"Jiang Yi, you truly don't know your limits. With your meager influence, Boss Jiang could crush you with a flick of his finger!" Lu Ming said disdainfully. "Do you know how powerful Boss Jiang's influence is in Eagle Country? Just his sway in West Mount State alone is enough to obliterate your Tiansheng Group!"
"Is that so? Then I'd like to see how Jiang Wanli plans to obliterate my Tiansheng Group!" Jiang Yi smiled faintly. The Tiansheng Group might appear weak now, but once it gains a foothold and develops rapidly, even Jiang Wanli's formidable power could be swiftly dismantled. The foundation of a pharmaceutical company lies in the drugs it develops. With Jiang Yi's capabilities, a single drug he invents could shock half of Eagle Country, something Jiang Wanli could never achieve.
Just then, the host and judges responsible for the competition began to ascend the high platform. Although there were still two hours before the competition, the judges were already discussing the day's topics, which was their usual practice. They would only finalize the competition's content just before it began, calling it "on-the-spot improvisation."
Jiang Tian shot Jiang Yi a grim look before walking away. Lu Ming followed suit. Jiang Yi paid them no mind. No matter what methods they employed, he was determined to win the championship today!
"Teacher, who was that person with Lu Ming just now? Is he your enemy? He's so arrogant!" Natasha said, clearly displeased.
"He's the son of my enemy, Jiang Wanli, and also my cousin!" Jiang Yi said with a cold smile.
Hearing this, Natasha looked puzzled. "They are your relatives, so why are they your enemies?"
"It's a long story. I'll tell you later!" Jiang Yi didn't elaborate for Natasha. Seeing that Jiang Yi was reluctant to speak, Natasha didn't press further. However, she had already decided to help Jiang Yi. After all, Jiang Yi was her teacher, and she naturally sided with him.
"It's still early. Why don't we go grab something to eat first?" Natasha said, pulling Jiang Yi towards a nearby restaurant. This castle had many restaurants, supermarkets, and food stalls selling local Eagle Country snacks. Today, it felt like a festival, bustling with activity. Jiang Yi was also feeling hungry, so he followed Natasha into a restaurant. They ordered some exquisite small dishes and began to eat. Eagle Country's cuisine was quite unique, and Jiang Yi found it hard to adapt to. After just one bite, he couldn't eat any more.
Seeing Jiang Yi not eating, Natasha put down her fork and said, "I've seen a lot of delicious Eastern cuisine on a short video platform in Eagle Country. I've always wanted to try your country's food but never had the chance!"
"Eastern cuisine is indeed very delicious!" Jiang Yi replied.
"Can you cook Eastern food?" Natasha asked eagerly.
"Yes!" Jiang Yi nodded. Jiang Yi's culinary skills were top-notch. Anyone who tasted his cooking praised it without exception. Even the notoriously picky Dongfang Mei would drool with desire.
"That's wonderful! Many renowned doctors from various countries will be participating in this competition. The restaurant has made preparations to allow contestants to eat what they desire. So, if anyone finds our Eagle Country food unpalatable, they can go to the auxiliary kitchen to cook for themselves!" Natasha's eyes lit up. "Teacher, there's still plenty of time before the competition. How about you cook something yourself? I'd love to try Eastern cuisine!" she said expectantly.
Jiang Yi was taken aback by this arrangement. He hadn't expected customers to be able to cook for themselves. "Alright, I'll show off my skills a little!" Jiang Yi said with a slight smile. Upon hearing Jiang Yi agree, Natasha quickly got up to inform the restaurant manager. The manager led Jiang Yi and Natasha towards the kitchen.
To Jiang Yi's surprise, what was referred to as the kitchen was merely an open-air stove at the entrance of the restaurant. However, all sorts of ingredients, seasonings, and cooking utensils were readily available. A nearby Indian man preparing curry smirked with disdain as he saw Jiang Yi about to cook.
"You're from China, aren't you! Your Chinese food is too unpalatable. You shouldn't bother cooking, lest you be ridiculed!" he said. "My curry is the most delicious food in the world. Let me taste the authentic cuisine of our Indian subcontinent later!" As he spoke, the Indian man, after returning from the restroom, grabbed a handful of curry powder and tossed it into a large iron pot, sniffing it with an expression of enjoyment.
Jiang Yi found this action utterly unbearable! It was common knowledge that many people in India did not use toilet paper for defecation but relied on their hands. It wasn't that Jiang Yi was overly particular, but he simply couldn't stomach such unhygienic conditions.
"Have you eaten Chinese food before?" Jiang Yi asked.
"I haven't, but I've seen news reports and read comments from food bloggers saying that Chinese food is actually the most unpalatable. They eat millennium eggs and disgusting chicken feet. Just thinking about it makes one lose their appetite," the Indian man commented. This rubbed Jiang Yi the wrong way. It was akin to a beggar mocking a magnate, calling him poor!
"You are terribly ill-informed!" Jiang Yi said, then began to heat up the wok and oil. Today, he would show these frogs in a well what true cuisine was, so they wouldn't spout nonsense. He had to teach them a lesson.
Jiang Yi's speed and technique in cutting vegetables immediately attracted a crowd. Even this alone was enough to impress many. This time, Jiang Yi was making a clear stewed tonic soup, a recipe he had invented to elevate the soup's flavor to its peak. After a series of actions, he covered the pot and let it simmer for half an hour before it would be ready. Natasha watched with great anticipation. The onlookers were also curious about the taste of Jiang Yi's soup.
The Indian man next to him, however, wore a look of disdain. In his opinion, Jiang Yi's soup couldn't possibly compare to his curry. Soon, the Indian man's curry was ready. To showcase his culinary prowess and outshine Jiang Yi, he began distributing portions to the onlookers, keeping only one for himself. However, many people refused. In this information age, many had already seen enough of Indian cuisine online! Moreover, the color of the curry was truly unappetizing. The sight of it brought to mind the Indian man's restroom habits, making it impossible for anyone to eat it!
"It's not that my curry is bad, but they simply don't understand what good food is," the Indian man muttered. "People who don't understand food truly don't deserve to enjoy my curry. Fine, if they don't want it, I'll eat it myself!" He began to console himself.