After the divorce, he took care of his child and sold fried rice; his ex-wife was filled with regret

Zhou Zhengye pointed to the dried lotus leaf covering the mouth of the jar, his eyes filled with scrutiny:

"Was the lotus leaf you used to seal it made from fresh lotus leaves that have been dried?"

"Yes," Lin Fan replied.

Zhou Zhengye shook his head and sneered again:

"I'm an amateur. To make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, you must use aged dried lotus leaves. Fresh lotus leaves contain a lot of moisture and a raw, astringent taste."

"During long simmering, the moisture from the fresh lotus leaves will condense and drip back into the soup, which will not only dilute the richness of the broth, but also ruin the mellowness of the seafood with its raw, grassy taste."

"You don't even understand this most basic common sense, yet you dare to shamelessly claim it's a useless, half-finished product?"

The disappointment in Zhou Zhengye's eyes grew deeper. He felt that coming here today was a complete waste of time.

Lin Fan looked at him, his hand still resting on the edge of the lotus leaf.

"Aged dried lotus leaves do not have a bitter taste, but they also lack vitality. Sealing them in a jar can only keep out dust, not enhance the freshness."

Lin Fan explained calmly, "The astringent taste of fresh lotus leaves will mostly evaporate when they are roasted over high-temperature charcoal. The remaining slight fragrance can just neutralize the heavy oiliness of pig's trotters and ham."

"This is called using the pure to suppress the impure. It's not common sense, it's a matter of feel.

Zhou Zhengye was stunned.

He didn't expect that Lin Fan could not only respond to his words, but also offer such a well-structured theory.

Using the clear to suppress the turbid?

Zhou Zhengye quickly considered this statement in his mind.

Theoretically it seems plausible, but in practice, it requires extremely high control over the heat.

If the heat is too high, the bitterness will drip into the soup; if the heat is too low, the delicate fragrance of the lotus leaves won't be brought out.

"That's just sophistry." Although Zhou Zhengye was slightly shaken, he still refused to back down. "No matter how well you put it, it can't cover up the fact that you falsified your time."

"Open it. Let me smell how much MSG you put in this pot."

Upon hearing this, Lin Fan did not lift the lid.

He slowly withdrew his hand, picked up the thick towel on the table, and placed it on both sides of the purple clay jar.

Under Zhou Zhengye's questioning gaze, Lin Fan used both hands to lift the scalding hot purple clay jar steadily from its wooden base.

"What are you going to do?" Zhou Zhengye frowned.

Qin Lang was also stunned: "Brother Lin?"

Lin Fan held the purple clay jar and looked at Zhou Zhengye.

"Since President Zhou has already determined that this jar of vegetables is garbage, a semi-finished product soaked in chemical solutions..."

Lin Fan's voice was flat, "Then there's no need to open this jar of vegetables."

"My dishes are only made for those who want to eat them, and only for those who understand them."

"Eating with prejudice and preconceived notions will only make even the best food taste like MSG. In that case, let's avoid offending Mr. Zhou's eyes and wasting my ingredients."

Lin Fan, holding the jar, turned around.

"I won't serve this dish."

"Please make yourselves at home."

After saying that, Lin Fan took a step forward, actually carrying the pot of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and prepared to leave the private room.

Everyone in the private room was stunned.

Qin Donghai's heart, which had been filled with despair, suddenly leaped into his throat.

What's wrong with this boss? The investor was just nitpicking, and he actually picked up the dishes and was about to leave?! That's incredibly stubborn!

"Boss Lin! Don't go!" Qin Donghai stood up anxiously and shouted.

Qin Lang rushed over and blocked the doorway.

"Brother Lin! Brother Lin, calm down!" Qin Lang urged, sweating profusely. "Uncle Zhou is just being knowledgeable and asked a few more questions. You went through so much trouble to cook this dish; what kind of nonsense is it to take it back?"

Lin Fan stood still, holding the jar.

"There's nothing to say to people who don't understand cooking," Lin Fan said calmly.

Zhou Zhengye stood by the dining table, watching Lin Fan's back.

Having navigated the business world for so many years, what kind of people haven't he seen?

Those who begged him for investment, weren't they all groveling and fawning over him? Even if he called a deer a horse, they would still laugh and agree.

But today, in a small restaurant on a secluded commercial street.

A young cook, instead of offering a smile and explanation when confronted with his questioning, simply picked up the dish and prepared to leave.

This is a direct slap in the face to Zhou Zhengye.

Strangely, Zhou Zhengye did not feel any anger or resentment.

On the contrary, looking at Lin Fan's unpretentious arrogance, he felt a strong sense of doubt.

When a liar is exposed, he will either try to argue or back down out of guilt.

Only a craftsman who has absolute confidence in his skills will choose to be shattered jade rather than survive a broken tile when insulted.

Is there really something in this jar?

"etc."

Zhou Zhengye spoke up.

His voice was deep and carried the authority of a superior.

Lin Fan stopped and turned around to look at him.

"You've got quite a temper." Zhou Zhengye put his hands behind his back. "You took the dishes away because you were afraid I'd taste the chemicals and ruin your reputation, right?"

Lin Fan looked at him calmly: "Provocation won't work on me."

"This isn't a provocation."

Zhou Zhengye took a step forward.

"You just said that you only cook for people who know what they're doing. Fine. I, Zhou Zhengye, have been eating Buddha Jumps Over the Wall for half my life, so I consider myself a connoisseur."

"Put the jar down. Open it in front of me."

Zhou Zhengye pointed to the wooden base in the center of the table.

"If the taste inside is really as I say, industrial waste made from semi-finished products and MSG, then you should take down your shop's signboard and smash it yourself."

Zhou Zhengye paused, his tone becoming extremely solemn:

"But what if the taste of this dish really lives up to your boast? What if it can really produce the texture of a ten-year-old abalone in forty-eight hours?"

"I, Zhou Zhengye, will sit down and quietly finish this pot of soup."

"Furthermore, I apologize to this jar of vegetables in person."

The private room was extremely quiet.

Qin Lang swallowed hard, looked at Zhou Zhengye, and then at Lin Fan.

For a top tycoon in Beijing to say something like "apologize to Cai" already shows that he has completely abandoned all pride and dignity.

Lin Fan looked at Zhou Zhengye.

He could see that the disdain in the middle-aged man's eyes had faded, replaced by a determination to uncover the truth.

This is enough.

Lin Fan didn't speak. He carried the purple clay jar back to the table.

Under the tense gazes of Qin Donghai and Qin Lang, Lin Fan carefully placed the purple clay jar back onto the wooden base.

Place the thick towel on your hand.

Lin Fan reached out and pinched the hemp rope sealing the mouth of the jar again.

With a slight pull of your fingers, untie the knot.

The hemp rope slipped and landed on the wooden tray.

Lin Fan placed his fingers on the edge of the dried lotus leaf.

Qin Donghai held his breath, gripping the back of the chair tightly with both hands.

The fate of 3 billion yuan rests entirely on this single dry leaf.

Zhou Zhengye stood half a meter away, his eyes fixed on the mouth of the jar.

He wanted to see what was inside that jar that could turn the cook so angry.

Lin Fan applied slight force to his wrist.

Open the altar.

The withered lotus leaves were lifted up.