I've been possessed by a culinary genius, and I've turned Shaxian snacks into a rip-off!

As soon as Huo Wang entered the room, he sensed that something was off.

There was a group of people standing in the shop, all blinking their eyes incessantly, which looked very strange.

Is this some kind of new social phenomenon? Coming to eat without speaking, communicating only with eye contact?

Or is there some rule in this store that you can't talk once you enter?

He looked around but couldn't find such an announcement.

Huo Wang couldn't understand what these young people were doing, so he turned off the radio and found an empty seat a little further away.

"Young man, I'm here again."

Li Zhibai immediately went to greet him, showing great enthusiasm.

Here it comes!

His golden legend!

His number one sucker... no, his number one VIP customer!

"Welcome, welcome!"

As Li Zhibai poured water for the old man, he asked him with concern, "Grandpa, how's your leg today? Is it still sore? Did you sleep well last night? How are you feeling today? Are you able to eat eight bowls of rice?"

Huo Wang: "......."

The first few sentences were quite enthusiastic and normal, but the last sentence just sounded so strange.

"I'm fine, everything's alright, I slept well last night."

"Please get me something to eat. This old man has been thinking about it since this morning."

"Any recommendations for today?"

Li Zhibai immediately started recommending the activities that were being held that day to him.

"Sir, you've come at the perfect time! Our store is launching a major promotion today..."

He explained the rules of the Bodhi Jade Pavilion Supreme Appreciation Meeting to Huo Wang in detail from beginning to end.

Huo Wang did indeed show interest after listening.

"Can you really make any dish?"

"I can make any dish!" Li Zhibai said confidently. "As long as you can name it, I can make it. I'm not bragging, but in the whole of Jiangcheng, or even the whole of China, there may be people who cook better than me, but there is absolutely no one who dares to take on custom orders more than me."

Huo Wang: "Young man, you've got quite the nerve. Let me ask you, can you even cook simple home-style dishes?"

Li Zhibai nodded: "Of course!"

Huo Wang: "Where's the braised pork?"

Li Zhibai was overjoyed to hear this; the key word he had been waiting for all day had finally come out of the old man's mouth.

"Of course you can make braised pork belly too."

"But if I may be frank, everyone has a different taste when it comes to braised pork. Some people like it sweet, some like it savory... it's all very different. So, sir, if you want me to make braised pork, you have to tell me what kind of braised pork you want, such as which region's style it is from? Is it sweet or savory? Are there any special considerations?"

Huo Wang pondered for a moment, seemingly recalling the taste.

After a moment, he suddenly laughed and said, "Young man, do you think I'm an old man who's easy to fool?"

"Last night you asked me what my favorite food was, and I said braised pork belly. Today you've come up with an event where you can customize dishes. Can you believe the coincidence?"

"You set this up specifically for me, didn't you?"

Li Zhibai: "..."

Holy crap! This old man must be some kind of genius!

How could you tell that?

"Sir, what you're saying is so unfair! I'm completely innocent!"

"My business philosophy, Li Zhibai, is based on honesty and integrity. I've been dealing with all customers, young and old, without any deception. I planned this event yesterday and just put up the sign this morning. How could it be something I prepared specifically for you? Besides, this event is open to all customers; anyone can participate. It's not just for you."

"real?"

"Of course it's true, sir. If you don't believe me, you can ask those people over there. They're all regular customers and know what kind of person I am. My one good point, Li Zhibai, is honesty!"

Huo Wang glanced at the group of young people eavesdropping on their conversation and thought to himself: These people don't seem to be quite right in the head either, I probably won't get anything out of them.

"Okay, then I won't participate in this event."

Li Zhibai: "..."

No, sir, why aren't you following the rules?

Shouldn't the normal scenario be that after I explain the event rules, you immediately slam your fist on the table and demand the customization rights?

Don't you want to eat braised pork anymore?

"Grandpa, please don't! It would be such a waste if you didn't participate in such a great event! Don't you want to eat braised pork? If you miss this opportunity, where will you find someone to make braised pork to your own taste?"

Since opening, this is the first time he has encountered a worthy opponent, a legendary old man with a silver tongue who is unyielding.

Huo Wang thought for a moment and then proposed a condition: "If you really want me to participate, you have to guarantee me a full refund if I'm not satisfied."

In truth, he didn't really believe that Li Zhibai could recreate the taste he remembered. The young man's cooking was indeed delicious, and his skills were excellent, but good skills don't mean that everything can be made delicious.

Don't many famous chefs have their own areas of expertise?

For example, a chef who makes Cantonese cuisine may not be good at Sichuan cuisine, a chef who makes pastries may not be good at traditional Chinese dishes, not to mention the differences between northern and southern cuisines.

The owner of this small restaurant makes really delicious Shaxian snacks, but there isn't a single dish on the menu that can be considered a real dish; apart from soups, it's all staple food.

This most likely indicates that these are his strengths, and it's hard to say what he's good at outside of that range.

So he deliberately made this condition, hoping to discourage the young man from trying to rip off this old man.

He's not like those young people who are prone to impulsive spending.

Li Zhibai was stunned for a moment.

Full refund if not satisfied?

This was the first time he'd been asked to make such a guarantee since he opened his shop. Did the old man really not trust him?

Fortunately, he had absolute confidence in his cooking skills. With god-level culinary skills, how could he not recreate a braised pork dish?

"Alright, sir, I'll make a guarantee!"

Li Zhibai took out a notebook and pen from his apron pocket and started writing rapidly.

[I have received Mr. Huo Wang's reservation for participation in the Bodhi Jade Pavilion Supreme Tasting Event. I solemnly promise that if the dishes ultimately prepared for Mr. Huo Wang fail to satisfy him, the full amount already received will be refunded. This is hereby written as proof. — Li Zhibai]

After writing it down, he tore off the note and handed it to Huo Wang: "Sir, this is written in black and white, please keep it safe! If you are not satisfied with the food I made, bring this note to me and I will refund you every penny."

Huo Wang was truly surprised.

He just said it casually, wanting to deliberately make things difficult for the small business owner and let him know that he wasn't so easy to rip off.

Who knew this guy would actually take it seriously and write him a guarantee.

Huo Wang picked up the note and read it carefully. Then he looked at Li Zhibai again. The kid didn't have a guilty look on his face at all. Instead, he was very confident.

Is this kid really confident he can make the braised pork he wants to eat?

impossible.

In his memory, only his wife could make that braised pork. It wasn't because of any special recipe or secret formula, but because of that indescribable "perfect taste."

In the 11 years since my husband passed away.

He searched for countless restaurants by himself, trying all sorts of dishes, from local braised pork to Dongpo pork... sweet, salty, spicy, and savory, but none of them could remind him of the braised pork his wife used to make.

He stopped looking for it after that. Perhaps some flavors are destined to exist only in memories, and cannot be forced.

But this young boss in front of him, a greenhorn in his early twenties, actually dared to boast that he could make the braised pork he wanted.

That's quite confident of them.

Now that things have come to this point, if he doesn't participate, it would make him look like an old man afraid of a young upstart.

"Alright, young man, you have guts."

Huo Wang folded the note and put it in his pocket: "Then give me one...two of that Jade Pavilion thing."

As he gets older, his appetite isn't what it used to be; two servings of fried rice with eggs are about his limit.

"Alright! Two deluxe versions of Bodhi Jade Vegetarian Cuisine, I'll make them for you right away!" Li Zhibai went straight to the kitchen to get started.

.............

Meanwhile, Yu Shen and his group eavesdropped on Li Zhibai and Huo Wang's conversation the entire time.

Upon seeing Li Zhibai enter the kitchen, Yu Shen immediately walked over to Huo Wang, and said with great distress:

"Sir! You're confused!"

Huo Wang: "???"

Young man, are you being polite?

"Sir, I'll tell you something in secret..."

Yu Shen sat down on the chair next to him and recounted all the tricks Li Zhibai had used.

As Huo Wang listened, he gradually understood.

It turns out that these young people are regulars at this store and are used to being ripped off by the owner. They were exchanging glances just now, trying to collectively boycott the new promotion.

After discussing it for a long time without reaching a conclusion, this unsuspecting new customer ordered two portions, directly disrupting their balance.

Huo Wang glanced at Yu Shen, then at the young people over there, thinking to himself that these kids were quite interesting, making a meal out of nothing like Infernal Affairs.

"Young man, I know you mean well, but the boss just gave me a written agreement. Do you think I'm going to be scammed?"

"If he really dares to lie to me, I'll lie down at his doorstep tomorrow. I'm a retired old man; I have plenty of time to waste on him."

Yu Shen: "..."

I didn't realize this old man was such a ruthless guy.

"How about this, you guys don't need to participate in the activity. Let me order by myself. Consider it an old man taking a loss and letting you young people learn a lesson."

Upon hearing this, the expressions on Yu Shen and the others' faces instantly became quite interesting.

We kindly advised you, sir, not to be fooled, but you're playing tricks on us!