Chapter 196: Developing a New Product Line

“Are you sure the Little Master Chef is coming at nine? Oh, 12 more minutes.”

After a while, he looked up at his watch anxiously.

Xu Le was extremely famous in the industry now. In all fairness, no senior could obtain such brilliant achievements at the age of eight!

It was not an exaggeration to say that he was a “Master Chef.”

To be able to work with the Giant Crab meant that he would automatically draw in money. Zhang Heng knew this.

Hence, as soon as Xu Le walked in with the lunch box, he hurriedly went forward to welcome him. “Xu Le, long time no see. I’ve seen the proposal you sent. Since there are two cooking methods, let’s sell them in two different packaging…”

Xu Le interrupted him. “Try it first.”

“Haha, does the Little Master Chef need anyone to comment on his work? I bet it’s going to be a great sale!”

Zhang Heng couldn’t hide his excitement. When he reached his office, he immediately waved for his assistant to open the lunch box.

Xu Le introduced them one by one. “It’s my first time trying this method. I chose to use chicken to lower the cost price. The preparation method is simple. Just like the Imitation Crab previously, the difficulty is in controlling the amount.”

“Over here, in order, it’s slightly spicy, medium spicy, and super spicy. The more spicy it is, the stronger the smell of vinegar. There are two cooking methods. One is dry and fragrant while the other is oily. Both go well with wine and rice.”

Zhang Heng took the chopsticks and tasted the dried fragrant chicken. Although it had been fried in oil, it was not oily at all. With white vinegar, ginger, and dried chili, he savored it and actually tasted a hint of tenderness that resembled bullfrog and crab.

Xu Le saw the surprise on his face and explained.

“Like the Imitation Crab, ginger and vinegar juice is used inside. The two flavors will collide and produce this texture when heated at high temperatures.”

“It’s very good! Let me try this again.”

The oily version was more suitable for eating with rice. The edge of the chicken was fresh and soft, and there was a hint of fresh sweetness. The spicy and sharp taste intertwined and lingered.

Both methods were perfect and appetizing, so Zhang Heng said, “Why don’t we do what I just told you? It won’t hurt to sell them together.”

“Different cooking methods means we need to dire different chefs. I’m afraid they’ll find it difficult to master the essence of the dish in a short time.”

Xu Le also voiced his concerns. “Besides, I just want to test the waters and check the response before deciding whether to continue.”

Zhang Heng nodded in agreement when someone suddenly pushed through the door and shouted, “You brat! Every time we choose something, we have a meeting to discuss it and come up with a research plan. Yet you are opening a back door for someone just like that?”

“You can’t go in.”

The assistant could not stop him and could only stand aside awkwardly.

“This is my dad,” Zhang Heng said. “He’s a little old-fashioned and doesn’t usually go online. I’ll explain it to him.”

Zhang Heng dragged his father to the side to convince him while his assistant arranged for Xu Le to wait. After a full half an hour, Zhang Heng’s mouth was dry and he still could not persuade his rigid father.

“It’s not that I don’t care about what you think, but you must know how important it is to decide on a dish. You must know that the Giant Crab business has only started a few years ago. Apart from the Imitation Crab dish, tell me, is there any popular product? It’s already good enough that you can recover your capital!”

“Now you’re even more lawless! How dare you cooperate with a brat?”

Zhang Heng pulled a tissue to wipe the sweat from his forehead. “Here’s the thing,” he said. “The Imitation Crab was made by Xu Le. Why don’t you try the food first, Dad, before you decide?”

Old Mister Zhang finally gave in a little. He nodded in agreement and said, “Sure, but we definitely have to let the shareholders taste it before we can vote. Get that child to make a few more servings and bring them over.”

Zhang Heng pursed his lips, his expression reluctant. Based on his taste buds and judgment, the dish was basically guaranteed to be a huge sale, but because of his father, he could only agree verbally.

“Let’s go. You’ll know after you try it.”

Old Mister Zhang reluctantly went over. When he saw that Xu Le was just a child, he thought of the words to turn him down and tasted the chicken.

His frown gradually eased and he said, “Ahem, it’s sour and spicy. What’s so good about it? Who would buy it?”

After swallowing it, a tender and sour aftertaste slowly spread on the tip of his tongue.

“Dad, the one you just ate is extremely spicy and sour. You can try this light spicy flavor.”

As Zhang Heng hurried to make the introductions, Old Mister Zhang said, “It’s not like I haven’t tried Dong’an chicken before. When I first started my business, there was authentic Dong’an chicken being sold at the intersection. Who would cut it into strips? Shouldn’t they all be chopped into complete pieces?”

As he complained, he took another bite.

It was medium spicy and sour, just right for his taste. The dry chicken was filled with the fragrance of ginger and vinegar. He was slightly stunned as he chewed. He swallowed it and was still savoring the aftertaste.

When he spoke again, his tone was much gentler.

“The fragrance of Dong’an chicken is mainly in ginger and vinegar sauce. Hunan cuisine emphasizes on the taste of sour and spicy. The taste of rich sour and spicy is top-notch. If it’s pure sour and spicy, it’s too harsh. If it’s slightly sour and spicy, smooth and tasteless, it has no soul. It’s not difficult to make Hunan cuisine, but if you want it to be delicious, it will be a test to the chef’s skills and seasoning. Just the fact that the authentic flavor of the white vinegar is enough to complete half of the dish.”

Listening to Old Master Zhang’s boastful words, Xu Le realized that he had a deep emotional attachment to this dish. That was why he could recall the flavors in one bite. Someone who did not know how to cook could describe it so accurately.

“Sigh, I can’t go back anymore.” Old Mister Zhang sighed deeply and called his assistant downstairs to buy a bowl of white rice. He continued, “This oily and fragrant dish is only suitable for drinking. When I first started my business decades ago, I often ordered this dish when drinking with my friends. It really goes well with wine.”

From his slightly turbid and ancient eyes, it was as if he recalled the golden years of his life through that dish.

Zhang Heng wasn’t convinced by his father’s “dictatorship.” “Didn’t you say you wanted the shareholders to discuss voting?”

“Your old man’s been a fan of the dish for over a decade. How could I be wrong? How could I taste it wrongly?”

Old Mister Zhang waited for his assistant to buy white rice and wolfed down the chicken that had almost turned cold. An indescribable feeling rushed to the tip of his nose, making his eyes water.

By the time he finished eating, Zhang Heng had finalized most of the plans. “As for the publicity, I wonder if the Little Master Chef can help? No matter how much money we spend on publicity, it won’t be as influential as yours alone.”

“Of course.”

Zhang Heng’s expression relaxed. “I’ll get someone to write you a proposal later,” he said happily. “Very soon!”

“No need.” Xu Le did not like to advertise according to the script. He said, “I have a lot of fans on my software platform. Let’s come up with a tutorial.”

“Hmm?”

Zhang Heng’s eyes widened. “But if everyone learned how to make it, who would buy the product we make?”