novelnext Chapter 454 - 415: Huang Jun Isn’t a Man You Can Just Wish For
Chapter 454 - 415: Huang Jun Isn’t a Man You Can Just Wish For
Mingxiu Mountain Villa, Villa No. 5.
At this moment, sunlight streams through intricately carved window lattices, casting a glow over every inch of the luxurious dining room. Golden specks dance on the jade floor, like countless scattered coins paving a path of opulence.
In the center of the dining room, a long rectangular table is draped with an immaculate white tablecloth. A steak and some red wine are placed on the table, surrounded by a few intricately carved chairs.
President Bai, dressed in a custom suit, sits leisurely at the table, gently swirling half a glass of red wine. The deep crimson liquid swirls in the glass, emitting an enticing gleam and aroma.
Lightly sipping, he places the glass back on the table, then picks up the knife and fork, elegantly cutting a small piece of beef.
The beef parts gently under the knife, revealing its pink interior, rich in juices.
He puts the cut beef into his mouth; the meat is fresh, with a delicate texture, paired with the wine’s richness—it is simply the ultimate enjoyment of taste...
Suddenly.
A faint vibration from his phone disrupts President Bai’s dining time.
The sound is soft but enough to penetrate the dining room’s silence, catching his attention.
He slightly tilts his head, retrieving a sleek yet high-end phone from the inner pocket of his suit.
With a fingertip brushing the screen, he unlocks it and habitually swipes into the WeChat Moments interface.
The world on the screen suddenly becomes vibrant—a cascade of carefully chosen photos, and snatches of texts, humorous or contemplative, unfold like a colorful tapestry.
He browses carefully, with a smile often lifting the corners of his mouth. Occasionally, he would pause to examine a particular photo, or ponder for a moment, giving a knowing smile to his friends’ posts.
As he continues browsing...
His gaze suddenly locks onto Liu Shiwei’s post. His eyes light up, showing a hint of disbelief, while curiosity arises in his heart: "Kindergarten? Wenshi Tofu?"
Upon seeing the words "Chef Huang" in the post, President Bai instantly understands—the Wenshi Tofu is made by Huang Jun, dispelling his doubts about why such a dish would appear in a kindergarten.
After all, with Huang Jun’s culinary expertise, making a dish like Wenshi Tofu should be no problem.
And since Liu Shiwei dared to post the picture, it further proves that Huang Jun’s Wenshi Tofu must be exceptional and worth showcasing.
Thus...
His interest in learning more is completely piqued.
He slowly opens the picture, his eyes immediately focusing on it, examining it closely.
Not looking is fine!
But looking...
His heart feels as if it has been struck, his astonishment indescribable—he almost spits out a mouthful of blood.
This is a national banquet-level dish!
You might not need to present it in exquisite porcelain or silver dishes to highlight its unparalleled elegance, but at the very least, it should be served in some proper vessel...
Yet, the hair-thin Wenshi Tofu in the picture, is causally placed in a cold, rough, large stainless steel soup bucket.
At that moment, it feels as if he personally witnessed a desecration of culinary art.
This dish, meant to be a lofty national banquet delicacy, has its status and style dragged down into the dust...
Hmm.
What does it feel like to see a banquet dish served in a bucket?
This... this is simply wasting treasures!
It hurts!
It hurts so much that he can hardly breathe!
Although he understands that special circumstances call for special arrangements, for someone like President Bai, who has an almost obsessive pursuit of culinary beauty in the restaurant industry, such a scene is a blow to both the eyes and the heart, making him deeply uncomfortable!
What makes him even more frustrated...
His own restaurant doesn’t even have such a tantalizing dish!
The reason being.
Is naturally the lack of a chef capable of preparing this dish.
Who would have thought...
That a kindergarten named Dorami managed to accomplish this...
Alas!
The dishes in the hotel chain are not as good as the meals in a kindergarten like Dorami.
If someone with intent were to make a comparison and it got out, it would likely become a laughingstock in the industry, a story to make people burst out with laughter...
"Alas, one could only say, the difference between his own hotel and this kindergarten is just a Chef Huang." President Bai couldn’t help but fantasize, if Chef Huang could work in his hotel, what a wonderful thing it would be.
His mind already starts picturing Huang Jun busy in the hotel kitchen, the mouthwatering dishes attracting an endless stream of diners.
But thinking back to when he had invited Huang Jun, only to be flatly rejected, his heart sank again.
With a helpless sigh, he said, "Alas, what’s the use in thinking, Huang Jun is not a man you can summon just with a thought! After all, he works as a head chef at the kindergarten because of his twin daughters; even if you offer the most money or the highest position, it doesn’t mean you can lure him away..."
Realizing this only makes him feel more helpless, yet his helplessness doesn’t turn into giving up, instead, it fuels his unwavering persistence.
He was willing to wait, to wait for the right moment, an opportunity that could truly move Huang Jun.
He believed that sincerity and patience would eventually find a path to success.
"Chef Huang, just wait and see, I won’t give up." President Bai’s eyes flashed with determination and anticipation: "One day, I’ll find a solution that satisfies both of us, and one day, I’ll have you willingly join my hotel team!"
...
"Burp~"
After eating a plate of food and a bowl of soup, Wei Guodong couldn’t resist adding more dishes and soup, and then, before he knew it, he had eaten too much and started to burp.
This was a rare occurrence in his life in recent years.
After all, for the sake of health, he had always strictly controlled his eating habits.
He aimed for a balanced diet, with moderate portions, never daring to overindulge.
But today, at Dorami Kindergarten’s lunch, those delicious and fragrant dishes and savory soups made him indulge once.
"Feels like I haven’t had enough, and I’m already full!"
He gently patted his slightly protruding belly, a hint of helpless yet satisfied smile appeared on his face, and then he couldn’t help but praise: "So delicious, Chef Huang’s skills are truly exceptional..."
"I’ve eaten so many times, and it’s still the same feeling." Wan Zhenhong felt the same way, though feeling a bit uncomfortable from overeating, but he still marveled: "Director Wei, you’re just getting started, you haven’t even tried Chef Huang’s sweet and sour ribs and braised pork, they’re also very delicious!"
Xin Jinghui added: "Yeah, Chef Huang’s corn and green peas shrimp, mung bean cake, purple sweet potato egg roll, and that white radish bone soup, you haven’t tried those either..."
The names of these dishes fell into Wei Guodong’s ears, awakening his taste buds again, and arousing a desire for those yet-to-be-tasted delicacies.
But the reality was that he was already too full, unable to continue enjoying these delicacies.
No more!
Can’t listen any longer, if I do, I’ll start drooling...
He hurriedly interrupted: "Don’t say any more, I can’t eat now, the more I hear, the more uncomfortable I feel..."
Wan Zhenhong and Xin Jinghui felt the same way.
Although they intentionally tempted Wei Guodong, in the end, they were also tempted, so they quickly stopped talking.
After resting for a moment...
Wei Guodong smiled at Liang Yinqiu and said: "Director Liang, can you please introduce me to Chef Huang? I’d like to say hi before I leave."
Liang Yinqiu "...."
Director Wei, you wouldn’t be planning to poach Chef Huang under the guise of greeting him, would you?
But since he was a leader, she couldn’t directly refuse, and she was confident in Huang Jun, so she smiled and replied: "Of course, Director Wei, please follow me."
As she spoke.
Liang Yinqiu led Wei Guodong and the other two education bureau leaders to Huang Jun’s table. She smiled and said: "Chef Huang, let me introduce you, this is Wei Guodong, Director Wei from the education bureau, and these two leaders you already know. They just tasted the lunch you made and couldn’t stop praising your skills.
Huang Jun, hearing this, immediately put down his utensils, stood up, smiled and respectfully said: "Director Wei, Vice Director Wan, Director Xin, it’s an honor to cook for you. I hope today’s dishes suited your taste."
Wei Guodong looked at Huang Jun, a hint of appreciation in his eyes: "Chef Huang, your skills not only provided us with an unforgettable lunch, but also gave us a new understanding of kindergarten dining services. In the growth of children, the health and taste of food are equally important, and you excel in this area."
Huang Jun smiled slightly, expressing his gratitude: "Director Wei, your affirmation is a great encouragement to me. I have always believed that providing nutritious and delicious meals for children is the duty and honor of every chef."
Wei Guodong continued: "Your culinary skills and dedication have left a deep impression on us. I hope we can have more opportunities to exchange ideas in the future, and see if there are more possibilities for collaboration in the field of dining."
"Sure!" Huang Jun nodded.
Wei Guodong took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Huang Jun: "This is my card, Chef Huang. If you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to contact me at any time. Our education bureau always places great emphasis on improving school dining quality, and your expertise is invaluable to us. Of course, if you are interested in switching jobs, you can also contact me, our education bureau doors are always open for you..."
Liu Shiwei and Lv Pengfei: "(*ﾟﾛﾟ)"
Wow, even the people from the education bureau want to poach Chef Huang...
But!
Director Wei, if you poach Chef Huang away, what will the kids at Dorami eat? They won’t get to enjoy the food...
Although they were confident about Huang Jun, they couldn’t help but silently draw circles in their minds to mock Wei Guodong.
Liang Yinqiu: "Σ(°△°|||)"
The old fox’s tail finally shows...
Her heart suddenly hung in the air, a little worried that Huang Jun might be tempted and waver a bit.
Fortunately, Huang Jun’s response was firm yet polite: "Director Wei, thank you for your offer, but I have no intention of changing jobs for now."
Upon hearing this, Liang Yinqiu’s heart, which was stuck in her throat, finally settled down, and she became even more determined to add more weight to retain such a valuable talent like Huang Jun.
Wei Guodong, as expected, maintained a friendly demeanor, saying: "No problem, you can contact me anytime in the future. As I said, our education bureau doors are always open for you."
Liang Yinqiu, seeing that the atmosphere had relaxed, timely took over the conversation: "Director Wei, it’s getting late, and you’re busy with work, so I won’t keep you any longer. Besides, Chef Huang hasn’t finished his meal yet, and if it gets cold, it’s not good for the stomach. Let’s find another opportunity to have a detailed chat."
Wei Guodong, understanding her point, nodded: "Director Liang is right, we won’t disturb Chef Huang’s meal any longer. Thank you again for the hospitality, today’s lunch was very enjoyable."
Huang Jun responded politely: "Director Wei, no need to stand on ceremony, it’s my honor to serve you. I look forward to having another opportunity."
"Director Wei, Vice Director Wan, Director Xin, let me see you out." Liang Yinqiu smiled as she escorted them out, continuing: "You’re always welcome to come again, our kindergarten doors are always open for you."
And please, don’t poach anyone!