Chapter 870: Senior, Aren’t You Going to Invite Me Up to Sit? (Part 2)

Going to a big hotel for a meal isn’t unusual. Even for someone like me, it’s not an issue to spend money, but there’s nothing particularly special about it. Instead, finding a Huainan restaurant is more thoughtful.

The waiter brought the menu over, and Su Zelin very gentlemanly handed it to Tao Min first, and then ordered a few dishes himself.

Actually, he didn’t care what he ate, but Tao Min might pick the cheapest, so he needed to add some fancy ones.

Before the dishes were served, Tao Min brought up the topic of her university roommate Pan Yun and her boyfriend Liu Yanbin.

“Junior, I heard you helped Liu Yanbin get a manager position at a New Era Yin Chang direct store?”

After graduation, she kept in touch with her university roommates. Besides her close sister Li Yanru, she contacted Pan Yun the most. Because they had a good relationship in university, she was well aware of Pan Yun and Liu Yanbin’s situation. She learned that after graduation, Liu Yanbin followed her roommate to Yin Chang, but initially, he had a hard time finding a good job and had to work laboriously in a factory for over ten hours a day.

Fortunately, later on, when New Era expanded into the national market and Yin Chang opened a direct store, Su Zelin found Liu Yanbin, improving the situation.

Once during a phone call, Pan Yun happily shared this with Tao Min, not only sharing her own joy but also building a better image of Su Zelin in front of Tao Min.

After all, such an affectionate man is sure to make girls have a good impression of him.

“Yeah, that was when New Era was really short on people, and managers were needed in various provinces and cities. I thought that Yanbin performed really well in school and he is also a determined and hard-working person, so handling the role of a store manager shouldn’t be a problem. Thus, I arranged it!”

I downplayed it.

“Even after graduation, you haven’t forgotten to take care of your former classmates and friends!”

Tao Min remarked with some emotion.

Given Su Zelin’s current status and power at New Era, arranging a store manager position for Liu Yanbin might only require a phone call, but the key is that even after reaching this position, he still cares so much for his old classmates, showing great loyalty.

Apart from some issues with his relationships, Su Zelin’s character is impeccable.

So even knowing he’s a bit of a player, many girls just can’t bring themselves to dislike him. Even Tao Min, who intended to keep her distance upon graduation to avoid a trap, couldn’t help but reconnect and get close to him again.

“So, Senior Sister Tao, do you have any intention to leave that stingy company where even on business trips, you have to share a double room with colleagues, and jump to us at New Era? The pay definitely isn’t bad!”

Su Zelin asked, half-jokingly, half-seriously.

This wasn’t the first time he extended an olive branch to Tao Min.

“Hmm, I’ll consider it first.”

Tao Min’s response took me by surprise.

Before, whenever he invited Tao Min, she would politely refuse, but this time she seemed somewhat interested.

“Alright, Senior Sister, I’m waiting for you. Whenever you’ve made up your mind, you can find me anytime!”

Su Zelin didn’t rush her either.

Switching from a secure job at a state-owned enterprise to a private company requires courage and determination.

Besides, with the New Year approaching, and the busiest time at her current company, Tao Min wouldn’t change jobs right now.

Her old company might be stingy, but she isn’t an employee lacking professional ethics.

As they talked, the dishes came. The first was a soup dish named “Fish Bites Lamb.”

Speaking of Huainan cuisine, you can’t skip mutton soup.

In Hui Province, there’s practically no restaurant where you can’t find mutton soup.

And “Fish Bites Lamb” is an upgraded version of mutton soup, a Huainan specialty dish. It involves lamb stuffed inside a mandarin fish’s belly, cooked together. The combined flavors of fish and lamb make this dish particularly delicious, especially in the winter. A bowl of this soup is not only tasty but also nourishing.

Su Zelin picked up the ladle and served two bowls, giving the first one to Tao Min.

“Thanks, there aren’t many people who can enjoy the soup-serving service from President Su!”

Tao Min said with a smile.

Considering Su Zelin’s status today, in most situations, others would serve soup for him, or at upscale restaurants, the servers would help with it.

“Not many, not many, but Senior Sister Tao will forever be one of them!”

Su Zelin habitually bantered.

“You say that now, but I fear when I get old and lose my charms, you’ll forget about me!”

Tao Min teased herself.

Su Zelin chuckled, “How could that be, even when you grow old, Senior Sister will age gracefully. Isn’t there a saying that time never defeats a beauty?”

“Oh, you’re just so good with words!”

Tao Min was delighted by his sweet talk.

“My mouth isn’t just good for talking; it has many uses.”

Su Zelin chuckled cheekily.

Tao Min wasn’t na?ve and instantly caught his meaning. Her cheeks blushed a little from the teasing but she feigned ignorance: “Hurry up and have the soup, it won’t taste good if it gets cold!”

A bowl of hot soup warmed her whole body.

By then, the second dish, “Fermented Milk Meat,” was served.

“Fermented Milk Meat” is also a Huainan specialty, loved for its rich aroma, pure taste, and nourishing properties. Its bright color and plump shape make it look appealing. Compared to braised pork, it’s fatty but not greasy, melting in your mouth with endless aftertaste. Compared to lean meat chunks, it’s softer and more tender. Especially its unique milky flavor, so fragrant that it makes people drool.

The love Huainan people have for it is indescribable with words. Often, they crave it before mentioning it, and salivate at its smell. Many Huainan people who work away from home can’t part with or let go of their cherished “Fermented Milk Meat.” It feels like without this dish, meals simply don’t satisfy them.