C12 Special Effect

"Young man, your culinary skills are quite impressive. If you could..."

The elderly gentleman had intended to extend an invitation to Du Binn, but Du Binn cut him off mid-sentence.

"Sir, if you find my dishes to your liking, you're more than welcome to visit anytime."

Du Binn was aware of the old man's intentions, so without waiting for him to finish, he preemptively declined, leaving the old man with no choice but to swallow his words.

The old man regarded Du Binn with a sense of resignation. It appeared that convincing Du Binn, this formidable figure, was out of the question. He had planned to make a concerted effort, yet his invitation was rebuffed before he could even articulate it.

Song Jia was about to reprimand Du Binn, but the sharp glance from the old man stopped her in her tracks.

She had been reprimanded by her grandfather the last time she spoke out against Du Binn, a lesson Song Jia had taken to heart.

"Ah, you truly are a rare find. I pride myself on recognizing and utilizing talent, yet you refuse. It's genuinely disheartening."

The old man couldn't help but express his admiration, but Du Binn simply smiled and reassured him, "I'm flattered by your high regard, sir, but I have no desire to leave this place."

Du Binn glanced affectionately at his modest establishment. It might have been humble, but he was determined to grow his business. Besides, it was the only legacy his father had left him, and he couldn't just abandon it.

"Sir, if you're genuinely fond of my cooking, I'll make sure to notify you whenever I have new creations for you to sample. How does that sound?"

Du Binn, moved by the old man's look of disappointment and remembering that he was his very first customer, felt compelled to offer some consolation.

Upon hearing Du Binn's proposal, the old man's face broke into a smile. "Very well, we have a deal."

With that, the old man pulled a business card from his box and handed it to Du Binn.

Du Binn accepted the card and his eyes widened slightly at the name inscribed on it.

"Chairman of Hongqiao Group, Zhang Zhenye."

The Hongqiao Group was a Fortune 500 powerhouse, and Zhang Zhenye was a legendary figure. Du Binn never imagined he'd encounter such an illustrious individual in this rural setting.

"Old man, I never would've guessed you were..."

Du Binn looked at the elder with excitement, reaching out to shake his hand. But the old man quickly clasped his hand, signaling with his eyes.

"I'm just a regular guy. No need for such surprise, young man."

Du Binn caught on to the old man's cue and promptly held back his next words.

The elder preferred to keep his presence here a secret. He had come to nurture his spirit and didn't want his peaceful life disturbed by too many people.

Jiang Jiafei, on the other hand, was visibly perplexed. Observing the easy rapport between the two, she couldn't help but suspect the old man was a bit of a fraud. Yet, having tasted the Golden Egg Fried Rice herself, she had to admit it was truly exquisite.

Curious, Jiang Jiafei decided to try the Sweet Osmanthus Lotus Porridge to see if it lived up to its reputation.

"Boss, why is this Osmanthus Lotus Seed Porridge pricier than the Golden Egg Fried Rice?"

Jiang Jiafei eyed the price list, her confusion growing. The Golden Egg Fried Rice was already steep, but the Osmanthus Lotus Seed Porridge was priced astronomically.

"This Osmanthus Lotus Seed Porridge may look like any other, but its ingredients are all natural and pollution-free, and the water is from a mountain spring. Most importantly, it has a special effect."

"What kind of effect?"

"That's something you'll only discover after tasting it. If I tell you, it'll spoil the experience."

Jiang Jiafei hadn't anticipated Du Binn's ploy to entice her into trying the porridge. She viewed his explanation as nothing more than a sales tactic. However, she was determined to prove Du Binn wrong today and see for herself if the Osmanthus Lotus Seed Porridge was truly worth the price.

"Enough talk. Serve me a bowl. If it's not up to par, I expect a refund."

"Sure thing. Just give me a moment, and I'll prepare it for you."

Du Binn wasn't bothered by Jiang Jiafei's skepticism. It's hard for most to justify the cost, but he was pleased she was willing to give it a try. He was confident she wouldn't find any fault with it.

Du Binn quickly prepared the Osmanthus Lotus Seed Porridge and set it down before Jiang Jiafei.

"Your Osmanthus Lotus Seed Porridge is ready. Enjoy," he said with a smile.

The aroma was truly invigorating, and as Jiang Jiafei gazed at the porridge before her, she found herself eager to taste it.

She pulled a packet of paper from her bag, carefully wiped her spoon, and then took a spoonful of the fragrant porridge to her lips.

A slight purse of her lips, and an involuntary smile spread across Jiang Jiafei's face as the flavors of the Osmanthus Lotus Seed Porridge blossomed in her mouth.

Finishing the porridge, she felt an immediate refreshing sensation in her throat, and was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected benefit of the dish.

At that moment, Jiang Jiafei also felt a wave of relief from the fatigue that had enveloped her body. Having been worn out from her trek up the mountain, she had already felt rejuvenated after eating the Golden Egg Fried Rice. She turned to Du Binn, her expression one of astonishment. Could it be that his Golden Egg Fried Rice had the power to alleviate tiredness?

But that seemed impossible. It was just a simple bowl of Egg Fried Rice, special only for its steep price and deliciousness.

The more Jiang Jiafei pondered, the more puzzled she became. She looked at Du Binn with wide eyes and blurted out, "Boss, does your Golden Egg Fried Rice have the ability to ease fatigue?"

She quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. Such fanciful thoughts were not typical for her.

Normally, she would scoff at anyone who suggested such a thing. Yet here she was, voicing the very idea she would typically mock, which was quite bewildering.

Du Binn himself was unaware of any special properties in the Golden Egg Fried Rice; the system had given no such indication.

He simply smiled at Jiang Jiafei and replied, "That's something you'll have to discover on your own."

Song Jia, overhearing the conversation, approached and added, "You feel it too? I thought so as well. Maybe there really is something to this Golden Egg Fried Rice."

Song Jia was hesitant to accept the reality before her. Only moments ago, she had dismissed it as a trick of her mind, but Jiang Jiafei's confirmation made her believe.

The elder pondered for a while before speaking up, "It seems the Golden Egg Fried Rice Set has done its magic."

He had eaten Golden Egg Fried Rice in the past, but never as part of a set meal, and hadn't noticed any particular effect. Today, after consuming the set, he felt a noticeable lightness in his body.

A thought began to take root in Jiang Jiafei's mind upon hearing the elder's remarks.