Food: Randomly set up stalls, even the little guy is drooling.

Lu Feng, wearing an Ultraman mask, was seen pushing a small food cart with three large steamers on it.

Lu Feng reached out and lifted the lid of the steamer, and steam billowed out, emitting a faint, unassuming fragrance.

"Wild vegetable steamed buns?" Wang Sheng exclaimed in surprise. He finally took them out!

But the next second, he was confused again. The game was over, so what was the point of taking it out again? What could it change?

This wild vegetable steamed bun, in terms of appearance, is naturally far superior to ordinary steamed buns, but no matter how round Lu Feng makes it, it is ultimately made from coarse grains. Not to mention compared to the rose shortbread and honey-glazed char siu buns in the finals, it is far inferior even to Lu Feng's own vegetable buns.

Yang Song glanced at it from afar and subconsciously shook his head. From a visual perspective, this pastry was already subpar.

The host, looking bewildered and helpless, stepped forward and said, "This contestant, the competition is over..."

Lu Feng, however, bowed deeply to the crowd, his posture extremely sincere.

He stood up and said, "Host, judges, I understand. The dumpling I made earlier was my final entry, made using ingredients provided on-site, according to the competition rules."

He pointed to the three steamers next to him, "This wild vegetable steamed bun uses wild vegetables that I brought myself. These are ingredients that have not been approved by the organizing committee, so they are not eligible to participate and cannot be shown on the field."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone, his tone becoming even more earnest, "I made this not for competition rankings. I simply wanted... for all of you here, the seniors and colleagues in the pastry and culinary world, to taste it."

"This is the wish of one of my elders, even if it's just a small bite."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present was somewhat taken aback. He would make another pastry for everyone to taste after the competition, in order to fulfill the elders' wish.

This request isn't outrageous; compared to Lu Feng's previous questionable actions, this behavior seems rather unsurprising.

On the judges' panel, the judges exchanged glances. Fu Shanyu frowned, clearly not approving of this unconventional behavior.

He looked at Qi Baiwei, who, as the chairman of the organizing committee, was the one who would make the decision.

Qi Baiwei did not immediately express his opinion. Looking at the unusually open-minded young man in front of him, he suddenly recalled the words "masterpiece" that Xie Zong had mentioned.

Although he didn't understand why Lu Feng insisted on using his own ingredients instead of presenting this pastry as a final entry and competing fairly, he still decided to give the young man a chance.

Finally, he slowly spoke, "I think since we've already made it, we shouldn't waste the food. Let's have a taste as a treat after the finals."

With the help of the staff, wild vegetable buns were distributed to everyone present.

Yang Song looked at the cornbread in his hand with disdain, and a professional negative review almost slipped out.

Holding it in his hand, the feel was surprisingly alright. Yang Song thought to himself, coarse grains have always been used only as a garnish; how delicious could a meal really be made entirely of coarse grains?

Out of professional ethics, he took the first bite.

bitter.

The first taste was bitter. But then he suddenly felt it was only natural; wild vegetables are naturally bitter.

But then, he felt a sweet sensation slowly awakening in his mouth.

"This..." His eyes widened suddenly, as if he couldn't believe the taste he was experiencing.

But before he could even marvel, an indescribable warmth enveloped him.

For some reason, Yang Song suddenly remembered when he first entered the industry, he tasted every dish with sincerity and wrote down his most honest feelings, but what he got in return was the cold words from the merchants.

Yang Song couldn't understand why these merchants were saying he was being too harsh when he was just pointing out problems, instead of choosing to adjust and change.

His original intention was to help businesses improve. But when did he become so accustomed to nitpicking, gradually forgetting the purest warmth that food brings him?

He chewed on the cornbread, and the warm and satisfying taste was like a mirror, suddenly reflecting the original aspirations he had gradually lost over the years.

As Wang Sheng was eating, he suddenly saw a small, thin figure.

This small figure witnesses the gray sky at four in the morning every day, and then, under the stern gaze of his master, kneads dough and practices the basics day after day, year after year.

Through solid accumulation step by step, he has become the future successor in the eyes of others.

Isn't that little figure just like me in the past? But when did I lose that drive to study and become so intoxicated with vanity?

Wang Sheng suddenly remembered a quote from Master Xie Zong: "The secret of food lies in the connection of emotions, hidden in the heart of every person."

This wild vegetable steamed bun, with its ordinary appearance, hides a core more touching than any exquisite pastry!

Qi Baiwei ate very politely, closing his eyes and chewing slowly.

After a while, he opened his eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. He didn't immediately comment, but carefully tore off a small piece, put it in his mouth again, and savored it. This time, his fingers even trembled slightly.

As she chewed, it was as if many memories came to mind, and a tear silently slid down her cheek. "It's been so long since I've eaten such warm food."

Qi Baiwei raised his head and looked at Lu Feng. His eyes showed surprise, admiration, realization, and emotion.

Hu Xi realized at that moment that this was the ultimate simplicity and the ultimate way to show off!

Cao Jianjia, Chen Yunqing, Xiahou Ting… everyone who tasted the cornbread wore the same expression: shock. And wow, what a show-off!

Lu Feng stood there quietly, unaware that a series of system notifications appeared on the screen in front of him.

[Six diners reported a 100% satisfaction rate.]

[Achievement: 100% satisfaction is the only way to get a perfect score (8/10)]

[The Eight-Flavor Wild Vegetable Steamed Buns have received absolute approval; side quest complete.]

[Reward: Two rolling pins (similar to the ones worn by Ba Dan) - pick them up at home.]

[The host participated in the National Pastry Competition while masked and won third place (tied), completing Job Change Quest 2: Emerging Talent.]

He achieved his goal.

Only Lu Feng knew that he really wasn't putting on airs on purpose.

Without the wild vegetables provided by the system, he simply wouldn't be able to recreate the quality expected of this SS-level recipe. In fact, the wild vegetable steamed buns he made might not even reach S-level.

At this point, the cost of his grandmother's surgery was no longer a big problem for him.

Money can be earned slowly if you don't have enough, and you can participate again if you lose a game, but some promises often cannot wait.

He didn't know if he would ever have the chance to see Xie Badan again, but Xie Badan's selfless dedication made him feel a long-lost warmth.

Lu Feng could accept his failure, but he couldn't accept that this wild vegetable bun would be presented to the world in an imperfect form; that was definitely not his master's wish.

Jie Badan remained in that winter filled with regrets, so let me put a period to my master's life. The period of winter is the beginning of spring.

"Although I still can't guess who your elder is, he must be very proud of you," Qi Baiwei commented, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

This one sentence is worth more than a thousand words.

Applause, seemingly starting from somewhere, gradually rose up.

At first they were scattered, but soon they joined together, like a surging tide, surging and turbulent.

That night, the glory of the championship belonged to Cao Jianjia.

But that night, in everyone's hearts, this wild vegetable steamed bun was like a lamp lit in their hearts, far more weighty and meaningful than any trophy.

Lu Feng's heart was equally heavy. Master, you have no idea what I've lost! A whole 150,000!

Just then, another line of text suddenly appeared on the screen.

[New Weekly Tasks Released]

Lu Feng then remembered that a new week was about to begin.

That wicked capitalist system is up to its old tricks again.

Just as he was about to click to view it, he was surrounded by Wang Sheng and others.