Sludge suction system

After a long while, Li Changfeng slowly stood up, breaking the silence. His posture was upright, his expression solemn and dignified, the majesty accumulated over the years evident in his presence. He calmly swept his gaze across the arena, and the arena fell silent instantly. Everyone held their breath, eagerly awaiting the answer that was about to be revealed.

"This culinary competition is truly a gathering of masters, and the dishes are incredibly impressive. Every contestant has given their all, and each dish is uniquely ingenious, making it very difficult for our judging panel to choose." Li Changfeng's deep and magnetic voice echoed throughout the competition venue.

"Take the Huang family's 'Secret Recipe Braised Duck' for example. The sauce is exceptionally well-prepared. A variety of spices are carefully simmered and perfectly blended, creating a rich and mellow aroma that brings out the tenderness of the duck meat to its fullest. The flavor is rich and layered, leaving a lingering aftertaste."

"The Luo family's 'Exotic Jade Venison' features a bold and innovative use of rare spices. The unique aroma gives the venison a completely new taste experience, preserving its tender texture while adding a distinctive and mysterious flavor, showcasing the family's profound expertise in exploring unique ingredients and spices."

"The Bai family's 'Iced Lotus Seed Soup' cleverly uses natural spices such as mint and jasmine to infuse the traditional lotus seed soup with a refreshing and cool soul. The interplay of icy coolness and fragrance brings a refreshing enjoyment on a hot summer day, showcasing their unique insights and exquisite skills in the use of spices in cold drinks."

"The Niu family's 'Wine-Scented Beef Feast' cleverly combines wine and spices. Cloves, nutmeg, and other spices are infused into a secret blend of wine, which works perfectly when cooking beef. It not only removes the fishy smell and cuts through the greasiness, but also makes the beef tender, juicy, and rich in flavor. This unique cooking method is truly impressive."

"The Hu family's 'Sea Rhyme Golden Fragrance Treasure Platter' features a specially made seafood spice powder that is the finishing touch to the dish. It is made from a variety of marine plants and shellfish, which fully brings out the flavor of seafood and adds a unique marine aroma, so that every bite of seafood is full of the charm of the sea, reflecting a profound understanding and superb skills in seafood cooking."

"The Liu family's 'Eight Treasures in Steamed Basket' is unique in its use of steamers and spice packets. Different spice packets are placed according to the characteristics of different dishes. The spicy and savory flavor of steamed pork ribs and the delicate and fresh flavor of steamed fish in lotus leaves are just a few examples. Each steamed dish has its own unique flavor due to the unique use of spices, and the aroma is irresistible, showcasing the charm and innovation of traditional steamed cuisine."

"Xia Zhi's 'Dreamy Taro Paste' is equally impressive. She selects high-quality taro, carefully grinds it into a smooth paste, and adds the right amount of milk and sugar, giving it a rich and creamy texture. What's particularly ingenious is her use of sweet fennel from the Western Regions and cinnamon from the local mountains, which are specially processed and then incorporated into the taro paste. The refreshing sweetness of the fennel and the mellow warmth of the cinnamon blend together, not only enriching the flavor but also adding a unique layer of complexity and a captivating aroma, making you feel as if you're in a dreamlike, sweet world."

"Gao He and Ye Keke's 'Sichuan Pepper Chicken' is also quite unique. The chicken is shredded into thin strips, neatly arranged, and drizzled with a vibrant green Sichuan pepper sauce. The rich and mellow numbing flavor of the Sichuan peppercorns complements the other seasonings perfectly, creating a powerful impact on the taste buds. The chicken, soaked in the Sichuan pepper sauce, is tender and juicy with a crisp texture. Every bite is full of rich Sichuan flavor, making it incredibly appetizing."

The judges nodded in approval, expressing their recognition and appreciation for the excellent dishes. Li Changfeng then changed the subject, looking at Fang Xiaobei with excitement and admiration in his eyes: "However, Fang Xiaobei's lemongrass roasted tilapia has a unique charm. From the selection of ingredients to the use of spices, and then to the cooking temperature and techniques, everything is amazing."

"The fresh aroma of lemongrass blends perfectly with the tenderness of tilapia. The proportions of various spices are just right, which not only do not mask the fish's natural flavor, but also elevate it to a whole new level. The fish skin is roasted to a golden and crispy state, while the fish meat is tender and juicy. Every bite is like a magical journey for the taste buds, making it intoxicating and unforgettable."

At this moment, all eyes were on Fang Xiaobei. Fang Xiaobei took a deep breath to calm her excited emotions, then smiled and slowly began, "This lemongrass-grilled tilapia isn't actually complicated to make, but every step is crucial. First, I select fresh, plump tilapia, clean it thoroughly, and then marinate it with a special seasoning. This seasoning includes fresh lemongrass picked from the mountains, which is chopped and mixed with other spices such as lemon leaves, Sichuan peppercorns, and chili peppers, allowing the fish to fully absorb the flavors. Next, I slowly grill the fish over charcoal, carefully controlling the heat. First, I grill it over low heat to ensure the inside is cooked through, then I quickly use high heat to lock in the juices and aroma, constantly turning the fish to ensure even heating. During the grilling process, I brush on a sauce made with lemongrass oil and fish oil, which makes the skin crispier and the aroma more intense. Finally, when the fish is golden brown and fragrant, I sprinkle on some roasted spice powder, and the lemongrass-grilled tilapia is complete."

As soon as Fang Xiaobei finished speaking, enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted once again in the arena. Li Changfeng nodded slightly, his eyes full of satisfaction: "It is this profound understanding of ingredients and spices, as well as her superb cooking skills, that made Fang Xiaobei's dish the champion of this competition. She created an extraordinary flavor with simple ingredients; that is the charm of food."

The moment Li Changfeng announced Fang Xiaobei as the champion, thunderous applause erupted in the arena, and everyone's eyes were focused on Fang Xiaobei's face, which was beaming with joy and pride. However, amidst this lively and celebratory atmosphere, Ye Keke and Gao He's expressions instantly darkened.

Ye Keke bit her lower lip tightly, her once bright eyes now filled with resentment and anger. Her hands clenched unconsciously into fists at her sides, her nails digging deep into her palms, as if this could suppress the surging jealousy within her. She glared fiercely at Fang Xiaobei, her eyes seeming to shoot arrows, her lips trembling slightly, as if silently cursing this outcome. In her heart, she and Gao He had meticulously prepared their Sichuan peppercorn chicken, putting in a great deal of effort in both ingredient selection and seasoning, and it should have been a strong contender for the championship. However, Fang Xiaobei's seemingly ordinary lemongrass-roasted tilapia had stolen the spotlight.

Gao He stood to the side, his facial muscles twitching slightly, his eyes filled with deep resentment. He crossed his arms, his chest heaving with anger, his teeth grinding together. Watching Fang Xiaobei surrounded by the crowd, receiving flowers and applause, he sneered and muttered under his breath, "It's just a grilled fish, what's so great about it? This championship should have been ours." The bitterness and jealousy in his voice, though he tried to suppress it, were still clearly audible.

The two exchanged a glance, seeing the same emotion in each other's eyes, and secretly vowed to surpass Fang Xiaobei in culinary skills one day, making her taste the bitterness of being outdone. In this seemingly calm corner of the competition, the flames of jealousy were burning fiercely, and a silent contest quietly unfolded between Ye Keke, Gao He, and Fang Xiaobei.