Chapter 353
Chapter 353 - Special Hobby
The secretary quickly stepped forward. “I am Mr. Sun's secretary, and I am authorized to speak on his behalf. Please direct your questions to me.”
The reporters all nodded in agreement.
Mr. Sun held a very high status.
And they were merely local reporters.
They never expected Sun Jianjun to personally respond to their inquiries.
“Mr. Sun, how many dishes did you sample during your visit to Eastsea?”
A reporter eagerly raised his hand to ask.
“Mr. Sun sampled a total of fifteen dishes.”
“How many of those dishes met Mr. Sun's approval?”
“I'm sorry, but none.”
The secretary was blunt, but she was simply stating the facts.
“How many more hotels does Mr. Sun have yet to visit?”
“Three more.”
The scene was akin to a mini press conference, with the secretary acting as Sun Jianjun's spokesperson.
?Meanwhile, Wang Liang said in a rush, “Mr. Sun, welcome. You are an elder I've always held in high regard.”
But Sun Jianjun simply gestured with his hand, “Let's proceed to the tasting.”
Wang Liang quickly nodded in agreement and led the way.
?Soon, they entered a room.
“Please wait a moment, Mr. Sun. We didn't want the dishes to cool, so we only started cooking when we knew you were on your way. It will be just a few more minutes.”
Wang Liang said hastily.
Sun Jianjun remained silent, sitting down and closing his eyes to rest. Shortly after, the first dish was served.
It was steamed Wuchang Fish.
A renowned dish among the top ten of the imperial court.
Sun Jianjun slowly opened his eyes and took in the aroma.
?His face was impassive, and he refrained from commenting.
He then used his chopsticks to gently prod the fish before picking up a piece and tasting it slowly.
It was some time before he swallowed the morsel of fish.
“Mr. Sun, what do you think of this dish?”
Wang Liang asked with anticipation.
?The room was packed with people, including hotel staff and journalists.
Every camera was focused on Sun Jianjun.
The room fell silent, awaiting his verdict.
Everyone was eagerly awaiting Sun Jianjun's feedback.
After a long pause, Sun Jianjun finally spoke, “The steamed fish took a bit too long, and the oil wasn't hot enough.”
Wang Liang let out a silent sigh of relief.
If Mr. Sun wasn't pounding the table or yelling, it meant the dish was passable.
He had heard about the severe tongue-lashing Mr. Sun gave the last restaurant.
Soon, the second dish was served—fish-flavored shredded pork.
?Sun Jianjun, as before, carefully tasted a piece of the meat.
Fish-flavored shredded pork is a staple in Sichuan cuisine, yet its simplicity is a true test of a chef's abilities.
After some time, Sun Jianjun set down his chopsticks with a slight frown.
?”This dish is terrible.”
Wang Liang's hands shook with nervousness.
Mr. Sun had declared the dish terrible!
Mr. Sun then sampled two more dishes, shaking his head with dissatisfaction each time.
?As the next dish was presented, Sun Jianjun stood up, shaking his head, “I won't bother tasting any more. Inform the other restaurants I won't be visiting. The cuisine of Eastsea is mediocre at best. Old Man Loong's years of effort have been in vain.”
With that, Sun Jianjun strode out.
The faces around him grew somber—they were all Eastsea locals.
Sun Jianjun's critique stung, but no one could deny his honesty.
?Wang Liang sighed again, realizing Mr. Sun was even more demanding than he had anticipated.
“Mr. Sun, please allow me to escort you out.”
Despite his disappointment, Wang Liang had no choice but to see Mr. Sun off.
He had barely taken a few steps when a foul odor assaulted his nostrils.
?The stench had returned with the stillness of the wind!
If Mr. Sun caught wind of this, he would surely criticize the hotel's cleanliness.
Sun Jianjun paused, his brow furrowed, as he stood still.
Wang Liang's heart sank.
He was overwhelmed with anxiety.
“Please forgive me, Mr. Sun. I'm not sure what's happening. My hotel has never had this smell before, but it suddenly appeared just now. You might not believe me, but I'm telling the truth.”
Wang Liang was desperately trying to explain himself.
Truth be told, he didn't think his explanation carried much weight.
Sun Jianjun remained silent, standing his ground.
Wang Liang felt a chill in his hands and feet.
His initial plan had been to invite Mr. Sun over for some free publicity, hoping to boost his own profile.
But now, things had taken an unexpected turn!
What in the world was happening?
And why did it smell so foul?
While Wang Liang's hands and feet shook with nerves as he pondered how to apologize, Sun Jianjun's eyes suddenly sparkled.
He turned around, his gaze intense and fixed on Wang Liang.
Wang Liang was taken aback.
What had just happened?
Seeking assistance, Wang Liang turned his gaze to his secretary.
She was just as perplexed.
Having worked with Mr. Sun for so long, she knew he seldom smiled, much less displayed such an eager look!
The journalists nearby were equally baffled.
They had never seen Sun Jianjun behave this way.
What was going on?
What had Sun Jianjun discovered?
Surely, there couldn't be a hidden secret to this horrible smell?
While it's true that some people enjoy the scent of paint or durian, surely no one would find this offensive odor appealing?
It was, after all, overwhelmingly foul.