SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 7, and here's Chapter 8. So, read and review. Come on boys and girls, is it so hard for you to leave a review other than putting this on your favorited lists and alerts?

Disclaimers: Me no own, you no sue.

Chapter 8: The Final Battle

"Who's there?" Al demanded, when a ladle stopped him from adding salt into Mao's ingredients. "Chouyu..."

"Are you really a chef, acting in this way?" Chouyu scolded.

"Don't be naive." Al snorted. "Winning is everything. My ani-chan always said so."

"No matter what measure you take?" Chouyu pressed.

"Shut up!" Al snapped. "Having the name 'Yousen' has spoiled you. You'll never know how my ani-chan feels. After all, customers always trust big names and fancy titles. My ani-chan had to struggle in this cold-hearted world."

"So, that's it..." Chouyu noted. "All this time, you've been trying to make a name for yourself. You're spoiled! A chef does not rely on either a big name or a fancy title. He relies on his pride. Take Mao for instance; his small body bears the pride of a chef. He fights desperately to win. If your brother wants to throw away his pride for victory, then he's not fit to be a chef."

"What's that?" Al glared. "My ani-chan is not wrong!"

"Stop and listen, damn it!" Chouyu barked.

"Damn it!" Al cursed and fled, breaking a pot and waking Mao up.

"Go wash your face and prepare for the day." Chouyu instructed. "I'll be looking forward to your dumplings." he tossed Ya Xue the ladle and walked off.

"Everyone, please watch." Mao requested. "Behold, my dragon will now awaken." stepping on the blower, steam emerged from the steamer, causing the shrimp dumpling

within to rise. "Everyone, this is my Rising Dragon Dumpling'. Everyone, please try the dumpling first." he added, the gathering crowd inquiring about the explanation.

"I get it." Master Lo Wen peered into Mao's dumpling. "That's why it moved."

"Mao..." Mei Li muttered worriedly as the voting started.

"Don't worry, I did everything I could." Mao assured.

"We did it!" Mao whooped, the clay pot where the voting balls were thrown was broken and revealing that Yousen Shuka had won by a one-sided majority.

"Wait a minute!" Al barked. "I want an explanation. So a dumpling moved a little bit. Who cares? It's such a trivial matter. My ani-chan's Dragon Dumpling shouldn't have lost to it."

"Elder Kuan." Master Lo Wen turned to the tournament sponsor.

"All right." Elder Kuan voiced. "Let me examine both dumplings here. First of all, presentation is key to every dish. Karao's dragon was masterfully arranged with the technique of a master craftsman. It is therefore above criticism in that respect. But than anything, we should laud the creativity of Mao's dragon dumpling, which moved as if it were alive. Mao, please disclose the secret now. I'm sure everyone wants to know this more than anything else."

"The secret is this: two kinds of skin." Mao brought out two dumpling skins.

"This dumpling is wrapped in two kinds of skins." Ya Xue explained. "A clear starch skin on top, and a flour skin at the bottom. So, when it is steamed, there's difference in the expansion of each skin. In other words, the bottom portion expands more than the top, causing the dragon to 'move'."

"Quit kidding me!" Al snapped. "Even if the dumpling moved, that is absolutely nothing to do with taste."

"But it does have a significance." Mao corrected. "When it moves, the gap between the skins and the filling is closed. This locks in the flavor of the shrimp, and increases the unity of the dumpling's taste at the same time."

"Unity?" Al echoed. "That's the basis of any steamed dumpling."

"How is that different from my dumplings?" Karao pressed. "They also have unity. And all the savory taste of the shrimp too..." he was cut off when Chouyu brought Mao's steamer right in his face and Karao took a bite. "It can't be!" he realized. "To think that he resorted to this... we lost, Al." he admitted.

"He finally realized it." Elder Kuan noted.

"Look at this." Karao showed Al the empty shrimp head. "It's the brain. The shrimp brains have all been neatly removed. Mao mixed them into the filling. When the dumpling moves, the skins form a tight seal. He locked the taste of the entire shrimp inside. This determines the superiority of his dumplings over mine. What a last resort this is."

"Your unbeatable dumpling did not have one last finishing touch." Mater Lo Wen stepped up. "I admit that your technique is better than Mao's. But there are factors that just can't be precisely calculated. Sincerity to your customers: that's the starting point of being a chef. This sincerity is exactly what you lack. Once you understand this, I'm sure you will become a famous chef. You have my word. Work hard."

"We lost." Karao told Al. "We lost completely."

"Admiral Lee." Mao greeted the arriving Admiral.

"You did very well, Mao." Admiral Lee praised. "You've progressed quicker than I expected. It seems the time has finally come. Mao, the reason I wanted you in Canton was for you to challenge the Canton Super Chef licensure examination."

"Super Chef licensure examination?" Mao gaped.

"There are only a few Super Chefs." Admiral Lee added. "In Szuchuan, your mother, Pai. In Canton, you have Master Lou and Chouyu. Only about ten people have qualified for the highest distinction of the Chinese cooking world: Super Chef. This test may greatly direct your future path. Wouldn't you like to challenge it to test your skills?"

"I will support you, Mao." Master Lo Wen stated.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.