Chapter 305: Chapter 194: Sister Jing, Acting Like This Will Get You Called a Capitalist! A Dish Suitable for the Finals! [Seeking Monthly Ticket]
"Sister Wenjing, I’ve found another helper..."
The call connected quickly, and Lin Xu recounted to Dou Wenjing the entire story of Zhuang Yizhou wanting to jump ship to Lin Ji.
After listening attentively, Dou Wenjing asked, "He said he wants to leverage your popularity to do live streaming, is that right?"
"Right!"
"Okay, here’s the plan. Send him my WeChat business card so he can add me. I’ll discuss it with General Manager Chen and then talk with him about the specific details of his compensation. Is General Manager Chen at your place?"
Lin Xu glanced at his older sister-in-law in the private room, who was fighting with Shen Baobao over the orange steamed custard, and said with a smile, "Yeah, she’s right here, competing with Yueyue over the food."
He only realized something after hanging up the phone.
Why would Sister Wenjing need to coordinate with my older sister-in-law about hiring a chef for the restaurant?
Could it be that they’re going to have Zhuang Yizhou sign with both sides?
If that’s the case, wouldn’t Zhuang Yizhou be exploited both coming and going?
He took his mobile phone and entered the private room.
His senior fellow apprentice, Xie Baomin, was introducing Lin Hongqi and his father-in-law, Shen Guofu, to Building Number One’s signature dish—Braised Petite Fragrant Pig, "These are free-range Tibetan fragrant pigs. The meat is tender and has less of a gamey taste than typical pork. It also carries a slight, fresh sweetness, much better than any Black Mountain pig or similar varieties."
"Is that right?"
Shen Guofu picked up a piece of Pork Trotter, placed it in his bowl, and said with a smile, "This Pork Trotter isn’t much bigger than the Chicken Feet that Xiao Xu makes."
He tasted it and then immediately said to Lin Hongqi, "Oh, this really is good! Old Brother Lin, you must try some; it’s delicious."
Lin Hongqi tried it.
He thought the pork was indeed tasty. It was much more tender than usual pork and quite flavorful.
Lin Xu sat down and started eating a bowl of rice.
While he was eating, He Baoqing came to the private room carrying a dish covered with a lid, "I didn’t realize Master Lin’s elders were here. My apologies. I just made a dish of stir-fried fragrant pork chops in the kitchen. Please, esteemed guests, have a taste."
Xie Baomin quickly introduced him, "Mr. Lin, Mr. Shen, this is Executive Chef He Baoqing from Building Number One, a good friend of mine."
Hearing that the Executive Chef from Building Number One had personally delivered the dish, Shen Guofu and Lin Hongqi quickly filled their glasses and toasted He Baoqing. Such executive chefs are influential figures in the culinary world and could become an important network and support for Lin Xu in the future. As Lin Xu’s elders, they had to show adequate respect.
He Baoqing shared a drink with them, returned a toast, and then excused himself from the private room.
Well, it’s a family meal. As an outsider, I should leave when it’s time.
After He Baoqing left, Xie Baomin brought up the matter of tomorrow’s engagement party.
"I’ve scheduled it in Building Number Ten. There’s a gigantic table there. They say it can seat fifty-six people, but if we squeeze a bit, it could fit seventy."
Upon hearing about such a large table, Shen Guofu, who always favored grandiosity, immediately agreed, "Good, let’s book that table. Tomorrow, all our relatives and friends will sit together. It’ll be a great symbol of unity and celebration."
Xie Baomin took a bite of the stir-fried fragrant pork chop and continued, "Regarding the dishes, Building Number One just received a Giant Grouper this morning; that will be our main course. Additionally, Building Number Ten will also serve some of its specialty dishes."
Once Shen Guofu heard ’Giant Grouper,’ he became excited and said, "Okay, let’s have the Giant Grouper! I haven’t had it in two years and have been longing for it. Chef Xie, although we’re practically family, business is business. Tell us the cost."
Xie Baomin quickly waved his hand and said, "This morning, my master transferred several hundred thousand to me to take care of this. He’s covering all expenses for the food and drinks at the engagement party, and I’m not even allowed to get involved."
This...
Lin Hongqi and Shen Guofu looked at each other.
Our two families are holding an engagement, and your master is paying for it? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?
Lin Xu picked up his phone and sent a message to his master, "Thank you, Master!"
His master quickly replied, "What’s there to thank me for? Win the championship this afternoon; that will be the best way to thank me."
"Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get it!"
For today’s competition, my parents traveled thousands of miles to be here, my parents-in-law specially took time off, Shen Baobao hasn’t left my side, my senior apprentice has been bustling about, and even my master, thousands of miles away, is thinking of me.
Under such circumstances, how could I not win the championship!
"I discovered that the meat from the pig’s rump is especially tasty—fatty but not greasy. Jiayue, try it; it’s really delicious!"
Geng Lele had also come along to the private room for the meal. She was currently eating a piece of meat from the fragrant pig’s hindquarters, marveling at its taste.
Lin Xu collected his thoughts and said with a smile, "That’s the Belly Meat from the pig. The fat isn’t greasy, and the lean meat isn’t tough. It’s perfect for making Fried Pork and Garlic Paste White Meat."
At the mention of these two dishes, Shen Jiayue’s interest was piqued, and she asked, "So, can you make them?"
Lin Xu grinned and said, "Soon. Once Wei Qian starts working at the restaurant, I’ll be able to learn."
Wei Qian excelled in making various pork dishes.
Lin Xu had already made his plans. In the future, for any dishes involving pork, he’d learn them from Wei Qian.
Everyone enjoyed their meal and chatted away.
Near the end of the meal, the front desk manager brought each person a small tureen of stewed Cubilose. Han Shuzhen was so delighted that she casually took Shen Guofu’s portion as well.
Lin Xu, who didn’t have much interest in such delicacies, passed his portion to his mother.
He didn’t particularly care whether it actually replenished collagen, but seeing his mother so happy after receiving it was enough for him.
「After the meal.」
Hearing Lin Hongqi mention he had never seen a Giant Grouper, Xie Baomin immediately offered to take him to Building Number One’s seafood area for a look.
Shen Guofu also wanted to see the size of this Giant Grouper, so the entire group decided to go along.
Just as they left the private room, Lin Xu ran into Zhuang Yizhou, who had finished his meal.