Siheyuan: Pretend to be a Pig and Eat the Tiger

Deng Chunsheng may seem arrogant, but in reality, he is not confident. He Yuzhu's culinary skills have long been renowned, and his frequent visits to the residences of dignitaries are no secret in the culinary circle.

However, what everyone didn't know was that Dong Yong had a backup plan. In other words, He Yuzhu wouldn't have time to participate in the cooking competition because he would soon have other business to attend to. Therefore, his current confidence and imposing manner were meant for the diners!

"Alright, what does the He family restaurant have to fear? Let's see what our strategy is!"

What's meant to happen will happen sooner or later, and it's beyond his control. Since that's the case, it's no big deal. Let's just fight!
"Alright, although the head chef of my Workers, Peasants and Soldiers Restaurant isn't the best, he's not bad either. Today, let's have a competition on Sichuan cuisine, which you're best at. Comrade He Yuzhu, how about it?"

Deng Chunsheng's voice was loud, which naturally attracted a lot of people to watch. Many people's attention had even shifted to the upcoming competition. People from all over China definitely want to see something exciting.

People in Beijing seem to have a unique pursuit of novelty. They watch the excitement not to see who wins or loses, but because it provides fodder for conversation after meals, and that's what matters!

"Ahem, so Chef Li personally took charge. Qiuyue, get the MCA ready!"

He Yuzhu laughed. Yesterday, MCA said that the level of the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers Restaurant was limited. Today, let's see if MCA can win the game!
"Master He, what do you mean? Aren't men worth your personal attention?"

Chef Li didn't care about the other battles; he only wanted to see He Yuzhu's cooking skills, but He Yuzhu didn't seem to have any desire to make a move.

Judging from this arrangement, it seems they're planning to send their eldest disciple, Ma Hua, to fight. I'm even older than He Yuzhu, so what does this guy mean by sending his apprentice? Am I not qualified?
"You're right, I really don't deserve it. There are so many restaurants in the capital that would step up at the first sign of a challenge, so I might as well not do anything at all."

Want to challenge me? Sure, beat MCA first. Otherwise, hehe, you'd better go back to work and not neglect your business!

He Yuzhu scoffed, not even considering his own rank. Since they had come to challenge him, they were naturally enemies. Was there any need to save face for them?

On the auspicious opening day of the He family branch, you come to challenge us? Is this a friendly match? Definitely not, therefore, what a load of rubbish!
Chef Li looked very displeased and glared reproachfully at Deng Chunsheng. He hadn't planned to come today, but Deng Chunsheng insisted.

Now that their top disciple has stepped in, there's no real benefit to winning, and if he loses, he'll lose all his reputation. It's all your fault, you bastard! Challenging the opening ceremony is just ruining things; it would be strange if they could even save face!

"Mr. He, you're not giving me any face at all. We're doing business across the street, and harmony is the most important thing. Is this really the right thing to do?"

Deng Chunsheng's face also looked unpleasant. This wasn't a problem with Ma Hua's cooking skills, but rather that everyone in Beijing knew that He's Restaurant's head chef was He Yuzhu. However, when Gong Nong Bing Restaurant came to challenge them, He Yuzhu sent his apprentice to cook. Didn't that mean they weren't qualified?

Before the competition even started, his family was already at a disadvantage. In front of so many diners, He Yuzhu told him that the Gong Nong Bing Restaurant was not qualified!
If they win this competition, all will be well; but if they lose, the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers Restaurant will be in even worse shape. If the leaders find out about this, how will they fare?
"There's nothing wrong with that. You're challenging He's Restaurant, not me, He Yuzhu. Of course, even if you challenge me personally, you'll have to get past my apprentice first. That's called the ticket, understand?" The diners watching the spectacle cheered loudly. No matter the outcome, He Yuzhu's momentum was not weak. In their eyes, this was not a competition between two restaurants, but a competition between private and state-owned enterprises, which was very interesting.
Gongnongbing Restaurant is the largest state-run restaurant in Dashilan. Many people have eaten there and, to be honest, have also suffered a lot of mistreatment.
It happens all the time that big restaurants bully their customers, and there's nothing you can do about it. Even if you don't eat there, it won't affect the restaurant much.
To put it bluntly, whether there are staff or not doesn't affect the restaurant staff's wages. Therefore, not only is the service attitude extremely poor, but if they are unhappy, they may also say a few words to you, making you feel like you are just there to freeload.
Now that the He family's branch, known for its high-quality dishes and attentive service, has opened, everyone is naturally coming to support it. Now, the competition between the two restaurants is even more interesting!

Therefore, the onlookers were eagerly anticipating the competition between the two restaurants. The fact that a newly opened private restaurant dared to compete head-on with the Gongnongbing Restaurant was already big news, not to mention that the He family was showing no mercy!

"Master, there's a ton of work to do in the kitchen. If there's anything urgent, just let me know. Once I'm done, I need to get back quickly. There are too many guests; I don't have time to waste on these little things!"

Ma Hua ran over and looked at He Yuzhu respectfully. Ma Hua, who seemed honest and kind, said something that could infuriate a cow: Is a competition between two families a trivial matter? It's outrageous!

"Haha, very well, are all the people at He's Restaurant this arrogant?"

Chef Li laughed in anger. Like master, like apprentice. It's one thing for He Yuzhu to be arrogant, but he is not only the owner of He's Restaurant, but also a famous chef with superb culinary skills.
But what gives Ma Hua the right? Is he He Yuzhu's apprentice? To be honest, someone with that kind of background doesn't have the right to be arrogant. The challenge at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers Restaurant is a small matter. If he can't win this competition, he'll lose face in Beijing's culinary world!

"Master Li, you're mistaken. It's not that we're arrogant; it's that we don't even consider you a threat. Let's settle this once and for all!"

Ma Hua stood up straight and looked at Chef Li with disdain. In his mind, coming to challenge the opening of the He family branch was just a way to sabotage the business.

Since you're already here to cause trouble, why waste time with unnecessary words? Let's just get started!

“Very good. Three rounds of competition. The first round is knife skills, judged by retired chefs from four state-run restaurants in Beijing. The second round is large pot dishes, judged by the guests on site. As for the third round, twice-cooked pork, hehe, three people will be randomly selected from the diners on site to judge. Best two out of three rounds, dare you accept?”

This was a question Chef Li had prepared long ago. How good could someone from a steel mill be at cooking large pots of food? As for knife skills, how old is Ma Hua, who has been a chef his whole life?

The outcome of the third course is not important at all. It's a best-of-three series. As long as you win the first two rounds, the result of the third round is irrelevant!

"Pshaw, we're a restaurant, not a factory canteen. You think we're going to cook communal meals? You're really making things up. If you ask me, three dishes per person, with a panel of culinary experts to judge, would be the most appropriate!"

Ma Hua secretly rejoiced. "Big pot stew? Are you out of your mind? Grandpa has been making big pot stew for over ten years, what are you going to do with me, you old wall lamp?"
"No, there are so many people here, we can't just not participate, can we? There are only three dishes, will all these diners even be able to eat them? You're not worried, are you?"

Chef Li sneered. Scared already? Heh, he'd eaten factory-cooked food before; the quality... well, let's just say it was questionable. (End of Chapter)