Chapter 51: When Money Stops Being a Problem and Five Hundred Thousand a Month?!

[ Ding! Host has spent 60,000,000 low grade spiritual stones ]

[ Multiplier Triggered: 100x ]

[ Host Receives 6,000,000,000 low grade spiritual stones ]

The renovation began within days, but Yu Liang and Lin Meihua’s work was far from finished. While craftsmen tore down walls and formation specialists mapped out arrays, they turned their attention to the most critical element of any restaurant, the people who would run it.

"I’ve arranged interviews with eight chefs," Lin Meihua said one morning, meeting Yu Liang outside the building. "All have experience with spiritual cuisine. Three worked in established restaurants, two ran their own smaller operations, and three are independent contractors."

Yu Liang nodded. "Where are we conducting the interviews?"

"I rented kitchen space two streets over. It’s equipped with basic spiritual cooking tools." She handed him a scroll. "Here are their credentials."

Yu Liang scanned the list but didn’t study it closely. "Let’s see them cook."

Lin Meihua had arranged for the shortlisted chefs to demonstrate their skills one by one, so after they arrived the first candidate was brought in almost immediately.

She was a middle aged woman who spoke confidently about her fifteen years of spirit beast meat preparation experience.

Yu Liang listened without interrupting before saying, "Prepare something simple. Roasted jade rabbit with spring herbs."

She acted quickly, using a good knife skill and seasonings in the right proportions. The dish was ready in thirty minutes.

He tasted the dish. It was prepared well, the herbs were mixed in properly, and the spiritual energy remained somewhat intact. It was a good job.

"Thank you for your time," he said.

The woman blinked. "Don’t you want to discuss terms?"

"The cooking was adequate, but we need more than adequate. I appreciate you coming."

She left looking confused. Lin Meihua watched from the corner, saying nothing.

The second and third chefs followed similar patterns. Solid technique, decent results, nothing exceptional. Yu Liang thanked them and sent them away within minutes of tasting their dishes.

The fourth chef grew defensive when Yu Liang asked for a simple preparation instead of allowing him to showcase an elaborate technique. "You can’t judge a master’s skills with basic dishes," the man said.

"If you can’t execute basics perfectly, elaborate techniques won’t save you," Yu Liang replied calmly. "Thank you for your time."

When it came to Chef Number Five, Lin Meihua was no longer shocked at the speed with which Yu Liang made his decisions. He would taste, think for a bit, and then decide. End of discussion.

The sixth chef arrived late, apologizing profusely about getting lost. Yu Liang thanked him and dismissed him before he had even reached the cooking station.

"Punctuality matters," Yu Liang said simply when Lin Meihua raised an eyebrow.

The seventh chef was technically skilled but had a dismissive attitude toward the ingredients provided. "This rabbit is barely Tier 1," he complained. "Give me proper materials and I’ll show you real cooking."

"The quality of ingredients matters, but a true chef respects whatever they’re given," Yu Liang said. "Thank you for coming."

By the time the eighth chef arrived, Lin Meihua had begun to wonder if Yu Liang would hire anyone at all.

The man who entered was older than the others, perhaps in his sixties, with gray hair tied back in a simple knot. His robes were clean but worn, patched in several places. But on the contrary, he carried himself with quiet dignity despite his appearance.

"Master Chen Ming," Lin Meihua greeted him. "Thank you for coming."

Chen Ming bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the opportunity, Miss Lin."

Yu Liang observed him. His hands were scarred, and because he has come here as the chief, probably it was from years and years of working in the kitchen, and his eyes showed the tiredness of a person who is going through bad days.

"What’s your background?" Yu Liang asked.

"I served as a palace chef for eighty years," Chen said quietly. "I prepared meals for the royal family and their honored guests. When the old emperor passed and the new administration took over, many of the previous staff were dismissed. Since then, I’ve been working smaller positions."

"I understand. Now, show me what you can do."

Chen Ming nodded and stepped up to the cooking station. Unlike the others, he didn’t rush to start. He first looked over the ingredients, then picked out a jade rabbit, a handful of spirit herbs, and a small bottle of thousand year wine.

The use of the knife was like poetry to watch. The cuts were precise, demonstrating skill built up over many years. He skinned the rabbit in just under a minute.

The preparation that followed was equally masterful. He didn’t just cook the meal, he orchestrated it. Temperature adjustments, timing, the precise moment ingredients entered the pan. Everything flowed together with perfection.

Thirty five minutes later, he presented the dish.

Yu Liang took a taste and became speechless.

The meat was impossibly tender, infused with wine essence that enhanced rather than overpowering it. The herbs were distributed perfectly, each one releasing its spiritual energy in harmony with the others. The flavors built in layer by layer, first the wine, then the meat’s natural richness, finally the herbs created long lasting after taste.

This wasn’t just good cooking. This was art.

"You’re hired," Yu Liang said.

Chen blinked. "Don’t you want to discuss—"

"You will be working as a head chef for me. You also have to lead the kitchen and train the other cooks whom we hire for you."

"Young master, I appreciate the offer, but..." Chen hesitated. "What salary are you offering?"

How much were you earning at the palace?"

"Fifty thousand mid grade spiritual stones annually." Chen’s voice carried sadness. "Though I don’t expect—"

"I’ll pay you five hundred thousand monthly," Yu Liang interrupted. "Plus performance bonuses based on the restaurant’s success."

The number fell into silence like a thunderclap.

Chen’s face went pale. "Young master, that’s... that’s..." His voice broke slightly. "That’s far too much. No restaurant pays—"

"You’re worth it," Yu Liang said. "I’ve tasted your cooking and that’s enough for me. As for the salary, don’t worry about it. We can afford it."

Chen’s hands trembled. His eyes had grown damp, and he looked away briefly, composing himself. "Young master, I... I don’t know what to say."

"Say yes."

"Yes." Chen’s voice was thick. "Yes, absolutely. I won’t disappoint you."

From her position by the wall, Lin Meihua’s mind was racing. Five hundred thousand mid-grade stones a month... That’s ten times what an inner sect disciple earns.

She glanced at Chen Ming, then back at Yu Liang.

He’s paying a chef more than most disciples can dream of earning.

She almost wondered if Yu Liang had completely lost his mind.

But watching Yu Liang’s calm expression, seeing Chen’s emotional reaction, she understood. This wasn’t just about hiring someone. This was about showing respect, about recognizing true skill regardless of current circumstances.

This is when she realized that this way of thinking is precisely what will make their restaurant unique.

"Master Chen," Yu Liang continued, "we’ll need you to start reviewing kitchen designs immediately. The space is being renovated now, and I want your input on equipment and layout, don’t worry about the price issue just mention what you want."

Chen wiped his eyes quickly. "Of course, Young Master. Whatever you need."

They spent the next hour discussing kitchen requirements, equipment specifications, and preliminary menu concepts.

Master Chen’s expertise showed in every suggestion as he knew exactly what formations would preserve ingredients best, which cooking tools could handle spiritual beast meat properly and how to arrange workflow for maximum efficiency.

When Master Chen finally left, promising to return the next day, Lin Meihua turned to Yu Liang.

"That salary," she said carefully. "It’s extremely generous."

"It’s worth it," Yu Liang corrected. "We need the best, and Master Chen is the best we’ve found. If we want him to stay, we need to pay him accordingly. That way, he can focus on his work without worrying about anything else."

She studied him for a moment, then smiled. "You know, most business owners try to minimize labor costs."

"Most business owners don’t understand that great people are the most valuable investment and it’s just happens that I don’t lack resources."

Lin Meihua’s smile widened. "I’m starting to think this restaurant will succeed for reasons I didn’t initially consider."

"Such as?"

"Such as having a partner who values quality over savings." She gathered her documents. "Come on. We still need to source out ingredients. I’ve arranged meetings with three suppliers this afternoon."

The ingredient purchases that followed were, true to form, another display of Yu Liang’s approach to business. When suppliers quoted prices, he paid them without negotiating provided the quality met his standards. When it didn’t, he simply moved to the next vendor.

By evening, they had secured contracts for spirit beast meat, rare herbs, spiritual wines, and specialty ingredients that most restaurants couldn’t afford to stock regularly.

Each purchase triggered the familiar system notification, each multiplier refilling his reserves faster than he spent them.

And through it all, Lin Meihua watched it all, her respect and curiosity growing in equal measure.