Chapter 100: Taking His Trophy

The chef's original words were, "Impossible! I absolutely refuse to let a bunch of Asians into my kitchen. Our restaurant doesn't need any advertising!"

In foreign countries, restaurant chefs hold considerable status, so the manager couldn't oppose him. Sometimes, businesspeople and craftsmen have completely opposite perspectives.

Everyone stared at each other in confusion.

"What should we do? The other restaurants are probably the same, and I just found out this is the most famous restaurant in the city, with the most renowned dishes."

"Maybe we should talk to the chef."

"How? People in this country are very xenophobic."

Almost simultaneously, everyone turned their gaze to Yun Fu. For some reason, with her around, it felt like there might be a solution.

Yun Fu walked inside and asked the manager if she could meet the chef.

The manager agreed, and they were introduced to a plump old man.

"I told you, I won't let Asians watch me cook!" The fat chef's contempt was obvious, even if they couldn't understand his words.

Everyone's expression changed.

"A bunch of country bumpkins who've never seen the world. I bet you're still digging up roots and leaves to eat back home. Pathetic."

The fat chef scanned them with increasing disdain. "A bunch of babies still suckling at their mothers. Go back home to your mothers!"

[My god! My friend says he's looking down on us, saying we're still eating tree roots. How stupid can this old man be!]
[Foreign student passing by—I have to say, many foreigners really think we have nothing to eat, just a bit better than Africa.]
[Seriously, our country is the ancestor of cuisine! Ever heard of the Eight Great Culinary Traditions?]
[I'm furious! Someone should send this old man to our country and let him see what real food tastes like!]

Yun Fu didn't translate his words. She simply looked down at the chef, her voice icy. "Is your cooking really that great?"

The fat chef sneered and pointed to the trophies on the restaurant wall. "Take a good look. Now move along, don't disturb me while I cook!"

"In that case, do you dare to compete?" Yun Fu's words made the fat chef frown deeply. "What?"

"A cooking competition. We each make our specialty dishes, and let the restaurant guests decide the winner."

When this scene was subtitled and edited later, the barrage of comments exploded.

[What is she doing? Has Yun Fu lost her mind? He's a professional chef!]

[I saw the trophies outside—those are from international culinary competitions. Is Yun Fu crazy?]
[I heard many chefs from our country participated back then, but none won.]
[That's because the true masters don't bother entering. They're not even on the same level. How can they compete?]
[But Yun Fu is being too reckless. She's going to embarrass us abroad!]

The five who understood what Yun Fu said were all stunned.

"Yun Fu, none of us really know how to cook. How can we compete?"

"Xiao Fu, if it were something else, maybe we could help you. But cooking… that's really not our forte."

"Only Teacher He knows a little."

"I can only make instant noodles."

The fat chef watched their panic and felt smug. "All right, let's compete. Here's the deal: we each take half the kitchen supplies. You pick first, then I pick. How about it?"

Yun Fu nodded in agreement.

She lifted her head, sunlight streaming through the window and illuminating her radiant face. In that moment, for reasons unknown, it felt as if she would win.

Xi Rou'er stepped forward, her voice gentle. "Yun Fu, maybe we should change restaurants. None of us are good at cooking. Even though Teacher He and I know a bit, we're nowhere near a professional chef."

"Exactly!" Tong Zhenzhen scoffed, "If you want to show off and embarrass yourself, don't drag us into it!"

[Exactly, Yun Fu is being too selfish!]
[If we lose, it's not just a few of us—it might make people actually think we're still digging up dirt to eat.]
[What's wrong with Yun Fu? Didn't she hear Xi Rou'er? Does she even know how to cook? She just agreed, so annoying!]
[She's just trying to get famous, doesn't care about anything else.]

Only Mu Bai looked worried, but also a little confident. He moved closer to Yun Fu and whispered, "Xiao Fu, are you sure you can beat him?"

The next second, he saw Yun Fu smile brightly. She said, "Trust me, I'll bring back that trophy for you."

Mu Bai forced a smile and nodded stiffly. "I believe in you."

What other choice did he have? He was on Yun Fu's side, after all—he couldn't let others win.

The chef sneered, gestured, and said, "Well then, please, you pick first."

Yun Fu stepped into the kitchen. It wasn't like the kitchens back home, filled with heat and energy; instead, it was a neat and orderly cooking station.

She wore sportswear that clashed with the setting, her high ponytail and fair face making her look like a little sprite lost in the kitchen—she hardly seemed like someone who could cook.

Yet she showed not the slightest hint of panic. Calmly, she walked in and took the box of salt.

The fat chef chuckled with an air of certain victory and grabbed the oil from the table.

[We're doomed! Oil is the most important thing in cooking. Has Yun Fu gone mad? Why didn't she take the oil!]
[I don't even want to watch anymore. She's just dragging us down!]
[Is she crazy? I used to like her, but now she's just being arrogant. I'm turning against her.]
[She loves showing off so much, it's only a matter of time before she crashes!]

Next, they watched Yun Fu take pork belly, eggs, ginger, scallions, and garlic...

Meanwhile, the chef took steak, vegetables, noodles...

"Xiao Fu, what are we going to make?"

"Braised pork and egg fried rice."

"That's pretty ordinary," He Fang glanced at the ingredients and frowned again. "But making them truly exceptional is difficult."

Yun Fu glanced over the items on the table and smiled. "Don't worry. It's enough."

Xi Rou'er sneered inwardly. Apparently, some people didn't need her intervention—they would ruin themselves.

Not a single person believed Yun Fu would win today.

Except for someone far away, watching the live stream from home.

He gazed at the confident face on the screen, scenes from his dreams of her cooking flashing through his mind, wondering how to get her to make him a meal someday.

Lian Hanqi picked up his phone and sent Yun Fu a message: [It must taste wonderful. Suddenly, I want to be a guest.]

But Yun Fu's phone was still with the production team, and she wouldn't receive the message for now.

Everything was ready, and the competition between the two began.

Once the guests outside learned what was happening inside, they all agreed to wait and were filled with curiosity.