Fighting the Elites with Nothing but Integrity

The staff were assigning workstations to the contestants.

Chefs from all over, along with their assistants, were busy setting up their areas, some arranging meticulously prepared ingredients, others polishing expensive cookware, creating a bustling scene.

"District D, number 12!" the staff member called out.

Liu Yang raised his hand to acknowledge, following the staff to his assigned station.

"Is this it?" The chef next to him, noticing Liu Yang's empty-handed appearance, couldn't help but mock, "Aren't you going to perform a magic trick or something?"

Liu Yang smiled but remained silent, looking around his workstation—

A brand-new stove, complete with all necessary cookware, and various seasonings lined up in a row.

The system in his mind was quietly operating, beginning to analyze the ingredients provided on-site.

The main examination area was on a raised platform at the front, where the seats for the five judges were already set.

Hu Jing's seat was in the center, currently empty, and it was unknown what expression he would have when he saw Liu Yang's "dark cuisine."

Xiao Li stood behind, watching the other contestants nervously preparing while his boss leisurely inspected the cookware, his heart pounding with anxiety: "Boss, don't you need to prepare something?"

"Relax," Liu Yang picked up a kitchen knife, weighing it in his hand, revealing a mysterious smile.

At that moment, a sweet voice came over the loudspeaker: "Attention, the preliminary round will begin in twenty minutes. Please check if all the utensils and seasonings at your workstation are complete. If you need anything, you can contact the on-site etiquette staff..."

As soon as the announcement finished, the contestants at each workstation started to get busy, but no one touched the seasonings provided at the venue.

"These seasonings, tsk tsk..." A contestant wearing a famous watch picked up a seasoning jar, took a glance, and put it back with a look of disdain, "This is the kind of stuff you'd find at a roadside stall in a third or fourth-tier city."

"Who would use these?" Another contestant took out a row of exquisitely packaged seasonings from a delicate suitcase, "These were air-freighted from France. One small bottle is worth more than this entire cabinet."

Some even moved all the provided seasonings to one side: "Get these out of the way, I'm going to be making Michelin-level dishes."

Among everyone in the venue, Liu Yang was the most relaxed. He was looking at the provided seasonings with great interest, even picking them up and smelling them from time to time.

"Boss..." Xiao Li was so anxious that he was stomping his feet, "Shall I take a taxi back to get some..."

"No need," Liu Yang smiled and waved his hand, "These are enough."

The system in his mind silently listed the best combination plans for each seasoning, with a screen full of data flashing by like a running horse lantern:

"Soy sauce: combination ratio 0.7, heat 158 degrees..."

"Dark soy sauce: highlight time 3 seconds, oil temperature 180 degrees..."

"Salt: 0.8 grams per 100 grams of ingredients..."

Liu Yang looked at these data, unable to suppress a smile: "Sometimes, the most ordinary things can create the most astonishing flavors."

Hearing this, Xiao Li almost wanted to kneel.

He looked at the exorbitantly priced seasonings air-freighted from all over the world next door, and then at his boss, who was so absorbed in studying ordinary soy sauce, feeling a sense of dizziness and confusion—

Was this an obsession?

This was not a chef competition site; it was like a scene from a magical movie on "how to create a Michelin miracle with roadside stall seasonings."

"Boss..." he hesitated.

But Liu Yang seemed to be completely immersed in his world, holding the seasoning bottle as if he were a collector studying some rare treasure.

At this moment, a large LED display suddenly lit up with red countdown numbers: "20:00," and the atmosphere in the entire venue instantly became tense.

"Hurry, put the black truffles air-freighted from France here!"

"Hey, where's my Japanese Wagyu beef? Don't put it in the wrong place!"

"Be careful, that bottle of Italian balsamic vinegar costs three thousand dollars!"

The scene turned into chaos, with chefs and assistants frantically making last-minute preparations, as if they were filming a food version of "Fast and Furious."

Some were nervously counting ingredients, some were double-checking recipes, and others were adjusting their chef's hats in front of mirrors, fearing they wouldn't look handsome enough on camera.

Only Liu Yang's workstation remained exceptionally quiet.

He leisurely leaned against the operating table, like a spectator enjoying the show.

It was Xiao Li who was anxious, rubbing his hands together, his heartbeat almost matching the speed of the countdown on the screen.

"Boss..."

"Shh," Liu Yang interrupted him, eyes fixed on the screen.

In a short while, the judges took their seats one after another.

The judges were seated solemnly.

Hu Jing, in the center seat, was dressed in a neat suit with a serious expression;

To his left was Chef Chen Mingyuan from the Shangri-La Hotel, a three-star Michelin chef; to his right was the famous food critic Wang Shufang.

The other two were the dean of a cooking academy and a renowned Hong Kong chef.

With a "bang!" of a gong, the host picked up the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen, judges and contestants, the preliminary round of the National Top Chef Competition officially begins!"

"Now, let me introduce the distinguished panel of judges for this competition!"

The host's voice echoed throughout the venue through the loudspeaker.

"First, we have the chairman of our judging panel, the renowned food expert Mr. Hu Jing.

Mr. Hu has received three Michelin stars and has published works such as 'Infinite Possibilities of Taste Exploration' and 'Tasting the East.'

His achievements in the fields of traditional and innovative cuisine are well-known to all."

Hu Jing nodded slightly in acknowledgment, wearing the seriousness expected of a judge.

"Next is Chef Chen Mingyuan from the Shangri-La Hotel, a three-star Michelin chef who has been honored as the Best Chef in Asia and authored 'East Meets West: A Long Country Chef's Michelin Journey.'"

"Third is the famous food critic Ms. Wang Shufang, the chief consultant of 'Taste of Long Country' and author of 'Tasting Life,' known as 'The Most Discerning Tongue in Long Country.'"

"Fourth is Dean Li Deming of the Capital Cooking Academy, a national master chef, editor-in-chief of 'The Complete Works of Traditional Long Country Cooking Techniques,' and mentor to countless excellent chefs."

"Lastly, we have Chef Leung from Hong Kong, a two-star Michelin chef, a master of Cantonese cuisine, author of 'In Search of the Origins of Cantonese Flavors,' and known as 'The King of Heat Control.'"

Listening to these titles and achievements, Xiao Li's legs were trembling.

In contrast, Liu Yang seemed to be listening to some irrelevant broadcast, intently studying the soy sauce bottle in his hand.

The venue instantly fell silent, with only the nervous breathing of the chefs audible.

Hu Jing's gaze swept across the contestants like a strict examiner patrolling the examination room.

When his eyes fell on Xiao Yuanshan's workstation, his favored disciple waved excitedly as if he were a star-struck fan, almost shouting "Look here, master."

The surrounding contestants glanced at him with looks of disbelief—such behavior was too unruly for a competition venue.

Hu Jing saw this and his eyebrows furrowed slightly, just giving a faint nod.

His expression seemed to say, "You need to be more composed, young man."

Xiao Yuanshan realized his misconduct and quickly composed himself, putting on a stern expression.

But his eyes still kept darting towards the judges' table, afraid to miss any change in his master's expression.

Wang Shufang, sitting next to Hu Jing, couldn't help but laugh, "Your disciple is still so impatient."

Hu Jing shook his head helplessly, thinking that while his disciple's culinary skills were promising, his impulsive nature seemed unchangeable no matter how much he tried to teach him.

He continued to look around and suddenly his gaze fixed on an unusually conspicuous spot—

The young man with empty hands was leisurely studying the seasoning bottles.

His eyebrows furrowed slightly, "This kid is too arrogant, isn't he?"

Although the competition had notified that basic utensils and seasonings would be provided, no contestant dared to come so unprepared.

Even a new intern entering the kitchen would know to bring a handy kitchen knife.

Looking at the other contestants, each was loaded with bags, fearing to leave behind any important equipment.

Hu Jing pondered in his heart, "I wonder if it's youthful arrogance or if he has the skills..."

He had judged no less than a thousand contestants, but this was the first time he had seen someone so "unencumbered"

On the field. It seemed more like he was coming to his kitchen to make a casual meal rather than participating in a national competition.

Beside him, Wang Shufang had also noticed this unique young man and whispered into his ear, "This contestant seems to be the 'dark cuisine' expert who brought your recipes to life."

Hu Jing smiled but remained silent. He recalled the book that had been harshly criticized, Infinite Possibilities of Taste Exploration. Those recipes were written in his most down-and-out days when he was drunk and scribbling down ideas. Dishes like wasabi ice cream and chili caramel... the names were as outrageous as they could be, and he wouldn't dare to try them. The comments at that time were nothing short of a barrage:

"Is this a cookbook or a poisoning manual?"

"The author should try eating the dishes he writes about first!"

"This is not innovation, it's a crime!"

He had been so criticized that he almost doubted his existence. Now, someone not only dared to make these dishes but also made a name for himself. This young man was either crazy or truly skilled.

Looking at Liu Yang's nonchalant demeanor, he became even more curious—what kind of chef could turn his drunken fantasies into delicious dishes? Judging by this attitude, it seemed that the young man might even come up with some new tricks at the national competition.

He wanted to see whether this young man was just putting on airs or truly could turn his "nonsense" into culinary delights.

"The first round of the competition: innovative dishes, a time limit of 90 minutes. Please, contestants... begin!"

As the host's voice fell, the venue immediately came to life. Chefs from all over started their stoves, and the entire hall was instantly filled with various aromas.

Liu Yang, however, leisurely tied his apron as if he was preparing to cook a simple meal at home.