"Boss Huang, we’re here..."

At ten o’clock, that group of idle wealthy second-generation youngsters pushed the door open and walked into the store. As soon as they entered, they greeted Huang Tao from afar.

Huang Tao replied with a smile, "Hello ~"

"Hey, good!"

Ma Junwen rubbed his own belly and asked with a grin, "Boss Huang, it’s already ten, shouldn’t you be open by now? None of us have had breakfast yet!"

The other wealthy second-generation folks echoed, "Yeah, yeah, we’re still hungry, waiting to eat your lunch!"

Ever since they moved here and found out that Huang Tao’s new shop doesn’t serve breakfast, they abandoned their breakfast habits.

It’s not that they don’t want to eat breakfast!

It’s just that their palates, spoiled by Huang Tao, have no appetite for breakfast at other places in the city.

So much so that they’d rather be entwined with their blankets in the morning than go out and buy breakfast from nearby spots.

Of course.

The breakfast made by Xu Hao and the others over at the West City Old Street is indeed true to Boss Huang’s style and suits their taste.

But thinking about the time and effort it takes, even driving there doesn’t guarantee they can buy it.

After all, the folks from Old Street are quite keen, lining up early.

If they go later, it’s hard to get any.

Plus, they don’t want to go back and forth, so they just have to make do and save their stomachs for Huang Tao’s lunch!

To be honest, sleeping until late morning and then having lunch isn’t too bad.

Uh...

Alright, they admit, it’s just a desperate choice!

Facing the eager looks of these wealthy second-generation folks, Huang Tao cleared his throat and said, "Sorry! You still have to wait a bit; I’ll try to have you eating by 11."

"Ha?"

Lin Anan looked exasperated, "We have to wait until 11 for the place to open again!"

Ma Junwen, suddenly dramatic, clutched his heart and said, "Boss Huang, my heart’s a bit weak, what did you just say?"

Huang Tao: "..."

"Just what I said, I’ll try to have you eating by 11."

Huang Tao spread his hands helplessly, "The ingredients aren’t ready yet!"

Everyone’s expressions froze, their morning dream... shattered.

But soon, they sharp-eyedly noticed the chopped fermented black beans on the cutting board.

In an instant.

Their eyes, which had just lost their light, burst with enthusiasm.

Ma Junwen pointed and asked, "Boss Huang, what’s that?"

Huang Tao politely replied, "Fermented black beans."

Ma Junwen asked curiously, "These fermented black beans, chopped up, are for what?"

Lin Anan’s eyes lit up, "Is it for a new dish?!"

"What’s the new dish?"

Huang Tao laughed, "Steamed ribs with fermented black beans."

Oh, that’s great!

Thinking back to yesterday when they were lucky to come by as the new garlic spare ribs were being served and got a taste, they felt it was just the right time to possibly enjoy this new dish of steamed ribs with fermented black beans.

Ma Junwen and the other wealthy second-generation folks were in good spirits: "That’s awesome; I absolutely love steamed ribs with fermented black beans."

"Boss Huang, we’ll help you taste test it later!"

But their happiness lasted less than a minute before Old Qin from not far away doused them with cold water, making their hearts cool and spirits sink.

"Taste test? It’s already late for that. Let me tell you, you’re all a step too late. Boss Huang’s steamed ribs with fermented black beans, we just finished taste testing them a while ago!"

What did you say?

Taste tested already?!

Oh no~

No way, no way, no way...

How could it be taste tested already?!

The group of wealthy second-generation folks looked incredulously at Huang Tao for confirmation, saw him nod, and their hearts broke like dumpling filling.

Boss Huang, that’s not fair!

They weren’t even notified about the taste test!

Just when they felt sad and disappointed, Old Qin poured salt into their wound, lightly shaking his folding fan and smiling as he said, "The steamed ribs with fermented black beans that Boss Huang just made were exquisite. Taking a bite of the tender ribs, where each rib soaked up the sauce, shimmering in the soy color, smelled and tasted heavenly. The meat of the ribs was juicy, with the fatty part absorbing the flavors of the fermented black beans deeply. Every bite was a burst of juicy rib meat, and the rich, savory taste of the fermented black beans never overshadowed the dish. Absolutely delightful..."

Old Qin, indeed a former five-star chef, not only cooked well but described well too, at least well enough to make the wealthy second-generation folks, thinking of Huang Tao’s culinary skills, drool and feel even hungrier.

Those employees who also tasted the dish, like Li Chengzhan, came over too.

Now it was good.

They started describing the steamed ribs with fermented black beans one by one, making the wealthy second-generation patrons feel even hungrier.

"Please, have some compassion and stop talking; my stomach’s about to start a rebellion, growling non-stop," Ma Junwen said, clutching his stomach, feeling miserable.

"Exactly, I’m so hungry I’m about to have a stomachache; don’t say anymore."

Lin Anan also chimed in to reprimand them to stop talking, then looked at Li Chengzhan with a bitter expression and said, "And Zhan, you’re not being fair! When the store does taste tests for new dishes, you don’t even inform us. We still call you ’bro,’ is this how you look after your younger brothers?"

Shao Yuqiao joined the fray, "Exactly, exactly, how could you not share the taste test of new dishes? That’s just too much! What kind of brother does that?"

Liang Lu Yang couldn’t help but voice his grievance, "Zhan, you said we’d share the good and spicy, but you act like this towards us, hoarding food; doesn’t your conscience hurt?"

Li Chengzhan: "..."

He initially planned to show off in front of his brothers, to make them a little envious and jealous, but unexpectedly backfired, causing them to complain against him.

Ah!

He underestimated the appeal of his boss’s cooking skills.

And underestimated his brothers’ love for the boss’s cooking.

But, honestly, he didn’t inform his brothers on purpose.

After all, the new dishes the boss makes aren’t in large quantities. Employees like them just get a piece or two to satisfy their cravings, and with more people, the portions they get would be even less.

Following the principle of not suffering more than others themselves, he didn’t reveal the news of the taste testing in the brother group.

Li Chengzhan said unblushingly, "I was so busy that time just slipped by..."

Ma Junwen and the other wealthy second-generation folks suspected Li Chengzhan was speaking nonsense, but unfortunately, they had no evidence.