Lin Jiang smiled when he saw the task notification.
Talk about perfect timing.
But he didn’t need either of these things at the moment, so he’d save them for a rainy day.
BZZT BZZT BZZT—
His phone buzzed. It was a message from Jiang Xiaoqi.
Jiang Xiaoqi: "Brother Jiang, the official notice is out! I was selected as an Outstanding Teacher, and my salary even went up by 300."
Lin Jiang: "Congratulations."
Jiang Xiaoqi: "Brother Jiang, thank you."
Brother Jiang: "A verbal thank you? How is that any different from an empty promise?"
Jiang Xiaoqi: "Haha, not right now. Tonight."
Brother Jiang: "It’s a date."
Jiang Xiaoqi: "Mhm."
After exchanging a few messages, Lin Jiang stopped replying.
He decided to find a reliable renovation company and contract the work out. He didn’t have time to do all that troublesome work himself.
Besides, he still had 25 million in dedicated funds he hadn’t spent, so there was no need for him to handle it personally.
"Brother Jiang, I think your friend left something here," said Li Yuanyuan.
Lin Jiang glanced back and saw that Qin Youyou had forgotten the traditional Chinese medicine she bought at the shop.
He pulled out his phone and sent her a message.
Lin Jiang: "You left the traditional Chinese medicine you bought at the shop."
Qin Youyou: "I’m at my sister’s place now. Just keep it at your shop for me, and please hold onto it. [Flying_kiss.jpg]"
Lin Jiang: "OK."
Lin Jiang placed Qin Youyou’s traditional Chinese medicine behind the counter to keep anyone from messing with it, then went to the back kitchen, only to find Zhang Guofu wasn’t there.
He picked up a soup spoon and tasted the chicken broth.
The flavor was indeed a bit strong, but only slightly—not ridiculously so.
’But one thing’s for sure, Zhang Guofu definitely pulled a fast one. He was just too scared of getting caught to make it obvious.’
’I’ll settle things with him tonight, and then he can pack his bags and get lost.’
At that moment, Zhang Guofu was outside smoking. He had just hung up the phone with his wife.
RING RING RING—
Just as he stubbed out his cigarette and was about to head back, his phone rang again. It was an unfamiliar number.
"Hello?"
Zhang Guofu answered casually.
"Master Zhang, this is Zhou Chengrong from Spring Harmony Noodle Shop next door."
Zhang Guofu was a bit surprised. "What are you calling me for?"
"Master Zhang, don’t be nervous. I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"Talk about what?"
"It’s hard to explain over the phone. Are you free tonight? Let’s meet up and talk."
Zhang Guofu had a pretty good idea of what Zhou Chengrong wanted from him.
’Lin Jiang doesn’t take me seriously, and I don’t have enough money to open my own shop. There’s nothing wrong with taking a job with a higher salary.’
"Alright. Where?"
"At Ma the Third’s Barbecue Shop, right across the street. Don’t worry about rushing, just come over when you get off work."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Zhang Guofu lit another cigarette, certain that his guess was more or less correct.
’If Zhou Chengrong doesn’t do something, Spring Harmony Noodle Shop is going to go out of business. He must be calling to try and poach me.’
’Xiaojiang Noodle Shop’s business is booming right now, so I have some bargaining power.’
’Never mind a 2,000 raise, I could probably ask for 4,000 more and get it.’
But there was one thing Zhang Guofu couldn’t quite put his finger on, something that worried him.
Zhang Guofu knew perfectly well what his own cooking tasted like, and it was quite different from the current flavor of the shop’s food.
’I’m making everything in the shop, from the broth base to the scallion oil. I’ve switched everything to my own recipes, so why does the food taste different from before?’
’Could it be because I’m using the shop’s seasonings?’
Zhang Guofu thought back to the seasonings in the kitchen. There were over a dozen of them, all common ingredients he knew how to use. ’How could the flavor be so different?’
’Is it because I adjusted the ratio of seasonings, and that’s why the taste is different?’
After thinking it over and over, that seemed to be the only possibility.
"Heh..."
Zhang Guofu gave a cold laugh and cursed inwardly:
’Since you don’t take me seriously, don’t blame me for playing dirty.’
After stubbing out his cigarette, Zhang Guofu headed back into the shop. He planned to grab a Red Bull to wet his throat. ’It’s free, so why not?’
"Huh?"
As he walked past the counter, Zhang Guofu spotted a black bag behind it.
"Lili, what’s this?"
"I don’t know either. Brother Jiang brought it over and told us not to touch it."
"So secretive," Zhang Guofu grumbled with disdain.
"It might be part of a secret recipe or something. It’s only normal that he wouldn’t want us touching it."
Zhou Xiaoli’s casual comment instantly resolved Zhang Guofu’s confusion and made him realize what the problem was.
’Could this stuff be the key to the delicious flavor?’
Zhang Guofu thought it was highly possible.
"Lili, it’s pretty hot today. Go buy a watermelon, it’s my treat."
"Really? Well, don’t mind if I do!"
"It’s just one watermelon. Nothing to be polite about."
Zhang Guofu pulled a 100-yuan bill from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Xiaoli.
"Then I’m off to buy a watermelon!"
"Mhm, go ahead."
Zhou Xiaoli took the money and cheerfully went to buy the watermelon.
Zhang Guofu quietly approached the counter, opened the bag, and saw it was filled with small packets of something he couldn’t identify.
Just then, Zhang Guofu noticed a slip of paper inside.
"So it’s traditional Chinese medicine."
Vaguely, Zhang Guofu felt that this was very likely the seasoning for the secret recipe.
After all, many noodle broths incorporate traditional medicinal herbs to create a more complex flavor.
The more Zhang Guofu thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Otherwise, Lin Jiang wouldn’t have been so careful.
With that in mind, Zhang Guofu took out his phone and snapped a picture, saving it for future use.
Once he was done, he tied the bag shut again, acting as if nothing had happened.
Just then, Zhou Xiaoli returned with the watermelon, calling Lin Jiang and Li Yuanyuan, who were outside, back in as well.
Lin Jiang was a little surprised that this bastard Zhang Guofu would actually take the initiative to treat everyone to watermelon.
’Unusual behavior means something is afoot. He must have some ulterior motive.’
The day was a flurry of activity, lasting until after eight in the evening.
With few customers left in the shop, the staff started cleaning up and preparing to close.
"Brother Jiang, we’re heading out now," Li Yuanyuan said, waving to Lin Jiang as she got ready to leave.
"Be safe on your way home."
"Mhm."
After the two of them left, Lin Jiang planned to use this opportunity to tell Zhang Guofu not to come in tomorrow.
But just then, Zhang Guofu walked past them from behind and left without a word.
He didn’t even say goodbye, giving Lin Jiang no opportunity to speak.
"I don’t know what’s gotten into him these past few days. It’s like he’s a completely different person. Whenever we talk to him, he’s just dismissive," said Zhou Xiaoli.
"It’s fine. Don’t pay him any mind. You girls be careful on your way home."
"We know, Brother Jiang."
The two girls clocked out and left. Lin Jiang shut down his computer and prepared to go home as well.
Meanwhile, after getting off work, Zhang Guofu didn’t go to the bus station. Instead, he walked toward Fenglin International and entered a barbecue restaurant.
"Master Zhang, over here!" Zhou Chengrong called out, waving.
Seeing Zhou Chengrong, Zhang Guofu walked over and sat down across from him.
"Have a cigarette, Master Zhang."
Zhou Chengrong took out a Hehua-brand cigarette, handed it to Zhang Guofu, and lit it for him.
"I ordered a few things at random. I hope it’s stuff you like."
Zhou Chengrong pushed the menu over. "Go ahead and order some more."
"No need, this is more than enough. Boss Zhou, what did you want to see me about?"
"It’s nothing too serious. Let’s have a drink first."
"Sounds good."
Zhang Guofu also loved to drink, so he didn’t stand on ceremony.
Soon, four or five beers in, both men were getting tipsy.
"Boss Zhou, we’ve had a fair bit to drink. If you have something to say, just say it."
"Alright, I’ll get straight to the point then."
Before getting to business, Zhou Chengrong built up to it a little more. He lit a cigarette for Zhang Guofu, took a few silent drags himself, and then finally broached the subject.
"How much does Lin Jiang pay you a month to work there?"
"7,000."
Zhou Chengrong fell silent for a moment when he heard the number.
That price was about average. It wasn’t high, but it definitely wasn’t low either. He himself had only paid his previous chef 6,500.
"That’s too low."
"What’s too low?"
"The salary he’s paying you. For someone with your skills, that price isn’t high at all."
Zhang Guofu smoked in silence. It was just as he’d expected.
"Is Boss Zhou trying to poach me?"
Zhou Chengrong nodded. "That’s exactly what I mean. I’ll raise your salary by another 2,000. A salary of 9,000 is sky-high in Zhonghai. Think about it."
Zhang Guofu didn’t respond. He took a few more drags from his cigarette before saying slowly:
"Boss Zhou, others might not know my skill level, but you should be well aware. Lin Jiang’s shop was half-dead before I arrived. It was me who turned it into an internet-famous hot spot. Otherwise, he’d be no match for you at all. Do you really think my skills are only worth 9,000?"
Zhou Chengrong was already pained by the thought of a 2,000 raise, but he still asked:
"How much do you want?"
"Another 2,000, and I’ll work for you."
"11,000..."
Zhou Chengrong muttered the number to himself, smoking silently.
That price was the absolute limit. Looking across all of Zhonghai, no one else could offer such a salary.
But Zhang Guofu’s skills were undeniably excellent. He had secretly ordered their takeout before.
Even when it was delivered, the noodles weren’t clumped together, and the texture was fantastic. No other restaurant’s delivery noodles could achieve that.
So, the matter was still worth considering.
"11,000 is fine, but I have one condition."
"Go on."
"Start working for me tomorrow."
"That’s not going to work. I’ve been at Lin Jiang’s for over a week. He owes me at least 1,500 in wages. I can’t just leave that."
"A man destined for greatness doesn’t sweat the small stuff. You asked for a 4,000 raise, and I agreed without a second thought. Are you really going to quibble over a mere 1,500?"
Faced with Zhou Chengrong’s rhetorical question, Zhang Guofu felt that he was, in fact, being petty.
"Why do it like this?"
"I want to catch him completely off guard!" Zhou Chengrong said, his eyes narrowing.
"If you suddenly don’t show up, they’ll be thrown into chaos. With no one else to cook, he’ll have to step in himself. His skills are no match for yours. The moment customers taste the food, they’ll know something’s wrong, and then they’ll all come to our shop instead."
"No wonder you’re the boss. You think of everything," Zhang Guofu said with a laugh.
"So forget about that 1,500 in wages. Come over tomorrow and we’ll catch him completely by surprise!"
"Alright, we’ll do it your way!"

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