CHAPTER 662: EPISODE 351 TRICKY

By the Huayin Pond, it was now a sea of people.

The temporary kitchen tents were packed more densely than in previous years, with only four or five feet separating adjacent tents. There were hardly any barriers between them, just barely enough space for a couple of pots of flowers and plants for decoration. The wooden walls were thin; if one spoke loudly within their own tent, those next door could clearly hear everything.

Presumably because the kitchens were stiflingly hot, many had gathered outside, mostly men with a few women scattered among them, chatting in groups, buzzing and rumbling, making the lakeside even more noisy.

Qing You had visited the day before and, without needing Hua Xiaomai to instruct him, took the lead, pointing ahead as he said, "Boss, hurry, our Daoxiang Garden’s kitchen tent is right there!"

Hua Xiaomai, slightly dizzy from the sun, smiled at him with a hand shielding her forehead and followed him towards the southeast, scanning around her.

Fortunately, the nearby faces were all unfamiliar, and the names on the signs at the entrances of the kitchen tents were unheard of before; most likely, like her, they had also traveled from afar to the Provincial City.

Near the Chixing Pavilion was a cleared space with a table in the middle, honoring Lord Stove, flanked by several long tables piled with small mountains of ingredients.

Radishes, black fungus, Chinese yam, Solomon’s seal, fresh persimmons, wheat gluten, daylilies.

Not to mention the rare local delicacies and seafood, wrapped in lotus leaves and kept in ice buckets, glistening with water droplets under the sun, sparkling like little stars.

A female worker named Xiu Miao couldn’t stop marveling, feeling like her eyes weren’t enough to take it all in, and said to Hua Xiaomai, "Boss, this Eight Treasures Conference really spares no expense, not just on the ingredients. Just buying all that ice must have cost a fortune!"

"Every restaurant has contributed twenty taels of silver; isn’t that wool on the sheep’s back?"

As Qing You wiped his sweat, he added, "Boss, am I right?"

Hua Xiaomai smiled back at him and stepped aside, asking them to move the belongings into the tent first, then she turned to look at Meng Yuhuai.

"This Eight Treasures Conference is going to last for two days this year. It’s too hot by the Huayin Pond. Why don’t you go back to the inn first? You’d just be idle here anyway, and it would save you from boredom."

Meng Yuhuai also smiled, "You only allow yourself to join the crowd at the Escort Agency, yet you won’t let me see something fresh here? With me here, you just focus on cooking."

Hua Xiaomai knew he was worried about someone with bad intentions coming to cause trouble, so she didn’t insist any further, nodded her head, and they both lifted the felt and entered the tent together.

Inside the Chixing Pavilion, five judges had arrived one after another. Old man Xue stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes sweeping across each of the lake’s kitchen tents, suddenly feeling a sense of pride swell in his chest.

Having lived to such an age without being able to cook even a pot of rice well, he usually only cared about eating. Yet within Tong’an Prefecture, there were still plenty of restaurants and eateries that gave him great pleasure!

"Old Xue, shall we start now?"

A slightly younger judge beside him asked respectfully.

Old man Xue chuckled, stroking his long beard, and replied, "Good, let’s first pay homage to Lord Stove, and then we’ll begin."

His tone was gentle, yet it sounded more like a command, and immediately several servants ran out of the pavilion to spread the word.

To honor Lord Stove, every cook had to participate. The lakeside became even noisier as the crowd surged towards the space where the table was set.

Naturally, Hua Xiaomai also received the news. She looked back at Meng Yuhuai, signaling him to be at ease. She left Qing You and Xiu Miao to guard their belongings, and then walked out together with Wang Zhanrui and Zhou Yunyun.

Many had already gathered around the table honoring Lord Stove. Regardless of familiarity, everyone greeted each other with smiles; suddenly seeing a young woman arriving, many couldn’t help but be momentarily startled.

"Is this... the owner of Daoxiang Garden?"

"Hmm, I heard it’s a woman, deeply connected to Wang Tonghe..."

"If she truly is the disciple of old Wang and has inherited his skills, then today we..."

"Enough, she’s just a woman. Even with Wang Tonghe’s guidance, what can she really achieve? The person behind her, though, seems quite capable."

Hua Xiaomai pretended not to hear the murmuring discussion, casually found a spot to stand, and looked around casually. Not spotting Song Jingxi, she coincidentally locked eyes with Han Fengzhi amid the crowd.

She immediately smiled and nodded at him.

Yet unexpectedly, Han Fengzhi immediately shifted his gaze away, his expression solemnly returning to focus on Old man Xue standing in the center of the clearing.

Was this his way of telling her that once inside the Eight Treasures Conference, there were no friends to speak of, and it was bound to be a test of true skill?