129 Protes (1/2)
”Oh, so that is why.”
Shopkeeper Li, who was sitting in the first row, heard what Zheng Sanduo said and felt extremely annoyed. He wanted to rebut him but it was inappropriate for a senior to argue with the younger ones.
Lu Xiaotian laughed. ”Brother Sanduo, you have underestimated him. I heard that His Majesty summoned him to the palace yesterday to prepare his royal meals - 18 dishes and a soup. His Majesty even personally bestowed a name for his dish and conferred him as a Mobile Imperial Chef.”
Everyone gasped.
”Surely not?”
”What kind of official is a Mobile Imperial Chef?”
”Even imperial chefs are not officials! What kind of official is a Mobile Imperial Chef? It is just a servant in the palace,” Zheng Sanduo said, feeling salty. He could not believe that the new chef actually became a Mobile Imperial Chef.
Lu Xiaotian said, ”It is indeed not impressive to be an imperial chef. After all, only the first place in the culinary competition has the qualifications to become an imperial chef. Even the second place can only do odd jobs in the imperial kitchen.”
The statement was obviously a jab at Zheng Sanduo. Everyone seated knew that Lu Yiming only became an imperial chef by winning the first place in the culinary competition. Zheng Fugui might have the qualifications to enter the imperial kitchen, but his status was clearly incomparable to that of Lu Yiming's.
Ye Jiayao wanted to cheer for Lu Xiaotian. That's right! Put that arrogant brat in his place.
Zheng Sanduo immediately regretted his slip of the tongue, his face paling with embarrassment.
”If you put it that way, then that Li Yao must really have some skills,” someone chimed in.
”Since he is so incredible, he should have the qualifications to join today's meeting.”
”That's right. Shopkeeper Li, why didn't you bring him along? We could've gotten to know each other.”
Someone snorted.
Ye Jiayao looked to the direction of the sound. It was Niu Baoshun who was sitting on the first seat on the second row.
”We can only find out about his so-called skills in the competition,” Niu Baoshun said.
Zheng Sanduo, finally founding his ally, added, ”That's right. We have only heard rumors about Li Yao's capabilities, but fame does not represent his skills. Who knows how he was able to win His Majesty's favor? This Li Yao obviously knows how to get into the good books of the wealthy and powerful so he might really just be good at bootlicking.”
F*ck you, you douche canoe. Ye Jiayao stared daggers at the back of Zheng Sanduo's head, reigning in the urge to kick him.
Lu Xiaotian chuckled coldly. ”I think Li Yao would definitely participate in this culinary competition. When the time comes, Brother Sanduo will be able to see for himself whether Li Yao really lives up to his name or whether it is all unwarranted fame.”
The shopkeeper of Ju Fu Lin, Lin Changchun, who was sitting beside Shopkeeper Li, laughed in amusement. ”Shopkeeper Li, five years ago, your Heavenly Residence has Niu Baoshun who managed to clinch in the third place as a dark horse. This year, your restaurant is the hot topic even before the competition begins. Your head chefs are no simpleton!”
Shopkeeper Li said humbly, ”You are too kind. I heard that the head chef of your Ju Fu Lin is the real hidden master.”
Zheng Fugui, who was sitting on the seat of honor, took a sweeping glance of the meeting room. Since all the seats were filled up, he began, ”Since everyone is present, let's start the meeting!”
”First on the agenda is the protest that a few pastry shops in Jin Ling raised.”
Immediately, everyone turned to Shopkeeper Li, who turned a blind eye to their stares, sipping his tea calmly.
Ye Jiayao's heart stopped for a while. Why are you so envious of my mooncakes, you f*ckers? What have we ever done to you?
Zheng Fugui continued, ”Although it is not explicitly mentioned by the committee, it is the common consensus in the industry that restaurants, pastry shops, teahouses, wine houses, and even vinegar shops have their specific range of operations. The boundary should not be easily crossed. I heard that recently, Heavenly Residence launched their ice cream mooncake and greatly impacted the pastry shops in Jin Ling. Shopkeeper Li, why don't you give an explanation.”
Shopkeeper Li set his cup of tea down and responded calmly, ”A restaurant's range of operation is comprehensive. We do not simply cook dishes. Restaurants also brew wine. For example, the Fu Shou Chun of your Fu Ji is self-brewed and brings good business to you. The wine houses haven't raised a protest because of that, no?”
Zheng Fugui's face turned ugly.
”Restaurants also make chilled drinks. For example, every restaurant will launch the iced sour plum soup, the lotus seed with fungus, and more during the summer period. Restaurants also make pastries. Some even marinate their preserved food. For example, Xiang Yi Restaurant's pastries, Qi Lin Pavilion's preserved food, all of them are very famous. Why didn't anyone come out and protest? If you're talking about selling mooncakes, who, among all the people sitting here with restaurants, do not sell mooncakes every year? Now that our Heavenly Residence starts selling mooncakes, how is that a hindrance?” Shopkeeper Li stated.
The bald Mei Xiuguang sitting at the opposite side jumped out to say, ”Others who brew wine, make pastries, and marinate preserved foods did not constitute a destructive impact towards others. Your ice cream mooncakes caused our mooncakes to sell poorly! We simply can't sell them anymore!”