This chef was a Special First Class chef in Shandong Cuisine, and Nine-Turned Intestines was one of Shandong Cuisine's signature dishes.
Choosing that dish to compete against him was practically a provocation.
Lin Qiqi had only been joking, but she hadn't expected the chef to take her seriously. The atmosphere instantly turned awkward.
But this was exactly the kind of scene the Director Team loved to see. A fight would be even better!
"Next, let's welcome our professional Gourmet Judging Panel to sample the dishes."
Three people came out, all familiar faces from various food shows.
They greeted everyone, then sampled the dishes one by one.
The first few were home-style dishes. The judges offered some praise, but each had its flaws, so their scores weren't high.
When they reached the Special First Class chef's dish, one of the judges picked up a piece of sea cucumber and said,
"Scallion-Braised Sea Cucumber, one of the signature dishes of Shandong Cuisine. As a Special First Class chef in Shandong Cuisine, Master Qin is sure to give us a unique experience!"
He took a bite of the Scallion-Braised Sea Cucumber, and his eyes lit up at once.
"Excellent!"
"The scallion flavor is rich, and the sea cucumber is springy and pleasantly chewy, with no fishy taste at all. No wonder he's a Special First Class chef!"
All three judges sang its praises. Two gave it a perfect ten, and one gave it a nine—at least five or six points higher than the earlier dishes.
Master Qin smiled faintly, calm and composed, as if he'd expected this result all along.
The judge who gave it a nine was simply very strict. No dish had ever received a perfect score on his food show.
At least the Special First Class chef's reputation had been upheld this time.
The judge who had given the nine walked over to Lin Chudong. Looking at the Nine-Turned Intestines, he twitched his lips and said with an uneasy expression,
"You didn't preserve the ingredient's original flavor, did you?"
Years ago, on a show, a contestant had deliberately preserved the original taste of the intestines. The experience had traumatized him so badly that he hadn't touched the dish in years.
"Of course not," Lin Chudong said. "I cleaned them thoroughly. Please, go ahead and try them."
Only then did the judge nod. He picked up a piece of intestine and put it in his mouth.
His expression shifted. He picked up another piece and ate it. Before he'd even finished chewing, he reached for another.
One bite followed another. Soon, he'd eaten half the plate.
Lin Qiqi hurriedly said, "Judge, if you keep eating, there won't be any left for the others to try!"
The judge quickly put down his chopsticks. "I'm terribly sorry. These are the best intestines I've ever eaten—without exception! I almost couldn't stop myself!"
"These Nine-Turned Intestines have a rich aroma and practically melt in your mouth. The outermost layer has the taste of sweet-and-sour soy sauce; the second layer has the flavors of cinnamon and sand ginger; and the innermost layer carries the fragrance of Shao wine. On top of that, there are seasonings like star anise, cassia, and bay leaf. The taste lingers, leaving you deeply satisfied!"
"Truly worthy of the name Nine-Turned Intestines! I give this dish a perfect ten!"
"Young man, are you really not a chef?"
Lin Chudong shook his head. "I'm really not. Cooking is just a hobby."
The judge sighed with feeling. "It's remarkable to reach this level with a hobby. Sometimes, certificates don't reflect someone's true ability. Real masters are out there among ordinary people!"
Those words made the Special First Class chef's expression darken.
The people around them also looked at him differently. A Special First Class chef's certificate only reflected exam performance, not genuine cooking ability.
You cook to pass an exam; he cooks to make food taste good. The difference was obvious!
After the other two judges tried the dish, they also praised it without reservation. The plate of intestines was completely polished off—a first in the food world.
All three judges gave it a perfect ten.
"Thirty points, a perfect score! Lin Qiqi's team wins!"
"Yay!" Lin Qiqi raised both hands and shouted excitedly, then immediately turned and hugged Lin Chudong.
With a beauty in his arms, Lin Chudong could feel her graceful figure even through her loose tracksuit.
If this was what being on a reality show was like, he'd be happy to come back anytime!
The director walked out and said, "Qiqi, your team won this episode, so there's a 'grand prize' for you. Draw a lot!"
Lin Qiqi stepped forward and took out an envelope.
She opened it and read, "The winning team must have the celebrity and amateur work together to perform a talent!"
The entire crowd burst into astonished cries and laughter.
A hint of smug satisfaction appeared on the director's face. "Sorry, that's just how our show works. Winning means losing, and losing means winning. That's fate!"
"Lin Qiqi's team has ten minutes to prepare a talent performance for the end of this episode!"
Lin Qiqi smiled helplessly. "The show's crew tricked us again. We'll go get ready."
"Brother Lin, what should we perform?"
"I know you can play a little guitar," Lin Chudong said. "How about we sing a song?"
Lin Qiqi looked surprised. "How did you know I can play guitar?"
"I'm your fan. I've watched your TV dramas." Lin Chudong lied without batting an eye. In reality, he'd just looked her up on Baidu.
"Mm, I can play a little, but not very well. What should we sing?"
"I'll teach you a song. You can learn it in ten minutes."
"I'm really bad at guitar. I only know the basics."
"That's enough!"
Their conversation and rehearsal were all captured by the cameras.
Ten minutes later, Lin Qiqi and Lin Chudong stood surrounded by everyone. Lin Qiqi sat down, while Lin Chudong stood beside her.
"You can start!"
Lin Qiqi held the borrowed guitar, looking every bit the sweet young girl. No wonder she was the show's resident beauty—she was breathtaking.
Lin Chudong stood beside her like a knight protecting a flower, and the two made a harmonious pair.
"What makes me cry isn't just last night's wine..."
Lin Qiqi sang the first verse, continuing until the end of the main section.
Her voice was quite good. She couldn't compare to a professional singer, but she sang well for an ordinary person.
The whole crowd erupted in surprise. "Qiqi can do that too? Singing while playing guitar—she's really good!"
"It looks like that amateur taught her just now. She learned way too fast!"
"Is it that easy? This song seems to use simple chords. I can play guitar too. I'll practice it at home!"
"Do you know what this song's called?"
"Never heard it before. I'll look it up online later."
The main section ended, and the chorus began. Lin Chudong's slightly weathered voice rang out.
"Come take a walk with me through the streets of Chengdu, whoa-oh-oh~ Until all the lights have gone out, I still won't leave..."
The whole crowd gasped again!
The gap between a professional and an amateur was like the difference between heaven and earth.
With Lin Qiqi's singing as a lead-in, Lin Chudong's voice was a stroke of genius—heavenly sound!
His rich voice seemed to come with its own echo, leaving everyone wide-eyed.
"That sounds amazing! Is he a professional singer?"
"Even professional singers might not match him. He's only using an ordinary recording mic!"
"And his rhythm is excellent. Lin Qiqi messed up the guitar several times, but he still managed to come in right on cue. He handled it so naturally—he's definitely a professional."
Just then, a director from the Director Team hurried over and whispered a few words into the chief director's ear.
The song ended, and thunderous applause filled the venue. Lin Chudong's performance had been astonishing.
After the two bowed in thanks, the chief director suddenly said, "Wait!"
"Qiqi, you broke the rules! He isn't an amateur—he's Da Fei Band's lead singer, Da Fei!"
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