Chapter 226

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

An Liang leaned back in his office chair and stretched, slowly recalling something in his mind.

It seemed that last month, when that restaurant had just opened, a good friend of his from Jingcheng had recommended this restaurant to him.

The friend was passing on a message for the other party's boss; at the time he still had many invitations to sample dishes at other restaurants, so he casually agreed.

"Fine then, I'll go over tonight."

An Liang said to the mobile phone on the table.

After all, it was something he had personally agreed to, and he had made an appointment with them.

As a rigorous food critic, he would never be someone who goes back on his word.

Xiao Yue on the other end of the phone immediately breathed a sigh of relief, her tone becoming much more relaxed: "Okay, Teacher An! I'll pick you up on time at six tonight, is that alright?"

Before they returned to Jingcheng, the manager of that restaurant had been asking about progress from time to time.

After they returned from Jiangcheng, An Liang didn't know what happened, but actually notified her that he wouldn't be sampling dishes for a while.

This put her in a difficult spot all at once.

This morning, the manager of that restaurant called again to inquire; Xiao Yue had no choice but to report this matter to An Liang with a "let's try" attitude.

She had originally been worried about how to explain it to the other side if An Liang insisted on refusing.

Now that An Liang had softened, she finally felt the stone in her heart fall to the ground.

"Mm, I understand. Hang up if there's nothing else."

An Liang responded, then prepared to end the call.

"Wait, Teacher An, I'll send you the menu first; take a look in advance."

Xiao Yue quickly added another sentence, and while speaking, sent an email to An Liang's mailbox: "Take a look and see if there are any cuisines you think are unsuitable; if so, I can tell the restaurant side in advance."

An Liang hung up the phone, opened his mailbox on the computer, and found an email Xiao Yue had just sent.

He opened the email attachment, and a beautifully formatted menu appeared on the computer screen.

The dishes on it were arranged by category in order: eight hot dishes, four cold platters, and two soups, and even post-meal snacks were prepared in three portions.

At first glance the menu looked quite proper, but as An Liang's gaze swept over the dish names, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Cloud Mist Enveloping Qilin Arm," "Gold Leaf Inlaid Jade Exquisite Roll," "Snow Top Cold Plum Crisp Wood Ear," "Glazed Lamp Shadow Milk Yellow Crisp"...

Every dish name on this menu looked quite elegant.

The boss of this restaurant was probably a veteran fan of ancient-style novels, making even the dish names look antique and fragrant.

But in An Liang's view, these were all just flashy gimmicks.

Looking at these names, let alone whetting his appetite.

If there weren't pictures attached to the document, he wouldn't even know what these dishes were.

"Rather than playing tricks with dish names, it would be better to study a few more signature dishes and think about how to make the taste better."

After looking through the menu once, An Liang couldn't help but complain.

He thought of the menu on the wall in Lu Feng's shop; the names there were all displayed very straightforwardly.

But complaining was one thing; he still looked through the menu carefully several more times.

As a professional food critic, he wouldn't jump to conclusions based on gimmicky dish names.

Even though he had no expectations for this restaurant in his heart right now, he would still taste the dishes very objectively.

An Liang checked the time; there were still more than three hours until the time he had agreed with Xiao Yue, enough to finish the manuscript he hadn't completed just now.

So he continued to busy himself again, and the sound of typing on the keyboard rang out once more in the quiet study.

…………

In the evening, Xiao Yue steadily parked the car in the parking space below An Liang's home.

She raised her hand to check the time; it was exactly five-thirty now.

Compared to the time they had agreed on earlier over the phone, there was still half an hour left.

Xiao Yue did not get out of the car, but sat in the driver's seat silently waiting for An Liang to come downstairs.

When she first became An Liang's assistant, there was once when she was stuck in traffic on the road, and by the time she arrived below An Liang's home, she was already five minutes late.

That day, after Xiao Yue knocked on An Liang's gate somewhat anxiously and uneasily, An Liang did not reprimand her.

He just said one sentence: "Xiao Yue, I've emphasized before that punctuality is the most basic respect for each other; even one minute is a sign of breaking faith."

After saying that, An Liang closed the gate without looking back and left alone, not letting Xiao Yue follow him to sample dishes.

Since that time, Xiao Yue had developed a habit of always arriving half an hour early.

An Liang was also very clear that his assistant had a habit of arriving early, so he came downstairs before six o'clock.

"Teacher An, let's go over now; the restaurant side is already waiting."

Xiao Yue pushed open the car door and smiled as she went up to meet him.

An Liang nodded, pulled open the car door, and sat in the back seat.

Xiao Yue closed the car door for An Liang, then sat in the driver's seat herself, and while fastening her seatbelt asked: "Teacher An, are you hungry? We'll pass by that pastry shop you rated well last time; shall I buy you some pastries to tide you over first?"

"No need, go straight there."

An Liang waved his hand, then lay back in the seat and began to rest with his eyes closed.

Xiao Yue nodded, slowly started the car, and smoothly drove out of the residential compound.

An Liang himself didn't know the address for the dish sampling, and he never bothered to ask about these unimportant matters.

Xiao Yue has been by An Liang's side for quite some time now, and has already earned his deep trust.

Even the matter of accepting restaurant invitations has basically been handed over to her.

Xiao Yue handles the initial screening, picking restaurants with good reputations from among the many sending invitations, then passes them to An Liang for the final decision.

On the way to the restaurant, An Liang took the restaurant materials Xiao Yue had prepared in advance and read them carefully.

The restaurant wasn't far; in under twenty minutes they arrived downstairs at Yunjian Ge Restaurant.

This restaurant's business looked good; the parking spaces at the entrance were almost all full.

But after Xiao Yue identified herself to the security guard at the door, someone quickly led Xiao Yue's car to an exclusive parking spot near the outdoor parking lot.

It looked like the restaurant had reserved it for them in advance.

Xiao Yue parked the car steadily, turned back to look at An Liang still reading the materials, and said with a smile: "Teacher An Liang, we've arrived, it's this one."

An Liang closed the folder in his hand, gave a nasal "Mm," then opened the car door and got out.

Although this restaurant's cuisine didn't arouse too much interest in him.

But he has always treated work very seriously; after getting out he straightened his clothes, and his gaze turned sharp.

Three people who had been waiting for a long time stood at the restaurant entrance, two men and one woman, all wearing neat suits.

"Is this Teacher An Liang?"

The woman in the middle saw An Liang get out of the car and immediately stepped forward briskly, a warm smile on her face.

She stood before An Liang and generously extended her hand: "Hello, Mr. An Liang. I am Yunjian Ge's Manager Wang Yan, specially waiting here to welcome your honored presence."