The Gourmet Customizer

"Good, now that that’s settled. You were simply outmatched. Go back and practice harder," Cui Yufen said to her apprentice, her tone a clear reprimand.

"Yes, Master." Wang Peixing stood behind his master the entire time, not daring to lift his head.

After disciplining her apprentice, Cui Yufen turned back to Su Chen and resumed her cheerful chat.

On the way over, Wang Peixing had mentioned that Su Chen owned a company in Jingzhou, which Cui Yufen found very strange at the time.

’Why would a company chairman possess such incredible culinary skills? Does that make any sense? Does the chairman do the cooking for the company himself?’

Curious, Cui Yufen had Wang Peixing look up the company online.

He didn’t find many specifics, but he did find the company’s TikTok account. A screen full of black stockings made the old woman exclaim in the car that this was not a respectable company!

Fortunately, the account also had a few cooking videos. After watching them repeatedly, she was certain of one thing: this chairman really knew his stuff.

When she learned the details of Meiweilai Company’s business model, Cui Yufen was even more astonished.

’Who on earth runs a restaurant like this? Can you even make money operating this way?’

So, even more than Su Chen’s cooking, Cui Yufen was astounded by what could possibly be going on in this boss’s head.

’With skills like these, he could open any restaurant, create a few signature dishes to build a reputation, and money would be pouring into his pockets, wouldn’t it?’

This made Cui Yufen very curious. "I hear that Master Xiaosu opened a food and beverage company in Jingzhou?"

Su Chen hadn’t expected the old master to bring this up. "Yes, it’s a small company."

Cui Yufen took a breath. "Boss Su, if you don’t mind me asking a presumptuous question. From what I’ve gathered, your ’Delicious Customization’ service can only handle two or three parties of guests a day at most, is that right?"

Su Chen knew what she was getting at. "If it’s a banquet with a larger number of people, then yes, that’s correct."

"Fortunately, rent in Jingzhou isn’t expensive and salaries aren’t high, so the company can just barely manage to stay afloat."

’Hmm... just barely. It’s on the verge of bankruptcy.’

That wasn’t what Cui Yufen wanted to hear. She asked, "Mr. Su, what I mean is, with such incredible skill, why would you run a company like this? Your talent could support a top-tier restaurant anywhere in the country."

She couldn’t speak for other dishes, but just that Kung Pao Chicken that had completely stumped her apprentice... if that were on the menu at Cuihua Building, Cui Yufen was confident...

...doubling their customer traffic would be no problem at all!

Only people in the restaurant industry knew how incredibly difficult it was for a restaurant to have a dish that makes customers think, ’That was so good, I have to come back for more!’

Hearing this, Su Chen paused.

He wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

’To be honest, it was just to get rid of some inventory, and the company hardly gets any walk-in customers anyway.’

Facing this highly respected master chef, Su Chen decided it was best to put on a bit of an act.

"I’ve always believed that true culinary art requires time and dedication. The purpose of Meiweilai’s business isn’t to make a lot of money, but to create dishes that genuinely satisfy our customers. That has always been my goal."

Tsk!

Shang Mingke, with his legs crossed and fingers pinching his chin, found it incredibly awkward listening to Boss Su say this with such a straight face.

Cui Yufen chuckled. "There aren’t many people as pure in their craft as Mr. Su these days. In that case..."

’Is the main event finally here?’

Su Chen sat up straight and listened intently.

"My birthday is coming up soon. A few days ago, Peixing and the others mentioned wanting to book a table at Cuihua Building for a meal, but I told them if we really went to Cuihua Building, wouldn’t my other disciples be upset?"

"I’ve taken on quite a few disciples over the years, and every one of them wants to celebrate my birthday with me."

"I thought about it, and it wouldn’t be right to go to any one of their places. I was actually worrying about this on my way back. As I see it..."

Cui Yufen turned to Wang Peixing. "The Capital City isn’t that far from Jingzhou. Let’s just go to Boss Su’s place. It’ll save you and your fellow disciples from arguing!"

Wang Peixing remained expressionless. "As you wish."

In reality, he was already numb inside.

’How did this get pinned on me again? We clearly agreed to go to Quanjude! Besides, don’t you celebrate your birthday there every year?’

Because her own master had worked at Quanjude his entire life, Cui Yufen celebrated her birthday there every year. She had even held several disciple acceptance ceremonies there.

"You’re more than welcome!" Su Chen couldn’t be happier to have a customer. He stood up and shook Cui Yufen’s hand. "When is your birthday, and how many disciples will there be? So I can prepare in advance."

Cui Yufen smiled. "The birthday is in about half a month. As for disciples... not too many. Including the last closed-door disciple I took on this year, forty people."

Su Chen: ?

Cui Yufen added, "Many of them are busy elsewhere and might not be able to make it. Just count on twenty."

Good grief!

It was only now that Su Chen realized the old woman hadn’t let him off the hook. She’d been setting up a finishing move!

Cui Yufen wasn’t finished. "My lineage traces back to the esteemed Mr. Wang Chunlong. I came to the Capital City from Ji Province back then specifically to learn Lu Cuisine, and my entire lineage specializes in it. Since you offer ’Delicious Customization,’ let’s have Lu Cuisine for the occasion."

Su Chen desperately wanted to refuse.

’I went and caused a stir at her restaurant, and now she’s bringing her disciples to my company to cause a stir in return!’

’Twenty-some Masters of Lu Cuisine—I can’t say all of them, but at least half are prominent figures in the culinary world—coming to Meiweilai to taste my Lu Cuisine... Isn’t that just roasting me over an open fire?’

’I, Su Chen, am no fool!’