SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 9, and here's Chapter 10. 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 10: Incomparable Noodles

"Mao!" Mei Li called from the door. "Sorry, I'm late." she pulled the rock in. "Someone has already passed the test?" she gaped. "I'm sorry. It's my fault."

"Don't worry about it." Mao assured. "Now that I have this, everything will be okay."

"By the way, what is that rock?" Mei Li asked.

"Just watch." Ya Xue smiled as she raised the hammer and stated smashing the rocks into pieces.

"Ya Xue, what does that rock have to do with cooking?" Mei Li asked.

"This rock... will change into noodles that are incomparable." Mao replied.

"A rock that changes noodles?" Mei Li echoed.

"I'm done, Mao-sama." Ya Xue reported.

"Thanks, Ya Xue, you're a great help." Mao nodded. "Now to put this into boiling water." he threw the smashed rock bits into the wok. "Boil it slow and long for my incomparable noodles to finish.

"Raw wheat?" Mei Li exclaimed, seeing Mao dry frying the wheat. "You haven't grounded it yet?"

"Before grinding, the wheat should be lightly roasted." Mao explained. "This reduces excess moisture and gives it a stronger aroma."

"Why are you doing it now?" Mei Li fumed. "You should have done all that before I got here."

"Mei Li, calm down." Ya Xue chided, as Mao started grinding the wheat. "Mao-sama simply wanted the freshness of newly-ground flour."

"Now, I'll knead it." Mao readied the flour on the chopping board. "Make a depression in the center of the flour, and put in lots of eggs."

"Here's some water for kneading." Mei Li brought in a cup of water.

"Hold it." Mao stopped her. "I won't use a single drop of water to knead my incomparable noodles."

"What's all this nonsense?" Mei Li snapped. "If you knead it this way, it will clump into a ball. If you try to make noodles with it, then... it will never turn into noodles."

"Just have faith in my incomparable noodles, Mei Li." Mao assured as he started kneading the dough.

"The wok seems ready, Mao-sama." Ya Xue reported, as Mao kneaded his dough.

"The sand from that weird rock has sunk to the bottom." Mei Li gushed. "It was so muddy before, but now it looks so clear."

"To be honest,this pure, clear liquid, is the cornerstone of it all." Ya Xue winked. "Mao-sama." she scooped a bowl of the lye water from the wok and handed it to her young master.

"We pour this onto the dough." Mao added, pouring the lye water into the dent in the dough.

"But why is the liquid from the boiling sand so important?" Mei Li asked.

"Just watch." Mao grinned. "Good." he beamed. "I guess that will do. Ya Xue, can you help me stretch it out?"

"Leave it to me, Mao-sama." Ya Xue smiled, taking hold on a stick that had the dough wound around it.

"This is... my Incomparable Noodles!" Mao declared and starting running backwards as Ya Xue stayed put. "More!" he continued backing off. "Not yet! I think that's enough." he reached the other end of the room. "Ya Xue, let go!"

"Yes!" Ya Xue nodded and released the stick, the noodles were now kneaded in mid-air before landing on the chopping block as it continued kneading itself.

"Now, separate into handfuls while squeezing them." Mao split the dough into five portions. "The noodles are done."

"Add the soup, the broth." Mei Li urged. "Hurry, you don't have much time."

"Soup broth isn't needed in my Incomparable Noodles." Mao remarked and tossed his seasonings into the wok and started cooking. "Add lard, and add green onions, garlic, ginger and red pepper. Mix it in with the boiled noodles, and fry."

"Mao-sama!" Ya Xue warned, her eyes turning to the incense stick that indicated the amount of time.

"All right, it's done!" Mao declared. "Here! I'm finished!" he raised his hand.

"I'm finished, Examiners!" Wang Hu declared at the same time.

"Now, we'll examine the dish of Wang Hu from Xiaolin Kuan." the Chief Examiner stated. "This..." he gaped, tasting the meat. "It isn't roast pork."

"They're from the corners of the pork rib, called Dongpo's Pork." Wang Hu supplied.

"So tell me, Wang Hu." the Chief Examiner stated. "How is this noodle incomparable?"

"Well, Dongpo's Pork is invented by Su Dongpo, the great poet and statesman of the Song Dynasty." Wang Hu explained. "'Time is more precious than gold'. Su Dongpo is among the Incomparables that our country boasts about."

"We will now give our decision." the Chief Examiner declared, after a short discussion.

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