22 I Can Help You Open a Large Restaurant

"Actually having to personally cook to entertain Mr. Han, Ye Chui's courage is admirable, and now, his culinary skills are even more anticipated." Lin Zhengdao, recovering from his shock, looked at the spicy chicken dish in front of Lin Wei. 

He invited Ye Chui to sit down purely on a whim, never expecting that even someone as composed as himself would be surprised by Ye Chui. This piqued his genuine interest in Ye Chui's culinary skills. Gazing at the well-presented spicy chicken, he picked up bamboo chopsticks, took a piece of chicken, and placed it in his mouth. 

The delightful aroma, crispy texture, and flavor immediately widened his eyes. Having experienced many delicious dishes, this was the first time he felt such an impact. After savoring it, he picked up another piece and then another... 

In the blink of an eye, Lin Zhengdao had consumed five or six pieces. When he tried to pick up another piece, Lin Wei, with a precious expression, hastily covered the spicy chicken, looking displeased. She pouted and said, "No more for you! This dish was made by Ye Chui for me. You're eating it all!" 

Lin Zhengdao's hand hovered in mid-air, looking awkward. He stared at his food-loving daughter, somewhat speechless, and remarked, "Your gluttonous appearance is just like your mother's..." 

"Uncle Lin, this spicy chicken is quite spicy, not suitable for older people to eat too much. If you don't mind, I'll personally visit your home another day and prepare some milder dishes for you. I guarantee the taste will satisfy you," Ye Chui said with a smile, resolving the situation. 

"Hehe, then it's a deal. Another day, you must come to my place as a guest," Lin Zhengdao chuckled and put down his chopsticks. If Ye Chui had made this offer just moments ago, he might not have been pleased. 

However, now that he knew Ye Chui would personally entertain Mr. Han and considering the superb taste of the spicy chicken, he felt genuinely delighted with the prospect of Ye Chui cooking for him at home. 

As he heard the offer, Cao Xiong and Cao Kang, sitting on the opposite side of the table, felt a bit psychologically unbalanced. Cao Xiong had never been invited to Lin Zhengdao's new residence in Xizhou City. 

Cao Kang, feeling aggrieved by the continuous mockery from Ye Chui today, sought help from his father, giving him a glance hoping Cao Xiong could help salvage the situation. However, he saw his father's warning look, signaling him not to say more. 

It seemed that admitting defeat today would be wiser. Yet, the faint shadows in Cao Xiong's eyes indicated that he wasn't willing to let this matter go. He was determined to reclaim his face. 

When Yang Yong saw that there was nothing left for him to handle in the private room, he bid farewell, saying, "Enjoy your meal, and feel free to ask for anything you need," before leaving. As he departed, he cautiously glanced at Ye Chui and noticed Ye Chui smiling at him. Yang Yong immediately felt satisfied with his successful turnaround of the situation. 

"Ye Chui, your culinary skills are excellent. I have a proposal, and I wonder if you'd be willing to accept it," Lin Zhengdao suddenly spoke, looking at Ye Chui with a serious expression. 

"What proposal, Uncle Lin, please go ahead," Ye Chui smiled. 

"You mentioned earlier that you want to save money to open a restaurant. However, a restaurant with an investment of ten or twenty thousand won't be too large in scale. I can directly provide funding to help you open a large-scale restaurant. What do you think?" Lin Zhengdao said with a faint smile. 

Ye Chui has already demonstrated his culinary skills with the Spicy Chicken dish, coupled with his decision to personally serve Han Lao, showcasing his qualifications. 

Lin Zhengdao, with his sharp insight, recognizes that although Ye Chui is young, he has a promising future. Investing in a restaurant for Ye Chui is a calculated risk, and Lin Zhengdao is confident in the potential returns. 

Cao Xiong and Cao Kang's expressions worsen at this unexpected turn of events. They never expected Lin Zhengdao to value Ye Chui so highly and even offer to invest in a restaurant for him. 

However, what surprises everyone is Ye Chui's immediate rejection of Lin Zhengdao's proposal. He shakes his head and says, "Uncle Lin, I appreciate your kindness, but I want to establish the restaurant on my own. I don't want to trouble you with your assistance." 

Ye Chui believes in maintaining control over the restaurant he envisions. If someone else invests, he would likely end up as a mere manager, subject to the control of the investor, in this case, Lin Zhengdao. He doesn't want to work for someone else; he wants his restaurant entirely under his control. 

While an investment from Lin Zhengdao would provide Ye Chui with a comfortable income, he is not interested in taking this route. He has countless recipes similar to the Spicy Chicken, if not more delicious, and he envisions accumulating wealth through these unique culinary creations. 

Lin Zhengdao is taken aback by Ye Chui's refusal. Cao Xiong and Cao Kang wear expressions of disbelief. In a situation where most people would eagerly seize such a promising investment opportunity, Ye Chui dismisses it without a second thought. 

Lin Zhengdao looks at Ye Chui with some displeasure and asks, "Are you sure about this?" 

"I'm quite certain," Ye Chui calmly replied, showing no fear of potentially offending Lin Zhengdao. 

Lin Zhengdao stared at Ye Chui for a while, then suddenly burst into laughter. He said to Ye Chui, "Well done, with such determination. Since that's the case, I look forward to the opening of your restaurant, Ye Chui." 

"I won't disappoint Uncle Lin," Ye Chui responded with a smile. Rejecting such a great opportunity might seem either arrogant or genuinely confident. 

In Ye Chui's case, it was the latter, given his experience from his previous life. Opening a restaurant was like playing a game with a well-detailed strategy guide for him –a task easily accomplished. 

"If you open a restaurant, I'll be sure to visit every day," Lin Wei interjected cheerfully. "And you must give me a discount!" 

"Hehe, if Wei Wei visits my restaurant, she can eat whatever she wants, and I'll foot the bill," Ye Chui chuckled. 

Lin Wei pouted, "No way! I'll become a little chubby if that happens." 

Both Ye Chui and Lin Zhengdao couldn't help but burst into laughter. The atmosphere lightened up instantly. However, Cao Xiong and Cao Kang, the father and son, seemed like extraneous figures at the dining table. Lin Zhengdao had lost interest in them and continued to discuss food-related matters with Ye Chui. 

The atmosphere became lively again, leaving little room for the Cao duo to intervene. Lin Wei's lively chatter and Ye Chui's insightful input captured Lin Zhengdao's attention, sidelining the Cao father and son. 

As the meal drew to a close, Lin Wei suddenly pulled out a cellphone from her pocket and asked, "Ye Chui, what's your phone number?" 

"Huh?" Ye Chui suddenly felt embarrassed. "I don't have a phone yet..."