The story begins in Food Wars, when Alice took him home.

Looking at the lychee pork that Liu Yu served, Chu Qiuqing couldn't help but reveal a secret. Only chefs of their lineage knew about this, because the originator was their lineage of chefs. It was his grandmaster who had the inspiration to perfect this lychee pork.

"I never knew there was such a story behind it. So, isn't this lychee pork dish the one before it was perfected?"

Let's savor the taste of tradition together, or rather, the taste of time!

Zhang Zhong looked at the dishes in front of him, a sharp glint in his cloudy eyes.

He had heard such rumors before, but he had always treated them as stories and never paid them any attention.

Hearing Chu Qiu's detailed account now, I couldn't help but feel a little moved, as if I had become that person who had gone through thousands of years to admire the wisdom of the ancients.

Meanwhile, the audience was engrossed in Chu Qiu's story, their eyes fixed on the lychee meat in front of the judges, eagerly awaiting the judges' evaluation.

"The lychee flesh is slowly fried at a low temperature, resulting in a crispy outer layer that makes a slight 'crunch' sound when you bite into it, while the inside remains juicy and tender, with a soft yet elastic texture."

With his eyes closed, Jinshan slowly opened his mouth to comment on the amazing taste of his teeth colliding with the lychee flesh.

"After being coated in flour and deep-fried, the water chestnuts are slightly crispy on the outside while retaining their crisp fruity aroma on the inside. This contrasts sharply with the tender lychee flesh, adding layers of texture and creating a very pleasant experience."

Chu Qiu nodded in agreement. Many chefs struggle to handle the relationship between water chestnuts and lychee meat properly; to do it well requires an extreme control over the heat.

"The sweet and sour sauce is perfectly balanced, with a perfect ratio of sweet and sour. It's neither too sweet nor too sour. The sweetness of the sugar and the sourness of the vinegar blend together perfectly, creating a complex and appetizing flavor."

Meanwhile, the addition of minced garlic adds a touch of spiciness to the sweet and sour sauce, enhancing the flavor without overpowering it, perfectly complementing the freshness of the lychee flesh.

Zhang Zhong was equally captivated, mesmerized by the rich flavors.

It's truly remarkable that she can create such a rich flavor with just a few ingredients. And judging from her appearance, she probably hasn't been in Fuzhou for very long, yet her cooking has reached such a high level of perfection.

"It's like eating a sweet lychee on a hot summer day, only to find that it has a slight tartness. Surprisingly, it's not bad at all, a novel and unique experience."

With his eyes closed, this image appeared before him, and Jinshan couldn't help but hum.

"It's really good, very authentic lychee flesh."

All three judges gave positive reviews. Although there were many shortcomings, Liu Yu's superb skills gave the dish a new look, and cheers erupted from the audience.

After all, this is a local delicacy from Fuzhou. If they can win, they will definitely feel more proud and have a greater sense of accomplishment.

Therefore, after seeing the judges' high praise for Liu Yu, many people showed expectant expressions, hoping that the lychee pulp could win.

"Now it's time to see what the other contestant's dish is like. This lychee pork dish, despite the various limitations, has reached the top grade level. Although it's at the very bottom of the top grade, a top grade dish is still a top grade dish."

"Indeed, the difference between premium cuisine and first-class cuisine is self-evident."

Upon hearing Chu Qiu's words, Jin Shan and Zhang Zhong, who were standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

"Sorry for the long wait, my dish is ready."

With a slightly flippant tone, Soma Yukihira spoke as he carried his dish forward, quickly arriving in front of the judges and stopping next to Liu Yu.

"Welcome to try our Yukihira-ryu Century Egg Meatballs!"

The steaming hot preserved egg and meatballs were placed on the judges' table, and each judge received one. Soma Yukihira's face was full of pride, and his whole body radiated confidence.

"Century egg and meatballs?"

"What a peculiar dish, combining preserved egg and pork? Doesn't that seem a bit strange? Not everyone can accept the taste of preserved egg..."

"I wonder what it will taste like. I really want to be a judge!"

The scene erupted in excitement as Soma Yukihira presented the dish. The aroma of the preserved egg and meatballs was irresistible, its unique fragrance wafting from afar, drawing everyone's attention and stirring a sense of longing.

"It is indeed a special dish."

Looking at the preserved egg and meatballs in front of him, Chu Qiu pressed them with a spoon and found them to be exceptionally elastic, prompting him to praise them.

Putting everything else aside, Soma Yukihira's creativity alone is enough to earn their praise.

"I've only ever seen the combination of preserved egg and pork in preserved egg and lean pork congee before. I never imagined it could be turned into meatballs."

Jinshan said half-jokingly, looking at the large meatball in front of him. It looked a lot like a lion's head. It was hard to imagine that the combination of preserved egg and lean meat could give off such a strong aroma.

"No matter what, let's try it first."

Using his chopsticks to break open the meatball in front of him, Zhang Zhong couldn't help but speak.

The meatballs have a light golden-yellow outer layer, which is due to the oil from the salted egg yolk seeping into the meat filling during cooking, making the surface color more appealing. Small black pieces of preserved egg are subtly visible within the meatballs, creating a unique speckled effect.

With a slight sniff, the rich aroma of meat mixed with the salty fragrance of salted egg yolk wafts out, along with the fresh scent of scallions and ginger, making one's appetite soar.

"This is great, this is absolutely fantastic!"

The moment you bite into it, you can clearly feel the rich texture of the meatball. The outer layer of meat is firm and elastic, while the filling inside is delicate and juicy.

With a slight sip, the salted egg yolk crumbles and melts in your mouth, delivering a rich, savory aroma and a satisfyingly oily texture. The unique texture of the preserved egg's exterior adds a touch of chewiness and depth to the overall flavor—a sensation that no other dish can offer!

A look of amazement flashed across Jinshan's face; this tasted unlike any pork dish he had ever eaten.

"If you look closely, you can even see the grainy texture of these preserved eggs. When you chew them, they have a meaty feel to them. Although this description is a bit abstract, I think you understand what I mean. The fresh and savory flavor of meat, combined with the unique taste of preserved eggs, is particularly mellow."

If these two ingredients, when combined, make the dish palatable, then the salted egg yolk is a complete surprise. The flavor of the salted egg yolk blends with the minced pork, yet it also retains a distinct character, offering a slightly grainy texture in the center.

Zhang Zhong's voice rang out. At first, he looked inquisitive, but he was quickly won over by the unique flavor of the preserved egg and meatballs. He kept praising them and even gave them a thumbs up to show his appreciation.

This feeling is absolutely wonderful; it makes one marvel at the wonders of the Creator.

"That's right, the salted egg yolk elevates the flavor of the meat and preserved egg to a whole new level. It's truly a novel and unique taste. Kid, how did you come up with the idea of ​​combining preserved egg with pork? Did you think of this cooking method in such a short time?"

Chu Qiu looked at Yukihira Soma with surprise and doubt on his face. The young man had bandages wrapped around his forehead, which fluttered in the wind, making him look very imposing.

"Actually, the creation of this preserved egg meatball originated from an accidental experiment."

I've always believed that there are no absolute boundaries between ingredients; as long as you dare to experiment, you can always create unexpected sparks.

Soma Yukihira's words carried a hint of pride, yet were also filled with reverence for the art of cooking.

"Why are preserved eggs always limited to traditional congee or cold dishes? Why can't we try to incorporate them into more diverse cuisines? I wonder if anyone has thought about similar questions. I have, so I have researched many types of dishes using preserved eggs."

Century eggs can be stir-fried, served cold, or boiled, so why not steam them? That was my thought at the time, so I did it, but the steamed century eggs had a very subtle taste. It was somewhere between delicious and unpalatable; it was a taste that was hard to describe in words.

After that, I made many more attempts and later discovered that preserved eggs and pork actually go very well together. There are many dishes that combine pork and preserved eggs, such as preserved egg and lean pork congee and minced pork with preserved eggs. Based on this theory, I made a considerable number of further experiments.

"So, you finished making the preserved egg and meatball dish back then?"

Upon hearing Yukihira Soma's account, Chu Qiu interjected with a question.

If that's the case, then Soma Yukihira is really lucky to have drawn such a theme that's perfect for his original dishes.

"No, at that time I only found that preserved eggs and pork go well together, which can turn the originally subtle taste into a delicious one."

The real perfection of this dish came here, because I knew that while century egg and pork alone were delicious, they couldn't defeat the competition. This lady of the culinary world was no pushover, so I evolved the dish during the competition.

Looking at Liu Yu, who stood expressionless to the side, Yukihira Soma continued, "He has never underestimated his opponents, so even though he knew the risks were great, he still did it."

It's either win or lose; the word "draw" doesn't exist in his dictionary!

"Is it perfected during the competition? With limited ingredients and time? I don't know whether to call you brave or reckless."

Upon hearing Soma Yukihira's words, Chu Qiu's voice held a hint of ambiguity.

On one hand, I wanted to praise Yukihira Soma's courage, but on the other hand, I felt that he was too audacious. This was a provincial competition, not his home kitchen where he was honing his culinary skills.

"Young people should be bold and courageous, and have the courage to show themselves in any situation. It's us old guys who are a bit out of touch with the times."

Zhang Zhong's voice rang out, expressing high praise for Yukihira Soma's creativity. This is the drive and energy a chef should have, instead of being timid and only following the rules. Such chefs may have a good start, but they will find it difficult to break through their own limitations once they reach a certain level!

"That's true. If he hadn't dared to dream and take the plunge, we wouldn't be able to enjoy such a uniquely flavored dish."

The perfect combination of preserved egg and pork should ideally be balanced 50/50, but with the added depth of salted egg yolk flavor, the pork's weight reaches 80/80 – undoubtedly a pork dish!

As Jin Shan finished speaking, he exchanged glances with Chu Qiu and Zhang Zhong, and then looked at the host who was swallowing hard not far away.

"So, which dish do the judges think is better?"

Receiving signals from the judges, the host wiped away non-existent drool from the corner of his mouth, turned his gaze to the judges, and began the final segment of the competition.

Rate it.

"To be honest, I prefer the preserved egg meatball. I like both preserved egg and pork, and salted egg yolk is the absolute best part. A dish combining these ingredients shouldn't be bad!"

In the audience, someone shared their opinion.

Compared to the lychee meat that he has eaten since childhood and whose taste is already very familiar to him, this novel preserved egg meatball is undoubtedly more attractive to him and makes him want to give it a try.

"The reason why classics are called classics is because of their irreplaceable nature!"

If I were to order, I might choose the preserved egg and meatball dish to try, since I've never had it before. But if I were to rate it, I'd definitely be a staunch supporter of the lychee pork!

No sooner had the man finished speaking than a stylishly dressed woman spoke up beside him.

"If it were a whole lychee, then your decision would be correct. But this is just a castrated version. If you insist on choosing it, then you are not seeing reality!"

"Didn't you hear what the judges said? Despite the lack of ingredients, Contestant Yu's lychee pork made up for this shortcoming with her superb cooking skills!"

"How could it be completed so easily..."

For a time, the two argued heatedly, neither willing to be persuaded by the other; this emotion even transcended the cooking itself.

"You two were even selected. The only people who can make the decision are the judges, right?"

The surrounding audience looked at them speechlessly. These two were just spectators, and their opinions had no effect whatsoever. Then they looked at the competition venue not far away. The judges did not hesitate at all and directly chose the one they thought was most suitable.

Soma Yukihira VS Rain

The moment the score appeared on the big screen, Soma Yukihira's face lit up with a joyful smile. He then forcefully removed the bandage from his forehead, clutched it in his hand, letting it flutter in the wind, and said to the three judges, "I apologize for the poor hospitality!"

"Why? In what way is my lychee pork inferior to preserved egg and meatballs? Is it just because it's a traditional dish?"

Looking at the scores on the big screen, Liu Yu's brows furrowed involuntarily.

She practiced this dish for a long time last night, and even Teacher Bai Yuan praised her for her significant progress. Logically, she should have brought out the best flavor of this dish by now, so why did she lose to Yukihira Soma's hastily prepared dish?!

"No, we judge the winner based solely on the taste of the dishes. We believe your dish is not as good as Soma Yukihira's, which is why we ruled you the loser."

Zhang Zhong shook his head and revealed the cruel truth.

"That's right. Although your lychee meat is very well prepared, the final taste is very monotonous because it lacks red yeast rice. It only has sweet and sour flavor and garlic aroma, which is far less delicious than Yukihira Soma's preserved egg meatballs."

Besides serving as a natural coloring agent, red yeast rice also enhances the flavor of lychee flesh.

Without red yeast rice, lychee pork reverts to its former state, becoming an ordinary dish, easily lost in the crowd. This is one reason why red yeast rice wasn't included in the ingredients section this time; we didn't want the contestants to forget to think critically and simply recreate the classic dish, but rather to unleash their creativity.

"Not far at all..."

Upon hearing Jin Shan's words, Liu Yu's heart sank. He had thought the gap between them was small, but he hadn't expected the other party's assessment to be far from it, meaning that the gap between the two was huge.

How could she possibly accept this?!