Chapter Ninety-Six: A Perfect Victory!

Upon hearing this, several staff members stood frozen, not daring to make a move. Even though they were amateurs, it was obvious that Ye Wushang’s so-called medicinal dish was nothing more than a heap of black mush. Compared to Master Wang’s medicinal soup, the difference was like heaven and earth; to present this to the judges seemed almost like an insult.

“Mr. Ye, perhaps we should reconsider,” Huang Yuanxiang said, his face full of embarrassment as he approached and whispered, “This medicinal dish doesn’t look quite right.”

“Perhaps you didn’t perform at your best. If you’d like, I can give you another chance to make it again. The ingredients are expensive, but for my sake, Steward Qiao will let you redo it…”

“There’s no need,” Ye Wushang waved his hand, calm and composed. “I’m confident in my own medicinal dish. Perhaps it’s not comparable to others, but when set against Master Wang’s, it will surely come out ahead.”

Huang Yuanxiang sighed. Confidence was good, but too much of it could be dangerous. He was grateful to Ye Wushang for saving his son, and in every sense, he couldn’t just stand by. He knew that if this dish was presented, it would surely provoke Qiao Sen’s anger. Not only would they lose the competition, but the blame might shift as well. As president of the family guild, he had his reputation to consider, and decided that, no matter what, he would protect Ye Wushang—even if it meant sacrificing his dignity.

“Take it over,” he commanded in resignation, seeing Ye Wushang’s unwavering attitude. The staff reluctantly came forward, carrying bowls of the black, foul-smelling soup to set before the judges.

“What…?”

“What’s that smell? How awful!”

“It’s like sewage—can this even be eaten?”

“It looks terrible; how could it possibly be good for us? It might make us sick instead.”

“Young man, are you here to disgust us on purpose?”

The judges exchanged bewildered glances, sneering at the dish. Pei Huaide shook his head and smiled wryly, “Ye Wushang, if you’re incapable, just say so. Why put on this charade?”

“Exactly. Talk means nothing; it’s skill that counts,” Pei Qinghu chimed in with mockery. “No need to taste it—I can tell just by looking at your dish…”

“My medicinal dish is called ‘Laojun Pill,’ named for the elixirs crafted by the Great Sage Laozi,” Ye Wushang interrupted, hands folded behind his waist, standing serenely on stage. “Its black appearance is because all the nutrients have been concentrated in the soup. As for the smell, it’s unpleasant, but it tastes wonderful—much like durian. You must look inside, not judge by appearances. It’s nutritious and delicious, able not only to harmonize the internal organs but also cure some basic ailments. Please, judges, feel free to partake. I assure you will be satisfied.”

Pei Qinghu still wanted to ridicule, but at that moment, An Lan spoke up, “Pei Qinghu, stop with your sarcasm. Since Wushang has completed his dish, regardless of victory or defeat, the judges owe him a taste. Your obstruction—are you afraid his dish will surpass Master Wang’s?”

Pei Qinghu scowled, but Huang Pianru, likewise curious about Ye Wushang’s skills, spoke up. Though she doubted he could truly change the outcome, she wanted to see just how far his carefully crafted dish could go.

“Judges, please taste. Since you sit here, you must fulfill your duties. Even if it’s unpalatable or ineffective, surely it won’t harm you publicly? Mr. Ye is not only the one who made medicinal dishes for the An family, but he also cured my elder brother—he is the savior of the Huang family. Should anything go amiss, I, Huang Pianru, will take responsibility for him!”

The judges’ expressions shifted, some incredulous. They hadn’t expected the young man to have such deep connections—even with the Huang family. They looked to Huang Yuanxiang, who nodded, resigned, “It’s true. Mr. Ye’s medical skill is exceptional, and his character I trust. Should there be any issue with his dish, the Huang family will share responsibility.”

This declaration sparked laughter from Qiao Sen, who teased, “Well, President Huang, you’re not quite yourself today—always defending Ye Wushang. Turns out he’s your family’s savior. Very well, since you vouch for him, we’ll force ourselves to give this medicinal dish a try. But let me make it clear: if this dish is problematic or unsatisfactory, not only will the An family be implicated, but the Huang family must also answer to our Luo family!”

With that, he held his breath, suppressing his nausea, and took up the bowl, swallowing mouthfuls without even chewing, letting it slide straight down. All eyes were fixed on him—the guests and staff wore smug expressions, eager to see Qiao Sen spit it out and curse.

Meanwhile, Huang Pianru moved to her father’s side, whispering as they plotted how to intervene if needed. Pei Huaide and his son, however, remained calm and confident.

“Well done, Old Wang,” Pei Huaide said. “Your merits offset your previous mistakes; I won’t pursue them further.”

Master Wang nodded respectfully, grateful. “Thank you, President Pei, for your support. I’ll work even harder in the future, striving to make greater contributions to the Pei family…”

He was cut off by a sudden violent cough from Qiao Sen as he tasted the medicinal dish. His face contorted with discomfort; clearly something was amiss.

An Lan’s face darkened, and she instinctively moved to Ye Wushang’s side, whispering, “Wushang, watch for my signal. When I tell you to run, you must go. Now is not the time for pride. The An family’s loss is nothing, but you must not come to harm.”

Ye Wushang chuckled softly and shook his head. “I won’t leave. Retreating in the face of adversity isn’t my way. Besides, I haven’t lost—why should I go?”

“But Wushang, didn’t you see what Qiao Sen looks like now?” An Lan pressed anxiously. Though she admired his ability and confidence, the situation was dire, and his resolve seemed reckless.

She was about to retort when a judge, seeing Qiao Sen’s distress, hurried to support him, concerned, “Steward Qiao, are you alright? Is it that bad? Please spit it out, don’t hurt yourself…”

The judge meant well, gently patting Qiao Sen’s back. But as Qiao Sen recovered, his eyes suddenly flashed and he barked, “Spit?”

“Why would I spit it out?”

“This pill is so delicious—I’ll eat as many as there are!”

His words stunned everyone. They had assumed his discomfort was due to the taste or some side effect, but to their shock, he declared it delicious. Before anyone could react, he grabbed the remaining Lao Jun Pills from the other judges and devoured them like a starving refugee. After finishing, he gulped down several mouthfuls of water and sighed with satisfaction, “So comfortable. I never imagined the Lao Jun Pill could taste so good. I’ve never had such delicious medicinal food—truly extraordinary!”

A collective roar of disbelief swept the crowd. Looking up, they saw the wires connected to the instruments tremble. Unlike Master Wang’s gradual increase, Qiao Sen’s numbers skyrocketed, rising at least five or six times, now reaching ninety points!

“What the hell is going on?”

“That awful-looking, foul-smelling stuff actually tastes good?”

“Steward Qiao is a representative of the Luo family and a tea master—he wouldn’t lie.”

“So it seems this fool—no, this Ye Wushang, truly has skill!”

“Look at Steward Qiao’s excitement and the soaring numbers on the device—it’s a sure win!”

The audience buzzed with excitement, their eyes shifting from ridicule and doubt to admiration and awe toward Ye Wushang.

“I’ll try some too.”

“And me!”

The judges could no longer sit still. With Qiao Sen’s glowing appraisal, their appetites were whetted. They seized the Lao Jun Pills, gobbling them down in no time. Like Qiao Sen, not only did their scores soar, but their mouths overflowed with praise.

A delicacy.

A masterpiece.

A single bite and you’d remember it for a lifetime.

Their faces were sincere, without a hint of falsehood. They revealed their scores: nine judges, ninety points in total—a perfect score!

Instantly, applause erupted, shaking the hall.

“Mr. Ye is truly remarkable.”

“He not only won the judges’ palates, but also raised their health scores—impressive.”

“We may have offended you just now; please forgive us.”

“A perfect ninety, compared to Master Wang’s eighty-five—a complete victory!”

“This round of medicinal dish competition, Mr. Ye wins, the An family wins!”

Thunderous applause.

Sincere admiration.

The tide shifted—those who had stood on the Pei family’s side turned en masse, showering Ye Wushang and An Lan with praise.

…