Chapter 241 - Uproar

Wang Ming heard the competitors around him gasp. They never thought that the rules would change this year. It had been the same rules for so many years already that most only prepared great recipes. Of course every chef there has a great basic understanding of food and cooking. But there are many intricate details on how you're supposed to cook different ingredients. Not only that they need to know how to process an ingredient before and after cooking for best effect. Depending on what topic they get, they could be screwed. 

As for Wang Ming, he thought little about it. Even though he felt it was weird for them to change the rules like this, the new rules made the competition more interesting. Not only that this gave Wang Ming a leveled playing field, he was previously in disadvantage because most of the chefs had prepared recipes months even years in advance. With these new rules, no one could prepare on what questions they would get. This test truly challenges their general cooking knowledge. 

A few competitors tried to argue with the production crew, as they felt that it's too unfair for them. They've never been to a culinary school, they are just chefs who learned their craft by cooking and experience. But they were immediately shutdown by the crew, as it's well within their rights to change the rules. 

The competitors didn't give up though, since it didn't work to be nice. The ones that argued tried to do it louder, to get their point across. Their loud voices interrupted the show. Meng Zhong was about to introduce the participants for the next round, but a loud shout made him stop. It was so loud that the people watching at home felt their ears ring. Seeing these middle-aged men and women act like teenagers arguing with the production made Meng Zhong feel pissed. 

They are all professional chefs, their attitude and actions should reflect that. But since he's the MC, it's not his place to discipline and argue with them. He would be acting out of line. He also didn't need to. As Natasha, ready to show off, reprimanded the chefs who were throwing a tantrum. 

"You guys, are all established chefs! Start acting like ones. We are professional chefs. If you want to win the competition, you got to can be able to deal with every obstacle. Even if that means that you need to deal with the new rules! Now stop with the attitude and get back in line, or I will get someone to throw you out of here."

The cameras kept going between Natasha and the chefs who tried to argue. Seeing their faces on the cameras made them feel embarassed they all have a reputation to uphold, being seen by the people at home like that, would affect their name and business severely. The cameras hadn't been pointed at them before as it was a private conversation but when they argued loudly and interrupted the show. 

The cameramen had enough. When they saw Natasha scold them, they also took this opportunity to get revenge. They zoomed close onto the chefs who were arguing earlier, so everyone at home could see exactly who it was that were acting up. The cameramen hated them since they were disrupting the broadcast. As it means that they have to work more the longer it gets disrupted. 

"Now that you understand it, do you want to keep disrupting the show and get kicked out or do you want to shut up and try to win this competition and maybe regain some face?"

With red faces, all the participants who tried to argue bowed their head to apologize and hurriedly ran back to the preparation room. They didn't want to stay out there in case the cameras would record them. Seeing that the ones that made a ruckus scattered, Meng Zhong continued the show. 

"I'm sorry, everyone at home. Everyone here is human beings sometimes we get clouded by our feelings and make mistakes. Please don't judge the ones that interrupted the show, they just care about the competition and want to win. Now please if you hear your name step up to the stage."

Meng Zhong then recited 16 names when the people at home heard the names in the group they all gasped. The group had a few interesting names, Tan Ai, Cheng Kecheng, Mao Qingling and none other than Wang Ming himself. There were other famous chefs in the group as well, but these were the most noteworthy ones. Everyone at home felt excited to see Wang Ming and Cheng Kecheng go head to head. 

Ming Ming clapped her foam hands together and shouted. "Daddy beat the bad aunty!" Zhang Hou hurriedly stopped her shouting. But everyone had heard what she said. Mao Qingling glared at Wang Ming almost like she wanted to kill him. She couldn't be angry at a kid so she could only direct all her anger to Wang Ming, as he's the one at fault not disciplining his child properly.

Seeing Mao Qingling glaring at him, Wang Ming looked back at her and shrugged his shoulders. He supports Ming Ming, as she's not the one in the wrong this time. Of course she shouldn't be shouting, but Uncle Hou had already stopped her. Mao Qingling has clearly portrayed how you should not act especially when you are a middle-aged woman. Having such an attitude is only acceptable when you're Ming Ming's age.

Walking up to the stage together with the other competitors, Wang Ming felt nervous again. He thought it would be better this time as he had experienced being on stage yesterday. But it was just as bad today, especially being in the same group as Cheng Kecheng, the favorite of the competition.

He could see everyone around him showed him a lot of respect. Wang Ming felt envious seeing Cheng Kecheng cooking yesterday. The composure and the steadiness he showed were incredible. Even in this high-pressure situation he was still as steady as a river.

This made Wang Ming question himself if he's truly ready for all of this, is he good enough? What Wang Ming felt he lacked compared to any other chef here is real experience. Even though he's lived in the kitchen most of his life, he hasn't worked in a professional restaurant for many years. But of course that didn't mean he would give up. He could never forgive himself if he gave up right now.

He would try his best and whatever happens happens, if he wins then he will be the youngest chef ever to win the competition. Even though he doesn't want all the attention, it would be wonderful for his business, with the reputation of being the youngest winner ever of the Pinnacle Chef's competition. Who wouldn't want to eat at his restaurants?

After seeing all the participants standing in their spots, Meng Zhong listed the rules. "Today's rules are very simple. All you need to get to the next stage is to answer correctly 30 questions. We are going to ask 500 questions. If you do the math, then everyone will have the chance to qualify if you all answer correctly. But of course we can't have that so it's only the first who get 30 correct answers who qualify."

The people watching the show, immediately discussed between each other, there was a big loophole in the rules. What if one person hogs all the questions and doesn't let anyone answer? The production crew had already a solution in mind.

"The rules are simple, there's going to be a button in front of you. If you know the answer please press on the button. The first one to press on the button every round will be the one to answer. If you are already qualified, then you cannot keep answering questions. Also, if you fail to answer a question, then you need to sit out one round. These increments for every wrong answer until you get a right one. Lastly, you also get deducted 1 point for a wrong answer and you get one point for every right one."

"Now, Angela will be the ones to ask questions, she and I will tell if an answer is right or not."

"Now start!"

Everyone felt tense when Meng Zhong announced they were starting. They were all ready to tap on the button the moment they heard the question. Even Wang Ming felt his hands tense up, he felt his fingers seize up from how hard he was flexing them.

"1st question. What is a Gastrique?"

Most of the chefs there felt tongue-tied. They thought the questions would only be about Chinese cuisine. Gastrique is definitely not a Chinese name. There were only two chefs on the stage, who knew the answer, Wang Ming and Cheng Kecheng. Even with his seized up fingers, Wang Ming pressed the button before Cheng Kecheng. He just has superior reactions.