Everyday Life Starting with Food Wars

Chen Yuxing smiled but didn't say anything. He picked up a strainer and quickly stirred the ice a few times before scooping out the meat and side dishes and putting them into a porcelain plate that had been prepared beforehand.

When the white mist dissipated and everyone could see the dish on the plate, a collective gasp filled the kitchen.

That can no longer be called a dish; it's practically a work of art!

The scalding hot sweet and sour sauce cools and contracts rapidly upon contact with ice, forming a layer of frost.

Bright red chunks of meat and golden pineapple are encased in this transparent "crystal," refracting an enticing luster under the light.

The plating was clean and neat, with a few pieces of crushed ice laid on the bottom as a garnish, and a cool mist swirling around the plate.

"This...this is..." Su Youfu's lips trembled, his eyes fixed on the dish.

"Crystal-chilled sweet and sour pork with pineapple." Chen Yuxing took off his apron and draped it aside.

"Everyone should come and watch it often."

Lin Xingyun couldn't wait any longer. She picked up a clean pair of chopsticks, picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork, and carefully put it into her mouth.

The teeth just touched the surface of the meat.

A crisp snapping sound rang out.

The outer layer of sweet and sour sauce is like eating candied hawthorn berries; the icy sensation makes your tongue tingle, but before the coolness can spread, your teeth have already broken through the icy shell and entered the meat.

"boom!"

The scalding hot meat juices, mixed with the unique freshness and aroma of pork belly, burst open in your mouth like a flood.

The contrast between the cold surface and the hot interior is striking.

The sweet and sour sauce tastes great, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour. It's neither too sour nor too sweet, and the fruity aroma of the tomato sauce brings the white vinegar and sugar together, leaving a refreshing aftertaste.

Lin Xingyun closed her eyes, feeling as if she had been caught in the eye of a summer storm.

All around was a tornado of sweet and sour sauce, whipping up pieces of golden pineapple and emerald green bell peppers that danced in the air.

At the heart of the tornado was a scorching hot boulder that emitted a rich, meaty aroma.

She was swept up by the tornado, and every pore on her body opened up comfortably at that moment. It was like the refreshing feeling of taking a big gulp of ice-cold orange soda after sweating from exercise, making her want to scream!

"It's so...so delicious!" Lin Xingyun covered her cheeks, so excited that she could hardly speak. "The outer shell is icy cold, the meat juice inside is piping hot, and the sweet and sour sauce tastes like it's dancing on my tongue! It feels like magic, it's just so delicious!"

The cameraman standing to the side couldn't help but put down his camera, reach out and pick up a piece, put it in his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and then this nearly 200-pound man gave a thumbs up and nodded frantically, not even bothering to say anything.

Su Youfu took a deep breath and picked up the chopsticks with trembling hands.

He picked up a piece of meat and put it in his mouth.

As he chewed, his eyes slowly began to redden.

Su Youfu felt as if he had returned to thirty years ago.

Back then, he was just a young lad, practicing flipping woks shirtless in the kitchen during the dead of winter.

His master was a hot-tempered Cantonese chef who hit him hard on the head with a fire poker.

"When cooking, the worst thing you can do is rush! Even if there are hundreds of customers outside urging you to serve your food, you can't skimp on any of the cooking techniques or steps! If you miss even one step, what you serve isn't food, it's a mess that ruins your reputation!"

The master's roar seemed to echo in my ears.

But what happened next?

As Jumanlou's reputation grew, the number of diners it served each day increased. In order to improve table turnover and allow customers to eat their food faster, he began to compromise.

Thickening the sauce three times is too slow? Then thicken it only once. Tourists from other places won't be able to tell the difference anyway.

Double frying is too wasteful of oil and time? Then just fry it once, as long as the color looks acceptable.

Too much trouble to make sweet and sour sauce? Just prepare a big batch in advance every morning and scoop it out when you need it.

He started to prioritize efficiency and lost sight of his original passion for cooking.

He thought he had saved Jumanlou's reputation, but in reality, the reputation had long been riddled with holes due to his daily shoddy workmanship.

Clang.

Su Youfu dropped the chopsticks in his hand to the ground.

He turned around to face Chen Yuxing.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone and the television cameras, the chef, who was over fifty years old, bent down deeply with his legs together and bowed deeply.

Chapter 43 The Battle of the Mahjong Kings

"Master Chen."

Su Youfu's voice was a little hoarse: "I'm getting senile. Your dish has completely woken me up."

He bent down to look at Chen Yuxing, his eyes slightly red: "You're right. I've been cutting corners to speed up the cooking process, and I've been ruining the skills passed down from our ancestors. Now I finally understand, and I'm completely convinced."

Upon hearing Su Youfu's words, the other apprentices and sous chefs around him fell silent and looked at him.

Lin Xingyun and the cameraman also stopped what they were doing. They knew that once this segment was broadcast, it would definitely cause a storm in Guangzhou's food scene and would also have a great impact on Jumanlou.

"Master Su, you flatter me."

Looking at Su Youfu, who was in a sincere mood, Chen Yuxing stepped forward and helped Su Youfu up.

"When you're in the restaurant business, it's easy to get anxious when things get busy. And the fact that you, Chef Su, admitted your mistake in front of so many people shows that the Jumanlou brand still holds a lot of weight in your heart."

"Master Su, your skills are not bad either. As long as you still have the will, it's never too late."

Su Youfu wiped his eyes, then turned to Lin Xingyun, the cameraman, and the curious diners at the kitchen door. He loudly addressed the camera and the crowd, "Today, in front of everyone, I, Su Youfu, hereby declare: Jumanlou will be closed for three days starting tomorrow for rectification! I'm going to re-establish the rules in the kitchen! From now on, every dish served from Jumanlou will absolutely not be skimped on in terms of ingredients or steps! Please supervise us!"

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Chen Yuxing.

"Master Chen, I'm really sorry for today. It was a moment of confusion on my part that led me to ask you to come to the kitchen for a competition just because you pointed out my problem. I'm ashamed to admit it."

Su Youfu gave a wry smile, then walked up to Chen Yuxing and handed him a business card. "To make amends, your meal today is on the house. From now on, whenever you come to Jumanlou to eat, just mention my name, Su Youfu, and it will all be free. I also guarantee that I will personally cook for you."

Chen Yuxing took the business card and put it in his pocket, then smiled at Su Youfu: "Thank you very much, Master Su."

"These are all minor matters." Su Youfu then turned to the apprentice sous chefs who were still standing there in the kitchen and yelled, "What are you all standing there for! Get to work! From now on, don't try to cut corners or skip any steps! I'm going to start checking your skills tomorrow!"

Chen Yuxing washed his hands at the sink and then walked out of the kitchen.

Lin Xingyun quickly followed with the cameraman, her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Chen Yuxing. "Handsome guy! Chef Chen! Are you a head chef at some restaurant? Can we do an exclusive interview with you?"

Chen Yuxing waved his hand and went to the cashier to pay.

The proprietress standing at the cashier had just learned what had happened in the kitchen and refused to accept the money.

"No, no, Old Su just said that you can eat for free every time you come over! If I take this money, Old Su will scold me later!"

Chen Yuxing didn't say much, he just put the banknotes under the lucky cat and left without looking back.

Chen Yuxing didn't turn his head, but waved his hand with his back turned and quickly disappeared into the lobby of Jumanlou.

……

By the time we left Jumanlou, it was already dark.

The neon lights on both sides of the street flashed with colorful lights.

As Chen Yuxing walked through the bustling crowd, he was considering whether to take a walk along the riverbank or find a place to have a bowl of sweet soup.

"Ding!"

A notification sound suddenly rang out deep within his mind.

Chen Yuxing found a chair on the street and sat down, his consciousness sinking into his mind.

The golden-glowing "Book of Cookery" slowly turned to a new page.

Several lines of large characters are written on it in the ancient clerical script.

[Arrived in Guangzhou, the City of Rams, on the map of China.]

[Regional quest triggered: The pinnacle of Guangzhou cuisine.]

[Mission Description: In this city, a melting pot of Chinese culinary charm and traditional heritage, lie hidden culinary families and underground battles of skill. In three days, the quinquennial traditional food competition—the 'King of Mahjong'—will be held in Guangzhou's old city. Please participate and claim the crown.]

[Mission Reward: Unlocks the special recipe 'Phoenix Crystal' and the premium kitchen utensil 'Eternal Spirit Knife (Replica)'.]

"The Mahjong King Competition? Let's watch it later! I'm going to grab a late-night snack first."

As Chen Yuxing pondered this, he continued walking along the roadside. So much time had passed that his stomach began to rumble.

He followed the aroma of beef offal wafting from the alleyway and walked into a small alley. From a distance, he could see a large iron pot burning on a stove, and a fragrance mixed with star anise, cinnamon, and some sauces wafted over.

The owner was an elderly woman who looked quite old; she was stirring something in the pot with a long bamboo skewer.

"Grandma, could you please give me a bowl of beef offal, with extra beef shank and beef lung?"

"Okay, handsome, just wait a moment."

The old lady deftly scooped out several pieces of stewed beef shank that were tender from the pot, cut them into several small pieces with a couple of snips of scissors, put them into a bowl, added a few pieces of radish, and finally poured a large spoonful of braising liquid over them.

Chen Yuxing squatted by the roadside with a small bowl in his hand, picked up a bamboo skewer, and put a few pieces of beef offal into his mouth.

The moment it enters your mouth, the braising liquid absorbed by the beef shank spreads throughout your mouth, and the salty and savory aroma mixed with various spices instantly fills your mouth.

The beef offal was cooked to perfection, tender yet still chewy, with a wonderfully springy texture; the radish was the same, soaked in the braising liquid, its natural sweetness blending perfectly with the savory flavor of the braising liquid, making each bite incredibly satisfying.

"Grandma, your brine has been preserved for quite a while now."

"Oh my, handsome young man, you have good taste!" The old lady laughed when she heard Chen Yuxing's words: "This pot of braising liquid was passed down from my mother-in-law, and it's been with me for about seven or eight years. I have to add new spices to it every day, keep the fire burning, heat it repeatedly every day, and filter it regularly to remove impurities."

Chen Yuxing nodded and quickly finished the beef offal in his bowl. After paying the old lady, he went to the dessert shop next door and bought a bowl of mango pomelo sago.

The sweetness of the mango, the tartness of the grapefruit, and the coconut milk blend together perfectly, washing away the savory taste in your mouth.

It was almost midnight when Chen Yuxing got back to the hotel. He took a shower and went to bed.

He closed his eyes and began to think about the tasks assigned by the Book of Gourmets.

"The King of Mahjong Tournament".

Chen Yuxing took out his phone and searched for information about the competition online, but found very little information about this "King of Mahjong".

Only a few older local food forums mentioned this competition briefly, saying things like "once every five years" and "only local chefs can participate," but they didn't mention the specific rules, competition format, or where to register.

"It looks like a niche competition? Luckily, the Book of Gourmets provided the address for participation, otherwise we would have been completely clueless."

Chen Yuxing put his phone aside, lay down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling, starting to calculate the time.

He still has about nine days of vacation left. The competition starts in three days, and it might take two more days including the competition itself. If he can win smoothly, he can have a few days to travel to other cities after the competition.

And most importantly, the rewards for winning the championship were very tempting to him.

'Phoenix Crystal' is a dish in the anime "Cooking Master Boy", and it is also the final dish of the protagonist Liu Angxing. It is very difficult to replicate in reality, as it takes a lot of time to process the bean sprouts and carve the other ingredients.

The 'Eternal Spirit Knife' is even more exaggerated. As one of the legendary eight kitchen utensils, the Eternal Spirit Knife has the ability to restore the freshness of ingredients. Even if what you receive is not the original Eternal Spirit Knife but a replica, the knife's ability should not be much different. Even if it only has one-tenth of the Eternal Spirit Knife's ability, this knife would still be an absolute divine weapon for any chef.

……

The next day, Chen Yuxing got up early and left the hotel.

Following the address provided in the task prompt, we found the Guangzhou branch of a food association located in an old alley in Liwan District.

Although it's called a branch of the association, it's actually just an inconspicuous old building. There isn't even a decent sign at the entrance; there's just a small copper coin symbolically nailed down that says "Culinary Association Branch."

The writing on it was already a bit blurry and illegible. If it weren't for the fact that this was the address given by the Book of Gourmet Food, Chen Yuxing wouldn't have believed that the place in front of him was the Gourmet Association. This old building looked more like a chess and card room that retired old people liked.

As soon as he pushed open the door, he smelled a strong aroma of wood mixed with the scent of Pu'er tea.

In the lobby on the first floor, there are several armchairs, and on the wall hang some old photos that have turned yellow. The people in the photos are all wearing chef's uniforms from decades ago and holding trophies.

An elderly man wearing reading glasses was rummaging through something on the counter. He only slowly looked up when he heard someone open the door and walk in.

"Young man, what's the matter?"

"Hello sir, I'd like to ask if this is the registration point for the 'Mahjong King Competition'?"

The old man pulled down his reading glasses and looked Chen Yuxing up and down with some surprise.

"The Mahjong King Competition? Where did you, a young man, hear about it? Did someone introduce you?"

"No one introduced me; I found out about it myself and thought I'd come and take a look."

"You found out yourself?" The old man took off his glasses and wiped them. "You young man have quite the nerve. Do you even know what kind of competition the 'King of Mahjong' is?"

"I'm really not sure, could you please enlighten me?"

The old man sized up Chen Yuxing for a while, and seeing that his attitude was quite sincere, he leaned back in his armchair and began to explain.