Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 2914 A Taste of China
Before Ye Yuze's "Yo-shi!" had even faded from the room, a soft yet persistent knock came at the door, accompanied by two delicate, mesmerizing voices:

"Dad~ (Oppa~) Are you there?"

Yang Geyong was startled, and Ye Yuze's brows also twitched.

The voices were so damn familiar. One was Park Soo-ah, the goddaughter who had just caused him mixed feelings at the celebration banquet, and the other was Lee Da-mi, the little princess of the Samsung Group, who had become particularly "friendly" with Yang Geyong during their time in Korea and would come to play with "Uncle Ye" and "Uncle Yang" every few days.

Yang Geyong grinned and eagerly went to open the door.

At the entrance, two stunningly beautiful women, each with a distinct style, stood gracefully.

Park Soo-ah changed out of her costume and evening gown and into a fresh floral dress. Her face showed a mix of trepidation and deep longing. Her big, expressive eyes looked at Ye Yuze with a watery gaze, as if he would commit a terrible crime if he dared to leave.

Li Damei, dressed in designer casual wear, looked both playful and elegant. She grabbed Yang Geyong's arm and swayed it, speaking in fluent but heavily accented Chinese in a coquettish tone:

“Oppa! Yang Oppa! Ye Oppa! You can’t leave! What’s so fun about Japan?! Soo-ah unnie’s movie just came out, don’t you want to stay and watch the results together? And also, you promised to teach me how to ride a horse!” (She had heard from somewhere that Yang Geyong was a good rider).

Park Soo-ah also stepped forward, her voice soft yet tinged with a hint of stubbornness:

"Father, I...I still have many questions about acting that I want to ask you. I feel uneasy now that you're gone..." She lowered her head slightly, revealing a section of her fair neck, her posture perfectly poignant and touching.

Looking at the "double attack" situation before him, especially at Park Soo-ah's eyes, which were filled with gratitude, dependence, and a hint of emotion he dared not delve into, Ye Yuze couldn't bring himself to say, "The tickets are booked." He had seen all sorts of situations in his life, but he was helpless against this kind of subtle pressure.

Yang Geyong was already completely disoriented by Li Damei's antics, and he grinned foolishly at Ye Yuze, his eyes conveying a clear meaning:
"Old Ye, who can resist this? Why don't we... just give in?"

Ye Yuze's initial thought of going to Japan to relax completely vanished under this gentle advance. He sighed helplessly and rubbed his temples.

"Alright, alright, stop shaking it. If you keep shaking it, your old bones will fall apart."

He looked at Park Soo-ah, trying his best to maintain the dignity of an elder:
"If you have any questions, feel free to call us anytime. But... since you're being so 'enthusiastic' in trying to persuade us to stay, we'll stay a little longer."

"Yay!" Li Damei cheered immediately, like a child who had received candy.

Park Soo-ah raised her head, her eyes instantly sparkling with a dazzling light, and a sweet smile curved her lips as she nodded emphatically.

"Yes! Thank you, Dad!"

After seeing off the two overjoyed young ladies, Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Old Yang, we're completely outmaneuvered by these two little girls." Ye Yuze said, lighting a cigar with a wry smile.

"Hehe, a gentle embrace is a hero's grave." Yang Geyong didn't care at all, but instead felt smug.

"Besides, look at Xiuya, she's really made something of herself now. Wouldn't it be nice to stay a few days and see her in her prime? That Li Damei is quite fun too, although she's domineering, she's like a little ray of sunshine."

Ye Yuze exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze gradually deepening:
“It’s fine to stay, but you can’t just sit around and watch the show. Don’t those Koreans love to claim everything as theirs? Kimchi, Dragon Boat Festival, traditional Chinese medicine… they can even dig up Confucius to claim as their ancestor. It makes me furious.”

Yang Geyong's smile also faded: "That's right, we need to do something to fundamentally correct their bad habits!"

"Food is the most important thing for people." Ye Yuze narrowed his eyes. "The most subtle way to change people's minds is through their stomachs. We need to use authentic cuisine to let them know in a grand and honorable way what it means to have a long and rich history, and what it means to be the ancestor of all food!"

"Delicious food? Shall we open a restaurant serving Manchu Han Imperial Feast?" Yang Geyong became interested.

"That's too deliberate and out of touch with reality." Ye Yuze waved his hand, a sudden inspiration flashing in his mind:
"I've got it! Doesn't Ye Mao have two pretty impressive female confidantes? Jin Ping and Jin Wan. Their 'Military Reclamation Fast Food' is quite unique, a great example of fusion and innovation. Paired with the most authentic and exquisite Cantonese morning tea, it's a perfect combination of fast and slow, luxurious and refined, covering all aspects!"

"Jin Ping and Jin Wan, these two Oscar-winning actresses, have international influence and countless fans in South Korea."

"Their parents run 'Military Reclamation Fast Food,' which features modified versions of Northern Chinese flavors and creative snacks, such as 'Military Reclamation Big Plate Chicken Flavored Burger,' 'Lamb Skewers Pizza,' and 'Super Beef Noodles,' which are both novel and delicious. Actually, this fast food was started by Ye Mao."

"And the shrimp dumplings, siu mai, custard buns, and red rice noodle rolls of Cantonese morning tea are the epitome of exquisite and delicious food."

Yang Geyong slapped his thigh: "Brilliant! Having two award-winning actresses endorse us will have a huge impact! We'll use the real, high-quality ingredients to shut them up and shut them up from their crazy idea of ​​claiming ancestral origins!"

Without further ado, Ye Yuze made a phone call directly to his son, Ye Mao. Upon hearing that his father wanted to promote "food culture export" in South Korea, Ye Mao immediately offered his full support and quickly contacted Jin Ping and Jin Wan.

Upon hearing that it was Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong, these two "big uncles," who had summoned them for such an interesting and meaningful event, the two actresses immediately adjusted their schedules and rushed to Seoul with their most elite culinary team and operations experts.

Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong acted swiftly and decisively, using their financial resources to directly purchase a three-story street-front building in the Myeongdong shopping district of Seoul, a prime location with a constant flow of customers.

The interior design blends modern Chinese style with some elements of military reclamation industry, creating a cool and grand atmosphere. Even before the huge signboard "A Bite of China" was hung up, it had already attracted a lot of attention.

The media scrambled to cover the news – "Two Oscar-winning actresses bring mysterious Chinese cuisine to Myeongdong!"

"Ye Yuze invests heavily in building a Chinese food culture center!"

"Military reclamation fast food vs. Cantonese dim sum win over the Korean palate?"

As soon as the airport street photos of Kim Ping and Kim Wan were released, they instantly topped the trending search list in South Korea, raising expectations to the max.

On opening day, the scene completely spiraled out of control. The area outside the store was packed with people, including fans, reporters, food bloggers, and curious onlookers, forcing the police to be deployed to maintain order.

Jin Ping and Jin Wan made a stunning appearance in traditional Chinese dresses, greeting everyone warmly in their hard-earned Korean, instantly igniting the passion of the entire audience.

First Floor: Military Reclamation Fast Food Area – A Bold and Unrestrained Taste Experience
A stylishly dressed Korean man curiously ordered the "Military Reclamation Chicken Burger".

When the "jumbo" – bigger than his face and exuding a strong aroma of cumin and chili – was handed to him, he gaped in shock.

He tried to bite into it like a regular hamburger, and the sauce and rich filling (large pieces of chicken, soft potatoes, and chewy pasta) almost overflowed. He hurriedly took big bites, and the spicy and rich flavor instantly won him over.

While hissing and panting (from the spiciness), he frantically gave his companions thumbs up and mumbled "!! (Delicious! So good!)" incoherently, eating with great gusto, which made everyone around him burst into laughter.

On the other side, several female students shared a "super beef noodle soup".

The enormous bowl, bigger than their heads, held a milky-white, bubbling broth brimming with rich aroma. Large chunks of tender, flavorful beef, trembling slightly, were stewed until incredibly soft, topped with vibrant green cilantro and chewy handmade noodles, eliciting gasps of delight from them. They clumsily used their chopsticks to carefully slurp the noodles into their mouths, then their eyes lit up instantly!

"Oh my! This soup! Absolutely amazing! It feels like it heals me completely!"

"The beef is so tender, it melts in your mouth! It's a completely different experience from our barbecue!"

"The noodles are so chewy! Slurp—"

One girl used too much force, splashing soup onto her face. Her companions burst into laughter, and she blushed with embarrassment, but she just couldn't stop eating.

Second Floor: Cantonese Dim Sum Area – A Delicate and Exquisite Ballet for the Palate
The environment is relatively quiet and elegant, with waiters pushing snack carts around.

An elderly couple, with the help of a translation app, ordered shrimp dumplings, siu mai, and custard buns.

The crystal-clear shrimp dumplings are served, their paper-thin skin encasing the delicate pink shrimp filling.

The old lady carefully picked it up, bit it in half, and inside were two whole, plump, and bouncy shrimp. Sweet, fresh juice burst out, and she covered her mouth in surprise.

"Wow! How can the skin be so thin? The shrimp are so big and fresh!"

The old man, on the other hand, took a fancy to the custard buns; the plump, white buns looked harmless.

He took a bite, and instantly, the golden, steaming hot filling, with its sandy texture of salted egg yolk and milky aroma, burst out with a "plop," almost spilling onto his hand.

He quickly took a sip, his eyes widening in amazement at the sweet and salty, smooth and rich flavor. He nodded repeatedly and said to the waiter in broken Chinese:
"good very good!"

The young couple at the next table showed great interest in the red rice noodle rolls.

The soft, red rice noodle roll wraps around crispy fried dough sticks and tender shrimp. Dipped in special soy sauce, it's soft on the outside and crispy on the inside, offering an incredibly rich and complex texture.

The girl's eyes crinkled into crescents as she ate: "The texture is amazing! It's soft inside and crunchy inside! So delicious!" The boy, meanwhile, was busy taking pictures and posting them on his WeChat Moments to show off.

Third Floor: VIP and Cultural Experience Area
Park Soo-ah and Lee Dae-mi also came, hiding in the VIP room on the third floor.

Park Soo-ah took a small bite of a crab roe shumai, her posture elegant, but her bright eyes revealed her enjoyment.

Li Damei, completely disregarding her image, was happily munching on a "military reclamation hamburger" in her left hand while using a spoon in her right, swaying her head as she ate.
"Waaaaah, Oppa, this burger and this sweet drink are such a perfect match! I want to come here every day from now on!"

Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong watched the exciting scene below from the third floor, listening to the exclamations and praises in various languages, and smiled at each other.

"Old Yang, look at that kid, he eats a hamburger like he's mining."

Ye Yuze pointed downstairs at the young man whose face was covered in sauce from eating.

"Hey, look at that elderly couple, they're eating a custard bun like they're defusing a bomb, so careful yet full of surprise." Yang Geyong couldn't stop laughing.

In the days that followed, "A Bite of China" became an explosive hit throughout South Korea.

The long queues that form at the entrance every day have become a common sight in Myeongdong. Social media is flooded with photos and review videos of people checking in.

"Military reclamation hamburgers", "golden steamed buns", "transparent shrimp dumplings", and "beef noodles the size of a washbasin" have become popular topics.

Jin Ping and Jin Wan frequently visit the store to interact with fans, explaining the culture and stories behind the food, which further boosts the popularity.

South Korean media outlets widely reported on this phenomenal event: "A 'cultural comeback' of Chinese cuisine!"

"A taste revolution brought about by an Oscar-winning actress!"

"From boycott to genuine appreciation? A true story of how Koreans' stomachs were conquered by Chinese cuisine!"

Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong's move cleverly challenged certain narrow-minded perceptions in the most direct and delicious way.

Countless Koreans experienced the profoundness and boundless charm of Chinese food culture for the first time through their taste buds. That wonderful experience derived from the most authentic food was far more powerful than any preaching.

Park Soo-ah and Lee Dae-mi became regulars here, and Ye Yuze's adventures in Korea continued to unfold in this unique "cultural battlefield" filled with the aroma of food.

But seeing the increasingly determined and admiring look in Park Soo-ah's eyes each time she came, the "sweet stone" in Ye Yuze's heart seemed to have sank a little more.

Li Damei was a woman with an excellent business sense. After discussing it with Park Soo-ah, the two of them used all sorts of methods and finally managed to get the two old men to give in.

That means the two of them will invest in turning "A Bite of China" into a chain, opening branches in every city in South Korea.

Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong were unwilling because they found it troublesome.

After all, opening a chain store is a lot of work and effort, and they don't care about the small profits. However, they couldn't resist the two girls' pestering, so they found Jin Wan and her sister.

The two sisters discussed it with their parents, and the matter was settled. They were honest people; without Ye Mao, they wouldn't be where they are today.

Now that the Koreans want to cooperate with them, how could they possibly refuse? Especially since Ye Yuze is the one leading the effort.

Ye Yuze didn't treat the elderly couple unfairly. The agreed-upon terms were that they would provide the technical expertise, while Li Damei and her team would be responsible for the store and its renovation.

In essence, the Jin couple owns half the shares without spending a single penny. They also don't need to worry about Li Damei playing any tricks; at worst, if the cooperation doesn't go well, the Jin couple can simply leave with their people.

This was originally a good thing, but after it was exposed by the public, it stirred up some discordant voices.

Arguments like "Chinese people are trying to subvert Korean culture" and "we must not forget our roots" are starting to circulate again.

Lee Dae-mi, who controlled the Samsung Group, naturally wielded immense power and quickly ascertained the source of the matter. She angrily confronted Ye Yuze and Yang Geyong.

"Several major conglomerates are joining forces to deal with us..."