Lin Weiliang quickly put his idea into action, with a gentle smile on his face, he came to the food stand of Class (4).

He was now standing in front of a makeshift folding table by the stall, smiling as he watched Huang Tao make soup dumplings.

No doubt about it!

Watching the process of food being made up close is truly a visual feast...

He felt his eyes couldn’t keep up with Huang Tao’s hand speed!

Such speed...

is simply impressive!

Huang Tao, who was being observed, naturally recognized Lin Weiliang.

Huh~

Isn’t this the little chubby’s parent!

Why isn’t he busy at his own food stall and came over here?

Could it be... he’s attracted by his superb skills?

Huang Tao furrowed his brows in confusion, just about to ask, but the other party spoke first.

"Hello, are you the Boss Huang of the Delicious Restaurant?"

This person spoke politely, with an appropriate expression, showing a gentle demeanor.

"Yes!"

Huang Tao looked at this person’s expression, then nodded.

Lin Weiliang smiled and praised, "Boss Huang, you’re truly a talented young man!"

"Thank you!"

Huang Tao’s lips curled up imperceptibly, scoring the other person a ten for his discernment.

But to say the truth!

You especially came all the way, you probably didn’t just want to praise him, right?!

Huang Tao decided to ask personally, after all, it’s a bit embarrassing to suddenly hear someone praising you.

"Did you come to me for something?"

"Yes!"

Lin Weiliang cheerfully began to introduce himself: "Let me introduce myself, my last name is Lin, full name Lin Weiliang, I’m the head chef of Lin City Lan Mansion hotel. I wonder if Boss Huang could step out to talk, or we could sit here to discuss?"

The reason for such a friendly attitude towards Huang Tao is because he had just witnessed Huang Tao’s dough-handling skills firsthand, which gave him a new understanding of Huang Tao.

So he’s a fellow colleague!

Huang Tao smiled understandingly.

Initially, he thought the other party just wanted to get acquainted, but from the latter part of the conversation, it seemed like something important they wanted to discuss with him.

Could it be he wants to discuss collaboration?

Huang Tao gestured with his hand: "Then let’s sit and talk!"

After sitting down, Lin Weiliang directly spoke, "I don’t like to beat around the bush, I’ll just say it directly."

"Please." Huang Tao said.

Lin Weiliang said, "Here’s the thing, I just looked at the wontons and soup dumplings you made, you have solid basic skills in dough handling. I heard you’re also good at cooking, it’s a pity you don’t become a head chef at a big hotel."

Huang Tao raised an eyebrow.

He glanced at Lin Weiliang, said nothing, waiting for him to finish his words.

"Boss Huang, if you’re interested, come work with me and join our team."

Lin Weiliang didn’t pause, saying it all in one breath.

After hearing what the other party said, the look in Huang Tao’s eyes changed.

So he wasn’t here to talk about collaboration, but to poach me!

Although he found the man in front of him a bit too confident, from the other’s perspective, it seemed quite reasonable.

Besides, he could clearly feel...

The other person’s tone and gaze all showed appreciation for him.

Seeing Huang Tao sitting in place without moving, maintaining a serious expression without speaking, Lin Weiliang couldn’t help but speak again: "I don’t know what Boss Huang thinks?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Tao still replied politely: "Thank you for the kind offer, Head Chef Lin..."

Before he could finish, Lin Weiliang felt pleased in his heart, smiled, and was about to say ’you’re welcome’, but at this moment, Huang Tao continued, "But I refuse. I think my small restaurant is quite good."

"Cough cough cough..."

Lin Weiliang almost choked on the ’thank you’ he hadn’t said.

Huh?

Refused?

Lin Weiliang was a bit surprised.

It’s known that Lan Mansion is not only famous in Lin City, but also in the entire Zhejiang Province, and holds a place in the national catering industry with quite a reputation.

Moreover, he was a head chef who had worked at a three-star Michelin restaurant, personally extending an olive branch to Huang Tao.

And in the end, he was refused!

He was quite surprised and said, "Boss Huang, really not going to reconsider? Actually, for such an important matter, you don’t need to decide right away, is a week enough to think about it?"

Huang Tao shook his head resolutely, saying, "No need, I appreciate Head Chef Lin’s kindness, but I’m someone who likes to run my own store."

Lin Weiliang recalled the scale of Huang Tao’s small restaurant and smiled, saying, "If you’re worried about treatment, I can give you a hint, a monthly salary of sixty thousand, plus a certain share ratio. Of course, housing and transportation will all be fully covered by me."

Huang Tao chuckled silently, still shaking his head: "Thank you, but no need."

Ye Wen and the other parents beside him, their gazes turned somewhat odd and a bit unfriendly, with looks that seemed to say ’some people always have designs on our Boss Huang’.

A monthly salary of sixty thousand, just to poach Boss Huang...

Didn’t you do any research on the business of Boss Huang’s restaurant before coming here?

Frankly, Lin Weiliang hadn’t really looked into it.

Though there were many people queuing up to buy food at the restaurant entrance in the morning, the unit price for Sheng Jian Bao is low!

And in the afternoon, likely due to work, the number of buyers would be relatively fewer.

Based on his knowledge of small stores of this scale, if costs are subtracted, even if business is good, the income might only be around forty to fifty thousand per month!

So he felt the offer he gave wasn’t bad.

He even increased the salary specifically for keeping Huang Tao and included a share.

But still, he was refused.

"Ah! I won’t make things difficult then!"

Lin Weiliang sighed, handing over his business card: "Boss Huang, my number is on the business card, if you ever change your mind, you can call me."

"Alright."

Huang Tao received it with a calm expression, responding without even looking.

With a sense of regret, Lin Weiliang got up to leave, heading back to the food stand of Class (6) to continue with his work.

Meanwhile, Huang Tao continued making the remaining soup dumplings as he instructed a few parents beside him: "Qianqian’s Mother, could you please add some water to the pot and place the soup dumplings I made earlier into the steamer racks? Place them six layers high, then set them on the pot, and steam on high heat."

"Oh, sure."

Qianqian’s Mother swiftly complied, adding water to the pot, covering it with the first steamer rack and cloth.

Then she carefully placed the soup dumplings on top.

Once one layer was full.

She put another rack, laid with cloth, continuing to place the soup dumplings.

She repeated this process over and over.

When all six layers of steamer racks were filled, Qianqian’s Mother turned on the makeshift gas stove, steaming on high heat.

Having multiple layers like this is really advantageous.

At least the soup dumplings Huang Tao just made could be all steamed in one go, with some spaces left over.

Seeing this, Huang Tao quickly made a few more and placed them in.

While steaming, Huang Tao did not continue making soup dumplings but took another pot, placing it on another stove burner.

Preparing to cook some wontons for the kids who would soon be coming to the food area.

He added water to the pot and turned on the heat to boil it.

Taking advantage of this gap, he brought in seaweed and dried shrimp, cutting some scallions to use later for the wonton soup.

When steam started coming from the steamer, Huang Tao glanced at the time.

Estimating, it needed to be steamed for another ten minutes or so.

By this time, bubbles were already appearing in the pot meant for boiling wontons.

Once the water boiled, Huang Tao dropped the wontons into the pot.

Then took a ladle to gently push the pot’s bottom twice, to avoid the wontons sticking to the bottom.

Then he covered the pot with a lid.

Turned to low heat.

Once the water boiled, it would be ready to serve.