Chapter 283

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lu Feng

"I've arranged for the television station to come interview you, get your face on TV. Once your fame rises, I'll find a few internet celebrities to film a short video challenging Lu Feng, and hype up the heat."

"By then you'll have fame, more people will be paying attention to this matter. When you challenge him then, under the pressure of public opinion, would Lu Feng really be able to remain indifferent?"

Hearing Li Hong'an's words, Cheng Fan's eyes brightened. He lowered his head and pondered for a while.

What Li Hong'an said seemed to make some sense.

As long as he gained fame in Jiangcheng, even if Lu Feng didn't want to compete.

The diners at his shop would probably urge Lu Feng to come accept the challenge.

Thinking of this, Cheng Fan's tense face finally relaxed a bit.

"Then... roughly how much longer will this take?"

His heart finally felt a bit more comfortable, and his tone was no longer as stiff as before.

"This can't be rushed. I'm also waiting for the program to air, aren't I?"

Li Hong'an patted his shoulder, his tone very certain: "But I estimate next week should be about right. You endure a bit longer. Once the program airs, everything after that will be simple."

As he spoke, he glared at Cheng Fan with some dissatisfaction: "Didn't I already tell you all this last time? It's only been a few days and you forgot? You just focus on cooking your dishes well during this time. I'll handle the rest. Is that so hard?"

"Alright alright, then I'll trust you one more time."

Cheng Fan nodded, then turned to go cook.

"Wait, Cheng Fan. There's another matter. Tomorrow at noon there's a private banquet. Need you to make a trip."

Li Hong'an stopped him, pulled an invitation card from his breast pocket. The cover bore four gilt characters: "Fang Residence Birthday Banquet."

Cheng Fan glanced back. His brows immediately furrowed: "Serving rich people again? I'm not going!"

He recalled the night before last, when Li Hong'an took him to cook a private banquet for a restaurant client.

That client was a rich second-generation. He invited them over to show off his new girlfriend to a pack of fox-and-dog friends.

Cheng Fan cooked a full table of dishes. Those people only cared about drinking and shaking dice. Barely a few bites of each dish were eaten.

The scene made Cheng Fan, a proud chef, feel thoroughly humiliated.

Cheng Fan wanted to storm into the villa's living room and flip the table right then.

If not for Li Hong'an watching from the side at the time, plus the rich second-gen paid quite a lot, he would have done it.

"Are you stupid? This time is different from the last one!"

Li Hong'an shoved the invitation into Cheng Fan's breast pocket, voice lowered: "This Boss Fang is a well-known big entrepreneur in Jiangcheng. If not for my good relationship with his secretary, this job wouldn't have fallen to our restaurant."

Seeing Cheng Fan still looking unwilling, Li Hong'an continued persuading: "Tomorrow is Boss Fang's birthday. I heard he especially liked eating Red Braised Pork when he was young. That just happens to be your specialty."

"If you win his appreciation, the boost to your fame in Jiangcheng would be far stronger than ten TV appearances. This is a great opportunity. Get on good terms with these rich people, and when you want to compete with Lu Feng on culinary skill, we won't even need to do anything — someone will arrange it for you."

Hearing Li Hong'an put it that way, the resistance in Cheng Fan's eyes vanished by more than half.

As State Banquet Chef Qi Yunfeng's disciple, yet looked down on by a street-side small-shop owner.

This grievance he simply couldn't swallow.

But the other party refused point-blank to compete with him on culinary skill. He was helpless.

Now he needed fame in Jiangcheng. Needed more people to know the name Cheng Fan.

Only then, when he challenged Lu Feng, would the other party have no choice but to accept.

"Fine. I'll go tomorrow."

Cheng Fan stuffed the invitation into his pocket, though his tone remained stiff: "Li Boss, everything you've had me do, I've done. Ugly words upfront: if by next week there's still no progress on the matter of competing with Lu Feng, you'll have to find another chef for the back kitchen."

"Rest assured. You don't need to worry about this. I've arranged it all."

Hearing the clear threat in Cheng Fan's words, the muscles on Li Hong'an's face couldn't help but twitch.

But having swallowed it, he couldn't flare up. He forced a smile: "Tomorrow at Boss Fang's, you'd better show your skill properly. Bring honor to our restaurant. This matter is extremely important. You must not screw up."

Cheng Fan nodded indifferently, then left the room without a word.

Li Hong'an watched his figure disappear at the door, couldn't help but sigh.

This Cheng Fan, his culinary skill lets people have nothing to say.

Since he came to the restaurant, business has visibly improved.

But this temper of his, never mind the back-kitchen chefs.

Even he, the boss, finds it somewhat unbearable.

And another thing: he's too rigid.

About competing with Lu Feng on culinary skill, Li Hong'an originally thought Cheng Fan would forget it after a while.

After all, judging by this kid's not-so-bright head.

Unexpectedly, so many days have passed and he still can't let it go.

Actually, what he told Cheng Fan was half-truth, half-lie.

After all, Lu Feng isn't like normal people either.

Whether he can ultimately arrange for the two to compete — he doesn't dare guarantee it.

But for now there's no other way. What should be done still must be done. What should be arranged can't be lacking.

His Hong'an Restaurant still needs to rely on this Big Buddha Cheng Fan to keep holding up.

…………

Over at Food Street.

"Burp……"

Lu Feng set down the empty bowl, rubbed his full belly, and let out a loud burp.

After the two pork knuckles were stewed, he impatiently ate one.

The flavor of Dongpo Pork Knuckle indeed left him very satisfied.

Within a few minutes, a portion of pork knuckle had entered his stomach.

Even the remaining soup/juice was polished off by him with a bowl of Xianglu Rice.

Lu Feng stood up, packed the other portion of pork knuckle into an insulated box, and placed it on the counter.

This portion was saved for Hu Xiaoyun; when she arrived, it would be just right to give her as an employee meal.

"Judging by the appearance, tonight's Dongpo Pork Knuckle will probably be fought over again."

Lu Feng looked at the spotless plate and said to himself.

This kind of dish, tender and flavorful, rich but not greasy, must be a popular delicacy in his shop.

This could be seen from the popularity of Red Braised Pork and Lion's Head over the past few days.

Among these diners, there were still quite a few who loved meat.

After clearing the bowls and chopsticks, Lu Feng turned around and walked back into the kitchen, beginning to prepare the ingredients needed for tonight's business.

His timing was precise, and all the ingredients were ready just as business was about to begin.

That way, when business started at nine o'clock, after the diners placed their orders, the food could be served quickly in no time.

All the ingredients were freshly made, cooked to perfection, with just the right texture.