The Reviled God of Cooking Tries to Slack Off - Chapter 17

Just as he was about to lunge at Jiang You in desperation, Jiang Tingzhou gave him a swift kick.

Jiang Tingzhou, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke. “Enough. All this righteous talk—it’s just a front. What you’re really after is looting the old store’s resources while it’s down. If you want it, then take it—if you’ve got what it takes.”

Someone beside him frowned. “You don’t have to put it so harshly…”

Jiang Tingzhou looked at him and said, “You think I’m harsh because the facts are cruel. What? Do you think firing the store manager and a few employees, diverting customers’ attention, then offering some random points and compensation can keep those old customers? Jiang You, you run a high-end restaurant too. Do you honestly believe your target clientele would be swayed by such petty scraps?”

Jiang You still wore a faint smile and replied, “Brother, don’t bring your emotions into work. I’m talking about business, not about you.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, answer me directly,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “Do you really think the Gongyan’s target guests will be impressed by such a plan?”

Jiang You paused for a moment, then asked back, “If you think this won’t work, then what good solution do you have?”

“You still don’t answer my question directly because you know very well these only solve surface problems,” Jiang Tingzhou said, handing Manager Yang a USB flash drive. “You, connect this to the display screen.”

Manager Yang hurried over.

Like Jiang Tingzhou, he also had a work report PPT.

But compared to Jiang You’s elaborate one, Jiang Tingzhou’s was concise and clear. He made it in the car in twenty minutes, but the content was very clear.

He moved the microphone closer to speak clearly. “You only think about how to apologize, but you don’t see the customers’ movements. Since the old store chose to close, apologizing is not the point. The point is how to invite customers back. Ladies and gentlemen, the customers aren’t standing still waiting for our apology. They’re already gone. It’s plain to see—Gongyan was never the only high-end restaurant in Yongqing.”

This time, VIPs were upset over seating order, but they still needed to socialize. When the old store closed, these distinguished guests naturally chose other restaurants.

On the PPT, Jiang Tingzhou showed the positioning of Gongyan’s competitors in recent days. Two of them even had full queues like during holidays. Then, he showed the recent promotional activities those stores had launched—all timed with the old Gongyan store’s accident.

Their strength and attitude were so strong that the compensation plan just proposed at the board meeting wasn’t enough.

“I believe these customers aren’t unreasonable. After this anger passes, Jiang Foods’ good attitude will calm them down. Manager Yang used previous relationships to get some customers to withdraw complaints, but many regulars haven’t booked again or asked when the old store will reopen. When I asked, their reply was that they’ve been invited to other restaurants recently.”

Jiang Tingzhou was very familiar with some old customers. The next PPT photo recorded his chat with customers last night.

“The old store may reopen tomorrow, or even now. No one is stopping us from opening, but the core question is: will customers really come back obediently?” Jiang Tingzhou continued, his voice even colder. “You can replace the entire store’s staff—I’m happy to do so—but what about later? Can you really afford the decline in customer flow after reopening?”

When he said this, everyone in the meeting fell silent.

He was right.

The PPT was concise, but the facts were irrefutable. The market was a battlefield, and this situation was about more than just the old store.

The reason the Jiang family had developed in the past ten years and Gongyan’s business had flourished—besides the Lu family’s support—was that the domestic economy took off early, and the high-end restaurant market was relatively empty. Gongyan’s century-old legacy and imperial chef’s reputation helped it rise quickly.

But now, the highly profitable industry was crowded with competitors. It was easy to airlift high-end ingredients from abroad. High-end restaurants with Japanese and French themes were emerging endlessly. Old imperial capital brands had opened Yongqing branches with better decoration than the old Gongyan store.

Now, no fewer than ten restaurants in Yongqing had similar consumption levels as Gongyan.

Don’t underestimate what a few days of closure could do—customer poaching happened in a blink. The high-end clientele was limited.

This kind of customer drain had already begun before. The old store’s performance hadn’t been stellar—rarely were there queues. It was only after Jiang Tingzhou joined, with his unique dishes and strong word-of-mouth, that business picked up. His subsequent culinary award and industry fame made reservations hard to come by.

This shutdown merely exposed all the underlying issues.

“It’s useless for high-end restaurants to blindly please customers, because that only treats symptoms, not the root cause. Apologizing is natural, but the result we want here isn’t just reopening the old store, but regaining customers’ trust and restoring Gongyan’s status as a top high-end restaurant,” Jiang Tingzhou said bluntly. “The key is the halo effect, something unique. Besides apologizing, the best way to turn a negative situation around is to promote positives. Just like the best defense is offense.”

Jiang Tingzhou’s PPT turned to the last page.

After enough buildup, he finally revealed his solution.

“I participated in CCTV’s food program before and have a good relationship with the director, who also knows my master, Chef Wang,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “He told me CCTV’s food documentary is preparing for the second season with the same team. After the competition, I suggested they come film in Yongqing. Gongyan is the best representative of authentic local cuisine, perfect for their selection criteria. One of the judges—who also voted for me—was their content planner. He expressed strong interest in Yongqing cuisine and just a few days ago confirmed he plans to visit soon for location scouting.”

Jiang Yisheng reacted, “Documentary… you mean A Bite of China?”

Jiang Tingzhou nodded. “Yes. And I also know they haven’t locked in sponsors yet.”

No one needed an introduction to A Bite of China. Everyone in the room had seen it.

It exploded in popularity upon release, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Kitchenware sales soared, and the series still reran on CCTV. Audiences had been eagerly awaiting Season Two, but as a state project, news was kept tightly under wraps. Without Jiang Tingzhou’s connection, no one would’ve known.

Qin Rushuang had been uninterested before, just helping Lu Baiyu check on Jiang Tingzhou’s performance at work. But when Jiang Tingzhou mentioned this, she sat up immediately.

Over the years, the Lu Group had placed advertisements in various channels at great cost, but it was inevitable in such a competitive market, especially since the end-to-end logistics model needed public recognition.

Advertising was never just blindly burning money. The key was to spend it in the right places. Few ads really worked.

“Compared to other restaurants, Gongyan’s biggest advantage is its long history and authentic local dishes. It’s a true century-old restaurant. If we seize this opportunity when the crew comes to Yongqing, we’ll never worry about customers again,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “Of course, I believe this is also a great chance for Lu Group.”

He knew the Lu Group had been pouring money into online ads recently—Jiang You’s specialty. He’d had good conversations with Lu Jiahe about it and even helped a little.

But influencer marketing only looked flashy on the surface.

Lu Group didn’t lack visibility—it lacked credibility. They needed trust from serious industry players. Current online campaigns weren’t delivering.

“This season of A Bite of China will also stream on major video platforms in sync with CCTV,” Jiang Tingzhou added. “Back when Season One aired, cold chain tech wasn’t as advanced. Viewers drooled in front of the screen but could only order basic ingredients online. Now it’s different. Lu Group’s cold chain transportation is very mature. Its speed and quality outmatch competitors. Foods that can be preserved via cold chain can be delivered to everyone by express. This is the Lu family’s biggest advantage now.”

Qin Rushuang said nothing more. She clearly understood these matters better than Jiang Tingzhou.

She stood, made a phone call, and before leaving, passed Jiang Tingzhou, patted his shoulder, and said, “Very good.”

Lu Jiahe’s reaction was slower. When he understood, it was like a sudden enlightenment. He anxiously said, “You have this news—why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

Jiang Tingzhou replied, “I’m saying it now. Everyone’s here—so let’s discuss it so everyone has an idea. Boss Jiang, don’t you think so?”

Hearing this, Jiang Yisheng had many thoughts but first looked to the Lu family’s attitude.

Now even Lu Jiahe’s mind wasn’t on Jiang You. Despite the unpleasant quarrel earlier, he was serious and asked Jiang Tingzhou more questions—all about work.

Qin Rushuang returned soon. She seemed to have made a decision and said to everyone, “I’ll handle those VIPs offended by the old store. Internal disciplinary matters are up to you. Just make sure the store reopens quickly so this blows over. The film crew will come to Yongqing soon. We must receive them in the best state.”

Jiang Yisheng nodded quickly. “Yes, President Qin.”

Then she gestured to Jiang Tingzhou. “Come, Tingzhou, sit by me.”

Her attitude was completely different from before, when she greeted him politely in the lounge. Now she truly smiled.

“Tingzhou, you helped me a lot,” she said. “It’s my fault for not seeing your potential earlier. You have such knowledge and ideas. You’ve really grown.”

Jiang Yisheng heard every word.

The previous problems were resolved, and the Lu family’s willingness to intervene was naturally the best outcome.

Soon, it was time for the final personnel appointment stage of the board of directors, where the competition between Jiang Tingzhou and Jiang You would be decided.

Most of those present had heard the rumors and knew the result was actually already decided.

At this moment, Jiang Yisheng was a little nervous. He looked at Jiang You, then at Jiang Tingzhou, flipped the documents on the table to the last page, remained silent for a long moment, and finally began to speak.

Only Jiang Tingzhou appeared very calm.

He was playing with his spoon medal under the table, leaning back slightly in a relaxed posture, as if he already knew the outcome.

After Jiang Yisheng finished a set of formulaic remarks, he stretched out his hand to the file folder Mother Jiang had placed there, placed his hand solemnly on it, and announced, “…I declare that the store with the higher turnover in the first quarter is the old Gongyan store. Jiang Tingzhou, congratulations, you win.”

“Dad!” Jiang You suddenly turned his head, unable to maintain his composure. “But obviously, you—”

“This is the result I confirm. If anyone doubts it, you can check the specific cash flow report yourself,” Jiang Yisheng said, looking at him firmly. “Just check it casually, and there will be absolutely no problem. I am very sure that the winner this time is Jiang Tingzhou.”

His tone was firm, and no one on the board intended to oppose him.

No one from the Lu family interfered in this matter. Lu Jiahe had a bad temper but was generally reasonable. He understood this wasn’t a matter of impulse. When Jiang You looked at him, he shook his head.

As for Jiang Tingzhou, he remained calm. When Jiang Yisheng spoke, his eyes were still on his spoon medal.

He found the medal quite interesting. He received it before as a mere honor but had never looked at it closely.

The white spoon in front was beautiful—crystal clear and flawless. The handle on the back was old black gold, rough and slightly uncomfortable to hold, creating a stark contrast.

But Jiang Tingzhou knew that natural jade free of impurities was rare. The white spoon looked beautiful and flawless—but was likely synthetic, not worth much. The back handle, with its rough, aged black-gold finish, was real gold—66 grams of it.

Truly valuable.

When he heard the final result, Jiang Tingzhou retracted his gaze and stood up amid thunderous applause.

Qin Rushuang was already clapping, and the entire conference room echoed with applause.

The young director who complimented Lu Baiyu and Jiang You earlier quickly changed his tune and said, “Congratulations, Vice President Jiang.”

“Yes, Vice President Jiang is young and promising. Our Jiang Group will definitely grow stronger under your leadership and create more glory!”

For a moment, the atmosphere in the conference room warmed. Everyone accepted the result smoothly, and no one mentioned Jiang You’s bad temper.

Jiang You struggled to control his emotions. His face was pale, and he clapped mechanically.

Jiang Tingzhou watched as Jiang Yisheng signed and stamped the prepared personnel appointment letter, finalizing the result of the competition.

The pastel-colored dining bowl was handed to him by Jiang Moli as a reward. She reached out, hugged Jiang Tingzhou with a faint smile, and said, “Xiaobao, congratulations. Mom is very happy.”

The bowl was carefully secured in a box. It was a genuine antique and looked beautiful.

Jiang Tingzhou hugged his mother in return and said, “Thank you, Mom. I’m happy too.”

But when Jiang Moli turned and saw Jiang You, her expression softened. She comforted him, “Xiao You, it’s okay. There will be many opportunities in the future. The company will support you when you open a new store. Don’t worry, I’ll help you too. As long as you brothers are good, Mom can do anything.”

“Yes,” Lu Jiahe also said. “Don’t worry, Xiao You. This is just the beginning.”

Everyone present thought the same. This was only the beginning. The two Jiang brothers had been competing for a long time. This was just the vice president position of one store—far from the end.

After the board meeting, everyone else dispersed, but the Jiang and Lu families stayed.

Qin Rushuang’s phone rang. She urgently called someone to check the latest news. There seemed to be new progress.

Jiang You, comforted by Lu Jiahe, appeared to recover. He was good at hiding his feelings and even put on a smile.

Even Manager Yang, who had looked ashen throughout this period, seemed better. Witnessing all this felt like riding a roller coaster.

With the Lu family’s intervention and the documentary crew’s arrival, the store’s situation wouldn’t look too bad. Knowing Jiang Yisheng’s character, he wouldn’t be too harsh now that a solution was in place—much better than expected.

After the meeting, Manager Yang sincerely thanked Jiang Tingzhou. “Thank you for helping me and the old store.”

“Don’t say that. I didn’t do it to help you,” Jiang Tingzhou replied truthfully. He carefully placed the bowl into his foam-protected backpack without looking at Manager Yang’s worn face. “Jiang Foods’ punishment will come sooner or later. You definitely won’t be the manager of this store—and probably won’t have anything to do with the old store in the future.”

“I know. Even if I’m fired and stay at home, I can accept it,” Manager Yang said. “The main thing is—the old store is finally saved.”

At his age, after everything he’d experienced, it felt like dying and coming back to life.

He had worked at the old store for many years. Though he’d been ruthless to Jiang Tingzhou before, he really did care about the store. He hasn’t slept well these days. Only after seeing the Lu family’s attitude did he finally feel at ease.

“You don’t say it, but I know you care about the old store. Actually, you’re the most reasonable and sentimental person here.”

Jiang Tingzhou sneered, “Then you’re wrong. I just wanted to win this time and get the reward.”

“Don’t say that,” Manager Yang replied. Then he glanced toward Jiang You, his expression turning cold. “Some people—truly deceitful. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. Tingzhou, you have to win. You must beat him. You have to stand at the highest point. Even if I leave the old store, I’ll make sure I avenge this grudge.”

What Manager Yang planned to do next was no longer Jiang Tingzhou’s concern.

Not just him—soon, all the people and things here would have nothing to do with Jiang Tingzhou.