Chapter 428: Festival (8)

After preparing the shūmai massive wrappers, Sui filled them with the pork mixture and set them to steam. To cook such a large shūmai thoroughly, it was crucial to use a slow, even charcoal fire, ensuring the heat spread consistently throughout the enormous bun.

"They're using such a massive steamer? I wonder what that gigantic shūmai will taste like," one spectator mused.

"Indeed," another responded, eyes full of anticipation.

Chef Hojō and the others, still reeling from Sui's impressive knife skills earlier, now eagerly awaited the result of his latest creation. By this time, Sui's cooking had become the focal point of the entire event.

Foreign tourists and local Japanese onlookers surrounded his kitchen counter in layers, forming a thick crowd. Excitement buzzed in the air as they impatiently waited.

Meanwhile, next to Sui, Chih-Hao was left feeling frustrated. Almost no one was paying attention to his cooking now, as all eyes were fixed on Sui. 

He hadn't expected this. In the end, Sui had managed to steal the spotlight.

But the most disappointed person was Tomita Jōji. For years, Tomita-ro had dominated the food awards, consistently taking first place and maintaining a lead over Hojō-ro. But this year, all the attention was on Hojō-ro.

[Note: (-ro) it means building or restaurant in japanese.]

Chih-Hao walked over to Sui, wearing a polite smile. "Your name is Sui, right? Mind if I try your dish later?"

"Of course," Sui replied with a smile. "And I'd love to taste your noodles as well."

"Definitely," Chih-Hao nodded. "While I might not be able to match your cooking skills, I won't lose when it comes to taste!"

Despite Sui's superior display of technique, Chih-Hao remained confident in the flavor of his dish.

Two hours passed swiftly, and steam began rising from Sui's large steamer.

By then, Chih-Hao had already finished his dish: wonton noodles. The noodles, thin as silver threads and wonderfully elastic, paired with crystal-clear, delicate wontons, earned widespread praise from the tourists.

As agreed, Chih-Hao brought two bowls of his wonton noodles to Sui and Miyoko, inviting them to try.

Sui took a bite, and his eyes lit up. The noodles were incredibly springy, their texture snapping back like a rubber band after each bite. They were chewy and satisfying.

Miyoko was equally stunned. At Totsuki Academy, the only people better than her in Chinese cuisine were Sui and Kuga. She had always believed her skills were top-tier, but encountering these local chefs had expanded her perspective.

This level of mastery... it's almost on par with the Elite Ten, she thought. But who's better, Sui or him?

The thought lingered only for a moment before fading. Deep down, Miyoko was convinced that Sui was more skilled. There was no specific reason—she simply believed in him.

The nearby Hojō chefs also tasted the wonton noodles.

"So this is the skill of Longyinju-ro(Abode of the Dragon's Roar)? They only sent a young disciple, and he managed to make something this extraordinary. It's impressive," one remarked.

The entire group was amazed. If this dish had been entered in previous years, it would undoubtedly have won first prize. Chih-Hao's wonton noodles were incredibly popular with the tourists, far outshining the dishes from other restaurants.

But this year was different.

All eyes turned toward Sui. Having already performed miraculous knife skills, the crowd wondered if he would surprise them again with his cooking.

"Is your dish almost ready?" Chih-Hao asked, his eyes bright with curiosity. It was clear he was eager to see who was the superior chef between them.

Sui checked the time, nodded, and said, "Yes, it's ready. Miyoko, please open the steamer from the other side."

"Got it!" Miyoko responded with determination. She quickly and carefully lifted the lid of the steamer.

As thick steam billowed out, an overwhelming fragrance spread through the air like a whirlwind. The rich aroma filled the scene, captivating everyone's senses.

A massive shūmai emerged from the massive steamer.

[Note: This is taken directly from the anime. Since it's an older series, the graphics reflect the style of that time. If you're interested in the episode, here's a link—though please note it's from a pirated site. https://aniwatchtv.to/watch/chuuka-ichiban-1164?ep=89278 ]

The tourists, who had been eagerly waiting, caught a whiff of the delicious scent and rushed over like sharks drawn to blood. They swarmed Sui's kitchen counter, jostling for position as if fearing they might miss their chance to taste the dish.

Even the normally polite Japanese were cutting in line, causing quite a commotion.

Just as Sui began to feel the headache of managing the chaotic crowd, Miyoko swiftly stood on a chair and called out, "Everyone, please don't push! Line up properly to taste the food, or you'll be disqualified from trying it!"

Her words had an immediate effect. The mention of disqualification was enough to calm the unruly crowd, and they quickly reorganized into a more orderly queue.

Meanwhile, Chih-Hao's mood soured as he watched more than half of the tourists who had been at his station abandon him to line up for Sui's dish. It was clear that Sui's popularity had far surpassed his own.

What made it worse was seeing his own master eagerly grab a pair of chopsticks and head straight for Sui's dish, joined by Chef Hojō and the others.

"How do we eat this?" Chef Hojō asked Sui eagerly. The same question was written on everyone's faces.

Sui chuckled and walked over. "Like this," he demonstrated, poking the shūmai's soft skin, which broke easily under his touch. He tore off a piece, wrapping it around the tender, juicy pork filling, and dipped it into a small dish of sauce.

"So that's how it's done? What an interesting way to eat. I wonder how it tastes," murmured the onlookers, their excitement building.

"Go ahead, Miyoko, you try it first," Sui said with a smile, offering her a pair of chopsticks.

"Huh? Sui, are you going to feed me?" Miyoko asked, her cheeks turning a bright red. It was the first time a boy had offered to feed her, and to do so in front of so many people…

"Miyoko, if Sui is feeding you, just eat! No need to be shy!" Chef Hojō chuckled.

The renowned "ice beauty" of Totsuki blushed even more, shooting an embarrassed yet playful glare at her father. She hesitated briefly, then, with her face still flushed, opened her mouth gently, allowing Sui to feed her the shūmai.