It looks final will be even more exciting.
"Old Gao, what will your disciple choose to make?"
This question really stumped him. His disciple knew a lot of dishes. Just picking one could earn him a good score. He thought Lin Xu should make the Sweet and Sour Pork Loin, which tends to score well. This dish looks good, tastes good, and is relatively easy to present. Of course, stir-fried beef wasn’t bad either, and it suited this kind of occasion.
However, as he was deep in thought, he saw Lin Xu take a Lotus Root from the shelf, along with White Vinegar, white Soy Sauce, and other seasonings.
"No way, Old Gao? Is your disciple going to make a cold dish?"
"This must be a joke, right? He just barely made it through the dessert round because the other contestants were too restricted. Now, when other contestants are preparing hot dishes, your disciple isn’t planning to win with a cold dish, is he?"
"This kid is really making me anxious!"
Someone quipped, "Old Guo, you can start smiling now. Your grandson’s triple crown is about to become a reality!"
The group fell silent for a moment.
Grandpa Gao, however, paid no attention to these comments. His eyes sparkled with joy as he watched the stage, tears faintly visible.
"Good kid, such a good kid!" he murmured.
Meanwhile, below the stage, Xie Baomin’s face unconsciously broke into a relieved smile when he saw the ingredients and seasonings Lin Xu had picked.
Shen Jiayue, not understanding, asked, "Senior Brother, Xu Bao chose Lotus Root. What dish is he planning to make?"
It always feels like others choose meat ingredients, while our Xu Bao only took a Lotus Root. We’re losing momentum right from the start,
Xie Baomin said, "My Junior Brother is preparing to make the White Jade Lotus Root Strips, the dish our master made famous at the Fishing Platform years ago! I can’t believe it. I only made it in front of him once, and he actually learned it."
"Years ago, our master, then in his twenties, was transferred from a state-owned restaurant to serve as a chef at the Fishing Platform State Guesthouse. There, he created the White Jade Lotus Root Strips and became famous overnight. And, at a cooking contest several years ago, I also won the championship of the middle-aged group cooking contest with this dish, defeating Guo Weidong’s Braised Abalone with Sea Cucumber, thus starting my journey to five consecutive championships."
Now, my Junior Brother has also chosen this dish, as if by tacit understanding. Master must be thrilled, right? If I weren’t worried about being seen as a fool, I’d stand up and cheer for Lin Xu right now! Xie Baomin thought.
White Jade Lotus Root Strips? Shen Jiayue and Chen Yan exchanged a look. They had both tasted this dish. They still remembered its ultimate crispiness and flavor vividly. If it’s this dish... he might actually win this competition!
"Brother-in-law will definitely win!" Chen Yan declared. "After all, haven’t I always said that good-looking people tend to have good luck?"
Next to her, Geng Lele blinked. "You? Who’s ’I’?"
Chen Yan pointed at herself. "Me!"
「In the live broadcast chat」
Netizens were fiercely debating Lin Xu’s choice.
"He won the last round by taking an unconventional approach. Is he going to do it again this round?"
"Cold dishes usually get marked down in cooking competitions."
"Then how did Plain Chicken win last year? Isn’t that a cold dish too?"
"You don’t really expect Lotus Root to taste like Plain Chicken, do you?"
"I just believe Boss Lin can win the championship, no matter the dish."
"I believe in him too. With his incredible culinary skills, even if he likes to mess around sometimes, he knows when to be serious."
The discussion raged on.
Amidst these doubts and expectations, Lin Xu calmly began to peel the Lotus Root. After peeling it, he placed the Lotus Root in water mixed with White Vinegar and washed it twice to prevent oxidation and discoloration.
Then, he picked up his cleaver and began slicing it thinly. Lotus Root is porous, so cutting it into uniform, thin slices required tremendous effort. This was because whenever the blade encountered one of the many holes, it could easily slip, causing the knife edge to veer off course. If not for the support of his Perfect Level Technique, Lin Xu would have cut his hand several times already.
「At the judges’ table」
Geng Lishan watched Lin Xu slicing the Lotus Root, a puzzled expression on his face. With so many ingredients like chicken, duck, Fish, and other meats available, why did he choose Lotus Root? Is he planning to use a cold dish to defeat hot, savory dishes? I really don’t understand this young friend’s choice.
A fellow judge whispered, "Throughout the entire history of modern cuisine, Lotus Root dishes have one particularly famous anecdote. A cold Lotus Root dish once captivated the Prime Minister of Japan during his visit to China. He was so intrigued that he never forgot it, even mentioning it in his memoirs..."
This remark startled Geng Lishan, and he suddenly recalled that well-known story. It seems that dish was from the kitchens of the Fishing Platform State Guesthouse. This young friend... could he be attempting to replicate that very dish?
Geng Lishan had once listed several great regrets in his life, and that legendary cold Lotus Root dish from culinary lore was among them. He didn’t even know its name, but after hearing the tale, he had never forgotten it.
"I’ve also heard of that dish," another judge chimed in. "It’s called White Jade Lotus Root Strips. Leaders from several countries specifically requested it before their visits, and I hear it’s a specialty of Building Two."
White Jade Lotus Root Strips? A specialty of Building Two? Geng Lishan’s breath caught in his throat. Lin Xu is representing Building Two in this competition. Could he... could he really be planning to make the White Jade Lotus Root Strips?
「With the consultant group」
Seeing Lin Xu slice the Lotus Root into thin strips, the smiles on the faces of the old master chefs gradually vanished.
"Old Gao, this kid isn’t planning to make White Jade Lotus Root Strips, is he?" one asked.
"Seems like it. Look at that smug expression on Old Gao’s face."
"Damn it! Then what’s the point of competing? Even I... no, not just me, it seems like all of us have been bested by this dish before..."
Meanwhile, in the audience, Xie Baomin was watching his Junior Brother slice vegetables when he suddenly realized Guo Weidong had sat down beside him at some point.
"Old Xie, your Junior Brother is going to make White Jade Lotus Root Strips, isn’t he?" Guo Weidong asked.
Xie Baomin smiled. "Probably. With the ingredients and seasonings he’s chosen, what else could he make?"
Guo Weidong pressed, "That dish demands such high Knife Skills. Could he have mastered it at such a young age?"
"Weidong, cooking isn’t just about effort; it’s also about talent. Just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t... So, what are we drinking tonight? I’ll get the alcohol ready in advance."
Guo Weidong sighed. "You should tell me where we’re eating first..."
Xie Baomin pointed towards the stage. "My Junior Brother’s restaurant. I’ll have him personally cook for you. How does that sound?"
"Deal. I’ll bring Xinghai along tonight to properly taste the champion’s skills."
If it were any other dish, my nephew’s Gulao Meat might still have a chance, Guo Weidong thought. But with White Jade Lotus Root Strips on the table, there’s basically no chance of turning things around. After all, this is a dish served to VIPs—perfect in appearance, taste, and texture.
「Half an hour later」 ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴovelfire.net
When Lin Xu had neatly arranged the finished White Jade Lotus Root Strips on the plate, the system’s alert sounded again:
"Host has recreated Master Gao Peisheng’s original dish, triggering the Mentorship Quest ’Inheritance’: Please learn three or more Perfect Level original dishes from Master Gao Peisheng within one year. Upon completion, receive two draws for the Perfect Level Lost Dish lottery and one draw for the Perfect Level Cooking Technique lottery."
Lin Xu was speechless for a moment. So Master has more than one original dish, huh? What am I waiting for then? Learn, learn, learn!
Just as he was psyching himself up, the competition time ended.
Staff members brought the contestants’ finished dishes to the judges’ table.
Last day of the month, everyone! I need your Monthly Tickets! Please also save your guaranteed Monthly Tickets for after midnight. I’m aiming to continue updating 10,000 characters a day in July! This Chapter is 5,400 characters long—not too short, right?