The Gourmet Customizer

Cui Yufen looked at her apprentice’s dejected state, her anger flaring up. Just then, a call came in—a WeChat video call, no less!

It seemed even the older generation, like her, had learned to use WeChat and were keeping up with the times.

"Yongliang?"

"Yufen!" Whether it was the camera angle or not, Lu Yongliang’s face looked exceptionally large. "I heard your apprentice’s restaurant took down its own sign? The news is all over our circle!"

"None of your damn business!" Cui Yufen’s eyebrows shot up.

’Doesn’t this old geezer have better things to do, like go dancing with old ladies in the square? Why does he have time to poke fun at me?’

’He was so meek and deferential when we met at the National Guest House last time. It’s only been a few days, and he’s already forgotten his place?’

There was nothing to be done... Hubei Cuisine was considered a notch below Lu Cuisine, especially when it came to state banquets.

But Lu Yongliang wasn’t flustered at all. In fact, he was quite smug. "Yufen, I’d advise you to stay out of this! That young fella has a powerful background!"

"Oh?" Cui Yufen’s eyebrows relaxed slightly. "Is he one of yours?"

Lu Yongliang sucked in a breath. "How could I teach a Lu Cuisine apprentice?! What I mean is, I’ve met this young fella before."

"Right in Jingzhou! We even had a little showdown back then."

Whoa!

Cui Yufen was suddenly intrigued. "And what happened? Don’t tell me you lost to a junior?"

Lu Yongliang pursed his lips. "How is that possible! It was a fifty-fifty split. Yup, that’s right, we tied."

Pfft!

Cui Yufen sneered. "Then you’re really not that great. What dish did you make that only ended in a tie?"

Only then did Lu Yongliang’s smile fade slightly. "Steamed Wuchang Fish."

Cui Yufen had already prepared her next taunt for Lu Yongliang, but the moment Elder Lu said the name of the dish, the words caught in her throat.

Steamed Wuchang Fish?

That was Lu Yongliang’s signature dish!

The one he always made when hosting foreign dignitaries!

And he could only manage a tie?

"That’s why I’m saying it’s normal that your apprentice can’t compare to him. I only managed a tie myself. Tell your apprentice not to worry, and just serve whatever diced chicken with walnuts he’s supposed to!"

The more Lu Yongliang spoke, the more uncertain Cui Yufen’s expression became.

"Alright, Yufen, that’s all from me. The missus is calling me out. You absolutely must not go looking for that young fella, you hear? Remember what I said, definitely don’t go!"

After hanging up, Lu Yongliang excitedly slapped his thigh.

’Fight! Fight! Haha, hurry up and fight! Serves you right for acting all high and mighty, and for dissing me at the National Guest House! Let’s see how you handle this!’

’Once my apprentice learns Boss Su’s skills, haha, I’ll go to that apprentice’s place, Cuihua Building, to issue a challenge! I’ll go every day! I’ll challenge you to death!’

In his excitement, Lu Yongliang didn’t forget to send another WeChat message to Liu Ahbao.

He cleared his throat. "Ah Bao, your phone’s video isn’t working. Hurry up and turn on that camera on your head. I want to video call you in a bit!"

[Apprentice Ah Bao: Master, that camera isn’t for video calls, it’s for live streaming!!!]

Lu Yongliang scoffed. "Why are you typing, kid? Send a voice message, I’m too lazy to read!"

[Apprentice Ah Bao: I’m eating with Brother Shang... and Boss Su.]

Lu Yongliang excitedly slapped his thigh again.

’Perfect!’

’Perfect!’

’With Cui Yufen’s explosive temper, plus a little stoking from me, isn’t a good show about to start?’

’Besides, I deliberately told Cui Yufen it was a tie. If she actually goes and ends up in a tie with Boss Su, wouldn’t that prove she’s only so-so?’

’In the future, when we all meet, no one can look down on anyone else!’

’We’ll just use Boss Su as the benchmark!’

’"I’d have a 30-70 chance against Boss Su!"’

’"I’d be 40-60!"’

’"I’m 50-50!"’

’Whoever has the higher odds is the top dog!’

At this thought, the old man couldn’t help but roar with laughter. He quickly urged his apprentice to start the live stream, already impatient to see if Cui Yufen would actually go find Boss Su.

Just as Lu Yongliang expected.

After hanging up, Cui Yufen took a sip of tea. "It seems this matter can’t be blamed on you. If what Lu Yongliang said is true, then this Boss Su might really have an expert guiding him from behind the scenes!"

Wang Peixing covered his face. ’Master, where are you even going with this?!’

"Do you know where this Boss Su is staying?"

Seeing the miserable look on Wang Peixing’s face, Cui Yufen said, "Don’t get the wrong idea. A Master of Shandong Cuisine like him has come to the Capital City. If we don’t pay him a visit, it would seem like we have no manners."

Only then did Wang Peixing say, "He’s staying at the City Construction Group’s guest house."

Wang Peixing had been so dazed from his setback against Su Chen these past few days that he’d genuinely forgotten about paying a visit. Now that his master pointed it out, he felt he had indeed been rude.

"Prepare some gifts. We’ll go pay him a visit in a little while."

Wang Peixing couldn’t read any particular expression on his master’s face, but he still felt a little uneasy.

He had no choice but to prepare the gifts first, then arranged for a car and headed toward the City Construction Group.

...

"Ah Bao, why are you wearing that camera on your head?" Shang Mingke chided.

’Can’t you just eat your meal properly? Why are you fiddling with that useless thing?’

"Hey, Brother Shang, the old master insisted I start a live stream. He said he wants to watch right now. I don’t get it either, what’s so interesting about watching someone eat?!" Liu Ahbao was also puzzled.

’If you want to see Brother Shang, can’t you two just chat privately?’

’Why drag me into it?’

’Don’t you know how hurtful that is?’

Shang Mingke shot him a look, then turned to Su Chen with a smile. "Boss Su, is the food in our cafeteria to your liking?"

Su Chen took a sip of soup. "It’s pretty good. That’s the great thing about Sichuan Cuisine. As long as you hit the marks for numbing, spicy, and rich flavors, there’s a certain baseline of quality. It’s hard for it to be truly bad."

That’s why many construction sites and other cafeterias prefer to hire chefs from Sichuan Province.

They don’t mess around when they cook, and their seasoning is genuinely fragrant. When the flavor is there, how can the food not be delicious?

A chef like the one at Xinghui, who can make perfectly good ingredients taste so awful, is truly one of a kind.

"As long as it’s good." Shang Mingke glanced down at his phone, the corner of his mouth lifting into a slight smile. "Boss Su, it’s still a while before your train leaves. How about we go have some tea over there?"

"Sounds good."

The group moved to the lounge, where Assistant Xiaozhang poured them tea.

Only then did Shang Mingke say, "Manager Wang Peixing would like to come and visit you in a little while."

"Huh?" Su Chen slumped back on the sofa, dejected. "As long as he’s not here to beat me up."

"He won’t be. His master is with him."

Su Chen: ?_?

"Don’t overthink it. It’s really just a visit. To chat, have some tea. Nothing else," Shang Mingke explained.

Su Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

To be honest, he really disliked these kinds of pointless formalities.

These visits between people in the same industry... when you meet, it’s just awkward small talk and a round of commercial flattery before they leave. What’s the point?

Ever since he stopped getting red envelope money, Su Chen didn’t even want to visit relatives during the New Year, let alone strangers.

But since President Shang said it was just for tea, Su Chen didn’t press the issue.

’Anyway, I’m leaving in a few hours.’

’You guys can do whatever the hell you want!’