Liu Shurong and her son led the group as they walked along, and before long, they reached the entrance of the Seventh Dining Hall.

By this time, it was already past five, and a long line of students waiting to get food stretched far outside from the first-floor cafeteria.

Liu Shurong raised her hand to point ahead, smiling as she said:

"The Seventh Restaurant is just ahead."

"Isn't this the student cafeteria?"

The group looked ahead, their expressions varied, as one of the slightly younger guests couldn't help but exclaim.

After all, not everyone has such deep cunning; this young man still needs more practice.

"Yes, the first floor is the student cafeteria, and the second floor is the Seventh Restaurant."

"Principal He, doesn't your school seem to have a shortage of cafeterias?"

Director Liu, looking calm, pointed at the long queue of students, jokingly said,

"Look at this, students have to line up so long just to eat; it's really not easy!"

"Our school has plenty of cafeterias..."

Principal He replied cheerfully, turning to glance at Niu Wenlin.

Niu Wenlin swallowed, hastily said:

"Our school has seven student cafeterias, enough to meet the dietary needs of both faculty and students. The queue situation at the Seventh Dining Hall is primarily because too many students want to eat here. You won't see such scenes at other cafeterias."

Director Liu's interest was piqued, prompting him to ask, "Oh? Why is it just the Seventh Dining Hall that has queues?"

"Haha, it's because the food at the Seventh Dining Hall is too delicious, and everyone competes to dine here,"

Niu Wenlin spoke with pride, as if it was all his achievement, continuing,

"Director Liu, you probably noticed upon entering the campus, we have now strengthened gate management, strictly restricting external personnel from casually entering the campus, and it's all because of the Seventh Dining Hall!"

"Why?"

"Because the food at the Seventh Dining Hall is so delicious, it has resulted in people from outside the school coming over to compete for food with students, and some even drive here from different places just to taste its dishes."

Niu Wenlin chuckled, saying, "If we don't restrict external personnel, so many people would come in to eat, and the students would have nothing to eat."

"Haha, that's quite amusing."

Director Liu squinted and laughed; he would only treat Niu Wenlin's words as a joke and not foolishly believe it to be true.

How good can the food at a student cafeteria be?

Would it really compel people to drive from other provinces just to eat? Do they not have food?

That's simply a joke!

The top private dining venues in Beijing, he's been to; he doesn't know the cost, but the taste is genuinely the best he's ever had.

Despite this, he never considered making a special trip to Beijing again just to taste that cuisine.

Mind you, the chef at that private dining venue is a state banquet chef!

Even a private dining venue run by a state banquet chef cannot achieve that, so why would a university student cafeteria?

Mockingly chuckling internally, Director Liu glanced at the others, smiling and inviting them,

"Then, let's all go in and have a good taste of the top chef's skills, as Xiaoliu described!"

"Haha, please, Director Liu, after you!"

"Top chefs are rare encounters; we should have a good taste!"

"With you all talking like that, I'm starting to feel a bit hungry!"

"..."

The others laughed and followed Director Liu, moving toward the entrance of the Seventh Dining Hall.

Falling behind were Fan Chuliang and Niu Wenlin, whose faces looked somewhat grim. These people clearly have false smiles and a sneering demeanor, dining with such a group really feels unlucky.

However, Jiang Yu's cooking is so delicious...

Alas, let it be, endure it!

I will endure him, let him, avoid him, leave him be, pay no mind to him, and ask him shortly...

If his face is swollen!

Liu Shurong seemed poised, leading by holding Lele's hand, difficultly navigating through the crowded cafeteria hall, heading up the stairs to the second floor.

At the entrance of the second floor, there hung a large wooden sign engraved with the four words "Seventh Restaurant" in flowing script, exuding a certain charm.

Director Liu glanced up, smiling, and said, "The name is quite nicely chosen!"

As for the dishes served here... just looking at the environment was telling.

What upscale restaurant opens above a noisy student cafeteria?

This is absurd!

Besides the three leaders from Jiang University, others also looked somewhat grim, each displaying forced, awkward smiles.

After all, everyone is quite busy; it's rare to find time to attend a banquet, initially expecting some affluent guest from Qiantang to treat everyone to a lavish meal. Who knew it would be in such a smoky place...

How could anyone be happy with this?

If I'd known it would be like this, I might as well have turned down the invitation and gone to a familiar little place with a few friends for a drink and some fun. Wouldn't that be more comfortable?

Regret is hitting me so hard I could just bang my head against the wall!

Unfortunately, I'm already here now, and there are other leaders as well. If I just get up and leave, that would be too rude.

No choice but to tough it out.

"Welcome to Room Seven!"

Tongtong is acting as a waitress today; it's her first time taking charge of reception, so she's a bit nervous,

"Aunt Liu, we've prepared the 'Winter' private room for you. Let me lead you there!"

"Okay, thank you, Xiaoyan."

Liu Shurong and Yan Tongtong are already quite familiar with each other, and she really likes this pretty and lively girl. Seeing her a bit nervous, she let go of Lele, pinched Tongtong's little hand, and said with a smile,

"Once we're in the room, let's start serving the dishes directly, everyone's hungry."

"Sure."

Yan Tongtong nodded and led the group all the way to the private room.

Once everyone was inside, she served them tea that had just been made, then turned to leave and let Jiang Yu know the guests had arrived.

Jiang Yu had been busy in the kitchen all afternoon and had finished preparing six cold dishes. The hot dishes had also been coordinated downstairs and brought up, ready to be served as soon as the guests arrived.

Hearing from Yan Tongtong that Liu Shurong had instructed to start serving, Jiang Yu nodded and said, "Alright, Xiaoyan, go ahead and serve the dishes."

Saying that, he opened the fridge and brought out the prepared cold dishes.

On the other side, Yan Tongtong carefully placed each dish on the serving cart. Once the six cold dishes were all loaded, she pushed the cart towards the "Winter" room.

In the private room, Liu Shurong and Director Liu were having a lively conversation, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

The group, including Director Liu, didn't have many expectations for this meal, but Liu Shurong was someone they wanted to cultivate a good relationship with, which was their main reason for attending.

They were sharing anecdotes and laughing when there was a gentle knock on the private room door.

The door then opened, and Yan Tongtong, looking a bit nervous, glanced at Liu Shurong and asked,

"Hello leaders, shall we start serving the dishes?"

"Go ahead."

"Okay."

Yan Tongtong acknowledged and turned to the pantry service area to take a dish from the cart back to the room, carefully placing it on the table's lazy Susan, and announced,

"The first dish is a cold dish, Garlic Pork Belly, please enjoy!"

Upon seeing this classic Sichuan dish, Garlic Pork Belly, Director Liu gave it a glance but didn't react, continuing with the conversation,

"Xiaoliu, personally, I still think the college entrance exam difficulty in Jiangzhou is slightly lower than in Qiantang. If Lele can transfer her household registration here and take the college entrance exam in Jiangzhou, her chances of entering a prestigious university would be much higher.

Moreover, we still have Principal Qian, who can remind Lele's subject teachers to pay more attention to her. Improving her grades shouldn't be a problem."

A bald-headed middle-aged man sitting beside Director Liu nodded with a smile:

"Paying more attention to new students is also the teachers' responsibility, it's only right."

"Lele is only in her first year of high school; we'll discuss future matters in the future."

Liu Shurong smiled gently, not continuing the topic, and pointed at the table's Garlic Pork Belly, saying with a smile,

"The food has started being served, let's chat while eating."

Only then did Director Liu and the others cast their eyes on the plate of Garlic Pork Belly.

The presentation of this Garlic Pork Belly was quite beautiful.

Thin slices of pork were arranged in a circle on the white plate, with the middle forming a volcano shape, fiery red sauce spilling down like lava. The sauce, speckled with white sesame seeds and topped with green scallions, was a visual delight.

Director Liu pointed at it with his finger and chuckled, "The presentation is quite impressive."

"Indeed, it looks so good that I almost don't want to dig in, haha!"

"It's presented beautifully, but I wonder how it tastes?"

"..."

The group kept talking, but no one picked up their chopsticks.

"We won't know unless we try, right?"

Unable to wait any longer, Niu Wenlin ignored Principal He's wide-eyed stare and grabbed the chopsticks, reaching for the plate.

If you guys won't eat, I will!

I've been craving this for a long time, better for you all to not realize, or you'll regret it later!

A piece of pork, half fatty and half lean, was picked up and went straight into Niu Wenlin's mouth.

As soon as the sauce-coated pork hit his tongue, Niu Wenlin's eyes widened, and his cheeks turned red. Without saying a word, he chewed quickly and swallowed.

After finishing one piece, he eagerly reached for another with his chopsticks.

Fan Chuliang, being a bit older and more composed, knew the Garlic Pork Belly must be delicious, but with so many leaders not moving their chopsticks, he hesitated. He watched Niu Wenlin with envy, secretly praying:

"Lao Niu, don't go overboard, at least leave some for us!"

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