Chapter 981 - A Common Enemy With the System (1/2)

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

Lunchtime passed quickly and during the afternoon, Yuan Zhou was about to investigate what was going on in his confusion when his phone suddenly rang.

The caller was Chef Li.

Although Yuan Zhou’s personal phone number wasn’t exactly a huge secret, it was still not something one could easily obtain. Thus, it was a mystery how Chef Li had obtained it.

The first thing Chef Li said was, “How is it? Are you going to accept our seafood challenge now?”

His voice was filled with pride and satisfaction. And from this, Yuan Zhou was finally sure Chef Li was the culprit behind the lunchtime incident. At first, he only suspected Chef Li as that trick was too dumb. Yuan Zhou had never expected that someone this stupid would really exist.

And the reason for his suspicion was because that was the first time things had gotten so chaotic since his restaurant was opened.

Even the numbering machine incident wasn’t as chaotic as those people had all arrived after business hours. They also spoke politely as to not cause any actual altercations.

As of recently, Chef Li was the only person who had threatened Yuan Zhou. Thus, it was natural his first target of suspicion was Chef Li.

In truth, Yuan Zhou had rejected Chef Li’s challenge because he did not see Chef Li as a chef. Rather, he thought of Chef Li as a businessman.

Of course, not many people knew themselves. Chef Li was one of them, and therefore he thought Yuan Zhou was terrified of him. Moreover, he was also interpreting Yuan Zhou’s current silence as a form of fear.

Thus, he continued pushing on, “If you still refuse to accept the challenge, you can only dream of conducting your business peacefully during dinner as well.”

Those words were spoken with complete confidence, as if victory was already within his grasp.

Finally, Yuan Zhou spoke.

“I originally thought that since you are already about 40 years old, you already have sufficient life experience and won’t do something this stupid,” said Yuan Zhou with a strict tone while standing perfectly straight.

“But it would seem like I have overestimated you. Who gave you the misconception that you can get away with pulling such tricks?” Yuan Zhou said.

Before Chef Li could reply in anger, Yuan Zhou continued on.

“The chairmen of both Sichuan Cuisine Alliance and China Chef Alliance are very close with me. To be honest, Chairman Zhou is even treating me as his successor.”

“So wha—” Chef Li replied arrogantly but was interrupted before he could finish his sentence.

“Simply put, I can let Chairman Zhou and Chairman Zhang to exert some pressure on your Shrimp and Crab Gathering. Do you think that will work? Or I don’t even need the two chairmen to do anything. I just need to get the food critic, Mr. Lee, to pay your restaurant a visit…”

“Ah, let me clarify who Mr. Lee is. He is Lee Yanyi, a first-tier food critic. Moreover, his words are sharp with no holds barred. Of course, your Shrimp and Crab Gathering is a place that is not even worthy of his visit,” Yuan Zhou declared firmly. He then continued, “But I trust he will be willing to do me this favor.”

The word “sharp” alone was probably insufficient to describe Lee Yanyi. Perhaps the term “extremely sharp” would be more apt. Of course, Yuan Zhou had underestimated the destructiveness of Lee Yanyi as his food had never been criticized by Lee Yanyi before.

1Yuan Zhou was merely speaking the truth, yet the truth struck Chef Li hard like a sledgehammer.

Of course Chef Li knew who Zhou Shijie and Zhang Yan were. However, he was not qualified to have any dealings with Zhou Shijie. As for the Sichuan Cuisine Alliance chairman, Zhang Yan, he once spent an entire night trying to strike a conversation with him when they were both attending the same banquet. Alas, he failed.

As for Lee Yanyi, that was a name Chef Li hoped he did not know. That was a top food critic in the country. If a person like that criticized his restaurant, everything would be over for him.

Which restaurant that had invited Lee Yanyi before was without their signature dishes?

Although Chef Li had a certain level of confidence in his cooking skills, he was not confident he could conquer Lee Yanyi’s mouth.

As Chef Li had personally conducted some investigations on Yuan Zhou, he was naturally aware that Yuan Zhou was speaking the truth.

After realizing the current status of Yuan Zhou’s restaurant, Chef Li broke out in cold sweat when he calmed down.