Cute Wife Gourmet

Chapter 176 Someone is here to challenge

After sending Princess Yi De away, Xia Youshi said, "The Queen Mother has rescinded her order."

Ye Jiayao couldn't help but be surprised. Was it done so quickly?
In order to thank everyone for their support, Ye Jiayao decided to cook a few dishes for dinner tonight.

Just as they started, Lin Kun's wife came to report that a guy from Tianshangju was looking for her.

Ye Jiayao asked Jiang Yue to take care of herself first and went out to meet the visitor.

"Second Young Madam, someone is here to challenge us." Cui Dongpeng looked anxious.

Ye Jiayao said calmly: "Why are you so nervous? Can't Zhong Xiang handle it?"

Cui Dongpeng said, "That guy claims to be the best chef in Sichuan and Hunan. He came to participate in the cooking competition this time. I heard that Duan Qilin and Niu Baoshun were selected at noon. Brother Xiang wanted to accept the challenge, but that guy ignored him and specifically wanted to challenge Li Yao. He sat in the restaurant and refused to leave. Now many people are watching, even Zheng Sanduo from Fu Ji and Lu Xiaotian have come to watch the fight."

Ye Jiayao laughed: "Didn't you tell me that I'm already married?"

Cui Dongpeng said with a bitter face: "I did, but that person didn't believe it, saying that Li Yao didn't dare to fight and was a coward. He actually came up with this excuse. Others were just here to watch the fun, hoping for more chaos, and they were all cheering!"

Ye Jiayao sneered. Who gave him the title of the best chef in Sichuan and Hunan? He was so awesome.

"Go back first and tell them that Li Yao will be here soon."

I guess this guy wants to quickly increase his fame by challenging others. He only picks on the weak. If he is so powerful, why doesn't he challenge Zheng Fugui and the Lu family?

Ye Jiayao didn't dare to say that she was unrivaled in the world, but if someone came to her and declared war, she would not give in.

Cui Dongpeng left first. Ye Jiayao asked Song Qi to prepare the carriage, and asked Lin Kun's family to tell Jiang Yue that dinner was left to her, and also to tell Mother Sun that the restaurant had encountered some trouble and she had to rush to solve it.

Ye Jiayao went back to the house, changed into men's clothes, and hurried to the restaurant.

When we arrived at Tianshangju, we saw a large group of people gathered outside, pointing and talking.

"Make way." Song Qi went to clear the way and protected Ye Jiayao as they walked inside.

Someone recognized Ye Jiayao and shouted excitedly: "Li Yao is here..."

Although everyone in Jinling City knows that Li Yao is Ye Jinxuan, the second young lady of the Marquis of Jing'an Mansion, since someone came today to challenge Li Yao, everyone prefers to call her Li Yao.

"Finally he accepted the challenge. I wonder if Li Yao will win."

"That guy is quite powerful. I heard that Duan Qilin and Niu Baoshun were both defeated by him, and they accepted their defeat sincerely."

"So what? Li Yao is a chef in the imperial kitchen. Even though she has never competed with top chefs like Zheng Fugui and Lu Xiaotian, who would doubt her ability?"

"That's true. Just look at the business of Tianshangju."

"I bet on Li Yao to win."

"I am more optimistic about this chef from Sichuan and Hunan."

"Come on, place your bets. The winner will soon be revealed." Someone took the opportunity to start a gambling game.

Two handsome young men also squeezed into the crowd.

"Susu, shall we join in the fun?" Zhao Qixuan said cheerfully. There hadn't been such an interesting thing in Jinling City for a long time.

Su Yi tilted his mouth: "Three hundred taels, bet on Li Yao to win."

"Okay, then I'll get another two hundred taels." Zhao Qixuan took out five hundred-tael silver notes and put them in Li Yao's name.

Ye Jiayao walked into the lobby, which was also full of people. She turned her eyes slightly and saw Lu Xiaotian and others first.

Lu Xiaotian smiled and nodded. He originally wanted to stand up and help her out, but because she had withdrawn from the upcoming cooking competition, he had no chance to see her in the competition. For a little selfish reason, he stood by and watched today. Another reason was that this chef from Sichuan and Hunan was indeed an extraordinary culinary skill. There were only a handful of people in Jinling City who could make Duan Qilin willingly admit defeat. He wanted to see with his own eyes how powerful this guy was.

Ye Jiayao smiled as a greeting, and her eyes fell on a guy with his nose up in the air. He was about thirty years old, had a small moustache, and was very arrogant. This must be this guy.

"May I ask what your name is?" Ye Jiayao smiled amiably.

The man with a mustache glanced at him indifferently, looking indifferent.

Deng Haichuan said unhappily: "Hey, aren't you going to challenge Li Yao? Our Brother Yao is here."

Because Ye Jiayao was dressed in men's clothes, Deng Haichuan naturally called her Brother Yao.

The mustache man then glanced at Ye Jiayao again, cupped his hands and said arrogantly, "Hu Dahai." Ye Jiayao asked, "How do you want to compete?"

"The guest should follow the host's wishes. You have the final say." Hu Dahai said confidently.

As soon as he arrived in Jinling, he asked around. There were only a few people in Jinling who could be called real chefs. Among them, Lu Yiming, who entered the imperial kitchen, had the most exquisite cooking skills and was the first place in the last Jinling cooking competition. The second was Zheng Fugui from Fu Ji. Lu Yiming's son Lu Xiaotian was said to have inherited his father's true teachings and was also a great cook. He was a hot figure in this cooking competition. The most famous person in Jinling City at present was a guy named Li Yao. His rise was so fast and his variety of skills were amazing. He weighed the pros and cons and drew up a list of challenges. He ranked Li Yao third.

Originally, Hu Dahai had paid some attention to this Li Yao, but now seeing that the rumored Li Yao was actually a teenager with not even all his hair grown, he couldn't help but feel contempt for him.

This Li Yao gained fame because he had many clever ideas and was good at bringing forth new things. In terms of strength, he believed that Li Yao was definitely not his opponent.

Cooking skills cannot be achieved by talent alone. It requires years of hard work. Knife skills, heat control, cooking techniques, and experience are all essential elements to become a real chef. Cooking is a slow and meticulous process and it cannot be achieved overnight.

Ye Jiayao smiled and said slowly: "Sichuan cuisine, one of the four major cuisines in the Central Plains, is famous for its unique cooking methods and strong local flavor. It is known as the people's cuisine. It is characterized by being spicy, numbing, fragrant and fragrant. Representative dishes include fish-flavored pork shreds, twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu, boiled fish, and husband and wife lung slices..."

Hu Dahai's originally arrogant expression became serious, and he was secretly surprised. He had underestimated this young boy. This boy had a deep understanding of Sichuan cuisine!
"Although I am good at cooking Huaiyang cuisine, but today you, Hu Dahai, are challenging me. If I propose to cook Huaiyang cuisine, even if I win, it would not be a fair victory. Otherwise, let's just make the simplest Mapo Tofu. Let's make a quick decision as our restaurant still needs business!" Ye Jiayao said slowly and with the demeanor of a great man.

Many of the people present here are chefs from Jinling City, and many of the chefs gathered outside are chefs from other places who are here to participate in the cooking competition. When they heard these words, everyone had different thoughts.

Some people think that Li Yao is a man of great skill and courage. Faced with the challenge of strong opponents, he dares to compete with them in what they are best at.

Some people think that Li Yao underestimated her opponent. If she lost, it would not only be a disgrace to her, but all three chefs in Jinling City would be picked off, and the reputation of the Jinling catering industry would be lost.

Some people think that this drama is becoming more and more interesting. The simpler the dish, the more it shows the chef's skill. Almost every chef can make Mapo Tofu, but in terms of authenticity, who can compare with the chefs of Sichuan cuisine? Where does Li Yao's confidence come from?

Hu Dahai was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect Li Yao to suggest making Mapo Tofu. Isn't Mapo Tofu a piece of cake for him?

Is Li Yao just being too confident or is he really capable? Hu Dahai is a little unsure.

Ye Jiayao raised her chin and asked with a smile, "What do you think of my suggestion, Chef Hu? Or should you let the chef decide and make what you are best at?"

Hu Dahai was angry. Isn't this underestimating him?
"Just do as you say."

Ye Jiayao smiled and said, "As for judging, I think there are chefs from all over the country here today, so the chefs from Jinling City should not participate, so as to avoid making people feel unfair. Let's select three chefs from other places. I believe that as chefs, you will naturally abide by the principle of food first and make fair and just judgments."

Ye Jiayao said, bowing to Lu Xiaotian: "I'll trouble Chef Lu with this matter. It would be best if you could pick a few chefs who are not good at cooking Huaiyang cuisine or Sichuan cuisine."

Lu Xiaotian returned the greeting: "It's my honor, leave it to me!"

After a while, Lu Xiaotian picked out two chefs who cooked Shandong cuisine and one chef who cooked Cantonese cuisine.

"I have a suggestion. When you have prepared the dishes, present them without signing your names. Let these people judge them. This will be fairer."

Ye Jiayao thought this was a great idea, and Hu Dahai had no objection either.

Ye Jiayao said loudly: "Deng Haichuan, prepare the ingredients."

"Chef Hu, please come to the kitchen."

The two of them entered the kitchen one after the other.

Mapo Tofu can be regarded as a home-cooked dish among home-cooked dishes. Ye Jiayao’s grandmother is from Sichuan and she loves Mapo Tofu the most. When she was young, her grandfather made it for her, then her father made it, and later she made it. She can make Sichuan-style Mapo Tofu as well as any Sichuan cuisine master. Haha, masters generally don’t make such simple dishes.

"Chef Hu, do you want to use beef or pork?" Ye Jiayao asked.

Chef Hu said, "All pork is used."

"Okay, then the seasoning..." Ye Jiayao was about to ask him if he wanted to provide peppercorns, but she saw Hu Dahai taking out various seasonings from his bag. Well, he came prepared, so she didn't have to worry about it.

Ye Jiayao went straight to the cupboard and took out green pepper powder, fermented black beans, bean paste and other seasonings.

Deng Haichuan brought two fresh pork tenderloins and two pieces of northern tofu. Zhong Xiang provided garlic, onions, coriander, etc. Hu Dahai took one portion and started working.

First, cut the northern tofu into two-centimeter square cubes. Add water to the pot, and when the water boils, cut the pork tenderloin into fine pieces.

Ye Jiayao prepared slowly and leisurely, while observing Hu Dahai's knife skills. He sliced ​​the food into slices, shredded it, and then minced it. He did it quickly and skillfully, and he really had some skills.

Hu Dahai was also observing Ye Jiayao. Why didn't this guy take action yet?

"Should there be a time limit for this competition?" Hu Dahai asked.

Ye Jiayao laughed: "Whoever does it slowly will lose."

(End of this chapter)