The Gourmet Customizer

"Are we going to be able to eat all this? The eggs are one thing, but these buns are huge." Jiang Yuan had never tried the buns here before. Based on her appetite, she figured she could eat one at most.

"It’s fine. If we can’t finish everything, we can just get it to go." Brother Fang Chang wasn’t worried.

Jiang Wensheng was still hung up on not getting to see Boss Su cook Huaiyang Cuisine. "So what Boss Su said earlier... unless it’s a custom order, he usually won’t make those dishes, is that right?"

Brother Fang Chang took a bite of his bun and said, his voice muffled, "That’s right. I’ve only seen Boss Su cook in person a few times myself. If anyone who came here could order special dishes from him, he’d be too exhausted to keep up."

Jiang Wensheng asked thoughtfully, "How much did you spend on our meal yesterday?"

Brother Fang Chang froze.

He was a little afraid to say it. ’Five thousand yuan for six dishes. Anyone who heard that would think I was a complete idiot.’

But Brother Fang Chang knew the truth. ’I heard that when President Ling hosted guests here, a meal of just over ten dishes cost a full thirty thousand yuan!’

’So, compared to that, I actually got a bargain.’

So, Brother Fang Chang stated a lower price. "Not much, just three thousand yuan."

"What!!!" Jiang Yuan had just finished peeling an egg. "Three thousand? Are you out of your mind!"

Brother Fang Chang tried to calm his girlfriend. "Don’t you remember? When we came for the Lion’s Head meatball and Wen Si Tofu, it still cost us five hundred yuan. This isn’t that much money. The most important thing is that everyone had a good time."

’But still, that was three thousand yuan!’

Jiang Yuan still felt the sting. She had already unconsciously slipped into the role of a wife, feeling that spending Brother Fang Chang’s money was the same as spending her own.

She worked at a trading company, where her entire monthly salary was only five thousand!

Jiang Wensheng, on the other hand, nodded. "Three thousand for those dishes... considering the business model at Delicious, that’s not too expensive."

When it came to gourmet food, as long as the experience was astonishing, no price was too steep for Jiang Wensheng.

The logic was simple: if you think it’s too expensive, you don’t have to eat it.

"So, does that mean if we want to see Boss Su cook again, we’d have to place another custom order?"

"Seems that way," Brother Fang Chang nodded.

’Spending five thousand to host the two of them? Fine, I can live with that. But spending another five thousand just to watch him cook? Even I’m starting to feel the pinch.’

Jiang Wensheng hadn’t touched his bun or egg. He thought for a moment, then turned his gaze to Fang Chang. "How are the wedding arrangements for you and Yuanyuan coming along?"

"PFFT!" Brother Fang Chang nearly choked on a mouthful of egg. "We... wedding?"

’This is way too sudden, isn’t it?’

’Shouldn’t this be something our two families discuss in a formal setting? We’re supposed to sit down together, talk it over for a good long while, and then finalize the plans, right?’

’Why is he suddenly bringing it up over breakfast?’

"You haven’t discussed it yet?"

Brother Fang Chang swallowed the egg in his mouth. ’Can’t back down now!’

"We have! We have! We were just waiting for you to bring it up. My side of the family has been ready for a while! In fact, that’s one of the reasons we invited you both here."

After he finished, Brother Fang Chang breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mm." Jiang Wensheng nodded. "The engagement can’t be too shabby. From our side, besides my wife and me, Yuanyuan’s uncle and aunt will attend."

Fearing Brother Fang Chang wouldn’t understand, Jiang Yuan whispered, "He means my uncle, my father’s older brother. You’ve met him."

Brother Fang Chang racked his brain. "You mean the curator of that museum?"

Previously, when they were in Yangzhou, Jiang Yuan had taken Fang Chang to visit the Xia Country Huaiyang Cuisine Museum. That was where he had met Jiang Yuan’s uncle.

"Mhm, he’s the curator now. He used to be the head chef at our family’s restaurant."

Fang Chang sucked in a breath.

’No way, really?’

Jiang Yuan continued in a low voice, "My uncle is incredible. After helping Dad establish the restaurant’s reputation, he took a backseat. He said that times were changing too fast and he didn’t have an apprentice. Instead of letting his skills die with him, he thought it’d be better to preserve them like specimens for future generations to see. He considered it his contribution to Huaiyang Cuisine."

Now that she mentioned it, Fang Chang remembered.

The uncle’s name was Jiang Wusheng. When he’d visited the museum, he had even read the curator’s biography on display.

About a decade or so ago, Jiang Wusheng was a famous Huaiyang Cuisine chef in the Su and Zhe region. Back then, he was running the family’s ancestral restaurant with his brother.

Later, Jiang Wusheng left the restaurant and worked with the local government and some entrepreneurs to establish this food-themed museum.

It not only presented the history of Huaiyang Cuisine to the world but also housed exhibits on famous chefs from all circles and their signature techniques.

It had to be said, between the scholar and the warrior, these two brothers had given their entire lives to Huaiyang cuisine.

Jiang Wensheng continued, "As for whether Yuanyuan’s cousins can make it, that will depend on their own schedules."

Yuan Suzhen was an only child, so Jiang Yuan didn’t have any uncles on her mother’s side.

"So that’s basically everyone. We don’t need to pick an auspicious date for the engagement. I think the 15th of this month will be fine. That’s two weeks from now."

The more Fang Chang listened, the more bewildered he became.

’Wait a minute, sir... aren’t you supposed to be discussing these things with my parents?’

"Mm, it’s settled then. We’ll have the engagement banquet here. And for the celebration on our end, we’ll hold it at our own family restaurant!"

Brother Fang Chang tried to interject several times but couldn’t get a word in. Her father seemed to be talking at him, yet also just mumbling to himself.

’Still, this is a good thing!’

’Seven years we’ve been dating, and we’re finally seeing a result!’

’My sincerity must have won him over this time!’

’No, not just "him"—my future father-in-law!’

In truth, Fang Chang and Jiang Yuan could have married long ago. But Jiang Yuan had always insisted that she wanted a marriage that had, at the very least, the unanimous and happy approval of both sets of parents.

She didn’t want to force her parents into agreeing.

That was why Fang Chang had worked himself to the bone, trying to earn enough money to win her parents’ approval as soon as possible.

Now, hearing Jiang Wensheng’s words, Brother Fang Chang felt a swell of pride and was genuinely touched.

"Sir, thank you for accepting..."

Jiang Wensheng seemed not to have heard Fang Chang, continuing to mutter to himself.

"Mm, that way basically everyone will be there. The sooner we have the engagement banquet, the sooner I can see Boss Su cook. And I can let my big brother have a look, too... mmm..."

Brother Fang Chang choked on the rest of his sentence.

’Wait... Father-in—Sir, could you please say that again?’

’So after all this time, you weren’t giving me your approval, you were giving it to fucking Boss Su?’

’Okay, okay, fine. So that’s how you’re going to play it, huh?’

’If you’re not satisfied, then go have another daughter and marry her off to Boss Su! Dammit!’