Chapter 101: Chapter 101 The Willful Chef
Chapter 101: The Willful Chef
Yun Zijin and Lu Yunque booked the same hotel and took a taxi together to the Jinsheng Hotel in G City. When the taxi stopped at the entrance, their group reunited at the hotel's front door.
"Ms. Yun, what are your plans for the field inspection? We need to finish it as soon as possible so that we can prepare the design drawings earlier," Lu Yunque said, clearly placing great importance on this cooperation.
"Meet me in the hotel lobby at 9 a.m. tomorrow. I'll take you around," Yun Zijin replied. Since only she knew the exact location of the purchased land, she naturally had to guide them.
"Okay, we'll trouble you then, Sister Zijin," Li Yuecheng said. He had become comfortable calling her "Sister Zijin," while Lu Yunque and the other two still addressed her as "Miss Yun."
Yun Zijin glanced at Li Yuecheng. She felt a bit helpless with his persistent "Sister Zijin," but since he wouldn't listen, she decided not to correct him.
"Then hurry up and get settled. If you need anything, just call me," she said.
"Let's have dinner together tonight," Lu Yunque suggested. "This is our first time in G City, and we don't know where to eat. We'll need you to be our tour guide, Miss Yun."
Yun Zijin looked at Lu Yunque. Would someone of his status really need a tour guide for dinner? She doubted it, but she didn't refuse. "Sure, I'll take you to try some local specialties."
She wouldn't miss the chance to show off her hometown's cuisine to these influential guests.
After confirming the dinner arrangements, they took their room keys and followed the hotel staff to their respective rooms.
Since she had a deluxe suite, it took Yun Zijin more than half an hour to unpack her luggage. They hadn't specified a time for dinner, so she sent a message to the five-person group chat, asking everyone when they preferred to meet.
Li Yuecheng replied instantly:
Handsome Li Li Li Li: "I'm okay with any time. I ate a lot at the orphanage this afternoon, so I'm not really hungry yet."
At the orphanage earlier, except for Yun Zijin, everyone seemed to be in high spirits.
Mr. Fu: "I'm fine with anything. I'll follow Ms. Yun's arrangements."
Sheng: "Miss Yun, it's up to you."
L: "You are the host; we'll follow your wishes."
Seeing their replies, Yun Zijin felt a bit distressed. The most troublesome response is always, "Anything is fine." People who say that often complain after the plan is set.
Qingqing Zijin: "Okay! Since you're leaving the decisions to me, I won't hold back. But if you find my choices disappointing later, don't blame me."
She put her warning out there upfront. If they grumbled later, she'd show them this conversation.
Handsome Li Li Li Li: "Don't worry; I'm really easygoing!"
…
Ignoring further messages, Yun Zijin opened an app on her phone and searched for nearby restaurants. She knew little about G City's signature dishes except for a countryside buffet she had visited with the orphanage headmistress. The taste was very homey, but as these guests were used to fine dining, she opted for a city-based restaurant offering a similar style of cooking.
After half an hour, she finally found a suitable place. It was already 4 p.m. when she sent the restaurant's details to the group.
Qingqing Zijin: "Take a look at this place. If it's okay, I'll call and reserve a table right now."
They responded quickly:
L: "Sure."
Handsome Li Li Li Li: "No problem!"
Mr. Fu: "I can't wait."
Sheng: "What time should we leave?"
No one objected, and Yun Zijin breathed a sigh of relief. She planned to leave at 6 p.m. Even if they ate well at noon, they would still get hungry by dinnertime.
Guests staying in deluxe suites and above at the Jinsheng Hotel enjoyed a free shuttle service. At 6 p.m., when they gathered in the hotel lobby, three cars were waiting at the entrance, each seating seven people. They were a group of sixteen, including bodyguards and assistants, so three vehicles were arranged.
The restaurant was less than a 10-minute drive away. It was located in a stand-alone building. If not for the sign "Liang Ji" hanging at the door, one might not even realize it was a restaurant.
"Sister Zijin, how did you find this place?" Li Yuecheng asked, curious. "It looks like a private restaurant."
"It is a private restaurant," she answered. "The chef here is a master, rumored to have ancestral ties to imperial chefs."
"An imperial chef's descendant?" Li Yuecheng's eyes lit up. "I'm really looking forward to this."
Yun Zijin ignored Li Yuecheng's excitement. She raised her hand and knocked on the door a few times in a specific pattern.
Soon, the door opened, and a young man in a green robe greeted them. His gentle voice put people at ease: "Ms. Yun?"
"Yes, I called earlier to make a reservation for sixteen of us," she said.
"Come in," he replied, stepping aside.
Without being pretentious, Yun Zijin walked in first, with Lu Yunque and the others following closely. "Please take a seat first; I'll go hurry my father," the young man in green said. He pointed to two tables in the courtyard and invited them to sit. His tone wasn't very warm, almost perfunctory.
"Don't we need to order?" Li Yuecheng asked as he prepared to sit.
"My father doesn't host many guests, and what he cooks depends on his mood. He never lets anyone order," the man explained before heading toward the kitchen.
"Wow! He's so willful," Li Yuecheng whispered. "I've seen some private restaurants act high and mighty, but not like this."
"Truly skilled people can do as they please," Lu Yunque commented softly. "After all, no matter what rules he sets, there will always be customers willing to pay."
Everyone nodded in agreement. The anticipation for the upcoming meal only grew stronger.
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