Siheyuan: Tathagata's Palm suppresses the entire courtyard!

"Mingjie, how about this, let's study this dish carefully and see if there is room for improvement. You said that there is no end to the road of cooking. Since we want to do it, we should do our best." Li Xiaoqiang's tone was encouraging. He hoped that Xu Mingjie could cheer up from this blow. His mood calmed down a little. He felt that what Li Xiaoqiang said made sense. He really shouldn't fall into depression because of a doubt. The pursuit of cooking should be continuous improvement, not stagnation.

"Okay, let's study it again. I don't believe that this dish can't be made better." Xu Mingjie rekindled his fighting spirit, his eyes flashing with determination. Xu Mingjie and Li Xiaoqiang once again focused their attention on the smoked pork chop. They carefully analyzed the previous recipe, tried to make adjustments in seasoning and heat, and added some new elements to bring more taste levels. They kept experimenting, tasting, and modifying until both of them felt that this dish reached a new height.

When the new and improved smoked pork chop reappeared on the restaurant menu, the response from customers was immediate, with many praising the dish, saying it not only maintained the original aroma and taste, but also brought more surprises.

Xu Mingjie looked at the satisfied expressions of the customers, and the unhappiness in his heart finally disappeared. He knew that he had learned a lot from this questioning, not only about the improvement of dishes, but also the growth of mentality.

The customer who had questioned his food came back to the restaurant and ordered the same smoked pork chop. This time, after eating, he said to Xu Mingjie: "This dish is much better than last time. The flavor is richer and the aroma is stronger. You have really made great progress."

That night, Xu Mingjie returned home, the customer's comment still echoing in his mind: "Although it was a positive word, Xu Mingjie's mood was extremely complicated. He couldn't help but feel an irrepressible anger and unwillingness.

He understood that this success was achieved through repeated improvements and hard work, but the humiliation he felt when he was initially questioned was still like a thorn that pierced his heart. Xu Mingjie looked at himself in the mirror, with veins bulging on his forehead and a gloomy look in his eyes.

"Why do I always have to be pushed to the limit before I can make something that satisfies me?" He was filled with doubts and resentment. This emotion gradually spread, making him feel stuffy in his chest, as if a fire was burning but he had nowhere to vent it.

The next day, Xu Mingjie arrived at the restaurant early. The kitchen was silent, and he was the only one there. He stood in front of the familiar stove, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. He has always been a diligent and studious person, and he is never easily satisfied, but the recent continuous questioning and pressure have made him feel exhausted physically and mentally. Behind every dish are countless days and nights of hard work and efforts, but why do these efforts seem so light in the eyes of some people?

"They have no idea where these dishes come from." Xu Mingjie clenched his teeth, the flame of anger in his heart burning more and more. He recalled the customers' picky and critical comments on the dishes, and felt as if his efforts were easily trampled underfoot. The feeling of not being fully understood and respected made him feel an indescribable pain. The kitchen door was gently pushed open, and He Yuzhu walked in. The two hadn't met since the competition, and He Yuzhu came here specially to see how Xu Mingjie was doing today. Seeing Xu Mingjie's gloomy face and the blue veins on his forehead throbbing more and more obviously, He Yuzhu was slightly stunned, and then walked forward, "Mingjie, why do you look like you have encountered something unpleasant?"

Xu Mingjie looked at He Yuzhu, and his anger subsided a little, but he still couldn't hide his inner irritation. He couldn't help but sneer: "Brother He, I feel that no matter how well I do, it's useless. There are always people who are picky and dissatisfied. Every time I make improvements, even if I try my best, I still get these cold comments in the end."

He Yuzhu was silent for a while, then patted Xu Mingjie on the shoulder gently, his tone gentle but with a hint of severity: "Mingjie, the road to being a chef is never to get everyone's praise. You have to understand that no matter how good the food is, there will always be people who don't like it or don't like it. But this doesn't mean you are not excellent."

Xu Mingjie lowered his head, clenched his fists, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions. He knew what He Yuzhu said made sense, but the anger and grievance in his heart were still at work. "But why do I always have to fail and question to do better? Can't I succeed once? Doesn't anyone really understand my efforts and hard work?"

He Yuzhu looked at Xu Mingjie's eyes full of confusion and anger and sighed softly. He knew that Xu Mingjie was trapped in his own inner dilemma and could not extricate himself for a while. He said slowly: "Mingjie, the challenges you are facing now are what every chef will face. You have to know that cooking is not only a skill, but also a state of mind. You have to learn to find motivation to move forward in criticism, instead of letting anger consume your heart."

Xu Mingjie took a deep breath and tried to calm down. He understood He Yuzhu's intentions and knew that he couldn't let his emotions get the better of him. However, the pain of being questioned still lingered, making it difficult for him to calm down.

He Yuzhu saw his struggle and continued, "Sometimes, success or failure does not depend on the evaluation of the outside world, but on your own requirements for yourself. Are you trying to make a dish that satisfies yourself, or to cater to the tastes of others? You must understand that truly good dishes are made from the heart. He was shocked. He was silent for a moment, slowly raised his head, and a trace of firmness appeared in his eyes. "Brother He, I understand. I can no longer be swayed by these external voices. What I have to do is to pursue inner perfection, not for the evaluation of others. Nodding, "Yes, this is the way you should go. As long as you have a goal in your heart and persist, no matter what others say, you can go further."

Xu Mingjie felt the power in He Yuzhu's words, and the emotions that had troubled him for many days finally had an outlet. He realized that he had fallen into a misunderstanding these days, caring too much about the opinions of others and ignoring the original pure love. His clenched fists slowly loosened, and the haze between his brows gradually dissipated. "Thank you for waking me up. I will adjust my mentality and move on." Xu Mingjie said firmly, and his inner anxiety was finally calmed down.

He Yuzhu smiled with relief and patted Xu Mingjie on the shoulder gently: "This is the Mingjie I know. Remember, no matter what you encounter, your mentality determines your altitude."