SailorStar9: Well, I've uploaded Chapter 17, and here's Chapter 18. 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 18: Big Bang Siu Mai

"Shilou, I can't win this showdown." Mao muttered, unnerved by Shell's Golden Ratio siu mai. "The ingredients we used... are the same. They're identical."

"But you have a plan." Shilou reminded.

"It won't work!" Mao protested. "Combining the four ingredients was the plan. We had the same idea and ingredients. However, I used the same amounts of each ingredient. I can't defeat his golden ratio with this. A different ratio that can beat the Golden Ratio siu mai." he started cracking his head. "Does such a thing exist?"

"This isn't doing us any good." Shilou moaned, leaning against the table and accidentally pushing the basket of eggs to the ground. "Man, the yolks and whites are all mixed up." he whined as he started cleaning up.

"Together?" Mao frowned. "That's right! There is a way!" pouring out the flour, he started over. Fluffing up the dough, he headed out to the yard and starting spinning the dough out. "Shilou, Mei Li, bring me a steamer! The biggest one we got."

"It's time." Chouyu checked his pocket watch. "Bring in whatever you have, Mao."

"Coming right up!" Ya Xue answered and with Mao's help, pushed the door flaps open.

"Come in, Shilou, Mei Li!" Mao shouted and the other two pushed in the giant steamer.

"So, you got that giant steamer out of storage." Master Lou chuckled.

"Mao, open the lid." Chouyu instructed.

Both Mao and Shilou lifted the lid to reveal the large siu mai.

"Liu Mao Xing Special: Bi Bang Siu Mai!" Mao declared.

"Its true this siu mai is easily over fifty servings in size." Chouyu admitted.

"Please taste it, Master Lou." Ya Xue offered the aged master a sauce dish and a pair of chopsticks.

"Let me see." Master Lou walked over to a section of the siu mai and cut an opening in the skin. Taking out a siu mai, he dipped it into the sauce and popped it into his mouth. "You used charcoal fire, didn't you?"

"Yes," Mao nodded. "I roasted it over charcoal before steaming it."

"A charcoal fire that produces no visible flame should be able to completely cook the whole thing." Master Lou nodded. "But this siu mai holds more secrets than just that." walking over to the opposite side, he cut an opening in the skin and took a bite of the siu mai underneath it. Walking round the large steamer, he pieced the skin on the other side and took a bite of the dumpling under the skin. "I see." he chuckled and burst out laughing. "So that's why it's called 'Big Bang Siu Mai'. Can someone bring me the Cattle Bane Sword? Thank you." he took the blade. "This is specially forged to decapitate cattle with a single blow. I call it the Cattle Bane Sword." jumping over the steamer, he sliced the siu mai into four quarters. "Shell, please look carefully at the cross-section of that siu mai."

"The cross-section is marbleized." Shell gaped.

"Do you know what the fatty streaks mean, Shell?" Master Lou asked.

"Rump... thigh... shoulder... and head." Shell muttered. "This is... you're saying that this is the siu mai's secret?"

"It seems you finally understand." Master Lou chuckled. "Here, you find well-cooked shin, tenderized in order to draw out the flavor." he pointed to a part. "The rib meat here has been crushed to bring out the savory flavor of the juices."

"A simple flavor and soft texture..." Shell broke through the skin with his fingers and tasted the meat juices. "This must be from the hock. The firm yet smooth texture of the guts." he tasted another portion. "You are a very interesting boy." he grinned. "Let me hear what you have to say."

"After seeing Shilou drop the eggs, I realized that ratios didn't have to be the only end result." Mao explained. So, in this giant siu mai, I tried to seal the delicious taste of a pgi in its entirety."

"I see." Shell nodded. "So the secret behind this siu mai's colorful flavor lies in the fact that you used one whole pig, without throwing away any part of it."

"Quite right." Master Lou agreed. "Within this siu mai lies the universe of an entire life form."

"To be able to use this silky wrapping and choose the place and portion of what you want to eat, this is truly the pinnacle of dimsum." Shell was awed. "No, this already transcends dimsum." he corrected himself. "It will perform just as well as the main course of a banquet. Big Bang Siu Mai, huh? I only thought of siu mai as dimsum. Something like this is parsecs beyond me. You're truly remarkable, Liu Mao Xing." he told the young chef. "You won this showdown hands down."

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