Chapter 225 - Famous Chefs

Zhang Hou felt angry that someone insulted Wang Ming, they insulting Wang Ming was like they were insulting him. For having poor judgement that he had chosen the wrong person. But when he saw the person who had insulted them, Zhang Hou quelled his anger and said. 

"Mao Qingling, I see even after you went independent from your father, you still haven't learnt how to talk. Do I need to speak to your father?"

"Mr. Zhang, it's only because I respect you, I'm courteous to you. For someone like him, that is entering the competition through the back door, why should I be courteous to him? I should have been the prodigy of this competition, the youngest to participate. But he came and destroyed everything! Everyone is talking about him now, of course I'm angry."

Zhang Hou felt speechless. He wanted to retort, but him giving his spot they could see that as Wang Ming using the back door. He could act unreasonable, but he still had to give her father face. "Don't care about her son, let us go to the seats."

Mao Qingling got even more pissed when she saw that Zhang Hou and Wang Ming didn't acknowledge her presence and just walked away. Filled with anger, she cut the group off and prepared to slap Wang Ming in the face. She hated the kind like him the most.

Wang Ming expected her attack the moment she stopped them, which gave him ample time to intercept her slap by grabbing her wrist. He grabbed it hard enough to punish her, but not enough to hurt her wrist.

"Release my hand now! You're hurting me." Seeing her attack fail, Mao Qingling tried to kick Wang Ming, which he blocked just as easily. He had never seen a middle-aged woman act so shamelessly before throwing a big tantrum just because they didn't want to listen to her insults. 

Releasing her hand, Mao Qingling tried once again to slap him, but Wang Ming's next sentence made her stop her actions. 

"Miss, I appreciate you teaching my daughter how to not behave. But please, you're going a bit too far. You're making it a bit too obvious even she understands by now." What Wang Ming said made Mai Qingling's breath quicken. She felt like ants were biting her back. He insinuates even children know to not behave like that, and she's acting even worse than a child.

She tried to formulate a counterargument, but even what she said now would make her look like an uncultured person. 

Seeing her peers look at her with mocking eyes made her even angrier. She couldn't do anything to them as all of them are superior to her. 

"But well anyway, I'll prove my skills to you in the competition. If I lose horribly I don't mind you talking down on me, but before that please keep your nasty thoughts to yourself." After that, Wang Ming followed Uncle Hou towards the seats. He wanted to ensure that Fu Ya and Ming Ming got to their seats first before going to the preparation room. 

Mao Qingling still wanted to argue somehow, but even she knew where to cut losses. She would show everyone here who's the best chef. With angry strides, she walked back to the preparation room. The people in the room all gave her space, as they didn't want to get annoyed by her, right before competition starts. 

After finding their seats, Ming Ming and Fu Ya gave him a good luck kiss before he went back to the preparation room. He wanted to ask Uncle Hou about what he meant with that the preliminary rounds would be a piece of cake. He wanted to know at least what he would compete in. But Zhang Hou had other thoughts in mind. Seeing the girls kiss him, he couldn't help but tease him. "Well, do you want a kiss from your uncle as well?" 

Zhang Hou's offer gave Wang Ming goosebumps, he didn't mind hugs but kisses are a bit too much. He knew that he probably wouldn't get a proper answer from him, so he just ran to the preparation room and didn't give an answer. Fu Ya and Zhang Hou just laughed at his reaction.

Wang Ming didn't have nothing to prepare, as he didn't know what he was going to compete in. He wanted to know more about the competition, but when he asked the other competitors in the preparation room, they just scoffed at him. They even looked at him with disdain, many thought Wang Ming was too arrogant. He didn't even do his proper research before the competition. Some started even believing what Mai Qingling said, that he only joined the competition by using Zhang Hou's power. 

Seeing that no one would answer him, Wang Ming didn't bother to ask anymore. He just sat down in a corner for himself to relax before the tournament. After another half an hour, Wang Ming heard noises behind him, going out of the room Wang Ming saw they had started the show already.

He saw a full camera crew, filming the two MC's on stage, he had never seen the MC's before. But the chefs in the preparation room gasped when they saw the duo. There was a middle-aged man on the stage together with a beautiful young woman who Wang Ming thought had to be an actress or a model.

She looked beautiful, with her thick makeup and matching clothes, she wore a red dress which cut deeply into her cleavage. The dress gave you the illusion that you could see more than you could. The only intention of the dress is to incite the opposite s.e.x's d.e.s.i.r.e. She looked even better than Fu Ya. 

Though if Fu Ya used as much effort and money to make herself look better, Wang Ming would bet his life that she would even look more beautiful. Though of course it's his biased view only, beauty is always subjective. Anyway, he doesn't like women with too much makeup, Wang Ming's a simple man, some makeup is okay, too heavy makeup makes you look too fake. 

The male MC then started his introduction."Good morning, everybody at home and all the contestants and spectators here today. Most of you probably know me already, but I will still introduce myself. My name's Meng Zhong, the head of the Meng corporation. I will be your MC for this competition. By my side is the beautiful."

"Angela."

"Many of you might wonder if she has the qualifications to be MC in such a prestigious show, but don't worry. Angela is not only an actress, singer and model. She also owns a few restaurants of her own. I promise you she won't disappoint any of us. Please give her a loud applause."

Everyone listening to Meng Zhong couldn't help themselves and clapped their hands even many at home did. Wang Ming understood now why Meng Hao's father is as successful as he is. He's incredibly charismatic, Wang Ming had no doubts that Meng Zhong could sell him a microwave for the price of a car. His smile and words just made people trust him.

"Then let's get started. Let me explain the rules of the tournament for any new viewers. We have 128 of the most prestigious chefs in the whole of China here today. We even have the famous Cheng Kecheng here and even Zhang Hou!" The lights and cameras then turned to Zhang Hou and Cheng Kecheng, respectively. Another loud applause ensued. Many people looked at Uncle Hou with great appreciation, which showed his prestige in the Chinese culinary world.

"But I'm sorry to inform that Zhang Hou will not be joining us in this competition, but don't you worry, his nephew will take his place. He's a famous chef who's gained a lot of reputation and recognition in the last few months. I believe everyone in Liaoling city and its neighbouring cities knows about his restaurant. He's none other than Wang Ming, the owner and the former head chef of Wang's Family Restaurant! Please give him an applause."

None of the other competitors could believe their ears, none thought Wang Ming would be the famous chef they had heard about in the news. Most of the participants thought that they only had the same name after their interactions, but if he's the one that opened the Wang's Family Restaurant then he indeed has some right to be c.o.c.ky. Most of them at his age were still trainees or junior chefs, most didn't even have a restaurant yet.

Even though Wang Ming's restaurant is famous, it still didn't give them big enough reason to respect him, but all the chefs there had tasted his pork belly dish and they respected that Wang Ming could make such a recipe. Many had tried to recreate his dish, but none had managed so far. 

The one who was the most shocked was Mao Qingling. She didn't think that Wang Ming would be the creator of the dish she eats every other day. She's tried to recreate the dish many times, but she never gets the same texture as Wang Ming does. But even then her pride still made it impossible for her to think of Wang Ming as one of her peers, she still believed that she's above Wang Ming.

The people watching on the tv's at home, also gave massive applause to Wang Ming. Especially the ones from the Liaoling city. They all hoped that Wang Ming would win the competition to bring pride and honor to the city. It was just one person who watched the show that felt majorly pissed off. The person was none other than Master Jie. He felt proud that Wang Ming could join such a competition. He didn't know his disciple is such an impressive chef, but he felt majorly pissed off that Wang Ming hadn't invited him. His disciple would get an earful from him later.

"Now, now. Let us continue, thanks everybody for tuning into the Pinnacle Chefs competition, now let's begin!"