The review results for Chapter 218 were unexpected.

The review results for Chapter 218 were unexpected.

In front of the judging panel, the two groups' dishes were neatly arranged, with lights shining down from above, making the colors of the dishes even more vivid.

Su Yingxue's group's three dishes were refreshing and light. The steamed sea bass had a glossy, off-white hue. The steamed mixed grains with three kinds of delicacies were garnished with the bright red of red dates and the light brown of mushrooms. The mushroom and tofu soup had a clear, amber-like broth, with a faint, fresh aroma slowly spreading with the steam, clear and clean.

In contrast, the dishes served by Zhu Lili's group were a stark contrast: the braised pork ribs were coated in a thick, dark sauce, the fried pork was a dull, golden brown, and the steamed pork ribs with fermented black beans were sticky due to the excessive sauce. The rich, salty aroma was mixed with a hint of burnt flavor, creating a jarring contrast with the refreshing atmosphere of the dishes served opposite them.

Cameras were set up on both sides, the lenses constantly zooming in and out to focus, and the staff stood in the corner holding their breath. Even the air seemed to freeze in this tense moment of judging.

The three judges sat at the table, each with a distinct temperament. Huang Yifei, in the middle, wore a simple beige suit skirt, her long hair loosely tied into a low bun, her makeup delicate and elegant, her eyes and brows exuding the gentle aura unique to actresses, her slender and fair fingers, and even the way she held chopsticks revealed a touch of elegance.

On the left, Detective Shen, dressed in a casual denim jacket, was tall and imposing, with short, neat hair and a pair of silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. His eyes behind the lenses shone like stars, and a casual smile always played on his lips. He was clearly someone who frequented the world of food and lived a carefree and insightful life. He called himself the Food Detective. Therefore, outsiders called him Detective Shen.

On the right, Vice President Mu was dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit. He was slightly overweight, with a calm face and several wrinkles of varying depths etched at the corners of his eyes. His gaze was sharp as an eagle's, and he exuded the authority of an elder in the catering association. Every gesture he made carried an unquestionable sense of professionalism.

Huang Yifei was the first to pick up her chopsticks, her eyes falling on the steamed sea bass. She gently picked up a small piece of fish with her fingertips; the meat was so tender that it almost melted on the tip of her chopsticks.

The moment it enters your mouth, the sweetness of the seafood intertwines with the salty umami of the soy sauce, without any excess oiliness, so refreshing that it seems to dispel all the heat.

A smile instantly appeared in her eyes, and she nodded in satisfaction, her voice gentle yet clear: "This sea bass is steamed to perfection, the meat is tender enough, and there's no excess oil. It's especially suitable for people who need to control their figure, and it suits my taste perfectly."

She secretly admired Su Yingxue's skill in precisely controlling the original flavor of the ingredients, which was far more impressive than simply piling on seasonings. Indeed, Su Yingxue's cooking suited her taste perfectly.

Detective Shen, who was standing to the side, was already so captivated by the aroma of the mushroom and tofu soup that he couldn't take his eyes off it, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

He scooped up a spoonful of soup, the rising steam brushing against his cheeks, the delicious flavor instantly filling his mouth, pure and rich, without a trace of impurity.

His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but smack his lips, his tone full of amazement: "This soup is amazing! It's so fresh without any oil, relying entirely on the natural flavor of the ingredients. It's not greasy at all, and the taste is exceptionally clean."

As he spoke, he picked up another bite of the steamed mixed grains and three delicacies. The crispness of the yam, the softness of the lotus root, and the sweetness of the red dates spread on his tongue. His smile grew even brighter, and his fondness for this oil-free dish increased.

But on the surface, she pretended to be alright. After all, there was still Zhu Lili's group coming up later.

Finally, it was Vice President Mu's turn to give his comments. He picked up his chopsticks, first tasted a bite of the steamed dish, then sipped a spoonful of the mushroom soup. His movements were slow and solemn, and his expression remained calm and composed throughout.

As he put down his chopsticks, he slowly spoke, his voice deep and powerful: "The concept behind the dish is very clear. The oil-free method is a good way to play to the strengths and avoid the weaknesses. It also makes up for the lack of oil by using the original flavor of the ingredients. The taste is light and not heavy. It can be seen that the ingredients are well controlled."

He paused, his gaze suddenly sharpening as he swept over Su Yingxue and Zhu Lili's groups. His tone became more serious: "But I must add one more thing: your actions of snatching ingredients just now were really inappropriate. Using the other party's salt as leverage, while seemingly a way to restrain your opponents, is actually a foolish method that results in mutual destruction."

"To cook well, one must first be a good person; if one's intentions are flawed, the true flavor of the dish will easily be lost."

After saying that, he said no more, his brows furrowed slightly as he lowered his head and solemnly wrote down the score on the evaluation sheet. He had no good feelings towards Zhu Lili's group for their trickery.

Immediately afterwards, the judges' eyes all turned to the dishes from Zhu Lili's group.

Chef Wang nervously gripped the hem of his shirt, his knuckles turning pale. He even breathed very softly, feeling as if a huge rock was pressing on his chest, his heart pounding wildly, terrified of hearing even a single negative comment.

Detective Shen picked up a piece of fried pork first. The outer skin was indeed crispy, but after chewing a couple of times, his brows furrowed tightly, and his tone was full of regret: "It's very crispy, and the flavor is very strong. The aroma of fermented bean paste and black beans is very strong, but the saltiness is not well controlled, which masks part of the flavor of the meat itself."

Huang Yifei picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of the braised pork ribs. The sauce was thick and coated the ribs, and the meat was stewed until tender. However, the saltiness and savory flavor were too strong, making it difficult for the meat's aroma to stand out.

She nodded slightly, without saying much, but simply lowered her eyes to objectively record her evaluation on the rating sheet, shaking her head inwardly. Such a hasty and profit-driven seasoning ultimately lost sight of the original essence of the ingredients.

Vice President Mu tried the steamed spare ribs with fermented black beans. The ribs were tender and the umami flavor of the fermented black beans was very prominent, but the saltiness was still excessive, and the taste was too heavy and greasy.

He put down his chopsticks and said calmly, "The seasoning was rushed. In an attempt to compensate for the initial mistake of lacking salt, too much was added later, resulting in a heavy overall taste that lacks depth." The disappointment in his words was clearly evident.

President Mu glanced at Chef Wang, who kept his head down and remained silent.

President Mu sighed. Actually, he had eaten Chef Wang's dishes before. He continued, "But his strength lies in his perseverance; he doesn't get discouraged when he makes mistakes and starts over. He still managed to complete the dishes successfully. He still has his merits; the ribs were quite good."

The three judges quickly finished scoring, and the staff hurried forward to collect the score sheets and turn to go backstage to compile the statistics.

The atmosphere on set instantly became increasingly tense, and the sound of camera shutters seemed particularly jarring at that moment.

Zhu Lili stared intently at the staff member's back, her palms sweating profusely, her fingertips digging into her hands, praying incessantly that she could turn the tide, especially if she couldn't even beat Su Yingxue, an ordinary person.

All her previous calculations had become a joke. Su Yingxue remained calm, her fingertips lightly resting on the edge of the tray, her expression serene. She had enough confidence in her dishes, and the outcome was no longer about the score at any given moment.

A moment later, director Hu Xiaoguang strode forward with the statistics, a mysterious smile on his face, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense: "After the professional scoring and calculation by the three judges, the final average score for the two groups has been determined, and the result is a bit unexpected!"