Watching Wan Fuyu leave, Cheng Su and Ning Ge sat down again. Ning Ge said, "That Wan Fuyu, he’s quite calculating, can endure, and is adaptable—a real old fox."
Cheng Su made a noise, looking at him with a half-smile.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" Ning Ge exclaimed.
"Since when did our Fourth Young Master become so good at judging people? I thought all our Fourth Young Master could do was eat, drink, and have fun!" Cheng Su teased, ruffling Ning Ge’s hair like a big sister.
"Cheng Su, don’t treat me like a child; I’m five years older than you!" Ning Ge brushed her hand away.
"So petty!" Cheng Su snorted. "If Wan Fuyu wasn’t calculating, how could he have brought Friendly to where it is today? Even though he did rely on the Yue family’s foundation, after all these years, if he didn’t have some guts, how could he develop Friendly to this extent? Never underestimate your opponents!"
"So you really consider him your primary rival?" Ning Ge raised an eyebrow.
Cheng Su shook her head and said, "It’s not that I underestimate Friendly, but I pay more attention to this company."
Ning Ge looked, "Jam Company?"
"It’s a local company. I’ve tasted their jams, and they’re very delicious. Their sales are the highest among several local brands. Besides, they’ve already launched Cherry Jam!" Cheng Su’s expression was a bit tense.
Sometimes, people tend to favor the first comer. They say the first to try crabs... Their pineapple jam and strawberry jam sell well because they were first on the market, so any company that follows is, more or less, just imitating.
And this Good Taste Company launched Cherry Jam first. Once people try it, they’ll naturally find it fresh and good.
They also have the advantage of local presence, and since the competition is organized by the authorities, they are bound to get ranked, right? Otherwise, how would it look?
Ning Ge noticed her concern and comforted, "When we first talked about the competition, the idea was to promote the company through it. We’ve achieved that. Now some people are paying attention to our company. As for winning an award, it’s nice if we get it, but if not, we shouldn’t be too concerned. Sometimes, focusing too much on success or failure can actually tie us down."
Cheng Su smiled, "You’re quite good at comforting people!"
Ning Ge coughed, "I’m just afraid that if you don’t win, you’ll cry."
Cheng Su scoffed lightly, "You’re right, focusing too much on rankings can tie us down. Nerves can often ruin things, so let’s just enjoy the experience. Winning isn’t crucial; participating is what matters. Who knows, we might even get a surprise!"
No expectations, no disappointments. When you don’t expect anything, you’re often pleasantly surprised. Stressing too much over success or failure leads to overthinking.
A trace of admiration flashed in Ning Ge’s eyes. He really appreciated Cheng Su’s clear perspective. Working with her is truly enjoyable, though it’s a pity because eventually, he’ll have to spread his wings and leave.
"Don’t worry too much; I’ve looked into it. At least two judges are fair—gourmet Mr. Cai and the president of the Tourism and Culture Association, Yang Yuehua. Both are top-notch foodies with very discerning taste buds." Ning Ge added another piece of information.
"When did you find that out? Why didn’t I know!" Cheng Su was a bit surprised.
Ning Ge smugly curled his lips, insinuating, "There are plenty of things you don’t know!"
After setting up their accommodations, Cheng Su and the team went to eat, then held a meeting to discuss the next day’s schedule and possible situations they might encounter. They also rehearsed the competition process to ensure everything goes smoothly.