Movie/TV series: Starting with Ode to Joy, I opened my own private kitchen.

Page 26

Su Chang gave a helpless bitter smile, muttering to himself, "I don't want this either. Pinzhen Pavilion needs to add a bathroom so I can shower before going home." As he thought this, he walked towards the bathroom.

While taking a shower, Su Chang couldn't help but reflect on whether his decision to open a restaurant was a mistake. He had also planned to open a piano shop next to Pinzhen Pavilion, since he hadn't had a chance to use his piano skills.

But now, he was having second thoughts about the idea: "Wouldn't I be just making trouble for myself? Wouldn't it be better to be a lazy bum?" Su Chang thought to himself, "Forget it, I'd better focus on training Xiao Cai. Once Xiao Cai is capable of handling things on his own, I'll consider other things."

After taking a shower, Su Chang felt much refreshed. He returned to the living room and saw Andy and Jiang Lai chatting and laughing together, which eased his mind somewhat.

Chapter 53 Recommendations

Su Chang sat down on the sofa, and Jiang Lai smiled as she handed him a steaming cup of tea, her eyes showing concern. She knew Su Chang wasn't interested in coffee, so she had made tea while he was taking a shower.

Su Chang took the teacup and gently kissed Jiang Lai on the cheek, her eyes sparkling with gratitude, showing no hesitation towards Andy.

Andy appeared calm on the surface, showing no obvious reaction, but her heart was in turmoil. She cursed Su Chang inwardly, feeling helpless and dissatisfied with his thoughts. She thought to herself that he had said he wanted to pursue her before, but now he was showing off his affection for Jiang Lai in front of her. She was speechless.

Jiang Lai looked at Su Chang and said gently, "Tell me your own thoughts first."

Su Chang scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and replied, "I'm really not very good at this. My current idea is to buy some high-quality assets first, preferably real estate. The initial investment can reach 20 billion, and then I'll consider buying some more valuable ones."

Su Chang actually wanted to use the remaining four cashback cards, but she was worried that the system would consider her purchase of the company as an investment rather than consumption, which would leave her in a bind.

Andy and Jiang Lai exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of helplessness. Andy frowned, thinking, "This Su Chang really is an amateur; this doesn't really make much sense."

Jiang Lai sighed softly and began to plan how to improve Su Chang's social status and influence.

“Su Chang, you could consider joining me in some high-end social events to get to know some influential people,” Jiang Lai suggested, gesturing with her hands as she added, “Or you could invest in some cultural and artistic projects to enhance your taste and image.”

Su Chang nodded repeatedly, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes. Andy, on the other hand, seemed thoughtful. She felt that while Jiang Lai's suggestion had some merit, it wasn't comprehensive enough.

“I think that in addition to participating in social events and investing in projects, you can also take a stake in some media and internet companies to expand your influence,” Andy interjected. “You can attract more attention by publishing some valuable opinions and content.”

Su Chang's eyes lit up when he heard Andy's words, as if he had seen new hope. He said excitedly, "That's a great idea! I can find a professional team to help me plan and execute it."

Jiang Lai agreed, adding, "Yes, you can also ask HR to recruit some people to set up a public relations department to handle all kinds of public relations matters. This will allow you to improve your image and influence more professionally and efficiently. Before that, I can introduce you to a public relations company. As long as you can afford it, they will handle all these miscellaneous matters for you, so you won't have to ask for favors."

Su Chang nodded repeatedly, thinking to himself that Jiang Lai and Andy were indeed much more professional than him.

Then, Jiang Lai smiled and said firmly to Su Chang, "I've almost finished preparing for the management company, and I'd like to discuss it with you. When the company opens, you can invite some of Jiang Haokun and Tan Zongming, as well as some of your Pinzhentang's guests, to attend the opening ceremony. This will not only increase the company's popularity but also expand your social circle. What do you think?"

Su Chang was overjoyed upon hearing this. An excited expression appeared on his face, and he quickly nodded, saying, "No problem, Sister Jiang Lai! I will do my best to invite more friends to the opening ceremony. However, before that, let's buy some more fixed assets. I will inject more capital into the company then, and the company's influence will be greater."

Jiang Lai looked at Su Chang with satisfaction, thinking, "He really is wealthy and powerful." She continued, "Okay, then I'll look for good quality assets for sale soon. Remember to arrange a time in advance, and you'll still need to go and take a look."

Su Chang's eyes gleamed with confidence as she replied, "Don't worry, I'll arrange the time."

Andy frowned slightly, as if he had remembered something important. He looked at Su Chang and asked calmly, "Su Chang, is the Red Star Building in your hands?"

A hint of surprise flashed across Su Chang's face, but he quickly regained his composure. He remembered that he had received the Red Star Building when he signed in earlier, so he nodded and replied, "Yes, Andy, the Red Star Building is indeed in my hands."

Andy's eyes revealed a hint of expectation as he continued, "So, are you planning to keep it, or are you planning to sell it? Shengxuan, Lao Tan is currently planning to acquire the Red Star Group. If you're willing, could you sell the Red Star Building directly to your company? Of course, if that's not possible, you can rent it to our company as well."

Su Chang secretly pondered, thinking, "I still want to acquire more high-quality assets here, how could I easily sell the Red Star Building? However, renting it out is a good option." So, he smiled slightly and said, "Andy, renting it out is no problem at all. You can just contact Jiang Lai directly when the time comes, I'll put all the assets under the management of the management company."

Andy breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and a smile appeared on his face. He said, "Okay, then I'm relieved. Actually, not acquiring the Red Star Building isn't entirely without its advantages for Shengxuan; at least our cash flow won't be so tight."

Su Chang nodded, secretly glad he had made the decision. He thought, "Luckily I didn't sell the Red Star Building easily; maybe this way I can repay Tan Zongming's favor."

The three chatted for a while longer before deciding to rest. After all, everyone had their own things to do tomorrow.

The next morning, Su Chang thought about her decision from the previous night and couldn't wait to call Xiao Cai: "Xiao Cai, come to the restaurant early today, okay? I'll start teaching you cooking today."

Xiao Cai readily agreed, "Okay, Brother Su Chang, I'll head out right away."

His face was beaming with excitement and anticipation, as if he could already see his future where he would make a name for himself in the culinary world.

However, when Su Chang contacted Lu Yuan, the situation was somewhat different.

Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment on the other end of the phone, a hint of unease in his voice: "Su Chang, I studied Western cuisine before, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle the Chinese food at Pinzhentang."

Su Chang sensed Lu Yuan's concerns and comforted him with a smile, "Lu Yuan, I'm the boss and I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of? Besides, I'll teach you for a while. Cooking skills are all interconnected, so just think of it as learning a new skill. And I believe in your abilities; you can definitely do it!"

Lu Yuan was still somewhat insecure. He bit his lip, muttering to himself, "Is Su Chang only making me go out of pity? I don't want to be pitied..."

Su Chang seemed to see through Lu Yuan's thoughts. He said firmly, "Lu Yuan, I didn't call you here out of pity. I genuinely believe you have potential, and you need an opportunity to prove yourself. Besides, you have to take care of Jiahe. Do you have enough money to support Jiahe and her grandmother? If you don't come, I'll have to go find Sister Gan Jing, and then... level..."

Upon hearing the name "Gan Jing," Lu Yuan's expression instantly tensed. He knew how formidable Gan Jing was, having witnessed it firsthand that noon, and he didn't want to be taught a lesson again.

"No, no, no, Su Chang, I'll go, okay?" Lu Yuan said quickly, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness and compromise.

Su Chang smiled with satisfaction: "That's right, Lu Yuan. Believe in yourself, you can definitely do it! Come on over."

"Okay, I'll make arrangements for Jiahe and her grandmother to come right away."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Yuan took a deep breath and silently encouraged himself: "Okay, since I promised Su Chang, I should work hard. Maybe this really is a chance for me to get back on my feet..."

Chapter Fifty-Four: Teaching Skills

Su Chang arrived at the store and saw Xiao Cai diligently cleaning. She nodded in satisfaction.

"Xiao Cai, come with me to the kitchen to learn how to prepare ingredients," Su Chang said.

"Okay, Brother Su Chang." Xiao Cai replied, quickly put down the broom in his hand, and followed Su Chang into the kitchen.

Half an hour later, Lu Yuan finally arrived late. Su Chang wasn't unhappy, but she didn't give him a friendly look either, since he had to take care of his elderly parents and young child at home. She simply said, "It's good that you're here."

As soon as Lu Yuan entered, he ignored Su Chang's expression and eagerly asked her, "Su Chang, do you have any connections to get Peng Jiahe into a better high school?"

Su Chang was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Lu Yuan to ask for help for Peng Jiahe. However, he didn't think much of it and readily agreed: "No problem, I'll find a way. Is she currently a Chinese citizen?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan showed a grateful expression: "Thank you, Su Chang. As for dual citizenship, do you have any recommendations?" Lu Yuan wasn't very knowledgeable about these things, so he directly asked Su Chang for her opinion.

"My opinion is to just return their Chinese citizenship. After all, our country's citizenship is very precious. Of course, this is just a suggestion; the decision is yours."

“Okay, then I’ll go back and discuss it with Jiahe.” Lu Yuan didn’t make a decision yet, but decided to go back and discuss it with Peng Jiahe. After all, although he was the guardian, he wasn’t her biological father, so how could he make a decision for her?

Looking at Lu Yuan, Su Chang thought to herself, "I didn't expect Lu Yuan to care so much about Peng Jiahe. It seems there's still hope for him."

Next, Su Chang began to teach the two how to prepare the ingredients. Xiao Cai took out her notebook and carefully wrote down every important point Su Chang made, afraid of missing anything.

Lu Yuan, having a background as a Michelin-starred Western chef, was able to get the hang of things after only a short time being taught by Su Chang. Su Chang couldn't help but admire him: "Lu Yuan is truly a born chef, incredibly talented!"

It was almost eleven o'clock, and Su Chang instructed Xiao Cai to add Sichuan cuisine as the main dish for today on the whiteboard. He decided to cook one cuisine each day, which would be a good opportunity to demonstrate and explain the key points of each cuisine to the two of them.

"Today we'll start with Sichuan cuisine. Sichuan cuisine is mainly spicy and numbing, with a unique flavor..." Su Chang said as she demonstrated how to cook Sichuan dishes to the two of them, pointing out the key points and precautions.

Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

Looking at their earnest expressions, Su Chang felt a great sense of accomplishment. He believed that under his guidance, Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan would soon be able to take over the kitchen of Pinzhen Pavilion and free himself up.

Then a group of guests arrived. Seeing the prompts on the whiteboard, they ordered several famous Sichuan dishes—Kung Pao Chicken, Dongpo Pork Knuckle, Mapo Tofu, and Boiled Fish.

After the guests finished ordering, Xiao Cai poured tea and returned to the kitchen. He looked at Su Chang expectantly and said, "Brother Su Chang, the guests ordered four dishes: Kung Pao Chicken, Dongpo Pork Knuckle, Mapo Tofu, and Boiled Fish."

"Okay, you can come here and learn how to do it too."

Su Chang smiled and nodded, explaining in detail how to make each dish and how to combine the seasonings. Lu Yuan listened attentively, his eyes revealing a thirst for culinary skills. He didn't know why, but he was always exceptionally serious when learning to cook.

Xiao Cai held his notebook carefully, taking notes incessantly, afraid of missing any detail. His brows furrowed slightly, sometimes he would bite the tip of his pen in thought, and sometimes he would show an expression of sudden realization.

With the prior preparations, the four dishes were quickly cooked. As soon as they were served, the guests unanimously praised them: "So delicious!" "The cooking is simply amazing!"

Lu Yuan was also taken aback, secretly marveling, "I never knew Su Chang's cooking skills were so amazing. I really underestimated him before." A look of admiration appeared on his face. Because he lacked a sense of taste, he had previously thought Gan Jing and Peng Jiahe were just isolated cases, but he hadn't expected…

Xiao Cai, however, was not surprised at all. She smiled and said to Su Chang, "Brother Su Chang, you are really amazing! I will definitely learn cooking skills from you."

Afterwards, seeing that no new customers came, Su Chang asked the two of them to try making the two dishes as well, while she kept an eye on the shop from the kitchen door and the two of them in the kitchen.

Lu Yuan and Xiao Cai did not refuse. They recalled Su Chang's actions and details, and then began to cook.

Lu Yuan's cooking and plating were perfect. He carefully served the dish, feeling a little nervous, wondering how it would taste.

Su Chang took a bite, frowned slightly, and said, "Lu Yuan, the special features of your dish are not prominent enough. Also, there's your old problem: you can't control the saltiness. You need to find a way to solve your taste problem."

A hint of embarrassment appeared on Lu Yuan's face. He thought to himself, "I've tried my best. I want to cure my sense of taste, but what can I do?"

Looking at Lu Yuan's expression, Su Chang patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't be discouraged. Cooking requires constant practice and exploration. You should also speak out about what's on your mind. Your sense of taste will naturally recover once you resolve your inner issues."

Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He thought to himself, "Perhaps speaking my mind will help my cooking skills, but Gan Jing…"

Xiao Cai's cooking was much worse, just average home-style cooking. After all, he had no experience before. He looked at Su Chang somewhat embarrassedly and said, "Brother Su Chang, did I cook very badly?"

Su Chang didn't blame her. Instead, she smiled encouragingly and said, "Xiao Cai, you've done a great job. It was a good first time. As long as you keep working hard, you'll definitely do even better."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Cai smiled happily.

The following day, Su Chang spent the entire time teaching Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan the details of making Sichuan cuisine and how to highlight the characteristics of the dishes, without holding anything back. He demonstrated and explained each step in detail, while Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan listened attentively, nodding occasionally to show that they understood.

"Xiao Cai, look, the key to this Mapo Tofu lies in how you cut the tofu and how you control the heat." Su Chang said, picking up a piece of tofu, skillfully cutting it into even small pieces, and then stir-frying it in the pan.

"Lu Yuan, you need to pay attention to the proportions of the seasonings; not too much and not too little," Su Chang said earnestly to Lu Yuan, pointing to the various seasonings on the table.

As Lu Yuan listened, he diligently took notes of Su Chang's words, his eyes revealing his eagerness and focus on learning.

"Su Chang, I understand. I will practice hard," Lu Yuan said firmly.

Seeing Lu Yuan's earnestness, Su Chang felt very gratified. He recalled the notes Gan Jing had made for Lu Yuan in the TV series and thought that perhaps Lu Yuan could try this method as well.

"Lu Yuan, this afternoon go and buy some measuring tools and quantify the exact amounts of each seasoning. This way, we can more accurately control the amount of seasoning used," Su Chang suggested.

Lu Yuan's eyes lit up when he heard Su Chang's words; he thought it was a good idea. So, that afternoon he went to buy measuring tools and began to carefully record the proportions of ingredients for each of Su Chang's dishes.

After numerous attempts and adjustments, Lu Yuan finally created a dish that satisfied Su Chang.

"Not bad, Lu Yuan, this dish of yours is already seventy percent as good as mine." Su Chang said with satisfaction after tasting Lu Yuan's cooking.

Hearing Su Chang's praise, Lu Yuan felt a great sense of accomplishment, and a happy smile appeared on his face.

Not to be outdone, Xiao Cai diligently studied Su Chang's techniques. Although there was still some gap, he made great progress.

Seeing Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan's hard work, Su Chang breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that as long as they continued to work hard, they would definitely become excellent chefs.

"Xiao Cai, Lu Yuan, you're both great, keep it up!" Su Chang encouraged.

Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan's confidence increased greatly after hearing Su Chang's words.

Over the next few days, apart from preparing a meal of steamed Wuchang fish, Longjing shrimp, Dongpo pork, and boiled cabbage for the three old men on Saturday, Su Chang spent every day teaching Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan a dish from one of the major cuisines. He also taught the two of the remaining seven major cuisines—Lu, Yue, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui—without reservation.

On the ninth day, Su Chang decided to close the restaurant for a day and then notified all her friends and the three old men to come and taste the dishes. All the dishes for the day were prepared by Chef Lu Yuan, with Xiao Cai as her assistant. A sumptuous feast of twelve main courses was served, encompassing the eight major Chinese cuisines: Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui.

After everyone tasted it, they all praised it highly, except for three old men and Tan Zongming who raised some questions.

One of the old men frowned, tapped the table lightly with his hand, and said, "This dish tastes good, but it seems to be missing something. I can't quite put my finger on what it is." His eyes revealed a hint of doubt and dissatisfaction. It wasn't dissatisfaction with Lu Yuan and Xiao Cai, but rather that he couldn't pinpoint what was wrong and was somewhat dissatisfied with himself.

Another old man nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, I also feel that something is not quite right." His expression was serious, as if he was thinking about something.