Epilogue

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Lu Jingqian thought he would return to the system, waiting to be sent to the next world. However, his body continued to drift, not knowing where it would eventually lead.

Even with his eyes closed, he could sense that he was surrounded by a dazzling white light, though he couldn’t tell if there was anything else in his surroundings besides the white light.

Suddenly, he felt a powerful force drawing him away. He inexplicably started to feel fear because he didn’t know what would happen next. What about his system? Why hadn’t he returned to the system space? What was this force pulling him away? He felt like he was on the verge of breaking apart and disintegrating.

Then, he truly shattered and disintegrated…

Lu Jingqian still couldn’t open his eyes, but he could see. He clearly saw a transparent version of himself, broken into four or five pieces, with each piece playing different scenes like screens that could still function despite being shattered.

Like a carousel, each scene played rapidly and was then sucked into the blinding light.

When there was nothing left of the fragments, he fell into darkness once again.

Lu Jingqian opened his eyes. He could finally open his eyes. He also remembered everything, why he ended up in the human realm, and how he was continually sent to different worlds through the system.

He looked at the wooden bed surrounded by blue smoke and purple gauze curtains, on which floated golden characters as if they were containing an enchantment over him.

“Awake?” A deep, resonant voice reached Lu Jingqian’s ears, and then the gauze curtain was drawn back, and the characters dispersed.

“Master… is it over?” Lu Jingqian turned to look at the wise and mighty man.

Yi Suo sat down by the bed, caressing the face of his beloved disciple. “It’s over.”

“Master…” Lu Jingqian had intended to be a bit coquettish with him, to stop him from getting angry, but he suddenly remembered what had happened in the mortal realm and blushed. “You still want me to have your child. You’re so shameless. Act your age.”

“Master has raised you, so what’s wrong with you having a child for your master?” Yi Suo lay down beside him.

“You can’t do this. I’m your disciple. You can’t do this to me.” Lu Jingqian blushed and held Yi Suo’shand.

“Haven’t we done it many times already? Let me help you remember.”

“No, you can’t do this. Master… don’t get in. Please don’t!” Lu Jingqian wanted to struggle, but he had no strength left. Although they had done this many times in the mortal realm, doing it with their true selves was a different experience.

Anyway, he couldn’t resist, then… he could only enjoy it.

Lu Jingqian’s expression gradually became hazy, his gaze unfocused. At this moment, in his eyes, it was only Yi Suo who was pressing down on him, doing something that only the most intimate of people could do, the person who had raised him and always cherished him. His master. In his heart, he felt happy and content. After doing this, they would have no reason to hide anymore.

Yi Suo was the god of time and space and one of the few ancient gods. He resided on a celestial mountain at the peak of the heavenly realm, avoiding worldly matters and living as an ancient deity.

Lu Jingqian was a human formed from the essence of heaven and earth, born of the heavenly father and earthly mother. He was the most delicious tonic in the world. If a demon devoured him, they would instantly gain the power to confront the ancient gods. Fortunately, when he transformed into his humanoid form, Yi Suo sensed it and arrived in time to retrieve him. Yi Suo used his divine power to conceal his scent so no one could discover his true form.

When he was still an innocent and ignorant baby, Yi Suo started raising him personally. Not only did he teach him magic, but they also ate and lived together. Even as Lu Jingqian slowly grew up, he continued to share the same bed with Yi Suo, sleeping in his arms every day. This was how they had been since Lu Jingqian could remember, so he didn’t think there was anything wrong with it.

Although Yi Suo lived a reclusive life and didn’t concern himself with heavenly matters, everyone knew that he had a beloved disciple. Because of Lu Jingqian’s strong knack for getting into trouble, Yi Suo often had to step in to clean up and resolve the mess. The once mysterious ancient deity was no longer so mysterious.

The key was Lu Jingqian didn’t intentionally seek trouble, and he didn’t want to burden his master, but trouble always seemed to find him unintentionally. After numerous incidents, the gods of the heavenly realm knew about him. However, since he was Yi Suo’s most beloved disciple, no deity dared to confront him.

Lu Jingqian always thought that his way of interacting with Yi Suo was perfectly normal. Even though he had grown up and was thousands of years old, Yi Suo still embraced him when he slept, kissed him, and touched him every day. They loved each other, and this was not wrong in their eyes. Doing such things to someone you didn’t like would be wrong. This is what Yi Suo taught him.

It was until a pair of master and disciple in the heavenly realm was punished and had their immortality taken away for falling in love. Only then did he learn that love between master and disciple was forbidden.

At that time, Lu Jingqian was unaware that this pair of master and disciple had committed a major crime, which had led to divine retribution, and thus, they had to be punished severely. The prohibition on romantic relationships between master and disciple was just an additional charge to compound their crimes. While the rule existed, it was just one of many heavenly rules. As long as they kept their relationship discreet, everyone would pretend not to know. Who had the time to monitor who was sleeping with whom every day?

However, Lu Jingqian had entered his teenage years and was sensitive, thoughtful, confused, and melancholic. When he found out that a romantic relationship between master and disciple was prohibited, he began to avoid Yi Suo.

At first, Yi Suo didn’t take it seriously, assuming that Lu Jingqian was just being moody. After all, even though all the deities knew that he had feelings for his young disciple, who would dare to do anything to them? So he thought that after some time, Lu Jingqian would naturally return to normal.

However, even during his normal moments, Lu Jingqian often caused trouble unintentionally. During this abnormal phase, he didn’t take long to commit a major blunder. He accidentally knocked over the Heavenly Realm Temporal Clock, causing chaos in the lower realm’s time and space.

All the gods couldn’t fathom how he managed to knock that thing over. The Heavenly Realm Temporal Clock wasn’t something all gods could control. It was left unguarded because, in the absence of a decree from the Heavenly Emperor, it was merely a curiosity. New gods might be curious and gather around it at first, but over time, it became an overlooked fixture, and most gods didn’t even glance at it anymore.

However, the fates of different gods varied, and even among gods, not everyone was treated the same. If any other god had made such a mistake, they would be subjected to divine retribution and suffer in the lower realms. But with Yi Suo to vouch for him, Lu Jingqian merely claimed to be punished while enjoying a comfortable life elsewhere.

Yi Suo used his divine power to create a system for him and drew out a wisp of his soul to accompany him to the lower realm.

When Lu Jingqian woke up, he noticed that Yi Suo was not in the bed or the room. He got out of bed, dressed, and then opened a hidden compartment near the bed to retrieve his spatial pouch made of dark jade silk. This pouch contained all his important belongings, a gift from Yi Suo.

Lu Jingqian carefully pushed the bedroom door open and confirmed there was no one in the outer room before quickly sneaking out, intending to make a run for it.

“Where are you going?” Yi Suo, who had originally been absent, suddenly manifested on the bed and asked. As a deity who controlled time and space, he could be wherever he pleased.

“Master…” Lu Jingqian stopped in his tracks, turned around, and bowed his head as he addressed Yi Suo. “I’m going to find Tao Yuan to play.”

“Taoyuan has gone to the lower realms for rebirth. Where are you going to find him?” Yi Suo replied.

“Taoyuan has gone for rebirth too?” Lu Jingqian raised his head, somewhat surprised, and asked, “Why did he have to be reborn? Did he also make a mistake?”

“Ask him when he returns. For now, you’re not allowed to go anywhere. Do you understand?” Yi Suo rarely used an imposing tone with him, but whenever he did, it meant he had to behave and obey.

“I understand.” Lu Jingqian replied softly.

It seemed like Yi Suo had urgent matters to attend to. After speaking, he promptly vanished.

Since he wasn’t allowed to leave the top of the Heavenly Realm, Lu Jingqian decided he didn’t need to sneak around. He strolled leisurely outside, where many celestial servants were cleaning the courtyard. The herbs his master planted in this courtyard were anything but ordinary and required careful maintenance.

“Young Master.”

“Young Master, you’re awake?”

“Hello Young Master.”

The celestial servants greeted Lu Jingqian and bowed politely in greetings when they saw him, and Lu Jingqian nodded in response.

“Young Master,” one of the celestial servants approached with a tray of divine fruits, saying, “These are the fruits Master ordered for you to eat before you go play.”

“Ah,” Lu Jingqian took one of the celestial fruits and took a bite. He thought to himself that he couldn’t leave the Heavenly Realm’s peak, and he had explored this mountain thoroughly. What else could be interesting except aimless wandering?

Lu Jingqian went to the pavilion by the lotus pond, sat down, and leisurely enjoyed the celestial fruit. He turned to the celestial servant sitting next to him and asked, “During the time I was asleep, did anything interesting happen in the Heavenly Realm?”

“Young Master, you didn’t sleep for long.” The celestial servant replied after a moment of thought. “The biggest event in the Heavenly Realm these days is probably that, after Senior Brother Tao Yuan went to the lower realm, all the gods have been celebrating. They might continue celebrating until he returns.”

Lu Jingqian almost choked on the celestial fruit in his mouth. These gods were truly amusing. They were celebrating just because Tao Yuan went to the lower realm. But when he considered Tao Yuan’s ability to destroy people with a few words, Lu Jingqian could understand their joy.

“They’re probably celebrating while dreading his return. Once Tao Yuan is back, they’ll be in for some torment.” Lu Jingqian thought to himself, sympathizing with the villains of the worlds where Taoyuan had been sent. Even though the gods would likely erase their memories about the Heavenly Realm, some traits couldn’t be changed. Tao Yuan’s most prominent trait was his sharp tongue, and many gods, after speaking to him for a few moments, felt the urge to self-destruct. Although he had lost his original memories, his talent for verbal poison was unlikely to disappear completely.

The celestial servant glanced at Lu Jingqian and thought to himself, “Young Master, you really lack self-awareness. Don’t you know you’re one of the Heavenly Realm’s three great God-avoiders?”

The Heavenly Realm’s three great God-avoiders were the first prince, Jing Yang. However, because he was the prince, due to the etiquette of monarchs and ministers, those gods could not hide even if they wanted to. Otherwise, they would be disrespecting the prince. Fortunately, Jing Yang is normal most of the time, except for the occasional convulsions, which can be fatal. All the gods can do is try not to touch him when he has convulsions.

The second one is Lu Jingqian. No matter where he goes, he will definitely get into trouble. The key is that he didn’t do it on purpose, so the gods who suffered losses can’t be angry. Because if you are not angry and are polite to him, Yi Suo can compensate you. If you get angry and yell at him, Yi Suo will make you unable to cry, let alone get angry.

So, wherever Lu Jingqian went, all the gods would immediately close the doors to their temples. Even the godly mountains without doors would quickly set up restrictions to keep him out. In short, he was troublesome but avoidable.

The third one, Tao Yuan, was even more formidable. Whenever the gods heard his name, they would immediately flee in a panic. As soon as he opened his mouth, his words could pierce the hearts of others, causing them to bleed and fall to the ground.

The Old Demon Lord of the Demon Realm once offended Tao Yuan and endured his insults for three days and nights. As a result, the Old Demon Lord was so infuriated that he self-destructed his primordial spirit. Since then, Tao Yuan became famous with a single battle, and his reputation spread throughout both the divine and demon realms.

He also had the support of an ancient deity and was someone you couldn’t provoke, only avoid.

These three individuals were collectively known as the “Three Great God-Avoiders” in the Heavenly Realm. They were known as follows: gods who saw him would want to avoid him, gods who saw him would definitely avoid him, and gods who saw him would avoid him if they could but would contemplate suicide if they couldn’t.

Since they couldn’t make friends with other gods in the Heavenly Realm, these three often hung out together. When the three of them appeared together, their combined impact was more devastating than divine retribution.

As Lu Jingqian was enjoying his celestial fruit and thinking about when Tao Yuan would return so he could share his stories.

Yi Suo suddenly appeared and held him on his lap.

Lu Jingqian was used to it and calmly took a bite of his fruit, saying, “Master.”

Yi Suo lifted his chin and shared the fruit in his mouth with Lu Jingqian.

Although Lu Jingqian had been subjected to this countless times from a young age and had grown accustomed to it, he now felt somewhat embarrassed.

Lu Jingqian pushed him away while blushing and said, “Please don’t do this. They’re all watching.”

In reality, no one dared to watch. As soon as Yi Suo appeared, the celestial servants standing nearby immediately left.

In an instant, the two of them were back on the bed in their room, with the celestial fruit placed nearby. Lu Jingqian had already had his pants removed and continued eating his fruit while Yi Suo began to partake in another activity.

It’s the end! Finally~

<< TOC

Food and Live Broadcast（16）

<< TOC >>

“President Hong, I truly have mixed feelings about your Rainbow Pavilion, and it has reached the point where I think about it day and night. President Liu complained to Hong Boxiao, “How can you set such an inhumane rule that no extra dishes can be ordered? The menu has so few items; even if I order everything, it’s still insufficient to satisfy my hunger.”

“Fifty-plus dishes are still considered few?” Ou Wenyu said. “Aren’t other restaurants offering a similar number of dishes?”

“Why are you comparing yourselves to other restaurants?” President Liu retorted. “Other restaurants don’t have a rule against adding more dishes. Moreover, after dining at your Rainbow Pavilion, trying other restaurant dishes feels like a joke. I’m not the only one who feels this way. While the quality of dishes at other restaurants might be a factor, your restaurant bears significant responsibility for this issue.”

Hong Boxiao’s assistant entered, whispered a few words in his ear, and then left.

Hong Boxiao stood up and said, “Wenyu, please continue dining with President Liu. I have something to attend to.”

“Go ahead. I’ll keep President Liu company,” Ou Wenyu said.

Lu Jingqian sat sipping tea, enjoying the colorful changes in Yan Bin’s expression. Even though he was mocking Yan Bin, he didn’t storm off, indicating he was determined to have this meeting.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and Lu Jingqian turned to see Hong Boxiao entering. He asked, “Did you finish your meal? Or did you come halfway through?”

“I came after finishing most of the meal,” Hong Boxiao replied, taking a seat next to Lu Jingqian. He looked at Yan Bin and asked, “Is Mr. Yan here to dine at our Rainbow Pavilion? Or did he come specifically to chat with Shaoxuan?”

“I came to have a meal with a friend and have a chat with him as well.” Yan Bin hadn’t reserved a table and was brought in by an acquaintance, but he couldn’t admit that. Seeing Hong Boxiao’s arrival, he knew their discussion wouldn’t happen today, and he wasn’t sure when he’d get another chance to meet Lu Jingqian.

“Mr. Yan is here to discuss a collaboration with me. He wants me to leave Rainbow Garden and partner with them. They are willing to pay the breach of contract fee for me and return the Lan family recipes. Don’t you feel nervous at all?” Lu Jingqian said with a smile as he looked at Hong Boxiao.

“The Lan family recipes?” Hong Boxiao chuckled and, indulgingly, looked at Lu Jingqian. “I’ll open as many restaurants as you want. What’s there to be nervous about?”

Yan Bin didn’t want to leave empty-handed. Since Lu Jingqian had already spoken, he felt there was no need to hide his intentions.

“The Lan family recipes are not just a collection of restaurants. They are also a registered trademark, and the ownership of this trademark belongs solely to the heir. So, opening a Lan family restaurant isn’t as easy as you might think, Mr. Hong. I assume you are familiar with the law?” This was Yan Bin’s strongest argument for today’s collaboration talk.

“If I didn’t understand the law, you wouldn’t have the opportunity to sit here and talk to me.” Hong Boxiao said with a smile on his face but a sharp look in his eyes. “I’ll let you keep the trademark for the Lan family recipes for a little while longer. Soon, I will take back the ownership of Shaoxuan.”

Under the imposing presence of Hong Boxiao, Yan Bin couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. However, he refused to back down and, summoning his courage met Hong Boxiao’s gaze. “It seems Mr. Hong is very confident. But you should know that some things are easier said than done. Although the Yan family’s business may not be as extensive as the Hong family’s, it’s not something others can easily control.”

“I, Hong Boxiao, have never made a promise I couldn’t keep.” Hong Boxiao stated firmly. “Mr. Yan should be well aware of that. Such as when I previously said I would make it so that your Yan family had no foothold in the technology and energy industries. You’ve witnessed the result, haven’t you?”

Yan Bin’s face turned grim. Provoked by both Lu Jingqian and Hong Boxiao, he was teetering on the edge of an outburst.

“Now, let me say one more thing, Mr. Yan. You’d better listen carefully and remember it because once I utter these words, they will come to fruition in the shortest time possible.” Hong Boxiao said. “I not only want to reclaim the Lan family recipes’ trademark for Shao Xuan, but I also want your Yan family to have no foothold in the food and restaurant industry.”

“Our Yan family has stood strong in the food and beverage industry for decades. Your Hong family entered the industry less than a year ago, and you want to make sure the Yan family has no standing. Mr. Yan, with grand statements like these, you might want to watch your tongue.” Yan Bin taunted. “When you make such bold claims, you should be careful not to choke on your words.”

“Then we’ll just have to wait and see,” Hong Boxiao raised his hand towards the door and said, “Mr. Yan, please.”

“Please? What please?” Lu Jingqian pulled Hong Boxiao’s hand back and said, “You should say, ‘Mr. Yan, get out.’”

Yan Bin was trembling with anger. He suddenly stood up and said, “I will make you regret the words you said today! When the time comes, you better not come begging to me!”

As Yan Bin left and the assistant closed the door, Lu Jingqian straddled Hong Boxiao’s lap, leaned on his neck, and said, “Did you find that lawyer?”

“I found him,” Hong Boxiao lowered Lu Jingqian’s neck, pinched his chin, and kissed him, saying, “I also found some crucial witnesses. They won’t be arrogant for much longer. I’ll soon help you get the Lan family recipes back.”

Lu Jingqian playfully said, “Since you’re helping me so much, I have no way to repay you. How about, how about offering myself to you?”

“Offering yourself, huh?” Hong Boxiao massaged his thigh, playing along, and said, “Then I’ll have to inspect you first.”

“How do you want to inspect?” Lu Jingqian deliberately appeared shy as he looked at him.

“Of course, you have to strip first, then check from top to bottom, from outside to inside thoroughly.” Hong Boxiao hugged him to the inner resting room.

Lu Jingqian was placed on top of the bed, and his clothes were taken off cleanly. At first, he still wanted to play a little bit more with Hong Boxiao, but after his legs were separated, he was quickly unable to act.

“Lighter, lighter.” Lu Jingqian was breathing heavily, his body unconsciously trembling. He tightly grabbed Hong Boxiao’s hair, his leg was placed on his shoulder, and his voice was trembling a little as he complained, “You hurt me. Even inspection doesn’t have to use so much force.”

“Inspection, of course, has to be done thoroughly.” Hong Boxiao didn’t let Lu Jingqian go just because he complained. On the other hand, he uses more force.

“Lu Jingqian felt both painful and comfortable. He wanted to struggle and keep some distance, yet hoping for more. Asking for it to be lighter while taking the initiative to speed up.

………………………………

Yan Bin couldn’t convince Lu Jingqian, and he honestly confessed to his father. He complained to Master Yan about how Lu Jingqian and Hong Boxiao had mocked and looked down upon the Yan family and how they intended to make the Yan family have no standing in the food and beverage industry. Yan Bin suggested to Master Yan that they should stand their ground and show Lu Jingqian and Hong Boxiao that the Yan family was not to be trifled with.

After listening to Yan Bin, Master Yan felt that while Yan Bin couldn’t persuade Lu Jingqian, Hong Boxiao, and Lu Jingqian had gone too far. However, he had a better understanding of the overall situation. Despite the Yan family’s longstanding position in the food and beverage industry, the Hong family was more powerful, and with Lu Jingqian’s support, it was not impossible for them to challenge the Hong family’s position.

If the Hong family’s power wasn’t strong enough or Lu Jingqian’s culinary skills weren’t as exceptional as they seemed, Yan Lao would have had confidence in a direct confrontation. But with these two strong allies working together, the Yan family’s chances of success appeared quite slim unless they had some unexpected help or the Hong family and Lu Jingqian faced an unforeseen setback. However, such possibilities were much smaller than the likelihood of the Yan family beating the Hong family.

Master Yan decided to personally meet with Lu Jingqian, relying on the decades-long relationship he had with Lu Jingqian’s grandfather. He believed that by appealing to Lu Jingqian with reason and sentiment about his grandfather, offering him additional benefits, and emphasizing the Lan family recipes, he had a high chance of persuading him.

Master Yan looked for Lu Jingqian to meet, and compared to his attitude when treating Yan Bin as either not replying or telling them to get lost, Lu Jingqian quickly agreed to Yan Lao’s request for a meeting and set a time and place for the meeting.

Master Yan felt more confident in his ability to persuade Lu Jingqian, thanks to his seniority and the status of an elder.

So, Master Yan, accompanied by the elders of the Gourmet Association, went to the agreed-upon location to meet Lu Jingqian. However, they didn’t meet Lu Jingqian but rather Grandfather Hong and his group.

Master Yan felt manipulated and was naturally very angry. Grandfather Hong directly informed him that it was he who had convinced Lu Jingqian to agree to the meeting, and from the beginning, Lu Jingqian had no intention of meeting Master Yan.

Grandfather Hong also informed him that Lu Jingqian and Hong Boxiao were getting married, with the wedding scheduled for March next year. After that, Lu Jingqian will be a family member of the Hong family. After they had children, the Hong family and the Lan family would become closely intertwined. Rainbow Pavilion would merge with the Lan family recipes, and their children would inherit their legacy.

Master Yan and his group were left unable to respond, seething with anger and frustration as Hong’s grandfather gloated and taunted them.

After returning home, Master Yan fell ill. The doctor’s examination revealed that he had suffered from heart problems due to anger and stress, and his condition required more psychological treatment to uplift his spirits, which was more effective than any medication.

However, after Master Yan, who had always been in good health, fell ill, he was not met with thoughts of helping him recover quickly but with schemes to secure more of his assets before he passed away among his sons and grandsons.

The start date of the annual Best Culinary Skills competition was approaching. Both Lu Jingqian and Lan Mingze had confirmed their participation. Lan Mingze knew he couldn’t beat Lu Jingqian solely based on skill, so he was racking his brains, trying to find other ways to win the competition.

Lan Mingze was currently plagued by online harassment, and he hadn’t dared to livestream for a long time. Every time he went live, people would ask why Lan Shaoxuan’s culinary skills were so much better and why he had inherited the Lan family recipes. Some even bluntly suggested that he had tampered with the will, as it was evident that Lan Shaoxuan was the rightful heir, meticulously groomed for it. The situation was full of doubts that were difficult to explain.

Some journalists sought to interview Lan Mingze, hoping he could provide positive answers and explanations to the public’s questions. However, Lan Mingze couldn’t offer a response, as he was afraid Lu Jingqian might expose his lies. Therefore, he continued to evade and remained silent on the matter.

But the more he evaded, the more severe the public’s doubts became. Various speculations and queries had emerged online, and some internet users even expressed hope for an investigation by the authorities to thoroughly examine the situation and release the results.

While some of Lan Mingze’s fans defended him when internet users were berating him, they were quickly overwhelmed by the mob, questioning why Lan Mingze didn’t come forward to explain or accept an investigation if he had nothing to hide.

Lan Mingze was torn between fear and anxiety, feeling that he could no longer hide his actions. This intense fear left him restless and uncertain about what to do.

He curled up on the couch, covered by a thin blanket, tightly hugging himself. He couldn’t return to the Lan family villa as reporters were waiting there to interview him. He had to stay in the house that Yan Bin had provided, but the fear still lingered.

Suddenly, the door swung open, startling Lan Mingze. When he saw that it was Yan Bin, he breathed a sigh of relief, remembering that this was a place only he and Yan Bin knew about.

“Why didn’t you answer your phone?” Yan Bin’s expression was less than pleasant. He walked over and sat on the opposite couch, looking weary.

“I wanted some quiet time alone, so I turned off my phone.” Lan Mingze maintained his position without moving.

“There’s something I need to tell you… ” Yan Bin sighed and said, “The lawyer who helped us modify the will can’t be reached suddenly.”

Lan Mingze felt a pang of anxiety and had a terrible premonition. “Isn’t he the one who, after accepting our favors, said that he would contact you periodically to ask for the remaining money? Why can’t he be reached now?”

“I don’t know if something happened to him or if there are other reasons for him not to contact me. It would be best if he had an accident, and that’s why he can’t be reached. Otherwise, we might have a big problem,” Lan Mingze said. “Since my grandfather fell ill, the Yan family is in disarray. My uncles and cousins are all tough to deal with. I can’t afford to be distracted right now. Otherwise, they might snatch away the family’s assets.”

“But what if the lawyer hasn’t had an accident and suddenly exposes us?” Lan Mingze asked anxiously.

“The key is still Lan Shaoxuan. If he’s willing to reconcile with you, then all the threats will disappear. You have to think if there’s any way to make Lan Shaoxuan stop opposing us and be willing to speak up for you. It would be best if he could join the Gourmet Association, and then we need my grandfather to recover quickly. Otherwise, I might not be able to win against my uncles,” Yan Bin said. He was in a desperate situation and had run out of options, and Lan Mingze was his last hope.

After sitting for a while, Yan Bin left. Lan Mingze was left alone in the house, tormented by restlessness and unable to sit still. He paced back and forth, unable to find peace of mind.

But no matter how anxious Lan Mingze was, what should happen still happened.

The next day, almost all of the news stations reported the same news.

“Lawyer Cheng surrendered himself and confessed that he acted under someone’s orders and was coerced into fabricating a fake will…”

In the news, Lawyer Cheng appeared haggard, with lifeless eyes, suggesting he had undergone considerable mental torment. He strongly demanded that the court give him a severe punishment and not release him. He didn’t want to go free under any circumstances.

Lawyer Cheng disclosed everything, claiming that Yan Bin had threatened and coerced him, even using his family as leverage to ensure he followed their instructions, or else his family would face dire consequences.

During media interviews, he recounted the entire process. He was coerced by Yan Bin to visit the Lan family when Mr. Lan was still alive, with only Lan Mingze present at that time. Then Yan Bin forced him to modify the will, causing Mr. Lan to leave his fingerprint on the document. After the will took effect, they waited for Mr. Lan to pass away before taking him to the hospital.

Lawyer Cheng presented the original will, asserting it was the one personally written by Mr. Lan and it contained nothing designated for Lan Mingze. Not just the Lan family recipes but every single belonging of the Lan family was to be inherited by Lan Shaoxuan.

As Lan Mingze watched the news, his body began to tremble, and he collapsed to the ground. He knew it was over. Everything had come to an end.

The public was in an uproar after watching the news. They couldn’t believe that these individuals had the audacity to manipulate a lawyer into altering someone’s will while the person was on their deathbed. This was a serious crime.

Yan Bin and Lan Mingze were promptly arrested and charged by the prosecution with suspicion of conspiring to murder. Lu Jingqian also filed formal charges against the two.

Yan Bin’s lawyer defended them, arguing that while there was evidence of will tampering, it couldn’t prove that they had murdered Mr. Lan. Lawyer Cheng had previously stated that when he arrived with Yan Bin, the victim was already critically ill, and Lan Mingze, who happened to be nearby, might have merely witnessed the events and called Yan Bin.

Both sides engaged in heated debates, but due to insufficient evidence, the court adjourned, and other charges were postponed pending further evidence collection.

Two days later, a former household employee of the Lan family, who had resigned from the position, approached the prosecution with evidence.

It turned out that she was in the flower room with Mr. Lan at the time. Mr. Lan asked her to fetch a dish from the farthest corner. Suddenly, she heard an argument, but she didn’t dare to go outside. Instead, she hid in a corner and watched. She witnessed Lan Mingze pushing Mr. Lan down the stairs.

Out of fear that she might become implicated and concerned about what Lan Mingze might do if he found out she had witnessed the act, she took out her phone, recorded the aftermath of Mr. Lan’s fall, and sent the video to her computer.

Although the footage didn’t capture the moment, Lan Mingze pushed Mr. Lan down the stairs. It did record the process of Lan Mingze calling Yan Bin. His nervous and fearful demeanor was captured very clearly, and it was evident that he was talking to Yan Bin about pushing Mr. Lan down the stairs. Yan Bin seemed to be asking whether Mr. Lan was still alive, and after Lan Mingze checked his breathing, he confirmed that he was.

Now, there was concrete evidence, and neither of the two had any room for further denial. While Lan Mingze was the one who had physically pushed Mr. Lan down the stairs, Yan Bin was involved in the entire planning process, and his charges were also quite significant.

Yan Bin and Lan Mingze were not only harshly criticized by the public but also sentenced to prison. When they eventually got out, further consequences awaited them, making them reconsider whether staying in prison might be preferable.

Lu Jingqian reclaimed everything that should have belonged to the original host, feeling a sense of melancholy for him. Lu Jingqian believed that the original host could now move on to the next life, where he could find even greater happiness.

Lan Mingze’s fans were humiliated and disillusioned, having ardently defended someone who turned out to be such a ruthless individual.

No one believed the story about the original host intentionally injuring Lan Mingze’s hand just to win the competition. The truth was evident, and there was no need for further investigation. Who would harm someone with significantly lower culinary skills just to secure a victory?

Lu Jingqian not only won the championship in this competition but also swept every other culinary competition for several years. Whenever he participated, judges and fellow contestants wished they could say, “You don’t need to compete. Just take the championship and let the rest of us compete for second place.”

Several years later, Lan Shaoxuan grew tired of competing and withdrew from all culinary competitions, leaving other chefs elated and even moved to tears.

Living a life of routine with both tranquility and excitement, in this lifetime, Lu Jingqian found happiness and fulfillment, continuing to enjoy the pampered life he was accustomed to.

Zia’s here:

Very sorry for the super duper late update! I DO NOT forget about this… I just started my new job and needed time to adjust teehee~

I’ll double update and finish everything today!

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Food and Live Broadcast（15）

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Every two weeks, as per the rule set by Old Master Yan, everyone had to gather at the ancestral home for a meal, which also served as an opportunity to strengthen family ties.

During these meals, he would inquire about the work situation of his grandchildren. However, his mood was evidently very bad today, and his appetite was also affected. After taking just a few bites of food, he put down his chopsticks.

In fact, ever since he returned from Mr. Hong’s birthday banquet, his appetite had been poor. Having tasted the dishes prepared by Lu Jingqian at the banquet, other dishes he tried to eat afterward seemed tasteless and hard to swallow. He couldn’t stop thinking about the dishes he had enjoyed at the banquet. Even if he wanted to dine at the Rainbow Garden Villa, he couldn’t secure a reservation, and he was reluctant to lower his status and ask Mr. Hong for help. As a result, he became increasingly anxious at home.

Everyone at the table could feel the low atmosphere created by him. Usually, the cousins might engage in banter, teasing, and exposing each other’s flaws, but today, the dining table was unusually quiet. The cousins of the Yan family often had fierce disputes, and a single meal every two weeks wasn’t enough to mend their relationships, but he always hoped they could get along, so he forcefully brought them together.

“Yan Bin, how did the task I assigned to you go?” Master Yan couldn’t hold back any longer and asked the same question for the fifth time this week.

“I tried to contact him, but he still hasn’t replied.” Yan Bin put down his chopsticks and gave the same response for the fifth time.

In reality, Lu Jingqian did reply to Yan Bin once, and his response was concise and direct, just one word, “Scram.”

Yan Bin was naturally furious upon receiving such a reply, but under the urging of his grandfather, he had to suppress his anger and continue finding ways to meet Lu Jingqian. He couldn’t possibly reveal Lu Jingqian’s response in front of his uncles and cousins, as they would only mock and ridicule him without offering any help.

“It’s been so long, and you still haven’t met him in person?” Old Master Yan felt very disappointed with Yan Bin’s abilities, “Is this all the capability you have? How can I trust you to continue managing the F&B brand?”

“Grandfather,” Yan Bin’s eldest cousin, Yan Hao, put down his chopsticks and said, “If he truly had the ability to manage the F&B brand, he wouldn’t be so crushed by the Rainbow Garden Villa now. I said a long time ago that he’s simply not suitable for managing the F&B brand. The only reason he managed it for these few years without any major issues is that you laid a strong foundation for the brand. As soon as a slightly stronger opponent appears, he’s unable to cope.”

With just a few words, Yan Hao completely negated all of Yan Bin’s hard work and efforts, making Yan Bin in rage. He had to forcefully suppress his frustration, and the veins on his forehead even popped out.

“I don’t think Big Brother Yan has any chance of meeting Lu Jingqian. He bullied him so much in the past, and even if Lu Jingqian is forgiving, he won’t just forgive him like that.” Yan Bin’s cousin, Yan Hao’s younger brother chimed in.

“This is the second reason I was about to say.” Yan Hao said earnestly, “Others may not know, but everyone in our family is well aware of the bad relationship between Lan Shaoxuan and Lan Mingze. Yan Bin has helped Luan Mingze teach Lan Shaoxuan a lesson several times, so how could he agree to meet him? Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes and Rainbow Garden Villa have achieved their current sales entirely because of Lan Shaoxuan’s culinary skills and cooking methods. Food and catering are all about taste. Just a few days ago, Rainbow Garden’s branch opened, and one of my clients specifically requested to go there before they were willing to discuss business with me. It was quite challenging to secure the reservation, but when I went there, Lan Shaoxuan happened to be in the restaurant and was personally cooking. After tasting his dishes, I truly understood why Rainbow Garden Villa is so successful, and I can confidently say that as long as he is there, it will be the most popular restaurant for the next few decades.”

“You tasted the dishes prepared by Lan Shaoxuan?” Old Master Yan looked at Yan Hao and asked.

“Yes, Grandfather. I heard that Lan Shaoxuan spends most of his time at Rainbow Garden Villa and only occasionally visits the branch stores. It was just lucky that day as we went there, almost all the dishes were prepared by him personally. It was the same time I mentioned before, the big deal I recently closed. I had been negotiating with that client for almost half a year, and it was this meal that sealed the deal. The dishes were so delicious that I almost forgot about the business discussion. It was only after finishing the meal that I remembered it, and when I mentioned it, the other party immediately agreed. Isn’t that miraculous? I feel that someone with such exceptional culinary skills would be a waste if he don’t join the Gourmet Association. Perhaps I can try to persuade him. While I haven’t had any interactions with him before, at least I haven’t offended him, so meeting him should not be difficult.”

Yan Hao spoke at length and finally revealed his true intention. He wanted to seize the management of the F&B from Yan Bin using this opportunity. He believed that as long as he could persuade Lu Jingqian to help him, he could lead the F&B brand to dominate the catering industry. If he could win Lu Jingqian over to his side, he didn’t mind using some means to deal with Yan Bin and Lan Mingze.

Upon seeing that Old Master Yan seemed swayed by Yan Hao’s words, Yan Bin quickly spoke up, saying, “Grandfather, please give me a few more days. As long as I can meet Lu Jingqian, I have a way to persuade him.”

After pondering for a moment, Old Master Yan replied, “I’ll give you a few more days. If you still can’t meet Lan Shaoxuan by then, it will prove that your abilities are not sufficient to manage the F&B brand and I’ll hand over the management rights to someone else who is capable.”

Yan Hao glanced at Yan Bin, then picked up his chopsticks and continued eating without saying anything more. He believed that Yan Bin’s chances of persuading Lu Jingqian were slim. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been unable to meet him until now. He thought his own chances were much better, so he didn’t mind waiting a little longer.

As Yan Bin couldn’t get a reply from Lu Jingqian and couldn’t directly go to Rainbow Garden Villa to find him even if he wanted to. So, he had someone wait outside the restaurant. The plan was to follow Lu Jingqian whenever he came out, and if he went to any branch of Rainbow Garden Villa, they would immediately notify Yan Bin.

Previously, Lu Jingqian might not have left Rainbow Garden Villa for half a month, but now that the branches were open, he had to visit them to inspect the chefs’ practice results. If they didn’t meet his requirements, they couldn’t cook in the kitchen, as it would tarnish his reputation.

Lu Jingqian now unable to come in from the main door, because he would be ambushed and surrounded by his fans. So every time, the car would come in from the back door directly before he enter the kitchen.

When Lu Jingqian arrived at the kitchen, all the chefs had already put down their work and lined up according to their seniority and age, awaiting Lu Jingqian’s guidance.

Neither Hong Boxiao nor the manager, nor Lu Jingqian himself, had ever demanded that they must stand in line to greet Lu Jingqian when they saw him. However, these chefs respected Lu Jingqian from the bottom of their hearts and eagerly looked forward to his guidance in their cooking. Thus, every time Lu Jingqian came, they were particularly serious and dedicated, making the most of every minute with him.

“Head Chef, here’s today’s menu waiting for your review.” The branch’s head chef handed the updated menu to Lu Jingqian, sending it with both hands.

Lu Jingqian glanced over the menu. Every restaurant would frequently update their dishes, although there wouldn’t be significant changes. However, to give customers a sense of freshness, minor adjustments were necessary.

If Lu Jingqian felt that a certain dish didn’t meet his standards, he wouldn’t allow it to be on the menu. After reviewing the menu, he nodded. Then, he added two new dishes to today’s menu and decided to personally prepare these two dishes, allowing the chefs to learn from the side.

The chefs were nervous yet excited, knowing they could learn new dishes. They immediately put in their utmost effort, widening their eyes, and focusing on every detail, afraid of missing anything.

Upon hearing that Lu Jingqian was there, the customers also became excited, wishing they could order multiple portions of every dishes he was going to prepare. Unfortunately, the branch had a rule that each table could only order each dish once. This rule was unique to Rainbow Garden Villa, as other restaurants would naturally want customers to order as much as possible. However, Rainbow Garden Villa was genuinely overwhelmed, especially when Lu Jingqian was present; customers went crazy with their orders, making this rule necessary.

After spending two hours cooking, Lu Jingqian prepared to rest in the lounge and wait for Hong Boxiao to accompany him back. Hong Boxiao happened to be dining at this branch with a business partner.

As Lu Jingqian was walking toward the lounge, he saw someone he didn’t want to see in the corridor, it was Yan Bin.

“I want to talk to you.” Yan Bin finally managed to meet Lu Jingqian and looked at him seriously.

“What do I have to talk to you about?” Lu Jingqian rolled his eyes. “Do you want to discuss how you used people to go after me in the past? Do you really think I don’t know those people were acting under your orders?”

“I can apologize to you. As long as you’re willing to talk to me, I can agree to any condition you have.” Yan Bin urgently wanted to persuade Lu Jingqian.

“You can agree to any conditions?” Lu Jingqian said with a smirk. “Don’t promise too much so soon.”

“In that case, why don’t you tell me your conditions, as long as it’s something I can do, I’ll agree.” Yan Bin said.

“I want you to kneel down and apologize to me first, then I’ll consider whether to listen to what you have to say. But that doesn’t mean I’ll agree with you. Can you do that?”

“…Insulting my dignity won’t benefit you in any way. How about we talk about what you want to get, like the Lan Family’s recipe?”

“Heh, it seems you came prepared. I won’t talk to you unless you agree.” Lu Jingqian might not care about Lan Family’s recipes, but the original host did. Retrieving the recipe was inevitable for him, but he didn’t need Yan Bin’s help. He could only say that Yan Bin overestimated himself.

“This isn’t the right place to talk. Since you’re so eager to speak with me, I’ll listen to how you plan to convince me.” Lu Jingqian led him to the lounge, thinking that since Yan Bin was so insistent on embarrassing himself, he’d oblige.

Lu Jingqian sat on the sofa. His assistant brought him tea and then left to stand outside.

“What do you want to say?” Lu Jingqian took a sip of tea.

“First, I want to apologize for my previous actions towards you. I can compensate you in other ways, and I hope you can let go of our past grievances and talk to me calmly about your demands.”

Lu Jingqian smirked and said, “Actually, when I said you need to kneel down and apologize before I talk, I was just joking.”

Yan Bin felt relieved because of his words.

“Even if you and Lan Mingze kneel in front of me and apologize publicly, I still won’t forgive you. So no matter what conditions you offer, I have nothing to talk about with you.”

“Our conflicts aren’t so irreconcilable that they can’t be resolved. I genuinely want to cooperate with you, and I’m willing to apologize and admit my mistakes. We can offer you the same treatment as Rainbow Garden Villa does, and I’m sure you also want to obtain Lan Family’s recipes, right?” Yan Bin was well aware that his biggest advantage now was the control over Lan Family’s recipes.

“That’s just your opinion. In my heart, the conflicts between you, me, and Lan Mingze are irreconcilable in this lifetime.” Lu Jingqian thought to himself. The original host was dead, and so was the original host’s grandfather. How could this conflict be resolved? “Do you think that now that you have Lan Family’s recipes, I will obediently let you manipulate me? It’s quite naive of you, to believe that you can manage a company with such innocence. My grandfather always told me when he was alive that he would leave Lan Family’s recipes to me and pass on the most authentic Lan Family culinary techniques to me. Yet, in the end, he left the recipe to Lan Mingze. Do you think that’s reasonable? Both you and Lan Mingze know very well that Lan Family’s recipes rightfully belong to me. Am I wrong?”

Yan Bin closed his eyes, trying to conceal his guilt, and said, “The will was made by your grandfather, and whether you find it reasonable or not, it’s an unchangeable fact. But as long as you’re willing to cooperate with us, we can give you a portion of Lan Family’s recipes. You and Mingze are both descendants of the Lan Family, and your grandfather surely hoped that you could reconcile and revitalize Lan Family together.”

Lu Jingqian let out a genuine sarcastic laugh. “Let me and Lan Mingze revitalize the Lan Family together? You really are naive. It seems Lan Mingze didn’t tell you how much my grandfather disliked him. After he was brought back to the Lan Family, my grandfather treated him like an invisible person. He never wanted to have such a grandson.”

“Please forgive my bluntness.” Lu Jingqian changed to a more comfortable sitting position and looked at him. “With your level of intelligence, if I were to truly cooperate with you, I’d probably end up being dragged down with you. You better continue playing with Lan Mingze. After all, birds of the same feather flock together, and you two seem well-matched in terms of intelligence.”

Yan Bin never imagined that he would be humiliated like this, but he couldn’t get angry or retaliate, as that would completely ruin his chance of convincing Lu Jingqian.

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Food and Live Broadcast（14）

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Mr. Hong’s eyes contained happiness as he spoke to Lu Jingqian, “You’ve worked hard today, take this red envelope, count it as additional reward.”

“Thank you, Grandpa.” Before Lu Jingqian came, Hong Boxiao had instructed him not to refuse whatever his grandfather gave him. He was advised not to reject it in front of so many people, as it would be considered disrespectful.

Grandpa Hong was very happy, not only because Lu Jingqian had earned him face today but also because Lu Jingqian was now part of their family.

“Here, you should accept this red envelope too.” Old Man Wu also took out a red envelope.

“Thank you, Grandpa Wu.” Lu Jingqian went over and accepted the red envelope from Old Man Wu.

“Mine too.” Old Man Li also handed out a red envelope.

“Thank you, Grandpa Li.” Lu Jingqian walked up to Old Man Li and thanked him.

All the old men handed their prepared red envelopes to Lu Jingqian.

It was customary to give red envelopes to the chefs during wedding banquets and birthday celebrations, but usually, it was the host who did so. Rarely did guests give red envelopes unless they were extremely satisfied with the food and wanted to praise the chef.

Each red envelope received by Lu Jingqian was thin and light, so it definitely did not contain money. Given the status and satisfaction of these old men towards Lu Jingqian, the contents were surely extraordinary.

If the dishes Lu Jingqian prepared today were just okay, whether the strict Old Master Yan would give him a red envelope would depend on his mood. However, Lu Jingqian’s cooking not only exceeded their expectations but also left them unable to truthfully criticize it. Therefore, Old Master Yan had to represent the others and give Lu Jingqian a red envelope to show his appreciation.

“Thank you, Grandpa Yan.” Lu Jingqian accepted the red envelope from him.

Grandpa Yan looked at him and said, “Your grandfather and I have been friends for decades. Seeing how well you are cooking the Lan Family’s Kung Fu cuisine now, I feel relieved for your grandfather. He has always been an elder in our culinary association, and I believe he wouldn’t want to see the Lan Family’s Kung Fu cuisine leave the association. We welcome you back anytime.”

Grandpa Yan’s words might sound like he was trying to win Lu Jingqian over, but in reality, he also wanted to sow discord between Lu Jingqian and the Rainbow Garden Villa.

Lu Jingqian remained composed and calmly responded, “I have been learning to cook under my grandfather’s guidance since I was young. The most frequent phrase he told me was that the essence of the Lan Family’s Kung Fu cuisine does not lie in the restaurant’s signboard or any written records. It is the instinctive reaction that comes from rigorous practice through the mind and body. Therefore, Lan Family’s Kung Fu cuisine only exists in the hands of its masters and nowhere else, nor do they belong to any specific place.”

“Well said.” Mr. Hong said, “The only ones who can represent a dish are the ones who cook it, not a restaurant or some unofficial association.”

“Isn’t there already a successor of Lan Family’s Kung fu cuisine in your culinary association?” Grandpa Wu said, “If that’s the person you value, it shows that the Lan Family’s Kung fu cuisine you recognize has never left your culinary association.”

“To be honest, I’ve never really understood the purpose of the culinary association all these years.” Old Man Xu who was always straightforward raised a critical point.

“Yeah, why do we even need a culinary association?” Old Man Zhang deliberately appeared puzzled and asked.

“Who knows?” Old Man Li had an indifferent attitude, “Anyway, we are now enjoying the best food and the finest life. Why bother so much else?”

The members of the culinary association heard their sarcasm and their faces turned rather unsightly. Previously, they could have countered with the excuse that they had never tasted truly excellent food, claiming ignorance of the purpose of the culinary association. They could also use pitiful looks to attack others. But now, these people were eating even better food than them, and if they wanted to taste it, they might have to request it from them. The culinary association, however, didn’t have the best food. So, they had no grounds to retaliate.

Hong Boxiao seemed to see invisible conflicts in the air. These old men were quite old, but their fighting spirit was still strong, engaging in verbal duels. This showdown was obviously due to Lu Jingqian’s outstanding performance, making Mr. Hong’s and the other’s arguments sharper. So the winner was very obvious.

“Grandpa, I’ll take Shaoxuan to rest.” Hong Boxiao decided to leave the battlefield to the old men. It would be better for the young ones not to get involved.

“Go ahead, go ahead.” Grandpa Hong nodded, “He must be tired today, take him to rest properly, and don’t bother him.”

“I understand, Grandpa.” Hong Boxiao agreed, and then he held Lu Jingqian’s hand and left.

As the saying goes, ‘When words get sour, adding words is useless.’ For the ones showing off, like Mr. Hong and his group, they naturally didn’t care whether their words were pleasing or not. But for the ones being shown off to, like Old Master Yan and his group, they had already become restless.

Old Master Yan took the lead in standing up and said, “Thank you for the generous hospitality. We’ll take our leave now.”

Mr. Hong and his group also stood up to see their guests off. “You coming to the banquet is giving me face. There’s no need to thank me. Next year, I’ll hold another birthday celebration, and I’ll send you all invitations then. Make sure to come, all right?”

On the way back in the car, Old Master Yan was still reminiscing about the dishes at the birthday banquet. Such a banquet would make anyone feel extraordinarily honored. He had spent his entire life striving to taste the best dishes, and he never expected that in his old age, he would be shown off by others in terms of culinary delights.

Old Master Yan let out a long sigh. He really didn’t expect that his good friend’s grandson, who was so carefully taught, could cook such excellent dishes without giving any hint of it. Now, no matter how he thought about it, it seemed almost impossible for Old Lan to hand over the Lan Family’s recipes to Lan Mingze, and it was unlikely that he had left such a will.

Hearing his grandpa sigh, Yan Bin sat beside him, not daring to speak. He had embarrassed himself greatly today, and his grandpa was definitely angry. He believed that someone from the Hong family deliberately wanted to make him lose face, and he was determined to find a way to avenge this.

Old Master Yan’s mind was in turmoil, and he had no intention of scolding Yan Bin for his embarrassing behavior today. Instead, he was thinking about how to approach Lu Jingqian and bring him over to their side.

“You find a way to get in touch with Lan Shaoxuan. Ask him what it would take for him to leave the Rainbow Garden Villa and join us. As long as he presents conditions, it shows there’s hope, and then we can negotiate everything.” Grandpa Yan said with a serious expression to Yan Bin, “I know about what you did to him in secret before. Don’t think I’m unaware. I just didn’t understand his abilities back then, so I turned a blind eye to your actions. You’d better start by testing his response and see if he knows about what you did to him. If he does, apologize immediately and make sure your attitude is sincere enough for him to forgive you.”

“Apologize to him? Grandpa…” Yan Bin protested, not fully convinced, “He bullied Mingze so much before, and I only scolded him because he was in the wrong. He deserved to be reprimanded.”

“I don’t care about why you scolded him before. If Lan Mingze were better than him, I could continue pretending not to know.” Old Master Yan said, “But Lan Mingze can never surpass Lan Shaoxuan in his lifetime, so Lan Shaoxuan must be on our side. Otherwise, I will never be at peace until I die.”

“He… is he really that skilled?” Yan Bin questioned verbally, but in reality, just by observing the reactions of the elderly, he couldn’t deny in his heart that Lu Jingqian was indeed more skilled than Lan Mingze.

“Even if you haven’t tasted the dishes he personally cooked, can’t you use your eyes to see? You must find a way to persuade him to participate in the annual best culinary competition after joining our culinary association. If the winner of the competition is not from our culinary association, it will be a disgrace for us, and the existence of our culinary association will become a joke!”

“I understand. I’ll try to get in touch with him.” Yan Bin replied in a low voice.

The annual best culinary competition was a contest in which renowned restaurants sent their chefs to participate. Winning the competition not only brought honor to the individual chef but also to the restaurant they represented. It also attracted more customers and popularity to the restaurant.

Since its establishment, every winner of the competition had been a chef who joined their culinary association. Sometimes, only chefs from the culinary association participated. If the winner of this year’s best chef competition or any subsequent year was not from their culinary association, then OldMaster Yan would lose face as the president of the culinary association.

This year, Lan Mingze was also representing the Lan Family’s cuisine in the competition. So during this time, he had been diligently practicing his culinary skills. Of course, it was not aimed to have extraordinary knife skills like Lu Jingqian but constantly adjust the flavors when cooking, aiming for the best taste. Even if he wanted to practice knife skills like Lu Jingqian, there wasn’t enough time now, so he focused on refining his culinary techniques.

In their love nest, Lan Mingze was practicing cooking while waiting for Yan Bin to return from the birthday banquet. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he immediately turned off the stove and walked out of the kitchen.

“You’re back?” Lan Mingze approached Yan Bin and hugged him, saying, “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Yan Bin patted his back and then pushed him away gently, leading him inside.

Lan Mingze hesitated for a moment but followed him inside, asking, “How was the birthday banquet today?”

“The birthday banquet…” Yan Bin sighed, sitting on the sofa, “It was arranged exceptionally well, to the point that even my grandfather and the others were envious. My grandfather even said that if we can’t win over Lan Shaoxuan, he will never be at peace until he dies.”

Lan Mingze clenched his fist tightly and lowered his gaze, asking, “Is his cooking really that good? Are you sure it was him who cooked the dishes?”

“He cooked the dishes in front of everyone. Although I didn’t personally taste the dishes he made, my grandfather and the others have spent decades studying cuisine, and they were all impressed by his culinary skills. So, it’s evident how good he is.”

“Your grandfather wants you to win him over?” Lan Mingze said, “He probably has a contract with the Rainbow Garden Villa. Can he be persuaded to leave?”

“My grandfather is determined this time. No matter what conditions he puts forward, my grandfather will agree as long as he’s willing to leave the Rainbow Garden Villa. The penalty for breaking the contract is insignificant to us,” Yan Bin looked at him and said, “Even if he’s not motivated by money, we have the Lan Family’s recipes. It’s impossible for him not to be tempted.”

“The Lan Family’s recipe?” Lan Mingze was taken aback, widening his eyes, “The Lan Family’s recipe is mine! I will never give the Lan Family’s recipes to anyone, especially not to Lan Shaoxuan!”

Yan Bin pulled him to sit down and held his hand, persuading him, “If Lan Shaoxuan didn’t possess such exceptional culinary skills right now, then your grandfather passing the Lan Family’s recipes to you would make sense. But as more and more people find out that Lan Shaoxuan is the true heir your grandfather has carefully cultivated, everyone will think it’s impossible for your grandfather to pass the Lan Family’s recipes to you. While there are still only a few questioning it, let’s quickly win Lan Shaoxuan over. We can say that your grandfather did it to ensure peace between you brothers, so he handed over the Lan Family’s recipes to you, hoping you would take the initiative to reconcile with Lan Shaoxuan. Then, the two of you can work together to carry on and promote the Lan Family’s recipes.”

Lan Mingze’s expression turned grim as he said, “I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I mean…” Yan Bin paused for a moment and then spoke more straightforwardly, “You could give half of the Lan Family’s recipes to Lan Shaoxuan, saying it was your grandfather’s wish, and then we can come up with a reason to win him over.”

“What if I don’t want to?” Lan Mingze asked, “What if I don’t want to give any part of the Lan Family’s recipes to Lan Shaoxuan?”

“Then we won’t be able to hide what we’ve done.” Yan Bin said sternly! “My grandfather must have felt that something was off about your grandfather’s will from the beginning, but he didn’t investigate further because he believed you were more capable than Lan Shaoxuan. Now the situation is different. My grandfather won’t just protect you. He might even reveal the issue with the will in order to win over Lan Shaoxuan. So, instead of passively handing over all the Lan Family’s recipes and restaurants, it’s better for us to take the initiative to salvage the situation and avoid having our actions exposed. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I understand.” Lan Mingze choked back his emotions, suppressing his unwillingness, and said with closed eyes, “Let’s do it your way.”

Seeing his distressed face, Yan Bin embraced him and said, “Don’t be sad. This is just a temporary plan. Let’s first stabilize the situation with my grandfather, and then we can plan the rest gradually. Trust me, as long as I’m here, I won’t let you suffer.”

At this moment, Lan Mingze felt deeply aggrieved, but he couldn’t complain to Yan Bin because Yan Bin was his only reliance, and he couldn’t risk making him feel annoyed.

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Food and Live Broadcast（13）

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Next to the courtyard was a two-story pavilion. The first floor of the pavilion has five intricately carved wooden doors. While the guests were chatting and exchanging greetings, all five doors suddenly opened simultaneously, revealing staff members dressed in ancient outfits. Each of them carried a tray with the ingredients for the dishes that Lu Jingqian was going to prepare.

After several trips back and forth, the staff members placed all the main ingredients and condiments in the order into the pavilion at the center of the lotus pond. Only two people stayed to assist, while the others exited the lotus pond.

Lu Jingqian descended from the building and walked towards the lotus pond. All eyes were focused on him. People who had seen his live broadcasts noticed that he was still dressed in white attire with ink painting patterns. As he moved, his clothes fluttered, making him truly resemble a celestial being, emanating an ethereal aura.

The people who were originally engaged in conversation stopped and the courtyard with over a hundred people, fell silent instantly. Not a single word could be heard. Because as soon as Lu Jingqian emerged, their gazes were locked on him. They couldn’t help but feel captivated, thinking how could someone possess such natural charisma and make people involuntarily calm down.

Yan Bin had seen the original host twice before, but because he had heard numerous complaints from Lan Mingze, he always thought of the original host as a person with poor character and personality, unworthy of such a handsome face. It was truly a pity.

However, when he saw Lu Jingqian now, he felt an inexplicable flutter in his heart, even confusing himself. He forcefully suppressed the sudden surge of feelings and told himself it must be an illusion. The person he deeply loved was Lan Mingze, how could he possibly develop feelings for Lan Shaoxuan, whom he had always disliked?

The moment Lu Jingqian picked up the knife, all the guests watching simultaneously had a feeling as if they were watching the beginning of a martial arts film. The knife in his hand moved so quickly that they could only see a flash of silver, making it impossible to discern the original shape of the kitchen knife.

The first dish Lu Jingqian made was a grand landscape made with dishes, consisting of soup, main course, and vegetables. It included chicken, duck, fish, meat, and various vegetables. Once completed, the original appearance of these ingredients was no longer visible, as they had been transformed into various scenic shapes, exhibiting a remarkably high level of visual appeal.

Unlike some chefs who have a burly physique, Lu Jingqian has a well-proportioned figure and a slightly tall and thin stature. He doesn’t appear to be someone with great strength, but he effortlessly lifts a large cast iron pot. The bright glow of the fire reflects on his fair face, making him even more gallant and imposing. He looks like a celestial being who is fearless of flames and can control everything.

After arranging the vegetables and meats on the plates, Lu Jingqian opens the nearby clay pot and scoops the clear soup inside into two large round plates that have already been arranged. The dish immediately comes to life. The originally serene landscape presentation now has flowing water made from the clear soup, truly bringing it to life.

The large round plates are somewhat heavy and require two people to steadily carry them for serving. Lu Jingqian simultaneously prepares two identical landscape dishes. Once they are ready, the staff members who approach carry the two landscape dishes to the table of Mr. Hong and Old Man Yan respectively.

“This… is a dish?” Old Man Wu stares wide-eyed at the large round plate adorned with mountains, flowing water, bamboo groves, lotus ponds, and even a rock garden, with tiny fish swimming in the water.

“The Head Chef calls this a landscape dish. It is made up of eight types of meat and twelve types of vegetables. It’s also called a puzzle dish. If we want to be more specific, this grand dish consists of thirty-six different components.” The staff member explains.

The other tables for the guests start receiving their dishes as well, but everyone remains focused on these two landscape dishes, completely ignoring everything else.

“How… how do we eat this?” Old Man Li asks, puzzled.

Mr. Hong picks up a spoon, puts it down, picks up chopsticks, puts them down, hesitates for a while, and finally picks up the spoon again, deciding to first try the clear soup that won’t disrupt the entire presentation.

As Mr. Hong scoops a spoonful, he not only scoops up the soup but also catches a few small fish, which look interesting and cute.

Everyone watches Mr. Hong closely. Just as the spoon approaches his mouth, Old Man Wu can’t wait any longer and eagerly asks, “How does it taste?”

Mr. Hong savors it carefully, experiencing the fresh sweetness of the soup infused with vegetables. His appetite is instantly stimulated, and those few small fish, made from actual fish meat, are tender and flavorful.

“It’s fresh and delicious!” Mr. Hong exclaims loudly.

Then the old gentlemen all picked up their spoons and tasted the dish, wearing satisfied smiles and nodding in approval.

“This bamboo grove seems to be made from bamboo shoots. Quickly taste it and see what it tastes like.” Old Man Zhang, who loves bamboo shoots, suggests to Mr. Hong, pointing at the bamboo grove on the plate.

Mr. Hong picks up his chopsticks, plucks a “bamboo” from the reddish-brown “soil,” puts it in his mouth, takes a bite, and the soup immediately bursts out. The crispy and tender bamboo shoots blend with the rich chicken broth, creating an irresistible combination of texture and flavor.

“Quick, quick, taste it!” Mr. Hong is at a loss for words, pointing at the bamboo grove, and urging others to quickly try and have a taste.

The bamboo grove quickly becomes empty, leaving only the reddish-brown “soil.”

Old Man Wu tries to pluck a “bamboo” again but realizes there are none left. Out of curiosity, he picks up a piece of the “soil” and puts it in his mouth. Instantly, he expresses his delight like a child who has discovered something fascinating, saying, “This ‘mud’ tastes like Braised Lion’s Head Meatballs.”

“I’ll try these lotus flowers.” Old Man Li extends his chopsticks toward the lotus pond on the plate. After putting one in his mouth, he smiles and says, “These lotus flowers taste like ham.”

“You all enjoy elegant things, but I’m different. I want to taste what the stone steps are like.” Old Man Xu, who is usually reserved, also expresses his interest.

“Be careful, those are decorative items. Bite gently.” Old Man Li reminds him.

“So, how is it?” Old Man Wu curiously looks at Old Man Xu and asks, “What does it taste like?”

“It has the texture of dried tofu and a hint of Braised Elbow.” Old Man Xu says.

Mr. Hong looks up and sees that everyone is looking at their table. Immediately, he beckons and says, “Everyone, start eating! Don’t be shy. Although the dishes on your tables weren’t made by Shaoxuan himself, they were made by chefs trained by Shaoxuan. The taste is definitely excellent. Enjoy your meal, enjoy your meal.”

With Mr. Hong’s invitation, the other guests finally start eating. After tasting the flavors, they realize that Mr. Hong was right. The taste is better than any dish they have had before. They start thinking to themselves that if the dishes made by the disciples are this delicious, how amazing must the master’s culinary skills be? Their gaze involuntarily shifts to Mr. Hong’s table.

“You all should eat too. Don’t just watch. Shaoxuan specially made the same dishes for you. Give them a try.” Mr. Hong says, looking at Old Master Yan’s table next to them.

In their hearts, Mr. Yan and his companions simultaneously think, You’re trying to show off by having the same dishes specially made for us, aren’t you?

When they received the invitation from Mr. Hong, they guessed that he must have sent the invitations specifically to show off. In the past, when Mr. Yan celebrated his birthday, he would invite a famous chef and have the top ten chefs each prepare two of their best dishes, all to showcase his status in the culinary world.

Originally, they thought that even if the chefs at Rainbow Garden Villa were incredibly skilled, but Mr. Hong who was showing off their cooking skills in front of them, who had been working in the food and beverage industry for decades, was simply overestimating himself. They came with the mentality of watching a joke. But now, it turns out they are the ones being laughed at. The dishes haven’t even all been served yet, but the pastry dish named “Hundred Beasts Offering Blessings” and the grand landscape dish, in terms of creativity, meaning, taste, and visual appeal, surpass anything they have ever seen before. Just these two dishes alone easily outshine all the famous dishes prepared by the chefs in Old Man Yan’s previous birthday celebrations.

They are conflicted during this birthday banquet. Even though they are not happy deep down, the dishes are simply too delicious, making it impossible for them to stop eating.

After resting for a few minutes, Lu Jingqian begins to prepare other dishes. The landscape dishes require a lot of attention and effort, so he only made two. However, he can handle the rest of the dishes for five tables simultaneously on his own.

The dishes have not yet been served at Ou Wenyu’s table. He stretches his neck to look at the landscape dish on Mr. Hong’s table, his mouth watering as he constantly gazes at Lu Jingqian cooking in the pavilion. He feels anxious inside.

Ou Wenyu’s father is getting dizzy from his constant fidgeting. He slaps his leg and quietly reprimands him, “Can’t you behave? What’s with all this fidgeting? Your grandfather is celebrating his birthday today, and if you embarrass us at a time like this, just wait and see how I’ll deal with you when we get home.”

After being scolded by his father, Ou Wenyu immediately dares not move his body anymore and can only turn his head towards the pavilion by the lotus pond. However, he still anxiously waits in his heart.

Although Hong Boxiao is also curious and intrigued by the landscape dish, after watching for a while, as soon as Lu Jingqian returns to the pavilion, his attention was immediately focused solely on Lu Jingqian who was cooking.

The tables where the dishes have not yet been served are occupied by the Hong family members and the family members of the older gentlemen who are assisting with welcoming the guests today. They watch the gentlemen eating happily and feel even more delighted themselves.

Once the dishes on Mr. Hong’s table are served, the other tables finally begin to receive their dishes. Everyone is enjoying their meal, except for Hong Boxiao, who eats while keeping an eye on Lu Jingqian’s activities.

Chefs don’t join the guests at the table, so after preparing dishes for several tables, Lu Jingqian returns to the adjacent building to rest. He might have to add more dishes later, so he can’t leave just yet.

Hong Boxiao wants to go and talk to Lu Jingqian, but today is his grandfather’s birthday celebration, and all the elder relatives are present. He can’t leave the table, or else it will invite gossip from others. He can only pretend to be focused, engaging in conversation with the elders while enjoying the dishes that Lu Jingqian has worked hard to create.

After the meal, some people go for a walk in other gardens to aid digestion, while others sit and chat over tea.

The satisfied gentlemen, along with Old Master Yan and his group, enter the house to have tea and conversation.

“Are you all satisfied with today’s meal?” Mr. Hong smiles and asks Old Master Yan and the others.

Because of Mr. Hong’s birthday banquet has overshadowed all of Old Master Yan’s previous celebrations, he was naturally unwilling and unhappy. However, he still smiles and says, “After so many years, I’m once again tasting the authentic Lan Family’s Kung Fu cuisine. The Lan Family’s Young Master has indeed received the true teachings from his grandfather. We used to enjoy the same old flavors for many years, but who could have imagined that we would have them at this Hongyuan Villa birthday banquet?”

The implication behind Old Master Yan’s words was that I have already been enjoying the delicious dishes for many years. What you are desperately showcasing now is something we used to have whenever we wanted.

Mr. Hong naturally understands the meaning behind his words but doesn’t feel the slightest bit upset. While it is true that Lu Jingqian has prepared a few dishes from the Lan Family’s culinary skills, the majority of the dishes are his own creations. Take the “Hundred Beasts Offering Blessings” and the landscape dish, for example. Not only have they not been tasted before, but they haven’t even been heard of. So when Old Man Yan says these things, it’s just a final attempt to save face. In reality, the original host’s grandfather stopped personally cooking as he got older, and even when he was younger, his culinary skills couldn’t compare to Lu Jingqian’s current level.

“Now that I’m at this age, I truly understand what Chairman Yan said before.” Old Man Li says, putting down his teacup. “In one’s entire life, the greatest fortune is being able to enjoy good food until old age. Now that I think about it, it’s true. You see, at our age, isn’t every day just spent idling waiting for three meals? As long as we eat comfortably and happily, what other worries can we have? Indeed, fortune does rotate.”

The other gentlemen nod frequently, expressing their agreement with his words.

“Old Hong,” Old Man Wu says, “We’ll bask in your glory from now on. In your grandson’s Rainbow Garden Villa, we’ll enjoy all the culinary delights we never thought of before. You better not despise us.”

“If I despise you, would you leave?” Mr. Hong asks.

“No way! Whether you despise us or not, we’re staying. After living for so many decades, our skin has long grown thick like calluses. Can we just leave because of being despised? You’re underestimating us.”

The gentlemen burst into laughter.

However, Old Master Yan and his group can’t seem to laugh. The phrase “fortune does rotate” encompasses everything.

Lu Jingqian took a bath and change his clothes, then was pressed on the wall by Hong Boxiao. It took him some effort to put some distance between their lips. Lu Jingqian held his shoulder and said, “Didn’t you say that Grandpa call me over? It is impolite to let the elderlies wait for long.”

Hong Boxiao sucked his lips with force once more, then said, “You’ve worked hard today, I’ll bring you to get some rewards. Let’s go!”

Zia’s here:

I’m sorry for the late update! In short… work is super busy right now, but I didn’t forget about this.

<< TOC >>

Food and Live Broadcast（12）

<< TOC >>

On the day of the birthday banquet, the sun was shining brightly, and the staff at the villa started their busy work early.

After several elderly people woke up and had the longevity noodles personally made by Lu Jingqian, they chatted for a while before strolling leisurely towards the grand hall below the villa, waiting to welcome the guests who were coming to the banquet.

The children and grandchildren of the Hong family had already stayed at the villa yesterday, specifically waiting to entertain the guests today. However, the number of guests coming today might be overwhelming for the Hong family’s children. The other elderly people had a close friendship with Mr. Hong for decades, closer than relatives, so their children were also called to help with the reception.

To facilitate the guests’ entry without crowding, the villa had already opened all three main gates, waiting for the guests to arrive.

Lu Jingqian sat in the resting area of the kitchen’s head chef while sipping tea and watching the other chefs and apprentices busy at work.

The villa had been open for over a month now, and since he had taught the other chefs some dishes, he was no longer as tired as during the initial opening period. Most of the time, he just drank tea and managed the overall situation in the kitchen. Unless there were important guests or he was cooking for the old masters, he spent less time personally cooking now.

Today was Grandpa Hong Boxiao’s birthday banquet, and soon he would go to the courtyard where the guests were being received to cook and let everyone watch. After finishing the dishes, they would be served directly. There would be at most four or five tables that he needed to personally cook for, which he could handle.

He knew that Mr. Yan and the members of the Gourmet Association would be coming today. The original host’s grandfather was also one of them. Now that he was cooking for the Hong family, it would be fine if the quality is going to be average, but he wondered what their expressions would be if it turned out to be exceptional.

He was determined to take revenge for the original host. He would definitely not let go of Yan Bin and Lan Mingze. As for the Yan family, it would depend on whether they were willing to abandon Yan Bin when the time came.

“Head Chef, everything is ready over there. You can go and rest, and wait for the banquet to begin.” After the manager arranged everything, he personally came over to invite him.

“Hm.” Lu Jingqian nodded and walked out.

“Chairman Hong, hello, welcome!” Mr. Yan greeted Mr. Hong with a group of people from the Gourmet Association, wearing a smile on his face. It wasn’t because he was genuinely happy, but rather, he always smiled like this in front of outsiders. He had earned the nickname “a smiling tiger” in his youth.

“Chairman Yan, welcome, welcome.” Chairman Hong also stood up to welcome his friends.

Ou Wenyu and Hong Boxiao came out to entertain some friends and happened to see this scene. Ou Wenyu whispered to Hong Boxiao, “It looks like a meeting between two gang bosses in a movie. It’s about who has more momentum.”

“Hurry up and stop talking nonsense. Today might be exhausting but you still have the leisure to say these things.” Hong Boxiao pushed Ou Wenyu.

“It’s still early. How about I take you for a stroll in the garden?” Mr. Hong asked.

“Please, please, please,” Old Master Yan repeated the word “please” three times and gestured for Mr. Hong to lead the way.

Among those who needed personal attention from Mr. Hong were these elderly gentlemen of similar age and status. Other guests would naturally be attended by the younger generation.

As the time for the banquet approached, Mr. Hong led the elderly gentlemen, whose ages added up to over a thousand, to their seats.

Then other guests gradually arrived in the courtyard. After wishing Mr. Hong a happy birthday, they found their seats.

Lu Jingqian rested in a room on the second floor next to the courtyard. Through the window on the second floor, he could clearly see everyone in the courtyard.

Lu Jingqian took out a small iron tube the size of his pinky finger and consecutively loaded five ice balls the size of soybeans into it. Then, when he saw a certain figure approaching Mr. Hong’s table, he aimed at the gap in the wooden window and pressed the switch on the iron tube twice in a row.

After standing in front of Mr. Hong’s table, Yan Bin said a few words of congratulations and slightly bent his waist before preparing to leave. However, he suddenly felt a sharp pain behind his knee pit. Before he could react, he was already kneeling down.

The elderly gentlemen at the two tables were all stunned, not understanding the reason behind his sudden action.

Yan Bin knew he had embarrassed himself greatly. He tried to stand up quickly with his palms on the ground, but he suddenly felt another stab of pain in his lower back, causing him to not only remain prostrated but also hit his head heavily on the bluestone slab beneath him. When he tried to stand up again, he fell down once more. After the third time, he maintained his position and dared not stand up quickly.

Everyone looked at him in astonishment. In Chinese culture, kneeling is only done to close family elders, and even for ordinary relatives, kneeling is never performed. No one understood why Yan Bin suddenly performed this three-bow ritual.

Old Master Yan’s face looked even worse. He was still sitting here while his own grandson went to pay respects to someone else as a filial and virtuous grandson. And it happened right in front of so many people. His old face was completely humiliated today.

After Mr. Hong regained his senses, he turned his head and glanced at Old Master Yan’s pale face. He said to Yan Bin, who was still on the ground, “Quickly get up, quickly get up. My own grandson hasn’t paid his respects to me yet, and you’re making such a grand gesture. Although you are of the same generation as my grandson, you are not my direct grandson. I can’t accept such a grand gesture from you.”

Yan Bin slowly straightened his body and, after confirming that he no longer felt any pain, stood up and bowed his head, saying, “I’m sorry, I suddenly felt unwell. I apologize for my rudeness.”

The people at Mr. Hong’s table, due to their seating angle, could visibly see the red mark on his forehead. They suppressed their amusement and turned their gazes to the side.

Mr. Hong waved his hand and said, “If you’re feeling unwell, just sit down. Do you want me to have someone take you to a room to rest?”

“Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Hong, but I’m already feeling much better.” Yan Bin felt deeply embarrassed and dared not look into the eyes of the others. He nodded and immediately walked away. Only after he sat down at his table did he raise his head and scan the crowd, trying to figure out if someone had plotted against him just now. However, with people coming and going, he couldn’t figure out who among them could have done it. Moreover, he had no grudges against any of these people. Who is it exactly? Why would they do this? Yan Bin felt frustrated and vowed to find the person who plotted against him, or he would never give up!

Old Master Yan glared at Yan Bin, forcing himself to regain a normal facial expression. He knew that the more unpleasant his expression, the more the elderly gentlemen at the neighboring table would relish it.

When Hong Boxiao entered the courtyard, he happened to witness Yan Bin kneeling down. He was also taken aback. After Yan Bin finished knocking his head and took his seat, He quickly glanced at the wooden window on the second floor before leading his group of people over.

“Grandfather,” Hong Boxiao approached Mr. Hong’s table and leaned over to say, “This is handmade by Shaoxuan this morning. It’s called ‘Hundred Beasts Offering Blessings.’ It has just been steamed and taken out of the pot. Take a look.”

Everyone looked at the large round plate carried by the three individuals with curiosity. The background color of the plate was a forest, and on top of the plate were at least a hundred different animals, vividly standing there.

“Wonderful!” Old Li clapped his hands and stood up. As he carefully examined it, he exclaimed, “These are all handmade? Even machines would find it difficult to make them look so lifelike, right?”

“All of these were made by Shaoxuan himself,” Hong Boxiao emphasized once again. He looked at Mr. Hong and said, “It signifies blessings and animals. It’s Shaoxuan’s way of wishing you good fortune and longevity.”

“Very good, very good.” Mr. Hong had a wide smile on his face, feeling extremely proud. He nodded in satisfaction and said, “This child has a good heart. Please thank him on my behalf.”

Hong Boxiao had someone bring out a large round table and placed a big round plate on it, specifically for the guests to admire.

The elderly gentlemen gathered around the table, discussing which animal looked more lifelike. The final consensus was that they all looked extremely realistic as if they were about to come to life. The detailed movements were exquisitely portrayed.

The people at Old Master Yan’s table discreetly glanced at each other. Although they were sitting still, they could clearly see the delicate pastry animals. They thought they looked intricate. With years of experience in the food industry, they knew that this was pure craftsmanship. Machines would make the figures appear rigid, making it difficult to achieve such nimble and lifelike poses.

After the elderly gentlemen had finished admiring, others started to gather around in groups to take a look. They all praised not only the beauty but also the auspicious meaning of the display. It had an impressive presence.  The older ones felt envious, and their children said they would find a way to have a similar “Hundred Beasts Offering Blessings” for their birthdays.

At Old Master Yan’s table, there was an elderly gentleman who particularly loved pastries. He couldn’t hold back and finally stood up, walking to the table where the round plate was placed. He looked and examined it, his heart filled with delight. However, he murmured to himself, “It looks good, but I wonder if it tastes delicious.”

Although Mr. Hong was old, his hearing was still sharp. Upon hearing the man’s comment, he initially wanted to call for the villa’s staff. But just then, he saw Hong Dongbo approaching and instructed him, “You’ve arrived at the right time. Boxiao said those pastries have just come out of the pot. Distribute them for everyone to taste while they’re still hot.”

Hong Dongbo walked to the round table and looked around, saying, “Did Shaoxuan make these? Only his hands can create such delicate pastries. They look so well-made. It’s a shame to eat them.”

“They’re made to be eaten. What’s there to regret? When I feel like admiring them, I’ll have Shaoxuan make another plate specifically for display.” Mr. Hong said. “Let’s distribute this plate while it’s still hot. There’s still some time before the main course is served, and the elderly folks can have a light snack to fill their stomachs.”

“Hey, hey, I’ll make it clear now. When it’s my birthday, I’ll have Shaoxuan make two plates for me, one for eating and one for display.” Old Man Wu spoke up.

“You want two plates?! !” Old Man Li stared at him, then his tone changed, “Well, in that case, I also want two plates.”

“Me too, I want two plates.” Old Man Zhang quickly joined in.

“All right, all right, when the time comes, I won’t forget about all of you. Rest assured, rest assured.” Mr. Hong reassured them.

Although Hong Dongbo felt that it was a pity to eat the pastries, since the old master had spoken, he had no choice but to comply. He called several staff members and had them bring the large round plate to Mr. Hong’s table. Hong Dongbo said, “Father, today is your birthday. Please choose one first.”

“This lion is good, the king of beasts.” Suggested Old Man Li.

“This elephant is also good, it seems to have quite a good amount.” Said Old Man Wu.

“The tiger looks great too, but I wonder what filling it has.” Said Old Man Zhang.

“Father?” Hong Dongbo waited for Mr. Hong to make a decision.

“Then let’s choose the lion. I’ll be the king of beasts again.” Mr. Hong decided firmly, slamming the table.

Although Hong Dongb didn’t understand what was so worth slamming the table for, it was normal for older people to become childish with age.

There were dozens of tables in the courtyard, but there were only a hundred types of animals on the round plate. It was impossible for each person to get one, so they only gave them to the older guests first.

“Hmm… Mine is mango-flavored, delicious!” Old Man Zhang took a bite of his tiger-shaped pastry and said, “So tasty!”

“Mine is peach-flavored, it’s also delicious, hmm! Really good!” Old Man Li, who was born in the Year of the Monkey, chose the golden monkey-shaped pastry.

“Mine has fish soup filling, it’s delicious and savory!”

“Mine has pork sauce filling, it’s truly delicious…”

“Mine has crab roe…”

“Mine has pumpkin, with a hint of milk…”

The people who received the pastries asked each other, and surprisingly, none of them had the same filling. Each flavor was equally delicious, and they all believed that their own pastry had the best taste.

At Old Master Yan’s table, everyone was elderly, so they all received pastries. They didn’t need to listen to others’ descriptions to know whether they were good or not, they knew it in their hearts.

“They really put their heart into it. I thought that pastries with high visual appeal would surely have a slightly inferior taste compared to the snacks they usually make for us. But unexpectedly, not only are they not lacking in taste, but the fillings are all unique.” Exclaimed Old Man Wu.

The others nodded in agreement.

Lu Jingqian played with the iron tube in his hand, seeing that the time was about right. After finishing the water from his teacup, he stood up and went downstairs to prepare the dishes.to cook.

Zia’s here:

Here we go! 5 more chapters~ So, I’ve seen some reviews which said that this novel ends kinda… abruptly, and I have to say that I somehow quite predicted it already, since this arc ends at chap 64, and there’s only 1 more chap after that, but… who cares, I basically just read light, non-brainy novels, oh yeah~

<< TOC >>

Food and Live Broadcast（11）

<< TOC >>

Yan Bin received a phone call from his grandfather asking him to come over. He knew it must be about the all-time-high sales of Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes recently. Although he was trying his best to deal with the situation, his grandfather insisted that he come over immediately regardless of what he was currently doing.

“My grandfather wants me to come over for a visit. You go ahead and eat. I might not be able to come tonight,” Yan Bin said as he put on his coat, standing at the kitchen door, speaking to Lan Mingze, who was cooking.

Lan Mingze was preparing the final dish, and upon hearing Yan Bin’s words, he turned off the heat and looked at him, asking, “Is it about the Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes?”

“My grandfather didn’t mention it on the phone. He just said for me to come over, but it’s definitely about this matter,” Yan Bin replied with a troubled expression. Instead of walking over and hugging Lan Mingze as usual before leaving, he simply said he was leaving and turned away.

Lan Mingze walked out of the kitchen and watched him leave. It wasn’t until the door closed that he turned around and looked at the table full of dishes he had painstakingly prepared. Yan Bin had been in a bad mood lately, and his appetite had suffered as a result. Lan Mingze had put a lot of effort into making these dishes, hoping to bring some joy to him by making him eat. Now, he had to face this table of food alone.

Lan Mingze served the final dish and placed it on the dining table, but he had no appetite as he looked at all the dishes he had made with great care. Yan Bin had been picking fights with him more than once due to his bad mood, but what could he do? He was still very worried.

Recently, Lu Jingqian’s fanbase surpassed that of Lan Mingze. There were almost daily news reports about Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes and Rainbow Garden Villa. After setting up food factories across the country, the sales of Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes had consistently ranked first nationwide and were still rising.

The news reports mentioned that the reservations for Rainbow Garden Villa were already sold out for next year. This was because the reservations could only be made up until the next year, and many wealthy businessmen were trying their best to use their connections just to have a meal at Rainbow Garden Villa. This had never happened before in so many years. Under the strong demands and urging of the public, Rainbow Garden Villa was about to open its doors, and various food critics were already speculating about the grand scene that would unfold, hoping that the public would be quick to secure their reservations.

Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes have already dealt a severe blow to other brands of ready-made dishes. After the opening of Rainbow Garden Villa, Lan Mingze didn’t know if other restaurants would be affected, but he was certain that his Lan family recipes would be compared. He knew that the authentic and representative Lan family recipes must have been passed down to Lan Shaoxuan by Old Master Lan. Otherwise, Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes and Rainbow Garden Villa wouldn’t be so highly praised.

Both he and Lan Shaoxuan are part of the Lan family, so their dishes will definitely be compared when Rainbow Garden Villa opens. He couldn’t even imagine what the situation would be like at that time.

Lan Mingze sat at the dining table, supporting his forehead. Besides feeling frustrated and conflicted, he also felt a sense of fear for the uncontrollable future. He thought to himself that if Lan Shaoxuan didn’t have the support of the Shenghong Group, perhaps he could have used Yan Bin to prevent him from ever cooking again. But now it was too late, he couldn’t do anything to him, nor could he suppress him with his skills. What should he do?

Even when the dishes on the table turned cold, Lan Mingze didn’t touch his chopsticks. He stood up, poured all the dishes into the trash, and then lay down on the bed, curling up, wanting to temporarily escape reality.

“Grandfather, you called for me?” Yan Bin stood in front of his grandfather, asking respectfully.

“Take a seat.” Old Master Yan motioned towards the nearby sofa with his hand.

After Yan Bin sat down, he looked at his grandfather, waiting for him to speak.

“Are you helpless in the face of the impact caused by Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes?” Old Master Yan went straight to the point.

“I, I’ve been trying to find ways to deal with it. It’s just that the public’s novelty for Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes hasn’t worn off yet, and our strategies haven’t been effective. I think…”

“It has been almost two months, and the sales of Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes are still rising. Are you still waiting for their popularity to fade?” Old Master Yan interrupted his defense. “I told you a long time ago that relying on the weakness of your opponents is the worst and most helpless method. It seems that you’ve truly been pushed to a dead end.”

Yan Bin lowered his head and fell silent. Every word his grandfather said was true. The more he defended himself, the more it would seem like he was making excuses for his own incompetence, and his grandfather despised the people who made excuses the most.

“Have you tried Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes?” Old Master Yan asked.

“No…” Yan Bin felt that no matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to eat the ready-made dishes that had caused him such embarrassment.

“You should try it yourself. Haven’t I taught you that knowing your enemy is the key to winning a hundred battles? If you don’t personally understand why the public loves eating Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes, how can you create food that satisfies them even more?”

“I have let the chefs taste it, but they said they couldn’t replicate the same taste unless they had detailed cooking methods.” Yan Bin said.

“I also had someone buy and try it. It may be difficult to achieve victory in terms of taste in a short period of time,” Old Master Yan sighed and said, “I’ve competed with Old Man Hong my whole life, and in the realm of gourmet food, I have never lost to him. Everyone says that his grandson is better than dozens of grandsons from other families. Over the years, that grandson has indeed achieved significant success. Now, is it possible that even I have to yield the last territory I’ve held, to the Hong family?”

“Our family has stood firm in the catering industry for so many years, and your grandfather is the president of the Gourmet Association, with the ability to command respect in the industry. It may not be difficult for the Hong family to secure a place in the catering industry, but to occupy our family’s position, it might not be so easy, right?” Yan Bin felt that his grandfather held Hong Boxiao’s abilities in too high regard, and he felt dissatisfied.

Old Master Yan shook his head and said, “That’s why I say you still lack some experience compared to Hong Boxiao. Why has our family been the leader in the catering industry for so many years? Why has the Hong family expanded their business so widely and been involved in so many industries, yet they have been hesitant to venture into the catering industry? Have you ever carefully considered these questions?”

Yan Bin fell silent once again. It’s not that he hadn’t thought about this question, but he was worried the answer he give wouldn’t match his grandfather’s expectations, making his grandfather feel that he still lacked experience.

Old Master Yan sighed and once again lamented why Hong Boxiao wasn’t his grandson, “Well, think about it carefully and let me know when you have the answer. The Hong family has sent me an invitation to attend Old Man Hong’s birthday banquet. This is the first time I have received an invitation from their family. In the past, it was always me sending them invitations. Now they finally sent me an invitation, it seems they are very confident.”

“If you don’t want to go, you can have someone send a congratulatory gift on our behalf. There’s no need for you to go if you don’t want to.” Yan Bin suggested.

“Hmph, if I don’t go, it’s like admitting defeat and avoiding facing them. Then they’ll have plenty to say about me behind my back. I’ve heard a lot of people praising the dishes at Rainbow Garden Villa, so it’s a good opportunity for me to personally verify if the food there is really as good as they say. I heard they hired Lan Shaoxuan as the head chef?”

“Yes, Lan Shaoxuan is the nominal head chef at Rainbow Garden Villa, but I don’t think he necessarily cooks all those dishes himself.”

“It’s my mistake. I had a good relationship with his grandfather, and I didn’t even know that Lan Shaoxuan is the heir he has been grooming. I thought he was just overly doting on his favorite grandson.”

“I don’t think Grandfather needs to blame himself. Lan Shaoxuan is only in his twenties. Even if he really cooks well, it definitely won’t be as good as those people describe. I think there are other chefs behind the scenes because of his good looks, which can attract fans, so they attribute the dishes to him.”

“On the day of the banquet, you’ll come with me. I’ll find a way to make him cook a few dishes in front of everyone to see how skilled he really is.”

Most of the time, Mr. Hong lives in Rainbow Garden Villa and rarely goes back to his mansion in the city. His friends, unlike him, don’t stay permanently, but they often come to stay for a few days for various reasons until their families come to pick them up. This makes their families feel very embarrassed, so they try to provide various benefits to the Hong family in business.

Mr. Hong’s birthday banquet had a total of 280 tables, no less grand than the opening day.

Two days later was Hong’s grandfather’s birthday. The villa had started preparations a few days in advance, and the courtyards that needed decoration were already set up.

Hong Boxiao took the time to accompany his grandfather and several elderly gentlemen to inspect the set-up banquet scene in the villa, checking if everything was in place or if there were any unsatisfactory aspects and making the necessary improvements within the remaining two days.

“With 280 tables of dishes, Shaoxuan alone will definitely be overwhelmed. Although the other chefs have also learned well, Shaoxuan must personally cook for your table.” Hong Boxiao pointed to the large triple pavilion in the middle of the lotus pond and said, “Shaoxuan will cook in the middle of those three pavilions. Everyone will be able to see, and your table will have the clearest view. After the dishes are ready, they will be served directly from there.”

“Old Man Yan and the others will definitely come on that day. We’ll arrange their table next to ours, and Shaoxuan will personally cook their dishes too. I want them to be convinced.” Hong’s grandfather said proudly.

“Understood,” Hong Boxiao replied, “I’ll do as you command.”

“This courtyard is quite spacious. It doesn’t feel cramped even with dozens of tables.” Old Man Li commented while surveying the surroundings.

Hong Boxiao then took the elderly gentlemen to other courtyards for inspection. Mr. Hong was satisfied with everything and didn’t find any faults, so he patiently waited for the arrival of his birthday.

On the evening before the birthday banquet, Lu Jingqian lay on the bed while Hong Boxiao sat by his side, massaging his shoulders.

“You’ll be working hard again tomorrow. Grandfather said all the birthday gifts that arrived today are yours, and when it’s over tomorrow, he has a reward for you as well.” Hong Boxiao said as he massage Lu Jingqian’s shoulders.

“Why is Grandfather being so polite?” Lu Jingqian said with his eyes closed in comfort. “Since I’m the head chef of Hongyuan Villa and he’s the chairman of Shenghong, it’s only natural for me to cook for his birthday banquet. Besides, he’s your biological grandfather.”

“Grandfather is concerned about you and knows how hard you work in the kitchen, so he wants to reward you as much as possible.” Hong Boxiao said, bowing his head. “Grandfather might give you one of the Hong family’s islands. When the time comes, don’t be foolish and refuse it directly. Accept it, and only then will Grandfather be happy.”

Lu Jingqian opened his eyes and said, “I’m just cooking a few tables of dishes. Isn’t Grandfather going overboard? If we have birthday banquets every year, won’t the entire Hong family’s property be given to me?”

“It’s not just a reward for cooking the birthday banquet.” Hong Boxiao patted his backside, lying down next to him, and said face-to-face, “Grandfather is giving it as a gift for his future daughter-in-law.”

“Did you tell Grandfather about us?” Lu Jingqian asked.

“Grandfather spends most of his time here now, and we meet almost every day. Do you think he can’t figure it out?” Hong Boxiao said. “He even subtly mentioned the matter of great-grandchildren to me a few days ago.”

“But I haven’t agreed to marry you. I’m just sleeping with you. Who said I want to have children with you?” Lu Jingqian turned his face to the other side, acting spoiled.

Hong Boxiao turned Lu Jingqian’s body around, his hand reaching between his legs, and said, “Even if you don’t agree now, you’ll eventually become mine. I don’t need you to bear children, just mix our little tadpoles together.”

“I don’t want someone else to bear our children.” Lu Jingqian stopped arguing with him and said sincerely, “Our own children should be carried and born by us. They should be biologically related to us.”

“Pregnancy is tough.” Hong Boxiao said, kissing the corner of his mouth.

“Even if it’s tough, it’s only a few months. It’s worth it for our own flesh and blood,” Lu Jingqian said.

“All right, I’ll listen to you. If you change your mind later, it’s also fine.” Hong Boxiao said, and his hand began to wander restlessly.

“Do you want to do it now?” Lu Jingqian looked at him and asked.

“As long as you’re by my side, there’s never a time when I don’t want to. But tomorrow will definitely be busy, and I don’t want you to be too tired.”

“If you have a way to satisfy our desires without making me too tired, it’s not impossible.” Lu Jingqian said, using his fingers to rub his lips.

“You want it?” Hong Boxiao grabbed his hand.

“Let’s give it a try,” Lu Jingqian said in a coquettish tone.

“I’ll fulfill your request.” Hong Boxiao said, getting up and taking off Lu Jingqian’s pants before burying his head down.

Lu Jingqian’s breathing gradually became rapid, and he couldn’t help but grab Hong Boxiao’s hair, opening his mouth to breathe heavily.

Zia’s here:

I’m shook! This arc is another m-preg (¬‿¬)

<< TOC >>

Food and Live Broadcast（10）

<< TOC >>

Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes’ sales have repeatedly reached new highs, and the news has reported multiple times on the popularity of Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes, which are almost sold out as soon as they are on the shelves.

People who have tried Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes were unable to buy them have to settle for other brands of ready-made dishes. However, the brands they used to find decent now taste terrible, and they can’t even finish eating them. This has led to a significant slump in sales for other brands of prepared food, causing major impacts on various prepared food companies.

The major ready-made dishes companies wanted to unite and fight against Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes for self-preservation. However, the food industry relies on taste to win over customers, and if customers are not convinced, any efforts would be in vain. Moreover, Rainbow Garden is a subsidiary of the Shenghong Group, and the formidable background strength of Shenghong cannot be underestimated. It is even more challenging to find ways to deal with them from other aspects.

The deliciousness of Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes has once again led to an explosive increase in Lu Jingqian’s fan base. Although his fans are disappointed that he has been live streaming less frequently, the thought of Rainbow Garden opening branch stores gives them the opportunity to taste Lu Jingqian’s dishes by spending money, which balances their hearts to some extent.

On the opening day of Rainbow Garden Villa, all the guests were people with status and position who came specifically to show support to Shenghong Group. With a large number of guests, most of whom had business dealings, Hong Boxiao and Ou Wenyu would certainly be unable to handle the reception alone. Therefore, they called upon the major shareholders of Shenghong to help greet the guests.

It is an unwritten rule that the opening banquet does not allow guests to order dishes. The purpose is to showcase the most confident and specialty dishes of the restaurant to attract customers. Considering that the guests attending the opening day were extraordinary individuals who must have tasted various master chefs’ dishes, Lu Jingqian put a lot of effort into this opening banquet.

The opening banquet originally only had the unwritten rule of not allowing guests to order dishes. However, Rainbow Garden Villa added two additional rules, no adding dishes, and no taking leftovers. The guests who initially didn’t care much about these two added rules started to complain while eating the dishes, asking why they couldn’t add more dishes or take leftovers.

The guests who had business dealings with Shenghong initially came to show goodwill, but it turned into them asking for favors as they progressed. Not only did they begged Hong Boxiao and Ou Wenyu to add more dishes, but even Shenghong’s shareholders were also being constantly pestered and unable to escape.

“President Ou, we’ve been friends for so many years. Could you please pack a portion of caramelized pork trotters for me to take home? My elderly father has no other hobbies, but he loves this dish. If I bring it back to him, it will make him happy. Who knows, he might even give me more shares. I will remember your kindness!”

“President Xu, you’re too kind. We’ve known each other for so long, and it’s just caramelized pork trotters¹. How can I bear to stop you from taking it home? The quantity for each table is already fixed, and this dish requires a lot of effort. Otherwise, how can it melt in your mouth? It’s too late to make more now. Next time, bring your father here, and I will personally take care of him. The kitchen will prepare an excellent dish just for him.” Ou Wenyu finally managed to escape from the private room, only to be cornered by President Xu in the corridor.

“I was thinking of bringing my father here, but I asked your staff just now, and they said all the future reservations are unavailable!” President Xu held onto Ou Wenyu’s hand tightly.

“Don’t worry, I’ll find a solution for you. I’ll go find the manager right away and arrange a reservation for you.” Ou Wenyu forcefully pulled his hand back and quickly walked away.

“All right then!” President Xu shouted after Ou Wenyu’s figure, “Please keep it in mind!”

After finally breaking free, Ou Wenyu rushed into the rest area, closed the door from the inside, and let out a sigh of relief. When he turned around, he saw Hong Boxiao sitting there, already resting and drinking tea.

Owen Yu didn’t even have the energy to greet him. He sat down heavily on the other side of the bed, and let out a long sigh.

Seeing the exhaustion on his face, Hong Boxiao poured him a cup of tea. “Why are you like this? You’re exhausted to this extent.”

Ou Wenyu took a sip of tea, soothing his dry throat a bit, and said in frustration, “Why aren’t you tired? Why did you come here to hide? I’ve only had a sip of tea until now and haven’t even eaten a bite of food. I was too busy dealing with those people. How is it going on Grandfather’s side? If there are any leftovers, I’ll go over and have some. I’m starving.”

“I advise you not to go. Those old folks are probably going crazy. Decades-long friendships almost turned into fights just to have a few more bites of food. Even my dad couldn’t handle it. I went to check and quickly ran away.” Hong Boxiao said.

“Go talk to Shaoxuan. He went a bit overboard with this opening banquet. It’s already past the time for dispersing, but those people are still lingering, demanding more dishes and takeout.” Ou Wenyu complained, “In the future, he should tone down his culinary skills a bit. Don’t make the dishes too delicious, or they’ll all cling to us with their friendship obligations, and we won’t be able to handle it. I’ve never been this tired before. If this continues, I’ll go crazy.”

“Today, there were too many people we know and have connections with coming all at once. It will be better in the future. Even if they want to come, they won’t have time to come every day,” Hong Boxiao said.

“Heh.” Ou Wenyu forced a smile and said, “President Yun of Cloud Intelligence Technology was just asking if we offer monthly packages here. He plans to live here in the future.”

Hong Boxiao’s phone rang, but he hesitated to answer it.

“Who is it?” Owen Yu asked.

“It’s my dad,” Hong Boxiao said.

“You dare not answer Uncle’s call?” Ou Wenyu raised an eyebrow, looking at him.

“Who said I won’t answer? I’m just busy, so I pick it up a bit late.” Hong Boxiao slowly lifted his phone to his ear.

“Where are you? Hurry up and come to me,” Hong Dongbo, who has always been gentle and composed, sounded a bit impatient.

“I’m busy attending to guests. You handle Grandfather for now, and I’ll come over later,” Hong Boxiao said.

“You unfilial child!” Hong Dongbo lowered his voice and said, “Don’t think I don’t know you’re slacking off. Leaving your own grandfather and father aside, and running off to rest. How did I teach you from childhood to adulthood?”

“It was Grandfather who taught me from childhood to adulthood. You were always busy with your research and didn’t have time to teach me,” Hong Boxiao took the opportunity to argue with his father.

“So you’re just abandoning your Grandfather who taught you from childhood? Come over quickly!” Hong Dongbo hung up the phone after saying that.

Hong Boxiao sighed and looked at Ou Wenyu, “Let’s go.”

“What do you want me to do?” Ou Wenyu had a look of ‘I’m not going to my death’ on his face. “I’m not going.”

“I asked the kitchen to add more dishes for Grandfather and them. If we go now, maybe we can still get a few bites to eat. If you don’t want to go, forget it,” Hong Boxiao got up and walked towards the exit.

“Okay, okay, I’ll go with you. How can I let you face so many elders alone? That would be too heartless of me as a brother.” Ou Wenyu quickly followed along.

…………………………

After finishing the additional dishes, the old gentlemen finally sat contentedly and peacefully, chatting together. Those who had family members come to pick them up had also sent them back, saying they would stay overnight and return after having breakfast tomorrow.

“Old Hong, your birthday is coming up. Let’s have a big celebration this year,” Old Man Li suggested. “Every year, Old Man Yan from Rongyuan throws a birthday banquet that’s as grand as an emperor’s celebration and invites famous chefs to present their dishes. You can hold it at Rainbow Garden Villa, there’s no need for fancy chefs, and it will definitely surpass his annual birthday banquet.”

“That’s right!” Old Man Wu agreed. “Invite all those people from the culinary world when the time comes and let them witness what true gourmet cuisine is. Let’s see if they still have the face to establish Gourmet Association.”

“I agree. While we old folks are still alive, let’s also occupy the realm of gourmet cuisine and relieve the frustration we’ve had all these years from their boasting.” Added another.

“That’s it. They have dominated the culinary industry for so many years, always saying that food is the most important and enjoying delicious meals is the greatest blessing. It’s as if nothing else matters and they win everything as long as they win in the food and beverage industry. Now let Boxiao eliminate them in the culinary world and see how they can continue to be arrogant in front of us.” Said another.

“It’s settled then!” Old Master Hong decided firmly. “In the past, they used to send us invitations, and we couldn’t refuse to go. But once we went, we had to endure their flaunting. Even the dishes that were usually enjoyable became hard to swallow. This year, let’s send them invitations and see if they dare to come. If they don’t come, it shows they’re afraid and guilty, and we’ll have something to say in the future. If they do come, let them know what true gourmet cuisine is, let them shut up in front of us, and never have the qualification to talk about gourmet food with us again!”

Lu Jingqian was busy in the kitchen from morning till afternoon before he could finally leave. The closing tasks were naturally not his responsibility, but it was still a tiring day.

He returned to Yunyue Tower and as soon as he entered the front hall, he saw Hong Boxiao and Ou Wenyu sitting on the bed, looking completely exhausted and out of shape.

“Why do you look more tired than me?” Lu Jingqian walked over to the side bed and sat down, pouring himself a cup of tea. “I’ve been busy in the kitchen all day, feeling dizzy, but you two look even more exhausted.”

Ou Wenyu felt like he had exhausted all the words he had to say for the year in just one day, so now he didn’t feel like speaking at all.

Hong Boxiao stood up and gestured towards the door with his thumb, indicating that Ou Wenyu could leave.

Ou Wenyu struggled to stand up and looked at Lu Jingqian. He let out a long sigh and then walked out as if floating away.  He truly regretted convincing Boxiao to enter the food and beverage industry. If he had known it would be this tiring, they could have just hired Lu Jingqian specifically to cook for them. Why bother with the exhaustion of running a food and beverage business?

“What have you all been doing today? Why are you so exhausted?” Lu Jingqian looked puzzled as he watched Ou Wenyu leave.

Hong Boxiao waved at Lu Jingqian, motioning for him to come over.

Seeing that Boxiao had something to say, Lu Jingqian walked over and sat beside him, looking at him and asking, “What’s wrong?”

Hong Boxiao cupped his face and kissed his lips passionately, using a deep kiss to alleviate the longing they had felt throughout the day of not seeing each other.

Lu Jingqian’s body quickly softened, and he could only lean against Boxiao’s chest, enduring his domineering possession. He not only invaded his mouth and took away his breath but it seemed like he wanted to take away his tongue as well.

After the deep kiss ended, Hong Boxiao held Lu Jingqian and caressed his face, saying, “Let me discuss something with you. When we create new dishes in the future, can you make them not too delicious?”

Lu Jingqian looked up at him, and blinked his eyes, not understanding. He blinked his eyes again, still not grasping the meaning behind his words.

“You see,” Hong Boxiao explained, “Delicious food can earn a lot of money. But, if the dishes are too delicious, they will attract a lot of people seeking favors. Shenghong Group has a large business with many companies in various industries. But eating is not limited to any industry. When all these people come knocking at our door together, even if we have three heads and six arms, it would be difficult to handle. It takes a lot of effort and mental energy. Not to mention my grandfather, my father, and a bunch of friends. It hurts their feelings to keep refusing them.”

Lu Jingqian raised his hand and touched his face, sympathetically saying, “I understand your difficulties, but I’m a chef. I can only make the dishes taste good; there’s no reason for me to intentionally make them bad.”

“I’m not asking you to make the dishes bad,” Hong Boxiao looked at him and said, “I just want you to tone it down a bit, not make them too delicious and irresistible.”

Lu Jingqian thought for a moment and said, “I’ll try my best.”

Hong Boxiao kissed him firmly and said, “Baby, you’ve worked hard.”

“You’ve worked hard too,” Lu Jingqian kissed him back.

After the grand opening banquet at Rainbow Garden Villa, the moment the guests who needed to be seen off were sent away, and the main gate was closed, the staff inside the villa collectively breathed a sigh of relief. They finally managed to send away those masters who tried every possible way to stay.

As for how delicious the dishes at Rainbow Garden Villa were, curious people could only rely on the comments from the food critics present and the reports from food journalists to find out. They praised the dishes at Rainbow Garden Villa to the heavens, making some people wonder if they were paid to exaggerate like that.

These food critics and journalists were already well-known figures with many fans, and they were accustomed to receiving contrary comments under their reviews. But this time, they couldn’t ignore these people and directly responded by criticizing them, saying that they had no right to comment if they hadn’t tasted the food. They challenged them to go and try it before leaving negative comments.

Zia’s here:

<< TOC >>

Food and Live Broadcast（9）

<< TOC >>

Yan Bin looked at the sales report of the ready-made dishes for the week with a displeased expression and furrowed brows. He said to the sales department manager standing in front of him, “Why did the sales decline even more this week compared to the previous week? Weren’t you all saying that our sales would surely rebound once the hype and novelty of Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes subsided?”

The sales department manager hesitated to speak and then said, “Well, Mr. Yan, we have analyzed the reasons. Perhaps it’s because Rainbow Garden introduced new dishes this week, so, maybe we need to wait a bit longer until the sales hype of their dishes subsides, Then our sales will definitely improve.”

“Are we now at a point where we can only hope for their sales to decline in order to boost our own sales?” Yan Bin pounded the table a few times and exclaimed loudly, “If their sales keep going up, does that mean the sales of our ready-made dishes will decline or even completely withdraw from the market?”

“In fact, it’s not just our sales that have declined,” the sales department manager murmured. “Through investigation and statistics, the sales of other companies’ ready-made dishes have declined even more. Compared to other companies, our sales volume is still decent.”

“So, are you suggesting that we can only compare ourselves to the worse performers now and we can’t compete with a food company that was established less than a month ago?” Yan Bin’s expression became even more unpleasant.

The sales department manager realized that saying more would only make things worse, so he remained silent.

“Why is it that their newly launched products can skyrocket to the top of the sales chart within a month, while we have to avoid direct competition and compare ourselves to the weaker ones?! Don’t you know how to study the reasons, change our marketing strategies, and increase our sales volume?”

“The sales of ready-made dishes are different from other products. The taste directly determines the sales volume. No matter how much marketing and advertising we do, if the taste doesn’t improve, it’s difficult to increase sales. Therefore, I think it would be better for us to research new dishes and find a way to surpass Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes in terms of taste. That will absolutely boost our sales.” The sales department manager felt unjustified in his position. If the taste couldn’t match up to their competitor, what use was his marketing expertise, no matter how well he executed it?

Yan Bin certainly knew that taste was everything in the food industry, but he was reluctant to admit that their ready-made dished didn’t match the taste of Rainbow Garden. He knew that all the dishes at Rainbow Garden were prepared according to Lu Jingjian’s cooking methods, while they hired experienced chefs with decades of experience or spent a lot of money to obtain cooking techniques. And now, they couldn’t hold up to the culinary skills of a young chef whom he had never respected before.

“Notify all department managers and supervisors to gather in the conference room immediately,” Yan Bin said. He had originally been prepared to strike a blow to Hong Boxiao and show him who the true leader in the food industry was. However, he hadn’t anticipated the fierce momentum of Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes, which directly defeated long-established brands with many loyal customers and climbed to the top of the monthly sales within a month. He had to find a way to turn the situation around. If relying solely on their company’s efforts wasn’t enough, then he would join forces with other companies to find a way to challenge Rainbow Garden’s dominance.

As Yan Bin walked out of his office, he caught a whiff of a tantalizing aroma. He stopped in his tracks and carefully used his nose to locate the source of the food. Then, he looked at his office assistant and asked, “What’s that smell?”

His assistant averted her gaze and nervously replied, “It’s, it’s the aroma of the bento I brought.”

“Bento?” Yan Bin looked at her and said, “Did you make it? Or your family made it?”

“I, I made it myself.”

“So, you can cook too. Go to the company cafeteria and make a portion for me. If it tastes good, I can offer a high price to purchase your cooking method,” Yan Bin said. He knew very well that taste was the most important aspect of the food industry. No matter how well they marketed their products, customers wouldn’t buy if the taste didn’t meet their expectations. He had been in the food and beverage industry for many years, and based on the aroma he had just smelled, the taste couldn’t be too bad. If they could enhance the taste of their company’s ready-made dishes, that would be great.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Yan!” The assistant quickly admitted before his lie could unfold, “The lunchbox I ate just now wasn’t made by me. It was from Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes. I was originally planning to bring it to the cafeteria to eat, but it was so delicious that I couldn’t resist and ended up opening it to have a taste.”

Yan Bin’s face immediately turned ugly. “Besides you, who else is eating Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes in the cafeteria?”

“M-m-most of the staff are eating it because it’s really delicious,” the assistant said, avoiding eye contact with Yan Bin and speaking cautiously.

“Even our own company’s employees are contributing to their sales. No wonder their sales are so high,” Yan Bin expressed his frustration, clenching his fists tightly. “Spread the word. For the next month, the cafeteria won’t serve any dishes. Every employee must eat our own company’s ready-made dishes in the cafeteria every day, and they will have to pay for it themselves!”

………………………………

Rainbow Garden Villa finally opened its doors. The high cost of dining there prevented most people who fell in love with Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes from entering. However, all reservations were fully booked within two days.

Shenghong Group has a wide range of industries and holds a certain status in various sectors, which has led to numerous collaborations with major companies. With the opening of Rainbow Garden Villa, many high-ranking executives from these companies made reservations to show their support for Shenghong Group and celebrate the opening.

Mr. Hong, the patriarch of the Hong family, also woke up early. After freshening up, he skipped breakfast and left his home in high spirits to go to Rainbow Garden Villa. He intended to be there to welcome and entertain his invited friends.

Mr. Hong hadn’t tasted the dishes personally prepared by Lu Jingqian yet. Due to the busy preparations for the resort’s opening, he didn’t want to bother them by requesting special treatment. However, Rainbow Garden’s ready-made dishes had already become a staple on their family’s dining table, and coupled with his trust in Hong Boxiao’s abilities, Mr. Hong had great confidence in the opening of Rainbow Garden Villa.

Lu Jingqian should have gotten up by now, but he was still being pressed down by Hong Boxiao, deeply engaged in a passionate kiss. He held Hong Boxiao’s broad hand that roamed his body, and as the kiss turned from deep to shallow, he mumbled, “Let go of me. Today is the opening day, and I need to get up. You should too.”

“The time for welcoming guests hasn’t arrived yet. They won’t come so early. Don’t worry,” Hong Boxiao’s lips descended, kissing the addictive skin he couldn’t get enough of. After tasting the person beneath him, he felt completely addicted and wished to be intimate with him on the bed all the time. He could now truly understand the feeling of a monarch no longer attending court early in the morning.

Lu Jingqian’s body turned soft like water under the combined effect of the kisses and caresses. However, considering the significance of today, he couldn’t allow Hong Boxiao to fool around any longer. He struggled hard to break free from Hong Boxiao’s restraints and finally managed to get up from the bed.

Lu Jingqian glanced at the red marks on his body and quickly dressed before Hong Boxiao entered the dressing room, fearing that his beastly instincts might take over again.

“You said your grandpa would bring friends to support the opening today, right? You better go and wait to greet them. It would be impolite if they arrive and you were not there,” Lu Jingqian said to Hong Boxiao as he finished dressing. Hong Boxiao was worried that Lu Jingqian might get too tired today, so they only cuddled and slept together last night without going further. But even though it was just one night without any further intimacy, he was already unsatisfied this morning. He embraced Lu Jingqian, showering him with kisses all over, leaving red marks all over his body before stopping.

“Old people usually get angry easily, but they won’t arrive so soon. Besides, the banquet starts at noon, and they’ll need to have breakfast and rest before coming,” Hong Boxiao replied as he dressed.

“Anyway, I don’t care about entertaining guests. I’m only responsible for the kitchen and cooking. You, Ou Wenyu, and the resort manager can handle the rest,” Lu Jingqian said before quickly walking into the bathroom. After washing up, he hurriedly made his way to the kitchen.

The kitchen staff started working before dawn. Although most of the ingredients were prepared in advance, there were still some dishes that Lu Jingqian insisted on making fresh to ensure the taste and texture. So there were quite a few dishes that needed to be prepared on the spot.

After training during this period, the chefs selected by Lu Jingqian were able to match his speed and quickly respond to his instructions.

Although these chefs were older than Lu Jingqian, they were very obedient and worked exceptionally hard in front of him just to learn cooking techniques from him. These chefs had signed long-term contracts with Rainbow Garden Villa, and those who were chosen by Lu Jingqian to assist him would become head chefs at various branches in the future. Therefore, Lu Jingqian had to teach them the preparation methods for some dishes.

Just as Hong Boxiao sat down in the lobby and picked up a teacup, before he could take a sip, the manager reported that his grandfather was about to arrive at the resort. He quickly put down the teacup, wondering why his grandfather had come so early, and hurriedly walked outside.

While on the way to the resort, Mr. Hong personally called and urged his friends, so not only was he about to arrive, but his friends were also already on their way due to his insistence.

Hong Boxiao stood outside the main gate of the resort and saw his grandfather’s car pull up and stop. He walked over and personally opened the car door, helping his grandfather out. “Grandfather, why did you come so early?”

“I woke up early this morning and left without having breakfast. I’ve been making phone calls to urge my friends along the way,” Mr. Hong said after getting out of the car.

“Hasn’t Grandfather had breakfast yet?” Hong Boxiao looked at Hong Dongbo and said, “Dad, you haven’t eaten either? I’ll ask the manager to inform the kitchen to prepare some breakfast for you to fill your stomach. The banquet won’t start until noon.”

“Let the kitchen make more preparations. I don’t think your grandfather’s friends have eaten yet,” Hong Dongbo said.

The whole mountain villa is owned by the Hong family, but after Hong Boxiao manage the company, he build and renovate the mountain villa. Because Mr. Hong used to live in another mountain villa, so he had only come here a few times. Seeing the new appearance of the whole area, Mr. Hong nodded his head in satisfaction, thinking that it looks much better than the last time he came here.

Hong Boxiao looked as Mr. Hong pointed to several designated areas and said, “These are all designed and drawn by Shaoxuan himself, and then someone was commissioned to execute them. He said the previous decorations looked awkward.”

“I also think it looks much better this way. The previous decorations always felt a bit off, but I couldn’t pinpoint what exactly made them feel that way,” said Mr. Hong

“Shaoxuan said the previous decorations were artificially created in a faux antique style, forcefully trying to create a classical atmosphere, but lacking the true classical beauty.”

“That’s true.” Nodded Mr. Hong in agreement. “For someone so young to have such a high appreciation for classical aesthetics, it’s truly rare.”

“Shaoxuan learned from his grandfather, who was an expert in this field. It’s a pity that his grandfather is no longer here. Otherwise, you two would surely have had a lot to talk about,” Hong Boxiao said.

“I know about his grandfather. He was involved in the culinary world, so his relationship with Old Man Yan should be quite good.” Said Mr. Hong. Mr. Hong and Old Man Yan were arch-rivals, and their circles of friends did not intersect.

After all of Mr. Hong’s friends arrived, Hong Boxiao and his father accompanied the elderly guests in conversation. Then, they notified the manager that the breakfast prepared for the elderly could be served.

Since the guests had not yet arrived, the manager was temporarily free and personally led a team to deliver breakfast to the elderly. He said to Hong Boxiao and his father, “Head Chef Lan heard that the elderlies hadn’t had breakfast and came over to personally make a few breakfast dishes.”

Hong Boxiao thought to himself, “Let others handle the breakfast. There’s so much to do today. What if he gets exhausted?” But he couldn’t say such a thing in front of so many people, so he could only keep those thoughts to himself and not show any signs of fatigue.

The staff placed about twenty delicate and exquisite steamer baskets on the table. The manager personally went over and opened the lids of the steamers, saying, “The Head Chef made these personally. The light-colored ones are sweet desserts, while the dark-colored ones are savory snacks. Please try them and see if they suit your taste.”

“I love sweet things. I’ll try this Little Longevity Peach¹.” The Longevity Peach was small and cute, pleasing to the eye. Old Man Wu, who had a sweet tooth, picked one up and tasted it. As soon as he bit into it, a burst of sweet juice flowed into his mouth, accompanied by the fragrance of peaches. It was delicious and refreshing. Old Man Wu raised his thumb and said, “Very good! Sweet but not cloying, fragrant, and tasty. Ask the kitchen to prepare ten, no, twenty portions for me to take home and enjoy!”

The manager looked at Hong Boxiao with a troubled expression, and Hong Boxiao used his eyes to signal him to leave first. He would handle the situation here.

“I’ll try the shrimp dumplings².” Old Man Li, who loved shrimp dumplings, saw the translucent, reddish-white shrimp dumplings. With a clear goal in mind, he picked one up and put it in his mouth. The delicious soup burst in his mouth, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Old Man Li didn’t say whether it was good or not, but quietly transferred all the shrimp dumplings to his own bowl and started eating. Everyone knew he loved shrimp dumplings and didn’t compete with him. They began trying other dim sum dishes.

The elderly people who were previously chatting soon fell silent, except for occasional sounds of amazement. Although Lu Jingqian had made over twenty baskets of dim sum, the small portions in each steamer were quickly devoured, leaving nothing behind.

“This amount is not enough to eat. Boxiao, ask the kitchen to send over a few more servings. These twenty baskets count as one, right?” Old Man Zhang, who had a hearty appetite, didn’t think this small amount of dim sum would even be enough to fill his stomach alone.

“Yes, yes, yes! We were all urged by your grandfather to come early. We didn’t even have breakfast yet, so hurry up and bring more of these dim sum over.” Old Man Zhao chimed in, and the others agreed as well.

“Grandpas, the banquet will start in less than three hours. We have prepared quite a few dishes today, all of which are specialties from our Head Chef. It would be better to save some room in your stomach for the banquet. Otherwise, it would be a shame to miss out on all the delicious dishes later.” Hong Boxiao advised. He knew the kitchen must be extremely busy now, with no time to specially make more dim sum for these elderly gentlemen. Even if they could manage it, he didn’t want to add to their burden.

“These dim sum won’t fill up our stomachs. As long as the dishes are good, we will certainly be able to eat them later. This, this, these shrimp dumplings, bring more of them quickly!” Old Man Li felt anxious. The taste of the shrimp dumplings had already captured his heart, and not being able to eat them right away felt like a torment.

Hong Boxiao looked at his grandfather, pleading for help. Mr. Hong was lost in his own thoughts, but upon seeing his grandson’s gaze, he snapped back and said, “What’s the rush, all of you? We just opened today, and the kitchen must be too busy. Once today is over, I’ll make sure the kitchen prepares enough, so you can eat to your heart’s content.”

“Let’s go, let’s go,” Mr. Hong stood up and said, “When you weren’t here earlier, I noticed the garden at the back is well-maintained. Let me take you for a walk, aid digestion, so you can eat more at the banquet.”

The elderly gentlemen reluctantly stood up, and Old Man Zhang complained, “Just a few bites of dim sum, there’s no need to aid digestion.”

“Why are you grumbling?” Mr. Hong patted him and said, “Everyone will stay overnight today, and we’ll have dim sum tomorrow morning. That should be enough, right?”

The faces of the elderly gentlemen finally showed a slightly satisfied expression, and they walked together toward the garden at the back.

Hong Boxiao felt sorry for Lu Jingqian, who would have to wake up early tomorrow to make dim sum for the elderly gentlemen. However, his grandfather already made a promise, so he couldn’t say anything.

Zia’s here:

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