Seeing the scores from the many judges, the viewers watching the live stream on the website instantly exploded.

"My goodness, that scared me. Previously, seeing the other teams serving lobster, shark fin, sea cucumber, and abalone, I thought, when the cold noodles came out, that Datong River's underdog momentum was going to end—finished! But wow, the judges, tired of the feast, actually loved this!"

"Hahaha, it's really unexpected, who knew cold noodles could also work, I can make that too."

"Ergou, stop messing around, if you can, why didn't you go compete?"

"6666, this season, eating some refreshing spicy kimchi is really great, and the price should not be too expensive."

"Well, in the North Korean Autonomous Region, a bowl of cold noodles in a more famous shop is only fifteen yuan. In cheaper places, it's seven or eight yuan a bowl. In the cheapest markets, it's five yuan, but you get what you pay for, the taste varies a lot."

"Wow, that's good, just like the judges said, life isn't filled with so much poetry and distant places. Truffle steak is too expensive, can't afford it, just have a bowl of cold noodles instead!"

"Pfft... look at Datong River's menu, cold noodles for only 38 yuan."

"I'm going, that's so affordable, then I can also eat at Datong River!"

"Wow, this is good, this is good, when Datong River reopens, I'm definitely eating this!"

Amidst the netizens' discussions.

The final results of the competition were out.

Temporarily ranking first was Yuqing Hall, scoring 49 in this top five to top three round, followed closely by Baihua Street at 48.5 points, with Shen Qiang-led Datong River at 47 points, overwhelming the royal cuisine and Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan food gods, claiming third place.

Earning a ticket to the finals.

Such a result surprised everyone.

The title of the strongest dark horse of the Huaxia Cuisine Awards undoubtedly fell upon Datong River.

"I admit, I might have underestimated you before, but don't get cocky. Third place is the best result you can get. The contest for the championship and runner-up is clearly still between us and Baihua Street, so you have no reason to gloat," said the master chef of Yuqing Hall as he passed by Shen Qiang.

Shen Qiang laughed, "Don't speak too soon; you should know, I haven't made my move yet."

The master chef of Yuqing Hall scoffed, "What can you do even if you make a move? I've been immersed in this field for decades. Apart from not daring to claim certain victory over Baihua Street, there's no one else in Huaxia that can compete with me."

Shen Qiang smirked, "Anyone can brag, whether you can achieve it is another matter entirely."

"See you at the finals," the master chef of Yuqing Hall sneered. "I'll show you the true strength of Yuqing Hall. Someone like you, who barely squeezed into the top three with little tricks, can't shake the position of Yuqing Hall and Baihua Street."

Shen Qiang laughed, "Alright, but I suggest you prepare some tissues; because, on the day of the finals, I'm going to make you cry rhythmically."

The master chef of Yuqing Hall, still scoffing, turned away, "The only ones crying rhythmically will be you from Datong River."

"You performed quite well, but it's just the level of a street stall," said an old man from Baihua Street, standing proudly earlier who had just walked past, "Cheap ingredients, poor techniques, just relying on clever tricks. You won't be that lucky in the finals. In Huaxia, Baihua Street and Yuqing Hall are two monuments that no one can surpass."

Hearing this, Shen Qiang, annoyed but amused, laughed, "If a monument blocks the road, why go over it? Just smash it."

Hearing this, the old man from Baihua Street snorted and stormed off with a flick of his sleeve.

"Boss, we won!" Jin Xiuji's eyes were wide.

Park Taiheng also with bright eyes, "Boss, we made it to the top three!"

Shen Qiang laughed, "Everyone gets a bonus of fifty thousand, straight out of my own pocket."

The group burst into excited laughter and celebrated enthusiastically.

Then, just as a few of them were coming down from the competition stage.

Shen Qiang was immediately surrounded by a large crowd.

"Mr. Shen, hello, I am the venture capital manager of the Datong Consortium. We would like to discuss a cooperation with you."

"Mr. Shen, our group has decided to invest 500 million to collaborate with Datong River..."

"Mr. Shen, our consortium hopes to collaborate with Datong River; money is not an issue..."

Watching the crowd crazily surge forward, Shen Qiang said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry, please make way, we are here only to compete, not to discuss business."

After that, under the security's maintenance of order,

Shen Qiang led the group back to the hotel upstairs with a smile.

The team members returned to their own rooms.

Shen Qiang also walked to his room.

Just arriving at the door, he immediately noticed Xiu Ju, who looked very alert, standing at the door of his room staring at three men.

Their bodies were swirling with spiritual energy.

All of them were cultivators.

The leader was a skinny man in his thirties dressed very casually. His cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage. He gave Shen Qiang a smile, and said somewhat arrogantly, "Shen Qiang, Datong River has performed quite well, so I, on behalf of the Zhang Family of Shanghai, have decided to buy half of the shares of your Datong River."

"I've investigated; you bought Datong River for forty-five million. We are reasonable people; you should make some profit, so for half of the Datong River shares, we are offering you twenty-five million."

Shen Qiang snorted with laughter, "Get lost, I don't have time for you."

That man's face immediately darkened.

"Listen well, I am from the Zhang Family, and I never bargain when doing business."

Seeing Shen Qiang beginning to get angry, Xiu Ju telepathically said, "Stay calm, the Zhang Family of Shanghai is quite influential in the Cultivation World. Although they are not on the same level as top-tier families like Wanxin Hecheng and Cheng Xinyi, they do have the power of an upper second-tier or lower first-tier family, far surpassing the Zhong Family and Life-extending Hall."

Hearing this, Shen Qiang took a deep breath and said, "Not selling, I never change my terms either."

That young man laughed, looking at Shen Qiang disdainfully and said, "Mr. Shen, buying half of your restaurant's shares is a sign of respect, don't be ungrateful. The price of twenty-five million is very fair."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qiang's anger began to flare up.

"You think I'm a fool? Haven't seen money before? If I needed a partner, the offers outside are higher than yours."

The young man's gaze grew colder and said, "Don't be ungrateful. Look at your ruined store, smashed up like that, my buying half of your shares is saving you, understand? If you refuse to accept face, be careful of my displeasure."

Bang!

Shen Qiang's eyebrows shot up, furious True Yuan wrapping around him.

"You think you can bully me with that kind of trash?"

Almost at the same time, Xiu Ju harshly telepathically said, "Keep calm, Bianyi's issue hasn't been settled yet, don't cause unnecessary trouble!"

At the same time, the two men accompanying the young leader also released their True Yuan, both of them at a level above the Nascent Soul Stage.

"And what if I bully you?" the young man challenged, "What can you do? Just focus on competing well; if you get first place, I might consider adding a million or two to your sum. That's a lot of money, you must be satisfied with that, right?"

Seeing Shen Qiang remain silent, the young man left triumphantly.

As he passed by Shen Qiang, he snapped a business card onto Shen Qiang's face and then sneered, "I'll have someone bring the contract to you tomorrow, don't disappoint me."

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