"That damn guy treated me to tea yesterday and gave me two Big Red Tangerines that were supposedly fifteen years old. I took them to Building No. 10 to have Guo Weidong evaluate them, only to find out those Big Red Tangerines were swiped from him!"

Lin Xu was speechless.

There was such an incident? My senior brother didn't mention the Big Red Tangerines yesterday; otherwise, wouldn't I have helped my father-in-law get two as well?

He looked at Qiu Zhenhua and asked, "Where are those Big Red Tangerines now?"

"Guo Weidong insisted on taking them back from me," Qiu Zhenhua replied. "After much pleading, we finally split them, one each. Your senior brother still has one in the drawer upstairs. That guy is like a hamster, stashing stuff everywhere."

Chef Qiu, oh Chef Qiu, you're just too honest, Lin Xu thought. How could you let Mr. Guo take one away? Does it mean it belongs to Building No. 10 just because Guo Weidong says he got it from there? Everything should be based on evidence. Besides, even if he wanted it, he should show some sincerity, like trading ten or eight small green tangerines for it. Otherwise, aren't you just a delivery boy taking goods right to his doorstep?

Seeing Qiu Zhenhua's face becoming gloomier, Lin Xu pointed towards the kitchen and said, "My senior brother is in the back kitchen watching Chef Dai slaughter baby crocodiles. Since you're here, you might as well try some crocodile meat later. My senior brother said the Fishing Platform rarely sees this kind of thing."

Qiu Zhenhua shook his head helplessly. "I have to give him a piece of my mind before I go back. There's an impromptu banquet at Building No. 6 tonight, and they specifically requested the Braised Eel from Ma'an Bridge I make, so I need to go back early and prepare."

Braised Eel from Ma'an Bridge? Lin Xu pondered. Isn't that the most classic and famous way to prepare eel? Last time I was cooking dragon eel back home, I was thinking that I should learn eel preparation techniques from Chef Qiu, and now I've stumbled upon the opportunity.

Lin Xu said, "Chef Qiu, why don't you give my senior brother a good beating? I'll help you tie him up."

Qiu Zhenhua was momentarily stunned. Do these two junior and senior brothers also have some grudge between them?

"Old Dai is always like your senior brother's fanboy, getting into fights here with Old Xie," Qiu Zhenhua continued. "Those two damn guys definitely won't let it go. I'll just give him a telling-off later."

Is a telling-off really enough to vent his anger? Lin Xu wondered.

Lin Xu said, "How about this, Chef Qiu? I'll go help in the kitchen at Building No. 6 this afternoon. There's not much happening at Building No. 2 anyway. Consider it an apology on behalf of my senior brother. What do you say?"

Since you're not willing to hit him, then apologizing in his place is the next best thing, right? Lin Xu thought. Regardless, I'm determined to learn how to make that Braised Eel from Ma'an Bridge.

When Qiu Zhenhua heard about the offer of free labor, his expression eased considerably. "If everyone were like you, your senior brother wouldn't be treated like a street rat that everybody detests... Chef Lin, are you really willing to come and help me out?"

"It's what I should do," Lin Xu replied. "Besides, Lin Ji is opening soon, so I also want to learn some advanced kitchen management experience from Building No. 6."

These words made Qiu Zhenhua overjoyed. He decided he couldn't be bothered to go in and find Xie Baomin for a scolding anymore, especially since this was Old Dai's territory. That damn guy was always stirring up trouble like a shit-stirring stick; it was better to keep one's distance.

He and Lin Xu agreed on a time for him to help in the afternoon, and then Qiu Zhenhua left.

Hmm, with an expert coming to help in Building No. 6's kitchen this afternoon, I'd better make sure everyone is in high spirits, Qiu Zhenhua thought. We can't let Building No. 6 lose face.

Not long after Qiu Zhenhua left, Xie Baomin came over with a plate of freshly fried crocodile meat. "Junior Brother, come and taste this with your sister-in-law! Fresh out of the pan, Fried Crispy Crocodile Meat made from the meat near the crocodile's spine—it's super tender and has a great texture. Dipped in salt and pepper, it's truly exceptional."

After saying that, he hurried back to the kitchen, completely unaware that Qiu Zhenhua had just been there looking to settle a score.

Shen Baobao picked up a piece of crocodile meat, dipped it in salt and pepper, and tasted it. Her eyes lit up instantly. "Wow, is this crocodile meat? The texture is so tender!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xu also picked up a piece and tasted it.

Perhaps it was because the crocodile was young; the meat was very tender, and eating it even felt slightly like eating bullfrog, he thought.

The meat was coated with a layer of crispy batter, making it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Dipped in salt and pepper, it became even more delicious.

Fresh ingredients always taste best, Lin Xu mused. It's just a pity that I don't know how to cook crocodile. Otherwise, I'd buy one and host an All Crocodile Banquet at my father-in-law's villa. That would surely amaze everyone!

As he was thinking about this, Lin Xu heard a system prompt in his mind: "The host is keen on researching crocodile recipes and has triggered the side quest [All Crocodile Banquet]: Please use the resources at your disposal to make the first episode of the culinary program the ratings champion of Yanjing TV Station. Upon completion, you will be awarded the Excellent Level Cooking Technique—All Crocodile Banquet."

Holy cow! Lin Xu exclaimed internally. This really is a task where the effort and reward are directly proportional.

Lin Xu certainly wanted the All Crocodile Banquet technique. After all, with that technique in hand, he could wow anyone, no matter where he was. But to make the first episode the ratings champion, even if just within the TV station, wouldn't be easy. After all, such programs usually rely on word-of-mouth to gain traction and make a comeback later. Becoming the ratings champion right out of the gate is somewhat challenging. However, the benefits were also clear. Aside from the All Crocodile Banquet Cooking Technique reward, it would also greatly enhance and promote Lin Ji's Food.

Yes, I need to communicate well with Zeng Xiaoqi about the first episode and also use my connections to give the program an early boost, Lin Xu decided.

Before long, dishes like Braised Alligator Leg, char-grilled crocodile tail, boiled crocodile meat, steamed Crocodile Belly, sautéed sliced crocodile stomach, and dry-pot crocodile skin were served one by one.

Shen Baobao relished the food, her mouth glistening with oil, as she kept exclaiming in wonder at how delicious the crocodile meat was.

But Lin Xu had already lost his appetite. All he could think about was how to make his program the ratings champion.

After the meal, Dundun got to taste the delicious crocodile meat as wished.

Of course, Dundun didn't eat for free. During the little one's time there, Building No. 18 welcomed seven or eight more tables of guests. This forced the already busy Dai Jianli to pass the task of cooking crocodile to Xie Baomin, while he went to greet the customers.

After dinner, Xie Baomin wanted to stay and drink, but Lin Xu drove back to Yingchun Street. Once Shen Baobao drove off to work in the X1, he took Dundun back to the Fishing Platform.

At two in the afternoon, after resting for a bit in the tearoom, Lin Xu strolled towards Building No. 2.

He was ready to learn the classic eel dish from Qiu Zhenhua—Braised Eel from Ma'an Bridge!

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