Chapter 196

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

Lu Feng, who was cooking noodles in the kitchen, stopped what he was doing when he heard shouting coming from the hall.

He glanced toward the hall and discovered it was that same young man from just now, and couldn't help but frown.

Although he didn't know the young man's purpose, the man's somewhat arrogant attitude gave him a poor impression as well.

But since this was his own turf, Lu Feng had nothing to worry about.

He called out toward the outside, casually grabbed a clean towel, wiped his hands, and walked out from the kitchen.

"Hello, what can I do for you?"

Lu Feng stood before the young man, his gaze sweeping over the xiaolongbao on the table, and asked with a calm expression.

The young man sized Lu Feng up and down, the arrogance in his eyes retracting somewhat, and he gave him a thumbs up, praising: "Boss, your culinary skill is indeed extraordinary, I've witnessed it."

Lu Feng didn't speak, merely nodding calmly.

The young man smiled and continued: "My name is Cheng Fan, like you I'm also a chef. Actually I heard someone recommend this place, saying the food here tastes very good, so I came today to have a taste."

As he spoke, he extended his right hand toward Lu Feng.

Lu Feng's gaze paused on his outstretched hand for two seconds, with no intention of shaking hands with the other party.

So this person was a fellow professional.

Judging by the looks of it, he came to the shop today to probe Lu Feng's abilities.

Lu Feng wasn't opposed to this kind of fellow professional coming to test him; since his little shop opened, there had been quite a few nearby chefs who were unconvinced, posing as customers to probe his culinary skill.

But after tasting what Lu Feng made, every single one of them expressed admiration.

However, this young man named Cheng Fan before him was clearly different from them.

After coming to the shop, this person expressed dissatisfaction with all sorts of rules Lu Feng had set; although he had now tasted the xiaolongbao's flavor, his eyes still carried a trace of arrogance — he looked like he was unwilling to accept defeat.

"Thank you for the praise." Lu Feng smiled faintly.

Cheng Fan's hand froze in mid-air, a flash of displeasure crossing his face, then he pretended to naturally raise his hand to touch his hair, withdrawing his hand.

"Boss, who did you learn your culinary skill from?"

He concluded that the reason Lu Feng's culinary skill was this good must be because there was an old master who had studied cooking for many years behind him.

He just didn't know whether the person who taught Lu Feng cooking, or his own master, was more formidable.

Cheng Fan's master was a State Banquet Chef in the capital who had been retired for many years.

"I trained myself." Lu Feng replied faintly.

"Trained yourself? How is that possible?"

Cheng Fan revealed a disbelieving expression, sizing Lu Feng up and down.

Although he hadn't yet tasted other things Lu Feng made, judging from how booming the business at Lu Feng's shop was, the taste certainly wouldn't be bad either.

He himself had studied under that State Banquet Chef master for five years before achieving minor success, having one or two signature dishes that his master relatively approved of.

Yet Lu Feng looked this young, appearing several years younger than himself.

How could he have self-trained such an astonishing level of culinary skill?

Self-trained?

Who would believe that?

Cheng Fan concluded that Lu Feng simply wasn't willing to say.

It was just that the more he didn't want to say, the more curious Cheng Fan became.

He still wanted to press a few more questions, but Lu Feng waved his hand somewhat impatiently, turned around, and was about to leave: "I'm very busy, no time to chat idly with you. If there's nothing else, I'll continue cooking for the customers."

"Wait!"

Cheng Fan called out to stop Lu Feng, looked at him, and said: "Boss, actually my most skilled dish is also Red Braised Pork. I studied under the State Banquet Chef for three years. I want to compare with you, see whose culinary skill is better. Can you make another portion?"

His tone was full of challenging intent; as soon as these words came out, a commotion immediately arose in the hall.

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Grandpa Qin put down his chopsticks: "This young man, his tone isn't small? Wants to compare culinary skill with Xiao Lu?"

Xu Shao Ying beside him also nodded along: "Xiao Lu's Red Braised Pork, I've lived this long and never eaten one better than what he makes. This young man is a bit ignorant of the heights of heaven and depths of earth!"

"Ah, youthful vigor. Weren't we brothers also unconvinced by anyone when we were young?"

Liu Zhen Guo said laughing from the side.

Facing Cheng Fan's challenge, Lu Feng shook his head: "Sorry, the Red Braised Pork is sold out, and the little shop has a rule — each person can only order one dish."

"You're scared? You don't dare compare?"

Cheng Fan coldly snorted, very dissatisfied with Lu Feng's answer.

"It's not that I don't dare, it's that there's no need."

Lu Feng replied with a calm face: "I opened this shop to make food for customers to eat, not to compare who's higher or lower with people."

"Not daring to compare is not daring to compare, where do so many reasons come from?"

Cheng Fan sneered, his voice growing louder: "I admit your xiaolongbao indeed has something to it, but Red Braised Pork is the skill my master personally passed down. Is it that the moment you heard my master is a State Banquet Chef, you lost confidence in your heart? Are you afraid of losing face if you lose?"

His words spread to every corner of the hall; the diners eating all stopped their chopsticks, everyone's gaze fixed on Cheng Fan and Lu Feng's direction.

A State Banquet Chef's disciple, coming to challenge Lu Feng's culinary skill?

Now there's a show to watch!

Lu Feng raised a hand to rub his forehead, a trace of helplessness on his face.

This guy named Cheng Fan, really don't know if he's got a screw loose.

There are still so many customers in the shop queuing up waiting for him to cook, yet right now he proposes to compare culinary skills with him.

He has the Full-Level Braised Pork Technique given by the system, let alone a State Banquet Chef's disciple.

Even if the State Banquet Chef himself came over, he'd still have full confidence.

But right now is the busy time, he can't just throw these customers aside and ignore them for the sake of a moment's contest, right?

"If you insist on comparing, that's fine too."

Lu Feng fell silent for two seconds, then spoke: "But right now is business hours, I have to cook for the customers first; if we're comparing, we'll talk when I have time."

Cheng Fan's eyes brightened, he nodded with a look of victory in hand: "Good! I'll wait for you! I work at Hong'an Restaurant in the city center, whenever you have time, come find me anytime."

Hong'an Restaurant?

Hearing this familiar name, Lu Feng couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

The scene from last week of Li Hong'an carrying gifts to poach him surfaced in his mind again.

When he went to Li Jiang's house on the weekend, he'd heard him mention it, saying his second uncle's restaurant had newly hired a Master Chef.

Looks like it's this somewhat arrogant Cheng Fan right before his eyes.

Just now Cheng Fan said someone introduced him, looks like it was Li Hong'an who told him.

This is finding an opponent for himself.

Lu Feng shook his head, not intending to keep dwelling on Cheng Fan challenging him.

He just prepared to return to the kitchen, his gaze landing on that portion of xiaolongbao on the table that hadn't been finished, couldn't help but frown.

Not finished eating and wants to leave?