Lin Xu was silent.
Who asked you to let her tease you?
By now, the beef soup in the pot was ready. He served Shen Baobao a bowl, then filled a few baked buns with at, placed them on a plate, and brought them over.
Just as Shen Baobao had finished eating and was about to drive to work, President Chen’s white Porsche 911 slowly stopped at the shop entrance.
"Where’s that little rascal Yueyue? Where did she go?"
Chen Yan ca into the shop, puffed up with anger, clearly intending to give her younger cousin a piece of her mind.
But when Lin Xu handed her the at-filled baked bun, this ageless beauty instantly succumbed.
Damn it! He’s tempting with delicious food again!
"Yueyue said you like the buns extra crispy, so I baked these a little longer. Eat slowly, Sister Yan, don’t choke," Lin Xu said, then brought President Chen a bowl of beef soup.
Yes, baked buns with beef soup—the perfect combination.
After Chen Yan finished one baked bun, Lin Xu added, "The roast suckling pig will only be available this afternoon. Boss Huang, the delivery guy, specifically went to the outskirts of Beijing to get a freshly slaughtered one for . It takes a bit more ti."
"No problem, brother-in-law. Give another baked bun... no, make it three."
"Alright."
The baked buns were cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Each bite carried a faint fragrance of Sichuan peppercorns, complenting the generously stuffed beef. Such a large mouthful was incredibly satisfying.
A couple of bites of baked bun, followed by a sip of beef soup.
The morning crankiness her cousin had provoked finally subsided.
"Brother-in-law, do you all eat this well every morning?"
"Not necessarily. We eat whatever’s available. Our staff aren’t picky eaters."
Chen Yan was speechless.
Eating more lavishly than the custors—who would be picky in that situation? It looks like I can’t sleep in anymore. I’ll have to get up early every day to eat breakfast at the shop. Experts online say skipping breakfast is like slow suicide. Gorgeous as I am, I can’t just wither away prematurely. Otherwise, that little rascal Yueyue might actually bring delicious food to my grave just to spite !
At eleven in the morning, Lin Ji’s Food once again bustled with activity.
「anwhile, at Fishing Platform.」
Mr. Jin, who had been on a business trip to the Northwest for more than half a month, drove to the entrance of No. 2 Building with a few friends. They got out of the car, their faces full of anticipation.
"I’ve been on this business trip for over half a month, and all I could think about was the food at No. 2 Building, especially that Braised Pork Belly I had last ti. It was absolutely divine!"
Looking at the familiar entrance of No. 2 Building, Mr. Jin lightly pursed his lips. He rarely anticipated a al this much. However, this business trip had been under poor conditions, and the mory of the previous Braised Pork Belly was so vivid, it filled him with high hopes for today’s al.
He walked up the steps to the entrance. Just as he stepped inside, a young woman in a cheongsam greeted him, "Welco."
Huh? Wasn’t it usually Manager Shu? Why the change?
He asked curiously, "Where is your Manager Shu?"
Hearing his question, Gu Junli knew he was a regular custor of No. 2 Building. With a professional smile, she replied, "Manager Shu has resigned. I am Gu Junli, the current front desk manager of No. 2 Building."
Resigned?
Mr. Jin was sowhat taken aback. Manager Shu was personable and highly competent. On every visit, he never had to worry about a thing; she would arrange the best seating, his favorite tea, and even help select dishes. For such an excellent front desk manager to resign... did she leave to get married, or was she unhappy with her job?
The thought of having to get accustod to a new front desk manager inexplicably irked Mr. Jin.
"Why did she resign? Was she treated unfairly at work?"
Gu Junli shook her head. "Manager Shu was a star manager here at Fishing Platform, a benchmark for all front desk managers. Her superiors would never have let her be wronged. She left to pursue better opportunities."
"Oh?"
Better opportunities? Fishing Platform should be at the pinnacle of the industry, shouldn’t it? Where else could she possibly go? After this al, I’ll ask around. If I get the chance, I’ll support Manager Shu’s new venture and try to find out why she switched jobs.
Mr. Jin wasn’t one for gossip. But Manager Shu voluntarily leaving Fishing Platform, a place others were desperate to get into, was rather baffling.
He said to Gu Junli, "Please arrange a window seat for , and a pot of Maojian Tea. I had so incredibly delicious Braised Pork Belly here last ti; I’d like to order that again."
As he spoke, he began to walk further inside, intending to find a seat himself.
However, at that mont, Gu Junli said with an apologetic expression, "I’m sorry, sir, but all the seats with a view of the lotus pond have been reserved. If you’d like a window seat, it would have to be on the other side."
The other side?
Mr. Jin glanced at the south-facing window seats, where direct sunlight stread onto the tables. You want to sit there? Are you trying to bake as dark as soone from Africa?
Gu Junli then added, "The Braised Pork Belly, being a surprise dish at No. 2 Building, was removed from the nu a couple of days ago. Would you like to order sothing else?"
Surprise dishes couldn’t remain on the nu indefinitely, or the other buildings would raise objections. So, Xie Baomin would take them off for a few days each month. This way, other head chefs couldn’t find fault, and No. 2 Building could continue selling them. Having offended too many head chefs, this was the only thod he had to maintain the exposure of new dishes.
Mr. Jin frowned, not expecting this al to be so problematic. He had arrived in high spirits, but now, much of his appetite had vanished.
Forget it, he thought. I’ll just make do with a al for now and find a place to treat myself properly this afternoon.
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