Siheyuan: Tathagata's Palm suppresses the entire courtyard!

"Mingjie, I'm really proud of you when you say that." He Yuzhu said with a smile, "But you have to remember, no matter how far you go, you must never lose that 'heart' in your heart."

Xu Mingjie nodded heavily. He understood that He Yuzhu's "heart" was not only his love for cooking, but also an attitude towards life. No matter where he goes in the future, this spirit will accompany him and become his driving force to keep moving forward.

That night in the courtyard, Xu Mingjie lay in bed, thinking about his journey. He realized that the road of cooking was much broader and deeper than he had imagined. Every dish was a journey, and every success and failure was a step to growth. He knew that he had embarked on this road of no return, and he was willing to keep going to explore more unknown possibilities.

Xu Mingjie's life has returned to the busy pace of the restaurant, but he has a clearer goal in mind. He not only hopes to continuously improve his cooking skills, but also wants to show the art and charm of cooking to more people through his own efforts.

As his reputation in the restaurant grew, many customers began to ask him to cook for them. His name gradually spread, and some diners even came from far away just to taste his cooking. This recognition made Xu Mingjie feel extremely proud and strengthened his confidence in the future.

However, Xu Mingjie understands that cooking is a road with no end. He knows that he still has a lot to learn and many challenges are waiting for him. Whenever he stands in front of the fire and feels the familiar heat and the smell of fireworks, he always thinks of his original dream.

Xu Mingjie's reputation in the restaurant grew, and some customers even began to choose to eat when he was in the kitchen. For him, this was a great honor, but also a heavy responsibility. He understood that every customer was a recognition and test of his cooking skills, and he could not disappoint any of them. He set higher and higher standards for himself, striving for perfection, almost to the point of being demanding.

One day, the owner of the restaurant suddenly found Xu Mingjie with a mysterious look on his face: "Mingjie, our restaurant has a big event recently - we are going to hold a cooking competition, and all the participants are famous local chefs. I have signed up for you and want you to represent our restaurant. He was surprised and happy. This cooking competition is not only an opportunity to show his skills, but also a great platform to learn from other outstanding chefs. But at the same time, he also felt a little uneasy - this will be his first public competition as an individual, facing the top local chefs, and the competition will be extremely fierce.

In the following days, Xu Mingjie repeatedly pondered what kind of dishes to prepare for the competition. He did not want to just make outstanding dishes, but also wanted to incorporate his own creativity and personality into the dishes to leave a deep impression on the judges. Every night he practiced alone in the kitchen, repeatedly experimenting until late at night. Under the candlelight, his brows were sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed, and his thoughts were constantly churning.

Just two days before the competition, Xu Mingjie suddenly received a call from He Yuzhu. On the other end of the phone, He Yuzhu's voice was as calm as usual: "Mingjie, I heard that you are going to participate in the competition, and I have also received an invitation. We haven't cooked together for a long time. This time, let's have a good competition. Xu Mingjie was shocked. He Yuzhu has always been his master and an irreplaceable role model in his heart. It is an honor to compete with He Yuzhu, but at the same time, he also feels an invisible pressure. He knows that this is not only an ordinary cooking competition, but also a contest between master and apprentice. I will do my best." Xu Mingjie tried his best to keep his voice steady, but he was already looking forward to that day in his heart.

The day of the competition finally arrived. The competition venue was decorated very exquisitely, various kitchen utensils were neatly placed on the operating table, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere. Chefs from all walks of life gathered together, all of them focused, ready to show their best level.

Xu Mingjie stood in a corner of the stadium, trying to calm himself down. He saw He Yuzhu not far away, chatting with a few old acquaintances with a calm smile on his face. Although He Yuzhu usually looked relaxed and contented, Xu Mingjie knew that once He Yuzhu stood in front of the fire, every move he made would be full of power and control.

As the competition began, the atmosphere in the venue suddenly became tense. Xu Mingjie quickly got into the game and chose his most proud dish - "Spicy Flame Shrimp". This dish not only tests the chef's knife skills and control of the heat, but also requires a high degree of harmony in seasoning and plating. Xu Mingjie recalled his previous practice process over and over again in his mind, and his movements were skillful and neat.

As the shrimps sizzled in the hot oil, Xu Mingjie's heartbeat quickened. He knew that the key to this dish was the timing of the fire, and the slightest mistake would ruin the whole dish. At the same time, he caught a glimpse of He Yuzhu concentrating on making a dish he had never seen before, and his heart tightened.

"Mingjie, you have to remember that this is also an opportunity to learn." Xu Mingjie silently warned himself in his heart, trying to relax himself. He knew that only with a peaceful mind could he fully display his level. Xu Mingjie's "Spicy Flame Shrimp" gradually took shape. The shrimp meat was bright in color, shiny and attractive, and the spicy aroma filled the entire arena. In the last step, he used the carefully prepared chili oil to pour a thin flame on the plate, making the whole dish more three-dimensional and vivid.

When he brought the dish to the judges, he no longer felt the initial nervousness in his heart, but instead felt an indescribable calmness. He knew that he had done his best and had no regrets no matter what the result was.

Next, Xu Mingjie looked at the performances of other contestants with great anticipation. He noticed that He Yuzhu was still so calm and his movements were smooth, as if everything was so easy. The dish He Yuzhu served was "Squirrel Fish". Although it was a traditional dish, the delicate knife skills, precise heat, and harmonious seasoning were perfect.

Xu Mingjie looked at He Yuzhu's work, and he was filled with admiration. He understood that He Yuzhu's dish was not only a display of skills, but also a message to him - the combination of tradition and innovation is the true essence of cooking. The judges began to taste each dish one by one, and the discussion continued. Xu Mingjie stood nervously by the side, quietly waiting for the final result to be revealed. He had mixed feelings, expecting his work to be recognized, but also secretly hoping to get more inspiration from this competition.