I Have a Countryside Gourmet Restaurant

Afterward, Ling Xiaoru took a moment to gather her courage.

The more she steeled herself, the more nervous she became, but at last, she finally spoke up. "Receiving your guidance today is my greatest honor and fortune. I will forever remember the kindness you have shown me. May I be so bold as to ask for your name?"

Hearing Ling Xiaoru say this, Li You and the other customers all looked at the old man.

They, too, were eager to know who the old man was.

Even if the old man told them his name, they probably wouldn’t recognize it. But that didn’t diminish their curiosity in the slightest.

The old man smiled faintly and said, "Miss Xiaoru, there’s no need for such formality. It is a form of fate that we met here in the boss’s restaurant. What I said just now were merely some thoughts I had upon seeing your painting. There’s no need to thank me. As for my name, my surname is Gu, and my given name is Yi."

When the old man said his surname was Gu, everyone present, including Li You and Ling Xiaoru, widened their eyes in an instant.

Their faces were filled with shock and disbelief.

’Surname Gu... could he be Guyi?’

Li You knew of Guyi, and so did all the other customers present.

In fact, he was the only Guyi they knew of.

’Is this old man before me really the number one figure in the Art World, the contemporary Painting Saint, Guyi?’

’This... This can’t be possible, can it?’

A storm of emotions raged within everyone, including Li You and Ling Xiaoru.

Then, they heard the old man add, "...and my given name is Yi."

It really was Guyi.

No one had ever expected this, and they were all completely shocked and filled with disbelief.

But they were also more excited and thrilled than they had ever been.

Li You was excited and thrilled. He truly couldn’t believe that this seemingly ordinary old man was actually the number one figure in the Art World, the contemporary Painting Saint.

’The number one figure in the Art World, the contemporary Painting Saint, came to my restaurant to eat... My place is pretty damn amazing, isn’t it?’

At this moment, a wave of pride washed over Li You.

Rumor had it that aside from painting, Guyi was also a connoisseur of fine food and wine.

Now it seemed the rumors were indeed true.

Otherwise, Guyi certainly wouldn’t have come here.

’But how did Guyi find out about my restaurant?’

’He couldn’t have just stumbled upon this place by chance, could he?’

Li You was suddenly overcome with curiosity.

’I wonder if I’ll get a chance to ask him later?’

Ling Xiaoru was so excited and overwhelmed that her brain practically short-circuited.

Only one thought echoed in her mind: she had received personal guidance from the number one figure in the Art World, the contemporary Painting Saint.

’What kind of serendipity is this?’

’This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!’

Forget about receiving such detailed guidance; even getting a single, casual comment from Guyi on a painting would be an immense benefit and a reason for great excitement. It was an incredible point of pride, enough to make countless artists in the Art World burn with envy.

’To receive such guidance from Guyi myself... it’s an unbelievable luxury.’

If word of this got out in the Art World, it would absolutely make countless people go crazy with envy and jealousy.

Even famous artists would be green with envy.

’What have I ever done to deserve such an incredible opportunity?’

Ling Xiaoru’s mind froze.

However, there was one thing she was sure of: the only reason she had this opportunity was all because of the boss’s restaurant.

It was just as she’d realized earlier. Without this restaurant, she wouldn’t have come here to eat. The boss wouldn’t have given her a ride home. And she wouldn’t have given him a painting out of gratitude.

Then Guyi wouldn’t have come here, wouldn’t have seen her painting, and of course, this opportunity would never have happened.

Ling Xiaoru knew that the reason Guyi came here was because of the food and wine.

Although she didn’t know how Guyi knew there was good food and wine here, the food and wine were definitely the only reason he came.

It was rumored that Guyi had a passion for fine food and wine.

But Ling Xiaoru knew it wasn’t just a rumor.

Aside from painting, Guyi’s greatest passions were fine food and wine. This was an open secret in the Art World.

’So it was the food and wine here that led to this incredible, heaven-sent opportunity.’

Ling Xiaoru was overcome with emotion once again.

At that moment, all the customers were thinking the same thing: they had just personally witnessed and listened to Guyi discuss painting.

They had even asked questions, and Guyi had answered them.

This was a privilege countless artists in the Art World could only dream of.

If word of this got out, they knew that many people in the Art World would be incredibly envious of them.

’You really run into the most amazing things eating at the boss’s restaurant!’

This definitely counted as one.

They knew that if Guyi had announced he would be discussing art here, then no matter how remote the location, countless figures from the Art World would have flocked to this spot.

Even many people outside the Art World would have come just to catch a glimpse of the legendary figure himself—the number one master, the contemporary Painting Saint.

Because the name "Guyi" carried too much weight.

He was on a completely different level from even famous directors like Wei Yang and Jing Wenbo.

The more the customers thought about it, the more excited they became. At the same time, they once again felt very proud.

The number one figure in the Art World, the contemporary Painting Saint, had been drawn here to eat by the restaurant’s reputation.

It was a source of pride for the boss, and by extension, for all of them as residents of Wenxian Town.

But still, how did Guyi find out about the boss’s restaurant?

The customers were also very curious about this.

And so, a customer asked, "Elder Gu, this restaurant is so remote. How did you find out about it? Would you mind telling us?"

Guyi had been nothing but approachable the entire time.

It wasn’t an act, either. He was genuinely down-to-earth, just like any other old man.

So the customers didn’t feel inhibited or nervous, and they asked their questions quite naturally.

Li You’s eyes lit up when he heard the customer’s question. He had been wanting to ask the very same thing.

Guyi smiled faintly. "Someone told me about it. It started when I had a bowl of the boss’s Salted Pork with Preserved Greens. I thought it was the most delicious thing I’d ever tasted; I’d never had Salted Pork with Preserved Greens that good before.

"Of course, I didn’t eat it here. This is my first time visiting.

"After having that bowl of Salted Pork, I heard that it wasn’t the only delicious dish here—that everything on the menu was a top-tier delicacy.

"And that the wine served here was a rare vintage, the likes of which are hard to find.

"So, I came."

Hearing Guyi’s explanation, the customers had a moment of understanding, but a new question arose: if he didn’t eat the Salted Pork with Preserved Greens here, where did he?

But then they thought it over. If he didn’t eat it here, then someone must have ordered it as takeout. Then, for one reason or another, it must have ended up with Guyi.

Except for the wine, everything at the boss’s restaurant was available for takeout.

In that case, there was no need to ask further.

That would be very impolite.

Besides, Guyi’s explanation had already made it perfectly clear why he had come.

As for how exactly Guyi got his hands on that bowl of Salted Pork—that wasn’t important. They knew they shouldn’t pry.

So, the customers didn’t press the matter, their minds once again buzzing with excitement.

This restaurant was becoming more and more legendary. It was fast becoming the pride of all of Wenxian Town.

The customers didn’t know how Guyi ate that bowl of Salted Pork, but Li You had a pretty good idea.

Because up to now, only Ye Shengge had taken away five bowls of Salted Pork with Preserved Greens when she left last time.

Ye Shengge had taken the Salted Pork back for her grandfather.

Guyi, of course, couldn’t be Ye Shengge’s grandfather.

Because "Guyi" was his real name, not a stage name.

That could only mean that Guyi and Ye Shengge’s grandfather were very close.

At this thought, Li You nodded slowly.

He didn’t ask Guyi if he was connected to Ye Shengge’s grandfather.

It wasn’t his place to ask.

Besides, it had nothing to do with him.

So, Li You just smiled and said, "So, it is Elder Gu. It’s a true honor to have you dine here, Elder Gu!"

Li You no longer addressed him simply as "sir" but switched to "Elder Gu."

Guyi laughed heartily. "You’re too kind, Boss. For you to open a restaurant like this is a true blessing for those of us who appreciate fine food and wine."

...