lcionline Chapter 38 What was she doing in public?
Chapter 38 What was she doing in public?
Lin Shuyao changed to a different fork, picked up a piece of roasted chicken covered in rich cheese, and tiptoed to feed it to Cheng Zheng's lips, "Comrade, have a taste~"
Her smile widened, and she looked at him with sparkling eyes.
Cheng Zheng's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then he lowered his head slightly and, taking her hand, decisively opened his mouth and took the food that was being fed to him.
Lin Shuyao watched him chew and swallow, his Adam's apple bobbing. She recalled feeding him candied hawthorns at the department store. Her red lips curved slightly, and suddenly, without warning, she raised her hand, her slender white fingertips carrying a warm touch, and gently stroked the corner of his lips.
Cheng Zheng froze abruptly, as if struck by an electric current. His pupils contracted slightly, his jawline tightened, and his dark eyes swept over her with questioning and warning.
What was she doing in public?
"There's some sauce on this." Lin Shuyao winked at him.
Cheng Zheng steadied himself and looked around. Everyone was still immersed in praising the roast chicken and no one had noticed what had just happened. His tense body relaxed a little.
"Comrade, do you think my cooking is better, or Chef Liu's?" Lin Shuyao pressed.
Cheng Zheng: "My opinion is not important."
Lin Shu-yao firmly stated, "It's very important to me."
Cheng Zheng paused for half a second: "We will take Ivanov's opinion as the primary consideration."
Lin Shuyao raised an eyebrow and said coquettishly, "What do you mean? Is my cooking not as good as Chef Liu's?"
Cheng Zheng pursed his lips: "I didn't say that."
"That's because I made it delicious." Lin Shuyao automatically interpreted it, her red lips curving upwards, her two dimples becoming more prominent as she smiled at him.
Cheng Zheng's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he didn't refute, stepping aside with his usual cold and stern expression.
Over there, Director Wang from the logistics department snapped out of his reverie of the delicious food, coughed twice, and announced loudly, "Everyone, please be quiet for a moment. Now we'll begin the vote. You've all tried both sides. If you think Chef Liu's roasted pork chops are delicious, stand to my left. If you think Comrade Shen's roasted chicken is delicious, stand to my right."
As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd stirred.
Previously, everyone thought Liu Dazhu was bound to win, but after eating Lin Shuyao's roast chicken and experiencing her friendly attitude, those who had previously thought she was no good completely changed their opinion of her.
Many people sided with Lin Shuyao without hesitation.
On the other hand, Liu Dazhu's side received very few votes. They were only cast as a gesture of goodwill, out of a certain degree of friendship with him.
With such an obvious difference, it's obvious that Lin Shuyao won without even counting.
Liu Dazhu's face darkened instantly, and he stared incredulously at those comrades who stood with Lin Shuyao: "You, all of you have been fooled by Shen Qing's honey trap!"
He stubbornly tried to go up and taste Lin Shuyao's roasted chicken, but there was nothing left on the plate.
Enraged, he flung his sleeves and shouted, "You're all blindly taking sides! I don't accept this result!"
This time, Lin Shuyao didn't even need to say anything; those who stood up for her spoke up on her own initiative:
"Master Liu, although your cooking skills are good, Comrade Shen's roast chicken is indeed tastier in this dish."
"That's right, Chef Liu. The younger generation is constantly surpassing you; it's normal for them to catch up. You have to accept that and humbly learn from them to improve. If you remain self-righteous and complacent, your culinary skills will only decline!"
"Hmph!" Zhang San stood up to defend his master, "You bunch of opportunists! If Shen Qing were truly a better cook than my master, it would be one thing if she won, but she chose to be opportunistic! She personally fed you and flirted with you to get your votes!"
Zhang San's words immediately drew the ire of the women:
"Zhang San, we don't agree with that! We women weren't seduced by Comrade Shen, were we?!"
"Exactly! Zhang San'er, don't put it so harshly. Comrade Shen was very generous from beginning to end, personally feeding us, which shows that she has a good attitude, is considerate and thoughtful, and is thinking of us. If she didn't use a fork to help us, were we supposed to eat with our hands?"
"I was initially quite supportive of Master Liu, but now that you've said that, Zhang San, I think it's you guys who can't accept defeat!"
"You! You all!" Zhang San stomped his feet in anger, then turned to Liu Dazhu to complain, "Master, look at these people!"
Liu Dazhu was also furious, his face red and neck bulging. He put his hands on his hips and adopted a tantrum-throwing stance: "I've been in the kitchen for decades, how could I possibly lose to a little brat! The selection notice stated that the dishes must be approved by Expert Ivanov. Unless the expert himself says I'm not good enough, I will never admit that my dish is worse than Shen Qing's!"
"That's right! The results of the first two rounds of selection don't count! We won't accept anything that Ivanov himself approved!" Zhang San and Li Si immediately chimed in.
Lin Shuyao never expected Liu Dazhu and his apprentice to be so shameless. They didn't acknowledge the Soviets' evaluation of them, nor did they acknowledge the public's evaluation. It seemed that they would only acknowledge it if they won.
Okay! Then she'll play along to the end!
"Then let's wait for the expert's judgment. I believe he's on his way. Now, let's move on to the third round of the dessert competition. So, Chef Liu, are you still ready to compete?"
Liu Dazhu pointed at Lin Shuyao and shouted, "Why wouldn't you dare! You little brat, don't be so arrogant! You're just relying on knowing a few new Soviet dishes. When it comes to Western cooking skills, your little tricks are no match for my master! If you're so capable, try competing with my master in the third round!"
puff!
Lin Shuyao laughed out loud: "Only a five-year-old child cries and runs home for help when they can't win a fight. It seems Master Liu has become a child again!"
"Hahahahaha..." As soon as Lin Shuyao finished speaking, the entire cafeteria hall burst into laughter.
Others nodded in agreement:
"Absolutely! Only children go back on their word!"
"Yes, only children can't accept defeat and repeatedly cheat!"
"Shen Qing! You!" Liu Dazhu's chest heaved with anger as he glared at Shen Qing, wishing he could bite a piece of her flesh off her body.
He's completely lost face today!
I'm so angry!
Lin Shuyao deliberately raised an eyebrow at him: "Master Liu, respecting the elderly and caring for the young is a fine tradition of our country. I can't bully a child. So, for the third round of the competition, I won't compete with you. How about I compete with your master instead?"
Liu Dazhu's arrogance flared: "Ha! You have quite the nerve! Do you know who my master is?"
Lin Shuyao casually uttered two words: "Who is it?"
Liu Dazhu became smug: "My master is the personal chef who entertains foreign guests, a state banquet chef, and has even met leaders. Anyway, you already agreed to compete with my master in the third round, so you can't go back on your word!"
Lin Shuyao crossed her arms and said leisurely, "Don't worry, I'm an adult. I keep my word and won't act like a 5-year-old."
"You!" Having been subtly insulted again, Liu Dazhu felt a tightness in his chest and a rush of anger. He raised his hand and pounded his chest repeatedly, afraid he might choke on his breath. After catching his breath, he still pointed at Lin Shuyao, "You little brat, don't try to be clever with me. I can't win an argument with you. Wait until my master arrives and see if you're still laughing!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Li Si, who had sneaked out to call for help, led a man in his fifties into the crowd.
"Master! Our ancestral master has arrived!"
Liu Dazhu's eyes lit up, and he immediately rushed forward, bowing and scraping like a dog seeing its master: "Master! You've finally arrived!"