A local news item on Weibo in Linjiang had gone viral.

Local netizens scrolling through their feeds stopped when they saw it was a report from the local television station’s consumer affairs segment.

They instinctively took a quick look at the headline, which read:

“Mingde Catering Management Co. Anniversary Celebration, large crowd of diners gathering at their restaurants, police officers maintaining order…”

What is this? This can actually go viral?

Mingde isn’t a very famous company in the public eye.

First, its management doesn’t understand promotion, which has led to its presence being overshadowed by trendy internet-famous restaurants in the information age.

Second, the Mingde Duyuan brand they promote targets an affordable price range with no standout features, to the point where many locals don’t have a strong impression of the name.

In fact, most people only realized they even had an anniversary celebration after it was over.

How did a restaurant event manage to cause enough chaos to need police intervention?

The editor for the consumer affairs segment really seems to be stretching for attention these days.

Local netizens chuckled and opened the video, ready to leave a sarcastic comment about how hard it is for TV stations to make a living these days.

But when the video played, the next moment, a loud, chaotic noise blasted from the speaker, startling them so much that they almost dropped their phones.

In the video, the host was almost knocked over by the sea of people around them, struggling to speak.

More than ten police officers were on-site, sweating and directing the crowd with loudspeakers:

“Everyone, please step back!”

“Be careful not to cause a stampede!”

Wait, what?

This is Mingde’s anniversary celebration?

Are we sure this isn’t some big star visiting Linjiang, attracting fans?

In a time where even milk tea shops can hire hundreds of people to queue up for the news, many confused locals immediately thought of the word “hype.”

Since they knew Mingde Duyuan better than others, they felt it was necessary to warn any outsiders who might be misled by the news.

They opened the comment section, ready to vent their frustration about such superficial behavior.

But to their surprise, the comments from other locals were completely different.

The most liked comment read:

“Ahhh, I’m in it! You can see my messy hair at the 2-minute-45-second mark! My makeup was almost wiped off from being squeezed, just to eat some meat, it was really hard QAQ.”

This user even posted a picture: a plate of glossy beef that looked tender even through the screen, with the smell almost wafting out.

Underneath were other comments full of envy:

“I want to eat this.”

“Yesterday, I was walking by the river with my mom, and we almost passed out from the smell of Mingde’s pots. But when we got there, the line was already full, so we had to leave. We couldn’t stop talking about it all night, even dreaming about the taste.”

“Me too! I was at Mingde Duyuan’s Fourth Branch in Gangyue Building, and it was the same. The line wasn’t as crazy as by the river, but we finally got in and ate!”

“How was it? I saw so many people on WeChat yesterday, saying it’s just braised beef ribs. Is it really that amazing?”

“IT WAS SO GOOD!!! It’s the best beef I’ve ever had in my life!!!”

“Just braised beef ribs? It’s not just that, it’s the signature dish of the Xunxiang Banquet, do you know what that is?”

“?? I’ve never heard of this restaurant, can someone explain?”

“You’ve never heard of it? Xunxiang Banquet is one of the most prestigious high-end restaurants in Linjiang, with a rich history. Not just anyone can eat there.”

“Come on, stop exaggerating. There are plenty of high-end restaurants in Linjiang, like Muhe Mansion, which is even more famous than Xunxiang Banquet. Xunxiang Banquet can’t even hold its own.”

“Haha, can’t hold its own? You should look up the guests that attended their anniversary celebration.”

“Wait, I just looked it up—Mr. Meng? I’ve heard of him! Looks like Xunxiang Banquet is actually pretty impressive.”

“They’re low-key with real substance, not into the whole hype thing, unlike some people who are so out of touch and compare it with trendy restaurants.”

The local commenter was stunned. Low-key with real substance?

There’s such an impressive restaurant in Linjiang?

He grew up here and didn’t even know about it.

Then, the netizen who had been boasting about Xunxiang Banquet’s importance seemed to have hit a nerve, making him wonder if he really hadn’t been exposed enough.

So he switched to a search page, diving into more details.

He clicked on an article from a food magazine titled “Morning Meals,” which was full of praise for Xunxiang Banquet.

After reading, he suddenly realized:

Wow, Xunxiang Banquet is actually that famous?

The owner’s family comes from a culinary lineage, and the late head chef was once the royal chef of Linjiang, involved in several historic events!

As a Linjiang native, he had no idea there were such notable figures in his own city.

Feeling embarrassed, his vanity kicked in, and he forgot about his earlier skepticism.

Returning to Weibo, he started educating out-of-town netizens about the restaurant:

“Thanks for the invitation, just landed. Let me tell you about Xunxiang Banquet based on what I’ve heard from my parents over the years…”

I didn’t expect that Old Mr. Meng would suddenly show up, pushing the situation to an unexpected conclusion.

If I hadn’t gone all out with this event just to annoy Cheng Chen, would things have turned out differently?

That thought flashed through Jin Yaotiao’s mind, but she quickly shook her head, deciding not to dwell on such an overly dramatic question.

The excitement of the anniversary celebration hadn’t quite settled, and the restaurant, Seeking Fragrance Feast, was filled with eager customers.

She was finishing up her preparations before leaving, carefully categorizing the spices for braised beef according to the recipe and reminding Master Tu: “Uncle Tu, remember not to let the sauce for the braised beef go out. Add new seasoning packs when you refresh the broth. The marinating sauce for the Beggar’s Chicken is already in the fridge, and you need to keep an eye on the heat for the Eight-Treasure Mountain Delicacies…”

Master Tu, the most senior chef at Mingde, had worked for many years and had been a mentor to her.

Recently, being around Jin Yaotiao, he felt like he was back in the days when he studied under the late Mr. Jin, the father of Jin Yaotiao.

He looked grumpy, his face scrunched up like a garlic clove, his patience thin.

He listened carefully to every instruction, but his tone was annoyed: “Yeah, yeah, you don’t need to remind me. Do you think I’ve lived this long without learning something?”

Jin Yaotiao wasn’t bothered.

Master Tu’s bad temper was well-known in the Jin family; he often made apprentices cry. Despite his defiant attitude, he never said anything truly harsh to her.

He learned quickly, and everything she assigned him was done without mistake.

Seated at her commanding position, she didn’t mind if someone was rebellious as long as they were capable.

After all, those who were truly capable rarely acted obediently.

Master Tu, wandering around the kitchen, finally couldn’t hold back and asked her, “You left so much behind. Are you going on a trip?”

Jin Yaotiao smiled and deflected, “I have some matters to handle, but I’ll be back soon.”

She didn’t want anyone unrelated to know about her father’s surgery for now.

Seeing her avoid the subject, Master Tu grumbled but didn’t press further.

Just then, her young apprentice, Wang Sheng, hurriedly entered, saying, “Manager Jin, Master, Old Mr. Meng is here again.”

Jin Yaotiao raised an eyebrow, and Master Tu leaned forward to look.

Sure enough, Old Mr. Meng’s round figure soon appeared in sight, blocking the door and preventing anyone else from entering or exiting.

“Little Jin, bring me a Beggar’s Chicken, like last time,” Old Mr. Meng ordered.

“Okay,” Jin Yaotiao nodded and told Master Tu, “Uncle Tu, please make the Beggar’s Chicken. Remember everything I mentioned before.”

Master Tu immediately rolled up his sleeves to wash his hands, but Old Mr. Meng’s eyes widened. “Little Jin, why isn’t it you making it?”

Jin Yaotiao calmly replied, “I’m leaving soon, but don’t worry, I prepared the seasoning myself. Master Tu is very skilled, and the taste will be just as good.”

Old Mr. Meng’s two young companions opened their mouths, but the usual hesitation was evident in their eyes.

Old Mr. Meng stood still for a while before grumbling, “No, I want you to make it.”

Jin Yaotiao wasn’t interested in giving him face. “Old Mr. Meng, I’m too busy today. Also, you can wait outside, the kitchen is off-limits to customers.”

“Miss Jin…” Old Mr. Meng’s grandson finally couldn’t hold back, “My grandfather… very rarely makes requests. Could you please help?”

Jin Yaotiao glanced at him and asked, “Do you not trust the quality control here at Seeking Fragrance Feast?”

She stood tall, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes slightly tilted, giving off an air that made it clear she wouldn’t tolerate any argument.

Old Mr. Meng’s grandson immediately fell silent, surprised.

His grandfather, who had been treated like royalty everywhere in the country, was now facing constant rejection at Seeking Fragrance Feast, and he found it hard to accept.

He’d expected Old Mr. Meng to get angry several times, but instead, Old Mr. Meng stubbornly insisted, “No, I want her to make it.”

He was so large that he blocked the kitchen door, forcing the staff to navigate around him.

Jin Yaotiao clicked her tongue, put down her work, and signaled to Wang Sheng to pack the seasonings before rolling up her sleeves to wash her hands.

Old Mr. Meng’s grandson sighed in relief, thinking that Jin Yaotiao was finally giving in to his grandfather’s request.

But to everyone’s surprise, Jin Yaotiao didn’t go to make the Beggar’s Chicken.

Instead, she took a bowl of minced meat and a stack of dumpling skins from the fridge and began to wrap them swiftly.

She worked quickly, wrapping several dumplings in a matter of seconds, then dropped them into a pot.

She ladled out some broth, added it to the dumplings, and sprinkled some chopped green onions on top.

The entire process took less than five minutes.

She handed the bowl to a waiting waiter and gestured for Old Mr. Meng and his companions to take a seat.

“This…” Old Mr. Meng’s grandson stared at the bowl, “Miss Jin, what is this?”

Was she trying to make a fool of them?

“Wontons,” Jin Yaotiao replied politely but distantly. “I heard Old Mr. Meng has high blood pressure, so it’s better to eat something light. Enjoy your meal, and I hope you’ll trust the skills of the other chefs here at Seeking Fragrance Feast.”

She glanced at the time and smiled, nodding to them. “I have to go. Please excuse me.”

With that, she quickly left, leaving the three of them watching her retreating figure.

Old Mr. Meng’s grandson frowned in dissatisfaction. “What’s going on? She knows Grandpa’s status and still walks off after making him a bowl of wontons?”

He had already prepared to help his grandfather storm off in a huff, but to his surprise, Old Mr. Meng stayed behind, following the waiter with the bowl of wontons and began eating it carefully.

The wonton skins were thin as paper, floating in clear pork bone broth, and the filling, made with chicken juice, was neither too large nor too small.

The taste was incredible, rich yet refreshing, enhanced by the green onions.

Old Mr. Meng quickly finished half the bowl, chewing with great concentration.

His grandson stared at him, stunned. “Grandpa, aren’t we leaving?”

“Leaving? Why?” Old Mr. Meng replied, “We’ve already ordered. I’m just trying the other chefs’ dishes.”

His grandson, still angry, said uncomfortably, “You’re too easygoing. She treated you like that, and you’re still…”

Old Mr. Meng frowned. “What’s wrong with her? She’s been polite the whole time.”

His grandson retorted, “But you personally asked her to cook, and she only made you a bowl of wontons before leaving. Doesn’t she look down on you? You’re not just anyone.”

“Other people are other people,” Old Mr. Meng said, tapping the table seriously. “They might ask me to come to eat, but I wouldn’t bother. A bowl of wontons? What’s the big deal? If it’s good, it’s as good as any luxury dish!”

He paused, then slurped the last wonton into his mouth.

Sigh. Finished.