In the afternoon, with nothing much to do, Qin Feng strolled over to a pastry shop in the city center. This was the shop owned by Sun Peng.

Upon entering, he noticed that while there was a decent variety of pastries, they were all quite similar in type and flavor—nothing particularly distinctive.

“Brother Qin, welcome, welcome! I’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival,” Sun Peng greeted enthusiastically, walking up and gripping Qin Feng’s hand firmly, his face lit up with a broad smile.

“Brother Sun, you’re too kind,” Qin Feng replied with a light smile. Taking a glance around, he noted that despite the shop’s prime location in a bustling area, there were very few customers inside. No wonder Sun Peng seemed so eager for help.

Sun Peng led Qin Feng to a seat, served him a cup of coffee, and said, “Brother Qin, you’ve seen the situation here. Business has been so lukewarm that I’m constantly on edge.”

Taking a sip of coffee, Qin Feng commented, “Your location is excellent, but your shop layout could use some improvement.”

Hearing this, Sun Peng perked up and leaned in. “Brother Qin, please enlighten me! Spare no detail; I’m all ears.”

“This shop is spacious, and while you have a variety of pastries, their flavors are too similar. More importantly, there’s no space for customers to rest or relax. This is a major drawback. Though it’s a pastry shop, adding a seating area or perhaps a corner for reading could greatly enhance the customer experience.”

Qin Feng had immediately spotted the issue. Without foot traffic and a welcoming atmosphere, it was impossible to boost business.

“You’re absolutely right, Brother Qin! I’ll get someone to renovate right away. By the way, about that new pastry you mentioned last time—do you have any ideas yet?”

At this point, Sun Peng was fully in “student mode,” his expression nothing short of reverent.

“I’ve got it figured out. The method is simple, but it’s highly appealing. However, it requires a special mold. I’ll go get one made and come back tomorrow to teach you how to make it.”

The pastry Qin Feng had in mind was the famous “egg waffle” from Hong Kong, a snack that had captured countless hearts.

“Thank you so much, Brother Qin! I’ll get to work rearranging the shop right away.”

Sun Peng hurried off to oversee the changes, while Qin Feng headed to Shen’s Tool Shop. Upon entering, he saw Shen Yan engrossed in her computer screen. He greeted her cheerily, “Miss Shen, what are you so busy with?”

“Work stuff, as usual. Let me guess—you need my help with something, don’t you?” Shen Yan smiled knowingly, clearly predicting his intentions.

“Miss Shen, not only are you beautiful, but you’re also incredibly sharp! Yes, I do have a small favor to ask,” Qin Feng admitted with a chuckle before describing the honeycomb mold needed for making egg waffles.

“We mostly specialize in crafting kitchen knives, not molds. But I know someone who can handle this for you.” Shen Yan nodded and immediately picked up her phone to make a call.

At that moment, Shen Yuanshan walked over, grabbing Qin Feng’s hand. “Qin, my boy, it’s perfect that you’re here. I need your help with something!”

“Go ahead, Elder Shen.”

The two of them sat down on a nearby sofa.

“Here’s the situation: a friend of mine owns a restaurant. They have two chefs, both claiming to have invented a dish called ‘Spring Breeze Harmony Roll.’ They’re locked in a heated argument, and I’d like you to help determine who the real creator is.”

Shen Yuanshan explained his dilemma. Knowing Qin Feng’s culinary prowess, he figured the young man could come up with a solution.

“That’s simple. No problem at all,” Qin Feng agreed without hesitation.

“Ha! I knew you’d have a way, Qin. Let’s go right now!” Shen Yuanshan laughed heartily and led the way out the door.

Half an hour later, Qin Feng found himself at the entrance of Hetai Restaurant. It was only 5 PM, just the beginning of the dinner rush, but business was already booming.

“Old Shen, you’re finally here! Come in, come in,” greeted the restaurant owner, Feng Dong, as he stepped outside to welcome them. Despite being in his fifties, Feng Dong looked energetic and full of life.

“Old Feng, this is Qin Feng, the young culinary master I’ve told you about,” Shen Yuanshan introduced enthusiastically.

Feng Dong approached Qin Feng, shaking his hand firmly. “If Old Shen speaks highly of you, you must be extraordinary. Your Kung Pao Chicken and Twice-Cooked Pork are two of my favorites!”

“You’re too kind, Elder Feng,” Qin Feng replied humbly, a modest smile on his face.

“Please, come inside! I feel so embarrassed about this situation in the restaurant. Our place has been in business for over a century, and we have many loyal customers. To encourage innovation, I held an internal competition offering a prize of one million yuan and a house for the winner. This ‘Spring Breeze Harmony Roll’ won first place, and that’s when the trouble began.”

Leading them to a private room, Feng Dong explained the matter in more detail.

Qin Feng, curious, asked, “Elder Feng, even in an internal competition, there should be records of who made which dish, right? Even if not, wouldn’t the other chefs in the kitchen know who created it? How could two people claim credit for one dish?”

Feng Dong sighed deeply. “Lately, the kitchen has been churning out hundreds of new dishes daily. Each chef is responsible for creating 20 to 30 new items a day. Since they’re all familiar with each other, it’s common for them to help out with popular dishes. That’s how this mess started.”

Hearing that the kitchen operated at lightning speed, producing hundreds of new dishes daily, Qin Feng was a bit taken aback. Allowing one chef’s dish to be reproduced by others only made the situation more convoluted.

“Bring me a serving of this ‘Spring Breeze Harmony Roll’ first, so I can take a look,” Qin Feng suggested.

“Of course. When the two chefs competed yesterday, they both made it. The taste was identical, so we couldn’t tell who the original creator was.”

Feng Dong promptly called over a waiter to fetch the dish.

Soon, a plate was brought in, revealing something that resembled spring rolls. The rolls were wrapped in a soft, pale-yellow skin, with a design painted on top in red tomato sauce. The artwork was intricate and visually stunning.

After carefully examining the dish, Qin Feng spoke with confidence. “Elder Feng, Elder Shen, I have a solution. Let them have a live showdown and make the dish on the spot.”

“I’ll arrange it immediately. They’ll cook in front of everyone. Our restaurant doesn’t tolerate dishonest chefs!”

Feng Dong, clearly frustrated by the whole ordeal, was eager to resolve the issue and uncover the truth.