After announcing the rankings, Wang Jianye did not leave immediately. Instead, he walked up to Zhao Qiankun and Li Haoyu and looked at them with his wise eyes.

He knows very well that for a real chef, the result of the competition is important, but what is more important is to learn and grow from the competition.

“Masters, today’s competition was very exciting. Master Zhao, your scallion-fried sea cucumber is really impressive. Its color, texture and taste are impeccable.

And Master Li, your nine-turn large intestine also demonstrates your deep understanding of the traditional skills of Shandong cuisine.

Remember, the culinary journey is long and full of challenges, but it is these challenges that keep us moving forward.

I look forward to seeing your better performance in the finals."

After saying that, he patted them on the shoulders gently, turned around and left, leaving behind expectations for infinite possibilities in the future.

As the judges left, the chefs began to clean up their stoves and prepare for the next competition.

Li Haoyu walked up to Zhao Qiankun and stretched out his hand: "Master Zhao, you won today, but I won't give up. See you in the finals!"

Zhao Qiankun smiled and held Li Haoyu's hand: "Okay! I'm looking forward to your challenge. But before that, let's enjoy the afterglow of this game."

……

As the dust settled on the preliminary rounds, the chefs have begun intensive preparations to get ready for the upcoming finals.

The kitchen was once again filled with a tense yet combative atmosphere.

The firelight illuminated every focused face as the chefs cut or fried, each movement revealing their desire for victory.

The air is filled with the mixed aroma of various ingredients, and each flavor seems to tell a story about challenge and transcendence.

Li Haoyu stood in front of his stove with a more determined look in his eyes.

He was well aware of his shortcomings in the preliminary round, so he decided to introduce a more innovative dish in the semi-finals - "Luwei Feiyan".

This dish combines the essence of traditional Shandong cuisine with modern cooking techniques. It not only tests his cooking skills but also his creativity and imagination.

He tried again and again, constantly adjusting the proportions of ingredients and cooking time, striving to make a splash in the semi-finals.

On the other side, Zhao Qiankun did not slack off at all.

He was well aware of Li Haoyu's strength and determination, so he decided to introduce his own specialty - "Sea Cucumber Hydrangea" in the semi-finals.

This dish may seem simple, but it actually contains many mysteries and requires extremely high cooking skills and a deep understanding of the ingredients.

He personally selects the ingredients and strives for perfection in every step, trying to give the dish new life while preserving the traditional flavor.

As the competition time approaches, the competition in the kitchen becomes more intense.

The eye contact between the chefs was full of tension, but more of it was respect and recognition for each other.

They know that only through such fierce competition can they unleash their greatest potential and bring the most exciting culinary feast to the audience.

The judges are also paying close attention to this fierce competition.

They are well aware of the hard work and dedication behind these chefs, so they are full of expectations for the rematch.

They hope to see more dishes that combine innovation and tradition, and hope to see these young chefs continue to grow and break through themselves in the competition.

……

Finally, the horn of the semi-finals sounded. The chefs showed off their specialties one after another, and a fierce competition began. The presentation of each dish aroused the audience's amazement and applause.

In this fierce competition, Li Haoyu and Zhao Qiankun became the focus of everyone's attention.

In the tense atmosphere of the rematch, Li Haoyu and Zhao Qiankun stood in front of their respective stoves, their hands busy but their eyes occasionally meeting, as they engaged in a silent contest.

Fine beads of sweat oozed out of Li Haoyu's forehead, but he didn't bother to wipe them off. He just focused on adjusting the seasoning of the "Luwei Feiyan" in the pot.

He took a deep breath, turned to look at Zhao Qiankun, and a challenging smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Master Zhao, it seems that we are really evenly matched this time. However, I will not give up this victory easily."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qiankun gently raised the shovel in his hand and sprinkled a handful of chopped green onions, adding a bit of green and fragrance to his "Sea Cucumber Yunding Hydrangea".

He looked up, his eyes showing both admiration and competition: “Master Li, your creativity is indeed eye-catching.

But don’t forget that the tradition and heritage of Shandong cuisine is also an indispensable weapon for me. We are opponents on the court, but partners who learn from each other off the court.

But today, I will not show mercy."

In the conversation between the two, there was both recognition of each other's strength and anticipation for the upcoming fierce competition.

The atmosphere between them was tense yet full of respect and reverence.

Outside the transparent partition of the kitchen, the audience gathered densely, their eyes closely following every move of Li Haoyu and Zhao Qiankun.

"Look over there, the color of Li Haoyu's 'Luwei Feiyan' is so tempting, and the creativity is simply amazing!" A young girl pointed at Li Haoyu's stove excitedly, with a gleam in her eyes.

"Indeed, but Zhao Qiankun's 'Sea Cucumber Cloud Top Hydrangea' should not be underestimated. The texture of the sea cucumber shows that the cooking time is just right." The middle-aged man next to him nodded in agreement, obviously also a food connoisseur.

"This rematch really makes my blood boil. The duel between two masters is a double enjoyment of vision and taste!" A young man patted his companion's shoulder excitedly, his eyes full of admiration.

The audience was talking about it one after another, they were attracted by the two chefs' superb cooking skills.

As the competition drew to a close, Wang Jianye and several other judges sat around a special judging table with dishes by Li Haoyu, Zhao Qiankun and several other outstanding contestants placed in front of them.

Their faces were full of seriousness and earnestness, but their eyes also sparkled with their love and appreciation for food.

Wang Jianye first picked up the chopsticks and gently picked up a piece of "Luwei Feiyan". After tasting it carefully, he nodded slightly and exclaimed:
"Chef Li Haoyu's dish is creative and unique, with distinct flavors. It retains the richness of Shandong cuisine while incorporating the freshness of modern cooking, which is refreshing."

Then, he turned to the "Sea Cucumber Yunding Hydrangea", scooped up a spoonful and put it into his mouth. After closing his eyes and savoring it for a while, Wang Jianye opened his eyes and praised:
"Chef Zhao Qiankun's dish is a perfect fusion of tradition and classics. The freshness of the sea cucumber and the fragrance of the rice complement each other. Every bite can feel his extreme respect for the ingredients and his profound cooking skills."

Other judges also expressed their opinions. They gave detailed comments on each dish from different angles, affirming the chefs' strengths and making pertinent suggestions.

After intense discussion and comprehensive consideration, the judges finally reached a consensus.

Wang Jianye, the chief judge, stood up and announced to the audience: "After careful evaluation by our jury, the top three finalists of the Shandong cuisine group of this national cooking competition are: first place, Chef Zhao Qiankun's 'Sea Cucumber Yunding Hydrangea'; second place, Chef Li Haoyu's 'Luwei Feiyan'; third place is..."

After the announcement, the audience burst into warm applause and cheers.

Wang Jianye distributed the dishes made by the top three people to the audience for their taste.

Li Haoyu is the chef at Cuihualou, a Shandong cuisine restaurant in Sijiucheng.

Zhao Qiankun does not work as a chef in any restaurant.

Therefore, before the cooking competition was over, a restaurant manager found Zhao Qiankun and wanted to poach him.

After all, Zhao Qiankun is both powerful and famous, so it is a sure win for him to dig up his own restaurant. (End of this chapter)