Chapter 59: Never Satisfied
The soup noodles were placed in front of the three people. The delicious aroma rushed into their noses and spread in their mouths. Just smelling the flavor stimulated the secretion of saliva, and even the muscles in their cheeks felt slightly sore, as if they were consciously warming up for the subsequent chewing.

Wen Shizhang looked down and saw that unlike Chang Lin's bowl of pure white, Xu Qing's sliced ​​noodles had a lot of ingredients, with different colors and rows of them. The types were all-encompassing, including beans, vegetables, dried fruits, mushrooms, seafood, and even Chinese medicinal materials. There were as many as ten kinds of dishes floating on the surface, and who knew how many were submerged in the soup.

The soup base of this bowl of noodle soup is very clear. Judging from the smell, it seems that it is not made from boiled broth, but from water.

Wen Shizhang asked: "Why choose water as the soup base? Wouldn't the soup stock taste more fragrant?"

Xu Qing replied: "The soup stock is indeed rich and mellow, but it is precisely because of its strong taste that it cannot be used here. An overly strong and heavy taste will mask the taste of the ingredients themselves and fail to bring out their unique taste to the fullest."

"I see. But if so many ingredients are mixed together and cooked in one pot, their flavors will be mixed up, right? How can they maintain their own unique taste?"

Xu Qing just smiled and said, "The answer is in this bowl of noodles."

After hearing what Xu Qing said, Wen Shizhang became even more curious about the taste of this bowl of noodles.

He was just about to pick up his chopsticks when he saw Qian Rong and the other two staring blankly in boredom, with no interest in the food in front of them at all.

"Don't you want to eat?"

Hearing Wen Shizhang's question, Qian Rong lazily said, "This kind of thing doesn't interest me at all. What can compare to the taste of top-grade herbs?"

Zhao Boming also said: "Young man, if you served this bowl of noodles before Chang Lin, we might be able to taste it. But you served the noodles after Chang Lin, which can only be said to be your misfortune. Unfortunately, there is no need to taste this bowl of noodles, the result of this competition has already come out."

Qian Rong continued, "That's right. Chang Lin has betrayed his ethics and bottom line as a chef, and his chef qualification will be revoked. From this perspective, you have won the duel. But judging from the taste of the dishes alone, there is no doubt that Chang Lin is the final winner. That ultimate perfection cannot be surpassed by anyone in the world."

Wen Shizhang's heart suddenly jumped, and he said anxiously: "How can you say that! As judges, it is your duty to make a judgment after tasting the food. How can you decide the winner without eating a single bite? This is really irresponsible."

"Master Wen, you have never eaten the noodles made by Chang Lin, so you don't understand our feelings."

"Besides, the fact that we are not interested in this dish shows that it is not perfect. Imperfect things are like eggs hitting stones in front of perfect things, and they are easily crushed. We don't eat this bowl of noodles for his own good. If we had eaten it, I don't know what kind of sarcastic words I would have said to criticize him."

Wen Shizhang slammed the table and said angrily, "How can you be a judge like this? If this matter gets out, people all over the world will laugh at you!"

Even after hearing Wen Shizhang's threatening words, the two remained indifferent and said nonchalantly, "Master Wen, you don't have to use the world to pressure us. Reputation, fame, and wealth, what are they compared to this taste? We are just loyal to our own taste."

"you……"

Wen Shizhang was so angry that he couldn't speak, and sweat broke out on his back from anxiety.

If they knew this would be the result, they shouldn't have let them eat the noodles made by Chang Lin! Or they should have waited until Xu Qing finished cooking and let them taste Xu Qing's food first.

This should end much better than it does now.

Xu Qing saw the regretful look on Wen Shizhang's face and said, "Master Wen, please rest assured. This arrangement is perfect now."

When Wen Shizhang heard Xu Qing's words, he turned to look at him in surprise.

Even in such an unfavorable situation, Xu Qing remained calm. No, it was not just calmness, but ease and confidence.

Is there really anything in this world that can surpass perfection?

Wen Shizhang couldn't imagine it.

At this point, the only thing he could do was to trust Xu Qing.

Wen Shizhang stopped talking and just sat there in silence, waiting.

Xu Qing turned to Qian Rong and Zhao Boming and said, "I know you two are not interested in this dish. I only have one small request. Please have a sip of the soup, just a small sip."

Qian Rong and Zhao Boming looked at each other, then looked at Wen Shizhang, who was standing beside them with a stern expression and eyes fixed on them, and finally nodded in agreement.

After drinking this mouthful of soup, even if Wen Shizhang was dissatisfied, he had nothing to say. And it was just a small mouthful of soup, probably like drinking water, with no taste, and it wouldn't change anything.

They both picked up the soup spoon and scooped a shallow spoonful into their mouths.

Ah, it is indeed as bland and tasteless as water.

As they expected, all the delicacies became so insignificant in front of the exquisite taste.

If every meal in the future were to taste as bland as it did today, life would be too painful.

The two men put down their soup spoons and waved their hands to let Xu Qing take away the soup noodles in front of them.

Xu Qing came over and took away the noodle soup as the two men wished.

He had just taken two steps when their stomachs suddenly growled.

They looked at each other in surprise.

"Is your stomach growling?"

"No, it's your stomach that's growling!"

The two were about to have an argument when their stomachs growled at the same time, louder than before.

Xu Qing turned a deaf ear and walked further away.

The two of them suddenly said in unison: "Wait a minute, bring the noodles back!"

Xu Qing turned back as instructed, and two bowls of noodle soup were placed in front of the two again.

This time, the two of them no longer used a soup spoon, but picked up chopsticks and directly picked up a handful of noodles and put them into their mouths.

The noodles are chewy, the side dishes are refreshing and tender, and the taste is good.

It’s just that the taste buds have no interest in this, as if they were asleep, and the taste cannot be transmitted to the brain through the taste buds at all.

However, why is this?
Why is it that food that tastes bland can fully stimulate their appetite?

One bite after another, he couldn't stop at all. His stomach seemed to have turned into a bottomless abyss, tirelessly devouring all the food that was sent into his stomach.

Not enough, still not enough!
No matter how much I eat, it still feels like it’s not enough.

The feeling of satisfaction seemed to disappear from the body, and the desire for food once again took over the mind.

The more I eat, the stronger the desire becomes, and the more distinct the dissatisfaction in my heart becomes.

They seemed to have turned into monsters, greedily devouring everything that was put into their mouths.

Guided by this desire and greed, they transcended perfection and completion. Looking back now, those things they originally thought were the most perfect things in the world were just a small part of the long road.

Is there true perfection in the world?
Perfection is something that stays where it is and never changes.

The world is changing every moment, and perfect things are destined to be left behind in the past.

There is only dissatisfaction ahead.

(End of this chapter)