The Gourmet Customizer

"Damn!" Zhan Yang slapped his head. "You’re right. What are we going to do for food?"

While the two were still stunned, they watched the employees of Delicious walk out of the conference room, all smiles.

And then...

Instead of heading toward the cafeteria, they all grabbed their backpacks and walked toward the elevators, one after another.

The two men stared at the scene, dumbfounded.

’Are you kidding me? You guys just got to work!’

’Is this for real, folks? How can they just up and leave like that?’

’Is this what a company run by someone from the 90s is like?’

Zhan Yang suddenly felt a pang of envy. ’What’s the point of earning a lot of money? I spend every day watching over equipment in the equipment room, wasting my life away like an old man. Can that even compare to how happy they are?’

Brother Fang Chang was also filled with emotion. ’We’re both bosses, but I could never be as generous as Boss Su. I feel so ashamed!’

"I hope they get back from their team-building trip soon."

"Why’s that?"

Brother Fang Chang crossed his legs. "In about a week, my future mother-in-law and her family are coming to visit. If this visit goes well, we’ll probably be able to get engaged right away."

"Congratulations!" Zhan Yang clapped Brother Fang Chang on the shoulder. "After all these years, you’re finally making it official!"

Brother Fang Chang’s smile was more pained than a grimace. "But if I can’t win him over, the engagement will be off indefinitely. You know how my future father-in-law is..."

In the "Gourmet Squad" group chat, Zhan Yang and Zhang Yi were good buddies in real life, while he and Brother Fang Chang were friends he’d met online and hit it off with.

They had discussed this matter before, so Zhan Yang knew a little about the situation.

Brother Fang Chang’s future father-in-law ran a long-established restaurant in Yangzhou and was quite wealthy.

His daughter had been raised with the finest food and drink since she was a child. On top of that, she was their only child, so for her to suddenly marry and move to a place like Jingzhou, her father was understandably displeased.

"Come on, this is the modern age. People are free to choose who they love. As long as his daughter is willing, her parents won’t stand in the way. Just treat her well, and everything will be fine."

Brother Fang Chang sighed. "Of course I’ll treat her well. Ah, but hosting my future father-in-law this time... it’s all up to Boss Su. If this all works out, I’ll hold the engagement banquet at his restaurant!"

"Don’t forget to invite me! I’ll have a red envelope ready for you!"

The two chatted casually for a while longer. Seeing that lunch was a lost cause, they decided to leave Delicious.

While the employees went home to pack their clothes and toiletries, Su Chen sat in his office, head down, and started making plans.

This trip to the Capital City wasn’t an aimless one.

There was someone he really wanted to contact...

He opened a chat window on his phone. The name at the top was: Shang Mingke.

Back when Su Chen was a food vlogger, he had done a special on the Capital City, but this trip was different.

When he was making that special, he specifically chose to eat at places popular with out-of-town tourists. That was the way to get views.

This time was different.

According to Su Chen’s interpretation of the Chinese Cuisine Collection’s section on the Capital City, the roast duck from Quanjude and Pianyi Restaurant ranked among the very best. However, Delicious didn’t currently have the equipment to make roast duck, so those two places were out for now.

Then there was Donglaishun’s mutton hot pot.

Regardless of how customers might customize it, trying to replicate mutton hot pot as a single dish offering wasn’t very practical, so that was also out.

The braised, scorched, and plain-boiled dishes from Sha Guo Ju were also not on Su Chen’s list. These cooking methods ran contrary to the palates of Jingzhou People. After all, Delicious was a local restaurant. It couldn’t cater to the whole country just yet, so it needed to have a focus.

He wouldn’t be going to Fangshan for its Qing imperial court-style cuisine, either.

In the end, Su Chen finalized a few century-old delicacies he wanted to prioritize tasting: Chao Geda, Wosi Qingyou Bing, and Jiaoquanr.

These delicacies had something in common with the love Jingzhou People had for wheat-based foods, and they were all authentic, time-honored dishes that were bursting with classic Beijing flavor.

After that, he would have to try a few signature dishes, but the cookbook listed far too many famous restaurants!

There was no way Su Chen could try them all. So, if he wanted to experience the best of the best, he would need a guide.

"President Shang, are you busy?"

To Su Chen’s surprise, the other party replied instantly.

"Not busy."

’I love this kind of directness!’

"I might be dropping by the Capital City in the next few days. I was wondering if President Shang might have some time. I’d like to treat you to a meal."

Su Chen was being subtle, only mentioning treating him to a meal. He figured he could bring up the real reason after he arrived.

’It’s not like Shang Mingke would actually let me pay, right?’

"Boss Su is coming to the Capital City? Treating me to a meal is fine... if you’re the one cooking."

Capital City, City Construction Group headquarters.

Shang Mingke had just finished a meeting and was sipping tea in his office. He looked at his phone, shaking his head with a slight chuckle.

’This Boss Su... why can’t he just say what’s on his mind?’

’Talking about treating me to a meal...’

’If he’s really coming, I’ll definitely have to play the part of a good host. Besides, Uncle Lu specifically told me to find an opportunity to get closer to Boss Su. If Boss Su could participate in the development of Hubei Cuisine, it would surely progress at lightning speed.’

’This is a good opportunity.’

Su Chen’s reply was also very quick.

[Boss Su: I can cook, sure... but I have some other business in the Capital City this time. If I have enough time, I can.]

Shang Mingke thought for a moment and decided to stop beating around the bush with Su Chen.

[Shang Mingke: When will you arrive, Boss Su? I’ll send someone to pick you up. Since you’re coming to the Capital City, it’s my duty to be a good host.]

[Boss Su: This afternoon.]

[Shang Mingke: Got it. If you haven’t booked a hotel, our company guest house is available, as long as you don’t mind, Boss Su. Is there anything in particular you’d like to sample? I can make reservations in advance.]

Shang Mingke’s choice of words was interesting.

Sample.

In his mind, when a person with top-tier skills like Su Chen came to the Capital City to eat, it wasn’t just to have a casual meal. He was surely coming to *sample* and critique the local specialties.

Back at Delicious, Su Chen saw Shang Mingke’s message and burst out laughing.

’Brother Shang is the one who truly gets me!’

[Boss Su: Great, let’s talk more when we meet!]