Who gave this heretical practitioner permission to cook?

Chapter 186 If you want to hitch a ride, you need to prove your worth. Give me a photo of "Xia Yitian"... (5K First Update)
Looking at Qiao Ruoning across from him, who no longer had braids but instead had long, straight hair, he noticed she was wearing her hair down.

Xia Ming raised an eyebrow slightly.

He didn't sense any subtle probing in Qiao Ruoning's tone, unlike Qian Yourong's.

Instead, I sensed a certain excitement, akin to welcoming a challenge.

Xia Ming always felt that the meaning she was trying to convey was different from what most people would understand from the literal meaning of her words.

After a moment's thought, he slowly spoke.

"So, you're not going to be a chef anymore?"

A hint of helplessness flashed in Qiao Ruoning's eyes.

"What are you talking about? There's a bunch of freaks in front of you, each one with extraordinary talent, making it really frustrating for an ordinary person like me!"

"Then why did you become a manager? I remember you have a lot of family wealth waiting to be inherited~"

"That's not how you say it. It's as if becoming an agent means someone else will inherit my fortune."

Qiao Ruoning propped her head up with her right hand, then flicked the straw of her coffee with her left, looking casual and relaxed.

Xia Ming silently ruled out several options in his mind before continuing to speak.

"But this transformation is too fast; everything needs a reason, right?"

"Judging from your current state, you probably wouldn't say something like, 'I became your manager so I could stay by my side and protect me,' right?"

Qiao Ruoning's smile widened after hearing Xia Ming's words.

"I thought you would be more confident in your appearance and abilities."

Xia Ming gave a soft snort.

"Alright, stop beating around the bush and tell me the specific reasons."

Qiao Ruoning nodded in agreement as she looked at Xia Ming.

This wasn't the first time she had dealt with Xia Ming. She had sensed long ago that Xia Ming was very wary of people who approached him unannounced.

He maintained a clear psychological distance from both men and women, seniors and peers.

After investigating Xia Ming, Qiao Ruoning concluded that it was due to a "lack of trust" stemming from his family of origin.

Faced with this situation, she had no intention of acting as Xia Ming's emotional savior, but instead maintained normal communication as a friend.

In other words, these actions are mostly driven by the exchange of benefits.

It's obvious that Xia Ming is well-suited to this model, and coincidentally, so is Qiao Ruoning.
She doesn't like dealing with "stupid people" or "arrogant people," and prefers to find a smart partner.

"The reason is simple. For the culinary world, losing me would at most mean losing a 'Level 3 Chinese Chef,' or at most a 'Level 4 Chinese Chef.' There are plenty of chefs like me, if not a lot, but there are definitely many among executive chefs."

"I am indeed young. If I can persevere for a few more years, H5 might be within reach."

“But I am different from many people as an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage.”

"I will eventually go back to inherit the family business. I may feel free now, but it's just not the right time yet."

At this point, Qiao Ruoning showed a very relaxed expression.

"30 years old? 32 years old? When I was in my 30s, my dad was probably almost 60."

"Let's push it a little further. Assuming I officially inherit the family business at age 35, I'll only have 12 years left."

"And there's a high probability I'll need another 1-2 years to adjust."

"So all in all, I only have 10 years to live a carefree life. Under these circumstances, it would be too boring to spend more than half of my time trying to get a Level 5 Chinese proficiency certificate."

"Life is so wonderful, why waste so much of your youth on things where you have no talent?"

"If I had to pick hobbies, I'd prefer 'card collecting,' 'gacha pulls,' and 'character development' to cooking."

"And why does one have to be a chef to achieve this kind of satisfaction?"

Xia Ming glanced at Qiao Ruoning silently.

"So, you mean you're planning to use me as part of your 'raising play'?"

Qiao Ruoning waved her hand repeatedly upon hearing Xia Ming's words.

"Don't be so sharp. Looking at it from another angle, doesn't 'the feeling of having supportive teammates as they grow' sound much better?"

“You are different from ordinary people like me. You were born to be a chef.”

"Watching you climb higher and higher from below the stage is more exciting and clearer than watching from the side of the stage."

"Even setting aside the emotional fulfillment involved, my choice to become a 'celebrity chef agent' is inherently advantageous."

At this point, Qiao Ruoning paused, took a sip of her coffee, and then continued.

"Due to the domestic training system, chefs, a profession that requires a lot of basic skills practice, are often trained from a young age."

Even in culinary schools, the latest age for students is around 15 years old (high school students), and if you're a little later, let's say you're 18.

“These new chefs have chosen Chinese cuisine, which means they will devote a lot of energy to this area.”

"But the most crucial skill for chef agents, 'law,' is also an industry that requires a significant investment of time and energy."

"Many people fail the bar exam, and they can read a contract several times but still not see the loopholes in the hidden wording."

"Finding someone who understands both law and cooking is not easy."

"Not to mention, this person also needs to have some practical experience, connections in variety shows, or other strengths."

"Therefore, in the 'agent' industry, apart from a very few exceptional individuals, most others gradually acquire their skills through hard work and self-improvement."

"First, you need to build connections, acquire legal knowledge and language skills, then choose a good partner, and gradually improve your culinary skills."

"Or turn it upside down."

"Both will face a 'growth period,' which is why you won't find such people in brokerage firms."

"Because there are very few young agents like this. Even if there are, most of them come from wealthy families and their hobbies outweigh their work."

"As for the older ones, if they have been in this industry for several years and are unemployed, they still can't find another job and have to go back to the agency to get work."

"Then I think their professionalism might be questionable."

At this point, Qiao Ruoning took a tissue and wiped the coffee that had accidentally gotten stuck to her hand.

"As for those who are very old, in their 40s, they are even less likely to be chosen."

"They may have already worked with many excellent chefs, and their personal habits are already ingrained. Not only will it be difficult to get along with them, but their tempers may not be very good either."

"The generation gap can be terrifying. You wouldn't want to be cast on a variety show you don't like one day, would you?"

Hearing Qiao Ruoning's series of analyses, Xia Ming raised his eyebrows slightly.

"And what about you? Can you guarantee your professional competence?"

Qiao Ruoning didn't say much, and directly took out a bunch of certificates from the bag next to her.

"Coincidentally, because I was going to inherit the family business, I graduated with a double degree in 'Finance' and 'Law,' and my family had invested in several local TV variety shows, so we had some connections."

"In terms of languages, I am fluent in four languages, which basically cover most parts of the world."

"As for cooking skills, I personally think it's top-notch, like the 'Hua 3'."

"But if we only talk about information gathering, food processing, and the ability to identify less common ingredients, I think you would find it hard to find someone in all of China who is my age but better than me in these areas."

Xia Ming narrowed his eyes slightly upon seeing the certificate tossed on the table.

In some respects, Qiao Ruoning did perfectly meet his requirements, but she was not without her problems.

“You are excellent and have put a lot of effort into this, but how can I guarantee that you will be stable enough in the short term, and that you won’t switch jobs or disappear inexplicably.”

"After all, you have so many options; you don't necessarily have to become a 'celebrity chef agent'!"

Qiao Ruoning nodded.

"That's right, I admire your straightforward attitude!"

"Indeed, I can't be an 'agent' for life, not even for 7 or 8 years, but you don't necessarily need an agent for life either."

"When you've gone far enough down the culinary path, all doors will open for you. At that point, instead of thinking about agents, you'll be more efficient by hiring a legal team."

"As for the short-term stability issue you mentioned, I can accept that a fixed cooperation period must be specified in the contract."

"In this way, you will receive the maximum protection under the law during the fixed contract period."

Xia Ming pondered for a while.

“The terms are very generous, and at least for now it seems I have no reason to refuse, but it still doesn’t sway me.” “Because you are getting too little. The essence of transactions and cooperation is exchange. In this situation, a relationship that is too unbalanced cannot go far.”

"You need to have enough motivation to explain all of the above behaviors."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Ruoning was not angry but pleased.

"Actually, the motivation is quite easy to explain!"

"First of all, your current ability is at the 'Hua 7 level,' which is a genius among geniuses. It is a sure thing that you will ascend to the throne of the God of Cookery."

"If you can become a master chef within 5 years, then I will be the agent of the chef I have worked with since my debut. Others may not be able to catch up with my efforts in these few years in a lifetime."

"That way, I can reach the top of the agent's pyramid much faster than being a chef."

"Furthermore, if you choose the path of a celebrity chef, you'll definitely be appearing on many variety shows and competitions, which will involve compiling a lot of information about people, and that's exactly my favorite part: the 'card collecting' stage."

"Even if I stop being an agent in the future, this information in my hand will be enough for me to connect with these chefs."

“My family makes vinegar! Putting aside the varieties sold on the market, we’ll have to get into high-end products sooner or later. Doesn’t this pave the way for our family’s industrial upgrading in advance?”

"Then, I followed you to various competitions, where I saw many interesting things and witnessed your path to godhood step by step."

"If we're going to work together like this, even if we don't have a deep-rooted relationship, you should at least give me some face!"

"If I need your help in the future, or if you need to be a spokesperson for a product, you should at least consider it."

"When I get older, I can do what 'Watson' did and write a book called 'Xia Ming's Memoir of Growing Up as a Culinary Master,' which I think would have some market."

As Qiao Ruoning spoke, she smiled and revealed her little tiger teeth.

"Not to mention, I can gather your embarrassing photos, everyday pictures, and hobby pictures from all around you."

"Although I am not interested in most of it, it just so happens that my longtime friend is extremely interested in this information."

"Coincidentally, she can also help us gather some more confidential information, giving us a head start."

"To you, I was just sharing a little bit of my personal life with her, so you shouldn't mind."

"As for how to prove her ability..."

"You should have realized that I was able to call you so early and clearly state your agent requirements."

Xia Ming lowered his eyes slightly.

That's right, since he didn't explicitly tell Qiao Ruoning that he was going to "Cooking Intent", she probably didn't know about it.

But the fact that he was able to call and clearly explain his requirements proves that Qiao Ruoning has unique sources of information.

His first thought was that his phone had been tampered with.

But upon closer reflection, even if Qiao Ruoning and the others had actually done it, there was no need to tell him in person, lest it only add to his resentment.

Seeing Xia Ming's expression, Qiao Ruoning smiled as well.

"We know what you're thinking. Don't worry, we're respectable people. Your phone hasn't been tampered with in any way, and the information came from somewhere else."

"Speaking of which, during the 'New Chef Competition,' 'Cloud Guest' tried to bypass the defenses multiple times, and we even clashed with them once, partly for your sake."

"By the way, you might not know this, but 'Cloud Traveler' is an overseas gambling organization that mainly uses betting platforms to help various overseas organizations amass wealth and launder money. It's said that they have deep connections with overseas gangs."

"They had previously posted a 'bounty' for you on a special platform for 'cleaners,' 'gatekeepers,' and 'outsiders'—those who do the dirty work—which was probably the time you encountered them at the hotel."

"Although internal information is unavailable, through some uncanny means, we learned that the two so-called cleaning staff who knocked on your door were indeed 'street cleaners.'"

"Speaking of which, your victory cost 'Cloud Guest' a considerable sum."

"I heard that if Han Tianyan hadn't made those reckless moves and caused his multiplier to plummet, 'Cloud Guest' would have recovered a lot of health."

"The amount of money you made them pay is enough to kill that person in charge eight hundred times over."

Qiao Ruoning didn't like dealing with these guys, but due to her obsessive-compulsive disorder about collecting cards, she also enjoyed summarizing their information.

From multiple perspectives, the members of "Yun Jian Ke" all use masks as code names, and the specific identities of many of their members remain questionable.

It's quite possible that behind the masks they are the deputies of some overseas official, or they could be renowned chefs, or even undercover agents from our country.

After all, "Yunjianke's" business is not limited to chefs; it also includes sports, various financial services, and many other areas.

They have caused many families to be destroyed and people to die, and the authorities have always wanted to eliminate them.

"Alright, putting aside those annoying organizations, there are more hidden benefits to choosing me."

"For example, I can assign someone to take care of the Eight Treasures Pig when you go on a long trip or record a variety show."

"For example, I can help you accurately solve your accommodation and food needs in most countries."

"Or, I can step in and fend off a lot of women you don't like. Don't let my appearance fool you, I can be quite intimidating when I dress up."

"As for myself, you can rest assured."

"If I'm really interested in you, I'll be open and honest with you. After all, beating around the bush with smart people is too troublesome and affects my efficiency in gathering information."

"So, Xia Ming, have you considered my proposal?"

"Can I, Qiao Ruoning, hitch a ride on your fast train and get a ticket to becoming a top chef agent?"

Xia Ming went through all of Qiao Ruoning's motives in his mind, and finally, his gaze fell on the coffee in front of Qiao Ruoning.

"I admit that in a short period of time, it will be difficult for me to find someone who meets all my previous requirements and whom I can trust to some extent."

"From this perspective, your timing was indeed perfect."

"Getting this ticket from me won't be easy."

"But if you can help me solve a few things and prove your abilities, then I naturally have no reason to refuse."

Qiao Ruoning shook her head slightly after hearing Xia Ming's words.

"You're the kind of person who never takes a loss but always wants all the benefits. You're already asking me to do things for you before you've even agreed to anything!"

"Fine, since you dominated the 'New Chef Competition,' consider it an early investment! What's up?"

Xia Ming was silent for a moment, then brought up the first thing.

"First, you need to investigate the talent agency 'Chef's Wish' for me. I need to know if its owner, or any of the other companies it operates in, has a rich, red-haired woman with a large bust."

"By the way, check if this rich woman is currently in the country. You should have three hours to find out!"

Qiao Ruoning chuckled softly.

"You may have misunderstood my information processing ability. Order some coffee and sit here for a while. I'll tell you the result in half an hour."

Seeing Qiao Ruoning's confident demeanor, Xia Ming naturally felt at ease staying aside and waiting.

Ten minutes later, Qiao Ruoning sent a PDF file to Xia Ming.

"The person you're looking for is quite simple; it really didn't take much effort."

Seeing this, Xia Ming also opened the information.

On the homepage, there was a picture of Wen Zhixia. At a glance, Xia Ming matched her with the red-haired woman he had seen in Xia Minhui's video.

Subsequent information revealed that Wen Zhixia is indeed the owner of "Chef's Intent".

Of course, she also owns other businesses.
"Still single, with many suitors; this cheap master chef is a pro at hooking up with rich women~"

Just as he was smiling and continuing to scroll down, suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly.

Because in Wen Zhixia's past information, he clearly saw a note.

[He served as the agent for Xia Yitian, a star chef in China, for 8 years, and competed with him in numerous domestic and international competitions.]

Upon seeing the name "Xia Yitian," Xia Ming recalled the question Qiao Ruoning had asked him when they first met.

And then I thought of what Wang Qingrui had said earlier.
There are many, many more fragmented pieces of information related to Xia Yitian, in the end.
He recalled something Wen Zhixia had casually said in the car.

[One day. We'll head to our next stop after one more day~]

After a moment of contemplation, Xia Ming smiled.

"interesting!"

"Qiao Ruoning, you did a great job. Now I have the second thing to say."

"I need you to give me detailed information about Xia Yitian, including but not limited to his teachers, his place of origin, and most importantly..."

"I need as many of his photos as possible."

(End of this chapter)