At the same time as Shi Jinbin set off, Chen Wei also contacted several of his former junior fellow students.
After making contact, Chen Wei found out that two of the seven fellow apprentices who had left Su Ji together had passed away.
After hearing the news, Chen Wei found it difficult to calm down the sadness in his heart for a long time.
After a long time, he got up and walked into the bathroom of the hotel room, looking at himself in the mirror for a long time.
Chen Wei suddenly realized that he was already an old man. If he hadn't taken good care of himself over the years, he would actually be 70 years old.
Looking back, when I was in my early thirties, I went to Su Ji to learn cooking.
Everything seems to have happened just yesterday.
Suddenly I realized that forty years had passed.
Clenching his fists, Chen Wei faced himself in the mirror at this moment and suddenly realized that he had been dissolute to disguise himself all these years, but in fact he was always thinking about that little sister in his heart.
Perhaps this cooking competition will be the last time he stands up for his junior sister.
But no matter what the final result is, Chen Wei still hopes that he can stay with his wife for the rest of his life.
Thinking of this, Chen Wei walked out of the hotel bathroom, grabbed the mobile phone on the table, and made a call.
"Hello, I'm Chen Wei. Can we chat? Yes, just the two of us. Okay, I can wait. In the evening. Sure. I'll wait for you there in the evening."
Just after hanging up the phone, the doorbell of Chen Wei's room rang.
Chen Wei quickly rushed into the bathroom, took a thorough shower, tidied himself up, and then opened the door in a bohemian manner.
When he opened the door, Su Lanxin's secretary was standing outside.
"Xiaomei, what's the matter?"
The secretary looked inside the door and saw Chen Wei, who was obviously older than President Su but dressed in a bohemian manner. Especially when she smelled the cologne on him, she couldn't help but frowned slightly.
After a moment's hesitation, the secretary said, "Boss Su asked me to inform you to go to a meeting regarding the Chinese Cuisine - Su Province Cuisine Cooking Competition."
Chen Wei nodded: "Okay, I got it, you go back first, I'll be there soon."
The secretary naturally didn't say any more words and turned around and left the room.
Chen Wei closed the door, turned around and opened the box he brought back. He took out the chef's uniform that had accompanied him for many years. After changing into it very carefully, he went out to the meeting room arranged by the hotel for Su Lanxin.
When we arrived at the conference room, besides Su Lanxin, Su Liancheng and Tan Xueli were also there, as well as people from the provincial and municipal catering associations.
The moment Chen Wei walked in, everyone was in awe when they saw his meticulous chef attire.
Especially Su Liancheng and Tan Xueli, when they saw Chen Wei's outfit, they knew that Chen Wei was serious at this moment.
After Chen Wei sat down, everyone began to discuss the specific details.
According to the result of the discussion between Zhuang Daozhong and the Catering Association, this cooking competition will focus on the classic dishes of Jiangsu Province. The competition system is roughly divided into auditions, preliminary rounds, and semi-finals to determine the top eight, and then all the way to the finals.
As one of the organizers, the Catering Association gave the following opinion: "The auditions and preliminary rounds will be held simultaneously in various parts of the province for preliminary selection. Finally, each city will select eight people for the semi-finals.
The rematch will be held in various cities, with the specialty dishes selected by each place as the point of competition.
After the top eight are decided, the quarterfinals will be held in Huaicheng Fujing Building. The semifinals will be held in Suzhou City, and the final will be held in Jinling. "
After listening to this, Su Lanxin frowned slightly and asked, "In other words, if we host this competition, only the top eight will be in Fujing Building?"
The people in the catering association looked at each other, and the vice chairman of the provincial catering association said, "That's right. After all, this is a cooking competition for our province, and the purpose is to select dishes that represent our province, so it must not be limited to Huaicheng."
The people from the Huaicheng Catering Association also spoke up, "Yes, President Su, I hope you can understand. We will definitely fully support Huaicheng's auditions and preliminary rounds, as well as the quarterfinals."
Su Lanxin was silent for a moment, thought about it carefully, and finally nodded and agreed: "Okay, after all, it is a major event in the culinary industry in our province, and our group will definitely support it."
Hearing that Su Lanxin was willing to support, the people in the catering association all breathed a sigh of relief.
Su Lanxin then asked: "However, how do we choose the dishes in the end?"
The vice chairman of the catering association explained: "This is first recommended by the catering associations of various regions, mainly based on the most representative and most recognized dishes in each region, and then some screening will be carried out."
Su Lanxin continued to ask: "How many dishes will be on the menu of 'Chinese cuisine' in the end?"
The people from the catering association shook their heads: "We can't be sure about this either. We will need to discuss this with Mr. Zhuang and the National Catering and Culinary Association."
Su Lanxin found it a bit complicated. Seeing her frowning slightly, Chen Wei reminded her in a low voice.
"This is a national event, representing the essence of the culinary arts of the entire Chinese Divine Land. We cannot be careless about it."
After hearing Chen Wei's reminder, Su Lanxin also understood. She said to the people in the catering association: "Okay, our group will cooperate with you. If you need anything, you can contact my secretary and we will do our best."
After receiving such a reply from Su Lanxin, everyone in the catering association was really satisfied.
Such a major event not only requires support from the government, but also support from all sectors of society.
Especially when a multinational catering group like Su Lanxin is willing to provide support in terms of funding and culinary skills, it can definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort.
The following conversations and specific details were much easier to talk about.
Regarding the specific details of cooking, Chen Wei also stepped forward at the right time to give some professional opinions and express some ideas of their group. The conversation between the two parties was very smooth.
After the meeting, Su Lanxin naturally had to receive the people from the catering association.
But Chen Wei did not attend. He changed his clothes and left the hotel alone.
Su Lanxin was very dissatisfied when she heard the news, but she did not show it too much.
At about nine o'clock in the evening, Chen Wei rushed to the old street where Su Ji was located. This time he did not enter the old street, nor did he go to Su Ji, but waited quietly at the intersection.
Looking at the bustling crowd on the old street at night, Chen Wei seemed to have returned to the past.
At that time when Su Ji was well-known and many people would come to taste its dishes, Chen Wei and his fellow apprentices followed their master and cooked dishes of the highest standard in the culinary world in that small restaurant with only ten tables.
In today's era, many people may find this incredible.
With such a talented chef, why doesn't he go to a famous restaurant? Why doesn't he go to a big city to develop
But in fact, it is precisely because Su Ji did not have those troubles back then that it has been able to maintain its consistent taste.
Chen Wei waited until about half past nine and saw Feng Yifan walking towards him on the old street.
When the two met, they didn't know what to say at first. They fell into silence at the corner of the street. They always felt that this way of meeting was a bit strange.
In the end, it was Feng Yifan who spoke first: "Uncle, how about we find a place to sit down?"
Chen Wei came back to his senses, nodded and said, "Okay, let's find a place to sit down and talk."
Because Chen Wei didn't want to go to Su Ji, the two of them finally sat down on a leisure bench beside the green belt on the roadside outside the old street. In front of them was a wide road with vehicles passing by from time to time.
There was another silence, and Feng Yifan spoke first: "Uncle, you are looking for me because of the cooking competition between you and me?"
Chen Wei looked at the traffic on the road in front of him and was silent for a while before speaking: "I really envy you."
Unexpectedly, Chen Wei said something like this. Feng Yifan was stunned for a moment and asked, "Do you envy me, who is also Su Ji's son-in-law, because I don't have an elder brother-in-law to take away the old plaque, and I can inherit Su Ji openly?"
This question stumped Chen Wei.
After being stunned for a long time, Chen Wei finally came to his senses, then he raised his head and laughed: "Hahaha, your answer is really amazing."
Feng Yifan also started laughing.
After laughing, Chen Wei was very frank: "Although I don't want to admit this, I can only admit that I really envy you for this. No one is competing with you for Su Ji."
Feng Yifan then asked, "So, uncle also thinks that my father-in-law is not qualified to inherit Su Ji?"
Chen Wei was stumped again. Suddenly, he felt that Feng Yifan had taken over the conversation and he seemed to be completely led by the nose.
In order to reverse the situation, Chen Wei said: "It would be a lie to say that I am not jealous, but I don't think your father-in-law is not qualified to inherit Su Ji. From the perspective of blood relationship alone, he is the most qualified."
Feng Yifan asked directly: "It seems that you are still very unconvinced, uncle, and think that my father-in-law took advantage of the situation?"
Being asked such a straightforward question again, Chen Wei really felt like jumping up in anger and flipping the table.
Can we still have a good chat
But these problems cannot be avoided.
Over the years, Chen Wei has always avoided this question, even though he has achieved success. He and Su Lanxin worked hard abroad to create a multinational catering group, and he also believes that he has achieved success.
But the more successful he became, the more Chen Wei felt resentful about the chef competition back then, and the more he thought that the inheritance of the old plaque was unfair.
Thinking of this, Chen Wei said helplessly: "You are right. I am indeed not convinced in my heart."
Feng Yifan continued, "You and your aunt have achieved great success, but the more successful you are, the more you feel dissatisfied with the competition that year. You feel that you are more qualified to inherit Su Ji."
Chen Wei nodded: "Yes, that's true. Maybe your aunt is even more serious, almost paranoid."
Feng Yifan responded, "In fact, it can be seen that Auntie must have fallen into a kind of paranoia. In fact, the old plaque of Su Ji has long lost its practical significance to you, but you just can't let go of the knot in your heart from that year."
Chen Wei suddenly said seriously: "So, I hope you can go all out this time."
Feng Yifan smiled and said, "Uncle, you came all the way here just to tell me this? Do you think I won't do my best? You don't think I will let you go, do you?"
Chen Wei continued, "Actually, I came here because I hope you can forgive your aunt."
Feng Yifan said nothing, just stared at Chen Wei quietly.
The latter naturally continued, "Your aunt has been a pitiful person over the years. She has been doing a lot of things, using all kinds of busyness to make herself seem to have a fulfilling life, but in fact she has anxiety and has long-term insomnia."
After a pause, Chen Wei said solemnly: "She has actually suffered from mental illness."
Feng Yifan heard this and asked, "So, uncle, you mean that you hope we can forgive her, including forgiving some of the things she did to my father-in-law when she came back, right?"
Chen Wei was stunned when he heard this, then he sighed helplessly: "Sometimes, people may do things that hurt others, but those may not be her original intentions. She just wants to get back her dignity."
Feng Yifan was silent for a moment, then asked bluntly, "Since you want to regain your dignity, then if I win, won't she be more stimulated?"
Without waiting for Chen Wei to speak, Feng Yifan continued, "Besides, if I win this time, will she give up?"
The two questions stumped Chen Wei, and he really didn't know how to answer them.
Can Su Lanxin really accept losing the cooking competition? Can she really let it go
Seeing Chen Wei fall silent, Feng Yifan said seriously: "Uncle, in fact, the final problem of this matter still lies with Aunt. If she can't let go of her knot, then it will be useless even if I win many times."
Chen Wei had to admit that this was indeed the case. The root of everything lay with Su Lanxin herself, not with anyone else.
The two people fell into silence, sitting on a bench by the road, quietly watching the traffic on the road not far away.
At this moment, neither of them knew what to say. They also didn't know how to solve the problem. Chen Wei didn't know how to make Su Lanxin give up completely.
The two of them remained silent for who knows how long.
Chen Wei suddenly said, "I remembered a dish. Maybe that dish can help her resolve her problem."
Feng Yifan looked at Chen Wei in surprise and asked, "What dish is it?"
But Chen Wei shook his head: "I don't know, but I know there is a dish that is in Su Lanxin's memory. It was made by your grandfather for her. It is said that he would make it for her every birthday."
Feng Yifan was a little surprised: "Do it every year on your birthday? Don't you know about your uncle?"
Chen Wei shook his head: "I have seen it, but I have never eaten it, because the master only makes that dish for Su Lanxin on her birthday, and we are too embarrassed to snatch it to eat."
Feng Yifan asked again: "Then how to do it?"
Chen Wei still shook his head: "I don't know about this either. Every time Master does it, he won't let us watch."
Feng Yifan was really speechless and could only ask: "What does the dish look like?"
This time Chen Wei did describe it: "It looks like Yuanxiao, but it's probably not Yuanxiao. It looks a lot like Yuanxiao."
Although Feng Yifan didn't know what the dish was, he roughly understood Chen Wei's intention: "You hope that I can replicate that dish and let Auntie eat it again to resolve her knot in her heart?"
Chen Wei nodded seriously: "Yes, please, I beg you."
Feng Yifan thought for a moment and replied: "I can't agree to it for now. I need to go back and discuss it with my father-in-law. After all, this is a grudge between them. If my father-in-law is willing to forgive, I will try to do it."
Chen Wei nodded again: "Okay, thank you, and you can also ask Jinrong, he may know the dish."
After the chat, Chen Wei stood up and bowed deeply to Feng Yifan very seriously: "Thank you, no matter what the result is, I want to thank you for your tolerance."
Watching Chen Wei leave, Feng Yifan shook his head helplessly and sighed.
At this moment, my cell phone rang. I answered the call and heard my daughter's voice: "Dad, why haven't you come back yet?"
Hearing his daughter's voice, Feng Yifan's mood instantly improved, and he quickly responded, "Okay, Dad will be back soon."