The Reviled God of Cooking Tries to Slack Off - Chapter 86

This dessert was a very simple dish, but one Jiang Tingzhou really liked.

When the bowl of steamed lily was served in front of him, he didn’t hesitate. He picked up a spoon, took a bite, and nodded in approval. “Not bad.”

The season was perfect for light and refreshing dishes like this, especially after a full meal—it felt satisfying without being heavy. The lily was soft and glutinous, drizzled with osmanthus honey. Compared to more complex, fancy dishes, this was exactly the kind of food he preferred.

Lu Baiyu knew he would like it.

He had been recalling more and more things recently. In the past, these thoughts would have brought him pain—reminding him of the mistakes he had made and the fact that Jiang Tingzhou was no longer his. But now, recalling those memories wasn’t so bad.

It was like flipping through a book—he began noticing the little details he used to pay close attention to.

Slowly, he remembered what Jiang Tingzhou truly liked.

From making this bowl of steamed lily bulbs with osmanthus honey himself to now dealing with the upcoming chef competition, everything he was doing seemed just right.

Though Lu Group could provide financial support, the final say in the competition still lay with the organizing association. His arrival didn’t interrupt the ongoing conversation—it continued without pause.

Jiang Tingzhou slowly finished his bowl, then followed Lu Baiyu’s cue and said, “It’s about time the sugar factory invested in TV advertising. That goes for the two of you as well.”

Yongqing Sugar Factory was certainly well-known, but more in the sense of being an “internet sensation.”

While Jiang Tingzhou didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, it wasn’t enough. Especially once A Bite of China aired—they needed to sustain that visibility and build a strong, lasting brand image. Public-facing advertisements were essential for that.

“Just burying your heads in work will eventually put you at a disadvantage,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “Don’t you two want to take this opportunity to expand your influence?”

Both Bingcheng Chao and Haoshi weren’t companies known for aggressive marketing. Just by looking at Zhou Bing and Du Juan, you could tell—they weren’t the type to network just for appearances. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be sitting in the back row.

Yet both companies were actually large in scale and well-known in the industry.

“I’ve been thinking about it,” Du Juan replied thoughtfully. “What Mr. Jiang said does make sense.”

Everyone in the room knew that TV advertising was expensive.

Take the sugar factory for example. It was making money, but there were still plenty of expenses. It couldn’t afford to throw hundreds of millions into marketing the way some conglomerates did. Ten million was the most reasonable budget for now—but that amount wasn’t enough to buy traditional TV ads.

The other two companies faced similar constraints. They weren’t mega-corporations. In their industry, blowing the budget on ads would be putting the cart before the horse.

“I want to take a small bet for a big win,” Jiang Tingzhou said. “I’m putting my bet on the chef competition. I believe there’s a good chance of winning. I’m a chef and a blogger—this is my area of expertise.”

As an internet-famous food blogger, Jiang Tingzhou had connections—like Cheng Shifei, who could help with promotion. Besides TV programs, he also planned a livestream warm-up before the competition. An Xiaoping had contacts at a short video platform, and they were interested.

Jiang Tingzhou had always been persuasive.

Just an hour ago, Zhou Bing and Du Juan still thought advertising through the chef competition was a trap. Now, they no longer felt that way.

Du Juan was swayed. She glanced subtly at Lu Baiyu and said seriously, “Mr. Jiang, I’ll go back and discuss this with my business partner. He’s close with someone from the organizing committee—they’ve been friends for years. I’ll give you an answer tomorrow.”

Everyone in the industry knew Jiang Tingzhou had revived the sugar factory. He made the impossible happen—and now, he had Lu Group’s backing too.

As for Zhou Bing, he nodded without hesitation. Part of it was because of Lu Baiyu—but mostly because he had always been a diehard fan of Jiang Tingzhou.

Even while eating, he was calculating whether his pocket money was enough to cover a few million. Even if his family didn’t give him the money, he’d be willing to spend it just for Jiang Tingzhou’s sake.

“Good,” Jiang Tingzhou said with a smile. “I’ll wait for good news from both of you.” As he spoke, he poured each of them a cup of tea.

The tea had been brewed before the meal and was now just the right temperature. The fragrance of jasmine and grapefruit blended perfectly—not overpowering like store-bought teas, nor bitter. It was smooth, fragrant, and refreshing.

“How did you make this?” Zhou Bing took a sip and was amazed. “I’ve never tasted anything like it.”

“It’s easy,” Jiang Tingzhou replied. “I’ll teach you. You can make it at your restaurant too—it fits well with your menu.”

Zhou Bing’s eyes lit up, nodding enthusiastically.

He thought the tea would pair perfectly with the heavier flavors of stir-fried dishes. It would definitely be popular.

With this in hand, it would also be much easier to convince his dad. After all, Zhou’s father was very familiar with the event organizers—he had even been a past champion of the competition.

That afternoon’s discussion went very smoothly. Du Juan left to discuss the plan with her company. Zhou Bing followed Jiang Tingzhou into the kitchen to learn how to make the jasmine grapefruit tea.

In addition to learning the recipe, he also snapped several photos with Jiang Tingzhou, looking like a fanboy who had just achieved his lifelong dream.

Outside, Wen Qi and Lu Baiyu still hadn’t left.

While Jiang Tingzhou was still in the kitchen, Wen Qi gave Lu Baiyu a sarcastic smile. “Mr. Lu really stops at nothing. There’s no place you won’t stick your nose into.”

Lu Baiyu didn’t even look at him. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Wen Qi. I’m clearly the better match for Tingzhou—even if it’s just business, I’ve outdone you in every way.”

As he spoke, he began tidying up the table. Of course, he took back the food containers he brought, but he also carefully cleared the rest—even the bowls of steamed lily—like he was in his own home.

Wen Qi was furious. “What are you so proud of? You’re just—” He raised his voice, then quickly glanced toward the kitchen. Not wanting Jiang Tingzhou to overhear, he lowered his tone and hissed, “You think everything will just go smoothly for you from now on?”

“That’s not up to you,” Lu Baiyu said coolly, picking up a tray loaded with dishes and chopsticks. “You should know your place. Don’t get in my way.” He picked up the tray filled with dishes and said, “What if I accidentally broke one? Wouldn’t that upset Tingzhou?”

Jiang Tingzhou was fond of this particular set of blue-and-white porcelain tea cups. He used them every time he hosted guests.

Lu Baiyu carried the tray into the kitchen to wash the dishes, looking quite proud as he did so.

Wen Qi, unwilling to be outdone, chased after him. “Put it down. This isn’t your house. You don’t need to act helpful.”

After all, he had been invited to the meal—it should’ve been his job to do the dishes, not Lu Baiyu’s moment to show off.

The two of them walked into the living room, still bickering—only to bump into Zhou Bing returning from the kitchen.

“Mr. Lu, Mr. Wen—you’re both big shots. No need to argue over something like this,” Zhou Bing said with a cheerful smile. “Mr. Jiang treated me so warmly today, gave me a great meal, and even taught me a recipe. I should be doing something in return.”

As a diehard fan of Jiang Tingzhou, Zhou Bing had already claimed the spot between Jiang Tingzhou and Wen Qi during the meal. He even made sure to eat the entire bowl of lily that Lu Baiyu had brought—cleverly blocking any gestures of affection.

To Zhou Bing, Wen Qi seemed shady, and this Lu fellow was even worse.

The rumored relationship between Lu Baiyu and Jiang Tingzhou had been discussed since the last livestream. It wasn’t a secret that they had known each other for years—while not widely known in professional circles, a few gossip-loving netizens had spread word online. Jiang Tingzhou’s loyal fanbase was well aware.

Though there was no solid proof they were ex-lovers, their interactions certainly didn’t look like mere friendship.

Zhou Bing had seen enough today to feel even more protective.

His attitude matched that of the diehard fans in the Jiang Tingzhou group chat. And now that he had eaten at Jiang Tingzhou’s table and spoken to the man himself, his fan devotion had only intensified.

Wen Qi forced a smile, refusing to let go of the tray. “You’re a guest. Why should you do it?”

Zhou Bing matched him word for word. “Aren’t you guests too?”

Lu Baiyu, meanwhile, was eager to act like more than a guest.

Just then, Jiang Tingzhou returned from the kitchen after washing his hands—and saw the three of them locked in a silent struggle, none willing to let go.

“What’s all this fuss about?” he asked, half amused. “Give it here. I’ve got a dishwasher.”

An Xiaoping had installed one recently, knowing Jiang Tingzhou disliked washing dishes.

So Jiang Tingzhou took the tray and waved them off. “No need for this drama. Just go.”

Lu Baiyu didn’t argue—he wasn’t one for childish games. But still, when the three left at the same time that afternoon, none of them dared linger, for fear that someone else might stay behind.

Later that day, Lu Baiyu was the first to send Jiang Tingzhou an update.

He had not only contacted the TV station but also reached out to Qin Rushuang. The Qin family had been in the film and television industry for years, and they introduced an experienced variety show director to help produce the competition.

Coincidentally, this director’s style matched Jiang Tingzhou’s vision.

Ordinary directors often used a bland, straightforward approach that failed to engage the public. Jiang knew that even the timing and editing of the show could affect its reach.

Though this was a “gamble,” Jiang Tingzhou was stacking the odds in his favor.

For food photography, Cheng Shifei was the best—but he had other projects at the station and couldn’t join. However, his senior brother supported the project and sent a highly skilled assistant director.

With two experienced directors working together, both the visuals and pacing of the competition were guaranteed.

Along with Lu Baiyu’s update, a bag of fresh lily bulbs and a jar of osmanthus honey arrived at Jiang Tingzhou’s door.

Lu Group’s model of sourcing ingredients directly had its advantages. Jiang Tingzhou hadn’t seen lilies this good in the market lately. These were high-mountain lilies, nine years old—three years growing, three years blooming, and three years maturing. They were crisp and sweet, even raw.

That night, Jiang Tingzhou steamed a bowl for himself. He used his own acacia honey, as Lu Baiyu’s was a bit too sweet.

He sat there eating his lily dish, grilling some skewers on a small stove, with a children’s cartoon playing in the background—something he had seen before and still found amusing.

Zhou Bing and Du Juan had yet to respond.

But good things were worth waiting for.

And soon, he got the answer he wanted.