Manager Li smiled broadly and gripped Fan Yu's hand tightly. "Mr. Fan, I've finally met you. I wonder if you're free tonight? I'd like to host a meal for you."
Manager Li also wanted to build a connection with Fan Yu. If he could make money alongside Fan Yu like Chen Zhifeng of Tianfu Restaurant, that would be even better.
Fan Yu said apologetically, "I may have something to do today. How about another day?"
Manager Li was not disappointed and nodded. "All right. Whenever you have time, Mr. Fan, I'll arrange it."
"Xiao Yang, waive Mr. Fan's bill. Also, bring over a bottle of Montes."
"Yes, Manager Li."
The cashier named Xiao Yang hurriedly turned and ran off to get the wine.
Fan Yu shook his head. "Manager Li, you're being too generous."
"Mr. Fan, this isn't mere politeness. I may need you to look after me in the future."
As they spoke,
Xiao Yang came running over with a bottle of red wine.
Manager Li took the wine and handed it to Fan Yu. "Mr. Fan, it's just a small token. Though Montes wine isn't as famous as Romanee-Conti, it is renowned worldwide for the exceptional quality of each individual label. Every bottle is a fine vintage."
"Then thank you, Manager Li."
After speaking, Fan Yu thought for a moment, took a business card from his pocket, and handed it to Manager Li. "This is my card. If you need anything in the future, Manager Li, you can call this number."
Fan Yu's business card was very ordinary, with gold edges and a black face. There were no embellishments whatsoever, only a name and a phone number.
Manager Li accepted the card excitedly. This card was far from simple. The phone number alone was something countless upper-class people in Magic City would struggle desperately to obtain.
Fan Yu's identity was not a secret. Many people had already learned that he was the hidden big boss behind Caesar Financial Street, so countless people wanted to establish some connection with him. But Fan Yu rarely attended upscale cocktail parties or venues, so even those who wanted to meet him had no opportunity.
Manager Li had only encountered Fan Yu today because Su Xi wanted barbecue.
"All right, Manager Li. I still have things to do, so I'll be leaving first."
After saying this to Manager Li with a smile, Fan Yu left with Su Xi and Guo Lu.
Outside, the sun was no longer so scorching, and the temperature of the ground had dropped considerably.
The oppressive heat of noon had faded.
A breeze drifted past, bringing a refreshing feeling.
"Let's go find a place to try Brother Guo's cooking."
Fan Yu handed the car keys to Su Xi. "Xixi, drive to Tianfu Restaurant first. Have Manager Chen clear out a space in the kitchen so Guo Lu can show us his skills."
The vintage car only had two seats and could not fit all three of them, so Fan Yu simply took a taxi with Guo Lu.
Su Xi nodded, started the car, and drove away.
Fan Yu hailed a taxi and headed to Tianfu Restaurant with Guo Lu.
Knowing that Su Xi and Fan Yu were coming, Chen Zhifeng had long been waiting at the entrance.
Seeing Tianfu Restaurant's owner personally waiting outside, the arriving guests could not help but wonder what sort of important figure could make Chen Zhifeng welcome them in person.
Before long, a strangely shaped vintage car slowly drove over.
"Miss Su is here." Chen Zhifeng went up to greet her with a smile. When he did not see Fan Yu, he asked in confusion, "Where is Mr. Fan?"
Su Xi said, "He's behind me. He found a chef, but the car couldn't fit everyone, so he took a taxi with him."
To be honest, the Cobra 427 drew plenty of attention from passersby. Though its shape was somewhat strange, it was clearly expensive.
"A Ford Cobra?"
"An imported one should cost several hundred thousand, right?"
Seeing that Chen Zhifeng had been waiting for Su Xi, some people could not help but feel puzzled.
One could roughly judge a person's status and means from the price of their car. Yet Su Xi only drove an imported Ford Cobra, so she did not seem like the daughter of some prominent family.
Ignoring what others thought, Chen Zhifeng nodded. "Then we'll wait a little longer for Mr. Fan."
Ten minutes later, the taxi carrying Fan Yu stopped outside Tianfu Restaurant.
When they saw that the other person Chen Zhifeng had been waiting for had arrived by taxi, everyone became even more confused.
It made sense for the woman who seemed to have stepped out of a painting to drive an imported Ford Cobra, but what was with this young man arriving in a taxi?
"Manager Chen."
"Manager Chen."
As Chen Zhifeng led Fan Yu's group of three into the restaurant, many people greeted him.
Chen Zhifeng nodded in acknowledgment, but unlike the respect he showed Fan Yu and Su Xi, his expression remained calm.
After greeting everyone, Chen Zhifeng returned to treating Su Xi and Fan Yu with great respect.
"Has the kitchen been cleared out?" Fan Yu asked.
Chen Zhifeng hurriedly said, "Mr. Fan, as soon as I received Miss Su's call, I instructed Manager Sun to arrange it. It should be cleared out by now."
"All right, let Guo Lu give it a try now."
Walking behind them, Guo Lu clenched his fists. This time, he had to seize the opportunity.
When they reached the back kitchen of Tianfu Restaurant, it was not yet peak hours and there were not many customers. The head chefs were idle, while some assistants prepared ingredients.
"Xiao Sun, bring two chairs."
Chen Zhifeng spoke to Manager Sun, the dining hall manager waiting behind the kitchen door.
"Yes, Manager Chen."
Entering the kitchen, Fan Yu patted Guo Lu on the shoulder. "Perform well. Don't disappoint me. Of course, you're also fighting for your own opportunity."
Before long, Manager Sun and three servers brought over chairs and placed them behind Fan Yu's group.
"Guo Lu, begin your performance."
Fan Yu smiled.
Guo Lu said solemnly, "What would you like to eat?"
Su Xi said nothing, while Chen Zhifeng looked toward Fan Yu.
Fan Yu smiled faintly. "Egg fried rice."
"Uh, egg fried rice?"
Chen Zhifeng could not help but freeze. He had thought Fan Yu would choose a difficult dish to test Guo Lu, but he had not expected something as simple as egg fried rice.
Chen Zhifeng coughed and said, "Mr. Fan, isn't egg fried rice too easy?"
Fan Yu smiled. "Manager Chen, do you think it's too simple to showcase his cooking skills?"
Chen Zhifeng said nothing. That was indeed what he thought. Egg fried rice was so simple that even he could make one that tasted decent. What could it possibly test?
"Manager Chen, don't underestimate it. A top chef can make even ordinary egg fried rice so delicious that you can't stop praising it."
"If you don't believe me, ask Chef Zhang from your restaurant," Fan Yu said.
Chef Zhang, who stood nearby, saw Chen Zhifeng looking at him and nodded. "Manager Chen, Mr. Fan is right. When I was learning to cook, my master often had me make egg fried rice. After a while, I thought he was making things difficult for me and did not want to teach me. But later, when my master made me a plate of egg fried rice, I finally understood that cooking skill truly has nothing to do with whether a dish is simple or complicated. It lies in technique and one's control of the heat."
Chen Zhifeng nodded. "So that's how it is. Then we'll do as Mr. Fan says—egg fried rice."
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