The Gourmet Customizer

Jiang Wensheng said this without batting an eye.

’After all... that’s my own restaurant. I’m not about to admit you cook better than I do!’

Su Chen, on the other hand, felt a bit disappointed. If S Level was only on par with a typical Huaiyang Cuisine restaurant, it meant the culinary tradition was truly full of hidden masters.

’If I get the chance, I’ll have to go to Yangzhou and try it for myself.’

"Thank you for your assessment."

Since he couldn’t get any useful information out of the old gentleman, Su Chen prepared to end the dull conversation.

Jiang Wensheng pondered for a moment, then the words he’d been rehearsing in his mind came tumbling out. "Brother Xiaosu, I won’t lie to you, the Huaiyang dishes you made today were truly stunning. I was thinking... would you be interested in working down south?"

Su Chen: ???

"Of course, I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse. How does twenty-five thousand a month sound?"

’Thirty thousand was his bottom line; he was leaving five thousand as a buffer for negotiation.’

Huh?

At first, Su Chen didn’t quite grasp the part about "working down south." Now he understood—the man was trying to poach him!

’How do you try to poach someone and end up going after the boss himself?’

Stifling a laugh, Su Chen touched his forehead. "Well, sir, in that case, I won’t hide it from you either. Ahem... I’m the owner of this company."

Jiang Wensheng: (ΩДΩ)

WHAT!!!

The boss?

’Aren’t you a cook? How did you suddenly become the boss?’

’A boss who cooks personally?’

Of course, as a boss himself, Jiang Wensheng would cook on occasion, but only under very special circumstances, like when an esteemed guest was visiting.

Normally, the head chef and his team would handle it.

’But what was this? Why would the boss be cooking himself? With skills like these, why run a company? Why not just open a restaurant?’

’My mistake!’

Jiang Wensheng was left both shocked and embarrassed by Su Chen’s revelation. "Er! Brother Xiaosu, you’re quite an interesting fellow. Well, since that’s the case, I won’t say any more."

’Poaching an employee is one thing, but poaching an entire company is another.’

"I’ll take my leave for now, then. If I get the chance over the next few days, I’ll definitely be back to learn a thing or two from Boss Su."

Su Chen stood up and shook hands with Jiang Wensheng. "You’re always welcome."

As they saw Jiang Wensheng out, Brother Fang Chang noticed the inscrutable expression on his future father-in-law’s face and shot Su Chen a look.

’What did you two talk about?’

Su Chen blinked back. ’Your future father-in-law tried to poach me!’

’Brother Fang Chang saw Boss Su winking and gesturing. Wasn’t he just trying to put my mind at ease?’

’He must have put in a good word for me!’

’As expected of Boss Su! This is a pure value-added service. This dinner was more than worth it!’

"Uncle, I’ve booked a hotel for you in the city. You and Auntie can go home for a cup of tea first, and I’ll take you there later."

Jiang Wensheng looked at the young man. ’A moment ago, he’d seemed quite sensible. How come the more I looked at him now, the less I liked him?’

’What on earth does my daughter see in him?’

’If he were a talent like Boss Su, that would be a different story.’ In a fit of frustration, Jiang Wensheng blurted out, "You should learn a thing or two from Boss Su! If you had his skills, would I have to worry about Yuanyuan not eating well?"

Brother Fang Chang: ???

"The day you can make a Lion’s Head meatball like that is the day this old man won’t ask you for a single penny of the bride price!"

With that, a sullen Jiang Wensheng stormed off in the direction he’d come from.

He left Brother Fang Chang’s family, along with Yuan Suzhen and Jiang Yuan, completely baffled.

’Where in the world did that come from?’

’How did the topic suddenly jump to the bride price?’

"Don’t listen to your uncle’s nonsense. Let’s go." Yuan Suzhen said, trying to smooth things over. She urged the others to leave quickly. ’My husband has been far too embarrassing today.’

’He started making a fool of himself during dinner, with none of the dignity a major restaurant owner should have. And now he’s still at it! We’re marrying off our daughter, not selling her. What would Fang Chang’s father think if he heard that?’

Watching the two families depart, Su Chen asked thoughtfully, "Aunt Fang, how much is the bride price here in Jingzhou?"

Aunt Fang loved to chat about this topic. "Generally speaking, around eighty-eight thousand is about right."

Oh...

Su Chen counted on his fingers. ’It’s not that much... but I don’t have it. Guess I’ll just stay single!’

The meal went by quickly. By the time the private room and kitchen were cleaned up, it was barely eight o’clock—just the end of their shift.

Everyone else packed their things to head home. Liu Ahbao, who no longer stayed at a hotel and had moved into the second floor, remained behind.

"Boss, I have a suggestion."

"Let’s hear it."

Ah Bao said, "The Braised Pork with Vegetables and the Flash-fried Pork could definitely be added to the second-floor menu. The Stir-fried Chicken is delicious, but the people from the building across the street always come in groups of three. For one thing, one serving of chicken isn’t quite enough for three people. For another, more dishes would give people more options."

Su Chen thought that made a lot of sense.

’The ingredients for the Braised Pork with Vegetables aren’t expensive. Potatoes, cabbage, and vermicelli are cheap, and pork isn’t expensive right now either. The market price for tenderloin is about 15 yuan. Brother Fang Chang’s supply is a bit pricier, coming to about 18 yuan after my discount.’

"That’ll work. But it means you’ll have to get up early again tomorrow."

Far from being upset about having to wake up early, Ah Bao saluted excitedly. "No problem! I’ll get to bed extra early tonight!"

With that, he headed off toward his turf on the second floor, feeling delighted.

’Boss Su really treats me like one of his own! He teaches me whatever I want to learn, just like that. Once I master these two dishes, I’ll go back to E Province and really blow the old man’s mind!’

After all the commotion, things finally settled down.

Su Chen was getting ready to wash up for bed when another uninvited guest arrived at the door.