Chapter 995: Chapter 414: Geng Lishan the Master Instigator! How Could a Little Kitty Have Any Evil Intentions!

"Chef Qi, think about what they have done under your watch. Don’t hesitate; for you, Siming and Siliang are who you should care about. Others are always outsiders."

Hearing this, Qi Zhentao recalled the scene from a few days ago when his wife, children, and nephew comforted him, unable to help but steel his heart:

"Thank you, Director Lin, for your guidance. I know what to do. I hope you and Chef Xie can say a few words to help later."

"Rest assured, Chef Qi, I’m not here today just to watch... By the way, once this matter is settled, find some time to go to Yanjing TV Station and record a few episodes with me."

To boost Qi Zhentao’s courage, Lin Xu directly threw in a heavy invitation.

With the hit of "Tasteful World," many chefs wanted to appear on the show, but were tactfully refused by the production crew.

So far, only masters from Lin Ji and the Fishing Platform have been able to appear on the show.

Upon hearing he could appear on the show, Qi Zhentao’s doubts were completely dispelled, the gloom on his face vanished, and he hurried back to the restaurant to make arrangements.

"Xu Bao, I thought today was really about attending a feast. Unexpectedly, before entering the restaurant, I smelled the scent of a palace intrigue."

Lin Xu laughed and said:

"This is not like a palace intrigue; it’s a struggle between the culinary world’s reformists and conservatives."

Although the Fishing Platform is not truly reformists, within their internal conflicts, they’ve reached a stage of mutual learning and integration.

And Master Gao Peisheng has mastered the eight major cuisines, reaching the pinnacle in the culinary circle.

Their understanding of cooking, apprenticeships, and even how they impart skills has long exceeded the traditional master-apprentice model. Take Cheng JianShe for example; he’s not Old Gao’s apprentice but has received a lot of guidance.

Whether it’s cooking or management, you can see Old Gao’s influence everywhere.

Moreover, Old Gao doesn’t feel that just because you’re not his apprentice, he won’t teach you. He’s even guiding the young ones in Lin Ji’s kitchen, let alone the professional chefs at the Fishing Platform.

It’s not just Building No. 2, other buildings are like this too.

For instance, Wei Qian, although refused by Old He and mocked and shunned by the chefs of Building No. 1, he’s learned a lot of skills. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to cook pork dishes with Superior and Perfect Level skills.

However, the Yanjing Hotel is completely different. To learn skills there, you either have to kneel and become an apprentice or call someone godfather.

Otherwise, you’ll forever be stuck doing miscellaneous work, unable to learn true skills or enter the core.

Given such a huge difference in philosophy between the two hotels, conflicts are quite normal.

Lin Xu walked while explaining, hugging Dundun.

Shen Jiayue, holding the incendiary ink treasure in her hands, listened in confusion, feeling it was even more complex than watching Game of Thrones, deciding to give up understanding these.

For a gentle, considerate, and beautiful girl like me, it’s better to stay by Xu Bao’s side and wait for the feast. As for philosophical conflicts, what do they have to do with my happiness?

Just entering the hotel lobby, Gou Junguo came up:

"Director Lin, here for the apprenticeship ceremony, right? It’s in the banquet hall on the second floor. Chef Guo from Fishing Platform drove over yesterday afternoon and booked the banquet hall... Chef Qi’s uncles and seniors have arrived, and just lost their temper in the kitchen."

Losing their temper?

What right do they have to lose their temper here?

Lin Xu frowned:

"Are they still in the kitchen?"

"No, they were chased out by Qi Siming brandishing a rolling pin."

Looks like Master and the others were right to have Cheng JianShe as an apprentice.

Without a sect, it’s rather hard to hold one’s ground.

If it were the senior apprentices, a group of them would storm into the kitchen regardless of reason, and unless they break a few legs, they wouldn’t go out.

Indeed, this matter needs to be settled.

Otherwise, if someone keeps pointing fingers every other day, who can tolerate it?

While chatting, Lin Xu saw senior brother Xie Baomin and others, wearing Fishing Platform’s white chef outfits, striding in, each having specially shaved and dressed in new uniforms, looking as neat as if ready for a date.

Dai Jianli, upon spotting Lin Xu, shouted:

"Brother Lin, are you wearing Fishing Platform’s outfit today, or Yanjing Hotel’s?"

Lin Xu hugged Dundun tightly:

"I’m just here for the ceremony and the feast today, not participating in any brawls or fights."

He’s from Fishing Platform, while also serving as the Dining Department’s director at Yanjing Hotel, so wearing either side’s attire wouldn’t be appropriate, opting for casual wear instead.

By doing so, when speaking fair words, he can assume a neutral role.

Although Lin Xu already has a master, his apprenticeship with Old Gao lacked any ceremonial aspect.

Seeing everyone’s setup, he curiously asked:

"Is the ceremony big today?"

"Of course it’s big; influential figures from Yanjing’s culinary circle will attend, some to watch the show, some to fish in troubled waters, and others waiting to play favoritism... It’s very lively..."

Old Dai took out a pack of beef jerky from his pocket, opened it, and broke a small piece to feed Dundun:

"Air-dried yak meat, give uncle some face, have a taste."

Dundun politely sniffed it before biting and gobbling it up with its paws.

"Hey, this little darling really gave face, I’ll get you a box later so you can enjoy to your heart’s content."

The group chatted while being led to the second-floor banquet hall by Gou Junguo, Xie Baomin hugged Gou Junguo’s shoulder asking:

"I noticed your followers are growing quickly lately, silently reaching 200,000 fans. Once at the Fishing Platform, visit our store, okay?"

Gou Junguo didn’t fall for it:

"If you want to gang up with the head chefs to beat me, just say it; don’t find excuses."

"No, I just think your way of praising people is quite unique, and wanted you to praise at Fishing Platform."

"I’m only adjusting work-life balance, not doing this professionally... Plus, with the current atmosphere at Yanjing Hotel, where do I find the mindset to shoot store-visit videos?"

Arriving at the banquet hall, it was decorated festively.

A stage directly in front displayed a banner that read:

"Warmly Celebrating Cantonese Cuisine Maestro Guo Jichang Welcoming His New Protégé!"

Lin Xu, holding Dundun, was about to find a suitable spot to watch the show, when a few already arrived inside the banquet hall coldly snickered at Dundun in Lin Xu’s arms:

"In such a solemn apprenticeship ceremony, is this a place for women? Not only bringing a woman but also bringing a kitten..."

While speaking, next to him, a server noticed his teacup was nearly empty and topped it off with piping hot tea.

Unaware, he continued speaking while pouring the tea into his mouth, suddenly jumping up from the burning sensation, spitting the boiling water out while repeatedly gasping, clearly scalded quite badly.

Too focused on dealing with Lin Xu to pay attention, he turned to lash out at the server, but unaware his shoelace had come undone, tripping himself, and he fell heavily to the ground.

When he fell, due to excessive action, his dress pants tore, exposing the red underwear underneath, causing the Fishing Platform folks to burst into laughter.

Xie Baomin initially wanted to retort.

But seeing the dire state made him hold back.

Yet it wasn’t over; the person, attempting to stand again, was again tripped by the torn pants.

His head slammed heavily onto the dining table he was previously seated at, tipping over several cups of hot tea, drenching those nearby and prompting them to exclaim in pain.

Moments ago brimming with confidence, these few were now completely disheveled.

Lin Xu patted Dundun’s head, whispering:

"Don’t cause fatalities."

Dundun blinked innocently.

Meow meow meow~

This kitty is so cute; where would I have such evil thoughts!

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This Chapter is 5400 words long, seeking monthly tickets brothers!