Chapter 150: Jinyou Food, the Rising Star Enterprise of Yuzhou

At ten o'clock, Tang Zhichu left the gym, driving the car that Wang Jun had purchased. Wang Jun had taken the company vehicle to pick up Zhu Yiyang and Xu Lai. Although Refraction Culture was not exactly wealthy, it was well-equipped and owned its own cars.

Tang Zhichu drove back to the restaurant. As he parked, he happened to see Tao Bo getting out of a van, carrying several large bags.

"Tao Bo!" Tang Zhichu called out.

Tao Bo turned, dropping two of the bags in his hands. His face lit up instantly: "Brother!"

Tang Zhichu walked over and helped him pick up the bags.

"I went to buy these as soon as you sent the message. I guarantee every ingredient is the freshest available!" Tao Bo said, holding up his bags.

Tang Zhichu nodded and reached into the car to grab the remaining items that Tao Bo couldn't carry.

Tao Bo had received Tang Zhichu's text at eight-thirty, asking for his help with the groceries. Having left early the day before without seeing Tang Zhichu, he had been feeling a bit down. Receiving the request today had, for some reason, cheered him up. Lately, Tao Bo's social media and phone had been buzzing with activity. Many people were trying to pry for information about Tang Zhichu, but his mother had issued a strict order: he could talk about how close he was to his cousin, but he was never to share anything about his cousin's private affairs. In this environment, Tang Zhichu’s image in Tao Bo’s mind had become far more vivid and real than just being "famous."

"Brother, I've started working the stove. I cook all the staff meals, and occasionally I even make my signature dishes for customers!"

"Mm."

"Chef Xiaopang says that the simplest dishes are the true test of skill. He told me that once I’ve mastered five hundred servings of tomato and egg stir-fry and shredded potatoes with vinegar and chili, I can move on to other dishes."

"So, do you want me to taste your cooking now? Or should I wait?" Tang Zhichu asked.

Tao Bo thought for a moment. "Better wait a little longer."

Tang Zhichu was surprised. Seeing Tao Bo again, he noticed the boy hadn't mentioned wanting to quit the kitchen even once. He soon found out why. As soon as Tao Bo entered the kitchen, the staff called out in unison, "Morning, Brother Bo!"

Whether old or young, they smiled warmly at Tao Bo, and it wasn’t in a joking manner. Tao Bo felt a bit embarrassed and gave a shy smile before returning the greeting. At first, the kitchen staff hadn't noticed who was with him, assuming it was just a delivery person. It wasn't until the head chef, Xiaopang, turned around and saw who it was that he rushed over, immediately taking the bags from Tang Zhichu’s hands.

"Brother Chu! What are you doing here?"

Only then did the others realize what was happening, and they froze. It… it was actually Tang Zhichu!

Tang Zhichu laughed, "I came to borrow the kitchen. I wanted to see if my skills had gotten rusty."

Xiaopang hurriedly replied, "Come on, Brother Chu, if you need anything, just tell me. I would have had everything prepped for you."

Tang Zhichu smiled and looked at the others, asking loudly, "How is it? Is working in the kitchen tiring?"

The staff looked at each other, either smiling or shaking their heads. Aside from Xiaopang and the dishwasher, the rest of the crew had been replaced and expanded; there were now six of them, including Tao Bo. Judging by their demeanor, Tang Zhichu was satisfied. They were full of energy, and he had heard them laughing and talking as he entered. That they were too shy to answer his question was a good sign.

Tang Zhichu moved a large bag of fifteen pounds of shrimp that Tao Bo had brought onto the prep table. "This is for today's staff meal. From now on, whatever you want to eat, just ask Tao Bo to cook it. Don't be shy. The work might be tiring, but you should enjoy your time here. If Tao Bo can't make it, give him a hard time," Tang Zhichu joked.

The atmosphere lightened. The dishwasher, an older woman they were familiar with, laughed, "Little Bo is quite impressive; he’s already started cooking for the customers."

Tang Zhichu turned to her, "Auntie Liu, is your leg still bothering you?"

Having worked together before, he knew she suffered from rheumatism, which flared up whenever it rained.

Auntie Liu shook her head quickly, "It's fine in the summer. It doesn't hurt."

"That’s good. Don't mind me, I'm really just here to borrow the kitchen."

With that, Tang Zhichu dumped a bag of cucumbers into the sink and began to wash them. When Xiaopang offered to help, Tang Zhichu waved him off. He cared deeply about this shop. He didn't expect to make a fortune, but he wanted it to thrive. His visit was intentional—to check in, show care, and give Tao Bo a subtle boost. Wang Jun certainly had his ways; the kitchen staff, in Tang Zhichu’s estimation, were a solid group. He could tell by how they treated Tao Bo.

Of course, he really was there to cook. After soaking the vegetables, he prepped the free-range chicken he’d asked Tao Bo to buy, added some nourishing roots, and set it to simmer in a clay pot.

The staff went about their business, though they were curious about their boss, stealing glances at him from time to time. Truth be told, they all felt this was a great job—good pay, meals, and housing provided. This wasn't a coastal city, after all. Just recently, Brother Jun had mentioned that once everyone passed their three-month mark, they would be provided with full social insurance and housing funds. In the small-scale catering industry, that was unheard of. Plus, their boss was a big celebrity.

"He actually seems to know his way around. His technique is quite polished."

"Of course. I heard the boss used to do all the cooking himself."

"Do you think he’d say no if we asked for a photo?"

"Don't. It seems unprofessional. If you want one, go ask yourself; I’m not going."

"Seriously, don't. Think about it—our boss is Tang Zhichu! I watched his show a few days ago; he crushed He Shuyuan! And that’s He Shuyuan we're talking about! My sister is a die-hard fan of his. With our boss's talent, he’ll be a top-tier star sooner or later. By then, tons of celebrities will be coming here to eat. We need to keep our standards high."

Tang Zhichu left the Old Tang Sichuan Restaurant around eleven-thirty. He had cooked several dishes and packed them into thermal containers to take with him.

Jinyou Foods was the star enterprise that had emerged in Chongqing during this period. A single QQ candy had elevated the company’s stature to a whole new level, giving them massive exposure.

Jiang Lan, the owner of Jinyou Foods, had been driven to the brink of insanity this past month. Riding the wave of the QQ candy’s success, she had secured partnerships with several large supermarket chains within a single month. Now, Jinyou products were available in stores across the majority of Chinese cities. This had led to a shortage in production, meaning the newly upgraded production lines needed even more upgrades. She had to buy equipment, lobby the government for land to build a second factory, and more.

Just past noon, Jiang Lan was still in the conference room. A decision had to be made: should they bring in new equipment now, or wait until the second factory was built? Buying now was possible, but with the existing constraints, it would only increase output for current products. Regardless, when the second factory was built to the latest specifications, some of the old factory's production lines would likely have to be phased out anyway.