Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Delicacies from the Mountains and Seas

Old Man Lian took another bite of the crab. The crab roe was full. Old Man Lian took a bite of the crab. The freshness of the crab and the aroma of the wine lees filled his mouth at the same time.

The old man sighed with satisfaction: "The crab is delicious too."

Old Man Lian said, "Your braised food is delicious. We can sign a contract. Besides these, there are many other seafood that can be braised."

"But don't worry. I'll put these two dishes on the shelves first. If the diners respond well, we can develop new dishes together later. Of course, I'll also purchase some of your braised chicken and chicken feet."

Although Old Man Lian’s shop mainly sells seafood, it actually has other dishes as well. He was quite satisfied with the braised chicken and braised chicken feet, so he decided to purchase these two.

Jiang Xi: "Sure. Actually, we have a partnership with the Shiquan Hotel. We will launch a braised platter based on the hotel's needs. Later, we can also launch a braised platter based on your needs. It's actually better to mix seafood and meat. We can launch a braised platter with delicacies from land and sea."

Jiang Xi made a suggestion, and Old Man Lian's eyes lit up. He said, "That's a good idea, but everything still depends on the actual implementation. I'll launch these two dishes first and see how the diners respond."

Old Man Lian is a practical man. Although he is tempted, he will not make a decision in a hurry. After all, what he values ​​most about his restaurant is word of mouth. Even if he is satisfied with the dishes, he still needs to get positive feedback from diners before he will take the next step.

Jiang Xi could understand, and she also respected Old Man Lian's cautious attitude, so the two of them signed the contract readily.

Jiang Xi closed the contract and said, "Thank you for your trust. Actually, I came to you because of Boss Wu's introduction."

The old man was surprised: "You know Wu Li?"

Jiang Xi: "Yes, we at Wu Ji Zao Lu also have a partnership with Boss Wu. Boss Wu gave me your contact information."

Old Man Lian is very familiar with Wu Li. He has practically watched her grow up. He is also a good friend of Wu Li's aunt. "Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Jiang Xi: "I don't want this relationship to affect your judgment, and I don't want to use it to gain anything. We can reach a cooperation because you sincerely think our zao lu is good. The same is true for Wu Ji Zao Lu. We want to impress our partners with quality, not these relationships."

Old Man Lian stared at Jiang Xi for a few seconds, then smiled and said, "Young man, you are great. I feel very confident in working with you. With your attitude, our business will definitely grow bigger in the future."

"I've been in business for over a decade, and I've seen all kinds of people: those who soar to the top, those who think they're better than others, and all sorts of people."

"But some of these people experienced success and then disappointment, while others started out doing well but quickly went bankrupt. The reason is that they didn't have a good foundation and didn't do their job well. Instead, they resorted to crooked ways and took shortcuts."

"Taking shortcuts is the worst thing to do. Don't treat customers like fools. My customers can tell if the seafood was blanched for a few seconds longer. If you try to fool them, they will stay away from you. This is my experience in doing business for so many years. Don't think I'm being nagging."

Jiang Xi smiled and said, "Of course I can. I'm very grateful that you can teach me these things. I will also run Wu Wu Ji Zao Lu well, stick to the quality, and will never take shortcuts or use those crooked methods."

Old man Lian looked at Jiang Xi with a smile. Jiang Xi was so young and so energetic. He recalled himself in the past.

At that time, he was still a young boy. The first time he ate seafood at the beach, he was amazed that there were such delicious foods in the world. He vowed to open a restaurant, gathering seafood from all over the world so that everyone could taste this delicious taste.

Over the years, the difficulties they have experienced are unimaginable. Even the old man has persisted for so many years. Now that good times have come, China has opened up, and the restaurant that was forced to close has reopened, and those familiar diners have returned.

Old Man Lian cherishes every day very much. Being able to run a good business and serve this bowl of sweet food to diners makes him very satisfied. As for the future, Old Man Lian dare not and does not want to think about it.

When Jiang Xi and Qian Lili walked out of the hotel, the sun had just risen, shining on the entire earth, making the earth full of hope.

Jiang Xi took a deep breath, and his tiredness was swept away. Signing the contract with Old Man Lian was the first step for Wu Ji Zao Lu to enter the mainstream restaurant market, and it was also a good start. With this beginning, Wu Ji Zao Lu would definitely be able to open up the restaurant market in the future.

Qian Lili yawned again and twisted her neck: "Jiang Xi, the contract has been signed, can we go back now?"

Jiang Xi: "You go back first, I'm going to Beijing."

Qian Lili...ah?

Jiang Xi signed several big deals within a few days, and during this period, Qi Yu'an was waiting for her.

Now that things have come to an end, it is finally Qi Yu'an's turn. Jiang Xi feels embarrassed to let Qi Yu'an continue waiting, so he simply goes to Beijing with Qi Yu'an after he finishes his work.

But before going to Beijing, Jiang Xi had to visit Yang Mingli's home. After all, he was her elder. Jiang Xi had been in Shanghai for so many days and had not been to Yang Mingli's home yet. Besides, Yang Mingli and his wife were very good to her. It would be unreasonable for Jiang Xi not to visit them.

Jiang Xi didn't let Qi Yu'an pick him up. He went home, took a shower, changed his clothes, and went to Yang Mingli's house by himself.

As usual, Zhu Hong prepared a large table of dishes and was even more enthusiastic towards Jiang Xi.

She had always liked Jiang Xi, and now Jiang Xi's career was getting bigger and bigger. She had also heard Yang Mingli talk about Jiang Xi's performance at the Trustworthy Stall Awards Ceremony, and she had even seen an interview about Jiang Xi in the newspaper. Naturally, Zhu Hong liked Jiang Xi more and more.

Zhu Hong felt that Qi Yu'an had very good vision to find such an outstanding girl, and such an outstanding girl could become her family in the future. Although Zhu Hong was Qi Yu'an's aunt, she loved Qi Yu'an like her own son. Now that Qi Yu'an had such a good partner, Zhu Hong was also happy.

Jiang Xi brought some things with him, and of course he also took two large bags of pickled vegetables as gifts for Zhu Hong.

Zhu Hong took the gift package of braised pork and praised it, "This packaging is really beautiful. It's a face-saving gift and practical for eating it yourself. Is this your new product?"

Jiang Xi said: "Yes, this is the packaging we designed together with the top students from the Academy of Fine Arts."

Zhu Hong couldn't put down the gift bag of zaolu, "It's so beautiful, I can't bear to open it."

"You guys sit down first. Lao Yang and I will cook a few dishes and we'll be eating soon. Look at you. You must have been very busy recently and have lost weight. You must eat more later."

After expressing her concern, Zhu Hong rushed into the kitchen. She must perform well today and never burn the fish again.

Zhu Hong and his wife went into the kitchen, leaving space for Qi Yu'an and Jiang Xi.

Qi Yu'an glanced at Jiang Xi and noticed the dark circles under her eyes. She looked unhappy and muttered, "Did you stay up late again last night? Don't work too hard."

"I know you're focused on your career, but your health is still very important. I feel bad for you. But I can't help you. Boss Jiang, Director Jiang, please listen to the people and take good care of yourself, okay?"

Jiang Xi found Qi Yu'an's aggrieved look somewhat amusing. It had been a long time since Qi Yu'an had looked so pitiful like a drowning puppy.

While Zhu Hong and Yang Mingli were in the kitchen, Jiang Xi raised his hand and touched Qi Yu'an's head: "Don't worry, it's just a once in a while. I will pay attention to my health."

"Besides, you'll still need to research machines in the future. My factory will grow bigger and bigger, and I'm sure we'll need a lot of machines. If you research hard, you'll be making a contribution to me."

Qi Yu'an really liked Jiang Xi's confidence in him: "I'll do whatever you say, but you can't do this again in the future. At least hire a few more people to share the burden."

Jiang Xi said, "I understand. I've asked Qian Lili and Liang Jie to recruit people, and I've delegated many tasks. Besides, I cherish my body and my present life, and I won't squander it carelessly."

Having died once, Jiang Xi cherishes life even more and will not overload his body.

Qi Yu'an always felt that when Jiang Xi said this, he seemed to recall some sad experiences in the past. His heart suffocated for a moment, and he looked straight at Jiang Xi. He must have thought too much. Jiang Xi was now sitting in front of him in good health, and nothing terrible could happen to him.

Zhu Hong and Yang Mingli quickly cooked the dishes, and Jiang Xi and Qi Yu'an helped bring the dishes to the table.

After dinner, Zhu Hong was reluctant to let Jiang Xi go. Instead, she held the newspaper with Jiang Xi's interview transcript in her hands, praised Jiang Xi again and again, and told Jiang Xi a piece of news that made her laugh and cry.

Like the previous article, this newspaper was also widely circulated in the Qi family. Almost every member of the Qi family had a copy, and everyone was praising it. Their desire to meet Jiang Xi reached its peak.

Jiang Xi...this is too exaggerated, and it makes me feel inexplicably embarrassed.

Even as they sat on the train to Beijing, Jiang Xi was still a little embarrassed: "What do you think they will say when they see those newspapers? What impression will they have of me?"

Qi Yuan said: "Don't worry, they all say you are very good, and they all say I am lucky to have found you."

"My parents aren't unreasonable. You'll know when you go there. Besides, if I invite you to my house, I will definitely protect you and won't let anyone bully you. I will also never let them say anything you don't like to hear."

Jiang Xi was not afraid that Qi Yu'an's family would bully her. If Qi Yu'an's family treated her badly, then no matter how much she liked Qi Yu'an, she would carefully consider the relationship between her and Qi Yu'an.

After all, if she were to marry Qi Yu'an in the future, it would not just be a matter between her and Qi Yu'an, but a matter between two families.

Jiang Xi witnessed her mother Wu Yaqin's tragic marriage with her own eyes, so she didn't have much hope for marriage and had no concrete perception of what a happy and complete family was.

For Jiang Xi, deep down in her heart, she feels that any relationship is unreliable. Instead of pinning her hopes on men and family, it is better to pin them on herself.

Qi Yu'an didn't know that Jiang Xi had such an idea. If his family didn't perform well, they would dump him at any time. Qi Yu'an was still immersed in the joy of finally being able to take Jiang Xi to meet his parents. He and Jiang Xi had been together for so long, and he had always been looking forward to their relationship taking a step further.

In Qi Yu'an's heart, he has firmly believed that Jiang Xi is his future wife and the person who will accompany him for the rest of his life. Now that Jiang Xi can accompany him to meet his parents, it means that Qi Yu'an is one step closer to his ultimate wish.

Qi Yu'an couldn't suppress the smile on his face. "There are a lot of delicious food in Jing City, like the roast duck restaurant I told you about before, and there's also braised pork, and other stir-fries, etc. When we get to Jing City, I'll take you to try them. They're very delicious."

Jiang Xi had heard of the roast duck restaurant that Qi Yu'an mentioned. Many people went there specifically to eat there, and Jiang Xi was also very interested in it. At that time, it was because this roast duck restaurant inspired her. To be able to open for so long and become famous throughout the country, it must have something outstanding.

Jiang Xi's professional instincts kicked in immediately: "Okay, let's go to that store and try it out, and learn from them and see how they run their business."

Qi Yu'an laughed: "We are on vacation now, so let's not think about work. Although you may not listen to me, but, hey, okay, okay, think about it if you want to. It's up to you."

Qi Yu'an looked like she had no way to deal with Jiang Xi. Jiang Xi felt a little guilty, thinking that she was too busy with work to spend time with Qi Yu'an. Instead, Qi Yu'an always accompanied her everywhere.

Jiang Xi felt a little guilty, which was rare for her: "Okay, I don't want to work anymore. Let's go to your house later and buy some things."

Jiang Xi was rarely so gentle. When Qi Yu was settled, he was overjoyed. Jiang Xi even said soft words to coax him, which showed that he cared about him very much. He was really satisfied and happy.

Qi Yuan smiled, revealing his eight big white teeth: "Okay, let's go to the mall and buy some things."

The two went to the mall and picked out a few things. Jiang Xi is no longer the person who hesitated to buy a bag of milk candy. She now has a lot of money and a sufficient budget.

Jiang Xi held up a silk scarf and said to Qi Yu'an, "How about this scarf?"

Qi Yuan said: "This scarf is nice, it suits you very well."

Jiang Xi: "I bought this for your mother. What do you think?"

Qi Yuan: "Is this for my mom?"

He leaned over to take a look and said, "It's too expensive. Isn't it too much of a spendthrift? You don't need to bring such expensive things for your first visit. Just buy her some fruit and cakes as a token of your appreciation. We don't care about such things in our family. It's not easy for you to earn money. Spend more on yourself when you have it."

Qi Yu'an felt that his partner was so cute and sincere. He was frugal, but the other person was so generous with gifts. He must care about him a lot, so that's why he was like this. But he wanted to save money for his partner.

Jiang Xi... didn't think too much about it. She just thought the scarf was beautiful and suitable as a gift.

Jiang Xi: "Is this really okay?"

Qi Yu'an: "Just listen to me. My parents won't be willing to let the younger generation spend money."

Finally, at Qi Yu'an's insistence, Jiang Xi bought some fruits, some cakes, and a box of better tea, and then the two of them went back together.

Qi Yu'an's mother, Yang Qiaoli, had been waiting at home early. Although she was nearly 40 years old, she was still well maintained and was a very elegant lady.

Yang Qiaoli had her hair tied up, wore a jade necklace around her neck, and wore a silk long skirt. The texture of the skirt was very good and it was obvious that it was very valuable. It also matched Yang Qiaoli's temperament and made her look more graceful and luxurious.

Yang Qiaoli is also very beautiful. Because she has no worries in life, she still maintains a youthful state.

At this time, Yang Qiaoli was walking back and forth in the room, mumbling from time to time: "Why haven't they come back yet? Didn't they say they would come back today? Could the train be late? Should I go pick them up?"

Qi Yu'an's father, Qi Weiguo, was preparing food in the kitchen. Seeing his wife's anxious look, he couldn't help but say, "Sit on the sofa for a while and drink some water. Your feet won't hurt from walking back and forth."

"Yu'an is a reliable person. He said he would be back today, and he will definitely be back. You can just wait for him at home. Besides, these young people may want to go out for a walk when they come back. They have their own plans, so there's no point in you worrying."

Hearing this, Yang Qiaoli glanced at Qi Weiguo and said, "You, you only know how to cook. Just focus on cooking and leave me alone."

Although Qi Weiguo didn't need to worry about it, Yang Qiaoli couldn't help but say, "You know why I'm so anxious."

"You said Yu'an was a very popular kid since he was young, but when he got older, he didn't date anyone. When a girl approached him, he acted like he was seeing a monster. His only good friend was that Liu Zhiqiang."

"I was worried that something might be wrong with him. Now he finally has a date. This is the first time he's brought someone home. How can I not be nervous? You're his father, aren't you anxious? I don't think you care at all. You're very careless."

Yang Qiaoli was genuinely angry, and Qi Weiguo said in a good-tempered tone, "Okay, okay, I can't argue with you. So, your legs must be tired, so sit down and rest."

Yang Qiaoli shook her head: "I can't sit down. Why haven't they come back yet? Should I go out and look for them?"

Qi Weiguo was helpless: "What if the child suddenly sees you and gets scared if you go out?"

Yang Qiaoli glared at Qi Weiguo: "In the final analysis, you still don't care about your son's lifelong affairs. You don't care at all. What are you worrying about all day long? I'm too lazy to tell you so much!"

Qi Weiguo only gave a word of advice and still got himself into trouble. He was used to it and continued to comfort Yang Qiaoli: "Yu'an is my own son. Of course I care about him. But he is old now. As parents, we have to know the limits of our concern."

"Besides, I'm definitely as anxious as you are, but I'm busy cooking. Don't be fooled by my calm appearance. I'm actually extremely anxious inside, but as a man, I'm embarrassed to say it out loud."

Qi Weiguo has lived with Yang Qiaoli for many years and fully understands Ms. Yang Qiaoli's temper. So when Yang Qiaoli is angry, Qi Weiguo's attitude is very standard, that is, he admits his mistake immediately and never argues.

There is no point in arguing with your wife. The only thing that matters is admitting your mistakes.

After hearing what Qi Weiguo said, Yang Qiaoli said, "He's full of sweet talk and never behaves properly." She still looked anxious.

Qi Yu'an is Yang Qiaoli's favorite child. Because he is the youngest, she worries about him the most. This child has never suffered any hardship since childhood.

But it was Qi Yu'an who took the initiative to propose going to the countryside. He said that his brother was going to take over his father's position and inherit the family business, and his sister was a girl and could not go to the countryside to suffer. Anyway, he had no job and had not started a family, so he was the most suitable person to go to the countryside.

At that time, Yang Qiaoli did not expect Qi Yu'an to say such a thing. Yang Qiaoli understood that Qi Yu'an did not want to make things difficult for them, and he took the initiative to go to the countryside as a sacrifice for his family.

Later, the educated youth were able to return to the city one after another, and Yang Qiaoli also wanted Qi Yu'an to come back, but several major events happened at home, and the bigger the tree, the more wind it attracts, so Qi Yu'an had to stay in the countryside for a few more years.

All these things added up, it’s no wonder that Yang Qiaoli cares the most about Qi Yuan.

So during the years that Qi Yu'an went to the countryside, Yang Qiaoli didn't say it, but she was always thinking about him in her heart, always feeling that she owed Qi Yu'an. Therefore, she often sent things to Qi Yu'an, fearing that Qi Yu'an would not have enough clothes to wear or good food to eat in the countryside, and that he was at a disadvantage.

Qi Weiguo also understood Yang Qiaoli's thoughts. Although the conditions in the countryside were so difficult, his youngest son never complained.

If you really think about it, among the children in the family, Qi Yu'an suffered the most. After all, the other children had never lived in the countryside. His son was a good guy, which made Qi Weiguo proud and relieved.

Of course, Qi Weiguo thinks it is necessary for boys to suffer more, because only by suffering can they grow quickly. Qi Yu'an has matured a lot and become more sensible after working in the countryside for a few years. He didn't have to worry about anything before, but now he has a partner.

Of course, there is no need to tell my wife about these thoughts, otherwise she will blame me again.

But as for the wife, she still needs to be coaxed. Qi Weiguo is happy to see Yang Qiaoli happy. This has been the habit of the couple for so many years. Qi Weiguo is a serious and stern boss outside, but he is a complete henpecked husband at home.

Qi Weiguo chuckled: "Come, come, come and try the fried meatballs I made." Qi Weiguo couldn't persuade his wife, so he had to tempt Yang Qiaoli with food to divert her attention.

Yang Qiaoli walked into the kitchen and saw the fried meatballs on the table. She took a bite and said, "It's delicious, just as delicious as before."

Qi Weiguo smiled: "This is my specialty, my skills are still as good as before! If I retire in the future, I will sell fried meatballs, and I guarantee you will make a lot of money." His wife finally smiled, and Qi Weiguo was happy to tell a few more jokes.

Although Qi Weiguo and Yang Qiaoli were introduced to each other, they have always had a good relationship after marriage. They are still very much in love and have hardly ever quarreled over the years.

Yang Qiaoli comes from a well-off family and has never cooked since she was a child. When she met Qi Weiguo for the first time, she stated that she didn't like cooking and didn't want to cook after they got married.

In the environment at that time, this condition was shocking, but Qi Weiguoguo didn't think so. He felt that Yang Qiaoli was beautiful and had personality, and was different from other girls.

Qi Weiguo fell in love with Yang Qiaoli at first sight. He immediately told her that he liked cooking and promised that he would cook for her after they got married.