Chapter 120 Result
However, the examiners just stood there in silence without even picking up their chopsticks.

This strange silence made Fang Yi's heart jump, and his original confidence turned into unspeakable uneasiness.

The older examiner said, "Is this the dish you submitted?"

"Yes……"

Fang Yi said hesitantly.

He could tell from the examiner's expression that there might be something wrong with the dish.

But there is no time for him to make a second dish now.

"Then I'll announce the result now. Failed!"

The examiner said this and turned and left.

Fang Yi said anxiously: "Wait a minute! You haven't even tasted it, how can you say this dish is substandard! As long as you take a bite, you will know how delicious this dish tastes!"

The three examiners looked at each other, and the oldest examiner nodded and said, "Okay, then we will do the tasting."

The three of them picked up their chopsticks, picked up the various ingredients on the plate, and put them in their mouths to taste them one by one.

Fang Yi watched this scene expectantly. Anyone who had tasted this dish would be able to feel that it fully possessed the standards that a top-class chef should have.

After tasting the dish, the three examiners said, "Indeed, the skills you displayed in this dish are very rare and can be called the level of a top-class chef."

Before Fang Yi could show any joy on his face, he heard the examiner continue: "However, the result will not change. You still fail."

"Why……"

Fang Yi looked at them in a daze and questioned.

"The problem is not your skills and abilities. It's the side dishes of this dish. You used all kinds of delicacies from the mountains and the sea, trying to show a taste that transcends the mundane and highlights the demeanor of an immortal. However, you forgot the true meaning of the article."

The examiner continued, "The title of this article is "Praise of the Humble House". The author lives in a humble house, but he is happy. He does not covet the power and wealth of the world, because there are things in the world that are more important than power and wealth, that is, the noble character of being a human being. However, you have highlighted the delicacies of mountains and seas that represent wealth and luxury, which is contrary to the noble character praised in the article. Therefore, it is unqualified!"

The three words "failed" echoed in the examination room, completely shattering Fang Yi's hope.

He has honed his skills through hard work, and has been constantly adjusting the taste of the dishes over the past few days, striving for excellence and bringing out the beauty of the dishes in the most complete way.

However, he never expected that he did not fail because of his ability, but because of his understanding of the question.

The assessment for top-grade chef is not that simple after all.

Fang Yi packed his bag, lowered his head and walked away quickly.

There was silence in the examination room, and everyone felt deeply moved by the scene before them.

They never expected that the first result would be unqualified.

This cast a shadow over everyone's heart.

There are even a few chefs who share the same idea as Fang Yi and choose precious ingredients in order to add a unique texture to the taste of the dishes.

However, even Fang Yi, who has the level of a top chef, failed to meet the requirements, let alone those of them who lacked the necessary skills.

Several people immediately became discouraged and did not even ask the examiner to evaluate their performance. Instead, they simply threw away the dishes, packed up their things and left the examination room.

The departure of these people made the examination room suddenly become a little deserted, and it was not only the examination room that became cold, but also the hearts of everyone. In this situation, even those who had already prepared the dishes did not dare to raise their hands.

They were afraid that they would be directly judged as unqualified by the examiner like Fang Yi.

In this frozen and depressing examination room, an arm was raised high.

Everyone turned to look.

"It's Chen Yu from Wenhua Garden. He is also very capable. It is said that he already has the ability to be a chef. Many restaurants wanted to invite him to be the chef, but he declined all of them. He would rather stay in Wenhua Garden and help the chef."

"It is said that Chen Yu is an orphan who was picked up by the chef of Wenhua Garden when he was young and has been taking good care of him. The two are nominally master and apprentice, but in fact they are as close as father and son. Naturally, he is reluctant to leave Wenhua Garden."

"It's just that the previous manager of Wenhua Garden has been deeply in debt. Even if the current chef tries to keep it going, it's still not enough to make ends meet. I'm afraid it will close down in a few years."

Chen Yu listened to the whispers of people around him, his face calm.

The situation at Wenhua Garden was worse than they had expected. If nothing unexpected happened, it would close down within three years and would have no choice but to sell the property to repay the loan.

The assessment of top chefs is currently the best way to save Wenhua Garden.

Therefore, he must win this top chef assessment.

The examiners came to Chen Yu and saw the chicken neatly arranged on the plate. The skin was golden and the meat was as white as jade. It was Guangzhou's specialty, the Three Yellow Chicken.

Next to the chicken, there are various flowers, such as plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemums and bamboo shoots, which together set off the golden chicken in the center, just like a golden phoenix flying among the flowers.

The bright and eye-catching appearance of this dish whets your appetite.

Chen Yu said: "This dish is called Gentleman Chicken. Please have a taste, examiners."

The older examiner said, "The ingredients used to decorate the chicken are plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, which are known as the 'Four Gentlemen of Flowers'. These four represent the noble character of a gentleman. The plum blossom is proud and represents a noble character. The orchid blooms in the valley, representing a sage who lives in seclusion. The bamboo leaves are elegant and modest, representing a modest gentleman. The chrysanthemum stands tall in the frost and does not flatter others, representing the gentleman's ease and composure. With these four, it's no wonder it's called the Gentleman Chicken."

Another examiner said: "Indeed, the noble character of a gentleman is very consistent with the test question. However, it is not enough to put flowers on it to make it a gentleman chicken. It also depends on how good your dish tastes."

The last examiner said: "Yes, if the 'Four Gentlemen of Flowers' are just decorations for the dish and cannot be smoothly integrated into the taste of the dish, your dish will also fail."

Chen Yu did not argue, but smiled and said, "Please taste it, three examiners."

The examiners picked up their chopsticks and put the chicken into their mouths.

As soon as it enters the mouth, you can feel a burst of refreshing fragrance, light and cool, like a gust of cold wind in the mouth, bringing a faint sweet fragrance in the wind. This refreshing fragrance can lift people's spirits.

This is followed by the smooth taste of the chicken. The slightly elastic chicken skin teases at the tip of the teeth, tempting the teeth to pierce it fiercely. Suddenly, a light and elegant fragrance jumps out, and this fragrance is perfectly blended with the oil contained in the chicken skin, as if the chicken skin itself has such a fragrance, and the fishy smell of the chicken skin is removed, allowing the rich flavor of the chicken skin itself to be highlighted.

Afterwards, the teeth went deeper and pierced the tender chicken inside. The chicken melted smoothly between the lips and teeth, bringing out a faint bitter fragrance. The bitterness did not affect the aroma of the chicken. Instead, the bitterness blended with the sweetness of the chicken itself. The light bitterness made the taste of the chicken become even sweeter, and the sweetness of the chicken was added with a bit of heaviness and depth because of this unique bitterness.

The crisp bamboo shoots used as a side dish have a fresh and tender taste, forming a perfect match with the smooth and tender chicken, adding a bit of meat flavor to the crispness and a bit of novel crispness to the smooth taste.

These flavors appear in the mouth one after another, yet they are integrated into one, making you unable to stop.

The examiners kept eating with their chopsticks, one bite after another, until they had finished the entire dish.

They then breathed a sigh of relief with satisfaction and announced loudly: "Chen Yu from Wenhua Garden passed!"

(End of this chapter)