Qiu Yingying is reborn and bound to a learning system.

The theme of the second episode was "Traditional Methods, New Cooking Techniques," requiring contestants to incorporate innovative elements into traditional dishes, testing both their skills and ingenuity.

The atmosphere in the backstage dressing room was much more somber than in the first episode. Zhou Jianjun exuded a sense of pressure as soon as he entered. His gray hair was meticulously combed, and he placed his toolbox heavily on the dressing table. The clanging of metal instantly silenced the contestants who were whispering.

Qiu Yingying found a seat by the window and took out the ingredient list for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall from her bag to check. Just as she looked down, she heard Li Man and Zhou Hang whispering next to her: "Chef Zhou is definitely aiming for first place this time. His traditional dishes are the industry benchmark." "That's right. He's better than some internet celebrities. Last season's championship was purely due to luck. This time he's met a tough opponent and he'll definitely show his weakness."

Qiu Yingying paused for a moment, then resumed her composure. She chose Buddha Jumps Over the Wall because she wanted to respond to the doubts with a substantial dish; as for the ranking, she was more concerned about whether her dish met her expectations.

In the preparation area, Zhou Jianjun was carefully inspecting the special casserole he had brought. He glanced at Qiu Yingying processing fish maw, his eyes sweeping over her ingredient box. He didn't say anything, but his lips pursed even tighter.

Li Man leaned closer to Qiu Yingying, her tone laced with provocation: "You dare to make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? Chef Zhou is an expert in these kinds of traditional hearty dishes. Aren't you just showing off your limited skills?"

Qiu Yingying looked up at her and replied calmly, "There's no such thing as a high or low level when it comes to cooking, and rankings don't matter. Just do your best." After saying that, she turned around and put the soaked abalone and sea cucumber into the casserole one by one, then poured in the broth that had been simmering for three days in advance. Her movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

From the very beginning of the competition, Zhou Jianjun took center stage. He chose the classic "Nine-Turned Intestines" and executed each step, from cleaning and marinating to braising and thickening, with textbook precision. In particular, the final sauce-pouring process was flawless, with the thick sauce coating the intestines evenly and filling the entire arena with its aroma.

The judges nodded frequently, praising in hushed tones: "The timing and heat control are perfect; this is the essence of traditional cooking."

Qiu Yingying remained calm. She didn't deliberately pursue fancy techniques. She simply added a little dried tangerine peel to the traditional Buddha Jumps Over the Wall to enhance the aroma, which not only neutralized the greasiness but also made the umami flavor more layered.

Every ten minutes, she would lift the lid of the casserole and gently stir it with a spoon, allowing the ingredients to fully absorb the savory flavor of the broth. Her movements were unhurried, and she was completely immersed in her own rhythm.

Zhou Hang made a "modified version of beggar's chicken", using tin foil instead of lotus leaves, making the skin crispier, but losing some of the traditional aroma;

Li Man's "Traditional Sweet and Sour Fish" was beautifully presented, but the taste was rather ordinary. The two women kept glancing at Zhou Jianjun and Qiu Yingying's progress, their faces betraying their nervousness.

Others were also busy cooking.

During the tasting session, Zhou Jianjun's braised pork intestines were the first to be featured. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors, the spices blended perfectly with the natural taste of the intestines. The judges unanimously gave it a high score: "The traditional techniques are solid, the innovations are just right, and it's impeccable!" A subtle smile appeared on Zhou Jianjun's face, his eyes full of confidence.

When it was Qiu Yingying's turn to serve Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, the judges lifted the lid of the casserole, and a rich aroma mixed with a faint scent of dried tangerine peel wafted out.

One of the judges picked up a piece of abalone and put it in his mouth, his eyes lighting up: "It's soft, tender, and flavorful, fresh but not greasy. The addition of dried tangerine peel is the finishing touch, making it even more refreshing than the traditional method."

Another judge nodded in agreement: "Solid foundation, unforced innovation, a promising young talent."

Finally, the results were announced, and the host loudly proclaimed: "This episode's 'Star Chef'—Zhou Jianjun! With a total score of 95 points, he ranks first in the Nine-Turned Intestines competition!"

Zhou Jianjun stood up, accepted the medal, and nodded slightly to the camera: "The key to cooking is staying true to your original intention. Thank you for the recognition."

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience. Li Man and Zhou Hang quickly stepped forward to offer their congratulations, their eyes filled with admiration.

"Second place goes to Qiu Yingying! Her Buddha Jumps Over the Wall score is 91 points!"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yingying smiled calmly and stood up to express her gratitude, just in time to meet Zhou Jianjun's gaze. Zhou Jianjun, unusually, nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes showing less of the previous aloofness.

Li Man and Zhou Hang looked at Qiu Yingying. Her two consecutive good grades showed that she was truly capable. The disdain on their faces faded, and they didn't say anything more, but just silently turned their heads away.

Qiu Yingying shared her recipe for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. After the show aired, fans left comments in the comment section expressing their support: "Sister is amazing! Second place is also fantastic!" "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall looks delicious, looking forward to the next episode!"

On the night the second episode of "A Bite of China" aired, as soon as the city's neon lights illuminated the night sky, Qiu Yingying's phone was bombarded with messages from netizens.

The number of fans is still jumping at a visible speed, from 110 million after the first episode ended to a new milestone of 130 million+.

Qiu Yingying had just finished cleaning the kitchen, dried her hands, picked up her phone, and as her fingertips swiped across the screen, a faint smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

She opened the "Yingying Loves to Eat" account's backend, and the comment section was already bustling like a New Year's celebration. Longtime fans were "checking in and sharing good news" in the comments section, "From one million to one million three hundred thousand followers, watching my sister get recognized step by step, I'm so proud!" "The peony shrimp balls in the first episode won me over, and the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall in the second episode was simply divine. My sister's cooking skills are truly amazing!"

Many of the new fans were just getting into the hobby, leaving comments full of excitement: "I was amazed by the aroma of the tangerine peel in Buddha Jumps Over the Wall while watching the show, so I specially looked up the account. It turns out that the cola chicken wings I made before were the same recipe as the sister's. We've become fans in the same direction!" "From questioning whether internet celebrities are worthy of entering the professional arena to being proven wrong by their strength, I'm a fan who's happy to be a fan."

Recalling the moment when her account grew from 100 million followers to 110 million after the first episode aired, Qiu Yingying couldn't help but chuckle.

At that time, the comment section was also filled with many discordant voices.

"The influencers' follower growth is all bought, right? The show's hype is too obvious."

"There must be some kind of backing from behind her, otherwise how could she beat a professional chef?" Haters asserted, trying to undermine her efforts with malicious speculation.

But this time, with the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish going viral, the doubts were almost drowned out by a flood of positive reviews. A meticulous fan compiled detailed comparison photos of the dishes from the two episodes, clearly marking everything from the knife skills of the peony shrimp balls to the timeline of the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall broth, with the caption, "So-called luck is nothing more than ten years of consistent hard work and dedication." This comment became the top-rated comment, attracting tens of thousands of likes.