Jiang Ning dove into the kitchen and immediately opened the refrigerator to check the contents.
*Hey, look at the premium ingredients Old Master Nu brought!*
Instantly, five dishes made from these ingredients flashed through his mind like a movie.
Meanwhile, Su Yunlong was chatting animatedly with Tang Xiachuan and Old Butler Zhang Haichen.
After all, both Su Yunlong and Tang Xiachuan had been major bosses of large corporate groups, having navigated the business world for years. They had a wealth of business insights to share, and the conversation flowed endlessly.
Moreover, both were passionate about calligraphy. Su Yunlong loved cooking, and while Tang Xiachuan didn't cook personally, his family had hosted the "Divine Chef Competition" for generations. Once this common interest was sparked, the conversation became unstoppable.
Liu Mengyan, curious, came to the balcony and stood quietly behind Mengmeng, watching her draw.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Is... is this really Mengmeng's drawing? She's only three years old! Her skill is already comparable to a middle school student!"
Mengmeng's progress in drawing had been nothing short of meteoric lately.
With each finished painting, it felt as though a dam had broken, and when she started the next, she clearly took another leap forward.
Her brushstrokes were particularly fluid and natural, nothing like the crooked, chaotic lines of a typical three-year-old. Instead, they resembled the work of someone trained in professional painting techniques, as if every stroke had been meticulously planned in her mind before the brush even touched the paper.
For a three-year-old, simply producing a recognizable children's drawing would have been remarkable.
But Mengmeng's paintings left Liu Mengyan utterly astonished. As someone who understood art, she could clearly see that Mengmeng possessed extraordinary innate talent for painting.
She had heard her daughter Su Meng mention that Jiang Ning was a skilled painter, but she had never witnessed it firsthand and was unsure of his true level.
However, based on Mengmeng's current progress, it was evident that Jiang Ning had a unique and effective method for teaching her.
Liu Mengyan felt a surge of delight. Looking at Mengmeng's paintings, she longed to guide her finger over the paper, or even demonstrate the techniques herself.
But then she reconsidered. Jiang Ning was Mengmeng's teacher, and her interference might disrupt the child's developing style and technique, which would be a shame.
So, she stood behind Mengmeng, her eyes fixed on the girl's work, watching intently.
She naturally understood that every artist had their own unique style and technique, and it was best not to disturb her.
Time slipped away unnoticed, and soon it was nearly noon.
Suddenly, a mouth-watering aroma wafted from the kitchen, making everyone's stomachs rumble.
Su Yunlong, Tang Xiachuan, Old Butler Zhang Haichen, Liu Mengyan—even Mengmeng, who had been completely absorbed in her drawing—simultaneously paused their activities at the scent.
*Gurgle...*
Every throat moved involuntarily, and drool spilled from their lips.
Some hastily swallowed, others held the saliva in their mouths, and Mengmeng was the most direct, letting drool stream down the corner of her mouth.
"Wow, Dad made something delicious!" Mengmeng exclaimed, jumping up excitedly.
"Dad, Mom, I'm home!"
Just then, the living room door swung open.
"Wow, that aroma is so tempting! Honey, what delicious dish did you make? My stomach's already protesting!" Su Meng praised as she entered.
Only after speaking did she notice two strangers in the living room besides her father, Su Yunlong.
Su Meng had never met Tang Xiachuan and Old Butler Zhang Haichen before and didn't recognize them at all.
She quickly composed herself and, a little embarrassed, said, "Hello. I'm so sorry, I didn't know we had guests."
"Hello. You must be Master Jiang's beloved," Tang Xiachuan said with a smile. "I'm Tang Xiachuan, and this is my old colleague, Zhang Haichen."
"Ah, so you're Chairman Tang. I'm truly sorry, I was too impolite earlier."
Su Meng hurried forward, her face full of apology, and shook hands with Tang Xiachuan and Zhang Haichen.
"Please, sit down," Su Meng said gratefully. "We're so grateful for your help with the company's special rare-earth alloy procurement issue, Chairman Tang."
Tang Xiachuan waved his hand. "It's nothing. Ms. Su, you can call me Uncle Tang from now on. Your father and I are like brothers. There's no need for all these formalities."
Su Yunlong chimed in from the side, "Brother Xiachuan, if you're letting Xiao Meng call you Uncle Tang, why are you still calling her Ms. Su? Just call her Xiao Meng."
Su Meng said a little shyly, "Exactly! Uncle Tang, please call me Xiao Meng from now on. You're the elder. It doesn't make sense for me to call you Uncle Tang while you keep calling me Ms. Su."
Tang Xiachuan didn't waste any more time. "Alright, that's settled then."
He was inwardly delighted. He hadn't expected Jiang Ning to invite him for dinner, let alone use this opportunity to strengthen his relationship with Jiang Ning's father-in-law and mother-in-law. This would significantly increase his chances of renewing the contract with Jiang Ning for the next year's "God of Cookery Championship."
Tang Xiachuan's actions weren't driven by the Su Group's interests, but rather out of respect for Jiang Ning.
Over the next few years, the Su Group's assets soared due to extensive collaborations with the Tang Group.
Meanwhile, the Tang Group's partnership with Jiang Ning propelled them to new heights in the capital. Their reputation spread far and wide, ushering in the peak of the group's development.
After all, when people thought of Jiang Ning, they naturally thought of the Tang Group, the company he had signed with.
In the kitchen, Jiang Ning finished recording the cooking process on his phone. He carried the steaming dishes out and placed them on the dining table.
"Dad, Mom, Grandfather Tang, Butler Zhang, Mengmeng—dinner's ready!"
Jiang Ning called out loudly, unaware that Su Meng had returned early and hadn't included her in the call.
At the sound of his voice, everyone rose to their feet.
Su Yunlong enthusiastically invited, "Brother Xiachuan, Brother Zhang, let's wash up and eat."
Tang Xiachuan was equally eager to try the premium ingredients Jiang Ning had prepared. "Let's go, let's go! I can't wait to see what Jiang Ning's cooking is like today. That aroma just now has completely whetted my appetite."
The group lined up to wash their hands in the restroom before heading to the dining room.
"Hmm, Mengmeng, you're back too," Jiang Ning said with a smile as he noticed Su Meng watching him with a beaming expression.
"Daddy, Daddy, what delicious food did you make today? It smells even better than usual! The more I sniff this aroma, the hungrier my tummy gets!" Mengmeng ran over and tugged on Jiang Ning's leg, asking curiously.
"Haha, Mengmeng will definitely love it. Come, let Daddy put you in your high chair." Jiang Ning crouched down, scooped up Mengmeng, and gently placed her in the high chair.
Everyone stared at the five exquisite dishes on the table, their eyes shining and their noses twitching as they inhaled the intoxicating aromas.
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(End of Chapter)