Jiang Liu gave Jun Xinghe a strange look.

It was the first time he’d ever heard such a bizarre request from a customer.

However, for this customer who had a refined air and a friendly demeanor, Jiang Liu patiently explained:

"If I raised my prices, many ordinary families wouldn’t be able to afford to eat here. The economy isn’t great right now, and it’s not easy for people to make money. Besides making a profit for myself, the purpose of a business should be to benefit society. If everyone is satisfied, won’t I, Jiang Liu, gain even more in the end?"

It was just like how the neighborhood folks treated Jiang Liu now.

If Jiang Liu ever needed help, countless people would jump at the chance the moment he asked.

He hadn’t just earned money; he had won the people’s hearts.

If he raised his prices, what use would earning more money be?

’It’s useless.’

"Well said, well said!"

The more Jun Xinghe looked at Jiang Liu, the more satisfied he felt.

’What a good kid.’

’His values are spot on.’

In the end, people like them who ran businesses were there to serve society.

Jiang Liu didn’t continue chatting with Jun Xinghe.

Mainly because he found the refined, middle-aged man before him a little strange.

There was something unsettling about the way he looked at him.

「Soon.」

The food Jun Xinghe ordered was brought to the table.

"Thank you for your trouble, Boss Jiang. Let me know if you ever need any help."

"Alright."

Jiang Liu left with a polite smile.

In the time it took them to exchange a few words, Guo Dapao had already devoured three pieces of beef, his lips slick with fat.

The meat was tender, fragrant, and rich. Paired with the perfectly soft potatoes, it was pure bliss!

"So fragrant! I could die! Not eating all day has been torture, and this smell is killing me!"

"Look at yourself."

Jun Xinghe shot Guo Dapao a disdainful glance before eagerly tearing open his chopsticks and digging into the beef and potatoes.

He ate even faster than Guo Dapao.

"And you’re one to talk? You’re doing the exact same thing," Guo Dapao sneered.

Jun Xinghe changed the subject, pointing with his chin to the Di San Xian on the table. "This Di San Xian looks pretty good. Aren’t you going to try it?"

"Here, it’s all yours."

Guo Dapao casually pushed his portion of Di San Xian and nutritional congee away.

He only wanted to eat the beef. Boss Jiang himself had said the Di San Xian was just average.

Saving his stomach for the good stuff was the rational choice.

Jun Xinghe shook his head and casually picked up a piece of eggplant.

After the very first bite, a look of surprise uncontrollably appeared on his face.

’This is amazing!’ 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

’The flavor is so unique!’

The eggplant was delicate and smooth, but its flour-dusted outer layer gave it a slight crispiness.

Jun Xinghe then tried a piece of the potato and termite mushroom.

A different flavor, a different aroma.

The surprise on Jun Xinghe’s face deepened.

’How can a Di San Xian that Jiang Liu just casually whipped up be so delicious? This is at least five-star quality!’

Honestly, Jun Xinghe felt that selling it for fifty yuan was far too cheap.

If this were served in a grand hotel or an international restaurant, it would go for at least two or three thousand.

"This Di San Xian is incredible! It could definitely hold its own even in our Jing City!" Jun Xinghe couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

He rarely praised food, but Jiang Liu’s cooking constantly surprised him.

Guo Dapao was still working on the beef. Hearing Jun Xinghe’s praise, he couldn’t help but look up, suspicious.

"For real? Are you trying to trick me again?"

"Believe it or not."

Jun Xinghe lowered his head and took a sip of the nutritional congee.

He was once again secretly astonished.

This congee was anything but simple. The saltiness was perfect, it had a rich, natural umami flavor, and the crisp tenderness of the shrimp elevated the entire bowl.

He was growing more and more satisfied with Jiang Liu.

Guo Dapao’s eyes darted. He reached out and pulled back the Di San Xian he had just pushed away.

He ate a piece of the eggplant and potato, then took a mouthful of the nutritional congee.

His eyes went wide.

"Holy shit! This is Di San Xian? No, wait, why do I get the feeling I can’t stop drinking this congee!?"

Guo Dapao was dumbfounded.

It was supposed to be just "average," but to him, it tasted better than a five-star meal.

"Boss Jiang must have been joking with us. This is definitely one of his signature dishes!"

Guo Dapao announced with a look of firm conviction.

An auntie at the next table said proudly, "You two are clearly from out of town. The Di San Xian set isn’t one of Boss Jiang’s signature dishes. The only reason he’s selling it today is because he wanted to give everyone a change of pace."

Guo Dapao: ???

’He really fucking just whipped this up casually?’

He was genuinely shocked.

Could Jiang Liu really make a dish so delicious just by casually throwing it together?

"The new generation truly surpasses the old!"

Jun Xinghe sighed with emotion.

Guo Dapao suddenly asked, "Have you found your precious daughter yet?"

At the mention of his daughter.

Jun Xinghe’s face instantly darkened. "Don’t even mention it. That girl of mine is as stubborn as a mule. I introduce her to good prospects, but she refuses them. She insists on finding some good-for-nothing herself to have some ’sweet romance.’ How could I, Jun Xinghe, have raised such a disappointing, foolish daughter?"

Jun Xinghe was truly disappointed that she wasn’t living up to her potential.

Today, he had tested Jiang Liu with a few questions and had also unexpectedly gotten to taste the Di San Xian.

The more he thought about it, the more satisfied he was with Jiang Liu as a potential son-in-law.

However, he had gone to great lengths to find such an excellent boyfriend for his daughter, but she wouldn’t even meet him, insisting on finding someone on her own.

’Could her judgment possibly be better than mine?’

Shaking his head, Guo Dapao scraped the Di San Xian into his congee, took a big SLURP, and said, "Let me tell you, Old Jun, you need to calm down. Learn from me. Don’t worry about a thing, and surprises will come on their own, right?"

"Hah!" Jun Xinghe scoffed.

"That’s just you giving up like an old man. I have a massive company with no one to inherit it, how can I not be anxious? I only have one child, and she’s so disappointing. Tell me, if I die one day, who do I leave this enterprise to?"

"Why don’t you give it to me?" Guo Dapao said shamelessly.

"I’ll give you a kick."

「Just then.」

An excited Chen Liang entered the restaurant.

He’d finally gotten to the front of the line.

"Boss Jiang, I’ll have two orders of the Yak and Potato, two Di San Xian sets, and two glasses of juice, please."

Jiang Liu replied with his standard smile, "Sir, the Yak, Potato, and Mushroom Soup is sold out, and the Di San Xian set is also sold out."

"Huh??" Chen Liang was stunned. "Already? Then... give me an order of tuna and fifteen buns."

"The tuna is also sold out."

Chen Liang: ...

He glanced at the yak meat and tuna on other people’s tables.

The cubes of yak meat, like jelly, were soaking in a rich, bone marrow broth.

The lines on the pink tuna sashimi were like hooks, reeling him in.

Chen Liang’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice.

This scene happened to be noticed by Jun Xinghe and his companion.

Jun Xinghe felt even more smug.

Businessmen like them had a strong competitive streak.

Being able to defeat a business rival today, all thanks to food...

It was like a huge slap to the face!

Before long, the two of them had polished off nearly all the yak meat and Di San Xian on the table.

A few buns were left, which Jun Xinghe and Guo Dapao divided between themselves.

Jun Xinghe wanted to freeze them to save for his daughter, and Guo Dapao had the same idea.

Jun Xinghe leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach. He casually asked Uncle Niu, who was sharing their table, "Brother, do you happen to know what Boss Jiang’s parents do for a living?"

Uncle Niu answered warily, "You’re not from around here, are you? Why are you asking about that?"

——

PS: There are two more Chapters. Due to certain circumstances, they will be released at midnight today. Tomorrow, in addition to today’s two Chapters, the three Chapters scheduled for the day will be released as usual.

The stats aren’t great right now. Maybe my writing is just average.

I sincerely ask everyone to please keep up with the latest Chapters.

And thank you to the friends who have been following the book and consistently voting. I’m grateful from the bottom of my heart!