A Bite of Douluo Continent

Zhao Fenglai cheerfully handed over a piece of beautiful jade. “Let’s not talk about what it is for now. I have long heard that Mr. Cao is a gentleman as fine as jade. I happened to come across such a piece of beautiful jade a few days ago. I am a money-grubber and I am not worthy of it, but it is just right for you, sir. Please take a look at it, Mr. Cao.”

Upon receiving the jade, a hint of surprise flashed in Cao Pingzhi's eyes. He subtly tucked the jade into his pocket, and when he looked up again, a smile had appeared on his face. "Boss Zhao, we're old friends. I'm in charge of food tasting in this area. Please feel free to ask if there's anything I can help you with."

Become!

Zhao Fenglai's smile widened. "Then I won't stand on ceremony. It's like this, I heard that Mr. Cao is still in charge of the Morning Star district this year, you..."

Chapter 150 Food Tasting Rating Assignments

"Take care, Mr. Cao!"

"Mr. Zhao, there's no need to send any more. The food review is coming up soon, and it wouldn't be good if people with ulterior motives found out that we know each other. So, there's no need to send any more. As for the matter you mentioned, I will help you with it."

Zhao Fenglai had been waiting for these words, and at that moment he bowed deeply, saying, "Mr. Cao's kindness is deeply appreciated, and Fenglai Pavilion is willing to be Mr. Cao's friend forever."

After Cao Pingzhi left, Zhao Fenglai slowly withdrew her fawning smile, glanced in the direction of Hanshi Temple, and a hint of gloom appeared in her eyes.

Having seen Prime Minister Xu Changling during the Cold Food Festival, he naturally dared not resort to any underhanded tactics against the festival. However, even a prime minister couldn't speak out in the face of normal business competition.

He couldn't possibly go to the Cold Food Festival, but it wouldn't be difficult to find out information about it.

He gave one of his trusted confidants two hundred gold soul coins, instructing him to go to the Cold Food Festival to taste the dishes there and report back to him.

Although she was convinced that the price of the Cold Food Festival was just a publicity stunt, and even felt that her two hundred gold soul coins were a waste, Zhao Fenglai still played it safe with Qi Han's "no background" still fresh in her mind.

When the confidant returned, his face was extremely grim, and the news he brought back made Zhao Fenglai's expression also turn ugly.

Is any dish served during the Cold Food Festival more delicious than any dish served at home?

This confidant had followed him for decades and had no reason to lie, but Zhao Fenglai preferred that he lie.

How the hell do we fight this?

Fortunately, the food tasting rating week is coming up soon. Since Hanshi has only been open for a short time and its reputation is not yet established, I still have a chance.

If we wait any longer, and the Cold Food Festival gains greater recognition, my Phoenix Pavilion will inevitably be greatly affected.

Damn it, where did those two little bitches from the Qin family find such a person?

The matter that Zhao Fenglai asked Cao Pingzhi to do was actually quite simple: that no dish from the Cold Food Festival should be included in the food tasting.

Food reviews do not evaluate foods that taste bad, so there is no way to smear Hanshi (a traditional Chinese food).

That's all Zhao Fenglai can do; he hopes this approach will suppress the Cold Food Festival.

If that's not possible, he has no other choice.

If Qi Han had no background, Zhao Fenglai could easily manipulate him, but at this moment, he dared not use any of his underhanded methods on Han Shi.

If he offends Prime Minister Xu, he's really finished.

...

Cao Pingzhi touched the beautiful jade in his arms, a smile appearing on his face.

This Boss Zhao is a man of good business. A piece of jade like this must be worth at least a thousand gold soul coins, right?

They really are willing to give up something.

As for the matter he asked of Cao Pingzhi, it was a trivial matter.

A restaurant? Isn't that something I can control at will?

He strolled slowly back to the editorial department of Food Review.

The food tasting and rating process is about to begin; this is the editor-in-chief's last mobilization meeting for the ratings.

The food review editorial team consists of dozens of reviewers and an editor-in-chief. During the review week, these reviewers travel to various parts of Xingluo City to taste and rate the food, and finally submit their results to the editor-in-chief to compile a new issue of the food review.

There's a reason why Cao Pingzhi was able to stand out from the crowd and be assigned to Chenxing Street, the most prosperous street in Xingluo City, time and time again.

Putting aside his character, he certainly has excellent writing skills, and his food reviews are extremely enticing, making him one of the most outstanding reviewers.

The editor-in-chief, named Mu Liufeng, was a rather handsome middle-aged man. He looked at the bustling group of ratings officers filling the conference room and smiled. "Let's start the meeting."

"Tomorrow is my bi-annual food review week. To reiterate, all reviewers, please ensure a fair and impartial review attitude, and be unbiased and selfless."

"The main purpose of this meeting is to assign the areas to each evaluator."

At this point, Mu Liufeng took out a piece of paper and began to read.

"Cao Pingzhi, Morning Star Street".

really.

Cao Pingzhi smiled slightly and glanced at a somewhat resentful man sitting opposite him.

"Lin Lang, Liuyue Street."

...

Lin Lang was the somewhat resentful middle-aged man. Knowing that he had been assigned to Liuyue Street again, he glared at Cao Pingzhi with great dissatisfaction.

Liuyue Street is considered the second most bustling street in Xingluo City.

The quality of the assigned neighborhood doesn't actually have much impact, and that's not why Lin Lang is resentful.

Rather, his home is near Morning Star Street, which is a bit far from Flowing Moon Street, and it's too troublesome to run back and forth every rating week.

Coincidentally, Cao Ping's family lives near Liuyue Street.

Because of this, Lin Lang wanted to talk to the editor-in-chief several times, hoping to switch the neighborhoods he and Cao Pingzhi were in charge of.

The neighborhoods that both of them are responsible for are close to their homes, isn't that a win-win situation?

But Cao Pingzhi didn't think so. He had already developed his own network of relationships in the Morning Star Street area. The money that the merchants in the area gave him every rating week was enough for him to live a carefree life. Naturally, he was unwilling to give up the benefits he had already gained.

Cao Pingzhi was unhappy, so Lin Lang naturally couldn't say anything more. However, the two became somewhat at odds from then on.

In Cao Pingzhi's opinion, Lin Lang was a fool. There was plenty of profit to be made in Liuyue Street, so why did he have to compete with him for Chenxing Street?

Something is wrong.

Lin Lang is an honest man. You wouldn't say he's particularly upright, but at least he's able to give fair and impartial evaluations, which earns him a lot of positive feedback. His only shortcoming is his writing skills, which are not as good as Cao Ping's. As a result, he always falls behind Cao Ping in performance evaluations.

The editor-in-chief insists on allocating neighborhoods based on performance. Can you believe it?

...

After the meeting, Lin Lang returned to his home in the Morning Star neighborhood in a huff. Only when he saw his wife and children at home did his anger slowly dissipate.

Oh well, it's only a week. It'll pass quickly if we work hard. Once the new issue is printed, the editorial department will definitely give us our share of the bonus.

Lin Lang and his wife Li Qinyue have a son and a daughter. Their son is 18 years old and their daughter is only 12. The couple's salary is quite good, and they are considered middle class in Xingluo City.

Upon hearing Lin Lang mention that tomorrow would be another week of evaluations, his daughter Lin Yueru pouted, "Daddy, does that mean you won't be able to have meals with us for the next week?"

Hearing this, Lin Lang's eyes showed a hint of apology.

During food rating week, it's impossible to go home for dinner.

I've ended up spending much less time with my family.

The son, Lin Yuefeng, was even more sensible. He patted his sister's head and smiled, "Dad, since we can't eat together for the next week, why don't we go out for something nice tonight?"

That's a good idea. Seeing the expectant look on his daughter's face, Lin Lang gave his son a thumbs-up.

Good job, kid. I give you full marks for changing the subject.

"Shall we go to Fenglai Pavilion? Or Bihai Tower?"

The two restaurants Lin Lang mentioned are the best in Morning Star Street besides Yueyaolou. However, Yueyaolou's skills have declined significantly, so Lin Lang naturally wouldn't consider them.

Lin Yuefeng chuckled, "Dad, you don't know yet, do you? Yueyaolou has changed hands, and a new restaurant called Hanshi has opened on the site. I heard the food is excellent. Why don't we go and try it together?"

"Oh?" Lin Lang immediately became interested upon hearing Lin Yuefeng's words. "Then let's go and try it together."

Chapter 151 This Makes Perfect Sense

After flipping through the food review magazine for a while and roughly understanding its contents, Qi Han took a rare afternoon nap.

Qi Han originally planned to put Gulu in the cat bed so they could sleep separately, but Gulu seemed to really like Qi Han and took the initiative to come up and sleep with him.

Qi Han had no reason to refuse.

As for the cat hair that fell on the bed...

Oh, Gulu doesn't shed.

Why would a Soul Beast Cat shed fur?

That makes perfect sense!

Fortunately, Qi Han remembered that he had to open the shop that night. Without the system, he set an alarm clock and woke up without missing the opening time.

The Qin sisters opted for Qi Han's cooking instead of hot pot for dinner.

The two women seemed to have reached a consensus: they would eat hot pot for lunch every day and the restaurant's dishes for dinner.

It was time for Gulu to eat, so he obediently jumped onto the partition and waited for Qi Han to add new cat food to his little bowl.

After the meal, the Qin sisters, full of energy, opened the shop and started business. Gulu also seemed to have a lot of energy after eating cat food.

However, considering the raw materials Qi Han used to make cat food...

See, that makes perfect sense.

Lin Lang and his family arrived at Hanshi soon. After looking at the Hanshi store from afar, Lin Lang nodded to himself.

Putting everything else aside, I'm very satisfied with the decor of this newly opened restaurant.

It looks clean and bright, without too many fancy decorations, which is the style I like.

The family entered the Cold Food Festival and sat around a table. The cool, marble table felt wonderful to the touch, and its surface was as clean as a mirror, which made Lin Lang feel even more favorably towards it.

It looks really good, but I wonder how the food is.

After looking around at the interior decorations, Lin Lang quickly spotted the price list.

With just that one glance, Lin Lang's face twisted in a strange way.