The Reviled God of Cooking Tries to Slack Off - Chapter 80

Jiang Moli still held onto a sliver of hope.

There was no one else left in the family—just the two of them. She planned to replace everyone Jiang Yisheng brought into the company, and she did her best to make up for her past mistakes.

The senior chefs of the Jiang family, after witnessing everything that unfolded, understood the situation clearly. The evidence against Jiang Yisheng was irrefutable, and his actions no longer held any weight. What they wanted now was for Jiang Tingzhou to return. The Jiang family desperately needed him—for the present, and more importantly, for the future.

Jiang Tingzhou stepped in this time. The others in the room exchanged glances, preparing to step out to give mother and son some space, but Jiang Tingzhou stopped them.

“No need to leave,” he said. “Let’s just talk now.”

After everything that happened, the people around him assumed that things were resolved. Like a cliché soap opera, the villains had been punished, and the rest of the cast would tearfully reconcile and reunite.

But Jiang Tingzhou knew that life wasn’t like that.

He had long since regretted his weakness toward Jiang Moli. In his previous life, he had believed she was completely deceived—that she hadn’t known about everything, and that she wasn’t aware of what happened in the end.

But now, after knowing the truth about Jiang Yisheng, Jiang Tingzhou no longer made excuses for her.

“I was wrong before,” he said. “But you knew. Even if not everything—you’re not stupid, Mom. You knew.”

Jiang Moli had always held on tightly to her shares. No matter how Jiang Yisheng tested her over the years, she never truly let go. She remained involved in the company, never fully stepping away. She kept people loyal to her within the company structure.

Not only had she cooperated with the head chef perfectly today, but she had also, during a past board meeting, conducted a swift and effective audit—quickly confirming that Jiang Tingzhou was the true winner.

Even Jiang Tingzhou, who had lived through all this once before, was surprised by her insight.

But when he saw her walk into the boardroom, knowing the full truth, only to place the evidence in front of Jiang Yisheng without saying a word… he understood.

He could not fully rely on her. He had to fight for what mattered. He couldn’t rely on anyone. He couldn’t afford illusions.

“You knew exactly what Jiang You used to do,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “You just didn’t say it. You couldn’t bear to.”

Given all she had seen, there was no way Jiang Moli didn’t know what Jiang Yisheng and Jiang You had originally planned. Any rational person could guess—how could she not?

But she never confronted them. Never exploded in anger. Instead, she chose to comfort Jiang You afterward. As if, as long as Jiang Tingzhou won in the end, nothing else mattered.

Jiang Tingzhou had seen everything.

She didn’t realize what he had truly felt when he hugged her before leaving the Jiang family.

“I didn’t want to believe it at the time,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “I was fooling myself. That’s why even after I left, I still contacted you. I didn’t really believe in you. I was lying to myself.”

Back then, he had nothing left. Only An Xiaoping was still with him. He didn’t know how to process or accept it all—but as time passed, he came to understand.

“You’ve always treated Jiang You as your real son. After so many years together, your feelings for him ran deeper than mine. Of course you chose to protect him,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “As for me…”

He fell silent.

He tried to understand her. He knew that after his kidnapping and supposed “death,” she had been devastated. She transferred her affection to Jiang You. As a mother, she naturally wanted to protect someone.

After all, who could have predicted that the “dead” child would return ten years later?

Her love for him had never run that deep.

“Life is unpredictable,” he said. “I know that even if you had been given a choice at the beginning, things still wouldn’t have turned out well. That perfect family you dreamed of—it never existed. In the end, we were never meant to be mother and son.”

Jiang Moli had wanted to say something—that if Jiang Tingzhou had come to save her, surely there was still hope between them. But after hearing that, her mouth opened, then closed again. She had no rebuttal. Her tears fell harder, and she choked on her words.

Only Jiang Tingzhou’s calm voice followed: “Jiang Foods won’t be left without someone to manage it. From now on, you can take care of it yourself.”

With those freeloading relatives out of the picture, Jiang Foods would face significant short-term disruption. The business would likely shrink during reorganization. But the senior chefs remaining were competent, and the company wouldn’t collapse easily.

It would change—but it would endure.

“Tingzhou, wait, don’t go.” Jiang Moli panicked as she saw him turn to leave. Still in her hospital gown, she threw back the blanket and got out of bed, trying to grab hold of him. 

The head chef beside her tried to help.

“Blame me—it’s all my fault. I was wrong,” Jiang Moli cried. “I’ll never do this again…”

At that moment, Jiang Tingzhou’s people arrived.

Previously, they had stayed outside, thinking this was a Jiang family matter. But now, seeing how things were, Wen Qi and Li Shuyan entered, followed by An Xiaoping, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

Even Lu Baiyu came.

He had heard what had happened and naturally showed up. Now he stood outside the door, watching Jiang Tingzhou. Even though he knew there wouldn’t be any danger, he still couldn’t help worrying.

Jiang Moli’s private ward was the only one with people in this area, and the surrounding rooms had been cleared out. Even those who didn’t enter could hear the conversation inside.

Lu Baiyu had heard everything.

He didn’t know what to say. Compared to everyone else, he just felt… sad.

With everyone now gathered, the atmosphere grew chaotic. Some tried to persuade Jiang Tingzhou, while Jiang Moli kept trying to explain. Li Shuyan and the others wanted to take him away, but they couldn’t be too forceful with his mother.

As Jiang Tingzhou tried to leave, Jiang Moli reached out. Her health was poor—she nearly fell, but he caught her.

“Tingzhou, don’t go,” she clung to his arm, her eyes wet with tears. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. If I had known everything, I never would have—” She was growing more agitated.

Jiang Tingzhou gently patted her back to calm her, but his expression didn’t soften.

“No need to say more.” He sighed and looked at the messy scene before him. “Mom, do you really think I did all this for you? For the Jiang family? No, I didn’t.”

He helped her sit down, looked down at her, then turned to face the gathered senior chefs and added: “I didn’t like explaining myself before, but to avoid any misunderstanding, I’ll make it clear now. I took down Jiang Yisheng not for any of you—he’s caused me a lot of trouble lately, and I wanted some peace and quiet. Also, with all the changes at Jiang Foods, the sugar factory has a real shot now.”

Everyone froze, unsure what he meant.

But Jiang Tingzhou had a very clear goal.

He had discussed the chef competition with Wen Qi before. Although it hadn’t started yet, the sugar factory needed to secure a spot as a title sponsor.

The competition had been held for years. It was prestigious within the domestic culinary industry and had no shortage of sponsors. Trying to join through normal channels would be difficult.

But Dongjiang’s Food and Catering Association—one of the main organizers—offered a viable path.

If they could partner with some of the chefs who were members, title sponsorship would be much easier.

Yongqing’s food industry ranked among the top in the country, and the local association branch held real influence. It had been established for years and wasn’t just a figurehead.

Jiang Tingzhou remembered from his past life that major food companies and restaurant chains were all members—including the once-glorious Yongqing Sugar Factory, which had even been a founding member. But after its decline, its influence had waned.

Jiang Yisheng, while incompetent in business, was great at networking. He had managed to hold onto a director’s seat in the Yongqing branch.

Now that the Jiang family had fallen, that seat would be vacant.

“Even ignoring history, in terms of size and development—and with Mayor Lu’s recommendation—the sugar factory has a great chance of reclaiming that board seat,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “If that happens, not only will we secure the sponsorship, it’ll be a huge boost for our future. Otherwise, why do you think I went to so much trouble?”

He had already received Mayor Lu’s letter of recommendation. He’d also dealt with the president of the Dongjiang Food and Beverage Association, Yongqing Branch, in his previous life. That contact was already in his phone.

He didn’t bother mentioning those details. But his intention was clear: he would get it.

Without this level of ability, how else could he have secured the position of Jiang Corporation’s CEO in the previous life?

As the room fell into shocked silence, Jiang Tingzhou gave a faint smile and said: “What, did you think I was just some noble guy chasing the truth for everyone’s sake? Of course not.”

He had fought his way through the business world. He was very good at it. And in some ways, he realized he wasn’t so different from Jiang Moli—not just in looks.

“I told you, this is business. So don’t think I just poached one of Jiang Foods employees and called it a day. If that’s what you thought, then you don’t know me at all.” He looked around and asked plainly: “So, now that it’s all out in the open, do you want to fight me—or do you want me back at Jiang Foods?”

The room fell silent.

Jiang Tingzhou gently broke free from Jiang Moli’s grip. No one tried to stop him.

He turned and walked out.

Lu Baiyu was still standing there. He had heard every word, especially that last one.

Jiang Tingzhou had said it to everyone—not just the Jiang family, but also to Wen Qi, and to Lu Baiyu himself.

He was telling them not to have unrealistic expectations about him—not to think they were special.

As Jiang Tingzhou walked past him, Lu Baiyu couldn’t help himself.

He reached out and grabbed him.