Shocking! The entire court was drooling with envy because of me.

The chefs who were eliminated all fell silent.

Indeed, they don't like making cold dishes, largely because they all taste the same no matter how they're made.

It's hard to make cold dishes stand out.

"Is cucumber salad really that delicious?" someone couldn't help but ask.

They couldn't imagine what Fang Shanren's wonderful cucumber salad tasted like.

"Delicious, absolutely delicious! I can't describe it, but I can guarantee with my integrity that the cucumber salad was absolutely delicious!" Fang Shanren exclaimed.

In terms of character, Fang Shanren is absolutely top-notch. He is charitable, generous, and highly respected; otherwise, he wouldn't have earned the title of "good man."

Now, Fang Shanren is actually using his own character to vouch for a cold cucumber salad, which shows that he has truly been won over by Shen Qing's cold cucumber salad.

Everyone present was shocked. They had assumed that Fang Shanren and Shen Qing had a relationship, but they never expected that Fang Shanren would take out the Golden Chopstick Token just because of cucumber salad.

That simple cucumber salad.

......

The night passed, and soon a new day began.

Facing the rising sun, Shen Qing, Guo Tiancheng, and Situ Liang walked towards the competition venue.

There are only one hundred participants today, but the competition is even fiercer.

Each of these one hundred people is quite capable, either possessing exceptional talent or superb skills; none of them should be underestimated.

"Madam Shen, are you really not preparing any ingredients?" Guo Tiancheng began to worry again.

The competition specifies eggs as the main ingredient, but to stand out from the other participants, you'll definitely need to prepare some other ingredients.

Otherwise, what can you make from just eggs?

Shen Qing shook the porcelain bottle in his hand and said, "This is enough."

"Is this sauce? But there's only sauce..."

"Oh dear!" Situ Liang interrupted Guo Tiancheng, "Master, just trust Madam Shen. With Madam Shen's skills, what can't she do?"

"You should really take better care of yourself."

Ten years ago, Guo Tiancheng was eliminated in the second round.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been mocked by that servant.

Guo Tiancheng was already extremely nervous; his basket was filled with fresh, live shrimp he had just bought that morning.

He thought about it for half the night yesterday and finally decided to make shrimp and egg stir-fry.

But he really couldn't help but worry about Shen Qing, because Shen Qing only took a porcelain bottle and nothing else. He didn't look like a contestant, but more like a spectator who came to watch the excitement.

After all, all the other contestants were carrying baskets on their backs and were determined to win the second round.

"Master Jin has arrived!"

Just then, a loud shout rang out.

Jin Ye strolled leisurely onto the judging panel and sat comfortably in the armchair.

Immediately afterwards, shouts rang out as Old Master Sun, Old Master He, Chairman Wu, Mr. Qingci, Chef Zhu, and Mr. Fang all went up to the judges' platform.

The second stage of the competition is about to begin.

"The second stage, 'One Ingredient, One Flavor,' officially begins. There is a time limit of one hour. Contestants can bring their own ingredients or use the ingredients provided by the competition."

"Now, all contestants, please go to the stove and wait."

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of servants came out and led the contestants to the stove.

Unlike yesterday, when there were many participants and many stoves, today there are only one hundred stoves left on the field, right below the judges' table, which can be said to be the very center of the competition venue.

Of course, there are good and bad stoves among the hundred stoves, but overall, they are all better than the stove that Shen Qing was assigned yesterday.

Having learned from the example of the servant being driven away yesterday, this time, the other servants dared not discriminate, and the stoves assigned to each contestant were all randomized.

Shen Qing's assigned stove was on the far side, which was far from the judges' table but close to the audience.

"Look! It's that lady from yesterday!"

"A cucumber salad made it into the top 100; I wonder if she'll advance today?"

"It's highly unlikely. Fang Shanren only has one Golden Chopstick Token, and the other judges don't have a good impression of this Madam Shen. I think it's doubtful!"

"..."

The audience couldn't help but focus their attention on Shen Qing; after all, yesterday's scene had been too much of a shock to them.

A simple cucumber salad has sparked a bidding war, something that has never happened before.

The other contestants also glanced at Shen Qing from time to time, their eyes filled with doubt and contempt. Most of them still believed that Shen Qing had advanced to the top 100 through connections.

Despite being the center of attention, Shen Qing remained calm and inspected the items on the stove.

The bamboo basket contained about a dozen large, red-shelled eggs, along with basic ingredients such as scallions, ginger, and garlic, as well as seasonings like salt and vinegar.

Under the stove, firewood was neatly arranged.

Everything was perfect.

clang--

The gong rang out.

"The second phase of the selection process is officially beginning. I'll count to three, everyone get ready!"

"Three! Two! One!"

"The match begins!!"

Instantly, all the contestants sprang into action, taking out the pre-prepared materials from their baskets, ready to show off their skills.

Only Shen Qing slowly poured cold water into the pot, then bent down to start a fire.

"What is Madam Shen up to? I don't see any other ingredients she's going to use."

"Are they going to boil water directly? Or are they going to boil eggs?"

"Impossible! I don't believe it! This is a cooking competition! Who can cook an egg?"

"..."

Shen Qing's every move was being watched, and she quickly started a fire.

Then he took ten eggs and put them directly into the pot.

After putting the eggs in the pot, she waited leisurely by the side.

"It's just like a boiled egg!"

"This is outrageous! If this boiled egg can advance to the next round, I'll do a handstand for everyone right here."

"Me too!"

Many viewers started making a fuss, but Situ Liang stubbornly defended Shen Qing in the crowd: "Even boiled eggs made by Madam Shen herself must be extraordinary!!"

"Besides, this is just the beginning. Maybe Madam Shen will add something else."

Situ Liang trusted Shen Qing completely.

"She only has eggs, and the scallions, ginger, and garlic provided by the competition. Tell me, what else can she add? In my opinion, she might as well just go down there already," someone shouted.

Situ Liang stubbornly insisted, "Anyway, I think Madam Shen will definitely win!!"

"If I don't beat you, I'll make you do a handstand and say 'I'm a big idiot!' ten times, how about that?" The audience member who had just been about to perform a handstand challenged Situ Liang.

Young and impetuous, Situ Liang was unwilling to be outdone: "If Madam Shen advances, you'll do a handstand and say 'I'm a complete idiot' a hundred times!"

"Fine, I'll bet with you!!"

"I'm betting on one, betting on one, that Madam Shen is bound to lose!"

"I'll go for it too. If I lose, you have to play 'Big Fool' ten more times!"

"..."

The audience laughed and joked, and everyone added a code.

Situ Liang was so excited that he agreed to everything in one go.

Looking up again, good heavens, Shen Qing's eggs were already cooked and he was currently immersing them in cold water.