When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 82: Chapter 48: The 1950s’ Scorned Wife

He was a man of some finesse, with a deft touch for handling people both above and below him. But Director Gao, who prided himself on his superior culinary skills, was incredibly rigid and arrogant, while Zhu Yun wasn’t one to stomach being slighted. A clash between the two of them was inevitable.

It was better to get everything out in the open and have it out from the start than to let things fester and cause trouble later. Afterward, they could all go back to being one big, happy family.

”Let’s wait and see. Worst case, we can have Director Yun come to the main office building. She can still coordinate with your work from there.” The factory’s second-in-command was a pragmatist who liked to get things done. Having witnessed the power of the cold-drink vouchers, he had a great appreciation for this young, pretty lady who had managed to win over Mr. Chu.

As they were speaking, Director Gao lifted his chin toward Zhu Yun and called out, ”Director Yun, I’m all finished over here. Are you done yet?”

”Food like this has to be enjoyed the moment it’s made. Even a few minutes’ delay will greatly diminish the quality.”

The crowd finally parted, revealing a solitary Zhu Yun and her red-faced assistant.

A fine sheen of sweat had also formed on Zhu Yun’s forehead.

Despite the sweltering late-August heat, she was still dressed in a white chef’s uniform, complete with a hat and mask. Only her strikingly clear, fox-like eyes were visible, and even they were flushed a delicate crimson from the steam.

There was a smile in her eyes, and she still appeared as calm as ever, without a hint of nervousness or fear. Her voice was slightly hoarse from not having had anything to drink for a while. ”It’s ready.”

The others were asked to leave, and the temperature in the room dropped by more than half, becoming much fresher and cooler.

Director Gao shot her a glance, certain she was just putting on a brave face. He gestured to an assistant, and his three dishes were brought to the dining table on the second floor of the cafeteria.

He didn’t even need to speak; a connoisseur was already explaining to the leaders and the others. ”This is a Boneless Fish. Just as the name implies, every single bone and spine has been removed. The most incredible part is that the fish maintains its original shape, without a single visible incision anywhere on its body!”

”The skin is perfectly intact and the flavor is exquisite. It’s one of the most difficult dishes for testing knife skills. These days, you can count the number of chefs in the entire Capital City who can make this on one hand...”

Everyone played their part, gasping and nodding in appreciation. The factory’s second-in-command took a pair of chopsticks and turned the fish over. Sure enough, there were no incisions. He picked up a piece and tasted it. The meat was indeed tender and delicious.

”This is Wensi Tofu, a highly refined dish. It’s made with silken tofu so delicate it crumbles at the slightest touch, yet it must be sliced into shreds as fine as hair. You can just imagine the level of mastery his knife skills have reached... Director Gao’s technique is truly superb...”

”And this is the Golden-Maned Lionfish. The process for this dish is incredibly complex. First, the fish must be sliced into seventeen pieces with a flat knife, then further cut into over two hundred strips. An Imperial Kitchen-level dish like this demands that each piece be uniform and beautiful, and the strips of fish cannot stick together... Every step takes dozens of minutes and cannot be rushed...”

”As you can see, the Golden-Maned Lionfish is a brilliant, glossy red, and the shreds of fish are light and fluffy. The final presentation resembles a lion playing with an embroidered ball, shaking its head and wagging its tail, its mane and whiskers bristling...”

Each and every dish was a stunning testament to the profound and masterful art of Xiahua cuisine.

The crowd’s admiration for Director Gao surged like a mighty river, as boundless and towering as a mountain range.

After some time, Director Gao, his face flushed with pride, did not forget to turn to his competitor. ”Director Yun, it is now your turn.”

At that moment, her assistant shrewdly brought up the dishes Zhu Yun had prepared. There were five in total.

Director Gao was in high spirits and couldn’t help but chuckle. ”Director Yun’s diligence is commendable, but culinary contests aren’t won through time and quantity.”

The others also suppressed their laughter. The connoisseur from before began to lift the cloches, starting, once again, with the Boneless Fish.

When the cloche was lifted, the fish revealed beneath it looked as if it were still alive. For a split second, did its eyes just move? Did its tail just wag?

Director Gao froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. He stared at the dish, then back at Zhu Yun.

As the saying goes, ”Amateurs watch for the spectacle, but experts look for the skill.” The factory, wanting the best for its employees, had hired chefs with genuine talent, every single one of whom had been rigorously tested before being brought on.

Furthermore, with so many master chefs at the factory, a spirit of comparison had naturally developed. They honed their skills through friendly competition, and their conversations revolved around the intricacies of their trade.

A feat like making a prepared fish move its eyes and wag its tail was the absolute pinnacle of the culinary arts—a legendary skill lost even to the Imperial Kitchen!

Still dazed, some in the crowd were in denial. ”The deboning! Deboning is the real skill. That other thing could just be a flashy trick we don’t know about. Maybe it’s something anyone could learn?”

A few people argued, grasping at straws.

The leaders picked up their chopsticks again, first checking for incisions and then tasting the fish. The flavor was far superior to Director Gao’s. If the pleasure on one’s tongue could be graded, his was a simple march, while hers was a full-blown tap dance.