At this time, it's the peak hour.

The queue of customers at Delicious Restaurant is getting longer and longer.

Ma Deqiang looked at the gradually forming long line outside.

While clicking his tongue in admiration, he became more determined to invite this restaurant to participate in this year's food festival.

When the stir-fried rice cakes with crab and nourishing fish soup were served.

Ma Deqiang asked with a smile, "Hello, could you please tell your boss that Manager Ma from the Commerce Bureau has something to discuss with him and would like to know when he might have time for a meeting?"

Old Qin understood as soon as he heard this.

This Ma Deqiang wasn't just saying it casually.

Looks like Boss Huang's participation in the food festival is almost certain~

But Xu Hao, standing nearby, was a bit puzzled yet remained polite, "My boss is still busy right now. He usually has time after business hours, but I can pass on the message for you."

"Alright, thanks ~"

"You're welcome..."

As soon as Xu Hao returned to the kitchen, he saw the flames licking the bottom of the pot joyfully, oil splatters singing in the fierce fire, and his boss calmly tossing the wok.

He walked over to Huang Tao and relayed, "Boss, there's a manager from the Commerce Bureau named Ma Deqiang outside who says he wants to meet you."

The Commerce Bureau?

What does he want?

Huang Tao asked somewhat puzzled, "Did he say why he wanted to see me?"

"He didn't say! Just mentioned he wanted to chat." Xu Hao shook his head and added, "But he's with Qin right now, and the two of them are eating in the restaurant."

"Oh, I see. I'll meet him after I'm done." Huang Tao continued his work.

Xu Hao, slicing the braised duck necks nearby, said, "That's what I told him too..."

While speaking, Huang Tao's stir-fried crab cakes were ready to be served.

Lin Yuhan, who was observing, taking notes, and being an onlooker, quickly offered a plate, "Boss Huang, here you go..."

But...

A quick glance at the queue inside the store.

Yan Ming!

Oh my god, why is he here too?

Lin Yuhan instinctively squatted down.

She wanted to use the kitchen stove to hide herself; she mustn't let Yan Ming discover her.

Huang Tao turned his head, about to pour the stir-fried crab cakes into the plate, but didn't see the plate anymore.

Huh?

Where's the plate?

Huh?

And where did the person go?

Just as he was puzzled, he saw a fair hand slowly reach up towards the stove with a plate...

Oh dear, my goodness~

Luckily, he had a strong heart; otherwise, he would've dropped the pot in fright.

He looked down at the "culprit," Lin Yuhan, thinking: Are you playing Ghost in Love here!

"Lin Yuhan, what are you doing!"

Lin Yuhan immediately put a finger to her lips, shushing him.

Then she softly asked, "Boss Huang, can I squat here for a while?"

Yan Ming is queuing up here, surely for dinner. If she stands up now, she'll definitely be discovered.

Huang Tao was puzzled.

Hmm? Is it that time of the month?

He asked with concern, "What's up? Is your stomach uncomfortable? If you're not feeling well, you should rest first~"

"My stomach is fine, not uncomfortable." She showed an embarrassing but polite smile.

If she goes out now, she would run right into Yan Ming.

Caught red-handed!

Then her plan would be exposed!

So, hiding for now is her best solution.

And Huang Tao thought, since she wasn't having a stomachache, she must be hiding from someone?!

Who could it be?

Probably the one she loves!

Thinking she was learning to make stir-fried crab cakes for her loved one, intending to surprise him, thus not telling him about her cooking lessons here.

She was worried about being found out by him!

Huang Tao smiled and sighed in his heart, "Being young is great!"

```

He looked up at the queue.

What a pity!

He didn't have a pair of discerning eyes and couldn't identify who among the guys was Lin Yuhan's beloved.

Since he couldn't tell, he didn't pay much attention and continued working on his tasks, cooking the next bowl of crab stir-fried rice cakes.

At this moment, Ma Deqiang was completely captivated by the crab stir-fried rice cakes and the nourishing fish soup in front of him.

The color and aroma were extraordinary, truly exceptional.

Without saying a word, he and Old Qin started eating right away.

As he ate, he exclaimed:

"This stir-fried rice cake with blue crab is amazing—the tender crab meat complements the soft and elastic rice cake perfectly. It's chewy yet savory, with a harmonious blend of seemingly unrelated ingredients that result in an exquisite fusion of flavors. So delicious."

"This nourishing fish soup, with its snow-white color complemented by green scallions, looks like green lotus leaves floating in a jade-white pond, making one's mouth water. A taste of the fish is incredibly delicious. The broth is especially fresh, leaving an unforgettable aftertaste."

Ma Deqiang was completely won over by the food at Delicious Restaurant.

He felt that any dish here could shine at a food festival.

The thought of inviting the restaurant owner to participate grew stronger.

He realized he hadn't heard any response from Old Qin. Looking up, he saw that Old Qin was totally absorbed in eating.

The crab stir-fried rice cake on the plate and the nourishing fish soup in the bowl were both significantly less than his own.

"Good things are best eaten hot; they don't taste as good cold," Old Qin said, taking a second to reply with a mouthful of nourishing fish soup, then continued eating leisurely.

Seeing this, Ma Deqiang didn't say anything more and focused on eating.

The two ate quietly, with only small sounds of chewing.

A while later.

Both finished eating, feeling very full, yet they thought they could eat more.

A few duck necks wouldn't be a problem.

But they restrained themselves.

Old Qin had to because of his age; as you get older, you have to watch your diet!

Ma Deqiang had to because of his own digestive issues; restraint was necessary!

Besides, if they wanted more, they'd have to queue up again!

Ma Deqiang wiped his mouth: "This restaurant is really quite excellent. I've been involved in numerous food festivals and pride myself on my food discovery skills, yet I've still overlooked such a gem~"

"This place just opened, and it's located on West City Old Street, so it's understandable you didn't know," Old Qin said, gently waving a folding fan with a smile.

"True!"

Ma Deqiang thought so too. If this restaurant were in a bustling commercial area with upscale decor, he would have definitely noticed it.

Old Qin, looking through the kitchen's glass, saw Huang Tao busy, and said with a smile, "Manager Ma, Boss Huang must still be busy now and probably doesn't have time to meet you. What's your plan? Going back first or waiting here?"

"Wait, I guess! And with so many people now, it's not suitable for a conversation."

"That works! But let's wait outside, so we don't interfere with Boss Huang's business."

With that, Old Qin collected the crab shells into the plate, wiped the table, then dumped the crab shells in the trash and placed the plate by the dishwasher.

This series of actions was so smooth it left Ma Deqiang stunned.

This... is this still the Qin I know?

He hadn't yet recovered from his surprise when he saw other restaurant patrons cleaning up the tables after eating, just like Old Qin.

My goodness!

What kind of magical place is this restaurant~

Why are the customers all cleaning up the tables themselves?

Isn't cleaning tables the waitstaff's job?

This scene completely reshaped his understanding of the dining service industry!

Half-dazed, he was led out of the restaurant by Old Qin to a temporary canopy set up by some elderly folks outside, where they sat on folding chairs.

Waiting~

But his heart remained restless for a long time.

Old Qin briefly introduced Ma Deqiang to the neighbors and then started chatting with them.

They waited for quite a while.

The customers gradually dispersed.

The elderly people dining under the temporary canopy also left.

They intended to leave the folding chairs to the two of them.

But Old Qin politely declined.

He estimated they would be going in shortly, so standing for a little longer wasn't an issue.

"Elder Qin, let's go in and take a look," Ma Deqiang said to Old Qin when he noticed the restaurant had emptied out, then walked over.

Hearing this, Old Qin stood up and followed behind him.

It was such an important moment, Old Qin certainly wanted to witness it.

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