Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
On hearing his master’s words, the disciple nodded his head continually and then continued speaking.
“That’s right. No matter how awesome that Yuan Zhou is, we are uniting 28 restaurants and there are 28 head chefs. Besides that, it will be a fair and square competition,” said his disciple.
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“Yeah. If we win the competition, we can not only break Yuan Zhou’s spirit but can also display my culinary skills to the full in the face of Chairman Zhang and Chairman Zhou.” Chef Li thought that his Shrimp and Crab Gathering might get an opportunity to overcome the obstacles and make progress again because of this matter.
As long as they won the competition, he could prove that he didn’t go to challenge Yuan Zhou because he wasn’t convinced of the Exemplary Restaurant. Instead, he did that in order to let everybody know there was also seafood in Sichuan Cuisine.
Though he could also say so even if he lost, the winner’s words were always more convincing.
If he could win the competition and defeat the exemplary restaurant of this year, his reputation couldn’t be greater.
He could kill three birds with one single stone. The more Chef Li thought, the more excited he became.
“Good, good. You have proven yourself to be my disciple. Your mindset is quite enlightening.” Chef Li patted on his disciple’s shoulder contentedly.
His disciple immediately sucked up to his master, “Master, it’s because I have a good teacher.”
“Call those head chefs now. The main force of this challenge, which is the head chef, will be in charge of our Shrimp and Crab Gathering, namely me,” Chef Li said to his disciple in high and vigorous spirits.
His disciple immediately took out his phone and powered it on, preparing to make some phone calls.
By then, Chef Li had opened the invitation letter given to him.
With a dark purple background, the invitation letter looked very nice. Apart from the information about time and address, it also had some requirements and reminders.
For example, if he needed any special seafood, he must apply to the evaluation committee for it. All food ingredients required in this competition would be provided by the evaluation committee.
And the main dishes of this competition must be seafood. All in all, the arrangement was perfect. No one could tell the arrangement was completed in a very short time.
As the chief secretary of China Chef’s Alliance, the ability of Zhong Lili could be seen by everyone.
Otherwise, how could she manage to be in this position at the age of 20 or so? What do you think she depended on?
Her beauty?
Her youth?
Neither!
What she really depended on was that her father and Zhou Shijie were good friends, neighbors, and even relatives—- well, and also her capabilities.
The competition would be held seven days later on the second floor of the Renyu Building. Chef Li estimated the distance and found it was between Shrimp and Crab Gathering and Master Chef Restaurant. It was very fair.
Of the two parties involved in the competition, one was the blue, Yuan Zhou’s Restaurant, and the other was the red, the 28 seafood restaurants.
Both parties were required to cook seven dishes for appraisal. The time limit was two hours. The full score of each dish was 10. Whoever got the highest score was the winner.
“Yes, it’s quite fair.” Chef Li was quite satisfied with the way of judging.
But actually, this rule was unfair to Yuan Zhou. Therefore, Zhong Lili specially called Yuan Zhou and consulted him on how many dishes were appropriate when she set the rules.
She had intended to make it three at the beginning, but Yuan Zhou himself made it seven. He said that he must win the competition to the extent of making Chef Li doubt his life. Yuan Zhou had rarely talked tough, but since he said that, he would make it come true by all means. So, this competition couldn’t be solved with three or four dishes.
Even Chinese dragons had sensitive points, not to mention humans. It was the first time that Yuan Zhou had been so furious.
The disciple got through to Ao Pi and then handed the phone to Chef Li.
“What happened to you by not answering the phone and even turning it off?” There came the stiff voice of Ao Pi from the other end of the phone. He was definitely unhappy since his phone had been hung up just now.
“Did you get scared and want to quit?” Ao Pi mocked him and doubted.
In reply to Ao Pi’s doubt, Chef Li laughed lightly and said, “You say I want to quit? Do you know that I have been studying new dishes in the kitchen all these few days just in order to let Yuan Zhou know what is respect?”
“Do you know how many hours I stay in the kitchen every day?!” Chef Li immediately gained the initiative and said, “Apart from eating time and sleeping time, I spend 13 hours in the kitchen. Do you think it an easy mission to complete?”
After that, the anger of Ao Pi instantly lessened. He said, “I have something to discuss with you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be so worried.”
“What’s the matter?” Chef Li asked leisurely. He was quite satisfied with himself as he had gained the initiative.
“I want to ask about your options on the seafood in this challenge.” Ao Pi asked.
“I’m thinking since it’s a challenge, we might as well make it big. So I reported this challenge to the Chef’s Alliance and got the approval.” Instead of answering Ao Pi’s question, Chef Li straightforwardly began to talk big.
“I pulled strings and both Chef’s Alliance and Sichuan Cuisine Alliance approved of this challenge. The judges of this competition will be Chairman Zhou Shijie and Chairman Zhang Yan. I have received the invitation letter and you will also get it soon,” Chef Li said, pretending to be relaxed.
As soon as he said that, Ao Pi was stunned. This Chef Li could actually invite Zhou Shijie and Zhang Yan. As known to all, any competition between chefs for appraisal of culinary skills would be at a higher grade as long as these two chairmen took part in.
Ao Pi had intended to say he could be in charge this time, but after he heard Chef Li’s words, he couldn’t bring anything out.
Many hands make light work. This proverb wasn’t wrong, but it can’t apply to everything. Because there was another proverb saying “Too many people, too many ideas” in China.
Therefore, the 28 restaurants must elect one of the head chefs to be the head chef to conduct the competition.
Otherwise, the seven dishes weren’t even enough to be split by the 28 head chefs, not to mention winning the competition. Unlike other things, they were unlikely to cook a portion of the 7 dishes respectively.
At the other end of the phone, Ao Pi stayed silent for quite a while and then asked, “There isn’t any problem to do so, right?”
“Head Chef Ao, did you get scared?” Chef Li asked back with the same phrase.
“All right. We have 28 chief chefs. We are naturally not afraid of Yuan Zhou alone,” said Chef Li confidently.
“Yeah, sure.” Ao Pi wasn’t afraid of Yuan Zhou at all. On hearing that, he also felt that it made sense and thus nodded his head.
Then, Chef Li roughly explained the rules and added in the end, “Even if we lose in one or two out of 7 dishes, there will be no problem.”
Ao Pi thought carefully and also felt it was right. They could make it easily as long as each of them displayed a little skill. Thinking of that, he was more confident.
“Notify other head chefs to have a meeting. Let’s discuss how to arrange the seven dishes.” Chef Li said that in the end and then hung up the phone.
The word “complacency” was describing the current manner of Chef Li. However, it seemed that he had completely forgotten the consequences of suffering a big defeat and the relationship between Yuan Zhou and the two chairmen, Zhou Shijie and Zhang Yan.
He might not have forgotten it, but didn’t want to think of that. After all, in his eyes, he could get rid of the threat imposed on him by Yuan Zhou only by winning the competition.
