On the competition ground, all eight competing teams were methodically preparing their signature dishes.

As time passed, it soon came the time for the dishes to be ready.

This was the part where the judges would taste the dishes.

The first to take the stage was, without a doubt, the top finalist from the quarter-finals, Bai Hua Lou.

The dish they presented was a simple white cut chicken.

This deeply surprised everyone.

But without a doubt, Bai Hua Lou's white cut chicken received unanimous praise from all five judges, including Miss Chu Qing, with a total score of 46.

Following closely was Yuqing Hall's drunken shrimp.

With a total score of 47.

Even Miss Chu Qing, who usually gave low scores, awarded a 9.

Following these two powerhouses,

the dishes presented by the other competing teams were also each impressively strong.

The most impressive were those ranked third and fourth.

One of the teams presented chilled dumplings with what seemed to be peanut sauce on top—Shen Qiang was seeing this style for the first time.

The other one, a cold noodle dish, completely different from the traditional cold noodles of the northern tribes, paired with a broth of seven different mixing sauces, looked very appetizing.

The scores for these two were 42 and 41, respectively, clearly trailing behind Bai Hua Lou and Yuqing Hall. However, achieving an average score of over eight in such a competition already proved that these two teams were very capable.

The next three teams were not so fortunate.

The first to stumble was the silver fungus and pear dish, with a total score of 31.

Following closely was the Peach and Silver Fungus Soup, with a total score of 30.

And the most unfortunate was the team that ranked seventh in the quarter-finals, their ice powdered dessert looked extremely appetizing, but it received a historical low score of 27.

When such scores were announced,

the competition field fell silent.

Everyone was utterly shocked because the ice powder truly had everything: color, scent, and flavor. One glance and you'd want to eat it.

And just as everyone was in shock, due to the sudden silence,

the position of Datong River, with the soup still boiling in the pot, though it caught many people's attention.

"Wow, the competition's almost over, and they're still stewing?"

"Haha, that's hilarious. How can anyone eat something so hot in such hot weather?"

"Seriously, did the team from Datong River restaurant even bring their brains? That beautiful ice powder only got 27 points, I bet this will get at most 25."

"Heh, I think the judges might not even bother to taste it, just declare the competition over."

"Hahaha, right, you'd have to be brain-dead to prepare such a lunch in this heat."

As the crowd of onlookers chatted and laughed, sitting on the judges' seat, Bianyi spoke to himself with a look of slight disappointment, "It seems, this Datong River restaurant isn't all that great after all."

While many in the audience discussed,

Yuqing Hall's master chef quietly transmitted, "Young man, you're really too inexperienced. My disciple scored 47, you don't stand a chance against us."

Shen Qiang smiled and transmitted back, "Not necessarily, hey."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Qiang nodded.

The father of Lv Shuyao lifted the lid off the pot.

The camera at the TV station was immediately enveloped by the steaming heat rising from the pot.

The teams from the other competitors immediately burst into laughter.

"Datong River really is full of surprises. I thought we were failing, but after seeing the food prepared by Datong River Restaurant, I suddenly feel that at least we still have our brains, unlike them."

"Not bad, very good. In this sweltering heat of 37 to 38 degrees, serving such a hot pot of soup, definitely results in a sweaty mess after just a couple of bites, and lamb tends to be exciting; I bet after eating, pimples will certainly pop out on your face."

"Hahaha, hilarious, they truly deserve to be called a countryside restaurant, not even understanding such basic principles."

Since it was a live TV broadcast, their comments were also being aired live.

The live video page on the Huaxia Gourmet Food Competition website instantly filled up with bullet comments.

"Wow, why does this remind me of a sauna?"

"Hahaha, Datong River's head chef must have confused the blast of cold air from the air conditioner as winter already passed."

"I'm just puzzled, how such a brain-dead restaurant made it into the top eight."

And just as the bullet comments flew across the screen, one particular comment immediately caught everyone's attention: "Dude, quick, look at the Beautiful Demon Fox Chu Qing's eyes."

In an instant, all the viewers online were shocked, and their attention, following the camera, focused on the face of the beautiful judge, Miss Beautiful Demon Fox Chu Qing.

At that moment, she showed no signs of mockery; instead, her gaze was filled with surprise and expectation.

"Holy, what's happening, does Miss Chu Qing really want to sweat it out?"

"In such hot weather, with hot soup, that's simply torture."

"Shut up, you guys. Look at the other judges, they too have faces full of expectation. Have they all gone mad?"

As the bullet comments appeared, everyone watching the live broadcast was astonished to discover that at the judges' table, not only Miss Chu Qing had an expectant look; the other four judges also had eyes brimming with anticipation, keenly watching the spot where the Datong River team was.

"It smells so good!"

"Yeah, the aroma of lamb stewed with daikon is very pure."

In the front rows of the general review section of the competition arena, some audience members were sniffing the aroma wafting through the air.

"Yes, it smells so good. This is still a normal competition, and it's the first time I've been sitting here and could smell the aroma."

At that moment, under Shen Qiang's guidance.

Lv Shuyao's father cut the pancakes covering the top layer of the soup pot into diamond shapes for plating, a piece of pancake, a scoop of sautéed potatoes, and next to them a bowl of lamb stewed with daikon.

Everything looked very simple, without any eye-catching appearance, no refreshing or appetizing feel.

Yet when the staff brought the five servings of pancake lamb soup to the judges' table, viewers watching the live broadcast online immediately saw from the camera the exceptionally beautiful Miss Chu Qing not only radiating with admiration but also unconsciously swallowing her saliva.

"Breaking news ahead, high energy warning!"

"Does Miss Chu Qing like lamb?"

"Wow, won't it be too hot?"

While they questioned, the ravishing Miss Chu Qing in her red dress, looking resplendent like a fairy, already couldn't wait to pick up the soup spoon. After gently blowing on it, she delicately sipped the soup from the spoon.

In just an instant.

The viewers online immediately saw, Miss Chu Qing's expression was enchanted; a sense of satisfaction radiated from within, causing the video's bullet comments to explode instantly.

"What is this special secret recipe?"

"6666, it looks delicious."

"Huh, Miss Chu Qing is very picky about food; consuming such oily and hot lamb daikon soup in the peak of summer, how could she possibly look so enthralled!"

"What the heck did Datong River Restaurant add into the soup?"

"Heaven, Miss Chu Qing's expression is so blissful, so satisfied!"

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