Chapter 162: Secret Recipe Barbecue Sauce And The Idea Of Opening A Barbecue Restaurant!
Seeing Jiang Tao casually take out the Wanxiang Hui Premium VIP card.
The server’s eyes clearly flashed with a hint of surprise.
“Mister, please wait a moment, I’ll arrange a table for you right away.”
After speaking, the server picked up the walkie-talkie and informed the manager in charge of dispatching inside the restaurant about Jiang Tao’s situation.
Soon, a woman in her thirties hurried out of the restaurant.
The woman was wearing a well-tailored, very feminine black ladies’ suit skirt set.
Underneath the suit, she wore a sapphire blue shirt.
Her dark hair was tied up at the back of her head, revealing a long, fair neck, creating a simple and capable look.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Jiang. Good afternoon, two ladies. Welcome to Black Ox Barbecue.”
“Please come in, I’ll arrange a dining table for you.”
Jiao Yaqi smiled and gestured for Jiang Tao and the other two to enter, then turned and led the way.
Jiang Tao, Xu Li, and Jiang Bing followed Jiao Yaqi into the restaurant.
People who were queuing on the side saw the special treatment given to Jiang Tao and his companions. Although they were quite displeased, there was nothing they could do.
This is how the world is.
As long as you have enough strength, you can ignore the rules and enjoy various privileges.
If you don’t have enough strength, you can only obediently follow the rules and queue outside.
The area of Black Ox Barbecue is at least seven to eight hundred square meters, divided into many sections.
Meat, vegetables, fruits, and various pre-prepared small cakes.
Alcoholic drinks, beverages, milk tea, as well as various staple foods and seafood.
With a consumption level of about 300 yuan per person, the ingredients are relatively abundant and look very fresh.
It was currently the peak lunch hour.
The customers dining in the restaurant were in groups of three to five, with at least several hundred people.
Conversations, discussions, laughter, and various sounds merged together, creating a lively atmosphere.
“Please dine here. If you need anything, please signal our staff.”
Jiao Yaqi led Jiang Tao and the other two to a small private room, said to them with a smile, and then prepared to leave.
“Okay, thank you for your trouble.”
Jiang Tao smiled and nodded to thank Jiao Yaqi.
“Let’s go, second sister-in-law, let’s go raid the ingredients!”
Jiang Bing took off her jacket and excitedly pulled Xu Li to pick out ingredients.
Black Ox Barbecue is a buffet-style barbecue where you can take whatever you want.
Jiang Tao also took off his jacket and went to the ingredient area to pick out his favorite ingredients.
The three acted separately and soon returned with a table full of ingredients, ready to start grilling!
Jiang Bing and Xu Li, the sisters-in-law, seemed to have endless things to talk about whenever they were together.
The two kept chatting and laughing about various topics, so engrossed in conversation.
Jiang Tao took on the role of the barbecue master, responsible for grilling all kinds of ingredients.
“Second brother is really strange, who dips barbecue sauce in sesame paste!”
“Try their barbecue sauce, it’s said to be Black Ox Barbecue’s secret recipe, and it tastes amazing!”
Jiang Bing saw that the dipping sauce bowl in front of Jiang Tao was filled with sesame paste he had personally mixed according to his taste, and she chuckled.
Black Ox Barbecue’s popularity and status as the “king of queues” at Wanxiang Hui are related to the high-quality ingredients they use.
It’s also greatly related to their special barbecue sauce.
High-quality fresh ingredients, combined with a uniquely flavored barbecue sauce.
This leaves a deep impression on every customer who visits Black Ox Barbecue.
Many people, after trying it once, were won over by the unique taste of the barbecue sauce and became regular customers.
“Really? Then I’ll try it.”
Jiang Bing’s words piqued Jiang Tao’s interest, so he reached for the Black Ox barbecue sauce in front of Xu Li and moved it closer to him.
Then, he picked up a piece of grilled steak that was golden brown with his chopsticks and dipped it into the sauce.
After putting the small piece of steak dipped in barbecue sauce into his mouth, Jiang Tao’s eyes immediately lit up.
Not bad, this barbecue sauce really tastes good.
The charred steak and the secret recipe collided, instantly stimulating multiple layers of taste buds and greatly enhancing the original flavor of the ingredients.
“How is it? I didn’t lie to you, did I, second brother!”
Jiang Bing looked proud, with an expression that said, “Praise me quickly.”
“Mm, not bad, it really tastes good. This homemade barbecue sauce is quite something.”
Jiang Tao nodded with a smile. The sesame paste dipping sauce in front of him suddenly lost its appeal, and he immediately switched to Black Ox Barbecue’s homemade barbecue sauce.
“Of course! If we could get our hands on this barbecue sauce recipe, we could open our own barbecue restaurant, and it would be a hit!”
“Do you know, second brother, our parents really want to open a buffet barbecue restaurant.”
“In our hometown, Ping County, every time I take them to eat buffet barbecue, they look at the thriving business with envy.”
Jiang Bing mumbled as she ate barbecue.
“Huh, they want to open a barbecue restaurant?”
Hearing his third sister’s words, Jiang Tao was slightly surprised, then relieved.
A barbecue restaurant is a type of restaurant, it makes sense!
Jiang Bing smiled and said, “Yes, yes. Our dad often looks at information about buffet barbecues on his phone.”
“Go look at his phone, Kuaidou keeps recommending him videos about buffet barbecues.”
“I see, no wonder Dad watches that all the time. So he wants to open a barbecue restaurant.”
Xu Li nodded with a look of sudden realization. She had also seen her husband’s father watching videos about barbecue restaurants many times.
Jiang Tao smiled and said, “Then let’s bring Dad and Mom to Black Ox Barbecue another day to visit and research.”
“With this scale and class, it would probably cost hundreds of thousands to get started! There’s no comparison.”
“Also, Black Ox Barbecue’s secret barbecue sauce is the soul of their barbecue restaurant.”
“This kind of thing is so precious, it’s definitely not shared outside.”
Although Jiang Bing’s mouth was full of barbecue, she spoke clearly.
Jiang Tao smiled and said, “It’s just for reference. We don’t need to aim to compete with Black Ox Barbecue right from the start.”
“Second brother, are you really planning to open a barbecue restaurant for our dad and mom?”
Jiang Bing looked at her second brother with surprise. Knowing him, he might actually do such a thing!
“It depends on the situation, and also on their wishes.”
Jiang Tao nodded with a smile.
He was willing to invest a million or so for his parents to fulfill their dream of opening a barbecue restaurant.
Of course, if this barbecue restaurant investment could also make some money, that would be even better!
After all, no one dislikes having more money.
“Count me in then, I’ll invest too~”
“Sure, I’ll bring you along. If it fails, don’t cry.”
“Hehe, following second brother, there will definitely be a bright future! It’s impossible to lose money! Absolutely impossible!”
Jiang Bing chuckled and flattered her second brother.
Even though she always got an “eight-two split” with her second brother each time.
She had already earned the first million of her life!
Then, her second brother must have already earned tens of millions?
She was now truly convinced of her second brother’s investment acumen!
“Haha, you have more confidence than me.”
“Of course, who am I talking to! You are my most, most, most handsome, and most investment-savvy second brother!”
Jiang Tao was flattered by his third sister’s praise, which made it worthwhile for him to share any profitable intelligence he came across with her.
Jiang Tao, as an elder brother, deeply cared for his younger sister.
The three talked and laughed, and the atmosphere was very enthusiastic and harmonious.
With the chatterbox and lively third sister around, the conversation never faltered.
Before one topic finished, she could always find a new one.
From daily life to work, and then to family matters, her thoughts jumped more actively than monkeys in a tree.
They ate barbecue from around 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM, exactly one hour, and all three were full.
Although Black Ox Barbecue had a two-hour dining limit, after they were full, the three didn’t overeat and left directly.
If it were before, for a buffet costing 300 yuan per person, Jiang Tao would have stayed for the full 2 hours.
Enter full, exit full.
Not to say he would break even, but he would definitely aim to eat as much as possible.
After all, 300 yuan was more than a day’s salary for him.
He was usually reluctant to eat such an expensive buffet.
For this rare treat, he would eat all the meat he could, and then not eat meat for the next month.
Now, 300 yuan was insignificant to Jiang Tao.
He also began to focus on enjoying the food, no longer thinking about whether he could get his money’s worth.
He would not binge eat and stuff himself to get his money’s worth.
Damaging his stomach would be a loss!
Ring ring ring—
As the three finished their meal and walked out of the restaurant, Xu Li’s phone rang.
She took out her phone and saw it was Du Ennan calling.
“Hello, Nannan.”
Xu Li swiped to answer the call and greeted Du Ennan on the other end with a smile.
After a call that lasted five or six minutes, Xu Li looked at Jiang Tao and said:
“Husband, Nannan is asking me to go up and play with her. Do you guys have any plans for the afternoon?”
Du Ennan was the first friend Xu Li made after arriving in Beijing.
Moreover, Jiang Xue recognized Du Ennan as her godmother, which further strengthened their relationship.
At this point, the two had become inseparable best friends.
These two almost video call every day to chat.
They would chat for at least half an hour each time, very close.
Jiang Tao thought about the intelligence he had seen last night regarding Xu Xinlei and said:
“I need to go back to Cui Village to talk to Liu Yuan about some important matters.”
Jiang Bing also said, “I still have a lot of orders to process this afternoon.”
“Then you guys go ahead and be busy, I’ll go up and find Nannan myself.”
“Husband, you don’t need to come pick me up this afternoon either.”
“I’m treating Nannan to dinner at our place tonight.”
Xu Li didn’t think much of it; it was right for a man to prioritize his career.
Her meetings with Du Ennan were always casual chats, nothing serious.
As long as it didn’t delay Jiang Tao’s business, she generally wouldn’t deliberately do so.
She certainly wouldn’t unreasonably demand anything of him.
Jiang Tao nodded with a smile and said, “Alright, I’ll take the third sister back then. I wish you a pleasant time.”
“Okay, okay! Drive carefully on your way, bye-bye~”
Xu Li waved goodbye to Jiang Tao and Jiang Bing, then turned towards the employees-only elevator inside Wanxiang Hui.
After watching Xu Li successfully enter the elevator, Jiang Tao and Jiang Bing then turned towards the elevator leading to the underground parking lot.
After descending to the underground parking lot, Jiang Tao found his Mercedes-Benz GLS and got into the car with Jiang Bing.
They returned to the greenhouse base in Cui Village around 2 PM.
Jiang Bing, having enjoyed the legendary Black Ox Barbecue, was instantly revitalized.
She enthusiastically returned to her busy work.
Although it was a bit tiring, it was also very fulfilling!
For every blueberry potted plant sold, she received over 4 yuan in net profit.
Currently, they sell over 5,000 blueberry potted plants daily.
She had already earned over 20,000 yuan from this alone!
In addition, sales of other products in the store also saw varying degrees of growth due to the influence of the blueberry potted plants.
If the profits from other products were included.
Jiang Bing was now earning over 25,000 yuan per day!
Moreover, in the past two days, the Tian Family Village cattle farm, in which she had invested, also started selling cattle and generating profits.
With all her income combined, Jiang Bing’s daily income was now close to 30,000 yuan!
This income is quite considerable, even nationwide!
Although this income might not be sustainable.
It had already made Jiang Bing very wealthy.
It had transformed her from an unmarried older woman in a rural area into a wealthy young woman with assets approaching one million.
It’s no wonder that during Spring Festival, matchmakers were almost breaking down the door of her hometown, but Jiang Bing dismissed them all.
Just by looking at the photos, she immediately passed on all the blind date candidates she had never met.
Even the most heavily retouched artistic photos weren’t as handsome as a candid shot of her second brother.
The highest salary was only 15,000 yuan per month, which wasn’t particularly impressive.
Jiang Bing believed in the principle of “better to have none than settle.”
Even if she remained single, she wouldn’t compromise and marry someone she didn’t like.
She only had four criteria for choosing a partner.
First, his height must be at least 1.82 meters.
Second, he must be as handsome as her second brother.
Third, he must know how to cherish his wife like her second brother.
Fourth, he must be able to earn more money than herself.
Originally, these four points might not have been too difficult.
But with Jiang Tao starting to mentor Jiang Bing in the past two months, her criteria for choosing a partner have become increasingly stringent!
Especially the last point!
The difficulty has increased exponentially!
Before Spring Festival, Jiang Bing had worked for four to five years and saved only over 100,000 yuan, less than 200,000 yuan for her dowry.
In just over two months, her personal assets have increased severalfold.
She has now officially surpassed the million mark, truly a rich young woman!
It’s really difficult for those blind date candidates to earn more than her!
In other words, those who are better at making money than Jiang Bing generally wouldn’t end up having to go on blind dates.
Seeing Jiang Bing entering work mode, Du Jun and others were also working diligently.
Jiang Tao, the idle one, was out of sync with the work status of others in the greenhouse.
After observing the mutated blueberry seedlings for a while, Jiang Tao walked out of the greenhouse alone and began to stroll leisurely on the street outside.
At the same time, he was also thinking in his mind about how to remind Liu Yuan about her husband’s infidelity.
…
In the office of Xinlei Agriculture Co., Ltd.
“Old Xu, what’s with the clothes you’re wearing?”
“You went on an external research trip with experts from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and you still have time to go shopping for clothes?”
Liu Yuan frowned slightly, looking at Xu Xinlei’s rather flashy pure white sweater and peacock green long windbreaker.
The pants Xu Xinlei was wearing had also been changed to jeans, which he almost never wore.
In the past six months, Xu Xinlei’s fashion sense had become increasingly youthful.
As his wife, Liu Yuan had naturally noticed the changes in him.
When something unusual happens, there’s usually a reason!
Liu Yuan thought about the changes in Xu Xinlei during this period and had a vague bad premonition.
Besides his more youthful attire, his social engagements had also increased, and he came home less often.
And…
The couple had not been intimate for over two months.
Although Liu Yuan didn’t have a high demand for that kind of activity.
Having none at all was a bit unusual.
Women are very sensitive.
Liu Yuan could clearly feel that a barrier had formed between her and Xu Xinlei.
This barrier was becoming thicker and thicker.
The couple had fewer and fewer topics in common, and they had less and less patience with each other.
This situation was definitely not normal!
Liu Yuan was busy handling company affairs, dedicating herself wholeheartedly to her work.
She felt she had done nothing wrong by Xu Xinlei.
Therefore, there was only one possibility…
Once the seed of suspicion takes root in the heart, it grows rapidly.
The more Liu Yuan looked at Xu Xinlei, the more suspicious she found him, but she still held onto a sliver of hope.
She hoped she was overthinking it.
They had been married for over ten years, had loved each other deeply, and had an emotional foundation.
“When I go out for research with Professor Liu and others, we’re not researching all day.”
“There are plenty of meals and drinking engagements.”
“What’s wrong with me buying a few new clothes with my own earned money to maintain my image?”
“Do I need to report such a small matter to you?”
Xu Xinlei typed on the computer, not even looking up, his perfunctory tone tinged with impatience.
“Xu Xinlei, can you speak properly? We haven’t seen each other for over ten days, and as soon as we meet, you want to argue!”
Liu Yuan noticed the impatience in Xu Xinlei’s tone, and her own fiery temper flared up.
“How am I not speaking properly? Do I want to argue? Who started it!”
“Am I being suspicious just because I bought some clothes? What are you suspecting me of?”
Xu Xinlei’s gaze shifted from the computer screen to Liu Yuan, his impatience growing.
There’s no harm without comparison.
Looking at Liu Yuan, and then thinking of his devoted and docile girlfriend who was as gentle as a kitten.
Xu Xinlei couldn’t stand living with Liu Yuan for another moment!
However, to minimize the financial losses from a divorce.
He had to endure for a while longer, trying to transfer more of their joint assets.
Once he had transferred most of the assets, he would reveal everything to Liu Yuan.
“You say I’m causing trouble? Am I causing trouble?”
“Normally, I don’t say anything when you buy clothes! Can’t I ask?”
Liu Yuan was also quite angered by Xu Xinlei’s attitude, her chest heaving.
“Unreasonable! Liu Yuan, have you started menopause early!”
“Who are you calling unreasonable! Who are you saying has started menopause early!”
“…”
After not seeing each other for over ten days, the couple erupted into a fierce argument within half an hour of meeting.
Xu Xinlei kicked over several chairs in the office, and a newly bought tea set on the coffee table shattered into pieces on the floor.
“I’ve had enough of you all these years!”
After a heated argument, Xu Xinlei snorted angrily, slammed open the office door, and strode out without looking back.
As he left, he bumped into Jiang Tao, who happened to be taking a walk nearby.
“Xu…”
Jiang Tao was about to greet Xu Xinlei, but the man acted as if he hadn’t seen him, passing by him angrily and striding away.
“…”
Jiang Tao retracted his hand, which had been reaching out, into his pocket.
Being ignored like that was indeed quite unpleasant!
“Wuwuwu…”
Jiang Tao’s attention was soon drawn to a sobbing sound coming from the office.
Judging by the sound, it should be Liu Yuan crying.
“It seems that the guy named Xu just had a fight with Liu Yuan?”
Jiang Tao looked in the direction of Liu Yuan’s office, feeling a sense of sympathy for his fellow villager.
Her husband was having an affair outside and secretly transferring marital assets, and she was probably still in the dark.
Speaking of which, Xu Xinlei’s actions were really ungentlemanly.
He had been married to Liu Yuan for over ten years. If they could part ways amicably, he would at least be considered a man.
What was this situation now?
Listening to the sobbing from the office and recalling the earlier dismissal, Jiang Tao’s sense of justice surged.
“You are unrighteous, so don’t blame me for being unrighteous. I will definitely side with my fellow villager.”
He muttered softly, then walked to Liu Yuan’s office door and knocked.
Knock knock knock—
Hearing the knock, the crying inside stopped instantly, but there was no immediate response.
After about a minute, Liu Yuan’s voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
Hearing Liu Yuan’s voice, Jiang Tao gently pushed open the office door.
As he opened the door, Jiang Tao saw that the office was in disarray.
Several chairs lay askew, and there were many shattered ceramic fragments, water stains, and tea leaves scattered on the floor.
“Jiang Tao? You… why are you here? Is there something you need?”
Seeing Jiang Tao push open the door, Liu Yuan’s expression was a little embarrassed, feeling like he had seen her making a fool of herself.
“Liu Yuan, is it convenient to talk here?”
Jiang Tao scanned the office, but he didn’t see any surveillance equipment like cameras.
“What’s wrong?”
Seeing the serious and cautious expression on Jiang Tao’s face, Liu Yuan’s expression also became solemn, and she even stood up from her seat.
“Yesterday, someone gave me a piece of information that I think you’ll find very interesting.”
“Also, I suggest you check the company’s recent fund flow.”
“I can only help you this much.”
As Jiang Tao spoke, he found Liu Yuan’s contact information on WeChat.
He directly sent the movie he had saved from a movie website last night to Liu Yuan.
Since he couldn’t think of a subtle way, he decided to be direct.
Ding dong!
Liu Yuan looked down at her phone on the desk.
After unlocking it, she found that Jiang Tao had sent her a video.
However…
The content of this video was a bit too explicit!
Looking at the revealing cover, Liu Yuan blushed, her heart racing.
“What is this…?”
Liu Yuan looked at Jiang Tao and asked in surprise.
“Watch it slowly after I leave, I believe it will be helpful to you.”
“Also… impulse is the devil, don’t act impulsively.”
“Before you act, think about how it will be most beneficial to you.”
“That’s all I can say. The rest is up to you to figure out.”
After Jiang Tao finished speaking, he turned around, opened the door, and left. He came quickly and left quickly.
After watching Jiang Tao leave, Liu Yuan tapped her phone and opened the video Jiang Tao had just sent her.
After watching the 30-plus-minute video carefully, Liu Yuan’s face turned ashen.
She wished she could take her phone and confront Xu Xinlei right away.
However…
She suddenly remembered the words Jiang Tao had told her before leaving.
In the end, Liu Yuan suppressed her overwhelming anger and decided to gather more evidence that would be beneficial to herself first.
