Chapter 19: The Magnanimous President Jiang

Or rather, Master Chen was no longer just a master chef—he had ascended to an even higher realm...

Impossible. Absolutely impossible! To reach the level of a grandmaster chef, three prerequisites must be met.

First: Time. Every grandmaster chef in the world has achieved their pinnacle only after a century or more of accumulation and refinement. Among the twelve living grandmaster chefs, the youngest broke through at one hundred and six years old!

Second: One must be a cultivator. Grandmaster-level dishes require the aid of cultivated energy; those who become grandmasters abandon mundane pots and stoves, using their internal energy to craft their cuisine. Only cultivators can break through the bottleneck that limits master chefs.

Third: Resources. Without vast resources, it is impossible to nurture a grandmaster chef. This is a universally accepted truth: whether one is becoming a cultivator or reaching the peak of any profession, countless resources are indispensable. Even if Master Chen had started training in the womb, it would still be utterly impossible!

“What does Master Chen think? Our Ye Hua Hotel Group has thousands of locations across the Tianlong Empire—choose any you wish, be it the headquarters or a branch,” Jiang Shan said with a cheerful smile, looking at Chen Yun.

Chen Yun nodded. From the astonished expressions around him, he knew Jiang Shan’s background was far stronger than the others. As the saying goes, it’s best to sit under the shade of a tall tree. Newly arrived in this unfamiliar world, with no acquaintances and little knowledge, Chen Yun thought it wise to have the backing of a powerful patron.

“Chairman Jiang, do you have a hotel in Lan Yun City?”

Jiang Shan’s heart leapt at the question; Master Chen seemed interested!

“Yes, our Ye Hua Hotel Group has branches in every provincial capital, city, and county. Is that what you meant?”

“I’ll soon be heading to Lan Yun City for a competition, so I’ll stay at your hotel there,” Chen Yun replied.

“Competition?” Jiang Shan was puzzled. He hadn’t heard of any culinary competitions in Lan Yun City.

“Yes, in a week it’s the Qing Song Singing Competition—I need to go for the preliminary round,” said Chen Yun.

Pfft~! Meng Zhigang took a sip of water and sprayed it out in shock at Chen Yun’s words.

What did you say? You’re going to participate in the Qing Song preliminary? You, a master chef, going for a singing competition? Are you kidding me?

Not only Meng Zhigang, but everyone else who was drinking water nearly spat it out as well. Today was certainly full of surprises—a top-level chef entering a singing contest? What kind of game was he playing?

“Actually, cooking is just a small hobby of mine. Compared to cooking, I much prefer singing,” Chen Yun said calmly.

“...” Jiang Shan’s body trembled slightly, his expression odd as he looked at the serene Chen Yun, inwardly full of disdain.

Damn, could you be any more dramatic? If you can reach master chef level with just a tiny hobby, what would happen if your hobby were any bigger? Would you ascend to the heavens?

“Master Chen, you’re quite amusing. It’s good to have a passion for singing. I’ll arrange for you to oversee our Lan Yun City hotel,” Jiang Shan said, his mouth twitching.

“By the way, I have one more condition,” Chen Yun said suddenly, noticing the disappointed looks on Xi Jiu and Master Hu.

“Master Chen, ask whatever you wish. If it’s within my power, I’ll make it happen,” Jiang Shan replied with a smile.

“Chairman Jiang, please wait a moment. Allow me to confer with my boss and Master Hu in the back,” said Chen Yun.

“Of course,” Jiang Shan nodded.

In the courtyard behind the restaurant.

“Little Chen, what do you want to discuss with us?” Xi Jiu asked.

“Boss, how much does this restaurant earn in a month?” Chen Yun asked directly.

“Not much, really. After deducting rent and all costs, it’s only a bit more than what a laborer earns,” Xi Jiu said with a bitter smile. “Don’t be fooled by everyone calling me ‘boss’ all day; I’m really not much better off than you guys.”

“What if I could offer you and Master Hu a high-paying job—would you take it?” Chen Yun asked suddenly.

“Little Chen, do you mean...?” Xi Jiu seemed to understand.

“Boss, Master Hu, you’ve shown me kindness and given me a chance when I had nothing. I haven’t been able to repay you, but now that I have the means and am about to leave, I can’t stand to see you struggle day after day. I intend to ask Chairman Jiang to arrange respectable, easy positions for you both, with salaries much higher than now. Would you be willing?” Chen Yun said earnestly.

“Little Chen, you...” Xi Jiu and Hu Dan Niu’s eyes reddened at his words. They never imagined that a small act of kindness would bring such a bright future. It was true what they say: good deeds bring good fortune!

“That’s settled. Let’s head back,” Chen Yun said, seeing the hopeful expressions on their faces.

Back in the main hall.

“That’s easy enough. Xiao Liu, check the available positions in our branches here—find something respectable and not too taxing for these two,” Jiang Shan responded without hesitation to Chen Yun’s request.

“Chairman Jiang, there are two excellent openings: one for Deputy Director of Human Resources, and another for Deputy Head Chef. Both current holders are nearing retirement; I can approve early retirement for them,” replied Xiao Liu, the branch manager for Turkey County.

“Perfect, those two positions will do. You both can start whenever you like. As for salary, Xiao Liu, what’s the highest rate?”

“Yes, Chairman. The highest salary for those positions is five gold coins per month, with a year-end bonus equal to a full year’s salary.”

“That’s a bit low—double it. Ten gold coins per month, a year-end bonus of two hundred forty gold coins, plus 0.2% of the hotel’s dividends. Master Chen, does this arrangement satisfy you?” Jiang Shan’s standards were high; he didn’t care about a mere hundred gold coins and doubled the offer without hesitation. Such a salary was second only to Xiao Liu, the branch manager.

Hu Dan Niu and Xi Jiu were stunned—this was sheer extravagance! Ten gold coins per month made one hundred twenty per year, and with a year-end bonus of two hundred forty, that totaled three hundred sixty gold coins—thirty-six thousand silver coins, three hundred sixty thousand copper coins! They had never seen so much money. And with the hotel’s 0.2% dividend, though they didn’t know the exact amount, it had to be significant. Little Chen's gift was more than they could ever have hoped for.

“Satisfied—very satisfied. On behalf of Master Hu and the boss, I thank Chairman Jiang. Once everything is arranged, I’ll take the coach to report at the Lan Yun City hotel,” Chen Yun said, thoroughly pleased with Jiang Shan’s arrangements. Such wealth would surely be better for his benefactors than counting copper coins every day; it was a fitting way to repay their kindness.

“Take the coach?” Jiang Shan was taken aback, then displeased. “Master Chen, how could you take a coach to my hotel? That would be an insult to me! Xiao Liu, go to the Tianlong Automobile 4S shop in the county and buy the most expensive car for Master Chen.”

“Uh... Chairman Jiang, there’s really no need. I don’t have a license, and even if I had a car, I wouldn’t dare drive it,” Chen Yun said quickly.

“No problem—what’s a license, anyway? A trivial matter. Xiao Liu, prepare the whole set for Master Chen and deliver it to him. Understood?”

“Yes, Chairman. I’ll have everything ready within three hours. Master Chen, what kind of car do you prefer? Luxury, practical, SUV, sedan, or sports car?”