Gourmet Roast

Gourmet Roast

"Steamed fish is one of the Cantonese dishes that best embodies lightness and natural flavor. To make it well, you have to preserve the fish's original taste to the greatest extent possible, making it light, fresh, and tender, without leaving behind any fishy smell. It truly tests a chef's skill."

"Try it yourself. Do you dare say the steamed fish you made is light in flavor and tender in texture?" Jiang Hao said, handing the chopsticks in his hand to the chef.

The fat chef's expression kept shifting. He wanted to take the chopsticks but did not dare, looking thoroughly conflicted. Suddenly, applause broke out beside them as some diners began clapping.

"I've really learned something today. So there are so many tricks to cooking."

"Interesting, interesting. The fat chef ran into an expert today. Just admit defeat."

"They say Bai Ji Restaurant has great cooking, but it turns out it's nothing special. I won't be eating here again."

Hearing the diners' remarks, the fat chef's face turned extremely ugly. His gaze toward Jiang Hao was filled with hostility. Whether this guy had come to cause trouble or not, he had caused him serious damage today.

"Who exactly are you?" the fat chef asked darkly.

Jiang Hao said with a somewhat proud tone, "My name is Stephen Chow."

The people around them did not know who Stephen Chow was, but Fat Boss's expression changed. He clearly knew exactly who Stephen Chow was.

Suddenly, someone beside them said, "Stephen Chow? Oh, I remember now. Isn't that the God of Cookery?"

With that reminder, the others immediately remembered as well.

"The God of Cookery, Stephen Chow—I remember now too. Isn't he that bankrupt God of Cookery, Stephen Chow? The newspapers have been full of his news these past two days. Because there was a problem with the food, the Health Department shut down his chain restaurants. His fortune of over a hundred million is all gone, and now he's drowning in debt."

"A tycoon from Da Fu Hao eating at a little restaurant like this? He really has fallen on hard times. Even like this, he's still so picky. He really is the God of Cookery."

"Hehehe, the former God of Cookery."

"A multimillionaire reduced to showing off his skills in a tiny roadside restaurant. That's truly pathetic."

"He's fallen this far, yet his mouth is still so vicious. Isn't he afraid Fat Boss will beat him up?"

As people discussed Stephen Chow, their voices inevitably carried mockery and ridicule. He had once been a wealthy tycoon, high above them, beyond their reach. Now that he had fallen, there was certainly no sympathy to be had. Kicking him while he was down and mocking him was simply human nature.

The fat chef carefully sized Jiang Hao up. The God of Cookery's name had once been legendary in the culinary world. Of course, now only his infamy remained.

He never expected this guy to come here. The fat chef waved the ladle in his hand and pointed at the door. "What God of Cookery? Bah! I, Laozi, have never believed in your nonsense. My Bai Ji Restaurant doesn't welcome you. Please leave."

Jiang Hao was not annoyed. He merely shrugged, a trace of helplessness on his face, then turned and walked out of the restaurant. Seeing this, Zhen Xiaoqiu hurriedly grabbed her bag and chased after him. Once they reached the street, she said indignantly, "Hmph, kicking out customers? Expose him tomorrow."

Jiang Hao suddenly smiled. "Why bother? We ate a meal there for free, and now you want to expose them too? We should be decent people."

Zhen Xiaoqiu froze, only then realizing that they seemed not to have paid. The fat chef had kicked them out before they could settle the bill. They really had eaten for free.

She looked at Jiang Hao. "Hey, what about making me famous? You weren't really lying to me, were you?"

Jiang Hao said, "How did you feel when I critiqued his dishes just now?"

"How did I feel? Nothing much, I guess. But it was pretty interesting," Zhen Xiaoqiu said.

"Didn't the diners nearby get drawn in too?" Jiang Hao asked.

Zhen Xiaoqiu thought about it, then nodded. "That's true."

"So I have a great idea. Make a food show, and it'll definitely become popular," Jiang Hao said.

Zhen Xiaoqiu was somewhat disappointed when she heard that. Pouting, she said, "A food show? There are plenty of those on television already—Mrs. Fong's Kitchen, Mama Chan Teaches You to Cook. Only housewives and old ladies watch those shows. They could never become popular. This isn't the idea you came up with, is it?"

"Hehe, don't be impatient. Those old shows all taught people how to cook. They were bland and unoriginal. What I'm talking about is a food roast show," Jiang Hao said with a smile.

"A food roast? What does that mean?" the female reporter asked in confusion.

"Simply put, I'll be the main attraction. After all, I was once the God of Cookery, so I still have some name recognition. The television station follows me as I eat my way through all the major restaurants, then roast their dishes, pick apart their flaws, and face off against the head chefs. Don't you think that would be interesting?" Jiang Hao said.

"You? I'm afraid all you have left is a bad reputation," Zhen Xiaoqiu said.

"Hehe, even a bad reputation is still fame. It would make the show even more talked about and draw viewers in. It would have watchability, entertainment value, and buzz. I guarantee this show would be a huge hit. It just depends on whether your television station has the courage for it," Jiang Hao said with absolute certainty.

Jiang Hao had his own reasons for doing this. He was now penniless, and if he wanted to complete the mission, he needed money. But there was no way he could get any quickly. When the female reporter had chased after him, he had suddenly come up with this idea.

Borrowing momentum!

By creating a show like this, he could use the opportunity to taste all kinds of delicious food and achieve his goal of completing the mission.

Zhen Xiaoqiu fell into deep thought. A sharp-tongued God of Cookery show that roasted dishes from major restaurants and traded barbs with head chefs—but doing so would definitely offend those big hotels.

"Can this really work?" Zhen Xiaoqiu asked hesitantly.

"It definitely will. You can be the food show host. Once the show becomes popular, won't you become famous too?" Jiang Hao coaxed her step by step, like a little devil.

Zhen Xiaoqiu was tempted. She had worked at the television station for two years without showing much progress, and her dream still seemed far away. Maybe this was an opportunity.

"All right. I'll speak to my supervisor and see what my superiors think," Zhen Xiaoqiu said, turning to leave.

"Hey, beautiful, where are you going?" Jiang Hao called after her.

Zhen Xiaoqiu turned to look at Jiang Hao. "Of course I'm going back. Don't you know it's late? Oh, right, give me your number. I'll contact you once there's a result."

Jiang Hao spread his hands. "I don't have a phone right now."

"How could you not have a phone?" the female reporter asked skeptically.

Jiang Hao put on a deeply sorrowful expression. "I'm homeless now. I don't even have a place to stay, so naturally I have no phone to contact anyone with."

It was 1996. Although mobile phones existed, they were expensive luxury items. The former God of Cookery naturally had a mobile phone, but given Stephen Chow's current circumstances, he definitely could not afford one.

"What about your mansion?" the female reporter asked.

"It was seized."

Jiang Hao held out his hand. "So, beautiful, can we discuss something? Could you lend me a few thousand dollars to spend?"

Zhen Xiaoqiu hugged her backpack tightly and looked at Jiang Hao warily. "What are you trying to do? Rob me?"

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