Chapter 371 - 203: Arrangements
With Wudu’s notorious traffic and winding roads, even in a Lamborghini, you can’t escape the stop-and-go crawl. After a while, it gets really uncomfortable.
"I was in a hurry when I left, so I just grabbed the first set of keys I saw."
Su Chen didn’t continue the topic, opening the G-Wagon’s door and climbing in. Yin Zheng, seeing this, pulled open the passenger-side door.
"Is Uncle Yun planning a big celebration for his birthday this time?" Yin Zheng asked casually.
Su Chen shook his head slightly. "We’re not doing anything big. Just a meal with family and a few friends."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Yin Zheng’s eyes. ’If it were a big affair, I could’ve come up with some celebratory ideas. But if it’s just a meal with family and friends, some of my plans are out the window.’
’But none of that mattered. As long as I’m there, it’s fine. The rest isn’t for me to worry about.’
The Jiangbei Peninsula wasn’t very far from Su Chen’s location in Zhaomushan, and they reached their destination in about ten minutes.
The restaurant Yin Zheng recommended was located on the thirty-eighth floor of the Financial Center, with views of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers. The ambiance was excellent, with décor inspired by the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, creating a particularly comfortable feeling.
After a quick tour, Su Chen was quite pleased. Now, he just had to see how the food tasted.
Su Chen ordered a few specialty Huaiyang dishes that required more preparation time. He wanted to see how they tasted; if they were good, he would book the venue.
"Sirs, your table is ready," a server announced, coming over to the lounge area to inform Su Chen and Yin Zheng after about an hour’s wait.
When Su Chen and Yin Zheng arrived at the private room, five or six steaming specialty Huaiyang dishes were already laid out on the table.
With no outsiders present, Su Chen simply began to eat after a brief gesture.
After sampling a bit of each dish, Su Chen nodded in satisfaction. "This Huaiyang restaurant is indeed authentic. It’s much better than the ones I’ve tried in Suzhou."
Yin Zheng chimed in, "It really is great. This Wensi Tofu Soup is delicious!"
Seeing Yin Zheng completely absorbed in his food, Su Chen smiled and lowered his head to dig in as well.
The five or six dishes left the two of them feeling completely satisfied; they had polished off nearly everything. Su Chen waved over a server who was standing nearby. "I’d like to book two tables for tomorrow night. As for the standard, just give us your most premium package."
Upon hearing it was a reservation—and for the most premium package at that—the server quickly apologized to Su Chen and contacted the restaurant manager through his earpiece. After all, a server didn’t have the authority to make such arrangements.
Soon, the manager of the Huaiyang restaurant walked in. He initially carried himself with a dignified air and a polite smile, but the moment he saw Yin Zheng in the private room, his expression instantly switched to one of fawning servitude.
"Well now, if it isn’t Young Master Yin! You came without giving us any notice. Please forgive us for any poor service." The manager sidled up next to Yin Zheng, speaking with a deferential tone.
Yin Zheng had been here a few times before with some friends, all of them second-generation heirs. Over time, the restaurant manager had naturally learned about the backgrounds of these young masters.
"Young Master Yin, are you the one looking to book a room? I’ll be sure to save the very best one for you."
After a barrage of flattery, the manager finally noticed something was amiss. He saw an awkward smile on Yin Zheng’s face, one directed not at him, but at the young man beside him.
"Young Master Su, my apologies. This is a bit embarrassing," Yin Zheng said, looking sheepish.
Seeing Yin Zheng’s demeanor, the manager knew his flattery had completely backfired. ’Anyone who can make a prominent young master of Wudu act this deferentially must have an extraordinary background.’
After speaking, Yin Zheng turned to the manager. "It’s Young Master Su’s father’s birthday, and he’s planning a family banquet. I specifically recommended your restaurant. Su Chen tried the food and found it quite good, so he plans to make the booking here."
"Thank you for your trust, Young Master Su! We will absolutely ensure you and your family are satisfied!" The manager’s attitude became even more obsequious.
Su Chen glanced at the beaming manager. "Two tables for tomorrow night. Arrange it according to your highest standards. The ingredients must be the freshest—don’t worry about the cost."
"Understood. I guarantee all the ingredients will be the absolute freshest."
After a brief inquiry, the manager mentioned they had adjoining private rooms with a retractable partition in the middle. Su Chen booked them without a second thought.
He also made arrangements for the layout of the private rooms. Since it was for a birthday, the atmosphere had to be perfect.
As for things like balloons and a birthday cake, the manager puffed out his chest and promised to take care of everything.
After discussing the details for a while, Su Chen and Yin Zheng left, satisfied.