1012 One Look at Her and a City Falls (1/2)
Not even an hour had passed when Chen Xiaobei returned to Shallow Grass Mountain.
Chen Xiaobei told Uzuishi Yasai that he would be back in two hours so he still had another hour to spare! He put on the Chen Zhufeng mask and knocked on the door of the temple. Again, it was Uzuishi Yasai who answered the door. ”May I know who you are? Why are you here?”
”I'm Chen Zhufeng from China.” Chen Xiaobei spoke in his own voice. ”I heard about Master Akaihi and I want to invite him to cook for me.”
Uzuishi Yasai looked concerned.
”Do you know my grandfather's criteria?”
”Of course.” Chen Xiaobei nodded.
Uzuishi Yasai replied, ”Since you know that already, then you should be aware that my grandfather will not accept any run-of-the-mill dishes! I might add that my grandfather has not cooked for anyone for a few years already…”
”I understand. Master Akaihi is picky. I won't be surprised if he rejects me.” Chen Xiaobei said earnestly, ”But I've traveled all the way to Japan, if I don't give it a try, I will regret this my whole life!”
Uzuishi Yasai's frown deepened and said, ”Let me give you one last heads-up: Grandfather is scolding someone right now… If you are not afraid of being reprimanded then you can follow me.”
”No, I'm not! Let's go in!”
Chen Xiaobei grinned. What is there to be afraid of? He already had a card up his sleeve.
In the dining hall of the temple.
Chen Xiaobei was following behind Uzuishi Yasai when they heard a seething voice lambasting someone's cooking.
”Rubbish! How could even think of serving this to me? Did you think that I don't know western food? Take this crap and get out of my sight!”
The door creaked open and a European chef carrying a plate of scrumptious looking seafood dish walked out, hanging his head in shame.
When they were hiking up the mountain, Yamaguchi Takaki had introduced this chef to Chen Xiaobei. He was the winning champion of the Seafood Category of the World Culinary competition. All the European officials and dignitaries must place a booking three months in advance if they want to eat at his restaurant.
But here in the tiny Shallow Grass Mountain, his dish was deemed rubbish and he did not have the impudence to challenge that statement! That was because the person criticizing his cooking was Uzuishi Akaihi!
Uzuishi Yasai glanced at Chen Xiaobei and said, ”You can leave if you want…”
”No, I don't want to.” Chen Xiaobei said, smiling, ”We Chinese men can lose a battle but we will not run away from it!'
”Alright. That's all I can help you with…”
Uzuishi Yasai nodded, and then brought Chen Xiaobei in.
There was a line of ten dining tables stretched across the room. Minus the one that had just been removed, there were nine left. On each of the tables was a mouth-watering dish with its creator, looking somber and acquiescent, standing behind it.
Yamaguchi Takaki stood aside, swallowing every now and then—he was both drawn to the inviting dishes and afraid that none of these nine dishes were enough to please Uzuishi Akaihi.
”Huh? Who is he?”
Uzuishi Akaihi was pouring himself a cup of tea to gargle with when he caught sight of Chen Xiaobei.
”He is also here to invite you to cook for him. He did not make any appointment but he came all the way from China so I invited him in,” Uzuishi Yasai answered.
Upon hearing this, the chefs became exasperated.
”This kid must think very highly of himself! Even we don't dare hope for Master Akaihi's approval! He's just a young nobody with no experience! What qualifies him to come here and show off?”
”Master Akaihi has way more cooking experience than that bastard! How dare he come and blow his own trumpet?!
”Yeah! What is so great about Chinese food? Even if the top Chinese chef came, he would only be reprimanded for his cooking!”
”Yeah! Chinese food is disgusting! Also, China and Japan are not on good terms. Who knows, maybe Master Akaihi will just give the kid a boot!”
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