After discussing with Old Song, Cheng Su specifically made Dongpo Pork the special of the day for next Tuesday.
While Cheng Su was still in charge of purchasing supplies for the restaurant, the addition of Old Song and his son meant more hands on deck. At lunchtime, she could step away to collect money and greet customers, leaving the kitchen to Old Song and his team.
Upon arriving, Ying Xiaoya immediately exclaimed, "Oh, have you recruited someone?"
"Chef Song is very skilled. Try some dishes he cooked today," said Cheng Su with a smile. "How about I make you some Dongpo Pork?"
"No, I’ve gained so much weight eating here lately. With this weather, something light would be nice. Do me a bitter gourd stir-fried with beef, and hold the chili. I’ve got another pimple on my chin. Seriously, how come nothing ever pops up on your face?" Ying Xiaoya enviously glared at Cheng Su’s face as she spoke.
Cheng Su might not have been exceptionally beautiful, but her face was distinctively appealing, and most importantly, impeccably clean without a blemish in sight. Her skin was white and smooth, eliciting envy from others.
Cheng Su touched her own face and said, "I’ll copy my skincare routine for you later."
"Now you’re talking," replied Ying Xiaoya, clearly pleased. "Oh, and by the way, my dad said he has a dinner with the principal of Feng City the day after tomorrow, and he asked you to join, okay?"
Cheng Su’s face lit up with surprise, "A dinner invitation already? Won’t I seem out of place if I go?"
"No problem. The principal’s name is Gong Mingdong, he watched me grow up. I call him ’Uncle’, I’ll be there with you," assured Ying Xiaoya generously.
Cheng Su hugged her, calling her the best BFF of the year, and declared magnanimously, "Done, dinner is on me then!"
"I won’t hold back then," responded Ying Xiaoya without hesitation, taking a seat.
Right on cue, her ordered dish was served. Cheng Su served her some rice, saying, "Try it and see how it tastes. The executive chef here is no small deal; his ancestors were Imperial Chefs."
"Wow, where did you dig up this treasure?" Ying Xiaoya’s interest was piqued. She quickly grabbed a chopstick and tried a bite, speaking only after swallowing, "Not bad at all, the seasoning is just right, the beef is tender, and even the bitter gourd is less bitter than usual."
Cheng Su hadn’t tried Old Song’s cooking yet, so hearing this, she grabbed a pair of chopsticks and tasted as well, immediately smiling from ear to ear, "It seems I really found a gem."
They looked at each other and burst into a chuckle.
Cheng Su glanced towards Old Song, who was busy in the kitchen, donning professional attire and wearing a mouth mask. His demeanor and expertise were on par with those of executive chefs she knew in prestigious hotels from her past life. An idea flickered in her mind.
"Xiao Ya, do you know where the dinner with the principal is going to be the day after tomorrow?" Cheng Su asked.
"Haven’t decided yet, I’ll have to ask my dad about it later."
"If it’s not set yet, what about having it here, at my place? Do you think it would be beneath them?" Cheng Su tentatively asked.
"Have it here?" Ying Xiaoya looked around and said, "That could work. The taste of your restaurant is not inferior to other places."
"You really think so?" Cheng Su’s heart soared with joy. She added, "But this place is rather small, I’m worried they might feel it’s beneath their status."
"Ah, don’t worry about that. I’ll just say I made the arrangements. Besides, all this talk about status is pointless we’re all just ordinary people. I trust that with your skills, you can make excellent dishes," Ying Xiaoya said reassuringly.
Cheng Su’s eyes brightened at the words and she declared, "Alright, then let’s set the location for this dinner here at my place!"