After finishing the call with Boss Zhu, Wang Xiaoqiang turned his face to stare at Jing Xueyan, feeling somewhat wistful. She blushed slightly and rolled her eyes at Wang Xiaoqiang, "You jerk, what are you still looking at?..."

Wang Xiaoqiang let out a sigh and asked, "Xueyan, do you know that Boss Zhu?"

"Boss Zhu, is it Zhu Chengwen..." Jing Xueyan said, "The one who deals in medicinal herbs?..."

"Yes, this Boss Zhu is in the medicinal herbs business, someone your Aunt Tang Xiaofei recommended to me..." Wang Xiaoqiang said.

"That must be Zhu Chengwen then, my dad's close buddy. What do you need him for?" Jing Xueyan stroked her hair and asked curiously.

"Uh, I want to sell some medicinal herbs through him..." There was nothing to hide, so Wang Xiaoqiang told Jing Xueyan.

"Uh, if that's the case, then he's your man. He's an old hand in the Provincial Capital's medicinal herbs circle; everyone says he has Eyes of Golden Flame... and a wide network..." Jing Xueyan earnestly said.

"Let's go then, let's go eat together..."

Wang Xiaoqiang and Jing Xueyan each drove toward the Garden Hotel, and on the way, Wang Xiaoqiang called Wang Dakui to help prepare a private room and a table of dishes.

Upon hearing that Wang Xiaoqiang was coming to dine, Chef Wang Dakui personally cooked a table full of dishes. This chef had literally broken ground and wielded the spatula, astonishing the staff in the Garden Hotel's kitchen.

Chef Wang had already established himself in the Garden Hotel, firmly controlling the kitchen. His salary had risen by another five thousand after the new year, and this was inseparable from his own culinary skills, and of course, Wang Xiaoqiang's ingredients. Deep down, Wang Dakui was grateful to Wang Xiaoqiang and saw him as his benefactor. In less than two years of knowing Wang Xiaoqiang, his reputation and income had more than doubled.

So when he heard that Wang Xiaoqiang was coming, to show sincerity, Chef Wang personally cooked a table of dishes.

Wang Xiaoqiang, worried that Zhu Chengwen might arrive early, called to inform him of the private room's location. Since Zhu Chengwen knew Wang Xiaoqiang was a friend of Tang Xiaofei and was together with Jing Xueyan, his buddy's daughter, he paid extra attention to Wang Xiaoqiang. After hanging up, he rushed to the Garden Hotel immediately, and indeed, as Wang Xiaoqiang had anticipated, he arrived at the private room first.

Not long after Zhu arrived in the private room, Wang Xiaoqiang and Jing Xueyan also arrived. After exchanging handshakes and greetings, Zhu Chengwen couldn't help but say, "Turns out you two know each other too?!"

Jing Xueyan mumbled a bit bashfully, "Uncle Zhu, we've only known each other for a short time..."

"Uh, that day your mom still asked me to match-make for you, but it seems unnecessary now..." Zhu Chengwen said meaningfully.

Jing Xueyan immediately blushed, "Uncle Zhu, actually, we, we are not like what you think..."

"Uh," Zhu Chengwen uttered in disappointment, "about that matchmaking business..."

"Uncle Zhu, what era is it now, everyone is dating freely..."

"Uh, right, right, free love, I just said I was being redundant... haha..." Zhu Chengwen, a wise old fox, guessed the relationship between the two right away. If Wang Xiaoqiang didn't have a good relationship with Jing Xueyan, he wouldn't have brought her with him to talk business.

Upon hearing this, Jing Xueyan's pretty face turned redder, completely out of character from her usual demeanor as a host. Wang Xiaoqiang was also slightly embarrassed, but the awkward moment was promptly broken by the arrival of Wang Dakui.

"Whoa, Old Wang, what brings you here? No need, no need, just me coming here doesn't warrant you personally coming out to greet..." Seeing the head chef of the Garden Hotel, Wang Dakui himself coming to greet him, Zhu Chengwen was somewhat flattered, his face showing a hint of superiority.

With food and medicine sharing the same origin, it was inevitable that a medicine market celebrity like Zhu Chengwen would know a famous chef like Wang Dakui. Seeing Wang Dakui approaching, Zhu Chengwen thought the chef had come out to greet him specially, prompting his remark. However, his pride turned to embarrassment when Wang Dakui merely nodded at him then turned to Wang Xiaoqiang with his hand outstretched, full of enthusiasm and attentiveness, "Little Qiang, you've kept me waiting, how long has it been since we last met..."

Wang Xiaoqiang shook hands with Wang Dakui, and fearing that Zhu Chengwen might feel slighted, he pointed at Zhu and said, "Uh, today I'm mainly here to treat Boss Zhu to dinner; Chef Wang, please bring up a couple of your signature dishes..."

"Little Qiang, rest assured, the dishes are ready, and I personally cooked them. I think they should suit your taste..." Wang Dakui boldly asserted.

Before Wang Xiaoqiang could respond, Zhu Chengwen was already taken aback. How could Wang Xiaoqiang be so familiar with Wang Dakui? They both shared the surname Wang, could they be actual brothers? And when he heard that Wang Dakui had personally cooked, Zhu immediately dismissed his earlier guess. If they were brothers, with Chef Wang being the elder, he wouldn't personally cook; this hinted that Wang Xiaoqiang was someone exceptional, or rather, he held an exceptional place in Chef Wang's heart. Chef Wang might be just a cook, but he was a proud man who never catered to the powerful, so why was he so attentive to a young man today?!

Compared to Zhu Chengwen, Jing Xueyan wasn't shocked because she knew the extent of Wang Xiaoqiang's background. She thought the chef was so flattering toward Wang Xiaoqiang because of his powerful connections, yet she was mistaken.

Because even if the provincial governor came, Chef Wang would not personally cook for him.

"Uh, Chef Wang, you are too kind. How about we sit together later?" Wang Xiaoqiang suggested.

"No need. You guys chat. Oh, and Little Qiang, you don't have to pay the bill when you leave, I've already taken care of it…" Wang Dakui reminded him.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Chengwen almost knelt down for Wang Xiaoqiang. The famous chef from the Provincial Capital personally cooked the meal and even paid for it! How awesome must this guy be?!

"How can I accept this? Every time I come, you pay the bill... it makes me feel like a beggar..." Wang Xiaoqiang frowned.

Hearing this, Zhu Chengwen showed a strange smile on his face. What? Every time Wang Xiaoqiang came to eat, Chef Wang paid the bill?! This... this...

"Little Qiang, listen to yourself. Who doesn't know you're rich? But since you seldom visit, it wouldn't be right to make you open your wallet for a meal, and besides, it would be a bother if you did, haha…" Wang Dakui laughed heartily.

Zhu Chengwen was completely shocked by this remark. Damn, it's like a mouse hosting a wedding for a cat—this world is insane. Wang Xiaoqiang actually made the usually proud and old-fashioned Wang Dakui learn to flatter and fawn!

Listening to Wang Dakui's words, Zhu Chengwen got goosebumps.

"Boss Zhu, I'll leave you to chat then," thankfully, Wang Dakui greeted Zhu Chengwen before leaving, saving him from an awkward situation.

"Okay, you're busy, carry on..." Zhu Chengwen said politely.

After Wang Dakui left, Zhu Chengwen became somewhat uncomfortable, feeling that the young man sitting next to him was actually a very impressive big shot.

Seeing Zhu Chengwen's discomfort, Wang Xiaoqiang took the initiative to speak, unabashedly saying, "Boss Zhu, I heard you're well-connected in the herbal medicine market in the Provincial Capital. I'm here today hoping you can show my herbs a path to market..."

Boss Zhu said, "I wouldn't dare to instruct, but I do indeed know a few people in the herbal medicine market. What kind of herbs does Mr. Wang have?"

Wang Xiaoqiang answered, "Wild Black Maca..."

"What?" Zhu Chengwen looked shocked, "Wild Black Maca?!"

"Yes, it's a variety I brought in from Yunnan. I cultivated it myself back in my hometown..." Wang Xiaoqiang knew Zhu Chengwen would be surprised, so he didn't make much of it and was very direct.

"Brought in from Yunnan and cultivated in your hometown... isn't your hometown in Huagui County?"

"Right. To be honest, I planted it on a mountain..." Wang Xiaoqiang said.

"Well, but it must have been difficult to grow it on a mountain... Because I've never heard of anywhere in our H Province that can grow Maca, especially the wild Black Maca..." Zhu Chengwen exclaimed in amazement, though his eyes were filled with deep doubt.

"Uh, maybe I just got lucky..." Wang Xiaoqiang, worried that Zhu Chengwen might not believe him, stood up and said, "Please wait a moment, Boss Zhu. I'll go get it from the car to show you..."

"Uh, you've brought it with you? Well then, I must take a look. I rarely get to see such a thing..." Zhu Chengwen was eager at this point.

Wang Xiaoqiang nodded and walked out, asked the restaurant staff for a black, cooked-materials bag, went to the parking lot, opened the car trunk, took out a Black Maca from a snakeskin bag, put it into the black bag, carried it back to the private room, and opened it on the table.

The ugly black object revealed itself, looking like a black garlic bulb, causing Jing Xueyan to cover her mouth, while seeing the Maca made Zhu Chengwen treat it like a treasure, lifting one piece in his hands to closely inspect it, much like an antiques expert appraising a beautiful piece of jade, his eyes shining brightly.

"Boss Zhu, do you think this is wild Black Maca?" Wang Xiaoqiang asked.

"Yes, yes..." After examining it, Boss Zhu weighed it in his hand, "Goodness, it's quite large, even bigger than the ones I've seen from Peru... Hey, Mr. Wang, tell me truthfully, did you really grow this Maca on the mountains back in your hometown?"

Although Zhu Chengwen had seen Wang Xiaoqiang's Maca, precisely because he had seen it, he found it even harder to believe. The entire H Province was incapable of cultivating Maca successfully. Even if some earnest medicine farmers tried to cultivate it on the mountains, the survival rate was extremely low, the yield was not high, and what was even more difficult was that the species they managed to grow were either Yellow Maca or White Maca. As for Purple, they could forget about it, let alone Black Maca. But now, Wang Xiaoqiang had produced Black Maca, and it looked even better than the authentic Maca from Peru.

How could he dare to believe it?! (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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