Chapter 116: Where Does That Courage Come From?

Hearing Cai Da’s words, Cai Yao couldn’t help but smile. "Dad, do you really think we don't know about the tricks the people at Yunhe are pulling? Did you really think we needed you to inform us? Do I look worried to you?"

Chu Lin smiled at Cai Yao as well and said, "Since they’ve already started, let’s go upstairs and take a look."

"Mm!" Cai Yao nodded, clutching his arm as they headed straight for the second floor.

From the large balcony on the second floor, one could look down at the gourmet event platform Yunhe had set up.

Cai Da was stunned by this. What was the meaning of such nonchalance?

Chen Feng and the others were also filled with surprise. They didn't know how Brother Lin had gotten into a conflict with Yunhe, but they were well aware that Yunhe was the number one high-end restaurant in Min City. Yet, seeing Brother Lin and Cai Yao’s demeanor, they didn't seem worried at all. Driven by curiosity, they hurriedly followed.

"Manager Cai, can you let go of me now?" Chu Lin asked teasingly, looking at the young lady’s chest, which was pressed firmly against his arm. He had to admit, the tactile sensation of the young lady was truly excellent. If it felt this good with just this much contact, then based on his experience, if he were to hold them in his hands, the sensation would be absolutely marvelous.

Cai Yao was about to say something, but hearing footsteps approaching from below, she sighed, "It doesn't matter; I already said what I said earlier."

Chu Lin was stunned. "But that’s not really our relationship."

"Then let it be for today!" Cai Yao said simply, and then fell silent.

Chen Feng and the others had arrived, including Cai Da and his son, Cai Sen.

For a moment, Chu Lin’s brain went blank. What did the young lady mean? It was that special kind of relationship for today? Did that include the night? As Chu Lin pondered this, his mind couldn't help but conjure images of the two times the young lady had been drunk—she had been truly exquisite and enchanting.

Cai Yao watched the gourmet event platform set up by Yunhe, took out her phone, dialed a number, and instructed, "Master Pan, you may begin."

On the other side, Cheng Jian and Ma Zhen were still in the coffee shop, as this was the only thing they cared about right now. Watching the kitchen stoves on the Yunhe platform being tested, Cheng Jian smiled and said, "Master Bao has begun testing the fire. He is the best among the three master chefs at Yunhe. Lin Yao won't be able to find a chef who can match him."

"Good, that’s perfect." Ma Zhen nodded, but suddenly he frowned. "What is that?"

Cheng Jian looked over and saw that the fabric covering the area opposite Yunhe’s platform had also been pulled down at that very moment. They had been curious about what was being built inside, and now they knew. It was also a platform, equipped with several simple kitchen stoves.

"What?" Cheng Jian was instantly stunned. A banner had been raised on the platform, reading: "Lin Yao Restaurant Gourmet Tasting Event."

He realized what was happening and said in disbelief, "Are they actually trying to challenge us head-on?"

Up at Lin Yao Restaurant, Cai Da also saw this scene and instinctively looked at Cai Yao and Chu Lin. "You’re actually planning to go head-to-head with Yunhe?"

Cai Yao asked with a smile, "And what if we are?"

"Uh!" Cai Da was at a loss for words. He wanted to say they were destined to lose, but looking at his daughter’s expression, it was clear she was brimming with confidence. This left him puzzled and curious—where did her confidence come from? Unable to fathom it, he took Cai Sen and hurried downstairs toward the two platforms.

Chen Feng and the others also headed down. They wanted to know what kind of trump card Brother Lin and Cai Yao held. It wasn't that they thought Lin Yao Restaurant would lose, but they were thinking about something else: if Brother Lin and the others managed to take down Yunhe, then Lin Yao would become the premier high-end restaurant in Min City. This was their friend's place! In the future, when treating someone to dinner, they could just say, "The best restaurant in Min City is owned by my friend; I'll give him a call and have him arrange a private room." Just thinking about it felt like a different level of status.

Customers at Tianhui Plaza also noticed the two gourmet platforms and swarmed over, filled with curiosity.

On the Lin Yao platform, Pan Yue walked out, stepped onto the stage, and looked toward Master Bao on the opposite side with excitement. He knew the man’s identity: one of the three best chefs in Min City and a vice president of the Chef’s Association. In terms of pure culinary skill, he was no match for the man. But he couldn't forget the moment Manager Cai had handed him a bottle of cooking wine. He had used it to cook a dish in a daze, and then he had been completely stunned. He had never imagined such a cooking wine could exist.

Master Bao’s cooking was known not just for its delicious taste, but for an unparalleled aroma. In the past, Pan Yue had thought that skill was impressive. Now, he just wanted to say it was nothing. Today, he was going to take that master chef down. The thought alone was exhilarating. He would become famous in the Chef’s Association tomorrow.

Bao Changkong was also taken aback by the situation across the way. As the best of Yunhe's three master chefs, he had only come because Cheng Jian had promised him benefits, but Cheng Jian hadn't mentioned that someone would be challenging him. However, he wasn't worried; he was extremely confident in his own skills. Challenging him would only lead to their own humiliation.

Thinking this, he told his assistants, "Let's begin!" In an instant, the chefs at Yunhe started their work—washing vegetables, chopping, preparing ingredients—all proceeding in an orderly fashion.

At the entrance of Tianhui Plaza, Wu Cuo arrived with several middle-aged men. Since the restaurant belonging to that Mr. Chu was opening today—and his company, Erbai, held a 10% stake—he naturally had to show his support. The people with him were all members of the Minjiang Chamber of Commerce; he had specifically invited them to build some goodwill with Mr. Chu.

Wu Cuo quickly saw the situation with the two platforms, and his face darkened when he saw the name "Yunhe." What was going on with the plaza management? How could they approve such an activity application?

A member of the Minjiang Chamber of Commerce asked curiously, "Old Wu, didn't you say Erbai holds a stake in Lin Yao Restaurant? What’s going on here?"

Wu Cuo frowned and immediately called Lin Quan, demanding, "What is going on with this gourmet event? Do you not want to keep your job?"

Lin Quan, who had already arrived at the plaza, hurried over to Wu Cuo as fast as he could and explained urgently, "Manager Wu, this was requested by Mr. Chu himself. I had to comply, otherwise, why would I ever agree to such an application?"

"Requested by Mr. Chu? Then it's fine." A look of curiosity instantly appeared on Wu Cuo’s face. He didn't know much about this Mr. Chu, only that the channels behind him were powerful—not just anyone could get their hands on that precious White Dragon Saliva or that medicinal wine. If the man had that kind of influence, he must be certain of what he was doing.

At that moment, Pan Yue also instructed his assistants to start, and they began cooking in an orderly manner. When Cai Da and Cai Sen arrived, he immediately looked at Bao Changkong and saw him tossing the wok. Even a chef of that caliber looked stylish while tossing a wok. After the toss, Bao Changkong skillfully added his seasonings, and soon, a delicious, fragrant aroma of gourmet cooking began to drift out, drawing gasps of surprise.

"So fragrant!"
"It's true, it really whets the appetite."

Smelling the aroma, Cai Da knew the master chef's skills hadn't diminished at all; if anything, they had improved. With a chef of that caliber, what could his daughter’s restaurant possibly use to compete?

Pan Yue also smelled the aroma of the cooking from across the way, then smiled, picked up a bottle of cooking wine, and poured it directly into his own pan.

The next moment, an indescribable fragrance instantly wafted out. This scent captivated everyone present, making them swallow their saliva uncontrollably.

In that instant, Cai Da looked toward Pan Yue with a face full of disbelief. How could there be such an alluring aroma? How was this done?

"Impossible," Bao Changkong stared at his opponent in utter shock.