Chapter 402: The Pursuit of Perfection
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
Yuan Zhou was still a little puzzled when he wiped his hands dry and took up the phone.
After a pause, Yuan Zhou said, "Hello, chairman."
It was only later when Yuan Zhou got some information about this Zhou Shijie. Other things aside, solely based on just one matter, Yuan Zhou admired him.
It was said that Zhou Shijie had once been within the top three of an international chef's league competition, the only Chinese that had achieved that accomplishment.
Of course, it was also the very first time that a Chinese entered the top three of this match. It wasn't exaggerated at all to say it became a legend.
Although the culinary skills of a Chinese chef need not be affirmed by foreigners, Zhou Shijie's craftsmanship had definitely reached the summit and could be said to be faultless, which brought such a score to him.
One should know that those judges weren't really objective nor impartial toward Chinese candidates.
"Is that Yuan Zhou? This is Zhou Shijie." Zhou Shijie said gently this time.
"Um. Hi." Yuan Zhou answered.
"I'm thinking of recommending you to attend the exchange of pointers concerning the new French dishes. What do you think of that?" Zhou Shijie said kindly.
"Thank you, chairman." Yuan Zhou raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"So you agreed, right?" Zhou Shijie said that more happily this time.
"Yes. Since it's your recommendation, I will for sure go there. Thank you." Of course, Yuan Zhou wouldn't refuse such a good opportunity.
"Haw-haw. No need to thank me. This is what your culinary skills brought you," Zhou Shijie said directly.
"Ok, I got it." Yuan Zhou was clear about that in his mind and also said approvingly.
"If so, go make some preparations. Let's go to the airport together several days later. We will need to stay for five days in France and it will take about one week for the whole journey." Zhou Shijie instructed Yuan Zhou carefully like an elder.
"Alright. Thank you, chairman." Yuan Zhou listened to him earnestly.
"Ok. Two days later, my assistant Zhong Lili will come to you. She will speak with you about this matter." Zhou Shijie was in a fairly good mood this time.
Zhou Shijie was in a good mood because he had already known from Lee Yanyi that Yuan Zhou's temper was even worse than his and furthermore, he didn't like going out.
For the time being, Yuan Zhou's character did not seem too bad.
"This young man is talented and also very sincere. Good, good." Zhou Shijie stroked his goatee smilingly and muttered to himself.
On the aspect of culinary skills, Zhou Shijie was more optimistic about Yuan Zhou, although he hadn't obtained any Michelin three-stars. Even now, he didn't know Yuan Zhou's full abilities.
However, that didn't really matter. This was because Yuan Zhou had no teacher and had only worked for two years in an ordinary hotel.
In his opinion, Yuan Zhou's awesome performance was just the manifestation of his infinite talent.
"Flight tickets are supposed to be included in the invitation. For the accommodation, it's also supposed to be included as it's more like a business trip. So that means I only need to go there and bring some money." After Yuan Zhou put down the phone, he started to think.
Then, he thought of his golden card.
"The Euro is used in France. So I'm going to bring ten thousand Euros and can swipe my card for anything else." Yuan Zhou said full of spirit.
"You can only bring a cash amount less than 5000 USD or its equivalent." Suddenly, there passed a male voice from outside the open door.
"Pardon?" As this voice appeared rather abrupt, Yuan Zhou didn't even react.
"Below 5000 USD. Otherwise you have to apply for the cash-carrying permit." It was Wu Hai that entered his restaurant.
"Ok. I got it." Yuan Zhou said calmly.
As for whether Yuan Zhou felt bad about his failure in posturing, it was unknown.
"Apart from that, you need to make an appointment to change the currency." Wu Hai stroked his small mustaches and reminded Yuan Zhou again.
"What are you here for? It's not business hours." Yuan Zhou changed the subject without turning a hair.
"Tsk. I am just passing by here." Wu Hai bullshitted without blinking.
"Um. Ok, you continue passing by. I'm going to sculpt now." With a nod, Yuan Zhou indicated that he got it and then drove Wu Hai away.
"Alright. See you in the evening." Wu Hai didn't say much, but instead turned around and left directly.
"Don't think I don't know you specially come here to tease me with your prim manner." After Wu Hai left, Yuan Zhou ridiculed expressionlessly in the heart.
The reason why Yuan Zhou wanted to go abroad was quite simple. He originally had plans to go abroad.
It was essentially because of the reward provided by the system.
The system had rewarded him with all the etiquette standards of western style dishes and Yuan Zhou would also provide all the side dishes. Therefore, he naturally needed to understand those by himself.
Even though he didn't need to teach others, in his opinion, it was a must that he was proficient in that.
Going abroad was the best way to learn the etiquette of western style dishes, let alone that he was going to France.
"French dishes are also considered a world-class cuisine. There's also the Michelin Three-Star Restaurant. I can learn a lot of things." Yuan Zhou stroked the corner of his forehead and thought inwardly.
It was definitely not because of the free journey to France that made him decide to go to France suddenly. Absolutely not. He wasn't that kind of person.
One day soon passed. Before Yuan Zhou went to bed, he checked the local weather and precautions of France and then went to sleep.
Early next morning, Yuan Zhou got up as usual to jog and exercise before he prepared the breakfast.
At the other end, Ling Hong also got up early and prepared to go out directly.
"Little Ling, why didn't you take the newspaper recently? Did you forget?" A woman dressed cleanly came out after Ling Hong.
"No, I am not. It's unnecessary to read the newspaper in future." After Ling Hong stopped, he thought for a while and then said.
"What happened? Isn't it your habit to read the newspaper? Why did you quit so abruptly?" The woman became more puzzled.
"I have got a more precise loudspeaker than the newspaper now." Ling Hong shrugged with an evil smile on his face.
"Are you sure?" The woman asked again for confirmation earnestly.
"Don't worry, Aunt Zhang. I have another one in my company." Ling Hong comforted her and then left immediately.
As for the loudspeaker mentioned by Ling Hong, it was naturally the customers in Yuan Zhou's restaurant.
These two customers came for breakfast in the morning everyday. Every time, they would talk about the latest news covering everything as if they had made plenty of preparations beforehand. Meanwhile, they even explained and ridiculed them.
Once Ling Hong arrived, he heard the latest news.
After Ling Hong, separated by the two men, there were another two men wearing business suits and ties.
The taller one was Liu Zhiming while the other short but handsome one was Pan Ning. They were right now chatting heatedly while others beside them were listening to them carefully.
"Did you read that news on Sohu today?" Liu Zhiming turned his head and started.
"Yes, I did. I feel that the man is definitely self-indulgent. Why did he go to the bar at midnight? No wonder he was assaulted sexually." Pan Ning ridiculed primly.
"Haw-haw-haw. Isn't your remark the first comment below the news?" Liu Zhiming burst into laughter suddenly.
"What a big surprise! A man went to the bar and was forced to drink until he became drunk. Afterwards, he was sexually assaulted by six women. Sigh. I also want such an opportunity, but just one woman is good for me." Pan Ning sighed and said.
"Come on. You are way too handsome, so best be careful. The prophecy might unfortunately come true." Liu Zhiming said earnestly.
"Yeah, I think so, too. But I feel the insulting event of tearing the names is even more unbelievable." Pan Ning suddenly said with a discontented tone.
"Indeed. They dared discriminate so openly and it even happened at Columbia University." Liu Zhiming also shook his head to show his disapproval.
The two people were like the loudspeakers that narrated various news. They were simply the best human-shaped news broadcaster.
Therefore, Ling Hong naturally didn't need the newspaper anymore.
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Chapter 403: As You Please
Translator: Xiong_Guoqi Editor: DesTheSloth
Accompanied by the two loudspeakers' news broadcasting, even the time taken waiting for the delicacies became shorter.
Of course, Yuan Zhou also liked the two people as they really knew a lot of things. Although they talked a lot, they knew not to bother others. They weren't hated but instead, liked by others.
They talked about the current news everyday with no repetitions, which was also a unique characteristic.
It was now 9:30 in the morning. Zhong Lili, namely Little Zhong, was walking along the street in front of Yuan Zhou's restaurant in her high-heel shoes.
The impact of the shoes against the ground emitted a sound of "Du Du Du", but didn't conceal Zhong Lili's grumbles.
"What an annoying old man Grandpa Zhou is! He surprisingly asked me to come exactly on time, not a single minute earlier or later. I don't understand why is Grandpa Zhou giving the opportunity to a person whose name is unknown to others?" The capable and experienced manner of hers previously seemed to have vanished, replaced by an impatient expression on her pretty face. She knitted her brows and muttered to herself.
"This restaurant really hides itself well." Zhong Lili looked at the surroundings around and frowned even deeper.
Not long after that, she counted the street number and saw Yuan Zhou who was sitting at the door.
"Hooo." Having breathed out, she resumed her normally capable and experienced expression and then walked to Yuan Zhou quickly.
With a professional smile, Zhong Lili straightforwardly asked, "Hi, Sir. Are you Yuan Zhou?"
Of course, she had already seen Yuan Zhou's photos and hence knew him well. But it might be politer to ask that way.
However, Yuan Zhou was sculpting his work very carefully and attentively.
Under such circumstances, even if it was Man Man approaching him, Yuan Zhou would first finish his work and then talk about something else, let alone it was a woman unknown to him this time.
Therefore, Yuan Zhou didn't even raise his head, nor did he answer her. He just quickened the actions of his hands.
Seeing Yuan Zhou giving no reaction after a while, Zhong Lili knitted her brows quickly and asked again.
This time, her voice became much louder. Five minutes later, however, Yuan Zhou still had no reaction.
Zhong Lili had fairly good patience, even if she knitted her brows hard this time and her tone wasn't that gentle anymore. "You are Yuan Zhou, aren't you? I'm the assistant of Chairman Zhou, Zhong Lili."
Speaking of Chairman Zhou, she even stressed on those two words.
Total silence.
"Ho Ho. Interesting." Zhong Lili thought inwardly with irony.
Of course, she saw Yuan Zhou sculpting at the first moment she arrived. But in her opinion, it was no more than a radish sculpture. How could it be more important than her work? Therefore, she went up bluntly and said to him.
"Sir, please stop your sculpture temporarily and continue later. We need to discuss the matter of going to France." Zhong Lili took a deep breath and said stiffly.
Zhong Lili stared at Yuan Zhou carefully this time, but Yuan Zhou still lowered his head as if the radish in his hand had a significant attraction to him.
"Girl, little girl." Just when Zhong Lili couldn't control herself and was about to lose temper, she heard someone calling her.
Then, she tilted her head subconsciously and saw Boss Tong in the dry cleaning shop.
"Are you calling me?" Zhong Lili asked with puzzlement.
"Yes. Once Boss Yuan starts to sculpt, he will never talk with anybody until he finishes." Boss Tong explained. There appeared a mild smile on her skinny face.
"But I have something very important to tell him." Zhong Lili knitted her brows and still insisted.
"But this little Boss Yuan can't hear you now. If you are tired, come here and take a seat.
"No need. Thank you." Zhong Lili shook her head and refused.
"You are welcome. So you can just wait for a little while. He isn't listening to anybody right now." Boss Tong said again.
"Alright, I got it." Zhong Lili took a look at Yuan Zhou and said that helplessly.
Of course, the discontent in her heart reached the apex.
As for Yuan Zhou, he was naturally sculpting carefully. This time, he was trying to sculpt Immortal Zhang Guo Lau of the TV series of Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, who was riding a donkey backwards.
In the end, even the furs of the donkey were clearly seen. So was the wild and intractable expression on the donkey's long face.
Not to mention the clothes of Immortal Zhang Guo Lau. It was naturally also incomparably clear.
In the meantime, Zhong Lili just stood at the door of Yuan Zhou's restaurant and waited for half an hour.
During the short period, she also tried again to call Yuan Zhou, but all ended in failure. If not for Zhou Shijie, she would have already taken the radish away.
As the assistant of the chairman of China Chef's Alliance, Zhong Lili and her family had a good personal friendship with Zhou Shijie. There, even those famous chefs didn't dare to ignore her like that.
Let alone this was just a Yuan Zhou. Thus, she was extremely angry.
Once Yuan Zhou finished his work, Zhong Lili immediately went up and said, "Respected Mr. Yuan, please show me your ID, 2-inch color photos and household register. I will apply for the visa for you with them."
"Of course, if you don't have it now, please go to take a photo first. You wouldn't know the procedures for the visa application and you need not know them. I will get everything done for you." Although she used the words like "respected" and "please", there was not an ounce of respect towards him.
However, Yuan Zhou didn't seem to hear that. He just put a sculpture of Immortal Zhang Guo Lau on the shelf beside him carefully.
Then, he straightened himself up and asked Zhong Lili while looking at her, "I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. Could you please repeat that?"
Yuan Zhou said that with a tepid tone, which let Zhong Lili sensitively realize something went wrong.
She shut her mouth, saying nothing, and chose to keep silent for a moment.
At that moment, Zhong Lili caught sight of the radish sculpture that Yuan Zhou had put on the shelf beside her.
She wasn't good at cooking or sculpting, but knew about such things. For such a sculpture, even the best disciple of Zhou Shijie couldn't do that.
They just couldn't reach the integration of the form and the spirit like that. It was like a miniature figurine of the genuine immortal person.
"Your sculpting skills are truly awesome." Zhong Lili swallowed her indignation just now. She realized she didn't actually wait in vain after she saw his perfect craftsmanship. Therefore, she said more mildly.
"Um." Yuan Zhou answered vaguely. Then he sat down and prepared to sculpt the radish again.
That really scared Zhong Lili. She knew Yuan Zhou was doing the latter part of the sculpture when she came here. Even so, she had waited there for almost 40 minutes.
If he continued to sculpt, she surely couldn't finish the work today and wouldn't know how to answer to Chairman Zhou.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Yuan. A passport is needed for going abroad, but it will take three months to get it if you apply for that by yourself. Chairman Zhou has instructed that you are going on a business trip and thus you can get it very quickly." Zhong Lili let go of her mood and prepared to do the work first.
"How long will it take if you do it?" Yuan Zhou asked lightly.
"One day." Zhong Lili said concisely without any more words.
"Um, but I have no photo today. You can come to collect it tomorrow. Since that is clear now, you can leave as you please." Yuan Zhou nodded his head, indicating he had known that, and then said quite indifferently.
"Ok. I won't bother you anymore." Zhong Lili managed to control her hot temper and repeated inwardly that work mattered more. Only by that could she answer so calmly.
Then, Yuan Zhou no longer spoke to her, but took the radish again and started to sculpt.
He was sculpting Immortal Han Hsiang-Tzu this time. The green part at the top of the radish was used to sculpt the bamboo flute of Han Hsiang-Tzu.
"Damn it!!!" After walking out of the side street, Zhong Lili couldn't help stamping her foot heavily and gnashing her teeth in anger.
However, Yuan Zhou didn't really care about all that. In his opinion, the opportunity for exchanging pointers was rare, but it also wasn't a bad idea for him to go alone.