Chapter 149: Perfect Victory

This round, the imperial chefs seemed to have tasted the dishes for a long time, but it seemed understandable. The three of them had all shown their skills, so it was difficult for the imperial chefs to make a choice. They had no idea that the imperial chefs were just overwhelmed by the smell.

The hall was filled with people waiting for the results. There were guests and teams that had been eliminated in the competition. Bai Tang could not sit still in the room and came to the hall.

Shopkeeper Cui was afraid that this lady would continue to shock him, so he braced himself and followed.

Bai Tang did not cause any trouble.

“Why are they being so mysterious? Isn’t it just Madam Du?”

“Yes, it must be Madam Du!”

“Isn’t that so? Other than Madam Du, who else is qualified to win the competition? That chef Xiong? Or that cripple?”

“Haha!” Everyone laughed.

Shopkeeper Cui looked at his young miss’s back and secretly broke out in cold sweat. His young miss was really obsessed with the results. It was good enough that she didn’t rush over and give them a kick when she heard the bastard words just now.

Bai Tang indeed did not hear it, but she was not completely waiting for the results. Her gaze landed on the corridor on the third floor. Yan Ruyu’s identity had already spread on the first day. At this moment, her room was surrounded by people who were all here to congratulate Madam Du.

The group of people smiled until their faces were red, as if they had already seen the results from the imperial chefs. Yan Ruyu’s, who was praised and congratulated by everyone, eyes were filled with smiles. It could be seen that she also believed that Madam Du would definitely win.

Could it really be Madam Du? Bai Tang felt stifled.

After an unknown period of time, the results of the last round finally arrived. However, to everyone’s surprise, it was not Madam Du!

“How is that possible?” Yan Ruyu’s almond-shaped eyes widened in surprise. “Did you hear wrongly?”

Lychee said anxiously, “I thought I heard wrongly and asked again and again.”

Madam Du did not show her emotions like Yan Ruyu, but it was obvious that her expression had turned cold.

Yan Ruyu frowned and said, “Who won? Don’t tell me it’s the Drunken Immortal Pavilion!”

Lychee lowered her head. “… It’s… it’s the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.”

The final victor was not Madam Du, but the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. This shocking news simply caused an uproar in the Tianxiang Restaurant. Although this Chef Yu also came from the Tianxiang Restaurant and was somewhat famous because of Chef Yang and his signature dishes, he was still not qualified to be compared to Madam Du.

“Is there a mistake?”

“I heard that the boss of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion is the vice president of the Jiangzuo Merchant Union.”

What this guest meant was that the Drunken Immortal Pavilion used their connections.

“Heh, why don’t you say that Madam Du’s backer is the daughter of the General Manor? And the daughter of the General Manor’s backer is the Young Master of Yan City?” Bai Tang’s words made that person speechless.

Someone else said, “But I heard that the little chef of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion is the one who was personally saved by the Second Prince yesterday. She’s the Second Prince’s woman. If there’s anyone in the world who isn’t afraid of the Young Master Manor, it’s this Second Prince.”

The Second Prince was the Emperor’s most valued prince, and his mother was in charge of the harem. She was the true uncrowned queen. With such a status, he naturally had the confidence to openly compete with Young Master Yan.

This was the news spread by Yan Ruyu. Otherwise, who knew who the Second Prince carried upstairs?

There were more and more dissatisfied voices. No one believed that the chef of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion had really defeated Madam Du with his own abilities. Even Madam Du herself did not believe it.

Madam Du shook her head and said, “That’s impossible. I used the old marinade my master made. It’s impossible for me to lose.”

A man who was defending Madam Du said, “Please come out! We want an explanation!”

People’s hearts were always easily stirred. With the first one to stand out, there would naturally be many who would go with the flow.

Another man stood up and said, “Yes! Ask for an explanation! Let us see what kind of skills he used to win against Madam Du!”

Evaluating was the imperial chefs’ business. Of course, they would not change the outcome just because someone caused trouble, but Madam Du came looking for them.

The moment she entered the house, she smelled an indescribable smell. It was not as pungent as stinky tofu, but it was cold, long, and followed her like a shadow. It was as if she could stink for an entire day if she touched it.

Under the cover of this smell, the fragrance of the braised meat she made could not be smelled at all.

How could this be? She was using the marinade that her master had personally made.

Madam Du was so overwhelmed by the smell that she almost forgot about her business. Fortunately, she came back to her senses in time. She looked at the six imperial chefs in the room and asked in confusion, “Sirs, may I know which part of my dish is inferior to others that I actually lost to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion?”

Her expression was aloof and her tone was filled with disdain for the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. A famous chef of her status naturally had the capital to look down on the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

The imperial chefs wanted her to try the culinary skills of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, but when they saw the empty earthen jar on the table, they were stunned. Didn’t they say that they would only take a bite? Why was it all gone?

Head Chef Zhang cleared his throat and ordered Uncle to come over.

Uncle had already learned of the final outcome and was not surprised to be called up. In the two days of competition, he could more or less see Madam Du’s temper. She was noble and proud. Other than Chef Bao, she probably did not even care about anyone else. He had won against her, so she must be unconvinced.

When he saw that Madam Du was also present, he was even more certain of his guess.

“Greetings, my lords.” He stood on his walking stick and bowed.

The imperial chefs had long heard that he was a crippled chef. When they really saw him, they could not help but be surprised. He was neither servile nor overbearing and had an indescribable bearing. As expected of someone who had seen the world at Tianxiang Restaurant.

Chef Zhang bluntly expressed Madam Du’s doubts. “… What do you think? Do you also think that we made a mistake?”

Uncle was not in a hurry to answer. Instead, he walked to the dining table and took a look at Madam Du’s dishes. He picked up his chopsticks and carefully tasted a few mouthfuls. The soup, pork knuckle skin, pork knuckle meat, and even the side dishes were all tasted.

He put down his chopsticks and said, “I heard that Madam Du used the old marinade made by Master Chef Bao?”

Madam Du said aloofly, “That’s right. My master personally brewed the old marinade.”

Uncle said, “When I was working at the Tianxiang Restaurant, I didn’t have the chance to meet Master Bao. However, I was lucky enough to taste the old marinade that he left behind. The taste seems to be different from Madam Du’s cooking.”

Madam Du frowned. “What do you mean? Do you suspect that I’m borrowing my master’s reputation?”

Uncle shook his head and said, “That’s not what I meant. I just feel that Madam Du only has the form but not the spirit. You don’t understand the essence of this brine.”

Madam Du clenched her fist and looked at the man in front of her in disbelief. It wasn’t that he had spoken too seriously, but he had hit the nail on the head. When her master handed this jar of old marinade to her, he had once said something similar to her. “Wanqing, when you can understand the essence of this jar of marinade, you will be qualified to inherit my mantle.”

She studied for three years and finally made a taste that she was satisfied with. She did not believe that she had not succeeded. It must be this cripple who was exaggerating.

“Okay, since you said I did something wrong, why don’t you tell me what you think the essence of this brine is?”

Uncle was not in a hurry to answer her. Instead, he asked, “Do you have any extra marinade for me to use?”

Madam Du gave the accompanying servants a look, and the servants went to the kitchen to bring over the remaining half of the jar of marinade. Without another word, Uncle carried it to the kitchen.

Yu Wan saw him walking over with a jar of old marinade and asked him, “Do you want to cook?”

Uncle said, “I’ll do it myself.”

Yu Wan and Yu Feng exchanged glances and left one by one.

Madam Du guessed that he had gone to cook. She thought that it was a complicated dish, but she did not expect it to be a bowl of bland noodles. Instead of expensive vegetable oil, he used lard. A boiled poached egg, a few pieces of green onions, and a spoonful of brine were all the seasonings.

The fragrance of the old marinade was far inferior to the one made by Madam Du. In fact, because of the fragrance of the green onions and lard, it had completely lost its high-class feel. It was more like the smell that one would inadvertently smell when passing by a commoner’s house.

Madam Du thought of the greasy stove in the countryside. She hadn’t been back for more than ten years.

Uncle placed the noodles in front of her.

Madam Du could smell the fragrance of onions and lard coming from the bowl. Ever since she became rich, she had never eaten such unpresentable food. “Do you know how valuable my master’s marinade is? You’re ruining it just like that?”

“Eat.” Uncle handed her the chopsticks.

Madam Du frowned. She didn’t want to make things difficult for him. However, after only one bite, her entire body froze.

The imperial chefs all looked at her and saw that the arrogant Madam Du was holding a bowl of noodles with reddened eyes.

The imperial chefs were stunned.

Tears welled up in Mrs. Du’s eyes. “Yes…”

Uncle took a deep breath and continued for her. “It’s longing.”

Chef Bao missed his missing son and his depressed wife. That was why he had this old marinade. What he wanted was not the prosperity of the Taotie Feast, but an extremely ordinary home.

Madam Du came from a humble background. What she cared about the most was her background. In order to get rid of her past shadow, she cut off everything related to the past. There was only ambition in her heart and no worries.

A person without any worries would not be able to understand the loneliness of Master Chef Bao.

Uncle did not say anything else, nor did he argue about the outcome. He bowed to the imperial chefs and limped out of the room. He clearly had a disabled back, but in the eyes of the imperial chefs, he was tall and mighty.

“Wait.” Chef Zhang called him.

Uncle stopped in his tracks and turned around with difficulty.

Chef Zhang asked, “What’s that dish you made?”

Uncle’s weathered face revealed a smile. “My Ah Wan said that it’s snail noodles.”

The imperial chefs’ room was the room closest to the hall on the first floor. The onlookers watched as Madam Du rushed in with an unwilling expression. Then, they saw the crippled chef of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion being called in by the imperial chefs. After that, the chef went to the kitchen and made a new dish.

It seemed that the imperial chefs had shaken their judgment and wanted him to show his skills again. Under such circumstances, he would usually lose.

Everyone was waiting to watch a good show again.

Not long after, the crippled chef came out. There was no joy on his face from winning. See! He lost! However, the moment he came out, a woman’s suppressed cries came from the room behind him.

Everyone was stunned again. What’s the situation?

Yan Ruyu came down anxiously and said to Lychee, “Go and see what the results are. Why is Madam Du still inside?”

“Yes!” Lychee hurriedly agreed. Just as she was about to go forward and investigate, Madam Du pushed open the door and came out. Her eyes and nose were red, and there were tears in her eyes.

Everyone stared at her, dumbfounded.

She said, “I lost.”

The hall suddenly fell silent. Yan Ruyu’s expression changed. “Madam Du!”

Madam Du bowed piously in the direction where her uncle had left. This was a sincere affirmation and respect for a master.

Yan Ruyu was even more incredulous. “Madam Du, do you know what you’re doing!”

It was not scary for the imperial chefs to announce that she had lost. What was scary was that she had admitted defeat. In that case, it was impossible for her to help her regain the situation!

“Madam Du, you…” Yan Ruyu was so angry that her breathing became irregular.

Madam Du turned to look at her. This sudden change in gaze made Yan Ruyu feel unfamiliar.

Madam Du said softly, “Thank you for your help, Miss Yan. We’ve known each other for a long time, and we’re teacher and friend. I’m very grateful for this relationship.”

Back then, Yan Ruyu had met Madam Du by chance. During a heavy rain, Madam Du’s carriage had fallen into a quagmire and coincidentally bumped into someone. That person’s identity was not simple. He was the son of a local state official. It was Yan Ruyu who had stepped forward to help Madam Du resolve the crisis.

In order to repay her kindness, Madam Du followed Yan Ruyu into the Capital. However, along the way, she taught Yan Ruyu everything she knew and did not refuse Yan Ruyu’s requests. She no longer owed Yan Ruyu anything.

“I want to resign, Miss Yan,” she said.

“Where are you going?” Yan Ruyu asked.

Madam Du said, “I’ll go back to the village first.”

“Village…?” Yan Ruyu was shocked. Wasn’t Madam Du from a rich family? She was more particular about her food, clothing, and etiquette than her, the daughter of the General Manor. Why… Why was she a village girl?

Madam Du shook off the burden and felt relieved. She bowed to Yan Ruyu. “Miss Yan, farewell.”

Yan Ruyu was dumbfounded. Madam Du was her trump card. She still had many uses for her. If she just left like this, what would she do?

“Wait! You… you’re not going to see your master?”

Madam Du sighed slowly. “I’m ashamed. I’m not qualified to see him yet.”

With that, she stopped arguing with Yan Ruyu and left the Tianxiang Restaurant under everyone’s dumbfounded gazes.

Madam Du’s sudden departure was something that Yan Ruyu had never expected. Not only had she lost the competition, but she had also lost Madam Du. If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have asked Madam Du to participate in the competition. However, there’s no such thing in the world. She was so angry that her heart hurt!

Not long after Madam Du left, the Yu family boarded Master Qin’s carriage.

Master Qin’s heart was full of twists and turns. Even when he wanted to marry his wife, he wouldn’t be so worried.

Every time he thought that he would definitely lose, the Yu family would always create surprises for him. Of course, he understood that the Yu family did not work so hard for him, but he could not help but be excited.

“I’ve thought about it. Even if I can’t defeat Chef Bao tomorrow, I won’t lower the price of the stinky tofu!” Don’t worry and compete. The outcome doesn’t matter anymore! I don’t care anymore!

However, the Yu family was no longer competing for business.

Yu Wan smiled as she looked at Master Qin. Master Qin instantly understood her thoughts. He felt a ball of fire burning in his chest. How many years had it been since he had such a hot-blooded feeling? It was as if he had returned to the days when he was wandering around and encountered obstacles everywhere but never gave up.

He held his chest and said emotionally, “You guys… you guys have impressed me!”

“Uncle has also impressed me,” Yu Wan said as she turned to look at her uncle. Ever since Uncle defeated Madam Du, he had been acting aloof.

Yu Wan smiled and said, “Uncle is so handsome today.”

The part where he won against Madam Du was really handsome.

“Uncle, when your leg is cured, you’ll be so handsome every day.”

“Cough!” Uncle, who had been cold all night, broke down in a second. He scratched his ears and blushed foolishly.

Master Qin sent the Yu family back to Lotus Flower Village. During the competition, Little Six came to report that he had sent Third Madam Yu and the two young masters back to the village. It was a little later than yesterday, and the lights in the house were already out. Yu Wan jumped off the carriage, bade farewell to Master Qin, and turned to enter the house.

Madam Jiang and Little Bruiser were already asleep. Yu Wan’s movements were very light. After taking a shower, she changed her clothes and quietly went to bed.

The blanket had been spread open, and it was bulging.

It must be Little Bruiser again. He was already six years old, yet he still climbed into his sister’s bed. Wasn’t he ashamed?

Yu Wan was both angry and amused. She pulled open the blanket and lay down.

One munchkins, two munchkins, three munchkins?!