Chapter 264 - 251: Evenly Matched

Chapter 264: Chapter 251: Evenly Matched

Everyone nodded.

Although they were all desperate to be chosen, they were also prepared for the possibility of not being selected.

After all, with one or two hundred people present and only ten being chosen, the odds were quite low.

Chen Wen began to select the participants.

Ten people were quickly chosen.

Chu Yiwei was selected. Boss Deng Luping, from the town market, was also chosen.

The ten people who were selected, including Chu Yiwei and Deng Luping, were all pleasantly surprised.

Their acquaintances, meanwhile, expressed their envy.

For instance, other bosses from the town market like Zhao Yu, Xie Hai, Wang Dongliang, and Liu Yiquan all said to Deng Luping, "Boss Deng, your luck is really something today. How come you were the one who got picked?"

Deng Luping laughed heartily. "Just lucky, I guess. Can’t be helped. By the way, who do you think will make the better Longjing Shrimp, Boss Li You or Master Yu Hong? I have a feeling it’s going to be a really tough decision when it’s time to vote. What a headache!"

Zhao Yu, Xie Hai, Wang Dongliang, Liu Yiquan, and the other bosses all rolled their eyes.

’Show-off! What a total show-off!’

Zhao Yu said, "Boss Deng, since it’s going to be such a headache for you, why don’t you give your spot to me? Let me have that headache instead. How about it?"

Deng Luping shook his head repeatedly. "Never mind, never mind. I’ll just suffer through the headache myself."

Zhao Yu rolled his eyes again.

Similar chatter could be heard all over the venue, creating a very lively atmosphere.

Ye Shengge, Ling Xiaoru, and Lin Xin were also gathered around Chu Yiwei, though it was unclear what they were talking about.

After the noise in the crowd died down a bit, Chen Wen spoke again. "Thank you all for your enthusiasm. We will now officially begin the tasting and voting. Our ten friends will come up one by one. How about we start with the lovely lady? Teacher Chu Yiwei, you’re first."

All eyes turned to Chu Yiwei.

Chu Yiwei hadn’t expected to be first, and she suddenly felt a little nervous for some reason.

However, that nervousness was outweighed by anticipation and excitement.

’First is fine.’

Chu Yiwei nodded, said, "Okay," and walked forward to pick up a pair of chopsticks and a bowl that Chen Wen had prepared.

She could taste either of the two chefs’ dishes first; the choice was up to the taster.

Chu Yiwei decided to taste Li You’s first.

She walked up to Li You and said with a small smile, "Boss, I’ll start my tasting now."

Li You smiled back. "Please, Teacher Chu!"

Chu Yiwei nodded. Then, she picked up a shrimp with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth.

With a gentle bite, she found the shrimp to be crisp, tender, and refreshing, with a faint aroma of tea. It was delicious and tasty in a way that was hard to describe.

Even after she swallowed it, the wonderful aftertaste lingered.

Seeing that Chu Yiwei had finished, Chen Wen asked with a smile, "Teacher Chu, what did you think of the flavor? Would you care to share your thoughts with us?"

Chu Yiwei said, "The shrimp was crisp, tender, and refreshing, with a hint of tea fragrance. The flavor was unparalleled—absolutely delicious, with a memorable aftertaste."

Hearing Chu Yiwei’s description, everyone in the crowd felt their mouths starting to water.

It sounded incredibly delicious.

They wanted to eat it too!

But since they hadn’t been chosen, all they could do was hope the boss would add this dish to the menu soon.

Chen Wen said, "Thank you for your review, Teacher Chu. Now, please try Master Yu Hong’s Longjing Shrimp."

Chu Yiwei nodded, walked over to Yu Hong’s station, and said, "Master Yu, I’ll begin my tasting now."

Yu Hong nodded. "Please, Teacher Chu!"

To be honest, Yu Hong was a little nervous now.

After watching the entire process of Li You making the Longjing Shrimp, he was no longer confident that he could win.

He might even lose.

Although he would accept it gracefully if he really did lose...

...he really didn’t want to.

At the very least, he had to aim for a tie.

As for Chu Yiwei, she was, of course, completely biased toward Li You. She wanted him to win.

However, after eating one of Master Yu Hong’s shrimp, she was inwardly startled.

Because it was also incredibly delicious. She felt it was in no way inferior to Li You’s shrimp.

In terms of flavor, the two chefs’ shrimp were equally matched.

At least, that’s how they seemed to Chu Yiwei.

’This makes things difficult.’

Chu Yiwei really wanted to cast her vote for Li You. It wouldn’t be impossible to claim that his Longjing Shrimp was just a tiny bit better, if she had to.

However, after hesitating for a moment, Chu Yiwei ultimately chose to abstain. She said, "Master Yu Hong’s Longjing Shrimp is also exceptionally good; I feel it’s in no way inferior to Boss Li You’s. I honestly don’t know who I should vote for. Therefore, I choose to abstain."

Hearing her abstain, Yu Hong breathed a long sigh of relief.

An abstention meant it was a tie between them. While it was a shame he didn’t win, it was much better than losing.

He could accept a draw.

Of course, this wasn’t the final result. He still had to see how the remaining nine people would vote.

Li You, on the other hand, was not surprised by the outcome. This was, after all, the result he had deliberately engineered.

...