Jiang Yuqiao

Sitting in another judge's chair was a young man with a handsome face, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe.

After being called out by Prefect Zhao, the young man showed a hint of impatience in his eyes, stood up and nodded.

"The three of us will swear an oath to Heaven to guarantee the absolute truthfulness of the reviewers' opinions. If we break this oath, at best our life force will be cut off, and at worst our souls will be destroyed." Prefect Zhao said solemnly.

Then he looked at Luo Qinzhu and said, "That's true, but one of the judges, Jiang Yuqiao, is connected to the Jiang family, a salt merchant family, which is participating in the competition. If Chef Luo has any objections to this, she can apply to have a judge replaced."

Jiang Yuqiao crossed his arms and said casually, "Don't worry that I'll favor the Jiang family. I'm not that stupid to trade my future for a mere Baiweilou restaurant."

"I came here simply to try Baiweilou's signature dishes one last time, that's all."

"To be honest, I eat home-cooked meals every day and I'm getting tired of them. My presence as a judge is actually more advantageous for you."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qinzhu shook her head at Prefect Zhao: "No, there's no need."

"We at Baiweilou always welcome any guest. Since he has come here to taste Baiweilou's dishes, we certainly won't refuse him."

Then, she looked at Jiang Yuqiao and said firmly, "However, you are wrong about one thing—this culinary battle will definitely not be the end for Baiweilou."

"Even after the culinary competition ends, Baiweilou will still exist and will continue to welcome any guests as before... as long as the guests know how to behave politely."

Jiang Yuqiao raised an eyebrow, remaining noncommittal:

"Then I'll wait and see."

Soon, the judges made a vow to uphold the principles of Heaven.

Amidst the deafening sound of gongs and drums, Prefect Zhao's loud and penetrating voice rang out:

"I hereby declare the first open culinary duel between the Jiang family salt merchants and Baiweilou restaurant—officially commence!"

Luo Qinzhu looked across the arena, where a seventh-rank chef from the Jiang family was carefully polishing kitchen utensils.

"I'll do the first one," she said to Master Li beside her.

"Okay." Master Li nodded and handed her a basket of fresh ingredients he had just bought.

Luo Qinzhu took the ingredients and suddenly let out a soft "Eh".

"Mr. Li, what's that little red dot on your neck?"

"I probably got bitten by a mosquito while I was buying groceries," Mr. Li said, scratching his neck. "But it's just a little itchy, nothing serious."

Time was of the essence, so Luo Qinzhu didn't think much about it.

She took a deep breath and focused all her attention on the kitchen counter in front of her.

Luo Qinzhu closed her eyes.

She must win this round.

Winning the first game would greatly boost the morale of our team.

When she opened her eyes again, there was nothing in her sight except the stove and the ingredients.

All distracting thoughts have been eliminated.

Then, she picked up the kitchen knife.

……

As time went by, a rich aroma wafted from the casserole.

Luo Qinzhu carefully controlled the heat with her true energy, staying by the stove without leaving its side.

"This taste... I'm in for a treat today."

Manager Huang kept swallowing his saliva. As a regular customer of Baiweilou, he could naturally guess which dish Luo Qinzhu had made.

The agonizing aroma lingered for a long time before Luo Qinzhu finally extinguished the stove fire.

"My dish is done!"

She placed the casserole on the judging panel, then reached out and gently lifted the lid:

"laugh--"

A plume of white steam shot into the sky, instantly filling the entire judging panel.

Amidst the white steam, an enticing aroma wafted. The savory fragrance of ham, the fresh aroma of turtle, the mushroom fragrance of shiitake mushrooms, and the delicate fragrance of bamboo shoots intertwined and blended together without any conflict, transforming into a naturally delicious and harmonious flavor.

"Please enjoy our stewed water chestnut turtle!"

With the girl's clear voice, everyone's attention was drawn to the dishes inside the casserole.

The soup is golden and clear, like amber, without a trace of turbidity.

The turtle lies intact in the soup, its carapace gleaming with a warm luster, and its translucent skirt has been stewed until soft and tender, revealing the subtle patterns inside.

Ham slices are arranged on both sides, their essence fully infused into the soup, dissolving at the slightest touch. The surrounding mushrooms and bamboo shoots are also soaked in the broth, presenting a jade-like, lustrous texture.

"Stewed water chestnut turtle, it really is a famous dish." Jiang Yuqiao's expression finally turned serious.

Prefect Zhao nodded in agreement, saying, "Just as Mr. Wanling wrote in his poem, 'Sand-dwelling horse-hoofed turtle and snow-covered ox-tailed civet are the two finest delicacies of Shexian."

"This clear-broth water chestnut turtle is the perfect representative of the flavors of Huizhou."

Manager Huang could no longer contain himself and directly scooped up a spoonful of soup.

His eyes widened as soon as the soup entered his mouth!

"This...this soup!"

The broth has just the right amount of saltiness, with a slightly gelatinous texture, but it's not overly heavy at all; instead, it's as refreshing as spring water. The moment the broth touches the tip of your tongue, the umami flavor surges forth like a tidal wave!

Waves of umami flavor spread from the tip of the tongue throughout the entire mouth. The broth is full of the unique sweetness of turtle meat, with not a trace of unpleasant fishy taste. This sweetness blends perfectly with the smoky aroma of ham, the sweetness of winter bamboo shoots, and the mushroom fragrance of shiitake mushrooms, creating a truly wonderful taste experience!

Manager Huang felt as if he were being carried by a giant turtle, soaring through the endless sea of ​​clouds in Huangshan.

Countless delicacies from the mountains arrived one after another, blending into a rich and fragrant broth, bringing him the ultimate sense of happiness!

Two big words rose in his mind—

"tasty!"

It took Manager Huang quite a while to snap out of his reverie of this exquisite taste experience.

He smacked his lips with lingering satisfaction. Even after the broth had gone down, the subtle, natural aroma of the ingredients still lingered on his palate, leaving him with an unforgettable aftertaste.

At the same time, Prefect Zhao scooped up a spoonful of the turtle's skirt.

Watching the hem of his skirt tremble gently on the spoon, he eagerly put it into his mouth and took a small sip.

Almost instantly, it transformed into a warm, moist sensation that flowed into his throat. Then, Prefect Zhao felt that warmth melt in his stomach, transforming into a warm current that coursed throughout his body, reaching every limb and bone.

Delicious! Incomparably delicious!

Moreover, it seems that it doesn't stop there.

Prefect Zhao sensed the true energy flowing within his body and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

"This...this is?!"

He could clearly feel that his physical strength, energy, and internal cultivation had all increased slightly.

This increase feels genuine and not at all like a temporary effect!

"Six dishes!"

Prefect Zhao put down his spoon and said firmly.

Only dishes of grade six or higher can provide permanent buffs.

Although the permanent buff effect will gradually weaken and eventually disappear with repeated consumption of the same dish, this benefit is likely only available on the first serving of a dish of grade six quality.

Even so, it is vastly different from dishes of the sixth rank or below!

Prefect Zhao let out a long sigh of relief.

He knew that this round... was probably already decided.