A Bite of Douluo Continent

This Jade Dew dish is a vegetable that Chef Jin has been researching for two years. It's almost guaranteed to win against the Cold Food Festival.

"Ahem." A light cough interrupted the three's joy, and Zhao Yangfan's face darkened. "So... out of the three dishes, only one is confident of defeating Hanshi, and it's the last one?"

Zhao Yangfan's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on the three of them, and they suddenly realized what was going on.

Oh right, the only dish that's confident of defeating the Cold Food Festival is the third one...

This means it may not even have a chance to appear.

What a waste of your time.

Does that mean we're doomed to lose this food competition?

Zhao Yangfan remained silent for a long time before saying, "I, Ming Tingque, cannot lose."

They are a restaurant backed by the royal family, and it is the most frequented restaurant by the high-ranking officials and nobles of Mingdu.

Ming Tingque could not afford the consequences of losing the food competition.

His Majesty did not consider such a question because a restaurant was insignificant to him.

But Mingtingque was Zhao Yangfan's life's work, and he could not stand idly by and watch Hanshi Festival succeed.

"Chef Song, I'll ask you one last time." Zhao Yangfan looked at Chef Song seriously, "Are you sure that the tomato beef brisket from Hanshi Restaurant and your secret-recipe beef tenderloin are really not that different?"

"Yes." Chef Song nodded emphatically.

"Chef Hong, Chef Song has already analyzed the appearance and possible methods of stuffed orange with crab. Could you improve the lotus-flavored fish overnight based on this?" Zhao Yangfan turned to Chef Hong and asked earnestly.

“There’s nothing I can do about it.” Chef Hong shook his head helplessly. “Even if I tasted it myself, I couldn’t improve the dish overnight. According to Chef Song’s analysis, the method for making crab-stuffed orange seems to be particularly complicated and not so easy to imitate.”

In other words, Ming Tingque is doomed to lose on the topic of fruit.

Zhao Yangfan had reached a conclusion and turned to look at Chef Song again, "Please make some improvements to the secret-recipe beef tenderloin overnight."

“I understand, but it’s difficult to reach the level of tomato beef brisket, and if you eat other dishes while eating cold food…” Chef Song said hesitantly.

“Since Hanshi is a new restaurant, it shouldn’t have any secret dishes.” Shaking his head to deny Chef Song’s guess, Zhao Yangfan turned to Chef Jin beside him with a solemn expression. “Chef Jin, I will find a way to help Ming Tingque win at least one of the first two rounds. As for the final vegetable theme, it’s up to you.”

“You want…” Chef Jin seemed to understand Zhao Yangfan’s thoughts, and his eyes showed a hint of dissatisfaction, but he could only sigh helplessly, “Don’t worry, I believe that once the Jade Dew comes out, no vegetable can match it.”

Zhao Yangfan nodded. "In that case, thank you all for your hard work tonight."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the room, quietly leaving Mingtingque.

It seems we'll have to resort to some other methods.

There's a saying that goes, "It's impossible to please everyone."

Since the two beef dishes don't taste that different, it wouldn't be difficult to manipulate the judges.

It's entirely possible to use personal taste and preference as a reason to sway the votes of some judges who were already close to Ming Tingque towards Ming Tingque.

Of course, Zhao Yangfan didn't dare to go too far. If the two dishes were too different and he still tried to tamper with them, he would be treating everyone like fools. Such an approach would have a very bad impact on Ming Tingque's reputation. If it weren't for this unavoidable situation, Zhao Yangfan wouldn't have wanted to do it.

According to Chef Song, the two dishes in the fruit theme are quite different, so it's better not to do such tampering.

Abandon the fruit theme altogether to ensure Ming Ting Que can advance to the third round, and then use Chef Jin's Jade Dew to decide the outcome!

His expression gradually hardened.

Chapter 511 The Food Competition Begins! (Seeking monthly votes and recommendations)

Time flies, and the next day arrived in the blink of an eye.

After closing for lunch, Qi Han tidied up the kitchen, stored all the kitchen utensils he planned to use in the food competition into his storage soul tool, and set off for the Catering Association while still wearing his chef's uniform.

That storage soul tool was a gift from Mingde Auction House when she sold soul bones. Since acquiring this storage soul tool, Ruyi has lost one way to make money.

"Boss, let me go with you!" Meng Yun said, his eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity. "I can cheer you on!"

"Hmm?" Qi Han raised an eyebrow. "I remember you've been quite busy these past few days, haven't you?"

A couple of days ago, Meng Yun mentioned to Qi Han that she was currently working hard to master the Level 4 Basic Core Magic Array. After that, she would be able to create a Level 4 Soul Tool and obtain the Level 4 Soul Tool Master Badge through certification.

Qi Han only just realized that a fourth-ring Soul Master and a fourth-level Soul Master are not entirely equivalent.

"Yes, but I'm not busy now." Meng Yun chuckled, a flash of light appearing in his hand as he took out an eight-pointed star-shaped purple badge from his storage soul tool and showed it to Qi Han. The four diamond stars on the badge shone brightly. "I passed the certification this morning, and I'm finally a level four soul master!"

"Congratulations." Qi Han said knowingly. "No wonder you seemed to be in a better mood at work today. In that case, let's go together."

"Yes, yes!" Meng Yun's eyes were full of confidence. "Boss will definitely win!"

“I think so too.” Qi Han laughed.

His culinary skills have always been his most confident area.

...

The venue for the food competition was a stadium-like space, but smaller. In the center were two completely enclosed rooms, surrounded by stands and seats.

Clearly, these two rooms are the kitchens prepared for the two competing food vendors.

The kitchen was completely isolated from the outside world, and the walls were even inlaid with many intricately patterned soul tools. These were special shielding soul tools that could block the detection of soul power.

In a kitchen like this, there's absolutely no need to worry about your cooking secrets being spied on by others.

"Mr. Qi, welcome, welcome."

As Qi Han entered the venue specially prepared by the Catering Association for the food competition, he looked around curiously. Soon, a figure walked over; it was Zhang, the manager who had received him yesterday.

Manager Zhang looked at Qi Han with a slightly complicated expression.

Yesterday, he originally wanted to go to Hanshi Temple to see how well Qi Han cooked and how confident he was in challenging Ming Tingque.

However, due to some matters within the association, he was unable to fulfill his wish.

Therefore, even now, he still believes that Qi Han is no match for Ming Tingque.

However, it's too late to say anything now, as the food competition is about to begin.

In the end, Manager Zhang simply patted Qi Han on the shoulder lightly and said, "Keep it up!"

"Thank you." Qi Han nodded and followed behind Steward Zhang to the kitchen belonging to Hanshi.

The match hasn't officially started yet, so he doesn't need to go in now.

"Boss, I'm coming to the platform to see you!" Meng Yun looked around and quickly found the specially prepared stands in the venue. He grinned and said, "Go, boss!"

Watching Meng Yun's departing figure with a smile, Qi Han soon heard another voice.

"Mr. Qi, we meet again."

Zhao Yangfan walked over from the other side, with three chefs in chef's uniforms standing behind him.

This time, Zhao Yangfan's gaze towards Qi Han had changed noticeably from before, becoming less amiable and more hostile and wary.

The dishes for the Cold Food Festival put a lot of pressure on him.

So even though he had secretly made some arrangements in other areas last night, he still felt extremely nervous.

Qi Han nodded to Zhao Yangfan, then looked curiously at the three chefs behind him.

Are these the chefs who competed in the three themes of Ming Ting Que?

The three head chefs of Mingtingque were all looking at Qi Han, but their expressions were all different.

The stocky, short, and stout man with a square face stared intently at Qi Han, while the thinner man beside him let out a low snort, his eyes filled with undisguised hostility. As for the more robust man standing at the far end, he smiled slightly and nodded in acknowledgment when Qi Han looked at him.

Seeing the two sides confront each other, Zhang, the head of the department, coughed lightly and announced loudly, "Ming Tingque and Han Shi personnel have all arrived. Forty-nine judges, please enter!"

After Director Zhang finished speaking, the judges entered the food competition area through a passageway on the side of the field.

Qi Han curiously looked at the judges who had entered, and then paused slightly. Among the two judges at the front, the one on the left was none other than the owner of Tianxingzhai, whom he had met yesterday.

Is he also a judge?

Seeing Qi Han looking over, Wu Henian smiled back, then turned to the man beside him and said, "Brother Ansheng, this food competition will probably bring you quite a few surprises."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, the man beside Wu Henian showed a hint of interest. "Brother Henian, could this newly opened little shop possibly surpass Ming Ting Que? Judging from his appearance, he seems to be aiming to complete three themes by himself and compete against three chefs from Ming Ting Que. Isn't that a bit too confident?"

"That's hard to say," Wu Henian chuckled.

He actually wanted to say that Ming Tingque was bound to lose, but that was too shocking, so he decided to hold back.

“Then I’ll have to take a closer look.” Ye Ansheng smiled slightly. “I didn’t expect that such a restaurant would appear while I was away from Mingdu. I just got back today and it just so happens to be here. Brother Henian, thank you for taking care of the Catering Association during this time.”

“We’ve known each other for years, why bring this up?” Wu Henian shook his head. “The rules and regulations for the catering association have long been established. Even if you, the president, are away for a while, it won’t matter. I haven’t contributed much.”

Ye Ansheng laughed and then sat down at the head of the judges' table. Wu Henian took the second seat, and a group of judges took their seats behind him, looking at the two food competitors in the middle of the venue with curious eyes.

Of course, the main purpose was to observe and assess Qi Han.

If you observe carefully, you will find that the expressions of these judges can be clearly divided into three types.

The first type is one of immense anticipation and excitement. This group of judges had almost all gone to Hanshi yesterday to investigate the situation and knew the strength of Hanshi. Therefore, they understood that this food competition would not be a one-sided victory for Mingtingque.

If Ming Tingque underestimates his opponent, the opposite might actually happen.

The second type is contempt and disdain. These judges, for their own reasons, have never been to Hanshi and know almost nothing about it. They only know that it is a newly opened restaurant. Therefore, in their eyes, the competition between Hanshi and Mingtingque is like ants trying to kill an elephant.

Foolish and ridiculous.

The third expression was strange. Looking at Hanshi, the lone boss standing on the stage about to compete, and then at Mingtingque and Zhao Yangfan, who brought three head chefs to the stage, several judges had the same question in their minds.

In a food competition like this, was it really necessary for Manager Zhao to specifically ask me to vote for Ming Tingque?

About the update

Something came up this afternoon, so tonight's update will be delayed until 7 PM. There will only be two updates today, and four updates tomorrow.

Chapter 512 Cold Food Festival is in danger

Zhang, the person in charge of hosting the food competition on stage, didn't care what the judges were thinking. Seeing that all forty-nine judges were present, he turned to Qi Han and Zhao Yangfan and said, "If both restaurants are ready, then please begin the first round."

Hearing this, Qi Han nodded slightly, indicating that he had no problem.

On the other side, Zhao Yangfan and the stocky Chef Song exchanged a glance and signaled that they could begin.