The Reviled God of Cooking Tries to Slack Off - Chapter 58

The people around him then were far better than the odd, twisted ones from the Jiang family in his previous life. Jiang Tingzhou felt that difference very clearly.

Even after taking over the sugar factory, he didn’t become overwhelmingly busy.

With dependable managers like Peng and Mo, and with Li Shuyan and An Xiaoping each responsible for their own portion of the work, many things didn’t require his direct involvement. Compared to when he first moved to the old city and couldn’t catch a break, life then was far more relaxed. He did what needed to be done and rested when he should.

Even after hearing all this, Lu Baiyu still looked worried, about to speak—when Jiang Tingzhou’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen. It was Li Shuyan.

She went to the municipal government that day to complete the final signing process. Everything was already approved and finalized, so there shouldn’t have been any surprises. But she called again, sounding anxious.

“Tingzhou, I think something’s off.”

Jiang Tingzhou frowned. “What? They’re not letting you sign?”

That shouldn’t have been possible.

“It’s not that,” Li Shuyan replied. “They’re saying it’s been delayed. This last step is usually just a formality, but they said Mayor Lu, who’s coming tomorrow, is very invested in the old city redevelopment project and wants to personally inspect the site. He’ll visit the sugar factory tomorrow to hear your plan in person, and only then will he approve the final signature—if there are no issues.”

The municipal government likely wouldn’t break the contract without cause, but the situation was strange enough to make Jiang Tingzhou’s brow furrow.

The sugar factory project’s total investment was only around one billion yuan. Not just in Yongqing as a whole, but even among the old city renovation projects, it didn’t even rank in the top ten.

Yongqing wasn’t a small place. The total investment in the old city redevelopment was rumored to exceed 100 billion yuan. It made sense that the mayor went to check out the Lu family’s logistics park project when he took office—after all, it was a leading enterprise. But why come to the sugar factory at such a critical moment?

“I just think someone gave him the idea,” Li Shuyan said. “He wasn’t planning to visit the sugar factory at first. It was only added to his itinerary at the last minute.”

Jiang Tingzhou said, “Ask the municipal staff what’s really going on—tactfully.”

“Got it,” Li Shuyan replied.

After hanging up, she immediately caught up to the person in charge she worked with.

“Wang Ke,” she said, “can you please check on this for me? You know how familiar we are with each other, and you know I really want to do this project. Just give me the truth so I can feel at ease—I’m begging you.”

A while later, Jiang Tingzhou received a response.

This situation, it turned out, was partly connected to his recent appearance on the trending search lists.

The sugar factory and Jiang Tingzhou went viral together, attracting far more attention than other projects. Of course, just trending once wasn’t enough to bring the mayor down personally. But someone mentioned that the Li family was also handling the school district housing project and might not have enough working capital. If they were stretched too thin, it could affect the quality of both projects—particularly the sugar factory, where over-commercialization might compromise the original cultural and creative vision.

Even though the sugar factory was old and dilapidated, it represented the memories of an entire generation. Across the country, many similar projects quietly pushed the limits of their initial plans. With this much public attention, the municipal government wasn’t just worried about poor execution—they feared major public backlash if anything went wrong.

No company openly admitted to cash flow issues, especially when they were about to sign a contract.

At that moment, Jiang Tingzhou looked at Lu Baiyu, who stood in front of him.

There was no one else around. The park was quiet. Lu Baiyu overheard part of the phone conversation. He didn’t interrupt—but when Jiang Tingzhou looked at him, there was a trace of suspicion in his gaze.

“No, Tingzhou—how could you think I’d tell the municipal government something like that?” Lu Baiyu’s heart ached. He didn’t know how things between them got to this point. “I came here because I really wanted to help.”

This wasn’t the time for hurt feelings, nor for explaining. Right then, all he could do was try to fix the problem.

“This new Mayor Lu has a complicated background,” Lu Baiyu said. “He’s got his own ideas about several major projects. Shuyan’s project proposal might meet the basic standards, but he—”

“That’s enough,” Jiang Tingzhou cut him off. “I’ll handle it. Mr. Lu, this isn’t your project.”

“Tingzhou, I…”

Jiang Tingzhou turned to leave. Lu Baiyu instinctively took a step forward but froze under the warning in his eyes.

He knew chasing after him wouldn’t change anything. There was nothing more he could say. If he really wanted to help, words weren’t enough.

Jiang Tingzhou already formed a plan. After getting home, he contacted the factory and asked them to make the necessary arrangements. Then he carefully reread the original sugar factory proposal.

Meanwhile, Li Shuyan also took action. She asked the municipal government for clarification and went to the sugar factory to prepare. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Finally, she couldn’t take it and went to Jiang Tingzhou’s courtyard—only to find him cooking.

He was actually focused on cooking, as if nothing happened.

But the question on both their minds wasn’t just about the mayor’s visit. It was: who told the municipal government those words? This wasn’t something an ordinary person could leak.

She didn’t suspect Lu Baiyu—but she did begin to think about the people around her, especially Jang Li.

She didn’t want to doubt her fiancé. But given the situation, he was the most likely culprit.

Back in high school, she and Jang Li looked down on each other. But later, when they studied abroad together, their friendship helped them through the worst mental states. Their two families’ businesses were also deeply intertwined, so they ended up choosing to be together. The wedding date wasn’t set yet, and after the conflict over investing in the sugar factory, more cracks appeared.

“Tingzhou, I thought maybe I’d done something wrong, so I went to investigate,” Li Shuyan said, her expression dark. “If it really was him… I just don’t understand why. I haven’t asked the Jang family for a single cent on this project—so why is he still opposing it?”

The bid was already submitted and couldn’t be altered. But this was a joint project with the municipal government. If Mayor Lu wasn’t satisfied with what he saw, the signing could be delayed indefinitely. Even if it went through, future audits and administrative hurdles would pile up.

Worse, if the project stumbled at that stage, it would damage the municipal government’s impression of both the Li and Jiang families. Li Shuyan genuinely didn’t get it. Was Jang Li really the kind of person who’d do something so senseless?

The more she thought about it, the more uncertain everything felt. It really wasn’t easy to accomplish something real. Her nerves were stretched thin. She couldn’t help but worry—but Jiang Tingzhou simply listened quietly while continuing to cook.

Jiang Tingzhou said, “It’s fine. You’ve done all the prep. No matter how deep they dig, there’s nothing wrong.”

Still, if the sugar factory already began construction, it would leave a better impression. With the site still a rundown mess, the mayor’s first impression wouldn’t be great.

Li Shuyan didn’t want to push him or stress him out any further. But… Jiang Tingzhou’s cooking was really good.

Today, he made braised pig’s trotters. He started them early, stewing them until they were perfectly tender. The savory aroma of the brine filled the air. The pig skin was chewy and rich in collagen. The meat and fat were flavorful, without being greasy.

She took a bite and discovered a surprise: under the pig’s trotters were soft, soup-soaked beans.

“You’ve been eating a lot of beans lately,” she remarked.

“There are too many,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “The neighbors keep giving them to me. Might as well eat more. Do you like them?”

Li Shuyan nodded. “They’re really good.”

She preferred her beans soft and tender.

Jiang Tingzhou added another pig’s trotter to her bowl. “Whatever happens, it’s good to be full.”

Hearing him say that, even with so many worries in her heart, the next day, even with lingering worries, Li Shuyan still greeted the city delegation with a calm, professional smile.

Around four or five in the afternoon, the municipal government’s car finally arrived.

Mayor Lu looked young—only in his early forties. He walked at the front of the group, wearing an executive-style jacket, with someone beside him taking photos. He seemed like a kind man and went over to shake hands with Li Shuyan, saying she was young and promising.

But when the group arrived, someone among them frowned slightly.

They just came from Lu Group’s modern logistics park. Though it wasn’t fully built yet, the site was already filled with all sorts of high-tech automated equipment. Compared to that, the sugar factory looked outdated, like stepping back into the last century.

Li Shuyan noticed their expressions. Though she expected it, it still stung. What she didn’t expect was that among the group, one more person stepped out—Lu Baiyu.

He looked relaxed as he walked up to stand beside Mayor Lu. “I heard you were visiting the sugar factory,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in this place, so thank you for letting me come along. Yongqing Sugar Factory is an old brand—many people from Yongqing still remember it. And now that I see the sign is still here, it’s rare for something like this to be preserved over time.”

Li Shuyan added, “Yes, it’s a bit old, but it’s also a legacy.”

Mayor Lu remained courteous to Lu Baiyu. After all, Lu Group’s status in Dongjiang spoke for itself, and this wasn’t the first time the two sides interacted. This visit was public, so although Lu Baiyu’s presence was somewhat unexpected, it was acceptable. Mayor Lu remarked that it was good for young entrepreneurs to communicate with each other and then proceeded into the factory.

They entered through the original gate. Inside, the area was clearly abandoned. The place was hastily cleaned for the mayor’s visit, but time was tight—so it was only just passable.

As they walked, Li Shuyan introduced the original development plan, assuring them that it would meet the municipal government’s requirements. She discreetly observed Lu Baiyu’s expression. It stayed neutral—he kept a polite smile and nodded occasionally.

His expression shifted slightly when he saw the group sculpture of the sugar factory workers. He paused and said this area should be restored as soon as possible.

“In the past, sugar production was Yongqing’s leading industry. The spirit of these workers—daring to think and act—should be passed down,” he said. “Once this is repaired, more events should be held here. Not just for citizens to visit, but also for leaders and cadres at all levels to come and learn. This is an excellent base.”

Li Shuyan nodded quickly and said the construction team was already arranged and could begin as soon as approvals were in place.

Lu Baiyu added, “The mayor is right. Once it’s repaired, Lu Group will also bring its employees here for team-building and study. It’s a good learning opportunity. Although Miss Li is young, it’s not the Li family’s first time handling a project like this. The memorial halls they built previously in the city were all well done.”

Mayor Lu seemed to recall those projects.

Although he was newly appointed, he was well informed about local developments. He nodded and said, “As soon as possible.”

Despite his words, Li Shuyan still couldn’t quite read Mayor Lu. His tone stayed formal, and while serious, his eyes seemed detached. Most of his remarks felt performative.

And Jiang Tingzhou wasn’t there either. He was still inside the factory—this was the final stop of the group’s tour.

Li Shuyan continued her introductions, though her heart was uneasy. She couldn’t tell whether the mayor was satisfied or not. He saw countless ordinary factories. Even though the sugar factory was more lively, in his eyes, it might not even qualify as ordinary.

Then Jiang Tingzhou came out. He wore regular clothes with a dust-proof coat over them. When Li Shuyan introduced him as her partner, her voice trembled.

She actually prepared a custom suit for him, but he refused to wear it, saying it was unnecessary.

Jiang Tingzhou introduced himself, “Hello, I’m Jiang Tingzhou, the person in charge here.”

Mayor Lu recognized him. “Ah, you’re the chef who was trending online. I saw Director Cheng’s post about you.”

It was a big deal that the A Bite of China crew came to Yongqing. For someone like the mayor, keeping up with current events made it easy to recognize the name.

“Mayor Lu, sorry for the mess—the factory’s received a lot of orders recently, and we’ve brought in a bunch of new equipment. That’s why things look a bit messy,” Jiang Tingzhou explained. “It’s the end of the workday, but the workers stayed when they heard you were coming.”

Indeed, no one left. The sugar factory always maintained a good working atmosphere. Though it wasn’t large, everything was clean and orderly.

Mayor Lu waved to the workers and didn’t leave right away.

He walked a few steps with Jiang Tingzhou and soon noticed a section of the factory that looked different from the rest.

It wasn’t an assembly line. A group of masters gathered there, seemingly engrossed in some kind of experiment. He intended to take a quick look and move on, but asked, “What’s that area?”

Jiang Tingzhou led him over. “It’s our food lab. All the masters here are long-time employees—each with over ten years of experience at the sugar factory. That man over there joined in the 1980s, back when the factory was booming. He still refuses to retire. You see? He was once a city-level model worker.”

Mayor Lu nodded. “A true master.”

Many of these old employees received awards—model worker medals and the like. They were well preserved and now displayed proudly on a wall. They gleamed in the light, caught on camera by the official photographer.

Mayor Lu couldn’t just walk away. He passed the medal wall and continued onward. The smell of bread grew stronger, mingling with something else.

Previously, Jiang Tingzhou said it was a waste for these skilled workers to be stuck on the assembly line. Inspired by the Black Sugar plum sandwich, they created a new product—black sugar sandwich cookies. That sparked the idea to set up this experimental space.

It wasn’t built for the mayor’s visit. Before they even got the notice, Jiang Tingzhou and Manager Peng agreed that the masters shouldn’t work overtime endlessly—they should be allowed to fully use their talents. So this workshop was set up.

Inside, they seemed to be making sandwiches—something common at bakeries, but with a twist.

Freshly baked bread was sliced, filled generously with sauce, made into sandwiches, wrapped, and sent out.

The sandwich edges were toasted crisp, while the bread inside stayed soft. The filling oozed slightly from the cuts. The timing was perfect—when Jiang Tingzhou picked one up, it was still steaming.

No one had to look. The smell alone told them: It was a chunky peanut butter sandwich.

Then Jiang Tingzhou handed it to Mayor Lu. Everyone present froze. Some thought this was far too casual, even inappropriate. The secretary next to him stepped in to stop it—how could food just be handed to the mayor like that?

But Mayor Lu chuckled, took it, and asked, “Where are the peanuts from?”

“Zhengyang,” Jiang Tingzhou replied.

“Ah, my hometown. The peanut capital!” Mayor Lu laughed. “Hand-ground peanut butter is something I grew up eating, but this sandwich method is new to me.”

“Try it,” said Jiang Tingzhou. “The combination works really well.”

This wasn’t the smooth, store-bought peanut butter most people knew. It had texture—gritty, with real peanut pieces. The toast had the signature sugar factory softness, with crispy edges. The peanuts were fragrant and crunchy.

As Jiang Tingzhou said: a perfect match.

The municipal group’s visit to the sugar factory was a late addition, scheduled at the end. It was now dinnertime.

Jiang Tingzhou did his homework. Mayor Lu wasn’t the type to put on airs. Though he had support and connections, his resume showed he truly worked his way up from the grassroots. He spent three years working in a county town before slowly climbing the ranks.

Now, Mayor Lu’s expression softened with genuine warmth.

“These peanuts really are from there—delicious,” he said, a little emotional. “I still remember the year we had a bumper harvest. I went to the market and saw farmers arriving on tricycles, piles of peanuts in their carts. The warehouses were filled to the brim. Fresh peanuts were so sweet, you could eat them raw.” He sighed. “Amazing. I haven’t tasted this in years.”