"If you don't want to eat that, you can give it to me. I woke up late today and didn't have time for breakfast; now my stomach is incredibly hungry."
Noticing that everyone only had one whole lamb shaomai in front of them, Natsume Sendawara suppressed her inner excitement and eagerness, pretending nonchalance, she spoke to the balding man beside her, who was constantly muttering.
"You didn't have breakfast? Here, take it then. I'm not really that interested in shaomai anyway."
Hearing Natsume Sendawara's words, the balding man waved his hand dismissively, then pushed the plate in front of him over, clearly not impressed.
Natsume Sendawara's heart leaped with joy at the sight, but her expression remained calm: "Thank you."
At the same time, the audience in the spectator stands gradually received their whole lamb shaomai. Although they found it ordinary, it was almost mealtime, so they weren't picky and picked it up to eat.
"It's actually a dish made by Master Dylan himself! Coming here today wasn't a waste at all!"
In a corner of the spectator stands, Rindō Kobayashi, who had come simply to join the fun, looked at the whole lamb shaomai on her plate, her face alight with excitement.
Reaching out, she picked it up, dipping it into the sauce next to the plate. Rindō Kobayashi took a big bite, her face revealing an expression of pure delight.
"What is this flavor?!"
Someone, not caring, popped the whole thing into their mouth. As the rich, hot soup burst forth and filled their mouth, they couldn't help but let out a cry of surprise.
"It's just an incredibly ordinary lamb shaomai, so why is it this delicious?!"
"I can't believe it! Such a small shaomai, yet it contains so many textures! Every chew reveals a completely different flavor!"
Looking at the cross-section of the shaomai in her hand after taking a bite, Natsume Sendawara's expression turned to shock.
The filling inside appeared uniform in color, but upon closer inspection, differences could still be discerned.
Because meat from various parts of the sheep's body was used, some of the meat in the shaomai was darker in color, while some was lighter. Its layers were incredibly distinct.
"This is like Pandora's treasure box! Every single chew brings a completely new experience; it feels like an entire sheep is packed inside."
"Yes! Exactly! It's a whole sheep! Just now I thought something was strange; why would an ordinary lamb shaomai have such a rich texture? So that's why!"
An unintentional comment from someone nearby made the perceptive individuals present realize. They then looked at the shaomai in their hands, revealing thoughtful expressions.
The flavors presented in this small shaomai—weren't they precisely from various parts of a whole sheep?
Instantly, the venue erupted in cheers and exclamations. Many men and women flushed red; after finishing their own, they wanted to snatch from those around them.
However, because each person only received one, by the time they finished what they had, there was no second whole lamb shaomai left in the venue.
"Ah, this…."
The balding man's expression dimmed slightly as he watched the audience's fervent reaction. He then turned to Natsume Sendawara, intending to ask for the shaomai back, only to find her face flushed crimson, her state clearly amiss, and the whole lamb shaomai in front of her already entirely devoured.
"Truly excellent. As expected of Totsuki!"
As the whole lamb shaomai entered her stomach, a faint warmth surged within her. Natsume Sendawara's expression held a hint of daze, then she uttered a heartfelt sigh of admiration.
Closing her eyes, a series of images appeared before her.
At this moment, she seemed to transform into a sheep, living among a flock. And as she chewed and savored, the images slowly began to move.
It was actually a scroll painting depicting a migrating flock of sheep!
As she chewed more deeply, the different parts of the lamb meat intertwined in her mouth. The scene also transformed into a vibrant panorama of the flock experiencing different terrains and climates during their migration, yet still full of vitality—an arduous trek through rugged mountain paths and free running across plains.
"So this is a sheep's whole life…"
Opening her eyes, Natsume Sendawara's gaze first showed a trace of confusion, then brightened. Such a top-tier dish being merely an appetizer was astonishing.
Of course, what shocked her even more was the quality level of this whole lamb shaomai.
That faint stream of light—she was certain she hadn't seen wrong. This small Totsuki actually harbored a chef of this caliber; she absolutely had to meet them!
Thoughts churned in her mind, but her expression remained undisturbed, maintaining the dignified composure expected of a judge.
Meanwhile, in Venue B.
Her face etched with suppressed restraint, Chikai Orie eventually could no longer bear it and collapsed onto the table.
Her beautiful, docile face pressed against the cool tabletop, she gasped for breath, her chest rising and falling, her eyes holding an indescribable quality.
"That's just unfair."
Lifting her face from the surface, Chikai Orie looked at the spotlessly clean plate before her, taking a long moment to recover before speaking through gritted teeth.
At the same time, she, too, conceived the idea of meeting the chef.
Venue A.
Watching the young men and women, captured by the whole lamb shaomai and slumped in their seats, Hisako Arato's face revealed an expression of understanding.
On the cutting board in front of her lay a rack of lamb with skin on, a premium Black Mountain lamb rack she had ordered from a lamb supplier a few days prior.
In her right hand, she held a blowtorch, flames shooting out from it, searing the lamb rack's skin, burning away any remaining hair completely.
The prepared Black Mountain lamb rack was cut into small pieces, and its blood was soaked out with cold water. It was then placed into a pot of cold water with cooking wine and Angelica sinensis for blanching, then rinsed clean and placed in a bowl, ready for use.
In a frying pan over medium heat, the lamb was stir-fried until it developed a milky aroma, then transferred to an earthenware pot. Hot water was added, covering the meat to its very top.
"To dispel dryness, use rhizoma imperatae, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts. To moisturize dryness, use Solomon's Seal and lily bulb. Codonopsis pilosula strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, while red dates enrich blood, and Angelica sinensis removes gaminess."
Hisako Arato silently recited the functions of the medicinal herbs she had read in her pharmacology book, her gaze fixed on the earthenware pot in front of her. As the water boiled, she turned the heat down to a low simmer.
Unlike other dishes, medicated cuisine requires a significant amount of time for preparation and infusion, but it cannot be overdone; it needs to be removed from the heat at the appropriate moment.
"Such a rich curry scent. Is he making curry lamb? Unexpectedly ordinary…"
Her face slightly flushed, Natsume Sendawara on the judging panel squeezed her legs together, an unnatural blush spreading across her face.
"This unique aroma, wrapping itself around me!"
"He's actually kneading dough. Curry lamb paired with baked pastry is indeed a good combination."
Watching Ryo Hayama as he cooked, Roland Chapelle crossed his arms, stating his conjecture.
"That pastry… could it be…"
Seated beside Roland Chapelle was Jun Shiomi of the Shiomi Seminar, a young genius professor in Totsuki Academy's history, renowned as the "Spice Authority."
At this moment, she seemed to have realized something, her mouth slightly agape, her face filled with surprise.
"Pfft..."
Perhaps sensing Jun Shiomi in the audience, Ryo Hayama raised a hand and made a shushing gesture.
"As you suspected, Jun. My cooking… only truly begins now…"
Sprinkling the holy basil into the soup pot, Ryo Hayama's face showed an expression of certain victory. He intended to prove his talent with this dish!
"This aroma… a subtly refreshing scent, mingled with thick coconut milk."
"It brings a refreshing sensation, stimulating the appetite."
In the spectator stands, many people swallowed, expressions of longing on their faces, as they smelled the rich yet refreshing aroma in the air.
"In this venue filled with all sorts of scents, only the aroma from his pot was particularly distinct."
"This is proof that the spices have been perfectly harmonized."
Even the judges, all renowned gourmets, were now displaying expressions of pure enjoyment.
"Ah, over here is another kind of aroma. Is it smoking?"
"So that's it. Smoking is also a cooking method that allows the aroma to fully release."
"The air in the venue was again permeated."
Closing their eyes, they savored the aromas on the floor while simultaneously providing commentary.
The culinary battle truly began the moment they stepped onto this stage.
The air was permeated with the extremely rich aromas of numerous dishes, which could easily interfere with a chef's judgment. If one couldn't accurately judge the state of their own dish, then there was no need to continue cooking; they could simply declare defeat.
"Dough and curry. That guy must be making a puff pastry soup, a dish created by Paul Bocuse, a representative figure in the French culinary world."
"However, for curry, overt expression is indeed one form, but an internal, contained explosion might achieve a better effect in a competition."
"Master Dylan…"
"Dylan-ge…"
Seeing Dylan suddenly appear in the VIP box, Erina Nakiri and Alice Nakiri both stood up simultaneously, greeting him in unison.
"You two can stay seated. Don't mind me."
Seeing the two stand up, Dylan waved dismissively, then strode to the glass, looking down from above at everything happening in Venue A.
Especially Ryo Hayama, the possessor of God's Nose. He undeniably possessed unparalleled potential, and his talent was absolutely extraordinary.
"Master Dylan, what did you mean just now? What does a 'contained explosion' refer to?"
Sitting back down, Erina Nakiri asked somewhat curiously.
"It means locking the curry's aroma within the curry itself, only for it to erupt at the moment of swallowing and chewing. The deliciousness produced that way can directly hit the heavens."
"Of course, I'm not saying the method below is bad. If you're running a restaurant, a rich aroma is more likely to attract customers."
To be fair, both cooking methods have their advantages and disadvantages. However, for Dylan, he still preferred the contained approach.
For him, deliciousness was the key.
"To sleep so soundly on that kind of chair... this transfer student really is a peculiar person."
Just as Dylan was lost in thought, Erina Nakiri's surprised voice rang out.
Dylan looked in the direction she was pointing and saw Soma Yukihira sound asleep in his chair, still in a cross-legged position.
"He must be too exhausted from researching dishes, and waiting is boring. Plus, from being overworked, drowsiness surged and he fell asleep. It's a common occurrence."
Watching Soma Yukihira, Dylan nodded with considerable understanding. He had experienced the same state himself, so he wasn't surprised at all; in fact, he felt a kinship.
"Now!"
His body stirred slightly, a rich aroma filling his nostrils. Soma Yukihira's expression shifted, and he suddenly opened his eyes, lifting the lid of the pot in front of him.
"Look! In that pot—rice, vegetables, spices, and lamb are all stewed together!"
In the spectator stands, everyone displayed expressions of surprise as they saw the dish in Soma Yukihira's pot.
"In your pot, you added crushed apples and carrots, didn't you? That's what gives the rice its thick texture, creating an Italian-style lamb risotto."
Nearby, Ryo Hayama, who had been constantly observing Soma Yukihira, took a guess, closed his eyes for a moment in silence, then stated the key to Soma Yukihira's dish.
"Hayama, not bad. You got it right. You truly have a good nose."
"Anyway, just wait and see. This is only the beginning of making this dish."
Hearing Ryo Hayama's words, Soma Yukihira smiled mysteriously, and his demeanor couldn't help but make Hayama wonder if Soma's dish still held some hidden secrets.
Meanwhile, in Venue B.
"The buffalo first shows its horns, then its head. Your mom bought you roasted lamb~"
Humming an unknown tune, her hands continuously working, Huang Mei was tenderizing the lamb while adding peppercorns and ginger.
"The aromas of Hangzhou chili, green Sichuan peppercorns, and wild mountain chilies have converged, forming a complex fragrance. Is she planning to make spicy lamb ribs?"
Chikai Orie twitched her nose, her gaze fixed on Zhang Ban in the corner, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"That young girl over there is also impressive. The meat aroma in her pot is so pure, with no impurities other than some vegetables."
"I remember a Chinese Hui Muslim delicacy called Hand-Pulled Lamb. It doesn't use too many seasonings; it just focuses on the pure meat aroma."
Beside Chikai Orie, a chubby old man smiled as he looked at Wang Jing—or, more precisely, at the lamb in her pressure cooker—his heart filled with anticipation.
He had no other hobbies; he simply loved eating meat. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to Totsuki to be a judge.
Carrots, Sichuan peppercorns, bay leaves, celery, and salt. After tasting the contents of the pressure cooker, Wang Jing put the lid on and stood by, waiting.
She was from Ningxia. Her ancestors were followers of the Old Teaching of Islam, and all the dishes she learned were Halal cuisine. She once ran a moderately famous Halal restaurant in Ningxia, but later suffered a regrettable defeat when challenged, leading her to embark on a journey of learning.
At first, she was full of earnest passion, but after witnessing too many overwhelmingly formidable techniques, despair grew in her heart.
Later, she met Liu Yu, who had also suffered a significant setback, and so the two of them began to "lie flat" together.
Of course, "lying flat" was just an attitude; she still insisted on cooking for eight hours every day, treating every dish seriously and perfecting her culinary skills.
It was just that she could no longer find the earnest passion for cooking she had held in her youth.
"Look at that young girl tying her hair back! Could it be that she intends to... this really tests a chef's fundamental skills, and requires quite extensive experience."
"Is she going to butcher a sheep on site?!"
Just as a sound of wheels grinding was heard, Megumi Tadokoro pushed up the tools she had prepared in advance. A sheep that had been slaughtered and bled was hanging from above.
The venue erupted in a clamor. Almost everyone's attention was fixed on her. Even the chefs in her group looked over, wanting to see if she was merely grandstanding.
"What is that kid planning to do?"
Chikai Orie's expression was subtle, her eyes filled with skepticism. Megumi Tadokoro, such a petite girl, formed a stark contrast with the sheep.
It was hard to imagine such a delicate young woman wanting to wield a carving knife against the sheep before her.
"That's the hanging dissection method, right?"
Satoshi Isshiki explained from the side.
"I know that much. Because of their size, sheep are difficult to process on a cutting board, so some shepherds also use the hanging dissection method to handle them. But…"
Chikai Orie didn't continue speaking. Looking at the confident gaze of the young girl before her, although she had seemed quite ordinary moments ago, for some reason, she felt that the girl could succeed.
"Because it's hanging upside down, one has to make cuts in an unstable position. This dissection method requires considerable skill; it's simply impossible without several years of experience."
"On this grand stage, choosing to use this method to butcher the lamb—should we say she has courage, or that she's merely trying to draw attention...?"
Watching Megumi Tadokoro, who stood before the hanging dissection stand, hands pressed together, offering a prayer for the deceased sheep's repose, the sounds of audience discussion filled the venue.
"Master Dylan, are you watching me?"
Opening her eyes, looking at the sheep hanging upside down before her, and then glancing at the audience, Megumi Tadokoro thought this to herself, her face revealing a hint of determination.
"I will become the apprentice who makes you proud!"
Donning white gloves, holding a chef's knife, her gaze intently fixed on the bones and joints of the sheep's body, the young girl began her movements, ensuring each cut used the least force for the greatest result.
Those around her only saw her push and pull, and the lamb meat seemed like a toy in her hands, being disassembled piece by piece.
This was something she had specifically sought guidance from Dylan for.
At the time, he didn't say anything, but simply gave her a Popular Science Encyclopedia on Common Livestock Dissection. It clearly depicted the anatomical structures of different livestock, with detailed explanations on how to butcher them.
She studied for three days, and in between, she paid to personally practice and experiment dozens of times at a slaughterhouse. Her technique was now extremely proficient.
"Master Dylan, are you watching? That timid, frail girl you once acknowledged and encouraged can now stand on her own!"
"Dis… dissection complete."
"She, all by herself, butchered an entire sheep…"
As the last piece of lamb liver was placed onto the tray, Megumi Tadokoro let out a long breath of relief. Meanwhile, the venue erupted into a commotion, everyone's faces filled with disbelief: "This young girl actually managed to do something like that!?"
"What kind of dish is that kid planning to make, after all?"
Suppressing the shock in her heart, Chikai Orie watched Megumi Tadokoro, this thought surfacing in her mind: "What an astonishing person."
"Megumi, as long as you put in enough effort, you'll eventually achieve success."
In the spectator stands, Dylan had appeared in the front row at some unknown point. Watching Megumi Tadokoro, who was sweating under the stage lights, he murmured softly.
"Megumi performed so well, I also need to…"
Watching Megumi Tadokoro step down from the hanging dissection stand, Yuuki Yoshino's face showed an expression of satisfaction. She had watched her grow from fragile to strong, so her feelings were deep.
Lost in thought, she looked at her own cooking station and began systematically processing the ingredients on her cutting board.
And beside her was Ikumi Mito. The young girl calmly processed the lamb, but what was surprising was that she hadn't even started yet.
In front of her lay several pieces of meat of varying quality, and she was engrossed in cutting them.
"What's going on here? Why hasn't she started yet?"
"I don't know. Let's see what she does in the end."
Ikumi Mito's actions were too perplexing; no one present could understand them. They wanted to offer sharp commentary, but were worried about being proven wrong later, so they tacitly ignored her.
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Unfortunately, two of our stories were removed... so I created a new account to post them: MikuDayo.
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I'm counting on your support <3 the director was very sad and scared by what happened...
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