r18novel Chapter 42 No... how could this be...
Chapter 42 No... how could this be...
Just as panic reached its peak, and several employees' trembling hands were about to touch Ivanov's shoulder—
Ivanov, who had been staring blankly, suddenly seemed to be awakened. He abruptly raised his hand and waved away the person who tried to help him up. Then, as if his feet were on springs, he jumped up from the ground!
He rushed to Lin Shuyao, his face flushed, his grey-blue eyes blazing with fervent light: "My God! I've never tasted anything like this before! It's so wonderful, like walking on clouds, it makes me so happy I'm dizzy!!"
The translator also got up, equally excited, and said, "You've misunderstood! We weren't poisoned; our taste buds and brains were simply overwhelmed by the extreme happiness and deliciousness, and we couldn't react in time! It's because Comrade Shen's mousse cake was just too delicious!"
The onlookers were dumbfounded.
"Huh? So they mean it's so delicious, they're blissfully stupid?"
"That seems to be the meaning."
"Wow... the Soviets' way of expressing emotions is really unique."
"Who cares, as long as I'm not poisoned."
"So who won this round? Did Master Ji win, or did Comrade Shen win?"
Returning to this crucial question, everyone's eyes turned to Ivanov. Master Ji and Liu Dazhu also stared intently at Ivanov. Although Lin Shuyao had an answer in mind, she didn't dare to be overconfident until the answer was revealed, so she also kept a close eye on Ivanov.
Ivanov nodded slightly to everyone and announced, "The honey cake is delicious, but I prefer Comrade Shen Qing's mousse cake!"
The announcement of this result caused an uproar at the scene.
"No... how could this be..." The color drained from Liu Dazhu's face instantly. He staggered backward, bracing himself on the table as if he couldn't stand up.
Zhang San and Li Si were ashen-faced, their legs trembling, completely unable to believe it: "How could our ancestor lose to a mere young girl? Impossible! Impossible..."
Grandmaster Ji, the founder of the family, blushed crimson and stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning. "My honey cake has been recognized by international leaders, so why did it lose to that mousse cake?"
"No, I refuse to accept this! I want to taste what this mousse cake really tastes like!"
Master Ji picked up a spoon and scooped a spoonful of mousse cake into his mouth. When he tasted the fragrance and felt the different layers of texture, his hand holding the spoon fell limply to his side. He stood there blankly, and the color in his face quickly faded.
All the arrogance and resentment before were shattered in the face of this taste.
It definitely tastes better than his honey cake.
He had never tasted this flavor before.
Just then, someone in the crowd remembered the previous bet and shouted:
"Oh right! Didn't we make a bet? Whoever loses the third round has to kneel down, kowtow, and call me grandpa!"
These words immediately ignited everyone's memories, and more voices joined in the commotion:
"That's right! Liu Dazhu! Zhang San! Li Si! You all remember what you said, don't you?"
"A real man keeps his word! Hurry up and stop dawdling! Kneel down and call Comrade Shen 'Grandma'!"
"That's right, it's time to deliver on that promise!"
Upon hearing this, Master Ji flicked his sleeves and said to Liu Dazhu, "I just happened to be passing by and have nothing to do with the bet. I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving now."
After saying that, Master Ji seemed to have wheels of fire under his feet, and disappeared in a flash.
Only Liu Dazhu, Zhang San, and Li Si remained in the same spot.
The three men looked increasingly grim, as if they had swallowed several pounds of excrement.
"Master, Master...please, please say something..." Zhang San and Li Si tugged at Liu Dazhu's clothes.
Liu Dazhu, his face flushed, retorted, "Who...who suggested the bet? Whoever did, go kneel down and kowtow!"
Li Si stammered, "Master, you were the one who started the bet, didn't you? Don't you remember?"
Liu Dazhu was completely silenced.
"How's it going, Master Liu? Have the three of you decided who will kneel first and who will kneel later, or all of you?" Lin Shuyao smiled and reminded him.
"You!" Liu Dazhu clenched his fists in anger.
Zhang San angrily said, "Shen Qing, don't be so arrogant! My master is a generation older than you, and you're forcing an elder to kneel before you? You've gone too far!"
Lin Shuyao: "You were the ones who suggested the bet about kneeling. When you proposed this bet, didn't you think about how it would embarrass your master?"
Zhang San was speechless after being rebuked.
Turning to Li Si, she scolded, "It's all your fault! When Master mentioned the bet, you were the one who started it all up, saying something about kneeling down and calling him 'Grandpa.' Now look what's happened! You've completely disgraced Master!"
Li Si, who had been shrinking back and not daring to utter a sound, became agitated after Zhang San's accusation: "Why is it my fault! You were shouting just as enthusiastically back then!"
Zhang San: "I...I was led astray by you!"
Li Si: "Bullshit! Don't you have a brain?"
"Who are you calling brainless? Say it again!"
"I'm telling you! You're such a pig-headed idiot, you've been studying for half a year and you've only learned a few dishes!"
"You think you're so smart? Even the master said you have absolutely no talent for cooking!"
Bang! Zhang San punched Li Si in the face.
*Slap!* Li Si slapped Li Si hard across the face.
The two immediately started fighting.
"Enough! Stop it, both of you!" Liu Dazhu was both angry and anxious, feeling utterly humiliated by his two stupid apprentices.
Lin Shuyao waited until they had stopped arguing before slowly speaking, "Alright, I'd be ashamed to ask you to kneel down and kowtow to me, calling me 'Grandma.' If word got out, people would think I'm mean and bullying an old comrade."
Upon hearing this, the three were first stunned, then a glimmer of hope suddenly flashed in their eyes—could it be... that they didn't have to kneel anymore?
Lin Shuyao continued, "How about this, the three of you each give me a month's worth of food rations, and we'll call it even, okay?"
When the group was arguing earlier, she thought for a moment and made the other party kneel down and admit their mistake. This gave her a moment of relief, but it didn't bring her any real benefit.
It's more practical to ask for money or tickets.
Upon hearing this suggestion, the hope in the eyes of Liu Dazhu and his two apprentices turned into struggle.
A month's worth of food coupons was a real form of hard currency in those days. If you were given one, you would have to tighten your belt for the next month.
However, compared to kowtowing and calling someone "maid" or "aunt" in front of dozens of people, this is already considered respectable.
In the end, the three gritted their teeth and resigned themselves to their fate, saying, "Fine! We'll give it to you!"