The beautiful host read out the names of the applicants in the order they registered.
Each contestant, upon hearing their name, would walk to the front, bow to the judges and the audience, and then introduce themselves, stating which country they were from.
Cheng Xiaofan was the last of the registered contestants.
"Now, I invite the last contestant, Mr. Cheng Xiaofan, to come to the front!"
When the beautiful host announced Cheng Xiaofan's name, Liu Shutting and Miller, seated at the judges' table, visibly paused.
Neither of them had expected Cheng Xiaofan to show up to compete.
Liu Shutting, in particular, wore a smile and thought to himself that with this young man participating, the championship chef title was undoubtedly destined to be his.
Cheng Xiaofan immediately walked to the front and bowed to the judges on stage and the audience below.
"Greetings, esteemed judges and audience!"
He said with a smile, "I am Cheng Xiaofan, a humble farmer from Zhuxi Village, Huaxia. Besides farming, I occasionally treat people's illnesses. I've always been lucky, and this time, arriving in Chinatown, I've even won the casino of the world-class gambling god Taifulai!"
"What, Taifulai lost his casino to this young man?"
"How is that possible? That Taifulai is a renowned world-class gambling king. He's never lost a single match since he debuted!"
"Everyone, I seem to have heard that Taifulai did lose his casino, I just didn't expect it to be to such a young man!"
"This young man is too incredible!"
As soon as Cheng Xiaofan finished speaking, the audience below began to chatter.
At this moment, Wethers squeezed through and loudly announced to everyone, "I can confirm that Taifulai lost his casino to Mr. Cheng!"
"Furthermore, I want to tell everyone that I, Wethers, a world-class boxing champion, was also defeated by Mr. Cheng. Now, I pledge my complete loyalty to Mr. Cheng!"
Someone who recognized Wethers exclaimed in astonishment, "My heavens, even Wethers was defeated by this young man?"
"This young man is truly remarkable!"
"Wethers, I didn't ask you to speak. Why are you butting in and babbling?" Cheng Xiaofan was quite annoyed by Wethers' unsolicited interjection.
Wethers immediately flinched and repeatedly apologized, "I'm sorry, Mr. Cheng. It was my impulsiveness. Truly, I apologize!"
He hurried over to Melina.
Cheng Xiaofan continued, "Today, I, Cheng Xiaofan, am honored to participate in this competition. In fact, I am very clear in my heart that once I enter this competition, the title of Champion Chef will be mine!"
"Shut up!"
Han Cheng, the first contestant to register, immediately stood up and said angrily, "Perhaps your luck is good, and you've won the world gambling god's casino and defeated the world boxing champion Wethers, but that doesn't mean you can win the cooking competition today!"
"That's right, kid, aren't you being too arrogant? You can boldly claim to be the champion of this competition in front of all the judges?" Someone immediately chimed in.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled and said, "Fellow competitors, please don't be angry. I speak my mind, and you listen. Whether I win or not will be decided by strength."
"How about this: the stoves and pots are here, and all the ingredients are also here. I only need to prepare one dish. If anyone can make something that surpasses mine, I will not only forfeit my right to compete on the spot, but I will also give the winner one million US dollars!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Han Cheng immediately stood up and asked, "Cheng Xiaofan, do you stand by your word?"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled, "As a person of Huaxia, a gentleman's word is his bond!"
Liu Shutting immediately declared, "All contestants, as the chief judge, I, Liu Ting Shu, can vouch for what Cheng Xiaofan has just said!"
"Good, I support Mr. Liu!" Miller immediately echoed.
The other judges, seeing that two such prominent figures had voiced their opinions, all nodded, agreeing to vouch for Cheng Xiaofan.
Han Cheng, seeing this, clasped his hands towards Cheng Xiaofan and said, "Young man, it seems your luck is indeed good. Since the judges on the main stage are willing to vouch for you, I hope that the million US dollars you mentioned won't be wasted!"
In Han Cheng's mind, Cheng Xiaofan was too young, and it was utterly impossible for him to win this cooking competition and the title of Chef God among the Chinese worldwide.
He felt that the championship was surely his!
Cheng Xiaofan heard this and nodded at Han Cheng, smiling very gently, "Brother, rest assured, what I, Cheng Xiaofan, say, I never go back on my word!"
"Alright, kid, we'll see what dish you can make!"
"Yes, for your million US dollars, I'll eagerly encourage you to boast!"
"Haha, that gentleman's words are very humorous, I mean the same thing!"
"I mean the same thing!"
The other contestants expressed their attitudes.
Cheng Xiaofan was well aware that his self-proclaimed title of Chef God would surely provoke anger and resentment from many people, which was perfectly normal.
Otherwise!
Why would they have come to compete!
It was a cooking competition held once every five years; who wouldn't want to win the championship and the title of Chef God?
However!
As long as he participated, the title of Chef God would surely elude others.
He went up to the stage, picked out a large crucian carp from a water vat, selected some ingredients, and addressed everyone around him, "Now, I will only make you one of the simplest dishes: Steamed Crucian Carp!"
"Steamed Crucian Carp may seem simple, but the taste and nutritional value will certainly differ depending on who prepares it."
"Believe it or not, the crucian carp I steam will not only have the best taste and nutritional value in the world, but eating my fish will also cure headaches and paralysis caused by stroke!"
"Mr. Cheng, are you telling the truth?" asked a judge named Huang Jiesan from the judges' table, with some disbelief.
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and replied, "Sir, in front of a gentleman, I, Cheng Xiaofan, never lie!"
Huang Jiesan said, "Mr. Cheng, my name is Huang Jiesan. My father has been paralyzed on one side due to a stroke and has been bedridden for three years. I wonder if it can be treated?"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled slightly and asked, "Judge Huang, where is your esteemed father?"
Huang Jiesan smiled, "My home is in Chinatown, not far from here."
Cheng Xiaofan said, "Judge Huang, if it's convenient, you can have someone bring your father to the venue. I'll make an extra portion of Steamed Crucian Carp, and if everything goes as expected, his condition will be treated on the spot!"
Upon hearing this, Huang Jiesan said excitedly, "Okay, I'll have someone bring my father here immediately!"
With that said, he took out his mobile phone and immediately called his family, asking them to drive his father to the venue.