Theft and Stealing

Dragon King Li Huang, in a fit of pique with Battle Qi Yuan Shoucheng, deliberately gave an incorrect evaluation, only to run into a fool named Wei Zheng, Gourmet Inspector Censor impeached him and stripped him of his "head" title.

Looking at this news, Feng Xue could only be thankful that the previous bag of salt would disappear when the page was refreshed; otherwise, she would probably have been buried alive by the suddenly rising salt mountain.

"So this is the Wei Zheng who slew the dragon?"

After holding it in for a long time, Feng Xue finally blurted out a sigh. With a headache, she logged onto the forum, only to find that the replay of the Dragon Gate Noodle Competition was being throttled!

"Ding-dong--"

"Who is it?" Feng Xue, who was speechless, heard the doorbell ring and said irritably. A calm and composed voice immediately came from outside the door:

"Hello, we are from the World Gourmet Appraisal Committee. Is this Chef Sun Wukong's home?"

"Hold on."

Feng Xue took a deep breath, composed herself, and then opened the door. She saw a young man dressed like a SWAT officer in sunglasses, carrying a leather suitcase. He took out his phone to check the information before speaking:

"Hello, Chef Sun Wukong, I'm here on behalf of the Food Evaluation Committee to deliver your certificate. Please sign for it."

"Okay." Feng Xue couldn't discern any emotion from the other person's face, and with her Heart of Clear Water, she didn't hear any thoughts directed at her. So she took the suitcase and opened it, only to find that there were surprisingly few things inside: a certificate and a few separately bound documents.

"Based on the competition level, you have obtained the title of Special Grade Pastry Chef. In addition, these documents are donation agreements from various museums and Gourmet Selection, which are listed in the registration instructions for the Dragon Gate Noodle Competition. Finally, there is the admission notice from Heavenly Palace City Gourmet University. If you wish, you can use this document to apply for a teaching assistant position in the Pastry Department of Tiangong Culinary University at any time."

The staff member quickly explained, and Feng Xue nodded before saying:

Is there anything else?

"No, that's all." The man shook his head, but hesitated for a moment before saying:

"Chef Sun Wukong, you're still young. Don't take this to heart. You were just unlucky. Take two years to mature, and once things calm down, it won't be difficult for you to get your professorship. Participate in a few more competitions, and your name Peach Banquet."

"Ah, this..." Feng Xue grinned, finally thanked the person, and saw them off. Looking at the Little Notebook, her eyebrows slightly raised.

"This is the Bimawen? Does that mean I have to go to the Food Wars in Heavenly Palace City and tell those professors that I'm quitting and opening a hole-in-the-wall restaurant?"

Feng Xue grinned, dismissing the absurd idea from her mind, and then logged into the local forum of Dragon Palace City, where she indeed saw a large number of posts complaining.

The stories include things like Li Huang tricking him terribly, Li Huang being framed, and Ao Lai Country hiring a high-priced pastry chef this year to avoid Sun Wukong taking the position but not wanting to openly harm him, so they tricked his mentor...

Looking at the various conspiracy theories or rational analyses, Feng Xue couldn't help but pinch the bridge of her nose.

This "mentor" does not refer to a teacher who imparted knowledge, but rather to a position similar to that of the Chief Examiner in the ancient Imperial Examination.

It's like feeling grateful for someone's recognition and support.

As the saying goes, "one prospers, all prosper; one suffers, all suffer," Feng Xue, as a newcomer discovered by Li Huang (although it was the Dragon Gate Noodle Competition, it was like the difference between Disciple of the Son of Heaven and Chief Examiner), naturally carried the marks of Li Huang's faction. Therefore, after Li Huang inexplicably failed, he was naturally implicated as well.

Yes, it's inexplicable.

Putting aside where this Yuan Shoucheng came from and what qualifications he has to compete with Top Gourmet Critic who already holds the title of "Dragon King," the idea of being stripped of his title for a single defeat is utterly absurd.

While Li Huang's negligence certainly played a role, it's like a matter of personal conduct. Which food critic hasn't faced social niceties or been asked to say a few kind words to save face? It's not uncommon for such behavior. Why is it that only Li Huang has been singled out?

Do you really think this was the work of that idiot named Wei Zheng?

"Seriously, these shady dealings exist everywhere..." Feng Xue felt no frustration despite the reduced [knowledge] due to the traffic restrictions.

Or rather, if things were done strictly according to the rules, even a good person like him wouldn't have been able to bring himself to steal the peaches and pills. But since the shady dealings started, he shouldn't be blamed for following the script.

However, simply stealing peaches and pills would be too lowbrow. Even if it created Weird Tale of Sun Wukong, it wouldn't shake off the Tag of "thief." Although Sun Wukong does have the impression of being a "thief," there are still differences.

Everyone laughs at Kong Yiji, but stealing and burglary are indeed different.

Stealing a country and stealing a country don't sound sophisticated at all.

So...

"Let me, the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, steal this Peach Banquet honorably and legitimately!"

Feng Xue made up her mind and calmed down.

If you want to crush your opponent with overwhelming force, you must be fully prepared.

He checked the records of previous years' Peach Banquet online and then made a decision...

"This is Heavenly Palace City?" Feng Xue jumped off the Somersault Cloud, looked at this capital city which was clearly more modern than Dragon Palace City, took out her phone, and headed towards her destination.

"Sir, do you have an appointment?"

Upon seeing Feng Xue, a complete stranger, the receptionist immediately flashed a professional smile. Feng Xue stepped forward, pulled out her identification, and said:

"I'm here for an interview. This is my identification. I had an appointment."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

The receptionist took the ID, glanced at it, and immediately dialed the internal line. Soon after, she greeted me with an even more genuine smile:

"Sorry to keep you waiting, the general manager is waiting for you in his office."

Feng Xue smiled and thanked him, then took the elevator up. Soon, he arrived at the so-called general manager's office, where a man in a sharp suit was waiting for him.

Upon seeing Feng Xue arrive, the man immediately stood up, took two steps forward, and shook hands with Feng Xue before saying:

"Sir, we've reviewed your resume, but I'd like to know what exactly would have attracted someone of your talent... Well, if I may be frank, I'm quite aware of my own company's limitations."

"Because you have one interview slot at this year's Peach Banquet." Feng Xue cut to the chase and stated her purpose directly. Upon hearing this, the man's previously bright smile suddenly tightened, and he said seriously:

"Excuse my bluntness, but even if your resume is impressive, you are still a newcomer. Asking for such an important position right off the bat seems rather arrogant."

Without uttering a word in response to the other party's words, Feng Xue opened her briefcase and emptied its contents onto the table.

"Sir, you are insulting the dignity of our Newspaper Agency as journalists."

That was what the interviewer originally intended to say, but Feng Xue gave too much.

Then...

Welcome to the company.