Era: You're asked to cook a home-style dish, but you cook Wellington.

Five days later, the competition took place as scheduled.

On the surface, this competition is about hotel star ratings, but in reality, it is a contest between Su Wanqing and the Green Dragon Gang. The winner can enjoy more resources and gradually erode the opponent's power.

Today, this competition has reached its most crucial stage.

"Mr. Su, what are your thoughts on today's competition?"

"President Su, there are reports that the Green Dragon Gang has bought up all the fish on the market, leaving you with no fish to use. How are you going to deal with this crisis?"

"Mr. Su, are you confident about today's competition?"

Su Wanqing slowly stepped out of the back seat of her Mercedes-Benz.

Today she wore a beige silk dress, the fabric as smooth as moonlight, with a matching sheer shawl draped over her shoulders. When the wind blew, it fluttered gently, the edges swaying softly, like half a cloud resting on her shoulder.

She had carefully applied light makeup, and two incredibly bright pearls hung from her earlobes, yet their brilliance couldn't overshadow the main character at all.

Reporters' cameras and microphones were pointed at her.

The cacophony of questions, camera shutters, and onlookers' chatter almost drowned out the viewer.

Su Wanqing was not flustered at all. She smoothed her slightly curly hair and parted her red lips slightly.

"I believe in my team, I believe in Haoting."

A faint smile graced her face, radiating an aura of strength, gentleness, and confidence. A unique charisma emanated from her, captivating everyone present.

Lin Ran and Wang Biao stood to the side, their palms sweating with nervousness, barely daring to breathe loudly.

Zhou Guodong also had a tense face, his eyes fixed on the front, his heart pounding with anxiety.

Only Gao Yang stood beside Su Wanqing, his expression calm, with no trace of panic in his eyes.

"This must be the head chef of the Grand Court. How's your preparation going today? I heard your opponent is a master chef who studied in Japan. Are you confident you can beat him?"

Gao Yang took half a step forward.

"Competition relies on craftsmanship, conscience, and quality, not on monopolies, spreading rumors, or acting unscrupulously."

He looked at Su Wanqing beside him, a faint smile playing on his lips, composed and confident.

"As for fish, Grand Court never lacks top-quality ingredients."

As soon as he finished speaking, Brother Long on the other side panicked instantly, and a bad feeling welled up in his heart.

"Are you sure you bought all the fish from the market?"

Brother Long quickly lowered his head and asked the third brother standing to the side.

The third brother nodded quickly.

"Yes, Brother Long, I'm sure. I handled this personally."

Only then did Brother Long slowly nod, suppressing the unease in his heart.

He led Master Ma onto the stage, looking in Su Wanqing's direction with a look full of provocation and smugness.

Su Wanqing naturally ignored him and waited quietly for Elder Lin to finish speaking.

"Now, without further ado, let's begin the competition between our two top chefs!"

The applause of the audience was thunderous.

Gao Yang and Chef Ma walked to the center of the kitchen counter and stood on either side.

Two workbenches are placed side by side, complete with kitchen utensils, knives, and basic seasonings. However, the most crucial main ingredient must be brought by each party.

The audience fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on the boxes in the hands of the two men.

Brother Long grinned from ear to ear and gave Master Ma a smug wink.

Master Ma nodded slightly and lifted the lid of the insulated box in front of him.

A live bighead carp weighing seven or eight pounds gently swayed its tail in the water, its scales shimmering silver, a truly exquisite specimen.

The audience erupted in uproar.

Wow! This fish is huge!

"I heard that the Golden Dragon Hotel bought up all the best fish in Yicheng, and it's true!"

"There really aren't any fish at the Grand Court, are there?"

The discussion instantly turned towards the Grand Court Hotel, and reporters pointed their cameras at the hotel, eagerly awaiting news.

Lin Ran and Wang Biao were both on tenterhooks, while Zhou Guodong clenched his fists, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Brother Long crossed his arms, chuckled, and glanced at Gao Yang with disdain.

"Chef Gao, where's your fish? You didn't come empty-handed, did you?"

The third brother and his gang of underlings immediately burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! What's the point of competing if there's no fish? Just admit defeat!"

"I think Haoting is really doomed this time!"

Gao Yang remained calm, ignoring the ridicule and doubts around him.

He slowly stepped forward and reached out to lift the unremarkable wooden box in front of him.

Everyone held their breath in tension.

This is big news! Regardless of whether there are fish in this wooden box or not, someone will definitely lose face.

Brother Long's unease grew stronger, and he frowned, trying to reassure himself again and again.

He kept glancing at Su Wanqing, trying to find something on her face.

However, the latter's expression remained calm and unchanged, without revealing any unusual behavior.

Gao Yang opened the wooden box with his hand.

Inside the wooden box in front of Gao Yang, a whole silver cod lay quietly.

The silver cod has an ivory-white body with a delicate, creamy texture. Its surface is covered with a very thin layer of skin that has a faint silver sheen. Under the sunlight, it gleams with a warm and sophisticated luster, as if it has been bathed in moonlight.

The whole piece of fish is plump and round, with clean and neat edges. Upon closer inspection, the fish skin is slightly shiny, and the texture is as delicate as fine mutton fat jade. With a gentle touch, you can feel its soft yet elastic texture.

It lacks the coarseness of ordinary river fish and the strong fishy smell of sea fish; at a glance, one can tell it is a top-quality ingredient selected from thousands.

Old Lin's gaze fell on the silver cod, and his eyes lit up slightly.

Such a quality is rare not only in Yicheng, but even in the capital.

Only at this moment did a smile appear on Su Wanqing's face.

"Our Grand Court has its own supply chain."

"This is top-grade hazel cod, air-freighted from Australia."

"Who says we don't have fish?"

"boom!"

At that moment, the taut string in Brother Long's mind snapped.

Anger was like a ball, bouncing back and forth in his mind.

"Didn't you tell me you bought all the top-quality fish in the market?"

Brother Long angrily questioned the third brother beside him.

His pupils dilated as he stared intently at the shimmering silver cod, shaking the third brother repeatedly as he said, word by word, "Tell me, what is this?"

The third child was shaken so badly that he felt dizzy and filled with fear.

He understood all too well the consequences of losing his value; at this moment, he was like a small boat in a storm, in danger of capsizing at any moment.

"Brother Long, I'm so sorry, Brother Long, I didn't expect Su Wanqing to have her own channels."

Seeing that Brother Long's shaking was gradually weakening, he was overjoyed and quickly continued.

"Brother Long, don't panic! Have you forgotten? We still have Master Ma! Master Ma can't possibly lose!"

Upon hearing this, Brother Long's anger subsided slightly. He released Lao San's body and looked back at the stage.

"There will be no problem, there will be no problem. That's Master Ma, we have to trust the master."

He clenched his fists and muttered to himself, unaware that the reporters were recording it all.

The group then refocused the camera on the stage.

"Your name is Gao Yang, right?"

Just then, Master Ma suddenly walked over and smiled as he reached out his hand to Gao Yang.

Gao Yang was naturally unafraid and reached out to shake hands with Master Ma.

"Gao Yang, I admire you. It's really impressive that you've achieved so much at such a young age."

"However, now that you've met me, I will personally destroy you and shatter all your hopes."

Master Ma forcefully shook off Gao Yang's hand, his eyes filled with undisguised malice.

Gao Yang was taken aback.

Seriously, is this guy brain-dead? He reacts like this just from a handshake?

Never mind, I'll be tolerant of him.

The two stopped and quickly took out their ingredients.

The competition has officially begun!