Liu Yifeng didn't insist further after hearing her words, "Alright, I'll treat you another day!"
What Liu Yifeng didn't expect was that Su Wanru would invite him to dine at the Long Teng Grand Hotel.
Judging by Su Wanru's familiar demeanor, she frequented this place.
Moreover, as soon as the waiter saw her, they proactively approached, "Welcome, General Manager Su. Is it your usual table?"
Su Wanru nodded faintly, "Yes, the usual table!"
"Understood, please follow me!" The waiter gestured and then led the way.
Before long, Liu Yifeng arrived at a private room on the second floor. This room was well-situated, featuring a scenic window that offered views of the outside landscape and towering buildings.
The lake outside, reflecting the mirage, created a truly awe-inspiring spectacle.
"Mr. Liu, I'm not sure about your and your son's preferences, so please order," Su Wanru motioned for the waiter and handed the menu to Liu Yifeng.
Liu Yifeng was agreeable to anything and wasn't picky. He ordered two dishes that Tongtong liked and returned the menu to Su Wanru.
Su Wanru, however, assumed Liu Yifeng was hesitant to order, considering the expense of dining here.
She took the menu and asked the waiter, "Do you still have the new seasonal vegetables today?"
"Yes, we procured over a thousand catties of vegetables today to meet customer demand. However, a large portion has already been sold. They might be gone if you wait any longer."
"Then, please give me a dish of fried string beans with meat, and a dish of scrambled eggs with tomatoes. Hmm... and then a salt-baked lobster, Dongpo pork, and finally a sea cucumber soup."
After finishing, she turned to Tongtong, "Tongtong, what would you like to drink?"
"Thank you, Auntie, I don't like to drink beverages!" Tongtong waved her hand.
Su Wanru was somewhat surprised, as few children nowadays didn't enjoy sugary drinks.
However, it was better that way, given the additives in most beverages. "In that case, I'll have a jug of mango juice!"
With that, she returned the menu to the waiter.
After the waiter left, Su Wanru explained to Liu Yifeng, "You'll be driving back later, so I didn't order any alcohol for you. I hope you don't mind, Mr. Liu!"
"It's fine, one certainly shouldn't drink and drive. But can the three of us finish so many dishes?" Liu Yifeng asked.
He hadn't anticipated that his vegetables would become so popular that even the vice president of Bai Guo Yuan would know about them.
"It's alright, we can pack whatever we can't finish. But don't underestimate the two vegetable dishes I just ordered. They might look like ordinary home-style cooking.
These are actually new items at the hotel, with a taste that differs significantly from what we usually eat. They are incredibly delicious. Even children who are picky eaters and dislike vegetables say they are good. You and your son should try them later," Su Wanru enthusiastically recommended the vegetables she had ordered.
Liu Yifeng really wanted to say that he was the one who grew those vegetables.
However, he feared Su Wanru might think he was boasting, so he just smiled and said nothing.
Su Wanru, observing his expression, interpreted it as disbelief.
If someone had told her before yesterday that vegetables could be more delicious than any delicacy, she wouldn't have believed it.
But yesterday, while dining with several major clients at this very restaurant, she had ordered two new dishes at the waiter's strong recommendation.
To her surprise, the taste of the dishes completely captivated the clients' taste buds. Because they enjoyed the food so much, their mood was uplifted, and the business negotiations went exceptionally smoothly.
Therefore, she was confident that Liu Yifeng's expression would be one of shock after tasting them.
Shortly, the dishes arrived. Su Wanru pushed the two vegetable dishes towards Liu Yifeng and Tongtong, "Please try these vegetables first. They are quite good."
Frankly, Liu Yifeng was also curious to see how the taste of the same dishes would differ when prepared by the chefs of this five-star hotel compared to his own cooking.
He picked up his chopsticks and first served Tongtong some scrambled eggs with tomatoes, then picked up a string bean and put it in his mouth.
The taste was indeed slightly better than his own cooking, perhaps due to the superior control of heat. The string beans were neither soft nor hard, with a savory and slightly spicy flavor that made one crave a second bite.
However, it didn't astonish Liu Yifeng. After all, the deliciousness of the dish was primarily due to the quality of his own vegetables.
He had been eating the vegetables he grew every day recently, so the initial sense of wonder was long gone.
"Hmm, it's indeed quite good!" Regardless of whether it astonished him, Liu Yifeng responded politely.
Su Wanru looked at Liu Yifeng's normal expression with some surprise. Could it be that the vegetables today were not from the same batch as yesterday's?
So, she picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of a string bean herself. The taste was as good as ever, perhaps even slightly better than yesterday.
But Liu Yifeng's expression didn't seem faked; it was as if he were eating very ordinary food.
Even his son Tongtong showed a perfectly normal reaction while eating the scrambled eggs with tomatoes.
There was no ravenous eating or excited reaction that other children displayed when tasting something delicious.
Could it be that this father and son had different taste buds from ordinary people?
"General Manager Su, is something wrong?" Liu Yifeng asked, noticing Su Wanru's preoccupied look.
Su Wanru hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "Mr. Liu, please don't take offense, but these two dishes are new items at the hotel. It's said that the vegetables were acquired from a young man and have not yet entered the market.
In fact, very few people have tasted these dishes. Yesterday, not only I, but also my clients and other customers, were immensely fond of these new vegetable dishes after trying them. I even ordered more of them.
But your and your son's expressions were too calm when you tasted these two new dishes. Is it that they don't suit your taste, or your taste buds..."
She trailed off, knowing Liu Yifeng understood her implication.
Liu Yifeng, suppressing a smile, said, "Thank you for your concern, General Manager Su. My son's and my taste buds are perfectly normal, with no issues whatsoever.
The reason for our calm expressions after eating these dishes is that..."
However, before he could finish, the door to the private room was opened.
The person who entered was none other than Wan Hui.
He was supervising in the kitchen and had heard from a waiter that Liu Yifeng was here.
Considering the hotel's excellent business today, largely thanks to Liu Yifeng's vegetables, and the fact that most customers were drawn by the vegetables, which in turn boosted sales of other dishes and drinks,
Liu Yifeng could be considered the one who rescued him from his dire straits. He wanted to come over and greet him.
"General Manager Su, welcome! Welcome!" As soon as he entered, he saw Su Wanru seated facing the door and quickly greeted her.
This woman was a VIP customer of their hotel, someone they couldn't afford to offend.
However, he hadn't expected that the person dining with Liu Yifeng would be her.
At the time, when the waiter mentioned that General Manager Su was dining with Liu Yifeng, he hadn't even registered it.
Their relationship seemed impossibly distant.
Su Wanru was also a little surprised, "Why are you here, Manager Wan?"
"I came to say hello to my brother Liu," Wan Hui said with a smile.
"Brother Liu?" Su Wanru looked puzzled.
It wasn't until Liu Yifeng stood up that she understood. "Manager Wan, you're so busy, why did you come all the way here to greet me? I don't need you to host me."
"How can that be? Since you're here, can I pretend not to know?
It's rather distant of you not to inform me when you arrived," Wan Hui feigned displeasure.
Liu Yifeng felt a little awkward, "General Manager Su is treating us to dinner today. I only found out we were eating here after I arrived. I figured it was peak dining time, so I didn't want to bother you."
"What kind of talk is that? It's not a bother. I don't have to cook, so no matter how busy I am, I still have time to greet you!"
Listening to their conversation, Su Wanru was somewhat confused, "What's your relationship?"
Wan Hui smiled and said, "General Manager Su might not know, but the vegetables you ordered were purchased from my brother Liu.
His vegetables have been selling like hotcakes at our hotel for just one day. He's now our hotel's lucky star!"