When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 80: Chapter 47: The Competition

”But this is your one and only chance. If you fail to take me down now, then you’d better just follow my orders. Otherwise, don’t think for a second I’m just here as a figurehead!”

Director Gao’s eyelids drooped. ”Oh? Are you even in a position to be making promises? The ancients said that women and petty men are the most difficult to handle. Who knows if you’re actually the one in charge here.”

”Of course I am. If worst comes to worst, I’ll just quit,” Zhu Yun had barely finished her sentence when Director Wang broke out in a cold sweat.

He couldn’t resist stepping forward to issue a warning. ”Director Gao, the higher-ups have all personally witnessed Director Yun’s capabilities. If you’ve got the skills, then go earn yourself a director position instead of acting one way and thinking another!”

The leadership had already anticipated this. Given Zhu Yun’s youth and striking appearance, they knew her talent might be overlooked and that she would have trouble commanding respect from this group of arrogant chefs. That was why they had specifically warned several cafeteria directors during yesterday’s meeting.

But apparently, it hadn’t done much good. He turned back and whispered to Zhu Yun, ”For heaven’s sake, miss, just give the orders and let the leadership deal with disciplining them later. This Director Gao has the best knife skills around and has never met his match. If you lose, how will we get anything done in the future?”

The culinary arts of Xiahua Country were incredibly refined, with masters who had reached the pinnacle of their craft in every discipline. Director Gao’s knife skills, in particular, were passed down from a retired master chef of the Imperial Kitchen. It was for this very reason that he had always looked down on everyone else; there was no way he would willingly submit to a young woman’s authority.

But Zhu Yun just smiled and waved her hand. She turned to the resentful but self-controlled Director Gao and said, ”Director Gao, how about a competition? If I win, you will follow my orders. If I lose, the director’s position is yours, and I will resign immediately.”

Director Gao’s eyes shot open. ”Are you serious? Talk is cheap. Let’s put it in writing!”

Zhu Yun nodded graciously. ”Fine by me. Anyone else not convinced can step forward too. We’ll treat this as a skills exchange. Let’s sort out any objections now so we can avoid future conflicts at work and making a fool of ourselves in front of others.”

The other men lacked Director Gao’s pride and temper; they were all just holding on to their secure government jobs until retirement. They were resentful, to be sure, but if a man their age had been made director, they wouldn’t have said a word.

”D-Director Yun,” one of them stammered, ”we don’t have Director Gao’s level of skill. You compete with him, and we’ll act as witnesses. Whoever ends up as director, we’ll support them!”

”That’s right! We only respect those with genuine talent.”

Director Wang sighed in resignation. As both Zhu Yun and Director Gao turned to look at him, he could only say, ”Fine. If you two don’t have it out today, this will just cause more trouble later on.”

They fetched a pen and paper to draw up the agreement. Director Gao, a man who cared deeply about his pride, looked at the contract and said flatly, ”Director Yun, don’t go saying that I, a grown man, am bullying you. If you win, it won’t just be about me following your orders. If all of us here learn something from your guidance, you’ll be like a master to us all!”

After speaking, he turned to ask for everyone else’s opinion.

Accustomed to his overbearing manner, the others all nodded in half-hearted agreement. ”That’s only right. If Director Yun’s culinary skills are as amazing as they say, we can’t be so shameless as to ignore her guidance, even if it’s just a few pointers. Calling her our master is perfectly appropriate.”

So Director Gao had Director Wang add that line to the agreement.

The two of them signed their names, added their thumbprints, and started to lay out the rules.

In any case, the head chefs all had their own assistants who, after several years of work, could handle the breakfast service on their own. The crowd wasn’t in any rush to get back to their stations; they were all sticking around to watch the drama unfold.

In truth, everyone was already convinced. Zhu Yun was young and impetuous, like a newborn calf that doesn’t fear the tiger—it was just plain foolish. She was practically throwing away the director position that had just fallen into her lap.

”We’ll compete on three dishes: Boneless Fish, Wensi Tofu, and Golden Lionfish!”

When Director Gao announced the three dishes, the crowd couldn’t help but gasp, even though they had expected him to pull out all the stops. A moment later, they were buzzing with excitement.

To witness such masterful knife work was a true blessing for any chef!

He raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on his lips. ”Director Yun, I assume you’ve heard of these three dishes? If not, then there’s no point in competing.”

Zhu Yun slowly and deliberately rolled up her sleeves, a faint smile playing on her lips. ”As it happens, the cafeteria just received a batch of live fish this morning. Let’s begin, shall we?”

Director Gao’s brow twitched for a moment before he turned and strode confidently toward the back kitchen.