Chapter 247 - Rules Changed Again

"Wait, did Cheng Kecheng make it through? I thought after getting deducted all the points he wouldn't be able to recover."

Zhang you laughed and said. "Don't underestimate that old fogey. After you left, he answered 30 of the 60 questions asked and made it through. He didn't get any of them wrong. Most of the chefs here lost some of the respect they have for him after he accused you. They don't dare to cross him, afraid he'll take revenge on them later. But don't worry too much, you still have me to back you up just go wild and do whatever you want."

Getting Uncle Hou's encouragement made Wang Ming feel better. Hearing that the last 2 chefs are as good as Uncle Hou made Wang Ming feel worried. They would be formidable opponents just like Cheng Kecheng would be, though he hoped that their behavior and attitude would be better than his. 

How Cheng Kecheng confronted him earlier made him feel disgusted. Even if he thought that Wang Ming was cheating, he could have approached it a much better way. After all, they were living on television if the cameras hadn't proved his innocence then he would have lost all his reputation. The consequences of that would be huge. Closing down his restaurants would be a given. 

If he had just told the production quietly or even just taken it after the competition, the production could have dealt with it quietly. But because he wanted to show off and deliberately tried to ruin his career, he did it the loud way not only that he even damaged his own reputation and even lost his points as repercussion. 

"Thank you Uncle. I hope I can make you proud." Ruffling his hair, Zhang Hou said. "I'm already so proud of you. Honestly, I thought you would go out in the first round. You're a talented kid but the nerves and the stress on stage, I've felt it and seen it before, many of the first timers freeze up and make many mistakes because of their nerves. You held yourself great and barely made any mistakes, you did so much better than me when I was in the same shoes."

Wang Ming wanted to watch the competition more, especially after hearing that two worthy opponents were on the stage right now, but he couldn't as the production crew asked for him. At first he thought they wanted to talk about the cheating accusation earlier, but it didn't seem like they cared too much. They probably didn't want to stir up too much trouble with Cheng Kecheng. 

Instead, they wanted for him to do a long interview with them, as after that round many wanted to know more about Wang Ming. They had a poll on the TV and over 40% of the people watching wanted to know more about Wang Ming. The one thing they wanted to know the most is how a youngster like him could rival chefs twice his age.

They asked so many questions like how old he is till his motivation to become a chef, everything went great but the host chose the worst question to ask as a closer. She asked him about his parents and if they were a motivation for him. He didn't know how to answer at all. He couldn't say that his father was his motivation anymore. He was once, but then he changed. The only reason he even worked to feed him after his fall was because he felt indebted to him. 

After contemplating for a few moments, Wang Ming told them that his parents are dead, but he appreciates what his mother and father did for him when he was still a child. The situation with his father gave him a headache.

Even though they had a pleasant meeting last time, Wang Ming didn't forget what Wang Ping had done and will do to gain more power. He still remembers vividly in his mind when Wang Ping harassed Lang Lin. If he was even just a minute too late, then they would have r.a.p.ed Lang Lin.

Even though it didn't happen, that's an unforgiveable sin. Wang Ming didn't know what sins his father has committed that he didn't know about. He didn't even want to imagine how many lives the HouZi Gang have ruined, how many women they have forced to do unspeakable things. Lang Lin is just one example there could be so many more.

Wang Ming would have no hesitation to send Wang Ping to prison if he ever found evidence of his wrongdoings. If there's one person who should end Wang Ping, then it should be himself. Even though it's not his fault that his father turned out the way he did, he felt his c.h.e.s.t tighten, just thinking that they're related.

After the interview finished, the last round of top 64 also finished.

A staff member also informed him that the competitors that he needs to be on stage in 5 minutes, the ones that just finished would get one hour to eat, so they wouldn't be in the first group of top 32.

Wang Ming's group and the group that competed after him would be the ones that compete first. She also warned him that since the clock's getting late, he should get something to eat right after he finishes the next round, as they will compete again immediately after the second group finishes.

The woman who handed Wang Ming the apron widened her eyes. The apron looked like they made it just for him. The apron fit him perfectly. It made him look like a handsome, mischievous prince.

"Is everything okay, miss? Does it look bad?" Seeing the woman who handed him the apron stare at him, like she lost her soul, Wang Ming wondered if the apron didn't fit him.

"Ah, I'm sorry, it looks great! You… just look so good." With a red face, the woman ran away. Wang Ming just looked dumbfounded at her back. He didn't think that she would act like a shy teenager. Though he had a big smile on his face, no one would feel down to getting such a compliment.

Walking up on the stage this time, Wang Ming felt different, more confident. Something had changed inside him this time. He had barely qualified in the first round, but the second round no one could match up with him.

Even though they're going to cook this round, Wang Ming felt confidence in his winning chances. He's always been confident that if he's competing in cooking he would never lose, but seeing all the talented chefs joining the competition honestly scared him. Especially when he barely scr.a.p.ed by the first round.

But now after the second round, Wang Ming realized they are all human too, they're not that much further ahead like he thought they were. In this next round 8 will qualify from each group, he should have a good chance to go to the next round.

He felt all eyes on him when he stood there on the stage. He could feel everyone there staring at him when he stood up there. Wang Ming had proved his skills, he's not a dark horse anymore but a forerunner like Cheng Kecheng.

After getting introduced once again to the people watching on the TV, the round officially started. But something happened that none of them expected the rules had changed once again. They wouldn't cook anything again, a few participants tried to complain again, but seeing judge Natasha stand up the all cowered. But she announced something that made them feel at ease.

"This next round will be more about knowledge. We won't ask you any more questions, so you don't need to worry. But we are going to present you all of you the same ingredient. The ingredient could be meat, herbs, even spices. Then what you need to do is to write what's the ingredients name and how you would use it in cooking. If you get it right then you get a point if you don't then you can try again next round. This time everyone can answer at the same time as you'll be writing your answers. We'll have a person besides you to check the answers. At the end of the hour the ones with the most points get through to the next round. Also, don't worry, this will be the last rule change the next three rounds will be the same as always!"

Wang Ming felt his confidence deflate. This round is to his disadvantage. He doesn't have the extensive experience as the others here have. The more you cook, the more you have time to learn, the more ingredients you can come in contact with. But then, thinking about his cheat, Wang Ming felt better. He could remember every ingredient he has cooked with or seen. This could help him immensely.