Chapter 405 - 160: 368 Yuan Champion, Doll in Hand

Chapter 405: Chapter 160: 368 Yuan Champion, Doll in Hand

He continued to stir-fry.

The main purpose of this step was to heat the rice.

If you were to take a spoonful of rice now, it might feel hot, but in reality, the rice wasn’t heated all the way through. It would cool down quickly if left to sit.

While Su Chen was stir-frying, another contestant on the other side had already finished cooking.

"Contestant Number One has made stir-fried tomatoes and eggs! Alright, we can see this dish looks pretty good! Would anyone from our family here like to have a taste and start the bidding?"

The onlookers pointed and whispered, but no one stepped forward for a taste. After all, most people had the same thought: ’Wouldn’t it be awkward to taste it and then not buy it?’

This is why many people instinctively avoid free sample stations when shopping at the supermarket.

"Those tomato chunks are still so big. They must be really sour."

"I saw him earlier. He didn’t even add any sugar while he was cooking. This dish has no soul without sugar!"

"The scrambled egg pieces are a bit too big, too. All in all, it’s a failed stir-fry."

"I was once lucky enough to have the stir-fried tomatoes and eggs at Delicious. Heh, their boss, Boss Su! The version he invented is what you’d call truly delicious! It’s sweet without being sour, the sauce is rich, and mixed with rice, I could eat three whole bowls!"

Hearing someone discussing Delicious, the few employees in the audience instinctively perked up their ears to listen in.

"For real? Don’t you have to wait in line for the homestyle dishes at Delicious? I’ve been several times and never gotten to try them."

"A few days ago they held a sports meet, and now they’re doing a team-building event. I really don’t know what that company’s boss is thinking. Doesn’t he want to make money?"

"Their company benefits are great. The boss would rather not make money just to take his employees on a team-building trip. The people who get to work there must have been blessed in their past lives!"

Hearing this, the employees couldn’t help but puff out their chests a little higher with pride.

In the end, the stir-fried tomatoes and eggs on stage were bought by the cook’s girlfriend for ten yuan. A little romantic gesture between a couple, I suppose.

Once all the rice in the wok was heated through, Su Chen finally followed his old method and cranked the heat to the maximum.

He carved a well in the center of the massive pile of rice, exposing the bottom of the wok!

At the same time, he continued to slowly stir-fry the grains of rice near the edge. This was the difference between a restaurant stove and a home stove; it was impossible to heat just one specific spot in an instant.

Only when the exposed bottom of the wok began to smoke slightly did he, with a series of sharp cracks, break five eggs in quick succession.

This action caused the surrounding crowd to gasp and exclaim.

"This kid is just wasting their eggs! Who makes fried rice like that?"

"Exactly! If he cracks the eggs in like that, once he starts stirring, won’t the rice just turn into a goopy mess?"

"For egg fried rice, you’re supposed to scramble the eggs first, then fry the rice. Anyone who fries the rice before the eggs doesn’t know how to cook!"

"Don’t even get me started. He’s not even adding scallions, ham, or anything. Just eggs and rice... that eggy smell... I can’t even imagine eating it..."

This move by Su Chen made many in the audience lose faith in him.

In contrast, Contestant Number Six had his flash-fried pork loin, potato slices, and garlic scapes all prepared.

First, he stir-fried some onions in the wok for a moment, then directly added the flash-fried ingredients.

As seasonings like light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and oyster sauce were added, the area in front of the restaurant filled with the sizzling, aromatic scent of the stir-fry, wafting straight into the nostrils of the crowd. Then, Contestant Number Six finished by drizzling vinegar around the edge of the wok!

The aroma of the vinegar, vaporized by the high heat, mingled with the fragrance of the meat and vegetables, instantly becoming even more intense!

It made many people in the crowd swallow hard.

While the dishes from several other contestants failed to sell, Contestant Number Six’s flash-fried pork with potato slices was ready.

"This is a dish of flash-fried pork with potato slices, a local homestyle favorite. Would any audience members like to have a taste?"

After the host’s announcement, the crowd was silent for a few seconds before a man in the front row suddenly stepped forward.

"I’ll try it! I haven’t eaten yet. If it’s good, I’ll buy it!"

From his tone, it sounded like he didn’t know the cook.

The man took two steps onto the stage, accepted a pair of disposable chopsticks from the host, and took a bite. "Hey, not bad! It has all the right flavors. If you can throw in a free bowl of rice, I’ll buy this dish! I can offer 20 yuan!"

According to the general market price in Jingzhou City, a dish of flash-fried pork and potato slices like this would cost around 28 yuan in a regular restaurant. It was almost impossible to find it any cheaper.

"20! This gentleman bids 20! Do I hear a higher price?"

Most of the audience was just there for the show. After the host asked three times, a young woman also stepped up. "I’ll give 21 yuan!"

A joyous clamor arose from the crowd.

For many people, auctions were something they had only ever seen on TV and never had a chance to experience in person. Hearing someone raise the bid by just one yuan, everyone immediately wondered, ’Is she just trying to mess with him?’

Not to be outdone, the man on stage shot back, "22 yuan!"

"23!"

The two went back and forth like this until the price of the dish was raised to 33 yuan, at which point the young woman in the audience backed down.

The interaction between the two bidders and the host brought the atmosphere to a fever pitch.

"Those two are shills," Ling Shuyu said quietly.

Zhang Heping turned his head in surprise. "No way. Why would they need shills for a twenty or thirty yuan event? It’s not necessary."

Ling Shuyu shook her head slightly. "The money isn’t the point. An event needs to be lively and exciting. Those two are shills. And that stuffed doll? They probably have no intention of actually giving it to us."