The conflict between the leadership of Linjiang and the president of the district association was already confusing enough.

Then, a group of middle-aged individuals decided to join in and stir things up, with this group eventually crowding around one table and passionately debating whether Mingde truly belonged to their area, as though it were a custody battle between divorced parents fighting over a child.

The members of the Shenzhen Catering Association could only feel like crying.

There were many people present who wanted the opportunity to participate in the program.

Although most of them knew their own strength was mediocre and, upon learning they had no chance, quietly gave up, unlike General Wu who, unwilling to accept defeat, tried to turn the situation around—even to the point of harboring resentment toward Mingde.

However, it had to be said that many in the room felt dissatisfied with the special treatment Mingde received from President Lü.

Especially those who believed their own companies were no less impressive than Mingde’s.

Privately, they couldn’t help but think Mingde was just lucky—without much to distinguish itself, it still received attention and care from President Lü and thus got ahead.

And then… the Linjiang City government suddenly made an appearance.

It turned out that Mingde was a coveted treasure, and in order to be taken care of, President Lü had to compete with Linjiang for it.

It wasn’t a secret that Mingde started in Linjiang, and everyone in the room knew that their various restaurant brands were quite popular there.

But for a restaurant chain to earn such special attention from a city’s municipal government—it was incredible.

General Wu’s chain of restaurants had expanded into neighboring cities and had not received such treatment, nor had most of the other attendees in the room.

How had Mingde earned such high status?

While they were still wondering, someone from the Shenzhen Catering Association suddenly looked at their phone with a surprised expression: “What! Is this for real?”

Others nearby leaned in curiously. The member showed his phone, revealing a page from a local Shenzhen website.

Upon reading the content, everyone froze in shock.

The news of Mingde’s new store opening was flooding the screen.

Countless social media users and regular netizens had spontaneously gone to visit the store, only to return with heartbreaking updates:

“I heard Mingde’s Mingde Mansion is opening today in Shenzhen, and I thought I wasn’t too late to get there, but now I’m stuck outside the Mingde Mansion at the Fu Mao Plaza, 8th floor, feeling lost [Image]”

“Excuse me? Is today some kind of national holiday? The newly opened Mingde Mansion at Wanda is already booked for over 500 tables. Will I be able to eat before midnight tonight? [Image] [Image]”

“Ahhhh! My best friend told me to leave at 3, I was half an hour late getting ready, now I regret not leaving earlier, the Mingde Mansion at Chengxi Plaza is already fully booked, I’m crying. I can only smell the braised beef fragrance from the restaurant, but there’s no way to get a seat. Maybe I’ll go to Hidden Feast, I heard they opened a new one at Jinzun Building.”

“Don’t go to Jinzun Building! I’ve been waiting for an hour, and the lucky few who made it in got their reservation numbers for Hidden Feast before I could.”

“Wait, there’s still availability at Tianji Plaza? Okay, my boyfriend and I are heading over now. By the way, there are no more spots at the Mingde Mansion at Henglong International, so don’t come!”

“My gosh, is it really this crazy? I’ve heard Linjiang people say it’s hard to get a table at Mingde’s restaurants, but I didn’t expect it to be at this level. The most popular restaurant in Shenzhen before this opening wasn’t even this crowded. Is Mingde doing some kind of hunger marketing?”

“Stop joking! As a Linjiang native, I took the high-speed train to Shenzhen today. I’m sitting in Mingde right now giving live updates. The restaurant is packed. There isn’t an empty seat.”

“…Why would Linjiang people come to Shenzhen to compete for seats with locals? Can’t you eat in Linjiang?”

“Mingde is the pride of Linjiang! It’s not far, of course we had to come and show support! (Actually, the real reason is that the Hidden Feast reservations in Linjiang are booked for next week, and I couldn’t wait, so I rushed to the new Shenzhen store before too many people knew about it.)”

“Same! I’m also from Linjiang and came on the high-speed train. But I still underestimated Mingde. So many people are already inside the restaurant, and I’m stuck outside. Crying, I should have known better. A restaurant from Mingde, no matter where it is, can never be unknown, even on its opening day.”

…

A continuous stream of comments followed, with customers lamenting their failed attempts to get in and others proudly sharing their success in finding a seat.

The photos from every angle, showing the dense crowd both inside and outside the restaurant, made it undeniable—Mingde was incredibly popular.

Inside the Seeking Fragrance Feast, industry peers suddenly realized how precious their seats had become.

Yet, at the same time, they couldn’t understand how Mingde had risen to such prominence so quickly.

Hadn’t Mingde only recently arrived in Shenzhen? How had it suddenly become so influential in the eyes of diners?

Opening so many branches at once, and managing to be this successful?

Before this, Mingde had only opened a single Hidden Feast in Shenzhen, and for various reasons, no one in the room had visited it at the time.

As a result, many still had the impression that Mingde’s base was in Linjiang.

Who would have thought that, even before the second batch of stores had opened, Mingde had already established a strong reputation among Shenzhen’s seasoned food lovers?

The premiere of “Huaxia Delicacies” not only made Mingde a pride of Linjiang but also helped it gain fame in Shenzhen.

Once news spread about Mingde’s new stores opening in Shenzhen, diners from Linjiang began promoting it more actively than Mingde’s own marketing channels.

Their genuine enthusiasm was more convincing than any advertisement, and it made Shenzhen’s younger crowd impatient. Just a month ago, the first Hidden Feast in Shenzhen had to start taking reservations to manage the overwhelming demand.

Everything had progressed so naturally and steadily that the local industry peers hadn’t realized that a new company was rapidly rising under their noses.

Now, what had once been an iceberg’s tip had revealed most of its bulk.

When the members of the Shenzhen Culinary Association noticed this, their gazes silently shifted to Jin Yaotiao.

She had just finished handling some business matters and was now calmly reassuring the leaders of Linjiang and Shenzhen as well as Chairman Lü, seated at the same table.

Jin Yaotiao glanced at the time, then leaned over and whispered something softly to her staff member beside her. The employee nodded and left quietly.

Immediately, a subtle but noticeable shift occurred in the atmosphere within the Xunxiang Banquet Hall.

A rich and alluring aroma began to fill the air, captivating everyone’s attention in an instant.

The previously lively discussions among the Linjiang leaders were abruptly silenced as they turned toward the source of the enticing fragrance. “Oh, is the banquet starting?”

Some of the older leaders, who had previously enjoyed a taste of the restaurant’s offerings, had come today not just to ingratiate themselves with their peers but also out of a genuine craving for Mingde’s hospitality.

Catching a whiff of the tantalizing aroma, their eyes lit up. “Director Jin, will there be the Eight Treasures Sticky Rice Goose this time?”

That dish had left a lasting impression on them—it was a symphony of tender goose meat and rich, sticky rice, a flavor they had longed for since their last visit.

Jin Yaotiao smiled. “That’s a signature dish of our Yinyan brand. Today’s venue is Xunxiang Banquet Hall, and the dishes here are unique to this location.”

The appetizers arrived shortly after—braised bamboo shoots and fish skirt in abalone sauce.

The presentation was so exquisite that one hesitated to dig in.

Xunxiang Banquet Hall’s abalone sauce was made from a stock that had been simmering continuously for years, growing richer and more aromatic over time.

Paired with the tender and gelatinous fish skirt from deep-sea fish and the crisp, sweet bamboo shoots, the flavors melded together and melted on the tongue.

After just one bite of the appetizer, the fellow members of the Shenzhen Culinary Association were rendered speechless.

Chairman Lü, delighted, tapped the edge of his plate with his fingers and turned to his close acquaintances at the table. “See, didn’t I tell you? Last time, when I tasted the steamed corn buns made by Yaotiao at her home, I knew she had real skills. Why else would I invite Mingde to represent Shenzhen over so many other senior members in our association? Tell me, who else in the entire city could achieve this level of flavor?”

As he spoke, Chairman Lu paused and glanced at Jin Yaotiao, who had not once entered the kitchen tonight. “Who made today’s dishes?”

Understanding his unspoken question, Jin Yaotiao smiled and explained, “I can’t personally handle everything. Today’s dishes were prepared by my apprentices.”

Mingde’s apprentices, led by the talented Wang Sheng—prized pupil of Master Tu—had undergone rigorous and intensive training.

While they couldn’t match Jin Yaotiao’s level of expertise, they had honed their craft considerably.

Everyone present understood the implication.

As they tasted the dishes, they were immersed in their deliciousness but also couldn’t help feeling a pang of mixed emotions.

It became clear that Mingde wasn’t just a fledgling entity that relied on Chairman Lü’s favor to secure its place in the Shenzhen Culinary Association.

Mingde was a true competitor, one that surpassed its peers through genuine skill and innovation.

No wonder the city officials treated them like a prized asset, fearing they might relocate to Linjiang.

For the other members of the association, this realization was a hard blow to their pride. They had never enjoyed such preferential treatment themselves.

But it all came down to skill. As they drowned their sorrows in more bites of the sumptuous dishes, they couldn’t help but think: At least the fish skirt is irresistibly tender.

---

While the banquet carried on, the online world buzzed with excitement over Mingde’s grand opening.

First came the unexpectedly high demand for reservations, which shocked even the most seasoned foodies in Shenzhen. The sheer difficulty of securing a table had left many with newfound respect for the restaurant.

Next, lucky patrons who managed to dine there began sharing photos and raving about the dishes and menu.

Jin Yaotiao was never one to rest on her laurels. Even as her restaurants thrived and their dishes gained widespread acclaim, she continuously pushed for innovation, regularly introducing new items to the menu.

This ensured that even loyal patrons who frequently visited Mingde’s establishments never lost their sense of novelty and excitement.

The tremendous effort her team had poured into launching the new Shenzhen branches was finally paying off.

Mingde’s regular customers were moved to tears by the new dishes offered during the opening:

The savory and refreshing steamed salted pork, the aromatic braised beef ribs, and the sweet and crispy squirrel fish—classic dishes that maintained their impeccable quality.

As for the new dishes?

Longtime patrons couldn’t help but gush about them online.

“OMG! The braised ox tongue from Yinyan’s new Shenzhen menu is so tender and juicy—it’s like it bursts with flavor! It’s my new favorite, starting today!”

“Dear lord, when is Mingde Courtyard bringing the crab roe shrimp balls to Linjiang? The moment I bit into one and the crab roe oozed out, I was shook! I couldn’t help devouring half the plate on the spot!”

Photos of the dishes began spreading like wildfire across various platforms. While some drooled over them, others unfamiliar with Mingde were skeptical.

“Is it really worth it? Lining up for hours for a restaurant? Don’t you guys have better things to do?”

“This is so fake. Obviously paid shills. I’ve never even heard of this Mingde company.”

But Mingde’s loyal fans wouldn’t stand for this. Insulting them for lining up was one thing, but slandering Mingde’s reputation was crossing the line!

Through repeated interactions, some online disputes started to escalate, but this was inevitable. Previously, Mingde had only opened one store in the Shenzhen market.

People who loved good food might be impressed by that single store, but in the end, not everyone could dig deep and recognize the value of Mingde in advance.

For those who had never heard of Mingde, it was hard to believe in their heartfelt admiration for a company that seemed to have just emerged. Instead, the more they argued, the more justified they felt.

As the tension between both sides grew and skeptics became more entrenched in their doubts, the topic of Mingde’s new store opening suddenly hit the trending searches online.

The director team of Huaxia Delicacies came out in full to congratulate Mingde on its good fortune, and fans from all over the country learned about Mingde’s activities in Shenzhen.

Many of them also came forward to offer their congratulations.

Mingde’s loyal customers were immediately thrilled by the flood of congratulatory messages from across the nation.

This was the real deal! What an impressive move!

And that wasn’t all—advertisements on LED screens in the city centers of Shenzhen and Linjiang, where every inch of land was worth a fortune and countless skyscrapers stood, lit up all at once as Jin Yaotiao cut the red ribbon at the grand opening of many new stores.

Various scenes of Mingde from Huaxia Delicacies were also shown on these screens.

It turned out to be a promotional video specially made for Mingde!