Before long, the fast - food stir - fries from Zhong Guobiao's memory were ready.
There was braised spareribs, stir - fried squid with green peppers, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and big marinated drumsticks. These were indeed the most commonly prepared dishes in fast - food restaurants.
Xu Zixi carried the prepared dishes on a tray to the dining area and placed them in front of Zhong Guobiao. She also filled a large bowl of rice for him. With a smile, she said, "Mr. Zhong, have a taste."
Zhong Guobiao couldn't wait any longer. Before Xu Zixi even finished speaking, he had already picked up the food with chopsticks and started eating with the rice.
The cut - up short ribs were deep - fried to a golden color and coated with thick marinating sauce. The slightly browned eggs were soaked in the tomato juice, the combination of red and yellow making one's mouth water. The slits on the squid were unevenly cut, looking as if they were hastily made, and the green peppers were slightly over - cooked, but when the two ingredients were combined, the taste was simply wonderful. The big marinated drumstick seemed to be the least technically demanding dish. The drumstick was cooked until the skin was soft, and it was evenly coated with a honey - colored layer by the soy sauce and marinating juice.
The food in front of him still seemed a bit inferior to the fast - food from food stalls.
The moment the food entered his mouth, the familiar taste came rushing in along with long - forgotten memories. He seemed to hear the fast - food restaurant owner's words again, pretending to be calm but actually a bit nervous.
"Little brother, actually, there are obstacles everywhere in life. No one can always have smooth sailing. But to live is to strive. A temporary failure doesn't mean anything. As long as one's heart isn't dead and the flame of hope still burns, there must be a chance to rise again. Come on, clench your fist and say with me: Come on, I can do it!"
Yes, this was the taste! It was so pure and so authentic!
Every time Zhong Guobiao took a bite, he would look up and shed silent tears. Then he would lower his head and take another bite. At this moment, he didn't look like the behind - the - scenes boss of the largest chamber of commerce in the three northern cities at all, but rather like an ordinary middle - aged man.
Although he ate slowly, the food on the table was eventually cleared, and there wasn't a single grain of rice left in the bowl.
Putting down the chopsticks and the bowl, he let out a long breath, his face full of satisfaction.
He said to Xu Zixi, "Thank you, Miss Xu. I'm very satisfied with this dinner. Please give me your account number. I'll have someone transfer 55 million to you later."
Unexpectedly, Xu Zixi, sitting opposite him, smiled and said, "No need, Mr. Zhong. I'm treating you to this dinner today."
Zhong Guobiao was taken aback. "Miss Xu, you can't be joking, right? Although the price of this dinner is indeed a bit high, considering the meaning behind this meal, it's worth the price. And with your cooking skills, you can definitely be called 'top - level'. I'm truly convinced by your cooking."
"Before I heard your story, I did intend to charge this fee. But after hearing your story, I've changed my mind. The ingredients for this dinner are very ordinary and can be bought at any vegetable market. They don't cost much. However, life is priceless. The kindness of the fast - food restaurant owner back then saved a life and made you, the person in charge of Huading Chamber of Commerce today. So I've decided to make this dinner free. Let's just be friends."
This extremely similar argument coincided with what happened back then.
Zhong Guobiao slapped the table hard and said, "Good! What a way of making friends! I, Zhong Guobiao, have decided to make friends with you today! I didn't expect that Miss Xu, although young, not only has such superb cooking skills but also such a broad mind. I, Zhong Guobiao, really appreciate talents like you! Here, this is my business card. If you ever have the chance to come to Liancheng in the future, be sure to contact me. I'll definitely treat you well."
As he was speaking, he reached out his hand towards Xu Zixi, seemingly wanting to shake hands. However, his hand was intercepted halfway. Although Yan Yincheng couldn't see, he understood the old man's thoughts well. He held Zhong Guobiao's rough and wrinkled hand with his uninjured left hand and secretly exerted some strength as he said,
"There's no need to get to know her. You can get to know me. Let me introduce myself. I'm Yan Yincheng from the Yan Group. All the product formulas of the group are developed by me."
This kid! He's gripping so tightly! Zhong Guobiao grimaced. At first, he was a bit dissatisfied, but after hearing Yan Yincheng's self - introduction, he didn't have the mood to care about the pain in his hand.
"Wow! The Yan Group! So you're the legendary 'living formula' of the Yan Group. I'm really lucky today! Hahaha, little brother, I didn't expect you to be a talent too! I have to say, you can't tell just by looking at your appearance! You're young and promising. Truly young and promising!"
Moreover, he grasped Yan Yincheng's hand more enthusiastically and shook it.
Yan Yincheng maintained a polite smile and started chatting with Zhong Guobiao casually.
They found out that Zhong Guobiao had come to Fengcheng this time not only to dine at "Poetic Flavor" but also to visit Yan Yincheng's father, Yan Haikun. Since the Yan Group had a branch in Liancheng, Zhong Guobiao wanted to invite the branch to join the Huading Chamber of Commerce. But the branch said that joining the chamber of commerce required the approval of the headquarters. Just then, Xie Shi sent a reservation reminder, so he rushed from Liancheng to Fengcheng.
In just a few words, Zhong Guobiao forgot about Xu Zixi and started referring to Yan Yincheng as "brother".
Considering that Zhong Guobiao had become his "new friend", Yan Yincheng was very "generous" in giving out his father's phone number. He also very "generously" told Zhong Guobiao that his father was going to attend a dinner tonight and would be free after the dinner, and now the dinner was already halfway through.
Zhong Guobiao couldn't sit still anymore. He immediately packed his things and got up to leave. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. He turned back to look at Xu Zixi and asked, "Miss Xu, what's your reservation process? Is it the same as Master Xie's?"
Seeing that Yan Yincheng was about to say something sarcastic again, Xu Zixi quickly grabbed him and said to Zhong Guobiao with a smile, "Although I'm the specially - invited head chef at 'Poetic Flavor', I don't receive customers for the time being. After I return to Fengcheng to live in the future, I'll have 'Poetic Flavor' release relevant information. Mr. Zhong, remember to pay attention then."
"Okay, okay, okay. Then I'll leave first. See you again if we're fated, my new friend." After saying that, he was about to walk out when Xie Shi called him back.
"Mr. Zhong, please wait."
Although Zhong Guobiao was a bit anxious, since it was Xie Shi, he couldn't help but stop and turn around. He asked with a smile, "What's up, Master Xie?"
Xie Shi said, "I'd like to ask Mr. Zhong to help witness something. I wonder if that's okay?"
Zhong Guobiao asked in confusion, "Oh? What can I help witness?"
Xie Shi waved to Xu Zixi. "Zixi, come here."