One serving for all the dishes.¡± Zhang Tong said expectantly. To his surprise, Xu Le shook his head again. ¡°It¡¯s not business time yet.¡± ¡°There¡¯s still an hour.¡± Xu Le could not help but smile as he pointed at the signboard beside them. It was written clearly. Business hours¡ª Lunch: 10:30 ¨C 13:30 PM Dinner: 5:30 ¨C 8:30 PM It was only four in the afternoon and it was not time for the food stall to open for business yet. Zhang Tong¡¯s expression froze. He was too unlucky. He had been to Xu Le¡¯s snack stall twice, but he did not even get to eat the famous Oil Doused Noodles. ¡°But¡­ I¡¯ve got a little leftover dough, so I¡¯ll reluctantly make you a bowl.¡± Xu Le sighed and stood up reluctantly. ¡°Thank you, little Master Chef!¡± Zhang Tong smiled. For the past few days, he had been thinking about this bowl of oil doused noodles that he had not eaten. It was a pity that the business hours of Xu Le¡¯s food stall clashed with his working hours, so he had not tried it yet. Zhang Tong liked to cook and eat. In his opinion, the most important thing in life was to eat and enjoy good food. For someone like him who loved delicious food, Xu Le¡¯s oil doused noodles were extremely lethal. A few minutes later, the noodles were served. Xu Le sprinkled his secret sauce and then added a spoonful of boiling vegetable seed oil. Whoosh¡ª As the oil splattered everywhere, Zhang Tong¡¯s eyes glowed. ¡°Have a taste.¡± Xu Le pouted and placed the noodles in front of him. Zhang Tong didn¡¯t stand on ceremony. He picked up his bowl and started eating. After two mouthfuls, he ate more than half a bowl. While eating, Zhang Tong explained his purpose for coming here. ¡°Master Chef, the 12th Shanghai Food Exhibition is going to be held soon. There¡¯s a cooking contest. Do you want to participate?¡± ¡°A cooking contest?¡± Xu Le was stunned after hearing that. However, he shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m just a kid. Why would I participate in a competition?¡± Xu Le was speaking the truth. All he wanted to do was to run his own food stall and cook well. As for competitions, so what if he won the championship? It was just a title. ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ with your great cooking skills, you may no longer care about these useless titles.¡± As he said that, Zhang Tong had finished the oil doused noodles. ¡°But I need to work hard. The prize money for first place is 300,000 yuan, which is equivalent to half a year of my salary.¡± Zhang Tong put down the bowl and turned around to leave. ¡°How much is the prize money?¡± ¡°300,000?¡± Xu Le was stunned. ¡°Chef Zhang, come back!¡± Chapter 26 - Participating in the Culinary Competition! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After some discussion. Xu Le finally decided to sign up for the culinary competition. It was not that he wanted to compete for fame, but the 300,000 prize money for the first place was too tempting. Coincidentally, Xu Le was in need of money. 300,000 yuan was enough for him to rent a 100-square-meter shop on this street. After registering, Xu Le heard the system¡¯s voice. ¡°Detected that the host has signed up for the culinary competition. Reward: 200 Gourmet points.¡± ¡°Congratulations to the host for unlocking the new missiona€¡±[Coming In First].¡± ¡°Mission Details: Win first place in the culinary competition.¡± ¡°Mission Reward: Exquisite renovation of the shop!¡± When Xu Le heard the system¡¯s voice, his eyes shone with surprise. He had actually unlocked a mission by participating in the competition. The reward for the mission was even the renovation of the shop. In other words, as long as he got first place in this competition, he would be able to use this 300,000 yuan to rent a big shop. Furthermore, he wouldn¡¯t even need to pay for the renovations himself. The system would cover everything. What was there to hesitate about? After asking Zhang Tong the time and location of the competition, Xu Le realized that the competition would be held the next day. Normally speaking, the registration period for the culinary competition had long passed. However, with Zhang Tong¡¯s request and Xu Le¡¯s high popularity recently, he successfully added his name to the contestant list. Xu Le sent a notice of absence on his social media account. ¡®As I am participating in a culinary competition, the food stall will be closed for a day.¡¯ It was only after browsing the Internet that he realized how valuable and popular this competition was. The Shanghai Food Exhibition had been held for the 12th year. It had a huge influence in the entire East China region, and even in the whole of China. This was especially true for the culinary competition that was held before the food exhibition. Chefs from all over the world would be invited to participate in the competition, and there would be live broadcasts on three platforms: Douyu, Huya, and Bilibili. Last year¡¯s culinary competition had attracted more than five million viewers, and it was frighteningly popular. Therefore, when the netizens found out that Xu Le was going to participate in the culinary competition, they all cheered for him. ¡°Little Master Chef, I believe in you! You¡¯ll definitely win!¡± ¡°I went to eat a bowl of Oil Doused Noodles yesterday. It was really delicious.¡± ¡°This is the most authentic Sichuan cuisine I¡¯ve ever eaten in Shanghai. It¡¯s definitely the best. I hope the little Master Chef can win.¡± ¡°Little Master Chef, you can do it! You¡¯re no worse than those chefs! We¡¯ll support you!¡± Other than those netizens who were cheering Xu Le. There were also reviewers who had a certain level of attainment in the food industry who wrote an article and conducted a rational analysis. ¡°Up until now, Xu Le has only cooked a few dishes like Oil Doused Noodles and Kung Pao Chicken. Furthermore, they are all Sichuan dishes. I think Xu Le might be from an aristocratic family known for Sichuan cuisine.¡± ¡°However, this culinary competition is about cooking based on requested dishes. Moreover, the requests are likely to be difficult dishes. Judging from Xu Le¡¯s age, it won¡¯t be easy for him to master so many high-level dishesa€|¡± Xu Le smiled after reading the article. He didn¡¯t know many dishes. But these dishesa€| he had them in the system space! Even if the production team only announced the name of the dishes an hour before the competition. Xu Le could also enter the system space to train for half a month under the 365-times slower time flow. Hence, Xu Le had absolute confidence in this culinary competition. No one could stop him from getting the 300,000 yuan prize money and the renovation of the shop that was rewarded by the system! ¡­ The next afternoon. Xu Le arrived at the Shanghai Eastern Sports Center in a private car. The 12th Shanghai Gourmet Exhibition would be held that night. The special segment before the opening ceremony was this culinary competition that attracted the attention of countless people. Because of Xu Le¡¯s participation, the popularity of this competition on the Internet was much higher than the previous years. Even before the competition started, the number of live viewers had already exceeded four million. 3 p.m. in the afternoon. The Shanghai Eastern Sports Center was already fully seated. Everyone was waiting for the competition to begin. Soon, the host went on stage to announce the start of the culinary competition. The culinary competition was divided into several segments. The first segment tested one¡¯s skills. The dish that was picked was stir-fried shredded potatoes. Don¡¯t look down on this simple dish. Although stir-fried shredded potatoes was simple, but the simpler the dish, the greater the knowledge it required, and the more it could be used to judge whether the chef¡¯s skills were up to standard. Many people said that the stir-fried potatoes was a dish about skills. One could immediately tell if a chef was skilled enough when they cooked a plate of shredded potatoes. The dish stir-fried shredded potatoes mainly depended on two aspects. The first aspect was cutting skills. The potato shreds had to be of equal thickness, and each strand should be the same size as a matchstick. If it was too thick, it would turn into potato strips and eating them would affect the texture. If it was too thin, the shreds would break easily and would not be in complete pieces when stir-fried. The second aspect was the fire control. The shredded potatoes that were stir-fried had to be white and tender, crispy and refreshing. If the fire wasn¡¯t hot enough, the potatoes would thicken and taste like wax. If the heat was too strong, the potatoes would be too soft and easily broken. Furthermore, the texture would be like mashed potatoes, losing its flavor. Therefore, in this cooking contest, the first segment tested the chef¡¯s cuttings skills and control over the fire. There was still half an hour before the competition officially began. The contestants were invited onto the stage one by one. They sat in a row and listened to the host¡¯s introduction and announcements. Xu Le took this opportunity to enter the system space. Let¡¯s start practicing! Chapter 27 - Cutting Skill as Precise as a Machine! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le exchanged 20 Gourmet points for the spicy and sour potato recipe from the System Shop. There was still about half an hour before the competition officially began. Under a 365-times slower time flow, he would spend seven days in the system space. Xu Le wanted to perfect the dish ¡®sour and spicy shredded potatoes¡¯ in these seven days. Why was this dish called a dish of skills? It was because it did not have any special tricks or secret recipes. The only way to make this dish was to put in more effort. Bad cutting skills causing the thickness of the potato shreds to be uneven? Practice then! After continuous practice and day after day of training, there would be an obvious improvement in one¡¯s cutting skills. Bad control of the fire? The food was either too raw or too soft? Practice then! If ten times didn¡¯t work, then one hundred times, ten thousand times! So that when he closed his eyes, he would know when the potato shreds were sufficiently stir-fried and ready to be served. In the chaotic system space. Xu Le concentrated on chopping the potatoes in front of him into shreds. All of this took four days. In these four days, if Xu Le were to pile the shredded potatoes together, they would probably be as tall as a small mountain. In the final three days, Xu Le had to practice the fire control of the shredded potatoes. Only by combining his cutting skills and fire control could he make a plate of perfect stir-fried potato shreds. ¡­ At the same time. In the exhibition hall of the Shanghai Eastern Sports Center, the host was introducing the judges and contestants. ¡°Contestant number 4 is the Silver Award winner of the Hong Kong International Delicacy Competition, HOFEX. He is a senior chef from the Heavenly Restaurant, Mr. Zhang Tong!¡± There was a round of enthusiastic applause. Zhang Tong stood up slowly and nodded at the judges and audience. It was obvious that Zhang Tong had a good reputation in the culinary industry. ¡°Contestant number 5 is chef from Nanjing¡¯s Eastern Suburban State Guesthouse, Wang Tao. He once won fifth place in the Young Talent Escoffier competition!¡± The audience erupted into applause again. The chefs participating in the cooking contest this time were obviously not nameless people. Soon, the host introduced Xu Le. ¡°Contestant number six is Xu Le, the chef who sold food at Hongxing Food Street and has recently become famous online. He is known by netizens as the Little Master Chef!¡± After introducing Xu Le, the applause was even more enthusiastic than before. However, most of the applause was from the audience. The chefs and gourmets sitting at the judges¡¯ table all frowned slightly. It was obvious that they were doubting Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills. This was inevitable. After all, Xu Le was only a street food vendor. Unlike other chefs, he did not have a rich working experience nor frequently obtained rankings in various international competitions. But what was even more surprising was that after the host introduced Xu Le, He was still sitting there with his head lowered, as if he had fallen asleep. The emcee also looked a little awkward, but the other party was only an eight-year-old child after all, so he couldn¡¯t have too much of a request. Therefore, the host quickly introduced the next contestant. ¡­ ¡°My control over the fire is indeed better than before.¡± Xu Le was still cooking in the system space. After more than a thousand practice sessions, his control over the heat of the dish, the sour and spicy shredded potatoes, was indeed much better than before. ¡°It should be about time.¡± Xu Le estimated the time and exited the system space. On stage, the host had just introduced all the contestants. When everyone stood up, Xu Le also opened his eyes and stood up. ¡°Little Master Chef, were you asleep just now?¡± Zhang Tong asked in a low voice. Xu Le glanced at him and stuck out his tongue. ¡°What do you mean asleep? This is called resting with your eyes closed!¡± Zhang Tong nodded and muttered, ¡°As expected, you fell asleep.¡± Xu Le could not be bothered with him. At this moment, all the contestants had finished their preparations and were standing in front of their respective stoves. Only Xu Le¡¯s stove had been specially customised. It was 40 centimeters shorter than the rest, which took into account his height. ¡°There¡¯s a time limit of 20 minutes. Please complete the stir-fried potato shreds dish!¡± There was a small basket in front of each chef. There were about ten potatoes in the basket. These were the ingredients for this dish, and they had to be used up completely. ¡°I guess I can only use the big pot.¡± Xu Le turned around and saw an 80-centimeter wide pot beside him. If he wanted to fry 15 potatoes in one pot, he would have to use this kind of pot. After the 15 potatoes had all been peeled. Xu Le picked up the kitchen knife. Tap tap tap¡­ The sound of a kitchen knife hitting the chopping board could be heard. If one listened carefully, Xu Le was cutting at a specific frequency. Although it was not fast, it was not messy at all. Soon, the potato was sliced into 1.5 millimeters thick potato slices. If one took a closer look, they would realize that Xu Le¡¯s potato slices were not cut vertically, but slightly tilted at 20 degrees. Similarly, when he cut the potato slices into potato shreds, Xu Le was tilting at 20 degrees in the opposite direction. The sliced potato looked square, but it was actually diamond-shaped. This was Xu Le¡¯s intention. When the potatoes were growing, they were naturally vertical. Now, they were cut at a slanted angle to cut off all the fibers in the potatoes. Only then could the taste of the potatoes be improved and become more crispy. Among all the chefs present, only Xu Le was able to use such a technique. One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes¡­ In a minute, all 15 potatoes were cut. They were neatly arranged on the chopping board. Xu Le squinted his eyes and a gratified smile appeared on his face. Although it did not reach his best standard, it was a decent performance. The thickness of each potato shred was about the same as a matchstick. He removed the short ones and cut off the long ones. At this moment, all the potato shreds appeared to be of the same thickness and length. It was as if a ruler was being used as measurement in the cutting process. However, Xu Le only took a minute to do all of this. ¡°Look, Xu Le has already finished cutting the potato shreds!¡± Someone exclaimed. Every contestant had a small camera placed in front of them, which could project their movements directly onto the screen beside them. Therefore, everyone present could see it very clearly. No one expected Xu Le to be the first to finish cutting the potato shreds! Chapter 28 - Chef Lin The Judge! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Among the judges of this cooking contest, there was a familiar person¡ªLin Shuwei. Chef Lin had appeared on Hunan TV¡¯s ¡°Chinese Restaurant¡± show before. He was the executive chef of the Intercontinental Hotel Group in China Region. He had also served as the head chef at the G20 summit, the UN World Tourism Organization Conference, and the Fortune Global Forum. He was also the most important judge in this competition. Lin Shuwei¡¯s eyes were fixed on Xu Le¡¯s figure. Stir-fried shredded potatoes was indeed an ordinary home-cooked dish, but it could examine a chef¡¯s basic skills and understanding of cooking. In Chef Lin¡¯s opinion, every contestant¡¯s performance was actually very outstanding. But that was all. They did not surprise him. If they were in the hotel, he would pass all these contestants¡¯ finished products. This was because the stir-fried potato strips of this quality were more than enough to be served as dishes. But this was not a hotel kitchen. This was the competition venue. If it was just an ordinary dish of potato shreds, no matter how well it was made, it would only be an ordinary dish. It was like a painter painting. So what if you copied 70% similarity to the painting of Mona Lisa? If you were in a painting competition, you would have to have your own creativity and expression. You would have to draw the things in your heart to move the judges. Painters were like this, and so were cooks. Chef Lin had always believed that cooking was also an art! ¡°He¡¯s creative.¡± Lin Shuwei nodded slightly when he saw Xu Le¡¯s actions. He had cut the potatoes diagonally and removed the sticky fibers, making the shredded potatoes crispier. Furthermore, Xu Le¡¯s cutting skills were comparable to other chefs. This was simply unimaginable. Among the 30 chefs present, Zhang Tong and Wang Tao were the youngest. But they were also 31 and 28 years old respectively. At the very least, they had been involved in the culinary industry for nearly 20 years. Xu Le was an eight-year-old child. How many years of culinary skills could he learn? One or two years was probably the maximum. ¡­ After cutting the potato shreds, the next step was to wash them clean. Xu Le looked around and saw many chefs washing the potatoes under the water. He frowned. Many people would think that the purpose of washing potatoes was to wash them clean. But that was only one reason. More importantly, it was to dilute the starch on the surface of the potato. Therefore, the effect would be better if he soaked them in still water. Xu Le grabbed the shredded potatoes and placed them into a large basin of water. Then, he added a few spoonfuls of white vinegar. The purpose of adding the white vinegar was to produce an oxidation reaction with the potatoes, so that it could release a large amount of starch and the texture would be more crispy. While soaking the shredded potatoes. Xu Le grabbed a handful of tabasco pepper from the side and cut them into thin strips. He then took out a few small onions and cut them into pieces. At this moment, the shredded potatoes were almost finished soaking. He fished them out and placed them on the kitchen towel to drain the water. Next was the stir-frying segment. After adding the oil in the pot and heating it up, he added scallions, dried chilli peppers, and pepper into the pot. He fried them for 30 seconds and released the fragrance within. 30 seconds later, Xu Le scooped out all the fried spices. The chilli and pepper had been fried into a dark brown color, and the color of the onions had turned golden. ¡°The timing of the stir-frying is just right.¡± Xu Le leaned over to sniff and said in satisfaction. If the stir-frying took too long, the final dish would have a bitter taste. He took out a filter and filtered the hot oil in the pot. After filtering the pepper granules and chilli seeds, he poured them into the shredded potatoes and started stir-frying them. He adjusted the fire to its maximum heat. Blue flames spewed out like a planetary engine, spreading along the walls of the pot and rapidly raising the temperature of the entire pot. The shredded potatoes and all the spices seemed to have a wonderful chemical reaction. A delicious fragrance was gradually released. After stir-frying for a while, the potato shreds became almost translucent. Xu Le immediately added five spoonfuls of fragrant vinegar and two spoonfuls of aged vinegar. He also added a spoonful of white sugar and a spoonful of salt. A sweet and sour taste assaulted Xu Le¡¯s senses as he continued to stir-fry. When the taste was almost gone, he put in the shredded chilli. The smell was released once again. It was just that the sourness and sweetness transformed into sourness and spiciness. This was exactly the taste that Xu Le wanted. There was a very important step after the stir-fried shredded potatoes were served. Under everyone¡¯s shocked gazes, Xu Le actually took out an alcohol spray gun from the side. Xu Le aimed the alcohol spray gun at the fried shredded potatoes. Blue flames spewed out and the temperature instantly rose. Under the intense heat, the outer layer of the potato shreds appeared to be scorched. How could shredded potatoes be fried like this? Not to mention the audience, even the chefs and gourmets on the judging panel were stunned when they saw Xu Le¡¯s actions. Was he roasting shredded potatoes? The potato shreds glowed with a golden brown luster, as if there was a thin layer of crust that had been oxidized on the surface. This step was a bold improvisation by Xu Le on the recipe. As a chef, he had to have his own soul. Most of the time, he had to innovate on the basis of the recipe. ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± Xu Le¡¯s tender voice rang out. The moment he finished speaking, the timer beside him stopped. 11 minutes and 30 seconds. Among all the contestants, Xu Le was the seventh to finish it. He was considered one of the fastest. But his actions were undoubtedly the most eye-catching. Even the judges wanted to have a taste of Xu Le¡¯s dish. Roasted shredded potatoes? Soon, the other chefs finished cooking as well. Plates of stir-fried shredded potatoes were served on the table for the 10 judges to taste, evaluate, and give marks. ¡°Contestant number 1, Jiang Xuan. Your cutting skills are not bad. The thickness of the shredded potato is even, and your control over the fire is not bad. However, the seasoning is rather ordinary. 75 points.¡± This was the evaluation given by the 10 judges after they had combined their opinions. This score was not considered high. Clearly, the judges were not satisfied with his dishes. This plate of shredded potato could only be said to be average. There was nothing new about it. ¡°Contestant number 2, Wei Hao, seems to be lacking in cutting skills. The thickness of the shredded potatoes is not even enough. Some of them are too thick and heavy. His control over the fire is not bad. The taste is not bad. 70 points.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Soon, the 10 judges reached Zhang Tong. Although Xu Le and Zhang Tong weren¡¯t standing together, he looked over and saw Zhang Tong pursing his lips. He was obviously nervous. ¡°Contestant number 4, Zhang Tong, has excellent cutting skills. The shredded potatoes are cut very neatly, and he has good control over the fire. When the potatoes are eaten, they are soft and hard. He even added them into the dish¡­¡± The gourmet frowned when he reached this part of the comments. Obviously, he had yet to identify one of the ingredients. ¡°He added crab oil¡± The great chef Lin Shuwei suddenly spoke. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s crab oil. This can be considered a kind of improvisation on this traditional dish. The two flavors that have nothing to do with each other have fused quite well. When eaten, it gives people a refreshing feeling. I¡¯ll give 88 points!¡± ¡°Beautiful!¡± After receiving encouragement from the judges, Zhang Tong¡¯s eyes lit up. This was the highest score that had been given so far. The next contestant was the youngest chef besides Xu Le. Unexpectedly, although he was not old, he had good cutting skills and fire control. He also scored 85 points. Next¡­ was Xu Le.. Chapter 29 - Top Scorer - Xu Le! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Everyone¡¯s eyes were focused on Xu Le¡¯s stir-fried shredded potatoes. Xu Le¡¯s cooking method was the most unique among everyone. His method of cutting was different. While others were cutting straight, Xu Le was cutting it diagonally. His cooking method was different. Xu Le soaked the shredded potatoes in cold water and burnt them with an alcohol spray gun after stir-frying them. This was a step that was never taken by any other chefs. Would it really taste good? Even Xu Le was looking forward to it. This was because the final step did not come from the recipe in the System Shop. Instead, it was part of his own creativity that he had taken the initiative to do. Xu Le was unsure if he could get the approval of these judges. ¡°Let me have a taste first.¡± Lin Shuwei picked up his chopsticks and picked up a few shredded potatoes. However, what was strange was that he had specially picked out a few potato shreds from the bottom that had not been burnt by the alcohol sprayer. The thickness of the potato shreds was even, as if someone had measured them with a ruler. Every one of them had the same length and thickness. They were as thick as a matchstick and had a good texture. And they did not break easily. Xu Le¡¯s control over the fire was also perfect. When the potato shreds entered the mouth, they were crispy, fragrant, numbing, spicy, and sour. All the taste was just right. Chef Lin raised his eyebrows slightly and revealed a surprised expression. Xu Le, a eight-year-old kid, was actually the most outstanding chef among all the chefs! This truly shocked him. After finishing the shredded potatoes on the bottom layer, Lin Shuwei picked up a few shredded potatoes that had been baked by the alcohol sprayer. The taste of the potato after entering his mouth amazed him. It was clearly stir-fried shredded potatoes, but it tasted like fries. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Coupled with the sour and spicy taste of the entire dish, it was an unprecedented experience. It was just a simple grilling with an alcohol spray gun, yet it had achieved such an effect. Lin Shuwei raised his head and looked at Xu Le in disbelief. This was¡­ made by an eight-year-old? The other judges followed Lin Shuwei¡¯s actions. They ate the ones at the bottom layer first, followed by the top layer. After tasting it, their expressions were roughly the same as Lin Shuwei¡¯s, and their faces revealed shock. After a series of whispers, Mr. Zhang Beiguang, the gourmet responsible for announcing the scores, stood up and said solemnly. ¡°Contestant Number 6, Xu Le, has exquisite knife skills that was as precise as cutting. His control over the fire is perfect, the texture is crisp and tender, and he has even combined two cooking methods into one dish. This dish of potato shreds can be eaten as one dish or two dishes, and it is a completely different experience. After discussion among the judges, we have decided to score him 99 points!¡± 99 points! A perfect score was only 100 points. And this was because there was a saying in the food industry¡ªthere would never be perfect food. This meant that the judges would not give 100 marks no matter how perfect a dish was. ¡®The reason for giving 99 points was to encourage you to keep improving.¡¯ ¡®The missing point is because I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll become complacent.¡¯ All of the contestants¡¯ dishes were savored by the judges one by one, and they all gave their scores. However, none of the contestants scored as well as Xu Le. Apart from Xu Le, Chef Li, from New Glory Restaurant, was the one with the highest score. ¡°Michelin Guide 2020 Beijing¡± was officially released in November 2019. Among them included a three-star Michelin restaurant, the only one in China that was awarded that. And that was the New Glory Restaurant. Li Peng, the chef from New Glory Restaurant, naturally was not an ordinary chef. Xu Le looked at the middle-aged man curiously. It was his first time meeting a chef from a Michelin restaurant. But¡­ New Glory might be the only Michelin three-star restaurant in the mainland, but that didn¡¯t mean that it¡¯s the best restaurant in China. After all, the Michelin Guide was written by the French, while Chinese and Western cuisine were two completely different cuisines. Therefore, Michelin did not have much influence in China. ¡°Interesting.¡± Xu Le muttered softly. He had just seen how this chef handled the dishes. Indeed, all his steps were almost perfect. He even added some of his own innovations into the dishes. A chef from a Michelin three-star restaurant was indeed not simple. In the Michelin grading system, three-star was the highest grade. A grade of three Michelin stars was described as having perfect culinary skills that was worthy of making a long journey to try the food. One could enjoy superb culinary skills, excellent wine, perfect service, and elegant dining environment. Perfect culinary skills! These words kept replaying in Xu Le¡¯s mind. His heart was filled with anticipation. Did such culinary skills really exist in this world? ¡­ Examining the cutting skills and fire control was only the first stage of the chef¡¯s competition. 60% of the contestants had already been eliminated in the first round, leaving only 10 chefs with the highest score to enter the next round. During the second segment, the chefs had to cook a set of dishes. One meat dish, one vegetable dish, one dessert, and one main dish. The names of the dishes distributed to everyone were the same. The final dish would be judged based on the five aspects of color, fragrance, taste, shape and aesthetics. All the five dishes assigned were not simple. It was a huge test of the chef¡¯s skills. Xu Le finally understood why the system would reward him with a large sum of gourmet points before he participated in the competition. If he did not have this amount of gourmet points, he might not even be able to exchange for the recipes in the System store. Xu Le¡¯s first dish was a difficult meat dish. Pagoda meat! Chapter 30 - Pagoda Meat! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The pagoda meat originated from Shanghai. The taste and texture were similar to that of [Pickled Vegetables with Pork Belly], but its look was completely different. After successfully making the pagoda meat, it should look like a golden multi-layered pagoda. This could only be achieved by relying on the chef¡¯s superb culinary skills. Xu Le directly entered the system space and used his remaining Gourmet points to exchange for several recipes from the System Shop. Not only this [Pagoda Meat], but also the vegetable, main and dessert dishes¡­ Before the second segment of the cooking contest, all the chefs would have an hour to prepare. Xu Le used this one hour of preparation time to practice in the system space for half a month, memorizing all the cooking methods. ¡­ An hour later. The second stage of the culinary competition officially began. Every chef was assigned to a makeshift kitchen and their cooking was recorded on the camera the whole time. This culinary contest was broadcasted live on three platforms: Hu Ya, Dou Yu, and Bilibili. Perhaps it was because Xu Le was participating in this year¡¯s competition, so the popularity of the broadcast was extremely high and the number of people watching had exceeded 8 million! The netizens wanted to see what position Xu Le, who was known as the Little Master Chef, would achieve in this culinary competition. ¡°Pagoda meat¡­¡± Xu Le looked at a square piece of pork belly in front of him. It was about 20 centimeters in length and width, and 4 centimeters in thickness. This was the fresh black pork that was slaughtered that morning. The meat quality was very good, sturdy and elastic, and the size was just right for making pagoda meat. Due to the fact that the preparation for this dish was too time consuming, Xu Le had only practiced this dish dozens of times during the 15 days in the system space. He took out the familiar alcohol spray gun and aimed it at the pork belly skin, burning it black. Then, he placed the entire piece of pork belly in a large basin of clear water and cleaned it with a steel wire ball. After all the black parts were removed, the skin of the meat was slightly yellow, and it was already emitting the fragrance of the lard. Xu Le¡¯s aim in this step was to get rid of the stench in the flesh. He took out a large bowl and added aniseed, cinnamon, onions, ginger slices, and a few spoonfuls of red rice flour. The seasoning that had been prepared was placed on the cleaned pork belly. He also added a suitable amount of yellow wine to remove the smell. After the water boiled, the foam was removed. After boiling the pork for 15 minutes, he only needed to cook the pork belly to a slightly cooked state. After 15 minutes, Xu Le picked up a large pair of tongs and fished the meat out of the pot. This pair of tongs was about half a meter long. It was almost as tall as Xu Le. The scene of Xu Le, an eight-year-old child, struggling in front of the stove looked rather comical. However, Xu Le did not care about anything other than cooking. From the moment he put on the chef¡¯s uniform and started cooking, he had already been completely focused on it, enjoying the pleasure that cooking itself brought him. The purpose of applying a layer of salt on the meat skin was to prevent the oil from splurting out when the pork was fried. The pig skin now had a bright red color. This color came from the red rice flour that Xu Le had added into the pot previously. He started the fire to boil the oil. When the oil temperature was about 60% heated, Xu Le placed the entire piece of pork belly in the pot and started frying it. The meat skin become more chewy and elastic after being fried, and it was less likely to become overcooked. He took out the pork belly from the pot and looked at the time. 20 minutes had passed. Xu Le¡¯s lips curled into a smile. He suddenly understood why the meat dish for this cooking competition was this pagoda meat. The craftsmanship of making pagoda meat was difficult and it tested the chef¡¯s cutting skills and cooking skills. However, the most troublesome thing was not the cutting skills but the amount of time it took! This dish was too time-consuming. In the usual process of making pagoda meat, the pork belly that had been fried on the skin should be frozen in the refrigerator for six hours. Only after it was completely frozen, could it be cut into the shape of a pagoda. But they were in the middle of a competition. Of course, they wouldn¡¯t have six hours to freeze the meat. They had at most¡­ only two hours. Xu Le glanced at the clock beside him. The pork belly that had been frozen for two hours had not been completely frozen yet, so the difficulty of cutting it would naturally increase exponentially. This was the test set by the competition team! By making use of the lack of time, they increased the difficulty of making the dishes. After thinking carefully, Xu Le realized that this was not the only test the competition team had set for them. The choice of vegetable dish was also a very time-consuming one. The dessert was even more unreasonable. After the [Osmanthus Sweet Wine] was made, it required 24 to 48 hours of fermentation time before it could be consumed. Therefore, he needed to find another dessert to replace the [Osmanthus Sweet Wine]. Furthermore, all these dishes were so time-consuming. Of course, it was impossible for him to finish cooking one dish and then make the next. That would also cause him to have insufficient time. If he wanted to finish all the dishes that day, he would have to start all the dishes at the same time. Making multiple dishes at the same time was a test of the chef¡¯s skills. If one¡¯s basic skills and ability to control the situation was not up to standard, a small mistake could very likely cause all the dishes to fail. Xu Le took a deep breath and glanced at the other chefs. These chefs also fell into deep thought as if they had also discovered this serious problem. Xu Le focused his attention on the stove in front of him. This culinary competition was a big test for him. Even in the system space, he made one dish after another. He had never cooked three or even four dishes at once. Xu Le placed the pan-fried pork belly on a large plate. He pressed it down with something heavy and placed it in the freezer to freeze it. According to Xu Le¡¯s estimates, the pork belly needed to be frozen for two and a half hours, which was 150 minutes. During this time, he needed to prepare the next vegetable dish [Boiled Cabbage]. This dish sounded very easy, as if it was only boiling cabbages. However, it was fundamentally different. The difficulty of making this [Boiled Cabbage] was in no way less than the previous [Pagoda Meat]. In fact, it was even more difficult! It was said that a hundred years ago, the people of the world belittled Sichuan Cuisine as ¡°spicy and vulgar¡±. Therefore, in a fit of anger, a famous Sichuan Cuisine chef Huang Jinglin created this [Boiled Cabbage] in the imperial kitchen of Qing Palace and it even earned recognition from Empress Dowager Cixi. This dish could be said to be of the best quality. It could simplify the extreme complexity of dishes, and clear the 100 years of grievances accumulated by Sichuan Cuisine. Later on, it was even selected to be among the recipe for the palace banquet. It was a mix of extreme complexity and simplicity¡­ It was imaginable how difficult the dish was! Chapter 31 - Boiled Cabbage! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The so-called ¡®boiling water¡¯ was actually using the purest chicken soup. This soup needed to be brewed with precious ingredients such as an old hen, an old duck, pork trotters, pork ribs, dried scallop for at least four hours and then specially handled. The chicken soup that was finally brewed was like clear water, but it also had a rich taste that refreshed one¡¯s taste buds. Only by watering the cabbage with such soup until it was cooked could it be called [Boiled Cabbage]. The final product looked like it was made of clear soup without any oil, but in reality, it was tender and beautiful, surpassing all the dishes in the world. Xu Le did not had time to practice much in the system space. This was also the first time Xu Le was making this dish in real life. Hence, he could not help but feel nervous. Half a pig¡¯s front trotter, half a pig¡¯s back trotter, a black farm chicken, an old duck, and a small piece of golden ham. All the ingredients were washed clean. The internal organs of the poultry were removed and cut in half. He took out all the chicken breast meat for other use. The golden ham was soaked in water and its outer skin was peeled off. The organizers of the competition had already provided the best ingredients for all the contestants. The piece of golden ham in his hand had already been processed for 10 years. The meat was firm, fragrant and fresh. It was not at all inferior to the Iberian 5J ham in Italy. He placed all the ingredients into the pot and blanched them. After the water boiled, he removed the foam. After blanching, all the raw materials were fished out and washed again. Next was to cook the ¡®boiling water¡¯. He took out a large pot that was more than half a meter tall and placed all the ingredients into it. Then, he put in some chopped green onions and ginger slices. He poured 15 liters of clear water into it and began to boil it. This was another time-consuming job. Because these ingredients needed to be boiled in the pot for three hours before they could be taken out for the next step. ¡­ ¡°What proficient moves!¡± Seeing Xu Le handle the chicken, duck, and pig trotters skillfully, the chefs at the judging panel were all surprised. Most importantly, Xu Le actually knew to cook these two dishes! Both [Boiled Cabbage] and [Pagoda Meat] were extremely difficult dishes. Furthermore, the recipes for these two dishes were also secret recipes of various restaurants. They would rarely reveal them to outsiders. Some chefs who had been in the industry for four or five years were still not skilled enough. Even if they obtained the recipes of these dishes, they would not be able to produce the desired effect. As an eight-year-old child, Xu Le was actually able to operate in an orderly manner within the stipulated time. This was already extremely shocking. ¡°Chef Lin, do you think¡­ anyone can make all the dishes in this competition?¡± Lin Shuwei narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment before shaking his head. That¡¯s right! In the eyes of the judges, none of the ten experienced chefs present could cook all of the dishes, let alone obtain high marks. The competition only lasted six hours. The few dishes that the contestants needed to make were all extremely difficult. Furthermore, each dish required a lot of time. It was already very good to be able to finish a dish in a mere six hours. Let alone four dishes? Even from Lin Shuwei¡¯s perspective, this was almost impossible. However, when he came to the competition venue to be a judge that day, he had indeed gained a pleasant surprise. That was Xu Le. At such a young age, Xu Le was actually able to master such difficult dishes. Furthermore, he completed the production process in an orderly manner. This had completely exceeded the expectations of the judges. The remaining contestants were all extremely experienced chefs. However, Xu Le¡¯s performance in this segment could at least rank in the top three. ¡°Next, let¡¯s see how they are going to deal with the osmanthus sweet wine.¡± The smile on Lin Shuwei¡¯s face couldn¡¯t be concealed anymore. He had added this dessert into that day¡¯s competition. His goal was simple. He wanted to test the ability of these participants to adapt to the situation. Osmanthus Sweet Wine ¨C this dish required fermentation for at least 24 to 48 hours. But they were only given six hours. These contestants needed to find a substitute that was closest to osmanthus sweet wine on top of making the meat, vegetable, and main dishes. How could that be easy? ¡­ After the chicken, duck, and pork trotters were all put into the pot. Xu Le looked at the time. It took him half an hour to process the ingredients. In other words, there were less than two hours until the pork belly was frozen. ¡°Less than two hours¡­¡± Xu Le¡¯s expression turned serious. It seemed that he needed to find a dessert that could replace osmanthus sweet wine in less than two hours. Xu Le actually found a seat to sit down in this tense competition segment. He needed to think and try. Everything around him became chaotic. Xu Le¡¯s consciousness was immersed in the system space. And in the eyes of the audience and the judges, all of this was completely different. ¡°Why did Xu Le sit down all of a sudden? Did¡­ did he run into any difficulties?¡± Even the host who was in charge of commentating could not help but raise his doubts. In the live-stream, the bullet screen was filled with comments. Many of the audience had come to watch this match because of Xu Le. After all, the image of Xu Le as the eight-year-old little Master Chef in the past two weeks had already been deeply ingrained in everyone¡¯s hearts. Many netizens liked Xu Le¡¯s character very much. He was clearly just an eight-year-old kid, but he spoke and did things like a young adult. He had a maturity that did not match his age, but most of the time, his actions matched his age very well, making him look very cute and adorable. The number of fans on Xu Le¡¯s personal social media account had already exceeded 7 million. He could even be considered a huge internet sensation. When they saw Xu Le suddenly stop in the middle of the competition, many of the audience felt their hearts ache. What exactly happened? The host also had a discussion with the program organizers. After all, they did not know what had happened. However, Xu Le seemed to be¡­ resting? There was still time to rest during such an urgent competition? However, considering that Xu Le was only eight years old, his stamina would definitely be greatly exhausted after such a long period of hard work, so it seemed reasonable for him to take a break. The production team planned to wake him up if Xu Le still did not respond after half an hour. If a contestant fell asleep during the competition, wouldn¡¯t it become a broadcasting incident? Chapter 32 - "Osmanthus Sweet Wine" Flavoured Chiffon Cake Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At this moment. Xu Le was continuously trying out different desserts in the system space. He needed to find a replacement for the osmanthus sweet wine. ¡°If only there were ready-made rice wine among the ingredients provided by the organizers.¡± Xu Le sighed. If he had rice wine, he would not need to go through so much trouble. ¡°Since there¡¯s no rice wine, we can¡¯t use brewer¡¯s yeast.¡± The fermentation of the brewer¡¯s yeast would take 24 hours or even longer. Xu Le had to give up part of the sweet wine. Then all that was left was¡­ cinnamon and wine? Xu Le suddenly had a bold idea. Since he could not make osmanthus sweet wine, then why did he have to make a wine brew? What if it was a chiffon cake with the flavor of ¡°Osmanthus Sweet Wine¡±? Xu Le immediately started to take actions after he had this idea. This was a dish created by Xu Le himself, so there was no corresponding recipe in the System Shop. But there were still recipes for ordinary chiffon cakes. Xu Le immediately started exchanging for it. He wanted to start learning from the ordinary chiffon cake, then slowly add in the taste of the ¡°Osmanthus Sweet Wine¡±, and let them perfectly fuse together. Make the cake meringue¡­ melt the corn oil and milk¡­ sift the low-caliber flour¡­ beat the egg white¡­ then bake¡­ One by one he followed the steps and after an hour. Xu Le¡¯s first chiffon cake was already a success. But it was far from perfect. Xu Le was making cakes for the first time, so he had no experience. His cutting skills and mastery of fire were of no help when it came to making pastries. But he still had enough time. The 365 times slower time flow was enough for him to practice here for a long time. Soon, the second piece of chiffon cake was ready, then the third¡­ and the fourth¡­ Xu Le became more and more proficient and on the second day. He could already make an ordinary chiffon cake fast and good. ¡°There¡¯s not much time left. I have to hurry and innovate.¡± Xu Le¡¯s expression was unprecedentedly serious. Before that, he just had to follow the recipe from the System Shop. As long as he practised enough times, he would eventually succeed. But it was different this time. He needed to innovate on his own. Xu Le did not know whether the Osmanthus Sweet Wine could merge with the chiffon cake well. Time passed, minute by minute, until three days later. ¡°Success!¡± Xu Le¡¯s eyes were filled with joy. In these three days, he had tried more than a hundred formulas and finally found the best formula. A chiffon cake with the taste of osmanthus sweet wine was successfully created by him. That¡¯s right, it wasn¡¯t a production. It was an innovation. No one had ever tried something like this before, and there was no such dish in this world. It was Xu Le who completed the breakthrough from zero to one. ¡­ 20 minutes had passed in the competition. At this moment, whether it was the audience in the livestream room or the live comments, the organizers were all getting anxious. Just as they were about to wake Xu Le up, Xu Le opened his eyes. Xu Le¡¯s eyes were filled with confidence. He walked to the stove and began preparing the ingredients he needed. Eggs, salad oil, wine, low-caliber flour, fine baking sugar, osmanthus sugar, salt, light cream, osmanthus¡­ Fortunately, the production team had made ample preparations. Otherwise, he would not know where to obtain the ingredients. Xu Le separated the egg whites from the egg yolk. He took out a clean empty bowl, poured 50 grams of wine into it, and stirred it evenly with a spoon. After that, Xu Le added 30 grams of milk, 30 grams of corn salad oil, and 30 grams of osmanthus sugar into the wine and mixed it evenly. After all the ingredients were completely melted, a thick liquid was formed. Xu Le picked up a sieve and carefully sifted the low-caliber flour into a large bowl. Then a second time, a third¡­ Xu Le repeated this step five times. The fifth time was to sieve out the low-caliber flour into the thick liquid that he had just mixed. The main purpose of the sifting was to ensure that the final cake was smooth enough. For the sake of better taste, these tedious steps could not be neglected. After the low-caliber flour was sifted and added, he continued stirring. He continued to stir the flour until it was dry and delicate. Then, Xu Le added the three egg yolks that he had prepared earlier into the mix and continued to stir. This time, the flour paste was stirred into a paste that was light yellow. If one were to take a closer sniff, they would be able to smell the fragrance of eggs and the unique fragrance of wine. Xu Le smiled in satisfaction. This was the effect he wanted. At that moment, the gourmets and chefs on the judging panel were all stunned. They did not know what Xu Le was going to do. Shouldn¡¯t the dessert for this competition be¡­ osmanthus sweet wine? Why did Xu Le choose eggs and flour on top of using osmanthus and wine? Could it be¡­ he was going to make a cake? Among the judges, a middle-aged Japanese man¡¯s expression was more serious than ever. He was Mr. Tanimura Koji, founder of the famous Mr. Cheesecake in Tokyo. The cheesecake he made was known as the [No.1 Cheesecake in Japan]. It was also known as a dessert that one had to eat once in their life. Tanimura Koji¡¯s understanding of making cakes was top-notch worldwide. ¡°He¡¯s making a cake,¡± Tanimura Koji said in his unfamiliar Chinese. Worried that others wouldn¡¯t understand, he specially added. ¡°Contestant number six, the kid.¡± All the judges were instantly stunned. Making a cake? There was no cake among the dishes for this competition? Chapter 33 - Pot of Chicken Soup Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le took out the three egg whites that he had separated earlier and took out an egg-beater to beat them. He chose to beat the eggs manually rather than using an electric egg-beater. Only by beating the eggs by hand could he feel the subtle changes in the egg white and make the final product taste even more smooth. After the egg whites were beaten into a foam, Xu Le added one-third of white sugar and one-third of starch. He continued to beat the egg. Xu Le held the egg beater in his small hands and continuously stirred it clockwise without stopping. This was a torturous and exhausting process. However, Xu Le knew that for the sake of making tasty food, he would have to undergo some this tough process. A few minutes later, all the large bubbles in the egg white had disappeared and was replaced by a layer of small bubbles. Xu Le added another one-third of white sugar and one-third of starch into it and continued beating! After a few more minutes, the egg white formed a smooth surface, looking like cream. Xu Le immediately added the remaining white sugar and starch. This time, he beat the egg whites into a dry and bubbling state. This was the state he needed. He gently picked up the egg beater and could see that the egg white was stuck to the beater and did not fall off. ¡­ At this moment. All the judges could already tell that Xu Le was making a cake. And from the ingredients used by Xu Le, it could be seen that he was making a chiffon cake with the flavor of ¡°Osmanthus Sweet Wine¡±? ¡°Can wine be mixed with cake?¡± Lin Shuwei lowered his voice and asked Tanimura Koji. ¡°I have never tried that.¡± Tanimura Koji shook his head. As a pastry chef who had once worked at a Michelin three-star restaurant in France, even to him, Xu Le¡¯s approach was already in his blind spot. Sweet wine¡­ osmanthus¡­ cake¡­ Could these three unrelated things really be merged together? Before Xu Le succeeded, even Tanimura Koji did not dare to jump to conclusions. ¡°But the topic we came up with is osmanthus sweet wine! Xu Le, isn¡¯t making a cake a little¡­ against the rules?¡± a judge asked. Lin Shuwei shook his head and said, ¡°The materials that we have prepared for the contestants are simply insufficient to make a real sweet osmanthus wine. The time limit also does not allow for that. The contestants must find similar substitutes.¡± ¡°As long as the taste is in line with the topic, I feel that Xu Le¡¯s approach of making a ¡®Osmanthus Sweet Wine¡¯ flavored cake matches the rules perfectly.¡± After a round of whispers, the judges finally reached a consensus. However, the amount of points Xu Le would get¡­ would depend on the taste of the cake. ¡­ The well-beaten egg white and the prepared egg yolk mix were mixed together. Xu Le carefully mixed them evenly and combined them into a large bowl to form a paste that emitted the fragrance of alcohol. ¡°And the finishing touch.¡± Xu Le scooped out a small amount of viscous osmanthus candy from a small box beside him and added it to the paste. Immediately, the fragrance of osmanthus wafted over. The rich fragrance seemed to permeate every molecule of the air. It was so intoxicating. The fragrance of osmanthus flowers was very unique. It was light yet rich. The two fragrance should have conflicted with one another. However, they had perfectly fused into the osmanthus fragrance. Anyone standing nearby could smell the fresh and elegant osmanthus fragrance. And standing far away, the osmanthus fragrance could also drift over, and it was still rich, bringing one¡¯s thoughts into the beauty of the world. There was a hint of sweetness in the fragrance. It was perfect for making desserts. After adding the osmanthus candy, he mixed the paste evenly and slowly poured it into the eight-inch cake mold. Xu Le heated up the oven on the side and placed the paste inside to be baked at 150 ¡ãC for 40 minutes. Xu Le¡¯s face was filled with anticipation. Cooking was like an art. What he had put in was only a basin of paste, but 40 minutes later, as if there was some magic, a delicious cake would be taken out from the oven. That was the happiest moment when Xu Le was cooking. It was less than an hour before the pork belly was done being frozen. Xu Le was completely free during this one hour. Whether it was the [Pagoda Meat], [Boiled Cabbage], or [Osmanthus Sweet Wine Chiffon Cake], he did not need to do anything. The main dish required for this competition was another Egg Fried Rice dish. Xu Le decided to cook it right before the time was up. ¡°How about¡­ making another soup?¡± If it was a complete meal, there were already a meat, vegetable, main dish, and desserts. The only thing missing would be a soup dish. This made Xu Le very uncomfortable. Hence, he planned to use his free time to make another soup so that the entire meal would be more complete. Xu Le immediately exchanged for the recipe [Pot of Chicken Soup] from the System Shop. He did not need to practice much on this dish. That was because the recipe for the [Pot of Chicken Soup] was not difficult. The only requirement was that the ingredients had to be fresh. A soup could bring out the original taste of the ingredients to the greatest extent. Only high-quality ingredients and sufficient cooking time could produce a soup with a rich taste. ¡°Succeed at one go,¡± Xu Le thought to himself. The ingredients provided by the organizers for this competition were all of very high quality. Xu Le chose to use another hen to make the stew. This was a black chicken that had been raised for 180 days. The meat was firm and the fats were rich. It was the best choice for stewing soup. [Pot of Chicken Soup] was a famous dish from Hubei. It was rich in fragrance and fresh in taste. It was also rich in nutrition and had the effect of expelling cold and nourishing the body. Xu Le skillfully cleaned up the hen and removed all its internal organs. Then, he used a kitchen knife to chop it into cubes that were 4cm wide and 5cm long. However, he left the drumstick and chicken wings intact. He started a wok of boiling oil and turned the fire to maximum heat. Xu Le placed a piece of cooked lard into the pot and stir-fried the chicken, scallion, and ginger together. When the fragrance wafted from the wok, he added some salt. Then, Xu Le took out 12 small earthen jars and added 500 grams of mineral water into each earthen jar. He also distributed the chicken meat into these 12 earthen jars and cooked them on a small fire. The chicken soup was boiled for three and a half hours from that time until the end of the competition. It was enough to let the rich flavor of the chicken completely enter the chicken soup. From beginning to end, he only added some salt and white pepper powder. There was no other seasoning required. In the end, the chicken soup was completely filled with the original flavor of the chicken, and it was extremely delicious. It was hard to imagine for a person who had never tasted it before. After all 12 pots were placed over the fire, Xu Le looked at the time and estimated that the piece of pork belly was almost frozen. He went to the freezer and took out the large piece of cold pork belly, placing it on the chopping board. Next up¡­ was the time to test his cutting skills! Chapter 34 - Powerful Cutting Skills Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After more than two hours of freezing, this piece of pork belly had become extremely cold. But to Xu Le, it was still not tough enough. If it could be frozen for six hours, this piece of pork belly would become as hard as steel and wouldn¡¯t have any deformation when it was cut. That was the most suitable state for cutting. Now, the pork belly was not hard enough, which undoubtedly created a lot of trouble for the cutting process. Xu Le placed the pork belly on the chopping board and picked up the butcher knife. After taking a deep breath, Xu Le tried his best to calm down. The requirements for cutting skills of [Pagoda Meat] had reached a terrifying level. The chef had to cut the meat into two millimeters thick slices along the outermost edge of the pork belly. The final effect was to make the entire piece of pork belly five centimeters wide and three meters long. Moreover, he could not stop during the entire process! What was even more terrifying was that during the process of cutting, if the chef made even the slightest mistake, causing the meat slice to break, then the entire dish would be completely ruined. Once it broke, the shape of the pagoda could not be formed. This piece of pork belly required a lot of time to cook and freeze, so every chef only had one chance in the limited time they had. His only chance! Once it failed, the [Pagoda Meat] would fail completely. Xu Le was feeling uneasy when he was about to begin cutting. He tried hundreds of times in the system space, and nearly half of them ended in failure. Even later on, his success rate was only about 70%. ¡°I must not fail,¡± Xu Le muttered softly. He placed the piece of pork belly upright and used his left hand to support the meat to prevent it from falling down while his right hand picked up the kitchen knife. At this moment, Xu Le entered a highly focused state. Xu Le was still nervous and uneasy when he picked up the kitchen knife. However, after picking up the kitchen knife, he entered a state of complete focus. No matter what happened, nothing could distract him. In Xu Le¡¯s eyes, there was only this piece of meat! He held the knife steadily. There were no tremors or shaking. The knife was like an extension of Xu Le¡¯s arm, while Xu Le was like a doctor who was in the middle of a precision surgery. He squinted his eyes and focused on the pork belly in front of him. Slash! The sharp blade touched the edge of the pork belly and immediately cut it open. The thin flesh rolled outwards. Xu Le¡¯s hands were as steady as iron pincers, holding the meat down firmly. The incision continued to extend downwards. The thickness of the meat slice was extremely even and was maintained at two millimeters. Soon, the knife was about to reach the bottom and the end of the pork belly. Xu Le did not panic and turned the entire piece of meat 90 degrees. The meat slices that he had cut previously were also moved to the top. At the turn of the corner, the kitchen knife suddenly turned around and cut out a small arc. It went from horizontal to vertical before continuing to cut downwards. While maintaining the thickness of the meat slice at two millimeters, there could not be any breakage at all. At every corner, Xu Le carefully moved the knife. The director of the program team was also very considerate and turned the live-stream camera to Xu Le. Millions of spectators watched as Xu Le carefully cut the meat. They were also on tenterhooks. Swoosh! He turned the meat 90 degrees again and used the sharp kitchen knife to cut off the meat. On both sides of the blade, the pork formed rolls. Immediately after, a piece of meat as thin as a cicada¡¯s wing fell! Xu Le seemed to have sped up. He quickly completed the first round and entered the second. His gorgeous knife skills were stunning. The deeper it went, the narrower the ring became, and the more difficult it became. The blade had just cut a short distance when it would face a turn. Xu Le had to be extra careful and pay attention to his movements at the corners. Once the meat slices were broken, the entire dish would fail. Ten minutes later¡­ Clang! Xu Le placed the knife on the table, producing a crisp sound. In front of him, there was a stainless steel plate filled with meat slices. The thickness was only two millimeters, and the width was maintained at five centimeters. The entire piece of pork belly had been cut to a few meters long by Xu Le, and it had not broken from the beginning to the end! This was¡­ The kind of cutting skills expected! ¡°Impressive!¡± Even Chef Lin Shuwei couldn¡¯t help but exclaim when he saw Xu Le¡¯s performance. His display of cutting skills and extremely strong mental fortitude really made it hard for people not to praise him. If they were given sufficient time in the kitchen, many chefs could display this kind of cutting skills. But this was a competition. As a participant, it was impossible not to be nervous. While Xu Le was cutting the meat, he even sped up. There were no accidents from the beginning to the end. He cut the entire piece of pork belly in a stable manner and the cut was almost perfect. The audience in the live-stream had never seen such superb culinary skills. The live comments were also filled with praises. At the same time, the contestant beside also took out the pork belly from the freezer and started to slice the meat. Following that, one contestant after another came to this segment. A large square piece of pork belly was placed on the chopping board in front of each of them. They began to carefully cut it. The images in the live-stream were constantly switching between the contestants. However, no matter where the camera panned, the audience could see that these renowned chefs could not handle this piece of meat as well as Xu Le in this tense competition environment. Be it speed or neatness. They were far behind Xu Le. While the other chefs were cutting the meat, Xu Le had already entered the next step. He chose some fresh sprouts and washed them about ten times. After they were completely cleaned, he would cut them into pieces as backup. He also prepared some green onions and garlic, then added some dried chilli and chopped them all up. He added several spoonfuls of the collard sauce, pork ribs sauce, seafood sauce, sweet bean paste, fermented bean paste and some yellow wine and stirred them evenly to mix them all together. This rich sauce was then applied evenly on the sliced pork belly by Xu Le. The three-meter-long meat slice was completely covered with a thick layer of sauce. Next was to shape it into the shape of a pagoda. Previously, Xu Le had used a kitchen knife to cut this piece of pork belly from a squarish shape into a thin piece of meat. Now, what he needed to do was to restore the shape of the piece of meat. He wrapped it up one layer after another. Soon, the pork belly returned to its original square shape. Xu Le took out a mold from the side. This mold was also provided by the production team. It was an indispensable tool for making pagoda meat. The mold was shaped like a pyramid. The bottom was squarish while the top was sharp. He turned the entire mold upside down and placed the square-shaped pork belly inside. The pork belly, which had been cut into layers, began to sink layer by layer. Soon, it perfectly fit the mold. Xu Le placed the entire mold on the table and started to stir-fry the sprouts. The sprouts and seasoning were stir-fried together, poured into the mold, and pressed with chopsticks. Then, he turned it upside down and placed it into the pot, steaming it for two and a half hours. The reason why it took so long was because the more time it took to cook the pagoda meat, the softer the meat would become and the more delicious the finished product would be. After the [Pagoda Meat] was placed into the pot, Xu Le used a towel to wipe the sweat on his forehead. It had to be said that making so many dishes at the same time was not only a test of skills, but also a test of a chef¡¯s stamina. Next dish¡­ [Boiled Cabbage].. Chapter 35 - Precious Ingredients Are All Free Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Two hours had passed since the chicken, duck, and pork trotters were added into the soup. It had reached the point where it was ready to be served. Xu Le took out the chicken breast meat and duck breast meat that had been prepared earlier. He also took out 800 grams of pig¡¯s spine. He added these meat to the blender. Following the sound of the blender, the chicken breast meat quickly turned into mush. Xu Le scooped out all the chicken, duck, and pig trotters from the pot and filtered the soup twice to make sure that there was no residue left. The next step was called ¡°soup sweeping.¡± It referred to removing the impurities from the pot so that the soup would become extremely clear. After the soup in the pot cooled down a little, Xu Le started to add the minced chicken breast meat. The raw meat was added into the pot and boiled for about ten minutes. During this process, the duck meat expanded due to the heat and soon absorbed the soup content. The impurities were released together and floated on the surface of the soup. Xu Le scooped out all the impurities floating in the pot to filter them off. After completely filtering once, the soup became visibly clearer. However, this was the only first time ¡°sweeping¡± the soup. There were two more times to complete. The order of the ingredients used to ¡°sweep¡± the soup could not be changed at all. It had to be the duck meat first, then pork, and then chicken breast meat. This was determined by the texture of the three different types of meat. The chicken breast meat was the most delicate, so when added at the end, it could purify the entire pot of soup to the clearest. After three different rounds of ¡°sweeping¡±, Xu Le had filtered the soup. Ultimately, the soup that had been boiled for several hours no longer had any impurities. It had become extremely clear! Normally, filtering could only remove the large residues in the soup. However, by ¡°sweeping¡± the soup, one could remove all the impurities that could not be seen with the naked eye, making the entire soup clear. Whoosh¡ª Xu Le scooped out all the soup in the pot with a big spoon and placed it in a transparent glass container. This pot of soup was slightly yellowish in color and was as clear as water. If one were to see this pot of soup without anyone¡¯s reminder, they might guess that it was some kind of beverage or tea, but they would never guess that it was a pot of¡­ soup! The completely purified soup was also known as the ¡°boiling water¡± in this dish. Without any exaggeration, the chicken soup had become as pure as water. This was also the most complicated part of [Boiled Cabbage], and it had already been completed by Xu Le. The most complicated part of the [Pagoda Meat] was also completed by Xu Le. He just had to wait for two hours before the [Pagoda Meat] was ready. Ding! The oven behind Xu Le made a loud ring. The 45 minutes that he had set on the timer was up. The chiffon cake with the taste of sweet osmanthus wine was baked. Xu Le took the cake out of the oven. The eight-inch cake had a smooth surface and looked extremely fluffy. As soon as he took it out of the oven, the fragrance of osmanthus mixed with the fragrance of wine hit him. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s the smell of sweet osmanthus wine.¡± Xu Le smiled in satisfaction. Although this dish wasn¡¯t difficult, it was a recipe that didn¡¯t exist in the System Shop. It was completely improvised by him, so Xu Le didn¡¯t know how it tasted. But when he smelled the fragrance of osmanthus and saw the soft texture of the cake. Xu Le knew¡­ this dish was going to be alright. It would definitely be a delicacy! There were still two hours until the end of the competition. There was not much work left for Xu Le. Now, the most time-consuming thing was to wait for the pagoda meat in the pot to be steamed, as well as the chicken soup that was slowly simmering in the pot. The main dish of the competition, Egg Fried Rice, was not difficult to make for Xu Le. He immediately decided on the Golden Egg Fried Rice that he had cooked for Zhang Tong previously. Besides, Xu Le was confident that the Egg Fried Rice cooked that day would taste better than the previous time. After all, he had made it in a hurry last time and the ingredients he chose were all bought from the convenience store nearby. Whereas it was the day of the competition and the ingredients prepared by the organizers had a huge variety and were of high quality. The fist-sized South African abalones weighed nearly 200 grams each. There were even other expensive ingredients like caviar and black truffle. Xu Le could integrate them into his fried rice. Even the rice was of a higher quality than the one Xu Le used previously. The program team chose the rice from the Five Regions of Heilongjiang. It had been steamed the night before and had been stored overnight. This was the best ingredient for preparing the Egg Fried Rice. The rice that had been dried naturally for the whole night had lost a lot of moisture and became distinct grains. In addition, the rice grains in the Five Regions were full and chewy. It could be said to be the best choice for preparing fried rice. Xu Le went to pick the ingredients and came back with a basket full of ingredients. His basket was full of all kinds of ingredients that was almost half his height, forming a sharp contrast with his thin and small body. Many of the judges and audience members were puzzled by Xu Le¡¯s actions. ¡°What does Xu Le want to do now?¡± ¡°There are so many precious ingredients. Is he going to make Buddha jumps over the wall? Or is he going to make Poon Choi?¡± Chef Lin also shook his head with a bitter smile. Even with his experience as a chef for more than 20 years, he still couldn¡¯t tell what Xu Le wanted to do. ¡°This little Master Chef¡­ He is really puzzling.¡± ¡°Egg¡­ Rice¡­ Xu Le, are you going to cook Egg Fried Rice?¡± Soon, a judge saw Xu Le take out five eggs and a bowl of rice on the table and said in astonishment. Their reaction was similar to Zhang Tong¡¯s. Their faces were filled with doubt. Could so many ingredients be used in the Egg Fried Rice? Wouldn¡¯t the combination of so many flavors appear too abrupt and disharmonious? Zhang Tong, who was also in the competition, gasped when he saw the ingredients on Xu Le¡¯s table. ¡°The Little Master Chef is going to cook the Golden Egg Fried Rice!¡± Thinking of the Golden Egg Fried Rice he had eaten last time, Zhang Tong almost drooled. ¡°Looks like the champion of this competition will be the Little Master Chef.¡± Zhang Tong shook his head and sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best to get second place then..¡± Chapter 36 - Dishes Served One After Another! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios He washed all the ingredients and soaked them in clear water. The abalones, scallops, and sea cucumbers were all dried under the sun and had to be soaked in water for half an hour before they could return to their full and juicy state. In any case, he did not have to spend any money on these, so Xu Le even took a piece of high-quality beef. The M9-grade Australia Wagyu beef was about 200 grams. Xu Le cut it into meat cubes the size of fingernails. ¡°Hehe, the feeling of casually using any ingredients is really good.¡± All sorts of high-quality ingredients were placed in front of him, which made Xu Le feel very happy. According to current market price, 200 grams of M9-grade Australia Wagyu beef could be sold for 200 yuan. It was almost worth 1 yuan per gram. After all the ingredients were prepared, the cooking process that followed was very familiar to Xu Le. Bang! On the stove, bright blue flames spewed out as Xu Le turned the heat to its maximum. Any dish that needed to be stir-fried had to be cooked with a huge fire to achieve the most perfect taste and produce the ¡®wok steam¡¯! Making use of the high temperature, he wanted to draw out the fragrance of the food. Xu Le had a good understanding of the various ingredients and added them in a specific order. Ham, scallop, mushrooms, fresh bamboo shoots, wagyu beef, abalones¡­ Sizzle¡ª The glistening oil and fragrance gushed out together. This wok of high-grade ingredients each emitted their own fragrance. And when all their fragrances were mixed together, it did not seem conflicting. Instead, it was very harmonious. The color of the ingredients in the wok was increasingly alluring. The fragrance had already permeated half of the venue. The other contestants couldn¡¯t help but stop what they were doing and look over. Xu Le gently flipped the ingredients in the wok. The ingredients evenly merged, revealing a golden color. The level of temptation in this dish was still soaring. After stir-frying, Xu Le took out a few eggs and separated their yolk and egg whites. The egg yolk and rice were added together, dyeing each grain of rice the color of gold. It was like a big bowl of golden beans, shining with an enchanting light. ¡°This is the Golden Egg Fried Rice!¡± A look of astonishment appeared on the face of Chef Lin Shuwei. ¡°He even knows such a lost recipe. Xu Le is really something!¡± Even Zhang Tong had been able to recognize this dish, not to mention Chef Lin. He immediately recognized the cooking technique that Xu Le was using. It was the ¡°Golden Egg Fried Rice¡± that was passed down by the imperial chefs in the past! The rice grains that had been coated with egg yolk were quickly stir-fried in the wok. During the last time when Xu Le cooked the Egg Fried Rice, there was one flaw. It was that he did not have chicken soup at that time and could not bring out the freshness of the various ingredients. But this time, it was different¡­ Xu Le opened the lid of the pot beside him and scooped out a spoonful of clear soup. This was the ¡°boiling water¡± for [Boiling Cabbage]! This spoonful of soup was made from countless precious ingredients that were simmered for two hours. After three rounds of ¡®sweeping the soup¡¯, it became so clear that one could see the bottom. It was also rich and fragrant. When did an ordinary Egg Fried Rice receive such treatment? The ¡°boiling water¡± was poured into the pot along the edge of the wok, making a sizzling sound. The fragrance was instantly stimulated to the extreme. This spoonful of soup was like a catalyst, stimulating the taste of all the precious ingredients to the greatest extent and blending them together just like it was supposed to. At this moment, the taste of the fried rice could be said to be extremely delicious! All kinds of saltiness, fragrance, freshness and sweetness fused together, but it did not seem out of place. This time, Xu Le didn¡¯t choose to make the egg floss because he didn¡¯t need it anymore. The Golden Egg Fried Rice was perfect. When the spoonful of ¡°boiling water¡± was added in, it had already reached the pinnacle of a bowl of Egg Fried Rice, just like the pinnacle of art. Swoosh! Xu Le sprinkled a bunch of green onions with confidence. Whoosh¡ª Another handful of peas. After putting the ingredients in, Xu Le quickly started to stir-fry. During the stir-frying process, the ¡°wok steam¡± was produced and the smell of the various ingredients completely blended together. Immediately after, a second round of spring onions were sprinkled in! Then, he added salt and other condiments into the pot and added a round of seafood soy sauce. The ¡°wok steam¡± was emitted again, and Xu Le seized the opportunity to scoop all the rice onto a few exquisite plates. After they were served, he sprinkled the third handful of onions into the bowl. In this way, one would be able to taste the freshness of the onions when they ate it. It had the fragrance of the organic soil and the sweetness of the vegetables. After the Egg Fried Rice was cooked, Xu Le heaved a sigh of relief. His clothes were already drenched in sweat. Although it looked like a plate of Egg Fried Rice, it was indeed a work of art that he had devoted all his attention to. This could almost be said to be a great culmination of Xu Le¡¯s Egg Fried Rice. Even if he were to do it again, he might not be able to do it so perfectly. Xu Le was filled with excitement when he smelled the alluring fragrance. He was definitely going to get first place that day! After the Egg Fried Rice was cooked, Xu Le placed it in the warmer. At that moment, only the finishing touches were left for [Boiled Cabbage] and [Pagoda Meat]. After waiting for half an hour, the pagoda meat was first served. Xu Le put on heat-resistant gloves and carefully picked up the mold of the pagoda meat. He placed a large plate on the mold and quickly flipped the two. At the bottom of the plate, thick and fragrant gravy flowed out instantly. The fragrance of the sprouts and pork emerged together. Xu Le slowly picked up the mold. The pagoda-like pagoda meat was shockingly revealed in front of everyone. As the pagoda was supported by the sprouts, the pork belly that was previously cut into thin slices by Xu Le was able to stand up in circles, forming a pagoda with a total of ten layers. Xu Le poured the sauce he had prepared on the top of the pagoda. As it flowed along the pagoda, the thick soup head slid down layer by layer, looking like a small waterfall. Regardless of the taste, to be able to make a dish like this was already a work of art. Xu Le placed the pagoda meat in the warmer at the side and immediately plucked the cabbage that was prepared beforehand. In order to ensure the taste of the boiled cabbage, the cabbage had to be selected from the most tender vegetable core. Xu Le plucked off the outer layers on the cabbage and took out the vegetable core. After cleaning it, he placed it on a white plate. Xu Le scooped up the boiling water and poured it onto the center of the dish. The core of the vegetable was watered until it was fully cooked. And during this process, due to the expansion of the cabbage, the core of the cabbage would stretch out layer by layer. At this moment, it seemed like a blooming lotus flower! The judges and the audience in the live-stream all gaped in shock when they saw this. The Boiling Cabbage seemed to contain some sort of deeper meaning of returning home. While the pouring continued, the cabbage was like a lotus flower blooming in the direction of the boiling water, sweeping across the entire stadium. Everyone who smelled the fragrance was utterly astounded. This was exactly the national banquet dish by a Sichuan chef. Boiled Cabbage! Chapter 37 - End of Competition Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After the boiled cabbage was served out of the pot. Xu Le turned around and took out all the 12 small pots. This was the [Pot of Chicken Soup] that he had stewed. It had been boiling in the small pots for three whole hours and had reached a state where the chicken skin and flesh were soft and the soup was rich. During the boiling, Xu Le also added some wolfberries. As the chicken soup was stewed, the fresh taste of wolfberries started to spread out. The nutrients in the wolfberries also entered the chicken soup such that drinking it would bring great benefits to the human body. ¡°Delicious.¡± Xu Le rubbed his nose and exclaimed. If this wasn¡¯t a competition, he would definitely scoop a bowl for himself to taste first. With the [Pagoda Meat], [Boiled Cabbage], [Pot of Chicken Soup], [Golden Egg Fried Rice], in addition to the osmanthus sweet wine flavored chiffon cake, this was simply a meal that had never existed in this world. Ding! The timer at the competition venue made a clear ringing sound. At this moment, the six-hour culinary competition had officially come to an end. Regardless of the progress of the contestants, they had to stop what they were doing and hand over the dishes they had prepared to the staff. Since it was a gourmet festival, the dishes prepared by the contestants would be brought to the exhibition and 100 guests had to cast their blind votes for the contestants. During the whole process, the judges were whispering amongst themselves. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the contestants this year to be so impressive. Three of them actually finished all the dishes.¡± Chef Lin exclaimed. These four dishes were all extremely time-consuming and tedious dishes. Once the time for the cooking process was not properly distributed, six hours would not be enough. Apart from Xu Le, there were also two other chefs who had completed all the dishes, which surprised Chef Lin. One of the two chefs was Li Peng from Beijing¡¯s New Glory Restaurant. The other was Zhang Yang, the chef of Shanghai¡¯s local restaurant, Peace Hotel. Speaking of which, this Peace Hotel had a huge background. Everyone in Shanghai knew about it. It was even famous overseas. The Peace Hotel, located on Nanjing East Road 20, Huangpu District, Shanghai, was a landmark in Shanghai. It was said that before the founding of the country, the background of this restaurant was very big. It was not an exaggeration to say that the person behind the Peace Hotel could cover the sky with one hand. At that time, there was a rumor that no matter what you did, as long as you entered the Peace Hotel, no one from both the police and the underworld would dare to touch you. For instance, the General Marshall of the United States and Headmaster Leighton Stuart had been here before. In the 1940s, Lu Xun and Song Qingling had also come to the restaurant to meet their foreign friends, Chaplin and Bernard Shaw. But after the founding of the country, society became stable. The Peace Hotel shed its mysterious facade and became the most famous restaurant in China. ¡°They are really awesome, especially that little Master Chef Xu Le. He has many cooking techniques that even I have never seen before,¡± a chef named Luo Hao praised. Tanimura Koji also nodded repeatedly. He was a head chef who earned three Michelin stars and was good at making cakes. He could be considered experienced and knowledgeable. However, he had not seen many of Xu Le¡¯s techniques before. One of the dishes that Tanimura Koji paid the most attention to was Xu Le¡¯s chiffon cake. He planned to watch the recording several times after the competition ended. He could make use of Xu Le¡¯s ideas in his dishes. Perhaps¡­ his cheesecake could be made better! ¡­ At the food exhibition. 100 customers were tasting the dishes of the chefs one by one. Each of them had three votes in their hands, which they could vote for the best set of dishes. This process obviously required some time. During this period of time, the live-stream of the competition had already spread like wildfire on the Internet and had been trending on TikTok and Weibo several times. It even attracted the attention of Master Cai Lan, who was known as the ¡°Hong Kong God of Food¡±. A few days ago, when Zhang Tong was commenting on Xu Le¡¯s food stall online, Master Cai Lan had reposted Zhang Tong¡¯s article and praised Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills. At this moment, Master Cai Lan was also watching the live broadcast of the culinary competition. The dishes that Xu Le made, be it the [Boiled Cabbage], [Pagoda Meat], [Golden Egg Fried Rice], or [Osmanthus Sweet Wine Cake], were all eye-opening for Cai Lan. As far as he knew, many of Xu Le¡¯s way of processing ingredients had long been lost. Cai Lan was exceptionally excited to see these in Xu Le¡¯s hands. He immediately posted on Weibo and even tagged Xu Le, complimenting him for his cooking skills. Cai Lan¡¯s reposts undoubtedly increased the popularity of this cooking competition. The number of viewers in the live-stream soared to nearly ten million. ¡°China¡¯s culinary skills have never been lost! They have been passed down for generations! With Xu Le, I see hope for China¡¯s culinary skills to flourish!¡± That was his Weibo post. In just half an hour, the number of likes exceeded 200,000 and the repost exceeded 50,000. Within the country, there was a wave of people starting to cook Chinese food. With the development of the times, many young people were under a lot of pressure at work and often had to work overtime, so they had no time to cook at home. Many young people would often order takeout at their workplaces, which was neither delicious nor hygienic. However, after Xu Le became popular online, many people realized that cooking was not a difficult task. Even an eight-year-old like Xu Le could cook for himself. Not to mention young people like them. A week of silence after the previous rise to popularity, Xu Le had once again become a name that every household knew. And now¡­ The hundred customers of the food exhibition also completed their voting, and the culinary competition finally came out with scores for every contestant. Under the gaze of thousands of people in the broadcast room. The host picked up the cue card and started to announce the scores of the contestants. ¡°Contestant number 1, Franklin, 14 votes received!¡± ¡­ Chapter 38 - The Ultimate Champion Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Contestant number 4, Chef Zhang Tong from Shanghai¡¯s Heavenly Restaurant, 17 votes!¡± ¡°Contestant number 5, Chef Wang Tao from the Eastern Suburb of Nanjing City, 13 votes!¡± ¡°Contestant number 6¡­¡± At this moment. Everyone became nervous. This was because they knew very well that contestant number 6 was Xu Le, who was known as the little Chef God! Xu Le¡¯s performance just now was clearly seen by everyone through the live broadcast camera. After witnessing Xu Le¡¯s godly culinary skills, there was only one word to describe him¡ªextraordinary! If Xu Le could get the highest score, no one would have any objections. In other words, everyone felt that Xu Le would be the champion. Otherwise, it would be a conspiracy. What everyone looked forward to the most was Xu Le¡¯s score. After all, the audience was watching the live broadcast and could not taste the delicacy. The only people who could truly eat it were the hundred audience members in the food exhibition hall. They were the ones who held the final voting rights. ¡°I think the Little Master Chef can get at least 50 votes. His capability in completing the dishes is too great!¡± ¡°I think he can get 85 votes. Not only did Xu Le finish all the dishes, at the same time, he also made an extra dish [Pot of Chicken Soup].¡± ¡°Do you guys think¡­ there¡¯s a chance it¡¯s more than 90 votes?¡± ¡°That is too unlikely. After all, everyone¡¯s preference is different. No matter how excellent a chef is, it¡¯s impossible for everyone to be satisfied with the dishes cooked by him.¡± In the live-stream, a large number of viewers were already engaged in an intense discussion. They all made guesses about Xu Le¡¯s votes. Most speculations were between 60 and 90 votes. At this moment. The host held the card in his hand, his face slightly red. One could tell that he was slightly nervous and excited. ¡°Contestant number 6, Little Chef God from Hongxing Food Street¡ªXu Le, vote count¡­ 100!¡± There was an uproar. 100 votes! What kind of concept was that? One had to know that there were only 100 participants in the voting. Although each of them had three votes, they could not repeat their votes. They had to vote for three different people. Which meant that¡­ These 100 voting participants were all won over by Xu Le¡¯s cuisine. Everyone sincerely voted for Xu Le. Xu Le¡¯s dishes. In such a short period of time, he won over everyone¡¯s taste buds. This was¡­ a well-deserved first place! Although it was only halfway through the announcement of the contestants¡¯ votes, the first place had already been confirmed. Among the other contestants. The one with the most votes was Chef Li Peng from New Glory Restaurant. As the head chef of a three-star Michelin restaurant, he had received 66 votes. This result was not bad, but compared to Xu Le, there was still a huge gap. After all the contestants¡¯ vote counts were announced. Everyone¡¯s eyes were focused on Xu Le. ¡°The champion of the 12th Shanghai culinary competition is Xu Le!¡± The host shouted. Music, applause, cheers, ribbons, golden confetti¡­ Everything burst forth at this moment. The renowned chef Lin Shuwei personally went on stage to present the award to Xu Le. Other than a trophy shaped like a golden spatula, there was also a prize that made Xu Le even more excited¡ª300,000 yuan! Xu Le participated in the competition because of this reward. He really needed this 300,000 yuan. In the beginning, Xu Le needed money because he wanted to earn money to repay the mortgage and raise his sister Xu Tian. After he became famous online, he no longer needed to worry about mortgages. The money that Xu Le earned every day was more than enough to pay off the mortgage. But Xu Le needed money because he wanted to expand his food store. As big as it needed to be! First he would open a store, then its branches, followed by the chain stores¡­ As a chef, Xu Le¡¯s biggest dream was of course to let everyone in the world taste the delicacies he made. He had a grand plan to cast. And this 300,000 yuan would be used to open the first store. This was also the first step of his dream. Xu Le snatched the cheque from Lin Shuwei¡¯s hands and smiled happily. ¡°Thank you, Uncle!¡± Xu Le grinned. One could even see his tooth that had just fallen off. There was even some air escaping between his teeth as he spoke. ¡°Your culinary skills are not bad. Keep working hard in the future.¡± Lin Shuwei stroked Xu Le¡¯s little head. Thinking back¡­ how many years ago was it when he was also a child who looked forward to cooking like this. When he saw Xu Le, it was as if he saw his past self. No. No. In the past, he did not have Xu Le¡¯s superb culinary skills. Lin Shuwei still knew that about himself in his heart. As Xu Le received the award, a system notification sounded in his ear. ¡°Congratulations, host, for getting first place in the culinary competition.¡± ¡°You have received a reward [Exquisite Shop Renovations].¡± Xu Le started to get excited again after hearing this voice. Early the next morning, he could go to the food street to find a suitable store. At that time, he would be able to see how exquisite the system reward was! He could no longer suppress the eagerness in his heart. He could not wait to contact the agent immediately to find a suitable store to rent.. Chapter 39 - The Opening of the [Eight-Year-Old Canteen]! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios 134 Hongxing Food Street. It was a 150-square-meter store that had become a private restaurant. There was a marble plaque at the door, on which were written four words¡ª Eight-year-old canteen! This restaurant was exactly 200 meters away from the entrance of Hongxing Food Street. It was the prime location of the entire street. Xu Le specially contacted Peng Yan to rent this shop. At this moment. Xu Le stood at the entrance of the shop, feeling a little nervous. The renovation of the shop was completed by the system, so Xu Le did not know what the interior design was like. This was his first time entering it, so everything was still unknown to him. Xu Le pushed open the door and his eyes widened. He involuntarily let out a cry of surprise. ¡°Wow! So beautiful!¡± His younger sister behind had the same reaction as Xu Le. The shop environment here was simply too exquisite. The entire restaurant was black and white. It was decorated with mahogany furniture with various Chinese elements in the decorations. The design of the restaurant was fresh and elegant, rich with cultural connotations. There was a picture scroll on the left wall, and it lacked some aura of life. On the picture scroll was the recipe for [Eight-year-old canteen]: A big, greasy bowl of broad noodles¡ªOil doused noodles The collision between fresh chicken and crispy peanuts¡ªKung Pao chicken Sweet and sour taste warming the stomach, and even more for the heart¡ªTomato egg soup Perfect integration and collision of top-notch ingredients¡ªGolden Egg Fried Rice A Sichuan dish that brings huge refreshment in the mouth-Mapo Tofu The divine appetiser for authentic taste¡ªOld Vinegar Radish The extraordinary cooking method of ordinary dishes¡ªRoasted Spicy Potato Shreds Art-like exquisite dish¡ªPagoda Meat The delicacy from the imperial kitchen of the Qing Palace¡ªBoiled Cabbage Possessing the unique flavor of osmanthus sweet wine¡ªSpecial Chiffon Cake The nourishing soup that was brewed for more than three hours¡ªPot of chicken soup ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª The scroll depicted all the dishes in Xu Le¡¯s restaurant. Most of them were common home-cooked dishes. However, there were also side dishes like Old Vinegar Radish, as well as delicacies like Boiled Cabbage. The price was also based entirely on the cost of different dishes. For example, the simplest [Tomato Egg Soup] cost only eight yuan per bowl. However, the most expensive dish, the [Golden Egg Fried Rice], was sold at 388 yuan per plate and there was a limit of 20 plates served per day. After all, in this plate of Egg Fried Rice, all kinds of high-end ingredients had been used, including the special cooking method of the chef. Xu Le was very satisfied with the decoration of the restaurant. The [exquisite renovation] rewarded by the system was even more high-class than what he had expected. Whether it was the tables, chairs, kitchenware, or cutlery, they were already very considerately prepared for Xu Le. As long as Xu Le bought enough ingredients, he could open for business anytime. ¡°Then let¡¯s open for business tomorrow!¡± Xu Le¡¯s eyes were sparkling as he looked at the entire dining area. His entire face was filled with excitement. He was so pleased! This place was exactly the same as the restaurant he imagined! Xu Le was full of confidence in his future business. ¡­ The next day. It was the day of the official opening of [Eight-year-old canteen]. It was extremely lively at the entrance of the shop. All sorts of media platforms and local television stations had come to interview. The most influential one was the interview by CCTV. The person in charge of interviewing Xu Le was the most famous CCTV host in recent years, Wang Bingbing. With her sweet and infectious smile, she became popular on the Internet and had tens of millions of fans in less than a year. Other than the reporters, there were also many chefs and Xu Le¡¯s friends who came to congratulate him. For example, Zhang Tong, Ms. Li, Peng Yan¡­ Even Chef Lin Shuwei came to Xu Le¡¯s restaurant to celebrate with him. This made Xu Le very happy. After all, Chef Lin¡¯s understanding of culinary skills and the dishes he invented made Xu Le admire him greatly. To Xu Le, Lin Shuwei could be considered a chef who was like his idol. Soon, it was time for the interview. Wang Bingbing crouched beside Xu Le with a sweet smile on her face. She handed the microphone to Xu Le and said softly, ¡°Xu Le, let¡¯s introduce ourselves first.¡± ¡°Hello everyone, my name is Xu Le. I¡¯m eight years old this year.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the owner of the ¡®Eight-year-old canteen¡¯ behind me and the only chef in the restaurant.¡± Wang Bingbing nodded. ¡°Xu Le, why do you have such superb culinary skills at the age of eight? Can you tell us how you learned how to cook?¡± When Xu Le heard this question, his brain started processing rapidly. He definitely could not say that he had learned cooking from the system. So¡­ he could only make it up. ¡°My parents are both chefs,¡± Xu Le said after thinking for a while. This was not a lie. Xu Le¡¯s parents were indeed chefs, and they had already gone to France to further improve on their culinary skills. ¡°I¡¯ve been learning to cook from my parents since I was young. I like to cook too. Since I was four or five, I¡¯ve been experimenting with various dishes in the kitchen.¡± ¡°I often search through all kinds of recipes online and make many attempts on my own.¡± ¡°I may be young now, but I¡¯m already an experienced chef with three to four years of experience!¡± Xu Le said proudly. When the surrounding people heard this, they all showed expressions of admiration. The Little Master Chef was indeed extraordinary. He had been cooking since he was four or five years old. Was this true talent? The interview continued. Then, Xu Le also advertised for his restaurant Eight-year-old canteen on CCTV, even though he was already very popular on the Internet. Next, CCTV would be having a live broadcast for three days in the [Eight-year-old cafeteria]. So that Xu Le could show off his superb culinary skills to the audience! Chapter 40 - The Original Taste Of Food Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Little Master Chef, you¡¯re amazing! Even a machine can¡¯t cut potatoes so precisely!¡± ¡°Little Master Chef, can we take a picture together?¡± ¡°I want a serving of Mapo Tofu Rice!¡± ¡°Little Master Chef, I want another bowl of tomato egg soup.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The shop was bustling with people. Based on Xu Le¡¯s popularity, the opening of [Eight-year-old cafeteria] would definitely attract many customers. The 150 square meters restaurant was not small, but it was still not big enough to accommodate an endless stream of customers. Xu Le could only request Peng Yan to help him get a few queue number kiosk. After all the customers came here, they could help themselves to the automatic queue number kiosk. Then, their phone apps would remind them about their remaining queue time. During this period of time, customers didn¡¯t need to line up in front of the restaurant. Instead, they could go shopping. This greatly reduced the traffic on the streets. Otherwise¡­ the city enforcement officers would probably come looking for Xu Le again. From five in the afternoon until ten at night, he was busy. When it was already late at night, there were still a few customers scattered throughout the restaurant. Many of them were drinking wine and eating the delicacies that they were so fond of, while getting rid of the fatigue of the day as they discussed interesting things that they had encountered. There were also people who were in their sorrows alone, silently enjoying the delicious food before them. ¡°What a fulfilling day.¡± Although Xu Le was very busy on the first day of business, he was very happy. Separated by the glass wall between the kitchen and the hall, he could see the genuine smile on every customer¡¯s face after they ate the delicacies. He could also hear their generous praise. Xu Le enjoyed this feeling. At this moment. Someone pushed open the glass door of the shop. The wind chimes hanging on the door made a tinkling sound. Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The restaurant is closed.¡± However, the person didn¡¯t seem to have left. Instead, he said with a benevolent voice, ¡°Little Master Chef, I¡¯ve heard so much about you. We finally meet.¡± Hearing this familiar voice, Xu Le suddenly turned around. This voice¡­ Hong Kong God of Food¡ªCai Lan! Xu Le had read Cai Lan¡¯s books before and had seen the television programs that Cai Lan had filmed, so he was not unfamiliar with this voice. ¡°Hello, Teacher Cai Lan!¡± Xu Le¡¯s little face was a little red due to his nervousness. He greeted him politely. Cai Lan was almost like Xu Le¡¯s idol. Now that he saw the real person, Xu Le was a little uneasy. Soon, Xu Le noticed that there was an entire filming team behind Cai Lan. There were videographers, director, screenwriter, lighting technician¡­ A total of ten people followed behind Cai Lan with bags of various equipment. ¡°Are you filming a show?¡± Xu Le asked curiously. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Cai Lan nodded kindly. He was in his seventies now, an old man. Xu Le was only eight years old. In Cai Lan¡¯s eyes, Xu Le was just like his grandson. Ever since Xu Le became popular on the Internet, Cai Lan had been paying close attention to him. He had supported him many times on the Internet and helped him promote. Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills made Cai Lan, an old man who had been immersed in the food industry for his entire life, feel shocked and relieved. The next generation of the nation still had children who loved Chinese food like this. Then what was there to worry about? ¡°Xu Le, have you heard of ¡®Taste of China¡¯?¡± Cai Lan asked kindly. Xu Le nodded. He looked at the filming team behind Cai Lan and seemed to have guessed something. ¡®Taste of China¡¯ was a CCTV food documentary that had already been broadcasted to the third season. Starting from the first season, the documentary has been a nationwide hit, and even worldwide. It¡¯s a ¡°Foodie Bible¡± that promoted Chinese culture and incorporated content that moved audiences to tears. Xu Le had previously heard that the third season of ¡®Taste of China¡¯ was supervised by Hong Kong¡¯s God of Food Cai Lan. He did not expect to meet him that day. Xu Le found a clean table and invited everyone to sit down and chat. After taking a sip of hot tea, Cai Lan smiled and expressed his intentions. ¡°Xu Le, we are currently filming the third and fourth episodes of the third season. It¡¯s called ¡®The Original Taste of Food¡¯. That¡¯s why we found you. We want to ask you to make another ¡®Boiled Cabbage¡¯ for us so that we can record it on camera. Is that okay?¡± Xu Le was very curious after he heard this. The original taste of food? Xu Le was very interested in this theme. ¡°Teacher Cai Lan, what are you planning to shoot for this episode?¡± ¡°Our current plan is to film the making of Tei Butter.¡± Xu Le nodded thoughtfully. Tei butter was indeed a good choice to draw out the taste of food. [Tei butter] ¡®Tei¡¯ had a pronunciation similar to ¡®te¡¯, meaning ¡°only¡± or ¡°unique¡±. It was named based on the Suzhou dialect. The cooking method of this dish was also very advanced. It consisted of crab paste and crab roe, as well as the well-fed fat. After that, it was stewed with green onions, stir-fried ginger, and wine. The broth was seasoned, and pig oil and pepper were sprinkled on top. The tei butter produced could be used for rice or noodles. After one bite, the rich fragrance of crabs would linger in one¡¯s mouth. Xu Le exclaimed in his heart. Teacher Cai Lan was indeed worthy of being called the God of Food of Hong Kong. His etiquette towards ingredients was extraordinary. This tei butter could indeed perfectly display the original taste of food. But [Boiled Cabbage]¡­ Xu Le disagreed. The ¡°boiling water¡± used in this dish was made from chicken, duck, pork trotter, ham, and many other ingredients. Although the final product was only a cabbage, the taste that the customers could taste was not limited to this cabbage. This¡­ was not the original taste of food. Xu Le shared his thoughts with Cai Lan. Cai Lan fell silent for a long time before nodding slightly. He had to admit that Xu Le made sense. ¡°Little Master Chef, in your opinion, what dish is most suitable for this episode?¡± Cai Lan asked modestly. Cai Lan had been famous for a long time. Although he was already a 70 to 80-year-old man, and Xu Le was only an eight-year-old child. However, Cai Lan knew that on the path of cooking, the master was the master. There was no differentiation based on age. As long as the other party was able to offer useful insights in the aspect of food, Cai Lan was willing to listen attentively. This was one of the reasons why Cai Lan had been so successful all these years. ¡°Let me see your ingredients.¡± Xu Le flipped through the ingredients prepared by the production team. Suddenly, an inconspicuous item caught his attention. Onion! Normally, onions were just a side dish or a seasoning. But what if he made the onion into a main dish? Xu Le immediately searched through the System Shop and quickly found what he wanted. Wang Shixiang, a scholar from Yanjing University, had once recorded a dish in detail in his essay ¡°Responding to Mister Wang Zengqi.¡± [Stewed onions]! Chapter 41 - Stewed Onions Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Cai Lan was sincerely asking Xu Le for guidance. Although he was already a world-renowned gourmet, no one dared to say that they knew everything about gourmet food. Just like physics and mathematics, to him, food was also a subject to be learnt. Everyone was exploring this field, so he knew that there was no end to learning. Perhaps it was because of this humble attitude that Cai Lan had become the true leader of the food industry. ¡°Master Chef, what kind of dish do you think will suit the theme of this episode?¡± Xu Le looked through the raw ingredients brought by the production team. Finally, he gave an answer¡ª ¡°Stewed onions!¡± ¡°Stewed onions?¡± After the dish was named, all the staff members of the production team, including Cai Lan, were all stunned. Many of them had never even heard of such a dish. Onions? It could even be used as the main ingredient to make a dish? However, as a gourmet, Mr. Cai Lan was no stranger to this dish. ¡°Stewed onions ¨C this dish was first recorded in an essay by Mr. Wang Cengqi.¡± ¡°Mr. Wang said that among all the scholars, Mr. Wang Shixiang from Beijing was the best at cooking.¡± ¡°When the group of friends had a meal together, each of them would prepare a dish. And Mr. Wang Shixiang brought a bundle of onions and made a dish called [Stewed Onions], beating all the dishes on the spot!¡± When it came to the stories about culture and gourmet food, Cai Lan naturally spoke with confidence and assurance. ¡°In Beijing in the last century, this dish was very famous. Many people from the literary field would specially travel to Mr. Wang Shixiang¡¯s house to try this dish. Unfortunately, Mr. Wang passed away in 2009, so this dish couldn¡¯t be passed down¡­¡± ¡°Otherwise, this dish [Stewed onion] is still very compatible with the theme of this episode. It¡¯s a pity¡­¡± Master Cai Lan sighed, his aged face filled with regret and loneliness. ¡°I can¡¯t believe the little Master Chef also knows about this history. Looks like his research into delicious food is indeed not shallow!¡± Cai Lan exclaimed. Stewed onions was a dish that was only recorded in the writings of many scholars. It could not be considered a proper dish. Only those who had a deep understanding of food would know a little about it. The fact that Xu Le suddenly mentioned [Stewed Onion] made Cai Lan surprised and happy. ¡°I don¡¯t just know this dish,¡± Xu Le said with a youthful smile. ¡°Could it be¡ª¡± A look of shock appeared on Cai Lan¡¯s aged face. ¡°Could it be that the little Master Chef can cook this long-lost [Stewed Onion]?¡± At this point, Cai Lan suddenly stood up from the table in excitement. For a gourmet like him who had immersed himself in delicacies for many years, he had long regarded food as the most important part of his life. Cai Lan had studied the meaning of life for most of his life, and only later did he discover that the real answer was to eat and drink. What was the meaning of life? Some people said that it was fame and fortune, and having the smell of money. Only by enjoying luxury could one not let down one¡¯s life. There were also people who said that it was all about living a peaceful and simple life, enjoying time slowly in happiness. It would be great if there were loved ones accompanying throughout one¡¯s life as one peacefully spends his lifetime. However, in Cai Lan¡¯s eyes, he already had very simple pursuits in life. All he wanted was to eat better, sleep better, play more, not envy others, not be restrained by others and save more money for emergencies. He could die without regrets in such a life. At this moment, when Cai Lan suddenly heard that Xu Le was going to make this long-lost [Stewed onion], he felt that this was a pleasant surprise. He had no other pursuits in life. He just wanted to experience all the delicacies in the world before he died. At that moment, the [Stewed Onions] appeared in his life. ¡°You know how to cook this dish?¡± Cai Lan¡¯s murky eyes lit up as he held Xu Le¡¯s body excitedly, asking with a trembling voice. ¡°I know.¡± Xu Le nodded obediently. ¡°Can you make it now?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± While Xu Le was pondering, he had already entered the System Shop to check. There was indeed a recipe for [Stewed Onion] in the System Shop. That was why he had said it so confidently. ¡°Quickly get ready for the shoot!¡± Master Cai Lan immediately turned around and shouted at the videography team behind him. These professional videographers immediately took action and set up the lights and cameras in the restaurant. In total, there were six cameras aimed at Xu Le. A tender smile appeared on Xu Le¡¯s face as he took the bundle of green onions from the staff members. As he prepared the ingredients, Xu Le was sharing all sorts of information about the stewed onions. Whatever he said, Master Cai Lan could add into the show. After all, the program ¡°Taste of China¡± not only had to record the production process of delicacies, it also had to describe the geographical and cultural characteristics of a dish, as well as the story behind it. ¡°There is only one main ingredient for this dish, onions.¡± ¡°Actually, the reason why Mr. Wang Shixiang made this dish is very simple. This dish is actually shrimps fried with onion.¡± ¡°There is a very famous dish in Chinese cuisine called [Boiled Sea Cucumber with Onion], which is loved by many customers. They liked this taste a lot, but they also felt that sea cucumbers were too expensive. Thus, Mr. Wang Shixiang came up with a new approach to cook it.¡± ¡°That is to give up on the sea cucumber in the [Boiled Sea Cucumber with Onion]. In order to make the taste of the sea cucumber, he chose to use the small shrimps.¡± ¡°Small shrimps share a similar fragrance to sea cucumbers, just that the texture is different. However, after blending the shrimps into this dish, they are found to be especially compatible! The fresh fragrance of seafood and the fragrance of onions are completely fused together. This is also the unique flavor of this [Stewed Onion]!¡± Master Cai Lan¡¯s eyes lit up when he heard this. There were many stories about [Stewed Onion] that even he did not know. ¡°I wonder where the little Master Chef heard all this from¡ª¡± Cai Lan was curious about this, but he suppressed his curiosity and didn¡¯t ask. After all, the public was speculating that Xu Le had a very capable chef as his master. Otherwise, it was impossible for him to have such superb culinary skills at such a young age. There were also various speculations on the Internet. For example, some people guessed that Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills were taught by the imperial chefs of the Qing Dynasty. There were too many guesses. Master Cai Lan also felt that this was very possible, but he had lived for so long and had long lost his strong curiosity. Since Xu Le did not mention this matter, he would not be a busybody and ask about it himself. Everyone had their own secrets. It was better not to ask too much.. Chapter 42 - Ordinary Ingredients, Unusual Dishes Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The onions that Xu Le chose were from Beijing. Moreover, they had to be fresh onions harvested from the ground after the frost descended and before the weather became frozen. Only when the ground was covered in frost would the texture of the onions become more crisp and delicious. Only such onions could be considered high-grade onions. The onions were very thick, about two centimeters thick. Xu Le peeled off the outer skin of the onions, leaving only the white parts. Then, they were cut into about six centimeters long. Everyone in the kitchen was focused on Xu Le. In the program team of Taste of China, from the director to the cameraman, from the producer to the lighting staff, and even the accompanying staff who were in charge of arranging accommodation, all of them were interested in delicious food. There were even two gourmet consultants in the team, both of whom were chefs from Beijing Hotel. At this moment, everyone was focused on Xu Le. They wanted to know the taste of this long-lost dish, stewed onions, that originated from Mr. Wang Shixiang. ¡°These onions are really not bad.¡± Xu Le muttered softly. The onions were not prepared by him, but were brought over by the program team. However, it just happened to meet the strict requirements of [Stewed Onions]. Xu Le took a pot and added some vegetable oil into it. He then heated it with a small flame. Xu Le, who was standing by the hot stove, felt a little tired. After all, he had been busy in the kitchen for the entire day. That day was the first day of the opening of the [8-year-old canteen], and the business in the restaurant was exceptionally busy. For the entire day, the shop was packed. The ingredients that Xu Le had prepared in advance ran out halfway through, so he hurriedly called the supplier to send him another batch. Meanwhile, Xu Le was still trying to sustain himself. Because he knew that being able to be participate in the filming of Taste of China was a very rare opportunity. This was the most famous food documentary in China. Every episode would have tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of views. Being filmed by this program would further increase his popularity. Furthermore, Xu Le also wanted this Chinese cuisine to spread widely so that the whole world could see what Chinese cuisine was like! This dish, Stewed onions, was such a dish. With the theme of this episode, ¡°the original taste of food¡±, Xu Le wanted to show the audience the charm of Chinese cuisine. There was no need for special cooking or expensive and precious ingredients. Even ordinary onions and shrimps could still produce a wonderful taste after being cooked skillfully. This was the charm of cooking. This was the essence of the Chinese people¡¯s wisdom! In this world, there were three universally acknowledged cuisines: Chinese, French, and Turkish. There was a reason for this. China has vast land and abundant resources. There are 56 ethnic groups on its 9.6 million square kilometers of land. The water and soil of the various lands were different, the climate of the various lands were different, the habits of life were different, the beliefs were different, and the crops were different. All of this led to the richness of food and drinks on this land. In China, there were eight famous cuisines and countless other local cuisines. The richness of the Chinese food could be said to be rare even across the world. Even the Chinese might not have a comprehensive understanding of Chinese cuisine. Hence, Xu Le also wanted to use this show to promote Chinese food. Or even¡­ After his influence increased, Xu Le also wanted to shoot a program like this and let the whole world experience the charm of Chinese cuisine! Half a minute later, the oil in the pot had already heated up to medium hot and was bubbling slightly. At this moment, Xu Le turned the stove to a medium fire and added some garlic to the pot. After the fragrance of garlic was released, Xu Le placed the chopped onions into the pot. There was a lot of oil in the pot, and now the onions were completely soaked in hot oil. A sizzling sound came from the pot. Following that, the unique fragrance of onions filled the entire kitchen. Before any seasoning was used, the onions were already emitting fragrance at the right oil temperature. A minute and a half later, the onions started to glow with a golden color. ¡°Flip the sides!¡± Xu Le¡¯s eyes were fixed on the onions in the pot. When he felt that it was almost 30% cooked, he flipped the onions over and sprinkled a spoonful of salt. After flipping the onions, he cooked for another one and a half minutes. Then, he flipped them over again¡­ One must know that the temperature of the upper and lower layers of the oil pot were completely different. Cooking at different temperatures could achieve completely different effects and ripeness. This was the reason why Xu Le kept flipping the onions up and down. After continuous flipping, he could accurately control the ripeness of the onions. Xu Le sprinkled some white sugar and salt into the pot and then took out a seasoning that no one had expected¡ªwhite wine. ¡°After the white wine evaporates, it will not leave any fragrance behind. Instead, the sweet taste of the white grapes will blend into this dish. It will not overshadow the main ingredient, but will instead stimulate the fragrance of the onions.¡± ¡°It looks like I have placed these onions in a pot of oil to deep fry.¡± ¡°But in reality, that¡¯s not the case. During the cooking process, the oil pot needs to reach a very high temperature. In other words, it needs boiling hot oil.¡± ¡°However, the dish [Stewed Onion] is completely different. I¡¯ve been controlling the temperature of the oil in the entire pot to not be too high, maintaining it at around 70 degrees Celsius. Therefore, although it looks like it¡¯s being deep fried, it¡¯s actually more like being ¡®stewed¡¯!¡± When Xu Le said this, everyone looked enlightened. His words resolved everyone¡¯s doubts. Especially Mr. Cai Lan, he couldn¡¯t help but applaud. ¡°Amazing! Too amazing!¡± The old man¡¯s eyes were shining when he discovered the cooking method of such a rare dish. This surprise was as exciting as an ordinary person suddenly winning a five million lottery! ¡°So this is the true meaning of stewed onions!¡± When Cai Lan had read about this dish in a book, he had also tried to make it at home. However, no matter how he tried, the taste of this dish was never right. It tasted like deep fried onions, with the texture very crisp and raw. It didn¡¯t have the soft and melted taste recorded in books at all. Now¡­ he finally understood. The onions were not deep fried in oil, but stewed with oil.. Chapter 43 - Stewed Onions Tastes! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the oil pan, the onions went from tender to soft. Some of them still spread out in the oil pan. Two minutes passed. Xu Le picked up a small knife and found that it could easily pierce into the onions. At this moment, Xu Le smirked. He smiled. It was about time. Xu Le turned the flames on the stove to the maximum. Under the burning of the red flames, the oil pan started bubbling. The pot of oil finally began to boil. At this moment, even the scalding hot oil would not burn the onions as they were already soaked with oil. Swoosh! The small shrimps that had been prepared beforehand were thrown into the pot. Although the onions couldn¡¯t be fried, the shrimps could be. Under the high oil temperature, the shrimps emitted a crackling sound. Within ten breaths, it had turned into a beautiful golden brown color. At this time, under the fire, the hot oil gradually reduced in volume. When there were only two-thirds left, Xu Le immediately turned off the fire. ¡­ The fragrance of onions, the clear sweetness of wine, the unique savory taste of seafood brought by the shrimps, and the fragrance of oil¡­ All the flavors merged together. However, the most prominent part of this dish was the taste of the onions itself. After all, the theme of this episode was ¡°the original taste of food¡±. Hence, Xu Le specially chose the dish [Stewed Onion] to show that with a unique cooking method and use of various ingredients, he would be able to stimulate the original taste of a common ingredient like onions. Obviously, he had succeeded. The fragrance of the onions filled the entire room, causing everyone to suck in large mouthfuls of the fragrance. Although they hadn¡¯t eaten it yet, just the smell alone was enough to make their appetite increase. Even a few people who didn¡¯t like the taste of onions had developed some interest in this unique ingredient. ¡°All the supplementary ingredients and the cooking method only have a sole purpose.¡± Xu Le turned towards everyone and explained. ¡°That is to stimulate the taste of onions!¡± ¡°Usually, when we cook, we will only use onions as a supplementary ingredient and use its unique taste to stimulate the taste of other ingredients.¡± ¡°But now, we are using the onion as a main ingredient, and we use a special method like stewing in oil. Under the low oil temperature, we let the oil soak into the onions, making it soft while filling it with the fragrance of oil.¡± ¡°The taste of the onions became the main flavor of this dish, and the method of stewing in the oil gave it a unique taste.¡± Xu Le smiled. ¡°This is the unique cooking method created by Mr. Wang Shixiang¡ª[Stewed Onions]!¡± ¡°Please have a taste!¡± The stewed onions were placed on a smooth white plate, and a spoonful of golden oil was poured onto it. A simple plate presentation was enough to make everyone drool. They wanted to rush over and have a bite. However, the first bite of this dish had to be given to Mr. Cai Lan who had the highest authority in the program team. Mr. Cai Lan¡¯s eyes were fixated on the stewed onions in front of him, and he was extremely excited. The first time he heard of this dish was in 1996. At that time, he had heard that Mr. Wang Shixiang from Beijing had a specialty dish called stewed onions. However, Mr. Cai Lan had never tasted it. After that, the news of Mr. Wang Shixiang¡¯s death in 2009 came. While Cai Lan mourned for him, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little regretful that he might never have the chance to taste the stewed onions again. After that, Cai Lan tried to make this dish at home several times, but all of his attempts failed. What he did not expect was that Xu Le would be here that day talking about this dish. And¡­ Xu Le really made this dish! Therefore, when faced with this dish, Cai Lan felt the joy and excitement of meeting an old friend. After half a minute, he looked at the plate of stewed onions, and tears even flowed out of his turbid eyes. In the end, it was Xu Le who reminded him in a crisp voice. ¡°Grandpa Cai Lan, hurry up and eat. If you don¡¯t eat, this dish will get cold and the texture won¡¯t be good.¡± Cai Lan was taken aback for a moment before he nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll try it now!¡± He picked up his chopsticks and carefully picked up an onion. Due to the fact that it was stewed in oil, the onion had already become a little soft and mushy. As soon as he picked them up with his chopsticks, it began to disintegrate. Cai Lan put the onion, along with the layer of golden oil, into his mouth. The moment it entered, Cai Lan¡¯s pupils dilated. This taste! The first to rush up was the smell of onions! It was extremely fragrant! Master Cai Lan had tasted delicacies from all over the world for so many years, but this was the first time in his life that he had tasted such a rich onion fragrance. Onion was an ingredient with very strong smell and there were even many people who could not accept this taste. The reason for that was because there was simply too much stimulation in its smell. As for Xu Le¡¯s cooking method removed the stimulating taste, so that there was only the purest fragrance of onions left. Furthermore, it was a very mild onion fragrance. The moment it entered his mouth, it exploded. Next, as the fragrance of the onions spread, there was a faint sweetness. He could not tell if the sweetness came from the onion itself, or if it was because of the white sugar that Xu Le added, or¡­ the white wine? In short, this taste gradually filled his entire mouth. It was still one of the fragrance of onions, but it was not the pure and monotonous fragrance of onions. It was¡­ a sweeter fragrance of onions. The next moment, the taste that came out of his mouth was the taste of shrimp. The purpose of this dish, [Stewed Onion], was to replace the dish, [Boiled Sea Cucumber with Onion]. Although this dish was delicious and was also a famous Chinese dish, the sea cucumber was a high-end and expensive ingredient. It was not something that ordinary people could afford. In particular, Beijing was not near the sea, and transport was not convenient in the last century. Therefore, it was not easy for the common people in Beijing to eat sea cucumbers. Therefore, the shrimps were more like a substitute for sea cucumbers. He mixed the cheap shrimps to add the flavor of the sea into this dish. This was the purpose of adding the shrimps in this dish. At this moment, the fragrance of the shrimps and onions filled Cai Lan¡¯s mouth. His eyes were closed, and he could not see anything. It was as if his ears could not hear the discussions around him. Cai Lan¡¯s senses were only left with his taste buds, which were magnified endlessly. So that he could enjoy the pleasure brought by this delicacy! Chapter 44 - A Cooking Man (Boy) Is So Handsome! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The taste of the shrimps was also mixed with the fragrance of the onions. This was the third taste of this dish. The taste of truly excellent ingredients must have different depth of flavours. Just like the stewed onions that Xu Le made. If it was an ordinary dish, the taste would be quite normal. However, right now, after Cai Lan put the stewed onion in his mouth, there were three different flavors presented to him. They were all fragrance of onions, yet they were all different. The smell of the third flavour gradually subsided. Then another taste came. Cai Lan¡¯s eyes was filled with shock. There was actually a fourth taste! However, he soon discovered that the taste of the fourth flavour was the same as the first one. It was purely the fragrance of onions. This dish had a rich and layered taste. It started with the fragrance of onions and ended with it. The rich changes in the four flavors definitely made one feel as if they had eaten some kind of mysterious dish that could control their taste buds. When Cai Lan opened his eyes, all he saw was a plate of stewed onions. It seemed to be plain and ordinary, yet it concealed profound secrets. This was the charm of Chinese cuisine. ¡°Great dish!¡± Cai Lan exclaimed. The feeling this dish brought him was too intense. He had never tasted such an amazing dish before, let alone the fact that the ingredients used for this dish were so simple. Only onions and shrimp. ¡°If Mr. Wang Shixiang were still alive, he would probably cry after eating such delicious stewed onions!¡± Mr. Cai Lan sighed. Tears welled up in his eyes and then rolled down the corner of his eyes. ¡°Little Master Chef, everyone says that your culinary skills are superb. I didn¡¯t expect¡­ your culinary skills to be to this extent!¡± Cai Lan could not help but exclaim. Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills had far exceeded his imagination. Actually, ever since Xu Le became famous on the Internet, Cai Lan had been paying attention. However, his previous attention was only through the screen and he could not be personally taste his dishes. Now that he had tasted it, he could truly appreciate the capability in Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills. ¡°The reputation of the Little Master Chef is well-deserved!¡± It was a dish with four different flavors, which brought him an amazing experience. ¡°Come and have a taste too!¡± Cai Lan turned around and called for the staff behind him to come and have a taste. Among them were the production team¡¯s director and screenwriter. They had to personally taste all the dishes that were going to appear on the program. After all, they could only write the narration lines in the documentary after they had tasted it themselves. They couldn¡¯t possibly make it up themselves. After each person placed an onion into their mouths, everyone¡¯s expressions seemed to have been pressed by the remote control to pause. Their expressions¡­ were frozen. They had never tasted anything like this before. It was a wonderful experience! Even some people in the team who were never willing to eat onions could not help but take a bite. And they were quickly won over by this [Stewed Onions]. This dish did not have the stimulating taste of the onion itself, only the fragrance of the onion remained. After one bite. The pure onion fragrance¡­ with the sweetness of fresh onions¡­ and the smell of seafood¡­ then the pure onion fragrance¡­ This was like a cycle of reincarnation, with the taste constantly surging in one¡¯s mouth. The experience of a top-notch culinary skills was displayed using an ordinary onion. There was only one ingredient in this plate of onions, and that was Beijing onions. However, after Xu Le¡¯s skillful cooking, the onions became soft and delicious. Every onion was so tasty. In less than a minute, everyone finished the whole plate. Even Cai Lan could not stop eating. He even began fighting with the staff for the onions. Just like what Mr. Wang Cengqi had said in his article, this dish of onions had beaten all the exotic delicacies. The onions bought with a few dollars, after being stewed, were even more delicious than many top-grade ingredients. ¡°Little Master Chef, you¡¯re impressive!¡± After tasting the dish, everyone couldn¡¯t help but give Xu Le a thumbs up. This dish was simply too delicious. Using the simplest and most homely ingredients to show off his cooking skills, he appeared even more like a godly cook. The best way to cook delicious food was to use simple methods to make it. Xu Le¡¯s [Stewed Onions] showcased this point and reached a beautiful realm. There was no complicated, long, and cumbersome cooking process. With just the simplest way of stewing in oil and the most basic ingredients, one could cook with their utmost sincerity. The taste that could touch everyone¡¯s hearts. ¡°Alright!¡± Cai Lan started clapping. When he suggested coming to the [8-year-old cafeteria], the director had strongly opposed it. However, because of Mr. Cai Lan¡¯s insistence, they appeared in front of Xu Le. In fact, they had really benefitted. Without a doubt, Cai Lan felt that if Taste of China missed out on this dish, he would regret it for the rest of his life. Everyone would never forget this dish for the rest of their lives! ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t look at me with such admiration. I didn¡¯t invent this dish. Mr. Shixiang invented it.¡± Xu Le was a little embarrassed. These people were all staring at him like a pack of wolves staring at a little lamb. However, their eyes were also filled with admiration. ¡°When this dish was circulated in Beijing, there was a saying in the literary circle: If you can¡¯t eat Wang Shixiang¡¯s stewed onions, you won¡¯t be able to rest in peace. This joke was even brought to the United States by the literary circle and published in the Californian paper.¡± After everyone heard Xu Le¡¯s explanation, they were also amazed by the founder of this dish, Mr. Wang Shixiang. To be able to cook such a delicious dish was truly an extraordinary merit. ¡°This episode¡¯s filming was very successful!¡± Following Cai Lan¡¯s shout, the entire restaurant erupted into applause. Cheers, applause, and praises filled the dining hall. And just half an hour ago, the program team of Central TV had also heard about the news of Taste of China¡¯s visit at the stall for filming. Therefore, they rushed over overnight to do a live broadcast. The host, Wang Bingbing, also tasted this delicious dish. Her bright eyes were filled with admiration as she stared at Xu Le. If Xu Le was not a child but an adult man. With such delicious dishes and superb culinary skills, Wang Bingbing felt that it would be difficult for her to resist the urge to marry him. A man who can cook¡­ is so freaking handsome!! Chapter 45 - Making Food Ingredients To Taste Different From Its Original Taste! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Although it was already past midnight, there were still many viewers in the live-stream. ¡°This dish looks so fragrant. Is it really made from a few onions?¡± ¡°As expected of the little Master Chef. He can make such delicious food with such simple ingredients.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go to the market tomorrow morning to buy some onions. I want to try making this dish too.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone is asleep yet.¡± ¡°When will this episode of Taste of China be broadcasted? I want to watch it!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Due to the confidentiality of the program¡¯s content. Therefore, during Central TV¡¯s live broadcast, they only filmed the scene and did not give a close-up shot of the dish [Stewed Onion]. Hence, the audience in the live-stream could only hear Xu Le¡¯s incomplete explanation about the cooking method of this dish. As for the specific steps, they could only be seen from the program that would be officially broadcasted soon. As for whether this dish was delicious or not¡­ it could be seen from the reactions of Master Cai Lan and the other program team members. If this dish was not delicious, would it cause everyone to fight over it? Obviously not. Immediately, many viewers in the live-stream expressed that they were hungry from watching such a thing late at night! At the same time, the dish [Stewed Onion] had reached its ciphers and was the top trending topic on Weibo. At the same time, the popularity of the live-stream had already exceeded a million. The post released by Central TV¡¯s official Weibo account had been forwarded more than a hundred thousand times in less than half an hour. On this quiet night, it had evoked the cravings of countless people as they drooled in front of the cameras. And that wasn¡¯t all. On Taste of China¡¯s program team¡¯s Weibo, a large number of fans had also flooded in within a short period of time. They were all urging for updates on Weibo. Everyone really wanted to see this episode of ¡°the original taste of food¡±. ¡­ At this moment, in the [8-year-old canteen], the people were still unaware about what was happening on the Internet. The place was only filled with the fragrance of delicacies, floating wantonly in the air. Many of the staff of Taste of China¡¯s program team were people who were extremely passionate about food. Before coming to Xu Le¡¯s place, they might have doubted the title of ¡°Little Master Chef¡± and felt that an eight-year-old child couldn¡¯t have such superb culinary skills. However, after Xu Le had finished cooking this dish, especially after everyone had tasted the stewed onions personally, everyone was convinced. Of course, a truly delicious dish should first impress the taste buds of the customers, then the stomachs of the customers, and finally the hearts of the customers. This was what Xu Le¡¯s [Stewed Onions] did. Even though many of the staff had managed to eat chopped onions, they were still intoxicated by the tastiness that they could not get out of it. Food was the only thing in the world that would immediately make one feel satisfied and happy. Everyone looked at Xu Le with admiration. The title of Master Chef was well-deserved! After filming was completed, Master Cai Lan looked at Xu Le with a smile and said, ¡°Little Master Chef, it¡¯s all thanks to you that we were able to film such an authentic and delicious dish, [Stewed Onions]. I represent the entire production team to express our sincere gratitude to you!¡± These words came from the bottom of Master Cai Lan¡¯s heart. Without Xu Le, the quality of this episode would definitely not be so high. More importantly, without Xu Le, the dish [Stewed Onions] would have disappeared from history forever. After Wang Shixiang passed away, no one could replicate the taste of this dish. Now that [Stewed Onions] had reappeared in the world, if Wang Shixiang knew about it in the netherworld, he would also feel gratified. ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me. I¡¯m also very happy to be part of the program.¡± Xu Le smiled innocently. This was also what he was thinking deep down. With Xu Le¡¯s love for food, a documentary like Taste of China was naturally highly recommended by him. It was precisely because of the existence of such a documentary that Chinese cuisine could better move towards the masses and the world. If not for the arrival of the program team. Who would know about [Stewed Onion]? Who would know that a few simple onions could be cooked in such a delicious way using some special cooking methods? ¡°But¡­¡± A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on Master Cai Lan¡¯s face. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Le was stunned. ¡°The theme of this episode is the original taste of the food. Little Master Chef, can you guess what the theme for the next episode will be?¡± Xu Le fell into deep thought. Since Master Cai Lan asked this question, it meant that the theme of these two episodes definitely had a lot to do with each other. However, the content of the two episodes were still different. Therefore, it was most likely the opposite. At this thought, Xu Le¡¯s expression suddenly became strange¡­ ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ using ingredients to produce a taste that it doesn¡¯t have, can it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Hahaha!¡± Master Cai Lan laughed happily. From his smile, one could tell that he was truly happy. Only when people who knew to appreciate delicacies interacted with each other would there be an attraction between their souls and a resonance produced. ¡°For this episode, we are filming how to stimulate the original taste of the food. And for the next episode, we are using the ingredients to produce a taste different from its original taste!¡± ¡°Not its original taste?¡± After Cai Lan finished speaking, the program team members were all surprised. After all, this theme was decided by Cai Lan and the director together. Although they were part of the production team, they had just found out about it. ¡°If it¡¯s not the original taste of the ingredients, how is it going to be produced?¡± ¡°Make a chicken without the taste of chicken? Make a serving of onions without the taste of onions? Are they supposed to use other ingredients that have a stronger taste to suppress the taste of the main ingredient? But will it really be delicious like this?¡± The program team members started discussing among themselves. However, they soon quietened down and focused their attention on Xu Le. After all, Master Cai Lan was the one who asked Xu Le to solve the problem. So¡­ it¡¯s better to look forward to Xu Le¡¯s reply.. Chapter 46 - Major Challenge! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Using the ingredients to make a taste different from its original taste¡­¡± Xu Le narrowed his eyes and fell into deep thought. More accurately, Xu Le was immersed in the System Shop. In the vast list of recipes, he looked for one that was more suitable for what Master Cai Lan had requested. Finally, Xu Le¡¯s eyes trembled slightly. He saw a suitable choice among these recipes. ¡°Crab roe?¡± ¡°This will do!¡± Xu Le immediately raised his head. His eyes sparkled as he stared at Master Cai Lan. ¡°Grandpa Cai Lan, I got it!¡± ¡°What dish is it?¡± Cai Lan asked curiously. ¡°The ingredient we chose for the dish just now was very simple. It was the most basic onion. We made the original flavor of the onion. Now, we have to use an ingredient to make the flavor that is not the original taste. We also have to use a very common and cheap ingredient.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Everyone in the program team was focused on Xu Le. Everyone was curious about what Xu Le would surprise them with. ¡°Eggs!¡± ¡°Eggs!¡± Everyone was stunned when they heard Xu Le¡¯s response. Eggs¡­ Could it be used to make something that doesn¡¯t taste like eggs? However, after pondering for a few seconds, a meaningful smile appeared on Master Cai Lan¡¯s face. He seemed to understand Xu Le¡¯s meaning. ¡°This dish is very suitable, very suitable!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but clap. Master Cai Lan had already guessed that the dish Xu Le wanted to make was the [Crab Roe]. He also knew about this dish, but he had not thought of it when he set the theme for this episode. ¡°Xu Le, you know how to make crab roe?¡± Xu Le nodded. With the system space, he could easily learn any cuisine in this world. ¡°Can we set a time tomorrow to film?¡± Master Cai Lan asked in embarrassment. After all, it was already very late and Xu Le had been busy for the whole day before he had to host them right away. He even made such a delicious dish called [Stewed Onion]. However, they still wanted to continue filming the cooking process of [Crab Roe]. He could imagine how exhausted Xu Le must be. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it at 10am tomorrow.¡± Xu Le thought for a while and nodded. During the day, he needed to open his store. He would only have time to receive the production team after the restaurant closed at 10pm. ¡°Thank you, little Master Chef.¡± Cai Lan walked over with a smile and hugged Xu Le tightly. He was really excited that with Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills, the entire program¡¯s quality had been greatly enhanced. One had to know that Taste of China had already been broadcasted up to its third season. However, the season with the highest rating on the internet was still season one. Three years ago, the first season of Taste of China came out of nowhere and directly blew up on all the major online media outlets and among social circles. Faced with such a gourmet documentary that they had never seen before, everyone showed great interest. The show received a total of 350 million views online, and its rating on the website was as high as 9.4. After a year, the production team launched the second season. However, this time, the reputation had collapsed. A rating of 7.5 might be a pretty good result for other television programs, but for Taste of China, especially for a gourmet documentary produced by Master Chef Cai Lan himself, this was a result that totally failed. The reason was simple. It was the comparison. Compared to the first season, the second season of Taste of China had a very obvious drop in quality. There were also many netizens who expressed their disappointment over this, and even bluntly said that they no longer looked forward to the third season of the program. Master Cai Lan was also very anxious about this situation. After two years, he had once again taken over the third season of Taste of China. He wanted to return to the standard of the first season and even create an even better food documentary! Meanwhile, Xu Le¡¯s short exchange with him gave him hope. That night, Master Cai Lan could not sleep. For an old man like him, he had already seen through the world. Every day, he would eat some delicacies and do some of the things he did. He no longer had any worries in his life, and his sleeping state was usually very stable. But that night, he was too excited. Master Cai Lan was already old and his greatest wish was to make the program of Taste of China great. And meeting Xu Le now was undoubtedly a blessing for him. ¡­ The next night. At 10pm sharp. At the agreed time, Master Cai Lan led the entire filming team to the entrance of the ¡®8-year-old cafeteria¡¯. Xu Le had already finished a busy day. There were only two or three customers eating in the restaurant. Knowing that they would be filming Taste of China at night, the Central TV live broadcast team did not leave. The host, Wang Bingbing, was still standing guard there to continue hosting for everyone. Her face seemed slightly exhausted. In order to let the audience understand Xu Le¡¯s daily life better, the production team started filming the entire process from 9am when Xu Le was buying the ingredients. 13 hours had passed until 10pm, which was considered a very long time. After such a long period of filming, Wang Bingbing felt extremely tired. She couldn¡¯t wait to go back to the hotel to take a hot bath and sleep. However, Xu Le was still full of energy. ¡°The Master Chef is amazing¡­ Not only is he a great cook, but he can work from morning to night without showing any signs of fatigue¡­¡± Wang Bingbing looked at Xu Le with admiration. What she did not know was that when Xu Le practiced cooking in the system space every day, the system would gradually cause his physical fitness to also improve. Although Xu Le was still an eight-year-old child, in terms of physical fitness, 80% of the adult males would lose out to him. Most importantly, after cooking in the system space for a long time, the simple cooking process was not mentally exhausting for Xu Le. Instead, it was a process of enjoyment. After some small talk, everyone immediately entered the filming mode. After all, it was already late at night. The earlier they entered the shoot, the earlier it would end. Xu Le was wearing a custom-made chef¡¯s uniform. He looked very mini and adorable. After all, he was really too small. He was only a little over 1.2 meters tall. Of all the chef¡¯s uniforms sold in the past ten years, not a single one could fit him. All the raw materials were also prepared and the cameras and lights were all set up. This episode¡ªCrab Roe! Chapter 47 - Making [Crab Roe] Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°The dish [Imitation Crab], or [Crab Roe] is quite famous.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he took out the ingredients from the fridge. To deal with the production team¡¯s request, Xu Le would already give them an explanation while cooking. Otherwise, the program team staff would not be able to understand many of his steps. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to determine where this dish originated from or who invented it. However, we can tell from the name of this dish that the purpose of this dish isa€¡±crabs!¡± ¡°Crabs are very expensive ingredients, so when one cannot afford to eat crabs, many chefs would make this [Imitation Crab] to imitate the taste of crab roe and crab meat.¡± ¡°This dish is a traditional Chinese specialty. It has a smooth texture and is rich in nutrition. It tastes like crab meat and is suitable for both young and old.¡± ¡°The ingredients used are very simple. The main ingredient is fish meat, and the supplementary ingredient is eggs. These two ingredients are also quite common. After adding all kinds of condiments, this dish will exhibit a taste similar to that of crabs, and also a look similar to that of crabs.¡± Xu Le took out a piece of sole fish and a few eggs. ¡°Is it that simple?¡± A staff member of the program team whispered. Xu Le smiled when he heard that. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s that simple.¡± ¡°You might think that making crabs is a very difficult task, but in fact, it¡¯s also the charm of cooking.¡± ¡°Many years ago, someone discovered that the mixture of vinegar and ginger would produce a taste similar to that of crabs after a unique way of handling it. Now, let me show you!¡± As he spoke, he started to heat the oil. The cooking officially began. At this moment, the entire hall was silent. Whether it was the program team of Taste of China or Central TV¡¯s live broadcast, all of the staff were staring at Xu Le. They wanted to see how Xu Le could create this amazing [Imitation Crab]. Especially after these two days of experience, they had already felt the charm of cooking. It was especially enjoyable to watch Xu Le cook. It was as if they were looking at a master painting. The natural cooking gave off a soothing and aesthetic feeling. Because every step was the simplest, most direct, and most perfect. There were no unnecessary steps. Every step was just right. It was really an ecstatic cooking process. The process of cooking this [Imitation Crab] was the same. Although the production team had just come to film, and Xu Le had never tried this dish in the real world. The previous night, Xu Le had already confirmed to prepare this dish. He exchanged for the [Imitation Crab] recipe in the System Shop and practiced for an hour in the system space. Under the time flow that was 365 times slower. He had been practicing this dish for half a month without stopping. His level of proficiency was naturally incomparable and terrifying. As a result, Xu Le was already in his best condition when he took out the ingredients. In his eyes, everything else was no longer important. Everything about the venue, the people watching around, the environmenta€| They were all things that could be ignored. Xu Le only had eyes for the kitchenware and ingredients in front of him! The art of cooking begins now! ¡­ ¡°First, the first step is to smooth the fish with oil.¡± The oil in the pan was already 70% hot and was bubbling non-stop. Xu Le placed the entire piece of sole fish into the pan. Whoosh! As the oil heated up, the hot oil and the sole fish produced a violent chemical reaction. Countless bubbles emerged from the pot, and the entire pot began to boil. ¡°This step of oiling is to let the fish meat pass through the pan once. This way, it can increase the fragrance of the oil. This is because there must be a lot of rich crab oil among the plump crabs. And this kind of fat and plump texture is what we are imitating.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he used the spatula to gently push the piece of fish in the pan. To allow the heat be evened out. Xu Le took out three eggs while the fish was heating up. He separated all the egg whites from the egg yolk. This was a necessary step for this dish. After all, in this dish, the egg white was used to make crab meat, while the egg yolk was used to make crab roe. Thus, the two of them were separated from one another from start to finish. Each had their own flavor and taste. After the egg white and egg yolk were beaten evenly. Xu Le began to mix the condiments and added some ketchup into the egg yolk. He was using ketchup to imitate the sweetness of the crab and give it a unique depth in flavor. This step did not exist in the authentic palace cooking method. After all, there was no such thing as ketchup in ancient China. This step was completely improvised by Xu Le. Moreover, he had already tasted it before and it was very good. At this moment, the sole fish was almost at 70% cooked. He fished it out of the oil and added a few drops of seasoning wine. This step was to remove the fishy smell from the seafood and stimulate its freshness to a greater extent. This was also an essential step in handling any seafood. ¡°It¡¯s very authentic!¡± Master Cai Lan stood at the side and watched silently, his eyes shining. He had once eaten a dish of [Crab roe] at the restaurant of [Merit Forest] in Beijing, and it left a deep impression on him. This dish was completely made from eggs and fish, and it really did look like crab meat and crab roe. Moreover, some taste of crabs could really be tasted from it. It was extremely miraculous. Until now, all of Xu Le¡¯s steps were similar to the top chefs of [Merit Forest], and even closer to perfection. Therefore, Cai Lan was very satisfied with this. Xu Le took out two pieces of ginger and chopped them into pieces before cutting a large onion into small pieces. The next step was a very important step in the entire process of cooking the disha€¡±making the ¡°crab roe¡±. Of course, he could not make real crab roe. This crab roe was made from egg yolk. Although it did not have the smell of crabs, its appearance was extremely similar. Soon, Xu Le started to carry out the steps.. Chapter 48 - Amazing Culinary Skills Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The dish [Crab Roe] wasn¡¯t considered exotic. Many chefs from big restaurants knew how to make this dish. Master Cai Lan had traveled extensively for many years and had eaten more than a 100 dishes of [Crab Roe[. However, the flavors were all different. For example, the crab roe in Shanghai were more focused on the fresh and sweet taste, while the crab roe in Beijing had a stronger fragrance of sauce. Therefore, at this moment, Master Cai Lan was looking forward to Xu Le¡¯s creation of the [Crab Roe]. ¡­ The vegetable oil in the pot was already 70 percent hot. Xu Le held onto the eggs that had already been beaten evenly and revealed a conflicted expression. He was a little too short¡­ If he wanted to make the egg look like crab roe, he had to make it into a very thin silk shape and let it fall into the pot. Only then would it have the texture of crab sticks. So the egg must be poured from a high place. At least 50 centimeters from the pot. But even if Xu Le raised his hand to the highest point, it would be difficult to reach this height. ¡°Help me get a stool!¡± Xu Le shouted in his tender voice. The production crew immediately brought over a small stool and placed it in front of the stove. Xu Le carefully stood on the stool. This time, his height was finally enough. He held the bowl containing the egg yolk and carefully tilted it at 30 degrees. The egg yolk flowed out slightly and formed a 60cm long thin thread in the air! The egg yolk fell into the pot, accompanied by a sizzling sound. In the blink of an eye, it became inflated and turned into balls of golden egg that looked very similar to crab roe. Xu Le also added something else to the egg¡ª Salted duck egg yolk! Although there was only a small amount of it, the oil of the salted duck egg had a special salty taste. When it was combined with the egg, it gave off a different flavor. This was the ¡°sense of layering¡± that Xu Le sought after in every dish. Of course, the taste of a delicious dish was not bland. If the main taste of this dish was ¡°spicy¡±, it also required different levels of spiciness. For example, Xu Le¡¯s [Stewed Onions] was also rich in the taste of onions. There was the pure taste of onions, accompanied by the fresh and sweet taste of shrimp, and also the taste of the gravy and oil¡­ A dish would taste even richer only if there were many different levels to it. This was Xu Le¡¯s pursuit. It also contained some of his understanding of food. 15 seconds later. Xu Le scooped out all the egg yolk from the hot oil. He took out the egg white that had already been separated from the egg yolk and used a small spoon to add some salt to it, adding a little taste. With a quick stir. A thick layer of foam formed in the bowl. This was exactly what Xu Le needed. The oil in the pot was heated up to 70 percent and a bowl of egg white was placed in the pot. Sizzle¡ª When the oil came into contact with the egg, there was an intense sound. The egg white in the pot also started to expand rapidly, turning into a snow-white cream-like shape. In ten seconds, Xu Le scooped out the egg white. The scoop was placed above the oil pot, and he scooped up spoonfuls of hot oil to pour over it. ¡°After it¡¯s formed in the oil pot, it can only be cooked with hot oil and can¡¯t continue to be fried. Otherwise, it¡¯s very easy for it to turn charred and destroy the whole dish.¡± As Xu Le spoke, all the cameras were pointed at him. There was even a staff member who took out a pen and paper and recorded the inspiration that came to his mind when he heard these words. In the future, they would use these inspirations to write the narration lines in the program. ¡­ The egg white and egg yolk had already taken shape. Each of them was placed on a plate and one could already vaguely tell the look of crab roe and crab meat. However, this [Imitation Crab] not only required a similar shape but also a similar taste. In other words, Xu Le also needed to add some crab flavor to the dish through special seasoning. He poured out all the hot oil in the pot, but there was no need to wash the pot. At this moment, there was still some base oil left on the wall of the pot to stir fry the other ingredients. ¡°Firstly, we must have enough ginger. Only then can the taste be produced from stir-frying.¡± He poured the ginger into the pot and quickly stir-fried it with a spatula. Then, he added some wine. Immediately, the fragrance wafted over. At this moment, one could already sense the taste of crabs. The taste of ginger and wine was already very similar to the taste of crabs. Even Xu Le did not know the reason and principle behind it. However, this was the miraculous aspect of cooking. As long as two completely unrelated things were combined together, they could obtain a new taste. Just like how red and blue were equal to purple, art used the combination of colors to create a beautiful piece of painting. ¡°It already tastes like crabs, but we still lack the freshness of seafood.¡± Xu Le smiled as he said that. At this moment, it was time to use the sole fish The base oil used to fry the sole fish had already been soaked with the fresh sweetness of the fish meat due to the sufficient soaking. Xu Le only took a spoonful and added the ginger to it. The unique smell of seafood was immediately produced. Now, the smell emitted from the pot was increasingly similar to that of crabs. ¡°Now, add in all the fish meat and egg whites that were previously fried and stir fry them on a small fire. You mustn¡¯t use high heat.. This dish requires an exquisite stir-fry. It doesn¡¯t need to be stir-fried like other dishes to stimulate the pot gas. Instead, that will spoil the freshness and sweetness of the seafood.¡± After adding all of them into the pot, he stir-fried them on a small fire. The smell of the ingredients combined in the pot instantly emerged. The fragrance wafted through the entire room, making everyone salivate. Gulp! Wang Bingbing looked at Xu Le who was cooking and could not help but gulp. She was already craving for it. Wang Bingbing would eat less every night in order to lose weight. Now that she smelled such a fragrant smell, the glutton in her stomach started to growl. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry¡­¡± Chapter 49 - The Key to the Crab Taste Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°This is the key to this dish.¡± Xu Le took out another small bowl. The unfinished ginger had already been cut into pieces and was placed at the bottom of the bowl. After stirring it evenly. Xu Le leaned over and sniffed the bowl. This taste¡­ was already very close to the taste of crabs. Xu Le poured the entire bowl into the pot and mixed it with the fried fish and egg white. Under the stimulation of the hot oil and high temperature, the smell of crab immediately filled the entire kitchen. The egg yolk that had been prepared long ago was also poured into the pot. It was stir-fried evenly. Now, not only was the taste similar, even the appearance was exactly the same. The jade-like egg white was akin to the crab paste. The strands of fish meat was the crab meat. The shiny golden egg yolk was crab roe. Everything was ready. Together with the thick smell of crabs emanating from the pot. If it was someone who didn¡¯t know about this, they would really think that it was a plate of fried crab when they saw the finished product for the first time. Everything was too similar. ¡°It really¡­ it looks like a real crab.¡± Behind Master Cai Lan, a middle-aged bald man gulped and said in shock. He was the investor of this show. His name was Zhang Heng and he was a businessman in the food industry. To explain in greater details. People most likely have heard of the Lake Yangcheng¡¯s hairy crab. This was a specialty of Jiangsu Province and was also a landmark of China. Lake Yangcheng ¡®s hairy crab was also called Golden Claw Crab. It was the best quality lake crab in the country. The crabs produced there were not stained with mud. When they were fished out, they were clean as if they had been washed in clear water. Each of them was filled with flesh, had a green shell, a white stomach, golden claws and yellow hair. After it was cooked, the meat was delicate, the crab roe was rich, and the taste was delicious. Of course, its price was also very expensive. A crab weighing 250 grams would cost hundreds of yuan. Zhang Heng was the big boss who raised crabs in Lake Yangcheng. In the waters of Lake Yangcheng, two-thirds of the crabs were raised by him. His company¡¯s annual revenue was as high as 1 billion yuan. It could be said that in the whole of China, not many people knew crabs better than Zhang Heng. That was why Zhang Heng was so shocked when he smelled the fragrance. The dish in front of him, which was made using the eggs and fish meat, tasted too much like crabs. At the very least, there was an 80% similarity! Even if it was him, if he did not distinguish carefully, he might be mistaken. ¡­ Xu Le took out a container that was shaped like a crab from the cabinet. He had bought it from the store during the day. When he placed the dish on the plate, it really looked like crab meat and crab roe. ¡°Everyone, try it while it¡¯s hot. It won¡¯t taste good if it¡¯s cold.¡± Xu Le picked up a towel and wiped the sweat off his forehead. In this dish, all the ingredients were carefully picked according to the recipe in the system store. It was all for the sake of making the taste of this dish more similar to that of crabs. The reason why this dish was called [Crab Roe] or [Imitation Crab] was because it could turn an egg into the taste of a crab to pass off the fake as real. Hence, Xu Le practiced day and night in the system space. It was all for the sake of making the taste and texture of this dish even more similar to real crabs. ¡°Master Cai Lan, have a taste first.¡± Zhang Heng said humbly. In reality, he could not wait any longer. Having dealt with crabs for half his life, he believed that he understood crabs very well. And Xu Le only used a few eggs and a piece of fish to replicate the crab? ¡°Let¡¯s try it together.¡± Master Cai Lan said with a smile. Having lived for so long, his eyesight was naturally sharp. One look at Zhang Heng¡¯s sweaty appearance and he could already guess that the other party was definitely feeling impatient, so he immediately invited the other party to have a taste. The two of them picked up their own chopsticks, picked up the egg yolk, egg white, and fish together, and slowly placed them into their mouths. He pursed his lips. Zhang Heng¡¯s pupils instantly constricted, and he was extremely shocked in his heart. The ¡°crab meat¡± melted the moment it entered his mouth. It was countless times softer than real crab meat. The ¡®crab roe¡¯ had a dense texture, like a mouthful of dense crab bursting out. The thick flavor of the crab filled the entire mouth. The ¡°crab paste¡± spread in his mouth like fine fat and slid down his throat directly into his esophagus. It was extremely smooth and delicate. This was actually made from eggs and fish?! Why did it taste exactly like a crab! If anyone told Zhang Heng about this before he tasted this dish personally, he would definitely think that they were joking. But now, the evidence was right in front of him and he could not refute it. At the side, Master Cai Lan also picked up a piece and put it into his mouth. After a while, Cai Lan¡¯s face was filled with enjoyment. This dish satisfied his taste too much. Furthermore, he was very satisfied with the theme of this episode. The theme of this episode of Taste of China was ¡°How to make food taste unlike its original taste¡±. In other words, making food into another flavor. Xu Le was very successful in this aspect. With Xu Le¡¯s help, the few home-cooked eggs and fish had successfully turned into crabs. Xu Le had even exceeded his expectations. After all, Cai Lan¡¯s request wasn¡¯t his own. Not only had the taste of eggs changed, but the appearance was also highly similar. It was similar to the ¡°molecular cuisine¡± that had recently become popular worldwide. ¡°Zhang Heng, what do you think?¡± Master Cai Lan asked Zhang Heng with a smile. He knew that Zhang Heng was a famous crab farmer in the country, so he deliberately asked this question to see what Zhang Heng thought about this dish. ¡°Impressive!¡± Zhang Heng exclaimed. In addition to the shock of tasting this dish, he also thought of many things. These thoughts were not from the perspective of a customer. It was more from the perspective of a businessman! Chapter 50 - Business Cooperation Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Little Master Chef, I have a question for you.¡± Zhang Heng asked Xu Le respectfully. Although Xu Le was just a child, he had already earned Zhang Heng¡¯s respect by being able to cook such delicious dishes. The accomplished are the masters. In this world, this principle would always be followed. People might have some respect for older people, but they would only truly feel admiration for those with capability. This admiration had nothing to do with age. ¡­ ¡°Go ahead.¡± Xu Le looked up at Zhang Heng and replied in a tender voice. ¡°Is this dish easy to learn? And¡­ can this dish be made into a fast-food package or as a semi-finished product?¡± Zhang Heng looked at Xu Le with bright eyes and asked anxiously. As a businessman, he naturally considered matters from a business perspective. From the moment he tasted the dish, a bold plan surfaced in Zhang Heng¡¯s mind. Although the Lake Yangcheng¡¯s hairy crabs he reared were of excellent quality, they were too expensive. Zhang Heng had opened more than 30 restaurants in the country and specialized in selling Lake Yangcheng¡¯s hairy crabs. A raw hairy crab cost more than a hundred yuan, not to mention that it had been processed by a chef and sold as a dish in the restaurant. In the restaurant, a crab would cost about 200 yuan. This was a price that most people could not afford. Therefore, Zhang Heng had always wanted to develop some cheaper dishes to attract more customers. However, the cost of the crabs could not be reduced, so this plan had not been in operation until now. But now. After tasting the [Crab Roe], Zhang Heng had an idea. Is it possible that¡­ [Crab Roe] could be this cheap dish? Compared with the real crabs, the taste and texture of this dish was not bad. It could even be said to be very similar. The price was very cheap and it was unique. One dish would cost less than 10 yuan. Customers could also order some other ordinary dishes. At the same time, they would be able to eat their fill in Zhang Heng¡¯s restaurant. For a restaurant, they were most worried about not having any customers. At this moment, the dish [Crab Roe] could solve this problem. When there were more customers¡­ the restaurant would naturally become famous. Although [Crab Roe] taste similar to real crabs, there was still a huge difference. It could not be completely replaced. Therefore, more and more customers would be willing to taste the real crab. Other than that, Zhang Heng even drafted a marketing strategy in his mind¡ªmaking use of trends! What was the hottest trend now? Xu Le! He would take advantage of the popularity of the little Master Chef, Central TV¡¯s live broadcast and Taste of China¡¯s program which would be broadcast in a week¡¯s time. These were all very good marketing opportunities. As long as Zhang Heng grasped this opportunity, his brand would be able to use this wave of popularity to become a household name. That was why he asked Xu Le this question. ¡°Is this dish easy to learn? And¡­ can this dish be made into a fast-food package or as a semi-finished product?¡± When Xu Le heard this question, he was stunned for a moment before he fell into deep thought. Is this [Crab Roe] easy to learn? It was definitely not difficult. However, it would be very difficult to achieve Xu Le¡¯s standard, or rather, to get close to it. All the ratio of seasoning, the control of the fire, the order of ingredients¡­ Everything had to be done with extreme care. ¡°Making it into a fast-food package or semi-finished product¡­ that¡¯s unlikely.¡± Xu Le shook his head. However, he continued, ¡°However, if I were to personally teach this dish, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to learn it.¡± Zhang Heng¡¯s eyes lit up. If Xu Le could nurture a group of excellent chefs and introduce this dish into his restaurant, then with Xu Le¡¯s recent popularity¡­ ¡°Little Master Chef, I want to discuss a business deal with you. Are you interested?¡± ¡°A business deal?¡± Xu Le replied with interest. He really had no experience in doing business. Hearing Zhang Heng¡¯s suggestion, he was naturally very interested. The other party was an investor of Taste of China and was also Master Cai Lan¡¯s friend. Therefore, Xu Le was quite assured of him. ¡°It¡¯s like this. I grow hairy crabs in Lake Yangcheng, and I¡¯ve opened more than 30 restaurants around the country.¡± ¡°All the main dishes in the restaurant are crabs, so they¡¯re more expensive. There are very few ordinary-income customers, so business isn¡¯t so good¡­¡± ¡°Little Master Chef, I just tasted the [Crab Roe] that you made, and I think its flavor is very good. I wonder if you can help train a group of chefs to make this dish our restaurant¡¯s common-price dish, so that we can use it to promote our restaurant.¡± Zhang Heng spoke very sincerely. However, Xu Le did not agree immediately. Although he was only an eight-year-old child, he was still a university student who had transmigrated here. He knew that he had to be careful when it came to business matters. He might fall into the other party¡¯s business trap even if he was the people he was most familiar with. Besides, it was his first time meeting Mr. Zhang Heng, so he didn¡¯t know him well. ¡°What else do I have to do besides training the cooks? And¡­ what do I get out of working with you?¡± Xu Le asked calmly. This was his first time coming into contact with this kind of business cooperation, so he had to be extra careful. Seeing Xu Le being so cautious, Zhang Heng also nodded. This was the attitude that a businessman should have. It was better to discuss everything in advance than to have disagreements later. ¡°Let me first explain my request.¡± Zhang Heng smiled. ¡°First of all, we need the Little Master Chef to help us train our chefs and authorize the rights for the [Crab Roe] recipe to our restaurant.¡± ¡°We plan on promoting this dish in Shanghai first. There are a total of six restaurants, and we need to train eight chefs. We also need you to authorize the recipe to us.¡± ¡°Secondly, with the help of your popularity, we hope that you can become the spokesperson of our restaurant, or we hope that our restaurant [Giant Crab] and your [Eight-year-old canteen] can do a joint promotion. After Zhang Heng finished speaking, he specially added, ¡°This are our requests. Little Master Chef, please state your request. We can discuss it slowly.¡± Xu Le nodded slightly. It seemed like the other party was sincere in cooperating with him. Xu Le was naturally happy to do so. After all, this was a good opportunity to earn money and promote delicious food. However¡­ he did not know if the other party would agree to his request.. Chapter 51 - Longjing Shrimp Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°What?¡± Zhang Heng¡¯s pupils constricted as he repeated in disbelief, ¡°Are you sure?¡± His reaction was within Xu Le¡¯s expectations. ¡°Yes.¡± Seeing that he was still in a daze, Xu Le repeated his request. ¡°After the imitation crab is mass-produced, it can be packaged in vacuum and the texture can be preserved for two to three days. This way, it can be sold online.¡± Zhang Heng¡¯s eyes dimmed as he stared at the child in front of him. He suddenly felt that he couldn¡¯t treat Xu Le as a normal child. Not only was his culinary skills superb, he was also very smart. He deliberated for a moment and said, ¡°Giant Crab does not do online sales, but this is a good suggestion. We can discuss it in private.¡± Zhang Heng knew very well that brand marketing was very important. Once he was negligent in that, it would definitely cause huge losses. In the past few years, as the media industry developed, the livestreamer¡¯s ability to advertise and sell goods had improved. Xu Le also had his own considerations when he stated this request. Zhang Heng could not bear to give up such a good recipe and new business avenue. After hesitating for a moment, he decided on a plan with Xu Le. While teaching the chefs the recipe and mass-produce the crabs, he would also allow Xu Le to start his live-stream to test the waters. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll see you tomorrow at 10pm.¡± Zhang Heng raised his eyebrows. He had thought that Xu Le would agree to take some time off to teach the chefs. But at the thought that he was going to teach them only after his business was closed, he was slightly surprised. However, the man was already used to chefs with different temperaments. He said habitually, ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll bring the people over tomorrow night?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Le had just opened his store, so of course he had to spend a lot of effort to manage it. When he reached home at night, it was already past midnight. Xu Tian had already gone to bed early. Looking at his sister sleeping soundly, he muttered in his heart, ¡°She¡¯s still so young, and she¡¯s still growing. I¡¯m not afraid of exhaustion, but I can¡¯t let her run around with me.¡± Xu Le wanted to hire a nanny. He had enough money in his bank account to pay off the mortgage and it was more than enough to hire a nanny for his sister. However, it was hard to read a person¡¯s mind. What if the nanny did not treat Xu Tian well? After one night¡¯s sleep, Xu Le decided to still bring her along first. He braided Xu Tian¡¯s hair in a daze and patted her back. ¡°Go wash up and come over for breakfast later.¡± ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Xu Tian answered with her cutish voice. It was indescribable how well-behaved she was. Xu Le felt that he should eat lighter food in the morning. He casually fried some eggs and bacon. After heating up the milk, he actually found a box of tea leaves at the top of the cupboard. He opened it and smelled it. It was refreshing and well preserved. One look and he could tell that it was his father¡¯s favorite. He grabbed it without any hesitation and soaked it in water. Xu Le entered the system space and spent some points to buy the recipe for ¡°Longjing Shrimp¡±. Then, he focused on practicing. A refreshing and delicious cuisine was Xu Tian¡¯s favorite. The moment Xu Le picked up the knife, he was completely focused. It was as if the entire world was only left with the tender shrimp in front of him. He swiftly removed the shrimp skin and sliced open the back¡­ ¡°Whoosh¡±. Xu Tian had already finished washing her face in the bathroom. Within that three mintues, Xu Le had already practised more than 100 times in the system space. Xu Tian shouted at the top of her voice, ¡°Brother! When are we going to eat?¡± ¡°Right away.¡± Xu Le replied and took out the live prawns stored in the vacuum box in the fridge. He did the same as he had practised hundreds of times. He skillfully removed the skin, sliced open the back, and spread the prawns. Then, je placed the prawns on the kitchen towels to absorb the water. This way, when marinating later, it would be more flavorful. He poured a suitable amount of salt, chicken powder, salad oil, an egg white, two spoonfuls of raw powder, and some sugar. Then, he poured the brewed Longjing tea into the cup and placed it aside. At this moment, Xu Le cracked open an egg with one hand, leaving only a small gap for the egg white to slip into the bowl. Two pieces of egg white plus 100 grams of milk, then he added salt, chicken powder, and water for making the gravy. He stirred the mixture evenly with his chopsticks before starting the fire. After heating the pot, he didn¡¯t pour the oil, but instead started the smallest fire and poured the mixture of milk and egg white inside. Using the wooden spatula, he carefully slid it. This way, the pure white ¡°lotus¡± was produced. The rich taste of the milk and the bitter fragrance of the tea leaves permeated the kitchen. Xu Tian stuck her head out and said, ¡°Brother?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush me, it¡¯s ready soon.¡± Xu Le looked at her with a slightly annoyed gaze. He was amused by Xu Tian¡¯s expectant gaze. ¡°Little gluttony cat!¡± ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s all your fault for cooking so well! I¡¯m not a glutton!¡± Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He scooped out the ¡°lotus¡± that was cooked on a small fire. Under normal circumstances, the clear soup for the Longjing Shrimp was usually prepared beforehand by stewing with shellfish and lean meat. However, his own kitchen didn¡¯t lack clear soup. He took out the remaining soup that was left over from a few days ago. He simmered it slowly and gradually boiled it. Xu Le washed away the starch on the marinated prawn and poured it into the hot pot to stir-fry with the tea leaves. This step was crucial. The peeled prawn was tender and would lose its elasticity once it was heated. Xu Le gathered his concentration. The moment the prawns were cooked, it was ready to be served. He added a small amount of salt to the soup that he had just boiled¡­ The dish of Longjing Prawns was very light, so there was no need for too many complicated seasonings. Only the chef¡¯s control of fire was very important. The soup was poured into the pot with wolfberries and tea leaves. After it was completely boiled, it was sprinkled with powder to produce the gravy. Then, the prawns were poured into the pot and stir-fried quickly. After four seconds, it was ready. In less than ten minutes, a fresh and tender dish of Longjing Shrimp was served on the dining table. Xu Tian had long been drooling over it. She licked her lips and put one into her mouth. The meat was fragrant, sweet, and firm. When she bit down on it, the juices flowed out and it was exceptionally chewy. Xu Tian clapped excitedly. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re the best! This prawn is really delicious. Try it too!¡± As she spoke, she got up to help him with the food. The two of them were happily eating breakfast when the doorbell suddenly rang. Xu Tian ran to open the door and called out, ¡°Ms. Li.¡± When Teacher Li saw the smile on Xu Le¡¯s face, she felt a little embarrassed. After all, this child was already a famous ¡°Internet celebrity¡±. She said, ¡°Coincidentally, our houses are very close to each other. I wanted to wait for Xu Tian at the door since I was free, so that we can go together. I saw that she didn¡¯t come even after a long time and was afraid that she had woken up late, so I came to take a look.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ms. Li. Let¡¯s have breakfast together.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Ms. Li was about to reject him. After all, she had already eaten breakfast. However, when her gaze fell on the plate of prawns on the table, she recalled Xu Le¡¯s skills and secretly drooled. She simply sat down and started eating. She reacted just as Xu Le had expected. As soon as the prawns entered her mouth, she beamed with joy. ¡°Gosh, what¡¯s in there? It¡¯s so fresh that my eyebrows are going to drop!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just an ordinary Longjing shrimp.¡± Xu Le was modest on the surface, but in reality, he was striving for perfection in his culinary skills. There was no other Longjing prawn in this world that was better than this.. Chapter 52 - Pork Flatbread and Konjac Noodle Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ms. Li couldn¡¯t help but finish half a plate. Then, she put down her chopsticks in embarrassment. Xu Tian had already finished eating and was unwillingly being forced to drink her milk by her brother¡¯s stare. Xu Le said, ¡°Teacher Li, if you like it, eat more. Anyway, I am going to the store today. If I left the food in the fridge as leftovers, it won¡¯t taste good when I come back.¡± After finding a reasonable way out for her, Teacher Li was overjoyed. She went forward and hugged Xu Le. ¡°I love your culinary skills to death! When are you going to teach? I will definitely be the first to forward it!¡± Xu Le was experienced this time and avoided her facial cleansing milk. He coughed lightly and said, ¡°I have a favor to ask of Teacher Li.¡± He expressed that he wanted Ms. Li to help him take care of Xu Tian. He would pay her according to the highest hourly rate, so that she could help his sister with homework and so on. Teacher Li waved her hand generously and said, ¡°Xu Tian is my student. Moreover, we live so close to each other, and I don¡¯t have any children. It¡¯s alright for me to help take care of her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ Xu Le, can you come over to my house to cook again next time?¡± Xu Le smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± Now that Xu Tian¡¯s daily living and studies were taken care of, he heaved a sigh of relief. When he went to the shop in the morning, he was in a much better mood. There was a long line at the door even before it opened. Xu Le was too short to squeeze in, which made him not know whether to laugh or cry. He waved his hands and said, ¡°Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, let me through. I¡¯m opening the door!¡± ¡°Wow! It¡¯s Xu Le!¡± ¡°He¡¯s so cute, so small!¡± ¡°Can I take a picture with you?¡± ¡°How old are you? Why do you look so small?¡± Many people took out their phones to take pictures of him. Xu Le was already used to these questions, so he ignored them and started his busy schedule for the day. Fortunately, there were only a few dishes on the menu, and everyone paid with their phones, so the orders would not be missed. Everything was going smoothly until noon when a rather discordant voice sounded. ¡°Give me a serving of Konjac Noodle and Pork Flatbread!¡± Xu Le didn¡¯t raise his head either. ¡°The restaurant only sells the dishes on the menu. You can go next door and take a look.¡± Xu Tian¡¯s soft voice sounded. ¡°No, since she wants to eat that, just make it for her.¡± Xu Le subconsciously looked at his sister. ¡°You skipped class today?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xu Tian grabbed the hand of the girl beside her and said coquettishly, ¡°This is Ms. Li¡¯s sister. I brought her here for good food.¡± Xu Le handed over the dishes he had prepared and glanced at the girl. His hand trembled and he almost couldn¡¯t hold the knife. In his heart, he thought that he had recognized the wrong person. After confirming it again, he realized that it was indeed the school belle from his university days. Back then, when that girl in a white dress walked past them with her long hair fluttering in the wind, his roommate¡¯s eyes were fixed on her. However, Xu Le spent all his time playing games in his dorm and relied on his talent to graduate successfully. He had only heard about her from other people. The only time they got close was when they were eating in the cafeteria. The school belle sat opposite him with a plate and smiled politely. She had dimples and a cute protruding tooth. She looked cold and elegant when she was serious. When she smiled, she looked extremely cute. The contrast in her left a deep impression in Xu Le¡¯s heart. However, at that time, Xu Le loved to play games. He usually ate and drank and did not take relationships to heart. When they suddenly met while he was in the form of an eight-year-old child, he sighed in his heart. This world was really small! Xu Le looked at the remaining orders and tried to squeeze out some time. When he nodded his head and asked the two of them to go out and buy ingredients, he was still confused about why he had agreed. After thinking for a long time, Xu Le came to a conclusion¡ªthat was to commemorate his lost youth. But very soon, Xu Le would be able to welcome his second youth in a few years¡¯ time. As he swung the pot, he could not help but think: I loved games in my past life, and I was obsessed with cooking in this life. Am I destined to have no fate with love? After being emotional in his heart, he raised his hand and pressed the order button. The ¡°number 42¡± customer immediately came to take away the Oil Doused Noodles. After finishing a series of orders, Xu Le finally found a stool to sit down and rest. As soon as he closed his eyes, he immediately entered the system and bought the recipe for ¡°Konjac Noodle¡± and ¡°Pork Flatbread¡±. This type of local specialty dishes was well-loved by the masses and had a long history. Xu Le knew that if he wanted to make something different from others, he needed a more authentic recipe. The spices alone required for the recipe were densely packed in half a page. When Xu Le looked at the spices that included braised meat, he could not believe it. Even though it was troublesome, he still rolled up his sleeves and started to prepare it seriously. All kinds of spices required were precise to the gram. Just the first step of chili oil alone required onions and peppers to be heated until 90% hot. Then, he would have to leave it to cool down to 70% to increase the fragrance. The chili powder had to be mixed with several types of chili, then poured with hot oil and mixed with white sesame seeds, fragrant vinegar, and salt. Finally, some white wine had to be poured in, so that the taste of the wine would immediately evaporate, leaving only a thick mellow fragrance. The handmade Konjac Noodle needed to be made with ¡°washing flour¡±. After rubbing the dough, he would have to pour out the remaining water in a bowl. After it had been put in place, it would be steamed on an iron plate. It sounded simple, but it was not easy to make Konjac Noodle with even thickness, soft and smooth texture. Xu Le tried more than ten times before he finally succeeded. He was immersed in the joy of cooking and did not feel that such steps were difficult. Instead, the moment he succeeded, he felt a great sense of achievement! The Konjac Noodle was cut into evenly thin threads, which were then added to the dough, sliced cucumbers, green bean sprouts, garlic water, salt, chicken essence, and vinegar. Finally, the soul of the dish was to pick up a bit of Konjac Noodle and dip it in the chili oil instead of pouring it into a bowl. Finally, a bowl of authentic red Konjac Noodle was made! Next was the preparation for the Pork Flatbread. Xu Le had eaten the Pork Flatbread from the neighboring store before, and it tasted terrible. The underlying reason was from the flatbread itself. The Pork Flatbread he made used the flatbread that was prepared by hand. It was baked in the oven, so that the flatbread, which had inner and outer layers like a mosquito coil, would be crispy and brittle. However, many shops bought ready-made white biscuits to replace them for convenience¡¯s sake, so the taste was greatly discounted. He kneaded the dough, allowed it to rise, and put it in the oven to test the temperature. When it was ready, the braised meat was mixed with green peppers and placed into the crispy flatbread. Then, it was best to pour a small spoonful of braised meat soup over. It seemed very appetising even by looking. Xu Le opened his eyes and looked at the clock. Only ten minutes had passed. There was still some flour in the restaurant that was used to make the Oil Doused Noodles. He immediately began to knead the dough, thinking that since he had already learned how to cook it, he might as well add it to the menu. Xu Le found a marker and wrote on the edge of the menu. ¡°15 yuan for Pork Flatbread, and 9 yuan for Konjac Noodle.¡± After everything was done, Xu Tian, who had gone to buy ingredients, finally returned.. Chapter 53 - The Past between Xu Le and the School Belle Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Brother!¡± Xu Tian said coquettishly at the top of her voice. ¡°Hurry up, we have to go to school in an hour. I might be late!¡± ¡°Half an hour will do.¡± Xu Le reassured her and started to quickly handle the ingredients. Suddenly, a sneer came from above his head. He looked up and the school belle pointed at the computer used for collecting cash and said, ¡°Your menu is all on electronic display. Just open it and add a few lines of words on it. There¡¯s no need to write it by hand.¡± Xu Le blinked his big innocent eyes, as though saying, ¡®I am just a child, I don¡¯t know anything, so what?¡¯ The school belle pointed at herself and said. ¡°I¡¯ll help you modify it?¡± a€?Yeah, whatever.a€? Anyway, Xu Le was not short of customers. He kneaded the dough and split it into two halves. One half of the dough was used to make shreds and he started to make the Konjac noodles. The other half was kneaded into long strips and flattened. Then, he rolled them up along the middle and coated with oil before placing into the oven. This way, he could make the crispy flatbread. The customers who had gone out to shop after eating walked back and realized that there were two more dishes on the menu. They were not hungry, but they could not resist their cravings and walked in. They ordered two more new dishes to try. Xu Le brought out the largest container in the storea€¡±a stainless steel basin to hold the hot chili oil. It seemed that he had not paid attention to the amount of chili oil he had just made and had overproduced them. However, there were still many customers coming to the restaurant. Judging from the crowd, there was no need to worry about not being able to sell all of them. The fragrance of the chili oil rushed straight into the nose. It was strong and fragrant. When the fragrance spread out, even people on the street could not help but turn their heads to ask where the smell came from. Due to insufficient time, the braised meat could not be stewed for a long time. Xu Le immediately prepared the sauce and put it into the pressure cooker to stew. Under the intense pressure, the hind leg meat in the pot quickly melted and became flavorful. He stirred the Konjac noodle, accurately noted the time to take out the crispy and hot flatbread from the oven. Then, he minced the meat and green peppers in the ratio of 2:8 and placed them into the Pork Flatbread. ¡°All done!¡± Xu Le heaved a sigh of relief. He wanted to find a towel to wipe his sweat, but realized that he had forgotten to bring it with him that day. Just as he was about to go around the table to get a napkin, he suddenly felt a cold sensation on his forehead. It turned out that the school belle had casually pulled out a wet napkin to wipe his sweat. She even showed concern by saying, ¡°It¡¯s too hot in the kitchen. You should lower the temperature of the air conditioner a little. You¡¯re such a young child, there¡¯s no need to work so hard.¡± Xu Le clenched his fists and did not retort. He had been busy for the entire morning. Cooking was hard work and he was already hungry, so he planned to sit down and spend 10 minutes to have a meal with his sister before dealing with those orders. Xu Tian seemed to have a good relationship with the school belle. After sitting down, she kept praising Xu Le for making such delicious prawns in the morning and how he was so good at cooking! The school belle smiled politely. She obviously did not believe her. She looked at Xu Le. Xu Le immediately pointed at the door and said, ¡°It¡¯s written on my sign.¡± ¡°How did you know I was going to ask you about your age?¡± The school belle was stunned for a moment before she laughed. She picked up a piece of Konjac noodles with her chopsticks but did not hold much hope. After putting it into her mouth, it was fragrant and soft. It was chewy and not lacking in elasticity. Most importantly, the chilli oil, which had an overly spicy fragrance, wreaked havoc in her taste buds. She made a ¡®mmhm¡¯ sound and was almost moved to tears. She tried two more mouthfuls of the dough and cucumber strips. She was so excited that she even gave a thumbs up and said a tone of praising a child, ¡°Great! You¡¯re really awesome!¡± With that, she buried her head in her food again. Under the temptation of the delicious food, she quickly gave in and ate more than half of the Konjac noodles in one go. Then she ate another bowl of Pork Flatbread. The flatbread was golden and crispy, and the meat inside was fragrant. The fat intensified the fragrance of oil. It was fat, but not greasy. The lean meat was distinct, but not dry. This was the exquisite part of Pork Flatbread. It looked simple and ordinary, but it was just like the tomato egg soup in Xu Le¡¯s restaurant. The two ingredients were always the best combination! The school belle was slim and had been on a diet all year round. Originally, she could not finish a serving of Konjac noodle and Pork Flatbread. Besides, Xu Le had given her a large serving, which was even more than other stores. As it was too delicious, she buried her head in the bowl and finished it. There was not a single bean sprout left at the bottom of the bowl. She looked up and smiled at Xu Le. Just as she raised the corner of her lips, a tear slid past her dimples. ¡°Sister, don¡¯t cry!¡± Xu Tian panicked and frantically grabbed a tissue to wipe her tears. Xu Le was stunned. He did not know how to coax a girl at all. After a long time, he asked dryly, ¡°Are you homesick?¡± The school belle held back her tears. Her eyes were still red. She said, ¡°When I was in kindergarten, my mother set up a stall at the school gate to sell Konjac noodles and Pork Flatbread. When I was young, I always refused to eat what she made and wanted to eat hamburgers. After two years, she passed away. My father, stepmother, and my sister moved here, and have never returned to the city, so I never ate these two things again.¡± When she entered the shop that day, she suddenly wanted to eat these two dishes. However, when she saw that they were not for sale in the shop, she was about to change to another one when Xu Tian urged her to order them. When she saw Xu Le making it, her eyes turned sour. Now that she tasted a familiar taste, the suppressed longing surged into her heart because of the delicacies. ¡°I was too young when she died. My family was poor then, and I didn¡¯t even have a picture of her. I couldn¡¯t even remember what she looked like.¡± Only a familiar feeling was left on her taste buds. Xu Le heard the system beep twice and 100 Gourmet points were added. Perhaps this was the power of food. Food was also a legacy of civilization and love. As time passed, it became new again. The school belle gradually restrained her emotions and waved her hand to apologize, indicating that she had lost her composure. The moment she went out, the wind lifted the corners of her skirt. In the blink of an eye, Xu Le felt as if he had returned to the university life of many young people. However, there were customers in front who were walking towards him to order dishes. The prime area outside the door was bustling with traffic and everyone was walking forward. There were too many people and events. No matter how much he would like to reminisce them, he could only look forward. ¡°Two servings of Konjac noodle, one serving of tomato egg soup, and one serving of Mapo Tofu Rice.¡± Xu Le gave the numbers and received the money. ¡°Alright, please wait a moment.¡± He lit the fire, heated the pot, poured the oil, listened to the chemical reaction of the food in the pot, and concentrated on cooking. Perhaps this was the best life he would have and that was the meaning of life. The newly added dishes sold like hotcakes, and after the ingredients were prepared, the production was very convenient and fast. When it was time to close the shop at night, Xu Le was smiling happily as he checked the bill. Looking at the extra 3,000 yuan he had earned, he was happy. At this rate, he would be able to repay the mortgage soon! At 10pm. Zhang Heng came as planned. Eight chefs walked out of the extended Bentley. Xu Le looked across the counter and muttered, ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s not overloaded with people?¡± Zhang Heng brought the chefs over and introduced Xu Le to each of them.. Chapter 54 - Grandpa Cais Invitation to Beijings Gourmet Expo Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°He¡¯s the champion of the Shanghai Food Exhibition¡¯s 12th season. He¡¯s the genius Chef God who had beat Zhang Tong and Li Peng!¡± Many people had watched the livestream that day, so they all looked at Xu Le with respect. However, among them, there were many people who were arrogant despite learning only for a few years. The young man standing on the most left glanced at him with a mocking expression. How great could a child who was not even as tall as him be? There were many examples of marketing and insider connections in this world that made mediocre people into geniuses. He did not believe that Xu Le really had any capability! However, he could not flare up because of his superior. Xu Le sensed that sharp gaze and raised his head to retort. He said, ¡°Choose someone to learn the procedures from me first. All of you should have some culinary skills as foundation, so as long as you control the fire well, this dish is not difficult to learn.¡± He had only practiced it a few hundred times in the system. The one on the left was unconvinced, so he took the lead and stood out. ¡°I¡¯ll learn from Teacher Xu.¡± Zhang Heng could sense the rashness in his words and signaled him not to say anything dumb. Xu Le was cracking an egg with one hand. When he heard that, he replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s not appropriate for me to be your teacher based on my age, but when it comes to cooking later, there might be a possibility.¡± Li Qing wasn¡¯t convinced and introduced himself, ¡°I¡¯m the chef in charge of making ¡®Jade King Crab with Ginseng¡¯ in Giant Crab.¡± ¡°That dish is a famous dish. However, the main point is the freshness of the radish and the ingredients. At the end, the taste of the gravy is more important than the original taste of the ingredients. Although it¡¯s a famous dish, it¡¯s not a superb dish.¡± Xu Le commented gently and sounded very neutral. Li Qing choked with anger and widened his eyes. That day¡¯s focus was to teach him how to make crabs. Xu Le wouldn¡¯t be childish enough to argue with him, so he used his capability to speak. ¡°Just follow me. Watch carefully.¡± It wasn¡¯t as if Li Qing hadn¡¯t cooked this dish before. Seeing the cold expression on his little face, he felt that he was being looked down upon even more. Hence, he gritted his teeth and insisted on being one step faster than Xu Le. He fried the sole fish, stir-fried egg yolks and egg white separately, added salted egg yolk to improve the taste, and finally used ginger and vinegar juice to stimulate the taste of crabs. Li Qing had seen every step and had even done it himself. However, the ingredients were very obedient under Xu Le¡¯s hands. When he cooked, the pot and spatula were like a part of his body, and he could control them freely. With every step of stir-frying, his movements were nimble, and his expression was calm and composed. The ingredients in the pot repeatedly emitted alluring fragrance, and the color was beautiful. Many of the chefs present were stunned. Watching an eight-year-old child cook was simply like watching a public movie. Besides feeling warm and healing, they sighed with emotion at how powerful his inner core was. In the end, when Li Qing scooped out the egg, his expression displayed some timidness. He didn¡¯t even dare to bring his plate to Xu Le¡¯s side to compare. Zhang Heng took a bite, and the taste was indeed far worse. He took another bite of Xu Le¡¯s meat, and after discovering that it was the indistinguishable taste of fresh and tender crab meat, his brows relaxed. He reminded Li Qing, ¡°You should be a bit more modest and learn well. Not everyone has the chance to learn from a grandmaster. If you¡¯re still indignant, then try it yourself.¡± Unwilling to give up, Li Qing picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. Before he put it into his mouth, he was still thinking, ¡°It¡¯s a fool¡¯s dream to turn an egg into the taste of crab meat. Many ingredients can only be close to the taste and can¡¯t be completely replaced.¡± These thoughts immediately shattered after he put the food into his mouth. He stood rooted to the ground for a long time before saying, ¡°You¡¯re not really deceiving me with real crab meat, are you?¡± There was a burst of laughter around him. Xu Le didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back like a little adult and began to point out the problems in Li Qing¡¯s dish. He said, ¡°In the beginning, the fire was too strong. The egg white also needed to be cooked. You took the sole fish out before the fragrance could be completely mixed in. Also, the ratio of ginger and vinegar is wrong and you forgot to add sugar.¡± Soon after, the rest of the chefs began to work on the dishes. Under Xu Le¡¯s guidance, they improved rapidly. However, they still needed to practice hard for a few more months to reach his level. The eight-year-old cafeteria had always been the most popular place on Hongxing Street. Xu Le was busy from morning to night every day. Although the number of people eating did not decrease, he could clearly feel that its popularity would drop bit by bit. After all, in an era of rapid development, it was possible to be popular for 15 minutes and lose popularity for another 15 minutes. With the current human traffic, he had all sorts of opportunities if he wanted to cash out immediately or attract attention. However, Xu Le still wanted to focus on the restaurant. If he wanted to make a name for himself, he had to gain the recognition of the industry and increase the reputation of the shop. He had been thinking about this problem for several days. Finally, one morning, he received a call. It was a kind and familiar voice. ¡°Little kid, do you still remember me?¡± Cai Lan! Ever since the recording of Taste of China ended at his place, he and Cai Lan had exchanged their phone numbers, but they had never really contacted each other. ¡°Of course I remember. Grandpa Cai, why are you looking for me?¡± Xu Le vaguely felt that this call was not simple. Sure enough, Cai Lan smiled and said, ¡°Our team has finished filming the last episode. Now that I¡¯m back in Beijing, I¡¯d like to invite you over to be the guide for this program.¡± Xu Le said in disbelief, ¡°For Taste of China?¡± This national variety show with hundreds of millions of views! To actually invite him to be a guide, was he dreaming? Cai Lan withdrew his smile and said earnestly, ¡°Xu Le, I admire you very much. Talent is too important to a person. If you can come, you¡¯ll definitely be able to learn and develop more.¡± It was a mutually beneficial thing, and he could learn from Cai Lan, so why not? Xu Le knew that he couldn¡¯t refuse, so he nodded. ¡°Okay, Grandpa Cai, but my shop is still open. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to leave anytime soon. When the program is about to start editing, I¡¯ll come over to see you.¡± Cai Lan agreed immediately. ¡°Sure.¡± Then, they had some small talk. Just as they were about to hang up, Cai Lan suddenly thought of something and said, ¡°Do you want to participate in a competition? It¡¯s hard for you to participate through the ordinary procedure at your age, but with my recommendation letter, you can directly enter the competition with your restaurant.¡± ¡°Ding!¡± The system¡¯s robotic voice sounded in his mind. ¡°Congratulations on unlocking the new mission to raise the popularity of the shop.¡± ¡°Mission Details: Get into the top three in the competition.¡± ¡°Mission Reward: A rare and long-lost recipe book.¡± With the system notification, Xu Le did not even think about it and immediately replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go. Thank you, Grandpa Cai.¡± ¡°Mmhm, the Beijing Food Expo will send you an invitation very soon. Remember to sign it.¡± ¡°Ding! Host has registered for the Beijing Food Expo. Reward: 500 Gourmet points..¡± Chapter 55 - Temporarily Closed for Business? Producing a Lost Dish! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Previously, the system¡¯s mission was to let him win the competition. This time, it only asked him to enter the top three. Xu Le¡¯s intuition told him that this competition would be tougher than the previous one. When the invitation card arrived, he immediately booked a flight to Beijing. Before closing for the night, he hung a ¡®temporarily closed for business¡¯ sign on the eight-year-old cafeteria. The last customer was an Internet celebrity who seemed to weigh two to three hundred pounds. He was tall and stood in front of Xu Le like a small mountain. He was praising the food in the restaurant in the live-stream. ¡°My friends, next time when you come to Shanghai, you must eat their Oil Doused Noodles and Pork Flatbread! It¡¯s even more authentic than the local ones. This spicy flavor is fragrant and refreshing. If you don¡¯t try it once, you¡¯ll never feel complete in your life.¡± Xu Le took off his apron while cleaning the place. When he heard this, he could not help but feel excited. The dishes in the restaurant were just like the works that he had painstakingly presented. In his eyes, they were no different from the works that were displayed in art exhibitions. If the creator could hear his works being praised in front of others, of course he would be happy! The host bit off half of the Pork Flatbread in one bite and said with delight, ¡°The outer skin is crispy, and the ratio of fat and lean meat inside is just right. Mmh~ The little Boss also added a spoonful of sauce when it was ready to be served, so the flavor is rich. The more you eat, the more fragrant it is.¡± He ordered everything in the store and now he was almost finished. Xu Le tidied up the kitchen. At the thought that he was going to participate in the competition in another city soon, before he left, he wanted to see if Xu Tian had any stationery or clothes that she was lacking, so that he would bring her out to buy everything. Just as he was thinking about his younger sister, the host suddenly let out a miserable howl, giving Xu Le a fright. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The host faced the camera and said with a face full of tears, ¡°My friends, it can¡¯t be, the store isn¡¯t open for business tomorrow! I even planned to stay for another day and come back for a meal tomorrow.¡± He cried out to Xu Le, ¡°Little Boss, why aren¡¯t you opening for business tomorrow?¡± Xu Le was a little embarrassed as he kept calling him ¡°Little Boss¡±. He explained, ¡°I have a competition to attend.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± The streamer said exaggeratedly, ¡°Could it be the same competition as last time? I even specially went to the live broadcast. Back then, the slicing of the pagoda meat was amazing!¡± His tone was like that of a Xu Le¡¯s fanatic fan as he said passionately, ¡°Can you please greet the fans in the live-stream? Everyone likes you, you¡¯re so cute!¡± Xu Le nodded in agreement. Just as the camera turned to him, all sorts of gifts bloomed on the screen. The host ¡®Uncle Bull is everywhere¡¯ first expressed his gratitude enthusiastically before saying, ¡°Is it convenient for you to tell everyone what competition you are participating in? We will cheer for you when the time comes.¡± ¡°That kind of competition doesn¡¯t seem to allow any spectators.¡± Xu Le scratched the back of his head and smiled. The comments section immediately exploded because of his smile, and the screen was filled with ¡°cute¡± comments. ¡°Oh,¡± Uncle Bull said with a sense of propriety, ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to reveal, right? Then we¡¯ll wait and see! I wish you good results!¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Le smiled and thanked him. The comments section exploded once again. ¡°Look at how much money he made from being a chef at the age of eight. My eight-year-old child is still playing with mud.¡± ¡°Seeing the genius Master Chef, I really want to kick my son who¡¯s rolling on the ground.¡± ¡°Gosh, how outstanding must his parents be to have such a child?¡± ¡°Uwuwuwu, tomorrow I shall go to the temple to pray that my family¡¯s genes would undergo a mutation so that I can also give birth to a genius like Xu Le.¡± On the plane, Xu Le knew that time was precious. After putting on the earpiece and eye mask, he entered the space system. As he browsed the menu, he saw many recipes that he had never heard of before. Before he came, Grandpa Cai Lan had specifically mentioned that there were many restaurants in Beijing. Due to the tradition of the Qing Dynasty, they were very picky about their food. There were all kinds of delicacies: bear paws, grouse, deer tendons; abalone, sea cucumber, shark¡¯s fin, fish maw¡­ The most famous local cuisine was the Tan and Kong residence dishes. The cuisines from the south could hardly move them. Therefore, Xu Le wanted to choose a Northern cuisine that was almost lost in history and suited the taste of the public judges. After a few strokes, he stopped at a page. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°System, why don¡¯t you just rob me?¡± At the bottom was written ¡¯60 Gourmet points¡¯. Up until now, it was the most expensive recipe he had seen. Although Xu Le was complaining, he could not delay serious matters. He gritted his teeth and bought the ingredients. Then, he looked at the ingredients piled up in front of him and started to practise hard. Not only was seafood difficult to deal with, if there was any mistakes during the cooking process, it would also taste vastly different, causing a huge disappointment. At the end, he chose a long-lost dish [Three Stir-fried Baldy]. In the Suzhou dialect of Shanghai, ¡®bald¡¯ meant ¡®all¡¯ and ¡®extreme¡¯; it was the same as ¡°too¡± and ¡°only¡± in English. It had too long of a history. Its cooking method was very troublesome. After the dynasty was destroyed, the chef did not manage to pass down his craftsmanship. The first bald was male crab paste, the second bald was female crab roe, and the third bald was barbel fish lung. The third bald seemed simple but barbel fish was a type of pufflefish and the barbel fish lung actually referred to the liver of the barbel fish. It was first recorded in the ¡°Zhengzitong¡±. Xu Le buried himself in handling the fish. The bottom of the fish belly was white, while its back was gray with stripes. It was just like what was written in the book: ¡°The taut fish is small like a pufferfish in the shape of a river. There are spots on its back, no scales, no discrepancies in its tail, and white spikes on its abdomen. It is commonly known as a barbel.¡± In mid-autumn, when it was the seafood season, it was extremely fatty and delicious. He quickly took out the fish lung, but the fish lung was too small, so it was really difficult to get enough for one dish. The clock on the wall went one round after another for a full two hours before he finally managed to get a plate. It was barely enough to make one dish. Xu Le wanted to wipe his sweat with a towel out of habit, but he remembered that there was a temperature system in the system, and he had not sweated, so he rolled up his sleeves. He said to himself, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just stir-frying a dish, what¡¯s so difficult?¡± He then prepared other ingredients, took out the male crab paste and female crab roe, and started to search the records on the menu. He practised for a whole two months. Just removing and obtaining the fish lung took him half an hour, which was reduced from his initial two hours. As the saying goes, ¡°practice makes perfect¡±. He untied his apron and taste the dish on the plate. Once it entered his mouth, the male crab paste was soft, the female crab roe was fragrant and the barbel fish liver was sweet. After frying under higher heat, the aroma of the food wafted up to his nose. He took a big bite of it, and it was like flowers blooming in his mouth. He squinted his eyes in happiness and couldn¡¯t help but praise himself. Indeed, delicious food was the best at curing people¡¯s hearts. When the plane landed, Xu Le opened his eyes. He had been training in the system for two months. Not only did he not feel tired, he felt refreshed. Just like that, he dragged a suitcase and carried an invitation letter as he entered the airport. Suddenly, someone patted his shoulder.. Chapter 56 - A Genius Master Chef at a Young Age? Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°You¡¯re here too?¡± Xu Le turned around. Zhang Tong was dumbfounded. Behind him were chefs dressed in formal attire with the logo ¡°Heavenly Restaurant¡± printed on it. The competition in the food and beverage industry was brutal. When the adults saw this child, they did not tease him. Instead, they asked nervously, ¡°Are you going to participate in the Beijing Food Expo?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± They did not dare to treat Xu Le as a child. After all, his majestic performance during the previous competition was still deeply etched in their minds. Zhang Tong calmed down and asked, ¡°What organization are you representing?¡± ¡°My Eight-year-old Canteen.¡± Zhang Tong widened his eyes again. He did not know what to say and he ultimately shook his head and reminded, ¡°You must not sell the rights to your signature dishes, otherwise you might be cheated by some businessmen.¡± ¡°I know that.¡± Xu Le had gone to university before in his past life. Besides, he wanted to make the restaurant big. Of course, he had to cherish his wings and would not sell his dishes easily. The two chatted for a while more. Zhang Tong admired him very much and said, ¡°There will be a ranking after the Food Expo. It will be recognized by everyone in the industry. By then, it will have a great influence on the restaurant.¡± ¡°The Heavenly Restaurant has a title of a chainstore and all the branches have gradually been opened in first-tier cities. Therefore, the ranking from this competition is very important to us. This time, we¡¯ve sent a group from Shanghai to battlea€| The judges are all from all over the world and each one of them is more picky than the other. If the evaluation is not good, don¡¯t cry.¡± Xu Le frowned and said, ¡°I won¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°Yes yes yes, you are already eight-year-old!¡± Zhang Tong teased him on purpose. After reaching the hotel that the organizer had arranged, he placed his luggage down, then there were arranged transport to send him to the expo. There was a sea of people outside, all sorts of local food stalls and even the local delights. When Xu Le was still studying in university and had travelled to Beijing, he was lucky to have the chance to try the fatal mung bean soup, so he would avoid it whenever he came across it. In his heart, he muttered, ¡°Indeed, the type of people is dependent on the land they were raised in. When I drink that thing, it tastes like water that was used for washing dishes, but they are drinking it tastily.¡± He continued to follow the organizer into the room. The tiles on the floor were shiny, and the decoration was mainly black and gold. It was noble and grand, and the place was spacious. From the view at the judges¡¯ seats, one could see that the transparent kitchen was specially built for the competition. It was made of stainless steel, and there were steamer, oven and frying pota€| In any case, everything that should be in the kitchen was present. The host held the microphone and said excitedly, ¡°Everyone, finish registering today and then go through the rehearsal process. Tomorrow will be the official competition. We will have a very important visiting guest tomorrow. Please wait in anticipation!¡± Usually, a guest described as ¡®important¡¯ should be a famous gorumet in the field, and his/her age should not be too young. The first thought that came to Xu Le¡¯s mind was Cai Lan. However, he was busy with the post-production of the program, so he shouldn¡¯t be able to make time for this. Therefore, he did not think much and walked to his position alone. The main director was adjusting the cameras. Others came in a team of 10 over people, or at least seven to eight chefs. Some even brought their assistants along. But when the camera turned to him. all that could be seen was an empty space. Oh, no, Xu Le was tiptoeing to reveal half of his face. He asked the staff members for a stool for him to step on. Then, he informed them of the ingredients he needed. Following that, he checked the condiments in front of him and started the fire to test out the pan. He concentrated on heating the pot with the lard. Before he knew it, the camera was on his face. Soon, everyone¡¯s attention was on the child. A few judges who had returned from overseas and were unaware of the situation frowned and asked, ¡°How did a child sneak in? The kitchen is a dangerous place. Bring him out quickly.¡± ¡°No, you are mistaken.¡± A judge at the side smiled and said. ¡°That child has been popular on the internet recently. You will be able to see him once you turn on your phone. He seems to be called, uhh, Xu, Xu Le.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°He¡¯s so young, yet he already has the reputation of a genius Master Chef. He really is very capable.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be. He can¡¯t even reach the counter top. Those titles are probably because of marketing gimmicks, right?¡± The judges gathered together to discuss. Xu Le reported to the production team that he needed barbel fish and fresh crabs. He looked through the ingredients in the fridge and had an idea. When the preparation time ended, everyone followed the procedures under the instructions of the host and staff before dispersing. The lights in the large venue were all extinguished, leaving only a few small lights to illuminate the area. Xu Le walked to the door and realized that he had left his phone at the venue, so he returned. The security guard at the door did not notice a small figure brushing past him and yawned as he locked the door. After all, there were cameras everywhere in the venue, so there was nothing worth paying attention to. Xu Le found his phone and was about to leave when he suddenly kicked something. He looked down and saw a white-haired old man curled up on the ground. His clothes were ¡°ragged¡±. ¡°Grandpa, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Le squatted down to help him up. The white-haired old man didn¡¯t seem to be in a good state of mind. The fabric of his clothes had been ground into tattered tassels. Under the dim light, Xu Le could not see his expression clearly. ¡°Should I help you out first?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± No matter what he asked, the old man kept repeating the same words. Xu Le said helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ll take you out to buy food.¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Xu Le looked at the stove behind him and thought that he was a mentally unstable person who had come in by accident. He said, ¡°Grandpa, pick a place to sit. I¡¯ll make something for you to fill your stomach.¡± The white-haired old man nodded excitedly. Xu Le¡¯s hand, which was handling the ingredients, paused. ¡°So you can understand what I¡¯m saying.¡± The white-haired elder said, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± He finally understood that the person in front of him only chose to listen to what he wanted to hear. On the table were onions, garlic, and various spices. Xu Le took out a piece of pork trotter from the fridge and added some sauce and aniseed. He blanched it in the pot and washed the pork trotter clean after removing the froth. Then, he burned the pig¡¯s hair with the flames and chopped it into evenly sized pieces of meat. He blanched it again to remove the blood and stench. The oil in the pot was heated up to 40% hot, and sugar blocks were added into the pot. He continuously stirred it with a spoon in one direction, and then used a small fire to heat until it started bubbling and had turned light brown. He then drained the water from the processed pork trotter and poured it into the pot to stir-fry until it had changed color. During the process, he added ginger, garlic, fragrant leaves, aniseed and dried chili peppers. Finally, he poured beer and clear water into the pot to submerge the pork trotters. At this moment, the fragrance of meat spread out. Braised pork trotters could be considered a simple home-cooked dish. Xu Le looked at the old grandpa and felt that he must have bad teeth due to his age. He would stew the pork trotters softer later.. Chapter 57 - The Ingredients Are Wrong? A Clever Housewife Cant Cook Without Rice? Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Next was the seasoning step. Xu Le, who skillfully cooked many dishes of the same cuisine, had an easy time seasoning. He seemed to be casually sprinkling salt, but in reality, it was accurate to every milligram. He added a suitable amount of dark soy sauce, then added light soy sauce to add saltiness and freshness to the taste. Finally, he added a spoonful of sugar. In this way, the freshness of the meat could be thoroughly stimulated. It was the same principle as how some places liked to dip mango in soy sauce to produce the colliding flavors of sweetness and saltiness. As long as one could grasp the degree of savoriness well, the taste of the food could be raised to a whole new level. He didn¡¯t have much time to stew it, so he transferred it to the pressure cooker. At that moment, the rice beside him was almost done steaming. The steam was mixed with the fragrance of the rice. The security guard at the entrance was almost mesmerized by the fragrance. He took a few steps forward and realized that there were no restaurants on both sides of the street. The stalls outside were selling only snacks and there were no dishes being cooked. ¡°Oh no!¡± The security guard reacted to it and rushed in with his head lowered. As he called for people using his walkie-talkie, he unlocked the lock. With a ¡°bam¡±, the lock was open. Xu le was blinded by the lights for an instant and he saw the security guard who seemed vigilant. He knew that he must have misunderstood him. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a contestant here.¡± Xu Le raised his head and said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯m worried about tomorrow¡¯s competition, so I¡¯m here to practice.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The security guard replied with a sound. Previously, there were also contestants who practiced overnight and the organizers had tacitly approved of it. They should have left after asking, but their feet were rooted to the ground, unwilling to move. Finally, someone stood out and asked while swallowing his saliva, ¡°What dish did you prepare? It smells really good.¡± ¡°Yeah, can I take a look?¡± The fragrance of braised meat had already wafted out. Xu Le pointed at the pressure cooker and said, ¡°It¡¯s not ready yet, you have to wait a while. I have stewed an entire pork trotter, I¡¯ll bring some to you guys for supper later.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The five security guards just waited in front of his counter. Ten minutes later, the rice was steamed and the braised pork trotter was ready to be served. Xu Le also lowered the pressure for a while, so that the trotter would taste softer and tastier. He first scooped some rice and placed a few pork trotters on it. Finally, he poured some sticky sauce on it. There was no exquisite plate presentation. It was just an ordinary-looking braised pork trotter rice. It was soft, fresh, and fragrant. Its color was bright and clear, making one drool just by looking at it. Xu Le first filled a plate od rice for the old man on the ground. He had been sitting cross-legged on the ground the whole time. The light was dim just now. Xu Le only realized now that his face was clean. Although his coat was white from washing, it was not dirty at all. His expression was also amiable and smiling. ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to sit and eat. Hurry up and get up. The floor is cold.¡± Xu Le urged him for a while, but the other party was unmoved. He sat on the ground and started eating. Feeling helpless, Xu Le could only go and distribute the remaining rice and braised pork trotters to the security guards. He asked them, ¡°Have you seen him before?¡± ¡°No, we don¡¯t know him.¡± ¡°He has a scent of alcohol, could he be drunk?¡± ¡°I thought this drunkard was with you, so I didn¡¯t chase him out.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the security guard said as he received the braised pork trotter that made him drool. After taking a mouthful of the rice, he took a bite of the fatty meat. It was salty and fragrant with a hint of sweetness, making one¡¯s appetite increase. The skin of the pork trotter had been burned with fire, but there was no stench at all. It was soft and melted in the mouth. The lean meat was chewy, but it was not dry at all. A few security guards lowered their heads and ate their food. One of them said unclearly with his puffed up cheeks, ¡°It¡¯s too delicious. I¡¯ve always hated fats since I was young and never wanted to touch it. But today, I can totally accept this pork trotter skin!¡± ¡°It¡¯s really delicious! How could a takeaway be tastier than the food cooked by a proper chef!¡± ¡°We got lucky tonight.¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re too kind.¡± Xu Le smiled as he tidied up the mess. He raised his head and smiled at them, saying, ¡°You guys can just place your dishes into the dishwasher after eating. I¡¯ll go back to the hotel after I¡¯m done packing. There¡¯s still a competition tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry and go ahead boldly. We will clean up this place later. We will definitely be worthy of this bowl of braised pork trotter rice that you gave us!¡± ¡°Little chef, do you have any secret? This is simply too delicious. I want to learn it and cook it for my wife!¡± Xu Le knew that even if he had told them the cooking process and method, it would be difficult for them to replicate the same taste. He paused for a moment before saying, ¡°You guys can follow my social media account, I will upload a cooking tutorial in the future when there¡¯s a chance.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± After the few of them finished their meal, Xu Le walked around the counter and could no longer find the old man who was eating on the floor. He said in shock, ¡°Did you see the person who was sitting here just now?¡± ¡°That white-haired old man?¡± The security guards looked at each other. They were wolfing down their food and did not notice the person sitting on the ground at all. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe he went home after he became sober.¡± ¡°Oh, alright then.¡± Xu Le looked at the empty bowl on the ground. There was not a single rice grain left. He returned to take a good sleep and returned to the competition full of energy the next day. Who had expected that after the host announced the rules for passing the first round, when Xu Le opened the vacuum box containing the seafood, his face almost turned green. There were two crabs that were almost suffocated to death and a few barbel fishes. It was autumn at that time, so the crabs were full of fat. How could they send him such low-grade ingredients? As the saying goes, a clever wife can¡¯t cook without rice. Xu Le looked at the other teams. The ingredients they had obtained were all top-notch. Could it be that there was a conspiracy in this competition? He stood on the spot and clenched his fist. After a while, he made up his mind and raised his hand. The live broadcast of the expo had begun. A few streamers were still introducing local specialties outside the venue with different camera angles. The judges took their seats at the venue of the competition. There were familiar faces from the previous competition. Lin Shuwei. There was an empty seat in the middle of the judging panel. According to the host¡¯s introduction, the special guest had not arrived yet. Lin Shuwei had always held himself in high esteem, but when he saw Xu Le, he couldn¡¯t help but smile and say, ¡°That child is really a genius. He¡¯s only eight years old, yet he could win the previous batch¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a commotion. Someone beside him jeered, ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to cook, then so be it. Stop delaying the program¡¯s progress. Don¡¯t affect other people in the competition!¡± The young man who had his neck straightened spoke unkindly. Xu Le also did not remain polite. He said, ¡°I¡¯m only questioning the program team. The ingredients are not what I want. Why are you so anxious?¡± The young man choked and wanted to explain a few more words. Seeing that the live-stream was getting more views, the effects of the show were immediately maxed out. The comment section was filled with people watching the show. Previously, when they saw Xu Le becoming popular, there were quite a few sour grapes in the same industry who were becoming restless. There were also people who couldn¡¯t wait for him to fail.. Chapter 58 - Famous Dish [Three Stir-fried Baldy] Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°See, I told you, the hype won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°That¡¯s for sure. He¡¯s just a kid. He definitely has someone backing him. Otherwise, why would the internet be filled with Xu Le?¡± ¡°Come on, it¡¯s not like you guys haven¡¯t watched his live stream. Must you lie through your teeth?¡± ¡°Exactly, exactly. A bunch of green-eyed people.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t even let a child off. How shameless.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, just wait and see. If he can still advance today, I¡¯ll go eat sh*t.¡± The comments in the live-stream were about to start fighting. In an instant, it had attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers. At this juncture, the main director was clear that if he did not handle it well, it would cause public outburst on the Internet and affect the reputation of the competition. He didn¡¯t expect such a thing to happen at the beginning. Just as he was hesitating, an old and dignified voice sounded. ¡°Just check the surveillance cameras. Start from this morning.¡± The director turned around impatiently. When he saw who it was, he immediately said respectfully, ¡°No problem.¡± As time passed, the representatives from the dozens of restaurants and hotels nearby had already begun cooking. Each dish was more flashy than the previous, and some even sliced the tofu into smaller pieces than a strand of hair. Xu Le stared at the minute hand on his watch. He had practiced enough and could reduce the production time for this dish from two hours to one hour. However, if he could not get a reply within this hour, it would affect his performance. He knew that it was useless to be anxious, so he followed the production crew¡¯s lead and went to the security room to check the surveillance cameras. The security guard on duty last night knew him, and when he heard about this, his hair stood on end as he cursed in his dialect. ¡°Damn those¡­¡± Xu Le interrupted him. ¡°It¡¯s on live stream.¡± The security guard changed the topic and said, ¡°My legs are nimble¡­ I found it and it¡¯s on fast motion.¡± Several pairs of eyes, as well as the four million people in the livestream room, stared at the screen. Ten minutes later, a figure appeared on the screen. They paused, rewind and played in slow motion. The chef who was complaining about Xu Le previously was seen to be passing by the vacuum preservation box where Xu Le¡¯s ingredients were stored. He stuck his head out to take a look and then went back to discuss with his team. Five minutes later, seeing that Xu Le had not turned up, he secretly replaced the items in the box. He was afraid that the truth would be exposed, so he stuffed the ingredients into the basin underneath. Even if they were suspected, they could still argue that Xu Le was the one who could not find the items and had blamed it on others. Xu Le was silent for a while. This was the first time he felt the malice from his peers. However, this was within his expectations. After all, the world of adults was not as simple as he had imagined. Millions of pairs of eyes in the livestream room saw the truth. Most of them were in support of Xu Le. When the truth was out, Xu Le went back and looked at the time. Only half an hour had passed. It was better than he had imagined. He found the ingredients that the production team had originally prepared for him from the basin below. The fat crabs and barbel fish were still fresh. He took out a footstool and stepped on it. He started to process the ingredients in the sink. He cut open the back with the blade, removed the internal organs, and took out the fish liver. The series of movements were as smooth as flowing water, making several judges who had studied abroad dumbfounded. This was a knife skill that an eight-year-old had displayed. Xu Le¡¯s ease of handling a fish was a stark contrast to the team beside which had two or three people handling one fish. The team beside him was preparing unagi rice. The head chef on the right side was cooking an innovative dish. He mixed all kinds of seasonings from Western and Chinese cuisines together. It looked mysterious and attracted a lot of attention. Xu Le was someone who had seen much of the world. He calmly completed every step of his dish. He took out the female crab roe, male crab paste, and fish liver. After he was done with all the ingredients, he heated the oil in the pot. He had specially replaced the olive oil to vegetable seed oil. This way, the taste would be more fragrant and mellow. The seasoning used in the [Three Stir-fried Baldy] were very simple. What was important was the fire control in order to release the freshness, fragrance, and tender texture of the ingredients. Lin Shuwei, who was at the judges¡¯ table, looked at him for a while and suddenly realized what dish he was going to cook. He said happily, ¡°It¡¯s [Three Stir-fried Baldy]! It¡¯s a dish that has been lost for a long time!¡± With his previous experience of making ¡°Stewed Onions¡±, the judges felt that he could possibly make another authentic lost dish! At home, Lin Shuwei had also attempted to make this stir-fried dish that had originated from Suzhou. It seemed simple, but every time he cooked it, it would always be unsatisfactory. It had a mixture of several flavors, but not only was it not as fresh and delicious as it should have been, it also carried a stench. He watched as Xu Le add a few drops of wine each time he stir-fried. A small amount would be poured on the edge and allowed to evaporate. The dishes cooked in this way would not only retain its the original taste, but also remove the remaining fishy smell. Lin Shuwei sat at the judges¡¯ table and was enlightened. He didn¡¯t expect to learn cooking skills from a child. A judge beside him raised his doubts, ¡°Is that child¡¯s food too bland? It doesn¡¯t look appetizing.¡± Lin Shuwei suppressed the excitement in his throat and said, ¡°No, you¡¯ll know when you taste it later.¡± ¡°You really seem to admire him.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve tasted his cooking, you¡¯ll understand how I feel.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± An elderly voice echoed from the side. The few of them looked at him with respect. ¡°Old Master, you¡¯re here?¡± The old man with a head full of white hair leaned on his walking stick and walked to the seat in the middle with the help of everyone. He leaned back lazily and said, ¡°There was a small incident just now. I went to discuss with the director to settle it. Looking at the time, the preliminary round is almost over.¡± Xu Le was number 3. He took note of the time when the dishes were ready before serving them to the judges. This way, when he served the dishes to the judges, it was cool enough for them to eat yet not losing its warmth. Finally, he put his plate on the tray. After the waitress carried it over, he breathed a sigh of relief and looked at the other participants¡¯ dishes. The chef who wanted to make things difficult for him and had hidden his ingredients had made unagi rice. However, it was too fishy and the sauce wasn¡¯t mixed well. After the judges tasted it, they all frowned and picked on the problems. However, there was an advancement system for the Food Expo competition, but there was no elimination system. Those who did not advance could still continue to compete until they had earned a ranking, so that they could redeem some dignity. The team making unagi rice beside him cheered each other on. Just as they were saying that they still had a chance, the producer held up a sign and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the number 2 team ¡®Take It Slowly¡¯ has broken the rules. The remaining 42 restaurants will advance to the top 20.¡± The onlookers who did not know what was going on shouted. ¡°Why would they be eliminated? What rules did they break?¡± ¡°Is it against the rules if their food tastes bad?¡± ¡°If you want to eliminate someone, you have to give a reason.. You organizers can¡¯t do whatever you want, otherwise how can you convince others?¡± Chapter 59 - Live Judges Begin Scoring Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The situation in the venue suddenly became chaotic. The emcee shouted a few words of ¡°Please be quiet¡±, but it did not stop their protests. The live-stream also became extremely lively. On the bullet screen, there was a crowd of onlookers who wanted to watch the show. [It should be a script arranged beforehand, right?] [An eight-year-old child. Why is he everywhere? He must have a supporter backing him.] [Hurry up and start fighting!] [Do you think they will raise pots and pans to hit people?] [You are thinking too much.] Suddenly, everyone in the camera calmed down. The director turned the camera to the judges¡¯ seats. It turned out that the judge sitting in the middle had stood up. The old man wore a luxurious coat with his silver hair tied up. He had a refined and dazzling bearing. He explained in a low voice, ¡°Millions of viewers are watching, yet you still insist on forcing us to reveal the reason. Then I¡¯ll tell you, if you use immoral methods to compete in the competition, you will be removed from the list.¡± The boss of ¡®Take It Slowly¡¯ became anxious and came forward, saying, ¡°When did we use immoral methods!¡± ¡°Just now, before the competition started, you secretly hid the child¡¯s ingredients and changed them into low-quality ones. Do you dare to say that you didn¡¯t?¡± As the old man spoke, he shot a glance at the backstage. The main director supported his chin with one hand and nodded helplessly at the staff. ¡°Go ahead and play it.¡± The recording of the surveillance cameras suddenly appeared on the big screen. The scene was in an uproar. In the recording which had the audio playing, the chef of ¡®Take It Slowly¡¯ was seen to be looking around furtively. He even deliberately played dirty while Xu Le was not present. They were hoping to get lucky. After all, in such a serious occasion, every minute and second was broadcast live, so it was impossible for them to personally investigate such an insignificant matter. But who knew that Old Master Song would come that day? He was the main investor of the entire show, the judge with the most authority, not one of the most, but ¡°the most¡±. Old Master Song was born into a family of imperial chefs. When he was young, his great-grandfather had even been a royal chef in the palace. As a result, he had been influenced from a young age and was extremely picky and strict with the dishes. To be precise, after so many seasons of the competition, almost no dishes could enter his eyes. This was also the reason why the main director didn¡¯t dare to offend him. He knew that the boss of ¡®Take It Slowly¡¯ had lost face and would cause a conflict in the future. However, with Old Master Song around, no one dared to mess around immediately. After they left the venue. The competition continued. The dish in front of Xu Le was a combination of mutton and fish meat. It was steamed and roasted, and the craftsmanship was complicated. It could only be completed within the time limit if five or six people were working together. The judges tacitly let Old Master Song have a taste first. Seeing his expressionless face, they started eating. The fish meat was overcooked and had completely lost its freshness, while the mutton was only half cooked. If the two ingredients were brought out alone, it wouldn¡¯t taste too bad, but when placed together, it was hard and overcooked, and the sauce was too sour. It was a complete mess. Hence, the dozen or so judges all scored below five points (with 10 points being full marks). Old Master Song did not stand on ceremony and gave them zero points directly. This was a fatal blow to the team. The head chef was so anxious while watching them give the score that he was about to cry. Old Master Song said sharply, ¡°How can it be so easy to combine the Western and Chinese cuisine? The main reason why you guys failed was because you did not spend effort to study it. You just have to wait until the next round to get a good ranking from the 21 positions.¡± ¡°The mutton and fish conflicted with each other, so the texture was too bad.¡± ¡°If you can separate the frozen fish and mix it with mutton, it might be better. Next time, you must practice more and taste more. Don¡¯t be too eager to come up with new innovation.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The judges¡¯ serious comments caused the atmosphere to drop to the freezing point. The host hurriedly came out and laughed. ¡°Next up is our genius Master Chef, Xu Le from the eight-year-old cafeteria!¡± The camera panned to Xu Le¡¯s face, and the live comments flooded in. ¡°Him? He¡¯s just a kid. There are so many people in front of him who had failed. He probably also can¡¯t make it.¡± ¡°Those who commented above, don¡¯t underestimate him.¡± ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s just one failure after another today. Can the situation really start to improve from him onwards?¡± ¡°Being placed the first few probably won¡¯t do any good.¡± [Stir-fried Three Baldy] had already been served in front of the judges. They started to taste it with the chopsticks. Zhang Tong couldn¡¯t help but sneak over and say in a low voice, ¡°Awesome! It¡¯s another long-lost dish. Your parents are amazing. They taught you so much.¡± It would be a lie if Xu Le said he wasn¡¯t nervous. However, most of his attention was on Old Master Song. He asked softly, ¡°How did his clothes become torn and tattered?¡± He really looked like the vagabond he met last night. He muttered to himself. Zhang Tong looked at him with a strange expression and said, ¡°That is a high-end custom-made. There are less than ten pieces in the world. One piece of clothing is worth that much!¡± He gestured. ¡°Seven hundred?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Seven thousand.¡± Zhang Tong still shook his head. Xu Le¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that piece of clothing¡­ is worth 70,000 yuan?¡± He suddenly felt that the clothes were no longer ugly. It was a problem with his taste. ¡°That¡¯s right. His ancestor was once a servant of the palace. He¡¯s amazing.¡± Zhang Tong patted his shoulder and said, ¡°You better be mentally prepared. Old Master Song¡¯s words are very vicious. I have a colleague who almost became a mute after being scolded by him.¡± Although Zhang Tong trusted Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills, he was more afraid of Old Master Song¡¯s eccentric temperament. The judges were calmly tasting, but Xu Le was chatting with his peers. It was a stark contrast. Someone in the live-stream started mocking him again. [Is he filled with confidence or has he given up?] [Lele, all the best! Your motherly fans are optimistic about you!] [Don¡¯t use the fans tactic. Why don¡¯t you guys take a look? He just cooked a stir-fry dish. It¡¯s so plain and white. It would be weird if it¡¯s delicious.] After the judges were done eating, they did not give marks as they did before. Instead, they turned to look at Old Master Song and discussed. Finally, Lin Shuwei raised his card and gave a high score of ¡°9¡±! The crowd was in an uproar again. This was a result that had never been achieved before at the Expo. Everyone looked at Xu Le and saw him raise his head and smile. He was very innocent and cute. They could not believe that such a young child could make such a good dish! Lin Shuwei praised him in a flat tone, ¡°The crab paste is fat, thick, and fragrant. The crab roe has retained its original savory flavor. There¡¯s also a finishing touch, the fish lung of the barbequed fish. It should be marinated with raw flour first, then the residue from the top was removed, and then placed into the pot to be stir-fried. The taste is similar to the top-grade foie gras, delicate, soft, and elastic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± One of the judges echoed, ¡°The combination of the three flavors is not out of place, and it is also exceptionally stunning. All kinds of similar yet different freshness exploded in my mouth. With small onions, ground radish, ground ginger, and other things, it cleverly covered up the remaining fishy smell..¡± Chapter 60 - Watermelon Ingredients, An Unpopular Side Dish Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the end, Xu Le had the best score in the entire venue, with all of them above 6 points. His performance immediately brought great pressure and challenge to the contestants after him. Old Master Song waved at Xu Le. ¡°Number Three, come here.¡± Xu Le walked over obediently and estimated the seniority. ¡°Hello, Grandpa.¡± When Old Master Song saw him, his face was smiling full of wrinkles. He asked, ¡°Who taught you this dish?¡± Xu Le was stunned. He did not know why he asked that question. Old Master Song explained, ¡°My great grandfather was a servant in the palace. Back then, he even cooked this dish for Empress Dowager Cixi. Later on, when I was seven or eight years old, about the same age as you, my great grandfather personally cooked Stir-fried three baldy. He used Suzhou barbel fish and it was fresh and delicious¡­¡± As he spoke, a layer of mist covered his eyes, but it quickly dissipated. ¡°What you did was exactly the same as what my great-grandfather did. Xu Le, can you tell me who taught you this?¡± Xu Le could not expose the system, so he could only push the credit to his parents who were overseas. He said, ¡°My mother taught me. She likes to study ancient cuisine. I think she got a book from the antique market and made it at home. My father likes Western desserts. The two of them are now studying in France.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Old Master Song was skeptical, but he couldn¡¯t find a better reason. He looked at Xu Le with a gratified expression and said, ¡°As expected of a generation of talents, the younger generation surpasses the older generation!¡± After a few more words of praise, Xu Le was about to return to his seat to continue watching when he was stopped by Old Master Song. ¡°Come sit beside me.¡± Lin Shuwei was not surprised. He immediately asked someone to add a stool to the judges¡¯ table. Xu Le was flattered and waved his hand in refusal. ¡°I¡¯m just a participating chef. I¡¯m not qualified to be a judge. This is unreasonable and unfair to others¡­¡± ¡°No, I just find you cute.¡± Old Master Song¡¯s eyes were filled with joy. ¡°Come sit beside me and try the taste of this dish.¡± Xu Le had no choice but to agree. The stool was too high and he was about to use his arm to support himself when someone gently lifted him helped him sit down. Old Master Song looked at him with affection and said, ¡°If I had a grandson, he would be around your age.¡± Without waiting for Xu Le¡¯s reply, he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the Michelin three-star dish. As expected, Li Peng was quite capable. He made the foie gras into an exquisite molecular cuisine. It looked, smelled, and tasted good. Old Master Song picked up a ¡®cherry¡¯ in the plate and gave it to Xu Le. ¡°Try it.¡± As soon as he bit into it, the rich and smooth taste of the foie gras filled his mouth. It felt like ice cream and melted as soon as he tasted it. Xu Le happily tasted the dishes one after another. He could tell the shortcomings of the dishes just by tasting them. He whispered, ¡°When the chicken was fried, the water on it wasn¡¯t dried and it wasn¡¯t crispy enough. There is also a problem with the ratio of the chilli peppers. He added too many cone peppers, so the taste was too spicy and the fragrance was insufficient.¡± When Old Master Song heard this, he became even happier and praised him as a ¡®genius¡¯. After the preliminary round ended, the next day was to prepare for the advancement round of the top 20 to top 8. As for those who did not advance in this round, they would compete for ranking at another venue. Under Zhang Tong¡¯s lead, the Heavenly Restaurant barely made it. This made them even more worried about the next day¡¯s advancement match. When they bumped into each other outside, Zhang Tong teased, ¡°Xu Le, did Old Master Song give you any hints?¡± ¡°How is he that kind of person?¡± Zhang Tong nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯m just teasing you. He probably thinks that you can be his grandson at your age, so it¡¯s normal for him to like you.¡± ¡°Who are you mocking here?¡± ¡°Hahaha, your reaction is pretty fast.¡± Zhang Tong walked side by side with him and said, ¡°Tomorrow, Old Master Song will definitely let you go to the judges¡¯ table. However, the rules for tomorrow¡¯s competition seem to be a little different. The organizers will provide the items and let us choose the theme.¡± Using a completely unfamiliar ingredient and a completely unfamiliar theme was undoubtedly a test of tacit understanding between the employees under the head chef. Zhang Tong suddenly said, ¡°Old Master Song has no children. When he was young, his wife passed away due to illness. It became a sore spot in his heart and he went into seclusion for many years. Now that he¡¯s in his sixties, he finally came out and invested in a program.¡± These few words left a deep impression on Xu Le¡¯s heart. He returned to the hotel and typed Old Master Song¡¯s name into the search engine. Song Deyue. The content of the old marketing gimmicks immediately popped up and Xu Le¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Although the marketing accounts had exaggerated the twists and turns in the love story between the two of them, who would have thought that a terminal illness would break them up again after they finally got together? Because of that, Song Deyue had no choice but to watch his wife¡¯s life slowly fade away while he remained helpless. The article also described how Mrs. Song was terrible at cooking when she was alive, and how she liked to cook for Song Deyue. In the end, Song Deyue didn¡¯t eat a single bite except for her dish ¡°Jadeite stir-fried with White Jade¡±. The morning before Mrs. Song left, she said that she wanted to eat ¡°Smoking Duck¡±, but by the time Song Deyue brought it to her, she was already covered with a white cloth. This also became Old Master Song¡¯s sore spot. He often drank alcohol to numb himself. For a long time, his hair was messy, and he looked neither human nor ghost. Somehow, Xu Le thought of the tattered jacket he was wearing, closed the laptop, and leaned back. The next day, during the the advancement round. After the host announced the rules, many people were dumbfounded. Especially Xu Le. He rubbed his ears and said, ¡°What?¡± ¡°The ingredients prepared for today are on the table, and the theme is summer. Please do as you wish. From the lowest to the highest rank, you will choose the ingredients.¡± Xu Le and Li Peng, who were at the top of the rankings, were even at a disadvantage. He did not know whether to laugh or cry at the ridiculous competition rules. He could only watch as the abalones, lobsters, king crabs, black truffles, scallops¡­ were slowly selected. In the end, there was only a segment of pork ribs, vegetables, duck meat, and watermelon left. Li Peng chose before Xu Le. This meant that his Michelin-level ¡®Cherry Foie Gras¡¯ was still defeated by Xu Le in the advancement competition. Li Peng chose the pork ribs and vegetables, so Xu Le only had duck meat and watermelon left. He stood by the table and frowned in deep thought. No matter how he looked at it, these two ingredients didn¡¯t look like they could be matched together, let alone be used to make the theme of summer. However, with the system around, he wasn¡¯t afraid. After taking the ingredients back, he saw that there was already a heated discussion about what to cook next. Looking at the watermelon, Xu Le suddenly thought of an unpopular side dish.. Chapter 61 - Stir-fried Watermelon Skin? Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios [Stir-fried Watermelon School] had once been popular outside Xu Le¡¯s school. He closed his eyes and searched through the system for a long time. He saw the recipe for making it and glanced at the price below. It was ridiculously low. He bought it with just 10 Gourmet points. The cooking method of stir-frying watermelon skin was simple. It could also relieve heat, detoxify and was very effective in recovery. At least it had something to do with the theme of summer. As for how to cook the duck, Xu Le was stuck. It was really difficult for him to move the judges with that. Besides, he was short of ingredients. After thinking about it, he suddenly had an idea. The camera cut to a close-up of Xu Le¡¯s hand. He cut off the thick green skin of the watermelon, and sliced the tender green watermelon skin into thin slices. Although Xu Le was young, his cutting skills were extremely good. Every thin piece was not much thicker than cicada wings. After cutting them all, he put them into a basin and marinated them with refined salt. Then he pulled out a stool and sat down, closing his eyes. The chefs who were competing against him, as well as the host on the stage, were all stunned. However, they didn¡¯t want to affect the contestants¡¯ cooking and could only watch at the side in confusion. Old Master Song asked, ¡°Could the little guy have fallen asleep?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lin Shuwei replied, ¡°He had such a situation in the previous competition as well. I believe it¡¯s because he¡¯s too young and is tired.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s hard to be a chef. Entering the field too early and having good talent will definitely be tiring.¡± Old Master Song understood. Meanwhile, Xu Le had bought the cooking method of the [Smoking Duck] from the system. He had also obtained the top-notch Lake Duck provided by the system. This was a Chinese cuisine that was refined during the Qing Dynasty. The duck was first smoked and then braised. Throughout the process, more than 30 types of spices were needed to smoke the duck meat until it was fragrant. After it was dried, it would be braised and cooked. The meat would turn chewy and had a unique flavor. The height of the platform in the system automatically adjusted with Xu Le¡¯s movements. He chopped off the wing tips and webbed hands of the slaughtered duck, picked up the sharp deboning knife, and cut a six or seven centimeter long straight incision under the right wing. He poured a small amount of salt water and 20 grams of salt into the duck and shook them up and down, causing them to be distributed evenly throughout the duck. Salt water could turn the color of the meat bright red, making it look more appetizing. However, after heating it up, it would produce nitrite and cause harm to the human body. Hence, Xu Le added such a small volume of it that it was almost negligible. He applied a uniform layer of salt to the surface of the duck meat, then stuck the duck¡¯s neck to the back of the spine. The duck was placed on the back of the neck, and placed it in a circular container specially made for the air-dried box. He then arranged it in a circle along the edge, leaving a ventilation spot in the middle. According to recipe, the bigger stores would usually cook a few hundreds smoked ducks at once. Therefore, after the skin was processed, it would be left to dry for one to two days at the ventilation spot. However, there was not much time to wait during the competition, so Xu Le could only use modern technology to shorten the time. After drying for ten minutes, he opened the air-dried box and flipped the duck. At this moment, the skin of the duck meat was already dry and yellowish. It looked very tough. While waiting, Xu Le placed the pot on the stove and boiled water. Then, he prepared the spices to be used. Apart from the commonly seen aniseed, fragrant leaves, cinnamon, dried chili, he also needed a bit of dried orange peel, fennel, white pepper, and so ona€| The final finishing touch was crushed tsaoko. After the tsaoko was crushed, there was a fresh and bitter smell. It was perfect for smoking duck meat. There was no time to prepare the roasted dried sesame during the competition, and there was no way that there would be any sawdust that was required by the recipe. This caused Xu Le to be in a dilemma. After thinking for a moment, he decided to use what he could find on the competition ground to replace the smoking process. He placed glutinous rice oil and fragrant leaves into the smoking pot, he then set up an iron frame and wiped the dried duck skin clean with a wet cloth, causing the surface to glow with oil. He then covered the lid and turned on the fire. Not long after, the fragrance of glutinous rice and oil wafted out. The skin of the duck meat was sizzling with oil. At this moment, Xu Le poured rice wine in a circular motion into the pot. Sizzle! The fragrance of the rice wine was instantly locked into the duck meat. Xu Le took note of the time. About ten minutes later, the pot of water beside was boiling. He turned the duck meat in the smoking pot over and placed the spices he had prepared into a small muslin bag. He added a suitable amount of soy sauce, vinegar, white sugar, green onions, and ginger to continue cooking. Five minutes later, the duck meat was almost done. When he opened the pot, the aroma filled the air. Xu Le placed the duck into a cooking pot and turned the fire to the minimum. He realized that the duck meat would continue to float upwards, so he found a bamboo sieve to hold it down before covering the pot. After bubbling at low heat for about ten minutes, he immediately turned off the fire. Right now, all he needed was to quietly wait for the duck to be cooked. After another 20 minutes in the system, he opened the pot. The soup was almost done boiling. The duck was bright in color and looked very good. Xu Le took advantage of the heat and cut the duck into evenly sized pieces, arranging them neatly on the plate. Then he poured some scented oil over it and sprinkled it with white sesame seeds. He had succeeded! He picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth. Before he could heave a sigh of relief, he could not help but frown again. It was delicious in the mouth and tasted exactly the same. However, the meat was a little tough. If one chewed it carefully, one could taste the crispness on the outside, but it was slightly dry inside. Unsatisfied, he put down his chopsticks and recalled his cooking steps just now. After all, he had modified it according to the kitchen environment. If there was a slight deviation, it would definitely be different from the authentic taste. Xu Le, who was very strict with the taste, immediately rolled up his sleeves and took another duck that was prepared to try again. He adjusted the temperature of the air-dried box and added some oil to the glutinous rice when he placed it in the smoking pot. This way, the rice wouldn¡¯t taste bitter after being frieda€| Xu Le was engrossed as he tried over again. Finally, he succeeded perfectly on the fifth try. When he took a bite of the duck meat, the texture of the meat was firm and chewable, but with every bite, one could taste the fragrance of the oil and the freshness of the spices. It was oily but not greasy, tough and delicious. He opened his eyes and stood up. Only four minutes had passed outside the system. When the judges saw Xu Le preparing the spices, they asked in surprise, ¡°Is he thinking of making smoked duck?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time left. Even if he had decided to cook this dish from the beginning, he won¡¯t have enough time.¡± ¡°Sigh, looks like he has made a mistake.¡± Lin Shuwei interjected. ¡°Xu Le has done some innovative actions in the past competitions. He has made a cake that tastes like osmanthus wine. He has performed exceptionally well and it tasted perfect. Perhaps he can also make some modifications and innovate today.¡± ¡°It¡¯s different. If the improvements are too much, the taste will definitely not be authentic.¡± Listening to the discussions around him, Song Deyue didn¡¯t say a word. His eyes were wet with tears.. Chapter 62 - Smoked Duck! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios He thought back to that year when he was in front of his wife¡¯s hospital bed. She had said that she wanted to eat this dish, and he had rushed to make it himself. However, due to the complicated craftsmanship and many steps required, it was already too late to bring it to the hospital after it was done¡­ This became Old Master Song¡¯s lifelong regret. He looked at Xu Le, who was busy with his work, and sighed. If he didn¡¯t make it in time, would it also become this child¡¯s regret? Xu Le didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. He only lowered his head and focused on making his smoked duck. He casually grabbed the seasoning and accurately applied it to the milligrams. Then, he concentrated on making a small sauce bag for braising the meat and put it into the boiling water. He followed the steps he had practiced many times and operated with ease. It was only when he placed the duck meat into the air-dryer box that a judge on the stage exclaimed, ¡°How smart! Why didn¡¯t I think of that?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too early. How can the air-dry machine produce the same effect as waiting for two days?¡± As they spoke, Xu Le poured some glutinous rice and oil into the smoking pot. Then, he added half of the tsaoko, fragrant leaves, and rice wine into the pot to stir-fry it. The bullet screen immediately exploded. ¡°This method is wrong. My family sells roast duck!¡± ¡°Anyway, my house uses wood shavings and pine leaves for smoking. How can you use glutinous rice?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such things on the competition grounds. Do you guys think you are the only knowledgable ones>¡± ¡°Hehehe, I think he¡¯s going to fail this time.¡± ¡°He will definitely be eliminated.¡± ¡°Finally there¡¯s a backlash from excessive marketing. This won¡¯t do.¡± ¡°Xu Le, you can do it. I believe in you.¡± ¡°We will only know if this method is feasible when the results are out. The Smoking Duck itself is a recipe that has incorporated methods from several cuisines. It¡¯s only available in the Qing Dynasty.¡± ¡°Yo, the bullet screen is filled with a bunch of smart-alecks. They don¡¯t even allow people to use their home-cooked techniques. In that case, don¡¯t eat your own family¡¯s cooking it¡¯s too ordinary.¡± Everyone was talking about Xu Le¡¯s smoking method and steps. No one cared about the other contestants. The main director knew that he was the key to high viewership during the live broadcast, so he turned half of the cameras to Xu Le. He was young and was pursing his lips. But he was exceptionally skilled. He put the smoked roast duck into the braising pot and started a small fire. The first time he made it, the fire was too small, causing it to not be braised thoroughly. This time, he learned his lesson. He turned the small fire to medium heat, which emitted a ring of blue flames. After 10 minutes, the fire would be turned off and the dish would be ready. Xu Le looked at his watch. The timing was just right. Only then did he begin to process the watermelon skin. It was originally a cool and simple side dish, so there wasn¡¯t much difficulty. He poured some oil into the pot, heated it, and then rinsed the marinated watermelon skin with water. After removing the salt on it, he poured it into the pot and stir-fried it. This way, it would be even more refreshing and crispy. After a few seconds, he added a little salt, ketchup, and seasoning, and it would be ready. Xu Le took a bite. The watermelon skin was very fresh, crispy, cool, and delicious. It was finally related to the ¡°theme¡± of summer. He looked at the sliced watermelon at the side. He was thirsty and had endured it for a long time, so he quickly poked a piece with a toothpick and put it into his mouth. At the same time, the team next to him started arguing because of the uneven division of labor and the lack of time. A transparent glass blocked the way, and the two sides were completely different worlds. Xu Le seemed nonchalant as he secretly ate, but the camera was focused on him. Many netizens saw him puff up his cheeks and flashed his big eyes as he was afraid of being discovered. Then, a wave of screams flooded the screen. One after another, they expressed that they wanted to become into his motherly fans. ¡°Time¡¯s up!¡± The host stood on stage and looked at everyone¡¯s works one by one. He said, ¡°I see that the contestants¡¯ choice of dishes are quite diverse. Some¡­¡± He held back his laughter. Xu Le followed the host¡¯s gaze and saw a team carving a dish that looked like a cockroach with potatoes. Even the tentacles on it were vivid and lifelike. Then, they colored it with soy sauce. At first glance, it looked like it was real. The entire crowd roared with laughter. That team of chefs had unexpectedly advanced, and they were already satisfied. In the selection of ingredients, they didn¡¯t have a uniform discussion, and what they took back were all ingredients that they weren¡¯t good at preparing. Thus, they decided that they might as well take a different path. After all, in this era where anything could rapidly change, as long as they could attract attention and attract customers to the hotel, their goal was already achieved. The host handed the microphone to the head chef and asked, ¡°May I know what your experience in cooking this dish is? It doesn¡¯t seem to fit with today¡¯s theme.¡± A young chef in the team answered first, ¡°It¡¯s an idea that I came up with. When it¡¯s summer, there are many cockroaches. Once that thing starts camping at our homes, we won¡¯t be able to clean it up.¡± The host laughed until he was trembling and nodded repeatedly. Finally, he concluded with a sentence of ¡°This young man is indeed humorous.¡± Other than Lin Shuwei who had an youthful mind, the judges all had serious expressions on their faces. Old Master Song had a high status and was used to being serious. The other judges felt that they were disrespecting the competition. The invitation letter for the Beijing Expo was hard to come by. Besides, the potatoes and meat were made into something that looked a little uncomfortable. It had a very ordinary taste without any highlights. Soon, the judges gave their scores. On average, they obtained four to five, so their total score was not high. At this rate, there was no hope of them advancing. This time, the order was opposite. Xu Le had won first place in the preliminary round with ¡°Stir-fried Three Baldies¡±. Now, he was the last one to be evaluated. The dishes before him were all different. Some of them didn¡¯t have good teamwork and weren¡¯t able to perform to their full potential. Some were like Zhang Tong and the others from the Heavenly Restaruant, who were extremely lucky. They were ranked at the bottom and chose extremely good ingredients, so the dishes they made were within the safe range and obtained a decent score. If the last few contestants didn¡¯t stand out, Zhang Tong might be able to enter the final round successfully. The evaluation continued until number 19, who was the contestant before Xu Le. They made braised pork trotter and iced wheat tea. It didn¡¯t seem to fit the theme at all. The usually quiet Old Master Song suddenly asked, ¡°Did you make this?¡± No one could understand why he had asked that. The contestant nodded immediately. ¡°Yes.¡± Old Master Song smiled and became friendly. He said, ¡°It looks good. If only it had a bowl of rice.¡± When he finished his sentence. Xu Le¡¯s eyes widened as he suddenly recalled something. That night, the person whom he thought was a vagabond was also wearing a tattered jacket. When he first met him, Xu Le found him familiar, but he couldn¡¯t link the seemingly delirious vagabond to the high and mighty judge. Now, Old Master Song suddenly mentioned it. He tried hard to recall. Under the dim light that day, their facial features did indeed have many similarities¡­ Old Master Song took a bite and put down his chopsticks. The smile on his face faded. The taste was wrong.. Chapter 63 - Entering the Finals, Advancing to Top Five Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios He saw through that person with his sharp eyes and knew that he was not the one he was looking for. After giving him a score of three points, he commented, ¡°The smell of the meat has not been completely removed. There are still some hair on it. You should roast it with fire and clean it before stewing it.¡± The reason why the other judges gave low marks was the same. They found it smelling, and the fat was too greasy. Finally, it was Xu Le¡¯s turn. He watched as the waitress brought the tray over. For some reason, he began to feel nervous. His fingertips clasped the hem of his shirt. Lin Shuwei had a good impression of him, and had high expectations for him. He picked up a piece of duck meat, and the smell of several spices entered his nostrils. The skin was glistening beautifully with oil. Whether it was dried air, smoked, or braised, it was just right. Old Master Song stared at the smoked duck for a long time with his aged eyes. He didn¡¯t move his chopsticks and turned to pick up the side dish. The watermelon skin was crispy, refreshing, and sweet. The taste was very light and would be help with degreasing when eaten with meat. ¡°Why did you think of making this dish?¡± Old Master Song asked. Xu Le did not know what the other party was trying to do. He knew that if he said something wrong, he would definitely offend someone. However, since he could not figure out what the other party wanted to know, he answered with sincerity and explained seriously, ¡°I didn¡¯t think too much about it. The duck meat tastes the best when smoked. I don¡¯t really know how to cook roast duck, and I don¡¯t have any ingredients for roast duck and rolls. I can only make this.¡± Old Master Song nodded. All the judges had tried it, but he had never touched his chopsticks. Instead, he ate several mouthfuls of the stir-fried watermelon skin. His juniors all looked at his expression and didn¡¯t dare to speak directly. The atmosphere was at a stalemate for a moment as question marks appeared in the live broadcast room. It was Lin Shuwei who came out to save the situation. He took the lead and commented, ¡°The texture of this dish is firm and delicate. The meat texture is a little like beef that has been braised. It¡¯s very chewy. The only flaw is that the cooking method is not as large scale as those traditional restaurant¡¯s, whereby the cooking process is complicated. Although there¡¯s enough smoking, the unique dry fragrance from using wood to smoke is missing, but it¡¯s already quite good to be able to achieve this.¡± With that said, he was the first to score. Nine points. The rest of the judges also started to give out their scores. It was generally between seven points and eight points. In the end, only Song Deyue, who hadn¡¯t touched his chopsticks, was left. He was stunned for a long time before he said, ¡°Before my wife left due to her terminal illness, she mentioned that she wanted to eat this dish, but before I could finish cooking and send it over, she left.¡± Old Master Song played down his words, but it immediately made everyone understand his sadness. The host wanted to manage the situation but had nothing to say. He could only stare at the judges, hoping that nothing would go wrong. Finally, Old Master Song picked up his chopsticks. Before he could sink into the regret of time, the sensation on his taste buds pulled him back to reality. The duck meat carried with it the fragrance of glutinous rice and sweet fruits. When chewed, the gravy was sweet and fragrant, and the meat felt firm. It was especially delicious and breathtaking! Beautiful things always evoked good memories. The faint smile of his wife appeared in his mind. Old Master Song heaved a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Not bad, very impressive.¡± ¡°Come here, kid.¡± Song Deyue waved his hand at Xu Le and stepped forward with a smile. The two of them were separated by a table, and Xu Le¡¯s height was just enough to rest his chin on the edge of the table. Xu Le stood on tiptoe with a serious expression. He did not know that his subconscious childish actions had made the judges burst into laughter as they looked at him warmly. ¡°You have a bright future ahead.¡± ¡°You¡¯re indeed a great talent to nurture. After all, you have your parents¡¯ superior genes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give up cooking in the future.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Le said firmly, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Old Master Song raised the sign with the number ¡°10¡± on it. Some of the peers present cheered. There were those who were happy, envious, and jealous. Those who scored too low were not satisfied and shouted, ¡°Is it really that good? I remember that no one has ever gotten full marks since the start of the Expo.¡± ¡°Did Old Master Song become muddle-headed? Why are you the only one giving full marks?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s fair. There¡¯s no conspiracy here, right?¡± The effect of the show was immediately maxed out. The live stream viewers who had come to watch the delicacies became excited again, eager to watch more. Old Master Song knew the tradition of the show. Even if the judges were extremely satisfied, they could only score 9 points and leave one point to show face to the others in the industry. But that day, he only wanted to score full marks from the bottom of his heart. What dogsh*t rules and favors? At this age where he could do as he pleased, there was no need to care so much anymore. The few judges were helpless against the other participants¡¯ dissatisfaction. They even started to question the judges¡¯ professionalism and evaluation standards. Seeing the chaos, Old Master Song glanced at the remaining pieces of duck meat on his plate. He said to the troublemakers, ¡°We are all professionals, so of course we know what¡¯s going on. If any of you are unhappy, why don¡¯t you come up and have a taste?¡± Someone volunteered to step forward. He took the chopsticks and glared at Xu Le before stuffing a piece into his mouth. He had just taken two bites when his expression changed. A few more came up after that. After tasting one piece, they immediately quieted down. Zhang Tong also walked up and expressionlessly stuffed the last piece of duck meat into his mouth, revealing a shocked and happy expression. Xu Le was stunned to see him. ¡°You too¡­¡± ¡°No,¡± Zhang Tong said, ¡°I just want to try the taste of your cooking. It¡¯s amazing. As expected of you, Little Master Chef.¡± As stunning as ever. After the troublemakers tasted the smoked duck, they silently returned to their original positions. Some of them even became embarrassed because of their rashness. This made the audience even more amazed. How delicious could a smoked duck be? After the advancement round, Xu Le entered the finals as expected. Once he entered the top five, he would be able to obtain the system reward as long as he continued to advance to the top three. As soon as the live broadcast ended, the video of him making smoked duck became a trending topic. The uploader only casually recorded it without even adding a subtitle. As the public watched the comments on the bullet screen that changed from doubt to shock to admiration, it was also similar to the mood of the audience watching the video. Xu Le¡¯s legs were sore from standing. Before he went back to the hotel, he sat on the stool outside and rested for a while. When he saw the snacks placed at the entrance of the Expo, he casually took a serving. It was the yogurt balls from Xinjiang. He hadn¡¯t eaten it before, so he took a bite out of curiosity. He immediately grimaced in pain from the yogurt and couldn¡¯t snap out of it for a long time. ¡°Give me one.¡± A familiar voice sounded beside his ear. Xu Le was shocked and turned around to see Old Master Song sitting beside him. ¡°Sure.¡± He gave one to the other party.. Chapter 64 - Jadeite stir-fried with White Jade Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Old Master Song ate without his expression changing and said, ¡°I remember now. The person I met that night wasn¡¯t tall. It should be you, right?¡± Xu Le had already guessed it. He nodded. ¡°Yes, I made braised pork trotters and rice. It was very sloppy that night. I wonder if the taste is to your liking.¡± ¡°Haha, I almost ate the bowl. What do you think?¡± Old Master Song teased him. Xu Le immediately felt relieved and nodded. After all, he was a senior. No matter what, he was a bit nervous. Song Deyue casually chatted with him about his parents and younger sister. As he spoke, his eyes couldn¡¯t help turning red. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Back then, I didn¡¯t get to see my wife for the last time. All these years, my heart has been tormented and in pain.¡± As an outsider, Xu Le naturally did not know that that day¡¯s casual act of smoking a duck was like crossing time and space, healing the regret that Old Master Song could not overcome many years ago. ¡°Grandpa Song, you haven¡¯t married anyone else for so many years. You must really care about her.¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± Old Master Song laughed and said with ease, ¡°As chefs, it¡¯s inevitable for us to kill when cooking. Therefore, we¡¯re all materialists who don¡¯t believe in gods and ghosts¡­ Do you understand what I mean?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Xu Le nodded. He was a university graduate, so he could understand the explanations regarding these terms. ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m already at this age. The thought of meeting her again soon makes me even happier.¡± Old Master Song patted him on the shoulder and said, ¡°You¡¯re still young. You might not understand these feelings, but you have family by your side. You must cherish them.¡± Xu Le nodded solemnly. ¡°By the way,¡± Grandpa Song suddenly said, ¡°Do you know what my wife¡¯s dish [Jadeite stir-fried with White Jade] is?¡± Xu Le widened his eyes and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s just stir-fried watermelon skin.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Le immediately understood. Eating the layer of green skin on the outside of the watermelon with the stir-fried white skin inside¡­ He subconsciously thought: How am I supposed to eat that kind of food? ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s really not delicious!¡± Song Deyue casually dissed, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because we¡¯re a couple that complements each other. I¡¯m good at cooking, and it¡¯s like she¡¯s poisoning me when she cooks. Only that dish of Jadeite stir-fried with White Jade doesn¡¯t taste so bad, so I always flatter that dish of hers, fearing that she¡¯ll harm me with other dishes.¡± Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but laugh. When Old Master Song first came to look for him, he originally thought that he would take in a disciple. However, after chatting for a while, he realized that Xu Le was more mature than his peers, and his thinking was more meticulous and steady. The two of them were more than ten years apart, but the atmosphere was like that of friends. They might as well exchange contact information and become old friends. ¡°Good luck in the competition tomorrow. I remember that you opened a restaurant, right? If you want to try out new dishes or do publicity in future, you can look for me.¡± ¡°Okay, thank you, Grandpa Song.¡± ¡°However, you have to do what you have to do for tomorrow¡¯s competition. You have to treat it seriously. I won¡¯t go easy on you.¡± ¡°I know!¡± After returning to the hotel, Xu Le wanted to take a shower. He was about to take off his clothes when a video call came in. ¡°Hey! Brother!¡± Xu Tian shouted at the top of her voice, ¡°You¡¯re so awesome today! Brother is so awesome¡ª¡± Her words warmed Xu Le¡¯s heart. A child¡¯s praise was different from an adult¡¯s. Adults always had a glib tongue or some other motive, but children would say whatever they wanted, and they were more sincere and naive. ¡°Oh, thank you. I¡¯ll cook something nice for you when I come back, okay?¡± Xu Le turned on the camera and was greeting Xu Tian when he suddenly realised and asked, ¡°Whose phone are you holding?¡± ¡°Lu Yuxi.¡± A gentle female voice was heard. Soon, the person who spoke entered the camera view. ¡°Xu Le, you performed very well.¡± It was the school belle who had come to his restaurant for a meal the other day. It turned out that she was Ms. Li¡¯s younger sister and knew Xu Tian. No wonder¡­ fate was indeed like a circle. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le continued to chat with Xu Tian and asked her about her studies. ¡°Everything is good, but Teacher Li¡¯s cooking is not that good.¡± Xu Tian lowered her voice in the second half of her sentence. Her sneaky look made Lu Yuxi laugh. Unexpectedly, the school belle also nodded her head in agreement. She said, ¡°After eating your brother¡¯s food, it would be weird if you could eat other people¡¯s food.¡± Her words made Xu Le¡¯s ears heat up and he smiled shyly. ¡°Haha, you flatter me.¡± Xu Tian whined and wanted him to bring her to the amusement park. Xu Le naturally agreed. Now that the restaurant had a stable earning, he believed that before long, he would be able to repay the mortgage. By then, he could open a branch and start his own brand. He would be able to earn more money to give his sister a better life¡­ Of course, this fighting spirit ended when he saw the shad fish on the finals of the competition. ¡°This is the main ingredient for today¡¯s competition: shad fish.¡± Shad fish was once classified as a national endangered species. After artificial breeding, they returned to being served on the dining table. The fish mostly fed on swimming animals, so the meat was fresh and tender, fat and fragrant. It was also very popular with customers because of its high protein content. The host introduced, ¡°There are no restrictions on the cooking method, nor are there any restrictions on the condiments. As long as the cooking of this fish can reach the peak of perfection, the person with the highest score will win.¡± This made many people feel troubled, including Xu Le who simply wanted to make this fish delicious. However, when many people were using the same ingredient, even without mentioning the high possibility of using the same cooking method, the most worrying thing was that it was difficult to stand out from the crowd. The people at the side had already started being busy. Xu Le had been choosing in the system for a long time. Whether it was steamed, braised, fermented with wine or with sugar and vinegar, they were all common dishes. There was nothing new about it, let alone being able to catch people¡¯s attention. The one on the left was discussing about braising the fish in sauce, while the one on the right had already begun to open the huadiao wine, intending to steam it. If everyone used the same cooking method, it would be difficult to judge the subtle differences in taste. A 90-minute countdown lit up on the big screen. As the minutes ticked by, a sentence suddenly popped up in Xu Le¡¯s mind. ¡°There are three greatest regrets in life: Chinese flowering crabapple with no fragrance, shad fish with too many bones and that the Dream of the Red Chamber is incomplete.¡± This was a famous quote from Zhang Ailing. When he was still in school, his teacher even gave an example, saying that the shad fish meat was fresh and tender, sweet and delicious. However, there were too many bones and it was too easy to choke on it, so many people did not dare to eat it. With a flash of inspiration, Xu Le took out a knife and removed the fish scales, cut open the belly, and chopped off the fish head. Then, he flipped it around and tried to debone the fish. The fish bones were so thin that he had to be extremely careful. However, he was still pricked by the fish accidentally and immediately had to wash his blood off under the tap. The production team sent a staff member forward to ask, ¡°Is it serious? Do you need¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not serious. Give me a Band-Aid.¡± Xu Le replied calmly.. Chapter 65 - Simple Sliced Sashimi Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After rinsing the wound with water, disinfecting it with alcohol, and applying a waterproof band-aid, Xu Le continued to focus on the competition. There were many fish bones. He first dealt with the bones on the spine before picking out the fish bones that were as thick as a needle tip. The process was complicated and tedious, and it tested his patience. The close-up shot landed beside his hand. The bright and tender pale pink fish meat was sliced into thin slices and placed into a glass basin filled with ice cubes to keep it fresh. The comment section was filled with discussions. ¡°What does he want to do? Sliced sashimi?¡± ¡°Could the little Master Chef have gone off topic?¡± ¡°Look at the ones beside, he¡¯s steaming the fish in red sauce. Just looking at it makes me hungry!¡± ¡°And there¡¯s even Spicy Boiled Fish!¡± ¡°Why did he remove the fish meat. Is it to make fish tofu?¡± ¡°This dish is best tasted when steamed to maintain its original taste. They are simply wasting the fish.¡± During their free choice of cooking this dish, the chefs beside Xu Le were all busy starting the steaming pot, boiling oil, and seasoning sauce. Meanwhile, Xu Le kept his head lowered as he sliced the fish. His face was expressionless, and his concentration was evident. On the comments screen, crazy fans started praising him again. ¡°God, if only my son could be as focused as him.¡± ¡°Compared to the little Master Chef, my child is practically like a hyperactive kid.¡± ¡°Is this the difference between human babies?¡± ¡°So cute, so cute, so cute!!!¡± ¡°Xu Le, Mommy loves you!¡± Xu Le, who was cooking with his head lowered, did not know that he had suddenly gained so many ¡°mothers¡± out of nowhere. He also did not know that because he was too popular, many people were already criticizing him for being too good at media publicity. When the 90-minute countdown reached the last 10 minutes, Xu Le put down his knife. He finished slicing two whole fish and started to lay the plates. The sashimi was so thin that it looked like it could be crushed with a chopstick. It was faintly translucent and was placed on the plate one by one with mint leaves and rosemary as decorations. Then, he squeezed wasabi on the edge of the plate, put a small portion of special soy sauce on it, and cracked an egg in the middle. There were no shortcuts to cutting skills. Xu Le had also practiced it thousands of times in the system space before he had reached his current standard. When the judges saw his cutting skills, many of them were flabbergasted. They exclaimed in admiration, ¡°He¡¯s so young and has such good cutting skills. Could he have started learning from his mother¡¯s womb?¡± ¡°Xu Le is a talented contestant. Others might not be able to catch up to him even if they learn for a few decades.¡± ¡°Is there anything this child doesn¡¯t know?¡± Even Song Deyue couldn¡¯t help but nod his head. ¡°His cutting skills are indeed amazing. The fish slices he cut out are completely identical to each other and are even more accurate than machines.¡± When Xu Le had previously eaten salmon and tuna, he saw that the head chef would cut them into thick slices. This way, he could taste the fatty texture of the meat. Together with the chopped green onions, soy sauce and wasabi, it would conceal the fishy smell of the raw fish. Coupled with the unique freshness of the fish meat, it left a lasting aftertaste. He had deliberately cut it into thin slices of five millimeters that day so that he could achieve a texture of separating the fish once in the mouth. This time, there were only five groups of contestants and Xu Le was the fourth. He looked at the contestants before him who prepared the fish in styles of spicy boiled slices, mala stir-fried, thick and heavy pepper, dried chili, and splashed with oil. All their dishes made people salivate. There were also those who steamed the fish and with sauce, producing a fragrant smell. The judges tasted and commented. ¡°The Spicy Boiled Fish Slices are a little tough. There are bean sprouts and tofu skin at the bottom, so you should take advantage of the moment when the fish meat is cooked to start the pot and let the heat from the base simmer it.¡± ¡°There was even a layer of oil poured over it at the end. It would make the already cooked fish taste a little duller. You should listen to him and grasp the timing of the cooking.¡± ¡°The steamed fish is considered to be mediocre. It¡¯s fresh and delicious, but it can be made at home. There¡¯s nothing special about it.¡± ¡°Actually, that¡¯s not the case. I think there¡¯s something very good about this dish. The scales haven¡¯t been completely scraped off. The fish scales are one of the few edible ones, and it has a unique flavor to it.¡± ¡°After the steamed fish meat enters your mouth, there¡¯s some sweetness. I think your sauce has some honey added in it. Not bad, it¡¯s very creative.¡± ¡°The fish skin has been deep-fried into the shape of a tiger¡¯s skin and then steamed in the pot. The ratio of the sauce was very good. The outside was filled with the flavor while the inside was tender to the point of juice flowing out. It¡¯s really not bad.¡± After the judges gave their scores, only the fish steamed with red sauce was far ahead. The rest of the dishes were slightly lacking. The sashimi that had garnered enough attention was finally brought up. The thin and translucent fish slices were neatly arranged on the plate. With a flick of the chopsticks, they were lifted up. First, they dipped the sashimi into wasabi and tasted it. The burning sensation immediately filled the mouth, followed by the smoothness of the fish meat. The texture was excellent, and they could swallow it without chewing much. ¡°Beautiful!¡± One of the judges gave a simple thumbs up in praise. He couldn¡¯t wait to pick up the chopstick a second time to dip the fish slices in soy sauce and raw egg. The egg didn¡¯t have a stench, and it tasted slightly sweet. When he took a bite, the fat, freshness, and tender fragrance of the fish meat rushed to stimulate his taste buds, making his fingers move so much that he couldn¡¯t stop. One of the judges quickly finished all ten slices of sashimi on the plate. He said with an unsatisfied tone, ¡°Compared to having to pick out the bones earlier on, this sashimi tastes really good. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s too little and too thin. It¡¯s easy to lose it into your mouth.¡± This witty remark made the others laugh. However, it was difficult for them to say anything. Some found it delicious, while others frowned and almost vomited. The judge sitting next to Lin Shuwei waved his hand and said, ¡°I feel that the taste is average. The fishy smell is heavy, and the sauce tastes even worse. Also, this raw egg is really not something I can enjoy. I can¡¯t eat it.¡± Lin Shuwei smiled amiably and said, ¡°It¡¯s probably because people have different tastes. You can¡¯t eat raw meat, but the fish slice today is indeed fresh and delicious. It¡¯s very good.¡± Old Master Song nodded as well. He looked at his empty plate and knew the result even without the judges¡¯ comment. In the end, a judge who was not used to eating raw meat gave him four points. This was the lowest score Xu Le had ever gotten since he joined the competition. He was already mentally prepared that the judges would not be able to accept this dish before he made it, so he was not surprised and nodded indifferently. But when it came to Song Deyue, he only managed to score 6 points, which was just the passing standard, while the judges beside him scored 7 to 8 points. ¡°It¡¯s tender, soft, and fragrant. To a large extent, it ensures the original flavor of the food. It¡¯s very good, but compared to other cooking methods, it¡¯s a little too simple. For the fairness of the competition, I can only give you this score.¡± After Old Master Song explained, Xu Le didn¡¯t say anything. However, the audience was not satisfied. ¡°They already said to cook it according to your own method. Why can¡¯t he just slice it raw?¡± ¡°The rules didn¡¯t say that it was not allowed!¡± ¡°You guys are practically bullying a child!¡± Chapter 66 - Branch Store As Reward! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Behind Xu Le was a dish of fish tofu. After the fish meat, prawn meat, and egg white were minced into a paste form, it had a grainy texture and was chewier. This dish was novel and looked good. In the end, under the discussion of the judges, the scores it obtained were considered good. At the final moment when the results were going to be announced, the audience had already guessed who it was on the bullet screen. The host was not left with any suspense, so he simply spoke openly. ¡°First place, Chen Xian. He came from the Eight Alley. He used the method of steaming in red sauce, and his choice of ingredients was bold, and it greatly stimulated the tempting taste of the dish¡­ Before he could finish his introduction, the bullet screen was filled with comments again. They were all claiming for justice for Xu Le. Xu Le, on the other hand, looked indifferent. When he found out that he was second, he didn¡¯t have much of an expression. After all, if he could enter the top three, his mission would be considered complete. ¡°Second place, Xu Le! He¡¯s the little chef from the 8-year-old canteen. He used a lost dish [Stir-fried Three Baldie] to successfully tnter the preliminary round. Under his refined cooking method, the [Smoking Duck] was simpler to make and even chewier, earning him the praises of the entire audience. And today¡¯s sashimi showcased this little chef¡¯s cutting skills in all aspects! He deserves it!¡± As for the rankings of the restaurants after him, the host did not even finish reading it. The audience was not concerned at all. ¡°Is there a conspiracy behind your show? Why isn¡¯t Xu Le in first place?!¡± ¡°Hmph, anyone with eyes can probably tell who the champion is, right?¡± ¡°The sashimi is a traditional delicacy from the ancient Zhou Dynasty. It¡¯s your own business if you can¡¯t get used to it. Why did you give a low score?¡± ¡°If I knew, I wouldn¡¯t have watched it. I¡¯m so angry¡­¡± Xu Le still did not know how much the audience was fighting over him. When he went on stage to receive the award, he looked at the spatula-shaped trophy and did not know whether to laugh or cry. The person who presented him the award was Old Master Song. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were filled with endless kindness. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°Do you know why I only gave you six points today?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Le looked at him in confusion. Old Master Song smiled and whispered to him in a voice that only the two of them could hear, ¡°You¡¯re talented and you¡¯ve always gotten first place in competitions. You¡¯ll definitely be envied by others. I¡¯ve lowered two points for you today. Consider it to help you improve your relationships with your peers in the industry.¡± If Xu Le won the award all the time, the audience watching would not only think that he was good, but there would also be people who would be jealous. They would definitely deliberately smear his reputation. After all, there were many people with evil intentions in this world and they would make groundless accusations. Being ¡°perfect¡± would make one the target of some people¡¯s attacks. When Old Master Song was young, he was someone who had been through a lot. This time, he had the intention to protect Xu Le, so he lowered him to the second place, so that he would build a good affinity with the audience. Xu Le smiled at him with gratitude. ¡°Alright, good luck. This child will definitely have a bright future!¡± Old Master Song patted his shoulder. Beep! Beep! After obtaining the trophy, the system¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. ¡°Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the mission. You will receive the reward for this mission.¡± ¡°Choose a branch location, the rent will be paid by the system, and you will receive a book of home-cooked dishes worth 1,000 Gourmet points!¡± ¡®The system is paying rent? Doesn¡¯t that mean I can choose anywhere!¡¯ Xu Le was overjoyed. After the competition ended, he didn¡¯t stay in Beijing. Instead, he booked the earliest flight and immediately flew back. Xu Tian looked through the peephole sleepily and immediately lost her sleepiness. She opened the door and pounced on him. ¡°Brother!¡± The little girl¡¯s soft voice was filled with joy. Xu Le¡¯s heart softened. ¡°Did you miss me?¡± ¡°I really do!¡± Xu Le raised her face. ¡°And I want to eat Big Brother¡¯s cooking!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It was getting late when Xu Le returned. He looked at the clock¡¯s minute hand and rubbed Xu Tian¡¯s head. ¡°I¡¯ll cook something delicious for you tomorrow morning. I¡¯ll go prepare the ingredients now, okay?¡± Xu Tian was not hungry, so she nodded and agreed. She started to pester him to read her a story. Before Xu Le could sit down on the sofa, he saw a woman¡¯s sleeping robe and was shocked. ¡°Who else is at our house?¡± ¡°Sister Lu, she¡¯s been coming over to take care of me recently. Since she has nowhere to go, I let her stay at our house.¡± Xu Tian pleaded in a low voice, ¡°Brother, just agree to it. We have a guest room in our house that can accommodate her.¡± Lu Yuxi had indeed given them a lot of help when Xu Le was not around. Seeing that her brother was silent, Xu Tian frowned. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, I won¡¯t be friends with you anymore!¡± Hearing her childish threat, Xu Le giggled and waved his hand. ¡°I will definitely agree to it. Where is she now?¡± Xu Tian covered her face with one hand and leaned over to whisper to him, ¡°Brother, Sister Lu was fired from her previous company and has nowhere to go now. That¡¯s why she was staying at Ms. Li¡¯s house. But they are stepsisters, so their family relationship is very complicated. That¡¯s why I asked her to stay at our house for a while.¡± ¡°Okay, then just let her stay here.¡± Xu Le did not mind. Since he was not accepting the other party¡¯s rent and Lu Yuxi could help take care of Xu Tian, there was nothing bad about benefiting from each other. ¡°Ah!¡± With a scream, Xu Le looked up and saw Lu Yuxi, who was wearing a bathrobe, with her eyes wide open. She covered her face and rushed into the guest room. A minute later, she walked out again and said, ¡°You scared me. I thought there was a man sitting on the sofa, but it turned out to be you.¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows in shock. ¡°Aren¡¯t I a guy too?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yuxi waved her hand indifferently. In her eyes, the person in front of her was just a child. She took off her cap, combed her hair, and then sat down beside Xu Tian. ¡°What fairy tale book are you reading? Oh, it¡¯s the Little Prince, do you understand the story?¡± Xu Tian insisted, ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s hair, which had water droplets on it, had the fragrance of shampoo. She also had a faint shower gel smell on her. It seemed to be mint citrus and smelled very refreshing. As she blow-dried her hair, she looked at Xu Le shyly. ¡°I¡¯ve been disturbing you by staying at your place for the past few days. Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t have much luggage. I¡¯ve already found a rental place. I¡¯ll move out tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°No need.¡± Xu Le interrupted her and asked calmly, ¡°Have you found a new job?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t have the money to pay the rent. Why don¡¯t you stay here with us? We won¡¯t charge you for the rent. You can just help to look after my sister when you have time.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s beautiful eyes lit up and she said happily, ¡°Really?¡± It was true that she could not find a good house in this place where every inch of land was worth money, let alone pay the huge amount of rent, water, and electricity fees. ¡°Yes..¡± Chapter 67 - Baking Desserts Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After Xu Le promised his sister that he would accompany her to the amusement park, it happened to be Sunday the next day. Xu Tian was wearing a collared nightgown with a teddy bear in her arms. When she opened her eyes and saw that her brother had disappeared, she rushed out of the bedroom without even putting on her shoes. Lu Yuxi, who had just finished washing her face, came out and bumped into her. She immediately said, ¡°Quick, put on your shoes. Don¡¯t catch a cold!¡± Xu Tian followed the fragrance and ran to the kitchen door. She pressed her face against the glass and sniffed hard. ¡°Brother, what are you cooking?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s popcorn.¡± Lu Yuxi carried the child and kissed her soft face. ¡°Go change your clothes and wash up. I¡¯ll bring you to the amusement park today, okay?¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xu Tian¡¯s eyes lit up. Xu Le bought the small corns specially used for making popcorn. He put butter in the pot and a 1: 3 ratio of white sugar to brown sugar. After melting and stirring in the pot, he poured in the corn. Then, he started the fire and stirred the corn until the first popcorn popped up. The corn seemed to have been woken up, and they scrambled to pop up. Xu Le shook the handle of the pot twice before closing the lid. The pot was crackling non-stop as he turned around to scoop up the corn with spare ribs soup that he had started stewing the night before. When he opened the rice cooker, the hot fragrance wafted into his nose, making one salivate uncontrollably. He scooped three bowls of soup and carried them out. He stood by the table, dumbfounded. Xu Tian had changed into a puff sleeved princessy dress. She had a few pigtails on her head with a big bow. She looked just like a little princess! Xu Le suddenly realized that he had been too rough when he was taking care of his younger sister previously. Fortunately, Xu Tian was cute and was able to make up for his disastrous outfit coordination. ¡°Brother?¡± Xu Tian looked like she was asking for praise. ¡°You look so beautiful, so cute.¡± Xu Le was generous with his praises. ¡°If you go to the amusement park today, there might even be people who think you¡¯re an actual princess on an escape.¡± These words made Xu Tian cover her mouth and laugh. She buried her head into Lu Yuxi¡¯s arms. The popcorn was completely ready, and the lid was covered with sugar stains. Fortunately, the house had a dishwasher installed, otherwise it would have been too hard to wash. Xu Le poured the popcorn into the hollow vegetable basket and shook it a few times, waiting for it to cool down. Xu Tian couldn¡¯t wait any longer. She tiptoed toward the aroma and reached out to pick one up. Xu Le quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s hot!¡± ¡°The popcorn is sticky and scalding when it¡¯s hot. The texture is not good when it¡¯s hot. Only when it cools down will it be crispy and fragrant. Let¡¯s go have breakfast first and wait, okay?¡± Xu Tian nodded obediently. ¡°Okay.¡± While they were eating, Lu Yuxi helped him serve the dishes. Looking at the brightly colored Kung Pao chicken cubes, sour and spicy shredded potatoes, and fried small yellow croakers, she could not help but swallow her saliva and whisper, ¡°Is the breakfast at your house usually this sumptuous?¡± Xu Le smiled helplessly. ¡°Xu Tian is a picky eater. I can only cook her favorite dishes in different ways.¡± ¡°Oh my god.¡± Lu Yuxi looked envious. She wanted to reach out to rub his face, but she felt that it was impolite, so she paused in midair and retracted her hand in embarrassment. She exclaimed with emotion. ¡°You¡¯re such a good brother. If my sister can cook, I¡¯ll burn incense for her when I get back.¡± Lu Yuxi lowered her head and took a sip of the soup. The taste of sweet corn and meaty pork ribs were mixed into the soup, and she felt so comfortable after taking a sip. She immediately started to dig in. The simple fried yellow croaker was crispy and fragrant. After it was fried, even the bones were crispy and the taste was addictive. After the meal, Lu Yuxi leaned back and felt that her stomach was about to explode. She had not had such a full stomach in a long time. ¡°Xu Le, you¡¯re so awesome. No wonder you won so many awards. This is the best meal I¡¯ve had since I was born!¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows in shock. ¡°It¡¯s too much!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not bragging¡­ Oh right, that day when I saw you in the finals, the judge sitting in the middle was called Song something. That¡¯s right! Song Deyue clearly likes your food, so why did he give you such a low score? Is he deliberately bullying you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xu Le explained to her everything. Lu Yuxi clapped her hands excitedly and said, ¡°I know, this is to prevent you from being too popular. He¡¯s worried that if you reach too high suddenly, it¡¯ll make people jealous, so he had to suppress it. It¡¯ll make those who like you like you even more!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Le didn¡¯t care much about his reputation on the Internet. After dinner, he took Xu Tian to the amusement park closest to home. On the way, Xu Tian didn¡¯t say a word. She kept munching on the fragrant and crispy popcorn, her face full of enjoyment. The driver couldn¡¯t help but look in the rearview mirror a few times. ¡°Little kid, where did you buy that? It looks pretty good. Let me buy one for my kid.¡± Xu Tian mumbled unclearly, ¡°My brother made it himself.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The driver was a little disappointed. When they got out of the car at the gate, Xu Tian handed a large handful of popcorn to the driver and said, ¡°Here you go.¡± The driver was delighted and hurriedly took it. The car was filled with the rich buttery fragrance of popcorn, so he had been craving it all the way. After thanking her, he immediately stuffed it into his mouth. It was crispy and sweet, but not greasy at all. After finishing it in one go, the driver licked his lips in satisfaction. Xu Tian looked young and usually would be crying. However, once she arrived at the amusement park, she started to party crazily and wanted to play all kinds of rides. There were bumper cars, trampolines, shooting games, throwing balls¡­ After going through all of them, she wanted to play roller coasters. Unfortunately, she was too short and was stopped by the staff. Xu Le heaved a sigh of relief. He did not expect his sister to have such a courageous side. He pointed at the dessert shop across the street and said, ¡°Are you hungry? Let¡¯s go in and buy you a dessert.¡± Xu Tian pulled a long face and nodded reluctantly. Lu Yuxi held her hand and coaxed her as they walked. After entering the shop, she realized that the dessert shop required customers to bake themselves. They only provided various ingredients and do not sell any finished products. She took a glance and saw that there were only parents with their children all around her. Xu Tian pouted. ¡°Brother, I want to eat that¡­¡± She pointed to the tiramisu that someone was working on next to her. She was salivating. ¡°Little gluttony cat.¡± Xu Le commented with a smile and paid for the three of them. He was not worried about desserts since the system had a recipe that was accurate to every step. Lu Yuxi and his sister went to get some ingredients, while he sat on the rocking chair and closed his eyes. After browsing through the dessert section of the system, he spent 120 gourmet points to buy the recipe of ¡°tiramisu¡±, ¡°taro box¡± and ¡°chiffon cake¡±. Baking desserts was pretty much the same. The main difficulty lie in the ratio of ingredients and the exquisiteness of temperature control. This was not like cooking. If anything went wrong, everything that was made would be ruined.. Chapter 68 - Experimenting Chiffon Cake Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After the tenth round of failing to bake his cake, Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but apologize for his thought that baking desserts was easy. He clenched his fists and seriously reviewed every detail, constantly improving them. ¡°Separate the egg white and yolk, add a few drops of lemon juice, and beat the egg white to the state of a small pointy hook. During this time, add the white sugar in three small portions, and then pour in the corn starcha€|¡± Xu Le was precise to every gram. He carefully followed the most traditional recipe and preheated the oven to 125 ?¡ãC. He filtered the powder into a glass basin without oil or sugar and mixed half the egg white paste and powder evenly. The mixed flour paste was poured into the remaining half of the egg white paste. He cut in from the middle, and picked up the bottom. Then, he mixed everything in a J-shape motion until the egg white paste could not be seen. This time, Xu Le had learned his lesson. He made sure that the glass basin had no oil or water, and that the egg white paste had slightly uneven bubbles. Then, he manually stirred it until the bubbles were even before mixing everything. Then, he poured the paste into the mold and shook it twice. After shaking out all the big bubbles on it, he carefully poked the small bubble with a toothpick to ensure that it would look good later. Only then did he put the paste into the medium and lower layer of the oven for 50 minutes. Only when he stuck the toothpick in and there was no watery paste did the cake being baked completely. Finally, he succeeded on the 11th time. He heaved a sigh of relief and raised the mold about 15 centimeters away from the table. He slammed it twice, forcing the hot air out, and then turned it upside down to cool it down. The chiffon cake had an extremely fluffy texture. After eating it, the immense pleasure brought by the dessert instantly invaded his body and mind, sweeping away the gloominess from being unable to succeed earlier. He opened his eyes. Five minutes had passed. Lu Yuxi and his sister had picked the ingredients and were walking towards him. There were also two desserts. He would enter the system to learn the other one after he sent the paste into the oven. ¡°Aiyo, why does it look like this after being baked?¡± The woman sitting next to him was about to cry from frustration. She looked at the surface of chiffon cake, which was burnt and had caved in. Some parts of the cake had directly cracked. Obviously, it could not be eaten. Her husband didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. He broke off a piece and stuffed it into his mouth. Judging from his expression, he probably wanted to comfort her, but after eating it, he regretted it and couldn¡¯t swallow it for a long time. ¡°Why don¡¯t you read the recipe again?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not doing it anymore. How can this thing work!¡± The woman was so angry that she threw the recipe on the ground. However, after some time, she was unwilling to give up and tried again. Lu Yuxi witnessed the situation just now. She asked Xu Le doubtfully, ¡°Are you sure it will work? I heard that the chiffon cake is quite difficult.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Le took the eggs, low-strung flour, corn starch, fine sugar, and pure milk from her. Then, he started seriously. He was very focused when cooking and did not like to be disturbed. Xu Tian also knew his habits and lowered her head to watch cartoons with Lu Yuxi. When he beat the egg white the first time, he added a suitable amount of white sugar. At this moment, the woman at the table beside him came over and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re not doing it right?¡± Xu Le frowned. ¡°It has nothing to do with you.¡± ¡°Aiyo, I¡¯m reminding you out of goodwill. What are you saying? Where are your parents?¡± When Lu Yuxi heard the commotion, she looked up at the woman and waved her hand to chase her away. ¡°Go and do your own things. Don¡¯t disturb other people.¡± The woman slammed the table. ¡°What kind of attitude is this?¡± Xu Le was so annoyed that he stopped what he was doing. He looked at the egg white on her table and said, ¡°Pour it out and beat it again. You have beaten the egg white too much, that¡¯s why it will crack after it¡¯s baked.¡± The woman felt that she was being educated by a little child and felt embarrassed. She glared at him and questioned, ¡°What gives you the right to say thata€|¡± Fortunately, her husband couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and pulled her away. ¡°You can¡¯t even do it yourself. Why care about others? Do your own thing.¡± Only then did it become quiet around Xu Le. He took a deep breath and adjusted his condition. According to the technique and ratio that he had practiced in the system, he finally managed to adjust the flour until it was mixed evenly. He poured it into the mold and placed it into the preheated oven. Xu Tian rested her chin on the side of the table and asked eagerly, ¡°How much longer will it take to bake? Brother, I even took some chocolates. I want to eat chocolate.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll make for you.¡± Xu Le closed his eyes. Ten minutes later, he had learned how to make the tiramisu and the taro box from the system. He poured a suitable amount of white sugar into the egg yolk and used a blender to beat it. Then, he heated it using the double boiling method to kill off the bacteria. Xu Le glanced at the cheese and said, ¡°Not this. Blue cheese is sour.¡± As he spoke, he got up and went to choose another type of cheese. 250 kmascapen cheese was added in the beaten egg yolk. He then added the egg white into the egg yolk three times and stirred it three times before setting it aside. ¡°5 grams of original coffee powder, 15 grams of rum, and moderate amounts of hot water.¡± He read out the key points in the recipe and quickly dipped the finger biscuits into the coffee and wine, setting them down in the box. He squeezed a layer of cheese and covered it with another layer of biscuits. After filling the entire box, he used a knife to form a flat surface. After the surface was smooth, he put it into the refrigerator. Usually, the tiramisu needed to be placed for more than five hours, but the temperature of the refrigerator in the shop was adjusted to a freezing temperature, so it could be frozen in half an hour. People beside him had noticed that a child had finished making two desserts smoothly. Although theyhe did not know what the results of the baked goods were, their curiosity was piqued and many eyes were on him. The last taro box was very simple. There was no need to place it in the oven. Xu Le planned to do it together with his sister. ¡°Tian Tian, can you put this steamed sweet potato and yam into the blender?¡± The pastry shop provided sliced taro-purple that had been steamed to softness. All they had to do was put them in the blender and mix them with various ingredients. ¡°Alright!¡± Xu Tian stood up and clumsily placed the things inside. Xu Le continued to instruct, ¡°Now put the milk, the cream, and the sugar inside.¡± Xu Tian did as she was told. After adding the ingredients, Lu Yuxi helped to turn on the blender. In the small bowl before her was corn starch, sugar and glutinous rice, which were used to make mochi. Xu Le instructed Xu Tian to sieve the three powders after mixing them together. Then, she had to mix the milk evenly and sift again three times. This way, the taro paste would be smoother and would not form clumps. After covering with plastic wrap and sticking a few holes in it with toothpick, it was ready for the steamer. After Xu Tian was done, she felt a sense of accomplishment. She looked up and smiled. ¡°Brother, how long do we need to steam this?¡± ¡°It should be ready in 20 minutes at high heat. Be patient.¡± Xu Le looked at the clock on the wall. It had been 50 minutes since the timer started. The chiffon cake was almost ready.. Chapter 69 - Tiramisu With Molten Lava In Middle Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After removing the mold and shaking it a few times, the fluffy chiffon cake was ready. ¡°Wow! This is too successful!¡± Lu Yuxi exclaimed as she handed Xu Tian a plastic cake knife and said, ¡°Tian Tian, try to cut it.¡± Xu Tian carefully cut the cake in the middle. After splitting it into four portions, she found it difficult to continue. Xu Le held his sister¡¯s hand and helped to cut the cake a few more times. Finally, they split the cake evenly. Lu Yuxi could not wait as she stared at the cake. Xu Le gave her a piece and said, ¡°Try it.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Yuxi took the cake happily and took a small bite. It was soft and loose. There were no extra ingredients on the cake, so it exuded the fragrance of the milk, eggs, and butter. The temperature was just right, and the cake was delicious. Xu Tian picked up a corner of the cake and began to eat it in large mouthfuls with a blissful expression on her face. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re so awesome! Not only do you know how to cook, you can also bake the cake so well.¡± Lu Yuxi nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s sweet and soft. It¡¯s even better than the ones sold in cake shop.¡± A chiffon cake was very difficult to make. In self-baking DIY, there were usually very few customers who could make it. Xu Le succeeded in just one attempt. The woman who came over to talk to him because he was a child just now, as expected, failed again and stuck her head over. ¡°Oh.¡± She said, ¡°This kid is not bad. Did you come with your¡­ sister?¡± The three of them tacitly ignored her for trying to get close to them. This action made the woman unhappy, so she added a few more sentences. But it was too embarrassing, so she finally shut up. Soon, the frozen tiramisu in the fridge could also be taken out. Its surface was smooth and flat. Xu Le sieved the cocoa powder to form a thin layer on the top. Xu Tian held the small plate and stared at him eagerly. She was almost drooling. ¡°Brother, give it to me!¡± Xu Le immediately gave her a piece and said, ¡°You can have it first, you greedy cat.¡± Xu Tian had yet to put it into her mouth when she suddenly took a deep breath. She choked on the cocoa powder on the surface and began to cough. A ring of powder had styck on her lips. Lu Yuxi and Xu Le laughed at the same time. One of them found a wet tissue to wipe her mouth while the other patted his sister¡¯s back and comforted her. ¡°Eat slowly. No one is fighting with you.¡± Xu Tian was young, but she had a high self-esteem. After losing her face, her appetite was greatly reduced. She only used her fork to pick up a small piece and put it into her mouth. The slightly bitter cocoa powder was laced with the rich flavor of chocolate and the smoothness of cheese. The two perfectly blended together, and the delicious taste immediately lifted Xu Tian¡¯s mood. She beamed with joy and said, ¡°Delicious!¡± The two desserts were exceptionally successful. Xu Le ate a few high-calorie desserts, so his dopamine was stimulated crazily and his mood lightened up. He watched as Lu Yuxi took a bite and put down her fork to assure that this was her last bite. After a few seconds, she took another small bite. This repeated over and over again until she finally finished a piece of cake and a piece of tiramisu. She said guiltily, ¡°To lose weight and not grow pimples, I have been controlling my sugar intake. Tian Tian, it¡¯s all your brother¡¯s fault.¡± Xu Le could hear the blame in her words. Instead of getting angry, he laughed and said, ¡°The taro box will be ready soon. If you don¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll share it with Tian Tian.¡± ¡°¡­No.¡± Most of the people who came to the pastry shop to make desserts only dared to choose the less difficult ones. Furthermore, the main point of the activity was for parent and child bonding or couples bonding. Few people could really make desserts that tasted nice. Hence, after Xu Le succeeded, he received many envious gazes. Seeing that he still had half of the cake left, someone couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Hey, handsome, do you sell that cake? My girlfriend have been trying to make it for two hours and only baked two pieces of charcoal. She¡¯s going to die from frustration. Help me out.¡± Xu Le paused. When he was making the cake, he did not intend to sell it. The three of them each tasted a piece, so there was indeed a lot left, but he did not know if his sister and Lu Yuxi still wanted to eat it. Just as he was about to turn around to ask, Xu Tian raised her hand and said, ¡°I want another piece of tiramisu. I won¡¯t eat the rest. Do you want more, Sister Lu?¡± Lu Yuxi shook her head like a rattle-drum. ¡°I really can¡¯t eat anymore. I¡¯ll get fat. Why don¡¯t you sell it? You can earn money and there¡¯s no need to pack it back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le asked the man, ¡°Which one do you want?¡± ¡°Give me two pieces each. Handsome boy and give me your payment number.¡± Xu Le took out four disposable plates and handed them over. The man scanned his number and paid. Then, he raised his hand and smiled. ¡°Thanks.¡± He then carried the cake back to find his girlfriend. Xu Le lowered his head and looked at his phone. He had actually paid 100 yuan. One must know that the individual entry price to the pastry shop was only 100 yuan for three hours per person. With this precedent, the people who wanted to try it just now rushed over to buy the remaining cake. In two to three minutes, the six to seven slices of cake on the table were all gone, making the woman sitting beside extremely envious. When the taro box was taken out of the pot. She immediately came over and said, ¡°Child, sell me half of this and let me taste how delicious it is.¡± Her repeated rudeness caused the three of them to have a bad impression of her. They raised their heads and said in unison, ¡°No.¡± The woman snorted coldly and rolled her eyes. She returned to her seat and fiddled with her failed cake while cursing, ¡°Did you really think that others really wanted your thing¡­¡± The customer beside her seemed to be provoking her on purpose as he exclaimed, ¡°The molten lava in the middle of the tiramisu is too amazing. You can¡¯t buy such delicious food even in a dessert shop.¡± The taro box contained Xu Tian¡¯s efforts. She ate two mouthfuls of the sweet potato yam, which was fragrant and sweet, mixed with the fragrance of milk. The last one was specially made to contain less sugar. The taste was light and not too sweet, so she was not tired of it. Xu Tian, who had already eaten three pieces of cake, could still force herself to eat another one. She puffed up her cheeks, her face full of happiness. As Lu Yuxi ate, she lamented, ¡°Dessert is really the most healing thing¡ª¡± ¡°Hey, handsome, my girlfriend loves your dessert. Can you sell me a portion of your taro box?¡± A customer who had already bought one just now came forward to buy it. Before Xu Le could open his mouth, the woman opposite the table could not hold it in and shouted, ¡°He just said that he¡¯s not selling it!¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not selling it.¡± Xu Le repeated. The man looked disappointed. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°But I can give it to you.¡± Xu Le changed the topic and cut two pieces for him. He did not make a huge portion of the taro box and only had two pieces left. The customers who had bought the desserts were all staring at them. They were too embarrassed to ask him to give them to them, so they offered to pay for them. Xu Le glanced at them one by one and finally gave the two desserts to two children who looked younger than him. ¡°Thank you, brother!¡± Chapter 70 - The School Belle Joining In Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After selling the cake that they could not finish, Xu Le looked at his payment transaction. Not only did he earn enough to cover the entry cost for the three of them, he also earned five to six hundred more. In his heart, he suddenly felt that as long as the ratio in the desserts was accurate and he had some experience, he would be able to make the desserts very well. For his branch store, since the system was the one paying for it, he could choose the bigger ones and even sell some desserts. As he was thinking about this, he suddenly heard an uneasy voice behind him. ¡°Um, hello. I¡¯m the boss here. Are you eight years old?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Le was stumped by this baffling question. He smiled and said, ¡°I am indeed eight years old.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s not what I meant. I¡¯ve watched your live stream. You¡¯re super awesome, little Master Chef!¡± The boss excitedly bent down to shake hands with him. ¡°I¡¯m your fan, and I even followed you online. I like every single video of you. Little Master Chef, you have to update more in the future! It¡¯s totally not enough to watch!¡± It was Xu Le¡¯s first time meeting his fans. The boss was nervous and excited. He took out a pen and paper, hoping that he would get Xu Le¡¯s autograph. When he handed it over, he asked, ¡°Do you know how to write?¡± After all, he looked so young and his culinary skills were superb. He must have spent most of his time practicing. Xu Le was speechless for a moment. He signed his signature and listened to the boss¡¯ incoherent ¡°confession¡± for a long time. He laughed until his face turned numb. In the end, they took a picture together. The boss even wanted to give him some desserts from the shop but was tactfully rejected. ¡°I¡¯m already full, thank you.¡± After leaving the pastry shop, Xu Tian¡¯s gaze was attracted by the huge doll in the hands of the tourists who passed by. Xu Le led her to the place to toss balls and win the doll. ¡°The rules are like this. There are a total of five balls. If you throw in four balls, you will be given to a large doll. If you throw in three balls, you will receive a commemorative badge. If you miss three balls, you will receive an encouragement award.¡± Xu Tian excitedly threw for one round, but only two of the balls entered. She looked at the dolls in the glass window and said coquettishly, ¡°Brother, I want that Stitch!¡± ¡°Shall I try?¡± Xu Le did not have any intention of winning. Who knew that he would hit the first, second and third! As long as one more ball entered, they would be able to get a prize. He took a deep breath and brought out his calm composure from being used to experiencing grand occasions. He raised his arm and threw the ball. It arced through the air in a perfect parabola, hitting the hole right in the center. ¡°Yay!¡± Lu Yuxi jumped up happily. Xu Tian got the Stitch doll as she wished. The doll that was taller than her, causing her to trip and fall to the ground. Lu Yuxi smiled as she helped her up. ¡°Let me hold it for you first. I¡¯ll put it in your room when we get home, okay?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le was about to leave after helping his sister win a doll when he noticed Lu Yuxi¡¯s gaze lingering on the strawberry bear in the display window. Thus, Xu Le bought some balls from the staff. After two rounds, he finally won the reward! He asked for a strawberry bear. Xu Tian hugged Stitch¡¯s ear and made a face at her brother. ¡°Shame on you, brother likes pink soft toys!¡± Xu Le blushed. The next moment, he gave Lu Yuxi the strawberry bear. ¡°For me?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lu Yuxi did not expect him to take her subtle actions to heart and took actions. Tears welled up in her eyes as she hugged Xu Le. ¡°I love you to death!¡± She was an adult after all, and her arms were so tight that Xu Le could barely breathe. ¡°Ahem, if you don¡¯t let go, I¡¯m really going to¡­ die.¡± After playing at the amusement park for a day, Xu Tian got into a taxi and her eyelids started to flutter. Before long, she fell asleep in Xu Le¡¯s arms. Xu Le and Lu Yuxi chatted casually. ¡°Did you find a job?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent out my resume, but none of them have any updates.¡± Lu Yuxi looked depressed at the mention of work. Without a source of income, she would exhaust her meagre savings very soon. ¡°Sigh, why don¡¯t you find a job with a low income first?¡± ¡°I thought of that too, but it¡¯s not easy to find a part-time job in the short term.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± The atmosphere in the car became quiet. Not long after, they saw the familiar streets and traffic lights. They were about to reach the entrance of the district. Xu Le thought about how he was usually the only one working at Hongxing Road. He had to do everything from purchasing, tidying, and cleaning after the shop was closed. In the past, with the mortgage and his sister¡¯s expenses, he didn¡¯t dare to hire anyone. Now that he had money in his account, he supported his head and asked seriously, ¡°I plan to hire a cleaner, a cashier for 6,000 yuan per month. You will get two days off per week and work from 9 am to 9 pm. Do you want to consider it?¡± Lu Yuxi said sincerely, ¡°Give me 12,000 yuan and I¡¯ll do a double job. Thank you!¡± Xu Le knew that she was joking. The next day, the two of them woke up early and sent Xu Tian to school. They went to the wholesale market. Xu Le hadn¡¯t found a suitable supplier before, so he wanted to find one and get the other party to provide the delivery service. This way, he could save a lot of time from buying groceries. After walking around, he bought all the tofu, chili, tomato eggs, and potatoes that he needed for today¡­ With two baskets full of potatoes, Xu Le saw the boss selling meat and vegetables at a low price. He was about to go up and talk to him when Lu Yuxi snapped her fingers and said, ¡°As the saying goes, a new official can start a fire three times. Boss Xu, please wait a moment. I¡¯ll go and guarantee that the negotiation will be successful.¡± Xu Le could not help but laugh. He did not expect that after getting to know the school belle who used to be gentle and serious, she would actually be¡­ a jokester? Lu Yuxi had a high EQ and knew how to talk. She was also very sweet with her words. In just a few sentences, she got the boss to give her a discount. Before she left, she didn¡¯t forget to add him on WeChat. She smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our restaurant has high demand every day. If we can establish a long-term partnership, our demand for vegetables will definitely increase gradually.¡± With Lu Yuxi joining him, even though it was crowded on the first day, Xu Le was still doing his job orderly as he was busying himself in the kitchen. Through the glass, he saw Lu Yuxi carrying dishes and cleaning the kitchen. She was so busy that her feet were not even touching the ground. At the end of the day, Lu Yuxi slumped back in her chair. After a long time, she finally came to her senses and let out a sigh. ¡°I¡¯m so tired.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Le¡¯s cooking in the system space was equivalent to training his body. After practising for a long time, he was full of energy. Even if he was busy for a day, he wouldn¡¯t feel tired. ¡°I¡¯ve sent out the news of hiring a cleaner today, and I¡¯ve set up a small application. Usually, customers order dishes in the restaurant. But there are too many people and it¡¯s too noisy. Sometimes, it¡¯s easy to mix things up¡­ Look.¡± As Lu Yuxi spoke, she pushed her phone over. There was an application for ordering food on the screen. She did a demonstration and said, ¡°There are only these few dishes and staple food being sold in the restaurant. If you want to add more in the future, I can just add them in..¡± Chapter 71 - The Food Industry Media Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le gave Lu Yuxi a thumbs up because of her capability and meticulousness. ¡°Amazing.¡± Lu Yuxi smiled and lowered her head to continue coding the program. She planned to make a QR code and paste it on every table. This way, it would be more convenient to order and less likely for mistakes to occur. After busying herself for a while, she looked at Xu Le with one hand supporting her face and muttered, ¡°You¡¯re the awesome one. You have a house and a shop at such a young age, and you¡¯re so capable. At your age, I¡¯m still playing house and playing with my friends.¡± As she spoke, she couldn¡¯t help but shake her head and sigh, ¡°Each generation is really getting more and more capable¡­¡± ¡°Ding dong.¡± Someone pushed open the door and entered. Xu Le did not even turn his head as he said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, we are already closed for business. Please come back tomorrow.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Zhang Heng was dressed in a tailored suit that made him look like an entrepreneur. He went up and said happily, ¡°Congratulations, little Master Chef. At the Beijing Food Expo, you managed to achieve the second position in the industry. Now, everyone in the industry is talking about your background and talent.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Le smiled politely and thought to himself, ¡®Isn¡¯t that all because I spent effort and hard work in the system and practised all of it bit by bit?¡¯ ¡°By the way, Uncle Zhang, how¡¯s the research and development of the imitation crab?¡± ¡°The few of them have been practising to attain the texture for half a month. I specially came here today to talk about this.¡± Zhang Heng took out a vacuum-packed bag and handed it to Xu Le. ¡°This is based on your suggestion ¨C vaccuum-packing it to preserve the freshness of the food. After experimenting with that, and using ice pack to transport, the taste will be very fresh even after three to five days, and there won¡¯t be any problems with the texture.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Xu Le opened the bag and saw that the vacuum pack inside still contained condensation water. It must have taken out of the freezer not long ago. He poured the contents onto a plate and then put it in the microwave to heat it up. Zhang Heng crossed his arms and said, ¡°The taste they made is almost the same as yours. It¡¯s very similar to crabs, and the most important thing is that it has a low cost. If it is sold online, the price doesn¡¯t need to be set very high. It just needs to be distributed in batches of a few hundred per day.¡± The microwave rang twice, and when the glass door was opened, the aroma filled the air. It was extremely fresh and tender. Xu Le found two pairs of chopsticks, brought the plate over, and picked up a piece to taste. It was the ideal taste. It was very close to the freshness and sweetness of the crab meat. Although it was still a little lacking compared to the taste he made, they must have put in a lot of effort to be able to practice it to this extent in half a month. He nodded and said, ¡°This will be definitely be popular if it was sold online.¡± Lu Yuxi glanced at the food on the plate. She knew that they were discussing business and was too embarrassed to ask for it. Xu Le pushed the plate over and gave her a new pair of chopsticks. ¡°Do you want to try it?¡± ¡°Are these crabs? It takes a lot of effort to shave the meat so clean.¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhang Heng was very satisfied with her reaction. ¡°It¡¯s imitation crab made from fried eggs.¡± Lu Yuxi exclaimed. Zhang Heng said, ¡°I have a presumptuous request. Since it¡¯s already been put up for sale, why don¡¯t you take this opportunity to do a live broadcast? It won¡¯t take long, half an hour will do. I¡¯ll give you a generous commission.¡± Xu Le was interested. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll contact a popular live-streamer for you. You can cooperate with him in the livestream and appear for half an hour. That¡¯ll help the Giant Crab raise its brand reputation. I will pay you this amount.¡± Seeing him extend his hand, Lu Yuxi asked curiously, ¡°Are you giving him 5,000 yuan?¡± ¡°No, 50,000 after tax.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Lu Yuxi was excited and her eyes lit up. She turned to Xu Le and said, ¡°It¡¯s 50,000 yuan!¡± Zhang Heng pointed out a few more things to take note of and said that someone would come to pick him up to go through the procedures. Then, he left. Xu Le glanced at Lu Yuxi and was slightly unhappy with her sudden interruption. ¡°I haven¡¯t agreed yet, why did you agree on my behalf?¡± ¡°50,000 yuan for half an hour is the 10-days profit of the shop¡¯s business. It¡¯s a waste not to take advantage of it. Don¡¯t worry, I can work as your manager in the future. I won¡¯t let you suffer at all!¡± Xu Le laughed and shook his head as he mumbled, ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Yuxi gestured with her hands and hinted, ¡°Then the manager¡¯s salary¡­¡± Xu Le pretended to be deaf and said, ¡°I have the intention of starting a TikTok account. The popularity on the Internet comes and goes quickly. If I don¡¯t manage it well, I might lose popularity soon.¡± He had relied on the live-streamer¡¯s visit to his store and the competition footage to become a hot topic on TikTok. If he did not appear for a long time, before long, he would be forgotten by the rapidly changing online environment. ¡°Then what kind of content do you want to do?¡± Xu Le was stunned and frowned at this question. ¡°Let me explain it this way. There are two types of gourmet videos that I often watch. The first type is the tutorial type. In other words, with subtitles, special effects and post-production editing, it will produce content similar to a variety show. It also needs to be combined with currently popular trends and funny jokes.¡± Lu Yuxi supported her chin with her hand and continued, ¡°There¡¯s another type that¡¯s more relatable. There won¡¯t be any background music, and it¡¯s an extremely fast clip. Oh right, there¡¯s another type of immersive cooking. Which one do you choose?¡± ¡°Recording the cooking tutorials itself will teach the fans how to cook. The more direct and concise the presentation method, the better.¡± Xu Le shared his thoughts and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have and I don¡¯t intend to form a special team to shoot the tutorial. Let¡¯s just try using the phone camera.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Yuxi took out her phone and said, ¡°You have to believe in my post-production skills.¡± Xu Le went to get the apron. ¡°Have you worked in the editing industry before?¡± Lu Yuxi said confidently, ¡°I am a professional photoshopper for my social media.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Le was looking for ingredients that could be used in the fridge and freezer. Since it was a tutorial for the masses, the recipe should be something easy to learn, and the dish should be something most people love to eat and visually appealing. He found a piece of fresh beef that he had just bought that day. They had basically settled their three meals for the day in the restaurant. He bought other ingredients, but there was always no time to use them. He looked at the beef and had an idea. He said, ¡°Do you want to eat supper? Go and steam two bowls of rice. I¡¯ll make a dish for dinner.¡± ¡°Steamed rice is fine, but you can have supper alone. I am not eating, it¡¯ll make me fat.¡± Lu Yuxi took out her phone and adjusted the parameters of the video. She aimed it at the chopping board in his hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take a close-up shot of you cutting the meat first. Three, two, one, action.¡± The red beef had a firm texture and was cut into thin slices by the sharp blade. Every slice was very uniform and the process was simply a blessing to people who liked things to be neat and orderly. Xu Le explained, ¡°First step, marinate the beef first..¡± Chapter 72 - First Time Editing Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Add in two spoons of light soy sauce, a small amount of salt to season the flavor, and then add an appropriate amount of starch, an egg white, and a spoonful of edible oil. This will stimulate the freshness of the beef to the greatest extent. After stirring it evenly, put it aside for 15 minutes.¡± As he spoke, he took out a side dish and said, ¡°This is bean sprouts and celtuce. There aren¡¯t too many requirements for the side dish. If you have beancurd skin and enoki mushrooms at home, you can replace them according to our own tastes.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he processed the ingredients. He cut the celtuce and sliced it. His rhythm when cutting the vegetables was uniform and he had excellent cutting skills. ¡°Put the ingredients into the pot and boil them. Depending on the power of your fire, you just need to turn it off once it¡¯s cooked. I¡¯ll be done in about two minutes.¡± Xu Le explained. He was eloquent in his tutorial. He did not have the hypocritical air, nor did he use many professional terms. No matter if it was a child or an adult, they could understand him immediately. Furthermore, his voice sounded like a child¡¯s, and he was teaching someone how to cook with a serious face. The contrast made Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes light up. She exclaimed in her heart: So cute! ¡°When pouring oil into the pot, you need to use more than usual. The spices are minced garlic, chopped onions, and dried chili and pepper with seeds removed. I¡¯m using the stir-fried chili oil in the shop to mix with the Konjac noodles. At home, you can use bean paste or hotpot base to replace it. It will achieve the same effect. This dish does not have so many inflexible requirements.¡± He turned on the fume hood, and the oil was heated up to 70 to 80 percent hot. He began to pour the minced garlic in. Then, he added the chili oil and slightly stir-fried it until the oil turned red. Then, he added 50 grams of dried chili and 15 grams of pepper. ¡°You don¡¯t have to cook it for too long. Just let the aroma waft out. This is the base ingredient that we need to cook the boiled beef. If you can¡¯t eat spicy food, you can choose the chilli type with a low level of spiciness, or you can put less.¡± ¡°Then,¡± Xu Le picked up the kettle and gestured. ¡°Add 1.5 liters of clear water, pour it in, and wait for it to boil. ¡° The red oil in the pot bubbled, and the chili was boiling. The spicy fragrance made people drool. As Lu Yuxi filmed, she whispered, ¡°It smells so good. It¡¯s like eating hotpot.¡± ¡°The cooking method itself is similar to the base of the hotpot, but this way, it will be simpler and more convenient, such that you can also eat delicious boiled beef at home. Moreover, the ones you make yourself will definitely be more hygienic.¡± As Xu Le waited for the soup to boil, he remembered that there were still frozen beef balls and fishballs in the fridge. He took them out and said to the camera, ¡°These are all handmade meatballs, they are chewy and bouncy. I will add a picture of the production method and add to the side of the video. If everyone finds it troublesome, you can also buy them from the supermarket.¡± After the soup was boiled, Xu Le put the meatballs into the pot and picked up the marinated beef in the glass bowl. Lu Yuxi immediately understood and walked over to give a close-up shot. The beef was cut thin, and after marinating it, it was tender and smooth. When it was placed in the pot to be cooked, the edges would curl up. The scene of the beef being cooked was especially healing to watch. ¡°Wait until the ingredients are completely cooked¡­ Of course, if you cannot tell when that happens, you can pick one piece to try.¡± As Xu Le introduced, he picked up a beef ball from the pot and took a bite. The fillings inside immediately burst out with juice. The fragrance and oil permeated the air. He moved closer to the camera and gave a close-up shot. The meat of the beef balls was firm and the fillings were mixed with onions. The taste was just right and there was no smell at all. One bite and the gravy would explode outwards. Lu Yuxi looked at him and could not help but lick her lips. Xu Le was teasing her on purpose. She glared at him and said, ¡°I¡¯m not eating! I want to lose weight. I won¡¯t eat supper even if you beat me to death.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Le placed the vegetables that he had just cooked into the bottom of the bowl and poured the boiled beef into the bowl. He then said, ¡°Now, lay the chopped green onions, minced garlic, and some dried chili peppers flat on the boiled meat slices. Try to put them together so that you can pour oil over later.¡± ¡°Take another small pot, pour some oil into it and boil it until it¡¯s smoking.¡± Then, he poured the hot oil on the spices covering the bowl. Instantly, the fragrance of the condiments filled the bowl. ¡°Alright, in less than half an hour, you will be able to finish cooking a dish of boiled beef that looks, smells, and tastes good. It looks like a grand dish, but it¡¯s actually very simple, isn¡¯t it?¡± Xu Le was interacting with the audience through the camera, but behind the phone, there was only Lu Yuxi, who kept smiling. She said, ¡°I¡¯ll cut out the words I said, but you¡¯re really too fun. If I can get a child like you, I¡¯ll go crazy!¡± Xu Le was speechless for a moment. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much.¡± ¡°Just kidding.¡± Lu Yuxi excitedly went to scoop the rice. Xu Le looked at the two bowls in her hands. ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want to eat?¡± ¡°Of course I won¡¯t eat it. I¡¯ll try it for you.¡± Lu Yuxi argued. The burning hot thin beef slices, wrapped in red oil, when placed into her mouth, filled all her taste buds with spicyness and numbness. Lu Yuxi spoke unclearly while eating, ¡°It¡¯s so delicious that I can fly!¡± Xu Le was often praised for his works when he participated in competitions. He said with slight disdain, ¡°Can¡¯t you give some professional comments?¡± ¡°Cooking genius Xu Lele! I am crazy for you and willing to hit a wall for you¡­¡± Xu Le was so embarrassed that he couldn¡¯t say anything. ¡°Let¡¯s just eat in peace.¡± The fishball was tender and floated on the bowl. It was difficult to pick it up with chopsticks. He poked it with the tip of the chopsticks and put it into his mouth. It was so fresh that it made his eyebrows almost drop. The side dishes, especially the bean sprouts, were fragrant, spicy, and covered with red oil. Lu Yuxi lowered her head and finished the rice in no time. She said contentedly, ¡°It¡¯s delicious. I feel that the essence of the side dish is still from this green bean sprout. It¡¯s especially good to eat with rice.¡± ¡°Yes, I noticed that.¡± Xu Le looked at her empty bowl and said, ¡°There¡¯s more. Why don¡¯t you go get another bowl of rice?¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t tempt me! Even if I have to jump out of the window today, I won¡¯t eat another bite.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Le lowered his head and enjoyed the fruits of his labor. The beef was tender and smooth. It was so addictive that he could not stop eating at all. Two minutes later, Lu Yuxi scooped a new bowl of rice. She ate with the boiled beef in big mouthfuls. When they returned, Xu Tian was already home from school. She had fallen asleep by the coffee table with a fairy tale book under her arm. Lu Yuxi brought her to take a shower and changed into her pajamas before sending her to Xu Le¡¯s bedroom. ¡°Go to sleep quickly after reading Tian Tian two stories. You¡¯ve been busy for the whole day. Both of you should rest.¡± With that, she turned around and closed the door. She went back to her bed to edit the film. She opened the most basic editing software, added the subtitles, and simply adjusted the color.. Chapter 73 - Boiled Beef Slices Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The next morning, after Xu Le had finished braiding his sister¡¯s hair, Xu Tian said, ¡°It¡¯s crooked.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Xu Le held her soft little face and looked left and right, saying, ¡°It¡¯s not crooked, it looks straight and so nice.¡± Lu Yuxi came out of the bedroom with two dark circles under her eyes. When she saw Xu Tian¡¯s hairstyle, she burst out laughing. She stepped forward to help Xu Tian untie her hair and said, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell your brother that he had tied your hair too tightly? Even her eyes are raised higher. The child¡¯s hair can¡¯t be tied so high. Otherwise, she¡¯ll become bald at a young age.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t become bald!¡± Xu Tian waved her little fists and retorted, ¡°My dad is so handsome! My mom is also pretty. Look at my brother now. He¡¯s definitely going to be good-looking in the future.¡± Xu Le did not know whether to laugh or cry at the compliment. He could only nod and agree with her. ¡°Yes, you have a point.¡± Lu Yuxi rolled her eyes. ¡°I edited the film last night. Anyway, it¡¯s the best I can do. Take a look first and see if there¡¯s anything lacking before I change it.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le was pleasantly surprised by her efficiency. He clicked on the 1080P clip and saw the words ¡°Boiled Beef Slices¡± flashing at the start of the video. It even had a cartoon-like animation as it slided across the screen. Next was the video of the cooking tutorial. There were subtitles with white letters at the bottom and blue words would appear from time to time. Halfway through the video, Lu Yuxi¡¯s voice suddenly interrupted. Lu Yuxi explained, ¡°When I edited the editing for the second time, I specially left my voice recording inside. I think it should be a joke and the audience will like it. If you don¡¯t want that, I can remove it too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s quite good, it¡¯s like I have another supporting performer and what I say would have a response.¡± After Xu Le finished watching, he was very satisfied with the quality of the video and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s upload it on the social media platform today.¡± ¡°Alright, you can change the title first.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Add a bracket at the back of the title and type in the date and time of your livestream. For your first livestream, there will definitely be a lot of fans watching.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Half an hour after the video was uploaded, the number of likes had exceeded 100,000. Xu Le was busy with his store business and had no time to look at his phone. It wasn¡¯t until a streamer approached him to take a photo with him that he started to talk about the video. ¡°Master Chef, you¡¯re going to live-stream the day after tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Le prepared a bowl of Mapo Tofu Rice and handed it to Lu Yuxi through the window. ¡°Number 1755, please come and get your meal.¡± Hearing the familiar voice, the host immediately asked excitedly, ¡°Is this young lady the one who recorded the video for you?¡± Xu Le didn¡¯t answer because he didn¡¯t know if Lu Yuxi was willing to appear in front of the camera, so he wanted to wait for her to make the decision. ¡°Oh my, you must be Little Bei, right? I¡¯ve seen your video before. There was a episode where you went to eat stewed rice noodles and it left a deep impression on me.¡± She made the first move and exclaimed with emotion from the bottom of her heart, completely confusing the host. Naturally, Lu Yuxi¡¯s looks were undeniably beautiful. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been selected as the school belle back then. She wore a simple white shirt paired with jeans. Her hair was tied into a bun, and she wore a custom-made apron from the eight-year-old cafeteria. Under her fluffy French bangs, her eyes curved into crescents and her smile was charming. It immediately caused the live-stream to be in an uproar as everyone asked who she was. Little Bei noticed that he had been diverted away from the question and directly turned the camera to Xu Le. He asked, ¡°Then what tutorial are you planning next? Can you allow the viewers in the live-stream to give you some suggestions?¡± Xu Le nodded. The live-stream started to spam with comments. There were many suggesting Buddha jumps over the wall, Golden sauce abalone, lotus crisp, and other time-consuming dishes, which they might not be able to prepare at home. Xu Le looked around and said, ¡°Braised pork? Braised pork is good. I¡¯ll teach you how to cook braised pork next time. Goodbye.¡± He smiled as he hinted for the streamer to leave. The streamer knew that there were people waiting in line to eat, so he could only give up and bid farewell with a smile. He was busy all the way until noon when it was past lunchtime. There was finally some time to rest in the store. Lu Yuxi was lying on the table, so tired that she didn¡¯t want to talk. When she saw Xu Le, who was sitting upright, she asked in surprise, ¡°Why do you seem like a little superman who¡¯s never tired? Oh right, did you see the most popular comment under the video? It has already exceeded 500,000 likes. It will be trending on TikTok soon.¡± Xu Le opened the comments section. ¡°Hahahaha, I¡¯d rather die than eat it. It smells so good!¡± ¡°Sister Zhenxiang¡¯s voice is so nice.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m guilty, the law will punish me, instead of letting me watch this video at two in the morning.¡± ¡°It smells so good! Hurry up and feed it into my mouth!¡± ¡°I¡¯m so hungry that I¡¯m almost drooling. I¡¯m opening the delivery app and placing my order at the fastest speed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach everyone a simple tutorial. Save the videos, then call me ¡®Mum¡¯.¡± ¡°I really want to pay a visit to the little Master Chef¡¯s store.¡± ¡°The tutorial is already out. Will the restaurant serve this dish?¡± ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ve already finished two bowls of rice while watching the video.¡± The trending comments were filled with people who were drooling and eager to try. The video¡¯s effect was surprisingly good. There weren¡¯t many fancy special effects, and the focus was on the cooking of boiled beef. The response to the first tutorial was not bad. Xu Le was filled with a great sense of satisfaction. The popularity of the video continued until he went to Li Jiaqi¡¯s live-stream. The number of likes had already exceeded 1 million. The broadcast started at 8 pm, and he only arrived at 7 pm. As he was going to stay for only a short period of time, there wasn¡¯t much procedures to go through. Zhang Heng had received 100,000 orders, and just the delivery alone would take three months. After all, it was a dish that had been served on Taste of China before. At that time, when they heard the praises from the judges and the other people in the industry through the screen, it made the audience extremely curious about the taste of the imitation crabs. Just how similar was it to crab meat? How could it be so miraculous? Li Jiaqi lived up to his reputation of being a human trumpet. Xu Le, who was sitting next to him, felt his ears buzzing as he listened to Li Jiaqi introduce the products. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this is the famous imitation crab on variety shows. It was created by a little chef who is only eight years old. Now it is jointly produced with Giant Crab, so you can also place an order through link number 3 and eat very fresh imitation crab!¡± ¡°Everyone, this has already been heated up. You can simply serve it after placing it in the microwave for two minutes. I shall have a taste now and describe its taste.¡± ¡°My¡­ Heavens!¡± Li Jiaqi almost couldn¡¯t help but curse out loud once he took a bite, ¡°How did you make it? I can guarantee that there are no additives on the ingredient list. It¡¯s all made by Giant Crab then urgently dispatched to us. It tastes so much like crabs! I wouldn¡¯t have known if you didn¡¯t tell me that it¡¯s actually eggs..¡± Chapter 74 - Selling Products On Live Stream Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you being too exaggerating?¡± The assistants were joining in to liven up the atmosphere. Some of them were also curious and came over to have a taste. Then, they immediately widened their eyes and exclaimed, ¡°Amazing! I want to shoot it later too!¡± ¡°Alright, everyone, I¡¯m going to put them on sale immediately. Everyone, get ready!¡± ¡°Link 3, 100,000 orders in total. There won¡¯t be additional stocks after it¡¯s sold out. Five, four, three, two, one¡­¡± The operations team looked up in shock and gestured to Li Jiaqi in the live-stream. ¡°There¡¯s no more?¡± ¡°¡­No, they are all sold out instantly.¡± Li Jiaqi and Xu Le looked at each other and laughed awkwardly. They had reserved half an hour for this segment and only five minutes had passed. Are they going to forcefully have awkward conversations next? Li Jiaqi suddenly thought of an idea and said, ¡°We had a pot in the last round. It¡¯s an imported German potware. There¡¯s also some instant food in the live-stream. Why don¡¯t we give a tutorial and make it for everyone?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± This was not arranged beforehand so Xu Le was also quite confused. The staff searched around and found a bag of noodles, some stewed rice noodles, steamed rice, and large onions. He had sold steak in the live-stream before, so there were also black pepper sauce, salt, soy sauce, and other common ingredients. Xu Le stood up and said, ¡°Let me make the simplest and easiest [Mixed onion with oil noodles] for everyone.¡± There was almost no requirement for technical skills for this dish. As he cooked, he explained, ¡°Just put the noodles in the pot and cook them well. For those who don¡¯t cook often, if you can¡¯t tell if the noodles are cooked, just add water three times after the noodles are boiled. Basically, they will be cooked thoroughly then. It¡¯s not good to cook noodles for a long time. Otherwise, they will become soggy.¡± ¡°There¡¯s another trick. When you cook noodles, add some salt in it. After it¡¯s out of the pot, rinse with some cold water and mix it evenly with a little bit of fragrant oil. This way, the noodles will be more chewy.¡± Li Jiaqi chimed in, ¡°Everyone, quickly write it down in your notebooks, especially the young people who live alone. It¡¯s too troublesome to cook alone. The mixed onion with oil noodles are simple and convenient to make. You have to learn it quickly!¡± He watched as Xu Le fished out the noodles and said, ¡°Are we going to boil the onion and oil now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Le poured oil into the pot and cut the scallion into slices. ¡°Before you fry the scallion, if there¡¯s too much water on it, you need to use the kitchen towel to absorb it dry. Otherwise, there will be oil splattering out.¡± He placed the fresh green onions into the pot and started a small fire. He only fished them out when they were slightly brown. Then, he prepared a small bowl and poured some oyster sauce into it. He then added a spoonful of white sugar and mixed it with a small amount of water. He poured it into the onion oil and boiled it until small bubbles formed. Someone started to raise their doubts on the bullet screen. ¡°It¡¯s just a bunch of soy sauce. It¡¯s not difficult at all. How can it be delicious?¡± ¡°The one who commented, the fragrance of the noodles are all in the scallion oil. The main focus is the scallion.¡± ¡°Are they really not serving anymore imitation crab? I really want to try it.¡± ¡°No, who is he? Why do I see him every day? Every time he cooks, there¡¯s someone acting together with him. They keep bragging about his cooking but it looks so fake.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even get to eat it through the screen. What right do you have to say it¡¯s fake?¡± ¡°If you want to verify, you can go to Hongxing Road¡¯s eight-year-old cafeteria. It will definitely be so delicious that your jaw will drop. There must be a reason why he became famous!¡± Xu Le did not know what was going on, but he did not want to argue with anyone either. After he focused on boiling the scallion oil, he said, ¡°If everyone adds another pot, we can add some garlic in it. After stir-frying it, there will be garlic fragrance. After boiling the scallion oil, we can pour it into the noodles and mix it evenly.¡± ¡°Those who like to eat scallions can also add some of the top part of the onions.¡± Xu Le swiftly mixed the contents in a big bowl. The staff beside him could not wait any longer. Many people took out disposable cups for drinking water and waited for him to feed them. Li Jiaqi shouted, ¡°I am the boss! I have been staring at you for a long time. Let me have a bite first!¡± The noodles were bright red and looked appetizing. Li Jiaqi took a mouthful and put it into his mouth. The simple and thick scallion oil, coupled with the noodles and the white sugar extract, was very salty and fresh. The first bite was nothing much, but when he took the second bite, it was as if he was addicted and could not stop eating. He took a few bites consecutively and kept praising. He said, ¡°Everyone, you must learn it! This is really too delicious. I announce that this is the supper I am going to have after finishing work tonight. You must try it yourself!¡± Xu Le watched as they came up to split up the mixed onion with oil noodles. There were a few strands of noodles left in the bowl, but they were all quickly picked up by the staff. He was a little flattered and smiled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys too kind with me?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s really delicious.¡± ¡°Yeah, the taste of the scallion oil is too good.¡± ¡°In the future, if we don¡¯t order take-out at night, we can still make a convenient and delicious supper.¡± After finally using up all the time, Xu Le waved goodbye to the audience in the livestream room and went out. Lu Yuxi was squatting outside playing with her phone. When she saw him, she said excitedly, ¡°The mixed onion with oil noodles you made just now look so tempting. It¡¯s already past 10 p.m. Why don¡¯t we go have supper?¡± Xu Le finished his work successfully and was in a good mood. He said, ¡°With me around, why are you still going out for supper?¡± ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the supermarket to buy some ingredients. Give Xu Tian a call and ask if she wants anything to eat.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After two rings, Xu Tian answered the call. ¡°Hello, Sister Lu, are you and my brother coming back tonight?¡± ¡°Of course we¡¯re coming back. Where else would we stay? Tian Tian, do you have anything you want to eat? We¡¯ll bring it back for you.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to eat.¡± Xu Tian had a small appetite and rarely ate outside of the meal time. This was a good habit. Xu Le picked up the phone and gave her some reminders. ¡°Remember to finish your homework. We¡¯ll be back soon. I¡¯ll continue reading that book ¡®One thousand and one nights¡¯ for you tonight.¡± They went to the supermarket and bought a lot of snacks, drinks and ingredients. When Xu Le swiped his card, he realized that Zhang Heng had already transferred the commission to him. He thought to himself: I can afford the mortgage and take care of my younger sister with the income now. I feel so relaxed without any debts ~ When they reached home, Lu Yuxi was about to unlock the door with her fingerprint when the door opened by itself. Xu Le was shorter so as he stood behind her, his line of sight was blocked by the shopping bags. Lu Yuxi took a step back and asked in a trembling voice, ¡°Why are you here? I didn¡¯t even tell you before.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I come?¡± Ms. Li adjusted her glasses and said, ¡°Come in first. I came over without informing anyone just now and it was Xu Tian who opened the door. Xu Le, did you go shopping?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± After entering the house, Xu Le suddenly felt the atmosphere become gloomy. He thought of the complicated family relationship between Lu Yuxi and Ms. Li. He didn¡¯t give it much thought. He left the living room for them and plunged into the kitchen himself.. Chapter 75 - Warm Daily Life Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Your brother-in-law and I work outside during the day. We won¡¯t stay at home for long. Even if you go back to stay, it won¡¯t affect you.¡± ¡°Sis.¡± Lu Yuxi lowered her head and swiped her phone. ¡°You should know very well why I moved out, right? Don¡¯t use these excuses anymore.¡± Ms. Li choked. Xu Tian tugged at Lu Yuxi¡¯s hand and dragged her into the kitchen. ¡°Sister Lu, let¡¯s go see what Brother is cooking.¡± After Xu Le arranged all the vegetables and meat in the fridge, there were all sorts of snacks and drinks on the table. When he saw Xu Tian enter, he immediately covered the chocolate on the side. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you want supper?¡± Xu Tian¡¯s eyes were sharp. ¡°Chocolate!¡± ¡°No, eating this at night will cause tooth decay.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll brush my teeth after eating.¡± Xu Tian hugged his thigh and blinked her innocent eyes. ¡°Please, brother.¡± Xu Le did not even dare to lower her head, afraid that he would melt and give in under her gaze. He insisted, ¡°No means no. Why is Ms. Li here tonight?¡± ¡°Anyway, she didn¡¯t specially come for me.¡± Lu Yuxi crossed her arms and looked downcast. She said, ¡°I don¡¯t have the appetite to eat anymore. If you want to eat, cook for yourself. Sorry.¡± As for the conflict between family members, Xu Le had never experienced it before and didn¡¯t know how to persuade them. He only replied with an ¡°oh¡±. Then he carried Xu Tian out of the kitchen and into the living room. Lu Yuxi went back to her room. When Ms. Li saw him, she stood up and said in a hurry, ¡°Congratulations. I saw you win another award for the competition. You¡¯re really impressive. But at your age, aren¡¯t you going to continue studying in school?¡± Xu Le shook his head and found a random excuse. ¡°My parents will arrange it for me in the future. Ms. Li, it¡¯s almost 12 o¡¯clock. Is there anything urgent?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Ms. Li said, ¡°Xu Tian doesn¡¯t need to go to class tomorrow morning. The school is holding a charity sale in the afternoon as a parent-child activity. They want the parents to make some snacks that the child likes and then sell them at the school. The money will ultimately be donated to poor people in the area to buy books.¡± ¡°I thought that your cooking skills are pretty good, so I would like to ask you to represent our class and fight for an award.¡± Before Xu Le could answer, Lu Yuxi¡¯s door opened. She stood out and said, ¡°Sister, don¡¯t be too selfish. Even if your class wins an award, it¡¯s only a few hundred yuan. If Xu Le doesn¡¯t open his store, he¡¯ll lose a few thousand yuan¡­¡± ¡°Be quiet first.¡± Xu Le immediately told her not to say anything. Otherwise, if they were to quarrel later, it would be a headache. He said, ¡°I agree to it, Ms. Li, because I want to spend more time with my sister.¡± After all, all the parents would be present at such a large-scale parent-child event. If Xu Tian did not have any relatives to accompany her, she might be mocked by the children. Xu Le insisted on participating because of this. Ms. Li¡¯s expression turned ugly after Lu Yuxi saw through her thoughts, but she was not embarrassed. She simply said nothing and turned to leave after glancing at Lu Yuxi. When the door was completely closed, Lu Yuxi squatted down and wailed loudly. Xu Tian was stunned and hurriedly went over to comfort her. ¡°Sister Lu, what¡¯s wrong with you? If you have any grievances, tell us. If anyone bullies you, my brother will definitely beat them so that they won¡¯t come back!¡± In Xu Tian¡¯s eyes, Xu Le was simply omnipotent! Lu Yuxi waved her hand, not wanting to be disturbed. She turned around and went back to her room, saying that she was going to sleep. Xu Tian lay on the bed, still very worried about her. ¡°Brother, why do you think people cry?¡± Xu Le was stunned by her mature question. He pinched the tip of her nose and said, ¡°Quickly go to sleep. I¡¯ll accompany you to the school for the charity sale tomorrow. Can you bring Sister Lu along to play games with you?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Tian asked in her babyish voice, ¡°What delicious food are you making tomorrow? I want to eat cola chicken wings, wolf fang potatoes, and¡­¡± As she spoke, her voice softened and she gradually closed her eyes to sleep. Xu Le picked up his phone and sent a WeChat message to Lu Yuxi. ¨C Are you okay? ¨C I¡¯m fine now. I lost my composure just now. ¨C Do you want to go for the sale tomorrow? ¨C Yeah. ¨C What snacks do you want to eat? I¡¯ll make them for you. ¨C Chicken feet. I want to chew on chicken feet. ¨C Sure, anyway I bought it today. Lu Yuxi sent a smiling emoji and said, ¡°Goodnight.¡± Xu Le couldn¡¯t sleep, so he went into the system and browsed through the list of home-cooked dishes from before. There were all kinds of dishes that suited the taste of the masses and were good choices to be added to the menu. As for the next day¡¯s charity sale, not only did it have to suit the taste of children, it also couldn¡¯t be food that were difficult to swallow like jelly and bones. After Xu Le chose for a while, he finally decided and started practicing in the system. The next morning, Lu Yuxi was woken up by the noise in the kitchen. She was wearing a pair of slippers and her hair was messy. Her eyes were slightly swollen from crying and her lips were dry and red. Xu Le was using a sharp razor to ¡®fight¡¯ with the skipjack tuna in his hand. He turned around and saw her. He was stunned for a moment. ¡°Your pajamas are so childish.¡± ¡°Pfft! This is called cute, do you understand?¡± Lu Yuxi bickered with him and her mood obviously improved. She said, ¡°People buy skipjack tuna that has been processed. Why is it like the Japanese restaurant here? This kind of thing needs to be specially shaved with a paring knife. Ordinary knives can¡¯t cut it.¡± ¡°Ah? When I was cleaning the cabinet, I saw this. It should be left behind by my dad, probably because he was planning to cook oden. I originally wanted to cook spicy hotpot, but I was worried that many children can¡¯t eat spicy food. Go wash your face and come help me.¡± ¡°Boss, I want to apply for overtime pay.¡± Xu Le almost laughed out of anger. He turned around and looked at her speechlessly. ¡°Alright, alright. Come over and help first. I will definitely pay you for overtime.¡± Lu Yuxi went to wash up happily and helped Xu Tian, who had just woken up, comb her hair and change her clothes. She did not need to wear the kindergarten uniform that day. Xu Tian took out a white lace tutu skirt and put it on. She spun around happily and said, ¡°Sister Lu, do I look like a white lotus?¡± This was not a compliment. Lu Yuxi suppressed her laughter and corrected her. ¡°You¡¯re like a cute¡­¡± Before she could say finish saying ¡®bunny¡¯, Xu Le, who was wearing a pair of disposable gloves, poked his head out. He looked at Xu Tian and said, ¡°You look like a big goose.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Xu Tian angrily put her hands on her hips. ¡°Bad brother, I¡¯m not going to be friends with you anymore! I¡¯m not a big white goose!¡± Xu Le deliberately teased her and said mischievously, ¡°Yes, yes, yes. Tian Tian is a swan, but she looked like an ugly duckling when she was young.¡± ¡°Wow! Sister Lu, did you see him bullying me?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Lu Yuxi squatted down and smiled. Outside the window, Xu Le was packing the ingredients and cooking. Lu Yuxi caressed Xu Tian¡¯s hair and felt extremely warm. The emptiness in her heart was also filled up.. Chapter 76 - The Recipe for Chicken Feet and Preparing Oden Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After Xu Le spent ten minutes on the skipjack tuna, there was still not a single piece of scales removed. He panted heavily and said, ¡°Stop playing for a while and help me see how I should deal with this thing.¡± Lu Yuxi bounced over and seemed as though she was watching a show. ¡°Hehe, who can stump the little Master Chef?¡± The system always provided Xu Le with the processed skipjack tuna while the one he had was collected by his father. Without tools, it was impossible to remove the scales. ¡°Do you want to buy a scaling box now?¡± Lu Yuxi took out her phone and searched through the shopping app. Her eyes immediately widened as she said, ¡°I think it¡¯s more convenient to go out and buy the processed skipjack tuna.¡± Xu Le looked at the price on the app. It cost from a few hundred to a thousand yuan. He immediately agreed with Lu Yuxi¡¯s suggestion. ¡°We should know what to save on. Skipjack tuna slices are the same, even their preservation method is the same, so there should not be any difference in taste.¡± The two of them reached a consensus immediately. Lu Yuxi dragged Xu Tian to the supermarket to purchase some ingredients that they had not bought. Before they left the house, Xu Le was still reading her a list of items. ¡°Passionfruit, cinnamon, skipjack tuna, and some carrotsa€| Remember, Tiantian is growing out her teeth now, so don¡¯t buy her any sweet food.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Lu Yuxi held onto the railings at the porch as she changed her shoes. When Xu Tian heard that her brother did not allow her to eat sweet food, she turned around and made a face at him. ¡°Bleh bleh bleh¡­¡± ¡°You heartless little thing, aren¡¯t I taking care of your teeth?¡± Xu Le did not know whether to laugh or cry. He turned around and walked into the kitchen to prepare the chicken feet that Lu Yuxi wanted to eat. The chicken feet was soaked in the water for 20 minutes in advance. He washed away all the blood and dirt before taking them out to remove the nails. Then, he boiled a pot of boiling water. While the water was boiling, he poured the processed chicken feet into it and blanched it. This step required him to boil it for about eight minutes. Xu Le took advantage of this time to scoop half a basin of ice from the refrigerator and added them into ice water. After a while, there was mist forming outside the container due to the temperature difference. When the time was up, he scooped out the chicken feet and placed them into the ice water, soaking them for another 20 minutes. This step not only removed the oil on the surface of the chicken feet, but also made it more crispy. It also made it easier to remove the bones. Coincidentally, he had bought six or seven catties of chicken feet last night. Xu Le planned to cook all of them that day and bring them to school to sell as snacks. The sour and spicy lemon chicken feet was delicious but difficult to debone, so he only made one-third of the portion. He planned to use the remaining to make tiger skin chicken feet. After removing all of the chicken feet nails, he cut out some ginger and dried chili peppers and mixed them with a suitable amount of black beans. He added fresh water into the pot and poured in the chicken feet, ginger slices, and wine. After boiling it, he removed the froth. This way, he could remove most of the stench of the chicken feet. It would be ready after boiling at high heat for about two minutes. Xu Le scooped the chicken feet out of the ice water and used the kitchen paper to dry them. He also wiped the chicken feet that were about to be fried in the oil pot to prevent the oil from splashing from the pot. As for the portion that he planned to make the sour and spicy chicken feet, he kept them in the fridge to freeze it. After freezing it, the meat would take shape and it would be easier to remove the bones and not damage the appearance. Then he heated the oil until it was 70% hot. When he placed the chicken feet in, it started to be deep-fried. When the surface of the chicken skin expanded and formed bubbles, it would be ready. He poured hot water over the chicken feet. This step ensured that the chicken feet could absorb the water, expand and soften, producing beautiful tiger skin patterns. After Xu Le fried the chicken feet, he started to stir-fry the spices in the remaining oil in the pot. When the oil was 40% hot, he poured dried chili peppers, ginger slices, and black beans into the pot. After the base ingredients were stir-fried, it could be poured onto the chicken feet that were fished out of the hot water. Then, he started to season it. Xu Le skillfully put in a suitable amount of salt, 13 spices mix, soy sauce and oyster sauce, and finally a small amount of white sugar to lift the taste. After stirring it evenly, the coat of dark soy sauce on the chicken feet had already coloured the meat. It looked very tempting, but at this point, it was still not complete. He divided the chicken feet into several plates and filled them up. Then, he placed them in a steaming pot and started the fire. There were still 40 minutes before it would be ready. After it was done steaming, the taste of the sauce would completely blend into the chicken feet. The tiger skin chicken feet was just waiting to be served, and it was almost time for the sour and spicy chicken feet that was frozen in the freezer. After he took them out, he used a sharp knife to cut each toe on the back of the foot, separating the main bones from the flesh. Then, with a gentle twist, he pulled out the thickest bone. Next, he needed to change into a pair kitchen scissors to cut the toe bone and remove the bone. The process was troublesome and strenuous. It took a lot of effort just to remove the bone of a chicken feet. No matter how good Xu Le¡¯s cutting skills were, he had to be patient and do it bit by bit. Fortunately, he could concentrate fully on cooking and did not find it boring. Therefore, he finished cooking within an hour. Usually, a chef would need two to three hours to fully debone the chicken feet. The soul of the sour and spicy chicken feet lay in the perfect sauce, lemon slices, a handful of millet chili, the appropriate amount of garlic and coriander, two spoons of fragrant oil, six spoons of light soy sauce, and nine spoons of vinegar. After the mixing was done, the doorbell rang. Lu Yuxi seemed to have come back just at the right time. She showed off her shopping bag to him. ¡°I¡¯ve bought everything!¡± ¡°Give me the passionfruit. This is the last ingredient I need for the chicken feet.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Yuxi washed the passionfruit and used a fruit opener to open it. Then, she dug out the juice and yellow flesh inside. She mixed it evenly with the ingredients that she had prepared beforehand and dipped her fingers in it. She could not help but put it into her mouth to taste it and immediately tasted the extreme sourness from it. Meanwhile, Xu Tian giggled at the side. Xu Le¡¯s sharp eyes suddenly noticed that there was something that looked like white cream stuck to the corners of their mouths. It was as if they had finished eating secretly and had wiped their mouths clean. He said, ¡°What did you eat outside without telling me?¡± Xu Tian¡¯s expression stiffened, and Lu Yuxi immediately denied, ¡°No, no. Look, I¡¯ve bought the skipjack tuna. Hurry up and cook the oden. Otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to prepare it in time.¡± ¡°Wow, it smells so good! Brother, what¡¯s in the pot?¡± ¡°Tiger skin chicken feet, it¡¯s going to be ready soon. I¡¯ll let you have a taste then.¡± ¡°Mm mmh!¡± When Xu Le stopped asking, Lu Yuxi and Xu Tian looked at each other and smiled secretly. Lu Yuxi stayed in the kitchen to help out. In fact, Xu Le had already finished most of the steps and was only left with placing the ingredients through the skewers. There were rice cakes, shrimp meatball, beef balls, kelp knots, konjac jelly, beancurd roll, fish tofu and bamboo shoots ¨C all kinds of dishes that dazzled the eyes. Lu Yuxi hummed a song and began to put them on the skewers. Xu Le stood on his tiptoes as he boiled the oden soup. He poured the skipjack tuna into the water and boiled it for five minutes before scooping it out. After leaving the flavor behind, he poured in soy sauce and wine. The faint smell of alcohol quickly evaporated as the soup boiled, leaving only a rich fragrance. Steam filled the air.. Chapter 77 - Lunch Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le said, ¡°Skin the radish and cut it into pieces. Then cut it into circular shapes.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Yuxi agreed readily. As she put them on the skewers, she said, ¡°Someone came to apply for a cleaning job at the shop. It¡¯s hard to care about the hygiene when you¡¯re busy, so it¡¯s not a bad idea to get someone to help.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. You decide.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°So you¡¯re giving me the chance to be the HR?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just one employee, what are you thinking?¡± Lu Yuxi said proudly and excitedly, ¡°Hello, CEO! I announce that I¡¯m the vice president now.¡± ¡°You self-proclaimed it, right? It¡¯s just a store, and there¡¯s even a CEO¡­ Tsk tsk.¡± After Xu Le finished complaining, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. The atmosphere in the kitchen was joyous. The two of them worked together and quickly finished preparing the oden soup. They only cooked a small portion of it to try the taste while the rest were brought to school. However, Xu Le still soaked the radish in the soup in advance. Lu Yuxi saw that and asked curiously, ¡°Won¡¯t it become too soft after soaking too long in this?¡± ¡°Carrots are root-type vegetables. You can only taste the flavour after soaking them for some time.¡± Without a main dish, they would definitely not be full after a whole afternoon of labour. Xu Le said, ¡°You and Tiantian wait for another half an hour, then take the chicken feet out to eat first. I¡¯ll make something else.¡± ¡°How can I do that? I¡¯ll stay and help you¡­¡± Before Lu Yuxi could finish speaking, he lifted the lid of the pot. The fragrance of the tiger skin chicken feet wafted into her nostrils, causing her to forget what she wanted to say. She stared eagerly at the bright red and perfectly patterned tiger skin on the chicken feet. There was gravy hanging from the chicken feet. She wondered what it would taste like if she took a bite. ¡°Yes. I made it for you. You don¡¯t have to hold it in anymore. Take it.¡± Xu Le passed the plate over and Lu Yuxi reached out to take it. He retracted his hand and reminded, ¡°Place something underneath it!¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Lu Yuxi found a clean cloth to cover the edge of the plate before bringing it to the dining table. She picked up a chicken foot anxiously and chewed on the bone. The moment it entered her mouth, the bones were immediately separated. The sweet taste of the sauce mixed with the chewiness of the chicken tendon. It was so chewy that it was really satisfying to eat. Xu Tian reached out to pick one of them, but as a child, her skin was soft and tender. She frowned from the heat and immediately retracted her fingers. Xu Le, who had just come out of the kitchen, happened to see this scene. He coaxed her, ¡°Tian Tian, there¡¯s something cold to eat. Did you get scalded?¡± Xu Tian pouted. ¡°Yeah, it hurts.¡± Lu Yuxi, who had finished eating one chicken foot quickly, had her cheeks puffed up. She was sucking the last bit of flavour from the bone. When she heard this, she quickly grabbed Xu Tian¡¯s hand and examined it. She found that Xu Tian¡¯s hand was fair and tender, without a single red mark left on it. She smiled and said, ¡°Oh my, this is incredible. We have to go to the hospital quickly. Otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to find the wound if we¡¯re late.¡± Xu Tian blushed and pushed her away angrily. ¡°I¡¯m not friends with Sister Lu anymore, you baddie!¡± ¡°Hahahaha ~¡± Lu Yuxi laughed loudly as she carried her up and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a small matter. Come, eat something cold. This is sour and spicy, and it doesn¡¯t have any bones, so it¡¯s easier to chew.¡± The two of them continued to coax her. Xu Tian, who was pouting and sulking, finally took a bite. The meat of the chicken feet was mixed with the sour and refreshing sauce. After putting it into her mouth, it constantly stimulated her taste buds and released a trace of spiciness. The sourness was divided into several levels. The lemon fragrance, the sourness of the vinegar, and the sweetness of the passionfruit burst forth layer by layer and lingered in her mouth. ¡°Delicious!¡± Xu Tian had the temperament of a child. When she ate something delicious, she became bright and cheerful. She waved her hand happily and said, ¡°It¡¯s delicious. Brother is so awesome. I want more!¡± ¡°Okay, there¡¯s a big plate here. There¡¯s more inside after you finish eating. Just come over and fill more.¡± As he said that, he turned around and went into the kitchen. Xu Le had woken up early and kneaded the dough until it was smooth without bubbles. Then, he made a few lotus leaf pancakes and placed them on the steamer. When he couldn¡¯t sleep last night, he had learned how to cook steamed meat. The pork belly was cut into thin and even slices. After putting in some chopped green onions and ginger slices, he then poured in oyster sauce, soy sauce, seasoning wine, fermented bean curd sauce, and a suitable amount of fine sugar. After putting on gloves and mixing them evenly, the marination was complete. Xu Tian, who was in the dining room, was particularly fond of the sour and spicy chicken feet. She usually ate very little, but that day, she had already eaten half a plate. She was even jumping around happily around the floor. Xu Le said, ¡°Does Tiantian like pumpkin or potato?¡± ¡°¡­Neither.¡± ¡°You have to eat some carbohydrates, you must choose one.¡± Xu Tian pouted and threw the question to Lu Yuxi. Lu Yuxi was still eating chicken feet with her head lowered. She looked up blankly and said, ¡°Pumpkin then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le nodded and walked back into the kitchen. The dried lotus leaves were soaked in warm water and had spread out at the bottom of the steamer. The soft and squishy pumpkin was washed and sliced into thick slices. He layered them on the lotus leaves, forming a circle. The marinated meat was covered with a layer of vermicelli and the pumpkin. Then, it was ready for steaming. Half an hour later, the lotus leaf pancake and steamed meat were served together. It was convenient and simple. When he brought it out, Xu Tian was already half full from eating chicken feet. When she smelled the fragrance, she sniffed hard and said, ¡°What¡¯s this? It smells so good.¡± Xu Le put down two plates. One was filled with lotus leaf pancakes and the other was filled with steamed meat. He said, ¡°Try it, the taste is definitely not bad. The cooking method of this dish is simple and the only ingredient required is pork belly. The pork belly happens to be imported into the restaurant daily, so if the taste is alright, I can add it to the menu.¡± ¡°Let me try!¡± Initially, Lu Yuxi did not like to eat fatty meat, but she had high expectations for Xu Le¡¯s cooking. She knew that the child¡¯s culinary skills were superb and would not disappoint her. The wrap of vermicelli and golden-brown steamed meat did not even reach her mouth when the doorbell suddenly rang. ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± Xu Le stood up and looked through the peephole. Then, he turned around and looked at Lu Yuxi with a slightly conflicted expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Yuxi put down her chopsticks and walked over. Xu Le said with a hushed voice, ¡°I don¡¯t know if you want to see her.¡± The person outside was Ms. Li. After all, they had a huge fight last night. Lu Yuxi pursed her lips and said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Let her in.¡± As soon as Ms. Li entered, she was mesmerized by the fragrance in the room. She stared at the things on the table and swallowed her saliva. ¡°Are you guys done with the preparation so soon?¡± ¡°This is our lunch. As for the school¡¯s charity sale, I¡¯ve prepared oden.¡± After Xu Le finished explaining, he carefully sized up Lu Yuxi and Teacher Li. After realizing that there was no tension between them, he was relieved. Ms. Li looked at the enticing appearance of the dishes on the table and her eyes were fixed. Ever since she tasted Xu Le¡¯s cooking, she could never forget it. Even after a long time, Xu Le still did not invite her to try, so she could only say softly with a thick skin, ¡°I haven¡¯t had lunch either. Can I try it as well?¡± ¡°Of course, you¡¯re welcome to try.¡± Ms. Li sat down and eagerly picked up her chopsticks.. Chapter 78 - Charity Sale Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The soft and squishy piece of meat was coated with vermicelli and its fragrance. After taking a bite, it was fragrant, sweet, and soft. Ms. Li widened her eyes and praised generously, ¡°It¡¯s too delicious. My family has also cooked vermicelli steamed meat before, but it¡¯s very greasy. I couldn¡¯t take another bite after eating two mouthfuls. On the other hand, your fatty meat is fragrant and doesn¡¯t smell. The lean meat is chewy and not dry. It¡¯s amazing!¡± The combination of lotus leaf pancake served with steamed meat was excellent. Lu Yuxi ate two pieces in a row before putting down her chopsticks reluctantly. ¡°The charity sale will begin in the afternoon. It¡¯s almost time, right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Ms. Li nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll drive there, let¡¯s take my car.¡± They brought along the prepared sour and spicy lemon chicken feet, tiger skin chicken feet, as well as the oden ingredients and set off for school. Ms. Li was driving in the front and Xu Le was sitting in the front passenger seat, listening to her introduce the rules of that day¡¯s sale. ¡°All the cost is covered by the school. They will give out cards to every student. Each card is worth 100 yuan. In the end, we will see which stall receives the most money and they will win the prize. In the entire kindergarten, I think you are the most likely to win!¡± She said happily. Xu Le was worried that if he was overconfident, things might go wrong. Hence, he humbly added, ¡°That might not be the case. There might be other parents who are more capable. Anyway, we will just sell our things and earn money. In the end, the school will just pay for the donations.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± When they arrived at the site, they found that the school had built a temporary stall for each class to process the ingredients. There was a portable gas stove and an induction cooker, as well as basic condiments such as oil and salt. On one side of the lawn, there were beautiful flowery floor mats. All the snacks prepared by the parents were displayed. Xu Tian happily greeted her classmates and went over to investigate the rival¡¯s situation. ¡°What are you selling?¡± ¡°I fried my own rice crust, chips, and homemade milk tea. Do you want some jelly?¡± ¡°Alright, thank you Auntie.¡± Xu Tian took the jelly from her. It was strawberries wrapped in gelatin pieces. She ran over to Xu Le and said, ¡°Brother, look, this is jelly!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Le was heating the pot on the stove. He looked down and said, ¡°You can eat it.¡± ¡°No, what if the kids prefer jelly and fries?¡± Xu Le instantly understood that she was afraid of losing the competition. Hence, he smiled and leaned over to pat Xu Tian¡¯s shoulder. He comforted her softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, we won¡¯t lose. Moreover, this competition is to win more money to help other children and not to compete with our classmates.¡± Lu Yuxi added, ¡°That¡¯s right. Your brother is amazing. Don¡¯t doubt his skills.¡± The signboard for oden was set up. The principal stood on the stage and read out the rules of the competition. After cheering everyone on, he distributed the cards that the school had customized. ¡°Every kid has ten pieces, which means that he and his parents can only buy ten portions of food.¡± Lu Yuxi squatted down and explained to Xu Tian, then asked her, ¡°How do you plan to use them?¡± She followed the principle of respecting a child¡¯s opinion. Before Xu Tian could speak, a cute little boy beside her said, ¡°Mom, we¡¯ll use this to buy from our own store so that we¡¯ll definitely win an award later.¡± Xu Tian was stunned when she heard this. She looked at her brother. Xu Le waved his hands to reject her idea. ¡°Look at the delicious food over there. Don¡¯t you want to try it?¡± ¡°¡­I want to.¡± In the end, Xu Tian still followed Lu Yuxi to the other stalls. In order to win the competition, the parents went all out. There were skewers, grilled sausages, milk tea, jelly, chips, biscuits, cupcakes¡­ and someone even brought an ice-cream machine over. Lu Yuxi and Xu Tian looked at each other. They were both interested in the ice cream. Xu Tian lowered her voice and said, ¡°Sister Lu, let¡¯s just buy one and not let brother know, okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, I have the same idea too.¡± The two of them exchanged their cards for a matcha ice cream. They took one bite at a time and started walking around. About 20 minutes after the auction started, the popular stalls were already revealed. It was a shop that was selling instant noodles. That parent did not know how to cook at all. That day, in order to take advantage of the situation, after sending the child to school, he bought a huge pile of instant noodles at the convenience store. Who knew that it actually became the most popular dish. He looked at the long queue and knew that he was about to win. He could not hide the smile on his face and said, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t be anxious. You will get a share.¡± Xu Tian turned around to look at her brother¡¯s stall. No one had tried it yet, so she pouted and said, ¡°What? What¡¯s so good about instant noodles?¡± She did not understand why no one went to buy oden, so she took out her own wallet and handed over a card. She shouted in a childish voice, ¡°Boss, I want a serving of oden!¡± Before this, Xu Le had already prepared 50 servings. He strung each type of ball on the skewer, followed by radish and dipping it in soup. It was a full and affordable portion of oden. He saw that his sister was very anxious and consoled her, ¡°It¡¯s alright, there will be people coming here soon.¡± Xu Tian said angrily, ¡°They don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for them. I¡¯ll go get some customers for you!¡± Her serious look amused Lu Yuxi, as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Seeing that the two of them were fighting for injustice for their stall, Xu Le wouldn¡¯t sit still and do nothing. He picked up some lemon chicken feet and tiger skin chicken feet with a disposable lunch box and brought toothpicks for the people around to taste. He didn¡¯t forget to shout out, ¡°Everyone, come and have a taste. These are all freshly made this morning. The raw ingredients were bought on the spot. They are clean and delicious. Don¡¯t worry about tasting them.¡± A few parents were queuing up with their children and couldn¡¯t help but complain that all the food were fried and high-calorie junk food, yet their children liked it. Moreover, the decision was in their hands, so they couldn¡¯t do anything about it. When they saw Xu Le shouting, they turned around and looked at him in surprise. ¡°Are you still going to kindergarten at this age?¡± At eight years old, he should be studying at a primary school. Xu Le was a lot taller than the children around him. He laughed and replied, ¡°No, I¡¯m here on behalf of my parents for the charity sale.¡± The parents were even more surprised. They widened their eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you made all these chicken feet.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Gosh, you can cook at such a young age?¡± ¡°Then I must try it. Please give me one.¡± ¡°Why do I feel like you look familiar? Did you set up a store at the school gate before? Were you the one who sold that Oil Doused noodles?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Xu Le handed the lunch box over. ¡°Try it. It¡¯s all fresh and clean.¡± The bitterness of the lemon in the sour and spicy lemon chicken feet soaked in the soup had already been replaced by the fragrance of passionfruit. It was chewy, and the chicken feet became more and more fragrant as one savoured it. A few people couldn¡¯t bear to swallow it.. Chapter 79 - I Cant Sell Anymore If Its Finished Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°This is too delicious!¡± ¡°There¡¯s always the smell of preservatives in the oden sold at supermarket. Some of them are even kept for months. It doesn¡¯t look safe so I don¡¯t dare to buy them for my child.¡± ¡°Little kid, how much are you selling it for?¡± ¡°One card for each portion, and there are some braised ones. Do you want to try them?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes!¡± The parents looked pleasantly surprised as if they had found a treasure. After tasting a few more, they pulled their children towards Xu Le¡¯s food stall and said, ¡°Give me two portions!¡± ¡°Mom, didn¡¯t you agree to buy me instant noodles?¡± Usually, at home, parents would more or less forbid their child from eating such junk food, afraid that there would be additives or preservatives, and eating too much of them would be bad for their development. So that day, a stall that was selling instant noodles actually had a long queue. ¡°Wait a minute. There aren¡¯t many chicken feet. Let¡¯s buy some first before queuing up there. Otherwise, they will be sold out.¡± As the parent comforted the child, he took out a card and said, ¡°Give me a serving of both sour and spicy, and braised flavoured one.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xu Le quickly packed two portions and handed them over. He even gave them two pairs of disposable gloves. ¡°Take good care. If it¡¯s delicious, remember to help me promote it.¡± The few people who had tried the dish earlier all bought chicken feet, but there were still no one who had bought oden. On the other side, Xu Tian found a classmate she knew and stuffed a meatball into her mouth. ¡°This is delicious. Try it.¡± It was Lu Yuxi¡¯s first time seeing Xu Tian being so domineering. She explained happily, ¡°It¡¯s not spicy and the soup base is very delicious.¡± However, when the parent beside saw the food, she started to frown and said in disdain, ¡°It¡¯s all starchballs bought from the supermarket. I saw on the internet that many meat is made of rat meat. It¡¯s especially unclean¡­¡± ¡°Look at these beef balls.¡± Lu Yuxi anxiously tried to explain. ¡°They were all made with a meat grinder this morning. If you don¡¯t believe me, try one. How can the meatballs bought by the supermarket compare to the ones we had freshly made?¡± The parent realized that she had gone overboard with her words, so she tried a beef ball. When Xu Le was making the beef balls, he did not grind all the meat into minced meat. Instead, he chopped half of the meat into minced meat. This way, the texture was full and one could clearly taste the tender beef cubes inside. As soon as they bit into it, the oil and soup flowed out, and the skipjack tuna soup base completely blended into the beef balls. It was fresh, tender, and smooth, and even more delicious than the taste at the convenience store. The parent subconsciously wanted to take the cup and take a sip of the soup, but she only reacted to it as she extended her hand halfway. She awkwardly stopped in mid-air and said gently, ¡°I was being rash just now. Can I ask where you bought this thing from?¡± Lu Yuxi pointed in the direction. ¡°The oden stall over there.¡± Soon, there were consecutively a few people who went over to buy the food because of the good taste. However, they could not continue like this. Xu Le¡¯s business had always been smooth-sailing and praised. That day was the first time that they had been rejected. Lu Yuxi returned to the stall and put her hands on her hips. ¡°They don¡¯t know what¡¯s good. Hmph!¡± ¡°I think there must be another reason why I can¡¯t sell them.¡± Xu Le said after a while, ¡°Did they think that I bought these pre-processed pills?¡± ¡°¡­Maybe.¡± When Xu Tian saw that the business was not getting better, she could not help but feel dejected. Her head was lowered when heard two loud noises. ¡°Hey, hey, hey!¡± Lu Yuxi had borrowed a loudspeaker from somewhere and was adjusting the volume. The loud and piercing sound made a group of people look over at them. She didn¡¯t feel embarrassed at all as she said loudly, ¡°Fresh beefballs, fishballs, shrimp paste, corn and carrots freshly handmade, soup base made from kelp and skipjack tuna. Drink it to warm your stomach. It¡¯s clean, hygienic, and healthy. Don¡¯t miss it when you pass by. Come and take a look and have a taste! You can try it for free!¡± The parents subconsciously were more willing to let their children eat healthy food, so Lu Yuxi¡¯s words undoubtedly tugged at their soft spots. Very soon, a few people came over to taste it. The meatballs were made by hand and of superior quality. The taste of the fresh meatballs was much better than the finished ones. One could tell the difference just by tasting them. ¡°Give me one serving.¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°I want three.¡± ¡°Here you go. Take the card.¡± The stall became lively very quickly. Lu Yuxi came over to help in high spirits and did not forget to take credit. ¡°See how awesome I am? I managed to get so many people here at once. Boss, don¡¯t forget to give me a raise!¡± Xu Le said jokingly, ¡°You really can¡¯t leave out a pay raise in every sentence that you say.¡± ¡°Hmph, stingy Xu, you cheated ignorant girls and exploited me of my labor.¡± Lu Yuxi pouted. Xu Le did not back down either. He glanced at her and said, ¡°You¡¯re already so old, yet you still claim to be an ignorant girl¡­¡± After all, using his own age as basis, Lu Yuxi was already in his early twenties and was more than ten years older than him. Of course, she could be considered ¡°old¡±. ¡°Is this how you talk about girls?¡± Lu Yuxi rolled her eyes. They almost got into a fight after sending the customers away. Xu Tian, who was stuck between them, asked blankly, ¡°Brother, what are you guys doing?¡± ¡°You do the publicity.¡± Lu Yuxi pushed the loudspeaker in front of Xu Le and turned on the volume key. Xu Le was about to speak when he suddenly couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter and dodged to the side. Of course, he could shout, but it was too shameful to shout at so many people with a loudspeaker. Lu Yuxi didn¡¯t think much of it and continued to promote. ¡°Handmade meatballs, Japanese oden, warm your stomach and a healthy meal¡­¡± Xu Le lowered his head to sell the oden. From time to time, he would look up at Lu Yuxi. Suddenly, he felt that Lu Yuxi was different from what he had imagined. She was cold in front of outsiders, but in front of people she knew, she was indescribably cute. Even if she would occasionally say some overboard words, others would not be offended because of her sincerity. Very soon, the people who tasted the oden could not wait but comment, ¡°This soup is so delicious. What did you add in it?¡± ¡°It tastes a little like the one from the convenience store, but it¡¯s a hundred times better than that. There¡¯s really prawn meat in this prawn ball. It¡¯s so affordable.¡± ¡°The white radish is definitely the best choice!¡± The radish was the first to put at the bottom of the soup to cook. After boiling, it continued to be soaked in it, eventually turning into a light brown color. After absorbing the soup, the radish became soft and flavorful, and melted in the mouth. Hearing their great praises, Lu Yuxi picked up a piece of carrot and tasted it. She immediately squinted her eyes and said, ¡°This is too satisfying!¡± After two minutes, she had already finished two pieces. When she picked up the third one, Xu Le reminded her, ¡°This is the last one. I¡¯ve only prepared these. I won¡¯t be able to sell them if you finish them.¡± ¡°Petty.¡± Lu Yuxi took a big bite and the soup melted in her mouth, completely covering up the spiciness of the radish and leaving only its freshness. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want you to eat. It¡¯s just that if you eat too much radish, your stomach will feel bloated and uncomfortable..¡± Chapter 80 - Cooking Method for Potato Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The area in front of the oden stall was soon crowded with people. Because of the flood of good reviews, there were many people who also followed and joined the queue. Very quickly, someone recognized Xu Le. ¡°You look like that¡­ Oo, I think I¡¯ve watched your competition!¡± ¡°Yes, this kid looks like that little Master Chef.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. I seem to have bought something in your livestream previously!¡± ¡°Is it the Internet celebrity?¡± Xu Le pretended not to hear these questions. In order not to cause any trouble, he pretended not to hear them and focused on selling oden. ¡°Little kid, how are you charging your chicken feet?¡± ¡°Same price for everything.¡± ¡°Give me a serving. It looks delicious.¡± As he spoke, he bought a portion of tiger skin chicken feet. The tiger skin was fluffy, wrinkled, steamed, and filled with gravy. With one bite, the tender meat mixed with the salty and spicy gravy was indescribably satisfying! ¡°This taste is really right and it should be eaten with the soup. Little kid, can you give me some soup base?¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Xu Le used a disposable paper cup to scoop a cup of soup for him. The customer took a mouthful of soup and found a place to eat. Soon, there were only a few sticks of oden left. Xu Tian grinned from the side, confident that Xu Le would win. This charity sale was hosted by a young host. He was dressed in a suit and leather shoes. His hair was combed so much that even a fly would have to split if it stood on the ends. His leather shoes were shiny as he took a microphone and introduced to everyone in a cadence. He introduced each stall one by one. Due to his short stature and the crowd, Xu Le only knew that there was a host for the event when the host reached his stall. ¡°This is our classmate¡¯s brother. He made¡­ oden! I don¡¯t know how it tastes, but I¡¯ll bring everyone here to have a taste.¡± As the boy spoke, he turned around and saw Xu Tian. He waved excitedly and said, ¡°Xu Tian! It¡¯s me! Is this your brother?¡± Xu Tian nodded and introduced to Xu Le, ¡°Our class monitor, Bai Zijie.¡± Xu Le smiled politely. ¡°Hello, you can choose which one you want to eat.¡± Bai Zijie¡¯s eyes were glued to Xu Tian and he could not form a complete sentence for a long time. Lu Yuxi saw that there was a photographer following behind and quickly stood up to pull the child back to his senses. ¡°Hey, little host, do you want to try this fishball?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Zijie, say something.¡± ¡°Quickly introduce the oden.¡± Bai Zijie¡¯s parents urged him for a long time before he returned his attention to the introduction. After tasting it, he turned to Xu Tian instead of explaining to the camera. ¡°Xu Tian, your brother¡¯s cooking is so delicious!¡± Xu Tian crossed her arms and bragged, ¡°Yes, of course. He¡¯s my brother.¡± Bai Zijie then asked, ¡°Can I visit your house next time?¡± The group of people around them burst into laughter. Xu Tian didn¡¯t know why they were laughing, but Lu Yuxi stood in front of her and broke the gaze between the two children. Bai Zijie then continued explaining, ¡°Come, cut the camera to the box for placing the cards. Everyone, do you see that? There are already so many cards! The second place in this competition will definitely be him.¡± ¡°What do you mean by second?¡± Xu Tian asked in a childish voice. ¡°Who¡¯s first?¡± ¡°The third stall on your right, the one selling fries.¡± Xu Tian recalled that her classmate¡¯s parents had indeed deep-fried fries and brought jelly and dried spicy strips over to sell. What she was worried about had still happened. Xu Le also knew that the children were more interested in the food than the taste. The more their parents refused to let them eat, the more they wanted to buy and taste it. Hence, some parents customized their food to suit their preferences to take a lead in the competition. After selling almost all the oden and chicken feet, Xu Le turned to Lu Yuxi and said, ¡°I remember there¡¯s a fruit and vegetable shop just around the right side of the school gate. Go and buy some items.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Lu Yuxi went up to him. After hearing his orders, she asked in surprise, ¡°Is this enough?¡± ¡°Yes, the charity sale will be over in two hours at most. There¡¯s no time to do anything too complicated.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go buy it.¡± Lu Yuxi quickly made the way across the crowd and left. Xu Tian¡¯s class monitor was the young host. After introducing everyone, he ran over and said, ¡°Xu Tian, can I go to your house to eat a free meal next time? My mom cooks really bad food¡­¡± ¡°Bai Zijie!¡± Behind him was a woman who still carried an air of elegance. When she heard this, she angrily called out to him, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°No!¡± Bai Zijie shouted and wanted to hide behind Xu Tian. Xu Le stepped between them and said, ¡°Go to your mother first.¡± Xu Tian¡¯s expression was a little dampened. She was still feeling disappointed because they might not win the competition, so she did not notice what the class monitor was shouting. After Bai Zijie was dragged away by his mother, Xu Le squatted down and said, ¡°Tian Tian, don¡¯t get too close to him in the future.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°That class monitor.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Xu Tian thought for a long time before remembering who it was. ¡°Oh, but why, brother?¡± Xu Le thought for a long time. He looked at his sister¡¯s cute face and her blinking large grape-like eyes. Unable to find a reason, he realized that he just didn¡¯t want his adorable sister to become attached to others, so he frowned. ¡°Nothing.¡± Xu Tian was extremely curious and continued to tug at his clothes. Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but whisper, ¡°Anyway, none of the men are good. You have to stay away from them¡­¡± ¡°Hahahaha.¡± Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a burst of laughter. Lu Yuxi was carrying two shopping bags in her hands. When she came back, she happened to hear Xu Le¡¯s crooked reasoning. ¡°You¡¯re really¡­ You¡¯re ruthless enough to even scold yourself. Boss is awesome.¡± Xu Le glared at her. ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± Lu Yuxi hugged Xu Tian and stepped back. ¡°I¡¯m a very obedient employee. I must listen to Boss and stay away from men.¡± Xu Le went to deal with the potatoes that she had bought. Lu Yuxi smiled and talked to Xu Tian for a while before coming over to help. ¡°Do you really mind that class monitor talking to Xu Tian?¡± ¡°Who would mind a normal conversation? Didn¡¯t you see that brat? When he spoke to my Tiantian, his eyes seemed to have been glued on her and he couldn¡¯t move them away.¡± Xu Le snorted and quickly finished peeling ten yellow potatoes. ¡°What are you going to make? Potato chips?¡± Xu Le said coldly, ¡°No, I don¡¯t care to mimick others.¡± He set up a pot at the side, poured half a pot of oil into it, and started to heat it up. Meanwhile, Xu Le used a wavy knife to cut the potatoes into thick slices. Then, he followed the lines on the surface to cut them into small strips of uniform size and placed them into the water to wash the starch on them. Lu Yuxi helped to wash the potatoes and asked, ¡°How many times should I wash them?¡± ¡°Five times..¡± Chapter 81 - Wolf Fang Potato! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le searched through the shopping bags and looked at the tabasco peppers inside. He thought to himself, ¡°I miscalculated. I forgot that these kids probably can¡¯t eat spicy food.¡± Therefore, he could only replace the peppers with something that was more fragrant and less spicy. Fortunately, he had instructed Lu Yuxi to buy some dried bell peppers. Lu Yuxi continued with her repetitive action of peeling the potatoes. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a kid too?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xu Le thought to himself, ¡®I¡¯m the same age as you. How can I compare to a bunch of kids?¡¯ He picked up a steel pot, heated it up, and poured some bell peppers into it. Then, he broke open two aniseeds and added a suitable amount of fennel, cumin granules, and green peppers. He switched to low heat and continuously stir-fried the ingredients with a spatula. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± There was no fume hood there. As Lu Yuxi stood at the side, the wind was blowing in her direction. It was as if he was done on purpose, and she could barely open her eyes. She could only change her position and rebuked, ¡°Xu Le, you did it on purpose!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the ability to control the wind direction¡­ cough cough.¡± At the end of his sentence, the wind suddenly changed direction and he also started to cough. Very quickly, the fragrance of dried bell peppers drifted throughout the school. At this moment, everyone only had two or three cards left in their hands. Smelling the fragrance of the chili, they all turned to look for the source of the fragrance. After stir-frying the spices, in order to avoid overcooking them, he immediately scooped them out when he saw that the color of the chili had darkened and was about to turn brown. There was even a thoughtfully prepared shredder for everyone in the cabinet at the school. Xu Le poured the chilies into the shredder, together with the cooked peanuts and sesame seeds that he had bought, and began to grind them. The shredder on the side continued to whir loudly. Xu Le¡¯s pot of oil was almost 50% boiling and was emitting white smoke. Lu Yuxi stood by the stall and waved her hand to get the onlookers to stay away, lest they get splashed by the oil. After the oil was heated up to 50%, Xu Le turned to low heat and poured the potatoes into the pot. After two minutes of deep frying, he looked at his watch, it was exactly 120 seconds. He immediately fished out the potatoes with a strainer and placed them aside to remove the oil. He had timed it just nice. The potatoes were cooked and the chili noodles in Lu Yuxi¡¯s shredder were ready. When he opened the lid, the spicy fragrance wafted over. A few spices were used to make the chili powder fragrant but not spicy. It tasted numb but did not sting. He poured the chili powder on the surface of the potatoes, poured out the oil in the pot, and continued to heat up the remaining oil. ¡°Cut some garlic and onions.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ever since Lu Yuxi and Xu Le stayed under the same roof, she would watch him cook from time to time. Her culinary skills had also unknowingly improved. Seeing Lu Yuxi holding the knife clumsily, Xu Le said, ¡°Have you ever cut vegetables before?¡± ¡°Even if I¡¯ve never eaten pork, but wouldn¡¯t I have seen a pig run?¡± Lu Yuxi rebutted and then realised and said, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m not scolding you. I¡¯m just giving an analogy¡­¡± She felt that it would only make things worse if she tried to explain, so she simply shut her mouth and obediently cut the onion and garlic for him. When the oil in the pot was 80% to 90% hot, he used a spoon to pour the oil on the surface of the potatoes. With a ¡®whoosh¡¯, the fragrance of the chili was instantly stimulated, attracting everyone¡¯s attention. He added garlic to the wolf fang potatoes and then began to season it. Wolf Fang Potato was a simple street snack. It was made with the right amount of salt, soy sauce, white sugar, scallions and fragrant oil, then stirred evenly. The entire process took less than half an hour. Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw this. She first picked up a toothpick and tasted it. The spicy and refreshing potatoes were very crispy and had a different taste compared to potato chips. She said, ¡°It¡¯s not bad. It would be perfect if you could add some fungus and coriander!¡± ¡°Eh¡­¡± Xu Tian couldn¡¯t help but frown when he heard her mention fungus and coriander. He replied, ¡°Those ingredients are like smelly dead fish and have a very strong fishy smell.¡± ¡°What? It¡¯s very delicious, okay?¡± Xu Le smiled and said, ¡°One¡¯s honey, another¡¯s poison. Everyone¡¯s tastes are different. Some things when not eaten since a young age can¡¯t be accepted when one grow up. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t put them inside.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Xu Le and Lu Yuxi cooperated well. Before they were done packing, the customers around had already rushed over. ¡°Are you selling this?¡± ¡°How much for a box? Is one card enough?¡± ¡°It smells so good. I wonder how¡¯s the taste.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve used up all my cards. Can I pay one with my money?¡± The customers were all talking at once. Xu Tian puffed up her cheeks and shouted, ¡°Line up, line up! Don¡¯t be anxious, everyone can buy it!¡± The first parent who bought it had a taste and immediately exclaimed, ¡°Wow! This tastes exactly the same as when I was young. It¡¯s so authentic!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a street snack. It¡¯s good enough as long as it¡¯s delicious. There¡¯s no such thing as being authentic or not¡­¡± The man¡¯s wife was laughing at him. She used a toothpick to place one potato into her mouth. She exclaimed and said, ¡°I remember that this thing tastes awful. Little kid, how did you fry it so well? ¡° Potatoes had to fried in seconds. After six or seven seconds, it was the best time to scoop them out. Not only would they be cooked thoroughly, they would also have an exceptionally crispy taste. ¡°What Wolf Fang Potato? It¡¯s called Silkworm Potato in my home place.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a different name, but it¡¯s the same thing.¡± This simple street snack evoked many people¡¯s childhood memories. The person without a card stood rooted to the ground and said anxiously, ¡°Little kid, how much do you sell for each serving? I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s ears were filled with chaotic noises. She raised her voice and said, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t be anxious. We made a lot. If it¡¯s not enough, there are still potatoes to fry over there.¡± Suddenly, their business was booming for no reason, making Xu Le feel like he had returned to his store to open for business. He lowered his head and focused on his work while Lu Yuxi helped him sell the food items. 10 minutes, and 20 minutes¡­ passed just like that. When he looked up, the sky was covered in a layer of darkness, and there were still dozens of people in front of him who still did not get to try the food. Fortunately, Lu Yuxi had bought enough ingredients as backup. Their box was already full of cards and some parents even started to buy cards or ask for favors from each other. They did everything they could just to get two more cards to buy Xu Le¡¯s snacks. Lu Yuxi didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°It¡¯s really hard to know what these people like.¡± Initially, the parents who sold their food were targeting at the children¡¯s preferences, so they brought many snacks that the children crave. Now that Xu Le brought back the parents¡¯ childhood memories, all of them looked on eagerly, their expressions not any more mature than a child¡¯s. A man who was extremely extroverted even leaned against the stall while eating the potatoes, and said, ¡°Let me tell you. When I was young, my parents didn¡¯t allow me to eat them, so I learned how to make wolf fang potatoes myself. I almost spilled all the oil in the process of making it. When they came back, they almost scolded me to death. Later on, I only dared to make them secretly. I didn¡¯t expect you to be younger than me and cook better than me..¡± Chapter 82 - Charity Sale, Xu Les Foresight Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°The younger generation will surpass us in time! Handsome boy, you¡¯re awesome!¡± His tone was so enthusiastic that Xu Le blushed and could only nod in agreement. A discordant voice cut in, saying, ¡°I remember that wolf fang potatoes aren¡¯t made this way. Little kid, your method isn¡¯t very authentic.¡± ¡°Shoo, shoo, shoo. What¡¯s the big deal if the cooking method isn¡¯t authentic? It¡¯s just a roadside stall. The cooking method at one place may be different from another place. As long as the food is delicious, it¡¯s fine. Who cares if it¡¯s authentic or not?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Someone chimed in. ¡°Anyway, when I was young, those stalls that weren¡¯t authentic all went bust. The ones that survived were all delicious.¡± ¡°Little kid, do you want to consider opening a shop outside the school gate? When I come to pick up my child every day, I will definitely patronize your business.¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Xu Le raised his head and smiled. ¡°My shop is at Hongxing Road. It¡¯s called the 8-year-old cafeteria. If you have the chance, you can come to my store to try other dishes. I guarantee that you will be satisfied.¡± The crowd was silent for a moment. Someone took a deep breath and said, ¡°You¡¯re so young, and you¡¯re already opening a store?¡± ¡°Oh my god, my son doesn¡¯t even know how to beat eggs.¡± ¡°What do you call this? The older generation loses out to the younger generation. Nowadays, there are so many talents¡­ Tsk tsk, the more I talk about it, the angrier I get. Where did my brat go?¡± All the customers at the other stalls were gone. Only Xu Le¡¯s stall was still packed with people. The school management team could not wait any longer. It was almost dark and school time was over. Therefore, the little host, Bai Zijie, appeared again. He came over and said in an impassioned tone, ¡°Uncles and aunties, all parents, good evening! I¡¯m Bai Zijie. Now, I announce that the charity sale has ended. Please take the small cards that you have received and count them on the stage. We will be holding the award ceremony next.¡± All the lights in the school were turned on. Although the parents who had yet to eat the wolf fang potatoes were reluctant, it was inevitable. As adults, no one dared to break the rules just because they wanted to take a bite and make a joke out of themselves. Xu Le¡¯s cardboard box was already full. Lu Yuxi exerted all her strength, but she still could not lift it up. He reached out to help, but Lu Yuxi hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I can¡¯t even carry it. You¡¯re just a child. Don¡¯t be stubborn. I¡¯ll get someone to help¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, Xu Le lifted the box calmly. He was not tall enough and his line of sight was even blocked. He had no choice but to wrap his arms around the box tightly. ¡°You¡­¡± Lu Yuxi was dumbfounded.¡± Did you do weightlifting behind my back? ¡° ¡°No, the steel wok that I usually cook with is very heavy. If I had to carry the wok every day, I will definitely train my biceps.¡± Lu Yuxi expressed her doubt. ¡°Where did you get your muscles from?¡± This time, Xu Le did not continue to bicker with her. He took a big step and stood in front of Bai Zijie, saying, ¡°Little host, it¡¯s your time to give the introductions. Quickly go on stage!¡± Bai Zijie stuck his head out to look at Xu Tian and greeted her with a grin, ¡°Xu Tian, I¡¯m going to give out the award! Remember to look at me!¡± Xu Tian was baffled and asked innocently, ¡°Why would I look at you instead of my brother?¡± Xu Le was elated inside while Bai Zijie left unhappily. He hugged the box and said proudly, ¡°With me around, yet he still dares to pester my sister.¡± Lu Yuxi said hesitantly, ¡°Xu Le¡­ Don¡¯t you think that just now you look very similar to¡­ Do you want to hear it?¡± Knowing that her greatest hobby was to insult him verbally, Xu Le said firmly, ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to!¡± ¡°You¡¯re like an old hen protecting her baby, hahahaha!¡± After saying that, Lu Yuxi smiled and scurried away. She watched as Xu Le went up the stage with a cold expression. The number of cards received by the 10 over sellers was clear at a glance. Lu Yuxi had just chosen a seat below the stage when she heard a familiar voice. ¡°You guys did well today.¡± Ms. Li adjusted the gold-framed glasses on her nose bridge and said, ¡°You¡¯ve been staying at Xu Le¡¯s house every day. The food must be good, right?¡± ¡®Wasn¡¯t that obvious?¡¯ Lu Yuxi thought to herself and nodded reluctantly. Ms. Li frowned in displeasure. ¡°Is this how you talk to your elder sister?¡± Lu Yuxi was already used to Ms. Li picking on her. She brought Xu Tian to sit beside her and directly ignored Ms. Li¡¯s question. She smiled gently and said, ¡°Tian Tian, do you think your brother will get first place later?¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Xu Tian was full of confidence. Lu Yuxi had the intention of encouraging the child, so she praised, ¡°Wow, confidence is such a good thing. Tian Tian is awesome.¡± ¡°Sister Lu,¡± Xu Tian said with a speechless expression, ¡°You can already tell the outcome when you look up.¡± Lu Yuxi looked up. On the stage, everyone¡¯s small cards were poured out and counted. There was a mountain-like pile in front of Xu Le. It was five to six times the size of others. It was evident who the champion was. The person on stage counted for ten minutes before they could obtain the exact number of cards for each seller. Then, he said, ¡°Xu Le, 802 cards.¡± For each small card received, 100 yuan would be donated. Based on the number of cards counted, the school would have to donate more than 8,000 yuan in the name of Xu Tian. The principal clapped in satisfaction and said, ¡°For a little kid to have such great sales, it¡¯s really not bad. Everyone, please applause for Xu Le. I¡¯ll also thank him on behalf of the children in the beneficiary area.¡± The applause below the stage was thunderous. Xu Le was already used to being called ¡°little kid¡± and ¡°child¡±. After the principal finished speaking, he raised his hand and said, ¡°Since we are doing charity, I would like to fork out some money and donate some books to other students.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Not only the principal, but the teachers and parents in the judging panel were also shocked. The principal said, ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m sure.¡± Xu Le was a man of his words. He immediately swiped his card to contribute the money and said, ¡°No one can choose their own family background. Many of us here, including my sister, are just luckier than others. I hope that we can use books to improve the future of our peers who are not so well-off.¡± When he said these words with the attitude and tone of an adult, everyone was in an uproar. The people who were touched all clamored to donate money. ¡°When I was young, my family wasn¡¯t doing well either. They say that education changes one¡¯s fate. If you can able to, just donate a little.¡± As they spoke, they were about to rush onto the stage to swipe their cards. Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, the principal decided to take advantage of the situation and raise a donation in the name of a charity sale. After the event ended, Xu Tian was extremely tired. She held Xu Le¡¯s hand tightly and mumbled that she wanted to go home quickly to rest. Lu Yuxi hailed a taxi and looked at the guided route on her phone. ¡°Tian Tian, wait a while more. We¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Hey, Xu Le, wait!¡± Someone shouted behind them and the three of them turned around.. Chapter 83 - Ginger Milk Curd Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Ms. Li?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ms. Li smiled and said, ¡°Since we live quite close to each other, why don¡¯t you wait for a while and I¡¯ll send you guys back?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xu Le turned to look at Lu Yuxi¡¯s expression. Before they could come up with an answer, a white car stopped in front of them. The driver rolled down the car window and stuck his head out. ¡°It¡¯s you guys. Are you leaving or not?¡± Lu Yuxi immediately turned around and got into the car with Xu Le. Xu Le then explained to Ms. Li, ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble you. We¡¯re leaving first.¡± After the few of them got into the car, the driver, who was a passionate and talkative person, immediately started a conversation and said, ¡°Everyone, fasten your seat belts¡­¡± Lu Yuxi stared at Ms. Li¡¯s figure outside the car window for a long time. The car had already driven off, but she still did not turn back. Xu Tian yawned continuously and said with tears in her eyes, ¡°Brother, cough cough¡­¡± Her throat suddenly went hoarse. After coughing a few times, her breathing became heavy. Xu Le patted his sister¡¯s back and asked, ¡°Did you have a conflict with your sister?¡± After all, the two of them met frequently and it was not a good idea to always make him stuck in the middle. Lu Yuxi said in a muffled voice, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s just the matter of our family. I feel that it¡¯s all in the past, but my sister likes to bring up the past whenever we argue. I can¡¯t even talk to her peacefully.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t talk about it.¡± Xu Le¡¯s words hit the nail on the head. Lu Yuxi turned around and looked at him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very difficult to determine what¡¯s right and wrong in a relationship. If you guys don¡¯t even have all this entangled relationship, wouldn¡¯t you become strangers?¡± After he finished speaking, he realized what he had just said and added, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to persuade you to apologize to Ms. Li or reconcile with her. I just want you to be rest assured that you don¡¯t have to worry about this kind of thing. If you don¡¯t like someone, you should just stay away from them. You can just speak politely and keep a distance from them so that you don¡¯t hurt them.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lu Yuxi thought for a while, then turned to look at him with bright eyes. ¡°You¡¯re quite good at comforting people.¡± When they arrived at the entrance of the estate, they alighted from the car. The night breeze blew gently, and the fragrance of osmanthus flowers wafted in the air. Xu Tian did not say anything along the way. She was tired and held Xu Le¡¯s hand. After a few steps, she sneezed again. Lu Yuxi was about to ask something, but the moment she opened her mouth, she immediately turned her head and sneezed in the direction with no one around. Her movements were so great. After standing straight, she complained, ¡°Oh my god, my brain is almost dizzy from the movements.¡± Xu Tian said hoarsely, ¡°Brother, I can¡¯t walk anymore. Carry me.¡± Her soft little hands were tugging at the corner of his shirt. Xu Le struggled to carry her up. He was strong enough, but he was still an eight-year-old child. He was not tall enough, so he looked a little comical. Fortunately, he got on the elevator very quickly. As soon as they entered the house, Xu Tian fell headfirst onto the sofa. The house was brightly lit, and Xu Le realized that her cheeks were abnormally red. He hurriedly reached out to touch Xu Tian¡¯s forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever, you¡­¡± ¡°Achoo¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Lu Yuxi sneezed again. Looking at the two of them, he understood and said, ¡°Did you secretly eat something behind my back? Oh right, when you came back from buying groceries this morning, you and Xu Tian had white stuff on the corners of your mouths¡­ Did you secretly eat ice cream?¡± Lu Yuxi raised her eyebrows and was about to find an excuse to defend herself when Xu Tian covered her face and exposed her first. ¡°You won¡¯t catch a cold if you eat ice cream in this weather. How many did you two eat?¡± Xu Le¡¯s expression was serious, and his questioning tone made Lu Yuxi feel guilty. She mumbled, ¡°In the morning, each of us ate a piece of ice cream. Just now, we ate another ice cream at the charity sale. Furthermore, both of us shared one. We didn¡¯t eat much.¡± Things had already happened. Xu Le was a patient person who had practiced his cooking hundreds of times., so his temper was not bad. He only sighed and said, ¡°I remember there¡¯s a medicine box at home. Xu Tian, sit properly. I¡¯ll get you some hot water. Lu Yuxi, come help in the kitchen.¡± Lu Yuxi unconsciously retorted, ¡°Why? Are you planning to make medicine on the spot?¡± Xu Le glanced at her and she immediately raised her hands in surrender. She obediently followed him to the kitchen. Xu Le took out ginger, milk, and coke from the fridge. After washing his hands and tying his apron, he said, ¡°You guys drink a pack of cold medicine first. Come over and help me to make ginger drink to prevent the cold from worsening when you guys wake up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yuxi turned around to give herself and Xu Tian cold medicine. The two of them held their cups and blew on them. She whispered, ¡°Your brother is so fierce.¡± Xu Tian frowned from the bitterness of the cold medicine and smacked her lips, looking adorable. ¡°Are you still afraid of him?¡± ¡°Hmph, no way.¡± After sipping down the bowl of cold medicine, Xu Le was already calling her name from the kitchen. ¡°Coming,¡± Lu Yuxi said as she rolled up her sleeves and joked, ¡°Boss, what can I do for you?¡± Xu Le said, ¡°Peel the ginger and shred it. I plan to make ginger milk and ginger cola.¡± ¡°Ginger milk?¡± Lu Yuxi said, ¡°I¡¯ve made it several times before, but none of them succeeded.¡± Xu Le picked up the glass of milk in his hand and showed it to her. ¡°The first item on the ingredient list is raw milk. Many mainstream milk brands on the market have labeled themselves with reconstituted milk. The protein content is too low to react to the protease in the ginger juice, so it definitely won¡¯t coagulate.¡± ¡°¡­Oh, alright.¡± Lu Yuxi responded and silently pondered over his words. After peeling the ginger and shredding it, it was cooked with the cola over a small fire in the pot. There was basically no technical knowledge required for making ginger cola. After most of the bubbles in the cola were forced out, he added ginger shreds in and waited for the cola to boil. Lu Yuxi changed to a shredding knife. When she scraped out the thin ginger, because the fibers in the ginger were very thick, when it fell into the bowl, the ginger was basically deformed and looked like powder. This was the effect that Xu Le wanted. He used a thin sieve to filter out the juice from the paste-like ginger. Xu Le scooped a spoonful of the orange ginger juice from each bowl with a ceramic spoon and distributed it into three bowls. The pure milk in the milk pot was boiled to around 80 degrees celsius. Xu Le picked up the wooden handle, lifted the pot into the air, and slowly poured it into the ginger soup. The milky white liquid poured down from mid-air, emitting the fragrance of milk and steam, splashing into the ginger juice. The hot milk was exposed to room temperature, then fell into the bowl and reacted with the ginger juice. The process was quick and very healing. Lu Yuxi stared at it and asked curiously, ¡°Is it done?¡± Xu Le said, ¡°Put a porcelain spoon on it. As long as it can hold on, it¡¯s done.¡± Lu Yuxi placed a spoon on it skeptically and it stayed on steadily.. Chapter 84 - Ginger Cola Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Wow!¡± Lu Yuxi placed a spoon into the ginger milk. It looked like jelly, but it also had the soft and smooth texture of steamed egg. She said in surprise, ¡°It¡¯s so amazing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a chemical reaction.¡± Xu Le took out a glass that was used for hot drinks and poured out three cups of ginger cola, saying, ¡°You and Tiantian drink this, the ginger will make you guys sweat, hopefully your flu doesn¡¯t get worse tomorrow.¡± Lu Yuxi was used to being alone. Her relationship with her stepfather was like that of a stranger, and she quarreled whenever she met with her sister. They did not get along very well, so whenever she had a cold or fever, she had to endure it alone. She hardly even go to the doctor. She was caught off guard by his concern and felt a lump in her throat. ¡°Xu Le, you¡¯re so good to me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think you can escape work just because you¡¯re sick.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s sadness was shattered by his words. She was speechless and complained, ¡°You¡¯re such a thoughtless man at such a young age. You definitely won¡¯t get a wife when you grows up.¡± Xu Tian was watching television in the living room with a doll in her arms. Her eyelids were starting to feel heavy. When she saw the cola in her brother¡¯s hand, she immediately perked up and reached out to take it. She sniffed it in the air and frowned. ¡°Brother, what¡¯s inside?¡± ¡°Fresh ginger. Why? Don¡¯t you like the smell?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Xu Tian had always been a picky eater, and there were plenty of food that she didn¡¯t like to eat. She held the cup in her hands, looked up, and stammered, ¡°Brother, I want to drink coke without ginger.¡± Lu Yuxi interrupted, ¡°Try it first. The ginger tastes really good. It¡¯s not spicy at all. The drink is still sweet.¡± Everyone had different preferences. Lu Yuxi was especially fond of ginger. She finished the ginger milk in a few mouthfuls, leaned back in satisfaction, and took a small sip of the hot cola. Seeing that she was drinking so well, Xu Tian also lowered her head and drank obediently. The ginger had a strong taste, but it was almost tasteless after entering her mouth. It didn¡¯t affect the original taste of the cola and milk, so Xu Tian barely finished it. After washing up, it was already 11 pm. Thinking that Xu Tian had to go to school the next day and Xu Le had to open for business, he immediately carried her to bed and turned off the lights. In the darkness. Xu Tian pouted and threw a tantrum. ¡°Brother, you haven¡¯t read me a story tonight!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± ¡°I want to hear a story!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you tomorrow night.¡± Xu Le was helping his younger sister to cover up her blanket tightly. He patiently coaxed her. ¡°Go to sleep quickly. You still have to go to kindergarten tomorrow morning. You¡¯ve gotten a very good ranking during the charity sale today. When you go to school, the teacher will definitely praise you!¡± Xu Tian closed her eyes happily. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Oh yeah¡­¡± Xu Le suddenly thought of something and emphasized,¡± Don¡¯t get too close to your class monitor. ¡° He didn¡¯t get a response for a long time. When he turned his head, he found that she was breathing steadily. It was obvious that she had fallen asleep. In the darkness, Xu Le laughed and said, ¡°You¡¯re still so naughty despite being so tired.¡± Perhaps due to the effects of the ginger drink, when Lu Yuxi was tying Xu Tian¡¯s hair with a toothbrush in her mouth after waking up the next day, the two of them did not cough or sneeze again. After sending Xu Tian to school, the two of them immediately headed to the store. A long queue had already formed at the entrance. Someone saw Xu Le and greeted, ¡°Hey, little kid, I especially came to your shop today.¡± Xu Le turned around and smiled politely. He heard the man brag excitedly, ¡°His sister is in the same school as my son. The food he makes is delicious!¡± Someone at the side replied helplessly, ¡°If it¡¯s not delicious, why would we be queuing here?¡± All the ingredients had been delivered, and the delivery man said, ¡°Our boss brought in a new batch of pork trotters today and the meat quality is very good. Since you sell Pork Flatbread here, you definitely need to braise some in the pot, so he asked me to give you more today.¡± The young man looked at the people entering the restaurant. It was a restaurant that was more than 100 square meters, and it was immediately filled with people. He said, ¡°In any case, based on your customer flow, you will definitely be able to sell all of them.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Lu Yuxi, who had changed into her work clothes, rushed out from behind the counter and said, ¡°You have to let me know in advance next time! You can¡¯t just stuff things into our pockets. If we lack any ingredients, I¡¯ll definitely get them from your boss.¡± The young man could tell that she was a difficult person to talk to and immediately smiled apologetically. ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± After they left, Lu Yuxi said, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by them. This time, the things they casually stuffed us with were good quality. You look like a child who¡¯s easy to talk to. But if the ingredients they deliver aren¡¯t good quality and we refuse to pay up, it will be a hassle.¡± ¡°Okay, got it.¡± On the menu were the most popular dishes since the opening of the restaurant: Mapo tofu, Kung Pao Chicken, Pork Flatbread, Tomato Egg Soup¡­ Xu Le looked at the ingredients and said, ¡°Let¡¯s add a new dish today.¡± ¡°What dish?¡± ¡°Braised pork trotters, limited to 20 servings.¡± ¡°Alright, what¡¯s the price?¡± Xu Le pondered for a moment. ¡°69.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Lu Yuxi took the data from the order machine and said, ¡°Such a big pig trotter costs almost 40 yuan. You don¡¯t have to pay for the water and electricity, but you still have to pay for the labor. Oh right, I¡¯m collecting money and cleaning this month. You have to pay me two salaries.¡± ¡°Good lord, are you taking advantage of the situation?¡± ¡°Anyway, what I¡¯m saying is that this price doesn¡¯t work.¡± ¡°Add 20 yuan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Lu Yuxi quickly added ¡°braised pig trotters¡± to the day¡¯s menu. Soon, the order numbers started appearing on the screen. Xu Le was immersed in his work that day. When he cut the meat and vegetables, the sound of the knife hitting the chopping board was very rhythmic. It was enough to show the skilfulness in his cutting skills. In the big steel pot beside him, there was braised sauce and a meat bag that had been stir-fried. The meat was being stewed inside. ¡°Here¡¯s the first order for braised pork trotter today.¡± After Lu Yuxi finished speaking, she quietly leaned closer and whispered, ¡°I saw a blogger. He looks fat, and he should be very knowledgeable. He ordered all the dishes in the restaurant. Later, he will definitely give his review on the camera.¡± When Xu Le participated in the competition, he had witnessed all sorts of storms. He only nodded and said, ¡°Oh, since they¡¯re here, they¡¯re all customers, we¡¯ll treat everyone equally.¡± ¡°He might want to enter the kitchen later to interview you.¡± It was rare for Xu Le to raise his head while cooking. He said faintly, ¡°Sure, but I¡¯ll only be free when it¡¯s two or three in the afternoon.¡± On the table in the ¡°Eight-year-old cafeteria¡± was a man with a lot of equipment. His black hair was curly, he had three or four layers of chin, and a big belly. If he sat down, he wouldn¡¯t be able to stand up without supporting himself on the table. He said to the camera, ¡°The signboard of the Eight-year-old cafeteria is right at the door. As everyone can see, this restaurant is very unique. The head chef is an eight-year-old kid.¡± When he said the last sentence, he couldn¡¯t help but laugh and said, ¡°I don¡¯t believe that an eight-year-old can make anything good..¡± Chapter 85 - Vicious-Tongued Food Bloggers Reviews Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Old Bull was a blogger who had over a million fans on a certain platform. He specialized in giving sharp and vicious reviews that were unique. Every time he started, he showed no mercy. The viewers watching his live-stream were also there for Old Bull¡¯s vicious comments, but that day, the bullet screen was filled with comments. ¡°Old Bull must be a frog in a well.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a food blogger, yet you haven¡¯t watched his competition match that had such a high viewership rate. Does that make sense?¡± A fan spoke up for Old Bull, ¡°Everyone, stop arguing. Maybe he¡¯s using this as a hook. Old Bull has always been like this. It¡¯s just for the effect of the video.¡± ¡°He¡¯s quite immoral. He¡¯s already in his thirties, yet he¡¯s still picking on a kid.¡± ¡°In my opinion, Xu Le should have been in first place during the competition at the expo last time! Why was he placed at second? It¡¯s so unfair!¡± ¡°I agree. He¡¯s definitely a genius. He deserves the gold award.¡± ¡°You guys went off topic, didn¡¯t you? This time it¡¯s about the store review.¡± ¡°Old Bull, fly bravely. If something happens, you have to bear the consequences yourself.¡± A simple opening statement caused the comments section to become extremely noisy. It had been a long time since Old Bull¡¯s live-stream had been so lively. It was as if he had found the trick to gaining popularity. When he took out his phone and ordered the dishes, he didn¡¯t forget to say, ¡°My, one serving of pork trotters costs 89 dollars. It¡¯s only this small on the picture. Tsk tsk, everyone probably can¡¯t even afford pork now.¡± After saying that, he saw the comments that were criticizing him. ¡°I¡¯m speechless. Every inch of land in Shanghai is worth its weight. The dishes haven¡¯t even been served and you¡¯re already spouting nonsense.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re looking for trouble, why don¡¯t you go to another restaurant? I don¡¯t want to watch it anymore.¡± ¡°That child¡¯s fans are too sensitive. Why are they making a child look like a superstar?¡± Lu Yuxi had been silently observing the situation behind the counter. The content of the live-stream was still playing on her phone screen. She was a little worried that this live-streamer would deliberately smear the reputation of the store and affect Xu Le¡¯s image. Inside, Xu Le was busy cooking. He did not care about what was happening outside. Kung Pao Chicken, Braised Pork Trotters, and Mapo Tofu Rice were first served. Lu Yuxi directly served it to the blogger called Old Bull and said, ¡°Here you go, there¡¯s still some other dishes not served yet.¡± ¡°Wait a minute, little girl.¡± Old Bull stopped Lu Yuxi and said, ¡°I saw many people in the audience spamming. They said that your little Master Chef had made a very famous Pagoda Meat, Osmanthus Wine Cake, and even some fish sashimi. Can you make some for me today? The more I know about your store owner, the more I think my review will be neutral.¡± Lu Yuxi was so angry that she was about to laugh. She thought to herself, ¡°Where did you get your thick-skinnedness from?¡± However, she still had a polite smile on her face as she explained, ¡°Hello, there are more than 60 customers waiting to eat after you. We can¡¯t squeeze out any time.¡± Old Bull shamelessly said, ¡°Since we are in the same industry, I am considered a guest with an appointment. When I return to your store next time¡­¡± ¡°Who the hell is in the same industry as you?¡± Someone voiced out Lu Yuxi¡¯s thoughts. She turned around and saw the young man at the next table frowning. He stood up and said, ¡°There¡¯s still a difference between a food blogger and chef, right?¡± Li Qing had a smug look on his face. The words ¡°I¡¯m not to be trifled with¡± were written all over his face, making him look like a thorn. Old Bull was about to retort when he suddenly recognized who Li Qing was. He frowned and smiled. ¡°How is it you?¡± ¡°Am I not allowed to come for lunch? If you want to make your evaluation, then do it. Be quiet and don¡¯t cause trouble. My lunch hasn¡¯t arrived yet, so why are you expecting to get any privilege?¡± Li Qing reprimanded him fiercely, and Old Bull immediately made a shushing gesture, indicating that he understood. When he spoke again, his voice was much softer. Lu Yuxi was rather curious about the young man in front of her. She nodded and thanked him before running to the kitchen to tell Xu Le about the incident. The five Pork Flatbreads were ready. Xu Le was chopping the pork belly into pieces, pouring sauce over them, and stuffing them into the crispy flatbread. Upon hearing this, he looked outside and recognized Li Qing. ¡°I searched him on my phone and found that the person who spoke up for you just now seems to be a video game blogger. He¡¯s quite popular online. Are you two friends?¡± ¡°¡­We know each other, but we¡¯re not close.¡± Xu Le handed over the tray with the Pork Flatbread and said, ¡°Three people ordered the Pork Flatbread, and we¡¯re still short of two rice skin. I¡¯ll make them now, and you can serve these first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Lu Yuxi finished delivering the meal, she clicked into Old Bull¡¯s live-stream and saw the bullet screen filled with ¡°Hahahaha¡±. Old Bull held a plate of braised pork trotter that was bigger than his face and said with a surprised expression, ¡°Why is it so big? It looks like three people can¡¯t even finish it. This boss is too honest.¡± He tried his best to save his face and pushed the braised pork trotter to the side with an awkward expression. He said, ¡°I¡¯ll try that one last. It¡¯s too embarrassing. Guys, let me help you taste this Mapo Tofu Rice first.¡± Old Bull took a bite and his expression immediately revealed how delicious the rice was. After he swallowed it, he took two more bites. He said, ¡°I was too careless, guys. This rice is the best-selling dish in their restaurant. I finally understand why so many people are ordering it today. It¡¯s too appetizing!¡± ¡°The tofu is very tender, and it will break with just a touch, but everyone, look¡­¡± Old Bull brought the plate closer to the camera and said,¡± Such tender tofu is wrapped in fresh and spicy sauce. It tastes very good, and did you guys see it? The tofu on top of the rice is clear and distinct. There are edges and corners, but it didn¡¯t break at all. This is too magical! ¡° Old Bull then tasted the Kung Pao Chicken and Tomato Egg Soup. They were both authentic and delicious. There was nothing he could pick out from the dishes. This made him feel extremely embarrassed. He kept mumbling, ¡°My image is about to collapse today.¡± Someone came over to order food. Lu Yuxi could only put down her phone and smile politely. ¡°Hello, are you dining here?¡± After all, there were elderly and children who did not know how to use their phones to order on the app. Therefore, Lu Yuxi left a menu in front of the cashier. ¡°No, I saw the recruitment notice posted outside. You are looking to hire a cleaner, is it to wash the dishes?¡± Lu Yuxi heaved a sigh of relief. She had been collecting money and cleaning every day, so she was really too busy. Of course, it was a good thing that they could hire a cleaner. She was about to call Xu Le. She suddenly remembered that Xu Le had already given her the right to hire. Hence, she said, ¡°Auntie, please take a seat first. Can I ask about your age? I still have some details to tell you.¡± ¡°Under normal circumstances, there¡¯s no need to wash the dishes. There¡¯s a dishwasher. Your main job will be wiping the tables and cleaning the hall..¡± Chapter 86 - Sichuan Cuisine: Double Cooked Pork Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Lu Yuxi brought Auntie Liu, who was here to apply for the job, around the shop and introduced her to her daily job of cleaning the place. In fact, apart from the huge customer flow and the need to clean the tables in time, there was nothing else that needed special attention. Xu Le was in charge of cleaning the kitchen. Lu Yuxi was in charge of the cashier at the front, serving the dishes and purchasing the ingredients. There were not too many things to do for the amount of money she was paid for and three meals were also provided. Auntie Liu agreed readily. She planned to stay in the store for two days to try it out and signed the temporary contract. Old Bull, the host at the table, couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. Every dish he ordered didn¡¯t fail and the worst thing was that he couldn¡¯t find any flaws, so he didn¡¯t know how to edit the next video. Old Bull didn¡¯t expect that his career as a professional commentator would end at a store opened by an eight-year-old kid. The only dish left on the table was braised pork trotter. He took a deep breath and smiled at the camera. ¡°The braised pig¡¯s trotter is very fat and soft. When you eat it, you must match it with rice for fullest satisfaction.¡± He picked up the pork trotter that had turned a little cold with his chopsticks. The bright red and soft pork scattered as soon as he picked it up with the chopsticks. He spread it over the rice and placed it into his mouth. The fat was soft and chewy. There was no stench at all. The aftertaste was also sweet because of the spices. Old Bull chewed with big mouthfuls, and his expression looked like he was doubting life. He didn¡¯t want to go against his conscience and nitpick. Furthermore, every dish was extremely perfect and suited the taste of the masses. There was absolutely no fault to be found. After he finished tasting all of them, he shook his head with a smile and said, ¡°I¡¯ve failed my mission today, I really can¡¯t complain anything about the dishes. The taste is really great. If everyone wants to visit, I suggest that they try to avoid the meal time as much as possible. Otherwise, they¡¯ll have to queue for a long time. Also, what I recommend the most are the boiled beef slices and braised pork trotters. It¡¯s even better than the taste cooked by many five-star hotels!¡± After having his meal, Li Qing, who was sitting at the side playing with his phone, looked up at him and interrupted, ¡°Did you receive advertising fee? Even Old Bull has a day of complimenting others.¡± He had always been sharp and unkind with his words. Old Bull turned the camera and said, ¡°We even met a blogger from the same platform today. Come, let¡¯s give everyone a greeting.¡± Li Qing quickly lowered the brim of his hat and dodged to the side. Even though his movements were fast, it still caused the live-stream room to be in an uproar. ¡°It¡¯s that Li Qing! Number one player in the country!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve even watched his live-stream before!¡± ¡°He¡¯s here for a meal too. I¡¯ll definitely come over to visit tomorrow!¡± Li Qing waved at Old Bull unhappily and chased him away. ¡°Don¡¯t film me.¡± Old Bull did not give in to the rotten personality of the young person, and he said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it office hours now? Why, are you on leave today? Or did you specially come here to eat?¡± ¡°It has nothing to do with you!¡± Li Qing¡¯s attitude was very bad, as if he could not hold in anymore and would fight with him in the next second. Old Bull was not surprised by this. After the visit to the store ended, he went to the kitchen to say hi to Xu Le. Coincidentally, Xu Le was done with his work in the store. He was rubbing his shoulders as he sat on a chair to rest. When he saw Old Bull¡¯s camera, he greeted him. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hello, hello, Little Master Chef, I¡¯m Old Bull. You¡¯ve seen my videos, right?¡± Old Bull chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m quite popular.¡± Xu Le smiled and replied without missing a beat, ¡°Yes, my employee was just talking about your video.¡± Lu Yuxi couldn¡¯t stand Old Bull¡¯s bragging anymore. She muttered, ¡°Your fan count is only 1/4 of our boss¡¯s. I guess you¡¯re quite popular.¡± It was a wave of sarcasm, and the bullet screen was filled with ¡°hahaha¡±. Someone had recognised Lu Yuxi¡¯s voice. ¡°It¡¯s a dream-like meet up.¡± ¡°Is it that Sister Zhenxiang?¡± ¡°Hahaha, so forthright! Well said.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this.¡± Old Bull didn¡¯t take it to heart. He didn¡¯t hate anything that could bring him show effect and popularity. He said to Xu Le, ¡°I wasn¡¯t full just now. Can I order something that you can make immediately?¡± Xu Le said gently, ¡°Coincidentally, I¡¯m going to prepare the employee¡¯s meal. I can count you in. What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°How about Double Cooked Pork?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he couldn¡¯t help but turn to Old Bull and said, ¡°Uncle Bull, I think you should control your weight a little so that it¡¯s better for your body. It¡¯s not good for your health to continue consuming food high in fat and carbohydrates.¡± ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing. Don¡¯t worry and do what you know.¡± Old Bull followed a cameraman to the kitchen. Everything he saw was clean and orderly. Normally, the kitchen of a restaurant would only be cleaned once a day or after half a day. However, the kitchen of the ¡°8-year-old canteen¡± only had Xu Le, yet he was able to keep all the ingredients orderly and clean, that¡¯s really not easy. ¡°Did you guess that I was going to come in for the shoot and had cleaned up in advance?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Yuxi took out the freshly delivered pork belly from the fridge and said, ¡°We usually wipe it clean after using something and put it back in its original place. After forming this habit, it¡¯ll be easy to keep everything clean.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Old Bull felt like he had been taught a lesson by a child. He looked at Xu Le¡¯s swift movements and asked from time to time. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to blanch the pork belly before cutting it? It¡¯s hard to cut raw meat.¡± Xu Le slashed down. The pig skin, fat and lean meat were cut into thin slices of five or six millimeters. Each slice was equally thick. He said lightly, ¡°Yes, Double Cooked Pork is a very famous dish in Sichuan Cuisine. It¡¯s similar to the Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken in the restaurant. Most families know how to make it. If you want to make it at home, don¡¯t cut it like me. Blanch it in water first, then put it in cold water, or take it out from the freezer so that it¡¯s easier to cut it. I¡¯m doing this in a more detailed way.¡± He poured cold water into the pot and scooped a spoonful of soup from the pressure cooker at the side. He explained, ¡°Everyone likes to blanch the meat with clear water, but if you add a stew that has been stewed for a long time, the meat quality will be raised to a whole new level.¡± As he spoke, he placed some ginger slices and scallions in the pot. After cutting the meat, he poured cold water into the pot and started to boil it. Xu Le took the opportunity to pick up some green peppers and scallions and asked Old Bull, ¡°Uncle Bull, do you eat onions?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything. I¡¯m not picky.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le prepared the ingredients. ¡°Green peppers, sliced garlic, stir-fried sliced onions, and also the essentials for Sichuan Cuisine ¨C black bean paste.¡± Steam rose from the pot, and the meat floated to the surface. Xu Le noted the time down accurately. When he saw that the bright streaky pork was slightly curled, he immediately scooped it up with a strainer. ¡°Don¡¯t cook the meat until it¡¯s soft. After blanching it, there¡¯s still a step to stir-fry it. You can immediately scoop it up when it has reached this state.¡± He poured a small amount of oil into the pot. When it was 40 to 50% hot, he poured the meat slices and stir-fried it, while saying, ¡°This step is to melt the fat in the meat so that it won¡¯t be too greasy later..¡± Chapter 87 - West Lake Beef Soup Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Stir it for a while. The fat in the meat will blend into the oil, and the meat will curl up around it like a small lantern. This is called a lantern nest. When it reaches this state, you can pour the condiments into it.¡± He dragged the meat to the side with an steel spoon and poured in bean paste until red oil was formed. Then he added green peppers, garlic cloves, and onions. Because they were cut very small, it was very easy to cook them. After the green peppers and onions were cooked, he added soy sauce, wine, salt, and a small amount of white sugar. ¡°Originally, I wanted to add chicken essence to increase the freshness, but today¡¯s meat was freshly killed in the morning. It¡¯s very fresh and tender, so there¡¯s no need for that.¡± Finally, start the fire at high heat. After stir-frying it a few times, it would be ready to be served. Xu Le gave a summary to the audience watching and said, ¡°It¡¯s not difficult to cook the Double Cooked Pork. The most crucial point is the heat. Regardless of whether it¡¯s blanched or whether soup was added, remember that when you stir fry it into the shape of the lantern in the pot, it will be almost 70 to 80 percent cooked. At this time, immediately add the condiments. The final heating will cook all the ingredients so that it is not tough to chew and the texture is just right.¡± Just looking at this process, Old Bull felt that it was pleasing to the eye. He kept feeling that Xu Le standing there was like one with the stove. His movements were natural and smooth without any useless steps. He was drooling as he looked at the large plate of Double Cooked Pork. However, Xu Le did not say that he was going to bring it out. Instead, he took four green melons and said, ¡°Wait a moment, I¡¯ll make you a stir-fried green melon.¡± Old Bull didn¡¯t like eating vegetables the most and immediately said, ¡°No need to trouble yourself.¡± ¡°No trouble. Two minutes will do.¡± Xu Le cut the green melon into slices and added salt and sugar into the clear water. After the water was boiled, he poured the melon slices into the water to boil it. ¡°Everyone, remember to pour a small amount of plant oil into the water to preserve the color. This way, the green melons that are cooked will be bright in color and won¡¯t turn yellow or tough. Remember to boil just for 25 seconds.¡± As Xu Le spoke, his movements were fluid. He poured some oil into the pot and added garlic cloves. ¡°After the fragrance is released, pour in the processed green melon and stir-fry it. You can start seasoning now. Just some simple salt, white sugar and garlic are enough. After stir-frying it twice, you will find a small amount of green melon juice underneath. At this time, you will need to use a spoonful of starch to form the gravy. Everyone, remember, just a small spoonful.¡± Just as he said, in less than two minutes, a refreshing green stir-fried melon was cooked. ¡°This dish is very simple. It basically doesn¡¯t require much skill. Remember to blanch it before you cook it. This way, you can reduce the greasy taste.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go eat, Uncle Bull.¡± Auntie Liu came in and distributed them the rice, Double Cooked Pork, and stir-fried green melons. It looked like a simple meal. Lu Yuxi looked up and said, ¡°Boss, I want to drink some soup. Is there any tomato egg soup in the kitchen?¡± Auntie Liu said, ¡°Do you want a drink? I¡¯ll buy you a drink.¡± ¡°Soup?¡± Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°Sure, it¡¯ll only take a few minutes.¡± ¡°Hey.¡± Old Bull had already sat down and picked up his chopsticks, wanting to taste the Double Cooked Pork. He noticed that Xu Le was going to prepare soup, so he immediately stood up and followed behind him into the kitchen. ¡°Everyone has a new soup to learn. Their tomato egg soup is super delicious. Boss, are you going to reveal the secret recipe now?¡± ¡°No, I plan to make West Lake beef soup.¡± ¡°That should be tricky, right? Will a few minutes be enough?¡± Old Bull was still thinking about the Double Cooked Pork that he had not yet eaten and was afraid that it wouldn¡¯t taste good if it was cold. Xu Le said, ¡°Soon, I have ready-made ingredients.¡± There were many types of West Lake Beef Soup. In some places, it was a red and spicy soup, while in others, it was brown in color. No one knew how many ingredients were placed inside, as the soup were as thick as congee. The more mainstream cooking method was that many restaurants would bring out a thick creamy white soup that was full of froth. He took out the processed lean beef from the fridge, chopped it up, and cooked it with boiling water. Cooking it with boiling water could remove the stench of the meat, so that the taste of the soup was more refreshing. He filled the pot with clear water. He cut the tofu and ham into cubes, then added the cooked beef, MSG, and chicken essence. Then, they were boiled at medium heat. During the time it took to boil the soup, the fragrance had already filled the air. Old Bull was drooling at the side and said, ¡°It smells so good, the color of the soup looks very delicious.¡± At this moment, Xu Le took out a handful of coriander, washed it and cut it into pieces. The bullet screen was filled with wailing. ¡°The good soup is ruined just like that¡­¡± ¡°Coriander, always the best!¡± ¡°When I have money, I will trample on all the coriander fields in the world.¡± ¡°Same, such a good pot of soup was destroyed just like this by coriander.¡± ¡°Coriander is such a good thing. When I have money, I¡¯ll capture everyone who doesn¡¯t eat it to plant them!¡± ¡°I really want to drink it. Boss, please serve this soup.¡± ¡°Their store looks so clean and the food is delicious. I¡¯m definitely going to visit the store!¡± Xu Le separated the egg yolk and beat the egg white before pouring it into the boiling pot. After stirring it a little, it turned into a paste. After adding pepper powder, he raised his head and asked Old Bull, ¡°Uncle Bull, do you eat coriander?¡± ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Xu Le then asked Lu Yuxi and Auntie Liu who were outside. After knowing that Auntie Liu did not eat coriander, he scooped a bowl of soup for her. Then he added the end of the coriander. ¡°What a well-behaved child! You¡¯re so young, yet you already know how to take care of people. Xu Le, Mommy loves you!¡± ¡°I really want to eat Xu Le¡¯s cooking.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so hungry watching. Now I also feel like ordering Double Cooked Pork with rice.¡± ¡°Uncle Bull, restrain yourself. Your drool is about to fall.¡± ¡°Where is this little Master Chef¡¯s social media account? I want to follow him!¡± Lu Yuxi picked up a piece of Double Cooked Pork. The fat was shiny and smooth. It tasted neither oily nor had a stench. It was savory and slightly spicy. There was also the aroma of black beans. After chewing a few times, the garlic flavor and the faint spiciness seeped out. Lu Yuxi excitedly took a big bite of the rice and said, ¡°Mmm, delicious!¡± With a look of admiration, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve also cooked Double Cooked Pork at home before, but it¡¯s oily and greasy and just look like white meat slices. I guess I still have to depend on you to cook!¡± Old Bull put it into his mouth and immediately complained about Lu Yuxi. ¡°She¡¯s already so old and doesn¡¯t have much descriptive words. Listen to me, this is called fragrant and not greasy, lean but not meatless¡­ Hey hey! What are you doing?¡± Lu Yuxi picked up two large pieces of stir-fried green melons with her chopsticks. ¡°I¡¯m giving you some vegetables. Eat more vegetables.¡± Old Bull pouted and unwillingly ate more. The green melons were crispy and not greasy, and even he, who never liked eating vegetables, ate more than half of them. ¡°Have a taste of the soup. It¡¯s the West Lake beef soup. There¡¯s also Jinhua ham cubes in it. It has a unique flavor.¡± Lu Yuxi took a bite and squinted her eyes in bliss. The smooth soup flowed from her throat into her stomach. Her taste buds were still dancing with the fresh fragrance of beef, bacon, and ham. She drank half a bowl in one go. Auntie Liu took a small sip and praised, ¡°As expected of someone who can open a store. It¡¯s really delicious..¡± Chapter 88 - The Little Master Chefs Cooking Guide Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In Uncle Bull¡¯s career as a sharp-tongued commentator, it was the first time for him to fail. After the live-stream ended, he edited the video properly and uploaded it online. In just two days, the number of views had exceeded a million. Turning on the video, there were dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted good. They were delicious and cheap. It made people salivate and there were so many praises on the bullet screen. Even in the comments section, it was rare that no one had picked on a fault. The people who had visited the ¡°Eight-year-old cafeteria¡± were all recommending their favorite dishes in the comments section. Initially, during the past few months when it was non-peak season, the entire food street¡¯s business was not very good. However, before the ¡°Eight-year-old cafeteria¡± had even opened, there was already a long queue at the entrance. There were no empty seats every day, and business was very good. Xu Le was excited every night as he calculated the net profit after accounting for the cost. That morning, the system beeped twice and issued a mission: ¡°Please record a food tutorial video. The number of likes needs to exceed 3 million for you to receive 600 gourmet points and a new opportunity.¡± Xu Le brushed his teeth and asked in doubt, ¡°3 million?¡± There weren¡¯t many fans on the platform for short videos. Even if he had already more than five million fans, the previous ¡°Boiled Beef Slices¡± that he posted had only a million likes. ¡°That¡¯s right. Please complete it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Xu Le answered. He spat out the foam, wiped the toothpaste stains on his mouth, and went to wake Xu Tian up. ¡°Tian Tian, it¡¯s time for school, you¡¯re going to be late!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not getting up¡­ sleepy,¡± Xu Tian muttered. ¡°Just ten more minutes of sleep.¡± She closed her eyes and pulled the blanket over her head. Xu Le didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. He said seriously, ¡°You¡¯re really going to be late. Otherwise, we won¡¯t have time for breakfast later.¡± Xu Tian was still dawdling when she suddenly smelled a fragrance. She sat up from the bed and said, ¡°Brother, what are you cooking? It smells so good!¡± She jumped off the bed and ran to the kitchen without putting on her shoes. Through the glass, she saw the stew in the casserole. Xu Le chased after her with her shoes and said helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ve made chicken sauce rice noodles for you. I¡¯m cooking the sauce now. Go wash up and sit down. Otherwise, you won¡¯t have time to eat later.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xu Tian ran off to wash up while Lu Yuxi came out of the room with sleepy eyes. She yawned and said, ¡°As expected, gluttony is the greatest source of motivation.¡± Xu Le teased her on purpose. ¡°Didn¡¯t you wake up from your cravings too?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Lu Yuxi followed him to the kitchen to help. She saw the bright golden chicken soup in the casserole, where the fragrance was overflowing. She saw Xu Le bringing out the vermicelli that had been bought and said, ¡°I want to eat noodles. Do you have potato noodles or rice noodles?¡± ¡°There¡¯s rice noodles.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll change it for you.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Okay! Thank you, Boss. Boss is so nice!¡± The chicken soup was stewed with black chicken with ginger slices and scallions. When it was almost ready, he just needed to add some salt and pepper. That would preserve the original flavor. Xu Le took the vegetables and bean skins, washed them and cut them. Then, he found the beefballs that he had not finished previously. The cooking method of the vermicelli was very fast and simple. The vermicelli that were curled into a ball would be softened in boiling water. The same applied to the rice noodles. There were scallions, dried shrimp, seaweed, and a small piece of lard placed at the bottom of the bowl. The vegetables, bean skin, and beef balls could be boiled in the chicken soup before serving. The vermicelli were poured in, and a bowl of simple breakfast was ready. According to one¡¯s personal preference, one could choose to add in soya sauce and vinegar. The salt had already been added into the chicken soup. It was tender and delicious, and he didn¡¯t even need to add MSG. ¡°You only made one bowl?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no chili in this bowl. Wait a minute.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he took out a piece of hotpot soup base and placed it in the pot to stir-fry. After he saw the red oil being produced, he added chicken soup, vermicelli that had been cooked and side ingredients. In about three minutes, all the rice noodles and vermicelli were ready. After washing up and changing her clothes, Xu Tian sat at the dining table and sniffed the fragrant rice noodles. She mumbled, ¡°Brother, why didn¡¯t you add chili for me?¡± Xu Le knew his sister¡¯s temper. He scooped a spoonful of soup from his bowl and fed it to her. ¡°Try it.¡± Xu Tian opened her mouth and smacked her lips. Her face turned red as she said stubbornly, ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s not that spicy.¡± Lu Yuxi deliberately made things difficult for her. ¡°Then do you want another two mouthfuls?¡± Xu Tian couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. She lowered her head and drank the soup in her bowl. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that. Wow, it smells so good!¡± The rice noodles were soft and smooth. They were wrapped in the fragrant chicken soup and tasted so good that Xu Tian stomped her feet twice. ¡°This soup is so delicious!¡± Xu Le said calmly, ¡°The chicken soup has been simmering for three to four hours. It must be very thick.¡± Lu Yuxi looked at the vermicelli in their bowls and said, ¡°Give me some. I want to try too.¡± As she said that, she poured some of her rice noodles into their bowls. Xu Le also picked up two chopsticks of vermicelli for her and said, ¡°You¡¯re more picky than Tian Tian.¡± Lu Yuxi pretended to be deaf. The hot and fragrant soup slid into her stomach, warming her up. Lu Yuxi asked, ¡°What do you think of Auntie Liu?¡± ¡°She¡¯s quite efficient, not bad.¡± ¡°Her probation period was over yesterday. Why don¡¯t we officially hire her?¡± Xu Le said, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, let¡¯s record a short food tutorial video tonight. I think the response previously was pretty good.¡± ¡°What ingredients do you want to use?¡± Xu Le was stunned. He said with a serious expression, ¡°Let me think about it.¡± Lu Yuxi nodded. She understood his concerns. ¡°The audience is just ordinary people. It¡¯s definitely better to make home-cooked dishes. However, it¡¯s difficult to come up with a tutorial that everyone likes and is easy to learn.¡± After one day of work, when Xu Le was closing for the night, he took out the leftover pork belly from the fridge and said, ¡°I¡¯ve decided on the theme.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Braised pork.¡± Braised pork was a home-cooked dish. Braised pork had both sweet and salty flavors. It was especially appetizing and definitely suited the taste of the masses. Furthermore, it was also a dish that he had promised his fans beforehand. ¡°Yay! Remember to steam rice!¡± Seeing her gluttonous expression, Xu Le reminded her, ¡°I am recording a tutorial.¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m the one who will finish them all after the recording.¡± Lu Yuxi rubbed her hands and looked excited. When she got home, she immediately took out the tripod that she had bought online. After setting up her phone, she asked in puzzlement, ¡°Your video has at least ten million views. Why don¡¯t you buy a video camera?¡± Xu Le looked up. ¡°Do you know how to use it?¡± ¡°¡­I think cell phones are pretty good. After all, we¡¯re taking the route of home-cooked food.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll count to three, two, and one. You can take out that quail egg. Aren¡¯t you using the whole braised pork? Are you adding quail eggs into it?¡± ¡°Yeah, fried eggs.¡± On the screen, the white and tender quail eggs were peeled and placed into the sieve before being fried at low temperature. ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Xu Le. Today, I¡¯ll teach everyone how to make a very homely and delicious braised pork. The method is simple.. Even a novice can learn it!¡± Chapter 89 - Filming the Braised Pork Guide Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Firstly, prepare the pork belly and cut it into small pieces based on what you¡¯re used to. I¡¯ve cut a five-centimeter piece of braised pork here so that it¡¯ll be more satisfying to eat.¡± As Xu Le cut the pork into pieces and explained, he poured the fresh pork into the cold water and blanched it. ¡°When the water is boiling, remember to remove the surface foam. These things are the source of the stench.¡± ¡°Next, put some base oil in the pot and fry the fat. I had fried the quail eggs just now. Everyone can use chestnuts, soybeans, or potatoes.¡± The white meat sizzled on the frying pan, and the grease was gradually forced out. The surface of the meat was slightly golden. ¡°After frying it a little, scoop out the meat and place it aside. There are aniseeds, fragrant leaves, scallions, ginger slices, salt, light and dark soya sauce prepared here. Of course, there¡¯s also the most important brown sugar.¡± Xu Le poured the brown sugar into the pot and started to stir-fry it over a small fire. He said, ¡°You can replace it with ice sugar. Brown sugar is easier to color the food, and the taste will be more fresh and sweet. Everyone, be careful not to overcook it, just stir-fry until it¡¯s brown.¡± ¡°Now pour it the meat, stir-fry it until it changes color. When the surface is coated with the brown sugar sauce, add some onions and ginger slices.¡± The layer of red braised pork in the pot immediately became alluring. As Lu Yuxi adjusted the camera angle, she secretly swallowed her saliva. ¡°Add a spoonful of seasoned wine, light soya sauce to make it more salty, dark soya sauce to deepen the color and finally some salt. Now, we have reached a crucial step.¡± ¡°Pour the wine inside to maximize the freshness and sweetness of the meat. You can use the huadiao wine or even beer is fine too. I¡¯m using¡­¡± The words ¡°Maotai¡± appeared on the screen. Lu Yuxi quickly said, ¡°No, no, this thing is too expensive. Put it down first!¡± Xu Le paused. Lu Yuxi was shocked. ¡°You bought a bottle of Maotai just to cook braised pork?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my dad¡¯s. It¡¯s a collection of wine from his cabinet.¡± Lu Yuxi immediately changed her attitude and said, ¡°Then go ahead. I want to taste the Maotai too.¡± Xu Le explained, ¡°The alcohol content is too high. I mixed it with beer.¡± After pouring the wine into the pot and adding aniseed, he covered the pot lid to start stewing. ¡°I¡¯ll stew it for 45 minutes. Everyone, depending on the heat at your home, you may have to stew for longer or shorter time. Remember to make sure it¡¯s cooked. Only then will the bitterness in the wine be released. Watch it from time to time. Be careful not to stew it for too long, or it¡¯ll be overcooked.¡± After a while, Lu Yuxi was so hungry that she kept shaking her legs. Even Xu Tian, who was sleeping on the bed, walked to the kitchen and asked, ¡°Brother, what are you making?¡± ¡°Cooking braised pork. Do you want some later?¡± ¡°I want to eat!¡± Xu Tian said happily. Xu Le looked at her and could not help but mutter, ¡°I fed you a lot too. Why are you still so skinny? You¡¯re not round at all. I don¡¯t feel accomplished at all.¡± Xu Tian said smugly, ¡°Maybe I just don¡¯t get fat!¡± ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re picky about food. If you only eat two bites of every dish, you definitely won¡¯t get fat.¡± Lu Yuxi said worriedly, ¡°I¡¯m different. I¡¯m already four to five kilograms heavier. Sigh, my metabolism is really too slow after getting older.¡± Xu Le laughed out loud. The small kitchen was filled with laughter. The sound of meat stewing could be heard and the fragrance gradually seeped out from the crack in the lid. Xu Le found some ingredients from the fridge and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make a cold appetizing dish for you. Two minutes will do. Turn the camera around.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Lu Yuxi got up lazily and adjusted her phone. ¡°This dish is called Chilled Fungus. It requires some soaking in advance. Coincidentally, I have some in my fridge, so I made it for everyone in advance. Everyone, remember not to soak your fungus for more than 12 hours. Otherwise, it will produce toxins.¡± ¡°After blanching the white and black fungus, tear them up and put them in a glass bowl. Add salt, fragrant vinegar, a small amount of chicken powder and pepper powder, and finally pour a circle of fragrant oil over them. The cooking method is very simple. It helps to degrease when eaten with meat.¡± ¡°If you like it, you can add sliced cucumber and coriander to it.¡± 45 minutes later, the lid was lifted and the quail eggs that were fried in advance were added. ¡°Now transfer it over a huge fire and cook it for about five minutes to evaporate the gravy. Then it will be ready to be served.¡± The thick red sauce wrapped around the meat and was poured into the plate. Lu Yuxi quickly scooped three bowls of rice and sat at the table, waiting obediently. She picked up a piece of fat and smooth meat and covered it over the white rice. Then, she used her chopsticks to gently break it from the middle, and the juice overflowed. Due to the fact that the braised pork had been fried in advance and the oil had been forced out, it was not greasy at all. On the contrary, the fried quail eggs were full of the flavor of the braised sauce. After one mouthful of meat, one mouthful of egg, one mouthful of rice, it was indescribably satisfying. Xu Le took a bite and immediately raised his eyebrows. He looked as if he was impressed by his own cooking skills. ¡°Everyone, you must try this home-cooked dish. After you learn it, you can show off your skills at the reunion dinner. It¡¯s simple and delicious.¡± ¡°Remember to watch the pot carefully if you boil it with huadiao wine. Be careful to not set a fire.¡± The Braised Pork was moderately salty and sweet. The pork belly was evenly fat and lean. The fatty parts were not greasy and the lean parts were not meatless. He put a big piece into his mouth and chewed it carefully. He could even eat three bowls of rice with this. Lu Yuxi did exactly this. She did not even look up as she mixed the rice with the red braised pork. After she finished eating, she held her forehead and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s because this bowl is too small. It¡¯s only the size of a palm. It¡¯s not because I ate too much.¡± Xu Le wanted to nod, but he couldn¡¯t help but smile. Lu Yuxi widened her eyes. ¡°Boss, is there anything you¡¯re unhappy about?¡± ¡°No, no, no. You¡¯re the thinest and you eat the least.¡± Xu Le ate to the bottom of the bowl and said, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not a big deal to eat a lot. It only proves that my food is delicious, right?¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Lu Yuxi pouted. ¡°I am going to edit the video tonight. I need to eat more to gain energy, do you understand?¡± ¡°Alright, thank you!¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s stomach was already full, but when she looked at the pair of chilled fungus, she couldn¡¯t help but pick up her chopsticks and eat a few mouthfuls. The fungus was very crispy and fresh. As there wasn¡¯t much seasoning, it could release the original taste of the ingredients to the greatest extent and it really helped with degreasing. The three of them finished the plate of red braised pork completely. After eating, they placed the cutlery into the dishwasher and Xu Le brought his sister to sleep. When they woke up, Lu Yuxi had already sent him the edited video. There was a long string of voice message after that. Lu Yuxi¡¯s sleepy voice came through when he played the voice message. ¡°I cut a scene of Tiantian eating in. It¡¯s really too cute. If you don¡¯t want your sister to show her face, I can delete that.¡± ¡°Also, I¡¯ve edited very little of the video this time. I¡¯ve kept a lot of conversations we had outside of the filming. If you¡¯re not satisfied, I can edit it.¡± Xu Le opened the video and watched it. Every step in the video was very clear. The ingredients were filmed brightly and seemed appetizing. The final tasting stage was also extremely infectious.. Chapter 90 - Smells Good! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°No problem, I¡¯ve already posted it.¡± Xu Le replied Lu Yuxi. The next moment, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Lu Yuxi pushed the door open and made an OK gesture. She did not forget to say, ¡°Alright, Boss. Remember to raise my salary next time!¡± A few days after Auntie Liu was employed, on a weekend, a small and skinny boy with slightly tanned skin carrying a schoolbag leaned on the counter and asked Lu Yuxi, ¡°Have you seen my mom?¡± Lu Yuxi lowered her head and estimated that he was about the same age as Xu Tian. She asked warmly, ¡°Little kid, who is your mother?¡± ¡°My mom is Liu Guifang.¡± After the boy said that, he turned around and saw Auntie Liu. He immediately shouted, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m starving. Give me 10 yuan.¡± Auntie Liu glared at him and said, ¡°Did you eat the food I left for you this morning?¡± The little boy shrank his neck. The meaning was obvious. Auntie Liu introduced him to Lu Yuxi. ¡°This is my son, Sun Zhi. There are only the two of us in our family.¡± Realizing that they were from a single-parent family, Lu Yuxi said unbothered, ¡°So he¡¯s your son. Is he attending primary school?¡± Sun Zhi was very afraid of this kind of question. He exploded at the mention of it and said, ¡°I¡¯m already in fifth grade! I¡¯m not a child!¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Auntie Liu said to him to stay quiet. She took out her wallet and said, ¡°10 yuan? What snacks do you want to buy again? Those are all junk food. Look at you eating non-nutritious food every day. You don¡¯t eat properly. You¡¯re already in fifth grade, yet you still look like a kindergarten kid!¡± Sun Zhi snatched the money from Auntie Liu¡¯s hands and ran out after throwing his school bag. Xu Le saw his back and asked curiously, ¡°Is that your son?¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± Auntie Liu let out a long sigh and said with a worried expression, ¡°There¡¯s no way to scold that brat! He doesn¡¯t eat every day. Apart from snacks and soft drinks, water and milk, he doesn¡¯t eat or drink properly at home. He¡¯s already in his teens but is always recognized as a kindergarten kid. He¡¯s also the shortest in class¡­¡± Auntie Liu grumbled for a while. Sun Zhi, who ran fast, bought a big bag of potato chips and rushed back excitedly. He tore open the packaging and stuffed it into his mouth. As he ate, he said, ¡°I¡¯m starving. I haven¡¯t eaten anything since this morning!¡± Auntie Liu was furious. ¡°Did I not leave you any food? Can¡¯t you heat it up in the microwave?¡± Seeing Sun Zhi¡¯s stubborn expression, she had no choice but to continue with her work. It was lunchtime. Xu Le asked for everyone¡¯s opinion. ¡°What do you want to eat for lunch? Porridge?¡± Lu Yuxi had her phone by the cashier counter and was scrolling through a short video. She said, ¡°Look at this. Crispy pork belly. It¡¯s the latest delicacy popular online. It looks delicious!¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows. ¡°You just ate pork belly last night, and today you¡¯re eating crispy pork belly again. How many pounds did you gain this month?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not fat! I¡¯m just chubby. I¡¯ll lose weight soon!¡± Lu Yuxi pouted unhappily. Xu Le explained, ¡°This kind of crispy pork belly needs to be roasted in the roaster. The kitchen is equipped with an oven. It can be made, but it definitely won¡¯t taste as good as the one made in the roaster.¡± Lu Yuxi pouted and said in a soft voice, ¡°Boss, Brother, Handsome, I want to eat it, so can you make it¡­¡± If it was before, with a pure-looking and beautiful black-haired beauty acting coquettishly in front of Xu Le, he would definitely be moved. However, after spending close to Lu Yuxi for a month, he knew very well how silly she was in private. He turned around and retched when he saw how awkward she looked. He hurriedly stopped her. ¡°Lu Yuxi, don¡¯t do this. It¡¯s too disgusting.¡± Lu Yuxi wriggled around him and pestered him. ¡°Make it for me. If I can¡¯t eat it today, I¡¯ll be dreaming of that crispy sound the whole night.¡± Xu Le said bluntly, ¡°Then go and eat crispy skin in your dreams.¡± Lu Yuxi snorted and said, ¡°I¡¯ll buy a roaster in the afternoon!¡± ¡°The cost will be deducted from your salary.¡± ¡°No, Stingy Xu, you are squeezing out the hard-earned money of the laborers!¡± ¡°All you can think of is buying. Stay quiet first. What are we having for lunch?¡± After beating around the bush for a long time, they went back to the original topic. Lu Yuxi said, ¡°Give me a pan-fried tofu. Tofu is low in calories and high in protein content. Eating it will help me lose weight.¡± ¡°Only eating tofu?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Lu Yuxi swore. ¡°I promise that I won¡¯t eat anything else today.¡± Xu Le looked at her speechlessly and was too lazy to retort. He turned to Auntie Liu and asked, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not picky. I¡¯ll eat whatever the boss cooks, but¡­¡± She looked at her son worriedly and said, ¡°Rascal, what are you eating?¡± Sun Zhi took Auntie Liu¡¯s cell phone and starting playing games. He shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m full. I¡¯m not hungry.¡± ¡°You only ate a bag of chips!¡± ¡°Aiya, stop asking. I¡¯m not eating!¡± The more he behaved like this, the more Xu Le wanted to make a tempting dish to tease him. When he entered the kitchen, he was about to prepare steamed white chicken first. Lu Yuxi kept urging from the side, ¡°My tofu! Don¡¯t forget!¡± ¡°Later. Your dish is the easiest to prepare so it will be the last.¡± After saying that, Xu Le took out a chicken that was delivered that day. It was from Qingyuan and the meat was fresh and tender. It looked hundreds of times better than the frozen chicken in the supermarket. Then, he entered the ¡®Strongest Master Chef System¡¯ and bought the recipe for ¡®Steamed White Chicken¡¯. This dish was easy to pick up, so he only needed to practice it five times in the system before he succeeded. Steamed White Chicken had a light taste. It was acceptable to both adults and children. Most importantly, it was nutritious and had low calories. Xu Le took out ginger, scallions, garlic, vanilla, aniseed, and fennel. First, he cut a large piece of fresh ginger from the middle. Half of it was cut into thin slices while the other half was directly grounded. A small amount of ice was added to the cold water, and the chicken was directly placed inside. This way, the meat would be more tight and solid. It was the same principle as icing mutton. After the fire was started, the ice would slowly melt into water. Then, scallions, ginger slices, aniseed, and pepper would be added. By the time the water was boiled, the chicken was basically half cooked. He changed to medium heat and boiled the meat for two minutes before turning it over. Then, he placed the lid on, turned to the lowest heat and waited until it was cooked. This way, the meat would be soft and tender. Taking advantage of this time, he began to make the sauce. He added soy sauce to the ground ginger and added a small amount of dark soya sauce. He poured some oil into the frying pan. Then, he added fennel and a small amount of dried chili pepper. When the surface of the two was slightly brown and the dried chili pepper was slightly burnt, he filtered out the pepper and dried chili pepper. Then, with a sizzling sound, he poured oil into the sauce to produce the fragrance. At this moment, the kitchen was already filled with the fragrance of fennel, chicken, and chili. The fire was turned off and the stewed chicken was scooped into the ice water. This step was based ont he principle of heat expansion and cold contraction, causing the chicken muscles to suddenly tighten, so that it was fragrant and crisp. Sun Zhi, who was focused on playing games, raised his head and said with interest, ¡°Wow, it smells so good!¡± Chapter 91 - Stop New Creations! Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le fished out the Steamed White Chicken from the ice water, chopped it into even pieces, and placed them on the plate. The surface of the chicken was suffused with a delicate golden color, and the meat was white and tender. The Steamed White Chicken had the original flavor of the chicken retained to the greatest extent, and its taste came completely from the sauce. After the first dish was done, she started to make the fried tofu that Lu Yuxi wanted. The tender tofu was cut into thin slices of equal thickness. He beat three eggs and added salt and pepper. Then, he covered the tofu with an even layer of egg. After the frying pan was heated up, he poured oil into it and started a small fire. The beaten egg was easily overcooked to become indistinguishable, so he needed to flip the egg in time during the entire process. This was a test of the chef¡¯s speed and patience. When ordinary people were cooking at home, there would always be two or three pieces of tofu that were burnt from one pan. However, for a professional chef like Xu Le, it was not difficult at all. The therapeutic sound of the sizzle continued, and the tofu was fried until both sides were golden brown. Xu Le poured half a bowl of clear water and added oyster sauce, light soya sauce, white sugar, and an appropriate amount of white starch. After mixing the sauce according to the ratio, he poured the sauce into the pan of pan-fried tofu and turned it to medium heat to produce gravy. After stirring the pot, each piece of tofu was evenly covered with the gravy. Finally, after adding some chopped green onions and white sesame seeds, it would be ready to be served. Lu Yuxi helped to bring the Steamed White Chicken to the table and scooped three bowls of rice at the same time. Then, she took out the pan-fried tofu she ordered. Just the sight of it made her drool. She was eagerly picking up her chopsticks when she noticed Sun Zhi, who was engrossed in his phone. ¡°Little kid, aren¡¯t you coming over to eat?¡± Sun Zhi retorted angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t call me little kid! I¡¯m an adult now!¡± Lu Yuxi immediately responded and said, ¡°I¡¯m calling Xu Le. He¡¯s a little kid, alright?¡± She turned around and looked at Xu Le with a cheeky expression. Xu Le dipped the chicken into the sauce and put it into his mouth, as he rolled his eyes at Lu Yuxi. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender. The taste was exceptionally fresh and delicious. As the chicken was braised and cooked, the juice was shockingly tender and seeped out the moment it was bitten through. The chicken was cooked perfectly, and the sauce was perfectly proportioned. When the two were eaten with the rice, the more fragrant it became as one ate. Xu Le lowered his head and started eating. Lu Yuxi was about to pick up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks when she was stopped by him. ¡°Who just swore to only eat tofu?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that!¡± Lu Yuxi went back on her words. ¡°I said that I want to eat low-calorie food. Isn¡¯t Steamed White Chicken one of them?¡± ¡°Then you still want to have crispy pork belly this afternoon?¡± ¡°Errr¡­¡± Lu Yuxi had no excuse to refute. She pretended to be deaf and changed the topic, ¡°Auntie Liu, aren¡¯t you getting your child to come over for lunch? ¡° Auntie Liu shook her head, her tone full of helplessness. ¡°I¡¯ve been chasing after him to eat since he was young, and now he¡¯s still not eating. I can¡¯t do anything about it. If he¡¯s hungry, then he will go and find something to eat.¡± Lu Yuxi pursed her lips, feeling that Auntie Liu wasn¡¯t very reliable. She said, ¡°It¡¯s very important for a child¡¯s development. If he doesn¡¯t eat well at this age and doesn¡¯t grow tall, it¡¯ll be difficult for him to grow to the size of a normal man even if he takes hormone injections.¡± Auntie Liu¡¯s face was expressionless as she said, ¡°I really don¡¯t have a choice! I have done everything I can at home to cook anything delicious for him. But if he doesn¡¯t want to eat, he really won¡¯t eat. No one can persuade him.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Xu Le looked up and shouted at Sun Zhi, ¡°You¡¯ve only eaten a bag of potato chips since this morning. Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡± Sun Zhi wanted to retort, but his stomach reacted before him. It made two gurgling sounds and he said awkwardly, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m not hungry, I just don¡¯t want to eat.¡± ¡°How about this, you come over and eat two pieces of chicken. I¡¯ll buy you hamburger and fried chicken later, along with cola and egg tarts.¡± Under Xu Le¡¯s coaxing, Sun Zhi walked over and looked at the chicken on the plate. He said, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to lie.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t coax children. You can have a taste.¡± Sun Zhi¡¯s eyes seemed very fearful of food. He carefully picked up a piece of chicken and placed it in his mouth. He gently bit it with his teeth. The soft and tender meat juices were moving crazily on his taste buds. The chicken skin was crispy, and it was wrapped in the savory taste of the sauce. It was indescribably refreshing! He immediately widened his eyes and asked, ¡°Can I have a bowl of rice?¡± As he spoke, he pulled a stool and sat by the table. He picked up another piece of tofu and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Lu Yuxi served him a bowl of rice. ¡°Fried tofu.¡± After the tofu was covered with the sauce, it tasted surprisingly good. Sun Zhi dug into his food like crazy. During this time, because he ate too quickly, he choked on his rice twice. He single-handedly finished half a plate of sliced chicken. He raised his head and said inaudibly, ¡°This is too delicious!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never eaten anything so delicious in my life!¡± ¡°Wu wu wu, what is this made of?¡± ¡°So fragrant! So sweet and tender!¡± ¡°The white rice is delicious too.¡± Xu Le was stunned. This was the first time he had received such a direct feedback. He only said, ¡°Then eat more¡­ Is this enough? I have more ready-made ingredients in the kitchen.¡± Sun Zhi did not stand on ceremony. He looked up at the menu and said, ¡°I want Mapo Tofu Rice, braised pork trotters, and rice. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le got up to prepare the food. Auntie Liu was so shocked that her chopsticks fell onto the table. Looking at her son, who looked like he had been starving for 800 years, she said, ¡°Is it really that good? No, why aren¡¯t you eating at home?¡± Sun Zhi ignored her and continued eating until his eyes were brimming with tears. He said with a tone filled with emotions, ¡°It smells so good!¡± While Xu Le was cooking, Lu Yuxi went to the kitchen and held her phone, saying, ¡°I finally know why Sun Zhi doesn¡¯t eat. Look, Auntie Liu posted on her WeChat Moments this morning with a caption: ¡®A personally cooked meal for my son. Making sure that he is filled with nutrition and energy today.''¡± She clicked on the image and leaned forward to show Xu Le. Xu Le was heating up the oil. He turned his head and looked at the image for a long time. It was a plate with some green and black things that he could not identify. He asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll read it to you. Apple cubes stir-fried with vegetables, baby cabbage stir-fried with green grapes, strawberry tomato soup, and one steamed orange.¡± ¡°Oh my god.¡± Lu Yuxi shook her head as she sighed. ¡°I finally know why this child doesn¡¯t eat. Who can eat this?¡± Auntie Liu suddenly asked in an aggrieved tone, ¡°Is there a problem with my cooking?¡± Lu Yuxi turned around and shrank her neck in embarrassment. This was the first time she had badmouthed someone and was overheard. She did not know how to explain herself. Xu Le came out to mediate the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel that something is wrong as you were eating?¡± ¡°I feel fine eating it. The most important thing is to provide the child with nutrition. Vegetables and fruits has the most abundant vitamin and fibers. It will definitely be good for the child after eating it.¡± Xu Le took a deep breath and thought for a long time before he said, ¡°I suggest that you follow the traditional recipes to cook. It¡¯s not a good thing to be too creative..¡± Chapter 92 - Candied hawthorn Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At the dining table, Lu Yuxi, who had been persuading Sun Zhi to eat an hour ago, was snatching the food from his hands. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯ve already eaten a lot. If you continue like this, you¡¯ll ruin your body.¡± Sun Zhi dug into his rice until the last grain of braised pork trotter with rice was sucked into his mouth. Then, he reached out for the Mapo Tofu in Lu Yuxi¡¯s hand and said, ¡°There¡¯s still half left. It¡¯s a pity not to finish it¡­ Burp!¡± He burped loudly. Xu Le couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and said, ¡°Stop right there. Get up and walk around. You can only eat if you have space left in your stomach.¡± It took a lot of effort to persuade Sun Zhi. He was holding onto his stomach and could barely stand up. His stomach was even bulging. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten so much in a long time! I¡¯m so full.¡± He exclaimed. ¡°Go, Auntie Liu. Buy some digestive tablets or probiotics.¡± Lu Yuxi frowned and said worriedly, ¡°This won¡¯t do. Eating so much at once will spoil your stomach.¡± Auntie Liu had yet to buy any digestive tablets and Sun Zhi was already complaining that he was about to throw up. Lu Yuxi coaxed him to drink water and walk slowly. After a long time, Sun Zhi, who had taken the digestive tablets, calmed down and found a remote corner of the sofa to sleep. Lu Yuxi tried her best to persuade Auntie Liu not to be too innovative and cook normally. Otherwise, it would really be her fault if the child did not eat. Auntie Liu nodded repeatedly, blaming herself. The roaster that Xu Le had ordered was delivered in the afternoon. After examining it, he turned it on according to the instructions. The process was very troublesome. Hence, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll make that crispy pork belly tomorrow. Let¡¯s change it to something else today.¡± Lu Yuxi noticed that he was looking at Sun Zhi when he said this. She was afraid that it would harm the child if he overate during dinner again, so she nodded and said, ¡°Okay.¡± She went to the nearby supermarket and bought a few pounds of fresh hawthorn, strawberries, walnuts, melon seeds, oranges, and dark chocolate. After six in the evening, the number of customers in the store gradually decreased. Xu Le finally had the time to make an appetizing candied hawthorn. Lu Yuxi used a tool to cut off the hawthorns from one side. After cutting off the hawthorns from the other side, she used a pair of pliers to pull them out. This process was boring and repetitive. She could not stop talking and casually found a topic to talk about. ¡°Have you noticed that recently, Li Qing has been coming to the restaurant for meals every day. He even sits there playing games for two to three hours.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°I have a feeling that he wants to get to know you. He¡¯s been watching you quietly every time.¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to know about me?¡± Xu Le recalled the minor conflict between him and Li Qing and said, ¡°You must have guessed wrongly.¡± ¡°Alright, what flavor are you making today?¡± Xu Le reminded her, ¡°Remove the seeds for half the batch and cut the other half in a circular shape. Take out the seeds and put both sides together. We¡¯ll stuff walnuts in later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yuxi responded and continued to deal with the hawthorn. Xu Le began to place them through the skewers. The first method was to follow the standard method and line it up according to the size. The second type was to form place them at 45 degrees above and then 45 degrees below the previous hawthorn. He stuffed the bean paste inside and inserted the walnut. After preparing more than 30 skewers, there were still a lot of hawthorns that had gone bad or had defects. Lu Yuxi asked, ¡°What do we do with these? Do we eat them raw?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You can just place them through the skewers. Who cares what shape they are in? Just place them through the skewers and flatten it when you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡± The flat candied haws were not difficult to make. After Lu Yuxi finished preparing the skewers, she also made a few skewers of strawberries and oranges, making it seem that there were a huge variety of skewers. He brushed a layer of oil on the chopping board to prevent them from sticking together later on. When everything was ready, Xu Le started to simmer the sugar. Guangxi cane sugar was added to the pot, and its bubbling was the best among the sugar. It was prepared by mixing water and sugar in a 2: 1 ratio. The difficulty of simmering sugar was to the heat control. Xu Le started the fire first, and after there were bubbles formed, he immediately switched to medium heat. During the process of stirring the sugar with the spoon, it was obvious that the sugar had become more and more viscous. Xu Le took a bamboo stick and dipped it into the pot. He then dipped it in cold water. After alternating between hot and cold, he put it into his mouth to taste the crispiness. With a crack, the layer of candy immediately shattered in his mouth, and they even stuck slightly to his teeth. During the process of making the candy, the most important thing to take note of was to ensure that the candy had not become completely crispy. Otherwise, it would gradually be burnt before it started to stick to the hawthorn. Xu Le immediately switched to a small fire. He picked up the candied hawthorns by the side and coated them with a layer of white sugar. Then, he put them in the prepared dipping sauce and wrapped them with a layer of melon seeds. And he did so with a layer of chocolate sauce and sometimes with the coconut cream, so that the skewers had different flavors. ¡°Lu Yuxi, give me the fruit skewers you had prepared.¡± ¡°Why? There are still so many hawthorns that aren¡¯t wrapped in sugar. Can¡¯t they be prepared in order?¡± ¡°The skin of the fruit is thin. It¡¯s different from hawthorn. When the temperature of the sugar is a little higher, it will shatter the moment it enters. When the juice flows out, it will affect the sugar hanging.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Lu Yuxi handed the fruits over and Xu Le wrapped it with a layer of candy properly. He sprinkled a handful of white sesame seeds on the remaining sugar in the pot and rolled the specially prepared flattened candied hawthorn in the pot. ¡°It¡¯s ready. It can be frozen in the fridge now. We can take it out in an hour.¡± Lu Yuxi happily complied with his instructions. ¡°Okay!¡± When Xu Le walked out of the kitchen, he bumped into Li Qing and their eyes met. Li Qing, who was wearing earphones, suddenly felt a surge of courage and strode forward. Then, he said, ¡°Boss, order please.¡± Lu Yuxi stepped forward. ¡°Huh? What do you want to eat?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want the dishes on the menu.¡± Xu Le did not even look at him. ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Li Qing choked and said, ¡°I resigned.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Le thought to himself, ¡®It¡¯s none of my business.¡¯ Li Qing was too straightforward and stubborn. He did not show mercy when he spoke and his temper easily offended people. Because of that, the chefs of Giant Crab had joined forces to force him to leave. ¡°Boss, I¡¯ll order some Wensi tofu.¡± ¡°I said that I don¡¯t accept any orders.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°You can go to another restaurant.¡± The two of them were in a deadlock. No matter how much money Li Qing offered, he wouldn¡¯t accept it. The atmosphere became more and more tense. Lu Yuxi came out to smooth things over. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s eat candied hawthorn. We made a lot of candied hawthorn. Let¡¯s share them.¡± Xu Le remained silent. The frozen and cooled candied hawthorns were taken out of the refrigerator. Some were fruits, wrapped with walnuts, wrapped in coconut, dark chocolate, and melon seeds. Each were more tempting than the last. There was a layer of clear sugar coating on the outside. With one bite, the crispy sugar coating was mixed with the sweet and sour hawthorn, which was appetizing and helped with digestion. This was specially made for Sun Zhi. When Auntie Liu passed it to him, she didn¡¯t forget to remind him, ¡°You can¡¯t eat dinner today, or you¡¯ll get sick. Eat more hawthorn to help digest your food.¡± Li Qing also took one and took a bite with mixed emotions.. Chapter 93 - Manpower At The Branch Outlet Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios When the customers in the restaurant saw the candied hawthorns, someone immediately came up and asked, ¡°Boss, how much is this candied hawthorn?¡± ¡°Which one do you want?¡± Xu Le asked. The man said, ¡°The one with filling. What¡¯s inside?¡± ¡°Red date paste and walnuts, do you want to try one?¡± ¡°Yes, I want another one with strawberry and orange.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°20 for the one with mixed ingredients, 10 for the flat hawthorn, 15 for the one with filling.¡± ¡°Alright, give me one for each type. I¡¯ll try each of them.¡± After someone came over to buy it, everyone knew the price and all the customers in the shop gathered around. ¡°There¡¯s nothing nasty to eat in this store. I believe in you and will have one of each.¡± ¡°I want that the mixed one and the one with filling!¡± ¡°I want two flat ones. The flat ones taste the best!¡± Lu Yuxi hurriedly tried to maintain order and collected their payment. ¡°Everyone, take your time.¡± However, over 30 candied hawthorn sticks were immediately sold out. The sour and sweet hawthorn was mixed with red date paste. It neutralized the slight puckery taste of the hawthorn. With one bite, it was sweet, crispy and appetizing. Even those who had just eaten could eat this to help with their digestion. The walnut inside was simply the finishing touch. The more one chewed, the more the fragrance spread in one¡¯s mouth. Li Qing stood at the side for a long time. When he saw that Xu Le had no intention of talking to him and that he was asking for a rebuff, he bought a stick of candied hawthorn and left. When they returned home at night, Xu Le packed two skewers of candied hawthorns for Xu Tian. She ate them excitedly and said, ¡°Brother, why isn¡¯t there a layer of glutinous rice paper on it? It¡¯s no longer sticky to the mouth.¡± ¡°If you like, I¡¯ll add it for you next time I make it.¡± Xu Le answered and switched on his phone. He had just clicked on a certain app when he saw a video of himself on the screen. The bright red braised pork looked enticing and the quail egg was golden. In just one day, the number of likes had reached more than 1.5 million. He opened the comments section. ¡°As expected of the little Master Chef. His teaching guide is simple, clear, and accurate. We can even make it at home. I hope he updates more!¡± ¡°Wow, his sister is really cute.¡± ¡°The atmosphere is so good. Just the video alone is enough to make me feel happy.¡± ¡°Is braised pork really that simple? I also have to show off my skills when I get back!¡± He tapped on the comments and saw that the post owner had replied, ¡°I actually succeeded and didn¡¯t blow up the kitchen. Everyone, quickly go and try it! It¡¯s really super easy to learn!¡± ¡°Xu Le is always the best!¡± ¡°I can eat three bowls of rice with this soup alone.¡± ¡°Did you guys notice? He¡¯s using Maotai. He¡¯s really rich.¡± ¡°He has participated in quite a few competitions. Just the prize money alone is quite a lot. What do you think?¡± Apart from talking about food, his sister, there were some people who tried to dig up Xu Le¡¯s scandals. However, they could not find anything. Xu Le was still having a headache about opening a branch. He couldn¡¯t split himself into two. Even if the system could pay for the rent, he couldn¡¯t manage both outlets. After giving it some thought, he discussed with Lu Yuxi, ¡°Do you have any suggestions?¡± Lu Yuxi was putting on a face mask as she answered, ¡°Isn¡¯t the best candidate right in front of you? Li Qing came to look for you today, but you didn¡¯t say a single word to him. You didn¡¯t even get to the main topic and angered him away.¡± Xu Le recalled that he hwas the one who had taught him how to make Imitation Crab. Li Qing¡¯s talent, cooking skills, and cutting skills were not considered top-notch in the cooking industry, but he was good at replicating others¡¯ work quickly. Moreover, he was passionate enough and was willing to invest time and energy into it. He suddenly made up his mind and said, ¡°If he¡¯s willing, I can teach him how to cook.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± Lu Yuxi poured a bucket of cold water on him and reminded him. ¡°Li Qing is too arrogant and will never bow down. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be doing so badly.¡± ¡°How would I know if I don¡¯t try?¡± The next day Xu Le opened for business, he immediately started soaking the soybeans early in the morning. Even after he had finished his meal, he still did not see Li Qing. He thought that Li Qing was not coming and did not take this matter to heart. In the afternoon, he started to make crispy pork belly that Lu Yuxi wanted to eat for a long time. Lu Yuxi had been craving for crispy pork belly for a long time. When she saw him start cooking, she immediately ran to the kitchen to help. ¡°My kind boss, is there anything I can help with?¡± ¡°Prepare the scallions, ginger slices, aniseed and fennel. Put them in cold water, and also the pork belly and start blanching.¡± While cooking, he explained, ¡°The most important thing about the crispy pork belly is the sauce. I watched the cooking methods in several videos last night and found them lacking.¡± In the end, he still bought the most authentic recipe from the system. ¡°Boil the pork belly for six to seven minutes, remove all the floating foam, scoop up the meat and wipe it clean. Now, start preparing the sauce.¡± Xu Le poured a spoonful of salt, sugar, two large spoonfuls of cumin powder, one-third of a spoonful of Five Fragrance Powder, two spoonfuls of light soya sauce, half spoonful of oyster sauce, and finally, half spoonful of chilli powder, and a large spoonful of Korean chili sauce. Then, he stirred them evenly. He pierced the pork belly using a toothpick so that the taste would be better. This was called crispy on the skin. He used the knife to cut the back of the meat horizontally and vertically a few times. Since the knife couldn¡¯t cut through the meat, he used the sauce to brush the meat so that the cracks inside and outside were coated. After all the steps were completed, Xu Le made a liquid so by mixing salt and soda in the ratio of 1:1. Then, he used a brush to brush the surface of the pork evenly. This way, the crispy pork skin that was roasted would be even more crispy and would burst with a bite. The oven was preheated. When the temperature was about right, the meat could be hung inside for rotation. Lu Yuxi looked on with anticipating eyes. ¡°How long do we have to wait?¡± ¡°Half an hour. Just wait patiently.¡± After saying that, Xu Le placed the cooked sesame and peanuts into the grinder to break them apart. After pouring them out, he added fennel powder, cumin powder, and chili powder. He said, ¡°This is the seasoning for the crispy pork belly later.¡± Lu Yuxi was so anxious that she had to look at the clock every now and then, as she complained that the hour passed really slowly. In order to eat the food that Xu Le was cooking, Sun Zhi came over after school. He and Lu Yuxi stood in front of the oven and waited anxiously. ¡°Boss, order please.¡± When he heard the familiar voice, Xu Le looked up. When he saw Li Qing, a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. ¡°Wensi tofu, is it? Do you still want it today?¡± The change in his attitude stunned Li Qing for a moment. Then, he nodded and said, ¡°Yes, add another dish of seafood with scallion oil. Can I go into the kitchen to observe?¡± ¡°Please.¡± Perhaps it was because of the chemistry between the chefs, Xu Le could vaguely guess the other party¡¯s thoughts the moment he entered. Li Qing wanted to see his culinary skills with his own eyes before deciding whether to work with him. He placed the soybeans into the soymilk machine, when he heard Li Qing say in a muffled voice, ¡°You have already guessed what I wanted to do?¡± ¡°Yes, almost.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°I think we should have a chance to work together.¡± Li Qing said smugly, ¡°That still depends on your performance for me to decide if I want to acknowledge you as my master..¡± Chapter 94 - Wensi Tofu Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Wensi Tofu was a famous dish that had been around for hundreds of years. It was the pinnacle of Huai Yang Cuisine that required extreme cutting skills. One had to cut the tender and smooth tofu as thin as a strand of hair, which was a great test of the chef¡¯s cutting skills. Originally, this dish could be made with the tofu from the supermarket, but the final product would not be as good as making it with raw ingredients. After Xu Le ground the soybeans into soy milk, he removed the bean dregs and poured the milk into the pot to boil. Li Qing crossed his arms as he watched from the side. Ever since Xu Le had taught him how to cook imitation crab, he had developed a strange admiration for this child. The reason why it was strange was because ever since he was young, Li Qing had never thought highly of anyone. His master, whom he had acknowledged after joining the industry, claimed that he would need two years to finish learning a dish. However, Li Qing managed to cook better than his master in two months. All these experiences made him proud and arrogant. After Xu Le gave him some pointers, his pride gradually turned into feelings of admiration and reluctance to give in. Without at least ten years of cutting skills, it was absolutely impossible to cut the Wensi Tofu. Li Qing ordered this dish because he wanted to see with his own eyes whether Xu Le deserved his reputation. This dish was created by a monk in the past. Monk Wensi had passed down the recipe, so it was naturally named after him. The raw soybean milk was poured into the pot. He started a small fire and stirred as he cooked, since he was afraid that it would be overcooked. After bubbles appeared on the surface of the soybean milk, Xu Le scooped a bowl of clear water and poured it into the pot. Then, the bubbles slowly disappeared. The raw soybean milk needed to be boiled repeatedly to ensure that the ingredients were edible. Lu Yuxi was worried outside and asked Auntie Liu to look after the cashier area while she went into the kitchen. Auntie Liu was confused. ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m worried they¡¯ll fight.¡± Lu Yuxi knew that Li Qing was a troublemaker and was afraid that he would cause trouble for Xu Le. Unexpectedly, when she entered the kitchen, she saw Li Qing, who was initially full of disdain, standing behind Xu Le and watching him filter the soybean milk attentively. The boiled soybean milk was filtered with a sieve. After filtering the residue inside, the soybean milk was placed aside to cool to about 85 degrees. At this moment, Xu Le took out a packet of white gluconate and mixed it with a suitable amount of warm water. Lu Yuxi asked curiously, ¡°What kind of dishes are you planning to cook?¡± ¡°Wensi tofu.¡± ¡°Oh, oh, I know this dish. You can also make chrysanthemum tofu, right?¡± ¡°The method is similar.¡± After Xu Le answered, Lu Yuxi had an ignorant expression. She took out her phone and planned to film his cooking process. Li Qing snorted. Lu Yuxi immediately rolled her eyes. After the tofu cooled down, Xu Le picked off the surface of the tofu. There was just nice a square mold in the kitchen. He poured the melted gluconate into it and added the soy milk. The soybean milk was poured in from midair, and when it landed, it was just enough to completely flush the gluconate evenly. Xu Le took a metal spoon and carefully removed the foam on the surface. This step was especially important. Otherwise, there would be pits and holes on the surface of the finished tofu. Now, he just had to wait for the tofu to cool. Xu Le took out the chicken that he had specially asked for in the morning from the fridge. Li Qing glanced at the chicken feet and could immediately tell that it was at least three years old. He said, ¡°Not bad, you¡¯re quite particular about it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already made your own tofu. Shouldn¡¯t you be more particular about the chicken soup?¡± The chicken was slit open from the stomach in half, and Xu Le took out the internal organs with his swift movements. He cut the chicken breast first, then chopped the drumstick and other parts into smaller pieces. The chicken breast that was placed aside was sliced horizontally and vertically into small pieces. Xu Le said, ¡°Bring out the food processor.¡± He rarely used the food processor, so he kept it on the kitchen cabinet. With Xu Le¡¯s height, he needed a chair to reach it. Lu Yuxi was filming and it was not convenient for her to take it. Li Qing rolled up his sleeves and tiptoed to take down the food processor from the cabinet. ¡°Are we blending the chicken now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± He added the tender chicken breast into the food processor, poured six times the amount of water, and blended the chicken to be used in the soup. He could start making the chicken soup now. After putting the chicken into the pot, he could add fresh water. Then, he could add the three ingredients to remove the meat stench ¨C scallions, ginger slices, and wine. Xu Le turned to high heat to boil the chicken soup. After removing the froth on it, he switched to a small fire and covered the lid to stew the soup. ¡°It¡¯s going to take three hours. Are you going to stand here the whole time?¡± Xu Le took off his apron. At this time, the crispy pork belly that was being roasted was ready. After he took it out, he used a knife to scrape the crispy skin on it. Just by listening to the sound, one could imagine how crispy the pig skin was. Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes widened as she watched Xu Le slice a few times horizontally and vertically, producing a series of ¡®crack¡¯ sounds. The crispy pork belly was cut into small cubes. The sliced pig skin was burnt crispy and the fatty meat was glistening with oil while the lean meat was slightly dry. Xu Le first used a toothpick to poke through a piece of meat, then wrapped it evenly with the prepared dipping sauce. He handed it over and said, ¡°Lu Yuxi, try if there¡¯s poison.¡± Lu Yuxi opened her mouth and was about to eat when Li Qing, who was standing between the two of them, suddenly bit down before her. It was so hot that he jumped and shouted, ¡°Ouch, it¡¯s so hot!¡± Lu Yuxi glared at him angrily. ¡°You deserve it!¡± She had long been unable to restrain herself. She went forward and picked up a piece of pork belly, wrapped it in chili powder, white sesame seed, and several other kinds of condiments before putting it into her mouth. The skin was crispy, and it tasted very fragrant when chewed. The fat wrapped around the lean meat, so it was oily and not dry. With the stimulation of the condiments, the more she chewed, the more fragrant it became. Lu Yuxi could not bear to swallow it. She looked at the plate of crispy pork belly and nodded repeatedly. ¡°It¡¯s too delicious!¡± Li Qing smacked his lips. He wanted to nitpick, but he really couldn¡¯t find any flaws. In the end, he could only nod and say, ¡°It¡¯s not bad.¡± Seeing the argumentative person give in, Xu Le felt a sense of accomplishment. After bringing the crispy pork belly out for Auntie Liu to try, she hurriedly waved her hands and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat it. It looks too oily. Sun Zhi, do you want to come over and try it?¡± Sun Zhi took a bite and without chewing much, he reached out to grab a handful from the plate and stuffed it into his mouth. Auntie Liu widened her eyes and said, ¡°Eat slowly, don¡¯t be like a hungry ghost. What¡¯s wrong with you recently?¡± Previously, Sun Zhi was skinny and short. His face was also sallow. Recently, after eating at Xu Le¡¯s Eight-year-old cafeteria, he seemed to have become alive and was glowing. Auntie Liu felt a little embarrassed and wanted to pay Xu Le for the food. Xu Le refused generously. ¡°It¡¯s a place to prepare food anyway. Having another child eating doesn¡¯t add up to much. Don¡¯t stand on ceremony with me. If you really want to thank me, just do your job and clean up the shop.¡± Sun Zhi said through an unclear voice, ¡°The skin is so crispy. This skin is the best..¡± Chapter 95 - Invincible Cutting Skills Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le also tasted it. The crispy skin exploded in his mouth. It tasted like rice crust, but it was more fragrant and delicious than rice crust. He nodded in agreement. ¡°It really tastes great.¡± When he came in the morning, he specially counted the ingredients for that day. A lot of pork belly had been added, and they were all freshly slaughtered pork. They were very fresh and of high quality. Hence, he said, ¡°Lu Yuxi, add a limited dish to today¡¯s menu, Crispy Pork Belly, and¡­ Wensi Tofu. I made a big pot of tofu. We¡¯ll definitely be able to cut a lot later.¡± When Li Qing heard the latter half of the sentence, he reminded in shock, ¡°Xu Le, you can¡¯t be too arrogant.¡± The tofu had to be cut as thin as a strand of hair, so it required a high standard of cutting skills. He had failed a few times, and it was already good enough for him to make a portion of it. Yet he still wanted to sell it? Xu Le understood what he meant and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°If you predict wrongly later, don¡¯t be embarrassed.¡± ¡°We shall see.¡± Lu Yuxi lowered her head and recoded the program. ¡°How should we set the price?¡± ¡°A strip of pork belly is about 700 grams.¡± Xu Le scratched the tip of his nose and thought to himself, ¡°My cost price is three to four yuan cheaper than the market price, but since it¡¯s freshly slaughtered pork, it won¡¯t be much cheaper.¡± After calculating the cost, he said, ¡°The crispy pork belly should be priced at 55 yuan per piece. The Wensi tofu will be 68 yuan.¡± ¡°68?¡± Li Qing was the first to raise his doubts. He said in a mean tone, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t dare to set the price too high because the taste is not authentic and is too bad? You¡¯re afraid that the customers will hit you.¡± Xu Le had practiced this dish over a thousand times in the system. He was sure that he would be able to cut the thin tofu strands even with his eyes closed. Hence, he said confidently, ¡°You will know when you taste it later.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Lu Yuxi set the price and added it on the menu. There was a limit of ten servings per person, and there would not be any restocks. When it was about time, Xu Le went to the kitchen to remove the lid of the pot. At this moment, chicken oil had formed on the surface of the chicken soup. He used a spoon to carefully remove it and covered the lid to continue stewing. After three hours, Xu Le had already processed all the crispy pork belly according to the previous method. He hung it in the roaster to start grilling. After the chicken soup was prepared, he took out the ribs and bones from the chicken and slowly placed the chicken paste that had been prepared beforehand into the pot. The bright and rich chicken soup was mixed with chicken paste, and boiled over a small fire. This step was the same as the Boiled Cabbage that he had made previously. It was all for the sake of making the soup more clear, rich, and pure. 40 minutes later, the chicken meat was cooked and had absorbed all the impurities in the chicken soup. The bottom of the soup also became clear. Xu Le covered it with a layer of gauze and poured the chicken soup into a bowl. He also lifted the gauze to filter out the chicken paste. Finally, he obtained a clear and bright-colored chicken soup. Other than the slightly yellowish color, the rest was as clear as fresh water. Xu Le took out the vegetables required for making Wensi Tofu, which included bamboo shoots, soaked fungus, shitake mushrooms, and a piece of Xuanwei ham. Li Qing couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Hey, I don¡¯t remember that ham is also added to this dish.¡± ¡°The mushrooms will enhance the flavor, the bamboo shoots will enhance the freshness, and vegetables will enhance the color of the entire soup. The ham I added can bring the freshness of the entire soup to another level.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Li Qing frowned in disbelief. Xu Le did not want to waste his breath on him. The outcome would be revealed later. All the ingredients had to be cut into thin strips. After the mushrooms were soaked in the water, he used a flat knife to cut them. He used one hand to hold the top and used the knife to cut them into thin slices. Then, he stacked them up and cut them into thin strips. This step proved that this dish was definitely not a home-cooked dish. The Xuanwei ham was cut into slices first. Then, he used a straight knife to cut them into strips. This way, the meat flavor would be retained. He rolled up the fungus to avoid them being cut into uneven sizes. The bamboo shoots were fresh and small. They were the most suitable for making this soup. After cutting them, one had to ensure that every slice of the bamboo shoots were translucent. The vegetables were relatively easy to cut. Xu Le raised his knife and cut the ingredients into thin strips that were less than a millimeter in diameter. After all the ingredients were cut and prepared, it was time for the most important segment of cutting the tofu. The tender tofu that could be crushed with a squeeze had to be cut into equal sizes inside the mold first. Then, warm water would be added to the mold to make the tofu float on its own instead of using one¡¯s hand to remove it. Only then could the edges and corners of the tofu be intact and not split open from the middle. After taking out the fragile tofu by floating it with warm water, he cut across the middle of the tofu and maintained it at around 2.5cm. While Xu Le was doing this, Lu Yuxi could not help but hold her breath. She did not dare to breathe too loudly and her face was red from holding it in. Li Qing looked at her, a non-professional, speechlessly and reminded her, ¡°He¡¯s not cutting you. You should breathe properly. Don¡¯t hold your breath.¡± Xu Le pressed his fingertips against the tip of the knife. To cut the tofu, he had to use the vibrating knife skill. This step required the chef to control his breathing, strength, and even the rhythm of lowering the knife. Every cut had to be done in a straight manner. He first cut them into slices, then in strips. It was done in one go. Xu Le¡¯s expression seemed relaxed. The sound of his knife cutting was fast and accurate. Lu Yuxi watched him cut the tofu and muttered softly, ¡°Are you turning the tofu into paste?¡± As an expert, a jealous gaze formed in Li Qing¡¯s eyes. When he had acknowledged his previous master, it was because he had been convinced by the other party¡¯s cutting skills in making Wensi tofu. However, Xu Le was clearly more skilful than his previous master. Chefs all had to practise to become skilled in cooking. They had to study bit by bit and accumulate their cutting skills. When it came to Xu Le, Li Qing could feel that his hand seemed to have become one with the knife. He could control it freely, whether it was the strength or the method of cutting, the angle was exquisite, like a machine that was cutting. Whoosh¡ª Xu Le put down the knife and let out a breath. He used clear water to wash away the broken strands on the edges. There were only a few of them. Then, he placed the knife and hand into the clear water and gently shook them. Lu Yuxi couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps forward with her phone. She saw that the water had shaken the white piece of tofu out. Each strip of tofu was less than a millimeter in diameter. It was extremely magical. She sighed emotionally. ¡°This is too awesome!¡± Xu Le blanched the mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and fungus in a pot to remove their stench before scooping them out. The stewed chicken soup was added to the pot. After pouring the soup into the pot, he turned on the fire to low heat. The chicken soup was fresh and bright. After filtering the soup, it was almost no different from fresh water. After adding the four supplementary ingredients and pouring a spoonful of salt into it, he would be able to start making the gravy. After Xu Le poured the raw flour into a bowl, he took a look at the label. It was sweet potato flour. He immediately changed it and said, ¡°If we use potato flour to make the gravy, the soup will be purer and more transparent. If other raw flour or sweet potato flour were used, it will be sticky.¡± The potato flour was mixed with water, and then it was poured into the pot in three separate portions. After the broth became slightly thick, the tofu strips was poured into the pot.. Chapter 96 - Welcome to the Eight-year-old cafeteria Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios There was no need to stir with the metal spoon by reaching it into the pot. Instead, the bottom of the spoon was pressed against the water surface and moved in a circular motion. The centrifugal force produced by the spoon slid the tofu strands away. The process was like fireworks slowly blooming, with thousands of tofu strands spreading out. Finally, Xu Le added the green vegetables. This step could not be done with force. Instead, it should be gentle with strength, like an ancient ink painting. After the flame was started, the soup was bright in color. There were shredded tofu, mushrooms, and vegetables mixed together inside. They complemented each other and looked extremely good. Xu Le heaved a sigh of relief and said, ¡°You ordered this. Come and try it?¡± Li Qing almost could not move his feet. He stared at the bowl of Wensi tofu soup in a daze as his heart churned. After witnessing Xu Le¡¯s cooking, he was completely convinced by his culinary skills. Even if there was a close-up shot of the previous competition, it had not been filmed from the beginning to the end. Furthermore, Li Qing had seen it with his own eyes. He was shocked and could not calm down for a long time. Xu Le was only eight years old! Eight years old! He himself might not even be able to master such culinary skills at the age of 28, 38, and 48! Li Qing¡¯s mood was complicated. His heart throbbed, he was shocked, he felt defeated, and there was also a trace of hope. He picked up the bowl and took a sip. The moment it entered his mouth, it melted. The aroma of the chicken was extremely rich. The fragrance of the shiitake mushroom, the refreshing taste of the bamboo shoot, and all the ingredients that entered his mouth were filled with extraordinary splendor and harmony. The tofu inside seemed to have been overshadowed, but if one carefully tasted it, they could feel the unique delicateness of the tofu. After drinking it, the fragrance of the tofu, the freshness of the ham, and the smell of smoked meat lingered on the tip of his tongue for a long time. Li Qing couldn¡¯t help but want to take another sip. In just a dozen mouthfuls, the entire bowl of soup was emptied. There was no need for him to feedback, his reaction was already the most accurate evaluation. Lu Yuxi picked up the bowl and took a small sip. She dragged her voice and hummed. She said in surprise, ¡°I remember you didn¡¯t put any MSG in it. Why does it taste so fresh?¡± ¡°The chicken soup, bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, Xuanwei ham, and tofu are all used to make the soup taste refreshing. Of course, the entire soup will be especially fresh and sweet.¡± Xu Le explained to her, ¡°Wensi Tofu isn¡¯t just a dish to show-off your skills. It originated from Yangzhou, Jiangsu. It belongs to Huaiyang Cuisine and has a long history. It¡¯s soft and mellow. After drinking it, it can also nourish the body. Bring the rest to Sun Zhi and let him drink more. Otherwise, he¡¯ll be as skinny as a monkey.¡± Li Qing, who had also memorized the cooking method of this dish, added, ¡°In the Qing Dynasty, Yu Yue had written in the book ¡®Tea Fragrance Room¡¯: Wensi is also called Xifu, and he is skilled at making a sweet tofu porridge. Anyone who follows his method of cooking will be able to cook the Wensi tofu. There is also a book called ¡®Cauldron Collection¡¯, which also named the dish as ¡®Shijin tofu pudding¡¯.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Lu Yuxi didn¡¯t know anything about culinary. When she heard the two of them explain the history of the dish to her, she felt that it was amazing. She said, ¡°If you guys are not drinking it, I¡¯ll bring it all out to Sun Zhi.¡± Xu Le did not answer her. Li Qing took a step forward. His eyes were filled with sincerity and his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as if he had something to say. After waiting for a long time, Li Qing¡¯s ears turned red. He was too embarrassed to say that he wanted to learn from Xu Le. Xu Le also put on airs and did not lower his head easily. Finally, Li Qing mumbled, ¡°Well, I was indeed a little disrespectful to you before¡­ That was because I didn¡¯t know you. When I saw you cooking today, I wanted to¡­ I wanted to ask if you are still willing to take in disciples? I don¡¯t need a salary, I can even pay you.¡± Xu Le looked at him in surprise. Li Qing was afraid that he would disagree, so he added, ¡°I¡¯m very rich. I make a lot of money as a gaming broadcaster. I can definitely afford the tuition fees.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Xu Le agreed readily. Without waiting for Li Qing to be happy, he changed the topic and said, ¡°But I have a condition.¡± ¡°Please say.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s set down three rules. Firstly, you don¡¯t have to call me Master. There aren¡¯t so many complicated procedures, you just have to respect me. Secondly, come over and help me with the store. If there¡¯s time, I¡¯ll teach you something, so you have to be diligent. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to join this line of work. Thirdly, I have plans to open a new restaurant. If you can learn well, I want to hire you to be the head chef in the next restaurant.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He was so excited that Xu Le was taken aback and started laughing. ¡°Don¡¯t you hear my last condition?¡± ¡°Previously, my colleagues said that one would not be able to become a head chef without at least 30 to 50 years. Even the head chef of the Heavenly restaurant, he only became one after learning for 20 years¡­¡± ¡°Li Qing.¡± Xu Le interrupted him seriously. ¡°The judges outside have their own standards for food, but the Eight-year-old cafeteria has always been a restaurant that served home-cooked food. The quality of the food is determined by the customers. For example, today¡¯s Wensi Tofu is a limited dish. It¡¯s only served once in a while.¡± ¡°As long as you can cook it well, no one can set a rule on how many years it will take you to become the head chef.¡± Li Qing¡¯s eyes shone with excitement as he said, ¡°Got it, Master!¡± ¡°Calm down, calm down. Why don¡¯t you be my assistant today and I¡¯ll make you a welcome meal tonight?¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Li Qing was full of energy. Usually, he looked like a prickly and obstinate person, and his words were not nice either. However, when facing people he admired, such as Xu Le, he was very obedient. Li Qing had a foundation in cooking, so when he was Xu Le¡¯s assistant, whether it was cutting the vegetables, handing over knives, planning the spices, or helping to clean the dishes and the table, everything was very smooth. Xu Le¡¯s efficiency increased significantly and he was happy. The crispy pork belly was a new online delicacy. After the Eight-year-old cafeteria put the dish up for sale, some customers saw it and felt uneasy. One of them said worriedly, ¡°I bought it at another place last time and it tasted horrible. It¡¯s oily and hard, but your store¡¯s food has always been quite delicious¡­¡± The customer was caught between a rock and a hard place and hesitated a lot. Lu Yuxi understood their worries. After talking to Xu Le, she took out a piece of pork belly and cut it into pieces. Then, she put it on the counter as a taster. The customer thanked her while sticking a toothpick into a piece of crispy pork belly. He ate it in one bite. The pork skin was crispy and fragrant, and the fat wasn¡¯t greasy at all. Instead, it wrapped around the lean meat with oil and had a different flavor when chewed. The customer immediately said, ¡°Give me one, no, two servings! One for takeaway.¡± Lu Yuxi reminded him with a smile, ¡°You should eat crispy pork belly while it¡¯s hot. It¡¯s a little hard when it¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I need to bring one serving for my wife.¡± ¡°Oh, then you can go home and use the air fryer to heat it up a little.¡± Lu Yuxi quickly packed it up and handed it over. Xu Le closed for business 10 minutes before 9 pm. They planned to have supper and welcome Li Qing to the Eight-year-old cafeteria on his first day. However, after thinking about it, he couldn¡¯t figure out what the other party¡¯s taste was. Hence, he went to the supermarket to take a look. When he saw the fresh lamb spine, he planned to make a lamb spine pot so that everyone could gather together to eat.. Chapter 97 - Not Giving Brother To Other People Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Lu Yuxi was informed by Ms. Li in the afternoon that the kindergarten had finished school early that day and asked if she was going to pick Xu Tian up. Lu Yuxi pulled Li Qing away and planned to surprise him with Xu Le. She brought Xu Tian to the restaurant and prepared to go back after dinner. Xu Tian¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw her brother. She jumped up and down happily. ¡°Brother, what are we eating tonight?¡± ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Xu Le rubbed his sister¡¯s face and said, ¡°You go play first. I¡¯ll make dinner for everyone.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He went to the kitchen and took out a large chopping board. The heavy solid wood block was placed there, and he stabbed the knife into it with brute force. The lamb spine was chopped off forcefully from the joints. This process required a fast and strong cutting. Xu Le raised his knife high up and chopped it down again. When Lu Yuxi heard the sound, she came in and said, ¡°I called Li Qing out to handle some matters. Hurry up and prepare it. You should be able to finish it before he comes back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le raised his hand and wiped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve. ¡°This bone is too hard.¡± ¡°Do you want to upload your video today?¡± ¡°What video?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the video of you cutting tofu. I recorded it, but it¡¯s not complete.¡± Xu Le chopped off a piece of bone and said, ¡°The account is focused on cooking tutorial. I think it¡¯s better to follow our theme. If we upload a video just to show off my skills, it will cause the audience to misunderstand.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what I¡¯m worried about, too.¡± Lu Yuxi went forward to put on an apron and started cutting the ginger slices tactfully. She said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we open another account for the shop? The video of you cutting tofu is too awesome. It would be a pity if we don¡¯t post it.¡± ¡°Are you going to manage the accounts?¡± ¡°Of course I can.¡± Lu Yuxi raised her eyebrows and apologized. ¡°It¡¯s not a difficult task. Besides, you¡¯re the main character in the video.¡± Xu Le finally chopped up the lamb spine into pieces and soaked them in cold water. He said, ¡°I¡¯m fine with it.¡± Lu Yuxi looked at the lamb spine and licked her lips. ¡°This thing is like a big bone stick. It should be very satisfying to chew it. The meat is stuck to the bone and you can peel them with your teeth. This process makes me understand why dogs like to chew bones. It really gives you a sense of accomplishment.¡± Her final sentence of a strange analogy amused Xu Le. He frowned and said, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do you need any more ingredients? I¡¯ll prepare them for you!¡± In order to eat the lamb spine pot faster, Lu Yuxi rubbed her hands excitedly to help. Xu Le blanched the processed lamb spine and put some ginger slices and yellow wine on it. He turned on the fire and removed the foam on the water surface. He said, ¡°Pepper granules, cumin granules, a spoonful of fennel, three aniseeds, a piece of cinnamon, four fragrant leaves, two tsaokos¡­ Oh right, bring another piece of orange peel over.¡± Lu Yuxi had watched him cook for a long time and was gradually able to distinguish many spices. After gathering them with great difficulty, she handed them over and did not forget to complain. ¡°With so many spices, even if you stir-fry a shoe cushion, it will be delicious.¡± Xu Le retorted casually, ¡°Then find a shoe cushion and I¡¯ll cook it for you.¡± He poured some oil into the pan. There was no need to heat it up. Various spices were then poured in. After producing a fragrance over a small fire, the ingredients was poured through a layer of gauze. In this way, the gauze would be able to filter out the spices. He also used the hemp rope to tie the opening, so that he could throw the bag of ingredients into the soup to cook and there would not be any wastage. The oil was soaked with the smell of spices. When it was heated up again, the fragrance filled the kitchen. Xu Le cut a piece of specially prepared hotpot base and threw it in. After it was stir-fried, he added dried chili and onions. Then, he poured the lamb spine that had been blanched into water and stir-fried it. When the surface was covered with a layer of spicy oil, he added water inside. The water submerged the lamb spine. Then, he threw the spice bag into the pot and covered it with a pot lid to stew it. Taking advantage of this moment, Xu Le used the opportunity to slice the radish into pieces and even prepared bean skin and enoki mushrooms. After the lamb spine boiled in the pot, he threw the radish into the pot. After the radish was stewed until it tasted soft, it was the same as the radish in oden. They were soft and sticky, and had fully absorbed the soup. Having done this, Xu Le felt that it was enough. He just needed to wait patiently. Just as he closed the lid of the pot, he heard a commotion outside. When he came out of the kitchen, he saw Sun Zhi arguing with his sister. He quickly walked over. ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I¡¯m not lending. I don¡¯t care who you are.¡± Sun Zhi hugged the card in his hand and retreated. He said, ¡°You¡¯re just a kid. I¡¯m not playing with you.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Xu Tian was pretty and sweet-talking. She was pampered everywhere she went and this was the first time she had been neglected. She was so angry that her little face trembled. She turned around and said, ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s not playing with you!¡± Xu Le squatted down and tried to be the mediator. ¡°Why are you two fighting?¡± Xu Tian snorted. ¡°He has so many cards. I asked him to give me one, but he refused.¡± Sun Zhi was holding a treasured game card that he had saved up from the convenience store. He was pouting so much that his lips were about to reach the sky as he said, ¡°This is the card that I exchanged by treating my classmate to cold noodles. Why should I give it to you for free?¡± Just as Xu Le was about to correct his sister¡¯s actions, Auntie Liu hurriedly put down her mop and rushed out. ¡°Sun Zhi, you¡¯re a big kid now. You have to give in to a little child. Furthermore, you¡¯re eating junk food behind my back again. Those mobile food stalls are covered in dust and the oil they used must be from the gutter. Why do you like food like that!¡± ¡°No such thing.¡± Xu Le quickly stopped Auntie Liu and said seriously to his younger sister, ¡°No matter how many cards Sun Zhi has, those are his personal belongings. They are also his favorite things. Tian Tian, think about it. You definitely don¡¯t want to give your favorite things to others, right?¡± Xu Le patiently tried to reason with Xu Tian. She thought for a while and finally understood. She nodded seriously and said, ¡°I also won¡¯t like that.¡± Then, she added, ¡°I won¡¯t give my brother to anyone else!¡± Xu Le, who was about to reason with her, choked on his words. He felt his heart being struck and a warm feeling spread throughout his body. He opened his mouth and could not help but smile. Lu Yuxi corrected her from the side. ¡°Your brother is not a thing.¡± Her words sounded wrong when she said that. She added, ¡°No, your brother is definitely not an object. He¡¯s human.¡± Xu Le patted his sister¡¯s shoulder and said to Sun Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ll make you grilled cold noodles. Can you give my sister a few cards?¡± When Sun Zhi heard that Xu Le wanted to cook for him, he immediately nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I can share it with you even if you don¡¯t make food for me. But I don¡¯t know her, that¡¯s why I didn¡¯t want to give it to her.¡± The child was nervous and innocent. When Xu Tian heard this, the gloominess on her face disappeared.. Chapter 98 - Lamb Spine Pot Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Oil was poured onto the iron plate to form a thin layer and applied evenly. Xu Le, who happened to have prepared cold noodles in advance, took out one of them and used a spatula to flip it on the iron plate. He gently pressed on it, and with a sizzling sound, the cold noodles turned golden brown. On the other side, the beaten egg was added, along with black sesame seeds and scallions. When the egg slightly solidified, he moved it aside and began to fry the ingredients at the center of the flame. After frying the ham sausage, bacon, chicken and cheese, the grilled cold noodles were already cooked. Xu Le asked, ¡°What flavor do you guys want?¡± Lu Yuxi stuck her head out and said, ¡°What¡¯s there? Tomato sauce, salad dressing, and what¡¯s that beside it?¡± ¡°Cold noodle sauce and salty and spicy flavor.¡± ¡°I want cold noodle sauce.¡± Lu Yuxi followed the fragrance in and said, ¡°Don¡¯t add any lettuce for me. Give me an additional piece of cheese.¡± As Xu Le complained about how she was ¡°almost as fat as a pig¡¯s head¡±, he nimbly added another slice of cheese for her. The bacon chicken and seaweed pork floss were covered with melted golden cheese, making one drool at the sight of it. The cold noodles were rolled up and cut into sections from the middle with the hotplate knife. Then they were placed onto the plates and eaten with bamboo sticks. Xu Tian and Sun Zhi asked for the salad dressing and tomato sauce. Xu Le made several plates at once and carried them to the table. The lamb spine pot was still stewing noisily on the stove. Once the lid was removed, the steam and fragrance rushed out. Xu Tian leaned on the edge of the cabinet and said, ¡°Brother, they seem to be laughing.¡± ¡°They?¡± Xu Le was stunned. Xu Tian pointed at the pieces of lamb spine in the pot and said, ¡°Brother, think of this as the eyes and this as the mouths. Look, aren¡¯t they smiling?¡± Xu Le followed his sister¡¯s lead. He looked at the pot of lamb spine and felt that they seemed to be laughing with their mouths wide open. He could not help but say, ¡°Children really have a rich imagination.¡± The lamb spine had already been stewed. Everyone was waiting for Li Qing to return. Xu Tian picked up a piece of grilled cold noodles and fed it to Xu Le first. ¡°This is made by brother. Brother contributed the most. You should eat first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le took a bite. The cold noodles were crispy and springy. The outer skin that had been evenly smeared with egg was soft and fragrant. After biting it open, the overflowing cheese wrapped around the bacon and chicken. If one chewed carefully, they would be able to taste the fragrance of the pork floss and seaweed. The texture was rich and delicious. It was really addictive. Sun Zhi stuffed mouthful after mouthful into his mouth. He had been wolfing down every meal and everyone was used to it. Only Xu Tian stared at him in surprise and said sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t choke.¡± Sun Zhi nodded fervently and said, ¡°It¡¯s too delicious. The ones I buy usually don¡¯t even add that much ingredients to it! The pork floss and grilled cold noodles are a perfect match!¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s cheeks were puffed up as she gave Xu Le a thumbs up. ¡°When I was in school, there were some sold at the school gate. But this is the first time I¡¯ve eaten such delicious grilled cold noodles!¡± While everyone ate a few pieces of cold noodles to fill their stomachs, Sun Zhi ate like a whirlwind, burying his head in his food. Auntie Liu felt a little embarrassed as she covered her face and reminded him, ¡°Eat slowly. It should be almost enough for you. There¡¯s still the main dish later.¡± Finally, the doorbell rang. Li Qing entered with the cold air surrounding him. When he saw the people sitting around the table, he paused and said, ¡°I bought what Lu Yuxi wanted. What are you guys doing?¡± ¡°Welcome, welcome!¡± ¡°Welcome to being a part of the Eight-year-old cafeteria!¡± Lu Yuxi stood up happily to welcome him. Suddenly, there was a loud bang that made everyone¡¯s ears tingle. Xu Le was shocked and looked at Lu Yuxi. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lu Yuxi was holding two stainless steel basins that she had gotten from the kitchen. She was also stunned by the sound and said, ¡°I just wanted to celebrate. Who knew that this thing would be so loud?¡± Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but laugh while everyone was still in a daze. ¡°You have so many bad ideas.¡± Lu Yuxi put down two stainless steel basins and invited, ¡°Li Qing, come over quickly. We¡¯ve prepared a welcome meal for you. It¡¯s stewed lamb spine! I¡¯m dying of hunger and you still haven¡¯t arrived.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Li Qing was a little flattered. He looked at Xu Le gratefully and sat down to pick up his chopsticks. The lamb spine still had plump mutton hanging on the bones. It was thin and not dry, and the spices covered up all the mutton stench. Every bite was filled with the meaty texture. Li Qing chewed on it and nodded. ¡°The fire control is just right. It¡¯s soft but not dry. Did you add some spices in it? It tastes like the fragrance of fruits.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because you came back just in time.¡± Xu Le thought for a while and said, ¡°It should be the sweet fruit. I added two.¡± Li Qing was a little cold when he came back from outside. After a few mouthfuls of mutton, his entire body felt warm. He nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°It¡¯s delicious. Let me give a toast to you¡­¡± He sipped on a glass of wine and suddenly remembered that Xu Le was only eight years old and could not drink. His hand froze in midair awkwardly. Xu Le poured a glass of orange juice and clinked glasses with him. ¡°I will drink this.¡± ¡°Please take care of me in the future, Master Xu.¡± Li Qing admired him from the bottom of his heart. The enoki mushrooms and the bean skin were added into the soup. After they were cooked, they contained the essence of the soup. The radish was soft and sticky. After eating the lamb spine, everyone felt extremely comfortable. They were full from the drinks and meal. On the way back, Xu Tian bounced happily and said, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s eat the ¡®laughing meal¡¯ again next time. It¡¯s delicious.¡± Lu Yuxi looked up in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s ¡®laughing meal¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°She¡¯s talking about the lamb spine,¡± Xu Le told her. ¡°Because the hole in the bone looks like the eyes and mouth are laughing, so she said it¡¯s laughing.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yuxi thought about it carefully and said, ¡°That¡¯s really true.¡± When they reached home, Xu Le was changing into his slippers. When he lowered his head and was tidying up the miscellaneous items at the entrance, the system notification rang. ¡°Congratulations to the host for receiving 600 gourmet points. Please check your account.¡± Xu Le was elated. He wondered, ¡°Is it because I have reached the required number of likes?¡± He turned on his phone and saw that the video of braised pork that he had posted a few days ago had reached 2.4 million likes. He frowned and said, ¡°Did the system malfunction?¡± Just as he was thinking about this, Lu Yuxi, who was playing with her phone on the sofa, screamed excitedly, ¡°Xu Le, come and see this!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Come over quickly! The video of you cutting tofu last time! Forget it, just search your account directly. It¡¯s the official account of the Eight-year-old canteen. I¡¯ve only uploaded one video and it has already exceeded three million likes!¡± ¡°No wonder¡­¡± Xu Le muttered to himself and immediately searched for the video she had mentioned. He clicked on it and saw that the rough editing was just like Lu Yuxi¡¯s usual style. In the video, he was cutting the tofu and various side ingredients very carefully. The entire process was not recorded and many of the steps were written in words by Lu Yuxi.. Chapter 99 - Wensi Tofus Explosive Popularity On The Internet Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios He casually opened the comments below the video. ¡°D*mn, is this cutting technique really something an eight-year-old child can possess?!¡± ¡°I feel like he has decades of experience as a chef. Could he have started learning from his mother¡¯s womb?¡± ¡°I give up, I give up. So this handsome guy is really not just for show. He has some skills.¡± ¡°Some people are just born to be in this industry.¡± Someone replied to his comment, ¡°Damn, you can¡¯t even be envious of them.¡± ¡°This soup looks fancy. I wonder if it tastes good?¡± Someone replied, ¡°It¡¯s really super delicious. When I went to his store the other day, I happened to buy a serving. The soup looks fresh and bright, and when I drink it, it has a particularly strong chicken soup taste.¡± ¡°Could he have added some chicken essence or additives into it?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be. Look at the video from the beginning. They had stewed the soup themselves.¡± Xu Le patiently scrolled down. That day, Wensi¡¯s tofu soup was only limited to ten servings. He finally saw a proper evaluation. ¡°If there¡¯s a chance, everyone must have a taste of that soup in the Eight-year-old cafeteria. It looks like a show of skill, but in reality, you¡¯ll know how delicious that thing is just by tasting it. It¡¯s not a waste of the 5,000 years of hard work of China¡¯s history.¡± Someone replied, ¡°What does it taste like? Can you describe it?¡± The original person who posted replied, ¡°It¡¯s a very fresh chicken soup. It should have been filtered before, so it looks like clear water. There¡¯s ham, fungus, and tender bamboo shoots inside. One bite and your eyebrows will fall off. At first, you won¡¯t be able to taste the taste of tofu, but slowly, you¡¯ll feel the long tenderness. Anyway, no matter how much I say, it won¡¯t be as good as you trying it yourself.¡± Many people were salivating at his description and started to comment within that original comment. ¡°I petition for Little Master Chef to add this soup to the menu.¡± ¡°Count me in!¡± ¡°Count me in!¡± ¡°Me too.¡± Xu Le thought in his heart. Wensi¡¯s tofu soup was not difficult for him to make, but if there was no limit to the quantity and hundreds or thousands of servings had to be sold a day, his wrist might not be able to take it anymore. He might soon develop a tendon inflammation. The video that was used as an advertising video for the ¡°Eight-year-old cafeteria¡± only took a day to get more than three million likes. After calming down her excitement, Lu Yuxi analyzed, ¡°Your previous video caused quite a stir on the Internet, so some people have been suspecting that you have someone backing you, or that the food you make is just good looking and not that delicious. Anyway, they can come up with all sorts of excuses. If they have the imagination, they might as well go and write a comedy.¡± ¡°Today¡¯s video just happened to suit the trend and became popular. It eliminated many people¡¯s suspicions. Also, I have a big discovery!¡± Lu Yuxi kept him in suspense as she held the phone screen to her chest and said, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you first. Promise to give me a whole pot of steamed pork buns tomorrow morning and also Eight Treasure Fortune Bag before I tell you.¡± There were too many ingredients required to make the Eight Treasure Fortune Bag. Xu Le had not stocked up ingredients in the fridge for a long time, so he said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk about conditions with me. If there¡¯s anything important, tell me quickly.¡± ¡°No!¡± Lu Yuxi got up and sat on the back of the sofa. She tilted her head and looked at him. ¡°I won¡¯t tell you if you don¡¯t agree!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, but we need to go to the shop to make it. We don¡¯t have enough ingredients at home.¡± Lu Yuxi was not one to pester endlessly. When she heard him relent, she immediately said happily, ¡°Sure!¡± She had just raised her phone. When Xu Le¡¯s call came. He glanced at the caller ID and picked up the call without thinking. He gestured to Lu Yuxi to keep quiet. ¡°Hello, Grandpa Cai. It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already received the invitation from the program team, right? Remember to go this time. This program is very popular. The viewership for last season¡¯s broadcast was very good. For the show, they need to invite professionals. When the production team came to look for me, I recommended you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Le was stunned. Lu Yuxi immediately shoved her phone over and he saw that it was an invitation from the variety show ¡®Chinese Restaurant¡¯. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Cai.¡± Perhaps this was the system¡¯s reward? Everything seemed to have been arranged. ¡°Remember to prepare a few more Chinese dishes, especially those rare classic dishes that are about to be forgotten.¡± Cai Lan sighed and tried his best to persuade him. ¡°I¡¯m already so old. Yet I am still making a documentary like Taste of China to ensure that such good dishes will not be lost and in the future, all my descendants will be able to taste it.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After exchanging some pleasantries, Xu Le hung up the phone. Lu Yuxi came up and asked, ¡°Is it that sir?¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s pretty supportive of me¡­ well, what are you doing?¡± Before he could finish speaking, Lu Yuxi pinched the flesh on his cheeks and said excitedly, ¡°They said that they have booked the air tickets for you to fly directly to Bangkok to film the show. Xu Le, you will also become a huge celebrity in the future.¡± Xu Le slapped her hand away and rubbed his face. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be a celebrity.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a chef who cooks. It¡¯s fine as long as I¡¯m serious about it. I don¡¯t care about those superficial things.¡± Xu Le looked at the slightly disappointed Lu Yuxi and said, ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not even an internet celebrity now. There are so many malicious voices questioning me online. If I rashly change professions, I¡¯ll definitely be scolded to death. It¡¯s the right path to do what I love.¡± After hearing his explanation, Lu Yuxi, who was originally sleepy, had a lit up gaze. She nodded and said, ¡°Yes, yes. You can¡¯t be overwhelmed by a petty profit. Ah, no, although being celebrity is quite profitable, I think you¡¯re more suitable to be a chef. Tomorrow¡¯s Double Cooked Pork and Eight Treasure Fortune Bag¡­¡± ¡°It depends on whether I can wake up.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°Remember to ask them to send the ingredients over.¡± Lu Yuxi knew that he had agreed and said excitedly, ¡°Alright!¡± The next day, Li Qing, who had just arrived at the entrance of the shop, exclaimed. When he saw the long line, he immediately opened the door and called for customers to come in and sit down. ¡°Hey, young man, do you have any more Wensi tofu soup today?¡± ¡°I saw the video last night and thought about it all night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m here for that too. Also, give me a serving of your Double Cooked Pork!¡± Li Qing¡¯s head ached as he tried to maintain order. He shouted loudly, ¡°Everyone, wait a moment. Line up properly. Our boss is not here yet. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s the arrangement today.¡± He looked up and saw Lu Yuxi who had arrived late. He immediately went up and pulled her over. ¡°Answer their questions quickly. You¡¯re the receptionist here. I don¡¯t know anything.¡± Lu Yuxi rolled her eyes at him and said to the customers with a smile, ¡°The crispy pork belly and Wensi tofu soup are limited dishes for yesterday. I¡¯ll discuss with the boss and see if we can make them today. Don¡¯t be anxious, everyone..¡± Chapter 100 - Eight Treasure Fortune Bag Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Lu Yuxi went to tell Xu Le about the customers¡¯ requests. She put her hands on her hips and asked, ¡°Someone else said that he took the high-speed rail here in the morning and wanted to try the Wensi tofu soup. Do you plan on serving that dish?¡± Xu Le was preparing the ingredients for the Eight Treasure Fortune Bag. When he heard that, he said, ¡°Then, change today¡¯s limited dishes into Eight Treasure Fortune Bag and Steamed Pork Bun. These two dishes are not troublesome to make. If the feedback is good, just add them to the menu.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± When Lu Yuxi saw that these were the two dishes that she had ordered last night, she was exceptionally happy. She went out to tell the customers about this news, and she even explained to them, ¡°The main reason is because the beans used for the Wensi Tofu need to be soaked a day earlier. Moreover, just making tofu takes half a day. Everyone can¡¯t go back empty-handed, right?¡± Many customers agreed reluctantly on Xu Le¡¯s account. In the kitchen, Li Qing washed his hands and put on his chef¡¯s hat and apron. He looked at the order and said, ¡°Can I start cooking today?¡± ¡°Sure. I have something to do on Friday. I hope you can handle the whole store by then.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Li Qing was a little surprised. His hand that was cutting the meat paused for a moment and he said, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Thailand, Bangkok. I¡¯m participating in a variety show. I hope I can promote some Chinese cuisine.¡± Xu Le watched him slice the meat from the corner of his eye and said, ¡°The knife must be fast. Don¡¯t press it down like cutting a cake. Use force to press it down. It should be 90 degrees vertically down. Be nimble.¡± ¡°Oh, oh.¡± Li Qing corrected his actions. He knew Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills very well and was willing to learn from him. Hence, in front of Xu Le, he restrained his arrogant aura. ¡°What is today¡¯s limited edition dish?¡± ¡°Eight Treasure Fortune Bag and Pork Bun.¡± It was not difficult to make the Eight Treasure Fortune Bag, but there were many ingredients that had to be used. Xu Le decided to prepare dozens of portions at once. He added salt and light soya sauce to season the freshly diced meat and added some wine to remove the meat stench. Finally, some starch was added and mixed evenly, ensuring that the meat was fresh enough for marination. Xu Le cut the beancurd, bamboo shoots, carrots, celery, and garlic sprouts into tiny cubes. Then, he beat four eggs. After the egg was beaten, he poured the oil into the pan. When it reached 70 to 80 percent heat and steam was produced, he immediately poured the egg inside. With a sound of ¡°whoosh¡±, the egg began to expand. Before it completely took shape, he quickly stirred it with his chopsticks. This way, the egg that was stir-fried would be tender and small. After it was served, he added oil into the pan again. While Xu Le was heating the oil, he folded the leaves of the garlic sprouts and placed them in the boiling water to boil. After boiling inside, the leaves of the garlic sprouts became even greener and tougher. It would then be used for the opening of the fortune bag later. ¡°Why not use scallions?¡± ¡°The taste of scallion is very strong. If some people don¡¯t like scallions, it would taste very bad to them,¡± Xu Le explained. He looked at him and said, ¡°There¡¯s too much dark soya sauce added. When it is ready, the color will be very dark.¡± Li Qing was preparing to make Mapo Tofu Rice when he heard that. He pouted unhappily and said, ¡°The amount that I added wasn¡¯t too different. It¡¯s just a little bit off. It won¡¯t affect anything much.¡± ¡°It will have a huge impact on the final taste. The tofu will be slightly salty and the surface will turn black.¡± Xu Le gave him a few more pointers, but Li Qing was still stubborn. ¡°Trust me, I¡¯ve also made Mapo Tofu before. It won¡¯t be too bad. If this dish doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll eat it myself. I haven¡¯t had breakfast anyway.¡± He was the typical type who didn¡¯t give in and wouldn¡¯t learn. Xu Le didn¡¯t get angry. He nodded and said, ¡°Okay, then you can eat by yourself.¡± After heating up the oil in the pan, he poured in the meat. As the meat was cut into cubes, it was very easy to cook. Then, he poured the side ingredients into the pan and stir-fried them. This dish looked simple and homely, but in fact, it tested the chef¡¯s hand sensitivity very much. He needed to cook every side ingredient such that it was not overcooked, yet was still crispy and sweet. He had to keep an eye on the pot and turn off the fire in time. He poured the cooked eggs into the pot. While the pan was still warm, he added some seasoning ¨C chicken essence, salt, light soya sauce, dark soya sauce and vinegar¡­ After the stuffing was done, it was the most crucial step of making the Eight Treasure Fortune Bag. Although it was called a fortune bag, the most important thing was to make the egg skin into the shape of a pocket and then tie it up with garlic sprouts. Oil started spatting from the frying pan, and he poured the egg in the center of the frying pan, and then shook the pan once. Due to gravity, the egg spread out to form a perfectly round omelet. It was a thin layer, and it was very easy to cook. He flipped the frying pan over a plate and served the stir-fried ingredients. He pinched the round edges and tied them up with garlic sprouts. It was finally complete. The fried Mapo Tofu that Li Qing cooked was also done. He covered the rice with it, only to see that it was bright in color. He sprinkled some onions. The fragrant steam was especially alluring. ¡°You can taste it yourself with a spoon and you¡¯ll know if it¡¯s salty or not,¡± Xu Le lectured. ¡°You mustn¡¯t mess around with things like seasoning. If you miss even a millimeter of it, you¡¯ll miss by thousands of miles. It¡¯s not a joke. If you want to improve your culinary skills, you have to be precise. It¡¯s good to have a sense of touch, but if you¡¯re overly reliant on it, you might end up putting the cart before the horse.¡± Li Qing took a bite and continued to savor it. He frowned slightly and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll eat this myself.¡± ¡°Do it again according to the steps just now. Remember, don¡¯t add too much dark soya sauce. Just the right amount will do.¡± After Xu Le gave his instructions, he handed over the Eight Treasure Fortune Bag and said, ¡°How about you try one?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The thin egg skin was bright yellow. Li Qing opened his mouth wide and stuffed one into his mouth. The various side ingredients were cooked just right. They were crispy and not too soft. If one chewed carefully, the flavor of bamboo shoots, carrots, beancurd, and celery rushed out and mixed together. It was surprisingly harmonious, and one could taste the freshness and crispness of the various ingredients. The more one chewed, the more fragrant the beancurd became¡­ ¡°MMhmm.¡± Li Qing nodded as he ate. ¡°Delicious!¡± ¡°Finish the Mapo Tofu Rice and come over to help spread open the egg skin.¡± Xu Le glanced at him. ¡°This isn¡¯t difficult. You should be fine, right?¡± Before Li Qing could nod, Lu Yuxi appeared out of nowhere and strode over. ¡°I can do it, I can do it! I¡¯ll prepare the egg skins.¡± ¡°Go out and collect the cash.¡± Xu Le gave her a reproachful look and said, ¡°The Eight Treasure Fortune Bag is ready. Try it first and add it to the menu. We¡¯ll start receiving orders now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yuxi eagerly picked up an Eight Treasure Fortune Bag and stuffed them into her mouth. The size of the pouches was just right for her to eat one at a time. The ends of the pouches were tied with garlic sprouts, making them look adorable. The crispiness of the ingredients did not stand out when mixed together. There was also the fragrance of the meat. It was extremely delicious. She nodded excitedly and said, ¡°This tastes light, fragrant, and nutritious. It¡¯s suitable for both young and old. I definitely have to recommend to those customers who had brought their children along.¡± After Lu Yuxi finished eating, she turned around to go to the counter. After taking two steps, she turned back and stuffed two more into her mouth.. Chapter 101 - Sweet and Sour Double Cooked Pork Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Wow! Daddy, what¡¯s this? Why does it look like a bag?¡± The Eight Treasure Fortune Bag was served on the table and immediately attracted the child¡¯s attention. ¡°This is called the Eight Treasure Fortune Bag. An¡¯an, have a taste.¡± The adult man said as he picked one for his child. The child looked left and right before reluctantly putting it into his mouth. After chewing twice, his eyes immediately lit up. ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± The adult beside him said in surprise, ¡°I thought you don¡¯t eat vegetables?¡± As he spoke, he took a bite himself. The crispy and refreshing fragrance of bamboo shoots, the freshness and tenderness of the meat¡­ There were a few ingredients mixed together, and it was indescribably delicious. ¡°Mmm! As expected of Xu Le, only he can cook such delicious yet simple dishes!¡± ¡°My wife¡¯s food is far worse than this. No wonder my child doesn¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Give me another serving!¡± ¡°Me too, give me another serving!¡± ¡°Pretty lady, I saw that the Double Cooked Pork is still a limited dish on your menu today. Can you serve it now?¡± ¡°When eating Double Cooked Pork, you need to eat with rice to satisfy your cravings!¡± Lu Yuxi answered, ¡°I¡¯ll rush them in the kitchen. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Xu Le removed the white fascia from the fresh meat and started to cut the meat. Each slice was cut about 8 millimeters thick. Li Qing took some scallions, ginger, garlic, and sliced them into slices for him. Li Qing looked at it doubtfully. Xu Le understood what he was thinking and explained, ¡°I have to cut the pork a little thicker so that it won¡¯t fall apart when it¡¯s about to be fried. Then, I¡¯ll prepare some carrot strips.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± The potato starch was mixed with water. After it was separated into layers, the clear water on the surface was poured away, leaving the moist starch that had settled at the bottom. The pork was sliced and placed in a basin. It was then mixed with salt, pepper powder, and yellow wine. After an even mixing, it was then added with moist starch and a small spoonful of oil to continue mixing. Then, he poured some oil into the pot and started to heat it up. While doing that, Xu Le took a small bowl and started to prepare the seasoning sauce. ¡°The original name of the dish is Pot Broiled Meat. It¡¯s considered a famous dish in the Northeast, but it was a dish that was originally created by a chef in the Harbin prefecture in order to entertain foreign guests from Russia.¡± Li Qing concentrated on learning at the side and introduced the origins of this dish. ¡°In order to cater to the tastes of foreigners, the chef used sweet and sour sauce, which is known for its sourness. It tastes sour first, then sweet, and savory afterwards. This dish is highly praised by Russian foreign guests, so it is very popular.¡± Xu Le nodded, knowing that he was right. He continued, ¡°After the plague broke out in Harbin and Mr. Wu Liande successfully managed the situation, he held an International Medical Conference in Liaoning to share his experience. The chef that made the pork dish was called along because he was proficient in foreign cuisine.¡± Xu Le added 5 grams of salt, 3 grams of MSG, a little sugar, 40 grams of white vinegar, and 10 grams of rice vinegar into the bowl. He stretched out his hand in mid-air and tested the temperature. When the oil temperature was about 60% hot, it would be ready for deep frying. He first used his hand to add the excess starch into the pot, then deep fried it and fished it out. At this moment, a slightly golden color appeared on the surface. Li Qing looked at the sauce and said, ¡°I used to add ketchup when I was working at the restaurants previously. You are making sweet and sour sauce today. Aren¡¯t you going to add it?¡± Xu Le patiently explained, ¡°After the chef went there, he discovered that no one cared about the pork he had cooked. Later on, he found out the reason and understood that it was because they had meals in a buffet style. He discovered that the pork had been placed on the buffet table for too long, and the sourness had dissipated. The softness of the meat caused the flavor to be lost. Therefore, he innovatively used ketchup to add more flavors. He even changed the way he cooked, making this dish more compatible with the tastes of foreign guests at the buffet. From then on, it was brilliant and received many praises.¡± After explaining the dish¡¯s origins, Xu Le said in a serious tone, ¡°The common practice nowadays is to replace it with ketchup. Although it tastes good, I personally think that only the authentic way would suit the taste of our countrymen. As for the ketchup version¡­ it tastes more like pork in sugar and vinegar.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Li Qing was amused by this analogy. He said, ¡°You¡¯re already making criticisms while cooking Double Cooked Pork.¡± During the second frying, they had to wait for the oil temperature to drop a little before adding water to the pot and fishing it out. At this time, the edges of the surrounding area were slightly scorched yellow. The Double Cooked Pork needed to be fried three times. After the second time, Xu Le would start the fire and increase the oil temperature until it was 80% hot before pouring the Double Cooked Pork in. He had to wait patiently for a while. During the process of the deep-frying, he could use a spoon to slightly separate everything. When the surface of the meat was golden and crispy, he would be able to scoop it out and put it aside to drain the oil. Li Qing watched carefully and memorized every step. Xu Le added some oil into the pot and started to stir-fry the sauce to make the pork. He placed the prepared carrot shreds, scallions, ginger slices, and garlic into the pot to produce a fragrance. After there was sufficient fragrance produced, the surface of the various ingredients appeared golden and he immediately scooped them out with a ladle. Then, he poured the prepared sweet and sour sauce into the pot and stirred it. As a result of the sugar, the sauce would become slightly sticky in a few seconds. Xu Le swiftly sprinkled the various ingredients that had been fried to a golden color onto the pork. Then, he poured the meat into the sweet and sour sauce and stirred it a few times. When the surface of the meat was covered with the sweet and sour sauce, it would be ready to be served. The fragrance of the rice vinegar and white vinegar was immediately released. The entire plate of pork did not have any juice leaking and were bright and shiny. Li Qing silently swallowed his saliva as he watched from the side. After the plate was served, he first picked up a piece of meat to taste. The meat was crispy outside. There was sweet and sour vinegar juice hanging on the meat that had been fried into the shape of a tiger¡¯s skin. When he took a bite, it was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The sweet and vinegar juice hung just right, neither thick nor thin, and the taste was extremely authentic. Li Qing exclaimed in his heart and said with a look of admiration, ¡°Amazing, all the taste is just right!¡± After swallowing it, there was a faint fruity fragrance coming from the savory and sour pork. It was very magical. ¡°Can it be served as a dish?¡± ¡°It¡¯s so delicious, you can definitely serve it!¡± After Li Qing praised him, Lu Yuxi smelled the fragrance and said, ¡°Let me try.¡± She took a bite and said with a satisfied expression, ¡°This is the taste. Previously, there was a Northeastern uncle in our canteen who made this dish in a very authentic way. Compared to this time¡¯s¡­ the one made by Xu Le is even more crispy and burnt. The sauce outside has a sour fragrance, but it¡¯s not sour in the mouth. It¡¯s great!¡± Lu Yuxi said in admiration, ¡°Xu Le, you¡¯re too awesome!¡± As soon as the pork was served on the table, everyone started fighting over it. The brownish and salty meat slices were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They were crispy and fragrant, sweet and sour, appetizing and authentic. Immediately, a northeastern man with an accent gave a thumbs up and said, ¡°That¡¯s awesome. This pork is exactly what I had when I was young. It¡¯s the same as what my mother made.¡± ¡°In my opinion, sweet and sour sauce is the most authentic cooking method. My family always likes to put ketchup in it. The color becomes so red that it doesn¡¯t look appetizing anymore.¡± The customers discussed among themselves and soon, the large plate of pork was finished.. Chapter 102 - Flying to Bangkok Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Boss, are you also from the Northeast?¡± Xu Le was stopped by a customer. He turned around and smiled. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then how can you make such authentic pork?¡± ¡°Before I ate it, I thought that 60 yuan per plate was a little expensive. But after tasting it, I felt that it was really worth it!¡± The customer ate with relish and couldn¡¯t help but reminisce about his hometown. He said, ¡°It will definitely be snowing in my hometown in a few months. When the snow is thick enough to step on, the snow will enter the shoe. It will be so cold.¡± Lu Yuxi interrupted, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen snow in my life.¡± ¡°¡­No way.¡± Xu Le said in surprise, ¡°Really? Has anyone never seen snow before?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Boss, is there a shop nearby hiring?¡± Suddenly, a man in a suit and leather shoes asked this question. Xu Le looked at him and felt that he did not look like someone who needed to find a job in a restaurant. He shook his head and said, ¡°I have recruited all the people I need for my restaurant. Why don¡¯t you ask other restaurants?¡± ¡°Hahaha, it would be great if there are really shops hiring people. I¡¯ll work in the vicinity so that I can eat your food three meals a day. It will be so satisfying!¡± Xu Le could tell that he was joking and said, ¡°If you¡¯re working at a restaurant, yet you always come to my restaurant for meals, your boss would definitely scold you!¡± The customers in the shop laughed and the atmosphere became more relaxed. There was a shortage of steamed pork buns, and the Eight Treasure Fortune Bag was also selling very well. Although it was a limited dish for the day, Xu Le didn¡¯t limit the amount and sold more than 300 servings in a day. When it was almost time to close the shop, he had almost become dazed from fatigue. At first, Lu Yuxi was still collecting the cash in the front, but later on, she could not keep up with preparing the egg skin. The process was simple, but it took time. If one was not careful, it would be easily burnt. When she saw that the customers in front of her were ordering on their phones, she went to the kitchen to help. When she started working, she even happily boasted to Xu Le, ¡°I told you that I could help in the kitchen, didn¡¯t I? You still don¡¯t believe me!¡± In the end, in the afternoon, Lu Yuxi felt that she could barely lift her arms and immediately escaped. Li Qing also came out to nag at her and said, ¡°You won¡¯t make it like this. In the line of being a chef, you have to practice. If you practice more, you won¡¯t be so tired!¡± Lu Yuxi rolled her eyes and couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him. Li Qing pointed at her and laughed. ¡°How can a girl like you be so weak? Hey, hey, someone¡¯s here. Quickly stand up and collect the payment. Stop laying on the table.¡± In the end, after Li Qing bragged about it, he also couldn¡¯t stand straight after dinner time and kept rubbing his wrists and neck. When he saw Xu Le cutting the ingredients meticulously, he could not help but be shocked. ¡°Master Xu, how is your stamina so good?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Xu Le looked at him and continued cutting the vegetables. ¡°This is my favorite job. When I¡¯m really engrossed in it, I won¡¯t feel tired.¡± Li Qing nodded in admiration. In the next few days, Xu Le had the time to teach Li Qing how to make the dishes on the menu. And he would follow Xu Le¡¯s way of cooking the exact same way. Li Qing admired him from the bottom of his heart. He was humble and eager to learn. Very soon, his culinary skills made a qualitative leap. Before Xu Le went to film the show on Friday, Li Qing could at least guarantee that his store would not close for business. When the news of Xu Le wanting to film a show was released, his social media platform was immediately filled with upset people. Lu Yuxi was in charge of the publicity and marketing of the Eight-year-old cafeteria. She was used to these comments and raised her phone to show Xu Le. She said, ¡°Everyone can¡¯t bear to part with you. Hahaha, to be precise, they can¡¯t bear to part with your cooking.¡± Xu Le scrolled down. Top comment: Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah don¡¯t do that! I applied for leave tomorrow and wanted to visit Hongxing Road. Why! Why must it be today! Boss, can you be kind enough and film the show one day later! ¡°Is the boss going to close for business again? Oh my god, how can a show be more profitable than opening for business? Please open!¡± He clicked on the reply: How would you know if he might be paid more for appearing on variety shows, or if he earns more by working so hard? Xu Le scrolled down after each comment. Most of the comments were hoping that he would not close and would continue to open for business. Until there was a hater comment. ¡°The top comments are all fake reviewers hired by that kid, right? How could he be praised by you guys to be god-like? After attending the filming of the show, he will definitely fail, hehe.¡± Xu Le clicked on the replies, and there were all sarcastic responses from the fans. ¡°That¡¯s great. Then please don¡¯t go. I really don¡¯t want to queue for two hours to eat!¡± ¡°It¡¯s great that you don¡¯t eat their food. The boss doesn¡¯t want to cook for you either.¡± ¡°He¡¯s going to fail just because he was on a show? There are so many winners of cooking competitions, and he¡¯s the third runner-up at the Beijing Expo. He¡¯s only eight years old, but he¡¯s already a prodigy to be able to reach this level, alright?¡± After reading the comments one by one, Lu Yuxi asked excitedly, ¡°How much are you paid a week for your last show?¡± Xu Le gestured with his hands and said, ¡°This amount.¡± ¡°D*mn! Is the first digit ten thousands?¡± ¡°It should be 100,000.¡± ¡°Oh my god!¡± Lu Yuxi practically jumped up from the sofa. ¡°Please give me a raise, a raise! My good boss, when will you raise my salary?!¡± Xu Le was amused by her greedy look. To be honest, ever since Lu Yuxi came. The few videos that were filmed had a lot of views and likes. The invitation from the production team this time were all because of the videos that were accidentally taken by Lu Yuxi. Some things required talent. It was just like how Lu Yuxi had a way to capture the attention of the audience. Even if the filming was not perfect, the video she created would always be eye-catching. It could be because the technology was superb, or because the atmosphere was warm and infectious enough, it had a huge impact on the reputation and marketing of the ¡°Eight-year-old cafeteria¡±. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°When I come back from the show successfully, I¡¯ll give you a raise immediately.¡± ¡°How much?¡± ¡°500?¡± ¡°Oh, my good boss.¡± Lu Yuxi looked at him eagerly. ¡°Can¡¯t you give a little more?¡± ¡°1,000 then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Yuxi knew when to stop. She smiled and praised, ¡°Boss is so generous. I will definitely take care of Tiantian and the shop.¡± ¡°MMhmm.¡± After getting on the plane arranged by the production team, Xu Le put on his eye mask and earphones and entered the system to learn. Since they wanted to promote Chinese cuisine, it should be something that everyone can enjoy together. Some dishes had to be integrated into daily life to be remembered. He had been learning in the system for half a year, but only two days had passed outside. After the plane landed, Xu Le looked at the unfamiliar country. The hired staff in front waved at him. ¡°Hello, hello. We are the staff of ¡®Chinese Restaurant¡¯. It has been a long journey. Please follow us..¡± Chapter 103 - Recording Variety Show Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡®As soon as he landed, there were many long range and short range cameras aimed at him. ¡®When he arrived at the hotel, he washed up and rested for a while. In the afternoon, Xu Le adjusted his mood and joined in the program recording. The guests walked up to him and waved at him, but there were also people who directly passed him. Zhang Liang asked curiously, ¡°Who are the guest judges?¡± Xu Le was used to it and replied, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The tall man in front of him lowered his head and said, ¡°Eh? You¡¯re still a child. They said they invited a special guest who cooks very well. Is that you?¡± It was unclear if he was really puzzled or if the program¡¯s effect was intentional, but Xu Le said in a neither servile nor overbearing manner, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Immediately, two or three people burst out laughing. ¡°How can a child like you know how to cook?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke around, time is of the essence. Where is the guest?¡± ¡°[heard from the production team that he¡¯s a very good cook. Child, what¡¯s your name? Can you even reach the potware?¡± Xu Le replied calmly, ¡°I can and I know how to cook.The temporary guest was invited here to promote Chinese dishes.¡± With these words, he directly made the adults in front of him silent. ¡°Yo, are you that awesome?¡± One of the female guest looked at the adorable Xu Le in disbelief and said, ¡°Come, let Big Sister hug you.¡± Xu Le took a step back and rejected her mercilessly. ¡°No need, thank you.¡± Seeing him acting like a little adult, the guests looked at each other. No one believed that Xu Le really knew how to cook and walked forward while laughing. They did not forget to introduce the rules. ¡°We are going to open a restaurant to earn money. Little kid, do you often go to restaurants with your parents?¡± ¡°Do you know how to order? Can you differentiate all kinds of vegetables?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name? How old are you?¡± Xu Le was slightly speechless as they threw out one boring question after another, but he still patiently and politely answered them. ¡°Not often.¡± ¡°I can differentiate all of them. I¡¯m a chef.¡± ¡°Xu Le, eight years old.¡± No matter what he said, he had a serious expression on his face. This formed a huge contrast between his face with his age. He instantly stimulated the female guest¡¯s overflowing maternal love. ¡°Oh my god, so cute!¡± ¡°Xu Le, you can ask me if you have any questions later. I should be able to teach you.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going to cook Chinese dishes today. The menu still lacks an unknown dish that can suppress the situation. Can you help us complete it?¡± It was ¡°help¡± and not asking him to make it. Xu Le knew that these people were still doubting whether he could cook. ¡®As soon as he entered the kitchen, he rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands. Then, he put on the chef¡¯s hat and apron according to the steps and said, ¡°Please let me take a look at the menu. Um, do you have any requirements for the finale dish?¡± ¡°on¡± Zhou Huangya pointed at the menu on the wall and said, ¡°We are making potato stewed with pork ribs, cola chicken wings, garlic stir-fried romaine lettuce, and the others have the prices all marked at the back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Another female guest interrupted. ¡°The most important thing now is to make a dish that can be sold for 300 yuan per serving. This is the rule set by the program team today.¡± Xu Le checked the fridge and found no rare ingredients. He hesitated for a moment before pointing at the duck in the fridge. ¡°Is this newly bought today?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Looking at Xu Le¡¯s expression of professionalism, the few guests gradually developed a sense of trust in him. Zhou Huangya asked, ¡°What do you plan on cooking?¡± Xu Le snapped his fingers and said with a determined look, ¡°There¡¯s duck meat and yam. It¡¯s simple, I¡¯ve already thought of it.¡± ¡°Lplan to make one dish: Crispy Yam Duck.¡± Zhang Liang raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°This is a famous dish from Guangxi. It has previously been used to host foreign guests from many countries, but¡­ the failure rate is extremely high. I have tried many times at home and used all kinds of methods. In the end, I still failed to make it.¡± ¡°Because the procedures are complicated, and particularly stringent, and the failure rate is very high, it¡¯s very difficult to see them in restaurants now.¡± ¡°Is it that difficult?¡± Zhou Huangya had never heard of it before. She hesitated and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we replace it with another dish?¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re about to open for business soon. If some customers order this and we are unable to make it, won¡¯t it be awkward?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be difficult. I can succeed in one try.¡± ¡®The reason why Xu Le had the confidence to say this was because he had already practiced countless times in the system. This dish was indeed easy to fail, but practice made perfect. With more practice, one would be able to grasp the oil temperature, the heat, the oven, and everything else perfectly. He first prepared the required ingredients and took out a Cherry Valley Duck. Xu Le took a deep breath and explained, ¡°This dish needs to be made with Cherry Valley Duck because the duck skin has fewer wrinkles and doesn¡¯t have the stench of the duck¡­¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Huangya continued, ¡°I can still accept the roast duck, but if there¡¯s a part of the ducks that hasn¡¯t been cleaned properly, there will be a strange odor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. This breed of duck is naturally tasteless. It¡¯s most suitable for making Crispy Yam Duck.¡± ¡°Regarding the yam, you need to use the yam from Guilin of Guangxi. There is also a lot of emphasis on the choice of yam.¡± Xu Le took out a few of them and compared the skin in front of the camera. He said, ¡°You have to choose the yam with a scar on the surface. After cutting it open, you will get a layer of powder on the blade. Only the yams with thick fibers inside can ensure the success of the dish.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhang Liang gradually turned serious as he said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to really know how to do it. Could it be that I didn¡¯t succeed because I didn¡¯t choose the yam properly?¡± ¡°Step one, we¡¯re going to braise ducks now.¡± Xu Le poured the cold water on the duck in the pot and placed the green onions and ginger slices inside. ¡°After blanching it, the impurities on the surface of the duck skin will be removed, and the stench and grease will be removed. It should be scooped out while it¡¯s hot and rinsed under cold water.¡± As Xu Le explained, he said, ¡°This way, the surface of the duck skin will be more compact. When it is almost ready, use the kitchen towek to absorb all the moisture on it. Then, you can make the sauce for the duck surface.¡± As the steps were cumbersome, Xu Le planned to make many servings in one go. Since they had bought enough ingredients in advance, Zhang Liang, who could cook, rolled up his sleeves and worked with him. ¡°The main sauce used for the color is dark soya sauce, but the freshness and sweetness are not enough, so white sugar will be added to it. Everyone, based on your own preference to adjust the amount accordingly.¡± Xu Le said as he put on his gloves and smeared the sauce on every inch of the duck¡¯s skin. ¡°We need to set it up to dry. At home, if you¡¯re not in a hurry, you can wait for it to dry slowly. But we¡¯ll use the bellows to shorten the time.¡± While he was drying the duck meat, Xu Le placed the yam into the oven. He said, ¡°I am baking it at 180 degrees for an hour. The amount of moisture in the baked yam will be lower. If it¡¯s not convenient to use the oven at home, it¡¯s fine to steam in the pot..¡± Chapter 104 - Crispy Yam Duck Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The main purpose of Xu Le joining was to bring back the lost traditional cuisine to the screen and it would be best if it could become popular as a household dish again. More than a dozen ducks were placed into the air-fryer coated with sauce. When the yam was almost grilled, they were taken out, and their skin were removed before being mashed. Xu Le wore a pair of gloves and added the condiments one by one. He explained, ¡°These are salt, white sugar, Five Fragrance Powder, as well as some baking powder. After adding them in and mixing them evenly, you can put them aside.¡± ¡°Now, let¡¯s get into the most important step ¨C frying the ducks.¡± The duck, which had been air dried, was placed into the pot for deep-frying. The camera zoomed in as Xu Le used a spoon to pour some hot oil over the duck meat to make it fry more evenly. As he did this, he said, ¡°Everyone, take a look. The surface of the duck meat is golden with a hint of brown. When it has a crispy texture and looks glistening, you can fish it out, then repeat the same steps for the other ducks.¡± ¡°Although it has been fried, the taste has not seeped into the meat yet, so we still need to season it and continuing cooking it. I¡¯ve added some huadiao wine here. At home, you can replace it with white wine or yellow wine.¡± ¡°Now, put these spices ¨C onions, ginger, fragrant leaves, cloves, aniseed ¨C in a pot that only has a small amount of oil and stir-fry until a fragrance is produced. Then, you can put them all in a pressure cooker to stew.¡± Xu Le opened the pressure cooker and placed the duck inside. ¡°The pressure cooker should have white sugar, dark soya sauce, salt, MSG, chicken essence, and the spices that were just stir-fried inside. Just cover the lid and add some boiling water. It¡¯ll be fine after you start cooking the duck inside.¡± Xu Le said each step very clearly. After the lid of the pressure cooker was closed, he reminded, ¡°The first part is quite simple. At the very least, the steps from air-frying to stewing the duck would normally not go wrong, It will also taste delicious once it is cooked, but the main difficulty is the yam ring outside.¡± ¡°Bring over the yam paste that was evenly distributed just now. Separate the wheat starch and com starch evenly in a ratio of 4: 3 and add boiling water over it before kneading it into a ball. When the surface is smooth, mix it evenly with the yam paste and add some lard.¡± After finishing these steps, Xu Le wrapped the melted yam into a plastic wrap and put it into the refrigerator to be frozen. Half an hour later. ¡®The duck meat in the pressure cooker was stewed until it was soft and tender, and the juices were rich. Just looking at it, it looked very appetizing. Zhou Huangya let out a ¡°wow¡± and swallowed her saliva as she looked at the crisp and alluring duck meat. Xu Le cut the braised whole duck from the back. His sharp blade cut along the spine, trying to remove a large piece of intact duck skin. He removed the bones and took out the flesh. Xu Le said, ¡°Now, we need to put on gloves and tear the duck meat apart. It has become very soft and mushy in the pot and can be torn into pieces with just a slight tear. Which one of you would like to do it?¡± ¡°TI do it!¡± Zhou Huangya raised her hand in high spirits. While the camera was not focusing on her, she ¡°openly¡± took a bite. ¡®When the duck meat entered her mouth, there was no meat stench at all. The salty and fresh duck meat was overflowing with juice. It was tender and fresh. She widened her eyes and exclaimed, ¡°I think just stewing it to this extent allows it to be directly served. It¡¯s too delicious!¡± The guests who thought that Xu Le couldn¡¯t cook were all embarrassed, especially after tasting the duck meat. ¡°Oh my god, it smells so good!¡± ¡°The duck meat is not only soft but also chewy. How did he do that? That¡¯s amazin, Zhou Huangya reminded everyone, ¡°This is only a semi-finished product. I¡¯m really looking forward to what its final taste would be!¡± As everyone savored the meat, Xu Le and Zhang Liang were glad that they had prepared several ducks. Otherwise, at the rate they were ¡°tasting¡± the meat, half a duck would be gone. After tearing the duck meat into pieces and pouring some gravy into it, it was time for the assembly. The kneaded yam paste was also called yam ring, It was rolled into a rectangular shape that was thin in the middle and thicker at both sides. Them, a soaked bean skin was placed on top. The bean skin could preserve the juice of the duck meat, so that it would not leak out during the deep-frying. He then placed some shredded duck meat on top, covered it with duck skin, and wrapped it tightly with the yam ring, He used a little strength so as to not leave any gaps. After everything was done, Xu Le reminded, ¡°If you want to fry a crispy yam ring, you have to pay attention to the oil temperature. You have to maintain it at about 175 degrees Celsius. If it exceeds or falls below that, you will definitely fail.¡± This was a precise number that he had studied many times in the system. Now, he was imparting it without reservation. Zhang Liang said in surprise, ¡°Does it have to be so accurate? I don¡¯t think we have any tools that can measure the temperature here.¡± Xu Le said calmly, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I can more or less guess it.¡± The moment he said that, everyone was shocked, especially Zhou Huangya. He grinned and said, ¡°Are you a walking thermometer? Do you want to help me measure my temperature?¡± With a pair of gloves on, Xu Le waved his hand in front of her and joked, ¡°36.5 degrees, normal temperature, don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Hahaha, my god, little kid, you¡¯re so funny!¡± Zhou Huangya was shocked by Xu Le¡¯s EQ and immediately praised him. She took two steps back as she looked at the boiling oil. Xu Le placed the duck meat wrapped in the rectangular yam into the pot of oil and said, ¡°If you slide it down carefully like this, it won¡¯t fall out easily and you¡¯ll still be able to maintain its shape. The oil temperature must be maintained at 175 degrees Celsius the whole time. You can¡¯t be careless about that. It will only be done after the yam ring are also fried.¡± After dozens of seconds, the surface gradually began to turn golden. The sizzling sounds of the oil could be heard in the pot. It was healing and terrifying. ¡®The few guests retreated a few meters away in an exaggerated manner. They watched as Xu Le scooped out the fried duck wrapped in yam and placed it on the white porcelain plate. The bamboo filtering net could not only act as a display but also filter the excess oil. ¡°It¡¯s already done. Would everyone like to come and have a taste?¡± ¡®As soon as Xu Le finished speaking, a few guests rushed over and stared at the Crispy Yam Duck. ¡°Wow, it looks delicious.¡± ¡°How do I cut this? Should I cut it horizontally or vertically?¡± Xu Le held the knife and said, ¡°Basically, cut it two fingers wide from the horizontal side. This way, it¡¯s easier to eat. But there are no fixed standards.¡± Acrisp sound could be heard when the blade cut through. It made people swallow their saliva. Zhou Huangya was the first to receive it eagerly. She took a small sip of the crispy and fragrant yam ring, and her eyes lit up. The fluffy yam was like a string that filled her mouth, and the fragrance of the deep-fried oil skipepd on her taste buds. This was only the first layer of taste. She continued to bite down on it. The soft and sticky yam was between the duck meat and the yam ring, giving off a refreshing salty sweetness. She took another big bite. The duck meat had a meaty fragrance and the texture was soft like cotton. It was wrapped in the sweet taste of the yam and the yam ring was filled with the fluffyness of air. A few layers of taste bloomed in her mouth one after another, lingering for a long time.. Chapter 105 - Do You Really Not Consider Entering the Entertainment Industry? Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Whoa, so crispy!¡± In fact, the yam ring on the surface of the duck meat looked more like meat floss in terms of visual and texture. Although the cooking method was complicated, it greatly improved the taste and quality of the entire dish. Even the store manager, Bai Xiaoming, nodded in agreement. ¡°This dish is really too amazing! There¡¯s no problem using it as the finale dish. Haha, I didn¡¯t expect the production team to really hire a little Master Chef for us.¡± The Crispy Yam Duck was immediately added to the menu. Everyone finally treated Xu Le as a chef who could cook. However, each time, Zhou Huangya could not help but pinch Xu Le¡¯s cheeks and say, ¡°You¡¯re too cute! If Ihave children in the future, how I wish they can be like you!¡± The restaurant opened for business at 2pm in the afternoon. It was just opened for business and the kitchen was immediately preparing the dishes in full swing. As none of them were professional chefs, other than Zhang Liang¡¯s cooking skills which were slightly better, the rest of them could only do simple chores like beating eggs, washing vegetables and cutting vegetables. Soon, someone ordered this dish. Xu Le was in charge of the most difficult procedure¡ªfrying the yam ring. After he finished preparing the dishes and carried them out, he saw a Chinese couple being lovey-dovey. They turned around and saw Xu Le. Shocked, they said, ¡°Hey, be careful. I¡¯ll carry it.¡± They treated Xu Le like a child and reached out to take the plate. Xu Le held the edge of the plate steadily and said, ¡°I can do it.¡± Then, he placed the dishes on the table and said, ¡°Please eat.¡± ¡°Wow, are you working here?¡± The young girl saw that his face was serious, but there was some baby fat on his face. It was indescribably cute and adorable. ¡°No, I¡¯ma chef.¡± After Xu Le said that, the couple¡¯s expression changed. The man responded with an ¡®oh¡¯ and picked up a thick piece of meat with his chopsticks. ¡°Are you kidding?¡± After taking a bite, he was even more certain of his thoughts. He urged his girlfriend to try and said, ¡°Cindy, quickly try it! This is especially delicious! I don¡¯t know what kind of meat is wrapped in it. I can taste the texture of the meat, but it does not have a stench at all. It¡¯s super fragrant!¡± His girlfriend was still asking Xu Le, ¡°Are you studying here? Or is your family migrating here? Don¡¯t rush me, I know how to eat.¡± Xu Le ignored their irrelevant questions and said, ¡°Please try it while it¡¯s hot. Once it¡¯s cold, you¡¯ll easily smell the stench of the duck.¡± ¡°The meat inside here is duck meat?¡± The man widened his eyes in shock and said, ¡°I¡¯m not used to the greasy meat smell of the duck, but there¡¯s a hint of sweetness in this. What did you add?¡± Xu Le answered, ¡°Yam paste.¡± The woman did not believe that it was as good as he said. She muttered, ¡°Aren¡¯t you exaggerating?¡± and then took a bite. The yam ring was fragrant and crisp, the yam paste was sweet and fine, the duck meat was soft and chewy, and the three flavors were mixed together. Not only was it not out of place, but it also complemented each other well. Each flavor had its own unique flavor, the saltiness and softness blended well to form many layers of taste. ¡°Wow!¡± The woman suddenly stood up and said, ¡°What¡¯s the name of this dish? I want to learn it when I get back! It¡¯s really too delicious!¡± ¡®When Bai Xiaoming heard the commotion, he came over to strike up a conversation with them and explain. He pointed at the camera and didn¡¯t forget to put his hands on Xu Le¡¯s shoulders and said, ¡°This dish was made by our little chef. If you want to a tutorial, you can pay attention to the future uploads of our show.¡± The woman said dumbfoundedly, ¡°He made it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Oh my god! Each generation is stronger than the previous one. As expected of the 5,000 year food history in China. Even a child is so capable!¡± She said with admiration and envy, ¡°Can I take a picture with you?¡± Xu Le nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Bai Xiaoming interrupted, ¡°Include me too.¡± The three of them took a photo and Xu Le was very satisfied. It seemed that no matter where they went, food could be the best cultural exchange and communication apart from language. They sold more than 30 servings of the Crispy Yam Duck in a day. They opened for business at 2 pm and by 6 pm, all the ingredients they prepared were sold out. Xu Le stood beside the pot and had been frying for a few hours. During this time, Zhang Liang saw that he was young and was afraid that he would be tired, so he came over and requested for the two of them to change shifts. In the end, he did not expect that could not produce any crispy skin despite the seemingly simple process. He could not even make the yam ring at all. Hence, he could only ask Xu Le to do it. ¡®When there were finally fewer customers and it was time for lunch, Zhou Huangya flipped through the ingredients stored in the kitchen and said, ¡°Today¡¯s business is too good. It¡¯s not even dinner and we¡¯ve already earned the required amount! But we¡­¡± She shrugged. ¡°What should we eat later?¡± Bai Xiaoming raised his hand and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t I go buy more groceries now? Let¡¯s strike while the iron is hot. That finale dish is too hard to make. Since we can¡¯t serve it, we¡¯ll sell other dishes first. We still have time in the afternoon anyway.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Huangya pouted as she rubbed her starving stomach and said, ¡°I¡¯m going crazy from hunger. I¡¯ve only eaten a few pieces of duck meat since this morning and there¡¯s no more ingredients now. Ahhh, I want to eat!¡± She was already very hungry and irritable. Xu Le put away his apron and hung it on the rack at the side, saying, ¡°Are there no vegetables left at all? Why don¡¯t you check again? I¡¯ll make dinner.¡± Zhou Huangya said, ¡°Don¡¯t come. Sit down and rest. You¡¯ve been busy all afternoon. If the program gets broadcasted, they will say that we hired child laborers and abused them.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Xu Le smiled. He was also one who had his own store. He had to provide so many meals every day, so his arm strength and endurance were already similar to that of an adult man. He went to the fridge and looked around. When he saw a small piece of pork belly and two vegetables, he said, ¡°Tl cook for you guys. Steam some rice.¡± ¡°You know how to cook other dishes?¡± Shu Qi¡¯s interest was piqued and she said straightforwardly, ¡°I thought that in order to prepare for the program, you only learned one dish.¡± Xu Le rolled up his sleeves modestly and said, ¡°Haha, that can¡¯t be. After all, if I want to make a living as a chef, I still have to have some skills.¡± Shu Qi asked directly, ¡°Are you really not thinking of using this program as a springboard to enter the entertainment industry, to start acting or join variety shows?¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± Xu Le started to cut the pork belly. ¡°Because you¡¯re good-looking. You have good genes, big eyes, thick eyebrows, and a high nose bridge. Look at the ratio of your features. Your hands are long and your legs are long. It¡¯s not too much to switch careers and become a celebrity, right?¡± Shu Qi revealed her true thoughts. Xu Le, on the other hand, stopped shyly and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t fully matured yet, so you can¡¯t tell if I¡¯m going to look good or bad.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be modest.¡± Zhang Liang quipped, ¡°With your looks, are you really not considering joining the entertainment industry?¡± ¡°There are many handsome men and beautiful women. I¡¯m not the best. I only know how to cook. I only want to be a chef. I won¡¯t consider it.¡± Xu Le¡¯s tone was tactful, but in reality, he rejected them outrightly.. Chapter 106 - Stir-fried Vegetables Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°It¡¯s rare for someone to be so firm in their dreams at such a young age.¡± Shu Qi said dejectedly. She watched as Xu Le swiftly cut the thin slices of pork belly and reminded him, ¡°Our program still has to film the cooking process. Remember to add in the commentary. It will definitely be edited in later.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le picked up the tabasco pepper and asked, ¡°Can you all eat spicy food?¡± Zhou Huangya was so hungry that she was shaking her legs. She found a tomato from somewhere and started to eat it. She said with an unclear voice, ¡°I think moderate spice will be good, so that we can all eat it.¡± ¡°Aiyo,¡± Zhang Liang saw her face full of juice and handed her a tissue in disdain. ¡°Quickly wipe it! It¡¯s too ugly!¡± Xu Le faced the camera and explained, ¡°The supplementary ingredients are very simple. You just need to prepare garlic, tabasco peppers, and onions.¡± ¡°Cut them into pieces separately. Add the tabasco pepper according to your tolerance level for spicy food. There¡¯s no need to cut the garlic too much. Just smash it flat and cut it twice.¡± Xu Le tore apart the lettuce and specially reminded, ¡°Now, we have reached the most crucial step of this dish. Everyone must remember to put salt on the lettuce after cleaning it up. It¡¯s hard to make the lettuce have a strong taste. Usually, you need to use a lot of soya sauce to make it fresh. That way, it will taste good, but the black color doesn¡¯t look good. At the end, it will also become salty.¡± As he spoke, he sprinkled a layer of salt on the washed and processed vegetables. After he wore his gloves and mixed the vegetables evenly, he added some water inside. ¡°The key point of the stir-fried vegetables is that the texture cannot be soft. It needs to be crispy and refreshing to taste good. Therefore, try not to boil it in the water. If you are at home, you can fry it with oil or using air.¡± As Xu Le explained, he turned on the hot oil and filtered out the residue of the oil that was used to fry the crispy duck. When the oil temperature was about right, he said, ¡°You guys can stay away from it. There¡¯s some water on it, so it¡¯s easy to for the oil to splash out.¡± ¡°Oh, oh, oh!¡± The female artists took a few steps back with a whoosh. Zhang Liang also took a few steps back. He said with slight doubt, ¡°Won¡¯t it be too oily if it¡¯s stir-fried like this? If you deep-fry first, then stir-fry later, all the vegetables with low-fat and high-fiber will be high in calories.¡± Xu Le poured the vegetables into the pot. With a sizzling sound, the hot oil rolled. Within six or seven seconds, he poured the vegetables into the filter and started to pass them through the oil. He shook his head and explained, ¡°This is to make the vegetable taste more crispy and refreshing, It¡¯s similar to stir-frying it with oil, so the calories won¡¯t be much higher.¡± After the vegetables were deep-fried, the surface was bright, but it was not fully cooked. Xu Le took out soy sauce and steamed fish black oil and poured them into a bowl. ¡°The sauce is very simple. You just need to put in a moderate amount of 1: 1. There¡¯s no need to add salt later.¡± ¡°Now, put a small amount of oil in the pot. After heating it up, pour the pork belly into the pot and stir fry it until the grease comes out. This step will make use of the meat fragrance. Remember to stir fry it until it turns yellow. Then start the fire in the pot and add the supplementary ingredients that were prepared just now.¡± The tabasco peppers, scallions, and garlic were stir-fried into the pot one after another to produce the fragrance. ¡°Then, pour the vegetables and stir-fry. When it¡¯s almost ready, pour the sauce that has been mixed along the edges of the pot. This step can force the steam out and maximize the fragrance of the ingredients.¡± After the vegetables were stir-fried and served, the rice was also ready. Although there was only one dish, it was fragrant and piping hot. Furthermore, everyone¡¯s stomachs were rumbling with hunger. They sat at the table and started to eat. Zhou Huangya thought of something and said, ¡°Brother Xiaoming went out to buy groceries. The production team gave him an electric scooter to ride on. Should we leave him some food?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhang Liang brought a plate and rice and separated a portion out. Fortunately, there were enough vegetables to fill a large plate that was enough for a few people to eat. Xu Le placed his chopsticks in his mouth. He practiced dozens of times in the system before he could cook the fresh and delicious stir-fried vegetables. ¡°Holy shit!¡± Zhang Liang took a bite and his eyes lit up. He could not help but curse. ¡°Is this a vegeable dish? I¡¯ve also made this before using hotpot base. At that time, I felt that the taste I made was superb. Good heavens¡­¡± Now that he met Xu Le, it was obvious who was stronger. Zhang Liang took a big bite of the rice and nodded. ¡°This simple home-cooked dish is the best test of culinary skills. Alright, I¡¯m finally convinced.¡± He thought about how he had relied on his culinary skills to survive in various gourmet variety shows and how everyone praised his culinary skills. However, when he met Xu Le, the difference was too big. It made him feel defeated. Even though he was demoralized, he couldn¡¯t eat less than a mouthful of vegetables. He dug into his food. Zhou Huangya picked up a piece of meat and chewed it carefully. The pork belly had a purpose of increasing the freshness of this dish. The fats were all dried out, it was crispy and fragrant, and when chewed, it tasted like oil residue. She took another bite of the vegetable and said in disbelief, ¡°Isn¡¯t this the taste of meat? Oh my god, this vegetable tastes even better than meat. It looks quite simple when you cook it. How can it taste so good!¡± ¡°During these few days,¡± Zhang Liang was full of admiration for Xu Le and said,¡± I definitely have to thicken my skin and follow behind Master Xu to steal more of his skills.¡± ¡°Not really, don¡¯t flatter me.¡± Xu Le waved his hand and said, ¡°I can tell you whatever you want to learn.¡± The few of them buried their heads in their food. The fragrance of the vegetables was alluring, and Zhou Huangya could not even care about her image as she stuffed them into her mouth. Only Shu Qi, who was sitting at the side, was swirling her wine glass and drinking in small mouthfuls. In front of her was a rice ball that was half the size of a fist. Everyone was used to her not eating lunch and no one deliberately asked her to try. With the delicacies in front of her, Shu Qi was so enticed by the fragrance that she wanted to leave the table. She picked up her chopsticks and fiddled with the rice grains in her bowl, stuffing a few into her mouth every time. Xu Le looked up and saw her actions. He felt that this was no different from self-torture. She was almost dying from exhaustion after a day of hard work, yet she had to diet at night. He said, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t matter if you eat less. Why don¡¯t you try it, Sister Shu?¡± Shu Qi swallowed her saliva silently and shook her head. She said firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t try to tempt me. I can¡¯t break my habit. If I eat it today, I will definitely not be able to hold it in tomorrow.¡± Zhou Huangya patted her arm and pulled her face out of the bowl with much difficulty. She said, ¡°It¡¯s really delicious! This is a vegetable dish, and the calories aren¡¯t high. If you don¡¯t eat it, you¡¯ll really regret it!¡± Shu Qi was a little moved and Xu Le picked up a piece for her. ¡®The vegetable placed on the white rice was crispy and tempting. Shu Qi struggled internally for a while. This was the first time she made an exception on a show. 1 Picking up the chopsticks, she took a small bite. The crispiness of the vegetables and the oil fragrance of the meat competed with each other as they danced on her taste buds. Taking a deep breath, she exclaimed, ¡°How can vegetables be so delicious?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what we were discussing just now. It¡¯s awesome and addictive! It¡¯s delicious!¡± Shu Qi restrained herself as she ate two small mouthfuls. She could no longer hold it in and started eating with her rice. Bai Xiaoming returned after buying the groceries and walked in with his bags. When he saw that Shu Qi was having dinner, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a gasp.. Chapter 107 - Brother-in-law and Sister-In-Law Meeting Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°The sun is rising from the west today. I thought you didn¡¯t want to eat dinner?¡± ¡°Come and try it, it¡¯s so delicious!¡± Shu Qi said in satisfaction. Bai Xiaoming looked at the plate that had been emptied. There was only a thin layer of oil left. There wasn¡¯t even any residue remaining. He asked in surprise, ¡°Didn¡¯t you leave any for me, the manager?¡± ¡°We did.¡± Zhang Liang stood up to take the plates and said, ¡°We have only started eating for five minutes. The food I left for you is still warm. You can eat it directly.¡± Bai Xiaoming was so shocked that his jaw dropped again. This was because celebrities had developed a habit of chewing and swallowing slowly because of their diet restrictions. When they normally ate, they would chat while eating. It was impossible to finish in less than half an hour. They actually finished their meal in five minutes that day! How delicious could the stir-fried vegetables be? Finally, after three minutes, Bai Xiaoming, who didn¡¯t even want to sit down after tasting a mouthful, let out a long sigh. He placed the empty plate on the table and said, ¡°It¡¯s really too delicious! It¡¯s just eaten with rice, but even if you give me three more plates, it wouldn¡¯t be too much!¡± Shu Qi gloated and said to him, ¡°You¡¯re not going to lose weight?¡± ¡°With such delicious food in this world, it¡¯s a pity that if I can¡¯t eat it!¡± Xu Le was also surprised that a home-cooked dish received such high praise. At this moment, everyone finally looked at him and treated him as a proper chef. There were still a few more hours of business at night. As Bai Xiaoming cut the vegetables, he said listlessly, ¡°We have earned enough for today, but if the turnover and net profits for the past three days don¡¯t meet the standards set by the production team, we won¡¯t be able to have enough money for groceries tomorrow! And we won¡¯t be able to add other dishes.¡± After he finished sighing with emotion, he suddenly turned his attention to Xu Le and said, ¡°Little Master Chef Xu, do you have any good ideas? Can we find a type of ingredient that¡¯s cheap, tastes good, and can be used for many different dishes ¡°Thaven¡¯t done any field inspections, so I don¡¯t know what ingredients are cheap. Why don¡¯t you bring me along tomorrow when you buy the grocerie: ¡°Alright! No problem!¡± The next morning, Xu Le woke up early. After washing up in a hurry, he grabbed a bacon sandwich and sat on the electric scooter in a mess. In the morning market of Bangkok, there were takoyaki balls, stir-fried spicy pork with kway teow, Thai-style fried rice, Mango glutinous rice, Thai-style milk tea, banana pancakes¡­ There were also all kinds of barbecue skewers, fried basil leaves, mango dipped in chili flour, and fresh fruits. Bai Xiaoming took a glance at everything and drooled. He sighed, ¡°Today is the last day. If we can make enough money, we can get the money from the production team tomorrow. Then I¡¯ll bring you here to eat, okay?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le retracted his gaze. The seafood here in Thailand was very cheap, and they were all freshly caught. The fish and prawns were large and fleshy, and there was an endless variety of seafood. Xu Le, who had not seen much of the world, looked around curiously. Bai Xiaoming was haggling with the stall owner at the side. Perhaps it was because his English wasn¡¯t up to standard, the two of them had difficulties communicating. Miraculously, he managed to bargain using only his limited vocabulary. This made Xu Le, whose English had passed level six in university, squeeze his lips together, afraid that he would burst out laughing the next moment. Finally, they bargained to a very low price for the fish. Xu Le fiddled with the net twice and found that the fish was jumping around energetically. Hence, he pointed at the crucian carp inside and said, ¡°I want this. We can go back and make a crucian carp soup, West Lake vinegar fish, as well as the grass carp here. After bringing back the entire fish¡­ West Lake vinegar fish!¡± Bai Xiaoming asked doubtfully, ¡°What if it doesn¡¯t suit the customers¡¯ taste?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Most of the people who come to the Chinese restaurant are Chinese. If we blindly cater to the sour and spicy taste of Thai people, the food in the Thai restaurants will definitely be more authentic than ours.¡± Bai Xiaoming was quickly convinced. He nodded and said, ¡°Rather than going with the flow, it¡¯s better to stay true to yourself.¡± The two of them bought the ingredients and went back. There was only an hour left before they opened for business. Zhang Liang was busy preparing the vegetables for the day. When he saw them, he said, ¡°Could it be that the stir-fried vegetables were too delicious yesterday? I¡¯ve been eating them even in my dreams. So why don¡¯t we add that dish onto the menu?¡± ¡°Lagree!¡± ¡°It¡¯s really delicious. I¡¯ll recommend it to the customers later!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I think the price can be slightly raised! After all, there¡¯s pork added inside.¡± After Zhou Huangya said jokingly, Bai Xiaoming immediately rejected the idea, ¡°No, we can¡¯t do such shady business. We¡¯ll just charge according to the normal price of the ingredients. If we have to earn less, we¡¯ll earn less. We can¡¯t ruin our reputation, right?¡± They discussed the price while Xu Le swiftly handled the fish. He wore a mask, an apron, a chef¡¯s hat, and rubber gloves. He was fully armed. The fishy smell was very strong. Furthermore, he had to deal with so many of them at once. If he did not cover up properly, it would be so disgusting that he would vomit later. He planned to make some vinegar fish first for everyone to taste. The cameraman focused his camera on Xu Le. Xu Le knew that he had to start commentating again, so he coughed twice and started, ¡°The main source of the fishy smell is its skin. If we don¡¯t remove the layer of black sticky substance on the surface of the skin, it will be very stinky. In order to remove the skin easily, we can boil a pot of hot water first. It doesn¡¯t need to boil, just 80 degrees will do.¡± As he spoke, he took a large spoonful of hot water and splashed it on the fish skin. ¡°Once the fish skin is splashed with hot water, it will shrink. If you use a knife to scratch the black layer, it will easily peel off.¡± ¡°After scaling it, wash it with cold water. In order to make it easier to cut later, use the kitchen tissue to absorb the moisture.¡± Zhang Liang was watching and learning by the side. He said, ¡°I remember that there¡¯s a story behind the West Lake Vinegar Fish. It¡¯s called ¡®Brother-in-law and Sister-in-Law¡¯s Precious Treasure¡¯. I think it¡¯s related to this?¡± Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°West Lake Vinegar Fish is a famous dish in Hangzhou. The earliest story can be traced back to the Song Dynasty. It said that two brothers lived in seclusion in West Lake. They read a lot of poetry and lived on fishing. There was a local thug, Lord Zhao, who took a fancy to Sister-in-law Song¡¯s beauty and wanted to take her as his wife, so he killed her husband.¡± Xu Le held onto the fish¡¯s tail and changed the topic. ¡°Everyone, pay attention to the method of cutting the fish first. The tail will be cut off and push the knife in the direction of the head. It will stay along the spine and cut the fish into two.¡± ¡°Now, the two pieces of fish meat are thick. You need to cut along its spine. There¡¯s no need to cut it off. It¡¯ll be more convenient to make it tasteful later. Flip the sides and two fingers away from the fish gills, start the knife at this position. You just need to make four or five slices on one side. There¡¯s no need to cut it off. Everyone can do it at home. If the pan is too small, you can cut it from the middle.¡± Xu Le reminded and continued to talk about the story. ¡°Sister-in-law Song went to the authorities with my brother-in-law to complain. Who knew that the authorities would not only ignore them but also beat them up and chase them out. After they returned home, they could only pack their luggage and escape.¡± Chapter 108 - Sweet and Sour Carp Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Before they left, Sister-in-law Song took out a fish she caught and added sugar and vinegar to it, making it into a dish. Then, she told her younger brother-in-law¡­¡± Xu Le lowered his head and paused. Zhang Liang immediately followed up, ¡°I remember now. Her original words were, ¡°This bowl of fish has both sweetness and sourness. I hope you won¡¯t forget the hearts of the common people when you eat the sweetness. When you come back from your examinations, you will be able to get rid of evil and do good for the people.¡± Later on, when her brother-in-law really became an official, he punished that scoundrel Zhao.¡± Xu Le faced the camera and said, ¡°Marinating the fish is so that the fishy taste could be removed. Just adding the scallions, ginger slices, and yellow wine will be enough. Lightly mix them evenly.¡± He cleared his throat and continued his story. ¡°After punishing the villain, the brother-in-law couldn¡¯t find sister-in-law in the local area for a while. It was only when he went out for a meal that he tasted the sweet and sour carp that tasted exactly the same as when he left home. He was surprised, so he found the chef who made this dish and realized that it was Sister-in-law Song.¡± ¡°Then, he found out that after Sister-in-law left home, she hid in the government office to be a cook. The two of them were very happy to reunite with each other. After that, brother-in-law resigned from his post and resumed his old job. That was how this beautiful story came about.¡± ¡°Some locals imitated Sister-in-law Song¡¯s cooking method of West Lake Vinegar Fish and added local characteristics to this dish to make this West Lake delicacy.¡± Zhang Liang nodded excitedly and said, ¡°There¡¯s also a poem that praises it: ¡®The man gets drunk in his clogs and the sun shines on the terrace. There are so many boats swimming in front, half of them returning from the ponds and the moon. Why look for Zhang Han, the beauty and fish speaks of the West Lake; To think that you have the ability to mediate, do you know Auntie Song from back then?¡± The two of them made the expectations of the dish rise high in front of the camera. Xu Le was very clear that they definitely could not fail that day. It would be best if they succeeded in one go! In the system, every step could be redone, but he could not rehearse in reality. There was no room for ¡°redoing¡±. ¡°Marinate it for about ten minutes. In the pot, put in scallions, ginger, yellow wine, and salt. Place the fishbone facing down. After boiling water, transfer it to a small fire. You must not use boiling water to cook it, otherwise the fish meat will easily scatter. Cover it and stew it for about five minutes.¡± Xu Le picked up another pot, added water and yellow wine, and said, ¡°We¡¯ll start mixing the sauce now. Add water, yellow wine, dark soya sauce, the appropriate amount of salt and 50 grams of sugar.¡± Looking at Xu Le adding spoonful after spoonful of sugar, Shu Qi said in surprise, ¡°Does a fish need so much sugar? Will it be too sweet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not much.¡± Xu Le did everything according to the ratio on the recipe. There was definitely no mistake. He said, ¡°It looks like a lot of white sugar, but it¡¯s actually not even as much as the sugar content in a 500-ml bottle of coke.¡± Xu Le stirred the sauce in the pot with a metal ladle and sprinkled a small amount of pepper powder before pouring the vinegar into the pot. ¡°This place uses Zhenjiang Old Vinegar and Shanxi Old Vinegar, so the smell of vinegar will be even stronger. You have to maintain at low heat or medium heat. This sauce must not be boiled with a huge fire. Otherwise, the smell of vinegar will be completely gone.¡± The metal ladle continuously stirred within the pot. He looked at the color and said, ¡°When it¡¯s around this red color, you can start to thicken the gravy. If the color isn¡¯t enough, then add some light soya sauce into it. If you add a small amount, you can adjust it to reach the desired color. When the sauce starts to bubble, pour the corn starch and the starch sauce directly into it, and stir it until it¡¯s thick enough¡­¡± He lifted the metal ladle. The thick, bright sauce, like a line, connected the inside of the pot and the metal ladle. ¡°At this point, we can begin the next step. From now onwards, five minutes is just enough. The surface of the fish meat has slightly contracted. After it¡¯s smothered successfully, the fish meat will be very tender, so we can¡¯t use chopsticks to pick it up.¡± Xu Le picked up a strainer and demonstrated while talking about the things to take note of. He said, ¡°The ladle will gently slide down the side of the pot and wrap around the fish meat. Then, we will scoop it up gently and place it on the plate. The fish belly will be facing outwards. We can gently push the opening up now.¡± With a push of the chopsticks, the opening closed tightly and the delicate sweet and sour juice poured onto the fish. Zhang Liang¡¯s heart fluttered as he watched, and he wished he could taste it immediately. However, Xu Le picked up another piece of fresh ginger, so he resisted the urge to pick up the chopsticks and said, ¡°Do you still need more ginger?¡± ¡°No, I need ginger grains.¡± Ginger grains was referring to the ginger that was cut by hand. It was the size of a rice grain. It must be cut and not chopped, otherwise it would have become diced ginger. The fine ginger grain was sprinkled on the bright red sweet and sour sauce. Zhang Liang waited until Xu Le said, ¡°Come and try¡± before he heaved a sigh of relief and quickly went forward. ¡°I¡¯m dying of hunger. When I saw you making it just now, I felt that the cooking method was especially authentic. The taste definitely isn¡¯t bad.¡± Zhang Liang picked up a piece of meat covered with red-brown gravy using his chopsticks. Inside was a piece of snow-white fish meat with a hint of pinkness. Zhang Liang took a big bite. The first taste was a very bold sour taste. The fragrance of vinegar pervaded the air, followed by an obvious sweetness that blended with the intrinsic freshness and tenderness of the fish meat. ¡°Oh my god, this is the best!¡± Zhang Liang praised and could not help but take another big bite. Zhou Huangya hopped over to taste it and said, ¡°It¡¯s made by Xu Le, so it¡¯s definitely delicious! Quick, let me try it. I love eating fish!¡± She muttered to herself. When she used her chopsticks to pick up the fish meat, it was clearly an angular piece, but it melted the moment she took a bite. It blended with the sweet and sour sauce. It was sweet and sour, very delicious. Zhou Huangya gave him a thumbs up in admiration and said, ¡°Awesome! The sour and sweet taste matches the taste of the locals. The cooking method is also very authentic. When I went to Hangzhou to play previously, I ate it once. Back then, it was cooked by the head chef. It was so salty that I kept drinking water. Today, the sour and sweet taste is just right.¡± Bai Xiaoming took a bite, and the fish meat melted between his lips and teeth. He couldn¡¯t find any fault with it. He commented, ¡°The fire control is especially skillful. It¡¯s not tough at all, and it¡¯s super tender. I think it¡¯s been stewing slowly with fire, whether it¡¯s braised fish meat or boiled in gravy¡­ It tastes sour first, then sweet. The rest is salty and fresh, but for some reason, I can actually taste some crab meat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The ginger added at the end will have a reaction with the sweet and sour sauce. In addition, the fish meat is fresh and tender. It¡¯s the same principle as imitation crab meat, so the texture will carry a little crab flavor.¡± ¡°Wow! This is amazing, Hurry up and serve it. With just this dish, we will definitely be able to recoup our expenses today!¡± Zhou Huangya applauded in advance. Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°If you feel that the taste is alright, you can add this dish to the menu. Anyway, the grass carp here is very cheap. Oh right, there¡¯s also carp soup today. I¡¯ll make it now.¡± Shu Qi smiled brightly and clapped, ¡°That¡¯s great, I¡¯m really looking forward to your cooking!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Finally, the sweet and sour carp from Hangzhou was listed on the menu for 290 yuan. Chapter 109 - Shredded Carrot Carp Soup Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The crucian carp was freshly picked from the seafood market in the morning. The market owner had already helped to remove the insides, but the fish scales on it had not been cleaned. Zhang Liang was about to help scrape the scales when he was stopped by Xu Le. ¡°There¡¯s no need to scrape the scales. Let¡¯s boil some water.¡± Zhang Liang had many years of experience in cooking. When he heard that, he put his hands on his hips and said with a smile, ¡°How can that do? The soul of crucian carp soup is to not have a fishy taste. As long as there¡¯s even the slightest fishy smell, that pot of soup will be ruined.¡± Xu Le nodded. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t worry about it and do as I say. I guarantee that the soup won¡¯t have a fishy smell.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhang Liang was skeptical and boiled a pot of hot water. Xu Le took the fish and scooped a spoonful of boiling water. He first scalded the fish head, then the fish tail. When he poured the water over it, the fish skin immediately turned white. He explained, ¡°This can be considered a small trick. It¡¯s easier to scrape the scales after rinsing it with boiling water. Most importantly, it won¡¯t damage the surface of the fish.¡± ¡°T¡¯s easy to burn the surface of the fish skin with boiling water. So everyone should lower more when pouring the water.¡± After the fish was rinsed on both sides, Xu Le immediately took it to the tap to wash. He then used the knife to scrape off the fish scales before opening up the fish belly to show the camera. ¡°The main fishy smell comes from the black skin inside. Remember to clean it up with your hands. You have to wear gloves this time, or else your hands will be covered with the smell later.¡± Xu Le smiled as he cracked a joke. After he was done with removing the black skin, he chopped off the fish fin and tail. ¡°There¡¯s a layer of sticky substance on the fish fins. If you don¡¯t clean it up, it will still smell. At this point, the impurities on the fish meat will be removed and it can be used to make soup.¡± ¡°T¡¯ve prepared some chopped scallions, ginger slices, coriander, and some sea rice.¡± After Xu Le introduced the ingredients to the camera, he turned to the pot and said, ¡°Heat up the pot and add oil. The carp soup is a Daoyang dish. You can pour a little more oil and the color will be whiter. When the oil is heated up to 60-70%, and it starts smoking¡­ you can put it in.¡± As he said that, he slowly slid the processed crucian carp into the pot from the side. With a sizzling sound, oil splattered everywhere. Zhou Huangya, who was shredding the radish beside him, jumped away and looked at the pot in surprise. ¡°Did it scald you?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Xu Le stood beside the wok and did not move a single step. He said, ¡°The oil splashed on both sides. Don¡¯t be afraid. You won¡¯t be scalded if you stand in front.¡± After placing the carp into the wok, he started frying it with a big fire. Xu Le reminded, ¡°Remember not to flip the fish for this step, otherwise the fish meat will scatter. When it¡¯s almost ready, tum it over and continue to fry it for about 20 seconds before adding scallions and ginger.¡± With a flip of the pan, the crucian carp made a perfect parabola in the air and fell back into the pot. After they were almost done, Xu Le added hot water on top. ¡°Remember this step. The hot water must submerge the fish because it will be stewed for a while later.¡± After the hot water was added, the fragrance of the fish was released. ¡°Now pour some soaked sea rice into it and add a few drops of yellow wine. Those who don¡¯t have any yellow wine can replace it with pepper. It¡¯s mainly to get rid of the fishy smell. Then continue to stew it.¡± Xu Le sprinkled a small amount of white pepper inside and said, ¡°You can¡¯t add the salt in advance. Otherwise, the fish meat won¡¯t be easily stewed.¡± The soup in the pot had already started to show a milky white color and was bubbling. He picked up another pot, poured oil into it, put a small amount of pepper on the bottom of the pot, and poured the thin carrot shreds into the pot to stir-fry. Zhou Huangya knew nothing about cooking, so she asked curiously, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s all poured into the soup in the end. Won¡¯t it rot if it¡¯s stewed for a while longer?¡± ¡°The effect is different. This step is mainly to remove the stench of the radish. If the radish is directly stewed, there will be a strange smell.¡± ¡°Stir-fry it for two minutes and add water to it. Then, continue cooking.¡± Xu Le picked up a metal ladle and removed the foam off surface. ¡°The fish soup will be ready in about 20 minutes. Remember to remove the oil layer from the top halfway through the cooking process. When the shredded radish is almost cooked, you can pour it into the soup.¡± Xu Le skillfully removed the oil and pepper and said, ¡°After pouring it in, switch to small fire. The big fire is to force out the milky white color. Once the color is white, there¡¯s no need to continue stewing it.¡± ¡°Wow, the soup is so white.¡± Even Shu Qi, who did not cook often, knew that the paler the color of the crucian carp soup, the richer the taste. ¡°We can start the second round of seasoning now.¡± Xu Le brought over some salt and said, ¡°Add the amount according to your own taste. As the fish is fresh enough, I don¡¯t need to add MSG to make it taste fresh.¡± He picked up a few shredded carrots with his chopsticks and handed them to Zhou Huangya, who was beside him. ¡°Try them?¡± Zhou Huangya smiled and thought that Xu Le was teasing her. ¡°You won¡¯t let me drink soup and let me eat carrots?¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m just letting you taste if the radish is done stewing.¡± Zhou Huangya took a bite and it melted in her mouth. The soft and sweet taste of the radish had absorbed the fish soup. ¡°Yes, it ran away in my mouth and disappeared before I even chewed it.¡± Zhou Huangya¡¯s analogy amused everyone. The kitchen erupted into laughter. Xu Le nodded and explained to the camera, ¡°Stir-fry the shredded radish first before stewing it. When it melts in the mouth, it means that the soup is ready. Now, just sprinkle some coriander on it and it will be ready.¡± ¡°The carp soup needs to be boiled at high heat so that the color will be rich.¡± Xu Le scooped a small bow! for each of them and said, ¡°Everyone, try it and see how it tastes. I¡¯ll find a big pot later. After frying all the fish, we¡¯ll make a big pot. If someone comes to buy it, we won¡¯t have to make it on the spot.¡± Zhou Huangya took a big gulp from the bowl. The freshness of the fish meat and the sweetness of the radish melted into the soup. One mouthful down and it was warm and sweet. Her eyes narrowed as she nodded fervently. ¡°Delicious!¡± Bai Xiaoming drank half a bowl in one gulp and raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve tasted such delicious fish soup. Even a five-star hotel can¡¯t make it! It¡¯s fresh and sweet, and it¡¯s not fishy at all.¡± ¡®When Shu Qi heard their comments, she could not help but laugh. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you all were assigned a script behind my back? Is it that exaggerating!?¡± She took a sip as she complained. The carp soup was as white as milk. The pepper and salt only contributed slightly to the taste. The shredded radish melted the moment it entered the mouth, leaving only a clear sweetness in the soup. Once it was swallowed, the freshness was incomparable to milk. Shu Qi widened her eyes and took another sip. She nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s true! It¡¯s very good!¡± Zhang Liang, who had been ridiculing Xu Le for not scraping the scales just now, was also speechless and filled with admiration. He gave a thumbs up and said, ¡°Excellent! I learned another move today. We should put the pot on the rack to stew fish soup later. It will definitely be very popular.¡± Ever since they served the Crispy Yam Duck and Stir-fried Vegetables, there were many customers who came back that day. Many customers recognized the chef and immediately beamed with joy when they saw him.. Chapter 110 - Gluttonous Cat Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Did you make this crucian carp soup?¡± Xu Le nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Although I don¡¯t eat fish¡­ I like the food you make. Give me one serving.¡± Many customers started ordering crucian carp soup on Xu Le¡¯s behalf. Soon, seven bowls of soup were sold in the first two tables. The five-inch flat soup bow! was filled with a large bowl of steaming milk-white fish soup. After adding some ground coriander on top, it could be served. The warm fish soup was stirred with a spoon, and a mellow fragrance immediately wafted out. The customer tentatively frowned and took a sip. The sweet and milky white crucian carp soup bounced on her taste buds, and she immediately beamed with delight. She held up the bowl and took a big gulp. ¡°Mmm! There¡¯s no fishy smell at all. It¡¯s so delicious!¡± ¡°How did you make this soup? It¡¯s as white as milk!¡± The customers were all surprised and specially ordered Xu Le¡¯s other dishes. ¡°West Lake Vinegar Fish? What¡¯s this¡­ Give me a serving, will the fish bones get stuck in my throat?¡± ¡°Uh,¡± Xu Le smiled and replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t remove the bones. Be careful when you eat.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Most of the customers¡¯ fear of fish was nothing more than fish bones being stuck in their throats and the fishy smell. Xu Le prepared a dish of West Lake Vinegar Fish and served it to them. He even did a demonstration with his chopsticks. ¡°If you follow the texture of the fish meat down to the bones, it¡¯s unlikely to pick up the bones. Remember to take a look before you eat. Don¡¯t choke on it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The long-haired girl looked at Xu Le enviously and teased him on purpose. ¡°You cook well and are a considerate man. Why are you so young? Grow up well. I¡¯ll wait for you!¡± ¡°Eh Xu Le was so shocked that he took a step back. ¡°Sister, you¡¯d better eat quickly. It won¡¯t taste good if it¡¯s cold.¡± West Lake Vinegar Fish was as tender as tofu, and after it entered her mouth, it had the taste of crab meat. It was sweet and sour, and she couldn¡¯t stop eating it! He made two more fish dishes, each of which the fishy smell was completely removed, leaving only the freshness and sweetness of the fish meat. In one afternoon, the number of customers who came to order fish doubled. ¡®When some of them came in, they shouted at the kitchen, ¡°My friend came over this morning to eat. He said that this is the best fish he has ever eaten in his life!¡± ¡°There are a lot of restaurants in Bangkok that cook fish, but compared to your restaurant, they are completely wasting the fish!¡± ¡°How did you make this fish? It smells so good! Chinese cuisine is still the best.¡± ¡°Another sweet and sour fish. It¡¯s not enough.¡± The customers outside were enthusiastic and many of them were recommended to come by their friends. They pushed aside their work and rushed over. There was even someone who brought a Maine Coon that was as large as a huge dog. ¡°Give me some fish soup, don¡¯t put salt in it.¡± Xu Le poured out the last bowl of fish soup from the pot and said, ¡°Even if there¡¯s no salt added, there¡¯s pepper. Little kitten¡­ Ah no, can this big cat drin| ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Le took a disposable bowl to scoop the fish soup and passed it to the cat. The Maine Coon was huge, even among its breed. It looked more like a small lion. Before the owner could bring the fish soup over, the cat smelled the fragrance and plunged into the bowl, drinking it. It licked the fish soup and let out a happy snore. Xu Le crossed his arms and watched from the side. The owner seemed to have seen through his thoughts and said, ¡°Come and touch it too. My big cat is especially obedient and doesn¡¯t bite.¡± Xu Le reached out and touched it twice. The owner could not help but wipe his tears. ¡°After bringing it home for a few months, it was diagnosed with an illness. At this stage, it is in extreme pain. Recently, we made contact with the euthanasia process. It could not eat anything all day and did not even have the appetite to take a look at the cat food. I saw someone recommending the fish soup in your shop on Instagram and rushed over.¡± Fortunately, it was not too late. Xu Le exclaimed in his heart. After the cat finished licking the fish soup, it did not even want to let go of the bowl. Its teeth were like a stapler as it chewed holes in the plastic bowl. ¡°Okay, okay, it¡¯s all done.¡± ¡®The warm atmosphere here made the customers who entered the store unhappy. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your shop?! You can sell to cats, but you don¡¯t even sell to people?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no more? I drove here for three hours and you¡¯re telling me that the fish soup is sold out?¡± ¡°Call your manager out!¡± This was the first time a customer had lost his temper because he couldn¡¯t eat. Bai Xiaoming was walking out of the kitchen when Xu Le interjected, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s still one more fish dish today. There are only about ten servings left.¡± ¡°Why should I not be anxious? Look, even P guy has recommended this soup, so we rushed over here in a hurry!¡± ¡°What does it taste like? I can¡¯t sleep until I drink it today!¡± He didn¡¯t expect that a simple and homely crucian carp soup would cause such a huge commotion in a foreign country. When Bai Xiaoming came out and heard the content of their argument, he was dumbfounded. He raised his hand, not knowing how to comfort him. Xu Le petted the cat. Maine Coons looked fierce, but they were actually very soft and cute. It rubbed its head against his palm and called out softly. After having a bowl of fish soup, its stomach was bulging. ¡°Call out the head chef who makes the soup!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have any more, just buy some ingredients to make it. It¡¯s so simple. Anyway, I¡¯ll wait here today. If I can¡¯t drink it, I won¡¯t leave.¡± As he listened to the customers making a scene, Xu Le said slowly, ¡°There are only ten servings of West Lake Vinegar Fish. If you don¡¯t buy them now, there won¡¯t be any left later.¡± ¡°We¡¯re here for fish soup!¡± ¡°The vinegar fish is also very delicious.¡± Xu Le said in a gentle tone, not panicking at all, ¡°The carp soup is sold out today, and it¡¯s not for sale anymore, please come tomorrow.¡± His seemingly gentle but actually very unyielding attitude finally made the few customers who were shouting the loudest quiet down and sit down to order their dishes. Bai Xiaoming came over excitedly and said, ¡°Our turnover today has already exceeded three times what we expected! That¡¯s great! Tonight, the production team invited us over for barbecue!¡± Everyone celebrated happily. After sending off the last few customers, they cleaned up the front and back kitchen together. After cleaning up, they drove towards Bangkok¡¯s largest night market. Xu Le leaned against the car and sighed. ¡°That¡¯s great. I finally don¡¯t have to sit on an electric scooter. I feel like I can fly whenever it passes a rock!¡± ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± Everyone laughed as Zhou Huangya said, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the little Master Chef¡¯s help. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the turnover even if we wait another week.¡± ¡°Yeah, you have to eat more barbecue later!¡± ¡°Haha, I think¡­¡± Zhang Liang said jokingly,¡± With your culinary skills, do you think you will take a fancy to their seafood? ¡± His words came true. After Xu Le ate two skewers of grilled squid and oysters that were not yet cooked, he looked at the green onions at the side and raised his hand. ¡°I want to make some seafood stir-fried with onion oil.. Can I borrow your pot?¡± Chapter 111 - Sautéed Four Treasures Seafood Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The production team sent an interpreter to negotiate with them. The warm-hearted boss happily agreed. However, when he saw Xu Le, he immediately waved his hands and uttered many foreign words. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The interpreter looked troubled and said, ¡°He said he didn¡¯t want you to go near because he was afraid that you would be scalded.¡± To put it bluntly, he was still doubting Xu Le¡¯s ability to cook at such a young age. Xu Le was used to this and said, ¡°Just let him wait and see. It¡¯s not a difficult thing.¡± After the interpreter conveyed Xu Le¡¯s words, the stall owner still shook his head and looked at him worriedly from time to time. Bai Xiaoming could tell what was going on, so he teased, ¡°Oh, another person who thinks that our little Master Chef can¡¯t cook.¡± Zhou Huangya was thoroughly impressed by Xu Le¡¯s cooking skills. She said smilingly, ¡°Chef Xu, you¡¯ve finally caught my stomach. Can you continuing filming for a few more days?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Zhang Liang shouted at the director, ¡°I still want to learn more culinary skills from him!¡± Everyone cheered. Although those in this line of work all knew that the contract had been signed, that many of the rules were already set and there was no way to change them, due to Xu Le¡¯s performance over the past few days, they really wanted to make him stay. The director raised his megaphone and shouted, ¡°Hmph, he still has a shop to open. I can¡¯t hold him back, right?¡± The videographer stepped forward and zoomed the camera in. He planned to properly record the cooking process and set up a close-up shot. ¡°The ingredients here can be used to make one dish¡­ Saut¨¦ed Four Treasures Seafood. We have shellfish, squid, prawns, and fish.¡± The shellfish was cut into equal-sized pieces from the middle. The squid had to be cut into a circular shape, and the prawns had to be cut from the back. The insides of the prawns were then picked out, and the fish meat was cut into a fish fillet. There were not much standards required for the cutting. After Xu Le finished prepared quickly, he said to the camera, ¡°The seafood needs to be marinated for a while. Use the kitchen tissue to suck dry the water on the surface. There¡¯s no need to marinate the squid.¡± ¡°Lused half a spoonful of salt, chicken powder, two egg whites, a bit of white pepper and wine, and the most important ingredient is the raw powder. The raw powder can seal the freshness of the food.¡± Wearing gloves, he mixed it evenly and ensured that the surface of the seafood was evenly wrapped with condiments and then placed aside. ¡°Don¡¯t throw away the head of the prawns that were chopped off just now. Put some oil in the pan and pour the prawns¡¯ head in to stir fry. Then add water and boil it. Put it aside as a backup. This is the seafood soup that will be used later.¡± Xu Le continued, ¡°After the seafood soup is done, we will start to fry the onion oil. This dish is very simple. Everyone can learn to cook it at home.¡± The skin from the onions were removed then cut into shreds. Following that, oil was poured into the pot and placed over a small fire to slowly fry. As the sea breeze blew, the fragrance of the onions gradually spread. Xu Le used the spatula to stir-fry the dried onions in the pot. When he saw that the color was gradually turning brown, he immediately poured them out. ¡°At this color, the onion oil is ready. Now the seafood has also been marinated. Just pour the prawns and fish meat into the oil and stir-fry it slowly.¡± As soon as he poured the ingredients in, the fresh and sweet taste of the seafood was struck by the onion oil. It was so fragrant that it made people drool. Even the barbecue stall owner who was coating the oil couldn¡¯t help but come over. The interpreter explained, ¡°He asked what you were doing and that it smells so good.¡± ¡°Making onion oil,¡± Xu Le pointed to the dried onions. Then, he added garlic slices, ginger slices, and chopped onions to another pot. After the flavor of the condiments came out, he added onion oil into the pot. Xu Le said, ¡°If you guys cook at home, you can stir-fry the blanched water chestnuts, purple licorice, radishes, or your favorite root vegetables. The color will look better when it is ready. I don¡¯t have any, so I won¡¯t be demonstrating it.¡± ¡°When blanching, add salt, sugar, and two drops of peanut oil. This is so that when the vegetables are fried, it will be easier to absorb the smell of onion oil.¡± Xu Le placed the squid into the pot and stir-fried it a few times. The squid immediately curled up and formed a circle. Then, he added some dried scallops and stir-fried them to a brownish color. Then, he poured the fish fillet and prawns that had been fried in the pot and continued to stir-fry. Xu Le said, ¡°This dish was originally meant to have celery leaves, but we don¡¯t have it here. I used this instead¡­¡± He grabbed a bunch of bright green leaves and brought it close to his nose. He sniffed it and immediately recognized what it was. He said, ¡°Basil leaves.¡± ¡°Add salt, chicken powder, seafood soup brewed from prawns, huadiao wine, and white pepper. Stir it evenly with chopsticks and directly pour it in.¡± ¡°Slowly stir-fry it to enhance the taste¡­ Add raw powder with water to form the gravy. Do this in small amounts but couple of times so that it can seal the taste of the seafood and make it more tender.¡± Xu Le demonstrated as he did so. Finally, he just had to sprinkle a handful of dried onions before the it was ready. As he did not have a large enough plate, he simply placed the pot on the table. Then, he said, ¡°There weren¡¯t enough ingredients, so I improvised a little. Have a taste.¡± Zhou Huangya¡¯s saliva was about to fall out of her mouth. Just the smell from the breeze was already extremely fragrant. She immediately picked up a piece of fish fillet with her chopsticks. The fish meat was exquisite, and after it was sliced into a fillet and coated with the onion oil, it was even more fragrant and tender. It melted in the mouth, and the aftertaste carried a faint pepper fragrance and fresh sweetness. ¡°Wow! Super tender!¡± Zhou Huangya said excitedly, ¡°Everyone, come and have a taste. This is really delicious. I feel like you¡¯ve only been cooking for ten minutes, but the taste is so amazing.¡± Xu Le picked up a piece of squid with his chopsticks. The squid was the best way to show the quality of this dish. After it entered his mouth, the fresh squid had the fragrance of the basil leaves. When he chewed on it, it was chewy and filled with the fragrance of onion oil. ¡°Oh!¡± Zhang Liang excitedly commented, ¡°That¡¯s awesome. If the fire isn¡¯t strong enough, the squid will be too hard to chew. If it¡¯s overcooked, it will taste really bad, just like eating a piece of paper, and it¡¯s difficult for it to be tasteful. The one you made is tender and chewy. It¡¯s really too awesome!¡± It was tender and chewy. The texture was maintained in a delicate balance, stimulating the greatest fragrance. This kind of delicate balance was definitely not a coincidence. It was after Xu Le mastered the essence of so many dishes and trained hard. He said, ¡°It¡¯s great so long as it¡¯s delicious.¡± Bai Xiaoming exclaimed in admiration, ¡°Do you know that a single dish of yours is enough to cause the entire barbeque table to lose its taste?¡± The translator immediately complained to the stall owner. The stall owner rolled up his sleeves and said, ¡°Ah Yi Wa?¡± The interpreter laughed and said, ¡°Hahaha, he¡¯s coming to find trouble with you.¡± Xu Le walked over to the stall owner and handed him a pair of chopsticks. The chattering stall owner kept introducing something, When translated, it meant, ¡°He said that his stall is the most popular barbecue stall in Bangkok. The sauce is all made using a secret recipe. You guys are looking down on him. How can stir-fried dish be compared to barbecue?¡± The stall owner said a bunch of things that no one could understand. He saw that no one was paying attention to him and they were focused on eating. Hence, he took a bite skeptically. The prawn meat was firm, the squid was chewy, the scallop was soft, and the fish fillet was tender and melted in the mouth. Every ingredient was wrapped with the fragrance of the onion oil, but it did not conceal the freshness of the meat.. Chapter 112 - Royal Courts Buddhas Roll Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The stall owner jumped up and ran over to hug Xu Le with an exaggerated expression. Even though they knew that he was doing this for the effect of the show, the other guests could not help but laugh. Zhou Huangya joked, ¡°Is this what it means to fly because of the tastiness?¡± The interpreter said, ¡°The stall owner asked if you used some secret spices. Otherwise, how could it be so delicious?¡± Xu Le shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s the seafood soup made from prawn heads and the onion oil. There¡¯s nothing else.¡± The interpreter translated for the stall owner, ¡°Really¡± Then, he continued to explain, ¡°The stall owner thought that his dried onions were too wet and he was about to throw it away. In the end, you used dried onions to make such a wonderful delicacy. The stall owner is probably a little. Doubting himself. The stall owner was stunned. He then pulled Xu Le and asked him to explain the cooking process of this dish with the help of the female interpreter. After happily eating seafood, they retuned. When Xu Le woke up early the next morning, he saw that Bai Xiaoming had already brought food back for everyone. He asked in surprise, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me?¡± ¡°Grass carp, crucian carp, and duck meat are all here.¡± Bai Xiaoming said, ¡°We almost didn¡¯t reach our turnover last week. Luckily, you came. In just three days, you managed to exceed our required turnover! That¡¯s so great!¡± Xu Le scratched the back of his head and smiled bashfully. ¡°No, no. I was just lucky.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be modest. Go out and look outside.¡± Zhang Liang pointed to the door of the restaurant and said, ¡°We are only opening at 10am and there¡¯s already a long line of people queuing up. It¡¯s as though a Thai celebrity had come over for a meal and posted a tweet, so there are a lot of people who came over to visit.¡± ¡°Okay, then let¡¯s hurry into the kitchen.¡± After Xu Le washed up, he put on his chef¡¯s hat and apron. Zhou Huangya laid on the bar counter listlessly. When she greeted him, her voice was still hoarse. ¡°Good morning¡­ Don¡¯t mention it. Yesterday, I must have blown too much cold wind at the beach so my throat suddenly went hoarse.¡± Zhou Huangya sighed and looked at Xu Le. ¡°Can you make me a lighter meat dish? I still want to eat but I have to eat something lighter.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Xu Le thought for a while.¡± How about stewed lion¡¯s head meatballs?¡± Zhou Huangya¡¯s eyes lit up and immediately said, ¡°Sure!¡± Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but think of Lu Yuxi when he saw how her eyes lit up at the sight of the delicious food. He secretly thought to himself that he would video call his sister that night. He had been too busy recently and hadn¡¯t messaged to check up on the two of them. ¡°Little Master Chef, are there any new dishes today? A group of people outside are asking for more Chinese dishes¡­¡± Xu Le flipped through the ingredients and had a rough idea of what to prepare. ¡°There¡¯s a royal dish, Buddha¡¯s Roll.¡± Zhang Liang opened his mouth and was about to say that the dish was too difficult to make and they would probably not be able to make it in time. But on second thought, Xu Le¡¯s performance often made him regret what he said. Perhaps he really could make it. Hence, he swallowed his words. Shu Qi came in from outside to help and said half-jokingly, ¡°You even promised us that you would make stewed lion¡¯s head meatballs just now, and now you¡¯re going back on your words?¡± ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ll make both.¡± ¡°Tl be your assistant.¡± Zhang Liang rushed over and prepared to secretly learn. ¡°Tll start with the Buddha¡¯s Roll.¡± ¡°Water chestnuts, eggs, white onions.¡± ¡°The onions have to be cut into onion grains, not diced directly.¡± Xu Le explained as he cut the scallion into slices and then into shreds. Zhang Liang looked at his orderly and skilled cutting skills and asked curiously, ¡°The scallion is so white and sticky. No matter how you cut it, it will become minced later. What is called onion grain?¡± Xu Le used the jumping knife technique to demonstrate. ¡°Just like this, the chopped onion will become the size of a millet.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Zhang Liang saw the blade lightly touch the chopping board and immediately bounce back, as though it was bouncing on the chopping board. ¡°It¡¯s the same for ginger. First, cut it into slices, then cut into shreds, and finally cut it into ginger grain.¡± ¡®When Zhang Liang saw this, he shook his head and said in disbelief, ¡°This is even more perfect than a machine. Normally, a chef wouldn¡¯t be able to reach this standard without practicing for more than ten years!¡± ¡°More or less.¡± Xu Le answered casually. He was not being arrogant, but he had been practicing in the system for more than ten years. Xu Le picked a piece of lean meat and put it into the meat grinder. After the meat was evenly minced, he took it out. ¡°Water chestnuts are called differently everywhere. After adding them in, you can adjust the texture of the meat filling.¡± He used the side of the knife to smash the water chests and then began to chop them up. Only after ensuring that they were extremely crushed did he add them into the meat. ¡°This royal dish was passed down from the historical recipes. In order to restore it as much as possible, I didn¡¯t add anything like MSG into it.¡± ¡°Tonly added salt and sesame oil. The salt enhances the flavor, and the sesame oil enhances the fragrance.¡± After the condiments were put in, he put on gloves and began to grab and mix evenly. Then, he stirred in one direction, hit, and waited until he got the hang of it. Xu Le raised his hand and showed it to the camera. ¡°The meat filling should reach about the same state as this. Now add water, starch and com starch into it. Add the liquid egg into it. After mixing it, add the soul of this dish.¡± ¡°Ladded the chopped onions and ginger grains into the bow! and continued to use my hands to grab it. Now, the meat stuffing will be pale pink and the surface will be smoother.¡± ¡°Take out a few eggs and beat them. The essence of the egg skin is to completely crack open the whole egg and add a little water and starch. This way, the egg skin won¡¯t break easily.¡± ¡°Add salt at the end, and it will make the egg skin more elastic.¡± ¡®When everything was ready, Xu Le said, ¡°Many families are using non-stick pots now. Even if you don¡¯t, you can pour it in directly. This is a steel pot, so you just need to coat it with hot oil once.¡± He heated the pot until it was smoking and poured a spoonful of cold oil into it. After it was heated, he poured it out and dried the oil. Xu Le poured a spoonful of beaten egg inside and turned the handle of the pot, letting the egg spread out evenly. ¡°It will form its shape under the fire, and not stick to the pan. Once the egg has solidified, you can pour it out.¡± It was a thin layer of omelet, light but chewy. After making a few egg pancakes, he poured them into the plate. Xu Le reminded, ¡°Eggs are easily crushed when it¡¯s hot. It¡¯ll be more elastic if it¡¯s cold. Add water to the flour and mix it into a paste. Apply it to the side of the pot.¡± Zhang Liang said, ¡°Is there a need to be particular about where to apply it?¡± ¡°No, the surface here is smooth and beautiful. The surface on the side of the pot is a little wrinkled and doesn¡¯t look good enough.¡± Zhang Liang¡¯s smile froze as he said dryly, ¡°Haha, what a cold joke.¡± ¡°The meat stuffing will follow this side of the straight line. You will pinch it into a semi-circle long strip and then roll it up. You must hold on to it tightly. Don¡¯t poke the egg skin, but you must wrap it tightly.¡± Zhang Liang commented, ¡°The way I see it, just the step of chopping the onion grain and ginger grain alone makes it not a common dish anymore. It¡¯s really discouraging the audience to try, haha.¡± ¡°This dish is a royal dish to begin with and is meant to be served at the national banquet. Everyone should practise more and take it slow.¡± Chapter 113 - Stewed Lion Heads Meatballs Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Clang! Clang! Clang! The knife was pressed rhythmically on the chopping board. Xu Le raised the blade and slit the Buddha¡¯s Roll open every three centimeters without cutting it off. Zhang Liang was heating up oil at the side. He said in surprise, ¡°Are you cutting the shape of a finger?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. 1 am going to cut a long strip first, then cut it into pieces after it¡¯s fried, Otherwise, it¡¯ll curl up easily the moment it enters the pot and won¡¯t look good.¡± ¡®When the oil was heated up to 70 to 80 percent hot and started to emit smoke, it would be ready to place the rolls into the pot. Xu Le used the knife to hold up the Buddha¡¯s Roll that had been cut and said to the camera, ¡°You must use the side of the knife and press it close to the chopping board. If you use your hand directly, it will easily deform. Slide down along the edge of the pot and let it fry slowly.¡± After entering the pot of oil, there was no longer any difficulty in cooking the dish. Zhang Liang helped to watch after and flip the sides as he said, ¡°When you add alcohol into the noodles, it usually spoils the taste.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, but if it¡¯s fried in a pot of oil, you can add yellow wine or huadiao wine. After being cooked at a high temperature, the smell of alcohol will be completely dispersed, and the fragrance of the wine will still remain in the ingredients.¡± Zhang Liang nodded and said humbly, ¡°Then do you know if the cooking wine can be added if the vegetables were steamed instead?¡± ¡°The main purpose of cooking wine is to get rid of the fishiness. If the dish is going to be steamed, you can add vegetable juice to the fillings to enhance the fragrance and also increase the nutritional value.¡± After Xu Le finished explaining, he used his finger to poke at the Buddha¡¯s Roll that was still in the pot of oil. Bai Xiaoming, who was looking at them from the side, cried out in shock. He quickly asked in concern, ¡°Are you scalded? Aiyo, why are you so careless! Why did you place your hand into the pot of oil?¡± Xu Le was baffled. He extended his index finger and showed it to him. ¡°It¡¯s not scalded.¡± It turned out that he had been practicing day and night in the system. His skills were like an experienced chef who had been practicing for decades. Once he got used to it, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid of the heat and wouldn¡¯t sustain any injuries. ¡°Ah¡­ that¡¯s good.¡± Bai Xiaoming was still in shock as he furrowed his brows and said, ¡°Luckily you didn¡¯t get scalded. I was scared to death. Please don¡¯t put your hand into the pot.¡± Zhang Liang also widened his eyes. However, he had some understanding of culinary skills and had seen the experienced chefs do this before, so he was still quite calm. He grinned and joked, ¡°Little Master Chef thinks this dish is too plain and wants to add some meat i The cameraman was so shocked that he couldn¡¯t breathe. After a long time, he said, ¡°Little Master Chef, be careful. You don¡¯t have to work so hard. You¡¯re still young.¡± ¡®The Buddha¡¯s Rolls inside the pot were fried until both sides were golden brown. After the surface hardened, they could be fished out. After the loud shouting earlier, Zhou Huangya, who was standing outside at the counter, also came in to ask what had happened. Bai Xiaoming could not help but laugh. Xu Le picked up the last piece of Buddhist¡¯s Roll and demonstrated it. He gently pressed and exerted force with one finger, fishing out the Buddha¡¯s Roll using the strainer. ¡°Wow! Wow! Wow!¡± Zhou Huangya covered her mouth as her eyes narrowed from smiling. She exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s so amazing! Goodness, is your hand any different from mine? Are there scales on your skin?¡± Half joking, she leaned over and said, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Cutting the rolls. The Buddha¡¯s Rolls should be cut into the shape of the hand with five fingers.¡± With that said and a crunching sound from the knife, the shape of the Buddha¡¯s Roll appeared. It was golden and crispy. ¡®After Xu Le was done, he laid out a plate and called everyone over. ¡°Try it. If the taste is good, we can add this dish to the menu. There are meat stuffing that we bought over there. We should be able serve this dish in large quantities.¡± ¡°Let me try.¡± Zhou Huangya took a piece first. After the egg rolls and flour were fried, they emitted the unique aroma of carbonhydrates. They were dry and crispy. Although they were just fished out from the pot, there was not a single drop of excess oil. ¡°Mmm, the meat filling inside smells so good. I only tasted salt and oil, but it¡¯s so delicious!¡± Bai Xiaoming said, ¡°When the meat stuffing is fried, there¡¯s only the fragrance of the meat. There¡¯s no greasy taste of the pork at all. How did you do it?¡± Zhang Liang explained, ¡°It¡¯s filled with onion grains and ginger grains, which are onions and gingers chopped into the size of millet. When added in, it naturally has the effect of removing the fishy smell.¡± Xu Le nodded in agreement and said, ¡°This is an ancient imperial dish. At that time, there were no seasonings such as chicken extract, so they used the simplest cooking method to preserve the original taste and freshness of the ingredients.¡± ¡®The Buddha¡¯s Roll was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Although it was fried, it gave off a refreshing taste when eaten. It was especially delicious. Bai Xiaoming immediately said, ¡°On top of that, this dish is really superb! The taste is plain, but it¡¯s especially fragrant.¡± ¡°Even the ancient people would like to eat it!¡± After a round of discussion, everyone immediately added this dish to the menu. At that moment, they were about to open for business that day. Customers swarmed into the restaurant. Many of them were here for the Crucian Carp Soup and the West Lake Vinegar Fish. They held the menu and asked which dish was prepared by Xu Le. Zhou Huangya, who was at the front desk, could not help but exclaim, ¡°Xu Le has become a huge star here. No, he¡¯s a money tree. Haha, many people are here for his dishes.¡± In the kitchen, Xu Le was busy cutting the vegetables and putting them into the pot. The dishes were served in a simple order and everyone was busy with their own tasks. ¡®When it reached around three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the weather was hot. There were gradually fewer people in the restaurant. Bai Xiaoming slumped onto the sofa and closed his eyes to sleep. Zhang Liang sat on the stool and asked with a face full of doubt, ¡°You¡¯ve been busy all afternoon, why are you still so energetic? How about you sit down and rest?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± To be honest, Xu Le wasn¡¯t tired at all. He took out some fine pork belly from the fridge and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to make stewed lion¡¯s head meatballs for dinner. I¡¯ll stew it in the pot first, since it¡¯ll take more than two hours.¡± Zhang Liang moved closer to the stool and crossed his arms as he suggested, ¡°Lion¡¯s head meatballs taste better when braised. The taste after stewing it is too bland. What do you think?¡± ¡°No, each has its own advantages, but the stewed one I am making definitely does not lose out to the braised version.¡± Xu Le cut the meat into slices and explained, ¡°This dish of Huaiyang Cuisine used to be called the Sunflower Chopped Pork. It has a long history and is served frequently at state banquets.¡± ¡°know.¡± Zhang Liang beamed with joy and said excitedly, ¡°I think it¡¯s Duke Si Han of the Tang Dynasty who saw the giant meatball and thought it looked like a lion¡¯s head. The guests in the manor tried to persuade him while drinking wine and said that he¡­¡± Xu Le continued unhurriedly, ¡°They said that he was a soldier with illustrious military achievements, and that he should be worthy of the title of a commanding lion. Duke Si Han took advantage of the situation to change the name of the Sunflower Chopped Pork into Lion Head¡¯s Meatballs, and the cooking method was passed down from then on.¡± ¡°Cooking the Lion¡¯s Head Meatballs requires 60 percent lean meat and 40 percent fatty meat, or at least 70 and 30 percent respectively. You have to add fatty meat in it, or else the taste will be very dry. Even before serving it, there¡¯s only a pot of lean meat soup left.¡± Xu Le cut the meat into slices and said, ¡°First cut the meat into slices, then into cubes. Cut them into the size of pomegranate seeds. If you use a meat grinder directly, it will lose its elasticity. Then mince the meat while maintaining its granular shape.¡± After Xu Le chopped the meat with two knives for a few minutes, the meat started to become sticky.. Chapter 114 - One Chicken, Three Eating Methods Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡®The fat and lean meat melded together, and when chopped together, it would become sticky. ¡°At this stage, you can put it in the basin, Remember to make sure the meat stuffing is sticky enough to stay on the knife.¡± ¡°Now, let¡¯s deal with the water chestnuts. First, we¡¯ll use the knife to smash it before cutting it. There¡¯s no need to cut it too small. Maintain the texture and stir it into the meat filling. It will have an effect of degreasing the meat.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he demonstrated. He then took some scallions and ginger and cut them into slices. He said, ¡°Put cold water in the ceramic pot and put in the ginger and scallions. If you guys are cooking at home, you must remember to put in a few slices yourself, because when the soup is mixed with the flavor of the condiments later, you still have to fish them out.¡± He took some scallions and ginger and poured some huadiao wine into it. ¡°This is onion and ginger water. I have about 600 grams of meat here, 400 grams of onion and ginger water. Pour in half of the onion and ginger water, two spoons of starch, a little white pepper, and some salt.¡± Then, Xu Le raised his hand and poured two big spoonfuls of salt into it. Zhang Liang immediately stood up and said agitatedly, ¡°Did you make a mistake? Look, you probably put in too much salt.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Xu Le glanced at him and saic ¡± Are you so concerned about me making a mistake? You can add more salt when making Stewed Lion¡¯s Head Meatballs. During the process of stewing it, it will be dissolved into the soup. Don¡¯t talk nonsense if you don¡¯t understand.¡± Zhang Liang had his hands on his waist as he half-jokingly said, ¡°In any case, I bet that your dish will definitely be salty later!¡± ¡°Besides, I didn¡¯t add enough salt.¡± Xu Le wore a disposable glove and stirred the meat fillings in one direction. He didn¡¯t forget to throw it around repeatedly. When the onion and ginger water in the meat fillings was all absorbed, he added the remaining water. Xu Le said, ¡°Everyone, pay attention when you¡¯re throwing the meat around. When the meat fillings are dry, you can add onion and ginger water, salt, or starch for you. Add only the appropriate amount.¡± ¡°Hit it until sticky substance becomes more solid. When it¡¯s almost at this state, we can add the water chestnuts that were cut into pieces just now and mix them together. The water that was boiled just now is just about ready.¡± ¡®Xu Le took out a bowl and added starch and water. After stirring it, he said, ¡°Dip some starch on your hand and pinch the lion¡¯s head. The meat stuffing won¡¯t scatter easily and will be easier to form. On the other hand, it can increase the elasticity on the surface of the meatball and make it smoother.¡± He pinched a palm-sized meatball and said, ¡°Just this size will do. It¡¯s just nice for each of us.¡± ¡°Wow, this meatball must be at least 100 grams, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what it should be based on the authentic recipe.¡± Xu Le answered casually and carefully placed the ball into the ceramic pot. Zhang Liang watched from the side and asked, ¡°Which recipe? Give me a link and let me buy it so that I can improve my culinary skills.¡± Xu Le was stunned. This was the authentic recipe given to him by the system. It was not that he could not tell others about it, but it had too high a requirement for his skills. Hence, he casually replied, ¡°My parents taught me before. They took it away.¡± ¡°Lheard that you¡¯re from a family of chefs. Your parents have gone to France to further their training. They¡¯ll definitely be able to leave their names in history in future.¡± Zhang Liang gave him a thumbs up and praised in admiration, ¡°They are so focused on improving themselves in their industry. That is what art should be.¡± Xu Le smiled bashfully and did not reply. He rolled five big meatballs and added them to the pot. He placed the last one in the middle of the pot. He said, ¡°If you have made fewer meatballs, choose a smaller ceramic pot and try to form a circle so that the meatballs won¡¯t move around. If they are close together, they won¡¯t scatter easily.¡± The surface of the lion head solidified when it was heated, and immediately became smooth. Xu Le used a metal spoon to remove the foam on the surface. ¡°Add a small amount of yellow wine and pepper powder inside, then close the lid and stew it. The lion¡¯s head can be steamed, but the cooking method of stewing it will force out the fat inside to the greatest extent, retaining the elasticity of the fat, so that it¡¯s not greasy. Just stew it over a small fire for two and a half hours. Then we can just wait now.¡± ¡®When he was done in the kitchen, the manager at the front shouted for them to help move the things. Xu Le walked to the door. Bai Xiaoming was carrying a few large boxes and walked away from him. ¡°Be careful, move aside, don¡¯t let it hit you!¡± Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly stepped on his shoelace. He staggered and the thing in his hand flew forward. Xu Le supported Bai Xiaoming with one hand. Amidst the cries of surprise, Zhang Liang ran forward and stared at the two of them with his mouth agape. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Bai Xiaoming stood up straight and put down the box. He had clearly felt a steady force supporting him just now. He stared at Xu Le in surprise. ¡°Why are you so strong? Did you secretly do weight training just for the show?¡± The last half of his sentence easily dissolved the tense atmosphere. Xu Le shook his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s the biceps that I trained from carrying the wok every day.¡± After laughing, Xu Le looked at the white meat in the box and said, ¡°What did you buy?¡± ¡°There was a discount on the chicken, so I immediately rode the electric scooter there. These were all freshly slaughtered the day before, and were especially fresh. There should be around 30 of them, so we have tomorrow¡¯s ingredients all prepared!¡± Bai Xiaoming put his hands on his hips and bragged, ¡°See how I¡¯m helping to save money! I immediately went there as soon as I heard the news!¡± ¡®Xu Le lowered his head and looked at the chicken buried in the ice. After taking a quick glance, he said, ¡°In addition to the rooster, there¡¯s also the hens used to lay eggs. However, the meat looks especially thin.¡± Bai Xiaoming frowned and asked worriedly, ¡°Then what should we do? How many hens are there?¡± Zhang Liang said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make some chicken soup tomorrow.¡± ¡°But there is already a hot-selling soup in the shop. Today, I recommended them egg and seaweed soup and wine-brewed riceballs, but they didn¡¯t want any of them. They clearly pointed out that they want Xu Le¡¯s carp soup.¡± Zhou Huangya came over to explain the situation. ¡°Little Master Chef, do you have any good ideas?¡± ¡°The hens with poor meat quality can be made into a sauce chicken. There is a method of steaming the chicken so that after it is steamed, it can greatly improve the condition of the tough meat. As for the rooster, we can cook fried chicken. It won¡¯t be particularly spicy, and the locals can take the taste Then, another dish of Jade Hairpin Chicken Wing Ball.¡± He quickly thought of how each chicken could be cooked. Bai Xiaoming was especially assured of him and said, ¡°Alright, I believe you. Go ahead and do it.¡± Zhou Huangya looked at the fresh chicken and said, ¡°Erm, how about cooking cola chicken wing today? I haven¡¯t eaten it in a long time and I really miss that taste.¡± ¡°Stop, stop.¡± Zhang Liang rebuked, ¡°Save it. We are here to sell dishes to earn money. It¡¯s good enough that we have food to eat. The lion¡¯s head we made for you is still stewing in the pot!¡± At the mention of the lion¡¯s head, Xu Le rushed in and Zhang Liang shouted outside, ¡°It¡¯s just a small fire, it won¡¯t be overcooked!¡± Xu Le ran to the kitchen and took a look at the time. He took out the chopped onion leaves and ginger slices that had been stewed until they were soft. Then, he let out a long sigh and said to the camera, ¡°You must remember to take out the condiments inside. Otherwise, it will affect the appearance. At this stage, you can add the vegetables you want to eat inside..¡± Chapter 115 - Cola Chicken Wings Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Look, the shape of the head is out.¡± Zhang Liang pointed at the meatballs in the pot and said, ¡°It has a round shape. Doesn¡¯t it look like a head?¡± Xu Le nodded speechlessly. After washing a few Shanghai greens, he boiled water in another pot and placed the vegetables inside to boil. He said, ¡°Shanghai green has an astringent smell to begin with. You just need to heat it up with boiling water. After the color becomes even greener, take it out and place it in the clay pot to stew for a while.¡± Xu Le brought a spoonful of soup to Zhang Liang and said, ¡°Brother Liang, try it.¡± Zhang Liang opened his mouth and took a sip. He nodded and said in surprise, ¡°Is the salt in the Lion¡¯s Head stewed out? It¡¯s just nice. There¡¯s no need to add more salt.¡± ¡°Just now, I added pepper and huadiao wine into it. The depth of taste isn¡¯t high enough. In addition, I have to add some oil and vegetables later, so it¡¯s better to add a little less salt to improve the taste. Otherwise, the taste will be too bland.¡± Zhang Liang stood at the side, salivating from the fragrance of the lion¡¯s head. He said, ¡°Stewing it makes it look bland, but it smells good.¡± Xu Le put the vegetables in and started the fire. After the soup in the pot boiled, he wore gloves and grabbed the handles on both sides of the clay pot. ¡°Lay a mat on the table. The pot is out!¡± He directly placed the clay pot on the table. It was steaming hot. Zhou Huangya followed the fragrance and saw that it was the meatball that she especially wanted to eat. Her immediately eyes lit up. She rested her chin on her hands and said coquettishly, ¡°Xu Le, we¡¯re already so close. Can you make me another cola chicken wings?¡± Zhang Liang rebuked her on purpose, ¡°Dream on. Hurry up and eat.¡± ¡°Little Master Chef, I can¡¯t sleep if I can¡¯t eat cola chicken wings today.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Xu Le had opened his store for a long time, so he had very precise control over the distribution of ingredients. After thinking for a while, he said,¡± Sure, after I finish making Jade Hairpin Chicken Wing Ball, I will be able to free up some chicken wings. It¡¯s just nice to serve another dish.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhou Huangya stood up happily and said, ¡°Tl go steam the rice. Having the cola chicken wings with rice will taste better.¡± Xu Le nodded. Thinking of the savory and sweet taste of the chicken wings, he could not help but think of Xu Tian. He thought to himself, ¡®She definitely loves to eat cola chicken wings. I¡¯ll make one for Tiantian when I get home. I wonder how Lu Yuxi is doing recently. Is the shop busy? After being distracted for a while, Xu Le went to the kitchen to chop the chicken wings and start processing them. Zhang Liang stood beside him, planning to stir-fry some shredded potatoes. As he cut, he said, ¡°Last night, I specially looked through the video of your competition and saw a stir-fried potato dish. You cut it in a diamond shape, right? What¡¯s so difficult about shredded potatoes? Why did you score so high back then?¡± Different professions were different worlds. This sentence was reflected in the two of them. Xu Le couldn¡¯t explain himself and only said, ¡°The simpler the home-cooked dish, the more it tests the chef¡¯s cutting skills, fire control, and seasoning. Moreover, the competition is pressed for time, and the scores are based on the overall ability.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll make one too. Can you give me a score later?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le prepared eight chicken wings. After washing them clean, he cut two diagonally across the front and back sides. ¡°This will make it easier for the taste to enter. Normally, the meat should be blanched after marinating. It can remove the blood and smell inside. However, chicken wings are different. There¡¯s more skin and less meat. First, add ginger to the chicken wings, seasoning wine, light soya sauce and some salt, and finally pour over some dark soya sauce.¡± ¡°Cola chicken wing is a very simple home-cooked dish. It¡¯s suitable for both young and old. Everyone can learn how to make them at home. Remember to marinate them first before blanching them, then put them into the pan to fry.¡± After marinating the chicken wings for about 20 minutes, he directly poured it into the pan to blanch it. After it boiled, he scooped it out. ¡°You¡¯ll have to pan fry it later. To avoid splattering oil, you can use the kitchen tissue to dry the water on the surface and put it aside.¡± Xu Le poured oil into the frying pan and started the fire until it was 50 to 60 percent hot. ¡°Heat up the oil in the frying pan. We can add the chicken wings in now and slowly fry them until both sides are golden and the skin is crispy.¡± After five to six minutes, the fire was almost ready. Xu Le showed it to the camera and said, ¡°Basically, this color will do. Now, add a spoonful of seasoning wine, half a spoonful of dark soya sauce, and a little light soya sauce to add saltiness and freshness. After stir-frying for a while, add a can of coke inside.¡± He opened the can and poured 330 milliliters of coke into it. He didn¡¯t forget to remind, ¡°Coke has a lot of gas and it tastes a little sour, but Pepsi tastes even sweeter. If you like sweetness, you can pour Pepsi in to cook it.¡± ¡°Haha, your segment won¡¯t be broadcasted. The program team already has a sponsor.¡± Zhang Liang walked over with a pot and said, ¡°Try the shredded potatoes I stir-fried. What is lacking?¡± Xu Le looked at him and smiled. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you scoop it out first?¡± ¡°Lwant you to taste it.¡± Zhang Liang urged Xu Le as he picked up his chopsticks and took a bite. The starch on the potatoes had not been washed clean and had lost its crispy taste. The texture was not that great, but the taste was not bad. He said, ¡°It¡¯s good enough to make a home-cooked dish like this. Next time, remember to soak the starch on the surface of the potato. After washing it, it will be even more crispy.¡± ¡°Mm? How many points will you give?¡± ¡°10 points.¡± ¡°yay!¡± Zhang Liang excitedly sprinkled a handful of scallions, scooped the shredded potatoes onto the plate, and ran out to show off. Xu Le smiled at the camera and said slyly, ¡°My full score is 100. Cough, cough. Alright, everyone, when the coke in the pot is boiling, we can switch to a small fire to boil it. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes.¡± Zhou Huangya, who was wiping the table outside, saw Xu Le coming over and said, ¡°I want to eat the lion¡¯s head! I¡¯m dying of hunger!¡± ¡°Just eat it. It¡¯s made for you.¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t started eating yet. It¡¯s not good for me to eat first.¡± ¡°Lion¡¯s Head should be eaten while it¡¯s hot. Get everyone here to try it.¡± ¡®When Shu Qi saw the white meat, she immediately pouted and said, ¡°I don¡¯t like that. You guys eat first.¡± Zhou Huangya picked up her chopsticks and was about to pick up the meat when Xu Le immediately stopped her. ¡°Use the spoon. If you can pick up the meatball with your chopsticks today, it would mean that I have faile ¡°Alright.¡± Zhou Huangya changed to a spoon and dug out a large piece of meat. She put it into her mouth and could vaguely taste the crispness of the water chestnuts in the delicate and fragrant meatball. The meatball was crispy and did not lose its elasticity. She took another sip of the soup, which was filled with the sweet aroma of fresh vegetables. It was light and delicious. ¡°Mmm! Good food and drinks! It melted the moment it entered my mouth.¡± ¡°It feels like ice cream. It¡¯s extremely soft and doesn¡¯t have the smell of pork. There¡¯s something added in it that tastes crispy and sweet.¡± Xu Le also took a bite of the lion¡¯s head. The meat was firm but soft. The moment it touched his tongue, it melted and left the fragrance of the meat on his taste buds. It was not greasy at all. Very successful! He nodded and answered the previous question, saying, ¡°The water chestnuts were crushed and added inside.¡± Xu Le was also impressed by his own cooking skills. He had practiced so many times in the system for nothing. All the dishes he prepared looked simple, but the seasoning and heat control required the chef¡¯s many years of accumulated experience to produce such results. Chapter 116 - Psychological Trauma Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Bai Xiaoming nodded his head in praise. ¡°Impressive. When I went to Jiangsu for a business trip, I ate this Huaiyang dish. Back then, it was made by a famous local chef. The filling in it was crab roe, and it came out without fail. It¡¯s not bad, but it¡¯s definitely not as good as your cooking.¡± ¡°Haha, you flatter me.¡± Xu Le was humble. Bai Xiaoming said stubbornly, ¡°It¡¯s true. I¡¯m not saying anyone is bad. Your stewed lion¡¯s head is even better than what I¡¯ve eaten in the hands of the local chefs. There¡¯s no greasy taste of the pork at all. What should this dish be about? It has to be particular about the clear soup, soft meat, and light taste. ¡®What the little Master Chef makes is the best!¡± ¡®Xu Le was so flattered that he couldn¡¯t find his bearings. He went to the kitchen and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look at my chicken wings.¡± As he lifted the lid, a fragrant aroma filled his nose. Xu Le used his chopsticks to poke at the chicken wings. The chicken wings were soft and bright red-brown in color. Xu Le turned on the fire to collect the juice. He said to the close-up shot, ¡°When you collect the juice, you have to keep stirring it to prevent the bottom of the pot from getting burnt. If you don¡¯t like the taste that is too sweet, you can add half a spoonful of salt to neutralize it. Then, you can add a handful of white sesame to the plate.¡± In the camera, the chicken wings that were arranged on the plate had a rich reddish-brown color. After being soaked in the sauce and white sesame seeds, they were bright and alluring. As soon as the cola chicken wings were served, everyone, who had just filled their bowls with rice, immediately reached out with their chopsticks to pick up the food. Zhou Huangya said, ¡°I¡¯m very confident in Xu Le¡¯s cooking. It seems like he has never failed before!¡± ¡°Let me try one.¡± Zhang Liang picked up a chicken wing with his chopsticks. The chicken wing was soft and with a slight touch, the bones could be pulled out. The unique soft and fragrant texture of the chicken skin was chewy. The sweetness of the cola was completely infused into the chicken wings. The meat was fresh and tender. Zhou Huangya ate it without caring about her image. She held it with two fingers and ate it. Finally, she even mixed the rice with sauce. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious! I¡¯m already looking forward to your chicken tomorrow!¡± ¡°Tve eaten sesame oil chicken, but I¡¯ve never eaten sauce chicken. I¡¯ve never even heard of that Jade Hairpin Chicken Wing Ball.¡± ¡°Alright, Tl make it tomorrow.¡± After dinner, everyone started cleaning up and prepared to close the shop. At this moment, a long queue suddenly formed outside. Someone was carrying various long-range and short-range cameras and was negotiating with the program team. ¡®The manager, Bai Xiaoming, walked in from outside and said, ¡°They said that the food here is especially delicious. Today, it¡¯s even on the local hot search list. They want to interview you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to speak Thai.¡± Xu Le shook his head and laughed. ¡°Forget it.¡± The production team sent the stage supervisor to negotiate. In the end, they tactfully sent away the local media, but many customers were still queuing outside. Zhang Liang stuck his head out to take a look and said with a bitter expression, ¡°It¡¯s really a drought that leads to death, a flood that leads to death. Previously, when there were no popular dishes, we couldn¡¯t even earn back the money we used to buy the ingredients. Now, we probably can¡¯t even close the shop on time.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Bai Xiaoming patted his shoulder with a smile and said, ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with your brain if you¡¯re not enthusiastic about earning money. Everyone, work harder today and try to sell all the ingredients that was prepared. When we have earned enough money, we¡¯ll only open the shop for half a day tomorrow.¡± ¡°Cut the crap. You said the same thing last time.¡± ¡°Stop arguing. There are two servings of carp soup, one serving of Buddhist¡¯s Roll, and one serving of sweet and sour carp. Prepare the dishes.¡± ¡°Wait, there¡¯s another order. Two Crispy Yam Duck, one carp soup, one Yangzhou fried rice, and one spicy lemon chicken feet.¡± Zhou Huangya had just finished her orders when she turned back and continued reading them. Fortunately, all the ingredients had been prepared previously. Xu Le only needed to process them once, so he could concentrate on cooking. It took two hours. It was already past the closing time at 8 pm. The long line of customers had finally all entered the main hall and were eating. Xu Le rubbed his wrist as he walked out of the kitchen. He had cut a huge bowl of onion grains and ginger grains that day. The tendons on his wrist were almost popping out. ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡± Bai Xiaoming was the first to notice him. ¡°Why are you holding your wrist?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s a little sore. I¡¯ll just rub it.¡± Zhou Huangya glanced at his wrist and laughed heartlessly. ¡°Seeing you hold your hand, I suddenly feel like eating chicken feet. I¡¯ll buy a packet later.¡± Xu Le didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°Do you have any kindness?¡± They sat in the living room and rested for a while. When they saw that the table in front of them was occupied by a family of three who had come to travel, and they were persuading their son, ¡°Just have one bite. One bite is enough. This is really delicious.¡± ¡°Idon¡¯t eat meat. The smell of meat disgusts me.¡± The child, who was as thin as a matchstick, had a sallow face and looked about the same age as Xu Le. He fiddled with the rice grains in his bowl with his chopsticks and said angrily, ¡°I already said I don¡¯t want to eat meat! Why did you give me some? If you order it, eat it yourself. If you can¡¯t finish it, I wont be responsible.¡± ¡°You child, you have no respect for your elders.¡± ¡®The middle-aged man took out a pair of glasses and wiped his glasses. After a few words of reprimand, he exchanged glances with his wife helplessly. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s feeling unwell because he doesn¡¯t eat meat?¡± ¡°Bullsh*t. When I brought him to the hospital for a checkup, I bought so many calcium-replenishing and zinc-replenishing tablets. Who else can we blame? It¡¯s all his fault for not eating. If this continues, his fingernails will all fall off!¡± Bang! The milky white thing in the glass cup was placed in front of the child. Xu Le said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat meat, you can have a glass of milk. This is our specialty.¡± ¡®The woman recognized it at a glance. It was likely the filtered crucian carp soup because the soup had been ordered at the table. The child did not understand. He took the milk with a bitter face and took a sip. ¡°Why is it salty?¡± The rich and mellow taste of the carp soup spread in his mouth. Even though he knew it wasn¡¯t milk, the child still couldn¡¯t help but take a sip. After he raised his head and gulped down half a cup, his face immediately became rosy and full of energy. He said, ¡°If it¡¯s not milk, what is it? It¡¯s too delicious!¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± The child¡¯s mother was hesitant. Xu Le pulled a stool and sat down with a kind expression. ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to eat meat? Are you traumatized?¡± Meat was the main source of protein intake. If he did not eat it for a long time, it might lead to malnutrition. The child was about his age, but he was much shorter than Xu Le. ¡°[-I just don¡¯t want to eat it.¡± The child¡¯s mother sighed and complained, ¡°When he was young, I left him at my mother-in-law¡¯s place. He was always taken care of by the elderly and had a dog since he was young. Unfortunately, during the holidays, the elderly in the family was too stubborn and stewed his dog to eat. This caused my child to refuse to eat meat no matter what.¡± ¡°If were at home, this would never have happened. That¡¯s why I brought him here to look after him..¡± Chapter 117 - Customer Protection Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios So that was how it was. Xu Le looked at the child sympathetically and said to his mother, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring him to see a psychiatrist? He hasn¡¯t eaten meat all this while. This can¡¯t go on.¡± ¡°We did. We were thinking about raising another dog, but he refused. Every time we mentioned this, he would throw a tantrum.¡± The woman sighed deeply and looked at her son with heartache. ¡°He¡¯s so skinny. Compared to his peers, he looks pitiful.¡± Xu Le thought that he hated the taste of ¡°meat¡± and not the texture of meat. After chatting for a while, he found out that they would still come to this Chinese restaurant to eat the next day. Hence, he said, ¡°If you come tomorrow, look for me. I¡¯ll make fried balls for him.¡± The child rolled his eyes and handed the cup to Xu Le. ¡°I want more. What is this?¡± ¡°salty milk.¡± Xu Le shook the cup and said, ¡°Do you want more?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± The woman understood that Xu Le was talking about meatball. She knew that this chef who cooked well wanted to help, so she nodded at him gratefully and said, ¡°Okay.¡± She lowered her head and said in a negotiating tone, ¡°Son, shall we come over tomorrow to eat his dishes?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± The kid nodded. Xu Le served him a cup of crucian carp soup before waving goodbye. ¡®When it was closing time, a curly-haired man wearing round-framed black sunglasses suddenly came over. He lowered his voice and asked in fluent Chinese, ¡°Are you Xu Le?¡± ¡°Hmm ¡°Hello, hello. I¡¯m Alex, editor of a popular magazine in Thailand. Can 1 interview you?¡± ¡°Tm afraid it¡¯s not convenient.¡± Xu Le pointed at the camera and said, ¡°I¡¯m still recording the show. Please communicate with them.¡± The man took off his sunglasses and said, ¡°The sweet and sour fish you made, the Buddha¡¯s Roll and crucian carp soup have already earned all the social media¡¯s food tags. That¡¯s why so many people are attracted to visit the shop. If I¡¯m lucky enough to interview you, with the help of our magazine traffic, it will definitely be a win-win situation.¡± Alex sized Xu Le up from head to toe. He had already come up with a lot of interesting titles in his mind. He was young, but he was good at cooking. His personality was steady, and he had a contrasting aura. He could attract attention with just a few description. ¡°No.¡± Xu Le smiled politely. ¡°I¡¯ve signed the contract. Please communicate with the program team.¡± His tone did not allow for any rebuttal. After being rejected, Alex was furious. ¡°Hey, stop right there!¡± As he said that, he reached out to grab Xu Le¡¯s collar. suddenly, a strong and muscular arm lifted the curly-haired man up. He pointed at Xu Le and said a lot of things. The big guy in front of him had muscles and was about 1.9 meters tall. Anyone would be shocked if such a huge figure suddenly waved his fist. The translator rushed out to negotiate with him. She waved her hands and shouted for him to stop. Luckily, the person only threatened Alex and put him down. The interpreter was so scared that her face turned pale. She held onto the table and panted for a long time. When she saw the staff rushing over, she said to Xu Le, ¡°He knows that you¡¯re the chef here. He said that he came all the way here to eat the food you made and was waiting for the new dishes to be served tomorrow. He warned that person not to touch you or else he will beat him up.¡± Xu Le¡¯s mouth twitched with a complicated expression. After a long while, he let out a long sigh and said, ¡°What a bossy tone.¡± But in essence, he was still a man, not some delicate flower that needed to be protected! Xu Le was embarrassed and felt awkward. He smiled at the man who helped him and thanked him. The man raised his thumb and pointed at the food. ¡°Good!¡± ¡®The moment Alex landed on the ground, he immediately backed away from the man and shouted, ¡°Stop threatening me! When did I say I was going to hit him? Do you believe that I will call the police and demand compensation?¡± The staff went up to negotiate and quickly stopped this farce. The restaurant was closed for the night and everyone was so tired that they went straight to sleep. Xu Le made a video call to Lu Yuxi. ¡°Beep.¡± After a few times, the call got through. In the blurry image, Lu Yuxi was frowning, followed by Xu Tian¡¯s cries. ¡®Xu Le¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°What happened?¡± Lu Yuxi was aggrieved and resentful. She pulled a long face and complained, ¡°Your sister is really hard to deal with today. She made me unable to sleep in the middle of the night!¡± Then, she tumed her head and said, ¡°Tiantian, don¡¯t cry. Come over. Your brother is calling you!¡± ¡°Brother,¡± Xu Tian cried until her face was red and her voice was hoarse. ¡°When are you coming back?¡± Xu Le¡¯s heart ached as he frowned. He comforted her gently, ¡°There are only two days left for the recording. It will be quick. Alright, stop crying. Tell me, what happened?¡± ¡°Someone laughed at me and said that I don¡¯t have parents. They said I¡¯m an orphan!¡± Xu Le¡¯s eyes darkened. What he was worried about had happened. Lu Yuxi interrupted, ¡°Since when did you say that? You said that my cooking was terrible, so you cried and refused to eat my cookinga€} So that¡¯s why?¡± In the end, Lu Yuxi calmed down and asked in surprise, ¡°Is Tiantian unhappy because of this?¡± Xu Tian burped and whispered, ¡°It¡¯s also becausea€; it¡¯s not delicious.¡± Lu Yuxi pursed her lips and was speechless. She looked like she had suffered a huge blow. Xu Le knew that Lu Yuxi¡¯s cooking was mediocre and not bad. He smiled and said, ¡°Dad and Mom are still in closed-door cultivation. They will come back to visit you soon.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Children were just so easy to coax. Xu Tian¡¯s eyes lit up as she stammered, ¡°When the time comes, our family will be able to participate in the parent-child competition.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Le comforted her and said, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, go to sleep. You still have school tomorrow.¡± They chatted for a while more. When Xu Tian obediently went to brush her teeth, Lu Yuxi suddenly carried a frying pan over. Xu Le immediately recognized that it was a pan imported from Germany in the kitchen. Both inside and outside were burnt black. He felt his heart ache for a moment and said, ¡°What kind of weird cuisine did you make that you could burn the pan like that?¡± ¡°Hmph, Tiantian made a fuss about eating cola chicken wings, so I followed the instructions. Who knew that I would fail in the end? It was so burnt that I couldn¡¯t even wash it clean.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already dark outside. It would be weird if you hadn¡¯t failed.¡± After Xu Le teased him, he said, ¡°You probably didn¡¯t open the pan to stir the sauce at the end. I also made cola chicken wings todaya€¡±¡± As he said that, he took out a photo from his phone to agitate Lu Yuxi. On one side was a brown and appetizing chicken wing that was so fragrant and sweet that the bones would break with a single bite. On the other side, it was like a burning piece of coal, emitting a thick and fuzzy smell. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m not talking to you anymore.¡± Lu Yuxi pouted and wanted to hang up the video call. When she was about to press the button, she suddenly instructed, ¡°Come back early and be careful. Don¡¯t tire yourself out from recording the show. Just do what you can..¡± Chapter 118 - Sauce Chicken Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Got it.¡± After Xu Le finished his sentence, the atmosphere suddenly became weird. Unfortunately, it had only been two seconds before Lu Yuxi laughed out loud. ¡°Quickly come back and cook! I¡¯ve lost a few kilograms of weight from hunger recently.¡± comment ¡°How¡¯s Li Qing doing? I¡¯ve taught him all the dishes in the restaurant. He shouldn¡¯t have been complained by the customers, right?¡± ¡°He¡¯s alright. Let me tell you, they always thought that you were the one cooking in the kitchen. They pestered me to take a photo with you, but I rejected them.¡± Lu Yuxi raised her brows smugly and said, ¡°Let¡¯s add two more dishes when we get back. There will always be people coming over to complain that the dishes aren¡¯t of high class and that we don¡¯t provide takeouts.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The next day, Xu Le woke up and stretched in the cool breeze. He rubbed his hair into a messy nest and looked out of the window. The blue sea was sparkling under the sunlight. comment ¡®The sunrise and dusk here were exceptionally warm, just like the sun that was shyly peeking its head out a moment ago. In the blink of an eye, it had risen into the sky. As the sunlight scattered down, the air was filled with heat and vitality. The program team came over to distribute the mission card. Xu Le looked at it. It read that someone was going to watch him cook that day. Anyway, Xu Le was used to being filmed by cameras. He didn¡¯t take it to heart and quickly washed up before entering the kitchen. ¡®There were quite a lot of fresh chickens in the fridge. He placed a pot of cold water on the stove and heated it up. Zhou Huangya was the second person to enter. She smacked her lips and said with a smile, ¡°Yesterday¡¯s stewed lion¡¯s head, I was even dreaming about eating it. It¡¯s too fragrant.¡± ¡°Is your throat better?¡± ¡°T¡¯ll be fine after taking the medicine.¡± Zhou Huangya smiled as she placed a dozen pork trotters and bundles of ribs into the stew pot. ¡°Are you going to stew pig trotters?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s sauce chicken. This is the soup.¡± ¡®The procedures of this dish were very complicated. Xu Le had practiced it hundreds of times in the system to ensure that the ingredients were incomparably precise. Hence, he did not plan to cook it like before and let them taste it before mass-producing it. Instead, he directly put it into the pot to stew. More than a dozen fresh hens were placed into the warm water. He covered the lid of the stew pot, and the medium fire began. Xu Le took out the spices that he had prepared beforehand and poured cold water into the pot. After stirring a few times, a worker suddenly whispered, ¡°Please wait a moment. Some reporters want to come in and watch the process. Can Chef Xu explain to them later?¡± Xu Le nodded. Zhang Liang walked over while yawning and said, ¡°Why are you cooking the big ingredients?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t cook the big ingredients, it will be dry inside. I¡¯ll need to let it absorb all the moisutre before I can force out the essence of the ingredients when frying later.¡± ¡®As they were talking, a man with curly hair and sunglasses came in with a whistle. He put his hands on his hips and said to Xu Le with a smile, ¡°Did you miss me? Look, I can still make it to interview you.¡± Mmm.¡± Xu Le had a calm expression as he explained the spices on the table to him and the camera. He said, ¡°Today, I¡¯m preparing to make sauce chicken. On the table, from left to right, are the following: Aniseed, Ginger, Angelican Root, Grass Fruit, Gardenia Fruit, Nutmeg, White Kernel, Fennel, Fish Maw, Clove, Onion, Ginger, Rare Flour, Rock Sugar, and Salt.¡± Alex took off his glasses and widened his eyes. ¡°This is too much trouble.¡± Xu Le ignored his complaints and said, ¡°The most important ingredient of the sauce chicken is the aniseed. First, put the ingredients into the pot and cook it. Let the water seep in and it will be more beneficial for the fragrance.¡± ¡®The camera zoomed in as Zhang Liang said, ¡°The program team assigned me to make desserts today. Do you have any good ideas?¡± ¡°Wine-brewed riceballs? That¡¯s pretty simple.¡± After Xu Le finished his suggestion, Zhang Liang curled his lips and said unhappily, ¡°It¡¯s mainly because I can¡¯t display my culinary skills. With you here, no one can surpass you. How boring.¡± ¡°Why are you so calculative with a child?¡± Bai Xiaoming walked over and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a dessert. We¡¯ll definitely eat it.¡± He sized Alex up from head to toe and finally reached out to shake hands with him reluctantly. He warned him half-jokingly, ¡°The little Master Chef is our treasure. The customer flow are all thanks to his dishes. Be polite.¡± Alex scoffed and said arrogantly, ¡°If I didn¡¯t see it with my own eyes, how would I know that you guys didn¡¯t create this gimmick to promote him?¡± As he said that, he looked left and right in the kitchen. He even bent down to glance under the table and said, ¡°Could it be that some experienced chef is hiding here and will come out later to help him cook?¡± Xu Le found it ridiculous and ignored him. He focused on cooking and continued, ¡°Before you cook the grass fruit, you need to cut them open and take out the seeds inside. Otherwise, the taste will be very bitter. Angelican root, ginger, nutmeg, white nutmeg, fennel, fish maw, and cloves will be boiled in water and then scooped out to place aside.¡± Alex said, ¡°What breed is the chicken that you are using? A rooster or a hen?¡± ¡°The standards aren¡¯t that strict. As long as the chicken is fresh, the soup base is more important for preparing the sauce chicken. If you are making it at home, you can just braise two chicken drumsticks according to this standard.¡± ¡°With so much spices, will it taste horrible?¡± Alex stood at the side and spoke like someone who was bent on finding fault. ¡°Til let you taste it later.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°Pour some sunflower seed oil into the pot. The sunflower seed oil has its own fragrance. It will produce a unique and stronger fragrance after it has been used to stir-fry.¡± ¡°Just pour aniseeds in. Remember to flip it with a spoon from time to time until the fragrance is released.¡± As he spoke, he stirred the cold oil. In less than a minute, the fragrance of the aniseed spread out. At this moment, Xu Le poured in the chopped scallions and ginger slices. Listening to the splattering of oil in the pot, Alex took a few steps back, afraid of being scalded. ¡°We have to fry it until the scallions, ginger, and fragrance merge and it becomes completely dry. During this process, we can scoop up some of the froth on it.¡± Xu Le waited until it was completely dried, and then said, ¡°Now, add in the spices that were just cooked, pour all of them in to fry and wait until the fragrance is released.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Shu Qi, who came in later, smelled the fragrance of spices and couldn¡¯t help but ask him, ¡°What do you plan on cooking? This smells too good!¡± ¡°Sauce chicken. I¡¯m boiling the soup base. Sister, help me get the yellow sauce over there.¡± Shu Qi handed it over and asked, ¡°What kind of seasoning is this?¡± Xu Le explained, ¡°The sauce is made from stir-fried soybeans that were ground and fermented. It has a unique flavor and is salty and fresh. I¡¯m not particular about the brand, but if the quality of the sauce is good, the oil and water will separate after the sauce has been poured in.¡± ¡°Fry it for three to five minutes and it¡¯ll be ready.¡± By the time the bright brown sauce was poured out, the room was already filled with fragrance. Zhou Huangya was salivating as she wiped the table and watched him cook from the corner of her eye. Xu Le took out a dozen or so Gardenia fruits and washed them before putting them into the pot. He said, ¡°Add 50 grams of Gardenia fruits and 400 grams of water. Everyone, use only the appropriate amount. The Gardenis water is used to make the sugar color. Remember to boil it before the color can be released.¡± Chapter 119 - Sesame Oil Chicken Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After the Gardenia fruits boiled the soup, he served it. The color of the soup had already turned golden yellow. Xu Le lifted the lid of the stew pot. The chicken meat was tender white in color and the meat was firm. The stew was almost ready. He picked up the pot and poured oil into it, preparing to stir-fry with sugar. He said, ¡°Stir-frying with sugar is basically a must-have skill of every family. I won¡¯t say too much. Remember to pour the Gardenia water in immediately after the smoke emerges and it has turned brown color.¡± With a whoosh, the kitchen was filled with the fragrances of the soup as the fumehood operated. ¡°The color is golden red when it has succeeded. That¡¯s right, when you scoop it up with a spoon, it¡¯s bright red and clear.¡± Xu Le turned and demonstrated to the camera. He added the soup base into the pot and ten chickens floated. When he added half of the soup base into the pot, they were immediately colored. ¡°As long as the chicken floats up, it means that it¡¯s already cooked. First, add the soup base, then add the Gardenia water, and then add 150 grams of salt. By then, the taste is almost there.¡± ¡°At this time, we need to add another handful of rock sugar. This is because apart from the fragrance, the spices also have some bitterness. We will add sugar to neutralize the bitterness according to one¡¯s personal taste.¡± He sprinkled some rock sugar and closed the lid. ¡°Stew over a small fire for another 40 minutes, then turn off the fire and let the chicken taste seep in.¡± Xu Le looked up at the clock on the wall and said, ¡°We have to stew it for two to three hours before the fragrance can permeate through. We have to use this time to prepare the other chicken.¡± ¡°There¡¯s still more chicken?¡± Alex was in disbelief. ¡°How many chickens did you buy?¡± ¡°Not much.¡± Bai Xiaoming looked up to the sky and sighed. ¡°More than 30, nearly 40.¡± Alex asked in doubt, ¡°Can you sell them out today? The new dishes have not been advertised yet.¡± Zhou Huangya pointed at Xu Le and said smugly, ¡°Our living signboard is standing here. As long as we say that he made it, it will be sold out. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Alex frowned, still in disbelief. ¡°Can you really cook?¡± He asked. ¡°When I demonstrated the process just now, you were standing beside me.¡± After Xu Le answered calmly, he looked up at him and said, ¡°You¡¯re here today to record my cooking process, not to evaluate it. Besides, you haven¡¯t tasted it yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I didn¡¯t even taste it. I definitely don¡¯t believe that you can cook well. Open the lid of the pot and get me a chicken to try.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not stewed yet. Do you want to eat raw meat?¡± ¡®Xu Le was taking out the chicken meat from the fridge that he had mixed with salt last night and handed it to Alex. He wasn¡¯t afraid of causing trouble, but was even more afraid of offending people. After being rebuked by the child¡¯s strong attitude, Alex couldn¡¯t help but weaken his attitude. ¡°You¡¯ll be dumbfounded later. Just wait, I¡¯ll definitely expose you!¡± Zhou Huangya could not stand it anymore. She rolled her eyes, covered the wheat, and complained softly, ¡°The ignorant are fearless.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m the editor-in-chief. Do you believe that I¡¯ll write you in?¡± Alex rushed forward again. This time, no one paid any attention to him. He spoke arrogantly, and after saying a few crazy words, he stood obediently by the table and watched as Xu Le started to prepare the sesame oil chicken. ¡°I marinated the butter chicken last night. It¡¯s been about 12 hours since then. Everyone can marinate it a night in advance at home. It¡¯ll be more flavorful.¡± The manager, Bai Xiaoming, exclaimed, ¡°Oh my god, we were all sleeping last night. Yet you woke up and marinated dozens of chickens?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. It only takes me about 10 minutes.¡± Xu Le added, ¡°You just need to apply yellow wine and salt on the surface of the chicken and add some green onions.¡± ¡°Many spices from the previous dish can still be used. Here, I have also prepared some seasonings, nutmeg, white kernel, orange peel, aniseed, yellow gardenia, and tsaoko.¡± There were many spices on the table. The last dish consisted of fragrant leaves, cloves, angelician root, ginger, grass fruit, fennel, onions, ginger, and vegetable oil. Xu Le washed a handful of green coriander and said, ¡°The main focus of the Sesame Oil Chicken is the spicy and numbing taste. There are two types of chili here. The two types of pepper are: Arrowhead, Starry Chili, Red Flower Pepper, and Sesame Pepper.¡± Chili peppers were the soul of this dish. Sesame Oil Chicken was one of the authentic Sichuan Cuisine. It was a local delicacy. After it was prepared, it should be spicy and fragrant, refreshing and suitable for the stomach. After pouring some vegetable oil into the pot and heating it up to 30 to 40% hot, he added scallions, ginger slices and finally coriander. After a little color, the fragrance was stimulated. ¡°When the condiments are golden brown, you can pour the chili inside.¡± As Xu Le stir-fried, he increased the strength of the fumehood. When the chili was ready, he poured it out immediately. ¡°Add in the spices and two types of pepper that were prepared just now and directly stew it in the pot for half an hour. Remember to take out the seeds in advance. Otherwise, it will be bitter and affect the taste of the entire pot of sauce.¡± ¡°That sounds logical, he¡¯s quite professional.¡± Alex teased from the side. After cooking the sauce chicken for 40 minutes, Xu Le turned off the fire and started to let the taste fuse with the meat. ¡°Add salt, chicken powder, and more oyster sauce to the soup base. The light soya sauce enhances flavor, and also add fermented sauce.¡± As soon as the lid was lifted, the smell made Alex step back. The smell of fermented sauce was the same as the smell of coriander. Those who liked it would eat it for every meal. Those who didn¡¯t like it would run away just by smelling it. ¡°What is this thing? It stinks!¡± Alex mumbled to himself, but he couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity. He came over and asked, ¡°Will it taste good to add this to the soup?¡± ¡°It can enhance the freshness. You won¡¯t be able to taste it after it¡¯s cooked.¡± Xu Le added another spoonful of bright yellow stuff and said, ¡°Lastly, add some chicken oil and a little sugar. Then, the soup can be boiled with a lid.¡± ¡°Now, let¡¯s deal with the chicken. This has already been marinated in advance. We just need to pour cold water into the pot and add scallions, ginger, and garlic to remove the fishy smell. After blanching for about ten minutes, froth will appear on the surface, so you need to remove the impurities.¡± Once the time was up, Xu Le immediately brought the chicken under the tap to cool it down. After passing through cold and hot, the chicken skin would tighten and the texture would become more solid. After the chicken was rinsed with cold water, Xu Le started to demonstrate while saying, ¡°Get a portion of pepper and spices out of the seasoning that was made just now and stuff them into the chicken¡¯s stomach from the back. There are spices inside and outside the chicken¡¯s stomach and they will add on to the flavor. After stuffing them in, break off the chicken feet and stuff them into the stomach as stuffing.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, how cruel.¡± Alex interrupted at an inappropriate time. ¡°Have you considered the feelings of the chicken?¡± Xu Le was speechless for a moment. ¡°You can ask him.¡± Alex would not do something so stupid. He knew that Xu Le was mocking him. He snorted and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who will be embarrassed later. Anyway, it¡¯s not me.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xu Le could not be bothered to argue with him, He called the people in the kitchen to help stuff the chicken¡¯s stomach with spices.. Chapter 120 - Questioning His Cooking Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Eh? Why don¡¯t I see any chicken wings?¡± After they stuffed the spices and chicken feet into the chicken, Alex came over excitedly and asked curiously. Xu Le explained, ¡°The chicken wings are all removed and cooked. I made cola chicken wings yesterday and I¡¯m making jade hairpin chicken wing ball today.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Alex crossed his arms and said in a sarcastic tone, ¡°Then you¡¯re lying to the consumers. They bought a chicken and went back, only to find that it had no wings and was missing meat¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll label the missing chicken wings on the menu. The price will be much lower than the price of the entire chicken. Also, the restaurant doesn¡¯t provide the service of takeaways.¡± Xu Le retorted. Alex continued to rebut, ¡°You don¡¯t provide takeaway services? Your Chinese restaurant is so arrogant. Are you trying to promote wastage through the cameras?¡± ¡°Tm afraid that they will take them out and sell them. Many dishes can¡¯t be eaten overnight, and they can¡¯t be eaten when cold. It¡¯ll either affect the taste or cause diarrhea in the hot weather. If that happens, the restaurant will be held accountable. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± ¡®As Xu Le spoke, he adjusted the chicken drumstick in front of the camera. Zhang Liang said, ¡°Are you doing this to prevent the spices from falling out?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± After stewing the soup for a while, the spices inside were all released. It looked bright red and brown, making one¡¯s appetite increase greatly. Zhou Huangya teased, ¡°With half a pot of spices, it would taste good even if it¡¯s stewed with the sole of a shoe.¡± Xu Le joked, ¡°Haha, then do you want me to stew one for you?¡± ¡°If you directly put the chicken inside, won¡¯t it be filled with pepper seeds later and be especially hard to pick them out?¡± ¡°Yes, I did consider that.¡± ¡®As Xu Le spoke, he took out a huge bamboo sieve that had been washed clean and placed it into the soup pot. This way, all the spices were pressed down and red oil emerged. He carefully placed the chicken into the soup pot and stewed it. He closed the lid. ¡®The air was filled with the fragrance of meat and the spicy fragrance of various spices complemented each other. The guests who were helping out could not help but start to swallow their saliva. Looking at the chicken stew in the pot, Zhou Huangya urged, ¡°When will the sauce chicken be ready? It¡¯s been so long.¡± ¡°You can taste it now.¡± Xu Le was eager to give it a try. Just from the stewing process, he was already confident. The taste was absolutely superb! He opened the lid and fished out a chicken. Zhang Liang gave everyone a few pairs of disposable gloves as the steam dissipated. All they saw was a chicken lying on the plate. The skin was glossy and soft, and the juice underneath was golden. Just by looking at it, one would feel extremely hungry. ¡°You need to tear the chicken with your hands.¡± Xu Le reached out to pull a chicken drumstick. The chicken skin was soft and smooth. He pulled it apart and the chicken meat inside was tight and clear. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Huangya took it and took a big bite with a satisfied expression. Zhang Liang tore off a piece of chicken breast meat and placed it in his mouth. After chewing it twice, he immediately gave a thumbs up and said, ¡°The chicken breast meat is usually very dry. Furthermore, the chicken breast meat is the driest part of the chicken. I didn¡¯t expect it to be especially tender. It¡¯s not dry at all.¡± He was already used to losing out to the cooking skills of this eight-year-old child in front of him. He was full of admiration and emotion. ¡°Is the key point the oil in the sauce?¡± Bai Xiaoming asked, ¡°The braised sauce is fragrant and the red oil is heavy, but it¡¯s not greasy at all. The chicken meat is just right. It doesn¡¯t scatter, and the oil is fragrant. It definitely has something to do with the oil, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re an expert.¡± Xu Le nodded and explained, ¡°That¡¯s right. The spices that have been fried will seep oil into the pot after being stewed. After steaming then stewing it, it will taste the most flavorful.¡± The system had given him the most traditional recipe, and Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills had improved so much that he was able to accurately control the spices. Without a doubt, he had restored the most traditional sauce chicken flavor. Zhang Liang finished a drumstick as though he had not had enough. He nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s amazing! With this taste, I feel like we¡¯ve prepared too few chickens today. It¡¯s definitely not enough to sell.¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± After eating, Zhou Huangya suddenly sighed and said, ¡°When I think about how tomorrow is the last day of your stay here, I really can¡¯t bear to part with you.¡± Bai Xiaoming exposed her mercilessly. ¡°I think you can¡¯t bear to part with his cooking right?¡± ¡°What else? I definitely can¡¯t bear to part with him, and even more so because of his cooking skills. Once he leaves, the shop will definitely be the same as before. It will be difficult to even reach the designated profit margin.¡± Zhang Liang looked at the big pot of braised food and said, ¡°The production process is so troublesome. Isn¡¯t it too wasteful to pour it out after using it ¡°There¡¯s no need to pour it.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°After cooking today, you can put it in the fridge and braise for three more times. The method is the same as what I demonstrated just now.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The few of them quickly finished one of the sauce chicken. The meat was fresh and tender, and as soon as they bit into it, oil would flow out. The more they ate, the more addicted they became to the authentic taste of the braised food. When they finished eating the chicken, they were about 40 to 50 percent full. However, they still stared at the pot, craving for more. Xu Le said, ¡°There will be Sesame Oil Chicken and Chicken Wing Ball later. Everyone, don¡¯t be anxious. Steam some rice first. Are there any pickled vegetables?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. It¡¯s the radish and garlic that I marinated previously.¡± Zhang Liang said, ¡°I¡¯l take some out for you to taste later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The clock was pointing to ten. The Chinese restaurant was about to open. Just as it had been the day before, before it was open, there was a long line outside. It was even more exaggerated that day. There were even people who came over to queue at dawn and were the first to rush in. He shouted, ¡°I want to eat sweet and sour fish, crispy yam duck, and a serving of carp soup.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Huangya put on an apron and took the menu to collect the money. She said, ¡°Please take a seat first. We have three new dishes today. They are Sauce Chicken, Sesame Oil Chicken and¡­¡± ¡°Idon¡¯t care, I just want what that little Master Chef made.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Zhou Huangya was stunned for a moment before saying, ¡°Yes, yes. These three dishes are all made by them.¡± The customer¡¯s eyes immediately lit up and said, ¡°As long as it¡¯s his cooking, serve it all to me!¡± ¡°But you¡¯re here alone.¡± Zhou Huangya patiently persuaded. ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll serve these few dishes first. If you can still eat later, I¡¯ll serve the other dishes.¡± Before she could finish speaking, a customer beside her was clamoring for Xu Le¡¯s dishes. ¡°Are you done? Why isn¡¯t it my turn yet? I want to eat that Buddha¡¯s Roll. Two servings of that please.¡± Outside, people were shouting Xu Le¡¯s name in a mess. Alex was not convinced by his ability. Although they had given him gloves when they were eating the sauce chicken, he would rather die than submit. However, he didn¡¯t believe in Xu Le¡¯s ability and continued to rebuke, ¡°I¡¯m not saying this, but aren¡¯t you guys acting too much?¡± ¡°With that reaction just now, who would believe that you are celebrities?¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk.¡± Alex said sarcastically, ¡°Did they hire an actor outside? Why don¡¯t I see any Thais coming over to eat?¡± He was tirelessly trying to provoke Xu Le, who had a dazed expression on his face.. Chapter 121 - Jade Hairpin Chicken Wing Ball Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Xu Le was rendered speechless by the person in front of him. He did not get angry and said directly, ¡°What¡¯s there to doubt? Won¡¯t you know once you try it?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Alex shook his head proudly and said, ¡°You won¡¯t blame me if I expose your image, right?¡± ¡°Yes I will ¡± Xu Le almost laughed and said, ¡°So stop exposing me.¡± Alex wandered around the kitchen, enticed by the smell. He opened the lid and said, ¡°Why are you still unable to sell these vegetables after so long?¡± Xu Le ignored his provocation and chopped off one end of the chicken wing. He then cut the other end and said, ¡°Stab the knife to the bone and use the force to bend it. You will be able to remove the bone successfully.¡± During the half a minute of explaining, Xu Le had already deboned three or four chicken wings. His movements were swift and smooth. With every slash and squeeze, the bones were taken out. ¡°Then cut the green peppers into strips. They should a little longer than the chicken bones from earlier. Jade hairpin chicken wings balls have to be red and green so that they look like hairpins after being made.¡± ¡°Same with carrots. They should be cut as long as the green peppers.¡± ¡°Add eggs, starch, and salt into the basin and stir them evenly. Place the chicken wings that have just been processed into the basin and start to spin in one direction. Stir it up.¡± While Xu Le was doing that, Alex looked at the chicken wings section left on the chopping board and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t your chicken wings wasted?¡± ¡°[ don¡¯t need it for now. I¡¯ll just make a chicken wing soup later. It won¡¯t be wasted.¡± After Xu Le explained, he looked at him and said, ¡°What you discussed with the production team was to write an interview report about me. Yet you kept picking on me and didn¡¯t even try the dishes. How are you going to write it later?¡± He was young, looked young, but spoke in a mature tone, which made Alex appear immature. Alex choked and was silenced. He put his hands on his hips and said, ¡°You¡¯re so rude.¡± Xu Le lowered his head and started cooking. He could not be bothered with his unreasonable tantrum and said, ¡°When the chicken wings are mixed evenly, use some oil to seal them. This way, the chicken wings that will be served from the pot will be even more fresh and tender.¡± ¡°Next, insert the green pepper and carrot strips into the chicken wing that has been deboned and placed them aside.¡± Xu Le continued his demonstration. There was a huge pile of chicken wings in front of him. Zhang Liang wiped the water stains on his hands on the apron and jumped over happily. ¡°I¡¯m here to help. The store is just opened and the dozen or so sauce chickens that you made today have already been reserved.¡± ¡®When he said this, Alex, who was standing at the side, immediately exploded. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to treat me to a taste? Are you going to sell it just like that?¡± ¡°Lgave you the gloves just now. You were the one who didn¡¯t come over to eat.¡± Zhang Liang¡¯s expression did not change as he said with a grin, ¡°No choice, you can try other dishes later.¡± In the kitchen, everyone was busy with their own tasks. Xu Le was the only person who could grasp the essence of the sauce required for the Vinegar Fish and the grains required to be cut for the Buddha¡¯s Roll. Hence, he had to turn around to help after putting a few chicken wings on the skewer. Alex looked at him for a while, and the doubts in his heart were gradually dispelled. He said, ¡°Did you really make these dishes? It wasn¡¯t someone else who came to make them for you?¡± Xu Le smiled. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°L¡­¡± Alex paused for a moment and said,¡± Aren¡¯t you going to let me try the dishes?¡± ¡°Later, I¡¯m busy.¡± Xu Le finished cutting the onions and ginger grains. Alex stepped forward. ¡°Why the trouble? Don¡¯t you have a blender?¡± Bai Xiaoming said, ¡°Look carefully. This isn¡¯t paste. These are grains.¡± ¡°Wow!¡± Alex raised his hand and covered his mouth in an exaggerated manner. ¡°How many years will it take to have such level of cutting skills?¡± Bai Xiaoming reminded him, ¡°He¡¯s only eight years old.¡± Alex¡¯s expression changed immediately. He walked over to Xu Le and asked, ¡°How many years have you been learning?¡± ¡°My Dad and Mom are chefs. So I have been influenced since I was young, so I have never really calculated it.¡± Xu Le dismissed him with a casual remark and thought to himself, ¡°As expected, to laymen, cutting skills are the most terrifying. When an ordinary dish is made, laymen can at most tell if it¡¯s delicious or not. However, when they personally witness the cutting skills of a chef, they will quietly give others the title of a Great Chef.¡± ¡°Now, to prepare the sauce, add soy sauce, rice vinegar, yellow wine, salt to freshen up the taste. Then cut the ginger and garlic into small slices.¡± ¡°Take out the peanuts and crush them with the side of the knife. Then cut them into granules for later use.¡± After the chicken wings were put on the skewers, he poured some oil into the pot and started the fire. ¡°Everyone, after pouring the chicken wings in, don¡¯t mix them with spoons. After the surface is heated and has melted, they won¡¯t stick to the pot anymore.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he demonstrated. When the chicken wings slightly contracted and tumed from white to pink, he immediately poured it out. The chicken wings were completely intact. ¡°The dried chili peppers need to be rinsed with water first to wash away the dust on the surface and the surface chili peppers. Leave a small amount of base oil in the pot and pour the pepper inside to fry.¡± With a ¡®whoosing¡± sound, the pepper sizzled in the pot and emitted a fragrance. ¡°After the fragrance of the pepper is emitted, you must fish it out. Otherwise, it will be bitter, dry, and too hard, which would affect the texture.¡± Xu Le fished out the pepper. At this moment, the pot was emitting white smoke and the oil was very hot. Zhang Liang said nervously, ¡°Turn off the fire first. Be careful not to catch fire later.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± Xu Le poured the chili into the pot and said, ¡°There¡¯s another important reason for washing the chili just now. It can lower the temperature of the oil in the pot, and the chili won¡¯t be easily burnt.¡± As he spoke, he fiddled with the metal spatula a few times. Indeed, he saw that the chili inside the pot was bright red in color. After the spicy fragrance of the fried chili was released, he poured the prepared ingredients into the pot. The scallions and ginger slices were stir-fried slightly in the pot. Xu Le said, ¡°This dish is a Sichuan dish that was commonly served at national banquets. It is particular about the fragrance, tenderness, numbness, and spiciness. The texture is very stimulating, so we have to add chili noodles to enhance the taste.¡± Zhang Liang casually asked, ¡°If you can¡¯t eat the chili noodles, can you not add it?¡± ¡°If you can¡¯t eat the chili noodles¡­ don¡¯t try this dish so easily. After all, there¡¯s so many dried chillies inside.¡± After adding the chili noodles, he poured the chicken wings that he had just fried into the pot. After stir-frying it for a while, he poured a circle of fragrant vinegar into the pot. At this moment, the ingredients in the pot were already red, spicy, and fragrant, which was very appetizing. Xu Le poured the peanut fragments that he had prepared earlier into the pot and stir-fried them evenly. Then, they would be ready to be served out of the pot. ¡°Achoo¡ª¡± Bai Xiaoming choked and sneezed after the dish was poured out. He widened his eyes and said, ¡°It looks so spicy. Will the customers be used to it?¡± ¡°The sesame oil chicken is also spicy since it is also a Sichuan dish. You can tell them later not to order these dishes if they cannot take spice.¡± Xu Le took off his apron and said, ¡°The Sesame Oil Chicken is ready. Let¡¯s have a taste..¡± Chapter 122 - Conquered by His Culinary Skills Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Everyone, who had been busy since early in the morning, finally had time to sit down and eat. After the Sesame Oil Chicken and the Jade Hairpin Chicken Wing Ball were served, Zhou Huangya scooped a bowl of Thai rice for everyone. Compared to ordinary rice grains, it was much longer. The steamed rice grains were distinct and the rice fragrance was rich. Zhang Liang took out the ¡°treasure¡± that he had soaked in the jar and said, ¡°Usually, when people come over to buy it, I¡¯m not willing to sell it. 1 have marinated too few of them, and it¡¯s troublesome and time-consuming to prepare them. Today, I specially made it to eat with your Sesame Oil Chicken.¡± ¡°Everyone, sit down. It¡¯s time to eat.¡± Bai Xiaoming pulled out a stool and gestured for everyone to take their seats. When the restaurant was busy, there wasn¡¯t much time to eat. When they finally had a chance to sit together, Alex also stopped being stubborn and sat opposite them. He picked up a piece of shredded Sesame Oil Chicken with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. Then, he stood up in surprise. ¡°What is it?¡± Xu Le looked up at him blankly. The moment the chicken came into contact with his tongue, the freshness and spiciness exploded in his taste buds. Alex, who rarely ate spicy food, gulped down some water. ¡°It¡¯s too spicy. How can I eat it when it¡¯s so spicy?¡± After gulping down a few mouthfuls of mineral water, he sat at the side with a dark face. The spiciness of the Sesame Oil Chicken was still jumping around in his mouth, as if he had a jumping candy. However, after the spiciness was gone, the tip of his tongue could not help but salivate. Alex glanced at the Sesame Oil chicken a few times. ¡°It¡¯s probably because you haven¡¯t eaten spicy food for too long and are not used to it.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°Also, this chicken wing ball will taste even more spicy. There¡¯s crucian carp soup in the kitchen. Shall I get youa bowl?¡± No matter how Alex tried to make things difficult for him, Xu Le remained calm and composed. The fact that he was still talking to Alex in such a friendly manner showed his magnanimity. ¡°No need. I¡¯m not that weak.¡± Alex picked up the chopsticks and took another bite. This time, the spiciness was much less. The fragrance and spiciness was infused. The chicken was moist but not dry, and the fragrance was strong. He couldn¡¯t stop at first. The more he ate, the more flavorful it tasted. Zhou Huangya nodded happily and said, ¡°The soul of Sichuan Cuisine is that the first bite is spicy, then you can¡¯t stop yourself.¡± Xu Le prepared vinegar juice to the side and said, ¡°Dipping it in vinegar will reduce the spiciness and give it a different flavor.¡± ¡°Yes, but the original taste is more addictive.¡± Bai Xiaoming was rendered speechless by the spiciness of the first bite. The chopsticks in his hand did not stop as he nodded repeatedly. ¡°That¡¯s too awesome. The amount of pepper is huge, but it¡¯s not bitter. How did you do it?¡± ¡°The main thing is to stir-fry the chili over a small fire in advance to maximize the fragrance. Secondly, the amount of pepper to add can only according to experience. If there are too many or too few, it will affect the taste.¡± It should be spicy, fragrant, crispy, and tender. The chicken wing ball was round and stuffed full. On the outside, there were chili and peanuts wrapped around it. Zhang Liang picked one up and shook off the dried chili outside. He said, ¡°This dish should have been developed from a Cantonese dish. I think the cooking method is a little similar to the Kung Pao Chicken.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Try it.¡± After Xu Le finished speaking, Zhang Liang stuffed the chicken wing ball into his mouth. The chicken wing was the most tender part of the chicken body. The skin was soft and tender. The green peppers and carrots inside emitted the sweet fragrance of the vegetables while the outside was faintly spicy. It was slightly burnt but not bitter. It was the fragrance of the fire. The several flavors combined into one, and it was so delicious that Zhang Liang¡¯s eyes widened. He suddenly took a bite of the rice and said while chewing, ¡°The skin outside the chicken wings is soft and fragrant, and the vegetables inside are just right. After they¡¯re cooked, they don¡¯t lose the original sweetness of the vegetables.¡± It was nice to eat with rice and fragrant and spicy, and there was even a faint smell of Kung Pao chicken. Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s right. The Chinese cuisine focuses on fusing all kinds of flavors together and elevating them to new heights.¡± Alex had so many doubts in the beginning. When he first started eating, his expression was filled with disdain and doubt, but in the end, he was completely conquered by the first dish. His chopsticks never stopped, and the more he ate, the more engrossed he became. His mouth was even slightly swollen from the spiciness. The chicken wing ball was also an extremely spicy dish, but between the two dishes, one was chewy and tight, while the other one was soft and fragrant. It had a completely different texture and taste. After the meal, Alex¡¯s attitude changed drastically. He stopped looking down on Xu Le and chased after him. ¡°Are there any other dishes? Let me try some later.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± After each dish was served, there was still some left. Alex stood at the side and tasted it with a toothpick. He didn¡¯t care if he was embarrassed or not. When he tasted the Buddha¡¯s roll, the crispy outer shell was filled with soft stuffing. It was extremely fragrant. ¡°Wowl¡± His eyes were full of admiration as he said, ¡°This is too delicious. It was clearly fried from oil, but why is it crispy and fragrant, and not greasy at all?¡± He tasted the West Lake Vinegar Fish, Crucian Fish Soup, Crispy Yam Duck all at once¡­ He had tasted all of Xu Le¡¯s new dishes. He was so full that he sat at the side, doubting his life. He looked at Xu Le and said, ¡°Little Master Chef, could it be that you¡¯ve grasped some ultimate secret recipe and suddenly ascended? You¡¯re so young, why are your dishes so delicious!¡± Alex was screaming internally, unable to believe and was filled with envy. ¡°Please make sure you give me the recipe. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll spend a great deal to publish it.¡± ¡°To be honest, the cooking of these dishes is not difficult at all. The real trouble is the precise control of the heat and the ingredients used. Like a lot of spices, I really can¡¯t give you all the grams required.¡± Xu Le told the truth. Alex thought for a while and suddenly said, ¡°Can I stay here today?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I want to freeload another meal.¡± He sighed and said, ¡°If only you could stay here and not return home. How am I going to face the company¡¯s canteen tomorrow after eating your food!¡± Xu Le lowered his head and smiled as he continued to process the dishes in his hands. The Sesame Oil chicken and chicken wing ball were too spicy. When Zhou Huangya was recommending these dishes, she would constantly remind the customers. However, after the sauce chicken was sold out, many customers insisted on ordering them after learning that they were made by Xu Le. Therefore, an hour later, the front hall was filled with noise from people who were affected by the spiciness. Many customers had tears in their eyes. It was so spicy that they stood up to walk around, but they were unwilling to put down their chopsticks. ¡°Is it that spicy?¡± Zhang Liang, who was used to Sichuan cuisine, said, ¡°They¡¯re exaggerating too much. Why don¡¯t we make a beverage and send it over? Otherwise, what if they give a bad review?¡± Xu Le had the same idea. He rummaged through the fridge and only found two lemons. Not to mention that the lemon water could not neutralize the spiciness, they also did not have enough of it. Just as he was fretting, Zhou Huangya came in with a large bamboo frame and said, ¡°Look what it is!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Le removed the cloth covering it and saw a yellowish and soft-looking mango lying inside. ¡°I bought it directly from a fruit farmer. It¡¯s very cheap and of good quality.¡± Chapter 123 - Mango Sago Dew Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Just make Mango Sago Dew.¡± It was widely received and tasted good. It was sweet and savory. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that someone is allergic to mango. You should let them know in advance when you deliver it to them. Otherwise, the consequences will be quite troublesome.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Zhou Huangya nodded in agreement. Xu Le washed the mango surface, peeled off the skin, and started to remove the flesh. Zhang Liang put his hands on his hips and said, ¡°I think there¡¯s something missing.¡± ¡°A pomelo, just buy a big one.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He immediately went out to buy pomelo. Xu Le grabbed the rock sugar and put it in the water. He started a small fire to cook it. After he finished slicing all the mango meat, he stuffed it into the blender and started to grind it. ¡°Add coconut syrup and a small amount of white sugar inside and make it into mango paste.¡± Xu Le said to the camera, ¡°Mango Sago Dew is a Hong Kong-style dessert. It¡¯s very simple to prepare. Everyone can try it at home. As long as you follow my instructions, the failure rate will definitely be 0.¡± ¡°The sago dew will first be cooked then stewed. It¡¯s not difficult to cook it, but don¡¯t cook it directly over a big fire. Otherwise, there will be a white hard core forming inside. It¡¯s just like raw meat and will taste awful.¡± He sliced a few mangoes into small pieces and placed them aside. ¡°The sugar syrup just now has been boiled and the rock sugar inside has completely melted. Everyone, be careful. When making desserts, there must not be any oil in the pot. Make sure that it is absolutely cleaned.¡± The sugar syrup that had just been poured out of the pot was very hot. Xu Le took a large amount of cold water and cooled the pot down using another pot. ¡°When the mango paste is ready, pour it out. Pour the milk and coconut milk in the ratio of 1: 1 and stir it evenly. Everyone can adjust it according to their own preference. If you want a stronger milk taste, put more milk.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he used a spoon to add a few spoonfuls of sugar syrup. He said, ¡°The dessert must be sufficiently sweet, but it cannot be too much. Otherwise, the sweetness will destroy the balance of the overall texture and suppress the taste of mango.¡± After adding all of them and stirring them evenly, Xu Le picked up a spoon and took a sip. The mango taste was strong, sweet but not overwhelming, and the sweetness was just nice. He placed the carved glass bowl that was specially used to store desserts on the table and took out a big tub of ice cream from the freezer area. He said, ¡°I just realized that there¡¯s ice cream inside. This is added to so that the plating will look nice. This flavor is¡­ vanilla. It won¡¯t be too strange to add in. Everyone can add fresh milk at home. You can also add coconut, pearls, and so on.¡± The round and smooth ice-cream ball was placed at the bottom of the bowl. The glutinous rice in the can was also rolled into a ball. With one white and one red ball, it looked ike mandarin ducks playing in the water, as the colors intertwined with each other, making it extremely beautiful. Zhang Liang rushed up from outside in a panic. After putting down the pomelo that he had bought, he said in surprise, ¡°I only bought a fruit and you¡¯re already done?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not difficult to begin with. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s a little troublesome to process the ingredients.¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows and reminded him, ¡°Quickly break open the pomelo and add the pomelo bits in.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhang Liang responded. After washing his hands and the surface of the pomelo, he was about to cut it when he was stopped by Xu Le. ¡°Wait, are you going to cut it from top to bottom?¡± ¡°What else? Isn¡¯t that how you cut pomelo?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not wrong.¡± Xu Le stepped forward and gestured with his hands. ¡°But there is a better way. We can turn the pomelo horizontally and cut it in the middle. This way, it will be easier to peel the skin later and it will be easier to remove the granules.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhang Liang did as he was told skeptically. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same no matter how you cut it?¡± Very soon, he was slapped in the face by reality. After he cut it horizontally, not only was the outer skin easier to peel off, but the skin shreds inside were also easily removed. Very soon, the pomelo granules would be easily extracted. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s true! When did you discover this method?¡± ¡°I found it occasionally when I was preparing some fruit plates.¡± After placing the ice cream and glutinous rice balls on the plate, he added mango balls to the side. At this moment, Xu Le had finished stewing the rice in the pot. He used a sieve net to wash it under the cold water and said, ¡°There will be a layer of sticky film outside the cooked sago dew. After washing it clean, they will be smooth and bright.¡± After placing the sago dew, Xu Le sifted the mango paste again to remove the granules and fibers inside, ensuring that the texture would be smoother. He added it to the bowl, revealing the top of the ice cream and glutinous rice. Then, he put in a piece of red pomelo and a piece of mint leaf. A traditional Mango Sago Dew was completed. Zhou Huangya stuck her head out and asked, ¡°What about the price? I¡¯ll get the manager over.¡± Bai Xiaoming was still socializing with the other people outside and was immersed in the conversation. He was forcefully dragged into the kitchen by Zhou Huangya. When he saw the bowl of Mango Sago Dew on the table, he couldn¡¯t help but feel thirsty. He said, ¡°It¡¯s done so quickly? It looks delicious. Set the price at a cheaper price. After all, there¡¯s no shortage of fruits and seafood here. | think 76 baht is fine.¡± With a generous amount of mango, glutinous rice, and ice cream, it was considered cheap to set at this price. Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°It will be 15 RMB per serving. That should be enough. We can recoup our cost price.¡± Zhou Huangya was enticed from looking at it and said a little embarrassed. ¡°Do I get a share?¡± ¡°Of course. We¡¯ve made so much. Let everyone come in and have a taste.¡± Xu Le waved his hand generously and said, ¡°We¡¯ll go out and promote it later. The weather is hot, so it¡¯s best to sell it immediately. Otherwise, the ice cream will melt and affect the taste.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Huangya could not wait to pick up a bowl. She gently pressed down the piece of ice cream with a spoon and mixed it with the soup before putting it into her mouth. The mango was sweet and fragrant with the clear sweetness of coconut milk. The two flavors mixed together and it was indescribably wonderful. She said, ¡°It¡¯s not sweet!¡± When Alex heard that Xu Le had prepared his share, he picked up the bowl and took a big bite. However, he felt that it was not satisfying enough, so he put down the spoon and drank directly from the bowl. When he heard Zhou Huangya¡¯s comment, he frowned and said, ¡°The taste is just right.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°The Chinese people¡¯s highest evaluation of desserts is that it¡¯s not sweet.¡± The other meaning of ¡°not sweet¡± was, of course, that the taste was just right and would not be too sweet to suppress the fruit¡¯s original sweetness. ¡°Oh.¡± Alex raised his head and drank more than half a bowl of Mango Sago Dew. He smacked his lips and said, ¡°I can taste coconut milk and milk, but it did not conceal the taste of the main ingredient. Instead, it¡¯s just perfect. The glutinous rice, sago dew and mango all has the unique chewiness. I accidentally ate the mint leaves just now and it¡¯s refreshing. The ice cream is like a surprise. When I occasionally taste it in my mouth, it¡¯s especially refreshing.¡± He finished his evaluation happily and said, ¡°This is the best dessert I¡¯ve ever had. It¡¯s much better than that pearl milk tea.¡± Zhou Huangya made a cross gesture with her arm and said half-jokingly, ¡°I do not allow you to insult pearl milk tea.¡± Then, she went to promote the desserts for everyone. Everyone loved mangoes so much that they could not stop eating it. Those who did not want to eat it would find it smelling strange. However, as soon as they heard that it was Xu Le who made it, they quickly snatched all the desserts away. Xu Le left the last bowl and sat at the table.. Chapter 124 - Snowflake Peach Paste Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Hi, this is for you.¡± The couple who brought a skinny child along the day before had just sat down. He still remembered Xu Le and smiled. He then lowered his head, looking sullen and expressionless. The middle-aged woman sighed and frowned worriedly. She said, ¡°Bring the menu over and order the dishes first, okay? Every time it¡¯s time to eat¡­ I¡¯m always so anxious. What are you going to do in the future? If this goes on, no amount of medicine will help.¡± She rambled on for a while before pointing to the new dishes on the menu and asked, ¡°Are the Sesame Oil chicken and chicken wing balls freshly added today? I didn¡¯t see them yesterday.¡± ¡°Yes, but they¡¯re all quite spicy. You should order based on your preference.¡± ¡°Alright, our whole family can eat spicy food.¡± When the woman said this, she glanced at her son beside her and said, ¡°Want to eat some also?¡± The little boy shook his head stubbornly with a disgusted expression. He took the Mango Sago Dew and said, ¡°I¡¯ll drink this.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± The woman gave Xu Le a look and said,¡± Give me another serving of the soy milk he drank yesterday. ¡± The ¡°soy milk¡± referred to the filtered crucian carp soup. Xu Le didn¡¯t agree immediately. ¡°Did you bring him to see a psychiatrist?¡± As soon as he asked, the woman seemed to have been pried open. She patted her right palm with the back of her left hand and said worriedly, ¡°You don¡¯t know! I spent a lot of money and effort to help him get over this hurdle!¡± As she spoke, she suddenly turned around and pointed at Xu Le and said to her son, ¡°Look, this little boy doesn¡¯t look much older than you. He¡¯s so promising, but what about you? You look malnourished¡­¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Xu Le stopped her and took a deep breath. He finally understood why the child became like this. The child seemed to be used to this kind of scene. He lowered his head and silently drank the Mango Sago Dew. The smooth and mellow mango flavor was mixed with sweet and sour pomelo grains. It was so delicious that his eyes widened in delight. Xu Le said, ¡°Do you want to follow me to the kitchen? There¡¯s good food there. I¡¯ll bring you to scoop yesterday¡¯s soy milk.¡± The child¡¯s eyes lit up and he immediately agreed. Xu Le brought the boy to the kitchen, where they fried, dried, steamed, and mixed all kinds of meat and condiments. Xu Le saw him secretly gulping. So he picked up a chicken wing ball and said, ¡°There¡¯s no one here, and your mother won¡¯t know.¡± The child was stunned. He stood rooted to the ground and did not react. Xu Le lowered his voice and said, ¡°Just eat it if you want. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t say to anyone. The soy milk you drank yesterday is fish soup.¡± The child¡¯s expression changed and he retched before raising his eyes to look at him timidly. Xu Le¡¯s wrist was sore from holding the chopsticks for two whole minutes. He thought that he had made a mistake and was about to put them down when the child tiptoed and ate the chicken wing ball. The chicken skin was soft and crispy, while the green peppers and carrot strips were crispy and refreshing. The spiciness was very appetizing. ¡°If you want to retaliate her, you should never have taken the path of self-destruction.¡± Xu Le said calmly. Afraid that the child wouldn¡¯t understand, he immediately added, ¡°Actually, this matter isn¡¯t difficult to resolve, but you must tell her your true feelings. Otherwise, no matter how much your mother cares about you, there¡¯s no way you can communicate with her.¡± The child nodded and stared at the plate behind him. Xu Le turned around and scooped a bow! of rice for him. ¡°Sit down and eat slowly.¡± He scooped a few mouthfuls of each dish. There was a dazzling array of dishes placed in front of him. The child held his chopsticks and carefully tasted the pot of vegetables. The residual flavor of the pork belly had permeated the vegetable. It was crispy, refreshing, spicy, and fresh. His appetite was instantly whetted, and he lowered his head to eat. Alex turned to Xu Le and said, ¡°I¡¯ll shoot photos for two culinary magazines for you later. That¡¯s great, we¡¯ll finally be able to settle on the cover character this time.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Trust me, I¡¯m the editor-in-chief of this issue of the magazine. It¡¯s not even a problem to internally appoint you as the cover.¡± Alex made a joke that was not funny. Seeing that Xu Le was not laughing, he rubbed his nose awkwardly and said, ¡°What are we having for lunch?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xu Le looked at the table and said,¡± There are still chicken wings that were chopped off. I¡¯ll cook chicken wings with garlic. Ask the others if they have anything that they want to eat.¡± ¡°Ah, I know a dish. I wonder if you know how to cook it?¡± ¡°Are you trying to goad me?¡± Xu Le smiled. Alex¡¯s trick was seen through. He said with his tongue tied, ¡°I think it¡¯s a, a Sichuan dish. It¡¯s sweet. What¡¯s it called? Snowflake Crisp¡­ It doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± ¡°Snowflake Peach Paste?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, this is it!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Le had seen the cooking method of this dish in the system. Sichuan Cuisine was famous for its spiciness, but there were also non-spicy dishes in it. The cooking method was very complicated and had high requirements for the culinary skills. ¡°late at the roadside a few years ago when I returned to my hometown. I couldn¡¯t forget about it after that, but I couldn¡¯t find the same taste no matter how hard I tried. I wanted to ask if you know how to cook it to make up for my regret.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Xu Le said honestly. But I have a recipe. I can just learn how to cook it. Make sure you eat it.¡± nowflake Peach Paste was a traditional dessert that was soft and sweet. Forget it.¡± Alex suddenly changed his mind and explained, ¡°That dessert is quite troublesome to make. If you start learning now, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to make it well. You might even ruin your reputation as the Master Chef.¡± Xu Le laughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary.¡± After the child had eaten his fill, Xu Le turned around and saw the couple leaning against the window. They were so shocked that their eyebrows were raised and they gestured for him to keep quiet before they left. The woman covered the lower half of her face with her hands, and tears welled up in her eyes as she said, ¡°Little Master Chef, you really do have a way. I don¡¯t even know how to¡­¡± Before she could finish, she fell into her husband¡¯s arms with a whimper. ¡°Don¡¯t mention this later.¡± Xu Le furrowed his brows. He did not want to rat on the boy, but the couple had already seen him. He could only remind them, ¡°Let him be. Although the child is still young, you have to respect his choice. Otherwise, he will have to use this kind of self-harming method to resist.¡± ¡°Alright, we understand.¡± The man who had been silent all this while took out his business card from his pocket and said, ¡°I wonder if you¡¯re interested in joining¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t work as a family cook. Sorry about that.¡± Xu Le didn¡¯t even look at it and directly rejected him. He turned to the woman and said, ¡°When you go back, don¡¯t expose what happened today. You can carefully raise another pet for the child.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to. It¡¯s just that my husband is slightly allergic to animal hair. It¡¯s very troublesome to raise it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Le suggested casually, ¡°Raising a Siberian cat is a good choice. Anyway, there will be a solution. Instead of forcing the child to eat meat, you should respect his wishes and let go of your enstranged relationships. If that doesn¡¯t work out, you should spend more time with him.¡±. Chapter 125 - Garlic Chicken Wings Chapter 125 Garlic Chicken Wings ¡°Okay, okay.¡± The woman shook his hand gratefully. ¡°Thank you.¡± Xu Le sat there with his eyes closed and his consciousness entered the system. He found the recipe for Snowflake Peach Paste and started practicing. Among the recipes passed down, there were quite a few cooking methods. He wanted to choose the method with the best taste and was the fastest. He tried the first method more than 50 times with corn starch. The starch was easily sticky and easily burnt. If he failed the first time, he would not be able to recook it in the pot. This was the troublesome part of this dish. Once there was a mistake in a step, it would directly affect the follow-up process. After experimenting dozens of times and succeeding, Xu Le picked up a piece and put it into his mouth. There was a soft and sweet taste, but it was a pity that there wasn¡¯t enough sugar. The starch produced would more or less be affected and had a more rigid texture. He started to try the second method again. Time passed unknowingly. When Xu Le opened his eyes, the clock on the wall showed that 15 minutes had already passed. It was a dish that he had been studying for quite some time. Just as he was about to stand up, Zhou Huangya brought over the sliced green mangoes and said, ¡°You are so tired that you can fall asleep sitting down? I saw that you were too tired and didn¡¯t have the nerve to wake you up. Come and eat some mangoes.¡± ¡°MMhmm.¡± Xu Le did not explain and reached out to pick a piece. ¡°Thank you.¡± Walking over to the table, he heard that Alex had bragged something that made Zhang Liang, who always had a good temper, roll his eyes. Zhang Liang tilted his head and said, ¡°Nonsense.¡± ¡°What nonsense did I say? If I had stayed in the country, I will definitely be more popular than you.¡± Alex looked at Xu Le and invited him over, ¡°Come over and have some sauce. Have you tried this before? They don¡¯t dare to try it, hehe.¡± ¡°MMhmm.¡± Xu Le calmly dipped into the soy sauce and then wrapped the chili powder on the plate next to him. ¡°I saw that on the streets, you can wrap with salt, sugar or chilli sauce.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhang Liang frowned and said, ¡°Is this really edible?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when you try it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s some nasty cuisine.¡± After the green mango had been dipped in the condiments, he put it into his mouth. It covered the sweet and sour taste of the green mango. When he bit it, it tasted like cheese. It was smooth and fragrant with a hint of saltiness. It did not taste bad and instead had a unique flavor. ¡°You¡¯ve been here for such a long time, and our budget is tight. We haven¡¯t treated you well.¡± The store manager, Bai Xiaoming, walked out and placed his hands on the table. After thinking for a while, he said, ¡°Tomorrow will be your last day here. Our turnover for this week has already exceeded our quota. Why don¡¯t we bring everyone out to play?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Huangya pouted and said a little embarrassedly, ¡°The food outside is not as delicious as Xu Le¡¯s food. We might as well buy more food and eat in the restaurant.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a guest and has been cooking for a week. Can¡¯t you let him rest?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with that.¡± After Xu Le finished chewing the last piece of green mango, he looked up at the clock and said, ¡°Let¡¯s make dinner now. Do any of you want to eat any dish?¡± ¡°Me, me, me, me!¡± Zhou Huangya raised her hand and said, ¡°I want to eat hibiscus chicken slices.¡± Zhang Liang teased, ¡°Hey, you really know how to order the dishes served at the national banquet.¡± Bai Xiaoming said, ¡°Is stir-fried beef okay? I am fine with anything. I¡¯ll eat whatever you cook. There seems to be prawns in the fridge. They were just delivered this afternoon.¡± ¡°Yes, anything is fine. I¡¯ll prepare myself then.¡± Xu Le rolled up his sleeves, put on his apron and started preparing dinner. Fresh prawns had just been placed in the fridge, and all of them were jumping around in the icy water. ¡°I¡¯ll make stir-fried prawns.¡± Zhou Huangya nodded repeatedly. ¡°Alright, you definitely won¡¯t fail when cooking this dish.¡± The chicken wings were cut into two parts from the middle. This made it easier for cooking it and so that it could be more flavorful. After Xu Le chopped the chicken wings, he said, ¡°This dish has an important ingredient that can enhance its fragrance. This is it.¡± He took a glass can and was about to open it when Bai Xiaoming, who was beside him, hurriedly stopped him. ¡°You can¡¯t open that thing!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s black garlic.¡± With a crack, the lid opened and fell onto the table. An indescribable, strange smell wafted out. Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but frown and say, ¡°Black garlic smells smelly, but it¡¯s the same principle as stinky tofu and durian. It smells smelly but tastes good.¡± The guests beside him took a few steps back, and Alex stepped forward curiously. ¡°What is this? It smells quite strange. It¡¯s smelly but fragrant¡­¡± ¡°Have one.¡± Xu Le was joking and egging him on. But Alex actually reached out and took one and put it in his mouth. ¡°I have seen all kinds of food in the world. In the past, I even had cow soup on the prairie. Just black garlic alone¡­ Ugh! Black garlic¡­¡± Alex violently retched, almost choking on his tears. He went to the side, holding the trash can and hurriedly spat out the black garlic. He stood rooted to the ground, unable to recover from the piercing smell. The texture of the black garlic was soft. It was sweet, and not stimulating, but once it was bitten open, it immediately made people doubt life. It was not bad, but he was not used to it. ¡°You, can you cook with this?¡± After rinsing his mouth, Alex asked him suspiciously. Xu Le shrugged his shoulders and said, ¡°Black garlic is used to make chicken wings stew. In the end, only the fragrance of garlic will be left behind. There won¡¯t be any other smell.¡± In view of his deep understanding of Xu Le¡¯s cooking skills, Alex¡¯s lips quivered, but he eventually swallowed his harsh words. ¡°Smash the scallions and ginger with the back of the knife and add salt and yellow wine to it. Then, use your hands to remove the moisture and pour it on the chicken wings. This step is to remove the stench. Then, sprinkle a suitable amount of pepper powder on it.¡± ¡°Sprinkle a small amount of starch evenly to seal the moisture so that the chicken wings that are cooked will be even more tender. Remember to coat with a thin layer of syrup. It cannot be too thick, or it will fall off during the process of grilling.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he lifted the chicken wing and demonstrated it in front of the camera. The pink chicken wing had a thin white liquid hanging on it as it slowly dripped down. ¡°Peel the black garlic. Prepare green and red peppers, chopped onions, white garlic, ginger and chili sauce. Chili sauce is bought directly from the supermarket. If everyone is preparing the dish at home, it¡¯s better to have green pepper sauce or millet sauce.¡± ¡°Fill the pan with oil. When it¡¯s 60 percent hot, pour the chicken wings into the frying pan to solidify the shape.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°If you are cooking at home, you can replace this deep-frying step to grilling. The fire should be moderate, and it must be fried until both sides are golden. When it¡¯s almost cooked, we can fish it out.¡± ¡°I still have to cook it later, so there¡¯s no need to repeat the frying to obtain a crispy texture.¡± The golden chicken wings were poured out of the pot to degrease. A small amount of oil was poured into the hot pot. First, the garlic was poured into the pot and exploded into a golden yellow color. Then, pour in ginger and onion strands. After that, half a spoonful of black bean sauce, half a spoonful of chili sauce, and stir-fry over low heat. The fragrance seeped out, and the various spices in the pot stimulated the spiciness of the garlic to the greatest extent. At this time, the fried chicken wings could be added and a circle of yellow wine would be poured over the pot. After a few sizzling sounds, the fragrance of the wine assailed his nostrils. Xu Le then poured the black garlic in, adding an appropriate amount of dark soya sauce to produce the color. After stir-frying for a while, he added the green and red peppers to provide a greater variety of colors. He spread onions on the bottom of the clay pot and poured fragrant oil into it. He said, ¡°The gravy can¡¯t be too thin. If you don¡¯t control it well in the early stage, you can pour a small amount of starch into it to thicken the sauce.¡± Chapter 126 - Smooth Chicken Slices Chapter 126 Smooth Chicken Slices He poured the fried chicken wings and seasonings into the clay pot, closed the lid, and slowly cooked it over low heat. Zhang Liang, who was handling the fresh prawns at the side, skillfully removed the prawn lining. When he saw this, he asked in puzzlement, ¡°Can¡¯t you just fry it thoroughly? Why are you transferring it into the clay pot?¡±. ¡°The fragrance of the black garlic needs to be stewed before it can be stimulated to the greatest extent. If the chicken wings are not debone, it¡¯s hard to cook it completely. After boiling it in a clay pot for a while, it¡¯ll be even softer and tastier.¡± Zhang Liang chuckled and did not say a word. Clearly, he did not believe that a dish made from black garlic could be that delicious. He said, ¡°The difficulty level of the Smooth Chicken Slices is quite high. It¡¯s even a dish from a national banquet. Don¡¯t tell me you know how to cook that too?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ it¡¯s not hard.¡± Xu Le¡¯s words were definitely not because of his complacence. After all, he had practiced the ¡°smooth chicken slices¡± in the system for more than ten times and was able to make it authentic and original. It was considered one of the easier traditional cuisines. ¡°Keep your hands light. This is a sea prawn. Its skin is especially thin. It¡¯s most suitable to be stir-fried. There¡¯s prawn paste in the head. If you use a little strength, it will squeeze everything out.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Zhang Liang loosened his grip on the prawn lining ¡°The smooth chicken slices is a classic dish. It emphasizes on having the chicken taste but not seeing the chicken pieces. It¡¯s smooth, tender, and fragrant. The taste is light and fresh.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°I¡¯ve prepared chicken soup, spring onions, ginger grains, chicken meat, fish meat, and water chestnut here.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know the ratio, you can basically use 25 grams of chicken meat, 5 grams of fish bass meat, 5 grams of water chestnut, 2 grams of onion grains, 1 grams of ginger grains, and 50 grams of clear chicken soup. You can add some salt into the machine and make it into a paste.¡± After turning on the switch, Xu Le covered the lid of the food processor with one hand. In less than half a minute, the chicken and fish meat had turned into white paste. ¡°The chicken meat itself is the most tender part of the back of the chicken body. Add the fish meat inside to increase the freshness and fragrance. The water chestnuts here are used to neutralize the dryness of the chicken. The traditional method is to use the back of the knife to hit it into paste. At home, you can totally use the food processor to reduce the hassle.¡± After all, with the development of technology, the food processor could make the paste smoother and more efficiently. ¡°Now, we¡¯ve reached the most crucial step. Prepare 200 grams of egg white and add it in batches into the chicken paste that has just been prepared. As you add it, stir it with your chopsticks. Add it bit by bit and stir it in one direction with the chopsticks. Don¡¯t stir the paste too hard, just spread it.¡± Xu Le explained to the camera, with the pair of chopsticks slowly and evenly matched in his hands. Soon, the egg white and chicken paste became one. ¡°Add a small amount of starch inside and make sure you don¡¯t too much. Otherwise, the texture will become hard. After mixing it up, sieve it and filter out the fibers inside.¡± ¡°Add five grams of ginger juice, five grams of yellow wine, 100 grams of clear chicken soup, salt, and MSG. Add them in moderation. The smooth chicken slices is particular about its light taste, so you can reduce the amount of each condiment. Lastly, add some starch to mix it evenly and you can put it aside.¡± Xu Le picked up the pot and poured some oil into it to start the fire. Taking advantage of this time, he opened the back of the prawn that Zhang Liang had just handled and used the back of the knife to break it. ¡°Hey, if you break it, won¡¯t the prawn meat be less tight?¡± ¡°The prawns can¡¯t be rolled up on the back. A few cuts will make it crispier.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much about cooking, don¡¯t lie to me.! Zhang Liang curled his lips. ¡°Hit the scallions and ginger once before dicing them up, so that it is more tasteful. Put the scallions and ginger into the bowl and soak it in the yellow wine, then pour it directly into the prawns to remove the fishy taste. Add salt and pepper powder, and marinate for about 20 minutes.¡± After he was done with the prawns, the oil on the side just happened to be 30-40% hot. Xu Le reached out his hand to feel the temperature on the pot and said, ¡°It¡¯s not difficult to cook the Smooth Chicken Slices. The most important thing is the heat. The oil must not be too hot. When you slide a spoonful of the paste into the pot, be careful not to spill the oil. Use the spoon to gently pull and spread it. It will be cooked without having to flip it.¡± ¡°As for the time, you just need to add them one piece at a time. Once the previous piece floats up, you should fish it out and remove its oil.¡± The chicken slices that had been added into the ladle were white and smooth. As they were easily cooked, Xu Le quickly finished lowering all the paste. The portion in the ladle was exactly the same amount on the plate. ¡°Add the sauce that I mixed just now and start a fire to let it simmer. Because of the starch inside, it will become thick very quickly. At this time, pour the chicken slices down and shake them a few times so that the chicken slices can be fully wrapped in the white sauce.¡± Xu Le reminded them to take note of the key points of the dish and said, ¡°Finally at the last step, don¡¯t use a spatula to pierce through the chicken and cause any deformities. When you¡¯re tossing the pan, remember to flip backward. Otherwise, the sauce will scald your hand.¡± He fished out the chicken slices and filled the plate with rosemary, instantly enhancing the color of the entire dish. Alex looked at it excitedly for a while and commented, ¡°It¡¯s so white.¡± He swallowed back the second half of his sentence of ¡®I wonder how tasty it will be¡¯. He frowned and changed the topic. ¡°I was just about to write an editorial column for you. Don¡¯t mess up on the show, or I won¡¯t be able to explain myself.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll try.¡± Xu Le replied casually. In fact, he had already reached the perfect standard for this dish. The oil temperature here was just right. Zhang Liang helped to peel off a few handfuls of garlic and was chopping it with two knives. His hands were sore from chopping, as he finally chopped the garlic into granules. He raised his eyebrows in confusion. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just smash it?¡±. How troublesome was this? ¡°I¡¯ll fry it together with the bread crust later. If it¡¯s too crushed, it¡¯ll turn into garlic paste. It won¡¯t taste as good anymore.¡± After cutting the garlic, he rinsed it with cold water. ¡°This step can lower the temperature and prevent the garlic from being burnt in the oil. At 30% of the oil temperature just now, pour the garlic into the pot and fry it.¡± With a sizzling sound, the garlic was added into the pot. The choking fragrance immediately burst out, causing Zhou Huangya to cough continuously. She fled to the side and said, ¡°Wow, this garlic smell is so pungent!¡± The surface of the garlic was slightly yellow and Xu Le immediately scooped it out and said, ¡°Once there¡¯s a light yellow color on the surface, pour out the oil immediately. Use a spoon to flip it. The remaining temperature will cause the garlic to change color bit by bit.¡± As expected, within a minute or so, the slightly yellow garlic was completely golden brown. The minced garlic would lose its spiciness after being fried, and when it was tasted later, all that would remain would be the crispiness and fragrance. ¡°Add a small layer of oil in the pot. Put in the Yangjiang bean paste and slowly stir-fry it until it¡¯s fragrant. Then put in the chili sauce and stir-fry it. After it slightly changes color, add some bread crust and chili. Add some red oil to it to enhance the color and fragrance. Now, add salt according to your own preference. Then, you may add chicken powder and 13-spices powder. After stir-frying it until it¡¯s evenly colored, put it aside.¡± ¡°Sprinkle corn starch on the marinated prawns, turn them over, and dip them again. Make sure that the prawns are wrapped in starch. This way, when they are fried, it will form a thick layer of crispy shell, making it even more dry and fragrant.¡± He cut the lotus root into slices and also dipped them in salt and corn starch. The temperature of the oil in the pot continued to rise until it was fifty percent hot. When one reached out and felt the heat, it would be ready to cook the prawns. Chapter 127 - Stir-fried Prawns Chapter 127 Stir-fried Prawns The shell of the prawn was thin and crispy. As it was wrapped in a layer of starch, after being cooked with scalding oil, it immediately turned into a tempting red color. ¡°The surface will turn white from the frying, and the starch on the outside will be cooked. Scoop it out to remove the oil. There will be a lot of residue in the oil this time, so you have to filter it again to remove the impurities.¡± ¡°The oil temperature would be a perfect match for frying lotus root slices now. Still at medium heat, fry the lotus root slices until they form a slight curl and the surface is slightly yellow. Then, you can fish them out.¡± ¡°Turn the heat to high and wait until the oil is 80% hot. Pour the prawns in to fry and you¡¯ll be able to fish them out in about 30 seconds.¡± Xu Le continued, ¡°The taste of stir-fried prawns and braised prawns are different. This dish focuses on the dry fragrance and compatibility with wine. It uses the simplest condiments to make the crispy yet chewy texture.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Alex laughed and teased, ¡°What kind of description is that? Aren¡¯t you contradicting yourself?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when you eat it later.¡± ¡°Add a little oil in the pot and stir-fry the onions. By cutting the onions into small slices, it will be easier to stir-fry them thoroughly. Add the crispy prawns in and enhance the flavor by adding light soy sauce. This will enhance the freshness of the gravy and the prawns. Add in the minced garlic that was fried just now, the bread crust, and the green and red peppers. Stir-fry everything over a small fire for a while.¡± At this moment, the pot was filled with golden and crispy ingredients and the fragrance of oil. ¡°When it¡¯s almost ready, add some lotus root slices into the pot. You still need to mix it evenly with the bread and stir-fry it to produce steam. This dish must not have a soft texture. Otherwise, it will be considered a failure.¡± This was a huge serving, and the plate prepared was also big. After the food was served, there was a shrimp tail that was placed straight on the tip of the little mountain of food. ¡°How long more until dinner starts? It¡¯s so sumptuous!¡± Zhou Huangya moved closer, almost drooling three times, her gluttony eyes beaming. Xu Le turned around to pick the coriander and prepared the next dish. He casually replied, ¡°At most half an hour. It¡¯ll be done soon.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Bai Xiaoming deliberately picked on her shortcomings. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that you wanted to lose weight and you weren¡¯t hungry at all?¡± ¡°I have the physique of not growing fatter from eating. Manager, do you have the cheek to criticize me? Every time Xu Le cooks the food, you are the one who eats the most.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Do you dare to go on the weighing scale? Let¡¯s see who¡¯s fatter.¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Zhang Liang held his arms together and laughed out loud. ¡°In the past week that Xu Le has been here, the shop has been so busy that not even a drop of water could trickle through. Even though we were so busy, we still managed to gain several kilograms of weight each. It¡¯s really amazing.¡± ¡°For the sake of food, we have to sacrifice something.¡± Zhou Huangya stared fixedly at the piece of beef in Xu Le¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Are you going to make the stir-fried beef that the manager ordered?¡± ¡°MMhmm.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like to eat coriander, but it¡¯s not completely unacceptable. If Xu Le were to cook, even his plate of coriander and stir-fry onions would definitely be delicious!¡± Zhou Huangya said confidently. ¡°Got it, Brother Liang. Pick some onions. I¡¯ll prepare Sister Zhou an extra dish!¡± Xu Le joked as Zhang Liang pretended to peel the scallion. Zhou Huangya pouted and glared at him. She looked exceptionally cute when she was fuming. ¡°We¡¯ll use the lean meat that doesn¡¯t have any tendons. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be too difficult to chew. Just follow the texture and cut it. It¡¯ll be fine as long as the thickness is just right.¡± As the camera panned forward, one could see that every piece of meat that Xu Le was cutting seemed to have been measured with a ruler. They were of equal thickness and size. ¡°Add the appropriate amount of oyster sauce, light soya sauce, yellow wine, and pepper to marinate evenly. In order to make the meat more tender, you can add a small amount of clear water during the marinating step and continue to mix until the beef has absorbed the liquid. Finally, add a circle of coriander oil and it can be placed at the side for about 15 to 20 minutes.¡± Xu Le took off his gloves and said, ¡°Now, to prepare the ingredients for this dish, cut the red and green peppers into slices with the knife. This way, the long and thin slices will be more flavorful and beautiful.¡± ¡°Cut garlic into strips, small celery into small pieces, and ginger slices. Also, the most important part of this dish, the coriander, will be cut into small pieces and placed aside. In order to enhance the depth and texture of the spicy and sour taste, I¡¯ve also prepared some pickled peppers to cut it into pieces.¡± ¡°Although stir-fried beef is a home-cooked dish, the taste can be enhanced by another level by focusing on the sequence and steps of the condiments. The difference between a professional chef and a home-cooked chef lies in the preciseness of their steps.¡± After the beef was marinated, a small amount of oil was poured into the pot, and white smoke began to rise because of the heat. After the marinated beef was put in, he used a metal ladle to casually spread it. The color immediately changed. After a few stir-frying, the tender beef was almost cooked. ¡°Give it a round of light soya sauce and season it a second time. When it completely changes color, scoop it out.¡± ¡°Now, stir-fry the ingredients, the peppers, the ginger and garlic. Then, add green and red peppers to increase the spiciness, then stir-fry it and pour in the soup base. It¡¯s the juice that had seeped out from the stir-fried beef. Then add in oyster sauce, sweet dark soya sauce.¡± ¡°This sweet dark soya sauce is sweeter than the usual dark soya sauce. When it fuses with the beef, it can stimulate the tender fragrance of the meat. After the ingredients and beef are completely cooked, add the chopped onions, celery, and coriander to stir-fry.¡± After a few more familiar shaking of the wok, the stir-fried beef was ready to be served. The spicy flavor of the chili peppers clashed with the flavor of the coriander. As soon as they were served, Zhou Huangya excitedly scooped the rice. Clearly, she could not wait any longer. ¡°The stir-fried beef looks like it¡¯s going to be eaten with a lot of rice. I¡¯ve prepared everything! Everyone, let¡¯s eat.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le removed his apron, but when everyone was busy bringing the dishes and food to the dining table outside, he put on his apron again and took out the ingredients that he had prepared. He removed the sides of four toast bread and soaked them in cold water. After they had turned soft from soaking, he squeezed them dry. ¡°Shh, I plan to give someone a small surprise. Don¡¯t make a fuss.¡± Xu Le lowered his voice. The cameramen and crew members nodded repeatedly as if they were being coaxed like a child. The interpreter said in a sweet voice, ¡°The little Master Chef is really a good child¡­¡± Xu Le lowered his head and explained in a low voice, ¡°This is the simplest cooking method I¡¯ve found and the taste is the closest to the traditional taste. I¡¯m intending to add four egg yolks to the softened bread. Once the eggs are stirred evenly, and the oil in the pot is heated up to 30%, the bread can be added. At the beginning, the shape of the bread will curl into a ball and not touch the sides of the pot.¡± ¡°Then, add sugar into it according to your own preference. It¡¯s best to add more sugar in. After it¡¯s wrapped up, add walnut, green and red carrots. After it¡¯s stir-fried evenly, it can be served.¡± Xu Le¡¯s movements were smooth and fluid, as if he had rehearsed every move meticulously. The staff were all stunned. When he poured the food into the plate, Alex happened to come in and said, ¡°Little Master Chef, you¡¯re acting like a big shot. We¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time. Why don¡¯t you come and eat?¡± ¡°You guys eat first. I¡¯ll wash my hands and come over immediately.¡± As expected, Alex did not think much of it and left. ¡°The four egg whites from earlier were beaten to form a thickened paste. There¡¯s no trick to this, just exert strength in your wrists and continuously whip with your chopsticks.¡± The thickened paste was formed after an egg white had been beaten continuously. It would be more fluffy and bigger when steamed. ¡°Steam it in the pot for just a few seconds.¡± Chapter 128 - Hitting The Nail Chapter 128 Hitting The Nail The green onions were cut and softened in the boiling water. After changing into a carving knife, the carrot was cut into the shape of a small and cute flower. ¡°After boiling the green onions, it will be soft enough to be used for plating. It will also remove the sticky texture and smell inside.¡± The flower had a green stem as it stood tall. Just like that, a dish of sweet, soft and fragrant Snowflake Peach Paste was ready. Xu Le carried it out and placed it on the table. Alex turned around to pick at the sweet garlic in the jar and commented, ¡°This garlic isn¡¯t sweet enough. Why don¡¯t you add more sugar in it when you marinate?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Zhang Liang almost laughed out loud at his self-righteous attitude. He snorted and ignored him, as Alex continued eating the garlic. When he noticed Xu Le, he quickly raised his hand and said, ¡°We are all waiting for you to start eating. We didn¡¯t even move our chopsticks and kept eating the side dishes. Quickly come and take a seat¡­ Eh?¡± At the end of his sentence, she finally saw the dish on the table. He was so shocked that his pitch even changed. ¡°Snowflake peach paste? Did you make it for me?!¡± ¡°Try it and see if it tastes authentic enough.¡± Alex was obviously looking forward to it, but he hugged his arms and leaned back. ¡°I won¡¯t blame you if the taste isn¡¯t good enough. After all, the little Master Chef only learned to prepare this at the last minute. You¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Zhang Liang interrupted him. He had a puzzled expression, just like everyone present who were doubtful. Alex loved to nitpick so much, he was practically the reincarnation of an argumentative person. How was he still able to become the editor-in-chief of a trending magazine? Furthermore, he was able to convince the production team to join him in making things difficult for Xu Le. After Bai Xiaoming served the last batch of customers outside, he came in to wash his hands and said, ¡°The dishes are all sold out today. Look, what¡¯s this?¡± As he spoke, he waved a thick stack of baht in front of them and said, ¡°Tomorrow, I shall bring you out to eat.¡± Zhou Huangya brought him a bowl of rice and said, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about tomorrow¡¯s matter tomorrow. Here¡¯s the stir-fried beef that you ordered, quickly try it. It¡¯ll definitely be a good match with rice.¡± Just from looking at the green coriander, one could tell that this dish was definitely delicious. Bai Xiaoming eagerly picked up a piece of beef with his chopsticks and placed it into his mouth. The beef was crisp, tender, and smooth. With a light bite, the fresh fragrance immediately overflowed. The aftertaste, along with a slight spiciness, stimulated his taste buds. He hungrily sucked in the rice and praised, ¡°How authentic!¡± Alex hadn¡¯t seen this store manager produce any shocking dishes that day. Hearing his comment, Alex dissed habitually, ¡°What kind of authentic are you referring to?¡± Bai Xiaoming paused for a moment before saying with a smile, ¡°The beef itself has a relatively old texture. Usually, it will be stewed until it melts in the mouth, so that it is loose and soft. Otherwise, it can be stir-fried to evaporate all the moisture, so that it tastes crispy and chewy, or it can be stir-fried in such a way that the beef is tender and fragrant. Combined with the fragrance of coriander, the taste produced will be the most authentic!¡± Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°Although stir-fried beef is a home-cooked dish, you can¡¯t miss a single detail when marinating it or controlling the heat. Otherwise, it will be very easy for it to taste hard.¡± Alex rolled his eyes indignantly and changed the topic. He pointed at the garlic chicken wing and said, ¡°This is a dish made from black garlic? Is it edible?¡± Xu Le said nonchalantly, ¡°You¡¯ll know once you try it. During the cooking process, the taste of the black garlic will dissipate. In the end, only the fragrance of the garlic remains.¡± ¡°If you eat too much garlic, your mouth will taste bad.¡± Alex started nitpicking again. His chopsticks began to move as he picked up a chicken wing and placed it in his bowl, carefully removing the garlic skin. Xu Le said, ¡°There¡¯s mouthwash over there. You can go brush your teeth, but I found a way to remove the garlic taste in your mouth recently.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Bai Xiaoming leaned over, his face full of curiosity. ¡°The method is to hold coconut oil in your mouth for 10 minutes before rinsing your mouth. After rinsing your mouth with warm water, you can remove the greasy feeling in your mouth. This way, there won¡¯t be any taste at all.¡± ¡°Coconut oil?¡± Alex raised his eyebrows. ¡°Coconut oil is not worth anything in my local town. Yet it has such an effect? I don¡¯t believe it.¡± No one paid any attention to him. Zhou Huangya¡¯s eyes were filled with the hibiscus chicken slices that she had ordered. The chicken slices on the plate were as white as jade and melted in her mouth. The taste was very light and it tasted smooth and tender. She opened her eyes wide and nodded repeatedly. ¡°It tastes awesome. The one I ate at that five-star restaurant last time wasn¡¯t as tender as yours!¡± ¡°Do you have any secret tips to making this dish? I feel that the steps are no different from the teachings on the Internet. But when I tried to make it at home, it just tastes like egg white stir-fried with onions and ginger.¡± ¡°Ultimately, the dishes that are served at the national banquet are mainly focused on the heat and the temperature of the oil. When I poured the gravy into the pan just now, I flipped the pan backwards. When the oil is hot enough, I just need to flip it a few times. The frying must ensure that the meat is tender enough, or it won¡¯t taste right if it is overcooked.¡± ¡°Flip backwards?¡± Zhou Huangya stuffed a few more mouthfuls into her mouth and thought about it carefully. Xu Le had indeed used the backward flipping method to cook just now, but it seemed to be very taxing. She casually asked, ¡°Can¡¯t you flip forward?¡± ¡°The back flip can prevent the gravy from splashing on your face. There¡¯s no other reason for that.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± After Zhou Huangya cleared most of the food on her plate, she turned her attention to the Snowflake Peach Paste, feeling slightly embarrassed. After taking a bite, she frowned and put down her chopsticks. ¡°Is this dessert?¡± ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t it delicious?¡± Zhou Huangya shook her head. ¡°Not really, I can¡¯t describe it.¡± Alex took a bite of the chicken wing. The crispy and fragrant chicken skin, the tender and juicy chicken meat, and the spicy and garlic flavor rushed into his mouth. It was an indescribable delicacy. He didn¡¯t mind being shamed in the face and immediately took a few more bites. After he finished chewing the bones, he said excitedly, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect black garlic to be so delicious. Look, your sweet garlic has completely lost to it!¡± He was obviously trying to instigate a fight. Zhang Liang, who was currently lowering his head to eat the vinegar cabbage, choked. Then, he replied with a high EQ, ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s why I¡¯m eating the vinegar cabbage that I made. Otherwise, if it was the only dish left, it would make me lose face.¡± Xu Le frowned slightly. For the first time, he felt a little disgusted by Alex. He said, ¡°The vinegar cabbage was cooked over perfect heat control. It¡¯s light and not greasy, and the garlic is sufficiently marinated. It¡¯s sweet, crispy, and not spicy. You¡¯re not a professional food taste, so stop singing high praises for one dish and criticizing another.¡± He smiled and said the second half of his sentence jokingly. Unexpectedly, Alex seemed to have been hit in the heart. His face turned pale, and everyone looked at each other in shock. It was halfway through the meal, and all the plates were almost empty except for the snowflake peach paste. Bai Xiaoming was arranging the schedule for the next day, and everyone was talking excitedly about where they were going to go. Whereas Alex stood up and left quietly. Xu Le¡¯s unintentional comment caused a knot to form in his heart. He quietly followed Alex. Alex was sitting by the flower bed in the backyard. When he heard the footsteps, he did not look up. ¡°You¡­¡± Chapter 129 - Uncle, Act More Normally Chapter 129 Uncle, Act More Normally Xu Le wanted to ask if he was really angry. However, he realized that with Alex¡¯s personality, he would definitely not admit it. He could only say, ¡°You haven¡¯t tried the snowflake peach paste I made for you. Why are you here?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Alex lowered his head and played with his phone. It was completely dark outside, and the light from the eaves and the light from his phone shone on his face. Xu Le did not know if it was his illusion, but he felt that the other party¡¯s eyes were red. ¡°Just now¡­¡± Xu Le wanted to explain that what he just said was unintentional. However, Alex stood up with a relieved expression and said, ¡°I¡¯ll send a message to my staff. Let¡¯s go back and continue eating.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe no one ate my snowflake peach paste.¡± Xu Le started the conversation by mocking himself. ¡°Seriously?¡± Alex said in a light tone, ¡°You cook so well. Logically speaking, your food shouldn¡¯t be so bad tasting that it¡¯s inedible even if you fail, right?¡± He suddenly stopped being argumentative and started to seriously evaluate Xu Le¡¯s cooking. When he stopped nitpicking, Xu Le found it hard to get used to it. He said, ¡°Uncle, act more normally.¡± ¡°How am I abnormal?¡± Alex burst into laughter and returned to the dining table. That day¡¯s recording ended early, so all the guests lowered their heads and fiddled with their phones. Zhou Huangya noticed Xu Le and quickly said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to wash the dishes. I¡¯ll do it later. Oh right, has the editor-in-chief and your work ended?¡± ¡°Not yet, I should be having a solo interview Xu Le later.¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t decided on the date yet, but we need the headquarters to come up with a proposal overnight.¡± Alex replied in a relaxed manner. He used a spoon to dig a large mouthful of snowflake peach paste and placed it into his mouth. In an instant, he could taste the sweet fragrance and the walnut kernels were chewy. It was like a typical Chinese cake. His thoughts were pulled away in an instant. He savored it carefully for a while before saying, ¡°The last time I ate it was more than ten years ago. At that time, I had just graduated and entered the work industry. Snowflake peach paste is also quite expensive. Usually, I have to scrimp and save for a long time before I could buy it. Later on, when I had money and had gone back to buy it, that stall had long closed down.¡± ¡°Mm? So, is it delicious?¡± Xu Le felt nervous for the first time as he waited in anticipation for his feedback. ¡°Of course! It tastes exactly the same as what I tasted before.¡± The snowflake peach paste was a typical Chinese dessert, and it suited the taste of the older generation. It was fragrant and sweet, with walnuts in it, so it was especially chewy. At that time, most people were poor. It was already very rare for them to be able to eat sweet food with strong flavors. Times had changed. Nowadays, most people liked desserts that were ¡°not too sweet. As the tastes of the old and new generation were different, everyone who had tried it earlier only praised the other dishes and skipped the snowflake peach paste. It was not that it was not delicious, but it did not suit their taste. Alex began to savor the remaining half of the snowflake peach paste with a spoon. Xu Le heaved a sigh of relief. The last time he doubted his culinary skills was when he lost to an unknown chef, Chen Xian. He thought that Alex¡¯s impression of the dessert was still stuck in the taste of his memory. Even if the taste was replicated, it would still be different from what he remembered. He did not expect him to like it so much. After that day¡¯s recording, Alex looked at the time after he finished his meal. He went up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going back. You can come with me, so that you don¡¯t have to make another trip for the interview tomorrow.¡± Xu Le was about to call Lu Yuxi when he heard this. He smiled and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that I have to wait for your team¡¯s proposal?¡± ¡°No need, let¡¯s go directly.¡± Alex suddenly changed his mind. Before he left, the production team even pushed the translator out and asked her to go with Xu Le. In the car, Alex was arguing with the employees in Thai. The translator lowered her voice and said to Xu Le, ¡°KL is considered a trendy entertainment magazine. It has a high sales and the electronic version is highly anticipated every month. If you are having their interview, you must prepare well. Don¡¯t be nervous!¡± Xu Le put on his earphones and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not nervous.¡± The call went through and Lu Yuxi, who had two dark circles under her eyes, said weakly, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°How many days have you not slept? Look at your panda eye¡­¡± ¡°Xu Le!¡± Lu Yuxi raised her voice and said angrily, ¡°Do you know how scary the queue in the store has been recently? Even the suppliers have changed from a minivan to a mini truck to deliver the ingredients. The store is packed every day like sardines. It¡¯s too terrifying!¡± After Lu Yuxi finished complaining, she waved at Xu Tian and said, ¡°Tiantian, do you want to talk to your brother?¡± III There was no reply. Lu Yuxi craned her neck to take a look and said, ¡°Your sister is brushing her teeth. Wait a minute. Oh right, when is your flight?¡± ¡°Tomorrow night. Has Tiantian been obedient at home recently?¡±. Lu Yuxi raised her hand to scratch her head and said, ¡°Actually, you weren¡¯t gone for a long time to film the show, but why do I feel like you¡¯ve been gone for so long? Come back quickly. I have something on in a few days, so I can¡¯t take care of Tiantian¡­ Eh?¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. She stared straight at the backview of the person at the front seat and whispered, ¡°I think that person looks very familiar. He looks like someone from KL.¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°You know about him?¡± ¡°Of course. Who hasn¡¯t chased after celebrities when they were young? I was so into him back then¡­¡± Halfway through their conversation, Lu Yuxi¡¯s expression froze.¡± Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to have a magazine interview?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°KL¡¯s magazine interview?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Lu Yuxi sucked in a breath of cold air and said, ¡°Although I quite like that magazine, I know what kind of people they are. Especially that editor-in-chief. He loves to see the world in chaos. Every time, he would write a caption that captures people¡¯s attention. You have to be careful. Can you really not turn him down?¡± Her words enlightened Xu Le. He finally knew why Alex always seemed so argumentative. Since he was already in the car, it would be difficult for him to escape. Hence, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will take note of that.¡± Besides, he wasn¡¯t a celebrity and didn¡¯t have so many concerns. After chatting for a while more, Xu Tian, who had brushed her teeth, appeared in front of the camera with white foam at the corner of her mouth. When she saw her brother, her eyes turned into crescent moons. She asked in a childlike voice, ¡°Brother, when are you coming back?¡± ¡°Very soon. Two days at most. Has Tiantian been doing her homework recently?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± An unnatural expression appeared on Xu Tian¡¯s face. ¡°Brother, when will Daddy and Mommy be back from their trip?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Xu Le looked at his sister¡¯s innocent expression and was lost for words. Unexpectedly, Xu Tian pursed her lips and teardrops the size of soybeans fell from her eyes. She said, ¡°Does Daddy and Mommy not want us anymore?¡± Chapter 130 - Yang Chun Noodles Chapter 130 Yang Chun Noodles ¡°How can that be!¡± Xu Le and Lu Yuxi, who were on both ends of the call, were at a loss at the same time. Lu Yuxi hurriedly took a tissue to wipe the tears off Xu Tian¡¯s face and laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much¡­¡± Xu Le, who was on the other end of the call, sighed helplessly. He frowned and tried to comfort his sister. ¡°Tiantian, don¡¯t be afraid. Dad and Mom have just gone to study. It¡¯s the same as you going to kindergarten. They¡¯ll be back after some time.¡± Xu Tian¡¯s eyes were red from crying. There were beads of water on her long eyelashes and mist in her grape-like eyes. She asked softly, ¡°Brother, really?¡± ¡°MMhmm.¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true! When has your brother ever lied to you?¡± Lu Yuxi immediately chimed in. After coaxing Xu Tian to calm down, she reached out to hang up the phone and said, ¡°Come back and take care of Tiantian after your filming. She hasn¡¯t been in a good mood recently and misses her parents.¡± ¡°Alright, got it.¡± After hanging up the phone, Xu Le was still frowning. He leaned against the seat and looked at the night scenery outside. Smelling the perfume in the car, he thought, ¡°It¡¯s really Alex¡¯s style of perfume.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who called you?¡± Alex suddenly turned around and asked. Xu Le glanced at the words on his phone screen and guessed that it was the interview contents. He said, ¡°My sister, it¡¯s nothing serious. She just misses me and wants me to go back quickly.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s pretty good.¡± Alex looked up again and said with envy, ¡°Your parents are both chefs and went to France to further their studies. Will your sister follow the same path in the future?¡± ¡°Ah, she¡¯s still in kindergarten. Who knows what will happen in the future?¡± Xu Le answered casually. Soon, the car stopped at the entrance of the headquarters of ¡®KL¡¯. When he looked up, the huge signboard showed the exaggerated expressions of two artists. The interpreter took a look and explained in a low voice, ¡°It¡¯s a scandalous news. It seems to be an affair scandal. KL has always been like this. It only cares about viewership and not their reputation. Be careful later. Don¡¯t let them dig a trap for you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le looked at the back view of Alex and was brought to the interview room by the staff. A quarrel broke out outside, and Alex¡¯s voice was especially loud. However, Xu Le could not understand any of the Thai language that they were using ¡°What are they arguing about?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s because they brought you here without notice, so the questions and procedures of the interview have not been sorted out yet.¡± The moment the interpreter finished speaking, a smiling staff member walked in and said in fluent Chinese, ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Then, he looked at Xu Le and was slightly stunned. He said in surprise, ¡°You¡¯re so young? Wow! It can¡¯t be real!¡± Xu Le replied calmly, ¡°Since I¡¯m sitting here, of course it¡¯s real.¡± The next question he asked was about how Xu Le had become a chef and his opinion of his title as a culinary genius. Although he looked like a nine-year-old child, his thinking was meticulous and his answers were flawless, perfectly avoiding the traps they dug. After all the questions were answered, Xu Le heaved a sigh of relief. The translator sitting beside him finally relaxed. When the staff member left, she could not help but say, ¡°They did not make things difficult for you. Is it because you are a child?¡±. Xu Le gave her a puzzled look. The interpreter lowered her voice and said, ¡°KL likes to create controversial and eye-catching topics. Sometimes, it can even cause public controversy. It seems that the editor-in-chief is taking good care of you.¡± ¡°Alex?¡± Xu Le stood up and stretched his legs. ¡°Then I really have to thank him.¡± After the interview, the staff members who had stayed behind at KL headquarters finally got off work. The entire floor was brightly lit, and a few women were sitting at the computer desks eating instant noodles and chatting. Xu Le couldn¡¯t understand what they were talking about, but he didn¡¯t think it was anything good, because the translator¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°They said that you might be putting on a show. You pulled strings to join the programme to increase your reputation. You¡¯re too young and definitely don¡¯t know how to cook¡­ Tsk, they¡¯re too short-sighted.¡± The translator complained angrily. At this moment, Alex, who was carrying a cup of instant noodles, walked over. He smiled happily and said, ¡°It¡¯s quite late. You must be tired. Do you want to go back or should I book a hotel for you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a boss, yet is that all you eat?¡± ¡°Hahaha.¡± Alex produced a self-mocking laugh. ¡°You think too highly of me. I¡¯m just an employee. I can¡¯t wait any longer for takeout, so I¡¯ll just make do with a bite.¡± He was the best at observing people¡¯s expressions. When he saw Xu Le raise his eyebrows, he immediately went along with the flow and said, ¡°There¡¯s a small kitchen in the company, but everyone has basically never used anything except the microwave. I don¡¯t know if there are any ingredients, why don¡¯t we trouble the little Master Chef to cook something?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le agreed readily. They took the elevator to a rest area on the 13th floor. They walked further in and saw a very small L-shaped kitchen through the black invisible door. Fortunately, the kitchen was well-equipped with cooking utensils. There was a refrigerator, oven, and other basic equipment beside it. Xu Le looked around and felt a little disappointed. Apart from a bag of unopened noodles in the drawer, there was not a single piece of fresh vegetables. As the saying goes, a skilled wife cannot cook without rice. He scratched his earlobe and looked troubled. This was completely within Alex¡¯s expectations. He felt quite helpless that he couldn¡¯t eat the food cooked by a top-notch chef. He shrugged and said, ¡°See, I told you that they don¡¯t use anything except the microwave. No one prepared any ingredients¡­¡± ¡°I found these two ingredients.¡± Xu Le opened a bag of dried prawn and found a jar containing lard. He said, ¡°It¡¯s enough. There are also condiments that can be used. Can you count the number of people? I can prepare supper for all of them.¡± Alex took a bite of the instant noodles and asked in surprise, ¡°You¡¯re going to prepare something with just these?¡± Won¡¯t it look too pathetic? What if the workers laugh at you? However, he didn¡¯t finish the second half of his sentence. Instead, he said gently, ¡°What can these three things be used to make?¡± ¡°Yang Chun noodles.¡± Xu Le rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands. ¡°Yang Chun noodles is also called bald noodles. It means that there are no side ingredients in the dish.¡± Chapter 131 - The Same Taste Chapter 131 The Same Taste ¡°There¡¯s such a thing?¡± Alex took a sip of the instant noodle soup and placed it on the table beside him. ¡°But the Yang Chun noodles I ate at the Chinese restaurant last time had eggs and prawns in it. There was a huge variety of ingredients inside. The soup is even made from bone broth.¡± Xu Le placed a handful of dried prawn into the cold water. After washing off the dirt, he said, ¡°Different regions have different ways of cooking it. As long as the traditional taste can be passed down, there¡¯s no need to be so inflexible. Besides, I really don¡¯t have any ingredients.¡± He poured cold water onto the prawn in the pot and started the fire. He said, ¡°First, heat up the base soup and let the taste of the prawn seep out. After it¡¯s boiled, add some noodles into it. When it¡¯s boiled again, add half a bowl of cold water.¡± Just like that, he boiled the noodles twice. The noodles rolled under the light brown soup, and a hint of freshness floated out. wns ¡°The seasoning of the Yang Chun noodles is very simple. When the noodles are almost cooked, add some salt, pepper, chicken juice, sugar, soy sauce and lard.¡± Xu Le scooped some soup with a spoon and said, ¡°Try it. How does it taste?¡± Alex looked at the overly simple noodles and subconsciously felt that it would not taste delicious. However, because Xu Le was the one who made it, he still held high expectations. He took a sip of the soup with a nervous heart. The fragrance of the prawn had completed integrated with the soup. With the addition of the lard to freshen it up, the taste was enhanced. It slid into his stomach, causing him to immediately feel warm. Xu Le turned off the stove. When he saw Alex¡¯s expressionless face, he thought that his cooking had failed. He said, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Give me some feedback.¡± Alex stood rooted to the ground, reasonably suspecting that he had been working too hard for too long and had become stupid. The him just now was like an empty shell that had suddenly been injected with a fresh source of energy. His entire body was suddenly ¡°alive¡± from his mouth to his stomach. Although he had eaten many of Xu Le¡¯s delicious dishes before, this ordinary soup made Alex feel extremely shocked and no longer tired. ¡°It¡¯s delicious! It¡¯s especially fresh and just nice, not too salty.¡± ¡°That will do.¡± me Xu Le scooped up the noodles, scooped some soup, and sprinkled some small onions on top. A bowl of plain-looking Yang Chun noodles was ready. When Alex served the noodles to his colleagues, everyone gathered around him. When they saw the noodles, they took it on account that he was the boss. In reality, they were stirring the noodles with their chopsticks, not wanting to eat it. The interpreter also received a bowl. She quickly thanked Xu Le and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be able to eat your food.¡± In the past few days that she had been with the production team, she had been watching Xu Le make all sorts of difficult delicacies. It was a pity that she had not been able to eat a single bite. She was almost becoming sick from her immense regrets. ¡°Mmm~!¡± The interpreter took a bite of the noodles. The chewy and smooth noodles slid into her mouth, and she couldn¡¯t wait to swallow them after chewing for a while. She then took another big gulp of soup. The Yang Chun noodles was fresh and smooth. After half a bowl of steaming hot noodles, one could forget about their fatigue and feel a great satisfaction inside. When Alex realized that he was not the only one feeling this way, he urged his employees, ¡°Hurry up and try it. It tastes really good! Xu Le specially made it just now. Everyone has a share.¡± Some employees curled their lips and pointed at their cups of instant noodles on the table, saying, ¡°Boss, I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± ¡°Me too. I¡¯ve already prepared the instant noodles.¡± The interpreter had always been protective of Xu Le. When she heard this, she frowned and said, ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t want to eat can give it to me.¡± Finally, someone lowered his head and took a sip of the soup. He immediately beamed with joy and asked in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s inside?¡± Alex said, ¡°Dried shrimp and lard.¡± ¡°Just those two? Impossible!¡± The employee took another sip of the noodles skeptically. Then, he immediately picked up his chopsticks and tasted it. After gulping down half a bowl of noodles, he happily stood up and said, ¡°I really admire you. How can a bowl of ordinary noodles be made so delicious!¡± Just now, someone had deliberately challenged the interpreter and pushed his own bowl to her. Now that he heard his colleagues¡¯ unanimous praise, he sang a different tune. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t make it look like you haven¡¯t eaten noodles. It looks so bland. What¡¯s so good about it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s really super fresh! The noodles are cooked just right, tough yet soft.¡± ¡°It¡¯s 100 times better than the instant noodles I just ate!¡± ¡°Is it made in the company¡¯s kitchen? I want to try cooking as well tomorrow!¡± ¡°I¡¯m so satisfied. No wonder he¡¯s a Master Chef!¡± Although Xu Le couldn¡¯t understand what they were saying, he could tell from their expressions that they really liked this Yang Chun noodles. Hence, he heaved a sigh of relief and happily finished his simple supper with everyone before returning to the filming location. It was already late at night. Alex was worried, so he personally sent them back. ¡°Don¡¯t treat me like a child. It¡¯s not an issue for the two of us to go back ourselves. We¡¯ll definitely understand the navigation guide.¡± Before getting into the car, Xu Le reminded him. Unexpectedly, Alex said with a serious face, ¡°I don¡¯t treat you as a child. What kind of child has your talent and maturity? I have carefully chosen¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, there was a knock on the car window. After rolling down the car window, the people outside waved at Alex and brought him some snacks. ¡°I bought two more sets. Here, please be kind on us for the interview tomorrow.¡± That person said with a gentle voice and a smile. Alex responded politely and accepted the food. When he closed the car window, Xu Le looked up and their eyes met. His eyes were round and clear, exuding a sense of clarity and craftiness. He smiled at Xu Le. ¡°Who is he?¡± Xu Le asked subconsciously after being stared at. ¡°A business partner who has been doing scientific research. His advertisement in KL isn¡¯t big. I heard he spent a lot of money on marketing for himself. It seems like he¡¯s going to launch a new product.¡± Alex wasn¡¯t hungry at all. He glanced at the contents of the bag and asked, ¡°Do you want some?¡± Xu Le had just finished his supper and wanted to reject the offer, but he unexpectedly took it. He opened the bag and saw that it was filled with radish pickles and chicken soup. ¡°It smells so good.¡± The interpreter leaned over and said, ¡°Why are there only plastic bags and no styrofoam boxes?¡± ¡°There are no boxes for takeaway in Thailand. They¡¯re just packed in plastic bags and paper bags.¡± Alex replied. Xu Le did not intend to eat it initially, but when he smelled the familiar taste of the chicken soup, he could not help but taste it with a spoon. Immediately, his expression changed and he took another bite with uncertainty. Alex observed his odd behavior in the rearview mirror. ¡°Hmm? Is it delicious?¡± ¡°¡­How should I put it?¡± Xu Le said, ¡°I opened a store in China and one of our signature dish is a Pot of Chicken Soup. The taste of this chicken soup is exactly the same as the one in my shop.¡± ¡°What a coincidence!¡± Alex said excitedly, ¡°When I have the chance to return someday, you have to treat me to a meal at your restaurant.¡± ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll definitely waive your bill.¡± Xu Le then thought, ¡°I¡¯ve never been stingy with sharing my recipe. I usually teach on the video platform. It¡¯s normal for someone to learn it. The taste is really good. It must have been cooked by an experienced chef. It¡¯s really rare to encounter such authentic taste at a Thai Chinese restaurant.¡± When he returned, it was already late at night. After Xu Le washed up hastily, he collapsed on the soft bed and fell into a deep sleep. He was woken up by a fragrance. When he turned his head, the glaring sunlight shone through the gaps of the curtains. Xu Le immediately no longer felt sleepy and looked at his watch. It was already 2 PM! Chapter 132 - Garlic Crayfish Chapter 132 Garlic Crayfish ¡°Morning!¡± ¡°What morning?¡± Zhang Liang elbowed Bai Xiaoming who was greeting Xu Le and corrected him, ¡°Good afternoon!¡± Xu Le scratched his head and said awkwardly, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me up? I slept until now¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? It¡¯s a rest day anyway. Besides, you didn¡¯t return until late last night. Alex is also quite inconsiderate about you, after all you¡¯re still a child.¡± Zhang Liang curled his lips and grumbled. Then, he lifted the ingredients in his hand and said excitedly, ¡°Look, we went to buy some sumptuous ingredients. We plan on making you a farewell banquet.¡± SU §°? Xu Le was flattered and responded with a ¡®mmhmm¡¯. Zhou Huangya smiled and said, ¡°Go and wash up. Don¡¯t need to rush, your hair has even turned into a nest.¡± Although they had not known each other for long, the permanent guests on the show had been taking good care of Xu Le and everyone was on good terms. Around three o¡¯clock, the kitchen returned to its usual liveliness. Xu Le tidied up and went in. He couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°You guys bought so much?¡±. Crabs, pork, mandarin fish, clams, crayfish, tofu, and so on were placed on the table. There was also a bundle of green stuff in the plastic bag next to it. Xu Le walked closer to take a look and realized that it was spring bamboo shoots and lettuce. They were bright green and looked extremely fresh. ¡°I bought that at the market price. It looks fresh to me, but unfortunately, I don¡¯t know what to make¡­ Should I just stir-fry it?¡± ¡°Spring bamboo shoots are seasonal vegetables. They¡¯re so fresh. It¡¯s a pity to stir-fry them. Let me simmer some rice.¡± ¡°Simmer with rice?¡± Zhang Liang asked in puzzlement, ¡°What¡¯s the point of cooking plain white rice? I¡¯m preparing to cook garlic crayfish. There are already so many dishes, we should just boil some soup. Otherwise we won¡¯t be able to finish all the food if you cooked rice.¡± ¡°No. This rice can be a staple and also a dish. It has a refreshing taste and is quite good.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhang Liang saw him roll up his sleeves, and a look of interest formed on his face. He mumbled, ¡°I don¡¯t believe that white rice will be as delicious as garlic crayfish. Hehe, before you leave, I¡¯ll definitely beat you once.¡± Xu Le smiled and did not say much. After washing the rice in a suitable amount of water, he soaked it in clear water. ¡°You have to soak it for more than two hours so that the rice grains will be crystal clear and loose after cooking. Now, prepare some salted meat and find a piece of pork belly that¡¯s not too fat or lean. Use some white wine with a higher alcohol content to rub and smooth the meat out. Wait for half an hour for the fragrance of the wine to permeate into it.¡± ¡°Add a small plate of pepper and snowflake salt into the pot and stir-fry. Turn off the fire and let it cool.¡± ¡°Remove the outer layer of the spring bamboo shoot. The tip of the bamboo shoot is the most tender and delicious part. Cut it into small slices for use later. Retains the roots of the lettice. Then cut it into pieces of the same size.¡± ¡°The soybean skin is softer and more resilient after being soaked in warm water. Then wrap it into a knot.¡± After Xu Le finished processing the ingredients, the pork belly had already been marinated with the wine. He rubbed the salt mixed with pepper evenly on the surface of the pork before moving a stone from the courtyard. After washing it with water, he pressed it against meat through a layer of kitchen cloth. Zhang Liang, who was chopping garlic, jumped in fright and said, ¡°Where did you get this big fellow from!? This step is¡­ crushing the salted meat?¡± ¡°Yes, squeeze out the moisture in the meat and then use it to make porridge.¡± ¡°Everyone, remember to soak the ceramic pot in water to prevent it from cracking.¡± After Xu Le prepared the ingredients, he picked up the flower crab at the side and said, ¡°Should I steam it or braise it? Or¡­ make a stir-fried onion crab?¡± The stir-fried onion crab would taste tender and not fishy. It contained the scent of condiments and was especially suitable for making flower crabs. Zhang Liang was especially assured of Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills. He only said, ¡°You can watch over the crabs. I¡¯ll be in charge of the crayfish.¡± After washing the belly and back of the crayfish, the head of the crayfish was cut open and pulled downwards. The crayfish meat was removed and only the egg was left inside, and their small feet were removed. Finally, the insides were removed and the back of the crayfish was cut open to make it more flavorful. Zhang Liang was done peeling the garlic and was about to crush it out of habit when he was stopped by Xu Le. ¡°If it¡¯s crushed, it will reduce the original fragrance of the garlic. It¡¯s better to cut it directly with a knife or use a garlic stirrer.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a method?¡± Zhang Liang was skeptical, but deep in his heart, he was already convinced by Xu Le¡¯s superb culinary skills. As he picked up a knife and continued chopping, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll still do as you say. After all, you¡¯re a child from a family with cooking background.¡± Xu Le wanted to say something but hesitated. He could tell that he wanted to lead the conversation to his parents. He only smiled and did not say anything. After the garlic was chopped up, it was washed a few times with clear water to remove the starch inside. Firstly, it was to prevent its bitterness, and secondly, it lowered the temperature so that the oil will splatter less and catch fire when cooking. The fresh ginger was diced and red peppers were sliced to add some color. He poured some oil into the pot and boiled it until it was smoking. Then, he poured the crayfish into the pot and fried it. Xu Le continuined cutting the scallions and ginger. He watched as the crayfish in the pot changed from dark brown to red. Gradually, its tail curled up. He could not help but reminded softly, ¡°That¡¯s enough. The heat is strong enough.¡± Zhang Liang, who was staring blankly at the boiling hot pot of oil, woke up from his daze. He hurriedly scooped out the crayfish and filtered the oil. When the oil temperature dropped slightly, he immediately put in garlic and stir-fried it until the color changed. Then, he poured in the diced ginger and red pepper. ¡°I only poured in half of the garlic in the pot. There¡¯s still half portion left. I¡¯ll add it when it¡¯s ready to be served, so that it¡¯ll increase the garlic fragrance.¡± He added the appropriate amount of garlic chili sauce after stir-frying the spices to increase the color. Then, he poured the crayfish into the sauce and stir-fried it evenly before adding an suitable amount of beer. After the fire was started, the food simmered for about ten minutes. The alcohol was almost all evaporated and had completely removed the fishy smell of the crayfish. Zhang Liang opened the lid and let out a ¡°wow¡±. He made a provoking remark to Xu Le, ¡°The dish I make today will definitely beat yours.¡± He said in a half-joking tone. Xu Le curled his lips nonchalantly. ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see then.¡± Zhang Liang poured some white sugar, chicken essence, aged vinegar, seasoning, and mixed the remaining garlic evenly in. He then stir-fried the diced garlic and added some starch to thicken the gravy. The fragrance of crayfish filled the kitchen. Even Zhou Huangya, who was sweeping the yard outside, couldn¡¯t help but lean over the window to take a look, saying, ¡°It smells so good, Xu Le, what dish are you making today?¡± ¡°How is he the one who made it? I made it! The garlic crayfish smells good, right?¡± ¡°Awesome.¡± Zhou Huangya gave him a thumbs up perfunctorily and stared at Xu Le. ¡°Are you making a crab?¡± ¡°Yeah, do you have anything else you want to eat?¡± Zhou Huangya could not help but secretly drool at the thought of Xu Le¡¯s hibiscus chicken slices. She said with a reserved look on her face, ¡°How could I do that? You¡¯re our guest and I¡¯ve been troubling you these past few days¡­ Erm, do you know about butterfly crisp?¡± ¡°Yo, you really know how to eat. It¡¯s even sold out at the Michelin dessert shop. There¡¯s even a long queue for it, so you can¡¯t buy it even if you want to.¡± Zhang Liang put his hands on his hips and said sarcastically, ¡°If Xu Le knows how to make it, won¡¯t those stores go out of business?¡± Zhou Huangya retorted, ¡°Hmph, what if he really knows?¡± Chapter 133 - Stir-fried onion crab Chapter 133 Stir-fried onion crab He was actually trying to give Xu Le a way out. After all, the palmier was a complicated dish and the failure rate was extremely high. It was front of the cameras, it would definitely ruin his reputation. ¡°Palmier?¡± Xu Le thought about it seriously. He seemed to have learned it in the system when he was in a daze before falling asleep. ¡°Do you know?¡± Zhou Huangya¡¯s eyes lit up like a gluttony cat. ¡°I can try.¡± ¡°You even know how to make such complicated dessert?¡± Zhang Liang drew a cold breath and counted with his fingers. ¡°After you came here, excluding the national banquet dishes that you made, you have already made Sichuan, Lu, Cantonese and Huaiyang dishes. You can even make desserts now?¡± ¡°A little.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®a little¡¯? Don¡¯t be so humble!¡± Zhang Liang wailed. He was even more certain that his title of ¡°Little Master Chef¡± was well-deserved. After the blood was squeezed out of the marinated meat, Xu Le put it into the dryer and said, ¡°The marinated meat should be sprinkled with salt and soaked in water. It will only become hard after two weeks or so, but I don¡¯t have the time to wait for that, so I¡¯ll just put it in the dryer. The texture won¡¯t be too difference once it¡¯s ready.¡± After processing the marinated meat, he started cutting the crabs. ¡°Today, I am using an orchid crab. I am using a kitchen knife to cut open the crab¡¯s abdomen and remove the lung inside. That¡¯s the crab¡¯s gasket.¡± ¡°Remove the impurities and wash them clean. Then chop away the crab¡¯s sharp pincers and pat the crab¡¯s legs a little so that it will be more flavorful during the cooking process.¡± ¡°The processed crabs will then be marinated with salt for ten minutes.¡± ¡°The condiments I just prepared are diced ginger, a large onion and its green section. Then we shall begin to mix the sauce, in the ratio of 1 oyster sauce to 5 yellow wine, and stir evenly.¡± ¡°The process of cooking this dish is very simple. Everyone only needs to pick the best quality and fresh orchid crabs, and you won¡¯t fail. Add dry starch to the marinated crab at the incision area, then bring them to the ceramic pot. After pouring in some oil and heating it up, place the side with the starch into the pot, same goes for the crab legs.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he demonstrated. Zhang Liang looked as the crab legs in the pot stretched outwards. He could not help but tease, ¡°chaotic dancing.¡± ¡°Haha, it doesn¡¯t look good. But it will be delicious later.¡± He sprinkled the chopped scallions and ginger grains. ¡°Close the lid and let the small fire simmer for five to six minutes. During the process, to prevent the pot from getting burnt, you can be pour some edible oil in from the edge of the pot.¡± ¡°When the time is up, remove the lid and stir-fry it to prevent it from sticking to the pot. Now, you can sprinkle the sauce that was prepared just now into the pot and add a suitable amount of salt. Then, stew it for three minutes. When it is ready to be served, sprinkle some green onions, ginger and the stir-fried onion crab will be complete.¡± The dishes were ready and the rice was almost soaked. Xu Le placed the spring bamboo shoots into the boiling water and blanched it, while saying, be blanched in advance. The pork belly must be marinated with rice wine for a few minutes to remove the fishy smell.¡± After the pork belly was marinated, Xu Le cut it into smaller pieces and said, ¡°The fresh meat needs to be cut a little bigger because it will shrink during the frying process¡­ Before adding the meat into the pot, sprinkle some salt and season it. After it¡¯s pan-fried, the pot will be full of essence.¡± He scooped out a piece of meat and added fresh water. He rinsed the essence in the pot before pouring out the stewed rice. ¡°This is the best way to let the meat fragrance permeate the rice. I learned it from an old chef.¡± It was Zhang Tong from the Heavenly Restaurant. Earlier, when he came to the Eight-year-old canteen to eat, the two of them had unintentionally started to chat, and he revealed the secret that made the pickled cabbage rice become the Heavenly Restaurant¡¯s signature dish. ¡°Pour out the water that used for soaking in the cermaic pot just now and pour in the rice that has been soaked. Then add this bowl of essence water and use chopsticks to scatter the rice grains.¡± ¡°When steaming rice, the water level needs to be about two centimeters above the surface of the rice. Use chopsticks to disperse the rice, so that the heat from the lower layer can rush to the upper layer. There¡¯s also a name for the water that was added in just now. It sounds especially high-end, called the Melard Soup. If the soup isn¡¯t enough, some fresh water can be added. Otherwise, the rice may be undercooked.¡± At this moment, the rice grains had already absorbed enough water. Each grain was round and plump. He covered the pot lid and cooked the rice. Xu Le stood by the stove while waiting the whole time. After Zhang Liang finished making the crayfish, he scooped a few small plates of his precious pickled vegetables and turned to look at him. ¡°Are you tired? Sit down and rest.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have to keep an eye on it. Once the water dries up, I have to immediately add some side ingredients, otherwise the bottom will immediately become burnt.¡± ¡°You want to make¡­ pickled cabbage soup?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s an improved rice version,¡± Xu Le explained. ¡°Although the soup has a long history, the taste of the ingredients is too overwhelming. In order to cater to the tastes of the masses, the restaurants have all already modified it to making pickled vegetable rice.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Zhang Liang said, ¡°How are you going to make your palmiers? Let me secretly learn from you.¡± ¡°Wait a moment, I can¡¯t be distracted while cooking the rice.¡± Xu Le had a serious look on his face. It was as if the rice in the ceramic pot was not just a simple dish, but a piece of art that was being carved. Once the soup had evaporated, he immediately placed the small pieces of marinated meat, fried fresh meat with oil, tender bamboo shoots, and lettuce inside. Finally, he placed the bean skin roll on top. Then, he put some flour and starch into the bowl, added water, and kneaded to form a smooth dough. He kneaded it into a long strip that could wrap around the lid of the pot. After he pressed it down, he didn¡¯t forget to pull out the air vent. ¡°Place the side ingredients neatly and seal the pot with dough. Now, you need to turn the pot. Remember to use a cloth to cover it and be careful not to scald your hands. Turn it to the four corners of the pot. Each time, count in your heart for 30 seconds. When it¡¯s up, turn it again. Remember to listen out for the sizzling sound in the pot. This is the rice crust being produced.¡± Xu Le repeated in a clockwise fashion for about eight minutes. Zhang Liang, who was watching from behind, felt his teeth ache. He said, ¡°This is so troublesome¡­¡± The inside of the pot was tightly sealed. The meat fragrance and the sweet fragrance of the vegetables interweaved with each other. In the end, all of them integrated into the rice. In addition to the rice that was evenly fried due to the heat, it was also scorched and crisp. When the lid was lifted, the fragrance overflowed. The salted meat that had been marinated, the spring bamboo shoots and fresh meat when stewed were oozing with oil and glistening. Zhang Liang could not help but salivate. He said, ¡°It looks really good.¡± The lettuce and tender bamboo shoots were green and yellow. The pork belly was not too fat nor lean, and the bean skin roll was fragrant. After adding a handful of green onions, the dish would be ready. Just as they were calling for everyone to eat, a bell sounded at the door. Everyone looked outside at the same time, only to see Alex wearing a leather jacket and sunglasses striding over. ¡°Everyone, long time no see ~~~¡± In the face of his warm greeting, Zhang Liang¡¯s lips twitched. Helplessly, he asked, ¡°Did you arrive just in time for lunch?¡± ¡°Haha, all visitors are guests. Let¡¯s sit down and eat together.¡± Chapter 134 - Pickled Vegetable Rice Chapter 134 Pickled Vegetable Rice The store manager, Bai Xiaoming, was tactful in handling matters and hurriedly tried to resolve the awkwardness. He knew that with Alex as KL¡¯s editor-in-chief, his appearance would only bring an increase and not a decrease in the show¡¯s viewership. It could even heighten the amount of discussion. Moreover, even the director didn¡¯t mind, so what reason did he have to reject? ¡°Wow, isn¡¯t this too fragrant? Let me guess¡­ This, the crab, rice, and tofu are all made by Xu Le?¡± Zhou Huangya was stunned. ¡°How did you know? Did you come early and watch secretly behind the monitor?¡± ¡°Hmph, it looks good and smells delicious, so he must have made these.¡± When he said this, he even shot Zhang Liang a disdainful look before continuing, ¡°Where¡¯s Xu Le?¡± This time, Alex didn¡¯t start eating in advance. Instead, he crossed his arms and wandered to the kitchen, wanting to help Xu Le serve the food. In the kitchen, Xu Le swiftly washed the internal organs of a mandarin fish and removed the fish¡¯s scales and gills. Then, he changed the knife to cut the fish meat into pieces and marinated it with salt and pepper. Then, he removed the fish bones to make soup. When the stage supervisor saw that he was already sweating profusely, not to mention that he was still a child, he reminded him with heartache, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating? Are you still cooking?¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw that the ingredients aren¡¯t used up. There are so little of each of them that I couldn¡¯t even piece together a single dish. So, I decided to make soup so that it¡¯s not a waste.¡± ¡°Are you making fish soup?¡± ¡°Yes, fresh fish soup.¡± After Xu Le answered, he placed a spoonful of lard in the boiling pot. After the lard melted and started emitting smoke, he added some ginger slices and scallions to enhance the fragrance. Then, he added the fish head and fish bones so that they were softened, forcing out the fragrance inside. He poured water into the pot while it was still hot, producing a sizzling sound in the pot. The milky white soup was filled with fragrance. After it was boiled, the residue was filtered and it was poured into the ceramic pot. Then, the clams, fish, marinated meat, fresh meat, tofu rolls, lettuce and spring bamboo shoots were placed inside to be simmered. This soup was already fresh enough, so there was no need to add chicken essence. When it was ready to be served, he added a little salt and pepper, and the steaming fish soup would be ready. He was about to carry it out when he heard an anxious voice behind him. ¡°Wait, wait, wait. Let me do it! It looks so hot!¡± Alex dashed forward and was about to lift the ceramic pot but it was so scalding that he bared his teeth. ¡°Be careful.¡± Xu Le was wearing a pair of heat-resistant gloves. Alex pursed his lips and forced himself to say, ¡°Humph, I wasn¡¯t scalded.¡± ¡°You should use cold water to rinse your fingers. Why are you here?¡± ¡°Are you not welcoming me?¡± In less than half a minute, Alex immediately went to rinse under the cold water. Thankfully, he was not scalded and his fingertips were only slightly red. ¡°What? You came at the right time. I made a new dish today.¡± ¡°Yes, I can smell it. The soup smells not bad, it seems fresh.¡± There was a distance between the kitchen and the long dining table in the corridor outside. Alex insisted on helping Xu Le, so he did not refuse and handed over the heat-resistant gloves. ¡°The interview last night has been edited. The magazine will be released next week. Are you nervous?¡± As Thailand¡¯s trending magazine, it was extremely popular. Xu Le raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be worried about the sales?¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s true.¡± Alex took a few more steps as he kept pursing his lips. Finally, he said softly, ¡°I need to talk to you.¡± He had a serious face, so Xu Le was slightly stunned and stopped in his tracks. ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°I apologize for my attitude the past few days.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Le waved his hand. He did not take it to heart at all. ¡°I know what I have done to bring KL from a less well-known magazine to the mainstream market. I¡¯m just lucky to be able to bring it to its current position, but I¡¯ve thought it through.¡± At first, Alex was also a bookworm who was meek and obedient. Later on, he made use of all sort of means and gradually developed a very mean personality, causing him to become used to speaking harshly. Because he felt that as long as there was viewership, nothing else mattered. And now KL had everything. Alex realized that this could not go on. ¡°Sigh, you wouldn¡¯t understand even if I said that. I¡¯m here today to make a deal with you so that we can introduce your country¡¯s famous cuisine and publish a special issue for you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Le was not modest either. He smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s too much. We can¡¯t even finish that in one episode.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Alex smiled and said, ¡°Then I look forward to our cooperation.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go and eat. The food will turn cold soon.¡± Before sitting at the table, Xu Le put down the fish soup and Zhang Liang exclaimed, ¡°Oh my, you even made another soup!¡± Zhou Huangya clapped her hands and said, ¡°Yay, Xu Le is still the best.¡± Everyone couldn¡¯t wait to serve the rice. Bai Xiaoming looked at the glistening yellow rice crust and licked his lips. ¡°This rice crust looks too tempting. I¡¯ll eat first.¡± Zhou Huangya buried her head in her food and ate the rice in one bite. The rice crust was very crispy and the heat control was just right. The burnt fragrance carried the freshness of the lard. He chewed on the bamboo shoots along with the meat. The tender and fresh taste of the bamboo shoots was refreshing and the plump pork was clear and hearty. It was an indescribable satisfaction! She couldn¡¯t stop eating and didn¡¯t even have the time to comment. The finishing touch was still the small savory meat. When wrapped in some rice, it would stimulate the fragrance of spring bamboo shoots. The fresh meat was delicate, and the crispiness of the lettuce was refreshing! After finishing one bowl, Zhou Huangya said excitedly, ¡°Awesome! This is the first time I¡¯ve tasted such delicious food!¡± Alex seemed to despise her simple choice of words, so he said with slight sarcasm, ¡°This is pickled cabbage rice. It originated from Wannan Huizhou. It has a clear and hearty taste, and the marinated meat tastes rich and fragrant. The flavor is salty yet sweet. It¡¯s a very successful dish.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯m convinced. I lost.¡± Zhang Liang said, ¡°This can¡¯t even be compared to the crayfish¡­ But, the garlic crayfish I made isn¡¯t bad either. Everyone, quickly try it.¡± Xu Le thought in his heart: I never thought of competing with you. The main point of eating the orchid crab was its fresh and tender crab meat. It was wrapped in starch and had a golden crispy fragrance after being deep-fried with oil. After adding wine to it, there was no fishy smell at all. All that was left was the fresh taste of the ginger and onion. It was tender and smooth after taking a bite, retaining the texture of the orchid crab. The gravy was white, fresh, and delicious. They finished the meal happily. Just as they were about to clear the plates, there was a commotion outside. The production team¡¯s stage supervisor was arguing loudly with someone. Alex tilted his head and listened for a while, then said, ¡°I think a few customers came from far to eat. They saw that the restaurant was closed today, so they were very angry, and started fighting outside.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The manager crossed his arms and frowned. He said with a worried expression, ¡°Without any ingredients prepared, there¡¯s no way to serve them.¡± The argument outside became more and more intense without any signs of stopping. In the end, as the manager, Bai Xiaoming had no choice but to get up and go out to take a look. Xu Le said, ¡°I¡¯m preparing to make dessert. If there are customers, I can give them some later.¡± It was also considered an appropriate solution. Chapter 135 - Perfect Palmier Chapter 135 Perfect Palmier Alex watched the commotion excitedly while Zhang Liang followed him into the kitchen. He said, ¡°Is it troublesome to make the palmier? Why don¡¯t I help you?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°The most troublesome thing about this is the forming the crispy layers, so the choice of flour is especially important. You must use T65 high-grade flour. Only then can the dough be kneaded and stretched again and again without breaking.¡± Xu Le took the flour, butter, sugar, milk, salt, and water and mixed them together. First, he wore gloves and stirred them evenly. Then, he added the liquid ingredients into the dough portions by portions until it was soft. Zhang Liang said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t look too difficult.¡± Xu Le shook his head with a sincere smile. ¡°I don¡¯t recommend anyone to try making this dessert at home. Some desserts still need to be made by professional bakers.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you to say such depressing things at the start.¡± ¡°To make the palmiers, you need a professional Pastry Machine and some other large equipment. If you make it by hand, you can only control the thickness of the dough based on personal experience. If there¡¯s even the slightest deviation, it will fail.¡± The dough was kneaded until the surface was smooth. He used a knife to form a cross in the middle and then put it in the refrigerator to cool down. When the time was up, he took it out and rolled it flat. Xu Le kneaded the dough and held the rolling pin. He knew that making butterfly crisp by hand was a huge challenge. He rolled the dough into a rectangular shape and put a large piece of butter in it. He folded the sides and formed the seams. Then, there was an endless cycle of folding, rolling the dough flat, brushing the flour on the surface, putting it into the refrigerator, and continuing to fold¡­ He repeated the cycle three times. The principle of making the palmier was to fold it repeatedly so that the skin would be covered with butter, and then the layers would form. He cut open from the middle and sprinkled sugar cubes on it. ¡°The sugar cubes are made of white sugar, cane sugar, and yellow sugar. Then, fold the two sides of the dough into a heart shape, cut it to 1.5 cm thickness, and bake it at 180 degrees. Once the color darkens, flip it over until both sides are brown.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he cut off a piece and laid the oven tray flat with a serious expression. Seeing that the steps did not seem difficult, Zhang Liang rolled up his sleeves and came over to help. He cut off a piece and could not help but say, ¡°It¡¯s just that the crispy part is a little troublesome. The rest seems easy.¡± Xu Le smiled and frowned while saying. ¡°Actually, I can¡¯t guarantee that I¡¯ll be able to succeed in making this pastry.¡± After saying that, he looked at Zhang Liang¡¯s dough and said, ¡°If you slice it too thick, it will break easily when it comes out later.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be? It looks almost the same!¡± Zhang Liang refused to believe this. It was impossible to see any discrepancies with the naked eye. He took out a baking ruler and carefully measured it. Xu Le¡¯s standard was 1.5 cm while his was only two millimeters different. ¡°1.7 cm, just a little bit. The difference shouldn¡¯t be too big, right?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Le shrugged his shoulders. His meaning was obvious. The dough skin in the oven gradually expanded and became fluffy. The surface was baked until it was golden and sizzling. Ding! Xu Le quickly took out the tray with his gloves. The palmiers had expanded too much. The left sides had become much bigger than the right side, while Zhang Liang¡¯s one at the bottom was broken into pieces. He could not even lift it up. Zhang Liang¡¯s face turned red as he held his chest and said, ¡°My heart feels like it¡¯s broken like the palmiers¡­ Why is it so difficult?¡± Xu Le had failed in front of the camera for the first time. He stared at the palmier and then looked at the dough. He had an idea and said, ¡°I missed out a step just now.¡± It was not written on the recipe that oven arranged by the program team was different from the top baking oven in the system. That was why he had failed. However, it was not a big deal. He just had to try again. ¡°Do you want to try the taste?¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll just eat mine.¡± Zhang Liang put a piece into his mouth and said with a puzzled expression, ¡°It tastes nothing special¡­¡±. Xu Le took a bite of what he had made. It was only not perfect on the outside. The texture, the sweetness, and the depth of taste was so crispy that the moment he took a bite, it produced a clear crisp sound between his teeth. Even Zhang Liang, who was standing beside him, could hear the crispness. ¡°They¡¯re all made from the same ingredients and were only just two millimeters different in thickness. Is there really such a great difference between them?¡± As he spoke, he took a bite. The palmier baked by Xu Le tasted exactly the same as the desserts sold in the Michelin store. Zhang Liang raised his eyebrows and gave him a thumbs up. ¡°That¡¯s awesome. This is exactly the same as the one I ate at the Michelin store previously. It¡¯s only two millimeters different in thickness. Not only did mine break, it¡¯s not even as crispy as yours.¡± Xu Le collected himself and continued to slice the dough. He wanted to try again. ¡°Do you have any good way to control the shape? With the mold?¡± As soon as the suggestion was out of his mouth, Zhang Liang felt that it was ridiculous. He rejected his own idea and said, ¡°Once it expands in the oven and is restricted by the mold, it might crack. No, no, no. Do you have any ideas on improving it?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xu Le said calmly, ¡°Use your right hand to roll it into a ball. When you first laid it on the oven tray, you had to ensure that both sides have an even shape.¡± ¡°¡­Haha.¡± Zhang Liang laughed speechlessly. ¡°I thought there would be a grand plan.¡± After waiting for another 10 minutes, the palmier was out of the oven. The palmier that had been painstakingly improved was bigger than the face. The two sides were equal in size and beautiful-looking. With a gentle twist, the crispy layers scattered and fell. ¡°Wow, we succeeded!¡± The palmier Xu Le made was even more perfect than he had imagined. He said happily, ¡°Now we can mass produce it.¡± Zhang Liang was in charge of adjusting the shape of the large pile of sliced dough. He had to ensure that the sides were symmetrical and perfect before placing them all into the oven. In less than half an hour, pieces of perfect palmiers were ready. Layer after layer of crispy skin blossomed and scattered in the mouth. It tasted crispy and sweet. When he took it out, Bai Xiaoming¡¯s argument with the customer had come to an end. The two of them were sitting at the table with ugly expressions. Zhou Huangya imitated Xu Le¡¯s actions that day and served a few cups of Mango Sago Dew. She smiled and said, ¡°Everyone, calm down first. It¡¯s not a big deal. Sit down and talk calmly.¡± Unfortunately, the customer did not accept her kind intentions. After tasting a mouthful, he spat and mumbled something. From his expression, it did not seem like he was saying anything good. The interpreter had no choice but to act as the mediator and said, ¡°Our little friend here made desserts. Please try it first. It¡¯s true that we aren¡¯t open for business today, and we didn¡¯t prepare any ingredients¡­¡± The manager was so angry that he complained, ¡°You were the one who broke the rules in the first place. What right do you have to come here and cause trouble? Do you really think you are God¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Xu Le interrupted him. He picked up a piece of golden brown palmier that had just been baked and handed it over. ¡°Manager, try this.¡± When the troublemaker heard that it was made by Xu Le, he was instantly appeased and took a piece to taste. Perhaps it was because the sweet food itself had the ability to soothe anger, after the crispy crumbs melted in his mouth, the man beamed with joy. Chapter 136 - Master Chef Competition Chapter 136 Master Chef Competition He stood up and said a long sentence. None of them understood what he said. The interpreter standing in front of him pouted. Alex sneered and said, ¡°He is saying that your product is not authentic. Xu Le, what do you think?¡± ¡°What¡­¡± Bai Xiaoming held back his vulgarities and said,¡± Nonsense, I dare to guarantee that even a Michelin chef would not be able to make such a perfect palmier. Look at the layers, they are so evenly baked and the shape is beautiful, not to mention the texture!¡± ¡°You flatter me.¡± Xu Le knew that Alex was most likely joking, so he ignored him. The interpreted glanced at Alex and explained to Xu Le, ¡°He is praising your cooking for being delicious and for not making this trip in vain. However, he is so fluent in his speech that I can¡¯t translate a lot of words. That is probably what he meant. It¡¯s enough so long as you understand the gist.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that he likes it. I made a lot of them. I can pack some for him.¡± Xu Le was generous and waited until the customer had left. Zhou Huangya had already eaten two pieces of palmiers. She pouted and said, ¡°This stuff is too addictive¡­ Sigh, I¡¯ll start my diet again after you leave.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Another female guest added, ¡°Xu Le, I¡¯ve gained almost three kilograms in just one week. It¡¯s too exaggerating. It¡¯s all your fault for making such delicious food!¡± Alex added, ¡°Is it a sin to make good food?¡± Xu Le and the rest chatted for a while more. His recording ended at 8: 00 PM and he rushed to the airport directly. Alex was quite kind and specially sent Xu Le. ¡°Why are you in such a hurry? Can¡¯t you change the flight timing? If you have time, why don¡¯t you go to KL and have a seat?¡± ¡°My sister is still at home. Someone is waiting for me.¡± Xu Le explained calmly. Seeing that Alex looked a little disappointed, he said, ¡°If you have the chance in the future, you can come to my shop and try my food. I¡¯ll give you a discount.¡± ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m busy. I wonder how long I¡¯ll have to wait.¡± After chatting for a while, they soon arrived at Bangkok International Airport. Xu Le got off the car and waved goodbye to him. He was about to turn around when he suddenly noticed a familiar face. He raised his head and saw people coming and going in a hurry. He frowned and thought, ¡°Did I see wrongly?¡± The night on the plane was still spent in the system. After learning two Hunan dishes and taking a nap, he finally reached home. Xu Le was not tall. In the crowd, there were people who treated him like a lost child from time to time. They grabbed his arm and asked, ¡°Where is your mother? Why is a child running around alone? Are you afraid that you can¡¯t find the way?¡± ¡°Thanks, but I don¡¯t need help.¡± Xu Le struggled free. The warm-hearted woman in front of him was still unwilling to give up, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not a bad person, tell me, where¡¯s your family?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Just as Xu Le was getting annoyed by her meddling in other people¡¯s business, a clear voice pierced through the crowd. ¡°Xu Le!¡± Lu Yuxi rushed over. She was wearing a pink sweater and loose green pants today. She wore a white cap and her long hair was loose. She ran with a bright smile. Although she was dressed in a shocking color, Lu Yuxi¡¯s superior facial features and skin were able to hold up her clothing choice. She quickly ran over and said, ¡°Tiantian and I have been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Xu Le finally saw Xu Tian, who was standing with Li Qing. ¡°Yep, I¡¯m back. I even bought you a gift.¡± The lady beside let go of Xu Le¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Is this your sister?¡± ¡°¡­I guess so.¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Yuxi denied it immediately. She smiled and explained, ¡°We¡¯re good friends.¡± ¡°Oh, then I misunderstood. You guys can leave.¡± The auntie also felt awkward and turned around to blend into the crowd. Xu Tian watched as her brother returned. At first, she was still smiling. But when Xu Le walked forward, she started crying. Her tears were like a flood that broke the dam. She couldn¡¯t stop at all. ¡°Alright, alright. Brother is back. Why are you crying? You¡¯ve become a little sobbing kitten.¡± Xu Le hugged his younger sister and caressed the back of her head to comfort her. ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Xu Tian cried all the way from the airport to the taxi and was exposed to wind on the road. She sat in Xu Le¡¯s arms and couldn¡¯t help but hiccup. As she hiccupped, she said, ¡°I miss brother so much¡­¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t I back now?¡± Xu Le laughed. Xu Tian shook her head and pursed her lips aggrievedly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and did not speak for a long time. The car was silent, but Li Qing, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, spoke first. ¡°Master, you¡¯ve been there for more than a week. How do you feel? Have you met anyone difficult to talk to?¡± ¡°Everything is fine.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Li Qing turned to look at Lu Yuxi and said hesitantly,¡± Then I¡¯m afraid you don¡¯t have time to look at your phone, right?¡± ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Li Qing was thinking about how to put it across less explicitly. Lu Yuxi said, ¡°Let me explain. Do you remember Chen Xian?¡± Xu Le thought for a while. He had a vague impression of him, but he could not remember his face. ¡°It¡¯s the one who beat you in the competition last time. Back then, he won first place with a red steamed carp. Do you know that he has lost terribly recently?¡±. Lu Yuxi was naturally standing on Xu Le¡¯s side. When she said this, she looked a little proud and elated. She said excitedly, ¡°There¡¯s suddenly a local competition in the country recently that¡¯s been promoting every day. Not only did Chen Xian make mistakes on the show, there¡¯s also Zhang Tong and Li Peng¡­ They¡¯re all your old acquaintances in the industry.¡± ¡°Them?¡± In Xu Le¡¯s impression, these people were on par with him. They were all top chefs who were specialized in their respective cuisines. Hence, he asked in surprise, ¡°Did they lose too?! ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Lu Yuxi continued to gossip. ¡°You don¡¯t know about this but a chef who has never revealed his face had produced dishes that received unanimous praise. Some people even say that the dishes are perfect and flawless, like a piece of art sculpted.¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows in disbelief. ¡°Everyone has different preferences. Some may feel that a dish is salty, while others feel that it is bland. How can you get the praise of everyone?¡± ¡°Other than the ten judges, there are also 300 audience members present. All of them voted to decide the victor. That Zhang Tong from the Heavenly Restaurant already has a lot of experience but he lost his face in an instant and only received a dozen votes in total.¡± ¡°That exaggerating?¡± Xu Le¡¯s interest was piqued. Li Qing chimed in, ¡°That¡¯s right. Zhang Tong was dissed on the internet for having a fake reputation. Later on, it caused too much influence to his restaurant that he was fired.¡± Even the taxi driver couldn¡¯t help but interrupt, ¡°Are you guys talking about the ¡®Master Chef Competition¡¯? Hey, I¡¯ve been watching it recently too. I wonder who that unknown chef is. He¡¯s so skilled!¡± Chapter 137 - Fried Cheese Chicken Chapter 137 Fried Cheese Chicken Master Chef? Xu Le muttered in his heart before he thought of something. He asked, ¡°Who are the judges?¡± Lu Yuxi tacitly guessed Xu Le¡¯s thoughts and said, ¡°They¡¯re all familiar faces that you¡¯ve met before. They¡¯re very authoritative in the industry, so it¡¯s impossible for them to agree to destroy their own signboards and collude with the production team to do dirty work.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Le smiled and said, ¡°In that case, that chef must be really skilled.¡± Lu Yuxi wrinkled her nose. ¡°Not necessarily.¡± Li Qing also felt that it was strange and said, ¡°Is there a need to make it so mysterious and full of gimmicks to participate in a competition? Is there a possibility that there¡¯s more than one chef behind the scenes¡­¡± Before he could finish his guess, his speculation was immediately rejected by the driver. ¡°Young man, you can¡¯t speak nonsense. The competition is interesting. I¡¯ve been watching every episode. He must be trying to hold back his ultimate move.¡± The driver spoke confidently and excitedly, ¡°What do you think? Could that chef have come back from his further studies overseas? It¡¯s very likely that he¡¯s a Michelin grade chef. Not only is he proficient in Chinese and Western cuisine, he has also made many delicacies from other countries in the special episodes. How could there be such a knowledgeable and highly skilled chef?¡± ¡°Special episodes?¡± Li Qing frowned and scrolled through her phone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I see it¡­ Oh, it was accidentally skipped because of my video membership.¡± Half an hour later, Xu Le returned home. He felt especially relaxed and snuggled into the sofa. Xu Tian jogged over to get a iced cola and handed it to Xu Le. ¡°Brother, drink it.¡± ¡°Good girl.¡± Xu Le stroked his younger sister¡¯s head like a fluffy dog and pulled open the can tab with one hand. With a ¡®pop¡¯, the splashing foam brought a chill to him. Lu Yuxi crossed her legs on the sofa opposite and said, ¡°The moment you came back, Tiantian became much more obedient. When you weren¡¯t at home, she would fuss about looking for her parents after school and wanted you to return home¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly realized that something was wrong. Looking at Xu Tian¡¯s teary eyes and pouting mouth, she immediately grabbed the chips on the table as a cover. As she stuffed them into her mouth, she changed the topic unnaturally. ¡°Do you want to watch the show Li Qing mentioned just now?¡± Just as she finished speaking, what she was worried about happened. ¡°Wah!¡± Xu Tian cried and threw herself into her brother¡¯s arms. Xu Le had just taken two sips of his cola when he was almost knocked over by her. He hurriedly put the drink back on the coffee table and patted his sister¡¯s back to comfort her. ¡°Tiantian, don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry. Tell me what¡¯s wrong!¡± ¡°Boohoo, all the kids in school are saying that no one wants me. When are Daddy and Mommy coming back?¡± ¡°Soon.¡± Xu Le pulled out a tissue for his sister to blow her nose. He said gently, ¡°Dad and Mom are just overseas to further their studies. It¡¯s just like you going to school. When they¡¯re done, they¡¯ll come back from school.¡± Xu Tian looked up, her nose red as she sobbed. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Of course! When have I ever lied to you?¡± Xu Le reached out to rub Xu Tian¡¯s nose and said, ¡°Now that I¡¯m back, I can cook anything for you.¡± The child was quick-witted and quickly forgot about this matter. She demanded to eat fried chicken thighs. Lu Yuxi interrupted, ¡°Your social media account hasn¡¯t been updated for a while, so there are a lot of people urging you to update it. I¡¯ll record the cooking process for you later and edit the original videos.¡± Xu Le had just returned and his original intention was to rest for a few days. He smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t we have time in the future?¡± ¡°I might need to take leave.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you looking for a new job?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Yuxi lowered her head and pursed her lips. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand even if I told you. It¡¯s a class reunion.¡± ¡°What do I not understand¡­¡± Before Xu Le could finish speaking, he suddenly stopped. He recalled that with his current identity, he was only an eight-year-old child. If he continued speaking, he would expose himself. ¡°By the way, I know a way to cook the world¡¯s most tender fried chicken thighs.¡± ¡°Yo.¡± Lu Yuxi leaned against the door, crossed her arms, and smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve already thought of the video title for me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a title, it¡¯s real!¡± He had learned a western-chinese fusion marinating method from the system. The fried chicken would be crispy and tender, with the juice overflowing. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Lu Yuxi was obviously distracted. She lowered her head and fiddled with the phone tripod stand. Xu Le started preparing the ingredients and the two of them started chatting. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to watch that Master Chef competition?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested. Maybe the program is set up for that chef who doesn¡¯t reveal his face.¡± Xu Le tied his apron and rolled up his sleeves. ¡°I want to stay at home to accompany Tiantian. She¡¯s on summer break soon. Also¡­ I¡¯ve chosen the new address for the new restaurant recently.¡± Xu Le, who had been given the reward by the system, had been busy the whole time. He only remembered it when he landed, so he decided to choose a big shopping mall in the prime area of Shanghai. There were many luxury brands on the second floor of the mall. As for the rent and renovation, that was something the system had to worry about. Lu Yuxi said half-jokingly, ¡°You participated in a variety show, and you¡¯ve already seen through their tricks?¡± Alex¡¯s face flashed across Xu Le¡¯s mind. He waved his hand and said, ¡°What? Are you done setting up the tripod?¡± Lu Yuxi made an OK gesture. As Xu Le cut the condiments, he said, ¡°Hello everyone. I¡¯m Xu Le. Today, I want to share the method for preparing a very crispy and tender fried chicken thigh. How can an ordinary snack like this become an amazing dish? If you want to know, just continue watching.¡± ¡°The essence of this snack lies in having salt water, chopped onions, chopped garlic, sea salt, rosemary, lemon juice, clear water, and some vegetable oil.¡± ¡°Pour some oil into the frying pan, pour in the onion, garlic and rosemary, add some salt, and fry it until it¡¯s smoking. Then, after producing a sour, salty, and pungent smell, add 500 milliliters of clear water and lemon juice. Then, cool it down away from the fire.¡± A pot of thick, light purple salt water was served in the pot. Lu Yuxi refused to believe it and went forward. ¡°Is this purple stuff really going to make fried chicken delicious?¡± As she said that, she took a small sip and immediately frowned at the salty taste. ¡°What is this for?¡± Xu Le placed the freshly processed drumsticks into a food-sealed bag and poured in the thick salt water he had just prepared. He explained, ¡°This step is for marination. In order to ensure that the drumsticks are more flavorful, it¡¯s best to put them in the fridge for a few hours.¡± After doing all this, he looked at Lu Yuxi, who was stunned behind her phone. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not filming anymore? Where are we going?¡± ¡°The store branch.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yuxi suddenly realized what he was talking about. ¡°Ah? When did this happen? You never mentioned it!¡± ¡°I only wanted to talk about it after I¡¯ve confirmed it. Let¡¯s go over to check the store today and call Li Qing along.¡± ¡°What about the drumsticks?¡± ¡°Leave it marinating first. We¡¯ll continue when we get back.¡± Chapter 138 - Competition Invitation Chapter 138 Competition Invitation Regarding the renovation of the branch store, it was completely handled by the system. On the way there, Xu Le looked out of the window and saw the traffic. He felt uneasy and held his gabella. Xu Tian was playing a dress-up game on a tablet in her hands. She leaned into Xu Le¡¯s arms and asked, ¡°Brother, do you think pink or green looks better?¡± Lu Yuxi, who was sitting beside her, could not help but turn her head. After taking a look, she could not help but laugh. The corners of Xu Le¡¯s mouth twitched as he looked at the tiny character wearing a big red bow on her head and green leather boots. The visual clash was especially strong. He thought helplessly, I wonder whose sense of aesthetics Tiantian had inherited. Isn¡¯t it too¡­ unrestrained? Xu Tian urged him, ¡°Brother, say something!¡± ¡°Pink, the pink one.¡± Xu Le immediately responded. After Xu Tian did as she was told, the character was still dressed so ugly that he could not bear to look. In the end, her rating was very low. She snorted out of spite and changed to another game. This time, it was a cooking game. Xu Le and Lu Yuxi leaned their heads close to the tablet to watch Xu Tian ¡°cook¡±. They watched as she started making hamburgers. First, she put the slices of bread into the toaster to warm them. Then, she laid out the meat patty, tomato slices, vegetables, salad dressing, and two slices of cheese¡­ In the process, Xu Le reminded her, ¡°Should the bread be on both sides?¡± ¡°Brother!¡± Xu Tian said unhappily. ¡°Shh! This is a competitive game. You can¡¯t help me cheat!¡± ¡°Alright alright.¡± Xu Le immediately agreed. Half a minute later, an explosive effect of a mushroom cloud appeared on the screen. ¡°Bam!¡± The little character wearing the chef¡¯s hat was charred by the explosion. Xu Le and Lu Yuxi looked at each other speechlessly. Xu Le said, ¡°Tiantian, you don¡¯t have to be too innovative when it comes to cooking.¡± ¡°Brother, stop talking!¡± Xu Tian acted coquettishly and changed to another game. She did not want to listen to Xu Le¡¯s suggestions at all. Lu Yuxi teased, ¡°Looks like your sister didn¡¯t inherit your cooking talent.¡± ¡°Haha, perhaps.¡± Xu Le smiled and pointed outside. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± The plaque outside the new store was designed to be witty and eye-catching. When they pushed the door open and entered, the bar-shaped lightless lamps lit up one after another, illuminating the bright beige floor and the peach wood-colored dining table. The round glass window at the side had a tulip pattern. The design had pink, purple, green, and yellow colors on it. It could serve as a screen to protect privacy, and it was beautiful and artistic. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Lu Yuxi widened her eyes and looked around.¡± How come I didn¡¯t know you were so rich? This place is at least 300 square meters. It¡¯s twice the size of the previous shop, right? ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go to the kitchen.¡± Xu Le planned to hire someone else. Otherwise, he would definitely not be able to handle the work alone. Although Li Qing had learned all his dishes, he still had other ambitions. He would not stay in the restaurant forever. The kitchen was made of stainless steel. There were large-scale ovens, kitchenware, a row of frying pans and fumehoods. There was a dazzling array of kitchen utensils and they were all of perfect quality. Xu Le thought to himself, ¡°As expected of the system, everything has been handled thoroughly.¡± Li Qing was dumbfounded. After wandering around for a while, he asked, ¡°When did the renovation start? It¡¯s so fast. When do you plan on opening the shop?¡± ¡°Tomorrow.¡± Lu Yuxi said excitedly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll upgrade the ordering system for you. Then, I¡¯ll give the supplier a call. They¡¯ll definitely be delighted to know that you have opened another branch.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that too hasty?¡± Li Qing said hesitantly, ¡°We haven¡¯t started advertising yet¡­¡± ¡°Do you know?¡± Lu Yuxi turned on her phone. On the eight-year-old cafeteria webpage, there was a long list of fans. ¡°The official account has more than a million online followers. In addition, he has a variety show being broadcasted next week. When that time comes, there will definitely be another wave of popularity. It¡¯s just a matter of time before the stores becomes a trending spot!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Li Qing nodded with a complex expression. After a long while, he asked, ¡°Are you really not going to consider participating in the Master Chef competition?¡± Xu Le turned around. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°¡­I want to try.¡± Li Qing mustered up the courage to speak his mind. ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le agreed without hesitation and said, ¡°We¡¯ll cheer you on when the time comes and take a look at how great that mysterious chef is.¡± Li Qing was stunned by Xu Le¡¯s attitude. Xu Le saw through his doubts and casually explained, ¡°I always feel that the participating in a competition is more of a publicity stunt, so there¡¯s no need to take part. Besides, right now, I want to place my focus on Tiantian. There¡¯s still another branch store opening. There¡¯s no rush to take part in a competition. There will be plenty in the future.¡± ¡°However, it¡¯s a good thing that you¡¯re willing to go. You should train more. There¡¯s still a long road ahead.¡± Li Qing revealed a grateful expression and nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± After the inspection of the new restaurant, they took a taxi home. By this time, the sky had completely darkened. When Xu Tian passed by the fried chicken shop, she whined, ¡°Brother, I want to eat that!¡± Lu Yuxi said, ¡°We¡¯ll make it for you when we get back. The chicken drumsticks have all been marinated.¡± ¡°No!¡± Xu Tian blinked her grape-like eyes at Xu Le and said, ¡°Brother, I¡¯m starving! Look, my stomach has become flat.¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay. Don¡¯t eat too much. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to eat my food again.¡± As he spoke, he got out of the car to buy it. Li Qing sat in the front passenger seat and sent an application to the Master Chef Competition while Lu Yuxi answered a call. Not long after, she opened the car door and got out. When Xu Le came back with the scalding fried chicken, he bumped into Lu Yuxi, whose eyes were red. ¡°Why are you crying? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lu Yuxi hurriedly put away her phone and wiped her tears. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Is it because of your sister again¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Yuxi said with a sad expression, ¡°I have to apply for leave. You probably need to recruit a new person for now.¡± Seeing that she wasn¡¯t willing to talk about it, Xu Le didn¡¯t continue asking. He handed her a cup of lemon water and said, ¡°Drink some water first and let¡¯s go back.¡± Lu Yuxi took a sip. Half of the lemon was floating in the carbonated water. The light sourness of lemon and honey filled her taste buds. It was cold and refreshing. She leaned back and suddenly frowned. Xu Le thought that she was going to cry again, so he handed her a tissue silently. Lu Yuxi said, ¡°I bit a lemon seed. It¡¯s so bitter.¡± As she spoke, she spat out the seed. Xu Le heaved a sigh of relief. He handed his sister a hamburger and Li Qing one. ¡°I¡¯m not eating. How is this as delicious as my cooking?¡± Lu Yuxi glared at him. ¡°You¡¯re so troublesome.¡± Just as they reached the entrance of the house, Xu Le bumped into a deliveryman in the elevator. He glanced at Xu Le and noticed that he was the recipient. Hence, Xu Le received his parcel in the elevator and carried it home, while asking, ¡°I didn¡¯t buy anything. Who sent this over?¡± He opened it and saw an exquisite letter inside. It was sealed with red paint, and the words ¡°Master Chef Competition¡± particularly eye-catching. Chapter 139 - Preparing for Opening Chapter 139 Preparing for Opening Li Qing had just stuffed the remaining hamburger into his mouth when he saw the invitation letter. His eyes immediately widened as he coughed. He was so excited that he almost choked. The few of them hurriedly opened the door and took out a bottle of water for him. ¡°Quickly smooth it down, don¡¯t be so anxious.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± After Li Qing swallowed the hamburger, he hit his chest with his fist and said, ¡°I¡¯m not being anxious. It¡¯s just that they sent me an invitation letter right after I just signed up. Isn¡¯t that a little too fast?¡± e an As soon as he finished speaking, the smile on his face froze. Xu Le had already turned around and entered the kitchen. He washed his hands and was ready to make fried chicken. Lu Yuxi stood in the living room and saw that Li Qing did not look too good. She took the letter from him and asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lowering her head to take a look, she immediately exclaimed, ¡°Xu Le! The program team sent it to you! Come out and take a look!¡± Xu Le slowly walked out of the kitchen and said, ¡°I already said that I¡¯m not participating. Just ignore that.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll make a call to the production team?¡± ¡°Anything is fine.¡± After Xu Le finished speaking, he noticed the desolate look on Li Qing¡¯s face and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your invitation will be sent to your house in a few days as well.¡± Li Qing pursed his lips and did not speak. Lu Yuxi quickly made a call to turn down the production team and ran into the kitchen to help with the recording. The sound of cartoons rang in the living room. Lu Yuxi shouted at the top of her voice, ¡°Tiantian, you haven¡¯t finished your artwork! Don¡¯t forget!¡± Xu Tian answered in her child-like voice, ¡°I know, I¡¯ll draw while watching TV!¡± Then, they continued the recording. Xu Le took out the drumstick that had been marinated in the salt water for a few hours. He said, ¡°In order to avoid waiting for too long, everyone can marinate the drumstick in the salt water overnight and cook it the next morning. Now, wash the salt on the surface clean and use the kitchen paper to dry it before placing it in the refrigerator.¡± ¡°Now, we shall be preparing the cheese. The cheese is the acidic liquid left behind when making butter. It¡¯s very easy to make it by yourself. You only need to add lemon juice or white vinegar in the milk and wait for about ten minutes. When a solid piece appears inside, it will be considered a success.¡± ¡°Of course, I have a simpler method to teach everyone this home-cooked dish. You can just replace it with yogurt. With a layer of yogurt in the middle, the fried chicken will be very juicy and tender.¡± ¡°Take 420 grams of flour, add two big spoons of sea salt, three big spoons of black pepper, two big spoons of baking soda, two small spoons of red chili powder, and stir them evenly. The dry powder is divided into two plates, then add yogurt in the middle. Wrap with a layer of dry powder first, then wrap the yogurt. Lastly, add a layer of dry powder. The yogurt will then be moist and soft. Remember, when you wrap it in the final time, press it firmly with dry powder, or else the skin will be broken in the frying pan.¡± After Xu Le finished his demonstration, he poured some oil into the pot. When the temperature of the oil was about right, he placed the drumstick into the pot. The drumstick wrapped in a thin layer of batter began to sizzle and form ripples. ¡°When the chicken drumstick is fried to a golden color, it is ready to be served. As it has been marinated with salt water in advance, there is no need to add any condiments. However, everyone can put some cumin, chili powder or something else according to your own taste. Bring it to my sister for her to try.¡± On the iron frame, the drumstick¡¯s batter was emitting a golden oil fragrance. The edges of the crispy skin were raised, and one could feel the crispness just by looking at it. ¡°Give me one first, give me one!¡± Lu Yuxi could not wait any longer. She took a bite using the kitchen towel and almost jumped up. Xu Le was shocked by her reaction and commented on her, ¡°Is it really that good? Isn¡¯t your reaction too exaggerated? It¡¯s like I hired you to be an actor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s hot, it¡¯s hot!¡± Lu Yuxi took a sip and took another bite. The crisp and fragrant sound of the batter was recorded. It was tender to the point of bursting with juice. The chicken meat was not dry at all. The amount of chilli and sea salt was just right. She quickly finished a fried chicken thigh and wiped off the oil on her hands. She came to the living room and sat cross-legged on the carpet. Before she could even hold her phone properly, Li Qing stood up with a whoosh, giving Lu Yuxi a shock. Looking up at his gloomy face, Lu Yuxi said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you again? Sit down and eat the fried chicken. I¡¯ll get you guys cola.¡± The fried chicken thigh should be eaten with something cold and cool. Xu Le reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t give Tiantian cola. It will cause tooth decay. Get a peach-flavored soda water from the third level in the fridge.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Before Lu Yuxi went to get it, she didn¡¯t forget to pat Li Qing on the shoulder. ¡°Sit down. Stop throwing a tantrum.¡± Li Qing sat down speechlessly. He picked up a drumstick and took a bite. The hot juice immediately filled his taste buds. The chicken was tender and soft, and the crispy batter was not too spicy. It was so delicious that his expression immediately softened. ¡°I was rejected.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°They gave me an answer within two hours. They said I wasn¡¯t famous enough and wouldn¡¯t cooperate with me. Hmph, they don¡¯t even know how many fans I have on my gaming account. They themselves¡­¡± After complaining for a while, Li Qing took a bite of the fried chicken resentfully. When he saw that Xu Tian was busy painting on the sketch pad, he could not help but urge her, ¡°Quick, try this. It¡¯s delicious. It¡¯s much better than the popcorn chicken you bought in the store just now!¡± Xu Tian shook off the dirt on the oil painting brush and picked up a drumstick. She had just taken a bite when her round eyes widened. The chicken was smooth and tender. When Lu Yuxi brought the soda water and cola over, she saw that Xu Tian had already finished one drumstick. ¡°Is it good?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better than what I bought at the shop!¡± ¡°What did you add inside? It¡¯s salty and spicy on the outside, and the drumstick meat inside is also flavorful, but in the middle of the batter, there¡¯s a layer of flavor that I can¡¯t figure out¡­¡± Li Qing asked curiously,¡± What did you add inside? Egg white? White sugar?¡± ¡°Guess.¡± Xu Le deliberately kept Li Qing in suspense. When Li Qing racked his brain for more than 10 ingredients that were wrong, Xu Le finally became a little impatient. He then slowly said, ¡°This fried chicken is called the fried cheese chicken. It¡¯s a cooking method from overseas. It¡¯s not famous, but it¡¯s extremely tender. Is it delicious?¡± ¡°It does taste good¡­¡± Li Qing asked,¡± The cheese is buttermilk. It¡¯s made from butter. Did you specially make butter just to fry a few drumsticks?¡± ¡°Of course not. That would be too troublesome. Using milk and lemon juice, the final product would be the same.¡± The few of them chatted for a while more. After Li Qing finished the remaining fried chicken thigh happily, he got up and planned to go home. He said, ¡°I¡¯m too full. None of you are eating. I¡¯m the only one eating everything. I¡¯ll take a stroll back and digest the food.¡± ¡°Okay, be careful on the way.¡± Xu Le reminded Li Qing. When Li Qing closed the door, Lu Yuxi pouted and complained, ¡°When you weren¡¯t around, he always complained and looked for trouble with me. Luckily, he didn¡¯t do anything to bother me. Otherwise¡­¡± Lu Yuxi made a gesture and said with a fierce look, ¡°I would have beaten him to death long ago.¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Xu Tian burst into laughter. She held her stomach and said, ¡°I¡¯m stuffed. I shouldn¡¯t be laughing.¡± Chapter 140 - Suppliers Mistake Chapter 140 Suppliers¡¯ Mistake In the middle of the night, the light from the lamp shone on the table. The door was pushed open slightly. Xu Le heard the sound and turned around. ¡°You¡¯re not asleep yet? I heated some milk. Do you want it?¡± Lu Yuxi walked in softly. The two of them glanced at Xu Tian who was sound asleep at the same time. After ensuring that she was not disturbed, they continued their discussion. ¡°I¡¯ve listed out all the dishes for tomorrow. Let the supplier distribute the ingredients based on the standard of the first store. Remember, they must be fresh and top-notch. Don¡¯t worry about the price fluctuations.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yuxi took the menu and asked with raised eyebrows. ¡°With me around, you can rest assured¡­ However¡­¡± ¡°Just say it.¡± Xu Le thought that she was going to ask for a pay raise again. Just as he was about to agree, Lu Yuxi lowered her head and said gloomily, ¡°I¡¯m not sure how much longer I can work here. Perhaps, I¡¯ll have to move to another city.¡± ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± Xu Le frowned. An unknown sense of anxiety surged in his heart. ¡°Mmm.¡± Lu Yuxi grinned and said with a smile, ¡°Thank you for taking care of me during this period of time. I¡¯ll leave next month at the latest, but I will still do my best to help you.¡± Xu Le¡¯s temples were throbbing. He raised his hand and pressed between his eyebrows. ¡°You raised this up so suddenly¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely wait for you to settle everything before leaving.¡± Xu Le¡¯s response was stuck in his throat, and after a long while, he made an indistinct sound. The upper half of his face was covered in the darkness, and it was impossible to tell what expression he had. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely come back in the future and visit Tiantian. It¡¯s not like we won¡¯t see each other ever again. Why are you so sad?¡± Xu Le said stubbornly, ¡°Who says I am?¡± The two of them discussed about the new shop in a low voice and then went back to their rooms to sleep. However, Xu Le, who was lying on the bed, was tossing and turning. He did not feel sleepy at all. He entered the system again and practised all the dishes on the menu to ensure that the texture would not be wrong. When he tasted the Longjing shrimp, it tasted bitter on the tip of his tongue. This dish always had the fragrance of tea. This was the first time he tasted something different. Fortunately, his long time of practice in the system had greatly strengthened his body. His eight-year-old body had become similar to that of a strong young man. Otherwise, with only three hours of sleep, he would not be able to appear full of energy in front of everyone the next day. ¡°Goodness gracious¡­¡± When Li Qing drove him over, he saw the long queue at the entrance and sighed. ¡°You¡¯re really popular. You didn¡¯t even pay for advertisement, yet so many people had come at once. Tsk tsk.¡± His sympathy was mixed with envy as he looked at Xu Le. His gaze seemed to say: You will be busy today. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the first branch first. There¡¯s only Auntie Liu and me today. Boss, hurry up and hire more people.¡± ¡°Alright, take care.¡± Xu Le pushed through the crowd and finally opened the door. A group of people rushed in. Other than those who were holding their phones, some of them even carried cameras and pointed the cameras at him. ¡°Master Chef, who funded your opening of the restaurant? Who¡¯s the investor?¡± ¡°Are there any new dishes today?¡± ¡°Get out of the way! I want to take a picture with the little Master Chef!¡± ¡°Who is this kid? Is he the celebrity Xu Le?¡± Passersby squeezed in to join in the fun and looked at Xu Le¡¯s handsome features. He was so young, but there was a hint of elegance in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m the investor.¡± Xu Le¡¯s expression was calm. In his rush, his voice sounded slightly childish. ¡°Everyone is here to eat. Please sit down first. There is the code to scan for the online menu on the table.¡± It was obvious that there was no effect at all. An influencer holding a mobile phone to live-stream held Xu Le¡¯s shoulders and said enthusiastically, ¡°My fellow viewers, hit subscribe and follow me as I broadcast the scene at the Master Chef¡¯s new restaurant¡­¡± ¡°Move aside.¡± Lu Yuxi appeared out of nowhere and took the influencer away. She said half-jokingly, ¡°Who¡¯s going to cook after kidnapping the head chef?¡± Then, she took the opportunity to calm everyone down. Fortunately, most of them were rational, so they quickly took their seats. Lu Yuxi looked outside the door with a worried expression. Finally, after making the call, she could not help but shout, ¡°Boss Xu, what¡¯s wrong with you? You said that you would send it over before nine o¡¯clock, but you¡¯re already late¡­ Why?! Why? I clearly informed you last night, and you promised to¡­¡± When Xu Le heard her surprised voice, he stood still. Lu Yuxi flipped her hair and said angrily, ¡°Since there aren¡¯t enough ingredients, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? This way, I can be prepared¡­ Forget it, give me as much as you have. Don¡¯t break the contract.¡± On the other end of the line, the speaker still sounded indignant, causing Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes to slowly turn red. After the busy tone sounded, she pouted and said, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I didn¡¯t sign the contract personally and let them take advantage of the loophole. They said they wouldn¡¯t send any ingredients over¡­ I¡¯ll go buy them now!¡± ¡°There¡¯s some at the first branch?¡± Xu Le made a guess and got an affirmative answer. He felt that something was wrong and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, let me see what dishes have been ordered.¡± As soon as he took out the tablet, a series of orders popped up on the screen. Just the queue number alone had already reached 100. ¡°I¡­¡± Lu Yuxi stammered but did not make a sound. Both of them knew that even if they immediately went to the nearby supermarket to buy the ingredients, it would still be too late. They had just opened their shop that day and their reputation would be ruined! Feeling increasingly guilty, Lu Yuxi rushed to the supermarket to remedy the situation. Meanwhile, Xu Le sat calmly by the table, as if he was waiting for something. The influencer on the live-stream leaned forward again and questions shot out like bullets. ¡°Little Master Chef, why haven¡¯t you started cooking yet? I see that your kitchen is clean and tidy, without any dishes at all. What do you want us to eat?¡± ¡°My queue number has reached over 100 so I even hesitated. Look, it¡¯s already 104. When can you serve the dishes?¡± Xu Le smiled politely. He was young and cute, and also a handsome guy. Coupled with his professionalism, the viewers immediately felt pity for him. ¡°Host, don¡¯t make things difficult for children!¡± ¡°He¡¯s already opening a shop at such a young age. So cute! Can I send my child to Xu Le for further studies?¡± ¡°Same here, my unfilial son is really infuriating.¡± ¡°Little Master Chef, you have to teach me more about cooking. I¡¯m almost becoming a main chef at home after following your tutorial videos!¡± The host was rendered speechless by his own fans. He scolded, ¡°Are you still my followers? Why are you helping outsiders¡­¡± Not long after, a man in a suit walked in. He looked like he was here for a banquet. He stood in the crowd and looked especially pompous. He walked over quickly. ¡°Long time no see.¡± The man reached out and wanted to shake Xu Le¡¯s hand. Xu Le pretended not to understand and looked at him in confusion. The man¡¯s eyes were as cunning as a fox¡¯s. His pupils were black and white, as if he had seen them somewhere before¡­ ¡°Let me introduce myself, I¡¯m Chen Yeqi.¡± Chapter 141 - Chen Xians Visit ¡°Xu Le.¡± Xu Le quietly observed the situation. Chen Yeqi sat down opposite him and said very straightforwardly, ¡°I¡¯m the producer of the Master Chef Competition.¡± A cold glint flashed across Xu Le¡¯s eyes. Very quickly, he pieced together the clues in his mind. He raised his hand to stop the man from continuing. ¡°If the ingredients can be supplied to the first store, yet a mishap happened for the second store, especially on the day of its opening, I think it¡¯s because Mr. Chen must have a close relationship with them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! You¡¯re really smart.¡± Chen Yeqi smiled and did not hide his purpose of coming here. He said, ¡°Little kid, you¡¯re a smart person. Then I¡¯ll be frank. As long as you agree to participate in the competition, we¡¯ll contact the supplier and immediately provide you with the ingredients you want. Not only will it help you open your business smoothly, we can also promote you on the platform.¡± ¡°I appreciate your kindness.¡± Xu Le¡¯s gaze was cold as he rejected coldly, ¡°But there¡¯s no need. I won¡¯t participate.¡± It was obvious that there was a big trap waiting for him. Otherwise, Chen Yeqi wouldn¡¯t force him. Since coercion didn¡¯t work, Chen Yeqi said amiably, ¡°We were rude, but it was because we were afraid that you wouldn¡¯t participate, so we came up with this plan. Little Master Chef, how about this? As long as you are willing to go, the appearance fee will be 50 times more. Is that okay?¡± Xu Le grinned. Just as Chen Yeqi was about to relax and thought that the kid in front of him would give up because of the money, Xu Le unexpectedly said sarcastically, ¡°If I can afford to open such a big store, Mr. Chen, do you think I¡¯m someone who lacks money?¡± Xu Le was furious. This person was obviously trying to stir up trouble. He couldn¡¯t fight him head-on, so he crossed his arms and said, ¡°Mr. Chen, please give up. I will not participate.¡± ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ve seen the video of your previous match. You lost to Chen Xian from the Eight Alley¡­ You don¡¯t have much capability either. Maybe you¡¯re afraid of losing and don¡¯t dare to participate!¡± Chen Yeqi tried to use a provocation technique. Xu Le didn¡¯t enter the kitchen for a long time, which made the customers anxious. Someone urged, ¡°When will the first meal be served?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m already the 80th on the queue. Can I have even eat this before lunch?¡± Xu Le glanced at Chen Yeqi and ignored him. He said to the customers, ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t worry. I will make sure everyone eats on time today.¡± Chen Yeqi tried all sorts of methods, but he couldn¡¯t make Xu Le agree. He was shocked and angry at the same time. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Brat, you have such an arrogant attitude. You don¡¯t even have any ingredients. How are you going to feed the customers?¡± ¡°Coming, coming!¡± Outside the door, Lu Yuxi came in with a huge shopping bag in each hand. When she put down the ingredients, her palms were already bruised. She tossed her hair that was stuck to the side of her face and panted, ¡°Let¡¯s start cooking first. The boat will eventually come to a stop.¡± Chen Yeqi glanced at the ingredients. He knew that it was not enough. He rolled his eyes in disdain. He was certain that Xu Le would suffer that day. After leaving a sentence of ¡°come find me when you¡¯ve thought it through¡±, he turned around and left. ¡°Who is that? He has his nose in the air, his attitude is really bad.¡± Lu Yuxi complained and Xu Le said, ¡°Go and process the ingredients first. Ignore him.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Tomato egg soup, Kung Pao Chicken, Stir-fried shredded pork, Braised pork, Pot of Chicken Soup, Stir-fried beef, Stir-fried prawns¡­ All the ingredients for the dishes were ready. Lu Yuxi tidied herself up, but her brows were still furrowed. Worried, she said, ¡°It¡¯s far from enough. I really feel bad towards you.¡± She had promised Xu Le so confidently last night that there would be no problem. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to let you self-blame.¡± Xu Le cut the vegetables skillfully. Amidst the rhythmic clattering, he said calmly, ¡°The more critical the situation is, the more we can¡¯t be anxious. At this time, we should think about how to resolve the crisis before our reputation is ruined.¡± Lu Yuxi could only calm down after some time. She picked out the ingredients according to the order and assisted Xu Le. When she saw him swaying the iron wok, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll go out and buy more¡­¡± ¡°No need.¡± Xu Le interrupted her. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to help. You just have to serve the meal later. Don¡¯t mix it up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After stir-frying six to seven servings of stir-fried pork, Xu Le quickly filled the plate while Lu Yuxi scooped rice and was in charge of plating and serving the dishes. The two of them cooperated very well, but after serving 20 tables, the ingredients were all finished. ¡°Your meal.¡± Lu Yuxi put down the plate and smiled politely. The influencer in front of her did not appreciate her kindness and ordered arrogantly, ¡°Get me a cup of water. Oh right, look at your food.¡± ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°I just ordered a fried chicken thigh. It¡¯s from the video tutorial you posted online. Why isn¡¯t it served yet?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry. We didn¡¯t prepare all the ingredients today. Please wait for a moment. It will be served soon.¡± Lu Yuxi looked at the six or seven plates of dishes in front of him and said, ¡°You can eat first. Later, we¡¯ll give you an extra serving of Mango Sago Dew.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± The live-streamer said to the camera, ¡°My fellow viwers, let me test the water for you first. I¡¯ll try these dishes and see if it¡¯s delicious. Maybe the taste is all a lie¡­ In my opinion, there¡¯s a high chance that there will be a failed dish at today¡¯s opening. Until now, they haven¡¯t even prepared the ingredients. Which restaurant would have such a situation?¡± Lu Yuxi turned around and rolled her eyes in anger. In the kitchen. Xu Le closed his eyes and entered the system space. Although there was an endless supply of vegetables and utensils in the space, he could not bring them to reality. As he hesitated, he suddenly heard the cold mechanical voice of the system. ¡°Congratulations, host, you have successfully activated the system side mission.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Before Xu Le could react, a transparent crystal board appeared. There were two options and the upper left corner indicated his gourmet points. ¡°Host, you can choose whether to activate the mission or not. Use your gourmet points to exchange for fresh vegetables at the market price.¡± Xu Le looked at the gourmet points and the price of vegetables in the system. He reckoned that if he bought all the vegetables today, his points would be depleted and he could not buy any more recipes. No matter how he looked at it, it was a losing deal. ¡°Then how do I earn it back?¡± He did not know how long he would have to wait for the system to arrange the mission. ¡°Easy.¡± The system beeped and Xu Le looked towards the direction of the sound. He saw that the customers in the restaurant were full of praises after tasting a mouthful of soft and tender pig trotters. After a series of beeping sounds, the gourmet points were added to his inventory. ¡°+5 points. ¡± ¡°+12 points. ¡± ¡­ Xu Le immediately understood and said, ¡°As long as they think it¡¯s delicious, I can get gourmet points?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, but if anyone dislikes it, you¡¯ll have to pay double.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le was very confident in his carefully selected ingredients and culinary skills and immediately agreed. When Lu Yuxi entered the kitchen again, she was stunned by the dazzling array of ingredients. Chapter 142 - Chen Xians Visit Fresh green vegetables, high quality meat, including pepper, ginger, garlic, gingko, fragrant leaves, bell peppers, and other condiments were prepared¡­ Lu Yuxi stuttered in shock. ¡°W-Where did you get this?¡± Before Xu Le could reply, a face was pressed against the glass window outside. That person looked fierce and impatient as he shouted, ¡°Are you done? How much longer do you need? I¡¯ve been waiting all morning. Do you want to starve me to death?¡± Lu Yuxi smiled courteously and quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, may I know your queue number? If you can¡¯t continue to wait, you can directly ask for a refund on the system. I can also give you some snacks as compensation later.¡± ¡°My dear viewers, the broadcaster can¡¯t enter the kitchen, so I¡¯m broadcasting live to everyone. Look, the person inside is the little Master Chef ~¡± On the screen of his cell phone, there was a constant stream of small gifts being sent to him. The host beamed and said, ¡°I still want to order more dishes. Those few dishes just now were especially delicious. Do you have rice? Give me another serving.¡± Lu Yuxi gritted her teeth and suppressed her temper. ¡°Yes, please make your order by following the procedures.¡± These people were simply enjoying the show and swarmed over like a swarm of bees. The person who had urged them at the start did not intend to make a refund. Instead, he shouted at the people who were watching the show, ¡°Look, if the shop is not ready, then don¡¯t open for business. You created such a big gimmick and everyone came all the way here for nothing. We ordered the dishes but they were not served. Are you trying to cheat us of our money?¡± Lu Yuxi looked at the queue number on his phone and immediately frowned. ¡°Brother, you ordered it two minutes ago. I can only serve you some time later, right?¡± The man looked embarrassed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter when I ordered it. The main thing is that you guys didn¡¯t do a good job at all. There are only two people in such a big shop and the manager is still a kid. What food can he make? Let me see, choosing such a big place is a waste!¡± Xu Le did not care that he was trying to change the subject. He turned around and smiled. ¡°This uncle works in the same industry as me, so you must be particular about the dishes. You must have a taste later.¡± This man¡¯s expression appeared to be sincere, so the customers who were watching the fun were immediately excited. ¡°You¡¯re in the same industry?¡± ¡°You¡¯re already so old, yet you¡¯re still looking for a child¡¯s fault. Aren¡¯t you being too much of a bully?¡± ¡°Yeah, is what the little Master Chef said true?¡± ¡°If you want to cause trouble, don¡¯t disturb our meal. Little Master Chef, you do your job. We¡¯ll wait.¡± The man who was hugging his arms turned red under the criticism of the crowd. He said stubbornly, ¡°I¡¯m eating lunch normally. How is that considered as bullying someone from my industry? If you guys really have good taste, my shop is on the third floor¡­ I¡¯ll be able to get three Michelin stars very soon.¡± The host joined in the fun excitedly and explained, ¡°My dear viewers, there¡¯s something huge happening! Let us wait and see if we can successfully eat today!¡± The commotion outside came to an end under the criticisms of the customers. After it subsided, Lu Yuxi went into the kitchen to serve the dishes. ¡°How do you know he¡¯s in the same industry? Have you seen him before?¡± ¡°No, all chefs have something in common.¡± Lu Yuxi asked curiously, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°For example, the collar and sleeves will inevitably be stained with oil and fishy smell. If you cut too many vegetables with your hands, you will grow a thin layer of calluses. It¡¯s very easy to recognize.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yuxi then remembered about the ingredients. Xu Le tried his best to prepare the dishes and winked at Lu Yuxi mysteriously. ¡°Of course I have a trick up my sleeve. Alright, serve the dishes now. If the customers get anxious, it will affect our reputation.¡± Lu Yuxi had always trusted him. When she heard this explanation, she didn¡¯t doubt it at all and immediately agreed happily. ¡°Luckily you prepared a Plan B. Otherwise, I would have died of guilt today. Next is the chicken wing stew. There are a total of 13 portions, and they are all slightly spicy. Can you cook them all in one pot?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Le took down the big casserole and pan-fried the condiments before putting them into the casserole to stew. Soon, the next table of dishes arrived. As Xu Le waited for Lu Yuxi to carry the dishes out, he stared at the fire while glancing at the feedback from the customers outside. The closest table was a family of three. The little girl picked up a piece of smooth chicken slices and put it into her mouth. Her expression immediately became one of extreme enjoyment. The food melted the moment it entered her mouth. After she finished eating, she exclaimed exaggeratedly, ¡°Mommy, quickly try it! This is really delicious!¡± ¡°The chicken wings are great too! I must come tomorrow as well!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay. If Nannan wants to and will eat properly, I can bring you here every day.¡± ¡°Kaching!¡± Xu Le heard the sound of gold coins entering his account in the system. ¡°+30. ¡± ¡°+15. ¡± ¡°+40. ¡± The system would accurately capture everyone¡¯s satisfaction with the food and reward with gold coins. As Xu Le¡¯s food tasted excellent, and Lu Yuxi had categorized the food according to the cuisine and texture, the customers basically did not eat anything they dislike, so the feedback was extremely good. The sound of the gold coins being transferred into his account was like the music accompaniment as he cut vegetables and cooked. It made Xu Le even more full of energy. He moved the dishes, pots, and spoons in his hands like flowing water as he created delicious dishes that were tempting. Lu Yuxi quickly served the dishes and occasionally leaned against the door when she was free. She watched at how skillful he was, as he multi-tasked between stir-frying the marinated meat and the immediately turning around to sprinkle pepper powder into the chicken soup. It was pleasing to the eye, as if he was conducting a symphony instead of working in the smoke. ¡°Alright, this plate is especially spicy. Table 35, serve it separately.¡± Lu Yuxi acknowledged and immediately did as instructed. Finally, Lu Yuxi had some free time in the afternoon. She placed all the cutlery, dishes and cups into the dishwasher before sitting down to rest. After wiping the last table, Lu Yuxi was so tired that her legs were stiff. Xu Le closed his eyes and entered the system space to check the amount of gold coins. In just a few hours, the amount of gold coins had multiplied by several times. Just this value alone made him elated. He thought, ¡°So many gold coins. I wonder how many recipes I can buy? Maybe I can continue to exchange for original ingredients.¡± When the time came, he would save a large portion for his expenses. If the rent and raw materials were provided by the system, Xu Le would only need to pay the employee¡¯s salary, and the remaining money would be profits after paying taxes. ¡°Xu Le, look!¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s anxious tone pulled him back to reality. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Look, this is a French trailer.¡± It took Xu Le a long time to recognize the video title of ¡°Master Chef Tournament¡±. He asked in surprise, ¡°Is this program so unorthodox? It can even be conducted overseas. Could there be more than one chef behind the scenes?¡± ¡°They seem to be the same, and their voices are the same.¡± Lu Yuxi rewound the short one minute video and said, ¡°That¡¯s not the point. Look at these two. They look familiar.¡± The screen froze on the faces of the two Chinese people who were particularly prominent. On the screen beside them, there was an introduction: Xu Zhexian, Shen Hui. Xu Le¡¯s pupils contracted as memories flooded his mind. He mumbled, ¡°Tiantian¡¯s parents are going to participate in this competition too?¡± Chapter 143 - Chen Xians Visit ¡°Aren¡¯t Tiantian¡¯s parents your parents too?¡± Lu Yuxi casually replied, ¡°Do you want to call them to ask?¡± Xu Le¡¯s expression was a little awkward. To be honest, ever since he transmigrated, although he had the original owner¡¯s memories, the system did not give him any contact information. Otherwise, he would not have worked so hard to repay the mortgage. These things should be the responsibility of the original owner¡¯s parents. Xu Le said, ¡°When will the show start?¡± ¡°It will be a live broadcast in four days.¡± Lu Yuxi pouted and said, ¡°They are really confident. Every time the live broadcast voting ends, they will edit it and upload it to the platform.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xu Le was even more puzzled. What was Chen Yeqi trying to do? The suspicion reached its peak the moment Zhang Tong stepped into the restaurant. At 8 pm, when the shop was about to close, Zhang Tong slowly found a corner and sat down. Once he came in, Xu Le recognized him. Lu Yuxi rubbed her right shoulder with her left hand and was happy that business was exceptionally good that day. She stood in front of the counter and counted the cash. When she turned her head, she noticed that Xu Le¡¯s expression was not right and said, ¡°It¡¯s him. He also participated in that competition previously. I heard that he lost terribly. The Heavenly Restaurant was probably afraid that it would affect business, so they fired him directly.¡± Xu Le widened his eyes. ¡°But he¡¯s the head chef.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Lu Yuxi lowered her voice and said, ¡°Who knows? The head chef isn¡¯t the boss. Besides, Zhang Tong has won so many awards in the competition. He¡¯s too highly praised. If he reaches too high a level, he¡¯ll fall even more miserably.¡± Lu Yuxi shook her head and sighed. ¡°That¡¯s why I don¡¯t approve of you participating in the competition either. It¡¯s just that the show is attracting too much attention. The public¡¯s opinion will definitely affect your future¡­¡± At the end of her speech, she suddenly realized that something was wrong. ¡°Of course I know your level of cooking skills and believe that you will win.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xu Le did not take it to heart. He placed the sliced Buddha¡¯s Roll in the oil pan and said softly, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer and see how my parents end up.¡± When it was past 9 pm, there were only a few customers in the restaurant. They were those who wanted to find Xu Le to take a photo and he had agreed to it. After taking photos, they saw Zhang Tong sitting in the corner in a daze, looking haggard. Hence, he turned around and entered the kitchen. Lu Yuxi asked, ¡°What are we having for dinner?¡± Xu Le teased, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to lose weight?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I have to have supper today. I¡¯m exhausted.¡± ¡°Okay, what do you want to eat?¡± ¡°¡­I saw that you have fresh steak in the fridge. Why don¡¯t you fry it with butter?¡± Xu Le paused for a moment. He had been too busy just now. He had exchanged two more pieces of steak with the system. Just nice, he was also hungry. Seeing his hesitation, Lu Yuxi rebuked, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re so petty that you won¡¯t even let me eat a piece of steak?¡± ¡°Of course not. There¡¯s no butter or rosemary in the shop, let alone knives and forks.¡± The dishes served on the menu were all authentic Chinese cuisine, so they didn¡¯t require these condiments at all and weren¡¯t prepared. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just cut some and stir-fry it? We can even make some stir-fried beef.¡± Lu Yuxi was slightly disappointed, but she was very confident in Xu Le¡¯s culinary skills. She knew that no matter what ingredient was in his hands, he would be able to turn something rotten into something magical, so her disappointment was fleeting. ¡°I¡¯ll make a Lotus steak.¡± Traditional Chinese cooking methods could stimulate the tender juices of the beef steak to the greatest extent. The sauce was very appetising and served as the best choice for supper. ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes lit up. She changed into a clean rag and went out to wipe the table. ¡°Wait,¡± Xu Le called her. ¡°Go ask Zhang Tong if he wants to have supper together.¡± Xu Le could tell that Zhang Tong had been sitting there for a few hours. He must have something to talk to him about and was too embarrassed to ask. Hence, he got Lu Yuxi to lead the conversation. ¡°Sure.¡± After Lu Yuxi left, he took out the steak. The meat was dark red and tender, and there was not a single drop of blood on the porcelain plate. The system had given him the best beef, and the meat was of the highest quality. It was perfect for steak. He cracked three eggs, added salt, sweet potato flour and a little baking soda, put on gloves and then wrapped the sauce evenly around the steak. In the pan, he poured oil and cut the onions and garlic into small piece. The black pepper was stir-fried in the pan. Then, he added yellow wine, oyster sauce, rock sugar, dark soya sauce and white pepper. Finally, he poured a small amount of water into the pot to boil. Then, he used starch water to thicken the sauce. When a layer of oil appeared on the surface, the sauce would be ready and he placed the pot aside. Xu Le placed the beef into the frying pan and slowly grilled it. As it sizzled, the color of the beef gradually turned white and the edges curled up. With the egg white wrapped around it, the beef wouldn¡¯t become too hard even if it was fully cooked. He flipped the meat over and waited for both sides to turn golden brown. Then, he immediately poured the sauce that he had mixed. Without placing the cover over, he let the sauce boil for five minutes. Soon, the glossy brown and fragrant lotus steak was served. Xu Le cut it into strips that were two centimeters wide and used the dried lotus leaves as the base to serve. They belonged to the same industry, so serving one dish might seem too stingy. Furthermore, Xu Le was also worried that with Lu Yuxi around, it might not be enough, so he planned to make another main dish. Xu Le added water in the pot. Originally, he wanted to make tomato egg noodles, but when he was looking for the ingredients, he saw a box of clear and tender prawns. He suddenly changed his mind and grabbed a handful of tender green spinach. ¡°I¡¯ll make clear prawn broth noodle soup.¡± He could not help but swallow at the thought of the fragrant soup base and the sweet prawns. Xu Le had cooked a lot of delicious dishes, and he had been busy the whole day. The customers were full of praises for him. Perhaps it was because he had been cooking ¡°strong-flavored¡± food for the whole day, he suddenly wanted to eat a bowl of light noodles to change up the taste. Xu Le immediately washed the spinach clean and gently pressed the prawns with a kitchen napkin to dry the moisture on the surface. He added salt, pepper powder, and a small amount of yellow wine to remove the fishy taste. Finally, he wrapped the prawn evenly in starch to ensure that the texture was fresh and tender. He cut a cross on the surface of the tomatoes and put them in the boiling water. Then, he took it out to peel the skin and changed into another knife to cut the tomatoes into small pieces. The spinach was blanched with boiling water for 30 seconds to remove the hydrochloric acid inside, then scooped out and cut into small sections. The prawns were slipped into boiling oil and could be scooped out with just a few toss. Xu Le had originally intended to boil the noodles with clear water, but he suddenly remembered that he had all kinds of soup broth in his kitchen. Hence, he scooped two spoonfuls of the warm chicken soup that was left over from making boiled cabbage. It was clear like water and looked no different from boiled water. ¡°Hey!¡± Lu Yuxi suddenly popped out from behind him, startling him. He looked up at her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Haha, I have a very good idea! I must tell you now, not even for a minute later!¡± Lu Yuxi grinned happily, but she didn¡¯t dare to speak too loudly. She said mysteriously, ¡°Chef Zhang said that his whole family is staying in the local area, but he hasn¡¯t been able to find a suitable job recently. The pay offered to him was too low and he didn¡¯t have the money to open a restaurant, so¡­ you know.¡± Chapter 144 - Chen Xians Visit ¡°You want me to ask him to stay?¡± Lu Yuxi tilted her head and said innocently, ¡°Can¡¯t you?¡± Xu Le pondered for a moment before he scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup and tasted it. After realizing that it was a little bland, he added salt and white pepper to enhance the taste. After the soup boiled, he placed the sliced tomatoes into the pot before replying, ¡°He used to be the head chef of the Heavenly Restaurant. If I asked to hire him, it more or less would hurt his pride.¡± ¡°You actually think so?¡± Lu Yuxi muttered, her expression slightly stunned. She was surprised that she was not as meticulous as Xu Le. ¡°Why don¡¯t you stir-fry the tomatoes before putting them in? The soup won¡¯t taste good if it¡¯s added after being boiled.¡± Lu Yuxi suddenly interrupted. ¡°I often make the noodles with tomato soup base. Usually, I will cut the tomato into pieces and add sugar to release the juices. Then, I will pour cold water into the pot and cook it until it¡¯s thickened. Then, I will add noodles so that it is sweet and sour.¡± ¡°I am making clear broth noodle soup.¡± Xu Le explained patiently, ¡°It¡¯s also delicious when you cook it like that, but it tastes more plain. I¡¯ve eaten too many oily dishes, so I want to have a change with lighter flavors.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Lu Yuxi didn¡¯t comment. After thinking for a while, she still encouraged him secretly, ¡°As the saying goes, a man can¡¯t be defeated by a single cent. After Chef Zhang participated in the show, his reputation and career fell to rock bottom. If you¡¯re willing to offer a high salary now, he might agree.¡± Xu Le looked up at Lu Yuxi and smiled. ¡°Sure.¡± The cooked noodles were covered with tomatoes and spinach. A few white prawns were placed on the top and a bowl of fragrant noodles was ready. After serving the bowl on the table, Zhang Tong stared at the bowl awkwardly. He didn¡¯t know how to start a conversation with Xu Le. Fortunately, Lu Yuxi ran over with a plate and casually sat down. She mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s so hot! Why is this dish called lotus steak? Is it because there¡¯s a lotus leaf underneath?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s written on the recipe.¡± Lu Yuxi did not retort. Instead, she lowered her head and blew on the noodles, wanting to taste them. ¡°Uncle Zhang, I made some supper for you in a haste. Try it.¡± Xu Le spoke in a neither servile nor overbearing manner. Zhang Tong nodded. He didn¡¯t seem to be in good spirits. It was as if he didn¡¯t have the strength to speak. He picked up his chopsticks and swallowed in one gulp. He choked and coughed twice before continuing to chew. The Clear Broth Noodle Soup didn¡¯t have any seasonings such as soya sauce added. There was only taste of salt and the fresh sweetness of the tomatoes. The side dishes were red and green, and the prawns were tender and smooth. The noodles weren¡¯t too hard, but sweet and smooth. As soon as he took a bite, the delicious chicken soup and steaming hot noodles slid into his stomach. It was extremely therapeutic. Zhang Tong lowered his head and started eating. His hand that was holding the chopsticks trembled slightly. Lu Yuxi remained silent and picked up a piece of steak with her fork. It was cooked in a very Chinese manner. The beef was juicy, and the braised sauce was slightly sweet. It was blood red inside, and the heat control was just right. Not only was it fully cooked like the Chinese dishes, its tender texture was also retained. The light noodles was complemented with the braised beef steak. Occasionally, they could even taste the delicate fragrance of the lotus leaves underneath. During the meal, they did not make any small talk and ate seriously. Zhang Tong picked up the bowl and finished the soup. Then, he leaned back in satisfaction and relaxed. ¡°Thanks¡­ Is the soup base you used chicken soup?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s after the soup is ¡®sweeped¡¯!¡± Zhang Tong came to his senses, and a hint of joy appeared on his face as he tasted the noodles. He was gratified by Xu Ke¡¯s hospitality. ¡°You should know my current situation.¡± Zhang Tong let out a long sigh. He wanted to say something but hesitated. After a long while, he continued, ¡°That show caused my life to hit rock bottom.¡± Ever since he started culinary, although he wasn¡¯t as famous as Xu Le was when he was young, his life had been smooth-sailing. He became the head chef in his thirties and was respected. Who would have thought that an ordinary competition would suddenly make him lose control of his life? He even lost the confidence to cook in the kitchen. Xu Le said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about that program.¡± ¡°No matter how indignant I am, that chef has yet to show his face. Furthermore, he defeated many of his peers overseas. It¡¯s too mythical!¡± Zhang Tong was indignant and helpless. He asked, ¡°You¡¯re the only person I can think of now. Xu Le, maybe you can have a showdown with him.¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°A showdown?¡± Perhaps it was because his eyes were too clear. It was as if he could see through Zhang Tong¡¯s panicked expression. The two of them sat facing each other for a while. In the end, Zhang Tong was the first to lose. ¡°Sigh, it¡¯s my selfishness. I¡¯m not willing to see him continue to be so brazen.¡± Xu Le could hear the hidden meaning in his words and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I suspect he cheated.¡± Zhang Tong lowered his head dejectedly and added, ¡°But I don¡¯t have any evidence. No one will believe me even if I say it.¡± ¡°Thank you for the noodles today. It¡¯s delicious and the steak is delicious.¡± Chefs were the same as customers. However, after working for a long time, their sense of taste had become sharper and their mentality had changed. It was just like how Zhang Tong would subconsciously guess the cooking method and the ingredients. Thus, he, who had an exploratory heart towards food, found it very difficult to experience a therapeutic feeling from food. However, it was different that day. Xu Le¡¯s Clear Broth Noodle Soup was common and simple. The steak was also the kind that he could tell the cooking method at a glance. Zhang Tong, who had been tense ever since the competition ended, finally relaxed. He finished his meal in one gulp and only had the word ¡°satisfied¡± in his mind. After saying his thanks, Zhang Tong stood up and wanted to leave. Xu Le also stood up and said, ¡°How did you come to suspect that the program team was faking it?¡± ¡°The chef didn¡¯t show his face and kept cooking behind the scenes. Who knows how many people are in the room behind the scenes? Maybe it¡¯s a team!¡± Zhang Tong said his suspicions angrily. Xu Le frowned slightly. The system had always been the one to push him to participate in competitions, but this time, the Master Chef Competition had such a great reputation. Yet the system was as quiet as a chicken and did not issue any missions at all. Maybe Zhang Tong was telling the truth? Xu Le was suspicious. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Zhang Tong knew that there was no point in saying anything more. He couldn¡¯t force his own matters on someone else. He forced a smile and said, ¡°I lost my job recently. I¡¯m going to find a job. I have something on so I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Lu Yuxi elbowed Xu Le frantically, hinting for him to ask Zhang Tong to stay. ¡°Ahem, please wait a moment. Um, is Uncle Zhang interested in the eight-year-old cafeteria?¡± Xu Le chased after him and said sincerely, ¡°I can double your original annual salary.¡± Chapter 145 - Chen Xians Visit Lu Yuxi gulped down the last mouthful of chicken soup and almost spat it out. She choked and coughed several times. Wasn¡¯t Xu Le¡¯s offer a little too generous? Zhang Tong was the head chef of the Heavenly Restaurant. His annual salary was already high, not to mention double of that¡­ Although she was not the one paying for it, Lu Yuxi still felt the pinch. Zhang Tong was speechless. His eyes were filled with emotions. He said in a trembling voice, ¡°Sure, I¡¯m looking for a job. I hope we can¡­ have a pleasant cooperation.¡± The two of them shook hands and Xu Le¡¯s expression was especially sincere. After confirming that Zhang Tong could come to work the next day, he turned around and waved at Lu Yuxi. ¡°It¡¯s time to get off work. Let¡¯s go. What are you waiting for?¡± ¡°Me, me, me, you, you.¡± Lu Yuxi was agitated for a long time. In the end, she stared at Xu Le quietly and said, ¡°Give me a raise!¡± On the way back, the two of them stood by the road and waited for the cab. Lu Yuxi stepped on the edge of the pavement in boredom. The night wind blew and her hair was messed up. She raised her hand and said, ¡°Do you still want to work with the supplier tomorrow?¡± Lu Yuxi knew that she had to compromise before finding a suitable supplier. ¡°Turn them down. Don¡¯t ever work with them again.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say things on impulse. Think about the consequences carefully.¡± ¡°I brought so many dishes today. Of course, I only said that after considering it.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Lu Yuxi walked in a straight line and stretched her arms to maintain her balance. She said shakily, ¡°That¡¯s good. Is it the same for the first shop?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to them tonight!¡± She said angrily, ¡°The supplier over there took advantage of the situation and dropped the ball at the critical moment. It¡¯s definitely not trustworthy.¡± ¡°I suspect it has something to do with the producers of the Master Chef program team.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Lu Yuxi turned around curiously and was about to jump down from the curb when she accidentally stepped on her loose shoelace. She tripped and fell straight to the ground. ¡°Hey!¡± Xu Le reached out to support her. Even though he was strong, he could not bear the weight of an adult. There was a thud. Lu Yuxi still laid on the ground while he became a human cushion. ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± Lu Yuxi laughed out loud. As she helped him up, she laughed until she could not straighten her back. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I didn¡¯t crush you, right? Hahahaha¡­¡± Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°You don¡¯t look apologetic.¡± ¡°Beep-beep-beep.¡± The driver waved his hand and said, ¡°Little girl, what are you doing? Bring your brother here!¡± ¡°He mistook you for my brother.¡± Lu Yuxi chuckled, feeling like she had taken advantage of him. However, she did not notice that the smile on Xu Le¡¯s face had fallen. He got into the car without saying a word. When he reached home, Xu Le received a message from Li Qing about the revenue from that day¡¯s business. He also explained that he would end the cooperation with the supplier the next day. ¡°What? On the first day of opening, they just stopped delivering the ingredients on a whim? Don¡¯t they have any sense of responsibility?! To think you have a good temper. If it were me, I would scold him until¡­¡± Li Qing had a bad temper, so he criticized the supplier over the phone. In the end, he even promised, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t take their ingredients tomorrow. I¡¯ll chase them out and vent anger on your behalf.¡± He was like an old hen protecting her calf. Xu Le smiled and did not say anything. Lu Yuxi, who came back with him, could sense that something was amiss. She probed, ¡°Are you angry?¡± ¡°Why would I be angry?¡± Xu Le retorted, leaving her speechless. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Lu Yuxi was a meticulous person. After thinking for a while, she said,¡± Is it because the annoying driver said that you are my younger brother? ¡± Xu Le¡¯s expression froze. She had guessed correctly. Lu Yuxi smiled disapprovingly. ¡°At most, I won¡¯t take advantage of you. Next time I go out, I¡¯ll call you elder brother. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± Xu Le¡¯s gaze turned colder. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m angry about this?¡± ¡°Can you not be unreasonable?¡± Lu Yuxi said impatiently, ¡°I have always treated you as a friend of the same age. When I was eight years old, I don¡¯t even know where I was playing house with my friends. You¡¯re so great. You participated in competitions and even opened stores. You¡¯re so much better than me!¡± Xu Le rubbed his temples and sneered. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m only eight years old.¡± There was a basin of jasmine by the window. It was the perfect season for white flowers to bloom. In the dark night, the fragrance of flowers permeated the air. For a moment, there was an air of ambiguous romance under the dim yellow light from the night lamp and from Lu Yuxi¡¯s gaze. The two of them looked at each other and stood up straight. Xu Le stepped back and leaned against the table. Lu Yuxi, on the other hand, was at a loss. She forced herself to put on a decent smile and said, ¡°Sleep early. We still have to open the store tomorrow, so we¡¯ll definitely be busy. I¡¯ll help you interview a few shop assistants tomorrow. Oh, right, who will be in charge of the official publicity account?¡± ¡°Recruit some people for operations and hand them over to him.¡± ¡°Yeah, I have the same idea too.¡± Lu Yuxi quickly left the room after chatting about work. When she closed the door, she accidentally spouted softly, ¡°I must be crazy.¡± After she fell into the darkness, the room fell silent again. Xu Le closed his eyes and entered the system. He used his gold coins to exchange for the vegetables and meat that he needed the next day. After he was done, he saw the huge amount of gold coins and couldn¡¯t help but feel gratified. It seemed that all the customers were very fond of the dishes that day, and there was no bad review that caused him to lose gold coins. Before he went to bed, Xu Le was scrolling through his phone. Recently, culinary competitions had been extremely popular online. Even his variety show, ¡®Chinese Restaurant¡¯, which was going to be broadcast the next day, had been hyped up. In short, the response was extremely highly anticipated. He scrolled further down and saw the tutorial for ¡°Fried Cheese Chicken¡± set off a wave of imitations online. Many people praised that it tasted much better than chicken from fast food restaurants. He did not know when he fell asleep, but Xu Le was woken up by Li Qing¡¯s call the next day. He was saying angrily, ¡°That guy broke his promise first, but he said that we were the untrustworthy ones.¡± ¡°¡­ Who?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s the supplier!¡± Li Qing vented his anger. ¡°I scolded him until he couldn¡¯t find his bearings. Now, I¡¯m afraid I have to go over to your branch to scold them too.¡± Xu Le narrowed his eyes and looked at the time. Then, he immediately jumped out of bed. It was already 9:30 am even though they were going to open for business at 10 am, yet Lu Yuxi did not wake him up that day! Xu Le was furious. He quickly washed up and took a taxi to the shop. There was a long queue outside. Entering from the side door, he could hear all the curses. ¡°What do you mean? You want it to end just like that? Have you asked me for my opinion? Who¡¯s going to pay for our losses? Don¡¯t forget, the contract is signed! If you guys don¡¯t keep your word when you just opened, which customer will dare to come and eat in the future?¡± The supplier was no longer as meek as he was previously and flew into a rage. Lu Yuxi held the contract in her hand and directly ignored him. She calmly said to the job applicants, ¡°Work hard. The probation period is three days. Even if we are dissatisfied, we will still pay you.¡± Chapter 146 - Chen Xians Visit Then, he turned around and looked at the supplier impatiently. ¡°Who¡¯s the one who received the payment yet deliberately caused trouble? Shouldn¡¯t I know it better than you?¡± ¡°You only want to talk about the contract now?¡± Lu Yuxi sneered and took the contract from the other party¡¯s hands. She slammed it on the table and said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that it¡¯s my first time doing business and don¡¯t have much experience, I wouldn¡¯t have forgotten to add another clause. Otherwise, I would have made you pay the entire penalty fee!¡± ¡°You, you¡­¡± ¡°What about me?¡± Lu Yuxi raised her eyebrows and put her hands on her hips. She said in a domineering manner, ¡°You were the one who ended the deal because you did not deliver the goods. I didn¡¯t break the contract. Luckily, I ended the collaboration with a short-sighted person like you. Otherwise, who knows how much losses I¡¯ll suffer because of you in the future?¡± The supplier was rendered speechless by Li Qing and Lu Yuxi. He could not help but curse, ¡°No one told me that they were so difficult to deal with.¡± He turned around and saw Xu Le. Xu Le was dressed simply. He raised his head and revealed an innocent look on his young face. The supplier seemed to have seen a life-saving straw and thought that the child was simple-minded and would definitely be easy to deceive. He hurriedly rubbed his hands and went forward, pleading, ¡°Little Master Chef, we really didn¡¯t do it on purpose. You also know that the amount of food we had that day was only enough to supply one restaurant. Moreover, didn¡¯t you guys open for business as usual after that? It¡¯s just a small mistake¡­ it won¡¯t affect our future collaboration together.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xu Le nodded and listened to his nonsense calmly. ¡°Xu Le!¡± Lu Yuxi said angrily, ¡°They took bribes from Chen Yeqi and created a trap for us the other day. Now, they¡¯re using the loophole in the contract as a threat. No matter what he says, just chase him out!¡± Xu Le looked calm and collected. He took the contract and was about to read it when the man said cheekily, ¡°Little Master Chef, can you read?¡± ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± The man said eagerly, ¡°There¡¯s an English label on it. I¡¯ll translate it for you if you don¡¯t understand.¡± Xu Le took a quick look and said seriously, ¡°I can let bygones be bygones.¡± The supplier was overjoyed. Just as he was becoming happy, Xu Le continued, ¡°The quality of the dishes you provide has dropped. They are not fresh, and the meat are all frozen products. It should not be strange for us to request for a termination of the contract, right?¡± He managed to turn the situation around with just a few words. If they were to break the contract, Lu Yuxi would definitely have to pay a portion of the penalty fee. If the supplier made use of the reputation of the ¡°eight-year-old cafeteria¡± to create a scene, it would definitely be troublesome. Hence, Xu Le came up with another reason. ¡°W-what!¡± The man didn¡¯t react for a moment. He put his hands on his hips and laughed angrily. ¡°Aren¡¯t most meat supposed to be frozen? Where am I supposed to find fresh meat? Should it be flown over by air? You¡¯re not stupid either, wouldn¡¯t that cost a lot?¡± Lu Yuxi heaved a sigh of relief when she saw that Xu Le was willing to help her settle. After receiving the hint from his eyes, she immediately went to the fridge to retrieve the ingredients for that day. ¡°Look, isn¡¯t what we have better than frozen meat?¡± ¡°You¡­¡± The supplier was skeptical. He checked all the meat and they were indeed fresh meet. There was not a single drop of blood in the container that was used to store it, not to mention the smell of blood.¡± Aren¡¯t you making a loss by doing this? ¡± ¡°That¡¯s the restaurant¡¯s matters. It has nothing to do with you.¡± Xu Le made a gesture for him to leave and said, ¡°At this point, our contract has ended. Don¡¯t pester us anymore.¡± The supplier was silent. He still didn¡¯t give up and checked the vegetables in the kitchen. They were green and tender, and all of them were of the best quality. They didn¡¯t lose out to the ingredients of five-star restaurants at all. ¡°Boss Xu, aren¡¯t you being too unreasonable by doing this? You¡¯re deliberately forcing me to a corner. Previously, for your sake, I even found a new farmer.¡± He played the emotional card and Xu Le said in a faint voice, ¡°Yes, the quality of your ingredients is very poor. It¡¯s time for you to change a farmer. We are about to open for business. Please leave.¡± After sending him away, Lu Yuxi didn¡¯t have time to rant before she busied herself with Xu Le for the whole day. Every time she served the dishes out, she would hear all kinds of heartfelt comments. ¡°This is really amazing! How can a pot of vegetables make such a great taste!¡± ¡°What kind of exotic condiments are there inside? Why are they so different from the ones I made at home?¡± ¡°Humph! Last time, I learned how to cook according to the video tutorial provided by the little Master Chef. Now, even the braised pork has become my best dish. Aren¡¯t you guys going to start following his account?¡± ¡°Where?¡± As Xu Le became more and more famous, his influence grew. Many customers came from other places and specially visited his restaurant. Xu Le stood in the kitchen and heard the sound of gold coins being collected in the system. He knew how satisfied the customers were with the cuisine. It was Zhang Tong¡¯s first day at work and he was still very reserved. Luckily, he had a strong foundation. Just by looking at it once, he could imitate 70 to 80% of the taste. After making a few dishes, Zhang Tong wiped the sweat off his forehead with a towel. He said with slight frustration, ¡°That¡¯s weird. I followed your steps and copied everything. Why is it not as delicious as yours?¡± The dishes that Xu Le made were either refreshing, crispy, or fragrant and spicy. They were fat but not greasy. He had grasped the essence of all the dishes and brought out its flavor to produce the best delicacy. Xu Le said, ¡°Take the stir-fried beef you just made as an example. The beef is tender, but it will be very dry when chewed. In fact, your method is correct. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s more traditional so the meat still retains its original texture.¡± When cooking, one had to pay attention to the heat, the texture, and the taste. Every step shouldn¡¯t be omitted. This was precisely the key point of making different flavors with the same recipe. For example, the word ¡°moderate¡± was commonly used in Chinese cuisines. Yet, it had to be precise to every gram or milliliters. Therefore, the chefs had to study the recipes carefully. Xu Le pondered for a while before correcting him. ¡°You don¡¯t have to marinate for too long after the sauce is poured. It¡¯s fine as long as it¡¯s smooth. Compared to what you did last time, it¡¯s fine as long as it¡¯s shortened by half a minute.¡± Zhang Tong experimented a few times and finally came up with the exact same taste. However, Xu Le wasn¡¯t willing to let the customers taste the dishes that were slightly poorer in taste. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s save it for lunch. We have new employees anyway.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± At one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, after lunch time, there were finally fewer customers. Only then did they have time to eat. Lu Yuxi had just picked up a mouthful of stir-fried beef when she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°The beef you stir-fried today has gotten tough. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you fail.¡± Zhang Tong said awkwardly, ¡°I made it.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s expression froze for a moment, and she immediately corrected herself. ¡°Oh, oh, actually it¡¯s quite good. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s slightly different from Xu Le¡¯s cooking style.¡± Two days later, the international version of the ¡°Master Chef Competition¡± was finally broadcasted. Xu Tian was already waiting in front of the television. Chapter 147 - Chen Xians Visit ¡°Brother, will Daddy and Mommy appear?¡± Xu Tian asked Xu Le with a tender voice. Xu Le heard that she had not had dinner in kindergarten, so he was making egg with shrimp for her. When he heard this, he said, ¡°They will, just wait patiently.¡± During the first 20 minutes of the live broadcast, they had been bragging about how awesome the ¡°Master Chef¡± who had yet to show his face was. They had even compared Zhang Tong, Chen Xian, as well as other local chefs who had a very high reputation with the ¡°Master Chef¡± to praise him. The audiences were dumbfounded when they heard that. They really thought that the Master Chef was one of the top chefs in Asia. The cheers from the audience grew louder and louder. Xu Le¡¯s hands paused slightly as he thought to himself, ¡°Rather than saying that the program is implementing strong variety effect in the competition, it would be more accurate to say that they are trampling on his peers to support him. Who exactly is that person? How can he be so glorious under the premise of a fair competition?¡± He cracked and scattered five eggs, and added salt pepper powder, a small amount of water starch and fragrant oil. This would preserve the freshness of the eggs to the greatest extent. Xu Le cut a cross on the surface of the tomato and placed it in the boiling water. After that, he peeled off the skin on it and diced it. ¡°Brother, when is dinner?¡± ¡°Soon, in ten minutes.¡± Xu Le swiftly picked the removed the prawn shell and took out the innards. After marinating it for a while, he washed it with cold water and finally poured some yellow wine over it. The prawns were poured into the pot and boiled until they were 60-70% cooked. Then, they were scooped out and mixed evenly in the egg mixture. Oil was poured into the pot and waited until it was 40-50% hot. After pouring the egg mixture in, he used a spoon to slowly stir-fry the egg over medium heat. After the surface had solidified, he poured the tomatoes into it. After the egg formed in the pot, he immediately stir-fried it with a spoon. The trick to the egg dish was that it should be tender and smooth. If all the eggs were stuck together into a lump, the texture wouldn¡¯t be good. According to the original recipe, there was no need for Xu Le to add diced tomatoes. But he knew that his younger sister liked the taste of tomatoes, so he added a little to enhance the flavor. This way, the egg with shrimp would be sweet and refreshing with tomatoes. ¡°Ding!¡± The rice had also been steamed in the rice cooker. The fragrant rice was matched with the fat and thin slices of sausage. During the process of steaming, the grease and fragrance of the sausage seeped into the rice, making the rice grains plump and bright. ¡°Time to eat.¡± Xu Le carried the simple dishes to the living room. The live broadcast competition had just begun. Tonight, the mysterious ¡°Master Chef¡± was going to compete against a famous French chef. When the name list was announced, Xu Tian¡¯s parents were nowhere to be seen. Xu Tian¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of the egg with shrimp. Usually, Xu Le would prepare a meal with a variety of dishes. This was the first time she had seen a meal with just one dish and without soup! ¡°Brother, is it because Sister Lu isn¡¯t around that I can only eat one dish?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xu Le was amused. He sat cross-legged on the rug and said, ¡°That Sister Lu of yours left in the afternoon. She seems to be attending a class reunion. Also, it¡¯s won¡¯t be easy to digest if you eat too much at night.¡± Xu Tian began to eat happily. The eggs were fluffy and tender, the prawns were sweet and chewy, and there was the refreshing sweetness and sourness of tomatoes. She nodded repeatedly as she ate, and she seemed to like it very much. ¡°Ding! 200 gold coins have been transferred.¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Tiantian likes to eat egg with shrimp so much?¡± Xu Tian gave a short reply, ¡°Yes! I¡¯m hungry. It¡¯s delicious!¡± At this moment, the camera panned over and Shi Zhexian and Shen Hui appeared. The two of them stood hand in hand and greeted everyone with smiles. Xu Tian¡¯s chopsticks fell onto the table with a clatter and tears immediately flowed out. She cried out to Xu Le, ¡°Brother, hug,¡± Xu Le hugged his sister and sat on the rug. He patted her back and coaxed her. ¡°It¡¯s okay, let¡¯s watch mom and dad compete, okay?¡± Xu Tian nodded. The ¡°Master Chef¡± didn¡¯t show his face at all, and his mysteriousness was maxed out. The first to go on stage was a local chef. He prepared a French dish of Sealed Duck In Oil and Onion Soup. An hour later. Both dishes were ready. The Master Chef had made the same dishes with the same ingredients. Logically speaking, the taste shouldn¡¯t be too different. However, during the anonymous evaluation by the live audience and the judges, there was immediately a drastic difference in votes. The Master Chef had competed with many chefs at the scene himself. In between, someone made Wellington Steak and foie gras. Meanwhile, Xu Tian¡¯s parents were allocated to preparing desserts. They made lemon tarts and truffle soup respectively. From the start of the broadcast until now, the Master Chef had basically won all the votes, causing a crushing defeat to his opponent. Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but frown as he watched. Finally, after Xu Zhexian¡¯s truffle soup loss to the Master Chef¡¯s cream mushroom soup, he couldn¡¯t help but pick up his phone. After three rings, the call went through. ¡°Hello? Xiao Le, it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s late, sorry to disturb you.¡± Xu Le greeted politely. He knew that Mr. Cai was definitely not sleeping during the live broadcast, so he went straight to the point and asked, ¡°I heard that you were a judge for the Chinese region of the competition. Do you know this Master Chef?¡± On the other end of the phone, Cai Lan pondered for a long time. In the end, he said, ¡°It¡¯s not convenient to disclose any details. Although your parents lost for the two dishes, they only lost in the competition¡­¡± ¡°Grandpa Cai,¡± Xu Le asked, ¡°Is the chef over there alone?¡± Cai Lan nodded and realized that Xu Le couldn¡¯t see what he was doing. He cleared her throat and said, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it. Bye, Grandpa.¡± ¡°¡­Wait, are you going to participate?¡± Xu Le looked at the screen. His parents were visibly disappointed. He said firmly, ¡°Yes, I want to try.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go.¡± Cai Lan frowned and said, ¡°Trust me, you won¡¯t win even if you go. No matter how good a chef is, you can¡¯t beat him. You¡¯ve always had a good reputation. I heard that you opened a new restaurant. Don¡¯t ruin your own reputation.¡± Xu Le hung up the phone and hesitated for a moment. Xu Tian ran over and hugged his arm. She said softly, ¡°Brother, don¡¯t be unhappy. Daddy and Mommy will be back soon.¡± Seeing that she was still so young and knew to pay attention to his emotions, Xu Le felt warm in his heart and raised his hand to tickle Xu Tian¡¯s nose. ¡°I know. It¡¯s getting late. Tiantian, shall we go to bed first?¡± Xu Tian nodded. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Master.¡± Li Qing deliberately teased him with this nickname. The moment Xu Le opened the door, he saw the drunk Lu Yuxi holding onto the door frame and retching. ¡°We bumped into each other at the elevator downstairs just now. I bought some braised food and wanted to watch the competition together. Aiyo, Sister Lu! There¡¯s so much dirt on your shoes, quickly change into another pair¡­¡± ¡°Come in first.¡± Amidst the commotion, Xu Le took the takeaway box from Li Qing and said, ¡°Who¡¯s going to make hangover soup?¡± Lu Yuxi kicked off her shoes, took two steps forward, and fell onto the sofa. Chapter 148 - Chen Xians Visit ¡°Hey, wake up. How much did you drink?¡± Xu Le shook Lu Yuxi. She looked like she wanted to turn over on the sofa, but she used too much strength and fell onto the rug. She mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m not drinking anymore. I¡¯m not coming.¡± ¡°Who made you drink?¡± Xu Le squatted down and used the back of his hand to feel her forehead. After ensuring that she did not have a fever, he gave Li Qing a look and said, ¡°Hold her first. I¡¯ll go make some hangover soup.¡± The live broadcast on TV was almost coming to an end. The host made an announcement that as long as someone could win against the Master Chef, he would immediately reveal his identity. Li Qing made a ¡°tsk¡± sound with a disdainful expression. The camera switched to Shen Hui and Xu Zhexian, who were both expressionless and looked like they couldn¡¯t smile at all. They were engrossed in their career as a chef and had traveled thousands of miles to France to study. In the end, when they made their first return on a competition, they were easily defeated. No matter who it was, it was hard to accept. In the kitchen, Xu Le rinsed the dried lemon slices before placing them in a glass cup and adding water. The hot water was poured in, and the dry lemon slices immediately expanded. The surface of the lemon was soaked with a light yellow liquid that looked like honey and rippled in the water. After adding a teaspoon of honey, the sweet and sour hangover drink was ready. Xu Le wasn¡¯t sure about Lu Yuxi¡¯s alcohol tolerance. If she vomited in the middle of the night, her stomach would definitely feel uncomfortable. Hence, he prepared to make another spicy and sour soup. Not only would it satisfy her hunger, but it would also nourish her stomach. He cut a piece of tofu into thin strips and soaked in warm water. Then, he cut a small piece of pig¡¯s blood, ginger, and ham into thin strips. The main taste of the sour and spicy soup came from the white pepper powder and ginger, so that it would warm the stomach without hurting it. The vegetable leaves and fungus were sliced into thin strips. Then, three eggs were scattered and salt was added. He poured some water into the pot and boiled it. When it was boiling, he added a spoonful of salt. Then, he used the ladle to pour the boiling water over the pig¡¯s blood and tofu so that he could remove the fishy smell. He scooped out some water aside. After adding some water, he turned around and opened the freezer. ¡°A chef really has everything at home.¡± Li Qing leaned against the kitchen door frame and teased, ¡°Why are you so concerned about Lu Yuxi?¡± ¡°We are living under the same roof, so it¡¯s only right for us to care for each other. Besides, she often takes care of Tiantian on behalf of me.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you pay her too?¡± Li Qing smiled cheekily. ¡°Can I move in with you too? Renting an apartment is so expensive, boss ~¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Xu Le rolled his eyes at him and said, ¡°I often watch your videos on the main page. Li Qing, it would be weird if you need money.¡± Li Qing was originally a gaming broadcaster. He came from a well-off family and earned more money than Xu Le. Even if he broadcasted all night, his earnings would be higher than Xu Le¡¯s monthly salary. ¡°I¡¯m not going to talk to you anymore. Let me steal some skills from you.¡± Li Qing watched as Xu Le added chicken soup into the pot and said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you making Korean-style hangover soup?¡± ¡°It¡¯s filled with green peppers, bean sprouts, and Korean spicy sauce. Not only is Lu Yuxi not used to it, it also stimulates her stomach.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Li Qing placed the takeaway box on the table and said, ¡°I specially drove for more than an hour just now and went to the restaurant with the highest rating to buy some braised food, pork ribs, beef intestines, duck legs and cold dishes. I originally planned to rush over to watch the live broadcast with you, but I remembered the time wrongly and came late.¡± Xu Le boiled the soup and pointed to the microwave. ¡°If it¡¯s cold, go heat it yourself.¡± A small amount of white sugar, chicken essence, pepper, and two spoons of salt were added to the boiled soup. Then, he immediately added starch and stirred it until the soup thickened and became sticky. He added fungus, ham sausage, and dried prawn after removing the pot from the stove. After he stirred the bottom with a spoon again, he poured a large spoonful of fragrant vinegar into it. After adding the egg mixture, processed pig¡¯s blood, and tofu shreds, they were all simmered. Before removing the pot, he added the green vegetables in. After pouring a few drops of sesame oil into the soup, the soup was ready. Li Qing kept every step in mind and nitpicked, ¡°Did you add too much salt just now?¡± ¡°You need to add a little more salt to the hot and sour soup. Otherwise, the saltiness will be suppressed by the sourness and you won¡¯t be able to taste it.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Li Qing looked like he had been taught a lesson. He then asked, ¡°Does the spicy and sour soup count as a substitute for the Wensi tofu soup?¡± ¡°The texture is different and the cooking method is much simpler. You¡¯ll know after you taste it.¡± After Xu Le scooped three bowls of soup, he saw that he was still standing in the kitchen. He asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving? What else do you want to do?¡± ¡°I think that it will greasy just eating the braised intestines. Why don¡¯t you process it some more?¡± Xu Le said unhappily, ¡°You¡¯re too troublesome. Do it yourself.¡± ¡°No, my cooking isn¡¯t as good as yours.¡± Li Qing didn¡¯t care about his face anymore. In order to satisfy his appetite, he started to tease Xu Le. Five minutes later, Xu Le entered the kitchen again. ¡°The braised pig intestines does not allow me to do much. If the ingredients are not good enough, it¡¯s useless no matter what you do.¡± Xu Le cut off a piece of processed fat sausage and chewed it carefully. Most of the fat inside had been removed. It should have been washed with salt and starch. There was a crispness in the chewiness and the five fragrances in the braised sauce was fragrant and flavorful. He nodded. ¡°Not bad. No wonder the store has such high ratings.¡± After saying that, he glanced at the receipt stuck on the box and continued, ¡°It¡¯s so expensive. If it doesn¡¯t taste good, I¡¯m afraid it will be receive complaints until it closes for business.¡± ¡°What flavor do you want?¡± ¡°Spicy. How about you make some stir-fried pig intestines?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± He cut peppers, ginger and garlic into shreds and added them. Lastly, he also added the celery stems, then stored them separately. A small amount of pepper powder, chicken essence, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce were added to the bowl. He added 30 grams of vegetable seed oil into the boiling pot, heating it until it was 70% hot and emitting smoke. Then, he added all the condiments into the pot and stir-fried until the fragrance was forced out. After that, he poured the sliced intestines into the pot. Because it had been braised beforehand, he only needed to cook over a huge fire for a minute. After it was heated up, it would be ready to be served. Coincidentally, the braised meat in the microwave had also been heated up, so they could be served together. Xu Tian was extremely tired and went back to her room to sleep. Lu Yuxi was still lying on the coffee table, unconscious. ¡°Hey, get up and drink the soup. Otherwise, your stomach will feel uncomfortable.¡± Xu Le reached out to pat her. Lu Yuxi looked up and Xu Le noticed that her sleeves were wet with his sharp eyes. He immediately realized that she was crying. ¡°Where did you go today? How were you so drunk at a class reunion?¡± ¡°I went to see an old friend.¡± Lu Yuxi took a small sip from the bowl. The hot and sour soup was sour and spicy. It was very comfortable to drink, but it did not stimulate her stomach. After taking a few sips, she leaned back and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s so good to be alive.¡± Li Qing had scooped a bowl of sausage rice and was mixing it with stir-fried pig intestines. He was stuffing it into his mouth when he heard that. He said in a muffled voice, ¡°Are you turning into a philosopher after drinking?¡± Chapter 149 - Chen Xians Visit For the first time, Lu Yuxi did not argue with Li Qing. Instead, she turned her head and said seriously, ¡°It¡¯s great to be able to eat your food.¡± She was still tipsy and her cheeks were red. Xu Le accidentally made eye contact with her and quickly looked away. ¡°Then eat more. Drink, drink that cup of honey lemon water too.¡± Li Qing stopped stuffing food into his mouth and looked up at the chandelier in the living room. ¡°I feel like there¡¯s something wrong with your lamp.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°None of them are as bright as me, hahaha. I feel like I¡¯m a third wheel.¡± Xu Le looked at him speechlessly and said solemnly, ¡°Don¡¯t joke around.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious. Don¡¯t tell me the two of you have really started dating each other?¡± Li Qing noticed that Xu Le¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t pleasant. He knew that he had gone overboard with his joke and immediately changed the topic. He chuckled and said, ¡°The intestines are spicy and chewy. I especially like this. It¡¯s more elastic than fatty meat and isn¡¯t greasy. Hey, Lu Yuxi, quickly try it.¡± Lu Yuxi held her chopsticks for a few times, but she could not get a grip. Finally, she shakily put a piece of sausage into her mouth and started chewing like a hamster. ¡°It¡¯s delicious. You must have made it, right?¡± She pointed at Xu Le. Li Qing deliberately said, ¡°Of course not. I made it.¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Yuxi shook her head without giving him any face. ¡°Your cooking isn¡¯t as good as his.¡± It was too straightforward! She was not giving him any face! Xu Le burst into laughter. Li Qing¡¯s face turned green. He put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, ¡°What a bully! All my cooking skills were clearly corrected by Master Xu bit by bit. Why can she still taste the difference!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine as long as the customer thinks it¡¯s delicious.¡± Xu Le smiled and said, ¡°She has a dog¡¯s nose, and her taste buds are developed.¡± The drunk Lu Yuxi did not think that this was an insult. Instead, she nodded and said, ¡°I still want to eat.¡± ¡°Help yourself.¡± ¡°No, you feed me.¡± She grinned, a strange smile on her face. Xu Le said evasively, ¡°If you can¡¯t use chopsticks, it¡¯s the same if I give you a fork.¡± As he spoke, he went to the kitchen to get a fork. When he came out, Lu Yuxi had fallen asleep on the rug. Li Qing could not help but comment, ¡°Her drunk behavior is quite good. At least after she got drunk, she did not go crazy.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Le rubbed between his eyebrows. ¡°Help me carry her back to her room. Otherwise, she will have to sleep on the rug tonight.¡± The two of them exerted a lot of strength carrying Lu Yuxi to the bed, tucked her in, and closed the door. Li Qing seemed to have suffered a huge blow from her words. He was pestering Xu Le to teach him the essence of stir-frying the pig intestines. In the kitchen, the two of them talked softly to each other. ¡°I don¡¯t even have any ingredients. How can I teach you?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it the same even if you rehearse it once? My memory is good and I am especially bright. I can remember it after you say it once.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you be a little more humble?¡± Xu Le said helplessly, ¡°When you wash the intestines, you have to remove half of the fat from the membrane. Then, you have to soak it with starch and salt to wash it. If you want the texture to be more crispy, you can add a small amount of baking soda to wash it.¡± ¡°Then if I want it to taste more crispy, do I need to stir-fry it a little and it will come out without the smell of blood?¡± Li Qing started to have his own thoughts. Xu Le smiled and said lightly, ¡°If you want to eat intestine sashimi, you can just eat it directly. There¡¯s no need to go through so much trouble. The food on the dining table must be at least all cooked.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Because it was too late, Li Qing simply slept in the living room and was too lazy to go back. He also planned to stay for breakfast the next day. The next day, after Xu Le¡¯s alarm went off, he rubbed his eyes and got out of bed. He went to the washroom to get some fresh water and finally woke up a little. Then, he frantically woke his younger sister. ¡°Tiantian, you¡¯re going to be late for kindergarten. Hurry up and get up!¡± Xu Tian blinked and asked, ¡°Brother, when will Daddy and Mommy be back?¡± ¡°It should be soon.¡± Seeing that she couldn¡¯t find her sleeve, Xu Le held up her sleeve and let his sister¡¯s arm reach in. ¡°Because your brother is going to participate in the competition. Dad and Mom will definitely come back to watch.¡± ¡°The one from last night?¡± Xu Tian was a little mischievous, but she was very meticulous and intelligent. Suddenly, she pursed her lips and said, ¡°Big Brother shouldn¡¯t go! I don¡¯t want Big Brother to lose!¡± The smile on Xu Le¡¯s face froze. To be honest, he was originally not interested in missions that the system did not arrange. However, the program team had repeatedly created hype and publicity. In addition, all the famous peers in the industry had been trampled on. His parents had lost all their face because of that ¡°Master Chef¡±. All the weird things started from Chen Yeqi. Firstly, he wanted to vent his anger and secondly, he was curious about who the Master Chef was. Therefore, he had the thought of participating in the competition. Xu Le softened his voice and said gently, ¡°Tiantian, don¡¯t worry. Why do you think your brother will lose? Maybe I will win.¡± Xu Tian was so aggrieved that tears were about to fall from her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be sad. Even Daddy and Mommy didn¡¯t win¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I want to save Mom and Dad¡¯s face.¡± Xu Le quickly took a tissue to wipe his sister¡¯s tears and said, ¡°I know Tiantian doesn¡¯t want Brother to lose face, but there are wins and losses in a competition. If you don¡¯t go, how do you know you won¡¯t win?¡± He urged Xu Tian to wash up slowly while he reasoned with her. It took him a long time to calm his sister down. Li Qing, who was sleeping in the living room, was also awaken. He sat on the sofa in a daze with his messy hair. He rubbed his neck, clearly not sleeping well. ¡°I told you to go home and sleep last night, but you didn¡¯t listen.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Li Qing did not treat himself as an outsider at all. He took the disposable toothbrush from Xu Le¡¯s hands and said, ¡°Why can Lu Yuxi stay here while I can¡¯t?¡± With that said, he raised his eyebrows at Xu Le and deliberately teased, ¡°Look, even Lu Yuxi is shy when she hears this. Hey, where did you go last night? The dirt on the soles of your shoes has even formed pieces. Did you get drunk and went to release some sheeps?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s voice was slightly hoarse after her hangover. ¡°I went to the cemetery.¡± Li Qing almost spat out the toothpaste foam in his mouth. He quickly washed up and stuttered, ¡°W-why?¡± ¡°I already said that after the gathering is over, I went to see my friend.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Li Qing was used to being thick-skinned and rarely felt awkward. He scratched the back of his head and said, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t know you¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Lu Yuxi was very magnanimous. She waved at Xu Tian and quickly untied the weed-like braids on her head. She said slowly, ¡°Tiantian¡¯s hair has grown long. In the future, it¡¯s better for you to tie a low ponytail with a hair tie yourself than to let your brother help you braid it.¡± Lu Yuxi held back her laughter as she glared at Xu Le and complained, ¡°You¡¯re so good at cooking. But it¡¯s like you¡¯ll never learn how to tie someone¡¯s hair.¡± Xu Tian answered innocently, ¡°I don¡¯t want to learn. Sister Lu, can you help me tie my hair?¡± The moment these words were spoken, the atmosphere turned silent. Chapter 150 - Chen Xians Visit Lu Yuxi did not stop what she was doing. She nimbly braided Tiantian¡¯s hair and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to school. Do you want to go with Teacher Li?¡± ¡°I want Brother to send me.¡± Xu Tian tilted her head and acted coquettishly. As expected, Xu Le nodded in agreement. After Li Qing brushed his teeth, he placed his hand on the door frame and whistled. ¡°I drove here. I can send you guys there. Let¡¯s go together.¡± A child¡¯s mind was very active. After asking, she remembered that Lu Yuxi had yet to answer her question. She turned around and looked at her in anticipation. ¡°Sister Lu, you¡¯ll always live with us, right?¡± Lu Yuxi smiled and did not say anything. She was not lying to the child, but she did not answer either. She only said, ¡°But Sister also has a husband.¡± Early in the morning, two thunderclaps exploded in Li Qing¡¯s ears. He said with a horrified expression, ¡°You have a husband?¡± Lu Yuxi had just graduated. She was so young. How could she have a husband? Xu Le¡¯s expression darkened. Compared to surprise, he was filled with indescribable emotions. He urged, ¡°Let¡¯s go, Tiantian.¡± ¡°Then Sister Lu, ask your boyfriend to stay at my house.¡± Xu Tian had an innocent look on her face. Xu Le grabbed her collar in time and took her away. Li Qing rolled his eyes and felt embarrassed. He muttered softly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not appropriate.¡± After getting into the car, Xu Tian sat in the front passenger seat while Xu Le and Lu Yuxi sat side by side. Xu Le took a long time before saying, ¡°You never said that you had a husband.¡± As if she was still drunk, Lu Yuxi said, ¡°Well, it can be considered one but also not really.¡± Xu Le couldn¡¯t be bothered to beat around the bush with her. He joked with an unhappy expression, ¡°You hid it quite well.¡± Lu Yuxi sighed and turned to look out of the window. ¡°Now that your business has stabilized, shall I accompany you to the competition before leaving?¡± She had originally planned to leave after settling matters at Xu Le¡¯s branch store. Seeing that he was participating in a tough competition, she planned to stay for a while longer. Xu Le said ungratefully, ¡°You¡¯re not my sous-chef and can¡¯t even cook well. You¡¯re a complete amateur. It doesn¡¯t matter much to me if you stay or not.¡± Lu Yuxi did not quarrel with him and said, ¡°I want to eat fried chop rice cake tonight.¡± This time, Xu Le did not agree directly like usual. Instead, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it tonight.¡± As the driver, Li Qing drove to the kindergarten first before going to the branch store. When Lu Yuxi got out of the car to start work, he went to the garage and parked the car. ¡°Why does my car smell?¡± Xu Le knew what Li Qing wanted to say and rolled his eyes without saying anything. ¡°It smells sour. I wonder who¡¯s being jealous?¡± Li Qing turned his head and looked at him as if he was watching a show. ¡°Master, Lu Yuxi is already married. You don¡¯t have a chance anymore. Your plan is ruined¡­ Eh, right, why haven¡¯t I seen her husband before?¡± Xu Le got out of the car and said with a cold expression, ¡°Do you believe that the producer of Master Chef competition is already waiting in the restaurant upstairs?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Li Qing¡¯s eyes lit up. He had wanted to be aparticipant for a long time, but he had been rejected, so he pretended not to care to save face. ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡± Meanwhile, he quickened his pace as he sped toward the restaurant. As Xu Le had expected, Chen Yeqi was already waiting there. When he saw Xu Le, his eyes lit up like a wolf seeing a lamb. He quickly walked over and said, ¡°Hello, we¡¯ve met before. I received a reply from your email last night and rushed over immediately today. When can you participate in the competition?¡± This question was strange. Xu Le deliberately said, ¡°Will tomorrow do? I¡¯m available anytime.¡± Chen Yeqi nodded seriously and said, ¡°The competition location will be set up here. You can reach in an hour.¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows and reminded him of the loophole in his words. ¡°He just finished a live broadcast in France last night, yet he can participate in the competition tomorrow?¡± Chen Yeqi¡¯s expression froze for a moment before he smiled dejectedly. He probably didn¡¯t expect to show his cowardice in front of an eight-year-old child. He said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it still up to you? Why don¡¯t we set it in three days? Let¡¯s sign a contract.¡± Chen Yeqi came prepared. He asked his assistant to take out the contract from his bag and said, ¡°Please take a look. As long as you participate in the competition three days later, you will receive a reward of 50,000 yuan.¡± Suddenly, a hand took the contract from behind Chen Yeqi and threw it on the table as the person said hatefully, ¡°The condition for breaking the contract is one million yuan. You guys are very shrewd.¡± It was Zhang Tong. When he heard the commotion in the kitchen, he immediately came out to defend Xu Le. In fact, it was also for himself. He had started learning how to cook when he was in his teens. It had not been easy for him to become the head chef of the Heavenly Restaurant, one of the top restaurants in the country. He had been proud of his life, but it was all ruined because of a competition. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you.¡± Chen Yeqi pushed up his glasses with his middle finger and smiled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhang Tong said angrily, ¡°Ask your chef to come out if you dare. Let¡¯s see how many chefs are secretly cooking for him. You¡¯re the ones who cheated!¡± Chen Yeqi¡¯s smile deepened. He was not afraid and said, ¡°When all the competitions are over, our program team will make the entire competition process public from the Master Chef¡¯s perspective. By that time, please wait and see.¡± When he said this, his expression was extremely confident and even smug. He did not look like he was faking it. Zhang Tong choked. Xu Le, who was standing behind him, couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°My parents also lost in the competition. I¡¯m very curious and want to compete with the legendary Master Chef, so please forgive me.¡± Zhang Tong could accept this reason, but after being hit with reality, he looked at Xu Le worriedly. Of course, Xu Le knew what was behind his gaze. If he lost in the competition, he would lose the ¡°Little Master Chef¡± title that others had given him and it would affect his business. But he didn¡¯t care. 60 to 70 percent of the customers who came to eat in the shop were regular customers. There were even some of them who would come every day. Chen Yeqi watched as Xu Le signed the contract that he would participate in the competition and hurriedly kept it. He smiled and said, ¡°This is the admission ticket. Please familiarize yourself with the competition process a day in advance. We will be awaiting the Little Master Chef.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le agreed. When Chen Yeqi had walked far away, Li Qing still couldn¡¯t shift his envious gaze away. He muttered, ¡°Sooner or later, I¡¯ll be able to participate too.¡± He turned around and saw four or five admission tickets in Xu Le¡¯s hand. He said in excitement, ¡°Give me one. I want to go too. I¡¯ll vote for you then.¡± ¡°How stupid.¡± Lu Yuxi stepped forward and took away an admission ticket. She said to Li Qing, ¡°Of course they are going to vote anonymously. How could they tell you who the chef is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t taste it. You eat Xu Le¡¯s food every day. Can¡¯t you tell his cooking style?¡± Xu Le asked, ¡°My cooking style?¡± Li Qing commented seriously, ¡°It¡¯s perfect. Super perfect. Even the most exquisite programming system in the world can¡¯t imitate your culinary skills.¡± Chapter 151 - Chen Xians Visit Xu Le thought he was flattering him and ignored him. It was another day with extremely good business. The shop was filled with customers and there was even a queue at the entrance. Every time it was meal time, the stall would be packed. Xu Le and Zhang Tong were busy in the kitchen. When they were serving the stir-fried shredded pork, Zhang Tong couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°They gave bonuses to every chef who participated in the competition and even organized the show overseas. What exactly do they want to do? How much fame does he have as a chef? Although many of the people outside are here because of your fame, those who come for your fame will only come once, the rest will be won over by the taste of your food.¡± Zhang Tong skillfully adjusted the Buddha¡¯s scroll that he had just fished out of the oil pot and continued, ¡°Perhaps everything will be clear when the show ends.¡± ¡°Instead of talking about this, why don¡¯t I summarize the Master Chef¡¯s habits during competition? Only by knowing yourself and your enemy¡­¡± Zhang Tong turned around to hand over the dishes. Halfway through his sentence, he looked behind Lu Yuxi. Lu Yuxi noticed his gaze and turned her head behind. The person standing behind her was dressed in casual white clothes. He looked up and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re working here now.¡± Zhang Tong knew that this person had no intention of mocking him, so he did not feel disgusted. He said, ¡°What are you doing here? Xu Le, did you call him over?¡± Xu Le turned around and saw Chen Xian. The two of them hadn¡¯t crossed paths other than a few times during their last match. ¡°No.¡± Chen Xian said, ¡°I saw the official announcement. Xu Le is actually participating in the competition. I was afraid that the child will be tricked, so I came to take a look.¡± Zhang Tong finished the dishes that he was preparing and wiped the water off his hands. As he walked out, he said, ¡°The contract has been signed. It¡¯s done deal. It¡¯s useless even if you come.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± As his name suggested, Chen Xian looked very free. Other than occasionally participating in competitions, he was also said to be a specially hired chef at a certain Michelin restaurant. It was already very diligent of him to work two or three days a month. He sat at the table, picked up a piece of West Lake Vinegar Fish, and put it in his mouth. He said with slight relief, ¡°Not bad.¡± Xu Le was about to come out of the kitchen to greet him when Chen Xian raised his hand and said, ¡°Little Master Chef, since we¡¯re all in the same industry, can I order some dishes?¡± It was time for dinner. Xu Le had already soaked the glutinous rice in preparation for dinner. Hearing this, he said, ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll see if it¡¯s convenient to cook.¡± He wouldn¡¯t agree to it if Chen Xian ordered a dish like ¡®Buddha jumps over the wall¡¯ that required a lot of ingredients and time to make. ¡°Stewed knock.¡± After Chen Xian finished speaking, Xu Le frowned slightly. Lu Yuxi noticed his expression and said, ¡°You¡¯re so busy during mealtime. If it¡¯s difficult to do, just reject it and change to something simpler.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not difficult and we have all the ingredients, but there¡¯s a particular step that¡¯s quite troublesome. Come in and help. Get someone to watch over the front desk.¡± ¡°Stewed knock is a traditional dish in Nanjing. It¡¯s a Jinling dish with more than 300 years of history. It¡¯s now one of the four famous dishes of Nanjing¡¯s Jiangsu Restaurant.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he took out the eel and said, ¡°The traditional way of making it is to first slaughter the eel and remove the bones. Then, use a wooden stick to beat the meat to make it loose, that¡¯s why the name of the dish is as such.¡± After it was made, it was fragrant and mellow. The meat was soft and mushy, with the stewed egg taste fused inside, so it had a unique flavor. The trouble was the side ingredient inside¡ªstewed egg. It takes a lot of patience and skill to replace the yolk in an egg with a meat filling. The earliest stewed knock was made with pigeon eggs. After constant improvement in texture, they were finally replaced with eggs stuffed with meat stuffing. ¡°Make a small hole at both ends of the egg to ensure that the liquid egg doesn¡¯t leak. Then, place it into cold water in a pot and let it boil over high heat.¡± Lu Yuxi did as she was told. Xu Le, on the other hand, was mixing the meat stuffing. He minced the fat and lean meat, added some onions and ginger water to remove the fishy smell. Then, he added salt, and some light soya sauce. Finally, he added some starch to lock the moisture and stirred in one direction. ¡°In about ten minutes, after the eggs are cooked, cut open the flat end, take out the egg yolk, and stuff the meat stuffing in.¡± It was easy to say, but it was extremely troublesome and exhausting to do. If he was not careful, he might fail. Lu Yuxi¡¯s expression was focused and serious. She was already meticulous to begin with. After stuffing the eggs one by one, none of them were damaged. A three kilogram eel had its head cut and the mucus on its surface washed away. Then, he used the back of the knife to knock the surface and fried the eel in the oil until it was slightly curled. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to stew it later? Why did you fry it first?¡± ¡°After frying, it can lock the moisture on the surface and make it even crisper.¡± After Xu Le finished explaining, he glanced at Lu Yuxi¡¯s stuffed eggs and nodded. ¡°Not bad, you¡¯re quite talented in cooking.¡± The two of them looked at each other and recalled the cooking game Xu Tian had played in the car that day. They turned their heads and held back their laughter. After Xu Le fried the eel, he poured some oil into the bottom of the pot and fried the garlic slices until they were golden. Then, after producing the garlic oil, he scooped it out. After that, he added onions and ginger and fried it. Finally, he fried the pork belly slices until they were golden brown. At this moment, the fragrance had already been released and was especially obvious in the kitchen. He added dark soya sauce, huadiao wine, a small amount of salt, chicken essence and seasoning, then poured the pork bone stock that the kitchen always had in excess. After the soup base was mixed, the fried eel and ¡°Immortal Egg¡± were placed in the pot to boil over medium heat. Before covering with a lid, fragrant leaves and aniseed were added. ¡°Just wait for it now. It¡¯ll be ready in 40 minutes.¡± After Xu Le was done, Lu Yuxi had nothing else to do too. The two of them were the only ones standing in the huge kitchen. Lu Yuxi said, ¡°Have you started making the fried chop rice cake for tonight?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about dinner in the evening.¡± Xu Le suggested, ¡°Why must we eat that dessert? Isn¡¯t it the same if we go to the supermarket to buy it? Or we can eat hotpot tonight.¡± Lu Yuxi said, ¡°How can the packaged food bought from the supermarket be as authentic as yours?¡± The two of them chatted for a while before Xu Le suddenly said, ¡°You¡¯ve been here for so long. Why didn¡¯t your lover come to look for you?¡± Lu Yuxi looked embarrassed and frowned. ¡°If you want to know, I¡¯ll tell you later.¡± Xu Le said against his will, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m not interested.¡± He became angry and embarrassed again. Fortunately, Zhang Tong and Chen Xian started arguing outside. Xu Le found an opportunity and immediately went out. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± ¡°Why would I lie to you? Buddy.¡± Chen Xian crossed his legs and looked relaxed. Zhang Tong, who was beside him, stood up angrily to argue with him. ¡°Where¡¯s the evidence? You¡¯re lying.¡± ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe it or not. In any case, it doesn¡¯t matter if you lose the competition or not. After participating in the show, your old boss won¡¯t want you anymore.¡± Chen Xian said mysteriously, ¡°Their business ambitions is far more than this. Perhaps the next one will be this little Master Chef¡¯s eight-year-old canteen.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Xu Le asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chapter 152 - Coming Up With A Plan ¡°Didn¡¯t they do so much just to suck you dry of your fame and influence in the end? There¡¯s a saying that goes, people step on others to get to a higher position. The Master Chef hasn¡¯t revealed himself yet, let alone have any influential dishes. But he has already the presence of a deity in the hearts of the audience. What will happen in the future?¡± Chen Xian crossed his arms and explained slowly, ¡°As long as you agree to participate in the competition, you will most likely lose. After signing the agreement, you will have already fallen into Chen Yeqi¡¯s trap.¡± Lu Yuxi listened with her hands on her hips. When she heard this, she smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯ve already started a conspiracy theory, right? You might have lost the competition, but Xu Le might not.¡± Chen Xian smiled and said, ¡°I was afraid that he would be tricked, so I came to remind him.¡± At this point, Zhang Tong finally understood what he meant. Even if Chen Xian looked indifferent to fame and fortune, he would definitely not let it go after being tricked by the production team. Therefore, he wanted to make use of Xu Le¡¯s participation in the competition to win back. That way, he could be considered to have vented his anger. Lu Yuxi said in an unpleasant tone, ¡°Then do you have a way to defeat him, or do you have some tips to impart?¡± Her words were sarcastic. Xu Le couldn¡¯t stand it anymore and elbowed her, indicating for her to be kinder with her words. ¡°Not really, but I can help him avoid a trap.¡± Zhang Tong looked at him and said, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What I said to you earlier was just a conjecture. It¡¯s not convenient to tell you the reason now, but I can guarantee that the method I gave Xu Le will definitely be useful.¡± After Chen Xian finished speaking, Zhang Tong became even more curious. He was waiting for him to continue. But Chen Xian waved his hand and said, ¡°Is it convenient for you to come to my house after the meal later?¡± Xu Le glanced at the packed restaurant and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine to talk here.¡± Chen Xian had a good temper. With a wave of his hand, he called Xu Le over and whispered in his ear. ¡°Is that so?¡± Xu Le hesitated. ¡°Can such a tactic win against the Master Chef?¡± ¡°Believe me, that¡¯s what principle of losing to win means.¡± Chen Xian said with certainty, ¡°Since they set up a trap for us, then we just have to return the favor.¡± Xu Le¡¯s face was filled with doubt as he nodded. Soon, it was time for the stewed knock to be served out of the pot. Xu Le entered the kitchen. As soon as he opened the lid of the casserole, a rich fragrance assaulted his nostrils. It was especially tempting. He adjusted to high heat to evaporate the sauce, and finally sprinkled a handful of shallots, before serving the dish. Xu Le brought the casserole to the table. ¡°The stew you ordered. Come, try it.¡± Chen Xian picked up a piece of eel and took a bite. The eel was crispy and salty after being fried and stewed. After inhaling the fragrance of the lard and the sweetness of the soup, it had a lingering aftertaste. He raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Stewed knock is a dish I often make at home. Usually, before putting it into the pot to stew, I will sprinkle a handful of minced garlic with oil to make it fragrant. But since you removed that step¡­ the taste of the finished product is even better.¡± ¡°Yes, because of the soup, the garlic will suppress the taste. If you don¡¯t especially like the taste of garlic, you can choose not to add it.¡± ¡°Yes, not bad, not bad.¡± Chen Xian nodded continuously. Lu Yuxi chewed on the eel. The meat was salty, fresh, and juicy. The rich sauce wrapped around the crispy skin, and under the crispy texture, there was soft and mushy eel meat. The texture was distinct and complemented each other. Zhang Tong was depressed that Chen Xian avoided him when he told Xu Le the plan. However, his self-esteem was high, and he couldn¡¯t be bothered to ask further. He scooped an egg with a spoon. The egg was smooth and tender. When he bit through it, the gravy that was soaked in meat stuffing rushed towards his taste buds. ¡°Wow, awesome!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. The rich meat filling was fragrant but not greasy. The huge egg was filled with endless flavor. Zhang Tong commented, ¡°I can tell that you¡¯ve modified the stewed knock and mixed the poultry with seafood. It seems unrelated, but it¡¯s extremely harmonious after it¡¯s made. No wonder¡­¡± No wonder Xu Le could get ahead of everyone in every competition. Zhang Tong nodded in approval and admiration. While they were eating at the table here, some customers had already noticed them. After hearing Zhang Tong¡¯s evaluation, someone stepped forward and asked, ¡°Hello, why isn¡¯t this dish on the menu?¡± Lu Yuxi smiled and explained, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s an employee meal.¡± The customer¡¯s eyes widened. He said half-jokingly, ¡°Are you still hiring?¡± Xu Le said, ¡°Haha, if you don¡¯t mind, I can give you some.¡± The customer was embarrassed, but he couldn¡¯t help the craving in his stomach. He nodded. Smelling the fragrant eel, the customer took a bite and his eyes lit up. ¡°It¡¯s so delicious. I just ordered Yangzhou fried rice. It can be eaten with this. Oh, there¡¯s meat stuffing in this egg?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The customer was full of praise. ¡°Boss Xu, when are you going to add this dish to the menu? I¡¯ll definitely come every day!¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll wait until I¡¯m free in the afternoon.¡± Xu Le agreed with a smile. After Chen Xian finished chatting with him about the things to take note of in the competition, Zhang Tong came over and asked, ¡°What did he say to you?¡± ¡°He just told me to present a dish different from the one introduced in the middle of the competition.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Zhang Tong frowned and asked in confusion, ¡°What kind of stupid idea is that?¡± It seemed useless. Xu Le shook his head to show that he didn¡¯t know either. When he got home that night, he sat on the sofa with his chin in his hand and scrolled through his phone. He was at a loss. Would he win if even his parents couldn¡¯t win? What was going on behind the scenes? If he lost, would the outcome be the same as what Chen Xian said? As he thought about it, his finger repeated the short video. Suddenly, his gaze stopped on the latest video. It was uploaded by the eight-year-old cafeteria official account. The video was simple, and the post-production filter color looked unappetizing. Xu Le subconsciously knew that this was definitely not taken by Lu Yuxi. He saw that there were many people urging him to update his uploads. After a pause, he asked loudly, ¡°Do you still want to eat fried chop rice cake?¡± Xu Tian, who was doing her homework in the study, said at the top of her voice, ¡°Brother, I have eaten in the afternoon.¡± ¡°I want, I want!¡± Lu Yuxi stuck her head out of the bedroom and said, ¡°I want to eat.¡± ¡°But I have a condition.¡± Xu Le waved his phone. Lu Yuxi understood and said, ¡°What¡¯s so difficult about that? I¡¯ll film it for you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Although Xu Le declined in the morning, he still obediently soaked the rice. It had already been eight to nine hours since then. Lu Yuxi raised the camera and started recording. ¡°Ready.¡± In the shot, the rice was white and round. It was obvious that it had already absorbed enough water. Xu Le fished out the rice grains and placed it on the chopping board after drying it. He said, ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Xu Le. I¡¯m here today to teach everyone how to make a soft and smooth dessert ¨C fried chop rice cake.¡± ¡°The glutinous rice is already soaked. Next, we¡¯ll use a rolling pin to crush it.¡± Chapter 153 - Fried chop rice cake ¡°The fresh glutinous rice has been soaked in water for eight or nine hours. It will take 24 hours before it can be easily crushed. The fried rice cake will be made using this type of rice. It¡¯s different from the powder produced by the machine. This kind of handmade rice has a more granular feel.¡± Xu Le took out a bag and said, ¡°Since there¡¯s no advertising fee, I won¡¯t show you the logo. This kind of glutinous rice powder is basically the same. The powder in the packaging is very dry. Coupled with the glutinous rice we crushed, the texture will be better.¡± ¡°Prepare 500 grams of glutinous rice and 300 grams of water. After mixing them into a ball, it can be put on the pot to steam.¡± Xu Le demonstrated as he spoke. ¡°Put a layer of plastic wrap on the cloth of the steamer so that it won¡¯t stick later. Just steam it for 40 minutes.¡± ¡°I am using raw bean flour here, but you can also buy cooked bean flour. If we stir-fry it ourselves, it will taste more authentic.¡± ¡°Pour the raw bean powder into the non-stick pan and stir-fry it over a low heat for 15 minutes. Eating the bean powder produces gas easily and may cause your stomach to swell uncomfortably. During the high-temperature stir-frying process, you can denature the enzymes inside so that it doesn¡¯t have an effect. Just wait until the bean powder gradually turns yellow.¡± ¡°After frying it, put it aside to cool. The bean powder itself has no taste, so you need to add white sugar. 400 grams of bean powder with about 150 grams of sugar will do.¡± Lu Yuxi, who was recording at the side, smelled the fragrance of the beans and said happily, ¡°Wow, it smells so good.¡± ¡°Do you want to try it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lu Yuxi nodded. Just as she was about to switch the camera to one of her hands, she saw Xu Le dipping the tip of his chopsticks in it and bringing it to her mouth. ¡°Try it?¡± The bean powder was dry, but very fragrant. After adding sugar, the sweetness was just right. Lu Yuxi smacked her lips and said, ¡°It will definitely taste delicious later.¡± 40 minutes later, the steamed glutinous rice balls were ready to be served. After Xu Le carried it out using the gloves, he washed the steamer cloth with cold water and wrung it dry. He pressed the glutinous rice to form shapes through the cloth. ¡°Pull up the rough edges and press them down. Remember to wet your hands with some cold water to cool them down. This way, they won¡¯t be hot. Just coil them up until the surface is smooth and sheet-like.¡± The steamed glutinous rice slices were smooth, white, and extremely elastic. Xu Le explained, ¡°The name of fried chop rice cake means that when a donkey rolls on the ground, it will be covered in soil. The soil is soybean powder. After the two sides of the glutinous rice are covered with soybean powder, it will be pulled apart again and smeared with a layer of red bean paste.¡± ¡°You can roll it up now. When you roll it, use the folding method. At the end, you can roll it up and let the glutinous rice skin wrap the red bean paste tightly.¡± ¡°Dang dang dang~¡± Lu Yuxi automatically included her own sound effects. Looking at the thick and long roll, she said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this donkey a little too muscular?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Of course, we still have to pull and stretch it.¡± Xu Le skillfully kneaded it skinny and rolled it with the soybean powder again. ¡°It¡¯s very simple to make this dish. Whether it¡¯s glutinous rice powder, soybean powder, or bean paste, you can buy them all. You just need to put them in the pot and steam them. If you want the taste to be more authentic, you can stir-fry them yourself like me. The texture will be better when they come out.¡± Finally, use a knife to cut it into equal parts of the same width. Lu Yumin looked at the finished product and could not help but drool. After setting up the camera on a tripod, she picked one up and squeezed it gently. The soft outer skin was stretched very long and elastic. She placed the rice cake into her mouth. The smooth and soft skin was wrapped in dried sesame powder, and the bean paste inside was dense and delicate. Lu Yuxi said with a satisfied expression, ¡°This is the taste I want. It¡¯s so authentic!¡± Xu Le placed the fried chop rice cake onto a plate and said, ¡°Let Tiantian try it.¡± ¡°Alright~¡± Lu Yuxuan subconsciously reached out to take the plate, but her other hand subconsciously grabbed the camera. She did not expect that she would not be able to bear the weight at all. Her hand lost strength and the camera smashed towards the ground. When Xu Le heard the commotion, he turned around and held Lu Yuxi, who was about to fall because of the camera. ¡°Slow down.¡± ¡°Ahhh, I, I¡­¡± Lu Yuxi picked up the camera from the ground with a pained expression and said, ¡°It¡¯s an expensive camera. I saved up a lot of money to buy it.¡± As she spoke, she kept checking the camera. Fortunately, there was a layer of anti-slip mat on the kitchen floor which prevented her from falling and injuring herself. Xu Le said, ¡°Bring it to a repair store. I¡¯ll reimburse you.¡± At this moment, a small head poked out from the door and shouted happily, ¡°Brother, look at my homework!¡± Xu Tian held a freshly drawn paper in her hand and showed it to the two of them. ¡°Alright, alright. The kitchen is too crowded. Tiantian, let¡¯s go out and take a look.¡± As Xu Le spoke, one of them held the paper and the other held a plate. Finally, they followed the dejected Lu Yuxi out of the kitchen. At the dining table, Tiantian dipped the tip of her finger in some soybean powder and put it into her mouth. Her eyes immediately lit up. ¡°It¡¯s so fragrant and sweet.¡± Lu Yuxi said, ¡°Take a piece and have a bite. Only then will you know how delicious it is.¡± Xu Tian took a bite. The glutinous rice skin stretched to form sticky strings. The red bean filling was fragrant and sweet. It was soft and glutinous, sweet but not greasy. She was so excited that she was dancing with her limbs. ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± The few of them sat at the dining table and ate the rice cake. Xu Le said from the bottom of his heart, ¡°Some things still require talent. I don¡¯t know why, but every time you film a video, it can gain a lot of popularity. On the contrary, the images taken by the store are more exquisite, but it¡¯s not as likable as your video.¡± Lu Yuxi was stunned for a moment. She seemed to be thinking about this carefully and replied, ¡°Each of them is pleasing to the eye. It¡¯s probably because I happen to be able to capture the essence of your cooking and know what everyone likes to see.¡± Xu Tian placed the paper on the table. There were red and green patterns on it. Although she was young, her aesthetics had always been more ¡°defiant¡±. Her choice of colors were especially bold and eye-catching. ¡°Look, this is my brother. This is me. Behind me are my father and mother¡­¡± Xu Tian gestured at the small figures on the paper. She drew her parents at the back. They were small and their faces could not be seen clearly. Beside Xu Le stood a woman with braids. ¡°This is Sister Lu.¡± Lu Yuxi glanced at her and said happily, ¡°To you, am I more important than your Mom and Dad?¡± Xu Tian nodded without hesitation. ¡°Yes!¡± After a long period of companionship, Lu Yuxi could not deny that there was already a close family-like relationship between her and Tiantian. Soon, she carried the camera back to her room, as though she was running away from something. ¡°I¡¯ll go edit the video¡­¡± Xu Le helped Tiantian to wash up and sleep. After lying on the bed, he entered the system and started preparing for the competition. Three days later, Xu Le was about to head to the competition venue as promised. When he pushed open the door, two familiar figures stunned him. ¡°Lele, don¡¯t you recognize us?¡± Shen Hui smiled and put the suitcase aside. Chapter 154 - Preliminaries ¡°Mommy!¡± Xu Tian rushed out from behind Xu Le and hugged Shen Hui¡¯s arm. She shook her body happily and said, ¡°I missed you guys so much! Why did you only come back now?¡± Xu Zhexian smiled in relief. ¡°Lele, your mother and I heard that you were going to participate in the competition and rushed back.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± After all, Xu Le was not familiar with them. After the atmosphere eased, he turned to look for Lu Yuxi and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. Don¡¯t be late.¡± ¡°Coming.¡± Lu Yuxi came out of the bedroom with a few bags and bumped into the Xu couple. She was stunned for a moment and was about to introduce herself, but Shen Hui was faster. ¡°Hello, Miss Lu. I¡¯m Xu Le and Xu Tian¡¯s mother.¡± ¡°You, you know me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Shen Hui¡¯s face was still charming. She said gently, ¡°Miss Lu, don¡¯t you recognize me? I even hugged you when you were young.¡± Xu Le¡¯s swept across their faces with a surprised gaze. Lu Yuxi said, ¡°Oh, haha, I¡­¡± She really couldn¡¯t remember anymore and tried to muddle through. Shen Hui saw through it but didn¡¯t point it out. She made an inviting gesture and asked Xu Zhexian to bring the luggage into the house. They went downstairs, where Li Qing had been waiting for a long time. He stuck his head out of the car window and said, ¡°What are you guys doing? Why are you so slow¡­ Oh, hello, Uncle and Auntie.¡± He had watched the recording of the competition and recognized the Xu couple. ¡°Hello, is Lele leaving with Mom or with him?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave with Li Qing. After all, I was the one who called him over. We¡¯ll meet at the entrance later.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Shen Hui had no objections. When she reached out to pull Xu Tian, she saw her daughter take a step back and say, ¡°I want to go with Brother.¡± Xu Zhexian reached out to adjust the frame of his glasses. He knew that it was probably because they had been separated for too long that their children was feeling distant. They had to slowly warm up to each other, so he nodded and said, ¡°Alright, you can go sit with your brother.¡± ¡°Is that your parents?¡± Li Qing waited for Xu Le to get into the car before asking eagerly, ¡°Your parents have good genes, especially Xu Tian. She will definitely be a beauty when she grows up!¡± Xu Le glanced at him and said, ¡°Drive your car. Stop talking nonsense.¡± ¡°Yo, Master Xu is so fierce. How¡¯s your preparation for the competition?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t prepare.¡± ¡°Are you that confident?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll improvise when I get there.¡± Xu Le looked calm. What he had learned from the Strongest Master Chef System was already a top-notch recipe and cooking skill that ordinary chefs could not master in several lifetimes. That was why he was especially curious about who this Master Chef was. They arrived at the competition venue where they had agreed to meet¡ªit was a huge exhibition hall that had been temporarily converted into a competition venue. It was very grand and magnificent outside. There were all kinds of filming equipment inside, including professional video cameras and lenses. Li Qing went to the underground garage to park the car while Xu Tian held his hand and asked curiously, ¡°Brother, are you going in to compete with them later?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Xu Le nodded. Lu Yuxi, who was following behind them, suddenly asked, ¡°How many admission tickets do you have?¡± ¡°Five.¡± ¡°There¡¯s Li Qing, your parents, Zhang Tong, and Tiantian. Since there are enough people, I won¡¯t be entering.¡± As she spoke, she stuffed the suitcase into Xu Le¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I have something urgent to attend to. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Without giving Xu Le a chance to speak, she turned around and rushed towards the door. ¡°Lu Yuxi? Where are you going?¡± Li Qing, who walked in, asked curiously. Then, he slowly walked towards Xu Le and said, ¡°Why is she ignoring me?¡± ¡°Then you should ask her.¡± Xu Le said helplessly. He took a deep breath and adjusted his mood. ¡°Let¡¯s go in. Leave the remaining admission tickets to the staff at the door. Just let them who they are for.¡± ¡°Did you guys quarrel?¡± Li Qing chased after him and suddenly said, ¡°Or did she go back to accompany her husband?¡± ¡°How would I know!¡± Xu Le was finally annoyed. He raised his voice and said, ¡°That¡¯s her private matter. Why should I care?¡± He pulled Xu Tian along and walked forward quickly. He did not know why he was angry. Lu Yuxi had lived with him for so long but had never told him about this. Xu Le did not know if he was angry because she had deceived him, or if it was because of this sudden farewell¡­ After entering to the interior, Chen Yeqi walked out quickly to welcome him. ¡°Hello, hello, you¡¯ve finally reached.¡± From his tone, it sounded like he was afraid that Xu Le would not come. ¡°Yes. Hello.¡± ¡°Go and prepare first while we wait for the audience to enter. The first match will be at 1 PM¡­ Oh, your parents are here too!¡± As Chen Yeqi spoke, he looked up and saw the Xu couple who had previously participated in the competition. He quickly went up to greet them. When Xu Zhexian saw him, he couldn¡¯t help but show disgust in his eyes. However, out of courtesy, he still politely went through the process and greeted him. Compared to him, Shen Hui was much calmer. She even had the mood to smile slowly and say, ¡°Producer Chen created such a huge scene, and now he even brought my son over. As parents, I naturally have to come and take a look.¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re too kind.¡± Chen Yeqi lowered his eyes to hide the glint in them. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to take care of him. I just want it to be fair.¡± After Shen Hui finished speaking slowly, Chen Yeqi¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly. Fortunately, he had a good temper and retorted indifferently, ¡°How can a live broadcast of a competition be fake?¡± Soon, it was 1 PM. The grand Master Chef competition had been publicized on various platforms for many days. As soon as it was broadcasted, tens of thousands of people flooded into the live-stream. On the subway, Lu Yuxi found a corner to lean against. The live broadcast of the competition was playing on her phone. A kind old granny beside her would glance at the screen in her hand from time to time. She suddenly said, ¡°This child is so cute. He¡¯s fair and clean and is even wearing a chef¡¯s uniform.¡± Lu Yuxi, who was in a daze, jolted. After coming back to her senses, she nodded and explained, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s a child, but he¡¯s also a chef.¡± The dazzling lights shone. It was not Xu Le¡¯s first time participating in the competition. However, he saw that the host on stage was extremely impassioned and there were hundreds of audience judges below. Their behavior were more or less exaggerated. ¡°The person who is appearing today is a popular chef from the eight-year-old canteen¡ªXu Le! With his superb culinary skills and extreme cuteness, he has captured the taste buds of customers many times and has many fans on various platforms.¡± After the host finished introducing him, a black screen appeared on the big screen. Immediately after, a 3D figure was projected on the stage and waved at the audience. In an instant, the crowd below seemed to have been ignited. Cheers surged like waves, one higher than the other. Countless comments flooded the bullet screen. ¡°The Master Chef will definitely win!¡± ¡°This child is too arrogant. He actually dares to compete with the Master Chef?¡± Chapter 155 - Eight Treasures Duck ¡°How dare a child dream of winning against the Master Chef? Dream on!¡± ¡°This episode is just a joke, right? Who are the guests?¡± ¡°Oh my god, there¡¯s actually someone who doesn¡¯t know Xu Le? He has almost seven million fans!¡± ¡°In any case, can he be as good as the Master Chef?¡± The people in the comments section started arguing. Of course, the audience who had been following the live broadcast of the competition would naturally think that the Master Chef was going to win by an overwhelming margin. Just like every competition in the past, he would definitely win! Lu Yuxi was watching the live broadcast when an incoming call interrupted the broadcast. She looked at the unknown number and frowned for a moment before answering. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Li Yue.¡± ¡°Professor Li?¡± Lu Yuxi was so surprised that she lost her voice. Why would a university professor whom she had not contacted for a long time suddenly call her? ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The scene changed and the live broadcast continued. The first dish was ¡°Eight Treasures Duck.¡± The Eight Treasures Duck had already been widely circulated during the Qianlong era. The duck skin was crispy and fragrant, and the meat was soft and tender. The stuffing inside was filled with oil and fragrance, and the texture was excellent. Before the competition began, Chen Yeqi had privately told the two of them that they could bring their assistants with them. At this moment, Li Qing¡¯s mouth was like a loudspeaker. ¡°This dish isn¡¯t that difficult? Even I know how to cook it.¡± ¡°If the two of you make the same taste later, how are they going to differentiate it? By luck?¡± ¡°The audience below doesn¡¯t look like culinary judges either. Isn¡¯t it unfair to judge according to their preferences?¡± ¡°Master Xu, do you know this dish?¡± Xu Le wanted to pick up the carrot on the table and stuff it into Li Qing¡¯s mouth. In the end, he smiled and said, ¡°I definitely will.¡± The two-hour clock on the screen was already counting down. It could be considered a rush to finish this dish in two hours. He could not afford to waste any time. Xu Le skillfully split open the duck¡¯s neck. The duck skin was tender. After opening it, he took out all the soft bones and tendons inside and cut them with scissorsa€| The host said, ¡°The hardest part of making the duck is that the entire skin can¡¯t be broken. The two contestants are very skilled. Of course, the one on the left is still better.¡± Xu Le was in the kitchen on the right. When he heard this, he ignored the host and continued to remove the bones. Shen Hui looked up. In the next moment, Li Qing immediately said in surprise, ¡°Damn, this doesn¡¯t f*cking look like something a human can do.¡± Xu Le calmly looked at the screen. He saw that ¡®Master Chef¡¯ had cut a small hole in the duck skin with the tip of a knife. Only then did he cut the bones bit by bit. By doing that, he could guarantee that the duck skin would be more perfect. ¡°a€| Is the chef really not a surgeon before? His technique is a little exaggerated.¡± Li Qing complained, but he had to admit that the bone removal technique was indeed impressive. Xu Le broke the duck neck bones in turn and took out the shoulder blades, wing bones, and leg bones. At the same time, he carefully flipped the flesh down. He continued until the duck meat was completely separated from the bones, while ensuring that the duck skin was still intact except for the initial cut. His technique was equally precise, winning cheers from the crowd. Due to his young age, many viewers who had never heard of Xu Le¡¯s name were shocked. The comments quickly flooded the screen. ¡°Is this something a child can do? Isn¡¯t it too awesome?¡± ¡°Oh my god, my family makes Eight Treasure Duck. Even an old master can¡¯t remove the bones in such a short time.¡± ¡°Look, it¡¯s not broken at all. It¡¯s an entire duck skin!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bet 50 cents that no matter how powerful that kid is in the beginning, he will still lose. Don¡¯t get your hopes up.¡± ¡°Good lord, I¡¯m going to follow his account!¡± The judges on the judging panel were all famous gourmets in the industry, especially a few who had met Xu Le many times in other competitions. However, they all had solemn expressions and did not say anything. Li Qing also noticed that something was wrong with the competition scene. He muttered softly, ¡°Look, those judges look like they were kidnapped.¡± ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t cause trouble.¡± Xu Le focused on cooking. For the sake of his dignity, he saw that the Master Chef did not use any assistants, so Li Qing and Shen Hui naturally could not help too early. This way, even if they won, it would seem like an unfair victory. After the duck was deboned, he rinsed the inside with clear water. He added salt, pepper, pepper, and an appropriate amount of cooking wine. Finally, he added ginger slices and onions. He mixed them evenly with his hand and placed them aside to marinate. He cut the fresh tenderloin, chicken gizzard, golden ham, winter bamboo shoots, salted egg yolk, dried parsley, green beans and shiitake mushrooms into diced pieces. When the pot was hot and smoking, Xu Le added ginger and onions first. Then, he poured in the finely diced eight ingredients. Finally, he added shrimp, lotus seeds, and ginkgo. He stir-fried them until they were ripe, scooped them out, and mixed them with glutinous rice. That was the Eight Treasures stuffing. This was a traditional method given by the system, and the taste was the most authentic. However, Xu Le hesitated at this moment because the chef on the left had already done these steps. He turned off the stove. Because of the different cultures, stuffing and marination methods for the dish vary in many places. The host noticed Xu Le¡¯s movements and said, ¡°Why did you stop? Little Master Chef, do you need any help?¡± ¡°No.¡± It was a little rush to prepare the dish. Xu Le closed his eyes and said, ¡°Let the duck marinate for another minute. I can¡¯t really remember how to make it.¡± After a casual excuse, he immediately entered the system. The ingredients needed to make the Eight Treasures Duck were placed on the familiar kitchen counter. Xu Le went forward and quickly followed the process of the competition. After dicing the ingredients, he did not intend to continue cooking according to the traditional method. This was because the duck had to be fried in the oil pot in the later stages. Based on the amount of time given by the production team, it was impossible to control the oil after it was fried. There was already the fragrance of oil outside. If it was fried in oil, the finished product would definitely have oil leaking and affect the taste. Hence, Xu Le added water to the pot. After the fire boiled, he poured the prepared flavoring ingredients into the pot. There was no need for it to be fully cooked. After it was 60 to 70 percent cooked, he immediately fished it out to remove the strange smell on it. He added glutinous rice, pepper oil, pepper, salt, and a little white sugar. After grabbing and mixing evenly, it can be poured into the marinated duck. He filled the duck¡¯s mouth and tied it from the bottom to the waist with hemp rope, making it look like a gourd. After drying the surface and applying a layer of dark soya sauce, he could immediately fry it in oil. As soon as the duck touched the pot, the skin sizzled and the fragrance almost overflowed. Just as Xu Le was rejoicing over his improvement, oil splashed out from the pot. He was quick to react and grabbed the lid to cover it. Obviously, he had made a mistake. ¡°How could I forget this?¡± Xu Le immediately realized that there was something wrong. He snapped his fingers and the kitchen counter returned to the time during his previous step. Chapter 156 - Modified Method The duck was stuffed with ingredients that had been boiled. The glutinous rice had also been soaked in water. The water content inside could not be controlled completely. If it was directly thrown into the pot, it would definitely cause oil to splash. Xu Le poured some light soy sauce into the water and used it to color the duck. He kept spooning brownish-red soup from the pot onto the surface of the duck. A few minutes later, it was placed in a pot to steam. He turned the heat up to maximum. After waiting for nearly an hour, the duck became well cooked inside. Next, he raised the pan and waited for the oil to boil until it was 80 percent hot. Xu Le then fried the Eight Treasures Duck for about three minutes. After the surface was cooked with hot oil and the skin was golden brown, he could immediately fish it out. He picked up his chopsticks and poked the skin of the duck. The skin of the duck was still crispy after being drenched in hot oil. After poking it open, there was a soft bang, and the hot fragrance rushed out. The meat inside was soft and tender and wrapped in stuffing. He fed a piece into his mouth. The eight ingredients had a fused and delicious flavor. The various ingredients were refreshing, fragrant, and tender. Some were crisp and salty, and the fusion was wonderful. The texture advanced layer by layer, and a long aftertaste appeared on the tip of the tongue. ¡°Hey, if you can¡¯t remember, can¡¯t you ask me? I know! Don¡¯t just stand there. Time is precious.¡± Li Qing reached out and pushed him. Xu Le opened his eyes. It had only been 30 seconds outside. He stood up straight and said, ¡°I remember now.¡± Shen Hui stared at her son with a worried expression, but in order not to burden him psychologically, she did not say anything and stood at the side, watching silently. The Master Chef moved quickly and used the traditional method. Firstly, he stir-fried the eight ingredients, mixed it into the glutinous rice, and placed it in the steamer. Then, he stuffed it into the duck, poked small holes in the skin, and placed it in the oil pot to fry. He fried before steaming. Xu Le stared at the screen for a while and decisively chose the modified method he had developed in the system. Sure enough, once the steps were out. The host couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Little Master Chef, did you use the wrong method? Don¡¯t be nervous. Your assistant is right beside you. You can ask him.¡± ¡°No.¡± Although Xu Le¡¯s voice was soft, his tone did not allow for any rebuttal. The host felt awkward and immediately turned around to talk about other topics. At the judges¡¯ table, Song Deyue¡¯s expression was dark. An old acquaintance came over and asked, ¡°What do you think of Xu Le¡¯s modification?¡± ¡°It depends on the situation and what it tastes like in the end.¡± Song Deyue looked at the stage with a frown. ¡°Old Master, are you that afraid of Xu Le losing?¡± ¡°Hmph, didn¡¯t we decide who would win from the beginning?¡± Song Deyue sighed, feeling very regretful. He sighed and said, ¡°After this show ends, Xu Le¡¯s peak of his career can only stop here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just him. I¡¯m afraid our entire industry will stagnate.¡± The judges sighed. Everyone was deep in thought, and most of them looked pessimistic. Only Mr. Cai Lan watched Xu Le¡¯s movements attentively and nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°Improving his methods according to the situation. Not bad. Quite a smart kid. I didn¡¯t judge him wrongly previously.¡± On the bullet screen, they saw Xu Le boiling the duck in the water for a few minutes before putting it into the steamer. Finally, he took it out and fried it. They were almost going crazy. ¡°Who would make Eight Treasure Duck like this?¡± ¡°Does he know how to cook or not? He isn¡¯t pretending, right?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t he know how to copy from others? Isn¡¯t there a cooking method by the Master Chef on the screen?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s over. He should just forfeit and admit defeat.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s delicious, I¡¯ll immediately call him father.¡± The two-hour countdown came to an end amid a barrage of sarcastic, uncomprehending comments. After Xu Le plated the dish, he suddenly had an inspiration. He remembered that when it was steamed, there would be a lot of juice seeping out of the duck meat. It would absorb the essence from the other ingredients. He immediately took a portion of the gravy from the steamer. He added a little dark soya sauce and sugar to season it, and finally used water and flour to produce a thin layer of gravy. Over high heat, he allowed the gravy to evaporate slightly. When the countdown bell rang, the bright brown and red sauce was evenly poured on the duck. The Eight Treasures Duck was completely ready to be served. Shen Hui¡¯s palms were sweating as she watched from the side. When the plate was carried behind the wall by the staff, she heaved a sigh of relief and said, ¡°That was close. It¡¯s finally done. Lele, don¡¯t worry.¡± Xu Le looked up at her and thought, ¡®What do I have to worry about?¡¯ Shen Hui squeezed her son¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Don¡¯t panic. This is just the preliminary round. They will ask the live audience to judge the next two rounds¡­¡± Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but interrupt her. ¡°Erm, Mom, do you think I¡¯ll definitely lose?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Shen Hui hesitated for a moment. ¡°Of course not. Mommy definitely believes in you, but¡­ who did you learn your culinary skills from?¡± Xu Le said calmly, ¡°I figured it out myself.¡± That was also true. After all, he had explored and practiced in the system over and over again. His long efforts had not been in vain. In order to be fair, the final product was served with the audience and judges¡¯ backs facing them. However, there was still a live broadcast behind the wall. They placed a circle of cooked broccoli on the two plates of Eight Treasure Duck to decorate it. Basically, the difference in quality could not be seen with the naked eye. Only then did they bring it to the judges¡¯ table. When they ate, they cut the Eight Treasures Duck into a cross shape from the middle. The Eight Treasures filling had a beautiful mix of color and had the meaning of greater abundance the more one ate it. Old Master Song picked up a spoon and scooped up a mouthful of fragrant, soft, and moist rice. He wrapped it with duck meat and duck skin and placed it in his mouth. The salty fragrance of the oil seeped into the glutinous rice grains. The skin was crispy and the meat was soft. The texture was very authentic. When he¡¯d finished, he rinsed his mouth and tried the other plate of Eight Treasures Duck. The first thing he noticed was how crispy the duck meat was. It melted when he chewed it, but the outer skin was very crispy. The stuffing inside was crisp, and the ham was fragrant. The lotus seeds were soft and mushy¡­ The taste of the two was very similar, but the latter was oily and fragrant, but not greasy at all. Just as Song Deyue was about to pick the former, he tasted a trace of sweet fragrance in his mouth. His pen paused for a moment before he chose the latter. Soon, the judges tasted it and made their choices one after another. ¡°The texture of the two is very similar, but the subtle differences caused by the cooking method can still be tasted. One plate is crispy, and the taste of pepper is a little stronger. The other plate is light, and the texture is soft and refreshing.¡± Xu Le frowned when he heard the sound of gold coins entering his account. He had a rough idea of the outcome. Shen Hui leaned over and asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Didn¡¯t you win?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Shen Hui could not hide the disappointment on her face. Just as she was about to comfort Xu Le, the host shouted, ¡°The first miracle in the competition has appeared! 5 votes vs 5 votes, I announce that this is a draw!¡± After Xu Le heard this, he looked at Zhang Tong below the stage, then turned around and ran. He walked into the kitchen on the left and opened the curtains to the Master Chef¡¯s kitchen. Chapter 157 - Fujian Cuisine Only a few assistants were left in the kitchen. They smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°Who are you looking for¡­¡± Xu Le¡¯s eyes darkened when he did not see the Master Chef¡¯s figure. The host immediately interrupted to gain control over the situation and said, ¡°Little Master Chef, don¡¯t be in a hurry yet. When the three rounds are over, the Master Chef will naturally appear.¡± In other words, Xu Le was probably the last opponent of the Master Chef. At halftime, the number of comments on the screen doubled. There were almost 200,000 online viewers watching. ¡°It¡¯s a draw?¡± ¡°After watching the show for so long, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen a draw.¡± ¡°Maybe the Little Master Chef can really beat him. He¡¯s amazing.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. I went to his stall to try his food before. The food sold at the eight-year-old canteen is super delicious.¡± ¡°Please give me the address!¡± ¡°Fans above, stop bragging. How can the Master Chef lose? How many of his peers have he won?¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m still betting on the Master Chef.¡± As the two sides of the audience argued, another wave of passersby joined in the fun. ¡°The Eight Treasure Duck looks so delicious. I want to eat it too¡­¡± ¡°It looks so appetizing. Help!¡± During the break, Zhang Tong looked relieved and happy in the backstage. He said, ¡°Impressive. You really tied with him.¡± ¡°I was just lucky.¡± Xu Le said humbly. He sat in a chair and dialed a number. Shen Hui had been eliminated too soon back then, so she had always been disdainful and hostile to the Master Chef and the production team. Now that her eight-year-old son had earned some face for her, of course she was extremely happy. She immediately took the opportunity to send a message to other French chefs to show off. She turned around and reminded Xu Le, ¡°Baby, don¡¯t worry. With Mommy around, I¡¯ll definitely do my best to help you cook for the audience in the next two rounds.¡± ¡°Alright, but I think the ingredients prepared should be for Chinese food.¡± ¡°Yes, but there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of. Your father is even better at Chinese food.¡± Xu Le stared at the screen of his phone that showed that the number could not be dialed. Just as he hung up, Lu Yuxi called back and said quickly, ¡°A classmate of mine from university had an accident and needs a blood transfusion. Her blood type is rare and can¡¯t find a match in a short time. I have the same blood type as her, so I¡¯m here to donate blood. If there¡¯s nothing¡­¡± There was a commotion in the background. Xu Le said, ¡°Okay, settle your matters first. I¡¯ll call you after the competition.¡± ¡°¡­ Xu Le.¡± Lu Yuxi suddenly called his name seriously. ¡°What?¡± Standing in the crowded white corridor, Lu Yuxi was stunned. The television in the ward in front of her was displaying the television program that the patient had casually switched to. ¡°I saw the variety show with you on television. Hey, you¡¯re on television!¡± Lu Yuxi said excitedly, ¡°Look, it¡¯s really you!¡± ¡°Okay, got it. Be careful.¡± After she hung up, Xu Le couldn¡¯t help but mutter softly, ¡°I thought something big had happened. What a big fuss.¡± ¡°Is it Lu Yuxi?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He looked up and asked, ¡°Do you know her?¡± ¡°Lu Yuxi is our former neighbor. She moved away about three to four years before you were born, so I had even carried her in my arms when she was young.¡± Shen Hui said in high spirits, ¡°Fate is really so amazing. The two of you have never met before, but you actually know each other now. By the way, is she staying at our house?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°Come, Lele, take a photo with Mommy. I want to post it to show off. My son is a little Master Chef!¡± After Shen Hui raised her phone, Li Qing leaned over and took a photo with a grin. He was especially excited about coming to the competition venue, not to mention going on stage as Xu Le¡¯s assistant. This was an extremely important part of his cooking career! ¡°The next round of cooking for the audience should be after selecting the ingredients. The amount of ingrdients provided should be randomly picked. How troublesome, they probably won¡¯t be finished until after seven to eight hours.¡± The competition would definitely end late at night. Xu Le had already read the rules of the show and was not surprised. He said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to the end of the competition, when that Master Chef shows his face.¡± Shen Hui put her arm around her son¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Good luck. I believe you can definitely win.¡± Xu Le did not value winning or losing that much. Hearing this, he looked at his mother strangely and said, ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Soon, the break was over. After returning to the stage, a large table was placed in the middle of the kitchen on both sides. On it were various vegetables and meat, as well as condiments. The host said passionately, ¡°Everyone, please take a look at the ingredients on the table. Both sides have to choose the ingredients they need based on the cuisine and quantity voted by the live audience.¡± In this round, there were four people in each group. Similarly, only three chefs appeared on the other side. There was no sign of the Master Chef. Li Qing whispered gossipingly, ¡°Why doesn¡¯t the person opposite look like someone who can cook? He doesn¡¯t look like a chef. He looks just like my father who hasn¡¯t even stepped into the kitchen before.¡± Zhang Tong frowned as if he found him to be too full of himself at such an important competition. ¡°Don¡¯t randomly call others your father.¡± ¡°Hey, what are you saying? Don¡¯t think that you can lecture me just because you¡¯re more experienced than me.¡± Li Qing did not back down. Shen Hui glanced at the two of them and said, ¡°Stop arguing.¡± ¡°Alright, now let¡¯s invite both temas into the kitchen.¡± The host suddenly made an inviting gesture. Even though the contestants and audience were confused by this request, the contestants did as they were told. After entering, the host said, ¡°Now, we will take turns choosing the ingredients. Please don¡¯t discuss it with your team and go out to get them.¡± Li Qing raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first.¡± Li Qing went up first to get the white promphret, followed by Zhang Tong, who took the chicken, while Shen Hui picked the water chestnuts. Xu Le took a piece of pork belly¡­ Ten minutes later, both sides finished choosing their ingredients. Because they took the ingredients immediately, they did not have much time to think. Therefore, whether they could match the dishes chosen by the audience in the end depended on luck. The eight main cuisines scrolled across the live screen. Below, the audience voted. Soon, it settled on Fujian cuisine. Fuijian cuisine originated from Fuzhou. It focused on a light and refreshing flavour. The representative dishes included Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Tea Noodles¡­ After obtaining the results regarding the cuisine, the few of them hurriedly checked the ingredients they had brought back. Xu Le suddenly felt a vacuum bag and felt that the things inside were very unfamiliar. He picked it up and took a look. ¡°Which one of you took the bamboo leaves? Why do you need bamboo leaves?¡± Li Qing¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I was too anxious just now. I thought they were onion leaves.¡± After checking them one by one, Xu Le pointed at a pile of fresh fish and said, ¡°There is yellow fish, smooth fish, leaf fish, so we can make soy sauce fish. And out pork belly and red yeast rice can be used to make lychee meat.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Shen Hui looked at the ingredients that did not complement each other and said awkwardly, ¡°But this tofu, bamboo leaves, and cashews¡­ No, how should we deal with the Jade Mountain Fruit?¡± Chapter 158 - Soy Sauce Fish The Jade Mountain Fruit was actually fragrant fruit and was relatively famous in Jade Mountain, so it was given another name. Xu Le didn¡¯t have the time to correct her. He thought for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make Dongpo Tofu later.¡± The numbers on the screen were still rolling. Occasionally, they could see the number 100. Li Qing couldn¡¯t help but complain, ¡°If it really stops at 100 dishes later, with our amount of ingredients, we¡¯ll just give each person some bits of meat to eat.¡± Fortunately, the final number stopped at five. In other words, the two teams had to make five dishes, and the number of dishes had to be enough for the entire audience to taste. Fujian dish was not Zhang Tong¡¯s specialty. He looked at the pork belly in front of him and felt a little embarrassed. He knew how to make lychee meat, but he could not guarantee that it would be done well. ¡°Let me do it. There are so many people in the audience today. Even if everyone takes a bite, the amount needed will be especially large. Thank you for your help.¡± With that, Xu Le picked up a piece of pork belly and said to Li Qing, ¡°Heat up the oil and fry the onion that¡¯s unique to Fujian cuisine. Don¡¯t use leaves, or it¡¯ll be burnt easily.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think ordering me to prepare this is a little overkill?¡± Li Qing complained as he did as he was told. He turned on the fire to heat the oil, cut off the shallots, and prepared to fry them. ¡°Did someone take a lobster just now?¡± ¡°I saw it.¡± Li Qing said, ¡°But the other party took it away. Are you planning to make tea noodles?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Le resisted the urge to roll his eyes at him and said, ¡°If there¡¯s no lobster to top it off, then I¡¯ll make some pork belly tea noodles.¡± ¡°But I took the abalone and placed it on the far right.¡± Zhang Tong couldn¡¯t stand it and said, ¡°Can¡¯t you finish your sentence at once?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Li Qing had a provocative look on his face. Fortunately, Zhang Tong had a steady personality and could not be bothered to argue with him. He went over to get the abalone and started washing it. ¡°The main ingredient for making tea noodles is still stir-fried tea sauce, but the sauce produced from each place tastes different. Which one are you planning to make?¡± Xu Le rummaged around and finally managed to categorize the ingredients roughly, making it slightly easier to find them. He said, ¡°We will make the taste with whatever ingredients we have¡­ I think you should make black sugar tea sauce. If we add add some black sugar to the original sauce, the texture will be richer when it comes out. Let me make it. Mom, please prepare the noodles.¡± ¡°That¡¯s simple.¡± Shen Hui immediately took some flour and water and prepared to make noodles. They had roughly decided on soy sauce fish, lychee meat, tea abalone noodles, and Dongpo Tofu. There was still one last dish that they had not decided on. However, the ingredients had almost been categorized. Xu Le was worried for a moment, but he quickly threw this thought to the back of his mind. He thought to himself, I¡¯ll see what ingredients are left later. Soy sauce fish was an extremely common dish in Xiamen. Usually, it was stewed with a few different types of fish. If one fish was cooked alone, it would taste bland. When several types of fish were combined, they tasted different. Some were fresh, some were chewy, and there was no idea how the next piece of fish would taste. It was surprising and delicious, like opening a mystery box. The white pomphret, yellow fish, smooth fish, and leaf fish were all cleaned and eviscerated. Xu Le instructed, ¡°Cut the big fish into pieces and form some cuts on the surface.¡± The ingredients prepared for the competition were all very fresh. Just by processing them, Zhang Tong could tell that these fish would definitely be easy to cook and would taste good. The light soya sauce would make it salty, the dark soya sauce would give its color, and the sauce would make it taste refreshing and fragrant. After pouring it all into the casserole in moderation, he added rock sugar and cooked until it turned amber. A small amount of oil was poured into the pot. Dried radish, sliced ginger, and garlic were stir-fried. A small amount of dried chili was added, along with white sugar, MSG, and salt. After frying all the ingredients, he added the fish in order of size. He added the pepper sauce and the soy sauce that had just been prepared. The heat was at moderate level. He had to keep an eye on the fish until it was cooked into a gelatinous state and the soup became thick. The difficulty of this dish was in the control of the fire. Zhang Tong was halfway through cooking when he realized that he could not control the texture. He immediately raised his voice and asked, ¡°Xu Le, what¡¯s wrong with my dish?¡± Xu Le was cutting the pork belly into slices. He looked up and said, ¡°Keep it under medium heat. Don¡¯t break the fish meat and stir it with the spoon. The heat control is not bad so you should be able to prepare this dish.¡± Zhang Tong¡¯s confidence increased at his praise. Ten minutes later, the large pot of fish with sauce was cooked. The onion oil of Fujian cuisine was sprinkled around the fish before it was served. The ordinary-looking soy sauce fish instantly became bright and shiny. Finally, it was sprinkled with garlic sprouts and could be brought backstage to be distributed to the audience. The pork belly was cut into thin slices horizontally. On top of it, it was slanted and covered with a layer of knife marks, making the surface look like the shell of a lychee. The lychee meat was sour and sweet. It was one of the most famous home-cooked dishes in Fujian, where the climate was hot and humid. From ancient times, everyone would eat this dish since they were young. Cooking dishes from other places, especially home-cooked dishes, was the most difficult. After all, if the taste of the local dishes was wrong, it would be easy to judge that they were not authentic. After the fancy cuttings was done, he cut them into triangles along the veined path. The lychee meat was only complemented with water chestnut. The water chestnuts were first smashed with a knife and cut carefully, retaining some granularity. The red yeast rice was mixed with the wine, stirred into a colored liquid, and poured into the pork belly. Instead of bright red, the red yeast rice appeared dark red, much like the surface of a lychee. After the lychee meat was colored, starch was poured in, ensuring that the fried texture was crispy and easy to hold onto the taste of the sweet and sour sauce. In the inner area of the meat, he had to turn the triangle upside down and wrap it around the water chestnuts. After it was fried, the outside would be sweet and sour and crispy. Once a person bit through it, he could taste the fragrance of the water chestnut. It was a tedious task to wrap the water chestnuts. After all, there were so many steps to do. Zhang Tong came over to help wrap them up and said, ¡°Let me do this step. Go and cook other dishes first. You can come over and continue frying after I¡¯m done?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± That was what Xu Le wanted to hear. He turned aside and began to prepare the tea sauce. The tea abalone noodles was prepared with sweet and savory tea that was paired with the unique oily noodles of Fujian. Not only could one taste the unique Southeast Asian flavor, but there was also a slight spiciness in the sweet fragrance. It was very appetizing. The ratio of brown sugar to rock sugar was 3:1. Adding milk powder to it would increase the smooth texture. The other condiments and dry shell powder would also increase the texture of the seafood. There was also the standard MSG fish sauce that was slightly salted¡­ Xu Le lowered his head in concentration. Li Qing, who was frying onion oil at the side, could not help but say, ¡°When I went on a trip previously, I tried Fujian dishes, especially things like tea noodles. The taste is different across the streets. If you want to say that it¡¯s authentic, it might not be uniform¡­¡± ¡°But what doesn¡¯t change is the texture.¡± Xu Le naturally knew this. He explained, ¡°No matter how different the taste is, in the end, a popular restaurant will always make the best food. As long as the sauce tastes good, it will be fine.¡± Chapter 159 - Lychee Meat Li Qing said, ¡°There are so many people in the audience. How can you guarantee that the sauce you make will be well-liked?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee that.¡± Xu Le replied calmly. Actually, he had concocted the sauce based on his experience as a chef. He did not rely on the system at all. However, he was not anxious. It was different from the first time he made oil doused noodles and set up a stall. After countless practices, Xu Le¡¯s skills had already taken root in his body habits and mind, forming thick branches and tender leaves. It could be used to improvise to produce better food. There was no need to worry about not knowing anything from the system. When Xu Le realized this, his eyelashes trembled and he did not think further. He poured peanut oil and lard into the pot. When boiled, both would be more fragrant than the usual vegetable seed oil, and the sauce that was cooked would be filled with an oily fragrance. After all the raw ingredients were mixed together and poured into the pot, under constant stirring and frying, the sauce would slowly thicken, the color would gradually deepen, and the fragrance would spread out. After Li Qing finished frying the onion oil, he said, ¡°Where can I use the onion oil?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll fry tofu later.¡± Xu Le handed him a spoon. Li Qing immediately understood and received it to help with the stir-fry. He said in disbelief, ¡°Master, this shouldn¡¯t be difficult, right? I won¡¯t burn it for you, right?¡± ¡°If you had a tenth of your usual confidence in cooking, you wouldn¡¯t be so afraid.¡± Xu Le was speechless and continued to lecture him, ¡°Believe in your culinary skills. You¡¯ve learned from me for so long and can already run a stall on your own. Why are you doubting yourself over such a small matter?¡± Li Qing felt guilty and wanted to argue, but there was nothing he could say. He could only continue to stir-fry the tea sauce. Because there was a huge quantity of it, it took nearly an hour to cook the tea sauce that usually only took 10 to 20 minutes. When all the bubbles inside evaporated, the rich fragrance with a hint of sweetness spread out. Xu Le said, ¡°There¡¯s diluted peanut sauce over there. Add it and stew it with the thick bone soup.¡± ¡°Oh, sure.¡± Li Qing knew nothing about the sauce ratio. It would have been fine if he did it alone usually, but it was a competition! This competition was very important to Master Xu, so his hands trembled as he poured peanut sauce into it. When he felt that it was about right, Li Qing looked up and realized that Xu Le was looking at him. ¡°Yes, the amount is very good. Now just add it to the bone soup and stew it.¡± As soon as Li Qing was praised, he immediately became proud and said, ¡°Of course, look who¡¯s making it. It will definitely be a success.¡± ¡°Sigh.¡± Zhang Tong shook his head helplessly. He was angry and amused at the same time. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°I wonder what kind of Fujian dishes the other team is making over there? The ingredients they took are quite uniform¡­ What if they make Buddha jumps over the wall?¡± ¡°Then let them be. Don¡¯t worry, They don¡¯t have soy sauce fish.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Zhang Tong was a little surprised. How could these two dishes be compared? One was an ordinary home-cooked dish, while the other was the famous Buddha Jumps Over The Wall! ¡°We¡¯ll know after the audience judges.¡± The big screen was divided into two sections. They were different cameras that featured scenes from the kitchen on both sides. The Master Chef¡¯s side was preparing chicken soup with mussels. It was a specialty dish of Fujian-Fuzhou cuisine. It was a must-have soup dish at a traditional banquet in the Fuzhou area. Using the sea mussels and chicken as the main ingredients, it is a delicacy made with beef, pork tenderloin, and other supplementary ingredients that was expected to taste refreshing. It was steaming, and oil was floating at the top of the pale yellow soup. One could almost smell the fragrance through the screen. If Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was the king of Fujian cuisine, then the chicken soup with the sea mussels would be the queen of Fujian cuisine. After the most troublesome step of ¡®sweeping the soup¡¯, the finished product would look perfect, and the taste would definitely be needless to say. While the people onstage were busy cooking, Chen Yeqi, who was behind the stage, was not idle either. When he saw the number of people in the live broadcast room skyrocketing, he was so excited that he was almost speechless. ¡°Damn, a million, it¡¯s a million! This is the most number of viewers online in the history of the show. Our show has become famous, right?¡± Before he could continue with his excitement, his assistant handed him his phone and said silently, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s like this¡­ The other contestant, Xu Le, had previously participated in another variety show¡¯s broadcast. After one episode, the response was intense and it became a trending topic. He attracted a lot of attention to the show today.¡± Chen Yeqi, who learnt about the truth, froze and felt a little awkward. However, he quickly regained his smile and said smugly, ¡°Fortunately, I had the foresight to invite Xu Le over no matter what. This time, I took advantage of his popularity and saved a lot on free marketing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before the Master Chef goes public!¡± The spotlights flashed across Chen Yeqi¡¯s face, reflecting the fanaticism in his eyes. The oil in the pot burned until it was 60-70% hot. The lychee meat needed to be fried. Xu Le slid the meat the side of the pan, and the meat wrapped around the water chestnuts rolled in the oil. It was not the right time to stir when it was first placed down. When it was ripe, it would be shaped and slid open from the middle with an iron spoon. In the oil, the pink meat slowly turned dark red, and the outer color became even more like lychee. After the color changed, he switched to low heat. He fried the meat until it was thoroughly cooked. After fishing it out, he drenched it in cold oil. When Zhang Tong saw this, he looked puzzled. Li Qing said straightforwardly, ¡°Why did you pour cold oil on it? Wouldn¡¯t it be greasy?¡± ¡°When poured with cold oil, it can quickly lower the surface temperature and maintain the crispness.¡± The sauce of the lychee meat was called a fragrant braised sauce. It was made with minced garlic, onion, white sugar, balsamic vinegar, and starch. A little water was added when it entered the pot, and stirred constantly with the back of an iron spoon. The sauce that was cooked at a high temperature was filled with small bubbles while the bright color was produced. When the heat was about right, he would pour the fried lychee meat in and flip it for 30 seconds so that the surface was wrapped in a layer of sparkling sauce. Then, it would be ready to be served. Li Qing could not take it anymore. He swallowed his saliva and found an excuse. ¡°Why don¡¯t I help you taste it?¡± ¡°Feel free to try it.¡± Xu Le was very generous. Zhang Tong¡¯s appetite was also aroused. He tasted a piece. The surface of the lychee meat was crispy, sour, and sweet. It was satisfying and appetizing. He bit through it. The water chestnuts inside were crisp and fragrant. The two complemented each other well and the taste was indescribably stunning! ¡°Awesome, this dish will definitely be a sure-win later!¡± Zhang Tong couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. When he turned around, he saw Xu Le examining the processed abalone. He said, ¡°If it¡¯s steamed, the taste might be too plain and not suitable to be placed on the tea noodles.¡± Li Qing chewed on the lychee meat and tasted it. He stuffed another piece into his mouth and said in a muffled voice, ¡°It¡¯s a pity we didn¡¯t take the lobster. It would be easier if we had lobster.¡± Chapter 160 - White ¡°Won¡¯t it be too greasy if it was braised?¡± The few of them stared at the abalone in a daze. After all, it was a side dish that had to be covered with tea. If it was too greasy, it would affect the overall taste. Li Qing said, ¡°Should we fry it crispy?¡± Zhang Tong shook his head and rejected the idea, ¡°The moment the crisp is in contact with the soup, it would become soft.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s make a white-blanched one.¡± An idea came to Xu Le¡¯s mind. He said, ¡°The white-blanched abalone will have its original taste retained. It would still be crispy and chewy. When placed on the tea noodles, it won¡¯t steal the limelight.¡± ¡°Good idea!¡± Zhang Tong nodded repeatedly and thought to himself, ¡®Why didn¡¯t I think of doing this?¡¯ Then, his admiration for Xu Le increased. The processed abalone was stripped of its internal organs, pressed from above, and sliced horizontally with a knife. After they were cut, water was poured into the pot, salt and peanut oil were added, and the abalone slices were boiled for about 20 seconds. At this moment, the abalone slices were cooked but tasteless. They were drizzled with a little oyster sauce and doused in boiling oil. Amidst the sizzling sounds, the abalone slices curled up and had a layer of golden oil on it. The tender fragrance was immediately produced. Li Qing picked up a piece. The abalone was thin and chewy. After tasting it carefully, there was only the taste of salt. To a large extent, it retained the freshness and tenderness of the ingredients. At this moment, Shen Hui finally finished making the oil noodles. The noodles used to make the tea noodles were alkali noodles. They needed to be kneaded first before being cut and steamed until it was medium-cooked and mixed with oil. Then, she would take the required portions for each serving and put them into a slotted spoon. It would be ready after cooking in boiling water. After the noodles were cooked, he placed abalone slices on top and poured a large spoonful of tea soup. After the tea sauce was cooked and peanut sauce was added, it was poured into a pot and simmered in bone soup. After it was cooked through, the sweet, savory, and spicy texture of the tea coupled with the mellow fragrance of the peanuts seeped into the thick soup. The soup base was delicious. When evenly wrapped with noodles and abalone, it warmed the throat and the stomach. By now, the lychee meat, soy sauce fish, and tea noodles were all ready. As for the Dongpo Tofu, it was the easiest dish to make. Xu Le planned to leave it at the end. He looked at the remaining ingredients. There were eggplant, minced meat, green garlic¡­ and half a basket of chestnuts. Xu Le said, ¡°The dishes we prepared include a meat and vegetable dish, so it should be enough. We are just missing one dessert.¡± ¡°Do you want to make dessert with chestnuts?¡± Li Qing stepped forward to help. ¡°Will it be too rushed?¡± It would take an hour or more to bake a cake or steam any pastries. Xu Le paused for a moment and said, ¡°Let¡¯s make a hazelnut chestnut soup.¡± As he spoke, he opened a chestnut to test its freshness. Li Qing¡¯s eyes widened and he asked curiously, ¡°Why are you eating it raw?¡± ¡°Chestnuts¡­ can¡¯t be eaten raw?¡± Xu Le was stumped by his question. He handed one over and said, ¡°Try it.¡± Li Qing grew up in the north. Their customs were different, so their tastes were naturally worlds apart. ¡°In my hometown, chestnuts are stir-fried with sugar, boiled or steamed.¡± Li Qing put the chestnut into his mouth skeptically. After chewing twice, he frowned and said, ¡°It¡¯s not delicious.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that raw chestnuts are delicious.¡± Xu Le tasted the pulp that seeped out of the chestnuts and said, ¡°It¡¯s like chestnuts from Huairou, very fresh and sweet.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t spit it out. When eating the chestnut raw, you should chew it into a pulp. It will nourish the kidney.¡± After Xu Le explained, he said, ¡°The chestnut needs to be peeled. Cut it open first and then put it in boiling water for five minutes, then it will be easier to peel. There¡¯s so many chestnuts, let¡¯s peel it together.¡± At this point in the competition, more than three hours had passed. The number of viewers online continued increasing instead of decreasing. ¡°Which one is Xu Le? I just came from watching ¡®Chinese restaurant¡¯.¡± ¡°Same.¡± ¡°Same for me.¡± ¡°Ahhh, he¡¯s really cute! He¡¯s cooking seriously!¡± ¡°Of course, he¡¯s not faking it. That child really knows how to cook.¡± ¡°He even won many awards!¡± ¡°When is the Master Chef showing his face? The live broadcast is making me so anxious!¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t the assistants helping and he¡¯s the only one working on the Master Chef¡¯s side?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little against the rules? Xu Le has four people cooking, and there¡¯s only him on the Master Chef¡¯s side¡­¡± ¡°The program had assigned him assistants, but he didn¡¯t use them.¡± The live broadcast on the left only revealed a pair of fair hands working with a close-up shot of the table. That person was efficient, skilled, and organized. The dishes were quickly presented. Because he had to make hundreds of servings of dishes for the live audience, it was impossible for a person to handle it alone. Hence, someone started to cry out for justice on the bullet screen. ¡°Is there a conspiracy in the show?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t the assistants helping? There are so many people standing at the side watching!¡± ¡°They must be deliberately making things difficult for him in order to promote Xu Le as a celebrity chef!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t the production team give an explanation?¡± All of the responses fell into the eyes of the producer, Chen Yeqi. He was very satisfied with the response of the audience. After most of them raised their questions, he said into his earpiece, ¡°Little Liu, explain a little to them.¡± ¡°Good evening, everyone! Everyone in the live broadcast room, there will be an online vote tomorrow night. 1,000 votes online will be equivalent to 10 votes by the live audience, and 10 votes by the live audience will be equivalent to each vote by the judges. Please vote more and support your favorite contestant.¡± The host¡¯s impassioned voice suddenly exploded. Li Qing, who was focused on peeling the chestnuts, was shocked and the chestnuts rolled to the ground. He cursed softly and lowered his head to pick them up. After standing up, he said impatiently, ¡°You can vote online without even tasting the dishes cooked. There¡¯s really something wrong with this rule. They are really doing whatever they want.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Xu Le motioned for him to stop talking nonsense. Li Qing said rebelliously, ¡°Hmph, why don¡¯t you be in charge of singing tomorrow? I¡¯ll dance a popular dance to attract votes. Let¡¯s not cook anymore and just do a talent show.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Shen Hui couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She stopped him and said,¡± There¡¯s a microphone on your clothes. Beware that they might broadcast what you said. ¡± Seeing that the timing was about right, the host said, ¡°Every contestant will be matched with three assistants, but there are also differences in individual ability. If one person can deal with it, then the assistant doesn¡¯t need to play a role at all.¡± Li Qing, who had just calmed down, raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Master Xu, do you feel that he¡¯s implying something?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± Xu Le¡¯s attitude was calm. Anyway, it was the production team¡¯s rule to have an assistant. Besides, it was not against the rules. In the end, only the results of the competition matter. There was no need to argue with them now. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me the Master Chef didn¡¯t use his assistants?¡± Zhang Tong said after delayed realization, ¡°How can he be able to cope?¡± Xu Le ignored him and said, ¡°After peeling all the chestnuts, put them in the pot and cook them for ten minutes. I guarantee that the texture will be smoother after they are cooked.¡± The chestnuts were cooked, rinsed under cold water, put in the shell-breaking machine and set to work. After crushing the chestnuts, Li Qing found a sieve to filter them. ¡°Wait a minute, use the 40cm sieve.¡± ¡°Must it be so exact?¡± Li Qing muttered and found a 40cm sieve. Chapter 161 - Dongpo Tofu After filtering the rough parts of the chestnut, Zhang Tong found a large iron pot and was about to pour it in. Shen Hui immediately stopped him and looked at her son uncertainly. ¡°Can you cook it in this pot?¡± ¡°Change to the copper pot,¡± Xu Le said. ¡°The iron pot will have a chemical reaction, causing the color of the chestnut soup to turn black, which will affect the appearance and appetite.¡± ¡°Oh, oh.¡± Zhang Tong quickly threw away the pot in his hand and found a copper pot. After adding the chestnut soup to the pot, he poured in an appropriate amount of water and rock sugar. He turned on the heat and kept stirring. The poria powder separated in cold water. He stirred until there was any solid inside, then filtered again and slowly poured into the pot for stirring. ¡°You have to keep stirring. When your arm gets tired, just change to someone else. If you stop, the pot will be burnt easily.¡± Xu Le reminded him and brought over dried osmanthus. After spreading it evenly, he continued to guard it over a small fire until the osmanthus spread out in the chestnut soup and emitted a fragrance. As he stirred, he carefully removed the froth on it and simmered it until the unique smell of chestnuts disappeared. When he smelled that it was no longer raw, he could add the osmanthus sauce. Li Qing lost his patience. With one hand on his waist and the other slowly stirring the pot, he said, ¡°How long will it take?¡± He grumbled. After another ten minutes or so, it was ready to be served. ¡°It has to go through the sieve again.¡± The dried osmanthus flowers in the chestnut soup were boiled and filtered out after absorbing the fragrance. It ensured that the taste of the chestnut was thick and smooth, and there would be no impurities when it was drunk. Li Qing heaved a sigh of relief and looked at the remaining chestnuts, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll just cook this pot. You guys can do the rest. I really can¡¯t stir it anymore.¡± As he spoke, he helped himself to a small bowl of chestnut soup and drank it. After drinking it, he stood rooted to the ground and was tempted to pour another bowl. Zhang Tong said, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t drink so much. It¡¯s troublesome enough to make this. You¡¯ll finish it before the audience can taste it.¡± Li Qing rebuked, ¡°I didn¡¯t taste anything in the first bowl. If you don¡¯t believe me, try it. It just slides down your throat directly.¡± He shamelessly filled another bowl and hid at the side to taste it carefully. The chestnut smelled rich and sweet. The osmanthus fragrance inside was fragrant and extremely smooth. ¡°Well, not bad!¡± Zhang Tong praised, ¡°It¡¯s smooth and fragrant. The chestnuts give off an especially strong fragrance. The audience will definitely like it later.¡± The three of them worked together to peel and cook the chestnuts¡­ Whereas Xu Le took out the tofu and prepared to make the last dish. As the name suggested, Dongpo Tofu was developed by the great poet, Su Dongpo. He had been demoted and lived a tough life, but he was optimistic and had developed many delicacies that had been passed down for generations. The Dongpo Tofu could be used with the onion oil that Li Qing had fried at the beginning. The tofu was cut into large pieces and placed on a plate. A layer of salt was evenly spread on the surface, and pepper was sprinkled to marinate it. After the fenugreek seeds were crushed, half of them were chopped into powder form, and the other half was beaten with the back of the knife, retaining some of its texture. Then he prepared shallots and ginger by chopping them. After pouring onion oil into the pot and heating it 60-70%, he added tofu from the side of the pot. At first, he had to ensure that the oil would submerge the tofu in the middle. After frying it to a golden color, he did not need to flip it over. He drained the oil from the pot, leaving only a little base oil. He sprinkled chopped shallots on the tofu, poured clear chicken soup from the side of the pot, and turned to low heat to simmer. He added some diced ginger and added a little pepper. Then came the most crucial step¡ªthe bamboo leaves were soaked until they were soft and spread on the tofu. As soon as the bamboo leaves were placed in the pot, one could immediately smell the faint fragrance of bamboo. Li Qing leaned over curiously and asked, ¡°Can bamboo leaves be eaten too?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see you eating the dumpling leaves either.¡± Xu Le explained, ¡°I was just borrowing the taste.¡± ¡°I remember that this dish didn¡¯t need bamboo leaves in the beginning.¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s modified. Adding bamboo leaves will make the taste more fragrant. Didn¡¯t Su Dongpo say that it¡¯s better to eat without meat than to live without bamboo? When cooking rice, add a few bamboo leaves into it, and it will taste better when it comes out.¡± Xu Le took the sesame oil and dripped a few drops into it. Then, he found some yellow wine and poured five grams of it into the pot. After completely stewing the fragrance of the bamboo leaves into the soup and tofu, he could remove the bamboo leaves and place them on a plate. A small amount of starch would be used to thicken the sauce. Then, he aded onion oil and salt to produce the flavor and evaporated the sauce over high heat. On the plate, the dark green bamboo leaves contrasted with the snow-white tofu. The top was covered with fragrant fenugreek seeds. It was indescribably beautiful. Xu Le ground some pine nuts and sprinkled them on it to increase the rich texture of the nuts. Little did they know that the netizens watching from their screens were already in huge excitement when they saw this dish. ¡°He actually made tofu at such a grand competition venue.¡± ¡°How can fried tofu be presentable?¡± ¡°But what¡¯s on it? That nut looks quite delicious.¡± ¡°Please stop. I¡¯m not used to fenugreek seeds at all. I bought a packet and put it away until it¡¯s moldy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not delicious at all.¡± ¡°What nonsense. I grew up eating nuts.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys see why the Master Chef is not showing his finished product for the next few dishes?¡± They did not dare to relax for a moment while cooking. The second round of the competition finally reached the plating segment. The order in which the audience saw the cut scenes was completely chaotic. It was impossible to tell which dish was made by whom. Xu Le finally heaved a sigh of relief after pouring the hot dark red soup on the last bowl of tea noodles. But the relief didn¡¯t last. He started becoming tensed again. This was because he saw from the corner of his eye that when the staff distributed the noodles, there were two servings of tea noodles and two servings of Dongpo Tofu¡­ He felt that something was amiss and thought to himself, ¡°There are so many ingredients. How can he have the same four dishes as me?¡± The host said, ¡°Two dishes will be served every time. You should vote for whichever dish you think tastes better. At the end, the votes will be counted to determine the winner.¡± The first dish was Dongpo Tofu. The Master Chef used egg pancakes at the bottom to plate the dish, while Xu Le used bamboo leaves. Other than the difference in the plating, the two dishes looked almost identical. Song Deyue tasted the Dongpo Tofu made by Xu Le. The savory tofu was filled with the fragrance of bamboo leaves. One side was golden, and the other side was snow-white. It was crispy and tender, and the aftertaste was slightly sweet. The nuts on it were the finishing touch. They were crisp and fragrant. He looked at the ingredients in disbelief and tasted a second mouthful after confirming that it was tofu. Mapo Tofu was salty, fresh, and spicy. Dongpo Tofu looked bland, but it was delicious. It was solid but tender. The other Dongpo Tofu dish with fried eggs on the bottom blended the taste of the two and actually tasted like vegetarian meat. However, in comparison, it was less fragrant and more greasy. There were too many people present. Even from listening to the sound of the system collecting gold coins, it was difficult for him to estimate the number of votes. He could only wait silently. Li Qing looked at his heavy expression and asked curiously, ¡°You were still lecturing me just now. Why do you suddenly lose confidence?¡± Chapter 162 - A Flawless Dish Thinking of Chen Xian¡¯s reminder, Xu Le secretly clenched his fists. Ever since they participated in the program, all the contestants would hold a grudge against the production team. As for Zhang Tong and Chen Xian, they even directly claimed that there was a something happening behind the scenes. From the looks of it, it was not groundless. ¡°I¡¯m worried¡­ they¡¯re cheating.¡± If the production team was on the same side as the Master Chef, the audience¡¯s votes would also be controlled. As for the judges in front of him, Xu Le¡¯s eyes darkened. He did not believe that a respected senior who had interacted with him would play favorites. The judges tasted the second dish of tea noodles. One had white-blanched abalone as the side dish while the other had lobster glazed over it. Li Qing also saw that something was amiss and couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°We clearly cooked in two different kitchens. Why is his cooking so similar to yours?¡± ¡°The abalone is cooked by blanching it. It¡¯s fresh, crispy, and tender. It retains the fragrance of the ingredients themselves and should be quite good. The noodles are smooth and chewy, and the fragrance of tea sauce hangs on them. If the full score is ten points, you can get ten points in terms of texture and taste.¡± Song Deyue nodded repeatedly and said in relief, ¡°No matter which contestant made it, I¡¯m very happy to know that there is such a talented chef in the next generation!¡± After tasting the other bowl of lobster tea noodles, his expression froze for a moment. He chatted with Mr. Cai Lan beside him, ¡°Do you feel that¡­ the texture of the two bowls of noodles is exactly the same?¡± ¡°Yes, other than the side dishes, the taste is very authentic.¡± The other judges quickly started voting anonymously. Someone commented, ¡°They¡¯re all very good, but the lobster noodles are more suitable for today¡¯s Fujian cuisine theme. In the local¡­¡± ¡°Hey, you can¡¯t say that.¡± Someone interrupted, ¡°When I was young, there was a stall selling tea noodles at the entrance of my house. There were plenty of sausages, pork belly, abalone, and so on. You can¡¯t say that the cooking method is more authentic just because of the lobsters, right?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m not judging it based on the side dishes. The sauce tastes obviously better with lobster, right?¡± The two judges suddenly started arguing. The atmosphere was lively. After the audience below tasted it, they gradually pressed the voting button in their hands. The director switched the camera angle to the audience¡¯s faces and suddenly brought it to Xu Zhexian. His face was gloomy and he looked unhappy. Xu Tian, who was in his arms, nibbled on the lobster meat and savored it with relish. She had two ponytails beside her head. When she ate, her face was chubby. Coupled with her big black grape-like eyes and dimples, she was extremely cute! The bullet screen immediately recognized who she was. ¡°Look, that¡¯s the little Master Chef¡¯s sister!¡± ¡°Wow, how cute! Their family members are all so good-looking!¡± ¡°Why does his father look unhappy?¡± ¡°Last time I went to the eight-year-old canteen, I saw his sister. She was really cute¡ª¡± The lychee meat and chestnut soup were even more well received. Both dishes received similar reviews, and the votes remained on par. The host looked at the counting card and deliberately kept them in suspense. ¡°Yo, looks like it¡¯s hard to tell who¡¯s stronger between the two contestants. So far, there¡¯s only a difference of ten votes. Are we going to draw again this time? Come, let¡¯s serve the last dish.¡± Soy sauce fish and chicken soup with seafood. Li Qing couldn¡¯t bear to look at him. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°Hey, Master Xu, isn¡¯t our fish stew a little too messy?¡± The chicken soup with seafood was a necessary soup dish for traditional banquets in the Fuzhou area. It was made with Minkang Sea Clam, chicken, beef, pork tenderloin, and so on. Using sea clams as raw ingredients, it was boiled to produce the hot chicken soup. The taste was refreshing and delicious. The ingredients alone were much higher class than the different fishes used in their fish stew. ¡°The judges and audience are going to be trying the taste.¡± As soon as Xu Le said this, Li Qing was about to calm down but he heard him continue, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. Perhaps the host was referring to us when he said that one team had ten votes fewer.¡± ¡°Master Xu¡­ can you not mess with my mentality?¡± Li Qing saw that Xu Le¡¯s face was calm, but he was so anxious that he could not stand still. It seemed as though the person involved was calm and collected but observers were very worried. ¡°Does winning or losing really not matter to you?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Xu Le knew very well that he had been crazily winning awards in all the major competitions from the beginning. He was famous and even had the title of ¡°Little Master Chef¡±. In the impression of the audience, he was a genius chef. If he lost now, he would definitely be insulted by people with ulterior motives. Understanding the logic and rules was one thing but facing reality was another. Soon the judges were unanimous in their praises for the chicken soup with seafood. ¡°The soup is bright and clear, and is very well made. The freshness of the ingredients has been retained to the largest extent. The seafood is cooked at the appropriate heat and is not fishy at all.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very good. The Minkang Sea Clam, commonly known as the West Tongue in Fuzhou, is the most refreshing seafood in the world. What surprised me the most was that there was no celery used in the cooking method. It was more authentic than the soup prepared by local masters who had been cooking it for decades.¡± ¡°Actually, in my personal opinion, this dish can best represent Fuzhou¡¯s geographical location¡ªsurrounded by the mountains and the sea ¨C so Fujian cuisine has a unique advantage as they can cook dishes using mountain and sea ingredients. The local chickens and sea clams are basically like the essence of Fujian cuisine.¡± After a round of praise, the audience felt that it made sense and were swayed, so they all voted for the dish. ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t think so.¡± Mr. Cai Lan pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Chicken soup and seafood are indeed perfect together, but a local dish concentrates on the local customs and culture of a region. Miss Bai is right. The dish involves cooking of the mountain and sea ingredients¡­ but after careful consideration, it lacks some Fujian cuisine characteristics.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± This comment was confusing, and he didn¡¯t explain what was wrong. However, Old Master Song nodded in agreement and said, ¡°After the soup was ¡°sweeped¡±, it was poured directly into a small bowl. The soup is delicious, but in order to retain the freshness of the meat, the temperature of the clear soup isn¡¯t high enough. It¡¯s still a little different from what the locals make.¡± ¡°On the other hand, the soy sauce fish looks ordinary. It¡¯s a dish with mixed ingredients that are simple. But the sauce is sweet, and has a strong homely flavor. Although it doesn¡¯t seem to be difficult, it¡¯s even more difficult to master the fire to the point that the meat is mushy and doesn¡¯t scatter. Therefore, I vote for the soy sauce fish.¡± The voting and evaluation segment lasted for nearly an hour. Li Qing¡¯s heart felt like it was on a roller coaster as he listened to the judges¡¯ comments. He was extremely nervous and finally it reached the final judging segment. The host stared at the counting card and smiled brightly. ¡°That was too thrilling! Please look at the big screen!¡± Xu Le received 356 votes, and the statistics bar beside him only had one more vote than him. In other words, only one more person in the audience voted for the Master Chef. He had narrowly won while Xu Le had narrowly lost. Chapter 163 - : Confrontation The camera turned to Xu Le¡¯s face. He was very calm. When the host came over with the microphone to ask how he felt. Xu Le said briefly, ¡°As expected.¡± It was indeed within his expectations. That day¡¯s live-stream competition had reached its end and he immediately left the stage and ran backstage. There was still no one in the Master Chef¡¯s kitchen. Chen Yeqi took off his headset and gestured to Xu Le to wait. Xu Le blocked the door and watched as Chen Yeqi directed the audience to leave before walking towards him. ¡°You did well, Little Master Chef¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to be polite.¡± Xu Le interrupted him and said mercilessly, ¡°When we were choosing the ingredients just now, the Master Chef chose them at random. He had so many ingredients that could be used to make the Fujian dishes, but four of the last five dishes happened to be the same as mine. Producer, shouldn¡¯t you give me an explanation?¡± Chen Yeqi smiled and said, ¡°How can I explain this? If you don¡¯t believe me, you can watch the live broadcast. Little Master Chef, are you a sore loser?¡± The last words were spoken in a deliberately infuriating manner. Xu Le ignored him and continued calmly, ¡°My first dish was soy sauce fish. His first dish was chicken soup with seafood. The rest are exactly the same as mine. Why didn¡¯t he make all five dishes exactly the same? Is it because he didn¡¯t have time to imitate it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too much.¡± Chen Yeqi frowned and said, ¡°If you can¡¯t afford to lose, why are you being unreasonable to me? You¡¯re indeed a child. I¡¯m an adult and won¡¯t argue with you.¡± Xu Le took a step forward and blocked his way. ¡°Since you aren¡¯t willing to admit it, let me meet the Master Chef.¡± ¡°No, it will break the rules of the show.¡± Chen Yeqi shrugged and said indifferently, ¡°Go and rest. The competition has been going on for so long. A child like you must be quite tired. The last competition is in three days. I still have to find the audience to join the voting. Xu Le, if you have any doubts, you can watch the live broadcast replay.¡± He indirectly implied that Xu Le was fooling around. Xu Le knew that it was meaningless to argue with him. It was impossible for Chen Yeqi to tell the truth, so his gaze suddenly became firm. ¡°Producer Chen, see you in the finals.¡± The competition happened to be broadcasted at the same timing as Xu Le¡¯s ¡°Chinese restaurant¡± program. In the show, he had a cute little adult image that attracted countless fans. With his superb culinary skills, he won the hearts of the audience. A few hours after the show was broadcasted, the number of fans on his social media platform directly exceeded ten million and had doubled its original amount! Lu Yuxi was still having an IV drip in the hospital. When she saw this, she was so happy that she was wriggling her feet and said to the person lying on the bed, ¡°I told you, he¡¯s super awesome! Aren¡¯t I right?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that still a loss?¡± The young man on the bed retorted. Then, Lu Yuxi clenched her fists and threatened fiercely, ¡°Do you believe that I¡¯ll break your other leg too?¡± Li Shengsheng hurriedly leaned against the bed and said, ¡°Big Brother, I was just teasing you. Why are you so serious? He¡¯s awesome! He¡¯s very great, alright? What¡¯s his name? Xu Le, I¡¯ll acknowledge him as my master tomorrow. It¡¯s so admiring for him to open a store to earn money at such a young age!¡± Lu Yuxi was used to his glib tongue and rolled her eyes. At that moment, the nurse knocked on the door and entered to check on the condition of Li Shengsheng. Immediately behind her was his father, Li Kun. ¡°Teacher Li.¡± Lu Yuxi called out and Li Kun rushed over gratefully. ¡°Little Lu, thank you so much! If it weren¡¯t for you, that brat would have lost his life¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Lu Yuxi was a little reserved. The middle-aged man in front of her was her university professor. The person lying on the hospital bed groaning loudly and trying to attract their attention was Professor Li¡¯s son. ¡°His platelet count is too low. His blood won¡¯t be able to coagulate even if he bled a little. It¡¯s all thanks to you coming over to donate blood this time. It must be really troublesome for you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. I¡¯m very close to the place anyways.¡± Lu Yuxi looked at how painful it was for Li Shengsheng to scream and roll around on the bed. She gritted her teeth and said helplessly, ¡°We are friends. It¡¯s only right that we help each other.¡± Li Kun thanked her again before turning around and giving Li Shengsheng a stern slap. ¡°Why are you howling? Let the nurse take a look at your injuries. Little brat, you¡¯re really bold. You know that the consequences of you bleeding are very serious, yet you still dare to play such a dangerous sport!¡± Li Shengsheng was indignant. ¡°A real man should be brave enough to challenge himself! Oh, Miss, be gentle.¡± The nurse¡¯s eyebrows twitched. This was the first time she saw an adult crying and howling at a small injury. She said speechlessly, ¡°There¡¯s no fracture. It¡¯s a little dislocated. The bleeding has finally stopped. The wound is deep. Don¡¯t move around for the time being.¡± ¡°Then when can I be discharged?¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± Li Kun said angrily, ¡°You¡¯d better be hospitalized for a few more days. Don¡¯t go out and cause trouble. I¡¯ve never seen someone playing skateboard get hit by a car.¡± Li Shengsheng pursed his lips and turned to Lu Yuxi with a cheeky smile. ¡°We were in the same club when we were in university. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that I can¡¯t play, with me around, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to be in the last place, let alone the first place.¡± Lu Yuxi pulled out the needle and hurriedly stood up. ¡°Teacher Li, I still have something on, so I¡¯ll leave first. Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°So soon? Is it an emergency?¡± ¡°Not really. It¡¯s just that contestant of the show is my friend. I want to go over and take a look.¡± With that, Lu Yuxi rushed out of the ward without looking back. It was late at night. In the taxi, Lu Yuxi stared at the moving street lights in the city and frowned deeply. Xu Le probably never expected that he would be stopped at the entrance one day, unable to leave. Li Qing put his arm on his shoulder and said, ¡°Master Xu, oh, you¡¯ve become a big star.¡± Surrounding the entrance to the exhibition hall were the audience who had just left but had not completely dispersed. They were all looking happy and chattering. ¡°Xu Le, the lychee meat you made is amazing! Will there be a video tutorial uploaded?¡± ¡°Can I take a photo with you?¡± ¡°Give me an autograph. It is fine even if I have to pay!¡± ¡°Good luck! I¡¯ll continue watching the show to support you!¡± ¡°Will you open another branch store in another city?¡± ¡°When does your restaurant open for business? I want to try it.¡± Li Qing looked like he was watching a show. ¡°Master, you¡¯d better grab my arm. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be kidnapped. Your presence in the crowd is too low. I won¡¯t be able to find you.¡± Fortunately, the taxi stopped at the outermost edge of the crowd. Lu Yuxi squeezed in and raised her hand. ¡°Everyone, please disperse. It¡¯s late. Go home!¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°She¡¯s the one who took the video!¡± Amidst the chaos, it started to drizzle. Xu Le turned to look at Lu Yuxi and an indescribable emotion spread in his heart. ¡°Lele!¡± Shen Hui appeared behind them and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to go out. Come with me.¡± Chapter 164 - Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup The rooms for contestants and staff had long been arranged in the exhibition hall. The furnishings were no different from that of a hotel. After entering the room, they sat down at the table. ¡°The next match is in three days. It¡¯s getting late. Lele, go to sleep first. There are too many people outside. If there¡¯s anything, you can settle tomorrow.¡± Shen Hui¡¯s expression was solemn. She was very worried about the situation in the finals. She looked at Lu Yuxuan, who was sitting at the side very reservedly, and forced a gentle smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to know Lele. What a coincidence, but Little Lu is planning to¡­¡± ¡°Auntie.¡± Lu Yumin waved her hand and said, ¡°I have no intention of going on stage to help. I¡¯m not very good at cooking.¡± ¡°Mmhm.¡± After Shen Hui¡¯s gaze wandered between her and Xu Le, she stood up and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go back to my room first. Lele, if there¡¯s nothing else, you guys should rest early.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shen Hui walked to the door and it was pushed open from the outside. Xu Zhexian¡¯s thin glasses reflected the light as he said sternly, ¡°Wait, I have something to say.¡± He held a small takeaway box in his hand. After placing the items on the table, he said to Xu Le, ¡°Lele, go find a few toothpicks.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± / Xu Le went to look for them. Li Qing said curiously, ¡°Is this the dish that was sent out for the audience to taste and vote? It¡¯s already cold.¡± He guessed that Xu Zhexian had secretly taken it out to let them have a taste, so he tactfully suggested that the texture would change after it cooled down. ¡°Whether it¡¯s hot or cold, the taste is the same.¡± After Xu Zhexian explained, Zhang Tong asked for a toothpick from Xu Le and said suspiciously, ¡°Could it be¡­¡± He forked a piece from the box into his mouth. The lychee meat was sour and sweet, and the sauce was rich. Even when it was cold, it was still delicious. ¡°This is what we made.¡± Zhang Tong¡¯s expression was even more puzzled. He could not guess what Xu Zhexian meant. ¡°Li Qing, Lele, try it.¡± After the two of them tasted it, Li Qing said, ¡°We made this. I¡¯ve tried it after it was fried. Is there a problem?¡± Xu Le carefully pondered over the sweetness and sourness on his taste buds. The crispness of the oil, the sourness of the sauce, the fire control¡­ They were all exactly the same as what he had made. He was about to nod when he suddenly frowned and changed his words. ¡°I didn¡¯t make this. When I made this, I specially poured oil on it. The outer layer is still crispy after a few hours. This one is obviously soft.¡± ¡°Is there a difference in taste?¡± Xu Zhexian looked up and said. ¡°Not at all.¡± After Xu Le finished speaking, he suddenly realized something and said, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t tell me that this was made by the master chef.¡± ¡°Yes, after I got it, I felt that it was strange. How could the finished product taste exactly the same? There was no difference at all.¡± Xu Le gasped and frowned even more. Although they were puzzled, after discussing for a while, it was already midnight. Li Qing could not take it anymore and went back to sleep. Then, everyone returned to their rooms and planned to discuss again the next day. Lu Yuxi stayed behind and said, ¡°I watched the live broadcast of your competition.¡± ¡°Mmhm,¡± Xu Le said. ¡°After my competition ends, it¡¯s up to you if you want to go back to your hometown or continue working here.¡± ¡°Alright. I still plan to go back.¡± After Lu Yuxi finished speaking, she racked her brains and couldn¡¯t think of anything else to say. She could only say, ¡°Then you should prepare for the competition in peace. When the time comes, I¡¯ll sit in the audience and vote for you. Don¡¯t worry, I can tell your dishes apart.¡± Lu Yuxi stood up confidently, but before she could steady herself, she became dizzy and fell to the ground. Xu Le was caught off guard. He rushed forward to help her up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a little dizzy¡­¡± Lu Yuxi found it funny and thought that she just lost her balance. She tried to stand up with her arms, but after two or three tries, she realized that something was wrong, so she obediently allowed Xu Le to help her up. ¡°It¡¯s probably because I came over immediately after the blood transfusion. That¡¯s not right though, I¡¯ve already replenished with salt water.¡± Lu Yuxi waved her hand, indicating that she was fine. She was just a little weak. ¡°Do you want supper?¡± Lu Yuxi asked, ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± There were still people gathered outside the exhibition hall. After Xu Le found the kitchen, he turned on a small lamp. Under the dim yellow light, he found a piece of duck blood, pig liver, chili, and many other condiments from the large refrigerator where the ingredients were stored¡­ They were all high-quality ingredients left over from the previous day¡¯s competition. Lu Yuxi¡¯s sharp eyes saw the cold beer in the fridge and said, ¡°Make a stir-fried pork liver with chili. We¡¯ll drink it with beer. It¡¯ll definitely be delicious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not recommended to drink alcohol within 8 hours after your blood is drawn.¡± ¡°Aiya, it will be over in a few hours. It¡¯ll definitely be fine.¡± As Lu Yuxi spoke, she reached out for the beer. Xu Le brought up his age and said, ¡°I¡¯m still underage. You¡¯re tempting a child to drink.¡± Lu Yuxi knew that he was joking. She pouted and didn¡¯t say anything else. ¡°There is vermicelli.¡± Xu Le pointed, indicating that he would make some vermicelli soup later. ¡°Ah?¡± The light was too dim, so Lu Yuxi did not understand what he meant. She immediately turned around and asked, ¡°Where are the fans? Did they run in?¡± Xu Le was speechless for a moment. He looked at her and picked up the vermicelli that he was about to soak in hot water. ¡°I¡¯m talking about the ingredients.¡± The two of them were silent for a few seconds before they couldn¡¯t help but laugh. After the vermicelli was soaked in hot water, he placed it aside. He minced the wild pepper and pickled cabbage leaves, cut the duck blood into one to two centimeters thin slices, and cut them into strips. He poured water into the pot and turned on the fire. When it was 70 to 80% hot, he put the duck blood strips in. The water temperature had to be hot but not boiling. Otherwise, the surface of the duck blood would be scalded until it looked like a beehive. In about half a minute, he could scoop out and drain the water. He started the fire again and poured in a little oil. He then poured the diced pickled vegetable and wild pepper into it and stir-fried. He then added two spoonfuls of yellow bell pepper sauce and ginger powder. He stir-fried it until it was dry. At this time, he could add two bowls of clear water, salt sugar, and pepper to season. Then, he added the duck blood strips and stewed them for two to three minutes. Finally, he added the vermicelli and sprinkle a handful of spring onions to enhance the colors. The duck blood vermicelli soup was simple to make. It was fresh with a hint of spiciness. One would sweat after drinking half a bowl of it. Moreover, duck blood itself was a thing to replenish blood. It was very suitable for Lu Yumin to eat. Lu Yuxi leaned against the side and watched quietly. After Xu Le washed the dark red fresh pig liver, he cut it into thick slices of about three millimeters. After putting them into a bowl, he added salt, pepper, and soya sauce to marinate it. After mixing it evenly, he poured a spoonful of clear oil into it to prevent it from sticking to the pot. He sliced the garlic, diced the ginger slices, tabasco pepper and red bell peppers, and set them aside for later use. He poured oil into the pot and heated it until it smoked. Xu Le asked casually, ¡°How¡¯s your classmate?¡± ¡°Li Shengsheng ah, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Chapter 165 - Pineapple Fried Rice ¡°Li Shengsheng?¡± There was an imperceptible tremble in Xu Le¡¯s voice, but he quickly forced himself to calm down and asked, ¡°Is it a man or a woman?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a man.¡± Lu Yumin smiled and said, ¡°You also think his name sounds gender neutral, right?¡± Xu Le nodded slightly. After the oil was heated, the pig liver was poured in and cooked on high heat. Two minutes later, the sliced meat was added. The ginger and garlic were removed, the tabasco pepper was added to make it spicier, and the red bell pepper was added to enhance the colors. Before serving, he added salt, pepper, and a little oyster sauce. After pouring it into the plate, a spicy stir-fried pig liver that looked, smelled, and tasted good was ready. After the dark red pig liver was stir-fried, its surface was glossy. The red chili was bright and emitted a spicy smell. Stir-fried pig liver was all about dry fragrance. The moisture inside was forced dry, and it was chewy and fragrant, but it was not dry at all. ¡°Let me tell you, he¡¯s my university classmate. We¡¯re not in the same grade, but he¡¯s in the same club. That person is really, tsk¡­ It¡¯s a long story. There are too many things to complain about.¡± Lu Yuxi saw that he had finished cooking a dish and a soup in less than half an hour. The temperature of the vermicelli soup was just right. She picked it up and took a sip. The noodles were soft and tender, the duck blood was smooth and tender, the soup base was fresh and spicy, and the saltiness was just right. ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± After Lu Yuxi praised him from the bottom of her heart, she cheered Xu Le on. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there won¡¯t be a problem in the finals. Your cooking has never failed. Besides, you were only short of one vote in the previous competition.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Le wasn¡¯t worried about this, but he couldn¡¯t explain it in further details. He nodded and said, ¡°There¡¯s stir-fried pig liver and duck blood soup. They¡¯re all things that replenish blood. Eat more and go back to rest.¡± ¡°I promise to complete the mission!¡± Lu Yuxi winked playfully. The pig liver was the same as the stinky tofu and stewed rice noodles. Some people enjoyed the smell and liked it so much that they went crazy. Some people could not stand it at all and felt that it was extremely fishy. Lu Yuxi was in between the two. To be honest, she did not really like to eat internal organs, but it was not that she could not eat them at all. She originally wanted to force herself to eat a few more mouthfuls for Xu Le¡¯s sake, but after the first mouthful, her expression immediately changed. Xu Le, who was sitting opposite her, could feel that Lu Yuxi clearly did not like pig liver, so he said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat it, you don¡¯t have to force yourself¡­¡± ¡°Damn, it¡¯s really superb! Previously, I thought that the smell of pig liver was very bad. It¡¯s very different since it¡¯s made by you. It¡¯s not fishy, but it¡¯s similar to that kind of fragrant stench. It smells very spicy. If there¡¯s a staple dish, it would be super satisfying!¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s last sentence hinted at him. Xu Le said, ¡°Hurry up and eat. We still have to wait for a long time if I had to steam rice.¡± Besides, he did not find any rice in the ingredients. ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be rice. It can be a staple dish, carbohydrates, or others. I just want to eat this at night.¡± Lu Yuxi softened her tone and rolled up her sleeves to show him the wound on her arm. ¡°Little Master Chef? Boss!¡± Xu Le¡¯s bowl of soup was empty. He couldn¡¯t stand her acting coquettishly. He stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± Although there were many types of ingredients prepared by the organizers, after the recording ended, the staff stuffed them into the fridge. There was no labelling, so it was difficult to flip through and find. Many of the ingredients from the competition had been flown in hours in advance. The rest were about to be disposed of. Xu Le rummaged around and pulled out a takeaway box containing clean leftover rice, pineapple, green beans, and carrots. On the table in front of him were unused high-quality marinated meat. In the heat of the moment, he had an idea. Lu Yuxi drank the soup happily. When she looked up, she saw Xu Le peeling pineapple. She did not pay attention to him and continued to scoop up the vermicelli. Xu Le cut off the outer skin of the pineapple and cut off the soft and sweet flesh around it. The core inside was cut into small pieces and soaked in salt water first. The soft and sweet outer flesh was cut and soaked. The marinated meat was rich in oil and there was still a faint pine scent on it. After cutting it into small cubes, he placed it aside. He cut the carrots into cubes and grabbed a handful of green beans. The side dishes were done. Seeing that his cooking steps were complicated, Lu Yuxi asked curiously, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to steam rice? Hey, since there¡¯s ready-made rice, can¡¯t you just heat it up?¡± ¡°I plan to make pineapple fried rice.¡± ¡°That?¡± Just hearing the name, Lu Yuxi subconsciously swallowed her saliva. She picked up a piece of pineapple meat and stuffed it into her mouth. ¡°Sure, sure.¡± After eating the sweet and sour pineapple, her tongue suddenly felt bitter and slightly painful. She smacked her lips, her face crumpling. When Xu Le turned around to get the eggs, he saw her frowning expression and was amused. He said, ¡°The pineapple needs to be soaked in salt water for more than 10 minutes. Did your tongue get stung?¡± Lu Yuxi felt embarrassed. ¡°Hmph.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a kind of proteinase in pineapple. The proteinase will hydrolyze the protein on the tongue, causing it to feel numb. That¡¯s why it has to be soaked in salt water. Firstly, it can reduce the activity of the proteinase. Secondly, it can also preserve moisture in the pineapple to make it taste crisper.¡± Xu Le explained seriously. Lu Yuxi said, ¡°It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t know. I just forgot¡­ Where did you learn this knowledge?¡± Xu Le thought to himself, ¡®It¡¯s clearly something taught in junior high.¡¯ He replied half-jokingly, ¡°I¡¯m hardworking and studious, unlike some people who are just gluttonous.¡± Lu Yuxi was so angry that she argued with him and avoided the topic. The two eggs were scattered. In order to make the stir-fried egg more fragrant, Xu Le used a piece of snow-white lard and melted it at the bottom of the pot. The egg was poured into the oil from a high place. Under the high temperature, they immediately swelled up, golden and fluffy. He slowly fried it at the bottom of the pot for a while, allowing it to absorb the fragrance of the lard. After it had solidified, he flipped it over and scattered it with a spoon before putting it on the plate. The marinated meat, green beans, and carrots were all added to stir-fry. Smoke quickly rose from both sides of the pot. Lu Yuxi interrupted, ¡°Is it burnt?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s the wok gas.¡± The appearance of tiger skin patterns on the green beans meant that the heat was about right. At this moment, he could pour in the fried rice and fried egg and switch to the highest temperature to stir-fry. The loose rice grains exploded with the fragrance of rice in the frying pan and fused with the bright side dishes. After it was stir-fried, the soya sauce was poured into the pot. This was because the marinated meat itself was salty and fresh, and the pineapple fried rice required a balance between salty and sweet. There was no need to add salt again. Finally, he poured in diced pineapple and stir-fried them. Then, he sprinkled a handful of spring onions evenly. The remaining temperature of the rice could completely allow the sweetness of the pineapple grains to be released. After it was scooped out, it was covered in red, green, and yellow. It looked very appetizing. ¡°I asked you to make a staple dish for dinner, and you made this?¡± Lu Yuxi teased him on purpose and forcibly pointed out a flaw. Xu Le smiled angrily. ¡°Eat your food.¡± The sourness and sweetness of the pineapple would not take over the main dish. Instead, the appropriate sweet and sourness would balance out with the grease of the fried rice. Chapter 166 - Eavesdropping on the Conversation As for the green beans, carrots, and egg, they were all perfectly fused with the rice grains. They were filled with the salt and freshness of the marinated meat. When he ate them, the rice grains popped and the green beans were crispy. Even Lu Yuxi¡¯s least favorite carrots were fresh and sweet. She lowered her head and gobbled down her rice. After eating a bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup, and most of the stir-fried pork liver, she really couldn¡¯t eat anymore. She sat up straight and rubbed her bulging stomach. ¡°Alright, no matter how delicious it is, I can¡¯t eat anymore. I can¡¯t even take even another mouthful. I ate so much in the middle of the night.¡± When Lu Yuxi first stayed at Xu Le¡¯s house, she was thin and elegant. She had an otherworldly aura and was indeed the school belle of the university. After being fed by Xu Le for more than half a month, her face became chubby. She finally had a healthy sense of nutrition. Her face was fair and clear, and her eyes were bright. The kitchen had been lit only by a small lamp so as not to alert the security guards stationed outside. Now that they had eaten their fill, they planned to return to their rooms. ¡°How much weight have you gained since you came to my house?¡± Xu Le¡¯s question was obviously too straightforward. Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes widened when she heard it. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°What are you talking about? Shut up.¡± ¡°Yo, I cooked for you to replenish your nutrition. It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t thank me, but you are even scolding me.¡± Xu Le chuckled and said, ¡°Did I step on your tail?¡± Lu Yuxi had really gained two to three kilograms. She was so angry that she said, ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you. It¡¯s choking me. Get me a drink.¡± ¡°Take it yourself.¡± After Xu Le finished speaking, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t take ice carbonated drinks. Find some juice and warm it up if it¡¯s too cold.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Lu Yuxi said and handed him a can of grape juice. Then, she pulled out a can of soda. The soda poured out of the opening. She immediately raised her head and took a big gulp before hurriedly looking for a tissue to wipe her hands. Suddenly there was a roar in the darkness. ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± Lu Yuxi subconsciously shivered and pulled Xu Le into the fridge. The side of the large refrigerator was a wall and there was a hidden gap. Fortunately, one of them was tall and thin, and the other was short. They entered easily. After squatting down, Lu Yuxi took another sip of soda. ¡°Why are you panicking? I¡¯m a contestant here. Don¡¯t behave like a guilty person¡­¡± ¡°Oh, oh, right.¡± Lu Yuxi took another sip of soda. The person who had shouted just now walked out of the door and shone his flashlight in the kitchen. He immediately saw the plates and food that had not been cleared off the table. ¡°President Chen, could it be that child who came?¡± As soon as he said this, Xu Le grabbed Lu Yuxi, who was about to go out, and gestured for her to hush. Xu Le listened quietly. After a series of footsteps, Chen Yeqi¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°It¡¯s a Sichuan dish, duck blood vermicelli soup. Also, what kind of meat is in this stir-fried pineapple fried rice?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s chili stir-fried pork liver.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Chen Yeqi said to the staff beside him, ¡°Pack it up and study the recipe.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The staff member did as he was told. Chen Yeqi¡¯s voice suddenly became impatient. He said to another person, ¡°You just won by a vote in today¡¯s competition. Since you don¡¯t want to cheat and control the votes in order to ensure the authenticity of the audience¡¯s votes, you should repair it properly. Don¡¯t keep making such mistakes! It¡¯s a live broadcast. It¡¯s being shown to the public every second. Who will wait for you?¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°When can it be repaired? Give me an answer. The finals will be in three days. If you make a mistake again, Dad will definitely settle scores with you.¡± ¡°Stop shouting.¡± That person¡¯s voice seemed to be a little angry. He said, ¡°You are dragging Dad out to question me at the slightest change. Chen Yeqi, do you have any other capability?¡± ¡°Pfft, I was the one who organized this program. The publicity effect is much better than finding any magazine media.¡± After the two of them bickered, the staff at the side also packed the leftovers. In the darkness beside the fridge, Lu Yuxi tried her best to slow down her breathing. Both of them listened attentively to their conversation, and doubts arose in their hearts. ¡°I¡¯m your elder brother, Chen Yeqi. If you keep putting on airs, I¡¯ll slap you!¡± The two of them were arguing non-stop. The staff at the side wanted to persuade them, but he couldn¡¯t interrupt. Finally, Chen Yeqi scolded in a low voice, ¡°Chen Zui, don¡¯t be crazy. All our family¡¯s financial resources have been placed on this. You know very well how much is at stake! I told you to repair it well. You must tidy it up before the finals, understand?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been a producer for too long. You really know how to command people.¡± Chen Zui was obviously dissatisfied with his attitude and tone, but he did not argue further. Footsteps sounded again as the group of them headed out the door. At the same time, Xu Le was puzzled. Why was he packing leftovers to study the recipe? Wasn¡¯t the method easy to obtain? It wasn¡¯t anything confidential. What did Chen Yeqi ask his brother to repair? Mysteries one after another appeared in his head. Xu Le did not have time to think carefully. He carefully walked out with his back bent, planning to return to his room first. He did not show his face just now. If he appeared now, it would definitely be awkward. Behind him, Lu Yuxi suddenly gasped. Then, her hand slipped and the can hit the ground and rolled a few times. It was quite a commotion. Chen Yeqi heard a bang and immediately turned to walk towards the kitchen. He turned on the lights. The headlights snapped on overhead. The light was blinding. Chen Yeqi looked at the empty kitchen. There was only a can on the floor. Chen Zui followed from behind and glanced at it coldly. ¡°It¡¯s just that a can that fell. What¡¯s there to fuss about?¡± Then he left. Chen Yeqi walked around the kitchen again. After making sure that no one was hiding in the corner, he turned off the light and left. On the other side, Xu Le had an idea. He remembered that after the results of the competition came out that day, he went to pull open the curtain of the kitchen. There was no one inside, which meant that there must be a back door in the kitchen. However, coincidentally, the hidden back door that was only half a meter wide was set up where they were hiding. ¡°No wonder the fridge isn¡¯t placed against the wall. I was just thinking it doesn¡¯t make sense to leave such a huge area to collect dust. So there¡¯s a door behind it.¡± Lu Yuxi only spoke carefully after the footsteps had completely disappeared. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not a big deal if he finds out. Go back to sleep first.¡± After Xu Le sent Lu Yuxi to the corridor, he chased after Chen Yeqi. There were dark yellow spotlights a few meters away in the exhibition hall. When Xu Le walked to the door of a long corridor backstage, he heard voices coming from the room inside. He relaxed and was about to step forward to listen when two figures appeared on the white door in front of him. Xu Le¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He turned around and met a pair of extremely familiar eyes. Chen Zui smiled. ¡°Little kid, what are you doing here?¡± Chapter 167 - Meeting An Old Friend Xu Le guessed that the truth he had always wanted might be behind the door. He casually said, ¡°I didn¡¯t stay in the same room as my parents. After I came out, I couldn¡¯t find my way¡­ so I reached here.¡± He feigned confusion. Chen Zui smiled. If an adult stood in front of him and said such words, he would definitely not believe it. However, Xu Le was only an eight-year-old child. Even if his culinary skills were outstanding, it was only because he had inherited his talents. How could he lie? Chen Zui didn¡¯t think too much about it. He stretched out his arms as if he wanted to hug the ¡°confused¡± Xu Le. Xu Le took a step back and rejected this overly intimate action. Chen Zui pinched his cheek and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Uncle will bring you there.¡± Xu Le could only follow behind him. After taking two steps, the door behind him was pulled open. Chen Yeqi said with a dark expression, ¡°What time is it? Hurry up and sleep after the meeting. Why did you take so long to drink coffee¡­¡± Halfway through his sentence, he looked down and saw Xu Le. He couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Chen Zui said, ¡°After I send him over, I¡¯ll come over immediately. You¡¯d better be quiet at night.¡± The two brothers had never been on good terms. Chen Yeqi slammed the door and could not be bothered to ask further. Inside the house, a researcher in a white coat took off his goggles and said, ¡°There¡¯s a small problem. Fortunately, it was discovered after the competition ended. If it was revealed after it was placed into the market, it would be troublesome.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Chen Yeqi nodded. His gaze landed on the copied dishes on the table and he smiled. The steaming duck blood vermicelli warmed his stomach and heart. After eating half a bowl, his exhaustion in the middle of the night decreased significantly. Chen Yeqi said in surprise, ¡°That kid is quite awesome. I remember that he had copied the method of braised onions earlier. At that time, even Mr. Cai Lan was moved¡­ But no matter how talented he is, he will eventually be eliminated by the waves of the times.¡± Halfway through his supper, Chen Zui slowly walked over. He looked at the soup on the table in disdain and said, ¡°It¡¯s something that was secretly copied. When it really gets exposed, it won¡¯t look good on anyone.¡± ¡°Hmph, Brother cares about his reputation but not about money. You can just give me your shares then.¡± Chen Yeqi opposed him, not backing down at all. The assistant hurried up to ease the tension between the two of them and handed over the schedule. ¡°President Chen, the dishes for the finals have been chosen. Please take a look. Also, the previous round of the competition was already very risky. Should we place the audience we had arranged previously?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Chen Yeqi and Chen Zui spoke at the same time. One of them was extremely trusting of their ¡°Master Chef¡±, while the other was very disgusted by the cheating. The assistant sighed. It was rare for the two of them to speak in unison. Xu Le returned to his room and fell asleep. When he opened his eyes the next day, it was already three in the afternoon. Light seeped in through the curtains and he was in a daze. His consciousness entered the system and he studied the recipe. There were many different types of dishes. Xu Le had gradually mastered the foundational skills. He could make exquisite innovations in his original cooking. His excellent culinary skills had long been deeply imprinted in his body habits after countless practice. Someone knocked on the door, and Shen Hui¡¯s voice sounded. ¡°Lele, are you up?¡± ¡°Coming.¡± Xu Le opened his eyes and got out of bed. Ever since the family was reunited, they had been busy and had yet to sit down for a meal. Hence, Shen Hui rejected the food sent by the production team and brought Xu Le, Xu Tian, and her husband out for lunch. Before setting off, Xu Le looked around and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t I see Lu Yuxi?¡± ¡°Oh, she stays beside me to me. Perhaps she went out because she had something on in the morning.¡± After Shen Hui explained, she added, ¡°I invited a friend from the industry to meet at 4pm. It¡¯s getting late. Let¡¯s go.¡± Xu Le sat in the car with Xu Zhexian beside him. He sized up his father from the corner of his eye and felt a little awkward. Fortunately, Xu Tian was sitting beside him. She said softly, ¡°Brother, when is your match?¡± ¡°Two days later.¡± ¡°Oh, then what delicious food are you going to cook?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about it yet. I¡¯ll see when the time comes.¡± Xu Tian tilted her head and asked in confusion, ¡°Then will Brother win after the competition?¡± Xu Le smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± The two of them were chatting when Shen Hui, who was driving in the front seat, heard them. She immediately said unhappily, ¡°Tiantian, don¡¯t talk nonsense. Your brother is so great at such a young age. He will definitely win!¡± She took winning and losing very seriously. This made Xu Zhexian push up his glasses. Half of his face was hidden in the dark, and his expression could not be seen clearly. ¡°By the way, I bumped into the producer¡¯s brother this morning. The two of them look like twins. They really look alike!¡± Along the way, Shen Hui rambled on about many things. When she mentioned the dishes that Xu Tian usually liked, she said three or four of them in a row, ¡°I remember the blanched broccoli, stewed beef brisket with tomatoes, brown rice, and kiwi mixed with yogurt¡­¡± ¡°Mom,¡± Xu Tian said softly, ¡°I¡¯m allergic to these.¡± Xu Tian was allergic to kiwis and had even been hospitalized. Shen Hui had actually forgotten about that. She choked and sighed. ¡°Then what do you like to eat? Mummy will get someone to prepare it in advance.¡± Xu Tian smiled happily at Xu Le and said, ¡°I want to eat Brother¡¯s food. Everything he makes is delicious.¡± Shen Hui and Xu Zhexian looked at each other in the rearview mirror. They knew that they had neglected their daughter when they went to a foreign country to pursue their dreams and work. However, they did not expect that¡­ they had missed so much. There was silence in the car for a moment. Half an hour later, it stopped in front of a Western restaurant. It was not the most famous shop, but it was definitely the most difficult to book. It could only be booked through a friend¡¯s recommendation and could not be booked directly. It immediately raised the customers¡¯ expectations to the maximum. At the same time, the price was astonishing. The head chef was a green-eyed foreigner. When he saw Shen Hui, he happily came up to hug her and said a lot of welcoming words. Xu Tian asked curiously, ¡°Brother, why did they call each other ¡®stupid pig¡¯ when they meet? Why are they scolding each other?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Le held back his laughter and lowered his head to explain. ¡°Bonjour means ¡®hello¡¯. It¡¯s just a greeting.¡± After taking a seat, the waiter served a golden soup with a white thing that absorbed the soup. Xu Le poked it with his fork and realized that it was a radish. After taking a bite, although the soup was fresh, it was sticky and indescribable. He could not help but frown and feel a little uncomfortable. He looked up and said, ¡°Is it Turtle Soup?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The head chef¡¯s eyes lit up. He looked at him lovingly, raised his thumb, and said in Chinese with an accent, ¡°Impressive!¡± After the next dish was served, Xu Le had a complicated expression. Chapter 168 - Provocation With Meal Delivery The glutinous rice was crispy and filled with golden autumn fish. It was called the macarons of the seafood world. The outer layer was crispy and soft, and the fish roe inside was salty and fishy. It had a unique flavor. The beef liver fungi egg tarts were sprinkled with cheese, the freshly fried sardines with tartar sauce, the light abalone and sea urchin stewed with winter melon soup¡­ Every dish was extremely exquisite and was finished in one or two bites. But overall, the taste relied on the freshness of the ingredients themselves. There was nothing outstanding about the cooking. The meal lasted for two hours, and Xu Tian was already playing with her phone in boredom. Shen Hui wanted to get closer to her family, so she asked a few casual questions at a time and Xu Tian answered from time to time. The atmosphere became even more awkward. At this moment, Shen Hui suddenly raised her voice and blinked at Xu Le. ¡°Hurry up and stand up to greet him.¡± Xu Le was eating a butter scallop when he looked up at the old man standing opposite the table. Song Deyue was also surprised to see him. He looked at the head chef and Shen Hui and immediately understood. Xu Zhexian looked nervous. He knew that his wife had tried her best to get Old Master Song to meet his son so that he could give him some pointers on his culinary skills and win the finals. However, this method was not considered glorious to begin with, and he did not know if Song Deyue would be angry. Unexpectedly, Xu Le waved his hand, and a few wrinkles bloomed on Old Master Song¡¯s serious face. He sat down beside Xu Le and said, ¡°Your performance in the first two rounds was very good. You don¡¯t have to worry about whether the Master Chef has his assistant up or not. Just focus on the competition.¡± Xu Le had called the judges before the show started, but the result was that they could not reveal anything. He also realized that there was something fishy about the show and that it would be too difficult for him to continue asking. Hence, he decided not to mention the competition at all. The head chef added another serving of dish and the two of them enjoyed the delicacies happily. ¡°The meat of this roasted wonton is soft and smooth, but the fat content is very high. After chewing it twice, your mouth is filled with the fragrance of oil. Coupled with the ginkgo cake at the bottom, the texture is just right.¡± After giving his comments, Old Master Song said, ¡°Xu Le, if it were you, what would you do?¡± ¡°Just sprinkle a handful of barbecue ingredients and roast it until the surface is slightly charred. Then, you can eat the rolls.¡± His words directly turned French food into Chinese food. Song Deyue smiled knowingly. Clearly, he thought the same. There were fig-roasted duck, the potato truffle, the truffle-and-champagne shortcake¡­ After tasting all the dishes, dessert was finally served. This was Xu Tian¡¯s favorite. She stuffed it into her mouth until she tasted an ice cream covered in blue-striped cheese. Her face scrunched up. After wiping her hands, she refused to eat anything. Old Master Song and Xu Le chatted about the techniques and cooking methods of Chinese food. The two of them were like long time friends. Xu Zhexian, who was still feeling uneasy at first, could not help but mutter again. He looked at Shen Hui. The two of them were wondering why Xu Le did not mention the competition. After the meal, Shen Hui and the head chef chatted happily. Song Deyue patted Xu Le¡¯s shoulder and comforted him. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter even if you can¡¯t win. After all, your opponent is him. After the competition ends, you will know that this is not embarrassing. On the contrary, you are the only person who tied with him.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows and said calmly, ¡°I realized that the most important thing about voting is to rely on the live audience. And the contestants in the past might not have made such a huge serving in one go, so it¡¯s easy to be uncertain about the taste. There are subtle differences in every batch, but I¡¯m a shop owner, so I don¡¯t have that worry.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a novel explanation.¡± Song Deyue nodded in agreement and continued, ¡°Anyway, relax. After the last round of the competition, you¡¯ll be able to see the Master Chef.¡± The two of them chatted for a long time before they reluctantly parted at the entrance. They even agreed to have dinner next time. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks After they left, Xu Zhexian caught up and said, ¡°Lele, what did he tell you? Did he talk about the next competition¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Le knew what he wanted to ask and said directly, ¡°But he said that it¡¯s very difficult for me to win.¡± His words dampened the couple¡¯s expectations. A trace of disappointment flashed across Shen Hui¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Lele. Just compete well. After all, you¡¯re still so young. There will be plenty of chances in the future.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xu Le agreed. When he returned, he bumped into Li Qing in the corridor. He said happily, ¡°Thank you so much for cooking for us even though you¡¯re so busy. I¡¯ll go home and settle something. See you tomorrow.¡± Li Qing had always been full of nonsense. Xu Le looked at him speechlessly and did not ask further. He waved goodbye. A few minutes after he returned to his room, someone knocked on the door and brought him a meal. ¡°Hello, this is your dinner. It¡¯s from the producer.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Le refused. ¡°No need, I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± However, the staff walked in without any explanation and placed the tray on the table. He said, ¡°Producer Chen instructed me to bring it in for you. Please don¡¯t make things difficult for me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Le did not know what Chen Yeqi was up to again. After taking a look, he leaned on the sofa and started reading the trending news. Ever since ¡®Chinese Restaurant¡¯ was broadcasted, his popularity had not subsided for a long time. The discussions on the Internet were also filled with praise and encouragement. Even his video platform account had tens of millions of fans and he received various invitations from advertisers. Xu Le swiped on his screen and suddenly smelled the fragrance of the food. He lifted the lid and saw Kung Pao Chicken, braised pork rice, tomato egg soup, and a portion of pickled vegetables. He had no appetite, but the pickled radishes and cabbages carried the fragrance of wine. Just from the appearance, they were crisp and delicious. Xu Le forked a piece with a skewer. He had just tasted it when his expression changed. He had previously taught this method as a gift for his fans. The pickled vegetables that were sold online were unique to the system. Even if others took the recipe, it was impossible for it to taste exactly the same as what he had made, right? After Xu Le¡¯s expression froze for a moment, he tasted the dishes on the tray one after another. He felt his scalp explode. These dishes tasted exactly the same as those in the eight-year-old canteen. However, during the recent competition, neither of the shops had opened. Where did they come from? The taste of one dish and two dishes was enough to make people suspicious, not to mention that these dishes were personally sent by Chen Yeqi. Xu Le realized that he was provoking him. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only As he sat and recalled for a while, Chen Zui¡¯s eyebrows suddenly flashed before his eyes. The two of them looked alike, but their auras were worlds apart. No wonder he had mistaken Chen Yeqi for someone else the first time he saw him. After hesitating for a while, Xu Le called. ¡°Hello, you are?¡± Alex had just woken up and his voice was laced with impatience. ¡°It¡¯s me. When I went to KL, you said that there¡¯s a client who went to promote. What are they promoting? Is it a person?¡± Chapter 169 - Uncle Bais Wanton After recognizing Xu Le¡¯s voice, Alex¡¯s eyebrows relaxed and the hostility on his face dissipated. He rubbed his temples and said, ¡°Xu Le, how long has it been since you last contacted me? I thought you wouldn¡¯t acknowledge me as a friend once you returned to the country.¡± He thought carefully for a while. ¡°There¡¯s indeed a publicity campaign. It said that something is wrong, but it¡¯s indeed an item. Well¡­¡± Xu Le heard the hesitation in his words and asked, ¡°Ah? Is that an object or a person?¡± ¡°It can be considered both and neither.¡± Alex wasn¡¯t trying to keep him in suspense. He sighed and said, ¡°To be honest, I definitely can¡¯t reveal much since the confidentiality agreement was signed and it is in the early stages of the publicity, but what I said just now wasn¡¯t a lie. They¡¯re going to release the publicity next week. It should have been planned in advance and will be released online to everyone. Don¡¯t worry about it, you¡¯ll know soon.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Xu Le wouldn¡¯t force him. Alex sat up straight in delight and said, ¡°I watched you compete. The red thing you made looks so tempting. The next time we meet, you must make it for me.¡± ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s talk next time.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be in a hurry to hang up. Good luck in the finals¡­¡± As soon as Alex started talking, he rambled for more than half an hour before saying goodbye. / After he hung up, Xu Le turned around and widened his eyes. ¡°When did you guys come in?¡± Lu Yuxi was sitting at the entrance with a tall young man beside her. He was handsome and fair, but his skin was abnormally fair, as if he was a little malnourished. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to disturb you when you were on the phone.¡± Lu Yuxi waved the room card in her hand and said, ¡°Are you going out for supper? This is also my university classmate. He¡¯s one year younger than me and from the same club. I gave him a blood transfusion previously.¡± With that, Lu Yuxi poked the young man beside her with her elbow and said, ¡°Introduce yourself. What are you waiting for?¡± Only then did Li Shengsheng return to its senses. He nodded and waved at him with a smile. ¡°My name is Li Shengsheng. It¡¯s been a long time¡­ Ah, no, it¡¯s our first time meeting. Please take care of me.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but mutter ¡®long time no see¡¯. This was the first time he and Xu Le had met. He couldn¡¯t help but feel happy, as if he had reunited with an ¡®old friend¡¯. ¡°Yes, hello, I¡¯m Xu Le.¡± Xu Le looked at the friendly person in front of him. He avoided his gaze and pretended that he was not familiar with him. He said, ¡°I just had lunch and am not hungry at all. But if you want to have supper, we can go out together.¡± The few of them were about to drive to the nearby night market when they bumped into Xu Zhexian. He took off his glasses and smiled. ¡°Lele, are you going out with your friends?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so late. Come back early.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Just as Xu Le responded, Shen Hui rushed out of the house. When she saw the three of them, she subconsciously frowned and said unhappily, ¡°Lele, don¡¯t forget that you still have a competition.¡± What she meant was that he should not waste time and focus on preparing for the competition. Xu Le replied calmly, ¡°Mom, there¡¯s no way to revise at the last minute in this competition. I¡¯ll go out and play with my friends. Just take it that I¡¯m looking for inspiration.¡± At this point, Shen Hui could not stop him. She could only nod and look at Lu Yuxi meaningfully. ¡°Come back soon.¡± After they left, she turned to Xu Zhexian and said, ¡°Hubby, do you think Lele is different?¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Zhexian smiled and said, ¡°No, when we were not at home, Lele took good care of Tiantian. Everything was handled in an orderly manner¡­¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s because of this.¡± Shen Hui frowned even more and said, ¡°Lele even opened a shop. He participated in so many competitions. Where did he get his capital from?¡± If she continued to probe, there would be no end to it. Xu Zhexian still had a smile on his face as he said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you also win many awards at such a young age? It¡¯s normal for Lele to inherit Mom¡¯s good genes.¡± He dismissed the uneasiness in his wife¡¯s heart with a joking tone. Shen Hui nudged him gently and rebuked, ¡°You talk too much.¡± The night market closest to the competition venue was extremely popular. It was already past 10pm. There were all kinds of barbecue skewers, spicy hotpot, fried rice, and smelly tofu. There was also a chain of milk tea shops. Lu Yuxi looked excitedly and said, ¡°I know a particularly delicious wonton shop. Let¡¯s go and eat wontons first.¡± Xu Le also knew where the shop she was talking about was. After all, the night market was right beside their university and contained many memories. ¡°No, I want to eat skewers first.¡± Li Shengsheng pointed in the opposite direction from Lu Yuxi and said, ¡°Go eat the Three Prawn Noodles.¡± Lu Yuxi turned around and glared at him. Li Shengsheng stiffened his neck and refused to let go. ¡°Xu Le, let¡¯s go.¡± Lu Yuxi led the way and walked into the narrow and dark alley. Xu Le was amused when he saw Li Shengsheng speechless. After a while, the two of them passed through the winding alley and stopped in front of two dark wooden doors. There were two red lanterns hanging at the door. It could not withstand the wind and rain and its surface had long cracked. The dark yellow bulb inside swayed in the direction of the wind. ¡°You guys are really disloyal. Why didn¡¯t you wait for me!¡± Li Shengsheng caught up from behind. Afraid of the dark, he immediately jumped between the two of them and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s find Old Bai first.¡± ¡°Uncle Bai.¡± As soon as he pushed the door open and entered, he said at the top of his voice, ¡°Three bowls of wontons. No onions, no chilli oil.¡± ¡°Hey, I knew it was you.¡± A kind-looking old man walked out from the shadows. Although his face was wrinkled, he looked shrewd and gentle. He smiled and said, ¡°Miss, oh, you must have come often in the past. I know you.¡± While chatting, he quickly boiled the big bone soup in the pot. ¡°Let me tell you, Uncle Bai¡¯s wonton shop is very delicious. Ordinary people can¡¯t find it.¡± The low tables were all placed in the courtyard, and the sides were sparsely filled with people. Uncle Bai and his wife were extremely busy. Li Shengsheng went to the washroom and Xu Le raised his hand. ¡°Boss, I want another xiaolongbao and a serving of fried peanut, salty flavored.¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°Alright!¡± After Li Shengsheng returned, Xu Le also got up to wash his hands. Li Shengsheng said, ¡°When I was studying in the past, I had a very good friend who often came to Uncle Bai¡¯s place for supper in the middle of the night. Everytime, he would order fried peanuts. He was so silly. What¡¯s so good about salty food? Fried peanuts should be sprinkled with white sugar, don¡¯t you think so?¡± After he finished speaking, he looked down at the xiaolongbao and fried peanuts Uncle Bai brought over and said hesitantly, ¡°You ordered them?¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyelashes trembled, and intense sorrow suddenly surged in her eyes. She waved her hand to indicate that she was fine, but tears rolled down uncontrollably. Chapter 170 - Three Prawn Noodles ¡°Oh, oh.¡± Li Shengsheng suddenly reacted to it. He had accidentally mentioned Lu Yumin¡¯s sore spot. For a moment, he was at a loss and could only hand the tissue to her. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time. My condolences¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Lu Yuxi wiped her tears and said, ¡°I just couldn¡¯t control my emotions.¡± After washing his hands and returning, Xu Le looked at the two of them and asked blankly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Did you order these fried peanuts?¡± Li Shengsheng deliberately changed the topic. Xu Le did not probe further and nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± He predicted what Li Shengsheng was going to say next and said, ¡°Fried peanuts must be salty. It¡¯s a savory appetizer. It¡¯s fragrant and oily.¡± This was a topic they had argued about countless times before. Li Shengsheng choked when his lines were stolen. In the end, he still argued with him childishly and stubbornly, ¡°The sweet ones taste better.¡± The two of them looked at each other for a few seconds and laughed because of this lame behavior. At this moment, Uncle Bai served the wonton. ¡°Eat the wonton. Be careful, it¡¯s hot. You can add the coriander yourself.¡± / The steaming hot chicken soup was mixed with the bone soup. It was bright and clear, and a white layer floated on it. The meat filling was firm and sweet, and it was embellished with seaweed and shrimp. In the past, before Xu Le learned how to cook, he only thought that the soup was seasoned with MSG, which was why it was fresh and sweet. Now, he realized that Uncle Bai had filtering the soup and ¡°sweeped¡± the soup. The soup base alone took a lot of effort, not to mention the handmade wonton. No wonder it tasted so good. The familiar taste reached his tongue, stimulating his memories. Xu Le was even a little dazed, as if time had returned to a few years ago. Li Shengsheng howled, ¡°It¡¯s so hot¡­ I forgot the essence of wonton.¡± As he spoke, he used a spoon to scoop up the coriander on the plate. However, it was difficult to scoop with a wet spoon. Xu Le had just washed his hands, so he sprinkled a handful evenly into Li Shengsheng¡¯s bowl. Then he helped himself to some. ¡°Why don¡¯t you give Lu Yuxi some?¡± Li Shengsheng took every chance to cause a rift. While half-showing off and half-joking, he said, ¡°Do you not like tigresses either?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t like to add pickled vegetables in her soup, but she likes to put coriander in her fried mala pot.¡± Xu Le knew Lu Yuxi¡¯s preferences like the back of his hand. Li Shengsheng paused and sipped his soup. His gaze wandered between the two of them thoughtfully. ¡°By the way, your name is Xu, Xu Le?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± After eating a bowl of hot wonton, Lu Yuxi¡¯s cheeks turned red. She said, ¡°This wonton is simply perfect. I won¡¯t get tired of eating it every day.¡± When Uncle Bai heard this, he chuckled and said, ¡°When you come back next time, I¡¯ll be launching something new. Do you know about flat food?¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion, while Li Shengsheng shook his head. Xu Le said, ¡°It¡¯s meat buns?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Uncle Bai smiled brightly as if he had found a kindred spirit. He said happily, ¡°I went to the south and found a local professional master. I only picked up on the essence after half a year.¡± ¡°Yes, the process of making authentic flat food is quite troublesome.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. You must come and support me when the time comes.¡± Uncle Bai was just being polite. Just based on the number of people here, there was no such thing as having to ¡°support¡± him. He had practically watched batch after batch of students graduate. Even if he could not name them, he could still get familiar with them. The xiaolongbao was fluffy and soft. The meat filling inside was fresh but not fishy. It was fat but not greasy. When it was dipped in a mouthful of home-made chili oil, it left a lingering aftertaste. Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks After the few of them finished their wontons, they bade farewell to Uncle Bai. On the way, they bought fried chicken skewers and held it all the way. At first, they were calculative and wanted to split it equally. Later on, they were all too full and stuffed it into Xu Le¡¯s hands. ¡°Quickly try the broccoli with the fried chicken skewers. It¡¯s crispy and delicious.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten many.¡± ¡°The fish tofu is not bad either.¡± ¡°They¡¯re all unauthentic starch balls.¡± ¡°¡­ There¡¯s tripe!¡± ¡°It¡¯s vegetarian.¡± ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t care. If I stuff another mouthful of tripe, my stomach will explode!¡± As Li Shengsheng spoke, he stuffed the fried chicken skewers into Xu Le¡¯s hands and quickly slipped away. Seeing that they were about to reach the end of the night market, Lu Yuxi said gently, ¡°Li Shengsheng has quite a difficult personality and always have a fall out with others. However, it¡¯s quite amazing that the two of you can hang out well together.¡± Xu Le thought to himself, ¡®Of course we have a good relationship after being four years of friends in university¡¯. He joked, ¡°He¡¯s quite annoying.¡¯ But he¡¯s always like this. I¡¯m used to it. Xu Le did not say the second half of the sentence. It was almost time after eating and drinking. Just as Lu Yuxi was about to suggest that they go back, Li Shengsheng suddenly said excitedly, ¡°Look at that! It¡¯s the Three Prawn Noodles! Previously, there would always be a long queue every time we came. There¡¯s no one here today!¡± As he spoke, he was so excited that he scurried into the shop. ¡°Boss, I want a bowl of Three Prawn Noodles!¡± Lu Yuxi shook her head speechlessly and followed Xu Le in. After ordering, Li Shengsheng turned around and asked, ¡°What flavor do you two want?¡± Xu Le held the fried chicken skewers in his hand. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that your stomach would explode if you take another bite?¡± ¡°I can still force myself to eat a little more.¡± He said with a gluttony expression, ¡°This is the Three Prawn Noodles we are talking about. It¡¯s extremely smooth. Moreover, there are prawns, shrimp meat, and shrimp head inside. It¡¯s super delicious. It¡¯s a pity not to eat it!¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Xu Le was also tempted by his words. He raised his hand and said, ¡°I want the same bowl as yours.¡± Lu Yuxi said, ¡°I can¡¯t finish it. Let¡¯s split it between us.¡± Three Prawn Noodles was a unique delicacy in Suzhou. Due to the complicated process of making it, very few shops sold it. After Lu Yuxi sat down, she saw that the price for a bowl was 268 yuan and couldn¡¯t help but whisper, ¡°Is there gold in it¡­ It¡¯s so expensive.¡± Li Shengsheng came over and explained, ¡°There¡¯s a lot of ingredients inside. Moreover, the river prawns have to be peeled out bit by bit by hand. It¡¯s especially time-consuming.¡± With high labor costs, the price naturally was high. After about half an hour, Xu Le supported his chin with one hand and looked a little sleepy. The Three Prawn Noodles were finally served and a fragrance wafted over from afar. Li Shengsheng could not wait to pick up a piece of Suzhou noodles wrapped in red oil shrimp seeds and put it into his mouth. His expression was filled with enjoyment and satisfaction. ¡°Hurry up and try it. It¡¯s really delicious!¡± Xu Le¡¯s impression of Suzhou noodles was average. He felt that it was hard and alkaline, but that day¡¯s noodles simply changed his impression of it. It was refreshing and chewy. The shrimp and fish roe enhanced the freshness of the entire bowl to a higher level. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only After tasting two mouthfuls, he handed the chopsticks to Lu Yuxi and said, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s very good.¡± ¡°Oh, aren¡¯t you eating anymore?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t eat anymore.¡± Lu Yuxi took two bites and said, ¡°After eating, I feel that everything is just so-so. My tongue feels a little numb and I can¡¯t taste anything good.¡± Li Shengsheng lowered his head and ate the bowl of noodles until there was not even any soup left. He leaned back and let out a long sigh. ¡°Three Prawn Noodles is the most awesome dish in Suzhou noodles. The taste is too amazing!¡± Chapter 171 - Shorthanded ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not enough to restore the cost. If we don¡¯t consider the labor costs, the Three Prawn Noodles can be further upgraded, but the cooking method will be more complicated.¡± Xu Le commented lightly. Li Shengsheng put his elbow on his shoulder and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll also go to the venue to vote for you in the finals.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Xu Le smiled politely and thought to himself, ¡®You can¡¯t even tell which one was made by me. You¡¯re talking nonsense again.¡¯ He turned his head to look at Li Shengsheng and felt as if he had returned to a few years ago when they were in university. The two of them had their arms around each other¡¯s shoulders as they swaggered around. Unfortunately, he couldn¡¯t even reach the shoulder of Li Shengsheng now. There were gains and losses. After thinking for a while, Xu Le did not feel that it was a pity and secretly started thinking about the finals. They strolled around the night market from beginning to end. The few of them took a walk to digest their food. As they walked on the road by the river, the evening wind blew against their faces with a hint of coolness. The river water sparkled under the moonlight. Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyelids gradually started to droop. She was so sleepy that she was almost feeling dizzy. ¡°Let¡¯s go back. I¡¯m so tired that I can¡¯t open my eyes.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Li Shengsheng reached out and hailed an oncoming taxi. He stuffed Lu Yuxi into the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt for her. Then, he jumped into the back seat with Xu Le. ¡°It¡¯s on the way anyway. The driver can send you back first before sending me back.¡± Li Shengsheng clung to him and blinked. He said with sincerity, ¡°Little kid, did we know each other in the past?¡± Xu Le looked at him as if he was retarded. ¡°Mmm, alright, I remembered wrongly.¡± Although Li Shengsheng was awkward, he still refused to give up. ¡°We know each other now. I heard that your culinary skills are super good. Can I go to your house for free meals next time?¡± Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°Anything.¡± The atmosphere in the car was quiet. Lu Yuxi¡¯s even breathing could be heard from the front row. She was clearly snoring. Li Shengsheng glanced at Xu Le with a thoughtful expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°No, I just feel that you¡¯re very similar to my previous friend. No wonder Lu Yuxi has such a good relationship with you.¡± Li Shengsheng was from the same school as him, so it was normal for them to have a few common friends. Xu Le snorted in his heart and thought to himself, ¡®These guys are really disloyal. They knew the school belle back then and didn¡¯t introduce her to be my friend. That way, he could have met Lu Yuxi earlier.¡¯ Thinking that Lu Yuxi was about to leave after the competition ended, Xu Le pretended not to care and asked casually, ¡°I heard that she¡¯s already married.¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Li Shengsheng covered his mouth with his hand and looked at the sleeping Lu Yuxi in the rearview mirror. He lowered his voice and said, ¡°How could that be? She had a crush on a close friend of mine before. Later, tsk, my friend had an accident, so she announced to the public that her husband had died.¡± Looking at Xu Le¡¯s gradually widening eyes, Li Shengsheng waved his hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell her that I told you. This matter is too complicated. I can¡¯t explain it in detail.¡± After explaining, the two of them fell silent until the car stopped at the destination. He shook Lu Yuxi a few times before waking her up. ¡°We¡¯re here. Let¡¯s go back to sleep.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Lu Yuxi held the car door and walked out. She returned to the room arranged by the production team in the exhibition hall with Xu Le. Li Shengsheng gave the driver his address and prepared to go home. He sat in the car and looked at their backview. Suddenly, he clicked his tongue in frustration and muttered, ¡°How can they look so similar?¡± The next day, Xu Le stayed in his room and entered the system with his eyes closed. He practiced one dish after another. The gold coins he earned every time the audience and the customers in the shop left behind good reviews had already formed a long string of numbers, so Xu Le did not have to worry about the cost of the recipes at all. The countertop in the system was smart and convenient. As soon as he reached out, the dish that was not yet perfect was immediately disposed of and replaced with new ingredients. Xu Le took a deep breath and patiently lowered his head to carve the tofu. Time passed extremely slowly in the system. After practicing dozens of dishes in one go, only a short while had passed. At this moment, the staff knocked on the door and brought lunch over. When Xu Le was cooking in the system, he tasted every dish, causing him to not be hungry at all. However, based on the previous day¡¯s experience, even if he refused, the other party would still force him to accept the food, so he tacitly agreed. He opened the insulated lid. On the plate were braised prawns, blanched broccoli, three fresh vegetables, and other simple home-cooked dishes. Xu Le was thinking that this was not Chen Yeqi¡¯s style of dishes. He opened the last lid and looked at the famous dish from Shunde. It was brewed fished and he fell into deep thought. The complexity and difficulty of this dish was very well-known. It required the skin of the fish to be peeled off one by one by hand. Then, the fish meat would be chopped into pieces and fried before the cook restored the appearance of the fish. The meat was tender and crispy, and it was exceptionally delicious. Xu Le tasted a piece of fish. Be it the texture or the appearance, it was almost perfect. If Chen Yeqi had such a powerful chef by his side, why didn¡¯t he let him participate in the competition? The only possibility was that the person who made this dish was the Master Chef. As he was thinking, Zhang Tong hurriedly pushed the door open and entered. ¡°Did you eat the braised fish?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already tasted it.¡± Xu Le calmly handed him his chopsticks. ¡°Do you want some?¡± Zhang Tong¡¯s pupils trembled as he stared at the dish and said through gritted teeth, ¡°That¡¯s the dish I¡¯m known for. It is made using my exclusive secret recipe.¡± He had never leaked it out. Even his disciples did not know. Why did the food delivered by the hotel taste exactly the same as what he made? Zhang Tong did not dare to think further. Xu Le glanced at him and understood everything. He said, ¡°It was made by that Master Chef.¡± Zhang Tong clenched his fists. Apart from disbelief, there was more anger in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°When the finals end, I must meet him properly.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Soon, they arrived at the finals. After the previous round of modifications, the kitchen¡¯s layout was more convenient with a logical workflow. Similarly, the stage lights and cameras had been adjusted so that the big screen was clearer. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only The moment Xu Le appeared, everyone cheered. According to the rules of the program team, the finals were divided into two rounds that day. There were a total of 10 hours, and they had to cook for the 400 members of the public and judges present. Although there were many people participating in the online voting, it could only be considered as popularity votes. 1,000 votes were equivalent to one member of public¡¯s vote on the spot and 10,000 votes were equivalent to one judge¡¯s vote, and they were all voting with real names. Even if there were a large amount of people voting, it would not help much. Each chef could bring along five assistants. The original plan was the same as last time, with Xu Zhexian as the additional assistant. However, when Xu Le, Zhang Tong, and Li Qing all went on stage, Xu Le¡¯s parents were nowhere to be seen. Zhang Tong asked in a low voice, ¡°What happened? Let¡¯s hope nothing goes wrong at the last minute.¡± ¡°Lele,¡± Xu Zhexian went on stage, panting. ¡°Your mother scalded her hand just now. I just sent her to bandage it.¡± Chapter 172 - Braised Octopus With how much Shen Hui valued winning and losing, if she wasn¡¯t seriously injured, she would definitely force herself to go on stage. Xu Le immediately realized this. Xu Zhexian understood the concern in his eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she just spilled some soup. It¡¯s not serious. It¡¯s just that she can¡¯t bend her fingers for a while, so she can¡¯t go on stage and help you.¡± The most crucial thing at that moment was that they were missing one assistant. Just as Xu Le was about to ask the program team for more people, the host noticed the situation here and said anxiously, ¡°Oh? Is there an assistant missing on your side? Then for the sake of the fairness of the program, let¡¯s have the other side remove an assistant too¡­¡± The assistants from the Master Chef¡¯s side had never been of use. He could often handle all the procedures alone, but if Xu Le lacked one more assistant, it would really be troublesome. ¡°I¡¯ll do it, I¡¯ll do it!¡± One VIP member sitting in the front row of the audience suddenly raised his hands. Xu Le looked down and saw that the person had lifted the baseball cap on his head. He smiled and said, ¡°Let me help!¡± Behind the scenes, Chen Zui was shocked to see Alex. ¡°Where did he come from?¡± Chen Yeqi rolled his eyes and said into the walkie-talkie, ¡°Don¡¯t let him go on stage. He¡¯s the director of KI and might have fans in the country. This is unfair to us.¡± The host stumbled and reached out to find a reason to stop Alex. Fortunately, when he turned around, he saw another girl joining Xu Le¡¯s team. Lu Yuxi nimbly tied her long hair with a bamboo chopstick and smiled at Alex. Her expression seemed to say, ¡°I¡¯ll make up for the spot.¡± / Alex did not mind and said to Xu Le, ¡°Good luck.¡± Then, he sat back in his seat. As soon as Lu Yuxi appeared, a few seconds later, there was an explosion of applause from below the stage. If there was a reason, it could only be that she was too beautiful! She was not stunning at a glance, but her eyebrows were gentle, her nose bridge was extremely high, and she was good-looking and elegant. Xu Le looked at her in confusion. He had been with Lu Yuxi for a long time and was used to her face, so he was never concerned about her beauty. He only said, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I hope I can be of help later.¡± Lu Yuxi tilted her head with a nervous expression. She often watched Xu Le cook, but if she really had to cook, the things she made would definitely not meet the competition standards. Fortunately, Xu Le had no intention of letting her cook at all. He would definitely have a lot of work to do that day. Lu Yuxi could just be his assistant. The host had no choice but to cancel the idea. Soon, the staff pushed the huge cart onstage to display the ingredients. There was live seafood, jade green vegetables¡­ The ingredients on both sides were the same. There was no fixed cuisine for this round and participants could freely choose. There was a dazzling array of ingredients that was fresh and comprehensive. They were neatly placed on the table. Octopus, potatoes, eggplant, conch meat, river prawns, pork belly, tenderloin¡­ Xu Le picked the octopus that had sticky tentacles and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make a braised octopus, lion¡¯s head meatballs, and¡­ a light conch.¡± When Li Qing heard that, he asked in surprise, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°The difficulty of these dishes isn¡¯t high, and the method is relatively simple. Isn¡¯t it a little inappropriate in such a competition?¡± After Zhang Tong tactfully expressed his opinion, Xu Le smiled and did not change his mind. His previous achievements were well-known, so they only hesitated for a moment and did not refute. ¡°Li Qing, clean up the octopus. Dad, you and Lu Yuxiin each take a piece of pork hind leg meat. It has to be completely lean and hit it with the hammer.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°Sure.¡± After the two of them agreed, Xu Le began to cook the side dishes of the braised octopus. The fat and lean pork belly was cut into equal pieces and placed into the water. After pouring a circle of cooking wine, he added fragrant leaves and sprinkled onions, celery, and carrots. These ingredients could remove the stench and also increase its nutritional value. Finally, he sprinkle white pepper grains and blanched over the fire. After there was no foam, he scooped out the meat and picked out the spices. For the next step, he was going to stir-fry to produce a brown sugar color. Zhang Tong said, ¡°Are you planning to stir-fry with oil or water?¡± ¡°After stir-frying with oil, I¡¯ll add water and the color will be brighter.¡± Xu Le filled the pot with oil and sprinkled a handful of rock sugar and a little warm water. As the temperature in the pot rose, he kept stirring with a soup spoon. Soon, the sugar was brown and small bubbles appeared on the surface. Only then did he put in green onions, ginger and pork belly. He stir-fried them a few times and poured the sugar evenly on the meat. According to the traditional order of braising, he added cooking wine, soy sauce, and pepper. After the color changed, he poured in boiling water to cook. Li Qing removed the octopus¡¯s eyes. After cleaning the small lumps, he washed them with salt. It was best to soak them in water. After the pork belly was stewed, in order to save time, he poured the pork and tea tree mushrooms into the pressure cooker. Then, he added a little of the essence from the tea tree mushrooms and two dried chili peppers to increase the spiciness. He allowed it to simmer in the pressure cooker for 10 minutes. The excess gravy at the bottom of the pot was left to stew the octopus. After waiting for three minutes, it would be ready. He poured the two into the pot and collected the gravy. When it was ready to be served, he sprinkled a handful of spring onions to enhance the color. As usual, the first pot was for the taste. Li Qing took a bite of the fish whisker. The springy octopus was fresh and heavy. It immediately stimulated his taste buds and the aftertaste was slightly sweet. The pork belly was fat but not greasy. He couldn¡¯t help but nod. ¡°As expected of you! I¡¯ve eaten this dish in other restaurants in the past and it feels ordinary. The taste is very different when you cook it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that I lack a bowl of rice to eat with it.¡± When Xu Zhexian was hammering the meat, he saw Xu Le¡¯s casual and exquisite method of adding seasoning. He was shocked. He didn¡¯t need to taste it to know that this dish was even more authentic and delicious than those cooked by chefs with decades of experience. Next, Li Qing focused on dealing with the octopus and braised pork belly. Xu Le stir-fried the sugar and added seasoning. Zhang Tong was in charge of finishing up the stewing in the last three and ten minutes respectively. The few of them carried out the work methodically. An hour later, Xu Le began to deal with the red wine. He used the side of the knife to flatten the conch bit by bit. After wiping it until it was smooth, he used the knife to chop it. He ensured that all the impurities would be left on the chopping board at the bottom. He took out the portion that was used to cook and poured it into the hot oil. Dried conch was one of the dishes of Fujian cuisine. There was a famous saying in Fuzhou that all bad things had to have ginger. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Not only could ginger remove strange smells, but it could also increase fragrance. After a spoonful of yellow wine, the pot sizzled. Then, the fragrance of the wine and the ginger spread out and seeped into the wine. When the wine was completely dissolved, it would be ready when it had turned bright red. Before it was ready, he would add a small spoonful of soup to increase the taste. The red conch chosen had to have similar-sized shell. First, he had to break the shell, then scrape the dirt off the surface of the shell. After wiping it with a cloth to ensure that the bitter smell was removed, it had to be cut into thin slices. With the knife parallel to the chopping board, the snail meat was cut three to four millimeters thick. There was a faint glow in the middle. When it was laid flat on the chopping board, one would discover that the snail meat was shaped like petals. Chapter 173 - Chinese Asparagus Lions Head Meatballs After washing the conch meat with clear water a few times, he boiled the water. After adding cold water and cooling it to 80 degrees celsius, he could boil the conch in the pot. Once it was cooked for two to three seconds, the conch meat was immediately scooped out. He used the remaining water to heat up the sliced celery. The celery was green and did not release a strong taste. He added some salt to the oil and stir-fried the celery until it was cooked. The taste of the conch meat was very hard. There was a fine line between tender and hard. Hence, after the wine was prepared, Xu Le immediately threw the conch meat in and increased the heat. The wine was wrapped evenly around the conch meat. After putting it on the plate, he used celery as the base. The conch meat looked like blooming peony petals. The texture was crisp, clear, and sweet, but it did not lose the freshness of seafood. It was sweet and sour, and it was appetizing. Be it with wine or with rice, it was extremely compatible. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful.¡± Li Qing was so tired that he wanted to cry but had no tears. He picked up a piece of conch and put it into his mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll help you taste it.¡± The fragrance of the wine and the ¡°pot gas¡± rushed into his mouth. The intense sourness and sweetness stimulated his taste buds, causing Li Qing to cough and raise his eyebrows. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it taste good?¡± Xu Le took a bite as he asked. ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Li Qing hesitated if he should take another bite. He said, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten much of the wine so I was not used to it just now. After chewing for a while, the taste of the conch meat is very good.¡± Zhang Tong thought for a long time and frowned. ¡°Isn¡¯t it too risky to make this dish?¡± For an experienced chef like him who had been in the industry for a long time, he could taste the freshness of the conch meat with just a bite. Although it was wonderful when stir-fried together, if he did not control the heat well, it would taste hard and extremely unpalatable. He could not help but feel worried. ¡°This dish is too difficult. Can you guarantee that every batch produced is the same?¡± Xu Le nodded without hesitation. ¡°Of course.¡± Hearing his confident tone, Zhang Tong couldn¡¯t help but mutter in his heart, but he couldn¡¯t say anything else. The few of them made the arrangements and cooperated smoothly like an assembly line. Lu Yuxi kept hammering the meat filling until she was so tired that her arms were aching. Xu Zhexian, who was almost 40 years old, also stopped what he was doing and panted heavily. Lu Yuxi muttered, ¡°There¡¯s so much minced meat. How many dumplings are you planning to make later?¡± Xu Zhexian put his hands on his hips and said, ¡°It tastes better handmade, but this is too troublesome.¡± The camera turned and the live-stream was broadcasting the last match. It was especially popular and the number of online viewers had exceeded ten million. ¡°What¡¯s there to compete? The final champion will definitely be the Master Chef.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He definitely has to give the little Master Chef some face in the last round. How can he win?¡± ¡°The outcome is obvious after a draw.¡± ¡°I bet 50 cents that Xu Le will win!¡± ¡°Ah, Xu Le is too cute. He¡¯s so serious and cute!¡± ¡°Hurry up and show off that octopus in my mouth!¡± ¡°Everyone, please vote for Xu Le!¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks While the supporters of both sides argued fiercely, more passers-by who had joined started drifting from the participants. ¡°It¡¯s Li Qing! That streamer! I love him so much!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that man who¡¯s been hammering meat the entire time? Is he single?¡± ¡°To the commenter above, he¡¯s Xu Le¡¯s father.¡± ¡°Oh, is Xu Le¡¯s father single?¡± ¡°Is the beauty beside him single?¡± ¡°I just ate that red conch in the restaurant yesterday. It¡¯s expensive but delicious.¡± It was a mess as red and green comments rolled down. Xu Le¡¯s serious face appeared on screen, causing a small commotion. This made Chen Yeqi, who was standing backstage, unhappy. He hurriedly instructed, ¡°Cut the camera and change it to his chopping board to broadcast the cooking. Why are you always zooming on his face?¡± Chen Zui crossed his arms and said with a laugh, ¡°Why are you so petty and angry at a child? If it weren¡¯t for him, the show wouldn¡¯t have become so popular.¡± Every word made sense, but Chen Yeqi couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue further. He frowned and said, ¡°It¡¯s all your good idea to start an online vote. Now that Xu Le¡¯s team is much more popular, if it affects the final outcome, see how I will complain to Dad.¡± In stark contrast to Chen Yeqi, Chen Zui was calm and composed. He still smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re not even confident in your research results?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Chen Yeqi cursed, ¡°What is the stage supervisor doing? What time is it already? Arrange for the dishes to be served! Otherwise, what will the audience eat later!¡± The light stir-fried conch on Xu Le¡¯s side had almost come to an end. Li Qing brought over the white fish and focused on slicing the meat. After stewing the last pot of octopus, Zhang Tong asked, ¡°What do you plan to do for the next dish?¡± ¡°Chinese Asparagus Lion¡¯s Head Meatballs.¡± It was another dish that surprised him. Braised octopus was not common. The light stir-fried conch tested one¡¯s fire control and experience, while the lion¡¯s head meatball was too ordinary. Zhang Tong probed, ¡°Will it be too ordinary?¡± ¡°There¡¯s still a certain difference between the Chinese Asparagus Lion¡¯s Head Meatballs and the traditional Lion¡¯s Head Meatball. It has the traditional chinese asparagus added and the white fish used is fresher and more tender. The meat won¡¯t become dry, and the dish can be considered a medicinal dish.¡± Zhang Tong found it perfunctory. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry and do it. I have my own plans.¡± On Li Qing¡¯s side, he quickly skinned the white fish and started slicing it. He first cut it horizontally before cutting it vertically. Finally, he obtained bean-sized dices. The same was done to the black pork belly, and then the water chestnuts and ginger grains. After all the ingredients were prepared, he boiled the chinese asparagus, peeled it, and cut it into strips. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only The three of them showed off their cutting skills and prepared several large pots of ingredients at once. Zhang Tong knew that Xu Le wanted to make the finished product directly and did not try the taste first. He looked up and saw that most of the time had passed. If they hurried, they should be able to complete the third dish. The meat accounted for 30% and the pork belly for 20% of the mixture. The ginger grain was added to remove the fishy smell. The egg white that had been beaten and separated increased the viscosity. After the right amount of salt and huadiao wine was mixed together, the water bean powder made from ginger and green onion water was mixed together. After that, he put on gloves and stirred it until the ingredients had some resistance. Then, he added the water chestnuts and continued to smash it. The casserole was filled with huadio wine, salt, and chopped green onions. He switched to medium heat to maintain the water temperature until it was about to boil and bubble. Only then did he gently roll the round lion¡¯s head into the pot. When he was adding the lion¡¯s head, it was wrapped in a layer of bean powder, so the water temperature was especially important. If it was low, it would stick to the pot, but if it was high, it would be washed away. When the lion¡¯s head was evenly placed in the pot, he covered it with baby vegetables and turned on the low heat to cook it. Out of goodwill, Li Qing put one down first. He did not know what went wrong, but it turned into white soup the moment it entered the pot. He was embarrassed and speechless. He found the lid and covered it before turning off the fire and changed the pot, pretending that nothing had happened. Chapter 174 - The First Half Competition However, this action was captured by the camera. Even the judges could not help but laugh. They exchanged glances and found it funny. ¡°Hahaha, I¡¯m dying of laughter. What kind of member is on Xu Le¡¯s team!¡± ¡°I feel like I can do it too.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t a game host playing his games, why did he switch to cooking?¡± ¡°Li Qing is a sneaky dog.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Lion¡¯s Head Meatball again. Xu Le made it on the show previously. Is he planning to give up now?¡± ¡°I feel that he¡¯s being perfunctory. Why didn¡¯t Xu Le try to create a new dish?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t the Master Chef also making Lion¡¯s Head Meatball? What¡¯s there to criticise about the famous Huaiyang dish?¡± ¡­ Xu Le did not know about the intense discussion in the live-stream. After the team was done rolling the meatballs, he stretched his sore shoulders. Then it came to the essence of the entire dish¡ªdealing with the chinese asparagus. He placed the diced chinese asparagus at the side with cold water. The pumpkin paste that had been smashed in the blender had an alluring golden color. After pouring it into the pot, he added in the diced chinese asparagus. After it boiled, it would be ready after thickening the gravy three times. The fish meat itself had a fresh smell. Even if it was pressed with ginger, there would be a faint lingering smell. Moreover, this dish was very light, so the fishy smell was inevitable. Coupled with the chinese asparagus sauce stewed with the pumpkin paste, the medicinal fragrance emitted by the chinese asparagus was covered by the fragrance of the meat. The unique taste it carried was just enough to conceal the fishy smell. With the two combined, the taste would be even more perfect and delicious. The broccoli was cut into small flowers. After adding salt and olive oil, they could be put aside for use later. The casserole was simmered for an hour and a half. The leaves that covered it gradually turned snow-white and transparent. The fragrance of the baby vegetables melted into the soup, minimizing the stench of meat. After the hot lion¡¯s head meatballs were scooped out, it was covered with a spoonful of pumpkin paste mixed with chinese asparagus. Beside it, there was a small broccoli flower. There was yellow and green color in the dish, and it instantly captivated one¡¯s attention. Finally, it was decorated with a wolf berry, which tied in with the main theme of medicinal cuisine. Xu Le knew that Lu Yuxi liked lion¡¯s head meatballs the most, so he subconsciously turned around and handed her a spoon. ¡°Try one?¡± Lu Yuxi did not stand on ceremony. She took off her gloves and came to taste it. Her arms were so tired that she could not lift them up. She took the spoon and her hands were trembling. Seeing this, Xu Le hurriedly held her hand and fed her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say that you were tired? The meat filling is almost done. Cover it with plastic wrap and put it in the fridge. Go and peel the prawns. Let my father do the rest.¡± Xu Zhexian¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Lele, is there a possibility that my arm hurts too¡­¡± The comments section exploded with laughter. ¡°I¡¯m dying of laughter. Xu Le really has double standards for people.¡± ¡°As a motherly fan, I am feeling concerned now.¡± ¡°He has a completely different attitude towards a beautiful woman and his biological father.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°What a son.¡± The lion¡¯s head meatball melted in her mouth. It was sweet and soft. All the ingredients inside had been cut into cubes in advance, so when she chewed, she could vaguely taste the crispness of the water chestnut. The fragrance of the fish and the five spices lingered in her mouth. Lu Yuxi nodded and said, ¡°The taste is a little different. There¡¯s a hint of Chinese medicine taste in my mouth just now. It¡¯s very fresh and has a more layered taste than when it was boiled.¡± As she spoke, she gave Xu Le a thumbs up. In order to make Xu Le feel more at ease, she specially added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it tastes so good. It will definitely be liked by everyone.¡± When Lu Yuxi began to peel the river prawns, she vaguely sensed what staple dish Xu Le was going to make. However, she did not say anything and only separated the prawns, shells, and shrimp roe and categorized them. This process was complicated. She lowered her head and worked patiently. Xu Zhexian, who was standing opposite her, held his waist and finally finished smashing the last catty of meat stuffing and sent it into the fridge. Lu Yuxi said, ¡°Xu Le, don¡¯t tell me you want to make two main dishes in the next round?¡± At the mention of this, Xu Le was slightly stunned. He stopped arranging the plates and said, ¡°I only realized it after you said that. Oh, then let¡¯s make two dishes.¡± Lu Yuxi choked. She looked at Li Qing, who was setting the plates, and thought that she had no say in cooking, so she said, ¡°Then you guys discuss.¡± Li Qing was focused on setting up the plates and could not be bothered to think about it. He waved his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t forget that he¡¯s the Little Master Chef. We just have to do whatever he says.¡± Finally, all three dishes were pushed out. Next was the half-hour tasting and voting segment. What Xu Le was most concerned about was the dishes pushed out by the Master Chef. They were braised lion¡¯s head meatball, fried seafood with scallions, and light conch slices. It was expected. After so many rounds of competition, he had long realized that this was not a coincidence. With a sneer, he turned away and ignored it. Two identical pieces of light conch were placed on the table like blooming red peonies. They looked especially good. Mr. Cai Lan¡¯s eyes lit up and he said, ¡°I know this dish. When it was first developed, it shocked the entire country. It seems that the two contestants are extremely confident in their culinary skills.¡± The conch meat was fresh and sweet. The overall taste was sour and sweet. It was appetizing and satisfying. There was no difference in the taste of the two dishes, including the ingredients and heat control. They seemed to be made by the same person. They were exactly the same and were very perfect. After so many matches, the judges gradually realized that the production team had used some tricks. Hence, they tacitly fell silent and directly voted. ¡°What are they doing? Why aren¡¯t they talking? Stage supervisor, go over and rush them!¡± Chen Yeqi flew into a rage. It was obvious that he was very dissatisfied with their negative attitude. He shouted, ¡°After receiving the money, shouldn¡¯t they do their duty?¡± Chen Zui knew that the thing that his younger brother had been planning for more than ten years was about to be released. The closer it was to its release on the market, the greater the psychological pressure he felt. Hence, he rolled his eyes at him for once and did not nitpick. Finally, the second dish was displayed. The difference was that one served braised octopus and the other served fried seafood with onion oil. The braised octopus was chewy and the braised meat inside was the finishing touch. The fatty meat was crispy and not greasy, and the lean meat was chewy. The onion oil fried seafood, lobster meat, octopus, sea bass, and abalone were all filled with the fragrance of the onion oil. Even if they were different types of seafood, the other dish could perfectly control the heat and ensure that it was tender and refreshing when fried. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°The combination of octopus and braised meat isn¡¯t common, but the more common and traditional this dish is, the more you can see the chef¡¯s foundation skills. It¡¯s really not bad.¡± The judge smiled and said, ¡°This dish goes very well with rice. It would be even more perfect if it could be paired with a bowl of white rice.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very easy to fry oyster meat until it¡¯s tough, but this one is fried with onion oil. One side is golden and the middle is very tender. After the show is broadcasted, can I ask how it was made?¡± After a round of comments, the judges smiled in unison when they saw the last lion¡¯s head meatball. The reason was simple. Stewing was too inferior to frying with soy sauce. If one was not careful, it might carry a fishy smell and affect the overall taste. Chapter 175 - Innovative Dishes With doubts in his mind, Song Deyue first tasted the stewed lion¡¯s head meatball. The meat was fragrant and sweet, and the ginger taste was faint. The water chestnuts were crisp, and the most important thing was the pumpkin paste and the diced chinese asparagus. They were extremely smooth and perfectly fused. He was extremely shocked. After chewing twice, he tasted half of it again. This time, he specially wrapped it in the pumpkin paste that was poured on the plate. After tasting it carefully, although it was slowly simmered over a small fire, the texture advanced layer by layer. It was really wonderful. ¡°There¡¯s chinese asparagus inside. There¡¯s only medicinal fragrance but no bitter smell of herbs. It was handled well in the later stages. It¡¯s sweet and delicious. I¡¯m very satisfied.¡± As Old Master Song spoke, he smiled. The braised lion¡¯s head meatball was also rich in sauce and the meat was firm, but it was immediately inferior to the stewed one. The judge at the side also nodded and said, ¡°The stewed lion¡¯s head meatball will more or less have a fishy smell, let alone the added medicinal herbs. However, the fact that the contestants can perfectly fuse the two is enough to show the exquisiteness of this dish, so I vote for this side.¡± After tasting and conferring with the judges, they began the vote, which ended 3:7. Xu Le took a deep breath. He knew that he shouldn¡¯t be too happy too early. After all, there was still the online voting and the live audience voting. While he went backstage to rest for half an hour and waited for the audience to vote, Li Qing was especially happy. He said excitedly, ¡°I knew that you would definitely be able to do it, Master. Look, this time, you¡¯ve far exceeded the votes over the other side!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy. The audience hasn¡¯t voted yet.¡± Li Qing reached out and patted Xu Le¡¯s shoulder twice to cheer him on. ¡°All the best, all the best. Our team will definitely win. I¡¯ll help you prepare 5 kilograms of meat stuffing later!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Xu Le smiled and said, ¡°You have to mean what you say.¡± ¡°But Master Xu, you don¡¯t need that much, right?¡± Li Qing came back to his senses and quickly tried to salvage the situation. ¡°As long as you can win, I¡¯ll do anything for you.¡± Zhang Tong was also delighted. After all, he would be able to make up for his loss soon. At this moment, Chen Yeqi, who was backstage, stared at the rising figures on the Internet. He did not expect so many people to participate in the voting. The millions of votes that he had originally expected were about to exceed 100 million. It had almost become a live broadcast that everyone had to watch. This surge in popularity did not make him happy. His expression was grave and nervous. Of course, Chen Zui knew that once the data was public and transparent, the program team would be completely unable to control the direction of the outcome. Hence, he said, ¡°There¡¯s still half an hour before the voting ends. You can get that thing to attract votes.¡± ¡°What bad idea are you having?¡± Chen Yeqi asked in disdain. After a while, he waved his hand and silently accepted it. The host¡¯s voice came from the front desk. ¡°Good afternoon, everyone. Now, please turn on your phones and search the official page to vote for your favorite contestanta€|¡± A staff member rushed to the back and looked at Xu Le and the others. ¡°Who wants to go up and try to ask for votes?¡± ¡°How?¡± Xu Le was speechless. ¡°I wasn¡¯t informed in advance.¡± Lu Yuxi frowned and said, ¡°The culinary competition has become a talent show? Why are we going up?¡± ¡°You can do anything.¡± The staff member was given instructions at at the last minute. He said, ¡°You can sing, dance, cut vegetables, recite tongue twisters or anything. One of you can go first.¡± Zhang Tong¡¯s eyes suddenly darkened as he looked at Li Qing. ¡°I remember someone saying that he wanted to dance the other day?¡± Li Qing straightened his neck and pretended not to hear. ¡°You must know how to dance when you said something like that, right?¡± Xu Le immediately understood and said, ¡°Go, go. Didn¡¯t you say that you would do anything for me to win? Now is the time to fulfill your promise!¡± Li Qing looked reluctant and gritted his teeth. ¡°I won¡¯ta€| If I really go, I¡¯ll lose all my face.¡± Lu Yuxi sneered. ¡°With your skin that¡¯s thicker than the Yellow River Dam, are you afraid of losing it?¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks With that, Li Qing was forced onto the stage. On the other side, the camera was aimed at the Master Chef¡¯s hand. He was cutting another green cucumber. He raised his hand and slashed down. The sound was like a dense drumbeat that was filled with rhythm. Wherever it passed, there was almost no trace. Li Qing braced himself and chose a song. The live speakers immediately played a low and melancholic English song. He raised his arm. ¡°Yo!¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± ¡°Does he really know how to do it?¡± The three people watching backstage were instantly ignited and their eyes widened. The audience who were still voting below the stage looked up and saw that the person in the white chef¡¯s suit was moving faster and faster with the music. His dance was even more unrestrained and coherent. His hat had long been thrown away, and his chestnut half-curled hair was golden and shining. Someone immediately started discussing on the bullet screen. ¡°Who is he? He looks like that stinky-faced live-streamer.¡± ¡°The one playing games? His style has changed so much.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even recognize who he was. He¡¯s really working so hard. Even game streamers have to cross over to another field.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t anyone notice what the Master Chef is doing?¡± On the other side, the Master Chef unfolded the sliced cucumbers. The cucumbers were as thin as cicada wings. He cut them until only the skin of the vegetable was connected. When they were fully unfolded, their length reached twice the initial length. If one hadn¡¯t seen it with his own eyes, it would be hard to believe that it had taken only two minutes. And this two minute required skills more than many chefs could do in 20 years. After the short dance ended, Li Qing picked up his hat and left the stage in a hurry. His face was red, and it was unknown whether it was because he was agitated or embarrassed. Lu Yuxi took the lead and applauded. ¡°How impressive. Why didn¡¯t you show off your skills earlier?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use?¡± Li Qing casually picked up the fan on the table and fanned himself. Xu Le noticed that something was wrong and reached out to snatch the colorful magazine from his hand. On it was a poster that had been invalidated because of a printing error. It was to celebrate the victory of the Master Chef and had written the time for the press conference. Xu Le frowned. ¡°The 13th? Then it¡¯s tomorrow, 2 PM tomorrow.¡± He snorted and smiled. ¡°He¡¯s really confident in himself.¡± Even though he knew that the production team and the Master Chef were in cahoots, he still came to participate in the competition calmly. Now was a good opportunity to end the inside story! Li Qing was confused. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We¡¯ll know after the competition ends.¡± Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Xu Le placed the page with words on the table and his gaze deepened. Half an hour was neither long nor short. He closed his eyes and entered the system again. In the second half of the competition, he had already gotten Lu Yuxi and Xu Zhexian to complete the most troublesome steps in the ingredients processing. The most important thing was to catch the other party off guard and make them unable to guess what dish he was cooking. Innovative dishes were extremely risky. If they were not done well, they would be completely nasty. The taste would be strange and it was easy to be criticized. Xu Le repeated the dishes he had invented. When he was about to add chicken soup, he paused. Chapter 176 - Six Prawn Noodles A bold thought flashed through Xu Le¡¯s mind. Although the chicken soup was indeed fresh and flavorful, it was no different from traditional cooking. Moreover, Lu Yuxi had also expressed her doubts in the previous round. Could it be that he really had to make two main dishes? Dried stirred noodles with red oil and sesame sauce was the most appetizing. With cucumber shreds and fried peanuts, it would definitely improve the flavor. Xu Le immediately compared the sesame sauce with the peanut butter and added MSG, sugar, and pepper. On the other hand, the red oil was fried with dried, fragrant chili powder. Scallions, onions, peppercorns, dried peppers, sweet fruits, fragrant leaves¡­ There were more than a dozen spices. They were thrown into the hot oil, where it emitted smoke and then cooled. After the crackling sound, a fragrance was produced. He stir-fried slowly. After all the spices and ingredients had turned browned, he scooped out the contents and threw them away. He heated the oil again and waited for it to cool. The chili powder was made with cone peppers, bell peppers, and Indian peppers. After drying them, they were ground into powder and mixed according to the proportion. When 60% hot oil was poured down, it immediately forced out a choking dry fragrance. Xu Le took the opportunity to pour some white wine inside. The white wine quickly evaporated under the high temperature, leaving only a faint fragrance. To cater to the texture liked by most people, Xu Le specially paid attention to the fragrance of the red oil. He did not put anything too spicy. After the crystal clear balls in the pot were scooped up, they were wrapped in red oil and sesame sauce. Finally, he sprinkled a handful of sesame cucumber shreds and cooked peanuts. It looked, smelled, and tasted delicious. Just looking at it made one¡¯s appetite increase. Xu Le was nervous about his sudden improvisation. He carefully took a bite. The sesame sauce was thick and sticky. It was red, smooth, and slightly spicy. It was wrapped in soft and smooth powder. Before he could react to the taste, he involuntarily ate a few. As if he was addicted, his stomach was extremely satisfied. He stood there for a long time. Finally, Xu Le nodded, as if an invisible faith was guiding him. He was going to make it like this! As soon as he opened his eyes, Xu Le¡¯s gaze landed on Lu Yuxi¡¯s phone. She was frowning and looked very unhappy. On the red and green bullet screen of the phone, there was a mixed evaluation of him. ¡°Let me see.¡± ¡°Sigh, stop looking. It¡¯ll affect your mood.¡± As Lu Yuxi spoke, she was about to exit the live-stream. However, when she saw Xu Le¡¯s outstretched hand, she hesitated for a while before handing the phone to him. ¡°They don¡¯t know you. There are many people talking nonsense. Ignore them.¡± On the screen, the Master Chef had already reached the stage of cutting chrysanthemum tofu. After the soft and smooth inner tofu was cut out on his palm and placed into the water, it immediately bloomed into a white chrysanthemum. The tofu was as thin as a needle and swayed gently in the water. ¡°Isn¡¯t this the same principle as the Wensi Tofu you made previously?¡± Lu Yuxi curled her lips and was very indignant. Many audience members who had never come into contact with him had their horizons widened and praised the Master Chef. There was no lack of negative comments about Xu Le. ¡°He¡¯s just a child. Hurry up and wash up and sleep. Hurry up and let me see the true appearance of the Master Chef. I¡¯m looking forward to it!¡± ¡°In any case, that little chef will definitely lose in the end. I can¡¯t tell anything special from the thing he made. It¡¯s obvious that it¡¯s tasteless.¡± ¡°Everyone, quickly vote for the Master Chef!¡± ¡°Master Chef, you can do it. Just anything for the child will do.¡± Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks ¡°The braised octopus looked like it had mutated, yet the judges kept praising it. Could there be any cheating involved?¡± ¡°Octopus can be paired with braised meat? I¡¯ve never seen it before, okay?¡± A bunch of harsh words flashed past Xu Le¡¯s eyes. He pursed his lips and ambition rose in his eyes. Soon, the first half of the competition ended. The few of them returned to the stage. The Internet voting on the big screen was still soaring. The host shouted the countdown, ¡°Five, four, three¡­ one! Stop! Alright, now we can see the accumulated votes of both sides from last night to now. Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands¡­ Oh, the number of votes is too large. The backstage will convert it to votes equivalent to the live votes at the scene.¡± The conversion was incredible. They did not expect that there would be so many people participating in the voting. Xu Le received 467 votes, while the Master Chef received 442 votes. The difference between the two was huge. He raised his eyebrows and said to Li Qing, ¡°Thank you for helping us draw more votes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s of course. With my face, if I stand there¡­¡± Before Li Qing could finish bragging, the live votes were also counted in. He exclaimed, ¡°Why? Is there something fishy about the voting?¡± Xu Le¡¯s lead was pulled back again. He even had three fewer votes than the Master Chef. The host heaved a long sigh of relief and said, ¡°The online voting ends here. When the second half of the competition ends, we¡¯ll use the accumulated votes as the standard.¡± Li Qing rolled his eyes in anger. As Zhang Tong walked, he asked in a low voice, ¡°Could it be that the production team did something to the voting?¡± ¡°Impossible. The online voting is all public and transparent. Besides, they don¡¯t dare to do that.¡± Once it was exposed, all the competitions and publicity around the world would be ruined. The requirement for the second half of the competition was still three dishes. There was no theme and it was free to play. Xu Le counted the remaining ingredients. If he had a comprehensive plan, he should be able to use them well for cooking. Just now, Lu Yuxi had been extracting shrimp roe for two hours. Out of the dozens of kilograms of river prawns, she only extracted two pots of them. He poured them into the pot and kept stirring them over a small fire until the water vapor in the shrimp roe was dried and the color was bright red. The prawns were added with flour and salt to ensure that the texture was fresh and tender. Then, they were cooked in oil. Then, he cooked the prawn shell from before. This way, it was convenient to take out the prawn head. The prawn head was the same as the crab roe. Only mature female prawns had it, so it was very precious and rare. He did not throw away the prawn shell. He poured the oil back into the pot and stir-fried it with a small fire. The oil at the bottom was filled with the essence of the prawn shell. It was golden and clear. This was the fourth ingredient of the six prawn noodles¡ªshrimp oil. After adding water to the shrimp shell that had been stir-fried just now, the lid was covered and it would be boiled with salt for an hour. When the lid of the pot was lifted, the bottom of the soup would become pale yellow and thick. At this point, the prawn shell had already become very crispy. After forcing out the soup inside, it was directly stir-fried with medium heat. As it was stir-fried, he used a spatula to crush the prawn shell. After it was completely fried, he placed it in the blender and ground it into prawn powder. The most troublesome thing about the Six Shrimp Noodles was the extraction of side ingredients. Shrimp roe, shrimp oil, shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp head, and shrimp powder were indispensable. Next, he had to add flour to the shrimp powder to make the noodles. This way, the noodles would have a fresh shrimp smell. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Xu Le rolled up his sleeves and started kneading the dough. On the other side, Chen Yeqi was completely stunned. He said, ¡°He won¡¯t be able to finish so many procedures. It turns out that Xu Le was preparing the ingredients for the second half of the dishes from the beginning. We won¡¯t make it in time.¡± Chen Zui said, ¡°Then let¡¯s change to another dish.¡± Chen Yeqi said nervously, ¡°You saw Xu Le¡¯s capability. If we don¡¯t cook the same dish as him, can we still win?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there are still two more dishes. Just make them the same.¡± Chapter 177 - Yanyun Flat Food The most exquisite technique, the most perfect cutting skills, and the control of temperature and fire were all the advantages of the Master Chef that was far superior to others. Chen Yeqi silently wiped his sweat and muttered, ¡°Xu Le¡¯s strength is really not to be underestimated. I know he¡¯s skilful, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be so awesomea€|¡± At this moment, the cooked noodles was placed on the chopping board and caused a layer of flour to rise. The handmade noodles were tough and elastic, so there was no need to season them too much. After the noodles were cooked, they were directly scooped into a bowl and drizzled with a spoonful of shrimp soup. Then, he mixed the shrimp, shrimp roe, and shrimp heads and spread them flat on the pale pink noodles. Finally, the bright red shrimp oil was poured in and sprinkled with a handful of green onions. The steaming, fragrant six shrimp noodles were ready. It would take at least six or seven hours to prepare the materials and successfully make them. It would be even more troublesome to plate them later. If the meal was served too late, the noodles would easily expand and affect the taste. Hence, Xu Le planned to cook all the noodles at the same time. Li Qing and Zhang Tong were in charge of plating the noodles and adding toppings such as sprinkling the onions. Then, the dish was served immediately. On the other hand, Lu Yuxi took out the meat stuffing that had been hammered by hand. She dipped it in a small amount of alkaline water and hammered it, making the meat more sticky. At this time, she could add sweet potato powder and knead it into dough. In the end, only 32 skins could be made from 500 grams of pure lean meat. Fortunately, they had prepared enough in advance. The two of them had worked out their arms so much and hammered for two to three hours before they could make enough skin for the Yunyan flat food. When the skin was almost done, Xu Le finally finished making the six prawns noodles. He waved his hand and got someone to push it out. Zhang Tong poured the last spoonful of prawn oil and heaved a deep sigh of relief. It had to be said that this bowl of noodles was really troublesome to make. If there were not enough ingredients midway, he could not do anything about it. Hence, he had been adding the ingredients while feeling on tenterhooks the entire time. ¡°It¡¯s just right. Not one bowl more, not one less.¡± Li Qing curled his lips. It was obvious that he wanted to taste it. He muttered, ¡°I was almost dazed by the fragrance the entire time. Master Xu, after the competition, you must make it specially for us next time.¡± ¡°Yes, sure. Go distribute them first. Be careful not to let it expand and affect its taste.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rows of carts flowed into the audience area and were distributed. Xu Le rolled up his sleeves and prepared to start mixing the meat filling. After the pure lean meat was placed in the cooker, he added green onion and ginger water to remove the fishy smell. Then, he added salt, chicken essence, soy sauce, oyster sauce, pepper, thirteen-spice, white sugar, and baking soda. Then, he directly stirred the meat stuffing and did not forget to add ice instead of water. After it was all done, the cold juice seeped into the meat stuffing, causing it to become chewy. Xu Le¡¯s flat dish had been improvised from the traditional method of making clear soup. He combined the cooking method of Yanyun flat meal and red oil dumpling. Therefore, after preparing the meat filling, he added an egg into it and continued to stir it evenly. Finally, he sprinkled a handful of green onions and poured hot oil on it. The fragrance was immediately stimulated. If he wanted to make the crispy and sweet filling of flat food, he had to keep stirring until he felt resistance on the chopsticks. Then, he could start wrapping them. It was very easy to wrap the flat food. Each would be ready in two or three seconds and could be placed on the chopping board, awaiting to be cooked. All five of them came up to wrap the skin. Xu Zhexian¡¯s fingers were covered in flour, so he nudged his glasses with his joints and said, ¡°Lele started preparing the dishes for the second round since the first round.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s troublesome and time-consuming. Of course I have to plan in advance.¡± Li Qing¡¯s smile widened unconsciously. ¡°You came up with this idea because you were afraid of being deceived, right?¡± Lu Yuxi was stunned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhang Tong placed the flat food on the tray and said, ¡°At that time, Chen Xian specially came to the shop to remind us about this. However, his method wasn¡¯t good. Even if he deliberately gave the wrong name of the dish, there would be cameras following him the entire time. When the time comes, the dishes will definitely be the same again.¡± a€?Oh.a€? Come and read on our website wuxia worldsite. Thanks Lu Yuxi realized that they were doing this to retaliate the cheating involved and catch the other party off guard. They were seriously asking for fairness in the competition. ¡°Then what do you plan to do with the next dish?¡± As Lu Yuxi spoke, she looked up at the countdown. There were less than two hours left. ¡°There¡¯s red rice roll in Guangdong morning breakfast. Have you tried it before?¡± ¡°Are we making that?¡± Zhang Tong¡¯s voice involuntarily rose an octave. He said in surprise, ¡°Will it be in time?¡± The preparation of the red rice roll was not difficult, but it needed to be rolled layer by layer. Moreover, its popularity was not high. After some comparisons, its fame was equivalent to the steamed buns on the street. It was ordinary. He was worried that it would not catch the eyes of the judges. Of course, Xu Le could tell Zhang Tong¡¯s concerns. He said, ¡°No matter what dish it is, whether it¡¯s famous or not, or whether it can show off its skills, it all depends on the taste in the end. Even if someone doesn¡¯t like spicy food, it¡¯s difficult to reject hotpot, right?¡± He raised his eyebrows and revealed the serious expression of a young adult. He said, ¡°Red rice rolls usually need to be eaten with soup, but today¡¯s two main dishes are quite oily. I¡¯ll make a cool drink to go with it.¡± Xu Le suddenly thought of something. Lu Yuxi looked at the remaining ingredients and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we make some white fungus and snow pear soup?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a hot dish.¡± Xu Le paused for a moment and an idea popped up in his mind. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s make a small pear soup. It¡¯s sweet, delicious and can relieve heat.¡± A cup after dinner was perfect. After wrapping all the flat food, he filtered the boiled chicken soup with water and used it to cook the flat food in place of plain water. After fishing it out, the skin would be filled with the strong fragrance of the chicken soup. Xu Le washed the flour off his hands and carried a pile of snow pear. After peeling off the outer skin, he cut the snow-white pear meat into small pieces and placed them aside. Then he took white fungus, the reed root, lily seeds, loquat, dried pear, red dates, wolfberries, and put them in a simmering soup pot. Finally, he sprinkled a handful of wolfberry and added the diced pear. He turned on the fire and boiled it. After the flat food was cooked, he fried chili oil, sesame sauce and peanut sauce. He added white pepper to the garlic sauce, MSG, sugar, salt, and soy sauce. Then, he sprinkled it all over and mixed them together. Finally, he sprinkled a handful of sesame seeds to enhance the color. The flat food was thin and bouncy. The meat filling was full and the red oil wrapped around the skin. Just looking at it made one¡¯s appetite increase. Li Qing couldn¡¯t wait to try one. ¡°It¡¯s delicious! The filling is very full.¡± Lu Yuxi nodded and said, ¡°Last time, Uncle Bai said that he wanted to make flat food. The one he made must be eaten with soup. But I think this red oil one is more delicious.¡± Yanyun¡¯s flat food was delicious and appetizing. As the camera moved forward, the audience in the live-stream gulped. Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only ¡°It looks really fragrant!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to order takeout. The flat food skin is made of meat, and the meat filling is not greasy. It¡¯s super delicious. I strongly recommend it to everyone!¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no one selling red oil sesame sauce outside. I can only order a red oil dumpling to satisfy my cravings.¡± ¡°Save it first, then call me later!¡± ¡°Little Master Chef, please serve this dish in your shop in the future. Just looking at it makes me drool!¡± Chapter 178 - : Red Rice Roll ¡°Superb.¡± After Xu Zhexian finished tasting it, he was deeply impressed by his son. He did not expect that the seemingly ordinary flat food would become so delicious after passing through Xu Le¡¯s hands! Xu Le¡¯s original intention for choosing these two dishes was because they were troublesome to make. He had already secretly planned the time. As soon as the small pear soup was stewed, he would immediately start preparing the last dish. He first made the skin of the red rice roll. The only difference between it and ordinary rice roll was that it was mixed with red rice flour. There was also red rice flour that had been used to make the light conch slices in the previous round. Xu Le directly used sticky rice flour, potato starch, corn starch, and wheat starch to mix it with red rice flour to produce a dark red color. Then, he stirred the oil and water in a certain ratio and sifted them until they were fine. Lu Yuxi came up and said, ¡°The rice roll I ate previously were all for breakfast. You can add eggs, ham, or pork stuffing in the white rolls. After it¡¯s steamed and cut, you can pour sauce on it. You can choose the side dishes like chili oil, green chili peppers, pickled vegetables, and green beans.¡± As she helped with the sieve, she said, ¡°Do we have to fry it up again?¡± ¡°Yes, we still have to use liquid nitrogen to cool it down.¡± ¡°Ah? Then won¡¯t it become iced?¡± Lu Yuxi was very surprised when she heard this method. She secretly looked forward to the taste of the finished product. After the rice pulp was done, he covered the steamer with a layer of gauze and waited for it to boil. After pouring in the rice pulp, it could be steamed for two minutes. A large bump appeared in the middle of the dark red rice noodles. When it came off, it was as thin as a cicada¡¯s wing. ¡°It looks quite simple.¡± Li Qing was eager to try. ¡°I¡¯ll do the rest.¡± ¡°Okay, just make it as thin as possible.¡± Xu Le knew that it was not difficult to make the rice roll. After leaving it to them, he began the second step of this dish¡ªyellow silk skin. After mixing rice flour, glutinous rice flour, sweet potato starch, and a little turmeric powder evenly, he added an egg white and a little salt, sugar, and oil. After all the raw materials were prepared, he poured in 80 degrees celsius hot water and kneaded it into a yellow rice ball. As he rolled the rice balls, he kept adding warm water to them until they were thick enough to hang between his fingers. He turned on the heat for the cold pot and held the raw material bowl with one hand. With the other hand, he stuck the rice paste on his fingers and quickly dripped it vertically into the pot, forming some patterns in the pot. This step seemed simple, but in reality, he had to hold his breath and complete it in one go. The judges could not help but exclaim when they saw the yellow silk skin forming. ¡°He made it with his own hands? He succeeded in one go? This is too¡­¡± ¡°The finished products sold online are all made with machines. The failure rate is too high.¡± ¡°Even a chef who makes morning breakfast needs to build two to three years of experience before he can produce the yellow silk skin. But I can guaranteee that no one can produce such a perfect skin like him. It hasn¡¯t broken at all.¡± After practicing two or three times, Li Qing could already make the rice roll. He was especially proud of himself. Seeing Xu Le making the yellow silk skin, he immediately said, ¡°Go and mix the stuffing. I¡¯ll help you make it.¡± ¡°Can you do it?¡± Xu Le was skeptical. ¡°Why not? Don¡¯t worry about my culinary skills.¡± As Li Qing spoke, he imitated his actions. He dipped his fingertips in the rice paste and turned his wrist to draw a few rounds. The rice paste had been dripping all the way from the bowl to the pot. Even though it had taken shape in the pot, when it was poured out, there was still a plate of dregs that had landed on the bottom. It was a tragic sight. Li Qing was speechless for a moment. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°It¡¯s just a mistake.¡± Although he was trying to make up for it, he knew his limits and stopped trying. He began to focus on spreading the rice roll out. Xu Le divided the prawns that Lu Yuxi had peeled into two portions. One half was chopped into shrimp paste, and the other half was diced. He placed them into a bowl and mixed them evenly. This way, the fillings that were made contained grainy texture and tasted more layered. The white and tender cuttlefish meat was cut into strips before being chopped into paste and placed into a bowl. Finally, he put in a suitable amount of minced pork, salt, chicken essence, pepper, and sugar and stirred. The tender garlic chives were cut into pieces and added to the filling made of cuttlefish, prawns, and pork. After stirring evenly, a circle of sesame oil was poured in. Now it was time for the final plating. The yellow silk skin that had been made just now was dry and crispy. There was no way to roll the stuffing directly. It needed to be covered on both sides with wet kitchen paper first. After soaking it soft, it would become more resilient. Then, he overlapped the two silk skins and added a layer of meat filling in the middle. He carefully rolled them up. He turned on the heat and waited for the oil to reach about 200 degrees. After frying the meat roll for a minute, he could scoop it up and cut it in half. The fried meat roll was golden and crispy on the outside, and the meat inside was tender and fragrant. He placed it in the red rice roll while it was hot and wrapped it tightly. He brushed the skin with peanut oil, squeezed some peanut sauce, and sprinkled white sesame seeds. The fried meat roll¡¯s outer shell was crispy and fragrant, and it was wrapped in a circle of soft and beautiful red rice roll. Li Qing took a piece and put it into his mouth. The thin, soft, and rice-scented meat roll was taken in one bite. Under the crispy skin, there was a faint gravy filling. It was exceptionally delicious and rich in texture. ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. It¡¯s not done yet.¡± Xu Le reminded him. Li Qing gave him a thumbs up and said, ¡°It¡¯s really not bad. The three layers taste completely different. Every layer is delicious¡­¡± He trailed off, his mouth twitching. This was because he saw Xu Le pour the liquid nitrogen into the chili oil and it quickly smoked. Under the stimulation of the chemical reaction, it solidified into powder. Then, Xu Le sprinkled a spoonful of it on the rice roll. The moment the liquid nitrogen of -196¡ãC came into contact with the chili oil, white smoke immediately rose. The hot surface of the rice roll immediately produced mist that rose. ¡°Rice roll with chili powder? Is this still edible?¡± This was the first time Li Qing had seen such a strange combination. He pouted and said, ¡°I feel that the taste in the previous step was already perfect. Although it looks cool after the liquid nitrogen, who would serve spicy rice rolls?¡± He did not understand this combination and was shocked. Xu Le said, ¡°Won¡¯t you know if it¡¯s good or not after taking a bite?¡± Lu Yuxi drooled as she looked at it. She immediately picked up a piece and tasted it. The sound was crispy, and the oily rice skin was slightly spicy. The filling inside was filled with a sweet fragrance that was both chewy and crispy. Under the magical taste, the fragrance jumped up and down in her mouth. Lu Yuxi narrowed her eyes and smiled. ¡°Awesome, I announce that you have already become a culinary god in my heart!¡± Xu Le¡¯s hand paused, and a sincere smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Mmm, I know many more dishes.¡± The two of them had a casual conversation, but no one took it to heart. Shen Hui, who was sitting in the audience, was extremely anxious. Her back was constantly covered in cold sweat. Finally, after Xu Le filtered out the ingredients in the small pear soup and poured it into the cup with ice, the red rice roll was sent down. This was the last dish. Chen Yeqi¡¯s hand was trembling as he held the walkie-talkie. In the end, he sighed and said, ¡°We still couldn¡¯t make it.¡± In the last half of the finals, the Master Chef introduced a pot of chicken soup with wontons and hibiscus crabs. The last dish was red rice roll. Chapter 179 - Additional Round Only one dish was the same. This was completely within Xu Le¡¯s expectations. After all, it took the shortest time to make the red rice roll, allowing the other party to have enough time to copy it. In order to ensure that the taste was the best, the six prawns noodles were served as they were cooked. When all the dishes were served to the judges, the audience below had already tasted most of them. Some people finished eating and even drank all the soup. They looked exceptionally satisfied. The smooth noodles were wrapped in the essence of the prawn meat. It was red and tempting. When one took a bite, it was delicious. Song Deyue raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, ¡°I won¡¯t comment on the taste first. Just this Six Prawns Noodles has been lost in tradition for a long time. The method is not difficult but cumbersome. To be able to bring this noodles to the competition venue and restore it in a limited time is worthy of praise.¡± ¡°The shrimp oil is slightly spicy, and the shrimp is fresh and smooth. Overall, it¡¯s fresh but not fishy. It¡¯s very successful!¡± Immediately after, they tasted the pot of chicken soup by the Master Chef. The wonton skin was thin and filled, and the chicken soup was bright and rich. However, the combination of the two was a little overwhelming. The fusion was not perfect. After the judges looked at each other, Cai Lan said, ¡°The dumplings are very good, but if the soup base is soaked in seaweed and shrimp with clear soup, it might taste better. There are some problems with the combination here.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If both are close to perfection, it¡¯s very difficult to raise the taste to another level. There¡¯s no innovation or creativity.¡± The judges had just finished commenting on ¡°lack of innovation¡± when they saw the red oil sesame sauce flat food. They were all stunned. ¡°What is this? Can Yanyun¡¯s flat food still be mixed dry?¡± ¡°It looks a little nasty.¡± While surprised, they silently tasted one. The skin of the flat food was made from lean meat, so it was soft and tough. It was filled with the oily fragrance of meat, the fragrance of sesame sauce, and the fragrance of red oil. It was simply the finishing touch! Before it entered their mouths, everyone felt that flat food was meat-filled and easily greasy, not to mention the heavy-flavored red oil sesame sauce and fried peanuts and cucumber slices as decorations. No matter how they looked at it, it looked like a cold dish. However, they could only feel the attractiveness of this ¡°ordinary¡± dish after eating it. They couldn¡¯t stop eating it. ¡°The soup base of the Yanyun flat food is light-flavored. It emphasizes the fragrance and sweetness of the flat food, but the taste of mixing it dry with sesame sauce and red oil is not only not greasy, but also tastes better.¡± ¡°This innovative dish has a perfect integration flavors, it¡¯s really not bad.¡± ¡°The methods are similar to making red oil dumplings, but the taste is completely different. The skin is soft and tough, and the texture is very good.¡± On the other hand, although the Hibiscus Crab made by the Master Chef received unanimous praise, the cooking method was too standard and there was no innovation. Soon, during the evaluation, Yanyun Flat Food obtained the highest score since the start of the show. The audience below the stage erupted in long and enthusiastic applause. It was obvious that they also approved this score. Lu Yuxi couldn¡¯t help but feel happy for him. She lowered her voice and said, ¡°You¡¯re definitely going to win this round!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy. We can¡¯t underestimate them either.¡± Xu Le¡¯s expression was exceptionally calm. At this moment, a large discussion had already begun on the bullet screen. ¡°So what if Xu Le wins this round? Don¡¯t forget that the first round was a draw.¡± ¡°Forget it. There¡¯s still one last dish. It¡¯s still uncertain who will win.¡± ¡°The Master Chef can¡¯t lose to him!¡± Amidst the discussion, the last dish of red rice roll was served. Xu Le had prepared an additional bowl of pear soup at the side. The red rice roll was plump. When one took a bite, the yellow silk skin inside was crisp and fragrant. The thick cuttlefish in the filling was moist and sticky, translucent and soft. It was incomparably fresh and sweet. More than a dozen herbs were added to the pear soup. There was also ice to cool it down. It was cooling and moisturizing. As expected, he got a good result. In the end, when the audience voted, Xu Le¡¯s team was full of confidence. After all, the feedback from the judges was too good. The audience¡¯s votes would definitely not be too bad. While waiting, Li Shengsheng came backstage to greet Xu Le. His face was filled with joy as he said, ¡°You guys are definitely the winners. When the time comes, I want to see what that Master Chef looks like!¡± Even if he had not been watching the competition from the beginning, he had heard of the amazing results and heaven-defying character of the Master Chef. It was a miracle that he could be defeated by a child like Xu Le. Ten minutes later, the voting results were out and the contestants returned to the stage. The host looked down at the script and looked back at Xu Le in disbelief. He cleared his throat and said, ¡°Please look at the big screen.¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Chen Yeqi slammed his fist on the table, his face filled with anger. ¡°What happened? We actually lost!¡± The famous Master Chef had lost by 100 fewer votes in the finals. This was an unprecedented phenomenon! Chen Zui¡¯s usually smiling face completely darkened at this moment. His eyes were dark and his brows were furrowed. After all, from the launch of the show to the creation of the persona and the overwhelming publicity, they had already spent a lot of effort. They thought that it would be the final match without any mistakes. As long as they won, the next day¡¯s publicity event would go smoothlya€| But now, they were actually defeated by an eight-year-old child like Xu Le? It was an unprecedented humiliation! Moreover, he had personally invited Xu Le to promote the show. Chen Yeqi could not accept the outcome in front of him for a moment. He punched the table a few more times. Then, he turned around and asked, ¡°Brother, what should we do?¡± He usually only stop his stubborn temper when he was at a loss and helpless. He said in a pleasing tone, ¡°The publicity event is set for tomorrow, right?¡± Before Chen Zui could answer, he hurriedly complained, ¡°Hmph, everything has been settled. The original plan was to have the project launched globally. Nowa€|¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Chen Zui interrupted. ¡°It was a draw, not a loss.¡± Before Xu Le could celebrate happily after winning, the host tightened his earpiece and continued, ¡°Because the outcome is a draw, it¡¯s not fair to both sides. It¡¯s better for us to choose a Master Chef tonight.¡± Before anyone could react, the host began to announce the rules of the competition. ¡°The last game is a three-hour game. Use the remaining ingredients to make a dish of 100 servings. Then, head out with the cameraman following to ask for votes from people on the streets. There¡¯s a time limit of one hour to decide the winner.¡± As soon as the program rules were announced, cheers sounded from below. Many people were exclaiming that the program rules were becoming more and more exciting! Xu Le looked back at the remaining ingredients and sneered. Just as he was about to refuse, Lu Yuxi interrupted him and said angrily, ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys messing with us? The difference in the remaining ingredients between the two sides is so huge. Why? Are you sore losers?¡± Her words was very piercing to the heart. The host¡¯s expression froze for a moment before he smiled and began to smooth things over. ¡°Miss Lu, don¡¯t be agitated. The final result is a draw. You guys didn¡¯t lose.¡± Chapter 180 - Food shortage After the host emphasized, he tried to smooth things over, ¡°With so many viewers still watching online, although there are few people on your side, it¡¯s not to the extent that there are none at all. If you withdraw from the finals, it¡¯s equivalent to giving up.¡± Xu Le frowned slightly. He knew that he could not fight against the person who set the rules. He only said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make you admit defeat.¡± His words caused a thousand ripples in the comments section. ¡°What an arrogant tone. Children like him just don¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth!¡± ¡°Maybe he really will win?¡± ¡°Could it be that Xu Le is too lucky in the finals and doesn¡¯t dare to continue?¡± ¡°He definitely won¡¯t dare. He¡¯s just lucky!¡± ¡°It¡¯s clearly a draw. Why do the fans of the Little Master Chef make it seem like he won?¡± ¡°I support the add-on round. I still want to see it!¡± ¡°Do the contestants really still have the energy? Even an adult won¡¯t be able to withstand this match for more than ten hours, right?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we continue the competition tomorrow?¡± ¡°Xu Le, you can do it!¡± ¡°Anyway, the Master Chef will definitely win! There won¡¯t be a mistake!¡± Even if Xu Le was unhappy, he could wait until the last step. There was no point in pestering with them. In the end, he nodded and agreed. Lu Yuxi was indignant. She gritted her teeth and did not continue to retort. In the end, she said, ¡°They just don¡¯t dare to have a fair competition because they¡¯re afraid that you¡¯ll continue to win. Otherwise, why didn¡¯t they exchange the ingredients from both sides if they were going to have an add-on round? Wouldn¡¯t it be obvious that he cheated if he had so much seafood left?¡± Just now, the Yanyun flat food had already used up a lot lean meat. Xu Le made a rough calculations and what was left most was the eel. There was about the same amount of fatty meat and lean meat, bamboo pith, celery, a small amount of shrimp, and so on¡­ ¡°There¡¯s not much ingredients left. The time limit doesn¡¯t allow for troublesome and cumbersome dishes. How about this? Go make a big pot of rice. Later, we will make a braised saddle bridge, a stir-fried meat, and a bamboo pith meat roll. Finally, this¡­ watermelon, let¡¯s make a traditional sweet drink.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just squeeze it to make watermelon juice?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not enough to make juice. Traditional sweet drinks tend to have a strong taste and are better at winning over people¡¯s taste preferences.¡± Braised saddle bridge was a famous Huaiyang dish. The fresh eel was cut into sections and sliced on the surface twice, without cutting through. Lu Yuxi leaned over and asked, ¡°Why is it called Saddle Bridge? Why not braised eel? That¡¯s more intuitive and easier to tell what dish it is.¡± Xu Le picked up a section of the eel that had been cut. The eel that had not been completely cut was bending one section after another. He gestured the arc with his fingers and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t this look like a saddle?¡± ¡°¡­ a little.¡± ¡°When it¡¯s fried later, the arc will be even more curved, like the shape of a bridge. That¡¯s why it¡¯s called that.¡± The blood on the eel could be washed off with a rub of salt. When Li Qing went to turn the tap, he did not notice that he had mixed hot water. In an instant, the piece of yellow eel in the bowl was alive and kicking. He widened his eyes in shock and said, ¡°Did the corpse¡­ just move?¡± Zhang Tong, who was cutting the watermelon, looked at him speechlessly and said, ¡°It¡¯s a knee jump reaction. Just wash it with cold water.¡± Li Qing changed to cold water and muttered, ¡°Should I say it or not? This eel is a little disgusting¡­¡± Xu Le sprinkled a spoonful of salt on the processed eel. As it was freshly killed, the cells inside were still alive. As soon as there was salt, they immediately twisted violently. Li Qing saw it from the corner of his eye and immediately turned his head away. It was not a pleasant scene. He poured a circle of yellow wine and marinated it at the side. If only the eel meat was eaten, the taste would obviously be a little bland. Xu Le took a piece of pork belly and cut it into thin slices. The combination of animal fat and protein would make the dish taste even better. He prepared side ingredients, like onion, ginger, aniseed, fragrant leaves, and a large amount of garlic. ¡°After the eel is cut through, the blood on it must be washed clean. Otherwise, when it is fried in the pot, it will all become black dregs.¡± After Xu Le gave his instructions, the oil in the pot was almost ready. The eel was placed in a ladle and put the pot to fry. As soon as he put it in, the hot oil crackled and rolled. The people beside him subconsciously took a few steps back. Lu Yuxi, who was used to seeing him cook, was carefully peeling garlic. She looked up and said, ¡°The oil won¡¯t splash out.¡± Li Qing said, ¡°There¡¯s still water on the eel. Don¡¯t sound so confident. What if it really burns someone later?¡± Lu Yuxi curled her lips and smiled. She looked up with her bright eyes and said mockingly, ¡°You¡¯ve been learning culinary skills from Master Xu for so long. Don¡¯t you believe him?¡± The two of them bickered a little more. Xu Le quickly fried the eel and scooped it out to drain the oil. Soon, after seven or eight rounds, he finally finished frying all the eel. There was no need to crush the peeled garlic. There was a little oil left in the pot. He poured all the garlic in and fried them until both sides were golden. He scooped out half of it and used it later. Then, he stir-fried the chopped green onion and ginger, the pork belly, and force the oil out of the meat before adding the spices. Finally, he lay out the eel. Fresh soy sauce, huadiao wine, dark soya sauce, rock sugar, pepper powder, and two large bowls of water were added to submerge the eel. After 20 minutes, it would be ready. Taking advantage of this time, Xu Le asked Li Qing to squeeze out all the juice from the seedless watermelon. After it was fine enough, he passed it through another sieve again. ¡°You can¡¯t cook the watermelon flesh. It can¡¯t be heated, or its taste will change. Let¡¯s soak it in the agar. It¡¯ll be useful later.¡± On Zhang Tong¡¯s side, he was preparing the ingredients for the bamboo pith roll. After the rest of the shrimp meat was removed, he used the back of the knife to flatten it. He didn¡¯t crush it directly, but used a more restrained method. This way, the shrimp meat would be firm and similar to prawn paste. After the chestnuts were cut into pieces, the water inside was squeezed out. The garlic chives added fragrance, and the water was also squeezed out after it was cut into pieces. The pork belly was cut into small pieces. After the side dishes were all placed in a bowl, salt, MSG, pepper, and seasoning were added. Finally, some raw powder was added to absorb the water, and he wore gloves to mix it evenly. The material that was slapped out would be very tight and the sound of it falling to the bottom of the bowl would be very loud. At this moment, he could use the method of making beef balls to squeeze out a meatball-sized meat paste from the space between his thumb and forefinger. He would scoop it out with a spoon and place it on the plate. After Xu Zhexian was done processing the bamboo pith, Xu Le only needed to cut it into an inch long and cut it vertically with scissors. Finally, he stuffed the prawn paste in and wrapped it up. Finally, he used the fiber in the celery to form a thin string and tied it up. After the processing, he directly put it into the steamer. At this moment, 20 minutes had already passed and the braised pork belly was 80% cooked. The fragrance was already everywhere, making people drool. Xu Le picked up the piece of braised pork belly and placed it in a bowl. The bright red pork belly was laid flat at the top. After the soup was poured on it, it was appetizing just by looking at it. Then, he put it inside the pot and steamed it for 20 minutes to let the braised meat be cooked thoroughly. Chapter 181 - Braised Saddle Bridge On the other hand, the bamboo pith roll just needed to be steamed for five minutes before it could be served. The soup on the plate should not be poured out as it contained all the original taste of the prawns. After returning it to the pot, he used the bean flour to thicken the gravy. Finally, he added peanut oil to enhance the fragrance. After making the gravy thick enough, he used a small spoon to accurately pour them on the bamboo pith roll one by one. The dish was finally completed. The plump bamboo pith were like small pillows, soft and white on the plate, exquisite and small. ¡°It¡¯s so light-flavored. Will this taste bland?¡± As Lu Yuxi spoke, she picked up a bamboo pith roll and placed it in her mouth. The bamboo pith, which was usually used in the hotpot, was fragrant and crispy in her impression. At this moment, it was filled with the essence of the prawn meat. It was smooth and soft, and the prawn meat inside was juicy. Although it did not have a strong taste, the original taste of the Teochew dish was already amazing! Soon, after the braised eel was out of the pot again, he picked up the pork belly on it. During the process of stewing and steaming, the essence of the pork belly had been completely absorbed. Then, he forced out the soup base and used the plate to pour it out. He surrounded it with the golden garlic that he had just fried. Li Qing looked at the crispy and savory piece of eel and was about to eat it when Xu Le stopped him. ¡°Wait a little longer. There¡¯s still one last step.¡± The soup that had been forced out just now was returned to the pot. White pepper and sugar were added, and finally, water was used to thicken the gravy. After stirring it with a spoon until it was thick and smooth, it could be poured onto the steamed eel. Once it was poured on, the color of the entire dish would reach another level. It was red and tempting. It melted in the mouth and was soft and delicious. Lu Yuxi ate a portion first and immediately raised one of her eyebrows. ¡°The flesh came off the bones before I even bit it. It¡¯s very fresh and tender. The braised eel is not fishy at all. It tastes like white pepper and is slightly spicy.¡± ¡°The braising is to force the fragrance in. It¡¯s steamed at the end so that it will become soft and tender.¡± ¡°The garlic is delicious too. It¡¯s soft and flavorful. It¡¯s not spicy at all. It¡¯s all the fragrance of the meat gravy.¡± After Xu Zhexian finished tasting it, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed. He said, ¡°In my impression, Huaiyang cuisine has always been sweet. I¡¯m worried that the locals won¡¯t be used to this taste, but this dish is still alright. It¡¯s fresh and sweet. The taste of the sugar is only used to enhance the freshness and doesn¡¯t overshadow the taste itself.¡± ¡°The Jiangsu region was the first to produce salt. There¡¯s no lack of salt. After they¡¯re sick of it, they became used to putting sugar on the dishes used to serve guests. It can be said that the rarer something is, the more expensive it is. However, the proportion of sugar has always been very low, so it doesn¡¯t affect the overall taste much.¡± Other than the watermelon, there were only the last ingredients, which were fat and lean meat. Originally, Xu Le did not plan to make home-cooked food, but because of the limited ingredients, he could only do so. ¡°I went to Hunan for a very spicy and fragrant meal previously. Based on the previous taste I recall, I should be able to replicate it¡­¡± ¡°When have you been to Hunan, Lele?¡± Xu Zhexian could not help but ask curiously. ¡°When I was recording the show.¡± Xu Le quickly found a reason to brush it off and changed the topic. He asked Zhang Tong, ¡°Is the chili ready?¡± Just now, after Zhang Tong mixed the red pepper and garlic powder in a certain ratio, he added white wine and sugar and placed them in a yogurt machine that could be heated for half an hour. ¡°That¡¯ll do. It tastes just right.¡± Xu Le took a sniff. The strong alcohol smell of the white wine had almost dissipated, leaving only a fragrance. It tasted much better than the chopped peppers sold on the market. On the other hand, the chili and garlic were extremely spicy. Just the smell of them was enough to make one salivate. Lu Yuxi cut the lean pork and fatty meat into thin slices and added food salt, Five Fragrance Powder, clear water, and dark soya sauce and mixed with her hands until the meat absorbed everything. Xu Le added a suitable amount of light and dark soya sauce, oyster sauce, MSG, and a little sugar to the bowl. Then, he stirred it evenly and put it aside. The base oil was poured into the pot. The beancurd were cut into thin slices and scooped out after stir-frying. Then, the fire was turned to the maximum. The traditional stir-fried Changsha meat needed to be stir-fried in a minute and ten seconds. This step tested the chef¡¯s control of the heat and the ingredients. The fatty meat was stir-fried in the pot a few times. The thick fat gradually turned golden on both sides. After it became thin and soft, the lean meat and dried beans were poured in. Garlic slices and beans were then added. After stir-frying over a high fire until it changed color, the chopped peppers that had been prepared previously were added into the pot and stir-fried. Finally, the prepared seasoning mixture was added. When it was about to be served, a handful of fresh and green garlic sprouts was sprinkled. Then, it could be placed on the plate. The lean meat and fatty meat seeped into each other. It was neither greasy nor dry. The chopped peppers stimulated the spiciness in the hot oil, and the beancurd soaked in the fragrance of the oil. A Sichuan dish that looked, smelled, and tasted good was prepared. A countdown had already appeared on the big screen. Lu Yuxi knew that there was not much time left, so she hurriedly said, ¡°Plate the dish first. Put a small portion of rice with two bamboo pith rolls, a spoonful of stir-fried meat, and two sections of braised saddle bridge.¡± It was meant to be given to random passers-by to taste one by one. There was no need to serve too much. Now, they only needed to make the last dish of watermelon dew. After boiling hot water over the agar and cooling it down a little, he used the sieve to remove the white foam from the newly squeezed watermelon juice. Then, he divided them into bowls and filled each small bowl with a spoonful. He placed them directly into the freezer. After three to five minutes, the natural glue in the agar would freeze it. It was not troublesome to make and good for relieving heat. He took a piece of pale yellow rock sugar and put it in cold water to boil slowly. The difference between rock sugar and white sugar was that it carried a cool mint fragrance. After it was all dissolved in the water, it was quickly cooled down in the freezer. After waiting for about ten minutes, he could take out the frozen watermelon dew and use a fruit knife to cut it into cubes. Finally, he would pour the rock sugar water on it. It would melt in the mouth and the fragrance of the watermelon would freeze into the jelly. The peppermint smell would rush up to one¡¯s throat and wake him up. For the sake of aesthetics, after plating it, he sprinkled some mint on it. It was cool and comfortable, and looked good. There were cameras following him all the way out, but no one showed up at the Master Chef¡¯s side. It was Chen Zui and Chen Yeqi who pushed out the dining cart. Lu Yuxi glanced at him and saw that there were small casseroles on the dining cart. She knew that they were seafood without looking. ¡°Little Master Chef, what did you make?¡± Chen Ye was had an ulterior motive when he asked that. Without waiting for Lu Yuxi to answer, he teased, ¡°I have the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall here.¡± Lu Yuxi rolled her eyes and reluctantly pushed the dining cart over to exchange with the other party. It was already past ten o¡¯clock, and there were not many people on the street. Lu Yuxi pointed in a direction and said, ¡°Let¡¯s push it to the night market. There are many people there.¡± They soon arrived at the location. As soon as they arrived, the crowd sitting at the food stall suddenly erupted in cheers. ¡°It¡¯s the Little Master Chef! He¡¯s here!¡± At this time, among the people who were still eating supper, there were inevitably many foodies who were watching the live broadcast. Immediately, people crowded around Lu Yuxi. ¡°Can I have your autograph?¡± ¡°Can we take a photo?¡± Chapter 182 - Irreplaceable ¡°When are you going to open another branch? Open one for other cities! Then I won¡¯t have to come back here.¡± ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t be anxious. Come and taste it for free.¡± Lu Yuxi handed over the food with a smile. The first person to take over was a tall and fat man. There was even an assistant recording beside him. It seemed like he was a food streamer or something. After tasting the stir-fried meat, he took a few more bites before commenting, ¡°The fat is smooth and filling, but it¡¯s not greasy. The lean meat is soft and dense. After chewing for two mouthfuls, the spiciness suddenly shoots out. It¡¯s very addictive with its salty and spicy taste. After wrapping it in rice, the taste is just right. The sourness of the chili is mixed with the granulated rice, making it especially delicious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s simply brilliant!¡± The people at the side swarmed up and many people also joined in the fun. Lu Yuxi called for everyone to line up and handed over two sets of food in order. One was for themselves, and the other was made by the Master Chef. The live broadcast was a little chaotic, but it was also filled with the atmosphere of the common life. In the end, the number of people in the live broadcast room doubled. The topic of the winner and loser quickly entered the trending topics, and the number of people discussing it exceeded 100 million. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, the finals slowly came to an end. The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was a popular dish. Most of the people who were queuing up to try it had high expectations, let alone those who had never eaten it before. After obtaining it, it was exceptionally delicious and the seafood was chewy. However, other than that, there was not much freshness and surprise. Li Shengsheng was also in the line. It was not easy for him to eat Xu Le¡¯s food. Although it was so spicy that his eyes were watery, he still kept eating. He said, ¡°It¡¯s too awesome! I¡¯ve never eaten anything so delicious in my life.¡± ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating¡ª¡± Lu Yuxi teased him and stuffed the watermelon dew into his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t choke. Drink some to relieve the spiciness.¡± After all the food was distributed and the tasters who had eaten gave their votes to the production team, Xu Le and the others returned to the competition hall. As soon as he got into the car, he pressed down the newspaper in the hand of the man in the passenger seat who was wearing sunglasses and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend. I can tell you¡¯re here.¡± Alex bared his eight snow-white teeth. ¡°It¡¯s finally over. You¡¯ll see the Master Chef tomorrow.¡± ¡°Well, then he¡¯s probably not human.¡± After Xu Le said this calmly, Alex¡¯s expression changed drastically. Then, he slapped his thigh and said excitedly, ¡°I knew it! You¡¯re smart enough!¡± ¡°If he¡¯s not human, what is he? A ghost?¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°Tell me, tell me what you¡¯ve guessed!¡± The people in the car became excited. Xu Le said, ¡°It¡¯s just a guess now. It¡¯s not convenient to say more. But soon, he will show up.¡± Alex smiled thoughtfully and put his sunglasses back on. ¡°They¡¯ve been preparing for this for years. Let¡¯s wait and see. Will the outcome be affected by you?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± Xu Le calmly closed his eyes. When he returned to the exhibition hall, the flashlights above his head made him unable to open his eyes. The host read the final votes. As it was a live broadcast, there was no chance to fake it. Hence, Chen Yeqi, who was backstage, was curled up in a chair with his head lowered. He looked depressed. ¡°I announce that the final winner is Xu Le!¡± After the host forced a smile and made the announcement, there was silence below the stage at first. Then, there was an outburst of cheers. Even the judges stood up and applauded for him. When the commotion was almost over, Xu Le said, ¡°Since I¡¯ve already won the competition, according to the previous agreement, can we let the Master Chef appear?¡± The comments section were immediately filled with words with colorful banners. Clearly, everyone was very curious about the true appearance of the Master Chef. Chen Yeqi took a deep breath and adjusted his emotions. He walked forward and said, ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s welcome the Master Chef. No, Xu Le is the Master Chef.¡± He emphasized the latter half of his sentence and glared at Xu Le. Fortunately, everyone¡¯s attention was focused on the curtain. An artificial hand pulled open the curtain. ¡°This is our newly launched AI intelligence. It specializes in cooking. As long as it takes a look at the production process, or send the recipe into the database, or taste a delicate dish, it can calculate the amount to be used, as well as the heat used to make it. It has no blind spots¡­¡± Before Chen Yeqi could finish speaking, Old Master Song turned around and left. Immediately after, three or four judges turned around and left without giving him any face. He could not maintain his expression for a moment. He was still working hard to promote the advantages of the product. The audience had different expressions. Some were surprised, some were excited, and some were furious. ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s something wrong with you for inviting so many chefs to play with a robot like this!¡± ¡°You¡¯re cheating. You didn¡¯t win!¡± ¡°How despicable! Isn¡¯t this just bullying?¡± The accusations continued. Chen Yeqi did not expect this scene at all. Xu Le watched coldly from the side and sized up the robot. Other than its hands, which were especially realistic, the rest of its body was made of cold steel and ice. It looked like a cyberpunk. Chen Yeqi originally wanted to make use of the program to promote the machine¡¯s qualities. He swore that the AI would definitely win, so he did not give him a name from the beginning. It was simply named ¡°Master Chef¡±. He did not expect Xu Le to steal the limelight in the end. When he went on stage, he felt a little guilty. When the audience scolded him, he was so nervous that his face turned pale and he could not say a complete sentence. Xu Le took the microphone and smiled as he gave his acceptance speech. ¡°Although every perfect dish is presented after thoroughly practising them, I believe that in every chef¡¯s heart, it¡¯s no less than a work of art. However, art is definitely not something that can be accurately replicated by exquisite instruments. This is because during every cooking process, it¡¯s possible to experience different amount of heat, problems relating to quality of ingredients, small hiccups, and the mood during the cooking process will lead to a difference in the final texture.¡± ¡°And art is not created after careful consideration. It¡¯s created by the product. Every chef pursues perfection and pays a lot of effort in the process. This is definitely not something that a mindless machine can imitate.¡± After his acceptance speech, the audience applauded. Chen Zui quickly went on stage and held down Chen Yeqi, who was about to lose control. He nodded at Xu Le and said humbly, ¡°Thank you for your guidance.¡± ¡­ As for whether the Master Chef robot sold well or not, Xu Le did not care about it. However, he heard that in the public opinion, the Chen family seemed to have made a lot of money, but no one paid attention to the continuous sales that followed. ¡°Tiantian, come over for dinner.¡± Xu Le brought the last dish to the table. Lu Yuxi stuck her head out and said, ¡°Can you finish eating so many dishes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here.¡± Li Shengsheng patted his chest. Alex also couldn¡¯t wait to start eating. During the lively meal, Xu Le looked at Lu Yuxi. ¡°When did you recognize me?¡± ¡°That day at Uncle Bai¡¯s house, you were familiar with the way to eat wontons and were also very familiar with Li Shengsheng. I had already guessed it then.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s glass came into contact with his and made a crisp and pleasant sound. It was just like the classical music that was played in the canteen on the university campus a long time ago to make the place more classy. The Coiling Dragon Cucumbers on the table were connected from head to tail. It was like the long river of life, some people would still meet again in the end. Chapter 183 - Dispute Over Additional Round The freshly squeezed orange juice in the cup swayed. At the gathering, Alex said straightforwardly, ¡°When President Chen first came to me to promote it, the entire editorial department was confused. They could not believe that AI intelligence had already developed to this extent, and their tone was even more arrogant. They boasted that they could earn tens of billions of yuan once they went public. Who knew that they would lose to you? Now, their assets have directly shrunk by half.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, the Chen family must hate you to death. But what can he do about the live broadcast?¡± Li Shengsheng peeled the garlic crayfish and placed the red oil-coated chewy lobster meat on Xu Tian¡¯s plate. He rubbed his fingers and said proudly, ¡°Who cares? You won anyway.¡± Alex said, ¡°But I think it¡¯s a pity¡ª¡± ¡°What¡¯s a pity?¡± Xu Le looked at him in confusion. ¡°It was not a glorious enough win.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± His words attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Ever since Lu Yuxi saw the series of actions that Alex had done to Xu Le at the beginning of the Chinese restaurant, her impression of him was average. At this moment, she immediately retorted. ¡°Then what do you mean by glorious? We¡¯ve already won. What¡¯s there to fuss about?¡± Alex¡¯s mouth was open. He didn¡¯t expect his usual style of speech to be refuted. He was stunned for a moment before smiling. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that. It¡¯s just that in the last round, the Buddha Jumps over the Wall from the other party didn¡¯t beat the three ordinary dishes made by Xu Le. This made the audience a little surprised. This is also the source of many criticisms.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yuxi was slightly embarrassed and lowered her head to eat. ¡°I tried that Buddha Jumps Over The Wall. It tasted perfect, but the competition only lasted for a day. Usually, it takes three days or even half a month to prepare the ingredients to the finished product. Even if he went through the entire process, it was a pity that the stew was not cooked well. After it entered the mouth, it tasted a little fishy. It was not sweet and even slightly bitter.¡± If it didn¡¯t win over the taste buds of the judges, and didn¡¯t suit their tastes, it was just a gimmick. In the end, it was understandable that he would lose miserably. Xu Le was commenting when his eyes lit up. ¡°From your tone, you should know how to do it!¡± His meaning was self-evident. Li Qing said, ¡°Of course. My master knows how to cook many dishes, right?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes. But it will take half a month to prepare the ingredients. I¡¯m not free, so you should give up on that thought.¡± Xu Le smiled and started talking about the business in the shop. He had originally thrown this matter to the back of his mind, but when he opened the comments section of his social media account at night, he was shocked. The last update was still the tutorial of the fried chop rice cake. There were more than 100,000 comments below, all arguing about the unfairness of the match. ¡°Although I¡¯ve always liked Xu Le, how could the few dishes he cooked at the competition win against the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. It would be a lie if there¡¯s no foul play.¡± ¡°I heard that the feedback from the use of the Master Chef Machine is super good. How can it lose to Xu Le?¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s something fishy going on.¡± ¡°Does Xu Le dare to come out and respond to this?¡± The further he scrolled, the more unsightly the new comments became. Although someone was helping him explain, rumors spread far faster than clarification. ¡°Is there a possibility that the person who can obtain the title of Master Chef is Xu Le? That robot doesn¡¯t have a name yet.¡± ¡°If you feel that the anonymous tasters aren¡¯t up to standard, then go and reason with them! This isn¡¯t something Xu Le can decide.¡± ¡­ Late at night, Lu Yuxi, who was holding her phone and smiling, sat up from the bed. She looked at Xu Le, who had pushed the door open, and said in surprise, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll record a tutorial on Buddha Jumps Over the Wall tomorrow.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to the shop?¡± ¡°With the two of them around, it¡¯s fine if we don¡¯t go.¡± Since the boss had already spoken, Lu Yuxi nodded and said, ¡°¡­Alright, sleep early.¡± ¡°Good night.¡± The next morning, Lu Yuxi heard the banging sounds in the kitchen and rubbed her eyes to leave her room. ¡°Have you started cooking?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still sorting the ingredients. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll start recording later.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± After Lu Yuxi agreed, she went to wash up. She saw Shen Hui braiding Xu Tian¡¯s hair. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t often take care of her child, so her hands were very unfamiliar with tying the hair. After four or five times, she became slightly irritated. Xu Tian¡¯s expression gradually became anxious. ¡°Mom, it hurts. You tugged at my scalp!¡± ¡°Okay, okay. Don¡¯t move.¡± Shen Hui¡¯s last attempt was finally presentable. She clapped her hands and smiled. ¡°Alright, go look in the mirror.¡± Xu Tian looked at the hairstyle in the mirror and pouted for a long time without saying anything. This was far from the effect of Lu Yuxi¡¯s hairstyle! However, in order to take care of her mother¡¯s mood, she did not complain. A moment of loneliness flashed across Shen Hui¡¯s face. Lu Yuxi took out a scar removal ointment from the drawer and handed it over. ¡°Even if the wound on your hand recovers, you have to take a few more weeks of medicine. Be careful not to leave a scar.¡± The burn that day made Shen Hui miss the finals. She was unhappy about it. After accepting the ointment in a muffled voice, she looked up and said, ¡°I heard from Xu Le that you were leaving. Why are you staying now?¡± Xu Le heard the commotion and was about to come out to explain when Xu Tian said excitedly, ¡°I don¡¯t want Sister Lu to leave. I want Sister to stay and braid my hair!¡± Like a rabbit, she hugged Lu Yuxi¡¯s thigh and said, ¡°Sister, can you not leave?¡± Xu Le, who came out later, couldn¡¯t help but laugh when he saw his sister¡¯s attitude. He urged, ¡°You¡¯re going to be late for school. Be careful that the teacher would punish you for it.¡± Xu Tian looked up with tears in her eyes and said, ¡°Then Sister Lu¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Lu Yuxi reached out and rubbed the top of her head. She smiled lovingly and said, ¡°Hurry up and go to school. It¡¯s going to be holiday soon. We¡¯ll take you out to play then.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Xu Tian reached out to do a pinky promise with her before leaving. Shen Hui had a complicated expression as she stroked the hair by her ear. ¡°Mom, Lu Yuxi works in my shop and has helped a lot since the beginning. Moreover, we used to know each other and can be considered trusted friends. It¡¯s fine for her to live here.¡± Xu Le was the one who paid for the mortgage, so Shen Hui was too embarrassed to chase his friend away. She snorted. ¡°Anyone can do the cashier job.¡± ¡°Look.¡± Xu Le knew that Shen Hui didn¡¯t really hate Lu Yuxi. Instead, she had other concerns. He opened the homepage of his social media account and handed it over. ¡°This is the shop¡¯s operations and publicity account. The other is my personal tutorial account. Both of accounts have quite a lot of followers, and the benefits of the account are very considerable. Most importantly, from the filming to the editing and dubbing, as well as the script scenes, they were all thought up by Lu Yuxi alone. You can¡¯t deny her hard work and results.¡± Shen Hui choked on her words and her gaze darkened. She flipped her hair to hide her embarrassment and changed the topic. ¡°You want to film the tutorial on ¡®Buddha jumps over the wall¡¯. Have you bought all the ingredients?¡± ¡°I missed a few of the 18 ingredients. The Ginseng, scallop, Flower Mushroom, and I bought large strips of crucian carp meat. When I started making it, I feel that the small crucian carp meat would be more tender and delicious.¡± Chapter 184 - Tutorial on Buddha Jumps Over The Wall ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go out and buy it. Wait here.¡± After saying that, Shen Hui rushed downstairs. Xu Zhexian¡¯s car was still waiting for her downstairs. Xu Zhexian said, ¡°How is it?¡± Before Shen Hui could speak, Xu Tian screamed, ¡°Dad! Dad! I¡¯m really going to be late! Let¡¯s go!¡± The car started. Shen Hui pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I feel that Little Lu is not bad. Previously, I was worried that she would deceive Xu Le, but she is working hard and takes care of Tiantian. Her personality is also good. It¡¯s fine to let them stay together.¡± ¡°Yes. When we return to the country, they¡¯ll have someone to take care of them and we can then be at ease.¡± Xu Tian listened silently and suddenly said, ¡°Are Mom and Dad leaving again?¡± They looked at each other in the rearview mirror, not knowing how to comfort Xu Tian. For a moment, there was silence. On the other side, Lu Yuxi set up the equipment and silently adjusted the parameters. Xu Le put the ingredients he had bought on the plate and said, ¡°It¡¯s very troublesome to soak these things. It will take a few days to shoot them. It might be hard on you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± After Lu Yuxi was done preparing, she said, ¡°Three, twoa€|¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Xu Le turned the plate of dried sea cucumbers that were originally arranged neatly and said, ¡°She didn¡¯t mean that. Don¡¯t worry too much.¡± ¡°Uh-huh?¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyebrows were raised and lowered at the same time. She frowned slightly and said with a smile, ¡°I know that Auntie Shen means that you and Tiantian are both children and she¡¯s afraid that I¡¯m a fraud or thief. Just explain clearly. I won¡¯t be angry about this.¡± The camera focused and Xu Le said, ¡°Hi, everyone, I¡¯m Xu Le. The tutorial I am going through today is ¡®Buddha jumps over the wall¡¯. As a traditional Chinese dish, because the raw materials are expensive and the process is complicated, it has become a top famous dish at the state banquet.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a saying: The fragrance of meat and water wafted in the surroundings, and the Buddha abandoned Zen and jumped over the wall. It¡¯s said that the Buddha jumps over the wall is made of 18 main ingredients, which correspond to the 18 Arhats.¡± Xu Le pointed at the plates on the table and introduced them one by one. ¡°The basic ingredients of the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall are abalone, sea cucumber, fish lips, beef tendon, apricot mushroom, hoof tendon, flower mushroom, cuttlefish, dried scallop, shark fins, quail eggs, goat elbows, chickens, ducks, and so on.¡± ¡°The first step is to soak the ingredients. It¡¯s best to choose dry sea cucumbers and abalones. This is so that they will have a soft texture when cooked. They won¡¯t be crispy or bouncy. It¡¯s called ¡®Buddha jumps over the wall¡¯ if dry ingredients are used. If the method is slightly different using fresh ingredients, it¡¯s called ¡®Roasting Eight Treasures¡¯.¡± After Xu Le finished his introductions, he placed the ingredients into a clean bottle without oil or water, sealed it, and placed it in the fridge to refrigerate. ¡°Don¡¯t choose frozen chicken, duck, or pork trotters. These are all fresh ingredients that were just bought this morning. They¡¯re all chopped into pieces and don¡¯t need to be deboned. Same goes for the chicken claws, pork skin, pork, dragon ribs and small crucian carp. Many of my peers have expressed many opinions on whether to add fish meat, but I personally think that small crucian carp is fresh and delicious. It¡¯s prickly and brittle. If it¡¯s only used at the bottom of the soup, it will raise the taste to a higher level.¡± ¡°The farm chicken, pork ribs, duck and pork trotters should be poured into a pot and stir-fried in oil. Then add ginger, shallots, and yellow wine. You don¡¯t have to wait for it to become cooked. You can cook it with water when it¡¯s in the oil and the fragrance is produced.¡± Xu Le poured all the meat with bones into the pot and rinsed it. When the time was up, he removed the bloody water and washed the bones under cold water. ¡°The surface of each piece of meat needs to be rinsed to ensure that it¡¯s smooth and not sticky to the hand. On the first day, you have to produce milky soup and put in meat with many bones, such as chicken feet, dragon ribs, and pig trotters. It needs to be stewed for eight hours or more. The order of adding the ingredients also depends on the length of the cooking time. The large pieces are placed below.¡± ¡°First, lock in the strong taste by using high heat to ensure that the soup in the crock is boiling. After an hour, turn it to medium heat. In another hour, you can put in the fried crucian carp.¡± While Xu Le was handling it, he explained. After stuffing it all into the earthen jar and turning on the stove, he simply explained the origin of the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall. ¡°Actually, the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall was called Fu Shouquan at the beginning. It¡¯s a local dish in Fuzhou and belongs to the Cantonese cuisine. Because the dialect is similar, the name was later confirmed to be as such. According to legend, during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, an officer invited important guests to a family banquet. That officer¡¯s wife was especially good at cooking. She specially placed expensive rare ingredients like chickens, ducks, sheep elbows, and hoof tips in Shaoxing wine jars and used a small fire to make delicacies.¡± ¡°So this dish was made by that officer¡¯s wife?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the origin, but there¡¯s another person who really spread it and brought it to greater heights. At that time, the guest, Zhou Lian, praised it after eating it. When he returned home, he asked his chef, Zheng Chunfa, to do the same. Zheng Chunfa had modified the dish many times. After using more seafood, this dish became even more delicious.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yuxi nodded and said with a look of understanding, ¡°After so many ingredients are cooked, they will be placed in an orderly manner on a plate. After adding the thick soup, it will be difficult for the taste to not be delicious.¡± ¡°That¡¯s about it for the principles. The taste of the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall is fresh and mellow. The texture is soft and tender. All kinds of ingredients are allowed to shine and have a lingering fragrance. Therefore, if everyone is free at home, you can try it yourself. As long as you follow this method, the finished product can be six or seventy percent identical.¡± As Xu Le was speaking, the couple who had sent Tiantian to school returned. Shen Hui went straight to the kitchen and said, ¡°The live small carp and the ingredients you wanted are all here.¡± Xu Zhexian said, ¡°Your mother went to the seafood market to buy it on the spot after sending the child off. She almost quarreled with the stall owner because of the freshness.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Shen Hui shouted, ¡°That stall owner tried to cheat a professional chef like me. He must be dreaming! I could tell at a glance that the ingredients were not right.¡± Xu Le smiled. The house was filled with the long-awaited atmosphere of ¡°home¡±. He adjusted his emotions and lowered his head to deal with the fish innards. After killing and washing them, he poured the base oil into the pot and absorbed the water on the fish¡¯s surface with kitchen paper. ¡°Remember, any ingredients that have water on the surface must be cleaned before you put them in the pot. Otherwise, the oil will definitely splurt out and there¡¯s a high chance that it will scald someone.¡± The carp was put into a frying pan and fried until the surface was golden. Then it could be added to the saucepan. ¡°After adding fish meat, it will make the soup even whiter and more delicious. It can¡¯t be stirred until the seventh hour.¡± This was only the first day of soup. He waited until night time, and the fragrance had already spread throughout the house. Xu Le opened the kitchen window and the exhaust hood to remove the smell. Then, he stirred the pot with a disinfected rolling pin. ¡°This step is called stirring soup. There¡¯s no technical skills required. Just keep stirring. It¡¯s to stir all the raw materials and fuse them with the soup.¡± Xu Le stirred for half an hour before the bones stopped appearing at the bottom of the pot. After filtering it with the gauze net, the soup for the first day was ready. It was milky white like cow¡¯s milk. ¡°White soup becomes clear soup after adding alcohol. Then, the oil is removed and the golden soup is filtered.¡± Chapter 185 - Stirring Soup Second Time The soup could be filtered after the dredge from the ingredients had fused with the soup. This was the soup after only a day. After being busy, the sky had already darkened. Xu Le said, ¡°Let¡¯s stew the second pot of soup and rest after that. It should be ready after eight hours.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yuxi lifted her hand to rub her eyes. She was yawning too much from fatigue. ¡°Cut the ginger and stir-fry with oil. After scooping them out, add aniseed, orange peel and fragrant leaves in to stir-fry. After the fragrance has been released, it will be able to fuse with the soup taste better. Many people says that their Buddha Jumps Over Wall is sour. That is because they have missed out one thing, which is the huadiao wine and yellow wine added should be boiled for some time first.¡± ¡°After the yellow wine was added into the clean pot that had no oil or water, it was allowed to simmer over low heat. Until the blue flames at the top were completely extinguished, it would mean that the wine inside had evaporated.¡± The processing of simmering the wine was long. Lu Yuxi and Xu Le waited for slightly longer than 30 minutes before the blue flames were extinguished. Only then could they add the wine into the soup. ¡°We still have to add the yellow rock sugar like this to enhance the taste and freshness.¡± ¡°Lay the mushrooms at the bottom. Now, add the abalone, sea cucumber, scallop and other seafood that had been soaked in the pot. Pour the first pot of filtered soup in, then use a dried lotus leaf to cover the pot opening. This way, when cooking, the fragrance of the lotus leaf would gradually seep into the pot and the ingredients.¡± Xu Le sealed the pot and placed it on the charcoal stove again. The fire continued to crackle as the fragrance spread to the nose and the house. In order not to disrupt his sleep, Xu Le opened the windows in the kitchen, closed the door and went to sleep after washing up. He had just closed his eyes when there was a series of knocks on the door outside. Shen Hui asked in a draggy tone, ¡°Who is it? It¡¯s so late already.¡± Ever since they moved in here, because there were only a unit on each floor, they hardly met their neighbours. They would occasionally meet in the lift, but they had never greeted each other as they did not know which level the neighbours stayed on. Shen Hui opened the door and saw an old woman holding a walking stick and standing outside. Behind her were a few young men and middle-aged women, some of whom were still carrying their children. She was stunned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± What did they do to suddenly offend so many neighbours? Shen Hui placed her hand on the door frame to block them. Xu Zhexian, who was putting on his coat, hurried over to the door. He adjusted his glasses on his rose and asked, ¡°Why is everyone here to look for us instead of sleeping at this hour?¡± ¡°Haha.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing much.¡± ¡°What is your family making?¡± The neighbours stuttered to form their words. In the end, it was the old woman who had no teeth who asked, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s because the weather is getting hot and we had opened the windows for cool air to enter. The smell from your house is so strong that it entered my house. What are you guys eating?¡± It turned out to be due to the fragrance of the ¡°Buddha Jumps Over Wall¡±. Shen Hui finally felt relieved and said with a smile, ¡°My son is stewing a soup overnight. If it is affecting you, we can close the window immediately.¡± As she spoke, the neighbours hurried waved their hands and said, ¡°We don¡¯t mean that. What soup are you guys making? It smells so good. My child can¡¯t sleep at all after smelling it and is wanting to eat.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I also smelled the fragrance. What soup can be so fragrant? Please teach us how to make it.¡± ¡°I remember smelling this when I was attending my friend¡¯s wedding, but it was not as fragrant as your family¡¯s soup. May I know what soup it is?¡± The neighbours started speaking one after another. Xu Zhexian curled his lips into a smile and his eyes were obviously filled with relief. He nodded his head and said, ¡°Do you guys want to come in to sit for a while? This soup has to be stewed for a few days. When it¡¯s ready, we will distribute some to everyone.¡± ¡°What soup is it? I want to go home and cook some for my children.¡± ¡°Buddha Jumps Over Wall.¡± After Xu Zhexian said that, everyone in front of him sucked in a deep breath. Regardless of whether they knew how to cook, they all heard of this dish and knew how troublesome it was to prepare. ¡°Haha,¡± The person who asked chuckled a few times to ease the awkwardness. ¡°Buddha Jumps Over Wall is indeed difficult to make. I shan¡¯t force myself to make something I can¡¯t.¡± ¡°My son is making this soup for a tutorial recording. Look at this, you can follow his account and the video will be uploaded once it¡¯s recorded.¡± Shen Hui started to recommend Xu Le to them with huge smiles. Even the wrinkles at the corner of her eyes could not conceal how happy she was as she said, ¡°Also, I must thank you guys for taking care of my son in the past.¡± Who had ever taken care of them? They didn¡¯t even know who they were before. The neighbours all looked at one another awkwardly. Then, the old woman said, ¡°Your son is that handsome and adorable one. I remember him. Previously, he even supported me at the entrance.¡± After exchanging some pleasantries, the neighbours all expressed their embarrassment, but none of them turned down the soup. ¡°Your son is the little Master Chef?¡± ¡°Wah! He¡¯s so awesome! At such a young age, his culinary skills are already so brilliant!¡± ¡°Just expected of other people¡¯s children. Not only is he handsome, he can also cook delicious food and take care of his sister. I always met him sending a little girl to school too.¡± After some small talks, the neighbours finally left. Before leaving, they did not forget to leave behind their unit numbers and level. Xu Zhexian and his wife exchanged glances and started laughing. ¡°Be quieter, Lele is already asleep.¡± ¡°As expected of our son, he¡¯s so great.¡± After praising him, the two of them locked the door and returned to their room. On the other side of the wall, Lu Yuxi was adding subtitles to the video, adjusting the colour and adding transitions. She was intending to record a part and edit it immediately so that it could be uploaded sooner. Suddenly, she heard some sounds from the kitchen. Instinctively, she opened the door to look and saw Xu Le tiptoeing to add pigeon eggs into the pot. ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± Lu Yuxi lowered her volume and asked. Xu Le replied, ¡°I set an alarm for two hours. Right, the step is not recorded down. Come over and record it.¡± ¡°After two hours, add the pigeon eggs and soaked shark¡¯s fin into the pot. Now we just need to wait for eight hours before we can open it up.¡± Lu Yuxi pursed her lips and took the video camera to record half a minute of video. After that, she said, ¡°Hurry and rest.¡± ¡°Yeah, good night.¡± In the morning, Xu Le turned off the alarm. After being in a slight daze, he bounced from the bed and hurried to the kitchen. The method for making Buddha Jumps Over Wall had to be precise. Eight hours must be exact. He looked at the stopwatch in the kitchen and there were a few seconds left. He turned off the fire and opened the lid. The dredge inside were filtered and the soup pot was placed in a pail. On the surface, a layer of cling wrap was placed. Lu Yuxi came over late and said with a yawn, ¡°What¡¯s this step?¡± ¡°Just place it inside the freezer. You just take a transition scene for me to place the soup in the freezer.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he carried the pail and placed it in the lowest level of the fridge. He stood up and clapped his hand, saying, ¡°The freezer can remove the oil better. Since oil is lighter than water, it will float to the surface after freezing and it will be easier to remove the oil layer using a spoon.¡± Chapter 186 - Beancurd Skin Bun Now that he had to wait a few hours for it to freeze, Xu Le said to Lu Yuxi, ¡°Let¡¯s have breakfast. Are you coming?¡± ¡°What are you going to make for breakfast?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not cooking anymore! I¡¯m so tired!¡± Xu Le smiled as he said, ¡°It¡¯s too troublesome. I¡¯m not intending to go to the shop for a few days after I¡¯m done with this dish.¡± His overly straightforward words made Lu Yuxi giggle. ¡°Then let¡¯s go, ask your parents what they¡¯re eating.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± After Xu Le asked, the two of them went straight to Uncle Bai¡¯s store. They took a taxi from home to the store and almost had to cross half the city. ¡°Uncle Bai, a small steamed bun, two bowls of dumplings, two beancurd pudding, and salted egg yolk meat dumplings.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you guys?¡± Uncle Bai smiled and said, ¡°Come in and sit.¡± The air in the open-air courtyard was obviously better. Lu Yuxi gestured and said. ¡°Let¡¯s sit here. I¡¯m so hungry. Please serve the dishes quickly.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Uncle Bai said happily, ¡°I recently learnt a bun recipe. Do you want to try it?¡± ¡°Learnt?¡± Xu Le was interested. ¡°What bun?¡± ¡°Beancurd skin bun.¡± Xu Le nodded and said, ¡°Give me one serving.¡± ¡°Beancurd skin can even be used in making buns?¡± Lu Yuxi looked puzzled. ¡°It¡¯s so thick. Will it taste like beans when it¡¯s added to a bun?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see when Uncle Bai serves it.¡± Xu Le was not sure if the beancurd skin mentioned was used for the filling or the outer skin. As the two of them were chatting, a huge force slapped on Xu Le¡¯s back, causing him to cough and turn around to glare at the other party. Li Shengsheng¡¯s hand froze in midair. ¡°I forgot you had become smaller. Oh, are you okay?¡± ¡°You almost slapped my lungs out.¡± Xu Le rolled his eyes and couldn¡¯t be bothered to hold him accountable. ¡°You¡¯re here for breakfast too?¡± ¡°Hmph, the two of you didn¡¯t even call me up to eat.¡± After sitting down, Li Shengsheng said, ¡°What did you order? I want to eat too.¡± Then he picked up the handwritten menu from the table and scanned it from top to bottom. ¡°Do you guys have any plans next?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been recording a tutorial on a dish recently,¡± Lu Yuxi replied casually. Then, she said, ¡°I remember that there was a Xinjiang spicy fried vermicelli at the school gate previously. I wonder if it¡¯s still open? Recently, I¡¯ve been eating especially bland food. I crave something spicy.¡± Li Shengsheng narrowed his eyes and said with a smile, ¡°Just get the person beside you to cook whatever you want to eat. Why do you have to specially look for a shop?¡± He teased. Xu Le agreed and nudged Lu Yuxi and said, ¡°Who are you looking down on?¡± At this moment, Uncle Bai¡¯s buns were served. It was a serving of soft and tender steamed xiaolongbao and a serving of beancurd skin bun. The fried beancurd skin was used on the outside, and the filling inside could be vaguely seen under bright light. ¡°The rest can wait for a while. I¡¯ll serve the buns first. Eat them while they¡¯re hot.¡± ¡°Uncle Bai, which recipe did you learn from?¡± ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t even know that? Think again. Anyway, it¡¯s from a famous book.¡± As Uncle Bai spoke, Xu Le carefully looked at the beancurd skin buns and said, ¡°It¡¯s from the Dream of the Red Chamber, right? I remember that I seem to have flipped to this page.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Uncle Bai said happily, ¡°There are so many people coming and going, but you¡¯re the first to guess it. Alright, take this serving of buns as a treat from me. Hurry up and try it.¡± Lu Yuxi said, ¡°When you said that it was beancurd skin just now, I was still thinking that since the beancurd skin was so thick, it must have been incorporated in the filling.¡± ¡°They¡¯re called differently in different places. The one you¡¯re talking about is thousand sheets beancurd skin. This one is fried beancurd skin with a green binding on it. It should be chives dyed with boiling water.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes! That¡¯s it. I followed the recipe described in the book and tried a lot of variations before the taste was right. The skin is soft and tender, and the filling is huge and tight. Try it.¡± Uncle Bai¡¯s face was filled with enthusiasm. Lu Yuxi tried to bite into the beancurd skin bun and the gravy immediately seeped into her mouth. The mushrooms and vegetables were fragrant and there was a crispy texture. ¡°That¡¯s nice! It tastes fresh.¡± Li Shengsheng frowned in disgust. ¡°What kind of description is that? How can it be fresh?¡± As he spoke, he stuffed one into his mouth as well. The gravy exploded in his mouth. The seasoning was very light, but it was very delicious and sweet. Xu Le said, ¡°He must have chopped the prawns and mixed a small amount of pork fillings, green onions, and ginger water. The crispy ingredient is the fresh lotus root. The mushrooms, supplemented with oyster sauce, soy sauce, salt, and pepper must have contributed to the flavor. Finally, after wrapping it in fried beancurd skin, tie it with hot and soft chives leaves.¡± His method was exactly the same! Uncle Bai widened his eyes in surprise. After a long while, he said, ¡°We must be from the same line of work!¡± ¡°But you¡¯re missing something.¡± Uncle Bai was about to keep him in suspense. Xu Le savored it for a while and said, ¡°It¡¯s meat jelly. After the soup freezes, take it out and cut it into pieces. You have to wrap it in the bun as soon as possible. This way, after it¡¯s steamed, the juice will be abundant and the soup will be delicious.¡± Uncle Bai was shocked again. This time, not only had the secret recipe that he had been researching for half a month been seen through at a glance, but he was also shocked that Xu Le, who looked like a child, was already good at cooking. After praising him, he turned around and went in to get the beancurd pudding. Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes darted around a few times and she said silently, ¡°Don¡¯t dampen Uncle Bai¡¯s confidence. It wasn¡¯t easy for him to come up with a few dishes. He must be angry that you exposed all his cooking methods.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ have I?¡± Xu Le was stunned and shook his head. ¡°Do you think Uncle Bai is a child?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a child!¡± Lu Yuxi retorted. Soon, the salted egg yolk meat dumpling and beancurd pudding were served, along with two bowls of wontons that one could never get tired of. Then, the food that Li Shengsheng ordered was served. ¡°Glutinous rice dumplings and sweet beancurd pudding. This is the right way to live. The food you two eat is too much. Um, meat dumplings and salty beancurd pudding are not meant to eat together!¡± Xu Le and Lu Yuxi tacitly ignored him. The glutinous rice was firm, and the salted egg yolk was smooth and fragrant. The fat of the pork belly melted and seeped into the glutinous rice, so it was oily and fragrant. It was not greasy at all. The beancurd pudding was soft and smooth, and the spicy oil on it was especially fragrant. The small wonton was as hot and tender as ever. When he took a bite, it comforted his soul. ¡°Mmm~ It¡¯s delicious!¡± Lu Yuxi pointed at the meat dumpling and said, ¡°My family has only eaten sweet dumplings since we were young. Later on, we came here and couldn¡¯t bear to part with it after tasting a mouthful of meat dumplings! From then on, we no longer eat sweet ones!¡± Li Shengsheng snorted and lowered his head to continue eating his sweet beancurd pudding. After breakfast, Xu Le packed some food for his parents. When he stood by the roadside and hailed a taxi, the three of them saw the street slicker ¡°flying¡± past them and speeding on the sidewalk. Li Shengsheng¡¯s gaze only retracted after they disappeared at the end of the road. ¡°If not for the fact that I can¡¯t be injured, I would definitely be one of them!¡± Chapter 187 - Malicious Competition ¡°Forget it.¡± Lu Yuxi said proudly, ¡°Anyway, with me around, you¡¯ll never get first place.¡± ¡°Impossible! I¡¯ll surpass you sooner or later!¡± Li Shengsheng retorted in a rough voice. The sadness that had just risen in his heart instantly dissipated. The two of them stared at each other and quickly started bickering. Xu Le looked at the two of them solemnly. He felt that their ages had been reversed. He was about to send breakfast back to his parents and continue recording the tutorial when Li Qing called. Xu Le had just taken out his phone when he saw Zhang Tong¡¯s voice recording at the same time. He frowned. Could something have happened? ¡°Hey! Xu Le! Come over quickly to the entrance of a shop¡­ Damn, these people are so despicable!¡± As Li Qing shouted, he could still hear people arguing beside him. ¡°Got it.¡± Xu Le hung up and called Zhang Tong back. His intuition told him that what happened at both areas should be the same. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a new shop right across the road. They are selling exactly the same as our dishes. Guess who the chef is?¡± ¡°That robot?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Zhang Tong snorted coldly and said disdainfully, ¡°Not only are the dishes identical to ours, but even the price is lower by a few yuan. Now, there are customers who can¡¯t stand it anymore and are arguing with them. Both sides are cursing.¡± He explained the situation clearly and quickly. Xu Le said, ¡°Deal with it first. Don¡¯t fight. I¡¯ll be there in half an hour.¡± ¡°MMhmm.¡± Zhang Tong was used to many situations and was quite calm about this matter. He hung up and went out to mediate the quarrel. On the other hand, Li Qing was helpless. He sent messages to Xu Le one after another for help. Xu Le was about to tell the two of them about this when he turned around and saw Lu Yuxi squatting on the ground as if she had made a deal with the little kid in front of her. She took the other party¡¯s skateboard and said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll show you one move.¡± She was wearing a long dress that reached her ankles. As she spoke, she lifted her skirt and jumped onto the skateboard. In a perfect exchange, she jumped over the curb and raised her hand provocatively at Li Shengsheng. When she saw Xu Le, her gaze softened. She whistled. The sunlight that had just peeked out from behind the clouds dyed every strand of her hair. It was gorgeous and stunning. Xu Le was stunned for a moment and said, ¡°The punishment for riding the skateboard on the road is 50 yuan. Come over quickly. Beware of the traffic police.¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s face froze, then she chuckled. She returned the skateboard to the child and took out a snack from her bag. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Sister is awesome!¡± The child was wearing a helmet and looked at Lu Yuxi with admiration. She seemed to be anxious to find a topic to talk about and immediately opened the snack packaging and stuffed it into his mouth. She said, ¡°This is also delicious!¡± ¡°This fried chop rice cake was made by that brother. It¡¯s delicious, right?¡± Lu Yuxi raised her eyebrows proudly. When Xu Le heard this, his gaze focused on the transparent bag. After the child left, he muttered, ¡°How long ago was that? Was it last month or last month? Didn¡¯t it already turn mouldy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s stored in vacuum pack, how can it turn mouldy?¡± As Lu Yuxi spoke, she took out two more from her pocket and gave them to them. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, try them. You made enough that time. If one ate much of the fried chop rice cake, one will be bloated, so I put the remaining in vacuum packaging in the fridge.¡± Xu Le tasted one. Although the texture was not as soft and smooth as when it was just made, it was enough to make his teeth sticky. The soybean powder was rich and delicious. He was surprised. ¡°It tastes not bad.¡± Li Shengsheng puffed out his cheeks and snorted. ¡°You never call me when you¡¯re cooking.¡± With that, the few of them headed to a shop. In the car, Xu Le told them what had happened at the entrance of the shop. Lu Yuxi said as if she was going to confront a great enemy, ¡°Then what should we do? Will they cause us to close down our store?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± Xu Le said this confidently. After all, all his ingredients were exchanged from the system. They were high-quality and fresh. The ingredients bought outside were completely incomparable to the ones in the system. Moreover, there was a cost price. ¡°I get it.¡± Li Shengsheng snapped its fingers. ¡°They¡¯re using that thing to make fun of you. One is because they want to see you make a fool of yourself in your shop. The other important reason is because they want to ride on your popularity again and market that robot?¡± The few of them looked at each other. Xu Le thought so too, but he had not seen the real situation yet, so it was not easy to make a conclusion. Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the shop. As soon as they got out of the car, they saw two groups of people gathered on the sidewalk. There were also onlookers holding their breakfast. ¡°This is plagiarism! This is bullying!¡± ¡°Who says you can¡¯t have a shop nearby? I rent the shop and hire waiters with all kinds of credentials. How is that unqualified?¡± The other party put his hands on his hips and retorted righteously. ¡°Pfft, it¡¯s exactly the same from the renovation to the menu! Why is the price low? Is it because you use high quality ingredients?¡± Li Qing was still holding a steel ladle with traces of sauce on it. He said angrily, ¡°You¡¯re still so proud after plagiarising others. You¡¯re really crazy!¡± The more people joined in the crowd, the happier the storeowner opposite was. He called out to pull people into the shop and said, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to his nonsense. The Master Chef in our shop can cook more than 20 types of cuisine. It¡¯s especially good at Chinese, Japanese, French and Mexican food. Don¡¯t miss it when you walk past. You¡¯ll know how awesome it is when you enter the shop and try it!¡± ¡°He hired the Master Chef?¡± ¡°The robot that¡¯s been screwing people since the competition started?¡± ¡°The competition was clearly unfair.¡± ¡°Pfft! It¡¯s a waste of my true feelings to follow the live broadcast for so long.¡± Everyone discussed among themselves, but the kitchen was on the other side of the transparent glass window. A pair of skillful hands cut the vegetables and shook the pot in one go. The food was also exquisite and tempting. Most importantly, the dishes were served extremely quickly. It could cook many different cuisines at the same time. Hence, amidst the condemnation, curious customers still rushed into the shop. Li Qing gritted his teeth in anger and looked at the storeowner opposite with a livid expression. ¡°If a customer wants to go to someone else¡¯s store, can you force them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t know how famous the Master Chef on my side is.¡± The storeowner opposite said happily. At this moment, a young voice interrupted. ¡°As I recall, only the winners have the title of Master Chef, right?¡± After Xu Le finished speaking calmly, the smugness on the storeowner¡¯s face turned to guilt. Then, he curled his lips and said disdainfully, ¡°Who cares what it¡¯s called? Anyway, it can earn money and can serve meals.¡± With that, he jogged into the shop. Lu Yuxi sighed and said worriedly, ¡°I¡¯m so annoyed. What kind of person is this?¡± Xu Le stood in front of the glass window and watched the cooking. Suddenly, he smiled coldly. ¡°Let¡¯s go. There¡¯s no need to worry about this. This shop won¡¯t last long.¡± Chapter 188 - Malicious Competition ¡°Why?¡± Li Qing came behind them in his chef¡¯s uniform. Xu Le looked helpless as he pushed him into his shop. ¡°There are so many customers waiting, and you have the cheek to leave the kitchen to those apprentices? What if there¡¯s a problem with the taste of the dishes?¡± Li Qing asked, ¡°Tell me quickly, why can¡¯t they operate for a long time? How long will it take for them to close down?¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that it can cook many types of cuisine, but the ingredients are all frozen and not fresh enough. I saw a lot of defrosting ingredients in the sink beside just now. The taste between live and frozen seafood is vastly different. Even if they add more seasoning to enhance the freshness, it will be difficult to hide what they are lacking deep down.¡± ¡°If they went to so much trouble to try to make our business, why did they cut down on the quality of ingredients?¡± ¡°It¡¯s expensive.¡± Xu Le said in concise words. Li Qing entered the kitchen doubtfully. It was almost time for dinner and there were more people entering the store. Lu Yuxi stood at the front desk and helped. Xu Le washed his hands, put on his apron and hat, and entered the kitchen to start cooking. Li Shengsheng had just eaten breakfast and was quite full. However, when he saw the plates of fragrant dishes, he couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I want to eat them too! This West Lake Vinegar Fish and Lotus Chicken Slices are my favorite!¡± ¡°Wait, wait, wait. There are a lot of customers. Wait a minute.¡± Xu Le waved his hand to ask him to wait. Li Shengsheng looked at the hall that was almost full and said, ¡°No!¡± ¡°There¡¯s the Crispy Yam Duck here. I guarantee that the taste will definitely stun you. Take it first. It¡¯s from the table that ordered too many dishes.¡± Xu Le handed the plate over. Li Shengsheng looked at the six or seven golden bars on the plate. He pursed his lips and said, ¡°Petty, is that all you¡¯re giving me? Are we still good brothers?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t eat it if you don¡¯t want it.¡± Xu Le pretended to take it back when Li Shengsheng snatched it away. ¡°Who said I don¡¯t want it anymore?¡± As he spoke, he found a nearby spot and started tasting the dish. The golden yam on the outside was crispy and fragrant, and the duck meat inside was moist and sweet. There was a hint of gravy, and there was a lingering taste left behind. In less than five minutes, the plate of Crispy Yam Duck was completely gone. Li Shengsheng wiped the oil off his fingertips, feeling satisfied and shocked. ¡°It¡¯s too awesome! I¡¯ve eaten at a lot of stores. The duck is even more sauce-flavored. Whether it¡¯s fried, steamed or wrapped in scallions and roll, I¡¯ve eaten all kinds of duck before, but this is really the best I¡¯ve ever eaten!¡± Li Shengsheng was full of praise and his eyes became fixed. If not for the fact that his stomach was really too full to eat, he would definitely order another serving of something else. ¡°How much?¡± He took out his phone and was about to pay when Xu Le said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. We¡¯re all friends. You can come to my place to try anything in the future, but you have to queue.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s such a long queue?¡± Li Shengsheng did not stand on ceremony and said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll freeload at your house in the future.¡± After saying that, he wanted to help carry the plates, but Lu Yuxi stopped him with a crying face. ¡°Sit down, please! Be careful, don¡¯t get into any danger.¡± Li Shengsheng had a very serious blood clot. Once he had a small wound, it would not stop the bleeding and he would need to be hospitalized. The situation was much worse than imagined. Soon, Zhang Tong returned with news that the situation had stabilized. Other than the storeowner coming over arrogantly to mock him, nothing serious happened. After being busy for more than an hour, Xu Le realized that the chefs he had recruited were all very reassuring. They were smart, hardworking, and had high comprehension skills. Hence, he changed out of his chef¡¯s uniform and said, ¡°I still have something on today, so I¡¯ll go back first. Call me if anything happens.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Li Qing called the chef beside him to take a rest and another group of people started their shifts. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of customers, and the meals need to taste good and be served fast. They¡¯ll basically be exhausted in two or three hours, so I thought I¡¯d split up into two groups and switch. This way, not only will it be efficient, it won¡¯t tire anyone out.¡± Xu Le nodded. Although he felt that Li Qing¡¯s arrangement was very good, he couldn¡¯t help but fall into deep thought as he looked at the price on the menu. ¡°We can¡¯t continue like this. If they realize that the business model is wrong, they will quickly adjust their direction and it will be exactly the same as the one in my store. At that time, the competition will be too great.¡± Xu Le thought about it and waved goodbye to Li Shengsheng. ¡°Remember to come to my house for soup the day after tomorrow. I made a big jar of ¡®Buddha jumps over the wall¡¯.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± When he reached home, the breakfast he carried had already turned cold. Xu Le placed the meat dumpling in the steamer to heat it up and stuffed the rest into the microwave. When he went to knock on the bedroom door, there was no response for a long time. He pushed the door open and saw that Shen Hui and Xu Zhexian were long gone. ¡°Where are they?¡± Lu Yuxi was changing into slippers in the entryway when her gaze landed on the note on the cabinet. ¡°I think your parents went out to meet friends. They¡¯re not coming back today.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xu Le was disappointed for a moment. Then, he remembered that they had many chef friends in the country. It was not easy for them to come back, so they definitely had to gather more frequently. Therefore, he stopped being sad and took out the frozen soup from the fridge and said, ¡°Let¡¯s continue recording. This tutorial isn¡¯t finished yet.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Lu Yuxi set up the camera and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you consider changing the operation style of the store?¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°When I went to take a look just now, the Six Shrimp Noodles were served. Think about it. One serving of rice bowl is at most 30 yuan. Tomato egg soup and West Lake beef soup cost not more than a dozen yuan. But dishes like Six Shrimp Noodles, Braised Saddle Bridge, and those that are especially complicated and expensive to make are easily three to four hundred yuan. The price difference between the two is too great.¡± Xu Le had also thought of this. He raised his eyebrows and gestured for Lu Yuxi to continue. ¡°You can consolidate all the home-cooked dishes and long-lost dishes, like the braised onions from before, Buddha jumps over the wall, and fermented cod. When a new store opens, there will definitely be people who will come because of the dishes¡¯ reputation. Then, you can limit the number of servings per person or limit number of customers, or the store will only open a few days a week, and customers need to make an early appointment¡­¡± ¡°I know.¡± Xu Le naturally understood the business model. He hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°But will we be suspected of hunger marketing?¡± ¡°As long as the food is delicious enough, it¡¯s worth that price. Besides, many traditional dishes at state banquets are time-consuming, let alone long-lost, only you know how to cook.¡± Xu Le nodded and agreed with her suggestion. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look again. Maybe we can really do as you said.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. There are more chefs in the store now. You can allow takeouts for dishes like rice bowl, cold dishes, and soup. That way, more people can eat without queuing.¡± However, after another round of discussion, they all felt that the suggestion of selling the dishes separately was not bad. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s keep recording. The frozen soup has become like jelly gel. There¡¯s a layer of yellow grease floating on it. It¡¯s best to use a wooden spoon and scrap the layer away. That way the soup won¡¯t get greasy.¡± Chapter 189 - Roasted Sheeps Leg At this moment, the soup was like brown jelly. It was soft and tender and moved side to side. Xu Le said to the camera, ¡°I made quite a lot. There are more than ten portions in total. If everyone can¡¯t eat so much at home at once, you can split the soup evenly and save it. It¡¯s a good soup base that will be useful for stewing other ingredients in the future.¡± After the soup melted, as the spoon stirred, it revealed a golden color. ¡°After brewing and stirring the soup, the flavors of dozens of ingredients and spices have already fused into this pot. Now, adding the chicken essence or thick soup packet would be a waste. You just need the fish dew to season it and add color. Now, we can complete with the last step.¡± ¡°Pigeon eggs, Liao ginseng, scallop, mushrooms and fish belly¡­ All kinds of ingredients are sandwiched in a net made of bamboo. Seal the sides and boil them in a jar. Place them in order according to the time they¡¯re cooked. After two hours, the various ingredients can be placed in the pot and wait for the soup to be poured.¡± ¡°The finished product of ¡®Buddha jumps over the wall¡¯ is fragrant and mellow. If you feel that the soup doesn¡¯t taste strong enough, you can add a little sea salt before serving it.¡± ¡°Buddha jumps over the wall is actually a dish that seeks common ground. Although there are many kinds of ingredients inside, the taste that comes out is indeed very harmonious and even complementary. It won¡¯t particularly stick out¡­¡± As Xu Le explained, he quickly cleaned up the kitchen table and placed the unused ingredients into a plastic bag and placed it in the freezer. Lu Yuxi clasped her hands in boredom and said, ¡°Are you really planning to do what I just told you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xu Le asked, ¡°Would I just brush you off?¡± At this moment, the sound of keying password was heard from outside. As soon as Shen Hui entered, she smiled and waved the thing in her hand. ¡°Lele baby, guess what this is!¡± Xu Le smelled a faint mutton smell and said, ¡°Roasted sheep¡¯s leg¡­ It¡¯s semi-finished. It¡¯s only marinated and not roasted.¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll take everyone to the suburbs to roast sheep¡¯s leg tonight. At that time, we¡¯ll apply for leave for Tiantian and go together.¡± After Shen Hui finished speaking, she carefully raised her eyes to catch Xu Le¡¯s expression. When she realized that he did not have any reaction, she heaved a sigh of relief and continued, ¡°Your father and I have been back for a while and the other side was urging us to hurry up. Seeing that you won the competition, we were naturally especially gratified.¡± With that, she walked in and patted Xu Le on the shoulder. ¡°You fulfilled Mom and Dad¡¯s wishes. We¡¯re all proud of you.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Xu Le could hear the hidden meaning in her words and guessed that his parents were going to France to continue their culinary studies. He knew their love and obsession with cooking. He only said, ¡°What about Tiantian?¡± ¡°She has always been studying here. Learning a new language after going abroad is also a big challenge. So I¡¯ll leave it to you and Miss Lu to take care of her. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll continue to transfer you living expenses.¡± As soon as Shen Hui finished speaking, doubt rose in Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes. She could not help but ask, ¡°Continue to pay for living expenses? Have you transferred it before?¡± As far as she knew, Xu Le had opened the store to pay off the house mortgage from the beginning. But he did not expect it to grow bigger and bigger. He had to go on shows and participate in competitions. It was not until the live-stream of the Master Chef competition that he had completely established himself in the industry and became more famous, making it less difficult for Xu Le to earn money. Shen Hui was stunned. ¡°Didn¡¯t we?¡± Her expression changed several times before she suddenly understood something. She turned around and shouted, ¡°Xu Zhexian, what¡¯s wrong with you!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this to train my children? Besides, I¡¯m not letting them fend for themselves. I usually get my friends to keep an eye on them. When they run out of money, I¡¯ll definitely give them¡­¡± Before he could finish, Shen Hui smiled at Xu Le and Lu Yuxi and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go in and talk to him. You guys go ahead.¡± Xu Le was a little speechless, but his personality was not one to dwell on the past. He said, ¡°Rest first. Are you having lunch?¡± Lu Yuxi shook her head. ¡°The dumplings I ate in the morning are quite filling. I¡¯m not hungry yet. Let¡¯s talk about it when I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Xu Le had the same intention. Suddenly, Shen Hui¡¯s fierce scolding came from the bedroom, followed by the sound of something being smashed. Lu Yuxi was shocked. ¡°Did your parents fight? Do you want to take a look?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± Xu Le could tell that Shen Hui was the only one angry. Xu Zhexian remained silent as he was scolded. Xu Le felt relieved and said, ¡°They won¡¯t really fight.¡± Sure enough, half an hour later, Shen Hui, who had combed her hair and clothes again, walked out of the bedroom neatly. She smiled at Xu Le and instructed Xu Zhexian as if nothing had happened. ¡°Honey, go put that sheep¡¯s leg in the fridge. Didn¡¯t you order the charcoal fire and the stove? Remember to collect them. Don¡¯t delay the camping tonight.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± Xu Zhexian was like an eggplant that had been punched and flattened. He nodded and went to settle the matters. Lu Yuxi couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She turned her head and smiled with her back facing the living room. ¡°Let¡¯s continue. Don¡¯t cook until it overflows.¡± ¡°How is that possible? This soup is covered by bamboo. Besides, it¡¯s on the lowest heat. It won¡¯t overflow.¡± After Xu Le finished explaining, he looked at the marinated sheep¡¯s leg and had a feeling that it would be a ¡°big project¡±. Hence, he said to Shen Hui, ¡°Let¡¯s leave in the afternoon and not wait until night time. The sheep¡¯s leg will take three to four hours to be completely cooked. The skin needs to be charred and oiled. Moreover, if you want it to taste good, just the cumin chili powder is not enough.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll listen to Lele.¡± Shen Hui mainly studied French food. Most of the customers ordered bloody steak, so in her eyes, it was fine as long as it was not raw. ¡°I¡¯m meeting a friend today. He happened to be slaughtering sheep at his home and said that he wanted to make a roasted whole sheep. Once your father and I went, their roasted whole sheep immediately had a leg missing, hahaha¡­¡± Shen Hui curled up on the sofa and laughed. She looked up at the renovation of the house. At that time, she had made up her mind to let the children live in it. Therefore, all the ceiling light fixture and furniture followed a simple cartoon theme. It was as if the Disney princesses were hanging at the entrance. The light above her head was in the shape of the cartoon sheep, Shaun¡­ Looking at it now, she felt exceptionally emotional. Xu Le crushed the bell peppers, millet peppers, and green flower peppers in the grinding bowl, added the sesame seeds, sea salt, black pepper, garlic paste and sesame oil. Fragrant leaves and aniseeds were added over the chilli powder after the cinnamon leaves were fried in an oil pan. Finally, the barbecue powder and cumin powder were mixed well together. ¡°When roasting the sheep¡¯s leg, brush this layer of oil as you turn it, and finally sprinkle the seasoning. This way, it will be especially flavorful when it¡¯s ready.¡± After Xu Le finished speaking, he looked at the time and said, ¡°It¡¯s almost done. It¡¯ll be ready in ten minutes.¡± There was a bubbling stew under the earthen jar. The fragrance was distant. Xu Zhexian walked into the kitchen and rummaged through the cabinets. He said, ¡°If we are eating meat, we should have it with some wine. Where did the Moutai in my collection go?¡± Chapter 190 - Family Outdoor Barbecue Xu Le was packing the prepared ingredients into a takeaway box. Xu Zhexian squatted down and rummaged through the cupboard at his feet. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. The Maotai I¡¯ve collected for more than ten years must be sitting in the kitchen.¡± Xu Le¡¯s hand trembled as he lifted the lotus leaves on the jar to take a look. He said, ¡°You still have to drive later. It won¡¯t be convenient to return later if you drink and we still have to find a designated driver. It will be quite troublesome¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Your mother always drives in our family.¡± Xu Zhexian buried his head in the search and did not forget to mutter, ¡°My goodness. How can I not find something that¡¯s just placed in the kitchen? In the past, when a friend offered a high price, I didn¡¯t even bear to sell it¡­ Lele, have you seen it before?¡± The extremely expensive Maotai was taken by Xu Le to prepare pickled Sichuan vegetables. In the end, he even sold it outside the city. Previously, he had thought that the bidding price was high among similar products. Now, it seemed that the customers who bought it had made a killing. Xu Le calculated in his heart. He was considering compensating Xu Zhexian at the original price, but on second thought, it would probably be difficult for him to receive such a pure and old wine. He hesitated for a moment. Shen Hui walked into the kitchen in time. She leaned against the door and brushed her hair. ¡°Stop looking. We have moved homes so many times. Who knows where it went? Pack the things and let¡¯s go for the barbecue. Lele, when can you finish recording your video?¡± Xu Le looked at Xu Zhexian. Although he looked dejected, he had just been scolded by Shen Hui, so at this moment, he did not dare to say anything and could only leave the kitchen quickly. ¡°An hour or two at most. I¡¯m sure we can make it.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Once it was time, the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall was taken out. All kinds of ingredients were placed into the pot one after another. Finally, a spoonful of golden soup was poured over it. After half a week, the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall was done. When Lu Yuxi smelled the fragrance, she couldn¡¯t help but salivate. All the food was served. She could already lift the camera with one hand and pick up the abalone with the other. Seeing that her challenging posture, Xu Le smiled and said, ¡°Set it up first before tasting it. Don¡¯t twist your arm.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± The abalone melted in her mouth. After chewing it twice, the rich taste of fresh soup slid down her throat. The sea cucumber was just right. It was elastic but not mushy and tasteless. It even had a hint of crispness. Most importantly, the aftertaste was indescribably delicious. The taste of the pig¡¯s stomach melted into the soup, while the fish lips was as chewy as jelly, the fish maw stuck to the teeth, and the soup taste with the pigeon eggs was delicious¡­ After Xu Zhexian finished tasting it, he commented, ¡°There¡¯s a saying that if there¡¯s a taste, let it out. If there¡¯s no taste, let it in. Buddha Jumps Over The Wall can perfectly explain this meaning.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Lu Yuxi asked in confusion, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°This is a small note from Yuan Mei in the compendium. It¡¯s very concise and can be understood as such. It¡¯s like using onions, ginger, garlic, and chili to remove the fishy smell before cooking. These flavored things have to be integrated into the ingredient itself in the end, and the bland taste of the ingredient has to be absorbed into the essence of the condiment after it¡¯s made.¡± Xu Le continued to explain, ¡°Take the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in front of me as an example. There¡¯s nothing special about sea cucumbers, fish maw, and shark fins to begin with. The taste presented now is fresh and mellow after the pork trotters, chicken, duck, and other ingredients are stewed into a pot of soup.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Yuxi nodded. After tasting everything in the bowl, she realized that the heat control of every item was just right. The taste was not abrupt and was exceptionally delicious. ¡°The essence of ¡®Buddha jumps over the wall¡¯ is in this mouthful of soup.¡± Xu Le handed her a spoon and raised his chin proudly. ¡°Try it. It will definitely change your understanding of taste.¡± ¡°Oh? Really?¡± Lu Yuxi really did not believe this. After all, she had also eaten the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall made by the Master Chef at the finals. However, the ingredients were not cooked well, so the taste could only be considered ¡°good¡± and not excellent. The soup absorbed the essence of all kinds of ingredients. It was a delicious fusion. Lu Yuxi drank two mouthfuls and hurriedly reached for a tissue. Shen Hui laughed and said, ¡°Did it seal your mouth? The authentic Buddha Jumps Over The Wall is like this. The soup base is rich and thick. After drinking it, the taste will stay in your mouth for a long time. If you don¡¯t wipe your mouth in time, it will be so sticky that it won¡¯t open.¡± Lu Yuxi was so surprised that she was speechless for a long time. She quietly drank the soup until the bowl was empty. Only then did she sigh from the bottom of her heart. Compared to what that robot made, this was simply too amazing! She said, ¡°It¡¯s very fresh and sweet. It¡¯s a taste I¡¯ve never tasted before. If I haven¡¯t eaten it before, it¡¯s difficult to imagine. The collision of various ingredients on the tip of the tongue is especially wonderful! I want another bowl!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m stingy,¡± Xu Le said. ¡°It¡¯s easy to get sick of it if you drink too much. There are more colloidal substances inside and it¡¯s not appropriate to drink too much.¡± ¡°We still have to eat roasted sheep¡¯s legs tonight. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll save a few for you for supper.¡± After Xu Le finished reminding, he waved at the camera and said, ¡°Everyone, feel free to try it at home. Although the cooking process is cumbersome, the final delicacy is still worth looking forward to. If you feel that the ingredients are too expensive and difficult to gather, you can remove some of them. Just the pig trotters, pigeon eggs and fish maw can produce a simplified version¡­¡± ¡°Lele.¡± Shen Hui couldn¡¯t help but interrupt him. ¡°Does saying this make the audience feel that you¡¯re a little irresponsible? Why are you encouraing them to make something that¡¯s not authentic?¡± Shen Hui was quite respected in her circle. Her target audience was different, so it was difficult for her to understand Xu Le¡¯s intentions. ¡°The number of views of my videos can easily be in the tens of millions or hundreds of millions. The people watching aren¡¯t just limited to chefs, seniors, and so on. There are also some people who have never even heard of these dishes. Delicious food is something that humans eat. If everyone can eat it at a low price and with delicious taste, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± After Xu Le finished speaking patiently, Lu Yuxi nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with admiration. After recording the tutorial, Shen Hui wrapped up the remaining Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and gave it to the surrounding neighbors. She did not forget to remind them to take care of Xu Le. Xu Le took out four casseroles and gave them to Zhang Tong, Li Qing, Li Shengsheng and Alex, who had stayed in the country to travel. He reminded them to finish the soup that day. When Lu Yuxi was almost done editing the video, the outdoor oven that Xu Zhexian had ordered had also arrived. Everything was prepared, and it was exactly four in the afternoon. The few of them set off to roast the sheep¡¯s leg in the suburbs and picked Xu Tian up from school. The atmosphere was peaceful and beautiful, but along the way, Xu Tian buried her head in her brother¡¯s arms and sulked. She did not say anything no matter who talked to her. Shen Hui couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Xu Le patted his sister¡¯s head and stroked her hair. He looked at the scenery outside the window and knew that this was probably the last family gathering in recent years. Chapter 191 - Camping in the Suburbs When they arrived, they saw the large lawn covered in green grass. Not far away, there was a family who had come to camp. Xu Zhexian set up a barbecue grill and took out the sheep¡¯s leg from the car trunk. Xu Le opened the box and took out the oil, dry materials, brushes, and so on. As soon as the charcoal started burning, the sun slowly set like an orange balloon in the sky. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the ground with a light golden color. The air was filled with fresh air. He took a deep breath and felt extremely carefree and light. The environment was comfortable and pleasant. Xu Tian, who had been unhappy just now, left her worries in the back of her mind and started smiling. Soon, she started playing with the children who were camping. Lu Yuxi squatted at the side and peeled fruits. She did not forget to remind her, ¡°Run slowly, don¡¯t fall. Stay away from the river¡­¡± After Xu Le placed the sheep¡¯s leg on the skewer, he roasted it above the charcoal. He walked to Lu Yuxi¡¯s side and squatted in front of her to pick up a peach to eat. The crisp peach juice was sweet and would not make people sick of it. It was refreshing and pleasant, and his taste buds were filled with the refreshing fragrance. ¡°They¡¯re leaving again. Aren¡¯t you going to ask them to stay?¡± ¡°People like them make it their lifelong dream and meaning to learn under a chef. They can¡¯t be persuaded. Just like if you were to persuade me to change my profession and close the store now, I wouldn¡¯t do that either.¡± ¡°What nonsense examples.¡± Lu Yuxi glared at him and said, ¡°I still want to eat your food every day. Why would I persuade you to change your profession?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Le took a big bite of the peach and said in an unclear voice, ¡°Then I¡¯ll make it for you every day.¡± Not far away, Xu Tian was playing with the dog with a frisbee. The small Maltese dog jumped up and down, and the gold of the setting sun was gradually dyed with the red of the setting sun. Shen Hui looked at the warm and beautiful scene and could not help but exclaim. ¡°If I had a choice, I¡¯d still like to bring the children over.¡± However, the reality was right in front of her. She could not help but frown and feel a little conflicted. After waiting for a long time, Xu Zhexian did not speak. This made her pick up the empty bottle beside her and throw it over unhappily. ¡°Hey! What are you thinking? We¡¯re almost leaving and you¡¯re not worried about the children?¡± ¡°What?¡± Xu Zhexian was lowering his head to blow at the charcoal. He was sweating profusely from fiddling with it. When he looked up, he was in a daze. ¡°What is it? Speak up!¡± Then he wiped his face with the back of his hand. Another black mark was left behind. Shen Hui was caught off guard and laughed out loud. After being amused, it was difficult for her to put on a face again. She simply ignored him and said to Xu Tian, ¡°Go roast your sheep¡¯s leg. Tiantian, come to Mommy.¡± Xu Tian hesitated for a moment, then threw the frisbee in one direction with all her might. The Maltese rushed over with a whoosh. Then, she slowly walked towards her mother. It was not a long distance, but she took some time before reaching Shen Hui. ¡°Tiantian?¡± ¡°Wah!¡± Xu Tian could no longer hold back the sadness in her heart. She pouted and tears rolled down her face. She cried, ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t even keep me company. You just came back and have to leave again¡­ Boohoo, Mommy doesn¡¯t want me anymore. Brother doesn¡¯t want me either¡­¡± For no reason, Xu Le was being blamed. He turned around and widened his eyes. ¡°When did I say that?¡± Xu Tian continued to cry to vent her emotions. She had always been obedient and sensible. This was the first time she had thrown a tantrum. Shen Hui¡¯s heart ached. She hugged her daughter and coaxed her gently. Xu Zhexian hurriedly found a tissue to wipe Xu Tian¡¯s face. Xu Tian cried even harder, as if she wanted to vent all the grievances in her heart when they were not around. ¡°Don¡¯t you still have a brother?¡± Xu Le went forward to comfort his sister. Xu Tian sniffed and said, ¡°But I¡¯m not the person Brother loves the most¡­¡± Lu Yuxi had finished cutting the last piece of pineapple and placed them neatly in a glass lunch box. She poured thick yogurt with strawberry bits on it and handed it to Xu Tian. She smiled and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you?¡± She was about to tell Tiantian not to think too much about it when Xu Tian said, ¡°Because my brother likes you the most.¡± Lu Yuxi choked and took a deep breath. She felt her back turning hot as she sorted out her messy mind and was about to speak. Xu Le rushed to speak first, ¡°Then who does Sister Lu like the most?¡± Xu Tian stopped crying and hesitated. ¡°¡­Me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Look, Sister Lu likes you, and so do I. Everyone in the family likes you.¡± After Xu Le finished speaking gently, Xu Tian paused for a moment, as if she had forgotten to cry. She was seriously thinking about the truth in that sentence. Lu Yuxi nodded with a resolute gaze. Xu Tian reached out for her to hug her. The child¡¯s emotions came and went quickly. She wiped her tears and ate a few pieces of fruit scoop before chasing after the puppy to play. Gradually, the sky turned completely dark. Under the roasting fire, oil gradually seeped out from the surface of the sheep¡¯s leg. Layer after layer of barbecue sauce was brushed on it. The smell of chili cumin mixed with various spices was stimulated by the high temperature. The entire lawn was filled with the fragrance of meat. The families who were camping at the side were too embarrassed to come over, so they pulled their children who were clamoring to watch into the tent, except for the puppy. Xu Le lowered his head and saw the puppy sitting upright behind Xu Tian. Its tail was wagging like a propeller that was about to take off. ¡°You want to eat roasted lamb chops too?¡± Xu Le muttered. He cut open the layer with seasoning on the surface. The meat inside was not completely cooked and had traces of blood. He turned the knife sideways, cut off a piece of mutton, and threw it to the puppy. The puppy wagged its tail happily and ate it. After tasting the delicious mutton, it stopped wagging its tail and even barked to urge him to be faster. Xu Le smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s not fully cooked. I¡¯ll give it to you after it¡¯s cooked.¡± Xu Zhexian was in charge of turning the grill the entire time. He was so tired that he was sweating profusely, causing his clothes to become stuck to his body. He had found a cardboard from somewhere and used it as a fan to fan himself. After another hour, there was continuous sizzling sound of oil dripping onto the fire, emitting a charred fragrance. The surface of the mutton was also emitting oil. The fragrance of the barbecue spice was completely marinated into the meat. Because the fire was at the right temperature, only the outermost layers were slightly darker while the rest of the meat was golden. As the mutton was tender and fresh enough, and it had been marinated with wine in advance, there was basically no stench. Only the rich fragrance of meat spread. At this moment, the families in the tent finally couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. Some of them came over with beer and drinks, while others came over to greet Xu Le and his family. ¡°Are you guys camping here too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fate that everyone has the chance to meet. I brought wine. Come have a drink.¡± As soon as the man finished speaking, he looked down and saw the puppy rubbing against his pants. He said in surprise, ¡°Ball ball? Why are you here?¡± ¡°Daddy, I want to eat that. Tell Uncle to sell it to us.¡± After the child interrupted, the man could no longer hold it in. He smiled and said honestly, ¡°It¡¯s like this. Our family came to camp and smelled your roasted meat. The child made a fuss and said that he wanted to eat it, so we ordered takeout.¡± Chapter 192 - Consider a New Model ¡°The takeout doesn¡¯t taste bad, but it¡¯s not as fragrant as the food you guys make¡­ Children are just gluttony, so he refuses to eat the takeout.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± Xu Zhexian made an inviting gesture and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s sit down and eat together. Our family won¡¯t be able to finish an entire sheep¡¯s leg.¡± ¡°How can I do that? I¡¯ll pay according to the market price¡­¡± The man was about to take out his phone to pay, but Xu Zhexian stopped him. Xu Le crossed his arms and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite. The charcoal will burn out soon. It won¡¯t taste good when the cold air blows on it later.¡± The roasted sheep¡¯s leg was covered in a layer of golden fragrance. The meat was delicate and chewy. Once it was torn open, the texture inside was fresh and tender. The fragrance of the chili was just right, and one could not stop eating it. The group of them sat cross-legged on the lawn eating roasted the sheep¡¯s leg. All of them were eating heartily and were extremely satisfied. Beside them, the puppy¡¯s tail was almost wagging off, as if it was on a mechanical motor. Xu Tian tasted the unique flavor of the charred skin, so she carefully tore it off with her hand and fed it to her mother. Shen Hui¡¯s heart melted from this action and she quickly sucked it carefully. ¡°Thank you, my dear Tiantian. Daddy and Mommy promise you that we¡¯ll come back every year. Really!¡± After saying that, she stretched out her pinky and hooked it with hers. Xu Tian smiled brightly and said in a childish voice, ¡°Okay!¡± A refreshing wind blew past his face. Xu Zhexian¡¯s alcohol tolerance was ridiculously low. Two small glasses of beer made his face turn red like a ripe prawn. Then, he looked up at the sky and admired the moon in a daze. ¡°Woof, woof!¡± The puppy suddenly jumped up and grabbed something with its mouth. Lu Yuxi looked over and saw many fireflies flashing in the night. Everyone looked over and was stunned. The fireflies that had disappeared from the city for many years flapped their wings as if to make up for the lack of stars in the night sky. They fluttered their wings and moved around. Xu Tian reached out excitedly with an amazed expression. ¡°Brother, what is this!¡± One firefly stopped on Xu Tian¡¯s collar. She was expectant and afraid, not daring to reach out to touch it. She widened her eyes to observe its flickering tail. Lu Yuxi shook her head and said, ¡°How pitiful. In the city here, even the moon is covered by clouds at night. Fireflies are very common at my hometown.¡± With that, she leaned forward and raised her eyebrows at Xu Le. ¡°When you¡¯re free, come to my house to play?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Xu Le deliberately said, ¡°While you¡¯re at it, sweep your dead husband¡¯s grave.¡± After the two of them learnt about each other¡¯s identity, they tacitly never mentioned this matter. However, it was not a good idea to keep hiding. After Xu Le said it, Lu Yuxi did not have as big a reaction as he had imagined. She only nodded slightly. However, he was sharp. When Lu Yuxi tilted her head to look at the fireflies flying in the sky, her soft and delicate earlobe was so red that it looked like it was about to drip blood. After happily sharing the sheep¡¯s leg with everyone, they planned to pack up and go home. The people who came to taste previously felt grateful and spontaneously helped them clean up the trash. After taking a bite of the roasted sheep¡¯s leg that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the barbecue they ordered was naturally despised. He felt that the enoki mushrooms were difficult to chew, the corn was too old, the pork belly was too cold and greasy, and the kidneys were fishy and smelly. In short, the roasted takeaway was packed and stuffed into the trash can. The day after they returned, when Xu Le woke up, the house seemed much emptier. His parents had left again. However, with the promise from the night before, Tiantian was only disappointed for a moment before she returned to her usual soft and cute self. She hugged Lu Yuxi¡¯s thigh and let her braid her hair. After sending his sister to school, Xu Le went to the shop. Although Li Qing was usually a little conceited and irritable, he was young and just. Soon, he got along well with the apprentices in the shop. Xu Le looked at the business turnover that had been made into a form. Ever since the variety show was broadcasted and the complete victory in the competition, the popularity of his shop had risen. Regardless of whether it was meal time or not, it was filled with people. Coupled with the high- class fresh ingredients given by the system, he had saved on a lot of expenses. Therefore, he had earned seven figures in the past few months and did not have any financial concerns for the time being. He scrolled down and saw that the monthly fixed income on the form was from the business with Giant Crab. Xu Le looked for Li Qing to discuss his next plan. ¡°I was quite stubborn before. I always felt that if fresh food were packaged for sale, it would be no different from an instant packet with a lot of preservatives. But after tasting the fried chop rice cake that Lu Yuxi handled herself, my opinion changed a little.¡± ¡°Look at these.¡± Xu Le enlarged the form and handed it to him. He continued, ¡°At that time, I discussed with Zhang Heng to invest 10% of the shares in the Imitation Crab. In other words, I would get 10% of the profits every month. This is already the amount I am receiving from that. From what I see, many dishes, such as braised pork and sesame oil chicken, can be packaged in vacuum. They¡¯re less likely to spoil and doesn¡¯t need to be added with too much preservatives. As for heating, putting it in the microwave, or steaming, boiling, and stewing, they¡¯re all very easy to handle and convenient.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine with anything.¡± Li Qing leaned back and said casually, ¡°Let¡¯s do as you say, Master. I feel that it¡¯s pretty good. If we can concoct all the secret formulas according to the ratio, it¡¯s not a bad idea to produce them on the assembly line.¡± Xu Le had this thought, but he did not think about it for that long. As for the assembly line industry, he planned to talk to Zhang Heng. It would be best if they could cooperate. ¡°By the way, a lot of things have been selling well recently. Why don¡¯t you serve a few new dishes?¡± Li Qing pursed his lips. ¡°I¡¯m already very busy. If there are too many dishes, I won¡¯t be able to sell them all. You can choose the new dishes as you see fit. Don¡¯t make it too difficult. It¡¯s best to choose the ones that are easiest to teach.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The shop opposite that had a robot as the head chef had benefited a lot from Xu Le. In addition, the price of the same dish was generally a few yuan lower than that of the eight-year-old canteen, causing an endless stream of customers to feel curious and form a long line in front of their store. Therefore, the Chen family started to join the alliance. Suddenly, the Master Chef¡¯s shop appeared like bamboo shoots after a rain. Although it did not affect Xu Le¡¯s reputation and profits, the two stores would always be compared by customers after meals. The argument on the Internet was even more intense. Half a month later, one night, Xu Le was studying new dishes in the kitchen when suddenly, Lu Yuxi, who was curled up on the sofa, let out an excited scream. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Look!¡± Lu Yuxi didn¡¯t even bother to put on her shoes. She rushed in front of him and gloated, ¡°Chen Yeqi¡¯s business had flopped. Their robot malfunctioned. When it was making knife-cut noodles, the knife flew out and almost hit a customer. This matter became a hot topic.¡± Chapter 193 - Spicy Fried Vermicelli Xu Le glanced at the news on the screen without any expression. Lu Yuxi was not satisfied with his reaction and asked curiously, ¡°Are you unhappy?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to argue with a robot who has no feelings or thoughts about cooking.¡± Xu Le continued to explain, ¡°All his programming is copied from me, Zhang Tong, Li Qing, Chen Xian, and many professional people in the industry who have competition videos and cooking tutorials. It can¡¯t come up with anything innovative, so there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Lu Yuxi nodded in agreement. ¡°That makes sense.¡± As they spoke, she saw the vermicelli that Xu Le had soaked in warm water. Her eyes widened as she asked, ¡°What are we eating tonight? Vermicelli? Mixed noodles?¡± ¡°Xinjiang spicy fried vermicelli. You¡¯ve always wanted to eat it. I was busy a while ago and didn¡¯t have time to make it.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he instructed Lu Yuxi to make handmade noodles. ¡°Tiantian can¡¯t eat anything too spicy. I¡¯ll make her a bowl of mixed meat noodles later. The vermicelli are especially easy to absorb and digest. You can eat two mouthfuls of noodles later. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be so hungry that you¡¯ll get up in the middle of the night to find something to eat.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lu Yuxi happily rolled up her sleeves and washed her hands to make noodles. On the other side, Xu Le took out 100 grams of dried chilli and added 600 grams of dried millet peppers. He placed the two into the basin and heated them with hot water. Not only could this step stimulate the spicy fragrance of the chili, but it could also remove the dust on the surface. When the chili was swollen and foaming, to the extent that it could be crushed with a touch, it could be scooped out and squeezed dry before being placed in the blender. After crushing it once, Xu Le opened the lid and felt that the chili paste was not smooth enough, so he covered the lid and blended again. Lu Yuxi rolled the noodles while saying, ¡°Have you thought about opening a new branch?¡± ¡°Definitely.¡± Xu Le put the blended chili into a bowl aside. ¡°But it has to wait first. I¡¯ve arranged a time with Zhang Heng to try releasing a brand.¡± ¡°A packaged product?¡± Lu Yuxi immediately guessed what he meant and asked in confusion, ¡°Don¡¯t I remember that you¡¯re very particular about food? Can you accept adding preservatives into vacuum bags and sell them in large quantities?¡± ¡°Of course I have to study the process carefully. However, I¡¯ve thought about it seriously. Even if I keep opening more branches, I can¡¯t let all my customers eat my dish. It¡¯s a good idea to operate like the Giant Crab.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true!¡± Lu Yuxi said happily, ¡°You¡¯re finally enlightened! When the time comes, you can focus on the quality and choose the ingredients and taste well. Then, you¡¯ll be more than half successful.¡± After all, with Xu Le¡¯s current popularity and influence, it would not be a problem to sell hundreds of thousands of packets a month. However, the more popular and influential they were, the more cautious they had to be. Xu Le naturally knew this in his heart. He nodded and added 500 grams of bean oil, 200 grams of red oil, 5 grams of white oil, and 200 grams of clear water to the chili paste he had just blended. He mixed it with a wooden spoon evenly. At this point, the spicy sauce for stir-fried vermicelli was prepared. ¡°How well can you eat spicy food?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m absolutely OK.¡± Lu Yuxi winked at him playfully. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate me.¡± ¡°Alright, don¡¯t cry later.¡± As Xu Le spoke, after stirring the chili sauce evenly, he added 80 grams of Minxian bean paste, 50 grams of ketchup, 45 grams of sweet noodle sauce, 20 grams of sweet chilli sauce, 15 grams of peanut sauce, and 20 grams of yellow beans sauce to the bowl. Finally, he added the dark soya sauce, white sugar, chicken essence, salt, and white pepper to season it. He added all the seasonings and water into the blended and crushed them again. When the texture was fine and granular, he would be able to use them. After Lu Yuxi kneaded the dough until it was smooth and without cracks, she placed it aside and wrapped it in plastic wrap to allow it to rise. She saw that Xu Le had yet to process the onions, ginger, and garlic. She asked, ¡°Let me cut these for you. How much do you want?¡± ¡°One onion, one piece of ginger, two large onions, and half a garlic. Process all of them by cutting them as fine as you can, then put it in the blender to crush them.¡± Lu Yuxi did as she was told. She blended twice in the machine and crushed all the ingredients before putting them into a bowl. Immediately after, Xu Le began to simmer the sauce. He poured the chili sauce that he had made at the beginning into the steel pot. After the fire was set, he turned it to low heat and used a steel spoon to press the bottom and stir-fry. After about 20 minutes, the fragrance would be produced. Then, he poured the chopped green onion and ginger into the pot and continued to press the ingredients. During this period, the two ingredients would slowly fuse together. The spicy fragrance of the chili gradually turned into a mellow spicy fragrance. Ten minutes later, he added the various sauces that had just been blended and seasoned into the steel pot. At this time, the sauce in the pot was not only spicy, but also mixed with various flavors of composite sauce, emitting a thick fragrance. When the sauce in the pot was thick, bright, and fragrant, 100 grams of pepper powder could be poured in five minutes before it was taken out. While the color was being produced, the hanging sauce was also added. This was so that when it was used to stir-fry with the vermicelli, it would be easier to stir-fry evenly and stick the sauce to the surface. After the sauce was stir-fried, it was placed aside to cool naturally. Those that could not be finished were placed in a vacuum jar without water or oil and placed in the refrigerator to be refrigerated. When the seasoning was ready and the vermicelli were soaked, the vermicelli would be boiled in hot water for 5 to 8 minutes before being soaked in cold water. Cold water could make the vermicelli more chewy and smooth. ¡°What ingredients do you want? Bean skin, tenderloin, beef or eggs.¡± Lu Yuxi said, ¡°I eat it stir-fried with beef. I see that that¡¯s what they do in professional stores.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Xu Le placed the fresh and tender beef into a bowl and added a gram of baking soda, half an egg white, and soybean oil. This way, the beef would be more smooth and soft, and the moisture would be locked in. Then, he used light soya sauce, cooking wine, oyster sauce, and seasoning to remove the fishy smell. He put on the kitchen gloves and kept stirring and beating it with his hand until the beef absorbed all the ingredients and the flavor was fused in the marination. He added oil to the pot. In order to enhance the color, Xu Le found half a celery and cut it off. After the beef was placed in the pot and had changed color, he could add the celery and then pour in a large spoonful of the sauce that he had just made. Lu Yuxi could not help but salivate just by watching from the side. After the spicy sauce was heated up and stir-fried, the smell was completely released. It was spicy and fragrant! Xu Le poured in half a bowl of hot water and placed the soaked vermicelli into the pot. Finally, he added salt, chicken essence, pepper, and seasoning. He stir-fried it over high heat and evaporated the liquid. When the sauce in the pot was almost evaporated and every strand of vermicelli was evenly wrapped in the sauce, it could be placed on the plate. Lu Yuxi was stunned as she watched the production process. As soon as it was served on the plate, she took out her chopsticks and said impatiently, ¡°Let me taste it! I wasn¡¯t hungry just now. But after you stir-fried this vermicelli, my stomach was rumbling!¡± Chapter 194 - Mixed meat noodles Lu Yuxi greedily rolled up a large mouthful of vermicelli with her chopsticks and said, ¡°Do you know what the essence of sucking on noodles is?¡± Xu Le turned the range hood to the maximum and said, ¡°The spicy smell in the kitchen is too strong. Take it to the dining room and continue eating. Don¡¯t let the smoke enter your eyes.¡± ¡°The essence of sucking noodles is¡ª¡± As Lu Yuxi spoke, she stuffed a mouthful of vermicelli into her mouth. She did not manage to adjust her breathing during the last sentence. The smell of the spicy sauce rushed into her windpipe, causing her to cough violently. However, the vermicelli were too appetizing. The spicy and fragrant taste instantly warmed up her entire mouth. The vermicelli was smooth and danced beautifully on the tip of her tongue. She closed her mouth and chewed twice before swallowing. Only then did she cough and find water to rinse her mouth. After struggling for a long time, Lu Yuxi¡¯s eyes were filled with tears. ¡°Look, the essence of sucking on noodles is to choke on the first bite.¡± Xu Le didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. He frowned and said, ¡°There¡¯s iced Coke in the fridge. Take a can and eat slowly. Don¡¯t you feel uncomfortable choking while eating?¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious!¡± Lu Yuxi praised him generously. She took the coke and carried the plate to the main area of the store to eat. With a mouthful of hot and spicy vermicelli and a mouthful of ice-cold coke, Lu Yuxi was so excited that she stomped her feet. ¡°This is even better than what I bought outside! It¡¯s spicy and fragrant, with a strong taste, but it¡¯s not salty at all.¡± ¡°I saw that big jar of spicy sauce you filled. How many times can it be used?¡± ¡°10 to 15 times if it¡¯s extremely spicy but about 20 times if it¡¯s normal spice.¡± Lu Yuxi saw that Xu Le was still busy in the kitchen, so she felt guilty. She took a tissue to wipe her mouth and stuck her head out. ¡°Why don¡¯t I cut the noodles?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Go eat your food.¡± Lu Yuxi muttered, ¡°If it¡¯s added to your restaurant¡¯s new menu, it will definitely sell well. The spicy fried vermicelli is really top-notch, the kind that you still want to eat after eating it.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll teach Li Qing in a few days.¡± Xu Le took out a piece of pork belly from the fridge and cut it open. There was a little lean meat on the fat, and then it was cut into a square dice shape. The onions and ginger were diced. Pouring the oil into the pot, he placed the sliced pork belly into the pot and stir-fried it until the water vapor was forced out. After the oil became clear, he put in the lean pork belly oil and poured in a little shrimp to freshen up the taste. After it had changed color slightly, he added the chopped green onion and ginger to remove the fishy smell. Finally, he added the yellow sauce unique to Old Beijing. After stewing it, he added dark soya sauce to enhance the color. During the stewing process, it would be turned on and fried over medium-high heat. After the oil was completely fried into the sauce and became thick, it would be turned to a low heat. The oil inside would seep out again amidst the bubbling and would not cause the sauce to dry out. After 40 minutes, he added a large number of white onions and leaves. Then, it was ready to be placed aside. The noodles that had just risen were first blanched and then cut into noodle strips that were five millimeters wide. After boiling them in hot water and adding cold water three times, they could be scooped out and rinsed under ice water. The noodles were covered with round cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, garlic and celery which were blanched and allowed to cool. If it wasn¡¯t for the wrong season, he would have added a small pinch of tender musk. The sauce was hot. When it was poured on the chewy noodles and stirred, the temperature and texture were just right. At that moment, Xu Tian pushed open the door and returned. She threw her bag on the sofa and pouted unhappily. ¡°Come to eat, Tiantian. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xu Le held two servings of vermicelli and two servings of mixed meat noodles. After placing them on the dining table, he looked at the unhappy Xu Tian and thought that she was unhappy because of her parents. He was about to comfort her. ÊÖ³­±¨However, Xu Tian pouted and said, ¡°We were making our own poster during art lessons. Why can¡¯t mine be pasted?¡± ¡°My, Tiantian has developed a liking for studying.¡± After Lu Yuxi teased her, she said, ¡°Let me see what the contents are. I wonder if there¡¯s anything I can help with.¡± Xu Tian took out her painting. Xu Le glanced at it and turned his head to hold back his laughter. Lu Yuxi pursed her lips and said after a long time, ¡°Your brother, your parents, and your family are all chefs. Why can you fail so badly at drawing food-related content? Has the word ¡®influenced from a young age¡¯ lost its effect on Tiantian?¡± Xu Tian pouted and felt extremely aggrieved. Tears immediately flowed out from her eyes. ¡°Alright, alright, don¡¯t cry. Sister Lu will help you. I still have some foundation in drawing.¡± Lu Yuxi comforted her as she pulled Tiantian to the table. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first.¡± ¡°Boohoo, Sister Lu is bullying me.¡± Xu Le gritted his teeth and almost laughed out loud. His cheeks puffed up as he controlled his voice and said, ¡°This is nothing much. After dinner, we¡¯ll guide you to make another set.¡± Only then did Xu Tian stop crying. She put on an apron and started eating. The mixed meat noodles were oily, and the meat inside was distinct. The handmade noodles were chewy, and the yellow sauce was fried with mushrooms, lean meat, and so on. The vegetables were also refreshing and delicious. When the three were combined, they were especially delicious. Xu Tian ate the noodles in big mouthfuls and quickly forgot about the unhappiness at school. She suddenly saw the Coke can thrown in the trash can in the restaurant. She immediately frowned and grabbed Xu Le¡¯s arm. ¡°Brother, I want to drink that too!¡± ¡°Well, um¡­¡± Xu Le glanced at Lu Yuxi, as if asking her why she didn¡¯t put it away in time. Lu Yuxi lowered her head guiltily and continued to suck on her noodles. ¡°Drinking too much carbonated drinks affects your growth. Can I get you some sparkling water?¡± ¡°No! I only want coke. Why can Sister Lu drink it but I can¡¯t? Brother is biased. I am no longer friends with you!¡± Xu Tian started to criticize loudly. ¡°Tiantian, do you know what it means to have soup digesting food?¡± Xu Tian shook her head blankly and stomped her feet. ¡°I want to drink Coke too. Brother is biased! Brother doesn¡¯t love me anymore! Hmph!¡± Then she crossed her arms angrily. Lu Yuxi said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat the noodles, I¡¯ll help you finish it. I¡¯ve already eaten two servings of vermicelli today.¡± Xu Tian reached out and hugged the bowl. Just as she was about to look up and get angry, she saw Lu Yuxi¡¯s swollen lips and couldn¡¯t help but giggle. ¡°Sister Lu has two roasted sausages hanging from her mouth! Hahahaha!¡± Lu Yuxi finally reacted and reached out to pinch Xu Tian¡¯s face. ¡°You, you¡¯re not allowed to laugh!¡± Amidst the commotion, Xu Tian buried her head in two more mouthfuls of noodles and forgot about the coke. Hence, Xu Le and Lu Yuxi exchanged glances and tacitly went to scoop a few bowls of soup noodles. ¡°As the saying goes, the soup digests the food. Not only does the soup noodles help with digestion, but it also makes your stomach feel more comfortable.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Tian picked up the bowl and took a big sip. After the meal, Lu Yuxi guided Xu Tian in making the poster while Xu Le cleaned up the cutlery in the kitchen and placed the dishes into the dishwasher. ¡°How can braised pork be black!¡± ¡°Not three chopsticks, but a pair, two of them!¡± ¡°Tiantian, have you ever taken meals? You have to be good at observing your daily life!¡± Chapter 195 - Testing Out Dongan Chicken Xu Le listened attentively and vaguely heard Xu Tian¡¯s weak and indignant reply. ¡°It¡¯s black because it¡¯s burnt.¡± ¡°These are two chopsticks and a straw.¡± ¡°¡­ I do eat. Is there something wrong with my drawing?¡± Lu Yuxi was quite patient, but after tutoring Xu Tian for ten minutes, she gradually gave up. Xu Le whistled and washed away the soap foam on his hands in a good mood. Although the house was not as peaceful as he had imagined, this kind of chaos could also dispel fear and loneliness. ¡°Of course I respect the naivety of children, but, Tiantian, if you continue to do whatever you want, this poster will be exactly the same as the previous one!¡± Lu Yuxi was so angry that she got up to pour some water to distract herself. Xu Le looked at the mysterious cuisine his sister had drawn and did not know whether to laugh or cry. He said, ¡°Use a pencil to draw a grid on the blank space beside it. I¡¯ll teach you how to draw a recipe book.¡± In the end, after spending most of the night, Xu Tian finally finished her poster. Halfway through washing up, she fell asleep with her toothbrush in her mouth. Lu Yuxi looked helpless. After looking at Xu Le, the two of them laughed at the same time. ¡°Your sister is so stubborn.¡± ¡°But the final product is not bad.¡± After taking care of Tiantian, it was already late at night. Thinking that he would definitely talk about the dishes when he was going to discuss the collaboration with Zhang Heng the next day, he needed to find a dish that was suitable for both old and young to test the waters. He closed his eyes and entered the system. The familiar decor and kitchenware made Xu Le feel confident. The fish meat was tender but prickly. It was difficult to preserve the texture of the fish meat and it was easy to become mushy. The cost price of beef and mutton was high, so the dish price would definitely soar. If the price was too high, it would definitely create a controversy. At first, Xu Le was worried that the technology was not advanced enough, so he wanted to use a conservative method to cook. It was not easy to choose a dish that was famous, had a good texture, and was easy to preserve. How could it be easy to restore the taste of a dish after opening the packaging as though it was freshly cooked? He flipped through almost half the recipe book before he saw a dish that would be served at the state banquet¡ªDong¡¯an Chicken. The earliest records of Dong¡¯an Chicken originated from the ancient tomb that was unearthed in Changsha. Archaeologists discovered the vinegar chicken recorded on bamboo slips. The cooking of this dish originated from the Western Jin Dynasty. It was because a chef had accidentally added vinegar, thinking that it was seasoning wine. However, he was afraid that the county magistrate would blame him, so in order to remove the vinegar, he put in a lot of ginger and pepper. Unexpectedly, by a freak combination of factors, he even created a delicious dish. In order to distinguish this dish from ¡°Kung Pao Chicken¡±, everyone specially named it ¡°Vinegar Chicken¡±. Later on, it was added to the state banquet and ranked first among the eight Hunan dishes. Xu Le had tried this dish at a five-star hotel before. The Dong¡¯an Chicken perfectly demonstrated the taste of sour, spicy, and tender. It was not overly spicy and bitter, but it was extremely refreshing and suited the taste of the public. He had to choose a hen that weighed less than 500 grams as the ingredient. It was best if it had never laid an egg. Just this step alone made Xu Le feel that it was ¡°picky¡± to choose the raw ingredients. It was very difficult to buy raw materials in bulk outside. If he wanted to produce the dish in bulk, they would have to discuss it with the breeding ground, furher complicating the process. Xu Le casually clicked on the ingredients on the transparent crystal board and realized that a long string of numbers followed closely behind. ¡°Can I exchange it from the system?¡± ¡°Oh right! Since I can do it for the dishes in the past, I¡¯m sure I can do it now.¡± After taking a look at his gold coin balance, Xu Le was full of confidence. After washing his hands, he began to deal with the chicken. He did not know if it was his imagination, but the chicken was still warm to the touch and it seemed to be freshly slaughtered. It was extremely fresh. According to the recipe, after removing the chicken oil, he would boil a pot of water. After the water temperature boiled, he would throw a few pieces of ginger with skin to remove the fishy smell. Then, he heated the meat by holding onto the chicken feet and turned it to low heat. Then, he put it into the pot and cooked until it was 80% cooked. The chicken bones were removed and torn into strips. Each strip need not be too wide or thin and about two centimeters would produce the best texture to chew and savor. The chicken was placed in the pot for stir-frying after the chilli oil was removed. After the oil seeped out, he threw away the chicken oil that had hardened. After adding the dried chili and ginger shreds to the pot, he poured in the chicken that was 70% cooked. Then, he added a little chicken soup, yellow wine, MSG, salt, and stewed over low heat. Finally, he sprinkled white pepper, oil, and pepper noodles. He poured a full bowl of Dong¡¯an white vinegar from the side of the pot. After all the fragrance entered the chicken, he made his own gravy. The chicken that was served was smooth, fragrant, and full. Xu Le looked at the finished dish and couldn¡¯t help but frown. He remembered that the dish he had eaten previously didn¡¯t look like this. He picked up his chopsticks hesitantly and tasted it. The chicken was oily and fragrant with vinegar. It was sour, spicy, and refreshing. It was an appetizing dish! However, he felt that something was missing¡­ Xu Le casually flipped through the recipe. Just as he was about to flip to the next dish to take a look, he realized that there was another cooking method. It turned out that in the thousands of years that it had been passed down, it had long developed different cooking methods. Although the ingredients were similar, the taste was polarized. Xu Le immediately tried the next method. He still had to blanch the chicken and remove the bones. He first placed a little MSG and yellow wine on the shredded meat. Once the salt was added, it was difficult for the other seasonings to marinate the taste. He added pepper powder, half an egg white, some starch, and evenly mixed them. He poured oil into the pot and slid the chicken down. He used chopsticks to pull it apart, then served it aside. The oil was left in the pot. At a low temperature, the chili and ginger shreds would be fried until the fragrance came out. When it was stir-fried until it was 80-90% cooked, half a bowl of vinegar would be poured in. After the fragrance of the vinegar was gathered into the chicken pieces,green and red pepper and white onion shreds were added. Before it was taken out of the pot the second time, ginger was added. This would make the dish have the fragrance of both cooked ginger and raw ginger. At this time, one could taste the chicken. If there was not enough vinegar fragrance in the meat, it meant that the dish had failed. When it was about to be served, half a spoonful of vinegar was poured over the side of the pot. As it evaporated, it slid down. When it reached the chicken strips, all that was left was the dry fragrance of the vinegar. There was still some soup left at the bottom of the pot. He used the starch from before to stir-fry with bright oil, making the color of the dish brighter. Finally, a small handful of peppercorns was crushed with the back of a knife and sprinkled on the dishes. After stir-frying them evenly, it could be put on a plate. The crab leg was combined with the taste of bullfrog. The chicken was smooth and tender, and the gravy was smooth. It made the sour and spicy taste wrap tightly around the meat and it was delicious. The second method produced a dry and fragrant taste. The texture was also slightly crispy. They were both not bad, but he did not know which one the customers would be more willing to accept. Xu Le tried ten more times. He was so accurate that he counted the grams of vinegar, ginger, and dried chili peppers. Then, he recorded the amount of each portion. The next morning, he arrived at the Giant Crab Company. Ever since Xu Le made an appointment, Zhang Heng could not hide his excitement. He waited on the sofa by the counter in advance and kept confirming the time with his assistant. Chapter 196 - Developing a New Product Line ¡°Are you sure the Little Master Chef is coming at nine? Oh, 12 more minutes.¡± After a while, he looked up at his watch anxiously. Xu Le was extremely famous in the industry now. In all fairness, no senior could obtain such brilliant achievements at the age of eight! It was not an exaggeration to say that he was a ¡°Master Chef.¡± To be able to work with the Giant Crab meant that he would automatically draw in money. Zhang Heng knew this. Hence, as soon as Xu Le walked in with the lunch box, he hurriedly went forward to welcome him. ¡°Xu Le, long time no see. I¡¯ve seen the proposal you sent. Since there are two cooking methods, let¡¯s sell them in two different packaging¡­¡± Xu Le interrupted him. ¡°Try it first.¡± ¡°Haha, does the Little Master Chef need anyone to comment on his work? I bet it¡¯s going to be a great sale!¡± Zhang Heng couldn¡¯t hide his excitement. When he reached his office, he immediately waved for his assistant to open the lunch box. Xu Le introduced them one by one. ¡°It¡¯s my first time trying this method. I chose to use chicken to lower the cost price. The preparation method is simple. Just like the Imitation Crab previously, the difficulty is in controlling the amount.¡± ¡°Over here, in order, it¡¯s slightly spicy, medium spicy, and super spicy. The more spicy it is, the stronger the smell of vinegar. There are two cooking methods. One is dry and fragrant while the other is oily. Both go well with wine and rice.¡± Zhang Heng took the chopsticks and tasted the dried fragrant chicken. Although it had been fried in oil, it was not oily at all. With white vinegar, ginger, and dried chili, he savored it and actually tasted a hint of tenderness that resembled bullfrog and crab. Xu Le saw the surprise on his face and explained. ¡°Like the Imitation Crab, ginger and vinegar juice is used inside. The two flavors will collide and produce this texture when heated at high temperatures.¡± ¡°It¡¯s very good! Let me try this again.¡± The oily version was more suitable for eating with rice. The edge of the chicken was fresh and soft, and there was a hint of fresh sweetness. The spicy and sharp taste intertwined and lingered. Both methods were perfect and appetizing, so Zhang Heng said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we do what I just told you? It won¡¯t hurt to sell them together.¡± ¡°Different cooking methods means we need to dire different chefs. I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll find it difficult to master the essence of the dish in a short time.¡± Xu Le also voiced his concerns. ¡°Besides, I just want to test the waters and check the response before deciding whether to continue.¡± Zhang Heng nodded in agreement when someone suddenly pushed through the door and shouted, ¡°You brat! Every time we choose something, we have a meeting to discuss it and come up with a research plan. Yet you are opening a back door for someone just like that?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t go in.¡± The assistant could not stop him and could only stand aside awkwardly. ¡°This is my dad,¡± Zhang Heng said. ¡°He¡¯s a little old-fashioned and doesn¡¯t usually go online. I¡¯ll explain it to him.¡± Zhang Heng dragged his father to the side to convince him while his assistant arranged for Xu Le to wait. After a full half an hour, Zhang Heng¡¯s mouth was dry and he still could not persuade his rigid father. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t care about what you think, but you must know how important it is to decide on a dish. You must know that the Giant Crab business has only started a few years ago. Apart from the Imitation Crab dish, tell me, is there any popular product? It¡¯s already good enough that you can recover your capital!¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re even more lawless! How dare you cooperate with a brat?¡± Zhang Heng pulled a tissue to wipe the sweat from his forehead. ¡°Here¡¯s the thing,¡± he said. ¡°The Imitation Crab was made by Xu Le. Why don¡¯t you try the food first, Dad, before you decide?¡± Old Mister Zhang finally gave in a little. He nodded in agreement and said, ¡°Sure, but we definitely have to let the shareholders taste it before we can vote. Get that child to make a few more servings and bring them over.¡± Zhang Heng pursed his lips, his expression reluctant. Based on his taste buds and judgment, the dish was basically guaranteed to be a huge sale, but because of his father, he could only agree verbally. ¡°Let¡¯s go. You¡¯ll know after you try it.¡± Old Mister Zhang reluctantly went over. When he saw that Xu Le was just a child, he thought of the words to turn him down and tasted the chicken. His frown gradually eased and he said, ¡°Ahem, it¡¯s sour and spicy. What¡¯s so good about it? Who would buy it?¡± After swallowing it, a tender and sour aftertaste slowly spread on the tip of his tongue. ¡°Dad, the one you just ate is extremely spicy and sour. You can try this light spicy flavor.¡± As Zhang Heng hurried to make the introductions, Old Mister Zhang said, ¡°It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t tried Dong¡¯an chicken before. When I first started my business, there was authentic Dong¡¯an chicken being sold at the intersection. Who would cut it into strips? Shouldn¡¯t they all be chopped into complete pieces?¡± As he complained, he took another bite. It was medium spicy and sour, just right for his taste. The dry chicken was filled with the fragrance of ginger and vinegar. He was slightly stunned as he chewed. He swallowed it and was still savoring the aftertaste. When he spoke again, his tone was much gentler. ¡°The fragrance of Dong¡¯an chicken is mainly in ginger and vinegar sauce. Hunan cuisine emphasizes on the taste of sour and spicy. The taste of rich sour and spicy is top-notch. If it¡¯s pure sour and spicy, it¡¯s too harsh. If it¡¯s slightly sour and spicy, smooth and tasteless, it has no soul. It¡¯s not difficult to make Hunan cuisine, but if you want it to be delicious, it will be a test to the chef¡¯s skills and seasoning. Just the fact that the authentic flavor of the white vinegar is enough to complete half of the dish.¡± Listening to Old Master Zhang¡¯s boastful words, Xu Le realized that he had a deep emotional attachment to this dish. That was why he could recall the flavors in one bite. Someone who did not know how to cook could describe it so accurately. ¡°Sigh, I can¡¯t go back anymore.¡± Old Mister Zhang sighed deeply and called his assistant downstairs to buy a bowl of white rice. He continued, ¡°This oily and fragrant dish is only suitable for drinking. When I first started my business decades ago, I often ordered this dish when drinking with my friends. It really goes well with wine.¡± From his slightly turbid and ancient eyes, it was as if he recalled the golden years of his life through that dish. Zhang Heng wasn¡¯t convinced by his father¡¯s ¡°dictatorship.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted the shareholders to discuss voting?¡± ¡°Your old man¡¯s been a fan of the dish for over a decade. How could I be wrong? How could I taste it wrongly?¡± Old Mister Zhang waited for his assistant to buy white rice and wolfed down the chicken that had almost turned cold. An indescribable feeling rushed to the tip of his nose, making his eyes water. By the time he finished eating, Zhang Heng had finalized most of the plans. ¡°As for the publicity, I wonder if the Little Master Chef can help? No matter how much money we spend on publicity, it won¡¯t be as influential as yours alone.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Zhang Heng¡¯s expression relaxed. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to write you a proposal later,¡± he said happily. ¡°Very soon!¡± ¡°No need.¡± Xu Le did not like to advertise according to the script. He said, ¡°I have a lot of fans on my software platform. Let¡¯s come up with a tutorial.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhang Heng¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°But if everyone learned how to make it, who would buy the product we make?¡± Chapter 197 - New Dish In Store Xu Le was about to explain when Old Mister Zhang interrupted him. ¡°You¡¯re narrow midned!¡± Old Mister Zhang said resentfully, ¡°If it¡¯s really that easy to make it, won¡¯t everyone become a chef after watching a video tutorial? Why don¡¯t they just change their profession directly?¡± Zhang Heng was speechless. The rest of the process was very smooth. They decided on the flavor that suited the public¡¯s taste more, then signed the contract. Xu Le was very reassured when he handed over the full recipe. After all, Zhang Heng attached great importance to the relationship formed after this initial collaboration. He personally monitored the process and also assigned a lot of dividends to Xu Le. The moment he stepped out of the company, the voice in Xu Le¡¯s mind sounded. ¡°If the sales of the new product can exceed a million yuan within a month, the system will give you all the high quality ingredients for free. If you can¡¯t reach it, it will withdraw the function to exchange gold coins for ingredients.¡± ¡°Does the host choose to make the deal?¡± It was the first time the cold and mechanical voice had mentioned additional conditions. Xu Le was slightly stunned, then his lips curled up and he smiled confidently. ¡°Sure, I agree to it.¡± After the video of the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was released last time, Xu Le¡¯s videos had exceeded 8 million likes for the first time, causing the entire internet to follow suit in the cooking trend. Many verified bloggers followed the tutorial to cook, and even seniors in the industry came out to comment on his cooking. They carefully dissected the method again and again and added in their own modifications based on their lifestyles, creating a huge wave of popularity for the video. However, at the end of the day, Xu Le¡¯s methods were the most meticulous and authentic. Now, there were thousands of private messages urging him to update every day. He had become a blogger with tens of millions of fans. After arriving home, he pulled Lu Yuxi along and started recording the tutorial video. ¡°Didn¡¯t you prepare two cooking methods? Are you teaching both of them?¡± Lu Yuxi asked him as she set up the equipment. Xu Le raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°CEO Zhang wants me to sell Dong¡¯an Chicken made using the oily method as it is more traditional and affordable. I plan to demonstrate the dry fragrance method and end the video introducing another cooking method to arouse everyone¡¯s desire to taste it.¡± Lu Yuxi nodded in agreement. ¡°You have so many tricks up your sleeve.¡± Xu Le had already cooked it many times in the system, so he could explain it while cooking skilfully. ¡°After blanching it, the chicken can be placed in ice water for 20 minutes. The Dong¡¯an chicken made this way will be more firm.¡± ¡°Then you can add dried chilli or chilli powder. Remember, chilli powder has to be poured at low temperatures or it¡¯s likely to become burnt.¡± ¡°The key to this dish is simmering. Once it is served, it should have a dry fragrance in the mouth, not the soft and chewy texture.¡± After the tutorial, Xu Le had no time to rest. He changed his clothes and was about to leave. Lu Yuxi sat in the living room and edited the video. Seeing how anxious he was, she asked curiously, ¡°Do you have an appointment with anyone today?¡± ¡°In the afternoon, I asked Li Qing and Zhang Tong to close the store two hours in advance to prepare new dishes. I plan to serve these dishes at the shop. We¡¯ll go choose a location for the new store and walk around. Oh, right, go to bed early after picking up Tiantian from school. Don¡¯t wait for me to come back.¡± Xu Le tied his shoelaces and looked at his young and cute figure in the mirror. Who would have thought that this body contained a soul in his twenties? ¡°I should be able to take a day off from work the day after tomorrow. I¡¯ll accompany you to your hometown then.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s voice was filled with undisguised joy. When he arrived at the shop, Auntie Liu, the cleaner was still working. When she saw Xu Le, she smiled so widely that her wrinkles could be seen. ¡°Little storeowner, I haven¡¯t seen you in a long time! Your previous competition was really awesome! I even got my son to vote for you online!¡± ¡°Thank you, Auntie Liu.¡± Xu Le invited her. ¡°We are researching on new dishes tonight. Have you had dinner? You can stay and have a taste.¡± Auntie Liu was a little embarrassed. She knew the capability of the chefs in her heart and was also craving a bite, so she nodded reservedly. ¡°Haha, I¡¯m in for a treat tonight.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite. Have a seat. You¡¯ll be in charge of tasting it later.¡± As he spoke, Xu Le followed the other two to the kitchen. The kitchen was spotless. After using it for so long, there was not even oil and smoke accumulated. After being slightly surprised, Xu Le took out a small jar of chili sauce. ¡°I specially cooked the Xinjiang vermicelli with Lu Yuxi two days ago. This sauce is especially delicious. I¡¯ll tell you the secret recipe later and demonstrate it again. In the future, you can serve a portion of spicy fried vermicelli in the store.¡± Li Qing said casually, ¡°Eh, why didn¡¯t you call us when you were cooking at home?¡± Zhang Tong changed from his usual seriousness. He shook his head and sighed. ¡°As expected, Boss doesn¡¯t care about me.¡± Xu Le didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. He glared at Li Qing. ¡°You¡¯re being a bad influence to others every day. Alright, I¡¯ll cook for you guys next time.¡± After comforting the two of them, Xu Le taught them how to cook the minced meat noodle and Dong¡¯an Chicken. At first, Zhang Tong had objections and felt that his method had too much modifications and was not authentic enough. Xu Le did not refute him. Instead, he followed Zhang Tong¡¯s thoughts and let him cook the traditional way. After realizing that the taste of the finished product was not as good as Xu Le¡¯s, Zhang Tong silently shut up and could only sigh in his heart. ¡°Technology is improving food we eat. If some small tricks can be used to practice cooking quickly and simply, and the taste can be better, then it¡¯s not wrong to modify it a little.¡± Xu Le comforted him. Seeing that it was almost time, he was about to remind them to leave when Li Qing said, ¡°I¡¯ve prepared a very simple dish these two days, but for some reason, the taste is not right. Can you help me look at it?¡± ¡°Yo.¡± Zhang Tong teased, ¡°Even you are improving yourself every day. We¡¯re all colleagues, so why do you have to be so competitive?¡± Li Qing nudged him. ¡°It¡¯s mainly because Master Xu doesn¡¯t come often now. Besides, he¡¯s still choosing the location of the new branch. If I can get him to guide me, wouldn¡¯t I be benefiting from the Master Chef?¡± As he spoke, he poked Xu Le with his elbow. ¡°I¡¯ve already called you master, so give me some guidance!¡± Xu Le glanced at the time. If it was a side dish, there was still time. ¡°What dish?¡± ¡°Ants climbing a tree.¡± Zhang Tong frowned and said in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the taste of such a simple and basic dish?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you know once I make it?¡± As Li Qing spoke, he took out the dragon¡¯s vermicelli that were soaked in warm water. ¡°So you were prepared for this.¡± Zhang Tong hit the nail on the head. Xu Le smiled and said, ¡°The timing is really accurate. If it was a little earlier, the vermicelli would have expanded too much.¡± Li Qing smiled and neatly placed the pork belly filling in the oil and stir-fried. He waited for the oil inside to seep out and the meat to be crispy before pouring in bean paste. After stir-frying, he placed the onion and ginger powder. Then, he put in the ¡°ant¡± that was used to serve as the ¡°ant¡± on the tree, the sprouts. Then, it was stir-fried to produce a fragrance. Just as Li Qing was about to pour the yellow wine, Xu Le stopped him. ¡°Later, when the temperature in the pot is highest, pour the wine. Otherwise, it won¡¯t evaporate and the ingredients will carry a little bitter spice of wine.¡± Chapter 198 - : Ants Climbing a Tree ¡°Okay.¡± Li Qing did as he was told. Then, he added soy sauce and pure water until it was bubbling. He added the vermicelli that he had just soaked into the pot. He felt that it was too long and inconvenient to eat, so he cut it from the middle. When the vermicelli were cooked, Li Qing picked up the pepper and salt to season them. Xu Le said, ¡°You¡¯ve already put in soy sauce and sprouts. Both are very salty. Now, just add a spoonful of white sugar to enhance the taste. It will be too salty to add more salt.¡± Zhang Tong nodded, indicating that it made sense. Li Qing pouted and continued to do as he was told. The soup in the pot was allowed to be completely absorbed by the vermicelli at low heat. Then, he used his chopsticks to pick it up and the sprouts and meat ¡°climbed¡± up along the vermicelli. He sprinkled some green garlic paste and stirred it evenly. ¡°It¡¯s almost done. There¡¯s nothing wrong with the cooking method. It¡¯s just that the seasoning isn¡¯t compatible. The taste should be alright once it¡¯s corrected.¡± As Xu Le spoke, he gestured for Li Qing to taste it. The sprouts and meat were wrapped evenly in the vermicelli. When brought into the mouth, the unique flavor of the sprouts was crisp and salty. The vermicelli was smooth and had some chewiness, but it was not greasy at all. The red oil made it more fragrant, and there was almost no spiciness. It was a very appetizing dish. After all three dishes were done, they called Auntie Liu over to help taste them. Zhang Tong placed two Dong¡¯an chickens that looked similar in front of her. ¡°Try it. Which tastes better?¡± Auntie Liu chewed carefully and tasted it several times. In the end, she pointed at the one without much juice and commented, ¡°The sourness and spiciness of this dish come from the chicken. It feels different from the ones in other shops. The one beside it is not bad, but it¡¯s still lacking in both taste and texture.¡± When Zhang Tong heard this heartbreaking truth, he failed to salvage his dignity. Hence, he changed the topic and said, ¡°By the way, Boss Xu, where do you plan to open your next store? Will it be bigger than the previous two?¡± ¡°The place is very close to here. It¡¯s very small and not more than 100 square meters. I plan to go with the limited-edition business operating model. I¡¯ll only serve state banquet dishes or difficult and rare delicacies. That way, it¡¯ll be much more convenient for people who sincerely want to enjoy delicacies. Ordinary customers also won¡¯t think that some of the dishes on the menu are too expensive.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°Alright, if you¡¯re busy, look for the two of us to help.¡± The two of them were very supportive. This calmed Xu Le down. When he saw the exceptionally high rent through the property agent, he thought he had heard wrongly. ¡°Is that really¡­ the rent?¡± ¡°Look, there¡¯s an entire building of luxury shopping mall beside it. The greenery downstairs is so good. The bamboo forest is quiet and the Japanese-style garden design is not bad!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look at the ones upstairs again.¡± Xu Le wanted to find a quiet place as much as possible. In a big city filled with desire, it was a place where customers could enjoy delicacies and rest their souls. The agent very politely brought him upstairs to choose. In order to pursue tranquility, the business district here had two floors. Although it was small, the style and taste could be seen at a glance. Xu Le felt that they were all quite beautiful and suitable, but he never had that feeling. Hence, he stopped at many places and viewed many buildings. A shop owner nearby recognized him and greeted him excitedly. ¡°It¡¯s the Little Master Chef!¡± ¡°If you open a store near my house, can I freeload? I¡¯ll give you a discount for everything in my shop!¡± ¡°Wow, can I take a photo with you? I¡¯ve watched all your live streams!¡± After Xu Le waved and greeted him, he continued walking. The agent placed one hand on his waist and panted. ¡°You¡¯re not that old, but why is your stamina so good? I really can¡¯t walk anymore. I¡¯ll rest here for a while. Why don¡¯t you tell me what style you want?¡± Xu Le shook his head. After all, as long as the location was good, he could renovate it after renting it. They looked at a few more stores. By then, it was already eleven o¡¯clock at night. The agent couldn¡¯t take it anymore and said, ¡°The last one, I guess. Tell you what, I¡¯ll view more places with you tomorrow?¡± Xu Le said, ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Hey, no, no. That¡¯s because I think there¡¯s no other way. It¡¯s fine if you want to continue viewing now, but I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to continue walking¡­¡± The agent was explaining when Xu Le interrupted him. ¡°I¡¯ll just choose here. I like it very much.¡± There was a small building in front of him. The steps were curved and the handrails were frosted white. There was a faint light shining down. The lights hanging from them were warm. Regardless of the color combination, there was a sense of harmony and vitality. A pot of wisteria by the stairs spread down. It was green and beautiful. The agent looked up and down in confusion. This was neither decorated in high-class nor elegant style. It looked ordinary. What exactly attracted Xu Le? Unable to contain his curiosity, he said, ¡°Then let¡¯s sign the contract tomorrow. Also¡­ is it convenient for me to ask, which part of this place attracted you?¡± Xu Le looked up and said, ¡°It¡¯s very warm. It looks like home.¡± ¡°¡­Oh.¡± The agent was glad that they had made a deal and he could end work. He casually said happily, ¡°Actually, everyone has a different understanding and feeling about home. If you can decide on this place in a few seconds based on your intuition, then this place must have the same vibes as your home.¡± Xu Le recalled the childish decorations and rooms at his place. There was even a Disney princess portrait hanging at the entrance. He was stunned for a moment and said, ¡°No.¡± In fact, he¡¯d lost his family in a car accident when he was in his teens. Then he¡¯d stayed with relatives and barely managed to finish school with the inheritance his parents had left him. Then there was the accident on the road. When he¡¯d been sent flying by a car, his first reaction had been calmness, even a vague sense of belonging. However, he did not expect that he would transmigrate to an eight-year-old child¡¯s body. He took on the responsibility of caring for the innocent Tiantian and began to learn cooking through the system. He had indeed gained a lot. More importantly, no matter if it was his friends, relatives who seemed to be related by blood, or old friends, they were all slowly completing his idea of a family that was viewed to be falling apart since he was young. His first reaction when he saw this place was an indescribable warmth and sense of belonging. Instinct was a very mysterious thing. But Xu Le chose to believe it. After settling the matters at hand, Xu Le accompanied Lu Yuxi back to her hometown as promised. In the past few years, the city had become much more developed, and the specialties from the past were also quite famous. Walnuts, persimmon pancakes, dumplings, meatballs, spicy soup¡­ There was a dazzling array of them. The not-so-exquisite stalls were even more lively. Lu Yuxi bought a five-dollar pancake and held it in her hand through the bag. She used a bamboo stick to poke a piece for Xu Le. ¡°Try it. This is quite good.¡± Chapter 199 - Steamed Qilin Fish The sauce on the pancake was moderately salty and sweet. It was not greasy at all. The pancake was cooked in a double-sided frying pan. It was soft and filled with fragrance of oil. Coupled with the taste of the sauce, it was very harmonious and delicious. After taking a bite, her empty stomach was extremely satisfied. As they walked along the street, many of the delicacies introduced by Lu Yuxi were food that she often ate in her hometown. She took a bite of the chewy and sweet persimmon pancake, and a lot of frosting seeped out. Just looking at it was very tempting. ¡°When I eat something I liked as a child, I could stay happy for a day. Now, if it wasn¡¯t novel food, the sense of surprise I feel would be greatly reduced.¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve just realized that there are times in life that aren¡¯t that memorable. At least when I think about them, I only feel that they¡¯re indispensable in a photo, but they¡¯re very empty moments. There¡¯s nothing to remember and they just exist.¡± She told him her thoughts with a melancholic expression. Xu Le said, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s all in the past. In the future, there will still be many vegetables, meat and delicacies waiting to fill your stomach and bones.¡± ¡°Look, that¡¯s the stall that my previous landlord set up. A few months before the college entrance examination, I had to walk for about 20 minutes every day to eat a bowl of meatball spicy soup at his place before rushing to school. My mother almost died of anger when she found out and felt that I was wasting my time.¡± Xu Le sat down with her and asked for two bowls of meatball spicy soup. The spicy soup was actually not that spicy and sticky. In the smooth soup, there was tofu slices, fried dough and meatballs. The meatballs had a strong starch flavor, but they were fragrant. They slid from his throat to his stomach, carrying warmth and the after-spicy of pepper. ¡°If you want it to be spicy, there¡¯s oil-drenched chili and vinegar here.¡± Lu Yuxi pushed the seasoning on the table to him. The chili was huge and had a good texture with a strong fragrance. The two of them walked around the street. Lu Yuxi chattered as she pointed at the food stalls and the buildings beside them. ¡°That was the elementary school I attended previously. The kindergarten was just behind the elementary school¡­ When I was in fifth grade, I moved to Shanghai. At that time, our families weren¡¯t considered neighbors and we live one storey apart. Your mother often complained that I was too noisy at home, but I liked to freeload at your house. Since I was good at speaking and full of compliments, your parents didn¡¯t dislike me.¡± ¡°At that time, Xu Le wasn¡¯t born yet. Auntie Shen said that she wanted a daughter, so she treated me well.¡± However, after staying for only half a year, Lu Yuxi was forced to return to her hometown because her mother was sick. When she entered university, she eventually met Xu Le. Fate was truly a wonderful thing. When they tasted the last shop at the end of the street, Lu Yuxi pointed at the pork flatbread on the chopping board and said, ¡°This shop has the most authentic taste. It¡¯s extremely delicious. Their flatbread is rolled up layer by layer before being roasted. After they¡¯re out of the pot, they¡¯re all covered in crisps¡­¡± The storeowner was chopping meat vigorously on the chopping board. The fat and thin braised meat that had just been scooped out of the pot was steaming and fragrant. It was very tempting. However, Xu Le had no appetite at this moment. He waved his hand and said, ¡°I was eating the whole way. I¡¯m too full. I feel that the food has reached my chest. Let¡¯s talk about it next time.¡± The two of them chatted as they walked. Lu Yuxi also bought some local specialties for Tiantian and Teacher Li. At night, Lu Yuxi tossed and turned on the hotel bed as she was not sleepy at all. She called Xu Le, who stayed next door, and wanted to ask him out for supper. However, she heard Xu Le¡¯s phone ring for more half a minute before it automatically hung up. She got up in shock and asked for the access card to the room opposite her. She pushed the door open and entered. It was indeed empty. Xu Le was nowhere to be seen. Lu Yuxi¡¯s face stiffened and she muttered to herself, ¡°Where is he? He¡¯s not sleeping at night and didn¡¯t even bring his phone. Where did he go?¡± At this moment, 20 kilometers away. Xu Le was in the cemetery, looking at the tombstone belonging to the family of three for a long time. His former name was engraved on the tombstone in front of him. They were both called Xu Le, except it was written differently. ¡°Dad, Mom¡­¡± Xu Le called out softly. He didn¡¯t know what to feel. It had been too long ago, and his sadness had been dragged over a long time and had gradually faded. However, it was not that he did not care at all. The loss of his home and family had always been a thorn in the bottom of his heart. It was as if he was suffering from rheumatism. He did not know when his condition would suddenly act up when the wind whistled past and there was a sudden drop in temperature. He felt so uncomfortable that he could not speak. Xu Le sat cross-legged. It was dark around him, but he was not afraid. After he closed his eyes, he did not know when he had subconsciously entered the system. In front of him, there was a kitchenware stove. He did not have to clean up anything. It would become shiny as if it was new. Xu Le casually chose a fish from among the ingredients and silently scraped the scales. It seemed that when he was in a bad mood, just the process of cooking and practising his culinary skills could calm him down. After cutting off the fish head and tail, Xu Le made two cuts in the middle. Then, he held the knife horizontally and neatly removed the fish bones. He had wanted to make steamed fish. It was simple to prepare and delicious, but he looked at the fish in his hand and fell into deep thought. ¡°The ingredients are so good. It¡¯s a waste to make it casually.¡± Therefore, he pulled out the ingredient catalogue of ¡°Qilin Fish¡± from the system. As one of the classic Cantonese dish, it was refreshing and tasted unique and delicious. Xu Le cut the fish knife into thick slices and placed them on the plate. He applied the salt, MSG, white pepper, yellow wine, starch, sesame oil, and chicken juice evenly. He put on gloves and gently rubbed them together before patting them to infuse the flavor. This step could lock in the moisture and make the fish even more tender and smooth. The dried shiitake mushrooms and Jinhua ham were cut into square slices. They were placed in the fish in order and steamed for seven minutes. During this period, Xu Le peeled a carrot. He first cut it into triangular shapes, then cut a piece diagonally from the middle¡­ Soon, the ordinary carrot turned into the shape of a flower under his agile fingers and looked lifelike. When it was time, he poured out the water from steaming the fish at the bottom of the plate and placed small vegetables that had been blanched on both sides. They were green and fresh. He added oil to the pot. After the onions and ginger were fried, he splashed the oil on the fish to increase its fragrance and enhance its taste. Finally, he added water, chicken juice, pepper, salt, white sugar and yellow wine to the pot. After boiling, he added a little water and starch to thicken the gravy and poured it evenly on the fish. After finishing the dish, Xu Le stared at the plate in a daze. At this moment, a familiar voice suddenly pulled him back to reality. He opened his eyes and saw the plate of steamed Qilin Fish that he had just made in front of the tomb. He was clearly stunned. When the flashlight shone over, Lu Yuxi hurriedly shouted and ran over. After seeing that he was fine, her eyes became misty. ¡°Hey, where did this child come from? What are you doing here so late at night?¡± Chapter 200 - Cutting corners The security guard at the entrance of the cemetery chased after him. When he saw Xu Le standing there, his voice trembled in fear. ¡°I remember patrolling once around the place and there was no one. When did you sneak in? This¡­¡± He was worried. Fortunately, nothing had happened. Xu Le¡¯s expression was cold as he watched the old man complain to Lu Yuxi. ¡°You know him?¡± ¡°Whoever it is, take him away first. You¡¯re really making me angry. If I didn¡¯t know you, I would have scolded this brat today.¡± ¡°Alright, Uncle Zhang, we¡¯ll leave soon.¡± Lu Yuxi was very familiar with the security guard. She patted his shoulder and comforted him. ¡°I have already found him. Nothing will happen if I stay here. Just ten minutes. We will leave in ten minutes!¡± The old man looked reluctant. Finally, he waved his hand and walked to the steps nearby. He sat down and stared at them with his flashlight. Lu Yuxi squatted down and heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°I was so scared. When I realized you were gone, I didn¡¯t even bring my phone¡­¡± Then she saw the steamed fish at the grave. ¡°Did you cook your parents¡¯ favorite food and bring it over to visit them?¡± Lu Yuxi was stunned. After saying that, she shook her head and said, ¡°Sigh, things are unpredictable. My condolences.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± Xu Le sat down beside her and said, ¡°I can¡¯t even remember what they look like.¡± The accident happened too suddenly. When his relatives came to help clean up, they accidentally lost their photos containing their memories. Moreover, more than ten years had passed, and only a vague image of his parents remained in Xu Le¡¯s heart. ¡°Xu Le.¡± Lu Yuxi called out to him and tears flowed uncontrollably. ¡°I thought I would never see you again.¡± This was true. After all, no one knew that his soul had transmigrated to a child and that he had the strongest Master Chef System. Even if he told others, no one would believe him. ¡°In school, you¡¯ve never looked for me. Apart from Li Shengsheng, we don¡¯t have any other mutual friends.¡± Xu Le scratched the back of his head and said in surprise, ¡°How did you like me so much?¡± Lu Yuxi was stunned. She wiped her tears and scolded angrily, ¡°Don¡¯t be too proud of yourself.¡± Then, she turned around and was about to leave. Xu Le was about to follow when he saw her turn around. She said angrily, ¡°Pfft, who do I have the right to decide who I like? If you¡¯re not interested in me, why did you help me pay for the meal in the canteen at that time? I didn¡¯t get shrimp tofu, but you gave me your share?¡± She questioned him righteously. Xu Le choked, then his lips twitched and his eyes lit up. ¡°It¡¯s not embarrassing to have a crush on me. Back then at school¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you work part-time in the school cafeteria at that time? Your hands never trembled when you passed me food. Do you dare say you didn¡¯t notice me at that time?¡± Lu Yuxi continued to ask. Xu Le thought to himself, ¡®You¡¯re the school belle. Shouldn¡¯t I take care of beautiful people?¡¯ But he didn¡¯t say it. He gestured and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± The word ¡°home¡± was emphasized, as if it meant something. Lu Yuxi instantly understood what he meant and said, ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll book a flight at dawn.¡± The security guard guarding the cemetery saw that the two of them were about to leave and got up to send them off. He said, ¡°You two young people must not run around. It¡¯s a taboo to visit the cemetery at night. Sigh¡­ go go go.¡± Xu Le finally opened up and said, ¡°Sir, I brought steamed fish over just now. If you don¡¯t mind, eat it while it¡¯s hot.¡± ¡°Huh? I¡¯m okay with that, but this is an offering¡­¡± Lu Yuxi said mercilessly, ¡°Sir, didn¡¯t you eat a lot of them before? In the past, every time I came over, weren¡¯t the oranges and apples stuffed in your mouth all offeringsfrom others?¡± ¡°You little girl¡­¡± The old man was speechless. He did not expect his wicked deeds to be exposed by Lu Yuxi¡¯s words. Hence, he said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll eat. What¡¯s there to be afraid of? I¡¯m already almost approaching death.¡± He ran over quickly and took the plate of steamed Qili Fish. He sized it up and drooled. ¡°Are take-out plates so high-end these days? They look pretty good. My, it¡¯s still hot.¡± In return, he sent the two of them out the door. When Xu Le waved goodbye, the old man said, ¡°Why do you look so familiar? What¡¯s your name again?¡± Xu Le smiled and did not reply. He turned around and left with Lu Yuxi. When the old man returned to the security room for supper, the fish meat was tender and fresh and he almost couldn¡¯t hold it on the end of his chopsticks. When he took a bite, it was soft, sweet, and extremely delicious! ¡°I¡¯ve never eaten such delicious steamed fish in most of my life!¡± The old man excitedly took out his phone and took a photo clumsily. He wanted to record it down and go to the nearby shops to find out which shop sold it. After taking a photo, he couldn¡¯t wait to throw aside his phone and wolf down his food. The fish meat was cleanly processed without a single bone left. It was tender, fresh, and delicious. The old man quickly finished the fish meat and reluctantly placed two crispy green vegetables into his mouth and started chewing. At the end, the carrot was carved into a flower. It was lifelike and beautiful. Stunned, he kept a piece, dried it with a tissue and stored it. ¡°It¡¯s too delicious. I have to go out tomorrow and find out which restaurant this is from!¡± That night, they flew back to Shanghai. As soon as he landed, Zhang Heng urged Lu Yuxi to try the packaged Dong¡¯an chicken. Just as Lu Yuxi agreed, Li Qing sent a message. ¡°I¡¯m in the new store you rented. Mr. Cai Lan came to look for you today but couldn¡¯t find you. He said that he would definitely come to support you when it¡¯s open.¡± ¡°Oh, and, Song Deyue, the judge from before, dang dang dang! He gave you this recipe and said that the heavy responsibility of promoting traditional delicacies will be placed on Master Xu.¡± ¡°He said he had high hopes for you.¡± Li Qing had always been talkative. One voice message after another popped up. Lu Yuxi did not have time to listen to the rest because Zhang Heng came out with a steaming Dong¡¯an chicken. ¡°The packaging design is quite beautiful. It¡¯s tinfoil inside and can be placed directly to reheat in the oven, airfryer or microwave. It¡¯s also possible to heat it in a frying pan. Just turn to low heat and boil it slowly.¡± Lu Yuxi had already finished reading the instructions at the back of the packaging. She took out the entire chicken on a plate and said nervously, ¡°Shall I interview how you feel now? Are you afraid of making a mistake?¡± ¡°Not too bad.¡± Xu Le raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°Open it and try it.¡± ¡°I hope it doesn¡¯t taste too different from what it tasted when it¡¯s freshly made.¡± He used the kitchen scissors to cut open the tinfoil, and the unique sour and spicy fragrance of Dong¡¯an Chicken wafted out. Lu Yuxi took a bite and immediately gave a thumbs up. ¡°It tastes super similar to your cooking. It¡¯s very good.¡± Lu Yuxi had just picked up her chopsticks when she saw something strange in the ingredients. She frowned and said, ¡°They cut corners.¡± Chapter 201 - Starting Sale ¡°Did they?¡± Lu Yuxi couldn¡¯t taste anything different after eating two or three pieces. ¡°Chicken thigh and chicken breast.¡± Xu Le was not in the mood to taste it at all. He put down his chopsticks and said unhappily, ¡°Zhang Heng looks very sincere. Why did he do this?¡± Dong¡¯an Chicken had a high requirement for ingredients to begin with. Just the precision of the ingredients and the cooking time had taken Xu Le a lot of effort. He did not expect that the things he had carefully prepared would be tampered with by Zhang Heng. No matter who it was, it was difficult for them to swallow this anger. ¡°So Zhang Heng cut corners and replaced the original chicken with cheap drumstick and breast?¡± Lu Yuxi finally reacted to it. Xu Le nodded and his expression was a little displeased. ¡°I¡¯ll go to him tomorrow and ask for an explanation. If we can¡¯t reach an agreement, then¡­¡± Xu Le¡¯s words were stuck in his throat. Thinking of the deal with the system, Xu Le could only suppress his temper and rub the area between his eyebrows. ¡°Let¡¯s make things clear before coming to a conclusion. Be careful that there might be a misunderstanding.¡± The next day, Xu Le contacted Zhang Heng immediately to ask about the change in the ingredients. As if he¡¯d expected the question, Zhang Heng changed the subject. ¡°Didn¡¯t you try it? They¡¯re all chefs transferred from five-star hotels. The taste is completely restored according to your recipe. Is there anything else that needs to be improved?¡± Xu Le was unmoved and said directly, ¡°Did I not write in the recipe clearly? I said to use a hen. Even if you can¡¯t find a high-quality one, you don¡¯t have to replace it with minced meat, right?¡± ¡°How can chicken thigh and breast be considered minced meat?¡± ¡°Is that fresh?¡± Xu Le hit the nail on the head. There was a pause on the other end before he said in frustration, ¡°Little Master Chef, let me explain first. No one will raise hens that have never laid eggs. The chef on my side suggested using these two types of meat. The texture of the chicken will taste better¡­¡± Xu Le frowned and said firmly, ¡°Sure. Since you¡¯re unwilling to prepare it like I say, let¡¯s terminate the cooperation.¡± Zhang Heng wouldn¡¯t allow that to happen. ¡°Tell you what,¡± he said quickly, ¡°I¡¯ll come to your new store in an hour. We can discuss everything. If we can solve the problem with the ingredient sourcing, we can definitely restore the taste according to your recipe.¡± Xu Le had just nodded. But he could not help but be speechless for a moment. Zhang Heng was indeed a businessman. He secretly kicked the ball to him again. It seemed that collaborating with a real old fox was really difficult. But Zhang Heng was right. If he couldn¡¯t find the original ingredients or the price was too high, his strategy of using chicken as the main ingredient would fail. Xu Le pondered for a moment and entered the system. He checked his gold coin balance. When the other party tasted the delicacies he made, the system would automatically check the customer¡¯s satisfaction to determine whether to reward with gold coins. So far, he had accumulated more than 100 million gold coins. It was not difficult to exchange for each chicken at the price of 500 gold coins. However, if the Dong¡¯an chicken could not reach a satisfactory sales, the function of ingredients exchange would no longer be useful. Xu Le took a deep breath. He knew that this was his last chance. It would affect the quality of the dishes in the future. After the exchange, he called for a refrigerated truck and the three trucks were sent to the Giant Crab¡¯s production factory. Within an hour, Zhang Heng called and said in shock. ¡°Where did you get so many whole chickens? They look like they were freshly slaughtered. Not only were they cleaned up¡­ they were all hens?¡± How much work did this take? How much manpower and resources did it take to complete it in a short period of time? Zhang Heng could not imagine it. He vaguely guessed that Xu Le definitely had unimaginable connections behind him, so he completely put away his cunning thoughts and collaborated well with him. Xu Le had long guessed that he would have this reaction. He only said, ¡°Remember to keep them well. Adjust the temperature of the cold storage room in the morning and evening. Don¡¯t let anything go wrong.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Zhang Heng said excitedly. Before he hung up, he said, ¡°I might stay at the factory for the next week to supervise. I¡¯ll try to get it selling early so that we can continue to work together in the future! I won¡¯t be coming to your shop at noon today.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± At noon, Xu Le headed to the new store. He had already hired a cleaner to clean up the place. The agent who introduced the place received a lot of commission and happily led him in. ¡°We¡¯ve already replaced all the transparent glass that we found to be lacking in privacy with frosted glass. If you¡¯re not satisfied, we can continue to replace it for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll do.¡± Xu Le was very satisfied with the effect. When he turned around and saw Lu Yuxi hiding under the wall of wisteria flowers, he knew that he had been exposed. He pursed his lips unhappily and said, ¡°Looking at the dense flowers, it¡¯s impossible to hide anyone at all. By the way, will this kind of flower wall breed mosquitoes indoors? Or what if a customer is allergic to pollen?¡± Lu Yuxi was meticulous and thought long-term. The agent hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s also a back door. If a customer is allergic to pollen, you can inform them in advance to come in through the back door and take the elevator up. As for the mosquito issue, you don¡¯t have to worry at all. We¡¯ll have a professional gardener to eliminate the insects regularly. It¡¯s environmentally friendly and will definitely not affect your food.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Yuxi looked up at the empty menu and said, ¡°Since you plan to devote yourself to cooking here in the future, your dishes definitely won¡¯t be as simple as the tomato egg soup and rice bowl. At the very least, you have to sell Buddha jumps over the wall, hibiscus chicken slices, and so on.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Xu Le and Lu Yuxi¡¯s mutual understanding increased day by day. When the two of them turned the corner, they saw a familiar figure and immediately recognized who it was. Seeing that the other party was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, the agent thought that he was from the same industry. He went forward and explained, ¡°This place has already been rented out. Did you come to the wrong place? Please¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s the right place.¡± The man¡¯s expression was dark. When he looked at Xu Le, he forced a smile. It was very strange. ¡°Producer Chen.¡± Xu Le greeted him humbly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve come to the wrong place.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just here to look for you.¡± Chen Yeqi¡¯s expression was especially complicated. The high-spirited look from a few months ago was gone, replaced by worry and exhaustion. He had always been lazy to beat around the bush and said directly, ¡°I saw that you have a new product and are working with CEO Zhang.¡± Xu Le smiled sarcastically. ¡°Producer Chen has always been well-informed.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t my factory¡¯s efficiency higher if you work with me for the product? We¡¯ve seen the results of the Master Chef robot together. When the time comes, the texture produced will definitely be closer to the taste you imagined.¡± Chen Yeqi¡¯s gaze was fervent. He did not say anything, but his eyes were anxious for Xu Le to agree. Chapter 202 - Minute of Happiness Xu Le sneered in his heart. Using a robot during the competition was considered cheating. It was unknown how many chefs in the industry had lost their jobs and reputation because of this. Besides, he had deliberately provoked and targeted the merchants working with the eight-year-old canteen. Chen Yeqi must have fanned the flames behind the scenes. Hence, he only commented coldly. ¡°You talk about this cooperation very casually.¡± Xu Le had never been interested in gossip, but Lu Yuxi had been keeping an eye on the tabloids. She knew the Chen family¡¯s situation very well. She gloated and said, ¡°Producer Chen cheated and made things difficult for others at that time. You changed the rules at the last minute and opened a franchise shop opposite the eight-year-old canteen. Have you forgotten?¡± ¡°Not to mention now. The Master Chef robot has only been sold for more than a year. There are frequent after-sales issues and the repair cost is high. How many merchants can afford it?¡± Lu Yuxi¡¯s words were reasonable and sharp. Chen Yeqi¡¯s expression was unprecedentedly ugly as he was exposed in public. He opened his mouth and was about to explain. Lu Yuxi asked, ¡°Is any of these news fake?¡± Chen Yeqi¡¯s anger reached its peak. He endured the humiliation and said, ¡°The Master Chef has competed against Xu Le before. You know its performance very well. If we can mass produce and work together, wouldn¡¯t it be a good thing?¡± Xu Le¡¯s lips curled up slightly as he reminded patiently, ¡°I won back then, so the title of Master Chef isn¡¯t for that AI.¡± As soon as he said this, Chen Yeqi¡¯s last psychological defense was completely crushed. He could no longer suppress his temper and cursed, ¡°Alright! Remember, if you reject our Chen family¡¯s cooperation today, don¡¯t come crying to beg us in the future!¡± After he finished speaking without much confidence, he said angrily, ¡°I don¡¯t believe that your packaged food can be sold. As a famous chef, aren¡¯t you embarrassed to be selling such junk food!¡± Chen Yeqi racked his brains but could not come up with anything more insulting. He said hatefully, ¡°How can you guarantee that the smell and taste after reheating is the same as when it was just made? Be careful not to ruin your own reputation!¡± Xu Le shrugged calmly. ¡°I didn¡¯t taste it. She did.¡± Lu Yuxi, who was suddenly cued, was stunned. Xu Le continued, ¡°I believe in her taste buds. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s wrong.¡± Chen Yeqi was speechless. He glared at the two of them. ¡°Just you wait!¡± After Chen Yeqi left, Lu Yuxi recalled his past actions and couldn¡¯t help but shiver. She said, ¡°This man is petty. We¡¯ve offended him now. In the future¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him in the future.¡± Xu Le said, ¡°I have to entertain a few friends today. Li Qing is busy and won¡¯t be able to make it in time. Help me make a few dishes to entertain the elders.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Lu Yuxi agreed. ¡°What friend?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Old Master Song, Mr. Cai, and a few familiar judges from the competition. But since it¡¯s a gathering between friends, there¡¯s no need to make it too complicated. Just make a few simple dishes.¡± Although it was said to be simple, he did not miss a step in the cooking process. There were soft tender fish, hibiscus crab, bean sprouts with meat and steamed marinated meat¡­ Xu Le¡¯s movements were agile and fast. The pot and shovel were like his left and right hands, blending into one seamlessly. He stir-fried, tossed the pot, stimulated the fragrance, served on the plate, and poured hot oil¡­ Every step was smooth and natural. It was not like he was cooking. Instead, he seemed to be conducting an exquisite large concert. It was orderly, intense, and beautiful. When everyone arrived and the dishes were served, they were immediately praised by the seniors in the industry. Song Deyue couldn¡¯t help but nod. ¡°Child, you have to study the recipe book I gave you carefully. It contains the techniques and innovations of half my life. If you study it thoroughly, it will definitely help your culinary skills in the future.¡± ¡°Alright, got it.¡± Mr. Cai Lan did not forget his promise from before. ¡°You promised to be my food consultant for the next season of the show. You have to keep your word. You have to make time and not stand me up.¡± ¡°Well. I definitely have time.¡± Xu Le narrowed his eyes and smiled. It was simply a good thing to be able to go to various places to taste unique delicacies with a famous senior like Mr. Cai Lan! After the gathering, Xu Le realized that the new store did not have a name yet. ¡°The eight-year-old canteen is well-known enough and has a stable number of fans and customers. It would be best if it can continue, but the name will probably not match the style of your shop.¡± Lu Yuxi tilted her head and said, ¡°Add the word restaurant after the store name? Or since you are celebrating your birthday soon, you can call it the nine-year-old canteen~¡± ¡°That¡¯s even more reckless.¡± Xu Le retorted with a smile. After a pause, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s call it Fateful Meeting Restaurant.¡± It was easy to understand, but these words did not seem to have anything to do with Xu Le. When the time came, it would be difficult to publicize it. Just as the others were feeling puzzled, they heard Xu Le continue to explain. ¡°After all this, I¡¯m already extremely lucky to be able to meet a friend I missed. It¡¯s a good thing that I don¡¯t have any regrets.¡± He said sincerely, and the eyes of the old Song Deyue suddenly welled up. He nodded and said, ¡°There¡¯s a saying that goes, ¡®It¡¯s a blessing to know a friend¡¯s face.¡¯ It is quite meaningful. No matter if we meet again, as long as we did not miss each other, it¡¯s a blessing.¡± After the name of the shop was decided, Xu Le opened the reservation online. It was open for five days a week and they would receive ten customers a day. In less than two hours, the reservation queue had already reached three years later. It was very exaggerated. A week later, the Dong¡¯an Chicken that Zhang Heng made was put on sale. Because he had an agreement with the system, Xu Le was very concerned about this matter and was too busy to go home for a few days. On this day, the sales finally exceeded a million in a month. The system gave him free ingredients forever as promised. This meant that not only could he reduce a major expenditure in the future, but he could also have the best ingredients. When Xu Le arrived home, Xu Tian was doing her homework. When she saw him, she jogged over and said, ¡°Sister Lu is cooking today.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? Your Sister Lu has been my assistant for so long. Her culinary skills must not be that bad.¡± ¡°No, no, no.¡± Lu Yuxi carried two plates to the dining room and said, ¡°White porridge with small pickled vegetables and high-quality salted duck eggs. Of course, the food I cook is far inferior to yours, so I¡¯ll leave this heavy responsibility to you. Just make do with it today. We said that we are bringing Tiantian to the amusement park after dinner. Have you forgotten?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t forget.¡± After Xu Le sat down, he was too tired to cook. He tasted the simple porridge and dishes and felt that they were the best food in the past few days. Lu Yuxi looked down at the guide to the amusement park. Suddenly, Xu Tian shouted, ¡°Look, the sunset is pink today.¡± Large patches of fiery clouds spread across the sky. Xu Le suddenly understood that happiness was never an earth-shattering thing, but the gentleness hidden in porridge and rice. ¡°Brother, will you make shrimp egg and sandwiches tomorrow morning?¡± ¡°Okay, little glutton.¡±