Nie Guotao almost passed out from sheer frustration.
“Are you stu-pid or what?!”
Nie Chen: “Huh?”
Seeing the two reporters already at the door, the old man couldn’t care less about dignity or pride anymore—he bolted after them.
“Wait!”
Zhang Yuan and Sister Liang were both caught mid-step, stunned and a bit confused.
“El…. Elder Nie?!”
“So you do know who I am?”
“O-of course!”
He was the most famous food critic in the country—known for tasting dishes from every corner of the world and recalling them all in vivid detail. Years ago, he’d even joined the show “Flavors of China,” which didn’t just leave audiences drooling, but also catapulted obscure regional dishes into the spotlight.
Flavors of China had been the most successful food documentary ever, even gaining popularity overseas. And with it, Nie Guotao’s name became widely known.
A man who loved to eat, and elevated eating into an art. Truly the top of the gourmet game—like the ultimate boss-level foodie.
Zhang Yuan, working in entertainment journalism, naturally knew who he was.
Sister Liang had once trailed behind her mentor during an interview with him years ago. Back then, she wasn’t even allowed near the mic—just the camera rig in hand.
So now Nie Guotao was baffled: “Then why didn’t you come interview me?”
Zhang Yuan: “…”
Sister Liang: “…”
“Problem?”
“Didn’t you say you don’t do interviews anymore?”
The old man widened his eyes: “That’s under normal circumstances!”
Zhang Yuan, cautiously: “So… today is an exception?”
“Of course!” The old man raised his chin and gave a proud little huff.
The two women exchanged a look—holy cr*p, what kind of dumb luck was this?! They just hit the jackpot!
“Then… can we start now?”
Nie Guotao straightened his sleeves and stood tall: “Go ahead.”
Zhang Yuan and Sister Liang quickly signaled the cameramen to roll—
“Elder Nie, was your visit to Jiang Ji a coincidence, or were you invited ahead of time?”
Nie Guotao looked shocked: “Wait—some people got invited? Who?”
Uh…
The two reporters glanced at each other. “We were invited.”
Zhang Yuan added, “And those food influencers over there too.”
“Jiang Ji didn’t invite me?!” The old man looked like he’d been slapped. Unbelievable!
Sister Liang chuckled, “You’re not someone just anyone can dare invite.”
Well… that was true.
Suddenly, he wasn’t so offended anymore.
Zhang Yuan: “What do you think of the food at Jiang Ji? Would you recommend it?”
Nie Guotao straightened his expression: “First of all, even the dish names are clever. For example, a soup made with pig stomach is called ‘Phoenix Takes Flight’. The ingredients are fresh, the broth is clear and flavorful…”
In that moment, the old man’s experience and professionalism came out in full force.
From ingredients to preparation to the final tasting—he analyzed every detail with eloquence and flair.
In short, he practically sang Jiang Ji’s praises until they blossomed into full-on poetry.
Nie Chen watched, mouth agape, unable to believe this was the same picky, grumpy grandpa he knew—raving about a restaurant, of all things.
This… this couldn’t be real. Was he possessed?!
By the time the interview ended, Nie Guotao had only offered glowing reviews.
Zhang Yuan and Sister Liang, thrilled to have such an exclusive scoop, left feeling victorious.
Both silently vowed: We’re going to write the h*ll out of this magical place called Jiang Ji.
Nie Guotao, as if completing some monumental task, beamed and returned to Jiang Fuyue: “How was that ad I did for you, huh?”
Jiang Fuyue and Cao Dou both gave him a thumbs-up.
Nie Chen swallowed hard, finally unable to hold back: “Are you… feeling okay?”
Nie Guotao: “Stupid boy. I don’t want to talk to you.”
“…”
Just then, Xie Dingyuan stepped forward—
