I'm the Culinary God-Chapter 554 - 270: Large Top-Up Comes With a Reward? Classic Shanghai Dish—Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs! [Subscribe Please]_2
Cuisine from the Yangtze River Delta region?
That was much simpler. Dishes like White Robed Shrimp could be prepared for everyone to try.
Just as Lin Xu was about to agree, a system prompt suddenly sounded in his mind:
"Host has received a first-time cash top-up of ten million, awarding the Perfect Level classic Shanghai cuisine—Sweet and Sour Small Ribs. Congratulations to the host."
What? Someone topped up ten million?
Lin Xu was somewhat surprised. But now that he had acquired another Shanghai dish, he might as well make it too. He said to Yan Lin,
"I’m quite good at making Sweet and Sour Small Ribs as well. If President Yan doesn’t mind, I can prepare a portion for you and your friends to taste tonight."
"Sweet and Sour Small Ribs?"
Yan Lin’s eyes were full of surprise. She had not expected Lin Xu to know this dish.
To avoid any disappointment, she asked quietly,
"Is it the old Shanghai-style method?"
"Yes, with a lot of sugar, the kind that’s so sweet it would make country folks cry."
Hearing the term "country folks," Yan Lin, who was playing with a cat teaser, couldn’t help but laugh.
"Young Lin, if you keep teasing us Shanghainese like this, I’ll have to protest, you know."
In the past, when Shanghai was prosperous, they considered everyone else country folk. Even people from Beijing visiting Shanghai would be looked down upon.
But nowadays, this attitude is rare. The younger generation in Shanghai rarely speaks the soft Wu dialect anymore. Everyone speaks Mandarin, and the distinction between locals and outsiders has become blurred.
As the two were talking, Shu Yun came up with Yan Lin’s secretary.
"President Yan, all the cards are topped up."
"Wrap those seven cards in an envelope and give them to the guests tonight. Keep the one with three million. Next time I’m in Beijing without special plans, I’ll dine at Young Lin’s place."
So it was President Yan, with her commanding aura, who had topped up the ten million! Lin Xu quickly expressed his gratitude,
"Thank you for your support, President Yan. If there’s anything you would like to eat in the future, just let me know, and I will do my best to fulfill your request."
The addition of ten million to the store’s account also meant an extra ten million points. He could finally exchange for other dishes and Techniques without agonizing over points. Even Perfect Level dishes might be exchanged... Uh, better skip Perfect Level for now.
The starting price of 800,000 points was still somewhat daunting. With over ten million points at hand now, exchanging for Perfect Level dishes would only yield about a dozen or so. Some famous, complex dishes even cost more than 800,000 points, requiring an additional spend.
In such a case... it’s better to focus on paving the way with Superior dishes.
Yan Lin looked at Lin Xu and said with a smile,
"No need to be so polite. Your skills are worth it. Besides, this is a top-up, not a gift. You’ll have to cook enough dishes to cover it."
Still, topping up ten million is incredibly generous. This will elevate the store’s cash reserves to a new high, allowing the company to operate even more smoothly. Even the expansion of Ziqiang Shengjian can be pursued more boldly.
Having said that, Yan Lin focused wholeheartedly on playing with Dundun using the cat teaser. Under Dundun’s ’expert’ guidance, this typically decisive businesswoman quickly mastered the art of playing with the cat teaser.
Lin Xu didn’t disturb them further. He instructed Shu Yun to take good care of President Yan, then washed his hands and headed to the kitchen.
Business was booming, and both the company and the store were developing soundly. While his own efforts played a part, it certainly wouldn’t have been possible without Dou Wenjing’s management.
It was time to discuss formal compensation with this capable lady, who was always worried about gaining weight yet couldn’t resist delicious food. Indeed, since taking office, Dou Wenjing had adhered to the code of a professional manager, wholeheartedly helping the store and company get on track, which had saved Lin Xu a lot of trouble. A general manager who made things so easy for him definitely deserved a high salary. Moreover, in less than a month, Dou Wenjing had developed his impulsive investment in the shengjian shop into several branches, turning it into a chain enterprise for the company. Based on current trends, the company could see a net monthly profit increase of several hundred thousand. This income alone was enough to justify a high salary for Dou Wenjing.
Reaching the kitchen entrance, he sent a message to Manager Dou,
"After lunch tomorrow, would it be possible to have a chat, Wenjing?"
Dou Wenjing was sitting in her office chair, still savoring the memory of the Fried Pork Chop from lunch. When she saw the message, her lips curled into a smile as she quickly replied,
"Okay, boss!"
Communicating with such a straightforward boss was so much less of a hassle. Unlike in some companies where employees generated substantial profits, yet the bosses played dumb and never mentioned a raise. Such infuriating bosses deserved to be sorted out by the Gen Zers.
Entering the kitchen, Lin Xu began to prepare for the evening’s dishes.
Among the dishes he had now mastered, suitable options included Braised Pork Belly, Sweet and Sour Small Ribs, Fried Pork Chop, Grilled Pork Chops, White Robed Shrimp, White Jade Lotus Root Strips, Braised Mahuangqiao, Steamed Sea Bass, and Crucian Carp Tofu Soup... However, he couldn’t serve all of them. For instance, Braised Pork Belly and Braised Mahuangqiao were clearly a bit repetitive. As for Steamed Sea Bass, the Shanghai method for preparing sea bass differed from Cantonese cuisine. Although the Shanghai style also involved steaming, a layer of chopped scallions was placed on the fish before pouring hot oil over it at the end. Furthermore, the Steamed Fish Sauce would be replaced by a homemade soy sauce favored in Shanghai. This homemade soy sauce was made by simmering white sugar, Light Soy Sauce, and Dark Soy Sauce together. The flavor was a rich blend of sweet and savory, with a strong soy aroma. White Jade Lotus Root Strips wasn’t a regular menu item at Lin Ji’s Food; after all, even Fishing Platform hadn’t introduced it yet. It would be rather presumptuous for Lin Ji to serve it. However, offering a taste to a distinguished guest like President Yan was perfectly fine.
