1995: From a small restaurant to a culinary genius

Chapter 14 Conquering the Factory Manager's Taste Buds

Immediately afterward, Xu Liang took action.

He spoke to Jiang Haiping in a friendly manner, saying, "Factory Director, you haven't tasted the food at my little restaurant, so you don't know how delicious it is. Would you like to try some of my dishes?"

Xu Liang looked at Jiang Haiping with anticipation.

At this moment, Jiang Haiping was glancing at the price list of Xu Liang's small restaurant, which only had one item: a spicy beef noodle soup for 4 yuan and a congee with preserved egg and lean pork for 2 yuan.

This isn't exactly a small restaurant, so why does it only have two dishes?

This surprised Jiang Haiping. For a moment, he didn't understand what Xu Liang was up to or what he was doing.

He found it increasingly difficult to understand.

"But your restaurant's menu only lists two dishes. What's going on?"

"Oh, factory manager, don't look at this price list. The prices on this price list are inaccurate."

Immediately, Xu Liang stood up in front of the factory director, adopting a dignified posture, as if he wanted to say something.

"Factory Manager, if you try the dishes in my small restaurant, you will become our esteemed Diamond VIP. In that case, I, Xu Liang, will give you priority every time you come to the restaurant."

Jiang Haiping didn't understand what Xu Liang meant by "prestigious diamond VIP" in his words, because in 1995, there was only ordinary VIP.

"I'm a Diamond VIP, doesn't that make me look prestigious?"

"That's right, this Diamond VIP status is no ordinary thing. You'll become a big shot at my little restaurant."

"Boss, you mean I'm like those guys in Hong Kong movies who wear sunglasses, with countless henchmen following me, and I can conquer all sides!"

"There's nothing wrong with it, it just sounds really impressive if you say it out loud."

Xu Liang's words were so convincing that Jiang Haiping actually believed them.

He was enjoying the feeling of being a top diner at Xu Liang's restaurant, probably because he had been watching Hong Kong dramas at home recently and felt a surge of excitement, wanting to be a big brother and be recognized by many younger brothers.

Xu Liang took the lead and, just as Jiang Haiping was about to speak, said, "Then, esteemed Diamond VIP, you can come to my little restaurant for a tasting tomorrow morning when you go to work."

He had observed before that the morning shift had the largest customer flow, especially with the factory manager coming to sample the food.

If they saw the factory manager eating with relish, some workers and passersby would come up to watch out of curiosity.

Jiang Haiping patted Xu Liang on the shoulder and said to him, "Okay, I'll come and try it tomorrow!"

"By the way, you must bring those essential materials I mentioned tomorrow."

After that, Xu Liang saw Jiang Haiping off, and Jiang Haiping thanked Xu Liang again before leaving.

He was secretly delighted; with the factory manager's endorsement, this small restaurant was bound to become a hit.

Afterwards, Xu Liang used the afternoon to buy all the ingredients for his breakfast business the next day.

In the evening, I also need to prepare the materials for the factory manager to apply for the business license tomorrow.

……

As usual, Xu Liang got up early and went to his small restaurant.

The process is the same, but different ingredients are being processed. There are still only two dishes: spicy beef noodles and preserved egg and lean pork congee.

The factory manager kept his promise and arrived much earlier than usual today, at least ten minutes earlier.

Jiang Haiping encountered factory employees everywhere he went, and they all greeted him warmly.

Good morning, factory manager.

"The factory manager looks great today."

"Factory manager, is your daughter alright? I'll buy some supplements and visit her in a couple of days."

He heard different voices.

Of course, what caught his attention most was a young man's voice.

It turned out to be Master Hu's youngest apprentice in the factory. His name was Zheng Wenjie. He was not only handsome, but also very talented, and he sang folk songs very well.

Every girl liked her, but he remained obsessed with Jiang Wan, the factory director's daughter.

In today's terms, Zheng Wenjie was a complete sycophant who ended up with nothing.

"It's nothing serious, I just choked on the smoke and passed out and took a nap."

"Oh, it's good that you're alright!"

"What, you want to see her again?"

Jiang Haiping quickly guessed what he was thinking.

"I just wanted to check on her condition."

Zheng Wenjie scratched the back of his head and made up an excuse to deal with Jiang Haiping.

"She needs to rest these few days, so come visit her another day."

"Recently, Lao Hu told me that you're sometimes absent-minded. Young man, you should focus on your work and stop messing around with those other things."

Zheng Wenjie was reprimanded by Jiang Haiping.

"Factory manager, I've got it."

After that, Jiang Haiping rode his old bicycle to Xu Liang's small restaurant.

People passing by on their way to work randomly followed.

Jiang Haiping parked his old-fashioned bicycle in the same spot as yesterday.

"Good morning, Liangwazi! Oh my, you're already up so early."

At this moment, Xu Liang was in the kitchen, cooking the last batch of preserved egg and lean pork congee.

When he saw the employees flooding into the small shop like a flood behind the factory manager, he realized that this was the siphon effect of being a leader.

Before long, the last batch of preserved egg and lean pork congee was ready, and it was presented to everyone together with spicy beef noodles.

When the employees and factory workers saw the preserved egg and lean pork congee and the spicy beef noodles, many of their eyes lit up.

The group thought to themselves, "This dish looks delicious and is very appealing. It must taste amazing."

But then they suddenly remembered what Director Feng had said before: Xu Liang was skimping on ingredients in the cafeteria, and they dismissed the idea.

Some people in this group then began to slander them.

"Factory manager, these dishes look appealing, but they're all show and no substance. Don't be fooled by this scoundrel; he's the one who ruined the atmosphere in our factory canteen!"

Someone nearby chimed in, "Yeah, how could someone like that possibly make good food? How could their little restaurant possibly become popular?"

After several people finished speaking, one side of the group started mocking them, and then the other side joined in.

"That's right, factory manager, don't let this guy fool you!"

Jiang Haiping immediately turned around and looked at them, saying, "That's enough. I have my own judgment."

"I hereby solemnly announce that Xu Liang is my daughter's savior."

The crowd buzzed with discussion. Some knew about it, while others hadn't. The story spread like wildfire, and those who heard it were utterly astonished.

It wasn't until a young factory worker in the crowd spoke up: "I was there at the time, and I can testify that he saved someone."

Several voices erupted from among them again.

"I can prove it too! I can!"

Then, out of nowhere, appeared a man wearing a navy blue polyester work uniform, a pair of neat black rubber shoes, with a clean face and handsome features.

He was dashing and debonair, handsome and elegant, and his presence was just as impressive as his charisma.

This man was Zheng Wenjie, who had just greeted the factory manager and was the one all the girls in the factory liked.

Xu Liang rubbed his eyes and took a closer look. He had indeed seen this person before; wasn't he Master Hu's apprentice who sang folk songs every day?

I wonder why you've come today?

"So this little restaurant is yours. I've long admired your name, Brother Liang. You're sure to become a great chef someday."

The homonym for "God of Cookery" is "birth," and Xu Liang couldn't tell whether he was praising him or scolding him based on the tone of his voice.

Zheng Wenjie, being quite shrewd, immediately corrected him, saying, "I admire Xu Liang for reopening this long-neglected little restaurant after only a few days' absence. However, your act of saving someone and your opening of the restaurant should be considered separate matters!"

"Saving someone doesn't mean his cooking is delicious."

"Wenjie, what are you doing! I haven't even tried it yet!"

Jiang Haiping pointed at Zheng Wenjie.

Xu Liang simply tried to persuade the factory director from the sidelines, while he looked at Zheng Wenjie with a different eye.

He just saved the person he liked the most, yet he has such a big opinion about himself.

Moreover, they incited the masses in front of the public.

"Factory manager, ignore them and try the spicy beef noodles first."

Xu Liang handed Jiang Haiping a bowl of freshly made spicy beef noodles.

Jiang Haiping took the bowl of spicy beef noodles and looked at it for a long time. The red soup in the bowl was rich, the beef on the noodles was tender, and the alkaline noodles were loose. It looked very appetizing.

Faced with the temptation of this bowl of beef noodles.

He tried it and took a big slurp.

Then, in the next second...

Jiang Haiping exclaimed, "It's incredibly delicious! It's truly awakened my taste buds!"