NOVEL NEXT Chapter 101 - 101: Elder Jiang
Chapter 101: Elder Jiang
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Soon, all the judges finished tasting the contestants’ dishes and provided fair scores. The results were promptly announced on the large screen positioned behind the stage. It was undisputed that Liao Ning secured the first place.
“The esteemed champion of this food competition is none other than Liao Ning. Let us all give her a heartfelt round of applause and extend our congratulations.” Following the emcee’s announcement of the top three contestants, Liao Ning and Yu Ni were invited on stage.
Liao Ning emerged as the winner, while Yu Ni claimed the third spot. As for the second place, it was awarded to Zhao Kuo, a renowned expert in ancient food culture research within the alliance.
“Now, with enthusiastic applause, we invite Dr. Jiang He, the leader in the realm of ancient food research, to join us on stage and present an award to our accomplished contestant!”
The moment the emcee finished speaking, the audience erupted in applause and cheers. Even those watching the official live-stream of the food competition were brimming with excitement, their comments streaming in relentlessly.
[Elder Jiang! It’s Elder Jiang! He’s my idol!]
[The organizers of this food competition certainly spared no expense in inviting Elder Jiang!]
“I apologize if I’m not familiar with Elder Jiang, but I’ve recently taken an interest in ancient delicacies. Could someone enlighten me about his significance and why his mention is so thrilling?
[You mean you’ve never heard of Elder Jiang before!]
[Just getting into ancient food culture, so please bear with us newcomers.]
[Elder Jiang is the esteemed leader of the ancient food and culture world. He has successfully restored hundreds of ancient recipes, and instead of keeping them to himself, he selflessly donated them to the Alliance. These precious recipes were made freely accessible to all citizens of the Alliance through the Star Network Library. For a mere 100 star coins, one can become a registered member and access these recipes indefinitely.]
[The previous commenter is absolutely right. Elder Jiang’s contributions to ancient food culture are unparalleled. Unlike certain bloggers who guard their research like trade secrets, Elder Jiang generously shares his knowledge, unfazed by the potential impact on his own earnings.]
That’s right. Elder Jiang’s generosity extended beyond donating recipes for free. He also provided sponsorships for numerous students pursuing doctorates in the field of ancient food culture.
The viewers in the live-stream were engaged in animated discussions, while the atmosphere at the venue of the food competition’s finals was equally vibrant. Elder Jiang made his way towards the podium with a solemn gait. He couldn’t fathom that the champion standing on the stage was not Zhu Ying, but an unfamiliar young man named Liao Ning. It was inconceivable that Zhu Ying, whom he expected to see, was absent from the competition.
Elder Jiang’s steps grew hastier as he approached, and his eyes widened in astonishment. Could it be possible that Zhu Ying wasn’t the one standing on the podium?
With her snow-white hair and deep blue eyes resembling Zhu Ying’s, it was undoubtedly the young Zhu Ying!
Elder Jiang quickened his pace, paying no mind to the fact that it was the finals. He disregarded the multitude of eyes watching the event unfold both in person and through the live-stream. In his weathered voice, he called out to Liao Ning, “Zhu Ying!”
Everything happened so swiftly that the emcee couldn’t intervene in time. The elderly man’s resounding call filled the ears of tens of thousands of attendees and billions of viewers in the live-stream through the speakers and online broadcast.
The commotion gradually subsided as everyone fixed their gaze upon the elderly and young figures on the podium, fearing they might miss a crucial development if they so much as blinked.
The emcee broke out in a cold sweat. The situation had surpassed what a mere emcee like him could manage. He could only hope that Elder Jiang wouldn’t say anything further to cause a stir.
However, he had forgotten that often what one dreads tends to materialize.
As anticipated, in the next moment, Elder Jiang uttered something truly astonishing. “Zhu Ying, where have you been all these years? Su Tang and I have spent over three decades searching for you. How could you be so heartless as to leave us in the dark about your whereabouts?!”
Liao Ning gazed at the tearful elder, her heart filled with empathy. She couldn’t fathom whether he could bear the weight of the news that Zhu Ying had departed from this world.
After careful consideration, Liao Ning made up her mind to reveal the truth. With a gentle tone, she softly uttered, “I am not Zhu Ying..”