Business First, Then Dinner.

There's no denying it—Jianghu Hotpot not only surpasses most hotpot places in town but even rivals, if not exceeds, the famed Haidilao.

Even putting aside the taste, Jianghu Hotpot's service philosophy leaves most competitors far behind.

In fact, it stands on par with Haidilao, which is widely praised for its service.

The only limitation lies in Jianghu Hotpot's lack of fame and scale.

But that's about to change.

With solid financial backing, neither fame nor scale will be an issue.

The key lies in maintaining their high standard of service and flavors.

If Jianghu Hotpot can further improve upon this solid foundation, competing with Haidilao will be inevitable!

Leaving Fangda Plaza, Ye Chen called Chen Yihao, giving him Liu Xi's contact information to handle negotiations.

Chen Yihao agreed without hesitation.

He wasn't the type to get nervous under pressure.

On this matter, he showed no sign of anxiety.

Driving his G-Wagon at a steady pace, Ye Chen hung up the call with Chen Yihao.

After a brief pause, he dialed the number of Zhang Weimin, the old secretary.

"Secretary Zhang, are you busy with your bonsai again?"

The call rang for a long time before being answered.

Ye Chen chuckled as he greeted him.

"Haha, what else can I do? When you get old, you need to keep yourself busy somehow. This is the only hobby I have left. If I don't keep myself occupied with these plants, I'd probably just end up lying under the grape trellis, waiting for time to pass!" Zhang Weimin's hearty laughter was warm and familiar.

Afterward, as if worried that Ye Chen might not follow the conversation, Zhang shifted gears.

"You wouldn't call me out of the blue unless you had something on your mind. Let me guess—thinking about that land Secretary Yan promised you?"

"You got it! Whether or not the production of my skincare line can meet market demand depends on getting that land to build the facility. The sooner the land is approved, the sooner we can start operations and contribute more in taxes to the state!"

Instead of jumping straight to the matter of the school, Ye Chen played along with Zhang's humor.

"Haha, pulling the tax card, huh? You sure know how to climb the ladder! Fine, even if you hadn't called, I was planning to reach out. Huaili's been craving your cooking. As the acting secretary, he feels too embarrassed to call you himself, so he had me ask. Can you spare some time to bring some groceries over and cook at my place?"

Zhang Weimin's seasoned political language was as natural as breathing.

"Huh? Does this mean the land is secured?"

Ye Chen's eyes lit up at the unexpected surprise.

He thought the process would drag on for at least a month.

But things seemed to be moving faster than expected.

Laughing, he replied, "Even if I'm busy, I'll make time. How could I refuse when two secretaries are asking for my cooking?"

"Great, just bring simple, light dishes. No need for anything extravagant."

Having lived a life of integrity, Zhang Weimin never took advantage of others, and now he treated Ye Chen as family.

In truth, he had half a mind to make Ye Chen his god-grandson, but he hesitated, unsure if Ye Chen would be open to the idea. The last thing Zhang wanted was an awkward refusal.

"Got it, I'll take care of it!"

After Zhang Weimin ended the call, Ye Chen phoned his wife, Chen Yinuo, explaining he'd be at Zhang's place in the afternoon and asked her to pick up Yoyo from school.

Then, he headed to the market.

He didn't buy the same ingredients as last time but stuck to Zhang's preference for light dishes.

When he arrived at Zhang's courtyard with the groceries, the old secretary was still busy with his plants.

Without pausing his gardening, Zhang casually waved Ye Chen into the kitchen.

From 3 PM to 6 PM, Ye Chen spent three hours preparing four dishes and a soup.

Just as the last dish was served, Yan Huaili entered, carrying his briefcase.

"The whole house smells amazing!" Yan said, swallowing involuntarily.

"Secretary Yan, you're just in time!" Ye Chen greeted him with a smile.

"Ye worked hard for three hours just to satisfy your cravings!" Zhang teased.

"Three hours isn't much. Business leaders rack their brains for months trying to secure land. A three-hour meal is nothing in comparison," Yan quipped, his formal demeanor momentarily dropping.

"Secretary Yan, is the land approved?" Ye Chen asked cheerfully.

"Would I dare call you over otherwise?" Yan grinned.

"Come on, even if there wasn't land involved, I'd still cook for you anytime," Ye Chen replied sincerely.

"Haha, I hope you'll still say that in a few years!" Yan laughed heartily.

Ye Chen's eyes flickered slightly.

In a few years, his achievements would undoubtedly draw attention.

But Yan Huaili wouldn't stay in the same place either.

In two years, he'd likely rise to deputy provincial leader.

In five, provincial leader.

Eventually, he'd reach the very top.

Even if Ye Chen were the opportunistic type, he wouldn't dare brush Yan off in the future.

"Alright, let's eat while it's hot. We can talk afterward," Zhang said, signaling the start of dinner.

The meal was even more praised than the last.

Not a single bite was left behind.

Afterward, they moved to the living room for tea.

"Secretary Yan, can we talk about the land now?" Ye Chen asked, breaking the silence.

"I knew you couldn't hold it in!" Yan laughed, pulling out a district map from his briefcase.

"After several rounds of discussions, we've allocated 217 acres of industrial land in Huangpu District for you. Although the area's public transport is underdeveloped, we can negotiate bus routes once your facility is up. This plot is the best option available. Take a look."

He handed the map to Ye Chen, where the designated area was clearly marked.