Chapter 60: We’ll Talk After Eating
Chapter 60: Chapter 60: We’ll Talk After Eating
Ling Shuyu was dumbfounded, too!
That was a man even President Shang had to respect. How had he suddenly ended up in the kitchen?
’And from the looks of it, he’s helping Su Chen cook?’
’Does Boss Su’s kitchen have some kind of magic power? Everyone who comes in seems to want to try their hand at cooking.’
It was one thing for Delicious’s own employees, but even Xinghui’s staff had been flocking to the kitchen lately. Since things were busy, Ling Shuyu had decided to turn a blind eye.
But now, even a VIP this important had run off to the kitchen to be a prep cook?
"What’s going on?" Ling Shuyu whispered.
Zhang Li stood dumbfounded behind her. "I don’t know... A moment ago, Elder Lu just told me to go get President Shang for lunch, and now this..."
A furious shout from Shang Mingke made the two men, who had been laughing and bustling about in the kitchen, freeze in their tracks.
"What are you yelling about?" Lu Yongliang, still holding a basin of button mushrooms, demanded. "Go on, get out and sit down. You’re in for a real treat today!"
Shang Mingke’s brow remained furrowed. The scene before him was somewhat beyond his comprehension.
For as long as he could remember, in any kitchen Lu Yongliang occupied, Elder Lu was the undisputed star. Everyone else, no matter who they were, was relegated to being a prep cook and doing menial tasks.
"Uncle Lu, what on earth is going on?"
"It’s nothing," Lu Yongliang said with a grin. "Listen to me, kid, you’re in for a treat. Don’t worry about anything else. Just have your secretary change the flight; we’re heading back late today. You’re going to be a judge for us in a bit!"
"A judge?"
Lu Yongliang walked right over and started pushing Shang Mingke and the others out of the kitchen.
"Here, sit." He pointed to a round table in the dining hall. "I’ve met my match today. I never expected this company’s boss to be my equal when it comes to Hubei Cuisine. I have to have a proper showdown with him today. You guys go ahead and eat first!"
With that, Elder Lu excitedly rushed back into the kitchen.
He left everyone in the dining hall staring at each other, completely baffled as to what was going on.
Ling Shuyu seized the opportunity to ask, "President Shang, this gentleman is..."
"A highly respected senior, and also a chef," Shang Mingke replied. He didn’t hide the truth, but he didn’t elaborate either.
Ling Shuyu simply said, "Oh," but inside, her mind was reeling.
’A chef that even Shang Mingke admires... what level must he be at?’
’For someone like that to praise Boss Su’s cooking... doesn’t that make Boss Su even more incredible?’
But this wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Since Shang Mingke clearly listened to Elder Lu, Ling Shuyu had to seize this opportunity.
"President Shang, about the proposal from earlier... there were actually a few things I didn’t get to explain clearly."
Seeing that Shang Mingke didn’t respond, Ling Shuyu knew her chance had come. She quickly continued, "In addition to the environmental aspect, we also incorporated green elements into the logo design, including this..."
Just as Ling Shuyu had thought, all she needed was fifteen minutes. By the time she had finished explaining all the highlights and advantages of her proposal...
...a rare look had appeared in Shang Mingke’s eyes. It was a flicker of interest!
Just then,
The kitchen door opened. Lu Yongliang walked into the dining hall carrying a steamer basket, with Su Chen following close behind.
Seeing this, Shang Mingke stood up with a helpless expression. "Uncle Lu, I can get the food."
Ling Shuyu hurried over as well. "I’ll get it, I’ll get it!"
The others, small fry like Zhang Li, stood in the back, not daring to even move.
’Does serving a dish require such a high rank now?’
Lu Yongliang set the steamer basket on the round table. "All right, all of you, sit down and eat. Today, I’m not just going to watch you eat, I’m going to listen to your critiques!"
"Uncle Lu, this..." Shang Mingke stood to one side. "What’s going on?"
Lu Yongliang pushed Shang Mingke back down into his seat. "I was planning to go home tonight and cook you a few home-style dishes myself, but who would have thought a little place like Jingzhou would have a crouching tiger and hidden dragon!" As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Su Chen.
"Come, Boss Su, have a seat!"
Su Chen shook his head. "You are our honored guests. It wouldn’t be right for me to sit. I wish you all an enjoyable meal. I still have a few things to take care of inside, so I’ll be heading back."
"Hey!" Lu Yongliang grabbed Su Chen. "Isn’t it just the last dish, the steamed fish? We agreed we’d have a little competition with that one. I can see you’ve been busy all morning preparing so many dishes. Come on, eat with us!"
Among everyone there, Lu Yongliang was the eldest, and Shang Mingke understood him the best.
Although Elder Lu had a glorious past, he was a man who followed his heart, often acting purely on his personal whims.
When Shang Mingke was a child, his aunt had scolded Lu Yongliang several times for always bringing him food. Master Lu would always agree verbally, but then he would still pick out the best dishes and bring them over to their house that same evening.
Back then, Shang Mingke’s family was poor. His parents always told him one thing: "When you grow up, whether you’re successful or not, you must treat Uncle Lu like your own father."
Therefore, seeing Lu Yongliang so happy, Shang Mingke decided not to argue. He simply nodded and sat down.
"Oh, right, are you two done talking business?" Lu Yongliang asked.
"We are."
"In that case, this meal has dishes made by me and dishes made by Boss Su. Let’s not worry about this being a formal reception. We’ll just treat it as a family meal, a chance to sit, chat, and make a new friend!" With that, he turned around. "Boss Su, that should be acceptable, right?"
Shang Mingke looked at Su Chen with a trace of curiosity.
’Just who is this Boss Su?’
’To have earned Elder Lu’s favor on their very first meeting...’
’Uncle Lu said to treat it like a family meal to make a friend. He clearly wants to get to know this ’Boss Su.’ This man is definitely not simple!’
From that moment on, Shang Mingke’s full attention was on Su Chen.
"Well then... it would be rude to refuse!"
The man had put it so plainly. It would be wrong of him to refuse again.
Besides, Lu Yongliang and Su Chen had genuinely enjoyed working together in the kitchen. Of the fourteen dishes, Lu Yongliang had made four, and Su Chen had made ten.
Seeing how things were, Shang Mingke waved his hand.
His assistant, Xiaozhang, understood immediately. He walked to the door, tugging on Zhang Li’s sleeve as he went. "Let’s go."
The dining hall door closed, leaving four people seated at the round table.
Su Chen, Lu Yongliang, Shang Mingke, and Ling Shuyu.
It was a very strange combination—at least, in Ling Shuyu’s eyes, it was very strange.
"Come on, have a taste." Lu Yongliang lifted the lid off the first dish—the fishcake and meatballs. Inside were five small, neatly arranged bowls.
In each bowl, six meatballs with a faint golden-brown skin rested at the bottom, covered by twenty slices of soft, chewy fishcake. The dish was drizzled with a stir-fried sauce, its glossy sheen looking exceptionally tempting.
"Uncle Lu, you made this?" Shang Mingke said, taking a bowl. "I remember when I was a kid, I always hoped you’d bring this dish home for me. It’s a shame not many people ordered it at the restaurant back then."
"Of course not!" Lu Yongliang roared with laughter. "Only the children of high-ranking officials could order this. What ordinary family could afford it? Have a taste! And you, young lady, don’t just sit there staring."
"Ah? Oh!" Ling Shuyu also took a bowl.
Su Chen picked up two bowls, placing one in front of himself and the other in front of Elder Lu. However, neither of them started eating. Instead, they both watched the two people across from them.
Shang Mingke picked up a piece of fishcake and put it in his mouth. "Mmm."
After a slight nod, he immediately used his chopsticks to sweep four or five more slices of fishcake into his mouth.
Before he had even swallowed the fishcake, he precisely plucked a meatball and stuffed it in his mouth as well!
Shang Mingke usually gave off an impression of being grand and composed. His actions left Su Chen and Ling Shuyu completely bewildered.
’Dude, have some self-control!’
Lu Yongliang frowned as well.
"Hey, kid, don’t just stuff your face! I told you to critique it!"
GULP.
Shang Mingke swallowed the food in his mouth and said in a muffled voice:
"I’ll talk after I’m done eating!"