After the divorce, he took care of his child and sold fried rice; his ex-wife was filled with regret

After hearing this, Li Dayong couldn't help but laugh, pointing to the empty lobby on the first floor and saying:

"Old Xu, isn't your boss Zhao going a bit too far? He's turning down business in this snow, just to treat us to a few bowls of soup?"

"That's right, Lao Xu, I'm not trying to discourage you," Chairman Chen said with a smile, putting his hands in his coat pockets as he walked inside.

"When we come here for spicy tripe, we're fine with the place clearing out. But your boss, Mr. Zhao, who started out making Sichuan and Chongqing hot pot, insists on making clear broth. What kind of business can you possibly succeed at?"

"President Li, Chairman Chen, please put your minds at ease today."

Instead of getting angry, Lao Xu's smile became even more mysterious and confident.

He led the way, his body turned to the side, his voice filled with arrogance.

"When it comes to doing business, it's true that harmony brings wealth."

"Our General Manager Zhao said that today's meal isn't about making money. Once you've tasted our 'Premium Golden Soup,' you'll know whether clearing out the place today was truly worth it!"

"Ha!" Li Dayong chuckled meaningfully upon hearing this.

He turned and exchanged a glance with Chairman Chen, both of them with a hint of amusement in their eyes.

"Alright, Old Xu's bragging is pretty impressive. Well, today I'll see what your General Manager Zhao is really up to!"

Li Dayong rubbed his hands together and strode up the stairs.

Chairman Chen adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and followed behind at a leisurely pace, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The group followed Lao Xu up the steps and went straight to the most luxurious "Shu Han Pavilion" banquet hall on the third floor.

Pushing open the brightly colored, carved mahogany door, the warmth of the room, accompanied by an indescribable fragrance, wafts out.

The hall was brightly lit and decorated, with seven or eight large round mahogany tables set up! On the tables were rows of cloisonné copper charcoal hot pots that were polished to a high shine.

Inside the fire pit, the smokeless fruitwood charcoal was burning bright red, warming the entire room as if it were springtime.

Moreover, at this moment, twenty or thirty prominent business figures from Jiangcheng's business community have already taken their seats in the hall!

Li Dayong looked around at the room full of powerful and wealthy people and the lavish decorations, and couldn't help but laugh:

"Old Chen, look at this! Old Zhao really went all out this time! Clearing out the venue and inviting almost the entire Jiangcheng Chamber of Commerce!"

"Old Zhao is a jealous and proud man. He's been making Sichuan and Chongqing hot pot his whole life, and now he's suddenly turning to make clear broth. It seems like he's pulled out all the stops this time."

"Dayong! Lao Chen! Over here!"

As they were talking, a middle-aged man wearing a mink-collared coat stood up at the largest mahogany round table by the window and waved enthusiastically at them.

That man was Mr. Huang, who ran an import and export business. Sitting at the same table were several big bosses from the High-tech Zone, all of whom were acquaintances.

"Let's go sit over there." Chairman Chen nodded slightly to General Manager Huang and walked over with steady steps.

The waiter hurried over, respectfully took the coats the group had taken off, and carefully hung them on the mahogany coat rack next to them.

After everyone was seated, Mr. Huang smiled and poured them hot tea.

Li Dayong picked up his teacup, took a sip, and exhaled a puff of hot air: "Old Huang, how come you, such a busy man, managed to make time to come today? Usually at this time, aren't you in your weekly meeting at the company?"

"Hey, don't even mention it." General Manager Huang shook his head, a helpless yet amused expression on his face. "I just flew back to Jiangcheng from Guangcheng today, and before my feet even landed, Secretary Zhao was already waiting for me at the airport exit with this gold-embossed invitation."

"I didn't even go home, my luggage is still in the trunk of the car, I came straight here."

Mr. Liu, who was sitting at the same table, chimed in with a smile:

"Who says otherwise? I had a project scheduled for this afternoon, but then I got a call from Lao Zhao who insisted on inviting everyone to taste some kind of 'Premium Three Delicacies Matsutake Golden Soup'."

"I was immediately puzzled. When did Old Zhao, that tough ox, switch to making clear soup?"

"Old Zhao's skills are unparalleled, so I deliberately postponed my afternoon meeting until tomorrow and came here specifically to join in the fun."

"Joining in the fun?" After hearing this, Li Dayong couldn't help but slap his thigh and burst into laughter. He lowered his voice and leaned forward.

"Old Huang, Old Liu, you two have been busy flying all over the world lately, you probably don't know what exactly triggered Old Zhao's stubborn mule, do you?"

"Stimulated? Stimulated by what?" General Manager Huang and General Manager Liu exchanged a glance, their faces full of gossipy curiosity.

Mr. Qian, who was standing to the side, held his teacup, blew on the tea leaves, and shook his head with a light laugh: "What else could it be? They were pushed to the limit by a restaurant on Jin Street."

"Da Yong casually mentioned a few days ago that his beef tallow hot pot broth was 'smoky' and sure enough, Lao Zhao vented all his anger on today's clear soup."

"A restaurant on Jin Street? They could drive a century-old establishment like Shuweitang to this point?" General Manager Liu's eyes widened in shock. "How amazing is their clear broth?"

"It's more than just amazing..." Li Dayong was about to start praising Boss Lin's "clear water lamb" that could cleanse one's bones and marrow.

Just then, the double mahogany doors of the grand banquet hall were pushed open forcefully from the outside.

"Hahaha! Da Yong, Lao Qian! Talking behind my back like this isn't your style!"

A loud, energetic laugh rang out.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Zhao Chengming, dressed in a dark red, high-end brocade Tang suit, striding confidently across the threshold.

He had clearly taken great care of himself today; his hair was combed meticulously, and although there were faint bloodshot eyes from staying up all night, he exuded an arrogant and energetic spirit.

Following behind him was Lao Chen, the executive chef of Shuweitang, and two rows of young female waitresses wearing cheongsams with slits and carrying exquisite trays.

The buzzing conversation in the hall instantly fell silent, and all the business tycoons' eyes were focused on Zhao Chengming.

"Oh, the main character has arrived!" Li Dayong leaned back in his mahogany chair, looking at him with a half-smile.

"Old Zhao, with this entourage, anyone who didn't know better would think you were about to ascend the throne! All this secrecy! Hurry up and bring out your so-called 'Supreme Golden Soup' so we can see it!"

As soon as Li Dayong spoke up, General Manager Huang, who was sitting at the same table, also slapped the table and pointed at Zhao Chengming, half-jokingly and half-complainingly, shouting:

"That's right, Lao Zhao! I didn't even go home after getting off the plane just to eat this meal with you; my luggage is still frozen in the trunk of my car!"

"I even turned down a project to come here today! Old Zhao, everyone braved this blizzard to come, that's giving Shuweitang a lot of face!"

"If you haven't hidden some magic pill in your gourd today, and you dare to trick us all into coming here, we won't let you off the hook later!"