Chapter 140: Chapter 135: As Expected, Merchants Are the Most Cunning!

Upon hearing Huang Jun’s question, Liang Yinqiu maintained an appropriate smile on her face, but inside she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of bitterness.

The reason was simple.

Who would have thought Huang Jun would bring up the very topic she wanted to avoid!

The question hit precisely the sensitive spot she intended to steer clear of!

Originally, her plan was to quickly show Liu Shiwei around the kitchen, find a suitable excuse to send them off, thus avoiding some unnecessary trouble.

But now, look!

Huang Jun’s misunderstanding put her in a dilemma once more.

Just as she was about to say “no need,” Liu Shiwei, as if knowing her thoughts, eagerly spoke up first, “Director Liang is so warm and hospitable, if we don’t accept, wouldn’t we be letting down your kindness? Then let’s graciously accept and stay to taste the cuisine of your estate!”

Dong Yuantao chimed in with a gentle smile on his face, “Director Liang, Chef Huang, your warm invitation makes us feel very honored. So we won’t be shy about it, and we’ll stay to try some.”

Liang Yinqiu’s heart tightened sharply, her gaze shifting between Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao, a complex emotion flashing across her face.

We were just supposed to tour the kitchen, but the two of you have secretly set your sights on the food in our estate!

Honestly.

Is there no basic trust between people anymore?

Moreover, Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao’s words seemed to flatter her on the surface, but in reality, they were applying invisible pressure, leaving her no choice but to brace herself for this situation.

No doubt, businessmen are the most cunning!

She took a deep breath, tried to calm her inner turmoil, and then lightly nodded her head, striving to make her voice sound calm and natural, “Chairman Liu, Assistant Dong, since you don’t mind our estate’s simple food, please stay to taste our Chef Huang’s cooking. Please wait a moment, the dishes will be ready soon.”

Liu Shiwei smiled and responded, “Director Liang, you’re too kind. We’ve long heard that the food at your estate is delicious, and we’ve always wanted to taste it. Today, thanks to Director Liang, we get such a treat!”

Dong Yuantao nodded in agreement with Liu Shiwei’s words.

Liang Yinqiu returned a faint smile, turned to Huang Jun, and showed a gentle expression on her face, “Chef Huang, I’m counting on you. Please ask Aunt Lin and them to help bring over the dishes so Chairman Liu and Assistant Dong can enjoy them!”

“Okay!”

Huang Jun nodded with a smile and politely addressed Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao, “Chairman Liu, Assistant Dong, please excuse me for a moment.”

“Chef Huang, you’re busy, much appreciated…”

Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao made a small gesture with their hands, inviting him to proceed, then sat down at the dining table with Liang Yinqiu, waiting for the dishes to be served.

…

Approaching lunchtime, the childcare teachers from each class stepped out of their classrooms and headed toward the kitchen.

With a gust of wind, they all caught the rich aroma wafting in the air, making them even more eager for the noontime meal.

“This scent seems like braised beef brisket with radish…”

On the way, Wang Wenxia, catching the aroma, couldn’t help but discuss it with the other childcare teachers.

Wu Meijuan nodded in agreement, “It does smell like braised beef brisket with radish, and it seems to have a hint of fried tofu with eggs…”

“Smelling it makes me hungry, let’s hurry, grab the food quickly, and go back to the classroom to eat earlier.”

Not just Wang Wenxia and the others, but all the childcare teachers were eager to taste this enticing delicacy.

As soon as they stepped over the threshold of the kitchen…

The childcare teachers saw Liang Yinqiu already waiting in the dining hall.

They were slightly taken aback, then their faces bloomed into smiles as they greeted in unison, “Hello, Director Liang!”

Liang Yinqiu nodded slightly, returning their greetings with a smile.

Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao also politely nodded to the childcare teachers.

Seeing this, the childcare teachers nodded back, then turned towards the back kitchen to pick up the midday snacks, but still curiously glanced back at the unexpected guests, Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao.

Who exactly are they?

Are they friends of Director Liang?

But they seem somewhat familiar, like we’ve seen them somewhere before!

The childcare teachers exchanged glances, and from the looks in each other’s eyes, they all shared the same confusion and curiosity, but they didn’t have time to dwell on it.

Because at this moment, their attention was completely captured by the dishes in the kitchen.

In an instant…

The childcare teachers gathered around, watching the reddish-brown beef brisket rolling in the steaming soup, the fragrance wafting through the air, making their mouths water just by looking at it.

“Sure enough, there’s braised beef brisket with radish for lunch!”

“So fragrant, so fragrant, it’s making my stomach rumble with hunger.”

As a kindergarten teacher, Wang Wenxia was utterly exhausted on her first day at work, and she normally wouldn’t have much of an appetite. But staring at the delicious food in front of her now, her appetite was instantly awakened, feeling as if she could eat the whole platter.

Besides the braised beef brisket with radish, today’s lunch also included fried tofu with egg, colorful shrimp stir-fry, and yam and barley bone soup.

Luckily, there was someone in the kitchen to help portion the dishes beforehand; otherwise, if the kindergarten teachers did it themselves, those who came first might finish all the dishes.

Even so, Wang Wenxia and her colleagues kept shouting, “Get some more, a bit more of the braised beef brisket, and a few more pieces of the fried tofu with egg too.”

Recalling the previous semester, when the kindergarten teachers came to the kitchen for meals, they would just ask for less of this or that.

“That’s enough, leave some for the other classes,” Aunt Li reminded with a smile.

Only then did the kindergarten teachers realize their over-excitement and toned it down a bit, teasing each other, “We really can’t help it, Chef Huang’s cooking smells so good!”

So it’s his fault, huh?

Huang Jun overheard their conversation and smiled, feeling both gratified and helpless, as he continued helping to load the food containers onto the trolley.

Not far off, Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao watched the scene unfold. Even though they hadn’t tasted Huang Jun’s cooking yet, from the excited words of the kindergarten teachers, it was clear to them that the food must be incredibly delicious!

Therefore, they looked forward even more to the upcoming lunch.

“Director Liang, here’s the meal you requested. Please enjoy.”

Just then, Aunt Lin came over with a large tray, a rich aroma hovering over the stainless-steel platter, making it almost hard to see the dishes clearly.

As Aunt Lin placed the stainless-steel serving plates and soup bowl one by one in front of Liang Yinqiu, Liu Shiwei, and Dong Yuantao, the rich aroma suddenly intensified, like a series of fragrant bombs exploding in front of Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao, surging into their nostrils…

Gulp!

Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao’s throats involuntarily moved, a slight rumble coming from their lower abdomen, this sudden physiological reaction causing slight embarrassment, yet it also did nothing to hide their anticipation for the delectable feast they were about to savor.

Staring at the braised beef brisket with radish in front of them.

The beef brisket and radish were strategically arranged, with the sauce drizzled over them, making the whole dish look even more enticing.

The beef brisket, cooked to tender perfection, presented an alluring reddish-brown hue, with its meaty texture clearly visible, exuding a rich meaty aroma; the radish, on the other hand, displayed a shining white color, neatly shaped, appearing more plump after absorbing the sauce from the beef brisket.

The entire dish offered a vivid color contrast, red and white intermingling, making it mouthwateringly tempting.

Were it not for Liang Yinqiu’s presence, they would undoubtedly have already picked up their chopsticks in eagerness.

But for now, they could only try to remain calm, waiting for Liang Yinqiu to give a cue.

Seeing their reactions, Liang Yinqiu chuckled inwardly.

Indeed, nobody could resist the allure of Huang Jun’s cooking!

Even Chairman Liu of the Runan Group couldn’t withstand this delicious temptation.

She nodded slightly to Aunt Lin as a gesture of gratitude, “Alright, thank you for your hard work, you can continue with your tasks now!”

Then, she turned to Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao, made a small inviting gesture, “Chairman Liu, Assistant Dong, please go ahead!”

“Thank you!”

Liu Shiwei and Dong Yuantao nodded slightly in response, and without delay, picked up their chopsticks, ready to savor a piece of beef brisket glowing with a brilliant red color.

The rich meaty aroma and perfectly balanced seasoning exploded in their mouths all at once, the taste so exquisite that they couldn’t help but close their eyes to savor it, experiencing it thoroughly.

The beef brisket was firm yet tender, with a perfect distribution of tendons and fat, every bite showcasing an ideal balance of smoothness and chewiness.

Meanwhile, the accompanying radish, carefully stewed over long hours, had become incredibly tender, almost melting in the mouth with no need for chewing, complementing the rich texture of the beef brisket emphatically. It not only absorbed the beef’s oils, reducing any greasiness, but also added a faint sweetness, making the entire dish’s flavor more harmonious and rich.

The sauce was undoubtedly the highlight of this braised beef brisket with radish.

Slow-cooked over a gentle flame, the savory beef’s taste thoroughly melded with the sweet flavor of the radish in the sauce, creating a robust and complex flavor.

Extraordinarily aromatic!

Liu Shiwei was utterly captivated, indulging bite after bite; the fried tofu with egg was perfectly cooked, with a crispy exterior and a tender interior, melting instantly in the mouth.

The deliciousness of the tofu combined with the rich aroma of the egg offered an experience worth relishing.

Paired with a special sauce, the dish’s savoriness was significantly enhanced.

The prawns in the colorful shrimp stir-fry were incredibly fresh, complementing the crisp vegetables perfectly, with every bite releasing the crisp freshness of the vegetables and the sweet, oceanic flavor of the prawns.

Finally,

a bowl of yam and barley bone soup marked the perfect conclusion to his meal.

The broth was clear and bright, exuding a faint herbal aroma.

The combination of yam and barley was not only nutritious but also rendered the soup flavorful and rich.

The broth from the stewed bones was savory without being greasy, each sip offering an exceptionally delightful taste sensation, with the yam’s softness and the barley’s crunch complementing each other, making the soup more delicious and palatable.

This meal not only gave him a deeper appreciation of Huang Jun’s culinary skills but also subtly changed his initial perspective.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep