In order to interview Elder Nie, the reporters eventually decided to stay.
Liu Shanhua smiled as he invited the group into the restaurant and instructed the staff to treat them well.
Then, he turned to a corner, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, took out his phone, and dialed a number. “How’s it going? Have they arrived?”
“They have! Just left the airport and are on the way.”
“Tell them to hurry. The reporters are still waiting for the interview.”
“Interview? Interview who?”
“Elder Nie, of course.” Liu Shanhua’s tone grew impatient.
There was a pause on the other end. “…Boss Liu, the arrangement we agreed on with Elder Nie didn’t include any interviews…”
Liu Shanhua’s eyes flickered. “He’s already coming. It’s just a few words. Won’t take more than a few minutes.”
“But Elder Nie hasn’t appeared in front of the media for three years. He’s always refused interviews. This time, he’s only coming because of Director Yu’s request. I’m afraid… he won’t agree.”
“If he doesn’t do the interview, how will people know he came to our restaurant? How will we build momentum? If it was just for a regular meal, I could’ve invited anyone. Why him in particular?”
“But Director Yu said—”
“I don’t care what Director Yu said. I believe she means well for Cao Ji’s. And besides, I’m the current manager of this branch. I can make some decisions without going through her.”
Silence.
Liu Shanhua’s tone softened a bit. “It wasn’t easy getting him here. We have to make the most of it—then it’s not a wasted invite, and Elder Nie’s trip is worthwhile.”
“…That makes sense. But Elder Nie’s assistant is very assertive. I’m worried he won’t allow it.”
The voice noticeably lowered at this point, clearly worried someone nearby would overhear.
Liu Shanhua paused. “…Are they next to you?”
“They just got in the car. I stayed outside to take the call.”
“Alright, don’t mention anything for now. Just let the reporters approach for the interview directly.”
“You’re going to act first and explain later?!”
“It’s the only option.”
“…Fine.”
Inside the car, Nie Guotao looked out the window and suddenly sighed. “Haven’t been to Linhuai in years. The airport hasn’t changed much—still looks the same. But the sky isn’t as blue, and the air feels sticky and damp.”
Nie Chen’s mouth twitched. “Are you sure it’s not just your cold and blocked nose affecting your sense of smell?”
Nie Guotao: “…Brat! Can’t you be a little more poetic? I’m reminiscing, and you’re talking about blocked noses! Hopeless!”
Nie Chen wasn’t fazed by the scolding. He grinned and nodded. “You’re right. I’m a crude guy, not the poetic type.”
“You little rascal! Are you really my grandson?” Not even a little inherited charm?!
“Cough… you don’t need to go slapping labels on yourself.”
Nie Guotao snorted and turned back to look out the window.
Five seconds later, he suddenly reacted. “Nie Chen! You brat, did you just insult me?!”
Slapping labels?
What label?
Obviously the green one!
Nie Chen leaned back casually. “If you’re questioning whether I’m really your grandson, then you’re indirectly questioning whether my dad is your son. And if he’s not your son… doesn’t that imply the label?”
Flawless logic.
Absolutely infuriating.
Nie Guotao’s face turned pale. He clutched his chest dramatically, gasping for breath.
Nie Chen’s expression changed instantly. No way…
Did a joke just trigger the old man’s heart condition?!
Cr*p!
“Hang in there! The meds are coming!” He quickly pulled out a pillbox and twisted open a bottle of water. “Take this and you’ll—”
“Heh! I was faking it.”
Nie Chen: “…”
At that moment, the staff who had ended the phone call got into the car and sat in the front passenger seat.
In an instant, the grandpa-grandson duo put on their best poker faces. The elder sat upright, the younger looked serious.
“Can we head out now?” Nie Chen asked.
“Yes. It’ll take about forty minutes.”
“Okay.”
The ride was silent.
Forty minutes later, the car arrived at Tianxing Plaza.
Nie Chen helped the old man out of the car when a powerful aroma suddenly hit them, making Nie Guotao freeze.
“Do you smell that?” He clutched his grandson’s arm with excitement.
Nie Chen winced—just from that grip, he could tell how fired up the old man was.
“Smells amazing…” he muttered.
“Pig stomach, chicken gizzard, white pepper, cilantro, scallions, Sichuan peppercorn, yellow wine, soy sauce…” The old man sniffed deeply and began rattling off ingredients.
Suddenly, he paused mid-sentence. Sniffed twice more. Said nothing.
Sniffed again. Still silent.
Third time, he let out a sharp shhh-shhh sniff. “Something’s off… there’s another ingredient. What is it? Smells a bit like bergamot, but also like aged tangerine peel… but not just a simple mix of those two…”
Nie Chen was sniffing too. Though he wasn’t as worldly or sharp-nosed as his grandpa, he came from a foodie family and was a highly gifted, picky eater.
He’d eaten gourmet food all over—big restaurants and street stalls, at home and abroad.
“Tastes a bit like… Tang Bao Shuang Cui*?”
* A crisp, soup-based delicacy from Jinan cuisine
Nie Guotao shook his head. “Similar, but not quite. Let’s go take a look—”
With that, he charged off toward the source of the aroma.
The Cao Ji’s staff member was dumbfounded.
He quickly chased after him. “Elder Nie! You haven’t gone to our restaurant yet. You can’t just—”
Seeing him try to reach out, Nie Chen shot him a glare sharp enough to kill. “What are you doing?!”
The staff member yanked his hand back instantly. “Elder Nie, you clearly promised to come to our restaurant. Everyone’s waiting…”
But Nie Guotao was already lost in the intoxicating aroma. While he didn’t slow down, he patiently explained: “Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise. As soon as I figure out what that last ingredient is, I’ll come right over. No need to follow—I’ll be nearby, easy to find.”
This won’t do!
Chief Liu’s been urging non-stop. The reporters are waiting. If he doesn’t deliver the old man on time, he’s screwed!
“We’ve got everything arranged. We’re just missing you. If you’re late, everything else gets delayed, and—”
“What arrangements?” Nie Chen immediately tensed. “Grandpa only agreed to come for a meal. Why would there be a schedule? Meals can be early or late. Doesn’t matter. Or… are you planning something else?”
The staff member’s smile froze. Cold sweat soaked his back. “How could we? Elder Nie can eat whenever he likes, of course. I just meant… the trip was long and tiring. I’m worried about his health.”
Nie Chen’s eyes cooled. “Thanks, but I know his health better than you do. No need to worry.”
“Heh… of course. That’s good.”
Nie Chen raised an eyebrow. “Anything else?”
“Ah? Since I was sent to escort Elder Nie, I should see you both safely to the restaurant. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing my job. How about… I continue to follow you?”
Nie Chen: “Whatever.”
The staff member, anxious beyond belief, scrambled to keep up while texting Liu Shanhua updates.
Soon, Nie Guotao stopped in front of a shop.
Beyond the large hanging sign, they couldn’t even see the door.
Because—there were just too many people!
Layer after layer, shoulder-to-shoulder. Completely packed.
But strangely, they were orderly!
Sure, it was noisy—people chatting away—but somehow it felt more lively than chaotic.
Squinting through his reading glasses, Nie Guotao read the sign out loud: “Jiang Ji’s—Private Kitchen?”
There’s a restaurant like this in Linhuai?
It’s not that he knew every restaurant in the city, but the well-known, well-reviewed, widely praised ones—he’d tried them all.
A dish that smells this good shouldn’t be obscure.
But the name really didn’t ring a bell.
“Little Chen, have you heard of it?”
He shook his head.
“Come on. Let’s check it out—”
And the old man started pushing his way through the crowd.
Nie Chen: “?!” No, no, no—Grandpa, let me squeeze through! Jeez…
Cao Ji’s staff: “?” …Are we sure this is the real Elder Nie?
