71: Chapter 71 Food is the Heavenly Basis for Business Opening

"Dong dong qiang! Dong dong qiang!"

Rapid and cheerful sounds of gongs and drums broke the tranquility of the early morning.

On the open ground in front of the Min Shi Wei Tian Ancient City flagship store, two colorful Southern Lions were leaping and dancing to the beat of the drums. One was a "colored lion" representing Liu Bei, symbolizing benevolence and righteousness; the other was a "red lion" representing Guan Yu, symbolizing loyalty and righteousness.

The lion dance masters were all experts Xia Xiaotang had specially invited from Guangdong Province. The lions would blink playfully one moment and shake their fur majestically the next. In particular, the highly difficult "plucking the greens" routine drew bursts of applause from the onlookers.

"Great! Wonderful!"

"These lions are so lifelike, they really have Spirit!"

"It's been so long since I've seen such authentic lion dancing in the Ancient City!"

Both sides of the street were already packed to the brim with citizens and tourists who had heard the news. Everyone held up their phones, snapping photos of the two lions furiously.

"Have you heard? For the store's opening today, they invited the Lion King of Guangdong Province!"

"Exactly! Look over there, so many luxury cars have arrived. All of them have license plates with repeating '6's and '8's. They must be really big shots!"

A black Maybach S680 slowly pulled up to the curb, followed by a second, a third... a total of five identical black luxury cars lined up like a black dragon along the street. Then, the roar of ten sports cars approached from afar, parking neatly at the end of the street.

The car doors opened, and two groups of people stepped out first.

The one on the left wore a flashy bright blue suit, rolling a pair of walnuts in his hand with an arrogant, invincible expression—it was none other than the eldest young master of the Zhao family, Young Master Zhao Tianyu.

The one on the right wore gold-rimmed glasses, a sophisticated three-piece suit, and held a walking cane. He looked like a refined scoundrel—it was none other than the second young master of the Liu family, Liu Mingxuan.

These were Lin Yu's "left and right hands", the two great guardians of the Young Masters Group.

"Tsk, so this is Sister-in-law Xiaotang's shop?" Young Master Zhao Tianyu took off his sunglasses and sized up the antique-style building in front of him. "It looks quite classy, much better than those clubs."

"Of course. How could a woman our boss set his eyes on be anything less than extraordinary?" Liu Mingxuan pushed up his glasses and spoke in a flat tone. "We have to hold down the fort today. The boss said he's here incognito today. If we dare cause any trouble for him, we'll all get thrashed when we get back."

"Don't worry!" Young Master Zhao Tianyu stuffed the walnuts into his pocket and waved his hand. "I've already arranged for the boys. Today in this Ancient City, whoever dares to make trouble is slapping our Junlin Capital right in the face!"

...

10:00 AM, inside the restaurant.

Xia Xiaotang, dressed in a modified pink qipao, was pacing back and forth nervously in the lobby.

"Sister Xiaotang, Director Zhang's car has arrived!"

"Sister Xiaotang, President Wang and the Local Elder, Elder Liu, have also arrived!"

"Quick! Please show them in!" Xia Xiaotang took a deep breath and straightened her dress. "Hostesses, get into position! Is the tea ready? That's the special Pre-rain Longjing tea for Elder Liu, the water temperature shouldn't be too high!"

Just then, a commotion came from the entrance.

"The boss is here! President Wang Ya is here too!"

Xia Xiaotang suddenly looked up to see Lin Yu wearing a dark gray casual suit without a tie, looking very relaxed. Accompanying him was President Wang Ya, the president of Junlin Capital, dressed in a black business suit, her powerful aura fully unleashed like a queen about to ascend the throne. Fatty, Su Manqin, and Vice President Liu Qingyan followed closely behind.

"Mr. Lin! President Wang Ya!" the employees bowed in unison.

Lin Yu waved his hand to tell everyone to carry on, then walked over to Xia Xiaotang, gently patting the back of her hand. "Don't be nervous. Today, you are the protagonist, and I am just family."

He turned to look at the Young Masters Group who were "holding down the fort" at the entrance, and waved them over. "Young Master Zhao Tianyu, Liu Mingxuan, keep a good guard at the door with your men. Today's guests are all VIPs, so help host them."

"You got it! Boss, rest assured!" Young Master Zhao Tianyu gave a salute and led his men to guard the entrance. Their posture was even more professional than actual professional bodyguards.

At 10:28 AM, the auspicious hour arrived.

The grand opening ceremony officially began.

President Wang Ya took the microphone from the master of ceremonies and stepped onto the stage. She pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses and scanned the crowd, and the noisy crowd instantly fell silent.

"Distinguished guests, dear friends, good morning."

President Wang Ya's voice was cold yet powerful, carrying an unquestionable authority. "I am President Wang Ya, President of Junlin Capital. Today, I am deeply honored to stand here and witness the grand opening of the Min Shi Wei Tian Ancient City flagship store."

"In the business world, we usually talk about returns on investment and growth rates. But at Min Shi Wei Tian, we talk about the 'original intention'."

President Wang Ya turned slightly, looking at Lin Yu and Xia Xiaotang below the stage, a hint of softness appearing in her eyes. "Mr. Lin Yu often says that the hustle and bustle of the human world is what comforts the ordinary heart most. This restaurant is not just a catering brand, but also a reflection of his deep affection for this city. And Ms. Xia Xiaotang, with her professionalism and dedication, has turned this sentiment into reality."

"Junlin Capital's investment in Min Shi Wei Tian is not just for its commercial value, but also for the reverence for ingredients behind it. I believe that under the leadership of General Manager Xia, Min Shi Wei Tian will surely become a culinary landmark of Ze City!"

"Next, let us welcome the founder of Min Shi Wei Tian, Ms. Xia Xiaotang, to deliver her speech!"

Thunderous applause erupted below the stage.

With rimmed-red eyes, Xia Xiaotang walked onto the stage and took the microphone handed to her by President Wang Ya.

"Thank you, President Wang Ya, and thank you, everyone." Her voice trembled slightly but was full of strength. "For Min Shi Wei Tian to reach this point today, it could not have been done without the support of Junlin Capital and the help of everyone present here. Today, I, Xia Xiaotang, promise everyone: as long as I am here, Min Shi Wei Tian will never use overnight dishes, never use gutter oil, never substitute quality with substandard goods, and never hang a sheep's head to sell dog meat! What we want to be is a flagship banner of Ze City's catering industry!"

"Good! Well said!" Local Elder Liu clapped his thigh excitedly below the stage. "This is what a conscientious restaurant should be!"

Meanwhile, Mr. Xia, dressed in a chef's uniform, was even more emotional, his eyes red as he clapped with all his might.

At 11:08 AM, the ribbon-cutting ceremony began.

Lin Yu did not stand in the center stage, but instead stepped back to the side. The center positions were reserved for Director Zhang of the subdistrict, President Wang of the Chamber of Commerce, Local Elder Liu, as well as Xia Xiaotang and President Wang Ya.

"Would the leaders and distinguished guests please cut the ribbon!"

At the master of ceremonies' command, the golden scissors snipped, and colorful ribbons fluttered down.

At the same time, the eighteen-gun salute that had been prepared long ago fired in unison!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The deafening sounds of the salute echoed over the Ancient City, startling a flock of birds. Ribbons and confetti cannons filled the sky, pushing the atmosphere of the venue to its absolute climax.

"The ceremony is complete! Leaders, please take your seats!"

At 12:00 PM, the banquet began.

As the heavy carved wooden doors slowly pushed open, the sight inside the private room made everyone's eyes light up.

There was none of that gaudy, glittering gold; instead, it was replaced by an elegant Chinese aesthetic.

The most eye-catching part was the waitresses weaving through the tables.

They had changed into a new outfit with a powerful visual impact—the upper body was a crisp white Chinese stand-collar shirt, buttoned all the way to the collar, looking rigorous and capable; the lower body was a gold-woven horse-face skirt.

The horse-face skirts were not gaudy red or green, but instead featured a serene combination of "sky blue" and "moon white", with delicate "summer lotus" patterns embroidered on the front panel. As they walked, the hems swayed gently, and the unique pleats of the horse-face skirts fanned out like accordion folds, possessing both the dignified elegance of Ming-style Hanfu and the crispness of modern professional wear.

"Oh, this outfit is quite interesting." President Wang picked up his teacup, his eyes following a waitress who was pouring tea. "This white shirt paired with a horse-face skirt looks refreshing and carries a scholarly air. Xiaotang, your aesthetic taste is absolutely superb!"

"President Wang has a great eye." Xia Xiaotang introduced with a smile, "This is the uniform we specially designed. White represents 'purity', and the horse-face skirt represents 'heritage'. We want our guests to also feel the beauty of Chinese clothing etiquette while dining."

"Great! Truly cultured!" Local Elder Liu nodded repeatedly. "This looks much better than those suits that show off arms and legs!"

...

The first dish: "Moonlight over the Lotus Pond."

When the waitress walked into the private room carrying a huge lotus-leaf-shaped platter, everyone's eyes lit up.

"Oh, this plating is quite interesting." President Wang picked up his chopsticks. "Are these lotus root tips? They look so tender."

"Please try some, President Wang." Xia Xiaotang introduced from the side, "These were just harvested from our base this morning. Paired with fresh lotus seed pods and water caltrops, they are refreshing and palate-cleansing."

President Wang picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. His eyes instantly lit up. "Crisp! Sweet! So fresh! I give this dish a perfect score!"

Immediately after was the second dish: "Grain in Ear · White Jade Shrimp."

The green and white asparagus and lily bulbs complemented the translucent shrimp balls, making it look like a piece of art.

"These shrimp balls are bouncy, and the asparagus is so tender," Director Zhang praised endlessly. "Xiaotang, your culinary skills are much better than those of five-star chefs!"

...

Now came the highlight.

"Serve the main course! 'Beginning of Summer · Braised Pork Belly'!"

Following a shout, four waitresses wearing horse-face skirts walked in, carrying a huge clay pot in pairs of two.

"This is..." Elder Liu leaned in curiously.

The waitress gracefully lifted the lid.

"Boom—"

A rich aroma of meat instantly exploded, like a flavor bomb detonating inside the private room.

Inside the clay pot, square pieces of braised pork belly, glistening with a bright red glaze, were piled on top of each other, trembling slightly. The texture on the pork skin was clearly visible, as if it were still vibrating slightly.

"Smells so good!" Fatty, smelling the aroma from the doorway, couldn't hold back. "Old Lin, this braised pork belly is absolutely incredible!"

Sitting in the corner, Lin Yu smiled and picked up a piece, placing it in Xia Xiaotang's bowl. "Have a taste. This is the fruit of your labor today."

Xia Xiaotang picked up a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.

It was soft, sweet, melt-in-the-mouth, and rich without being greasy.

It was the taste of time, and also the taste of craftsmanship.

At this moment, everyone else in the private room was also completely won over by this piece of braised pork belly.

"Delicious! Too delicious!" Director Zhang said indistinctly while eating, "This pork skin is so chewy and soft that I want to swallow it whole! This taste is even more authentic than what I had at Lou Wai Lou in Hangzhou!"

"Yes, indeed," President Wang also praised endlessly. "This braised pork belly has a bright red color, a fragrant aroma, melts in the mouth, and leaves a lingering aftertaste. Xiaotang, this dish must be given an award!"

"What award?" Elder Liu asked with a smile.

"'Ze City's Number One Braised Pork Belly'!" President Wang said loudly, "I cast my vote for it!"

"Me too!"

"I vote for it too!"

A chorus of applause and cheers erupted in the private room.

Looking at the satisfied, smiling faces of her guests, Xia Xiaotang's eyes welled up with tears once again.

She knew she had waited a long time for this moment.

"Thank you, everyone. Thank you," Xia Xiaotang said with a sob. "As long as everyone likes it, all my hard work was worth it."

Lin Yu reached out and gently squeezed Xia Xiaotang's hand under the table.

"You did great," he whispered in her ear. "This is just the beginning. We will do even better in the future."

Xia Xiaotang squeezed Lin Yu's hand back and nodded vigorously.

As dish after dish was served, the atmosphere in the private room grew warmer and warmer. Everyone was full of praise, and in their joy, they inevitably drank a bit too much...

1:30 PM.

The leftovers on the table had been quietly cleared away by the waitresses, replaced by steaming hot towels and refreshing fruit platters.

"*Burp—*"

A loud and long burp broke the somewhat lazy silence in the private room.

Local Elder Liu leaned back in his chair, his face flushed and his eyes a bit dazed. He patted his slightly protruding belly and sighed with satisfaction, "I can't do it anymore, I'm really getting old. If this were my younger days, I could have polished off half a pot of this braised pork belly all by myself!"

"Elder Liu, you've still got it!" Young Master Zhao Tianyu flattered from the side. He was also red-faced, his tie loosened sloppily, and he swirled half a glass of red wine in his hand. "Look at your complexion, it's even rosier than that braised pork belly!"

"Go on, you little brat, making fun of an old man." Elder Liu laughed and scolded, but he was clearly in an excellent mood.

President Wang of the Chamber of Commerce had also drunk quite a bit. Holding Xia Xiaotang's hand, he said with a slurred tongue, "Xia... Xiaotang, in the past... Uncle Wang underestimated you. I didn't expect your culinary skills to be... tsk tsk. From now on, Min Shi Wei Tian will be the designated cafeteria of our Ze City Chamber of Commerce! Whoever dares to disrespect you is picking a fight with me, Wang!"

"Thank you, Uncle Wang, thank you, President Wang." Xia Xiaotang wore a polite smile on her face. Although she had also had a few drinks, she felt more excitement and exhaustion right now. "Please come often in the future, and I'll make whatever you want to eat."

Director Zhang waved his hand, then turned to Xia Xiaotang. "Xiaotang, about... that recipe for the braised pork belly earlier, could you... hehe, write a copy for me? I want to take it back and let my wife try making it."

"Director Zhang, there is no written recipe, but whenever you want to eat it in the future, just come over anytime, and I'll make it for you myself!" Xia Xiaotang agreed readily.

"Good! Good! Good!" Director Zhang said "good" three times. "Then we'll head back first and stop holding up your work. Tonight... you still have to open for business, haha!"

...

At 3:00 PM, sunlight poured into the car through the windows, and the air was filled with a faint scent of leather.

A black rolls-royce phantom drove smoothly along Ze City's Riverside Avenue, finally entering the high-end residential complex—the Jiangshanyin Residential Complex.