Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Although Zhong Lili was very young, her status was really different from theirs.
“I heard that you and some other restaurants intended to unite and challenge Yuan Zhou’s restaurant. I come today to record the challenge on behalf of China’s Chef Alliance,” said Zhong Lili lightly.
“Seriously, that’s a misunderstanding.” When he heard Zhong Lili came for this matter, Chef Li immediately felt worried and thus began to explain right away.
“Here’s the thing. I made a joke with Head Chef Yuan. How can you take it seriously? You can’t take it seriously,” said Chef Li sincerely.
On hearing that, Zhong Lili looked at Chef Li suspiciously.
“Seriously, just think about this tiny restaurant of mine. How could it be compared with Chef Yuan’s Master Chef Restaurant? Although I’m a veteran cook, I still have a long way to go compared with the renowned chef in the aspect of culinary skills. Don’t you think so, Secretary Zhong?” Chef Li said.
When he found Zhong Lili nodded her head without any hesitation, however, he felt both wronged and angry but meanwhile, didn’t dare to behave so. More than that, he had to continue explaining.
“I’m not foolish and I’m not meddlesome, either. This matter is a complete misunderstanding,” said Chef Li sincerely.
Anyway, he didn’t intend to admit that. At that moment, however, Zhong Lili uttered something.
She said with a solemn expression, “We don’t care if that’s a misunderstanding. Since you have once said that, it means this matter is true.”
As soon as Zhong Lili said that this time, Chef Li felt something wrong. And the following words of Zhong Lili indeed conformed to his thought.
“Now that it’s true, that means Head Chef Yuan didn’t make it up. This challenge has been registered by our Chef’s Alliance. By then, we will arrange some professional gourmet critics to be present and judge,” said Zhong Lili straightforwardly when she found Chef Li wanted to say something more.
“But…” Chef Li still wanted to say something though he looked angrier after he heard Zhong Lili’s word.
Nevertheless, Zhong Lili conveyed Zhou Shijie’s words again, saying, “Chairman Zhou said it’s the first challenge against an exemplary restaurant since the Appraisal of Exemplary Restaurant first started. As the model of Sichuan Cuisine in the coming year, an exemplary restaurant must receive everybody’s identification.”
“But every year, only ten restaurants can be nominated to be the candidates of the Exemplary Restaurant. So there are definitely many outstanding restaurants that can’t be nominated.” Speaking of the outstanding restaurants, Zhong Lili glanced at Chef Li.
Chef Li would rather not understand the meaning contained in the glance, but Zhong Lili nevertheless continued speaking straightforwardly.
“So if there are any restaurants, whether single or several of them, that feel they also deserve this title, I know it’s the 28 Sichuan Houses. Hence, we are quite open to your challenge.”
“Chairman Zhou and Chairman Zhang Yan, the chairman of Sichuan Cuisine Association, will act as the judges of this challenge personally to guarantee the impartiality.”
Speaking of which, Zhong Lili especially paused for a while and looked up at Chef Li earnestly. Obviously, she was waiting for Chef Li’s following answer.
However, what Zhong Lili said directly made Chef Li unable to say what he had intended to.
Chairman Zhou’s words directly set the keynote of this challenge. It was the dissatisfaction with the election of exemplary restaurants and that simply equaled to slapping the two chairmen in the face. Nevertheless, Chairman Zhou still said generously that they had sufficient reasons to feel dissatisfied.
But was he really so generous? “… single or several of them…, … 28 restaurants…”. Chairman Zhou was indeed good at talking. There were indeed 28 seafood restaurants that intended to challenge Yuan Zhou’s restaurant.
By saying that, Chairman Zhou definitely meant to tell him that all the 28 restaurants had been recorded. Thinking of that, Chef Li felt annoyed.
“So if you want to cancel the challenge, I can call Chairman Zhou and Chairman Zhang Yan now and you can tell them personally. Otherwise, I’m unable to make a decision under the condition that the two chairmen have arranged their schedules. As you know, I’m just a secretary.” Looking at Chef Li’s pale face, Zhong Lili continued saying and meanwhile, she even took out her phone.
“No need. It’s unnecessary.” Chef Li shook his head hurriedly. He could never repeat his mistakes.
“Great,” Zhong Lili nodded her head and continued, “So Chef Li, can I understand that as that you have accepted the arrangement of the challenge?”
“Absolutely. It’s my great honor that Chairman Zhou and Chairman Zhang could spare some time to come personally though they are so busy.” Chef Li forced a smile and tried to say as earnestly as possible.
“Good. This is the invitation letter.” Zhong Lili lowered her head and took out an invitation letter. Then she handed it to him and said, “You can find the time and address of this challenge. The other 27 letters will be sent to all the remaining head chefs respectively.”
“Thank you for coming over to send us the invitation. Thank you.” Chef Li expressed his gratitude.
“Okay. I have something else to do and will not disturb you studying dishes.” Zhong Lili did things professionally. After that, she left in her high-heeled shoes.
“Secretary Zhong, won’t you leave after having lunch here?” Chef Li asked courteously while he was following Zhong Lili behind, but she straightforwardly declined him.
After he accompanied Zhong Lili to the door, Chef Li walked ahead for another few steps and said loudly,
“Secretary Zhong, please help to tell Chairman Zhou and Chairman Zhang that we, at least I myself, have regard for the election of Sichuan Cuisine Exemplary Restaurant and besides, I don’t have any dissenting opinion about the result.”
“This kind of situation mainly happened out of some other reasons.” Chef Li was making the final push to defend his behavior.
Only after Zhong Lili got in the car and left did Chef Li stop smiling. He looked at the invitation letter in his hand and took a deep breath before he managed to calm down.
“What a vicious thought! He actually dispatched the chief secretary of Chef’s Alliance to notify this matter,” Chef Li gnashed his teeth and said in anger.
1
Zhong Lili was also a very capable woman. She directly made Chef Li unable to refuse with any excuse. For sure! What kind of person was Zhong Lili? With her manner of talking and behaving, how could she leave adequate leeway for others?
“Master, this isn’t a bad thing for us.” The voice of his disciple suddenly passed from the side.
Wimpy kids weren’t terrible, but wimpy adults were. This disciple didn’t notice Chef Li’s serious look and he even brought it out excitedly.
Chef Li woke up with a start. He turned his head and revealed a murderous look while looking at his excited disciple.
“Master, listen to me. Here’s my opinion…,” his disciple immediately tried to fix this problem, “This matter actually isn’t so complicated.”
“Since the people from Chef’s Alliance have defined this matter as a challenge against the exemplary restaurant,” his disciple paused for an instant and then continued, “then we challenge.”
“Master, you once said that Yuan Zhou has superb culinary skills, but he isn’t omnipotent. He isn’t good at cooking seafood. So if we triumph over him, we would have made it!” The more his disciple said, the more excited he became. He was either too excited or frightened by Chef Li’s murderous look, so his words weren’t organized at all and were in a mess.
Nonetheless, Chef Li understood him. The murderous look in his eyes gradually disappeared.
“Put it this way, it might not be a bad thing. Perhaps, it’s even a good opportunity.” Chef Li muttered to himself.
