Chapter 8 Three Things to Be Done

As soon as Ning Yongqiang spoke, the five men were instantly stunned, exchanging bewildered glances, at a complete loss. Luo Wannian was also startled, and hurriedly pleaded on their behalf.

But Ning Yongqiang was in a fit of anger and refused to listen to any of Luo Wannian’s persuasion.

Xu Mo remained silent, wandering about the kitchen, glancing here and there with intense curiosity.

After making a few rounds, Xu Mo noticed something odd—there wasn’t a single iron wok in this kitchen. Combining this observation with his predecessor’s memories, he quickly understood why: in this era, iron woks hadn’t yet been invented. The daily cooking methods were limited to stewing or roasting; stir-frying simply didn’t exist.

Xu Mo was overjoyed at this realization. If he could invent the iron wok and teach them the art of stir-frying, then victory in the wager would be all but guaranteed!

“All right, enough! Can everyone stop arguing?” Xu Mo suddenly called out loudly, cutting off Ning Yongqiang mid-rage.

Xu Mo turned to Ning Yongqiang. “Young Master Ning, tell me—do you still want to win?”

“Of course I do!” Ning Yongqiang retorted at once.

“Then don’t start firing people at a time like this,” Xu Mo replied. “Young Master Ning, the next month will be incredibly busy for Zhenxiu House. If you dismiss your staff now and end up losing the wager because there’s no one left to work, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself!”

Hearing the possibility of losing the wager, Ning Yongqiang immediately regained his composure and fell silent.

Xu Mo asked, “Which one of you is the head chef?”

Luo Wannian pointed to a plump cook. “Mr. Xu, this is our head chef, Lu Bingding.”

The head chef stepped forward at once, bowing slightly and smiling obsequiously. “Mr. Xu, that would be me.”

Xu Mo nodded, then turned to Ning Yongqiang. “Young Master Ning, I’m not yet familiar with the flavors of Zhenxiu House’s dishes. Would it be possible for Chef Lu to prepare a few of his specialties for lunch?”

“Of course!” Ning Yongqiang replied without hesitation. He turned to Lu Bingding, his expression stern. “Lu Bingding, I’m warning you—show me your very best skills, or you’re out! Understood?”

“Yes, sir! I understand!” Lu Bingding replied, nodding furiously in fright.

Xu Mo smiled at Ning Yongqiang. “Young Master Ning, I believe I have a good grasp of the situation now. Perhaps we should find somewhere to talk in peace?”

“Very well, let’s go upstairs,” Ning Yongqiang agreed at once.

As he left, Ning Yongqiang shot Luo Wannian a fierce glare. “If I catch them slacking off again, I’ll dismiss you as well!”

“No, of course not… Safe travels, Young Master,” Luo Wannian replied with a cautious smile.

The moment Ning Yongqiang left, Luo Wannian’s expression changed entirely.

The next moment, Luo Wannian’s scolding echoed through the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Xu Mo and Ning Yongqiang made their way to a private room on the second floor.

No sooner had they entered than Ning Yongqiang couldn’t help but ask, “Xu Mo, have you already figured out a way to win?”

Xu Mo strolled leisurely to the window, taking in the view with unhurried leisure. “Indeed, given Zhenxiu House’s current situation, I’ve thought of several methods…”

Ning Yongqiang’s eyes lit up with anticipation. “What are they? Tell me!”

Xu Mo turned around slowly. “Young Master Ning, as I see it, your establishment has much to recommend it—the location is excellent, there’s plenty of foot traffic, and the dining environment is quite comfortable…”

“Exactly!” Ning Yongqiang’s chin shot up proudly. “You don’t know what I went through to set up this restaurant—the worry, the effort! Every single thing, inside and out, is the best and most expensive money can buy! I’m not exaggerating when I say there are few places in Xincheng that can compare. But for some reason, the customers just won’t come in. It’s driving me mad!”

Ning Yongqiang poured out his complaints in a torrent, barely giving Xu Mo a chance to interject.

When he finally finished, Xu Mo said, “Young Master Ning, I do have a way to draw customers in.”

“Truly?” Ning Yongqiang asked excitedly.

“Truly,” Xu Mo nodded. “But from now on, you must do exactly as I say. Whatever I ask you to prepare, you prepare it. Everything is to follow my arrangements.”

Ning Yongqiang’s face was eager and determined. “As long as you can help me defeat Wang Shunyang, I’ll do whatever you say!”

Xu Mo nodded in satisfaction, then grew serious. “Young Master Ning, we must focus on three things.”

“What three things?” Ning Yongqiang asked.

Xu Mo held up one finger. “First, attract customers and bring them in to dine at Zhenxiu House…”

“Second, retain those customers and turn them into regulars.”

“And third—most important of all—innovation. We must develop new dishes!”

Ning Yongqiang was about to ask for details, but Xu Mo raised a hand to forestall him.

“No need to worry, Young Master. Let me explain each one in turn…”

Time slipped by as Xu Mo spoke for more than half an hour.

He paused to sip water and moisten his throat. “Young Master Ning, let us try these methods for now. If the results aren’t satisfactory, we can always make adjustments.”

Ning Yongqiang was visibly moved, nodding vigorously. “Good!”

The next moment, he couldn’t help but praise, “Mr. Xu, you are truly a man of talent! Your ideas are simply brilliant! How did you ever come up with them?”

At this moment, Ning Yongqiang was completely convinced by Xu Mo and even addressed him differently.

Xu Mo replied calmly, “Young Master Ning, don’t celebrate too soon. Nothing has been put into practice yet—how can you be so sure my ideas will work?”

“They’ll work! I’m sure they will!” Ning Yongqiang was already picturing Wang Shunyang standing atop the city gate in defeat.

After chatting for a while longer, Xu Mo said, “Young Master Ning, it’s nearly noon. May I borrow your carriage to fetch my wife for lunch?”

“Of course!” Ning Yongqiang readily agreed, striding out of the room and loudly instructing the servants to prepare the carriage.

———

Jiming Lane, the Xu family home.

Chen Miaoyi was busy building a chicken coop in the courtyard when the gate suddenly swung open.

She turned to see Xu Mo entering.

“My husband, why are you back so soon?” she asked.

Xu Mo replied, “Miaoyi, didn’t I say this morning I’d treat you to a grand meal? Let’s go…”

“We’re really going?” Chen Miaoyi was surprised, hardly expecting Xu Mo to be serious.

After a brief daze, she asked, “But husband, do you even have the money?”

Xu Mo smiled. “Don’t worry, it’s someone else’s treat—not a penny out of our pockets.”

With that, he took the things from her hands, set them aside, and led her out the gate.

“Wait, husband, I haven’t locked up! Things might get stolen.” She hurried back to the door.

“What is there to steal? We don’t have anything of value,” Xu Mo said.

“How can you say that? Didn’t you bring home a hen just yesterday? It even laid an egg this morning,” Chen Miaoyi replied earnestly.

Xu Mo couldn’t help but laugh. “All right, all right, it counts. Go lock the door.”

Once she’d locked up, Xu Mo led her toward Ning Yongqiang’s carriage.

Chen Miaoyi was quietly astounded. “Husband, why would Young Master Ning send a carriage to fetch us?”

Xu Mo glanced at her, responding solemnly, “You are my wife—shouldn’t a carriage be sent to bring you?”

Chen Miaoyi said nothing, but in that moment, she felt, deep inside, what it meant to be cherished.