Chapter 380: Spring Water Mantou
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
The deserved manner of Yuan Zhou instantly irritated Chu Xiao.
"Master Yuan, I feel that you are thinking too much? We have the same accuracy rate." Chu Xiao laughed scornfully.
"As a grand master, you should know the reason why you lost." Yuan Zhou said lightly while looking at Chu Xiao.
"Ho Ho". The two words uttered by Chu Xiao represented his attitude.
"I also feel their scores are the same. How is it that Master Yuan is so sure that he will win?" Some other chefs below the stage didn't understand, either.
"That's right. Surprisingly, there is a dark horse this year. Some methods of cooking mentioned by him were fairly interesting." This person cared more about the culinary skills.
"I feel it should be a draw too." The chefs preferred this result to others.
What a joke! They were defeated by Chu Xiao in every contest that he took part in. If they were told this time that anybody could defeat him, how shameful would they be?
Therefore, most chefs started talking about their own opinions privately.
"Humph. That Chu guy is so disagreeable. Obviously, he was defeated." Tang Xi pouted her lips and humphed.
"I think Boss Yuan wins the contest because he knows more." Chen Wei said objectively.
"That should be it. It seems that Master Chu isn't as awesome as Boss Yuan." Ling Hong stroked his chin and said smilingly.
"With my insight, Boss Yuan is undoubtedly awesome!" Wu Hai said complacently while stroking his mustaches.
"Originally, Boss Yuan is not likely to lose. He's merely short of a certificate." Man Man had also believed that Yuan Zhou would win.
Basically, everyone that had eaten yz's dishes had the same feeling.
"Everybody, please calm down." The chairman calmed the noisy scene immediately once he uttered. Then, the banquet hall was lost in silence immediately.
"Here's the reason why the result is so." The chairman made a chart on which he recorded the questions that both Chu Xiao and Yuan Zhou had answered.
"Here, on the question about how to process the Beluga, Master Yuan has not only provided a way to process the top-notch food ingredient but also come up with a constructive concept. Nonetheless, Master Chu has only provided a method to process the top-notch ingredient." The aged chairman said orderly.
"Right there, they have the difference of 1 score." The chairman stroked his beard and said earnestly.
"So that is what it is."
This was what appeared in almost everyone's hearts. It seemed that Yuan Zhou surprisingly did better than Chu Xiao.
Chu Xiao had originally wanted to continue asking what the constructive concept was. However, that would be unsightly. Therefore, he kept silent for quite a while.
"Next year you won't be so lucky if you take part in the contest." Chu Xiao uttered that to Yuan Zhou and then he turned around and left before everybody had any reaction.
Chu Xiao was just reluctant to admit failure, but he could afford to lose.
"Being young is so good. They can continue to compete against each other, unlike we old guys that probably couldn't pick up the spatula next year." The aged chairman sighed with a smile but nevertheless didn't look like to be worried.
"Never mind. I can still move my pen." The Research Doctorate of Precious Ingredients said quietly.
"It doesn't matter. I can still move my lips." The great gourmet gave another hit without any
hesitation.
At that time, Yuan Zhou saw Chu Xiao leave the banquet hall and the chefs off the stage also discussing the feasibility of the cooking method earnestly.
"Now is the best time to slip away." Suddenly, the word appeared in Yuan Zhou's mind.
Communication was always what Yuan Zhou wasn't good at, so Yuan Zhou had already left when Wu Hai and his fellows came over.
Of course, Yuan Zhou had the serving girl deliver a message to them considerately to thank them to specially come to see him act cool.
It was getting colder and colder and the night had arrived much earlier than before.
"Please help me call a cab." Yuan Zhou said politely to the attendants passing by him.
"Ok, sir." The waiter nodded his head and notified the person that specially called taxis for customers.
Yuan Zhou rushed back to his restaurant overnight and when he got to the entrance of the side street, he met Broth.
It ran to Yuan Zhou quickly with its silent footsteps.
"Hey. I especially gave you the noodle broth enough for two days before I left, no less at all." Yuan Zhou said immediately while looking at Broth that crouched in front of him.
However, Broth just sat down and looked at Yuan Zhou with an aloof manner. After that, it stood up and went back to the front door again to guard the restaurant earnestly.
"Alright. It seems that I have to cook something delicious tomorrow to compensate him." Looking at Broth and thinking of the customers, Yuan Zhou suddenly muttered to himself considerately.
Yuan Zhou had a very good sleep tonight. In accordance with his biological clock and habits, Yuan Zhou got up, jogged, exercised before he continued to take a shower and cook breakfast.
Having taken the flour and prepared to cook breakfast, Yuan Zhou suddenly realized there was a problem with the system's reward.
"System, there actually does not seem to have 100 cooking methods for the 100 Varieties of Mantou, right?" Yuan Zhou asked curiously.
The system displayed, "This is just the name of the reward."
"Haw?" Yuan Zhou just found it unbelievable.
"So you mean it's only the name of the reward and in fact there aren't 100 cooking method?" Yuan Zhou asked to seek confirmation.
The system displayed, "You are right."
"Tell me who has taught you to be deceitful. Where has the frank and honest system gone?" Yuan Zhou couldn't help murmuring.
"Even if I deceived you to get the reward, you can't play with words." Yuan Zhou broke down in his mind.
However, the system didn't answer him and Yuan Zhou could only stay silent.
After a while, the system still didn't respond to him. Then, Yuan Zhou murmured inwardly, "He uses his own abilities to trick and obtain the reward. Why won't the system give him the entire one?"
"Forget it. Let me cook now." Yuan Zhou washed his hands and then began to cook earnestly.
The breakfast for today was again a new dish, the Spring Water Mantou, which belonged to the 100 Styles of Mantous.
It was a breakfast that sounded easy but nevertheless contained something special.
The flour was still the best one provided by the system while the other leading role today was the spring water.
"System, what was the spring water you said just now?" Yuan Zhou started to doubt whether he had encountered a fake system.
After all, the name of the spring water seemed to be fake.
The system displayed, "The spring water is called Luerde Spring, also known as Laoshi Spring. It has the function of curing diseases and changing color. The intrinsic taste is sweet and mellow."
"Laoshi Spring can cure the diseases? It sounds like the hot spring." Having looked at the spring water and then the flour, Yuan Zhou was a little hesitant.
The system had told him just now that the spring water could change color.
"What color will it become? Yuan Zhou cared about that more.
A good appearance was also one of the significant points of foods."
The system displayed, "Random."
"That'll be great." Yuan Zhou let out a sigh of relief when he heard that.
The system indicated that he was quite puzzled and totally didn't understand what good it had.
Right after that, Yuan Zhou asked, "When does its color change?"
The system displayed, "After the food is steamed."
"Ok." Yuan Zhou nodded his head.
Then, Yuan Zhou started to cook it confidently, without revealing any worry that it would become an ugly color.
Quite a while later, Yuan Zhou put Mantous on the food steamer and started to steam them. When he washed his hands and prepared to open the door, the system uttered.
The system displayed, "Host, please tell me why you feel that "randomly" is good."
The system asked the question that gave off the feeling it wasn't ashamed to learn from its subordinate.
"Because I am such a decent human being. It's definitely a good color." Yuan Zhou didn't stop his actions of opening the door and meanwhile said deservedly.
If the system could ridicule him, it probably would say, "With such a narcissistic attitude, you are totally unlike a host that has communication obstacles. I might have met a fake host."
The daily interactions between Yuan Zhou and the system were still harmonious as usual.
Nonetheless, the customers were so excited now that they could eat dishes of Boss Yuan's restaurant. Besides, they still didn't know there would be a new dish again.
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Chapter 381: A Taste That Starts From Zero
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
"As expected, it's open. I know Boss Yuan won't break his word." A customer said excitedly while holding the number ticket in the hand.
"Nothing to feel strange about. The reason why Compass is Compass is that he always keeps his word." Wu Hai shrugged and then walked into the restaurant as if he was accustomed to the situation.
"Everybody, the first twenty customers can come on in." Zhou Jia greeted the customers with a smile.
"Terrific. Again, we can eat Boss Yuan's breakfast." The two animation-addicted girls said with one accord.
"Hi, long time no see." As soon as Yin Ya entered the restaurant, she greeted Yuan Zhou.
"Hi, Boss Yuan. Here I am again." Tang Xi also waved her hand to Yuan Zhou with a cute expression.
"Boss Yuan, you are finally back. Even my wallet can't wait longer." A customer at the side couldn't help joking.
"Um. Morning." After a nod, Yuan Zhou first greeted and then continued saying, "A new dish, Spring Water Mantou, will be provided today."
"Wow! ...We are so lucky to be able to eat a new dish once you are back," Yin Ya said smilingly.
"We are truly lucky. Get a serving for me." The frank and honest Wu Hai said directly while stroking his mustaches.
"Get one for me first." Once Wu Hai started, other customers instantly reacted. It was breakfast and there were only 100 servings.
"Me, too." Yin Ya sat down and said to Yuan Zhou.
"Alright. One moment, please." Yuan Zhou nodded his head and then took the verdant food steamer off from the steaming pot and put them at the place where Zhou Jia served the dishes one by one.
"Everybody, please pay first according to prices on the menu. The dishes are to be served right away." Zhou Jia said at the right moment.
"Here is your dish." Yuan Zhou carried it to Yin Ya straightforwardly as usual.
"Thank you." Yin Ya revealed a blush on her white-skinned face.
"Tsk-tsk. No wonder even the Mantou is pink today." Wu Hai said at the side with a vaguely meaningful gaze.
"This color is so beautiful. Boss Yuan is so awesome. It's surprisingly such a beautiful pink Mantou." The anime-addicted girl supported her head with her two hands and said admiringly while looking at the cute and plump Mantou in front of her.
"Huh? Pink Mantou?" Yin Ya uncovered the food steamer curiously.
Inside of the food steamer indeed lay six pink little Mantous. Different from the previous Thousand Layer Mantou, the little Mantou was round and looked plump. In contrast with the verdant bamboo food steamer outside, they looked both lovable and beautiful.
The smooth skin of the Mantous seemed to emit a pink light.
"What a strange color! But it's quite good-looking, like a work of art." Yin Ya poked it curiously.
When the Mantou was poked inward, however, it soon returned to normal, leaving a small indent on the smooth skin.
"What exactly is the taste of the Mantou that is like a work of art?" Yin Ya became quite curious.
The animation-addicted girl was more curious and had started to gulp down half of a Mantou impatiently. The part where she bit recovered to 80% of its original state in just a little while.
Now people could clearly see the color inside of the Mantou was also cherry pink. The many holes from air bubbles didn't look terrible at all. Instead, it appeared neat and beautiful and emitted faint fragrance of wheat.
"Slurp Slurp". As soon as she ate the Mantou, a faint unknown fragrance filled the mouth. After chewing, the sweet and fragrant smell diffused gradually as if it had many different layers. If not for the refreshing chewiness in the mouth, she would have thought she was eating a flower with a faint fragrance.
The Mantou was extremely soft and yet meanwhile chewy. The two different textures plus the intrinsic wheat fragrance of the flour and the sweet taste of the spring water was so delicious that the two girls couldn't help praising it again and again with words that others couldn't understand.
"This is soooo delicious! I feel Boss Yuan is soooo awesome every time. The dishes are both beautiful and tasty." After the girl ate half Mantou, she immediately praised and then continued eating the other half.
The texture of this half Mantou was exactly the same as that of the other half just now. The soft dough carried some wheat fragrance and the intrinsic sweetness of the spring water. While chewing, it carried a little chewiness, which made people unable to stop.
After eating up three Mantous, the girl with a long hair and round face found something wrong.
"Do you think there's something wrong with the Mantou?" A girl pulled the other and asked her.
"I think so, too." The other girl nodded her head while chewing the Mantou in her mouth.
"What is it?" The girl that asked didn't stop at all. She took another Mantou and started to stuff it into her mouth.
Of course, the name of Sakura Mantou was made up by themselves. In their opinion, the Mantou was like a large flower petal of the Sakura.
"I got it." Once the Mantou entered her mouth, the girl instantly said with a lisp.
"What?" The other girl turned her head and looked at her friend with half a Mantou dangling from his mouth, being reluctant to put it down.
"It's like whenever we eat the next Mantou, it feels like we haven't eaten it before. Although the taste is the same, it's very bland at the beginning as if we are experiencing the delicacy of the Mantou once again every time." The girl's explanations were in a mess, but luckily somebody understood it.
"You're right. It's indeed like that." Yin Ya echoed.
"Every time we eat the next Mantou, it's quite refreshing in the mouth as if we were eating it for the first time and experiencing the pleasant feeling again. That's it." Wu Hai said conclusively while stroking his small mustaches.
"Yes, right, that's right. That's the feeling." The girl nodded her head earnestly and agreed to him.
"When we eat the Mantou to the end, it's like we have drunk the luscious spring water which makes us feel refreshed. When we eat the next one, it's a new taste again." While saying that, Wu Hai was a little dumbfounded, appearing as if he had thought of something.
"I got it now." Wu Hai suddenly jumped off the chair and prepared to run. But just within several steps, he went back again, took the Mantou and stuffed it into his mouth. Having chewed up with several gulps, he ran out of the restaurant.
"The inspiration of an artist is really like a thunder." Yuan Zhou sighed with emotion inwardly.
Because of its special texture, the Spring Water Mantou was extraordinarily popular. Customers that came for breakfast ate it occasionally along with soybean milk or fruit juice and were playing with it happily like kids.
The breakfast time lasting one hour passed very soon. As soon as it ended, Yuan Zhou received a call before he went to have a rest.
"Ding Ling Ling, Ding Ling Ling"
"Hello." Yuan Zhou looked at the unknown number and answered the phone.
"Hello, Master Yuan. This is Zhou Shijie, the chairman of China Chefs' Alliance. Three days later, we'll hold the cooking activity of those precious ingredients and you'll have 19 ingredients at your disposal." It was the principal judge, Zhou Shijie, that day.
"Ok. I got it." Yuan Zhou became solemn subconsciously.
"By convention, you can choose any other master that took part in the contest that day to be your assistant and his restaurant to be the cooking place." Zhou Shijie was very serious and earnest when he talked about the proper business.
Right after that, however, he smiled and said, "Of course. They are very happy to be your assistant and for their restaurants being chosen as the kitchen."
The words made Yuan Zhou frown. What a joke! Who was Yuan Zhou? He was a person who had quite an obsession. He wouldn't even allow others to enter his restaurant. How was it possible that he would allow other to be his assistant?
Before Yuan Zhou found an excuse to refuse him, Zhou Shijie continued to say, "But that is just a convention. You can actually choose whoever you like. Even if it's Chu Xiao, he has to come to help. But whether or not you can suppress him... you have to count on yourself."
The words obviously carried some expectancy and teasing. After all, Chu Xiao was quite well-known for his bad temper.
Having paused a while, Yuan Zhou thought of a method to refuse and then he said, "..."
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Chapter 382: Presentation of Culinary Skills
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
Theoretically, conventions shouldn't be rejected, but Yuan Zhou had his own consideration. Frankly speaking, his obsessive-compulsive disorder had already been in the late stages, but was now strengthened even more by the system.
"Respected Zhou, I don't need any assistants. If you have any queries, you can come to my restaurant personally and I'll prove to you." Yuan Zhou said that with a seemingly euphemistic tone.
The silence lasted for a great while at the other end of the phone. Then, Zhou Shijie said, "Do you mean you want no one as your assistant?"
"Yes." Yuan Zhou answered cleanly.
"Can you tell me the reason?" Zhou Shijie asked with puzzlement.
He just didn't understand why this person who didn't look prideful before was now even tougher than Chu Xiao.
At the very least, Chu Xiao chose two masters that were barely qualified.
"I'm just used to doing it all alone." Yuan Zhou said with an indifferent tone.
"Some of the precious ingredients will have to be processed in very short time. How many apprentices are you prepared to bring along?" Zhou Shijie didn't ask more, but changed the subject.
"I'm going to do it all alone." Yuan Zhou answered positively and earnestly.
"Leaving aside other work, the work of vegetable washing and cutting as well as plate presentation has to be done by somebody." Zhou Shijie immediately choked. Only after quite a while did he speak again.
"It's going to be done by me alone, too." There was puzzlement contained in Yuan Zhou's tone.
In Yuan Zhou's opinion, if he didn't need an assistant, the work was naturally to be done by himself. Otherwise, why would he refuse an assistant?
"Are you sure?" Although Zhou Shijie was puzzled, he had nothing to say as the rule was like that.
"Wait a moment." Yuan Zhou thought Zhou Shijie was going to hang up the phone and hence he uttered.
At the other end of the phone, Zhou Shijie contrarily felt relieved immediately. He thought Yuan Zhou would surely regret it and still needed the assistant, thinking inwardly, "Luckily, this guy knows to retract from the wrong path. He has to get one to help him."
"I have no requirement on hotels as long as it's not far from Taoxi Road. And for the time to cook, I want it to be 8:30 in the evening." Yuan Zhou brought out his requirements altogether.
"Is that all? Got it. This old man will arrange everything." Zhou Shijie then seriously choked and had to agree to Yuan Zhou's requirements.
Having thought for a while, however, Zhou Shijie said persistently, "There are no problems with all your requirements. But I must tell you in advance that you need to cook in an open kitchen. If you don't need an assistant, will there be any problems?" Zhou Shijie said earnestly.
"Ok. No problem." Yuan Zhou nodded his head and agreed.
"One more thing. You will start cooking at 9:00. During the half an hour before that, you have to persuade those chefs that were unable to take part in the cooking activity." Zhou Shijie stroked his beards and appeared quite solemn.
This convention was originally a kind of welfare to those chefs. Now that the winner was reluctant to offer them, he naturally had to explain to them by himself.
"Um, ok." Yuan Zhou also gave an affirmative answer.
"Good. I'll be looking forward to admiring Master Yuan's culinary skills." After saying that, Zhou Shijie hung up the phone.
After Yuan Zhou rested for a while, he suddenly asked in the quiet restaurant, "Whose food ingredients do you think are better, yours or theirs?
Naturally, he said that to the system. However, the system never paid attention to Yuan Zhou's desire to chat with him and usually he had no reaction.
Yuan Zhou just waited peacefully. Three days later, he would try to cook the top-notch food ingredients provided by others. Even Yuan Zhou had not made some of those dishes before, so he was also quite expectant.
Nevertheless, it wasn't so peaceful at Zhou Shijie's end. Just after he notified everyone that Yuan Zhou didn't want any assistants, his phone rang again.
"Master Cheng, what's the matter?" Zhou Shijie asked as usual.
"Are you serious? Master Yuan doesn't need any assistants and will do all the work by himself? Not even a person to wash vegetables for him?" Master Cheng looked to be quick-tempered. Once the call was put through, he asked impatiently.
"Yes. That's exactly right." On hearing that, Zhou Shijie answered habitually.
"Ok. Sorry to bother." Master Cheng kept silent for a while and then hung up the phone.
The few chefs all called him and inquired about that. Only when it was in the evening did Zhou Shijie's phone stop ringing.
"These chefs are way too anxious. Fortunately, it has all stopped now," Zhou Shijie muttered to himself.
Just after that, his phone rang again stridently, "Ding Ling Ling, Ding Ling Ling."
Without taking a look, Zhou Shijie directly answered it and said, "Master Yuan indeed doesn't need the assistant. He will officially explain the reason at 8:30 p.m. three days later."
"The rumor turns out to be true." It wasn't the voice of other chefs, but was the arrogant voice of Chu Xiao.
"Ah, it's Master Chu. Are you also calling to ask about that?" Zhou Shijie took the phone off his ears with puzzlement and then took a look. The two characters of Chu Xiao were glistening on the screen. It was indeed him.
"Um. Nothing special. I'm hanging up." Then, Chu Xiao really hung off the phone.
"It seems this guy is unwilling to admit defeat." Zhou Shijie shook his head. He didn't actually care about these trifles much.
After he hung up the phone, he directly went back home.
At the other side, several chefs that had taken part in the contest met. After all the chefs' communication and confirmation, they got to know that Yuan Zhou wanted to have the benefits of all the precious ingredients to himself.
"Ho Ho. I will just sit back and wait to see that Master Yuan get stuffed. How dare he uses twenty precious ingredients to cook dishes alone?" A moon-faced chef held his arms and humphed.
"Exactly. He really has eyes bigger than the stomach." One would for sure feel quite annoyed when their benefits were snatched even if the benefits hadn't fallen upon themselves, not to mention that there was a chance he would be obtaining the benefit.
"Do you guys think it is possible? Cook the dishes alone without even a single worker to help him?" The chef tidied his chef's hat and smiled scornfully.
"Bullsh*t, that's totally impossible. Of course, it's possible if he cooks all night long. But I'm afraid the dishes wouldn't be eatable then?" Master Cheng said with disdain.
"Although Master Yuan is indeed knowledgeable, I don't think he is that good on other aspects." Master Fang that had quit the game voluntarily also said scornfully.
Nobody believed that Yuan Zhou could process these food ingredients well in a short time by himself.
After all, the more precious and delicious the ingredients were, the shorter its freshness lifetime was, that was to say, Yuan Zhou had to use up all the ingredients to cook the dishes within 2 hours.
But according to Yuan Zhou, he wouldn't take anybody there, not even a worker to wash vegetables.
None of the chefs believed that Yuan Zhou could make it. After all, they would rather wash the vegetables or make some sculptures even though the winner didn't like them to cook. It wasn't necessary for them to do any of the work, but for the sake of the precious ingredients, they could accept that.
Nevertheless, Yuan Zhou didn't even give this opportunity to them. It was simply as if Yuan Zhou ate all the meat without leaving a single gulp of broth to them. How could they bear that humiliation?
"I'm just waiting to see that prideful person swallow his own bitter pill." It was almost everyone's wish.
However, will Yuan Zhou actually be frantic about that?
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Chapter 383: Highest State of Acting Cool
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
Three days passed in a flash. The reason why Yuan Zhou asked to start cooking at 8:30 p.m. was that he was considerate and didn't want to delay his customers' meal time.
As soon as Shen Min arrived, Yuan Zhou summoned her to him.
"Shen Min, I won't be here tonight. You can just go back when the time is up." Yuan Zhou said to Shen Min who walked to him.
"Ok. Don't worry, Boss Yuan." Shen Min nodded her head earnestly.
"Um. I'm leaving now." Yuan Zhou then went upstairs to change clothes with relief.
"Be careful on your way, Boss Yuan." Shen Min only said that when Yuan Zhou almost got to the second floor after quite a while.
"Ok." Yuan Zhou nodded his head.
"Hoo. When exactly can I get this habit cured?" Shen Min was quite helpless to this habit of getting nervous at the sight of her teachers or superiors.
About ten minutes later, Yuan Zhou stepped down the stairs with a sound of "Ta Ta Ta".
"Boss Yuan, are you going out on a date?" Once she finished asking that, Shen Min blushed instantly and then prepared to leave with embarrassment.
"No, I'm not. I'm going to improve my culinary skills." Yuan Zhou appeared extraordinarily earnest when he was saying that.
"Oh, I see. Bye, Boss Yuan." Shen Min answered solemnly immediately.
"Um." After a nod, Yuan Zhou walked out of the side street and prepared to take a cab to the hotel.
Actually, it was not strange that Shen Min would ask that. Yuan Zhou was dressed in a dark blue round-collar robe today, which made him look fairly handsome, good-looking and slender.
As he liked simplicity when going out, Yuan Zhou only took a bank note of 10 RMB, barely enough amount for the cab, for going there and 20 RMB for coming back since there was the night fee in the evening. Apart from all that, He had only a phone with him.
"Litter bro, your clothes are pretty good. They look great." When they were waiting for the green light, the driver complimented him smilingly.
"Thank you. This is the round-neck robe." Yuan Zhou first nodded to thank him and then answered.
"Oh. I know the character, Lord Dee, in the TV series of Renjie Dee likes wearing this kind of clothes." The driver indicated that he liked watching the costume dramas very much.
"Um. It's indeed similar to that." Yuan Zhou thought for a while and then found they really looked the same.
"Then do you also put your money in the sleeves?" The driver gazed at Yuan Zhou's puff from time to time.
"Yes. I can make a pocket inside." Yuan Zhou nodded his head.
"It's indeed true. Interesting." The driver then started to drive carefully after his curiosity was satisfied.
In less than 10 minutes, the driver made a turn and parked the car gracefully at the entrance of the hotel with a sound of "Zi".
"With those driving skills, you can even enter a competition." Yuan Zhou muttered inwardly with an expressionless look and then took out the bank note of 10 RMB and gave it to him.
"The amount is just right. Bye, little brother." The driver nodded his head and said goodbye to Yuan Zhou.
"Goodbye." Yuan Zhou also nodded his head.
"Hello. Come in, please." The doorman came over to lead him the way.
"Guanju Hall on the fourth floor, please." Yuan Zhou directly brought out the destination.
"Ok. Follow me, please." The doorman answered smilingly.
Although Yuan Zhou was dressed in Han Chinese clothing, nobody stopped to stare at him. Therefore, he arrived at the fourth floor quietly.
"It is almost the time. Why isn't that person here yet?" Master Chen complained while looking at the entrance.
And Yuan Zhou happened to hear that when he arrived.
The entire hall was arranged to be as well-lit as during the day. There were even shadowless lamps where Yuan Zhou would process the food ingredients.
On the long countertop, all tools required for steaming, oil-frying, stir-frying and boiling were all complete and furthermore, the three pots, bowls and wooden dippers were all laid out at the side.
Behind him were the plates and bowls used for carrying the dishes. They were as long as the kitchen countertop and were separated into several parts, where there were different patterns and styles.
On the left were six large sinks for washing the vegetables and next to them was the azure stone countertop for processing the ingredients.
"Great. It's fairly decent." Yuan Zhou nodded his head contentedly when he saw the food ingredients along the wall at the other side.
"This place is indeed very good." Zhou Shijie said proudly with a smile.
"You have truly done a lot of work. Thank you." Courtesies were never missed by Yuan Zhou.
"Um. Now it's your turn to say something." Zhou Shijie went up only to say that.
"Alright." Yuan Zhou nodded his head.
"Today's leading role has arrived now. This old man has starved all day long and waited for a whole day just to taste this meal. I believe everybody is probably the same." Zhou Shijie wasn't solemn today as how he had been during the contest. Once he went up to the chefs, he joked with them.
"Haw-haw. We are also waiting to see Boss Yuan show his awesomeness." These chefs were still waiting for Yuan Zhou to give them the reasons.
"Exactly. Boss Yuan, you have to handle us all by yourself." Dressed in casual clothes, the talking chef crossed his arms over his chest and looked at him smilingly.
"Yeah. Boss Yuan still has to bother with us." Another chef immediately chimed in.
Chu Xiao just sat at the side and watched them without saying any word. Of course, his expression showed obvious disbelief.
"Hey, why don't you say something to persuade him?" Xing Min was slightly worried when he saw that, but since it wasn't appropriate for him to say anything, he had to ask Lee Yanyi beside him.
"It's none of my business." Lee Yanyi just revealed a look of puzzlement.
"What a stubborn old guy! Pity, what a pity!" Xing Min then became flustered and exasperated. He patted his thighs and muttered vaguely, all about bad words to Lee Yanyi.
Lee Yanyi nevertheless just kept silent and waited to eat.
Naturally, Yuan Zhou could get the sarcasm from their words, but he just remained expressionless. Only when these chefs finished talking did he start to say.
"Please, do you have the colorless crystal rod?" Yuan Zhou said to the waiter beside him.
"Yes, we do." The waiter didn't expect Yuan Zhou to talk to him and hence only answered after a slight hesitation.
"Please give it to me." Yuan Zhou said deservedly with his expression unchanged.
"Ho Ho. Let me wait and see how you act out later." The disdain revealed on Master Cheng's face was almost flowing out.
"The thing is actually like this. Due to my mysophobia problem, my plate presentation would probably be quite different from those made by others." While Yuan Zhou was talking to the serving girl, he washed his hands.
According to the old customs, Yuan Zhou repeated the actions three times. Only when they saw how Yuan Zhou washed his hands and wore the face mask did those chefs stop talking. After Yuan Zhou did all that, however, he took up a daikon and immediately started to sculpt while speaking.
"Shua Shua Shua". While the kitchen knife was dancing in the air, the thin daikon slices fell off like the lunar aureole. In a short while, Yuan Zhou had sculpted the daikon in his hand into a beautiful ancient court lady.
With a big downward bun, the court lady was dressed in layers of gowns. The skirt angle was flown upward and the scarf was blowing in the wind. The gentle smile revealed on her face, the plentiful and plump temperament and romantic charm as well as the white and smooth skin all indicated Yuan Zhou's superb craftsmanship.
"Damn!" As a master that had been famous for long, even Master Cheng couldn't help rubbing his eyes.
"That was way too fast." Master Fang became flabbergasted.
"Sh*t! I also want a plate presentation like this one."
"No wonder he doesn't want others to cut the vegetables for him."
"...." Other chefs thought of their interjections bitterly in the heart.
"I never expected him to be that good." Chu Xiao was also a little surprised.
The first was that Yuan Zhou used the kitchen knife; secondly, the time was very short; thirdly, it was almost a work of art rather than a decoration of a plate presentation. Chu Xiao had to admit that Yuan Zhou's knife skill was really better than his.
"I like this style of presentation. It's unique and is of a minority." This time, a rare faint smile appeared on Yuan Zhou's face, which made him seem extraordinarily sincere.
Unique?
Was that only unique?
As for being the minority, it was indeed so, as none of the chefs on site could reach that level.
Then, the chefs that watched at the side only wanted to say inwardly, "I don't know what to say, but we all like this style of plate presentation. Get us a dozen, oh no, ten dozen, please."
No wonder he didn't want others to help...
"Master Yuan seems to be a very tough guy." Zhou Shijie said to the other two people at the side while stroking his beard.
However, the sculpture was only the very start. Yuan Zhou's presentation of culinary skills had barely begun.
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Chapter 384: Yuan Zhou’s Eccentricity
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
Just when the other chefs were obsessed with the ancient court lady and couldn't restrain themselves, the waiter came back.
"Sir, here is your crystal rod." The waiter handed the tray to him.
"Well, good. Thank you." Yuan Zhou received the crystal rod and then thanked the waiter.
"You are welcome." The waiter said smilingly.
"Master Yuan, even if you don't need assistants like us to sculpt, you need a person to wash the vegetables, right?" It was Master Cheng that spoke.
"Exactly. You can't wash the vegetables alone, can you?" Other chefs echoed one after another.
"Leaving other things aside, I'm fairly confident in washing vegetables." Master Cheng patted on his chest and said confidently.
Judging from the profound knowledge disclosed in the contest and his god-tier sculpting skills displayed now, his culinary skills were definitely at the level of a great master.
It can definitely enhance their culinary skills if they could do the odd jobs for Yuan Zhou.
That was basically the thought of all these chefs. However, it was the cunning Master Cheng that spoke first.
"Actually, I am also not bad." Even before Yuan Zhou could answer then, another chef also recommended himself at the side.
"There are so many vegetables and I think we can work together and cooperate." A younger chef suggested smartly.
"I think this method is good." Once he suggested that, the idea received all chefs' consent.
That was rarely seen in normal times. The chefs that had so many titles surprisingly all wanted to wash the vegetables eagerly. What a spectacle it was!
"He's really a capable chef." At the side, Xing Min was also relieved. He said with a smile.
"Never giving up on their goals until the end." Lee Yanyi humphed coldly. Obviously, he was discontented with not being able to eat the dishes.
"You eccentric old man, do you mean that he doesn't even need assistants to help wash vegetables?" No wonder Xing Min was Lee Yanyi's deadly foe. He figured out his meaning immediately and then asked in surprise.
"That young guy is way too prideful. It's a waste of time." Lee Yanyi didn't deny, but just looked at the surrounding chefs discontentedly.
"Same to you, the unreasonable stubborn donkey." Even at that moment, Xing Min didn't forget to ridicule Lee Yanyi.
"Humph." Lee Yanyi just responded with a cold humph.
After Yuan Zhou heard everyone's utterance, he answered, "I'm sorry. I'm rich in nothing but eccentricity. I like washing vegetables this way."
While he was speaking, he appeared quite sincere.
Nonetheless, the hearts of all the chefs over there skipped a beat as they felt something was wrong.
Disregarding all that, Yuan Zhou just took up the Jinling Grass prepared just now and intended to give a presentation.
The handful of Jinling Grass wasn't so good as that provided by the system, but it was still quite fresh and tender.
"Aren't the vegetable alright after some rinsing?" Of course, other chefs also knew the crispness and freshness of this vegetable.
Right after that, however, Yuan Zhou began to show his unique awesomeness with his capabilities.
Yuan Zhou first cut the old stalks off with the bamboo knife provided, leaving every piece only one inch long.
Of course, the bamboo knife had also been processed by Yuan Zhou beforehand.
He moved the bamboo knife upward lightly but quickly. Then the Jinling Grass on the kneading board fell into the azure stone basin that he had prepared like the blue jade.
After a sound of "Pi Li Pa La", it fell into the water.
In a rapid sequence, Yuan Zhou picked up the crystal rod sent to him by the waiter just now.
While he was shaking the basin clockwise and making the vortex appear with one hand, he stirred the Jinling Grass with the crystal rod lightly with the other.
His actions were light, but nevertheless fully washed every piece of Jinling Grass.
In the end, Yuan Zhou moved the Jinling Grass out with the crystal rod again. It was then covered with a layer of water mist.
"It's done." Yuan Zhou said that in no more than 3 minutes.
He looked up at the crowds and found the banquet hall was lost in absolute silence. They basically hadn't reacted yet.
"I like to wash the vegetables in this way. It is quite rare." Yuan Zhou said with a seemingly shy expression.
On hearing that, the chefs on site wanted to say nothing but a simple "Ho Ho".
"The vegetables could surprisingly be washed this way. Then what is that when we are washing it before?" A chef couldn't help muttering.
"It's devastation." Master Cheng answered fluently.
"I don't want to say anything to Boss Yuan anymore."
"Can that be called rare?"
"Eh..."
"Ta Ta Ta", Chu Xiao straightforwardly went up and brought the washed Jinling Grass closer to have a look.
"Really nice." After quite a while, Chu Xiao remarked.
"Tsk-tsk. I only found out now that I don't even know how to wash vegetables." A chef joined the circle to watch.
"Luckily I didn't say I wanted to do that." Another chef that kept silent while others were volunteering to wash vegetables said that.
"Indeed. Fortunately, I didn't have time to say that. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so interesting." The talking chef looked at the several people including Master Cheng that had tried to do the work eagerly with an expression of ridicule.
"Yeah. Fortunately, we didn't say that." The few persons that didn't volunteer all felt lucky.
Nevertheless, those who had volunteered to wash the vegetables were basically silent now. They couldn't even ridicule now.
After all, they all knew that the Jinling Grass indeed needed to be washed that way.
It was just because they understood that. The way Yuan Zhou used just now was too magnificent and nobody could match against him. That issue made them very upset.
They had been greatly outclassed by Yuan Zhou's sculpting skill and now, again, by Yuan Zhou's technique of washing the vegetables.
"Sh*t. Is it really necessary to wash the vegetables with such a complex method?" Master Cheng could only ridicule in his heart.
"Haw-haw. This little brat is so interesting." There was a contented expression on the old face of Zhou Shijie.
Seeing everybody become silent, Yuan Zhou prepared to continue his presentation and hence directly uttered.
The way he talked was still familiar as always, "Regarding the processing of the beef, I have a rather eccentric method, too."
All chefs on site felt a slight headache when they heard the word of eccentric.
"Go to hell with your eccentricity." It was the thought of all chefs on site.
Of course, it also stood for another meaning, "Thank you for your eccentric technique. Please get a dozen for me."
However, the reason why a chef remained a chef was because they had good decency. Therefore, they only ridiculed him inwardly.
Superficially, they still appeared like, "You continue to act and we'll just watch silently."
"I will use the beef to make my presentation. I'm going to reveal my incompetence now." After Yuan Zhou said politely, he began to take the beef out.
He didn't touch the beef at all from the moment he took out the beef until he put it on the kneading board.
"I am prepared to slice it." Yuan Zhou raised his head and said that.
Then, he took a neat rectangular plate with no edges from behind him.
Having rinsed it with the boiling water, he put it on the beef right after that.
This time, Yuan Zhou didn't use the kitchen knife provided by the banquet hall, but directly took out another one from his body.
It was obviously the Miracle Kitchen Knife that Yuan Zhou had used in his restaurant.
Before he came here, Yuan Zhou specifically inquired the system about that.
Just as expected by Yuan Zhou, the taste-free chopsticks and the spoon were allowed to be taken out. Naturally, so was the Miracle Kitchen Knife.
According to the system, only the food ingredients cannot be taken out of the restaurant.
"Pa", he pressed the plate down and afterwards, he supported it lightly with one hand and took the kitchen knife with the other and then straightforwardly started.
"Damn it. Cutting without measuring?" A chef was surprised.
"It's very normal to cut that way but not so for him." Master Cheng said solemnly.
Other chefs all nodded their head in favor of Master Cheng.
They could also cut without measuring, but they never did it so well. Moreover, after displaying such superior craftsmanship to all others, it was unwise to just cut without measuring.
Only Chu Xiao suddenly said, "Its normal for him to cut it without measuring."
The word was said affirmatively.
Other chefs at the side all looked at Chu Xiao with puzzlement.
Although frowning, Chu Xiao still explained that...
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Chapter 385: Please Take Me As Apprentice
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
Chu Xiao didn't really like explaining. Since everybody was puzzled in this situation, however, he had to explain to them by himself.
"Do you know about the human scent?" Seeing Yuan Zhou cut quickly and precisely, he also said solemnly.
The two characters of "human scent" stood for too many meanings, so the chefs on site all fell silent.
"The scent of human bodies?" A chef asked tentatively.
"No, it isn't." Chu Xiao frowned again and then said, "Everyone has his own scent and the precious foods are most likely to be contaminated by that."
"I got it. No wonder you have that rule, Master Chu." Master Cheng was enlightened and he suddenly said.
"What rule is it?" A chef didn't really know about that and thus he asked curiously.
"Food ingredients sent to me can't have any scent of humans." Chu Xiao crossed his arms against his chest and said naturally.
All chefs on site got choked by his words.
Except for the three judges, Xing Min and Lee Yanyi, every chef basically couldn't smell this thing called human scent. The word of Chu Xiao now instantly made each of them speechless.
"Master Chu, you have a sharp nose." A chef couldn't help but say so.
"The ingredients can't be used anymore if every person touches it once." There was full of disgust in Chu Xiao's tone.
"So is that the reason why Master Yuan is keeping us away from the ingredients?" The remaining chefs then got to know why they weren't needed.
As for the unpleasant words of Chu Xiao, they all indicated that the wind was so strong and they couldn't hear that.
"A crowd of chefs keeps twittering like those who sing Chinese opera in the tea house." Lee Yanyi can't help satirizing when he found Yuan Zhou still hadn't started.
"Come on. Which of these chefs do you think is not prideful? That young man doesn't even leave them any soup. Of course, they will embarrass him." Xing Min knew about these chefs' mindset better and therefore, he directly brought it out.
"Humph. So complicated." No one actually knew whom Lee Yanyi was mentioning by saying complicated. After saying that, he sat in the chair and said nothing more.
"Alright. Attention, please." Yuan Zhou turned the plate upside down and took up the beef.
After a sound of "Peng", he set it down on the azure stone countertop lightly.
"Why does it look like it isn't cut at all?" A chef even revealed his accent in surprise.
"It indeed looks like that. I just don't know what the thickness is like." Chu Xiao frowned and said. His eyesight wasn't as good as his smell.
Yuan Zhou wiped the quadrangular beef lightly with the knife and immediately the entire piece of beef became trapezoidal.
Then, Yuan Zhou's knife skills were well displayed in the trapezoidal beef. Other chefs that watched at the side couldn't help saying with one accord.
"What the f*ck!"
"Let me get close to have a look." Chu Xiao took a few steps forward with big strides after he said that.
Yuan Zhou just made a gesture of "Please" to him.
On the white rectangular plate that had no patterns was an entire piece of beef. Every slice of the beef was seen to have the identical spacing and size in the short distance.
Even the thickness that was hard to control while cutting without measuring was the same.
What Chu Xiao specially observed was the first several pieces and the last several ones.
Normally, people would use only the middle part of the beef no matter they sliced or shredded it before cutting it into a square. Only in that way would the beef not be sliced or shredded into different sizes.
However, Yuan Zhou didn't do that like what people normally did, therefore Chu Xiao specifically observed the two parts carefully.
"He surprisingly cut it along the radian and veins." Having noticed that, Chu Xiao felt a little uncomfortable.
Yuan Zhou wasn't wasting any of the ingredients. Even Chu Xiao himself couldn't even do that. Moreover, the beef wasn't contaminated with the slightest scent of Yuan Zhou after it was held in Yuan Zhou's hand for so long time.
What filled his nose was the prime-grade aroma of fresh beef. Just by smelling the aroma, people could feel that the beef would definitely be fresh, tender, and succulent.
"Wait. I want to pick one piece up with the chopsticks and have a closer look." Chu Xiao suddenly thought of something and then asked Yuan Zhou while looking at him.
"Over there. Help yourself." Yuan Zhou still respected the rule of his restaurant, "Food should be made by one's own hands; only then will it taste better."
"Alright." Chu Xiao nodded his head.
Having taken the chopsticks, Chu Xiao took a deep breath and then breathed out again.
Only then did he start to pick the beef slice up.
"It truly is so." Chu Xiao instantly uttered while looking at the beef between the chopsticks.
"Hiss." Other chefs that stayed behind him couldn't help uttering that.
The reason why the beef slice made Chu Xiao comment like that and those chefs sigh admiringly was just because of its thinness.
The beef slice contrasted sharply to the ivory white chopsticks. Through the fine-grained beef, they could even see the chopsticks covered by the beef slice. It was thin but meanwhile quite tough and tensile, not breaking at all. Hanging on the chopsticks, it looked like a piece of scarlet white paper painted with the marble patterns.
"This is paper thin! And it was done by cutting without measuring." Master Cheng almost couldn't snap out of his daze.
"Are we shooting a film?" A chef suddenly said that.
Another even said, "Master Yuan is ascending the heavens."
No way out. This technique of Yuan Zhou was way too amazing.
"Beef Sashimi." Suddenly, Chu Xiao said affirmatively.
"Indeed. This can be eaten directly. As the part between the rib eye steak and sirloin, it's soft and succulent and we can clearly see the conspicuous frost pattern. The quality is superior and the texture is fantastic." Yuan Zhou uttered a long speech while wearing his face mask.
"Cutting Beef Sashimi without measuring." This time, Chu Xiao added another two characters. He appeared to be indifferent and calm, however, there was a slight radiance of surprise in his eyes.
"Take your time and enjoy, please." While he was saying that, Yuan Zhou didn't prepare the chopsticks and sauces as usual.
Then, the chefs all ran to take the chopsticks. When they came back and found there were no sauces, they immediately uttered anxiously.
"Master Yuan, you forget to make the sauce. I...." When Master Cheng just wanted to say he had confidence in that, he thought of the embarrassment just now and hence shut up his mouth involuntarily.
"It's perfect to eat it now without sauce," said Yuan Zhou. Afterwards, he began to wash up straightforwardly regardless of others, because he would have proper business to do shortly.
Chu Xiao ate it first and then Master Cheng followed suit. He picked one piece up and stuffed it into his mouth immediately.
The beef was way too thin. As soon as it entered his mouth, the beef melted upon touching the warm mouth cavity. With some more bite, the faint milky aroma blended with the sweet and refreshing succulent beef flavor instantly occupied the entire taste bud.
"Good. It's super delicious." Master Cheng said affirmatively after he gulped it down.
"Hey! How can you guys do like this? I have only eaten one piece." Right after Master Cheng praised the dish and reacted, he found the plate had been empty. Then he said in surprise.
"How many pieces do you think there are? The beef is barely enough for everyone to eat one piece." Another chef who ate only one piece also said that helplessly.
"Master Yuan, you can start now." The aged chairman set down the chopsticks without a trace and urged him primly.
"Yeah, yeah. Those ingredients should have been cooked earlier." Lee Yanyi immediately echoed.
"One moment, everyone. The dishes are to be served one after another." Yuan Zhou changed a new face mask and then said loudly.
"He's truly an awesome opponent, haw-haw." Chu Xiao had sat back quietly in a handsome sitting position. While looking at Yuan Zhou, he revealed a strong desire to fight back.
Having eaten the dishes, the chefs all became silent. Any words were feeble and futile while only delicious dishes lasted long.
Master Cheng savored the aftertaste in his mouth for a while and looked again at Yuan Zhou. Then, he made up his mind reluctantly and came over to Yuan Zhou.
"Master Yuan, sorry to bother you." While looking at Yuan Zhou, Master Cheng appeared rather solemn.
"Go ahead." Yuan Zhou set down the kitchen knife.
"Could you do me a favor? Of course, you don't need to answer me now." Master Cheng looked around at the surroundings and said that.
"Um." Yuan Zhou nodded his head.
"I want to revere you as my teacher. I will go to visit you one week later. You can tell me your answer then." Master Cheng said that in one breath and then left straightforwardly, not giving Yuan Zhou any chance to react.
"Interesting!" It was Yuan Zhou's turn to say so this time.
All chefs on site were looking at Yuan Zhou that remained expressionless and all wanted to know if he would agree. After all, any techniques for vegetable washing or cutting of Yuan Zhou deserved to be learned.
Then, here comes the problem. Would Yuan Zhou agree?