Chapter 271 - 164: A God Has Appeared

Chapter 271: Chapter 164: A God Has Appeared

All the chefs of the Kong Sect were feeling the exact same way.

Shocked beyond belief.

While they were still agonizing over seating arrangements for the group photo and getting excited about the possibility of their names appearing in the feature interview...

’Zhou Yan is already on the cover of the magazine?!’

’What’s more, he got a feature interview in this issue? A solo interview!’

’And even...’

’Chief Editor He is scheduling *another* interview with him?’

Everyone’s head was spinning. Beyond the shock, there was only utter confusion.

’Seriously, on what grounds?’

They admitted Zhou Yan was exceptionally talented, and that his flash-fried pork liver was superb.

’But he’s only been studying cooking for two and a half years, right?’

They, a bunch of old-timers who had been knocking around in kitchens for twenty or thirty years, all felt their own credentials weren’t enough and that they still had to keep grinding.

Zheng Qiang’s eyebrows knitted together. ’On the way here, they were all just dreaming about getting into the group photo, and meanwhile, Zhou Yan secretly went and got himself on the cover?’

’We’re all grand-disciples here, and you just up and flew ahead of everyone else?!’

Zhou Yan was a bit embarrassed as well. He chose his words carefully and explained, "Chief Editor He ate at my restaurant last time and was quite interested in the Kneeling Beef passed down in Zhou Village, so he did a feature interview. It’s my first time, so I don’t really know how these things work. Of course, it’s nothing compared to a grand topic like the Kong Sect’s legacy."

Hearing this, the others nodded thoughtfully. Zhou Yan’s explanation made them all feel much better.

’It seems Zhou Yan just got lucky and was chosen because of good timing.’

Otherwise, it would feel like they had wasted all their years.

"Zhou Yan, my friend, you’re being far too modest!" He Zhiyuan shook his head, raising his voice a few notches. "You resurrected and passed down this Kneeling Beef from a recipe! The broth is savory and delicious, and it even has the benefits of a medicinal dish!

Beyond just being delicious, you’ve imbued the dish with historical weight and a sense of purpose. I believe it’s very likely to become a famous dish in Jiazhou, and could even have a much more profound impact in the future."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked astonished.

Even Kong Qingfeng stood up from his grand armchair.

To recreate a legacy dish from a recipe and receive such high praise from a seasoned gourmand like He Zhiyuan—that spoke volumes about the achievement!

What did this mean?

It meant that from the perspective of the editorial department at *Sichuan Cuisine* magazine, Zhou Yan appearing on the cover and getting a feature interview was entirely deserved, and they believed his work would have a profound influence.

After their shock subsided, the prevailing feeling was happiness!

For the Kong Sect to have produced such a young prodigy was a stroke of good fortune for the sect. That was a simple truth they all immediately understood.

Li Liangcai and Qin Kun stood to the side watching the scene unfold. Their expressions were complex, but their eyes held mostly envy.

’Who wouldn’t be envious of a disciple like that? He brings so much glory to the sect!’

They thought of their own good-for-nothing disciples, who never brought them any honor but were quick and decisive when it came to disgracing them. The more they thought about it, the angrier they got, wishing they could go home and give them a beating right then and there.

"A true genius of our Kong Sect!" Kong Qingfeng said with a gratified smile. "Come, Zhou Yan, you sit in the center!"

Zhou Yan glanced at the grand armchair, completely stunned.

’No! Master, please don’t set me up like this!’

"That won’t do, absolutely not, Master. How could Zhou Yan possibly sit there?" Xiao Lei quickly chimed in.

"If I can sit there, then so can Zhou Yan!" Kong Qingfeng waved a hand dismissively, his expression turning serious. "In the Kong Sect, we let our skills do the talking. Zhou Yan made the cover of *Sichuan Cuisine* magazine. That brings glory to our sect, so he’s earned this seat. I’ll stand next to him."

Hearing this, Xiao Lei looked at Zhou Yan with a helpless expression. "Master Zhou, what do you say?"

"Master, please spare me. How about this? I’ll stand next to you," Zhou Yan said, hurrying over to help Kong Qingfeng sit back down.

"Alright," Kong Qingfeng nodded. He turned to Xiao Lei and said, "Shitou, you stand next to Zhou Yan."

Xiao Lei glanced at Zhou Yan, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly. "Alright," he nodded.

Just like that, the standing arrangement was settled. Kong Guoqing stood on Kong Qingfeng’s other side, and the other masters of his generation arranged themselves by order of seniority.

Three long benches were placed for the second row, where all the grand-disciples were to stand.

Kong Liwei had just put the fish in the tank and had taken the time to wipe his face with a towel. When he came out, he saw Zhou Yan in the front row with all the senior masters, standing right next to the Master. Beside Zhou Yan stood his own master, Xiao Lei. Kong Liwei’s eyes widened in an instant.

’Is this some new kind of arrangement?’

Kong Liwei scratched his head, looked at Kong Guodong standing on the Master’s other side, and asked hesitantly, "Master, should I also stand between you and the Master?"

"Get lost. Go stand in the very back corner. We saved a spot for you there," Kong Guodong said, rolling his eyes at him.

’An errand boy for the sect thinks he deserves the same treatment as a genius?’

’Having Zhou Yan stand here is what makes the rest of them look good.’

Looking wounded, Kong Liwei ran to a corner in the back row and stood there, whispering to Zheng Qiang beside him, "Zheng, do you get to stand in the front row just for being handsome?"

"That’s right, that’s exactly it," Zheng Qiang nodded with a smile. He lifted his chin slightly, trying his best to display his own round face, feeling incredibly proud.

’This is the genius junior from our Huaifeng branch, after all!’

"Okay, look at me, smiles on your faces... one, two, three!"

CLICK!

As the shutter clicked, the smiles on everyone’s faces were immortalized.

"Looks good. I’ll get these developed and mail them to your training center. You can come back to Second Master Kong’s place to pick them up yourselves," He Zhiyuan said as he put away his camera.

"He, thank you for your trouble," Kong Qingfeng said, coming over to shake He Zhiyuan’s hand.

"Second Master Kong, we’ve been old acquaintances for over twenty years. No need for such formalities," He Zhiyuan said with a smile.

Meanwhile, the second-generation disciples of the Kong Sect had already swarmed Zhou Yan, their voices a continuous chorus of amazement.