As the bus drove onto the city roads, the surrounding scenery noticeably changed—fields and farmland on both sides were replaced by buildings.
"Mom!" Song Yu sat by the window, pressing both hands against the glass as he leaned close, his round eyes wide with excitement as he peered outside. "The buildings are so tall! The roads are so big!"
It was the child's first time in the city, and everything around him felt incredibly novel. Despite the crowded bus full of strangers, he couldn't contain his excitement and desperately wanted to talk to his mother.
He was wearing a brand-new quilted jacket with cartoon sheep patterns on the blue fabric, making his small face appear fair. His soft black hair partially covered his forehead, revealing delicate eyebrows and features. His dark, slightly round eyes sparkled as he looked at her eagerly.
Song Xinran's heart softened under his gaze, and she explained in more detail: "These buildings are mostly five or six stories high. The road is a four-lane road—much taller than the buildings in our town, and the roads are wider too."
This was also Song Xinran's first time in the city. Just from seeing these basic infrastructures, she could tell urban conditions were far superior to those in Lingde Town. Their town was too remote—even a regular bus ride to the city took over an hour.
Song Yu counted the buildings outside with his little fingers—the tallest one indeed had six floors!
But…
"Mom, what's a four-lane road?"
"It means there are two lanes on each side of the road, making four lanes total. It can accommodate about four cars passing simultaneously."
Song Yu gasped in amazement, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at Song Xinran with utter admiration, nearly saying aloud how amazing his mom was for knowing everything.
Song Xinran's lips curved into a smile as she continued: "When Xiao Yu grows up, these will become dozens of stories high. The roads will be even wider—six or eight lanes."
Song Yu gasped twice in succession, his eyes filled with longing.
"Miss," a middle-aged man's voice suddenly came from the seat behind them, carrying a disapproving tone. "How could buildings become dozens of stories high? Even four or five floors are exhausting to climb. Dozens of floors would probably have no buyers."
Clearly, their conversation had been overheard, and someone found it inappropriate enough to correct her.
Song Xinran explained: "Tall buildings will have elevators installed in the future. An elevator is like a small moving room—you just press the button for your floor, and it automatically takes you there."
The middle-aged man laughed: "That's just your imagination, isn't it? You shouldn't exaggerate like that when talking to children. We should be more down-to-earth. Young people just don't know how to educate children properly."
Song Xinran felt speechless. How could even casual conversation with Song Yu provoke criticism and lectures?
It reminded her of Cai Yongde—they both loved lecturing people.
"Old Zhang, you're wrong about that," a middle-aged woman chuckled in rebuttal. "My son works in a big city, and he told me they have such elevators in the city center. He said with current development, we might even get them here in our city someday."
"That's right," another person chimed in. "In the past, if you wanted news from thousands of kilometers away, you had to write letters and wait half a month. Now you can know with just one phone call."
"Miss, you must have returned from a big city, right? You're very knowledgeable."
Song Xinran said no, she had also learned it from books.
"That's wonderful, you still enjoy reading. You're quite the educated one."
"My son says nowadays you need qualifications for any decent job outside. Loving to read is a good thing!"
The aunties around showered her with praise, and Song Xinran was happy to chat with them a bit more. The atmosphere in the vehicle was cheerful and harmonious, except for Uncle Zhang sitting in the back, who remained stern-faced and silent.
The vehicle stopped in front of a three-story building with white tiles embedded in the exterior walls. Above the main entrance, a signboard read "Xiang Manyuan" in large characters, and a standing board at the door congratulated an elderly person on their 60th birthday.
Huang Yun and Ding Jianjun stood on either side, greeting the guests. As soon as Song Xinran got out of the vehicle with Song Yu, Huang Yun hurried over to them: "Xinran, you're finally here! Your brother-in-law has been waiting for you two for so long. He said since you've cooked for him so many times, today he wants you to rest properly."
Song Xinran handed over the gift money in a red envelope. She had looked into it beforehand—during this time, people usually gave 50 or 100 when visiting relatives. Most people in town gave 50, but since Huang Yun had helped her a lot, she had prepared 100.
Huang Yun took it and whispered in her ear, "I've arranged a seat for you at the first table. Let me take you there."
As she spoke, Huang Yun took her by the arm and led her inside, settling her into her seat. "Not everyone has arrived yet. Feel free to relax for a bit. I need to go back out and continue greeting people."
Song Xinran acknowledged with an "Okay."
As soon as Huang Yun left, Song Xinwen remarked, "Sister Yun is someone you can count on. Even though she's so busy, she made sure to seat us properly."
She looked around and saw that the hall was extremely spacious, easily accommodating dozens of tables. The tables were large and even had rotating trays.
Song Xinwen had attended many banquets in the countryside, most of which were all-in-one catering services. Each table had to seat ten people, and in winter when everyone wore thick clothes, it was so crowded that there was hardly any room to sit. Moreover, the tables didn’t have rotating trays, so people had to stand up to reach the dishes they wanted.
If it happened to rain, they had to set up tents, and some of those tents even leaked, making the experience quite troublesome.
But looking at this restaurant—spacious and bright, with fancy chandeliers hanging from the ceiling—there was no need to worry about rain. Song Xinwen thought, the city really is the city. She just wondered how much a table like this would cost.
In the village, a decent table usually cost around 150, depending on the dishes. Here, it had to be several times more expensive.
Song Xinwen clicked her tongue, thinking that living in the city was expensive. Huang Yun's family ran a meat stall in town, and her husband was in the military—she hadn’t realized they were so well-off!
In contrast, Song Xinran remained relatively calm. What seemed like a very upscale hotel to the townsfolk was just ordinary in her eyes. In her previous life, she had seen countless luxurious hotels.
She glanced around and thought that this Xiang Manyuan restaurant was probably mid-to-upper tier in the county. She just wasn’t sure if Huang Yun had seated her at the first table with some other intention.
Meanwhile, at the hotel entrance, Ding Jianjun asked in a low voice, "Did you get Xinran settled in her seat?"
Huang Yun replied, "No need for you to remind me. I already arranged it—she’s at the first table."
Ding Jianjun frowned. "Isn’t Zhengming also sitting at that table?"
Huang Yun said, "Yes, I specifically seated them together."
Ding Jianjun shook his head repeatedly. "How could you arrange things like this? You know perfectly well what Zhengming is like—he sizes people up at a glance and never minces words. Xinran has her child with her—what if the kid picks up bad habits?"
As Ding Jianjun moved to go inside and rearrange the seating, Huang Yun quickly stopped him. "Whose seat are you going to change? Xinran's already settled in. Are you really going to make her move? Zhengming hasn't arrived yet, but if you change it now, you'll offend everyone involved!"
Ding Jianjun immediately furrowed his brow, feeling torn. "Why did you have to do something like this!"
Huang Yun was displeased. "What do you mean, 'something like this'? I did it for Xinran's sake. It's obvious she won't stay in town forever—I'm just helping her make some city connections. Xinran is a great cook and clever too. If they hit it off, she might even find a job here in the city. Look how nice this restaurant is—it's definitely better than selling Bobo Chicken in town, exposed to sun and rain all day. Xiao Yu is already four, and in a few years, it'll be time for elementary school."
Ding Jianjun thought for a moment. "You should have discussed it with Xinran beforehand."
"How was I supposed to know if Zhengming would come? He's busy every day!"
After a long silence, Ding Jianjun quietly gave up.
By 11:30, nearly all the guests had arrived. The hall buzzed with lively chatter, filled with the aroma of dishes and festive noise. Uniformed waiters began serving cold appetizers to each table in turn.
Song Xinran glanced at the two empty seats beside her, wondering who could still be missing at this point.
Just then, a man in his thirties wearing a suit took the empty seat next to her. The moment he sat down, he frowned, looking around before checking his watch. Only when the waiter brought the cold dishes did his expression soften slightly.
Why did our table get served last? Zhou Zhengming thought. At a restaurant banquet, the host should always serve the most important guests first—it shows respect.
He made a mental note to bring this up at tomorrow's meeting. Their restaurant aimed to host high-end banquets, so every detail mattered to attract more customers.
Zhou Zhengming then observed the other guests. Banquets were all about the people, and the first table usually held the closest and most important attendees.
With years of experience in the industry, he could gauge a person's background from their attire. A quick scan confirmed they were all city folks—the man in the neat Zhongshan suit was probably his distant cousin Ding Jianjun's comrade-in-arms. He'd heard veterans got decent job placements after discharge.
Since they lived in the city, they were potential clients.
Zhou Zhengming's gaze swept across the table until it landed on Song Xinran and her companions. His eyes narrowed as he assessed them—he knew instantly they weren't potential customers.
Already in a bad mood, he grew even more irritated. His cousin-in-law Huang Yun had insisted he come for his aunt's birthday, and he'd made time only because Ding Jianjun's family had booked over ten tables and specifically sought him out.
Recently, Zhou Zhengming had been extremely busy. First, he had just been promoted from deputy manager to manager of the food and beverage department. Although his responsibilities were largely the same, every decision now required his approval. Even minor issues were brought to him, especially since the previous manager had taken the head chef with him when leaving, catching Zhou Zhengming off guard and leaving him overwhelmed.
Second, business had been declining recently. Regular customers complained that the food wasn't as good as before, and the new dishes they introduced weren't well-received. The boss's expression grew increasingly grim, and Zhou Zhengming had heard rumors that if things continued this way, the boss would replace him as manager.
Zhou Zhengming spent his days attending meetings, inspecting the kitchen, urging the chefs to do their best, while also searching for skilled chefs. He was swamped with work from morning till night.
Today, he attended this birthday banquet partly because of family ties, partly to repay the favor of the host booking the banquet, partly hoping to meet potential clients, and partly to gauge customers' opinions about his restaurant.
But as soon as he arrived, Zhou Zhengming realized the latter two hopes were dashed. There were very few potential clients present, and these guests from the countryside weren't regular customers anyway. Their opinions wouldn't be useful – even if they praised the restaurant to the skies, they wouldn't come back alone for a meal.
The venue was particularly noisy with many children around on the weekend, adding to Zhou Zhengming's irritation. Fortunately, there were no children at their table – well, except one. Zhou Zhengming glanced at Song Yu, who sat quietly without making any noise, thinking this child was quite well-behaved.
"Grandma, I want the duck leg!" A child at the next table reached for the roast duck as soon as it was served.
"Not yet! It's not time to start eating!" The grandmother quickly grabbed the child's hand and scolded him.
But the spoiled child kept shouting: "I want it now! I want it now!Others at the table urged: "Just let him have it, auntie." It's fine for children."
Zhou Zhengming couldn't stand it anymore. He called a waiter and got a bottle of Wahaha for the child: "Little friend, we can't take food from the table before the banquet starts."
His tone was stern, but the child's face lit up at the sight of the Wahaha. He immediately inserted the straw and started drinking eagerly.
The grandmother looked embarrassed and thanked Zhou Zhengming profusely. Zhou Zhengming said it was nothing, though internally he was rolling his eyes. He knew these types well – if the child had taken the duck leg, within minutes the entire plate would have been ruined by the child, leaving nothing for others. Even if they didn't say anything, they'd resent it and think poorly of the restaurant.
If he weren't managing Xiang Manyuan, he wouldn't bother with such matters.
But because he had called the waiter for Wahaha, someone at the neighboring table immediately copied him: "Get me one too, I'll take it home for my child."
Zhou Zhengming barely kept his composure. He signaled the waiter, who promptly said: "I'm sorry, Wahaha isn't included in the banquet. That gentleman paid for it himself. It's one yuan per bottle if you want one."
"Never mind then."
Hearing this, the grandmother looked at her grandson gulping down the drink and kept her mouth shut even tighter.
Zhou Zhengming thought to himself, "As expected of someone from the countryside, always trying to take small advantages." Then he glanced at the only child at their table, who kept both hands properly on the table without fidgeting as dish after dish was served. His mood improved slightly—if they could raise such a well-behaved child, the adults probably weren't too bad either.
He observed Song Xinran again and noticed that although her clothes were simple, she carried herself with confidence and poise, clearly someone who had seen the world.
One hot dish after another was brought out, quickly filling the rotating tray. The host took the microphone on stage to deliver a birthday speech, concluding with "Please enjoy the meal," marking the official start of the banquet.
Zhou Zhengming looked at the spread on the table and found himself unsure where to start. He had tasted all these dishes many times before. Since the restaurant's business had declined, he had focused his efforts on the kitchen, but he wasn't a professional food critic, and the flavors seemed about the same as always.
"This is delicious! As expected of a city restaurant! The taste is much better than other places!"
"True, and the portions are generous. We probably won't finish it all by lunch."
"This Liangban Ji doesn't even have a single bone in it. City chefs are so meticulous—they even remove the bones."
…
Listening to all this praise, Zhou Zhengming felt nothing inside. So what if it tasted good? These people wouldn't come back on their own, and the restaurant's business continued to decline.
Suddenly, he heard a voice: "Xinran, this steamed fish isn't as good as your cooking."
Zhou Zhengming instinctively wanted to frown. Their head chef had been hired at great expense—how could an ordinary person's skills possibly surpass his? But he restrained himself and reconsidered: perhaps this was an opportunity. He hadn't noticed any difference in flavor, but if someone else pointed it out, maybe that slight gap was the key.
He stayed silent and listened carefully, trying to understand what was wrong.
But the speaker said nothing more, instead tasting another dish: "This Stir-fried Green Vegetables isn't as tasty as yours either, though the color looks vibrant."
Zhou Zhengming was taken aback. Why would someone criticize the taste without specifying what was off?
After hearing a few more comments, he couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "This steamed sea bass tastes fine to me. What did you find wrong with it?"
Song Xinwen had been whispering to Song Xinran, though her voice was slightly too loud. Startled by the question, she turned and saw it was someone at their table, dressed quite formally. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she replied, "I can't pinpoint what's wrong, but the flavor just isn't right."
Song Xinwen was also puzzled. Everything in this restaurant was made by professional chefs, and she had been looking forward to it, but once she tasted it, it was just mediocre. Yet she couldn't articulate the specific issue—it wasn't obvious things like being too salty, too bland, or the meat being tough. Her palate and instincts just told her something was off.
Hearing this, Zhou Zhengming's hopes sank. He had thought she might be some expert, but it turned out she was just buttering someone up with empty compliments.
He laughed at himself inwardly—he had become so obsessed with improving the dishes that he actually expected to find answers here.
Just then, a calm woman's voice spoke up: "The quality of this sea bass is excellent."
Zhou Zhengming thought to himself, indeed it was. He had personally traveled to many places to find these fish—they weren’t simply bought from the market but specially ordered from rural farmers who raised them in reservoirs. Naturally, their quality was beyond reproach.
“But the fish died in vain. It never ate any feed while alive, yet in death, it’s seasoned with every kind of condiment.”
Zhou Zhengming: ??
What kind of talk was that? How could it be a waste? The flavor was excellent, and the fish meat was tender!
“Adding some seasonings helps remove the fishy smell,” Zhou Zhengming remarked.
Song Xinran said, “Sea bass isn’t particularly fishy. As long as you clean the black membrane, blood, and gills thoroughly, you don’t even need cooking wine to eliminate the odor.”
Zhou Zhengming wanted to argue that it was impossible to remove the fishy smell without cooking wine, but then he recalled watching the head chef prepare this dish—indeed, no cooking wine had been used. Surprised, he fell silent.
Song Xinran continued, “For this steamed sea bass, the chef probably marinated it with salt, sugar, Sichuan pepper powder, white pepper, cilantro, and cooking oil.”
Zhou Zhengming’s eyes widened in astonishment. He often visited the kitchen and had personally seen the head chef prepare this dish. It was true—the exact seasonings Song Xinran mentioned had been used, though they were all removed after marinating. The final dish was served only with soy sauce, shredded vegetables, and hot oil.
Could she be a culinary expert?
Thinking this, Zhou Zhengming couldn’t help but ask, “Then how should it be done?”
Song Xinran explained, “First, use salt to remove the slimy, fishy residue on the skin, then marinate it in ginger and scallion water for about ten minutes. Place scallions and ginger underneath the fish, steam it for the appropriate time based on its weight, then transfer it to a new plate and season it simply.”
“However, the chef’s control of the heat is excellent—the fish isn’t overcooked.”
Hearing this, Zhou Zhengming’s opinion shifted. He had personally hired this head chef and knew his greatest strength was his mastery of heat control. When others had recommended the chef, they’d said that no dish, no matter how tricky, would ever be overcooked under his hands.
Now, looking at Song Xinran again—her demeanor poised and confident—she truly seemed to carry the air of a culinary master.
Glancing at the table full of dishes, which he had barely touched, Zhou Zhengming decided he must speak with Song Xinran properly after the meal. He was at his wit’s end and would seize any possibility, no matter how slim.
After lunch, the host invited the guests to the upstairs teahouse to rest and play mahjong. Song Xinran had no plans to join them; she intended to take Song Yu around the city in the afternoon to buy a piggy bank and a water heater.
But before she could leave, someone stopped her: “Ms. Song, wait!”
Turning around, Song Xinran saw it was the man in a suit who had been seated next to her during the meal. Puzzled, she watched as he handed her a high-quality business card. “I’m Zhou Zhengming, the food and beverage manager at Xiang Manyuan. The host today, Ding Jianjun, is my cousin.”
“During the meal, I noticed you had several suggestions about our restaurant’s dishes—it’s clear you’re an expert! Just a few words from you were incredibly enlightening. Our restaurant is currently hiring new chefs. I wonder if you have time now for me to introduce our establishment in more detail.”
When it came to talent, Zhou Zhengming was exceedingly humble. It had taken him multiple attempts to recruit the current head chef. If Song Xinran’s skills surpassed those of the present chef, he was willing to try dozens, even hundreds of times, to bring her on board.
Song Xinran took the business card and glanced at it, suddenly recalling how Huang Yun had specifically arranged for her to sit at the first table that morning. She smiled at Zhou Zhengming and said, "I just enjoy puttering around in the kitchen—I wouldn't call myself a proper chef. Today's comments during the meal were just casual remarks. Sister Yun must have mentioned to you that I'm currently running a small business in town and have no intention of changing jobs."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhengming became even more convinced that she was an exceptional talent. Huang Yun had told him that Song Xinran's cooking was absolutely phenomenal—anyone who tasted it would crave more! With such remarkable skills yet no desire to work as a chef in a restaurant for a high salary, she must be financially secure.
He spoke with increased sincerity: "Ms. Song, to be frank, our restaurant may appear bustling now, but we urgently need skilled chefs to retain customers. The city offers better development opportunities in every aspect compared to the town. If you'd be willing to share some guidance, I dare say I can fulfill any request you might have—I do have some connections here."
He looked down at Song Yu. The child didn't quite understand their conversation, just staring at them with wide, round, bewildered eyes. When their gazes met, the boy gave him a shy smile.
Zhou Zhengming's heart instantly softened. "This must be your child, so adorable! If you come to the city to develop your career, your child can also attend a better school. If you're willing to trust me with this matter, I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly."
Zhou Zhengming had a real talent for winning over people. First, he offered high salaries and excellent benefits. Second, he took care of the entire family's arrangements. Anyone would be tempted by such an offer.
However, there was a real shortage of talent in the county town, especially chefs. The good chefs had all gone to other restaurants, which offered similar packages, so why would they jump ship easily?
But Song Xinran's heart sank. She hadn't done anything yet—just said a few things during the meal. Even if Zhou Zhengming had learned about her from Huang Yun, he hadn't even tasted her cooking personally, and here he was making all sorts of promises. Wasn't that just empty talk?
"Manager Zhou," Song Xinran said tactfully, "the conditions you're offering are indeed very good, but I haven't considered things that far ahead yet. Right now, I just want to focus on doing my own business well."
Zhou Zhengming understood immediately—she doubted him. He said sincerely, "Ms. Song, let's find a quieter place to talk."
They moved to a slightly quieter private room, just off the bustling main hall. Zhou Zhengming left the door ajar and then completely changed his demeanor. "Ms. Song, you don't know the situation the hotel is in right now…"
He began talking about how difficult things were for him. After the previous manager left with the head chef, he had gone to great lengths to find a new one, but the customers weren't buying it. Now, the regulars were dissatisfied, and they couldn't attract new customers. The boss was already starting to have doubts about him.
He had a wife and children to support at home. His child was about the same age as Song Yu. If he got fired, his child wouldn't even be able to afford to go to school.
If Song Xinran could come to the restaurant as a chef to guide them and help the restaurant regain its former glory, he would do anything!
Song Yu, understanding bits and pieces of the conversation, was stunned. He had never seen an adult show weakness like this before and genuinely thought the man was in a pitiful state. He looked around, found a pack of tissues, and silently handed it to Zhou Zhengming.
Meeting the child's pure gaze, Zhou Zhengming flushed with embarrassment and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Xiao Yu."
Song Xinran was also taken aback. She had noticed Zhou Zhengming when he first arrived that morning. After all, among all the relatives, he was dressed in a suit and leather shoes. She had naturally felt his scrutinizing gaze when he sat down, but she hadn't paid it much mind—people were just like that.
She just hadn't expected this side of him…
He was indeed sincere, laying out all his vulnerabilities. He could clearly bend and stretch as needed. Song Xinran had met many people like this in her previous life, and they often ended up in high positions.
"Manager Zhou, I won't beat around the bush with you either," Song Xinran said. "I don't have any intention of going to work as a chef at your restaurant right now. But after hearing about your current problems, I have a few ideas…"
Zhou Zhengming immediately said, "I would be immensely grateful for any guidance you can offer!"
Song Xinran replied, "There's not much I can guide you on regarding culinary skills. After all, dishes can vary immensely, and every chef has their own style. It's best to maintain the original approach."
Although Zhou Zhengming felt a bit anxious inside, he told himself to be patient and even praised her, "What you say makes perfect sense."
Song Xinran said, "We could make changes in other aspects, like turning it into a cultural-themed restaurant."
Zhou Zhengming was taken aback, having never heard of this concept before.
Song Xinran thought to herself that this idea hadn’t yet reached ordinary cities. In her past life, she had visited many themed restaurants and concluded that when culinary skills fell short, unique themes could make up for it. Many people were willing to pay for the novelty, resulting in a steady stream of customers and a fairly good reputation.
Seeing that Xiang Manyuan was aiming for an upscale image, and given that Zhou Zhengming couldn’t find a better chef at the moment, she briefly explained the concept of a cultural-themed restaurant to him.
The more Zhou Zhengming listened, the more astonished and intrigued he became.
Having worked in the industry for over a decade, he knew the local clientele well. Xiang Manyuan focused on banquets and social gatherings, where patrons valued prestige. After the head chef left, the flavor of the dishes had changed, so improving other aspects made sense. Zhou Zhengming had already considered this and made some service adjustments, but they were only minor tweaks.
As soon as Song Xinran spoke, Zhou Zhengming knew her idea was feasible! It perfectly catered to those status-conscious customers!
But how did this young woman know about such a concept when he had never even heard of it?
Zhou Zhengming looked at Song Xinran with growing amazement and admiration. Since she wasn’t interested in working as a chef at the restaurant, she must have more lucrative opportunities. Yet, she had generously shared her insights, and he felt deeply grateful. "Ms. Song, your idea is truly innovative—it sounds incredibly appealing. I’ve never heard of it before, and today has been an eye-opener!"
"It’s truly our loss to miss out on a talent like you. If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know. I’ll do my best to help!"
Song Xinran took his words lightly, but she appreciated making this connection. It would make future visits to the city less daunting.
She smiled and replied, "Manager Zhou, you’re too kind."
Zhou Zhengming then shifted the topic. "My cousin-in-law mentioned that you’re currently selling Bobo Chicken in town. There are a few places in the city that serve it too. If you ever decide to expand here, I could lend a hand…"
"Thank you, but I don’t have such plans for now," Song Xinran declined. She knew she couldn’t rely solely on others. Though she had considered moving to the city, she needed to build her own capital first. "I have other arrangements this afternoon. If there’s nothing else, Manager Zhou, I’ll take my leave."
Zhou Zhengming escorted Song Xinran to the door, then immediately went to find Huang Yun, his expression full of wonder. "Cousin-in-law, how did you get to know this Ms. Song?"
Huang Yun replied, "We met through business, and later we ended up living quite close to each other."
Zhou Zhengming marveled, "Ms. Song is truly extraordinary!"
Huang Yun nodded in agreement. "That’s right."
"She gives off the vibe of a reclusive master from a martial arts novel," Zhou Zhengming remarked.
As someone who interacted with people regularly, he had misjudged her at first glance. It was only after their conversation that he realized how remarkable Ms. Song was.
Huang Yun: ???
What was her cousin talking about?