Shen Yuanshan put down his spoon, took out a napkin, wiped his mouth, and began to comment seriously, “This Abalone Tofu is excellent in both taste and appearance. It delivers a strong flavor punch on the first bite, but after a few more bites, it becomes a bit overwhelming. On the other hand, this Wensi Tofu might seem ordinary at first glance, but its craftsmanship is breathtaking, with an exquisite presentation and a flavor that lingers long after eating. I believe the Wensi Tofu has the edge.”

Hearing his verdict, Zhao Yonghe realized this round had ended in a tie. The outcome would now depend on the next dish.

However, the last judge was still eating enthusiastically, seemingly unable to stop.

Noticing this, Zhao Yonghe quickly coughed and walked over. “Sir, you’re the last one to vote. Please share your decision!”

“Of course, it’s the Wensi Tofu! It’s so delicious!” The man blurted out without hesitation. However, the moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake—he was supposed to vote for the Abalone Tofu.

Zhao Yonghe was dumbfounded. He had assumed the worst-case scenario would be a tie. Never had he expected this fool to vote for Qin Feng! But with things already at this stage, he had no choice but to announce the winner of the first round: Qin Feng’s Wensi Tofu.

“Yay! We won! Daddy won!”

Nannan clapped her little hands enthusiastically, her joy overflowing.

Even Qiao Lu was thrilled. Qin Feng’s godlike knife skills had left her utterly amazed, and a bold idea began to form in her mind.

Meanwhile, Liu Ming was fuming. Losing to an amateur chef? He was gritting his teeth in frustration, vowing to win the next round. The upcoming fish dish was his specialty—there was no way he would lose.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the next round will begin in ten minutes. Please allow our two chefs to take a short break,” Zhao Yonghe announced with a dark expression before leading Liu Ming back to the private room.

Once inside, Liu Ming slammed his chef’s hat onto the table and sat down heavily, his face as dark as a storm cloud.

Zhao Yonghe frowned and asked, “We absolutely can’t lose the next round. That Qin guy seems to have some skills after all.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t lose. Once I win, it’ll be a tie, and you can suggest a tiebreaker,” Liu Ming replied confidently, unaware that the people voting for him had actually been arranged by Zhao Yonghe.

“I understand.” But Zhao Yonghe wasn’t entirely convinced. If Liu Ming couldn’t win even with help, how reliable could he be?

When Qin Feng walked over, Nannan immediately ran up and leapt into his arms. “Daddy, you’re amazing! That tofu soup was so tasty!”

Qin Feng scooped her up, smiling. “As long as my little girl liked it. Later, Daddy will make you a fish dish, and the fish will even make squeaking sounds like a squirrel!”

“Really?” Nannan’s face lit up with curiosity.

“Of course! Has Daddy ever lied to you?”

Hugging her, Qin Feng sat down on a chair, his expression full of fatherly affection.

Nearby, Qiao Lu overheard him and couldn’t resist coming closer. “Brother Qin, a fish that squeaks like a squirrel? That’s incredible!”

“There are plenty of incredible things. You just haven’t seen them yet,” Qin Feng said with a smile. In this world, culinary innovation wasn’t a big focus, so many unique dishes were virtually unknown.

After a short break, the second round began.

Qin Feng approached the fish tank and selected a fish with a flat, raised body, thick flesh, and a pointed head—a mandarin fish, also known as a Guiyu. It’s one of the Four Great Freshwater Fish of China. Tang dynasty poet Zhang Zhihua had famously written, “Before Xisai Mountain, white egrets fly; peach blossom waters flow, and mandarin fish grow fat.”

This time, Qin Feng planned to make Squirrel Mandarin Fish, one of the Four Great Dishes of Jinling. It’s a dish that requires exceptional knife skills and is a feast for the eyes.

After picking up the fish, Qin Feng immediately began cleaning it—scaling, removing the gills, and gutting it. Then he split it down the middle, removing the spine. Using a combination of straight and diagonal cuts, he created a diamond pattern on the fish flesh.

Once the prep work was done, he rubbed the fish with cooking wine and salt, dusted it with flour, and fried it in hot oil until golden and crispy.

Next, he started preparing the sauce. Picking up ingredients like ginger and scallions, he swiftly chopped them before throwing them into the wok to mix with the seasonings.

Meanwhile, everyone in the room craned their necks to watch Qin Feng’s every move, eager to see what he was making. As for Liu Ming on the other side, no one paid him any attention—he was merely stuffing the fish’s belly with a bunch of ingredients for a steamed dish.

With the sauce ready, Qin Feng poured it over the fried mandarin fish. Instantly, a squeaking sound echoed through the room.

“It squeaked! It really squeaked!” Nannan clapped her hands in excitement at the sound, her face brimming with joy.

The crowd was equally astonished and started talking all at once.

“Incredible! This is the first time I’ve seen a fish that squeaks!”

“Did you smell that? The aroma is amazing—I’m starving just from the scent!”

“Same here! When it’s time to taste, I hope they pick me!”

“Pick me, pick me!”

The room buzzed with eager volunteers, all wanting a chance to taste the Squirrel Mandarin Fish.

Seeing this, Zhao Yonghe’s face turned even darker. Liu Ming was getting no attention at all, and if this continued, he was bound to lose.

Liu Ming, irritated by the commotion, muttered under his breath, “A bunch of country bumpkins. Wait until you taste real gourmet food.”

Finally, Zhao Yonghe stepped forward, raising his hand to quiet the room. He glanced at Liu Ming and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm. The chefs have finished their dishes. Let’s start tasting from the left!”

Liu Ming introduced his dish first. “This is Fish Treasure. The fish’s belly is stuffed with quail eggs and over ten other ingredients. Although it’s steamed, the flavors are incredibly rich and complex.”

Zhao Yonghe had arranged for Liu Ming’s dish to be tasted first, hoping to create a strong initial impression and secure more votes.

Five tasters were chosen at random to try Liu Ming’s dish.

As for Qin Feng, he stuck with Shen Yuanshan and his group, not bothering to swap them out.

After tasting a bite, Shen Yuanshan shared his thoughts. “Although it’s steamed, the fish meat is surprisingly flavorful. The taste is subtle yet fragrant, with the fish’s natural aroma blending seamlessly with the ingredients inside. It’s a wonderful balance.”

Qin Feng then presented his dish. “This is Squirrel Mandarin Fish, named for its resemblance and sound to a squirrel. Please, enjoy!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, people eagerly dug in.

“Well? How is it? Tell us already! The suspense is killing me!”

The rest of the room was getting impatient. The Squirrel Mandarin Fish looked so delicious they couldn’t wait to try it themselves.