I'm the Culinary God-Chapter 706 - 319 Uncle: I can’t even raise chickens properly, and you want me to raise horses? Hot and sour tripe soup! [Subscribe, please]
Yinzhou City.
The farmhouse restaurant within Longqi Mountain Scenic Area.
As the sun began to set, tourists, who had been out enjoying themselves all day, began arriving in twos and threes to eat.
On the grills set up in the courtyard, several whole roasted lambs, golden brown, were sizzling with oil. When Lin Xu’s second uncle-in-law, Shi Wenming, came over to baste them with clarified oil, tourists frequently asked, "Chef, is this really Boss Lin’s roasting technique?"
While asking, they also took out their smartphones or cameras to film short videos.
As he basted, Shi Wenming said, "This is indeed the roasted whole lamb method my nephew taught me. Even the dipping sauce is sent from his place, Lin Ji, in Beijing. You’ll see when you taste it."
At his words, all the surrounding tourists looked on with anticipation. Since this was the method taught by Boss Lin, and the dipping sauce was also shipped from Lin Ji in Beijing... Doesn’t that basically mean Boss Lin is personally making roasted whole lamb for us?
After Shi Wenming finished basting, he turned to the waiters attending to the grill and said, "Keep an eye on the rotisserie speed; slow it down if it’s too fast. The lamb is almost ready, so just a gentle rotation will do."
It was National Day, and the scenic area’s business was booming. Consequently, Shi Wenming suggested to Lin Hongqi and Chen Meijuan that they recruit some helpers. He worried that if he were on his own, he’d burn out before the holiday even ended.
Chen Meijuan recruited some nimble women from nearby villages as servers and hired a few village banquet chefs to bolster the kitchen staff.
Shi Wenming finally had the bearing of a head chef.
After returning the basting oil to the kitchen, he wiped his hands and went to a newly opened private room adjacent to it.
Inside were the honored guests for this National Day holiday: Shen Guofu and his wife. They were accompanied by Chen Meijuan, Chen Meide, and Chen Meiliang—the three siblings—as well as other relatives like Second Aunt Lin Hongxia and Eldest Uncle Lin Hongjun.
Lin Hongqi was simply too busy to even think about eating.
Shen Guofu said as he poured Shi Wenming a glass of wine, "Brother Wenming, your rustic dishes are truly exceptional! My son-in-law may be a culinary consultant at the Fishing Platform State Guesthouse now, but when it comes to home-style country cooking, you’re the most authentic."
These relatives were truly genuine. The previous day, when their high-speed train still had half its journey to go, a whole crowd of them had gone to the station to meet Shen Guofu and his wife. As soon as they met at the station exit, everyone was full of solicitous questions and warm welcomes, making Shen Guofu feel deeply respected. This greatly pleased Shen Guofu, who had always enjoyed a bit of fanfare.
Upon their arrival at the scenic area, Old Mrs. Lin and Old Mrs. Chen were already waiting. The entire extended family had a boisterous lunch together, after which they all accompanied Shen Guofu and his wife on a walk up the mountain, treating them as if they were long-lost kin.
Of course, Shen Guofu was also very generous. He distributed a variety of valuable gifts—fine leather goods, cigars, pipes, barware, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, wrist malas, and Buddhist prayer beads—handing them out as freely as if they were water. Even Shi Wenming’s daughter, Shi Molli, received a pink, diamond-studded hair clip, which delighted the little girl so much that she kept calling him "Good Uncle Shen!"
Shen Baobao had stayed here for a week on her previous visit and remembered all the relatives’ names and preferences clearly. So, before this trip, Shen Guofu had specifically chosen gifts tailored to each person. There was something for every adult and child. His daughter had been so thoroughly pampered by the whole family during her visit; this time, he, Old Shen, absolutely had to show his appreciation.
Shi Wenming raised his wine glass, clinked it against Shen Guofu’s, and said, "It’s Second Brother who provides such excellent ingredients. Whether it’s the eel, the crabs, or this soft-shelled turtle, they’re all absolutely first-rate."
Chen Meijuan’s second brother, Chen Meiliang, chuckled, "It’s all from our own reservoir. Just cast a net casually, and you’ll haul them in."
After three rounds of drinks, Shen Guofu raised his glass and said, "I’ve noticed the valley area within the mountains is quite large and relatively flat. So, I’m thinking of investing in a Horse Farm. If we do, it could become the first Equestrian Club in the Central Plains. It would be quite distinguished and could also boost tourism. What does everyone think?"
Chen Meijuan had initially assumed her son’s father-in-law was just visiting to eat, drink, and have some fun. She hadn’t expected him to actually want to invest in the scenic area.
Such a significant investment was naturally a good thing, but if they built a Horse Farm in Yinzhou, would people actually come to ride? She’d heard that raising horses was incredibly expensive. If it lost money, wouldn’t that be letting her in-law down?
Just as she was about to voice her concerns, Shen Guofu continued, "This isn’t an impulsive idea. The environment here is excellent. It’s encircled by mountains, naturally suited for raising horses. And the grounds are expansive enough for riders to gallop to their hearts’ content."
He went on to list numerous benefits of raising horses, leaving his audience rather mystified.
Finally, Shen Guofu raised his glass to Chen Meiliang and said, "Second Brother, investing in a Horse Farm is a major commitment, and I wouldn’t be comfortable without a family member overseeing it. Everyone else in our family has their own work. You, Second Brother, live like a carefree spirit. How about you do me the favor of getting things started and managing it for me?"
Chen Meiliang was momentarily stunned.
He had merely come over to have a few drinks, chat, and then planned to return to his little cabin by the reservoir for a good sleep. This request had caught him completely off guard.
However, as Yinzhou City’s once-famous "Chicken King," Chen Meiliang did feel a flicker of interest in raising horses. It was mainly because he hadn’t had much contact with horses before. Although his net worth had once surpassed the ten million mark during his heyday, his prosperity had been too brief. He hadn’t even had time to pick up the bad habits of the wealthy, like indulging in debauchery, before he went bankrupt.
Hmm, as long as you go bankrupt quickly enough, the vices of the rich can’t catch up to you.
Shen Guofu sat down beside Chen Meiliang and said, "After my daughter returned last time, she specifically mentioned you. She said that you, Second Brother, are a lot like me. I’ve also gone bankrupt several times, burdened by enormous debt. But I just couldn’t accept defeat, so I gritted my teeth and persevered until I pulled through. You, on the other hand, Second Brother, after experiencing such turmoil, seem to have gained true perspective and detachment, living like a carefree spirit. To be honest, I truly envy you."
