Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group

Chapter 570: Chapter 544: Paying Respects to the Master

Seeing Ye Chen’s skillful handling of the fish, Elder Yu realized Ye Chen was a master as well.

As a result, he started to take Ye Chen more seriously in his heart.

Yet, Elder Yu also selected a fish and started his preparation.

Elder Yu’s technique was equally swift and clean, instantly earning a round of applause.

Hearing the applause from his apprentices, Elder Yu found his confidence again.

Half an hour later, Ye Chen’s fish was the first to be done.

As Ye Chen lifted the lid, a fragrant aroma suddenly wafted out.

Su Wanyi smelled it and almost drooled.

Not just Su Wanyi, but everyone else also perceived the fragrance of the fish.

At this moment, Elder Yu was about to lift his pot lid but his expression changed abruptly upon smelling the aroma.

Beside him, his eldest apprentice, Yu Ming, noticed the peculiar look on Elder Yu’s face and quickly assisted in lifting the lid.

However, Elder Yu didn’t look at his own dish but instead gazed at the fish on Ye Chen’s plate.

Whether in aroma or presentation, Ye Chen’s fish completely surpassed Elder Yu’s.

Elder Yu took a deep breath, his eyes filled with astonishment.

Yu Ming saw the change in Elder Yu’s expression.

“Master, appearance, aroma, and taste are just part of it; the taste is what truly counts in fine cuisine.”

But Elder Yu didn’t respond to Yu Ming; instead, he briskly walked over to the plate of fish that Ye Chen had prepared.

Ye Chen smiled and said, “Elder Yu, why don’t we invite someone to judge the taste of our fish?”

Elder Yu shook his head, “No need, I can taste it myself.”

He picked up the chopsticks, grabbed a piece of fish, and put it into his mouth.

Elder Yu felt a burst of freshness directly hitting his taste buds.

The ultimate level of this dish is the fresh taste of the fish.

Ye Chen had almost entirely preserved the carp’s lively flavor.

The taste was overwhelmingly superior to his own.

Elder Yu closed his eyes, savoring the delicious taste.

At this moment, seeing Elder Yu’s enraptured expression, Yu Ming knew that Elder Yu only had such a reaction when encountering truly great food.

Elder Yu opened his eyes and put down the chopsticks, “I lost.”

No one expected Elder Yu to admit defeat voluntarily.

The kitchen fell into a dead silence.

All the other chefs and Elder Yu’s apprentices were dumbfounded.

They didn’t expect Elder Yu to surrender.

Even Su Wanyi was somewhat surprised.

The always proud Elder Yu had actually admitted defeat voluntarily.

Su Wanyi excitedly said, “See, I told you, your cooking skills aren’t as good as my boyfriend’s.”

Ye Chen, seeing Elder Yu’s dejected expression, also felt a bit apologetic to him.

After all, he possessed divine-level cooking skills, hence his exceptional culinary abilities.

Elder Yu had achieved his skills through hard work, so Ye Chen wanted to comfort him a little.

But just then, with a sudden thud.

In the gaze of the astonished crowd, Elder Yu unexpectedly knelt directly on the ground.

What shocked everyone even more was that Elder Yu kowtowed three times to Ye Chen on the ground.

“Apprentice Yu Mansion pays respects to Master.”

Ye Chen was instantly stunned and hurriedly tried to pull Elder Yu up.

“Master Yu, didn’t I just say that an apology would suffice, there’s no need for this.”

Elder Yu shook his head, “Mr. Ye, if you don’t accept me as your apprentice, I won’t get up.”

Ye Chen was speechless.

Indeed, Elder Yu wanted to become his apprentice because he was genuinely impressed by Ye Chen’s cooking.

Yu Mansion had an almost obsessive love for culinary arts.

Recognizing talent, he saw the more skilled Ye Chen as a chance and was determined to become his apprentice no matter what.

Ye Chen looked at the stubborn elder and felt his head ache.

He actually had no intention of taking on an apprentice, but Elder Yu was resolute in not getting up.

Ye Chen helplessly turned to the nearby chef Yu Ming, “Master Yu, please try to persuade your Master.”

Only then did Yu Ming come back to his senses, “Master, you should stand up…”

But before he could finish, Yu Mansion angrily interjected, “You little rascals, if I am kneeling, how dare you all stand? Kneel and pay your respects to your grandmaster now.”

Ye Chen: “…”

The kitchen was suddenly filled with the sound of people kneeling down.

Ye Chen looked at Yu Mansion completely speechless.

He knew that if he didn’t agree, this stubborn old man definitely wouldn’t get up.

So Ye Chen sighed and said, “Elder Yu, alright, please stand up.”

Elder Yu was overjoyed when he heard this, “Thank you, Master.”

Then all the apprentices kowtowed to Ye Chen again before getting up.

Su Wanyi was also stunned by this scene.

But seeing Ye Chen’s helpless expression made her find it amusing.

Ye Chen gave Su Wanyi a sidelong glance.

Su Wanyi then realized that given the elder’s age and having knelt before Ye Chen, it was rather embarrassing, and it was indeed inappropriate for her to laugh.

But just at this moment, Yu Mansion knelt down again with a thud.

This time, Su Wanyi was also startled.

This old man, why is he kneeling before me again?

Yu Mansion, with a serious face, said, “Apprentice Yu Mansion pays respects to the Master’s wife. Earlier, this apprentice didn’t recognize your eminence and offended you, I beg your forgiveness, Mistress.”

After speaking, he kowtowed to Su Wanyi.

At this moment, Su Wanyi’s cheeks turned crimson.

Especially the title of “Mistress” made Su Wanyi a little flustered.

“Please, elder, there’s no need for this; it was also my fault just now. Please rise.”

Seeing Su Wanyi’s expression, Ye Chen also found it amusing.

Beside him, Ye Chen hurriedly mediated, “Elder Yu, Wanyi and I aren’t even married yet.”

Hearing this, Elder Yu smiled faintly, “It’s only a matter of time; calling her beforehand doesn’t hurt.”

Ye Chen couldn’t help but chuckle, while Su Wanyi’s cheeks turned as red as an apple.

Su Wanyi glared at Ye Chen, who was ridiculing her.

“Ye Chen, the competition’s over, let’s continue our meal.”

With that, Su Wanyi attempted to take the plate of fish back to the private room.

Elder Yu quickly snatched the plate, “Mistress, let your apprentice carry the plate work; there’s no need for you to trouble yourself.”

Witnessing this, Ye Chen was both amused and resigned.

Reaching the private room, the three sat eating fish, and Elder Yu asked, “Master, your dish is quite similar in technique to mine; why is it so much more tender?”

Ye Chen smiled gently, “I added lemon to the fish, enhancing its freshness. Your fish had salt and other ingredients not balanced in proportion, resulting in a slight earthy taste, although minor, it affected the fish’s freshness.”

Upon hearing this, Elder Yu had a moment of realization.

Ye Chen took out a paper and pen, writing down the order and proportion of the ingredients.

Seeing the proportions and sequence for adding the ingredients, Elder Yu felt a sudden enlightenment.

Just a recipe for this dish made Elder Yu feel his culinary skills had taken a giant leap forward.

Like a student sincerely seeking wisdom from his teacher, Elder Yu asked Ye Chen many culinary questions, all of which Ye Chen answered.

At this moment, Elder Yu felt incredibly fortunate.

If he hadn’t met Ye Chen, his cooking would have been stuck at that level, but thanks to Ye Chen, his skills advanced to a new level.