Daddy, Come Home For Dinner!

Chapter 931: Chapter 931: Losses

"If the brand withdraws its funds, the brands we’re currently negotiating with will also turn to observe, which will have a significant impact on us," said the secretary-general. "If the Hua Country market doesn’t buy it, and our cooking competition disconnects from Hua Country, then the International Cooking Competition becomes a joke."

Hua Country, as a culinary giant.

In the field of gastronomy, no one can underestimate or ignore it.

Without the participation of such a culinary giant, what’s the point of calling it a cooking competition?

"Moreover, there’s one thing we have all overlooked previously," said the secretary-general.

"This time, Changping sent us a complaint letter. Although Changping’s president Zhao Gushen hasn’t expressed his stance, the complaint letter sent in the name of the entire Changping Group must have been authorized by Zhao Gushen," said the secretary-general.

"We are still unsure of Zhao Gushen’s attitude on this matter," said the secretary-general.

"Dissatisfaction is certain, but the degree of dissatisfaction is still unclear to us," said the secretary-general.

"What do you mean..." Lucas asked.

"Because Zhao Gushen hasn’t contacted us or expressed any stance. If this matter stops merely at Changping’s complaint letter, that’s still manageable," said the secretary-general.

"But what if it’s more than that?" the secretary-general asked.

"In past competitions, at least 70% of Hua Country’s contestants came from Changping," said the secretary-general.

It’s not just Changping Academy, but also Changping’s affiliated restaurants.

This isn’t about Changping monopolizing the participant slots.

It’s about Hua Country’s well-known chefs, and those capable of determining success or failure in the International Cooking Competition.

Changping holds the majority.

"If Changping decides not to participate, and also refuses to let chefs from its affiliates join, then how many chefs from Hua Country will end up participating?" asked the secretary-general.

"Most who come to compete are those without much fame or ability," said the secretary-general. "Their participation is essentially just for numbers, akin to Hua Country withdrawing from the competition."

"By then, our International Cooking Competition will inevitably become a laughing stock," said the secretary-general. "Lucas, our International Cooking Competition has earned its current reputation and authority through countless years of effort."

"It’s been a hard-won foundation and prestige that we have now," said the secretary-general, "We can’t let this effort and reputation we’ve built be destroyed because of this incident."

Lucas’s expression also grew heavy: "Should we directly deal with Zhuang Mingyan then? But if Zhao Gushen doesn’t intend to pursue the matter further, and we still dealt with Zhuang Mingyan, that would also negatively affect our development in Hua Country."

Their company, in fact, isn’t very different from Changping.

The difference being their strong relationship with the International Chef Association.

The company now wants to penetrate the Hua Country market.

Naturally, they need not think about competing with Chinese cuisine.

Who would compete with local cuisine?

No matter what, it can’t be more authentic than local cuisine.

Their idea is to introduce their company’s brands into Hua Country’s market.

In fact, in the international market, Hua Country has already established Chinese culinary brands.

It holds a particularly high market share internationally.

Many renowned Chinese culinary restaurants abroad are Changping’s brands.

Thus, they don’t plan to compete with Changping in the realm of Chinese cuisine.

In truth, they can’t compete.

So they can only avoid confrontation in this field.

Hua Country is a culinary giant with its various provinces and cities having their unique cuisines.

Even among its own cuisines, competition in Hua Country’s market is fierce.

Plus, Hua Country’s people aren’t very accustomed to Western cuisine flavors.

Trying other countries’ cuisines occasionally is fine.

But to truly love it, they still favor their own country’s cuisine the most.

Therefore, it’s challenging for foreign culinary brands to succeed in Hua Country.

The brand recognition exists, many are quite famous international brands.

These aren’t fast food, but renowned high-end restaurants.

Yet, when such restaurants open, initial curiosity draws many customers.

However, once that novelty wears off, the restaurants become deserted.

Their company now aims to solve this problem.

Using the cooking competition to promote the various cuisines offered by their company brands.

Some dishes outstanding in the competition will, after authorization, be added to the menus of their branded restaurants.

Actually, this follows a similar model as Changping.

Changping already has a foundation in Hua Country with a broad audience.

Local cuisine is already popular, not to mention Changping encompassing major culinary styles.

But their company doesn’t have it that easy.

There exists a difference in taste.

To attract customers is even more challenging.

Therefore, the company has always wanted to capitalize on the fame of the International Cooking Competition to introduce their company brands into Hua Country’s market.

The Hua Country market is simply too tempting.

Hua Country’s territory is vast with a large population and a traditional culture centering around food.

It’s truly a culinary giant.

Just thinking about Hua Country’s daily dietary consumption is enough to make them envious.

There’s an urgent need to obtain a share in Hua Country.

If they enter Hua Country, they’ll become competitors with Changping.

How could they count on Changping to help them?

Thus, relying more on Zhuang Mingyan’s family becomes necessary.

This is also why Lucas is unwilling to easily give up on Zhuang Mingyan.

Surely, other families in Hua Country might be willing to cooperate with them.

But such cooperation first requires an exchange of interests.

Otherwise, who would willingly be the unsung hero doing a favor for free?

Everyone plays the capitalist game; no one’s inherently kinder.

It’s still more practical to collaborate with Zhuang Mingyan’s family through her connections.

They merely provide Zhuang Mingyan with a position and convenience in the company, and arrange a relatively close core position for Zhuang Mingyan in the International Chef Association.

As long as Zhuang Mingyan is satisfied, all’s well with the Zhuang Family.

They don’t even need to provide much more interest.

Therefore, without a dire situation, Lucas really won’t act against Zhuang Mingyan.

Thus, Zhuang Mingyan boasts to Zhao Gushen, claiming she can help him.

Equal to influencing the results and outcomes of the competition.

So Zhuang Mingyan arrogantly scores as she wishes in the Changping Competition.

Lucas thought for a moment and said, "Let’s wait and see first, wait for Zhao Gushen’s reaction."

"You personally contact Changping Competition’s person in charge, apologize to them for our mistakes, which ruined their finals. Handle the situation yourself, be sincere," Lucas said.

Since the conflict is with the Changping Competition, directly contact Lu Chenghong.