Chapter 983 - An Opportunity? (1/2)

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.