After seeing Shang Mingke’s social media post at the restaurant, Wang Peixing immediately leveraged his connections, sending the picture to numerous people to ask about its location.
He finally learned where it was from an old friend.
He then rushed over without a moment’s delay.
It wasn’t really a big deal whether he came or not. The problem was that a group of influential people had walked out without taking a single bite of the dishes he, a Master Chef, had personally prepared.
The incident was a thorn in Wang Peixing’s side. If he didn’t get to the bottom of it, he felt he wouldn’t have the confidence to cook those dishes ever again.
"Manager Wang?" Shang Mingke was surprised for only a moment before he realized what was happening. ’This must be the mess Su Chen caused when he used my phone to post online.’ "What brings you here?"
Wang Peixing glanced at the young man beside Shang Mingke, unsure if he was the honored guest from tonight. He turned his attention back to Shang Mingke. "You brought an honored guest to our establishment for a meal, and our hospitality was clearly lacking. As such, we should remake the entire meal as an apology. Here is the bill you signed; I’ve already voided it. I was wondering if President Shang might have some time today? I’ve kept the private room for you..."
As he spoke, Wang Peixing sized up the situation. He could see several people in the car holding paper bowls, noisily shoveling food into their mouths.
’It must be those fried dough knots from the woman under the overpass.’
’Are you kidding me? You won’t eat the Lu Cuisine made by me, a Master Chef, but you’ll run off to eat ten-yuan fried dough knots?’
’I don’t get it. In fact, I’m completely blown away!’
"It makes no difference to me," Shang Mingke said, turning his head. "Boss Su, what do you think?"
’Just as I thought!’
Wang Peixing’s heart skipped a beat. ’So this young man is President Shang’s guest.’
’The food being left untouched today definitely has something to do with him!’
"Me?" Su Chen propped his chin on his hand and gazed at the woman at the food stall. "Let’s just forget it. There was nothing wrong with the dishes, but none of them were worth a taste. Going back would be a waste of time. I’d rather have another serving of fried dough knots here."
Wang Peixing: ???
’Where did this kid come from? Such arrogance!’
Of course, he couldn’t say that out loud. He simply put on a smile in the dim light. "Boss Su? I wonder which of tonight’s dishes wasn’t to your liking. If you could offer a pointer or two, I would be most grateful!"
Wang Peixing still didn’t know who Su Chen was.
His words were respectful enough toward Shang Mingke, but they also put Su Chen on the spot.
’You say our food is no good? Fine, then spell out exactly what was wrong with it.’
’If you can’t, then you’re just talking nonsense, aren’t you?’
Su Chen continued to rest his chin on his hand, saying nothing. But then Shang Mingke chimed in with a rare, teasing tone, "Boss Su, why don’t you give him a pointer or two?"
The smile on his face made Su Chen very uncomfortable...
’This feels like a setup!’
Shang Mingke could have easily said something to get Su Chen off the hook, but he chose not to.
’If Boss Su can really offer a pointer or two...’
’...then won’t I be in for another treat?’
’Best-case scenario, he goes back to the restaurant to give his pointers, haha! I’ll send a video to Uncle Lu and make him drool with envy!’
Despite these thoughts, Shang Mingke’s expression remained calm. "I forgot to make the introductions. This is the general manager of Cuihua Building, Wang Peixing. If I’m not mistaken, several of the dishes Boss Su was served tonight were prepared by him personally."
Then, he turned and added, "And this is Su Chen, Boss Su. He’s the chairman of Jingzhou City’s Meiweilai Company."
’Meiweilai?’
’What’s that?’
Wang Peixing was curious. ’Could it be a time-honored brand from the Northwest? I suppose I’m just out of the loop!’
"Not long ago, a Steamed Wuchang Fish personally prepared by Boss Su was featured in the new Chu Cuisine cookbook compiled by Master Lu Yongliang. At the same time, Boss Su’s innovative Eight-Treasure Pumpkin Stuffed with Rice was also added to the list of signature dishes by the E Province Culinary Association."
This introduction from Shang Mingke instantly made the otherwise normal atmosphere feel... not so normal.
The expression on Wang Peixing’s face shifted rapidly. He hurriedly cupped his fists. "Ah! So that’s who you are! My sincerest apologies, Boss Su! I’ve been disrespectful!"
Shang Mingke hyped him up with a perfectly straight face, but inwardly, he was laughing his head off.
’Let’s see you get out of this one!’
’That’s what you get for snatching my phone to post online!’
Su Chen lowered his arm and looked at Old Shang with a rather baffled expression.
’This move doesn’t seem like Old Shang at all... If he had just kept quiet, the whole thing would’ve been over. Now that he’s said all this, hasn’t he just made things more complicated?’
’And when the hell did I become so amazing? Why am I the last one to know about it?’
’I’m just the owner of a company on the brink of bankruptcy, aren’t I?’
’"Chairman" this, "chairman" that... you’re the one who’s acting out of line!’
"You’re the head chef of a time-honored establishment, and I’m just a customer who was passing through. It’s not my place to offer critiques; the dishes simply weren’t to my personal taste," Su Chen said with a smile, resisting the urge to beat Shang Mingke to a pulp.
Just as Su Chen expected, he had barely finished speaking when, before Manager Wang could even make a peep, Shang Mingke started stirring the pot again.
"Boss Su, Manager Wang came all this way, showing his sincerity. And besides, we haven’t had a proper dinner tonight. How about this? Do me a small favor. Let’s go back to Cuihua Building and have something else to eat. We can just treat it as a casual bite..."
Shang Mingke’s argument was unassailable. It was a classic case of having an ulterior motive.
Wang Peixing chimed in, "That’s right, Boss Su. Your presence and guidance would be a great honor for our humble establishment. You simply must come!"
Su Chen sighed. "Old Shang, that’s enough..." Then he added, "Alright, fine. But it’s getting late. We shouldn’t keep Manager Wang from closing up."
"No trouble, no trouble at all!" Wang Peixing immediately waved his hand, motioning for his driver to bring the car around.
Just then, the woman at the stall finished cooking two more portions. "Sir, your fried dough knots are ready."