I Got the Almighty Tongue - Chapter 192



Only Noblemtl

192 Showtime (2)

The old exterior walls that looked like they hadn’t been repaired for decades, and the rusty barbed wire surrounding the school.

It was an ordinary scenery, but today there was something different from usual.

Local gangs that could be seen just outside the school gate have disappeared, and dozens of police cars are patrolling here and there with their lights on.

Traffic on nearby major roads has been blocked off, and not only large numbers of police officers but also special agents in black suits have been mobilized to keep a close watch in all directions.

Passersby flock to the area, wondering if a pop star has arrived.

Catherine, the principal, stood in front of the school gate with a blank expression.

How did things end up like this?

He simply approved a food tasting event for a catering company.

The event, which was said to have a capacity of 100 people, soon had over a thousand people waiting in a long line to get in.

And at the entrance, special agents check invitations and IDs. After that, you have to go through a metal detector to enter the venue.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo.

A helicopter passes over Catherine’s head.

All of these were things she had never experienced in her life.

“Mr. Smith! What the hell is going on?”

Catherine asks Quinton next to her.

“Hahaha. I didn’t know that our president would invite the First Lady to the event. Wouldn’t that be a good thing for Harper High School? It might even make the news.”

Quinton points to the broadcast vehicle and reporters on one side.

“I can’t cancel it now, so I guess I can only pray that the event ends without any problems.”

Catherine sighs and says.

“Don’t worry, we are fully prepared.”

As the two men talk, sirens blare and police officers on motorcycles appear, followed by a black Cadillac limousine gliding into the venue.

Security guards gather in groups of three or four, surrounding the vehicle tightly. Finally, the door opens and the First Lady, dressed in a blue one-piece dress, gets out of the car.

Click.

Click.

Flashes go off everywhere and reporters start taking pictures.

Michelle smiles briefly and poses for them. Then, she enters the venue escorted by Chef Shin Je-hee, who had arrived earlier.

“It has to be perfect.”

The two also follow her into the venue.

* * *

The cafeteria at Harper High School was packed with people, making it nearly impossible to move.

“Are you okay?”

Jehee asks if he is worried after seeing Quinton’s stern face.

“It’s the best. If you can’t even take advantage of all the help you’ve given me, then you’re not qualified to run a company.”

Quinton has made presentations to ministers and deputy ministers on several occasions. It will be no different when the First Lady comes.

“Remember the face.

From the First Lady’s right, the Under Secretary of Agriculture, the Assistant Secretary for Food Safety Policy, members of the House Education Committee, and the Under Secretary for Education. To her left are the heads of major food companies.

But you know what? We don’t have to worry about it. We don’t have their support anyway.”

Quinton gives a cool smile at Jehee’s words.

The target they had to attack today was not a VIP.

The event began with Catherine’s opening remarks.

Before we knew it, the tasting event had changed its name and a banner hung with the fancy title, “Healthy School Lunch Offerings for America’s Kids.”

The lights go out, a PPT screen appears on the screen, and Quinton walks out onto the hastily constructed platform.

“Hello, I’m Quinton Smith. I’m also the CEO of Dosirak, the company hosting today’s event. The event we originally planned was a very small tasting event for about 200 people.

However, we are very grateful to the many distinguished guests who attended and to the great interest we have received.

Quinton looks around.

“I know that the First Lady is putting a lot of effort into the children’s diet. I would like to take this opportunity to express my respect.

“We have government officials and food industry leaders here. Thanks to you, America is able to sell the highest-grossing school lunch in the world. You are a great example of a capitalist country.”

At first, the audience, who had been applauding, sensed a strange atmosphere.

“Take a good picture. It looks like an accident is going to happen.”

A reporter whispers to the cameraman.

As Quinton nods, the employee brings up the PPT.

“The table you see shows the annual per capita food budgets of major countries around the world.

Why is the United States, with its overwhelming economic scale, feeding its children with a budget that is only half that of France or Germany?

Those countries are the advanced countries of Europe? Let’s say that’s true, even though the US is far ahead in terms of not only economic size but also national income.

“So what about this country?”

The PPT changes. Korea’s per capita school meal budget and the abundant school meals are displayed on the screen.

“We are stingier with our children than the small Asian countries across the ocean. It’s shocking when you take into account the cost of living and wages.

Oh! Of course I know. This is the realm of politics. We can’t change this. And we have to feed our children with this limited budget. So what do we do?”

The PPT changes again.

[Sad processed Chemical filled State (Depressing processed food full of artificial ingredients)]

“American meal plans are strict: no more than a certain number of calories, vegetables and dairy products must be included in the meal plan, and sugar and sodium must be limited. And companies have created menus that perfectly meet these regulations.”

The screen changes. There is a single slice of cheese pizza sitting on a plate.

“Pizza has tomato sauce. It’s mostly corn syrup, preservatives, sugar, and salt, but it doesn’t have tomatoes. Cheese is a dairy product. It’s artificial, but it definitely has milk in it.

Are you concerned about your children’s health?

Don’t worry. The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) certify the safety of this food.”

Michelle’s facial muscles twitch. She looks as if she is having a hard time holding back a smile. On the other hand, the faces of the government officials and corporate executives sitting on either side of her turn cold.

“Oh! There’s another problem. Calories! If you eat like this, you’ll gain weight. But don’t worry.”

The screen changes and the cheese pizza is cut in half.

“Reducing the portion size makes it neat and tidy. The cute pizza fits perfectly into children’s small hands.”

Hahahaha.

Reporters and parents burst into laughter.

The screen changes again.

[Children are our future.]

“It’s probably a slogan you see often. But if children are truly our future, the government and businesses need to take a more responsible stance. It’s not the children’s fault that we have the highest rates of childhood obesity and childhood adult diseases in the world. It’s our responsibility.”

The atmosphere in the room becomes solemn at Quinton’s words.

“So what do you want to do?”

Someone in the audience shouts loudly.

“Give him the mic.”

The staff nods at Quinton’s words. An older gentleman stands up and grabs the microphone.

“Anyone can say that. Who doesn’t know that there’s something wrong with American school lunches?

The problem is the solution. We can’t change the policy, we can’t increase the budget, and of course we can’t solve the corporate interests. So what is the purpose of today’s event?”

Quinton nods to his question, which seems to be from a parent.

“Thank you for asking. I also do not like chanting without a plan.”

As Quinton finishes speaking, the screen changes.

On the screen, colorful, healthy vegetables and meats are floating. Then, with an animation effect, the ingredients are mixed together to form a meal.

The plate was neatly arranged with delicious sandwiches, soups, pilafs, salads, bibimbap, soups, lasagna, and more.

Then a sound effect plays and a stamp appears on the screen.

[NO PROCESSED FOOD]

[NO CHEMICALS]

The audience stares blankly at the screen.

[Farm to Table, Nature made School Lunch provided by top chefs.]

A photo of Chef Shin Je-hee cooking is uploaded, and a catchphrase is written one letter at a time in fancy calligraphy.

“We really thought about it a lot.

Children who are accustomed to processed foods and have a very small budget and refuse to eat vegetables.

Do we even have a future?

Here is the answer to this question from Chef Shin Je-hee, the representative of Dosirak. “If there is no future for the current school lunch system, I will make it myself.”

Quinton looks around the quiet room. Then, a chairman sitting to the First Lady’s left raises his hand and asks for the microphone.

“It was such a great presentation that our company wanted to scout him. It was a really good scam.”

He continues speaking with a bitter smile.

“So how much does it cost? No matter how much I looked at the pamphlet, there was no price listed. If it was sold for $8 or $10, anyone could make that kind of food.

Almost every school in America is chronically in deficit. If we pay for that meal, they will go bankrupt. Low-income children will lose the benefits they have. Is this the future you want?”

Several of the guests who were uncomfortable with his words nodded in agreement with his words.

“That’s right. We tried and tried, but we ended up going over budget.”

“Huh! Of course. It’s all meaningless.”

Parents sigh, unable to hide their disappointment.

“I’m embarrassed to say that it’s over 60 cents, everyone.”

Male.

Audience members check with their neighbors to make sure they haven’t misheard.

“what?”

“Our meal price is three dollars and sixty cents.”

“Impossible! Even if you do a rough calculation, it’s impossible to have a menu like that for less than $6.”

Quinton smiles slyly at his shout.

“No, it is possible. We get all the ingredients directly from the farm and distribute them. For this, we had to set up a distribution company.

“We decided to take over the factory and produce the bread ourselves. We hired chefs who had retired and were out of work. And after deducting the minimum operating costs, we came up with this price.”

The First Lady, who had been quietly watching from the beginning of the event, raises her hand and asks for the microphone. The staff quickly grabs the microphone and runs to her.

“Today was definitely a tasting event, right? Mr.… .”

“This is Smith.”

“Mr. Smith.”

“Of course.”

“Can we continue the rest of our discussion after you’ve tasted the food?”

“That’s a wise decision.”

As Quinton nods, the kitchen staff comes in with trays of food.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on one place.