Chapter 703
Chapter 703:
Malcom shook his head at first. Then, he nodded reluctantly. “I’ve tasted your dish, and it’s indeed impressive. But you’ve also seen the ability of the opponent you are going to face this time. I don’t want to discourage you, but with your skills, winning this competition will be very difficult. Besides, at least a hundred restaurants are participating in this competition. You are no match, even for the chefs of the Crawford family. This competition is a mountain you can’t climb.”
Malcom’s words made Ashton’s face darken at once.
He was used to others’ skepticism, so it was not Malcom’s doubt in his abilities that bothered him. What truly grated on him was Malcom’s defeatist attitude.
“Just because you think you can’t win, you’re choosing to give up and run away? Have you forgotten how much harm the Crawford family has caused to your family? Your restaurant is a century old. It has over a hundred years of history. But now, it’s on the brink of closure because of the Crawford family. Don’t you have even the slightest intention of resisting? How can you just decide to surrender and escape? Don’t you value this legacy of your family?”
Malcom looked at Ashton, smiling bitterly. “Young man, can’t you still see? It’s not that I don’t want to resist. In fact, I tried. But I only failed. And this is the result. Because of my resistance, our family restaurant is now on the verge of bankruptcy.”
Ashton was stunned for a moment, unable to refute Malcom’s heartfelt response.
But he also noticed that when Malcom spoke of his failure, there was a flicker of unwillingness in his eyes.
This only meant Malcom didn’t truly want to abandon the restaurant or its legacy. It was just that he could no longer see hope. The odds and relentless pressure had worn him down to the point where giving up seemed like the only option.
With this realization, Ashton continued to persuade Malcom. “Why not try one more time, then? You’ve persevered in running this restaurant for many years and failed countless times. Does one more failure still matter?”
Malcom smiled bitterly again. “I thought so too. I’ve been trying to recreate my father’s signature dish, hoping to revive our family’s flagging business. That hope was the reason I’ve persevered in running the restaurant for years. But as you saw, Morris effortlessly recreated the dish I have worked on for years. It was an eye-opener for me. My efforts are insignificant compared to others’ talents. Moreover, the Crawford family has many talents. They have Morris, a Michelin-starred chef. Then, they also poached three of my top chefs and several top celebrity chefs in Staville. We simply can’t beat them. So, I don’t want to waste any more time on this restaurant. I’m not young anymore. It’s time for me to give up.”
𝘼𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠: gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⸰𝙘𝙤𝙢
Ashton finally pieced everything together. Morris’ recreation of the restaurant’s signature dish was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
If this was the case, Ashton absolutely knew how to deal with it.
He looked at Malcom with a confident smile and said, “So, this is all about that dish? If I can recreate it too, will it prove my skills and restore your confidence?”
As he gazed at Ashton, whose confidence remained unshaken, a flicker of hope sparked within Malcom.
But just as quickly, the light dimmed again in his eyes. He sighed deeply and murmured, “That dish isn’t something you can easily replicate. You’ve tasted it yourself just now—the flavors of the seven types of meat are as distinct as the colors in a painter’s palette. To blend them so perfectly is no simple feat. I’ve been at it for nearly three years, and even a prodigy like Morris spent months in research just to recreate it today. How could you possibly figure it out in just a few days?”
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