Chapter 30

The competition had just begun, and Xi Mi was already caught in a dilemma. Without salt and sugar, she had lost two essential flavors.

The other contestants were already racing against the clock, diving into their cooking. Only Xi Mi stood frozen before her simple cooking station, her mind completely blank, unable to move.

The host held the microphone to her lips. “You got the best ingredients, but you’re missing sugar and salt. What food are you planning to make?”

Xi Mi glanced at the camera and shook her head. “I can’t make anything.” Without those two vital flavors, whatever she cooked would be inedible.

She spoke so plainly that the host was momentarily at a loss for words. Turning toward the camera, he improvised, “We can see Chef Li racing against the clock! Meanwhile, our Xi Xi Xi Mi seems confident of victory, taking her time to ponder her dish.”

Cold sweat broke out across Xi Mi’s body, her fingertips turning icy. It was the same panic as stepping into an exam room only to realize you had brought no stationery.

Captured by the camera, her anxiety was laid completely bare.

The judges’ panel broke out into hushed whispers.

Ji Donglin noticed something was off and stopped waving his little flag. “What’s going on? Our Goddess doesn’t look right.”

Lao Qin knitted his brows. “Without salt, it’s tough to cook anything.”

Nan Qing sighed with emotion. “Did she offend the old man or something? What kind of luck is this? Salt is a chef’s lifeblood. Without it, how is she supposed to cook?”

“Aren’t true master chefs supposed to… turn the mundane into magic no matter what ingredients they get?” Ji Donglin leaned over and asked Nan Qing.

“What do you think this is, a fantasy show? Even if you want to turn the mundane into magic, you still need salt!” Nan Qing couldn’t help herself and knocked Ji Donglin over the head with her fist. “Your Goddess is in real trouble this time. Her chances of winning are slim to none. The army of haters online probably thinks just like you: that a chef with good ingredients should be able to perform miracles. If she doesn’t win this time, she’ll suffer a crushing defeat.”

“…Is it really that serious? With all of our fans combined, we still can’t beat a flock of haters?” Giving up on watching the stage, Ji Donglin stared at Nan Qing’s face, waiting for her breakdown.

Nan Qing said, “I can’t guarantee anything. This wave of haters seems to have some backing. It’s either the show’s crew pulling strings behind the scenes for publicity, or Xi Mi offended someone willing to spend serious effort to smear her. Judging by the scale of this attack, though, it looks like standard entertainment industry tricks, a stunt pulled by the show.”

“Damn, the entertainment industry is this dirty? Dragging my Goddess into it just to hype their show?” Ji Donglin said indignantly. “This garbage show is going to collapse sooner or later.”

…

Ten minutes had already passed, and Xi Mi still hadn’t moved.

The sentiment on the live stream platform took a sharp turn, with viewers growing disappointed by her inaction. Just as Nan Qing had guessed, the netizens’ line of thinking mirrored Ji Donglin’s exactly.

Xi Wendao sat in the guest section reserved by the show’s crew, both hands resting on his cane. His spine was straight as a ramrod, radiating the commanding presence of a family patriarch. Ying Quhe met his gaze. There was not a trace of softness in the older man’s eyes, cold and unyielding as an iron plate that would not bend even when cast in fire.

He shifted his gaze back to Xi Mi. It was clear she was so nervous she didn’t know how to proceed with the dish. When their eyes met, he made no effort to look away, unabashed despite the cameras capturing him.

In Ying Quhe’s eyes, Xi Mi saw encouragement. She had promised to give it her all, yet now she didn’t even know what dish to make. As a chef, she found it agonizing to force herself to prepare a dish destined to taste terrible.

His voice seemed to echo in her ears:

“You may feel anxious, but you must not be timid.”

Ying Quhe’s features softened unnaturally under the warm diffusion of the stage lights. She could almost feel him patting her head and whispering into her ear: Keep going.

Her ears instantly burned beet red.

She bit her lip and looked down, her eyes landing on a plate of jellyfish. With a sudden rush, a memory washed over her like a crashing wave.

“The jellyfish wasn’t prepped properly. Cooked right now, it would be nothing but a pot of garbage. So, Miss Xi Mi, by presenting this to me, are you expecting me to extract salt from it? I am deeply dissatisfied with your performance today. Raise your head.”

Ying Quhe’s harsh scolding echoed through her mind over and over. She closed her eyes for a moment, then snapped them open. Reaching for the jellyfish, she decided to extract salt from it.

She poured the saltwater the jellyfish had been soaking in into the pot and brought it to a boil. Once the water evaporated, what remained at the bottom of the pot would be raw, unrefined sea salt.

Xi Mi cast a grateful look toward Ying Quhe. He truly was a qualified master, something evident even in the smallest details of life.

As the water in the pot slowly evaporated, she began chopping her vegetables.

Seeing Xi Mi finally get to work, the host couldn’t understand why she was boiling a pot of plain water. “It seems Xi Mi is taking an unconventional path! I’m completely unable to decipher her strategy. Let’s ask our professional judges to guess what Xi Mi plans to make.”

Ying Quhe grabbed the microphone first. “Many viewers online and in the audience might think that since Xi Mi received the best ingredients, she has the ultimate advantage. But that isn’t true. In fact, I believe every contestant on this stage is relieved they aren’t in her shoes today. Yes, in this competition, Xi Mi is the unluckiest of all. She was given the finest ingredients, yet stripped of the two most crucial flavors for any chef: salt and sugar. Food is the foundation of the people^[1], and salt is the ground beneath a chef’s feet. Without that ground, even the most capable chef cannot stand firm. A great chef can turn a humble cabbage into culinary magic, but salt must serve as the foundation. It’s like building a house: even with the finest bricks and timber, without a solid foundation, it all comes to nothing.”

The crowd suddenly understood.

The tone of the comments on the live stream platform also returned to normal:

“Wow, Ying Quhe’s commentary is so fair! I feel so bad for Goddess.”

“Looks like it’s going to be really tough for Goddess to advance this time.”

“Has Goddess given up completely and started boiling water for everyone to drink?”

“…”

The host asked, “Then Teacher Ying, can you guess what our Xi Mi is planning to do?”

Ying Quhe said, “It’s actually quite obvious. The water used to soak jellyfish contains a high amount of salt. Once the steam evaporates, what’s left at the bottom of the pot will be crude, raw salt.”

The host said, “Can you really extract salt like that? The competition has reached a fever pitch, and I’m sure many viewers, like me, are eager to see Xi Mi succeed!”

The first to complete his dishes was Chef Li Cheng. His ingredients consisted mainly of green vegetables, and with both salt and sugar on hand, along with a full array of seasonings, he produced four dishes: Chrysanthemum Eggplant, Orange Juice Winter Melon Balls, Lotus Pond Stir-Fry, and Braised Bok Choy with Shiitake Mushrooms.

They showcased classic Yangcheng style, playing perfectly to Chef Li’s own strengths.

Uncle jn and Chen Ming presented their dishes next, one making a dessert and the other a pastry. The panel of judges sampled each dish in the order it was served, noting down the pros and cons before holding a unified vote to announce the rankings. This time, guest judge Xi Wendao held a “deduction vote,” giving him the right to deduct one vote from a contestant before the four judges cast their ballots.

Xi Mi successfully extracted salt. Once the water boiled dry, a thin layer of salt indeed remained at the bottom of the pot. Using this salt, she prepared four seafood dishes: Xishi Tongue Clams^[2], Crystal Shrimp Cakes, Sea Cucumber Millet Porridge, and Pan-Seared Salmon.

After the tasting segment came the voting round. Old Man Xi immediately deducted a vote from Xi Mi. The host asked, “Old Mr. Xi, could you share your reason?”

Xi Wendao replied, “Her choice of ingredients gave her an absolute advantage. Deducting a vote is only fair to the other contestants.”

This time, Ying Quhe voted first: “I’ll give my first vote to Xi Mi. She had no advantage in this round, so deducting a vote from her was unfair.”

Judge Yang Zong also spoke up: “Xi Mi truly amazed me today. In the last round, I was very disappointed with her performance, but this time she caught me off guard and blew me away. She is the youngest and least experienced among the ten chefs, but her talent is incredible. I’m giving her a vote this round to ensure her advancement. I look forward to seeing her in the Chef King Championship.”

With the critiques for Xi Mi complete, the judges began official voting. Ying Quhe tapped the touch screen, selecting the three chefs he believed deserved to advance. Xi Mi was his first pick.

The young girl had faced immense difficulty in this round; in all fairness, she deserved support. Regardless of the final outcome, in his heart, Xi Mi was the champion of this match.

Once the tense voting segment ended, the host instructed the contestants to turn around and look at the main screen.

Li Cheng: four votes, successfully advancing.

Chen Ming: four votes, successfully advancing.

Xi Mi: three votes, minus one deducted vote, advancing with a final score of two votes.

Uncle jn: one vote, placing fourth, failing to qualify for the Chef King Championship.

The remaining contestants received zero votes.

When the results appeared, Xi Mi was completely stunned. Seeing Master Chefs Li Cheng and Chen Ming embrace out of camaraderie, she excitedly rushed over and gave both master chefs a big hug, throwing in a hug for Uncle jn as well.

The young girl’s enthusiasm brought chuckles from the audience, though Ying Quhe alone felt a slight pang of discomfort.

Does she have no sense of feminine modesty at all?

Screams erupted from the audience, led by the boisterous voices of Ji Donglin, Xiao Ming, and Bald Boss. The three stood up, frantically waving their fan banners and shouting their slogan: “Rising in the East, unbeatable and supreme! Cult Leader Xi Mi, unmatched by any!^[3]“

What kind of slogan is that…?

After Master Chefs Li Cheng and Chen Ming finished their acceptance speeches, Xi Mi awkwardly took the microphone. Looking in Ying Quhe’s direction, she said, “The person I need to thank most this time is my master. Seafood dishes have always been my weak point throughout this journey, and my master has constantly guided me. In addition, I want to thank Culinary Dao. Without this friend, I wouldn’t have had the chance to stand on this stage.”

The live stream chat exploded once again:

“Oh my god!! Xi Xi Xi Mi and Culinary Dao are good friends?”

“Waaaah, can Xi Xi Xi Mi urge Culinary Dao to post a new video?”

“…Xi Xi Xi Mi, if you can get my male god to make a comeback and update his videos, I’ll allow you to marry him! QAQ”

The host said with a hint of surprise, “Culinary Dao hasn’t uploaded a food video in a long time. So, as a fangirl myself, may I ask you to urge Culinary Dao to post a new video?”

“I’ll pass the message along to him.”

…

The competition ended at six in the evening.

Xi Mi changed her clothes backstage and tried to leave through the back door, only to be blocked right in her tracks by several of her senior and junior fellow disciples. Carrying her bag, she backed away, only to bump straight into Old Man Xi.

Cornered from both front and back, Xi Mi had nowhere to run. She dropped her head and called out weakly, “Grandpa.”

Xi Wendao thudded his cane against the floor and yelled angrily, “Unfilial brat! You still remember I’m your grandfather? Do you still give a damn about the Xi Family?”

“…I do,” Xi Mi replied, her voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum.

Surrounded by her fellow disciples, Xi Mi had no choice but to obediently follow them out the back door and get into their car. Zou Chengfeng, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned around and handed her a bag of food. Xi Mi scoffed and slapped it away. “Who wants your garbage?”

Mung bean pastries spilled all over the floor.

Xi Wendao scolded severely, “Show some respect! Pick them up!”

Under the old man’s intimidating authority, Xi Mi had no choice but to bend down and gather the mung bean pastries, sealing them back inside the brown paper bag and holding it tightly in her hand.

“Eat every single one. Not a single piece left.”

The old man had always been this domineering. Though aggrieved, Xi Mi still stuffed the dust-covered mung bean pastries into her mouth one by one, chewing slowly, tasting nothing.

Ying Quhe followed closely behind them. His assistant, Zhou Ming, asked in confusion, “Boss, should we call the police? They don’t look friendly.”

“Even an upright magistrate can hardly settle family disputes^[4].”

Zhou Ming finally realized. “Xi Wendao and Xi Mi… are father and daughter?”

Ying Quhe glanced at him. “Grandfather and granddaughter.”

Following them to the Gehao Hotel, Ying Quhe got out of the car, put on a mask, and walked into the hotel lobby behind them, heading up to the sixth floor.

Xi Wendao had brought quite a large group; they occupied half the rooms on the floor. A few young boys stood by the stairwell smoking, teasingly chatting about Xi Mi and Zou Chengfeng.

Ying Quhe leaned against the wall around the corner, brazenly eavesdropping.

“Honestly, even though our First Senior Brother is getting up there in years, he looks young and pretty handsome. He and Xi Mi are actually a good match.”

“Come on, no matter how young he looks, you can’t change the fact that he’s so many years older than Xi Mi.”

“I think Sanchuan and Lin Nan are a pretty good match.”

“Are you stupid? If those two get married, Master will announce that Lin Nan and Sanchuan are actually just Senior Brother Zou using different identities. That wouldn’t be fair to Xi Mi.”

Xi Mi was twenty-five, but how old was Zou Chengfeng? Ying Quhe vaguely remembered Xi Mi mentioning that Zou Chengfeng was nineteen years older than her. A forty-four-year-old man, halfway through life, actually wanted to go after a tender young blade of grass like Xi Mi.

He felt that the age difference between Xi Mi and himself was much more suitable, only five years apart, just right.

“Still, with Xi Mi’s stubborn streak, she’s definitely in for another beating.”

“Sigh, with Xi Mi’s frail little frame, she’ll probably be sick for another few days.”

Ying Quhe’s brows knitted tight as he walked toward Xi Mi’s room.

Meanwhile.

Xi Mi followed the old man into the room, where Xi Wendao ordered her to kneel.

Having grown up like this, it was hardly her first time being forced to kneel. As she dropped down, Xi Mi muttered under her breath, “Why should I kneel? A person only kneels to Heaven, Earth, and their parents. My golden knees^[5] have been completely wasted on kneeling to you, old man.”

“What did you say?” Xi Wendao slammed his cane onto the floor, the wooden boards thudding loudly under the impact. “You unfilial brat! Think you’re capable now, do you? Running away from your wedding? How is your First Senior Brother not good enough for you?”

Xi Mi talked back stubbornly, “Heh, how is he good enough for me?”

Xi Wendao was so furious he swung his cane right at Xi Mi’s shoulder. The blow was far from light; it struck deep against the bone, tearing at her flesh and leaving a searing burn across her shoulder.

“Today I’m going to teach you how to behave!” Xi Wendao raised the cane again and brought it down heavily across her back.

Xi Mi let out a muffled groan, biting her lip and refusing to cry.

“Do you admit your mistake?!”

“I’m not wrong!” Xi Mi pressed her hands against the floor, clutching the carpet. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but she bit her lip and said through gritted teeth, “I am not your tool for passing down your legacy! What’s wrong with fighting for my freedom? You’re the one in the wrong! You stubborn, paranoid, feudal dinosaur! Sexist!”

A dull thud echoed.

The cane struck again, sending a shock that felt as though it rattled all of Xi Mi’s internal organs.

Zou Chengfeng, watching from the study door, couldn’t bear it any longer. He rushed in and caught the old man’s hand. “Master, that’s enough! If you keep beating her, Xi Mi won’t be able to take it.”

Xi Wendao barked, “Get out of my way! It’s your constant pampering that turned her into such a willful brat in the first place!”

Zou Chengfeng took a step back. Unable to bear watching Xi Mi suffer, he turned his head away.

Xi Wendao asked Xi Mi, “Do you admit you were wrong?”

“I told you, I’m not wrong! Even if you beat me to death, I still won’t think I’m wrong.” Xi Mi raised the back of her hand and roughly wiped away her tears.

The old man raised his cane once more. But before it could fall, the main door crashed open with a loud bang. Ying Quhe charged inside, snatched the cane straight out of the old man’s hand, and slammed it violently against the opposite wall.

With a sharp snap, the cane broke in two.

Xi Mi was wearing a thin chiffon shirt. As Ying Quhe helped her up, he saw two blood-red welts through the fabric, and his heart felt as if it had been scorched by a red-hot iron.

He held Xi Mi by the shoulders and leaned down, whispering against her ear, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Then he turned to face Xi Wendao, suppressed fury burning in his eyes, wishing he could bite through the old fool’s neck.

Xi Wendao asked, “Mr. Ying, are you trying to meddle in our family affairs?”

Ying Quhe sneered coldly. “Sorry, but Xi Mi is my fiancée. This family affair is definitely my business.”